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Gamecity Hamburg has selected five digital games to receive up to €80,000 each in non-repayable grants from its latest Prototype Funding Round. Read more View the full article

The original Doom soundtrack will be added to the US National Recording Registry. Read more View the full article

Sony has confirmed price rises for its PlayStation Plus (PS+) subscription service. Read more View the full article

Claim AquaDream Soundtrack (DLC) for free on Steam until May 25! View the full article

Following rumors earlier this year that Sony had decided to pull back from releasing PlayStation 5 exclusives on PC, PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst has now reportedly told staff that PlayStation's single-player games will remain exclusive to its own consoles. Read more View the full article

Roughly a month and a half after Sony announced price increases for the PlayStation 5, the company will raise the prices of PlayStation Plus Essential (the cheapest tier). Both 1-month and 3-month subscriptions will increase starting May 20 due to "ongoing market conditions," according to the announcement. Starting May 20, the price of a 1-month subscription will increase to $10.99, up from $9.99, while the 3-month subscription will increase to $27.99, up from $24.99; basically, the 1-month subscription will increase by $1, and the 3-month subscription will increase by $3. Sony notes that this price change will not apply to current subscribers (except those in Turkey and India) unless your existing subscription changes or lapses. As for the ongoing market conditions, Sony keeps it vague, but it's likely alluding to rising memory costs due to AI buy-up, existing economic and market struggles, and tariffs implemented by the U.S. President. This PlayStation Plus Essential price jump comes after Sony raised the price of a base PS5 to $649.99 (up from $549.99), the PS5 Digital Edition to $599.99 (up from $499.99), and the PS5 Pro to $899.99 (up from $749.99) back in March. It also raised the price of the cloud- and remote-streaming PlayStation Portal device to $249.99 (up from $199.99). This is also the first PS Plus price adjustment since Sony raised the price of its 12-month subscriptions back in August 2023. Speaking of PlayStation Plus, Sony revealed last week that Star Wars Outlaws, Red Dead Redemption, and Time Crisis headline this month's Plus offerings. How do you feel about this price jump? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is sailing into port soon, launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on July 9. I recently attended a preview event for the game – and I'll have more to share about that soon, including my impressions after playing the game and interviewing key devs behind the remake – and there, I got the chance to speak to Edward Kenway voice actor Matt Ryan. And surprise: he's a joy to talk to, and someone who genuinely loves this character as much as the Assassin's Creed community (and it was also great to finally tell him that his Constantine kicks ass). To keep things simple, I'll list my questions below, along with Ryan's answers – enjoy! Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Matt Ryan Q/A Game Informer's Wesley LeBlanc and Edward Kenway voice actor Matt Ryan Game Informer's Wesley LeBlanc: How did you originally get involved with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag? Edward Kenway voice actor Matt Ryan: Well, originally, it was pitched as a pirate TV show because it was all top secret, so I did the first audition and I thought that the scenes – they didn’t give me a script – but the scenes that were given were great, and the description of the character was great. And when they invited me back, they said it was an Assassin’s Creed game, and I’d already played the first ones, so I was like, “Great, yeah!” But yeah, it was all in the writing. Why do you think Edward is so beloved? For me, personally, I think it’s about his arc, the journey he goes on. He starts off as just a normal kind of guy who’s trying to get a better life for himself and his wife, but he’s also ruthless and he’ll do whatever he can to take it. And he thinks he can get to that place where, you know, he can provide for his family and have a better life. He thinks it’s fame and glory and riches, and it’s not; he really goes on this journey to get those things, but even though he doesn’t get what he needs and what he wants, through the way that he’s going about it, it does eventually lead him to something worthwhile. What was the original direction they gave you for Edward? What’s funny is that when I did the audition, Edward was based in the north of England with a completely different accent. So my audition was in a different accent, and it wasn’t until I went over to Montreal to start filming that they went, “Oh, you sound different.” And I was like, “Yeah, well, this is my real voice.” And they said, “Where are you from?” And I said, “I’m from a place called Swansea in Wales.” They asked me if it was on the sea, and it is, so then they were like, “Maybe we can use that.” So they made the character where I’m from, which I thought was great, because nobody knows where Swansea is in Wales, and it adds to the character – this guy coming from a small town, with no money growing up, and then wanting to change that. The other similarity, which is funny, is that I left Wales at 19; I left Swansea at 19 to go to Bristol, to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, to become an actor, and Edward actually left Swansea to go to Bristol too. It’s a really cool parallel. What was it like coming back to Edward? It was a strange and wonderful and nostalgic and beautiful experience, man. It’s like an old friend. The funny thing is, when I did the original game, you didn’t quite know what it would be. You want to do the best job you can; you do your research, you do your preparation, and you give it your all. Coming back to something that you know has been very successful and that [Assassin's Creed fans] like, and you’re like, “Oh shit, where is he? How do I realign to him?” But he was there, man, and it was kind of easy to slip into. My voice has changed slightly; it is slightly lower now, but I trained as an actor for this. But yeah, what a joy to come back and after all this, all this time, doing new scenes. [These] new scenes just jumped off the page, and they really add to the character – they add depth to the character and the story. They’re not just there for the sake of filling it out. What are you most excited about? I’m excited for the fans, old and new, to discover this great character in this astoundingly beautiful, ruthless, cruel, wonderful world and go on a journey with [Edward Kenway]. And I think that all the people who’ve been on that journey with him before, I’m excited for them to go on it again, and for them to feel the depth that has been brought to the character through the new stuff that we’ve done and the physics engine that they’re using in the game, and how the game looks and feels. We'll have plenty more about Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced from the recent preview event I attended, so keep an eye on Game Informer so you don't miss it. In the meantime, read about all of the changes and updates made to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced as a remake, and then check out the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced PC specs and requirements. After that, read about how Ubisoft has launched a real-life $500,000 treasure hunt to celebrate the remake. View the full article

At Game Informer, writing game reviews is one of our primary functions. As such, we cover hundreds of titles each and every year, hoping to turn you on to your next favorite game. However, within that field, a select few rise to the top as the games we most highly recommend. While you're always welcome to peruse our reviews page for the latest and greatest (and sometimes worst) games on the market, we've gathered our highest-scoring reviews of 2026 right here. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently, as we'll continue to update it as more titles earn review scores on the top end of our review scale. 9.75 Resident Evil Requiem A masterclass in refinement and a tour de force of gameplay, Requiem is Resident Evil at its finest. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: February 27, 2026 9.25 Cairn Cairn is more than a remarkably gripping mountain-climbing game. It's also a deeply affecting narrative of anguish, loss, and the steep cost of obsession. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC Release Date: January 29, 2026 Forza Horizon 6 Even for a series built on delivering approachable racing action that appeals to both newcomers and hardcore players, Forza Horizon 6 impresses at each turn, delivering one of the greatest racing games of this generation. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: May 19, 2026 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (PlayStation 5) Marathon Bungie’s excellent audio design and gunplay, paired with increasingly complicated level design borrowing from over a decade of expertise designing Destiny raids coalesce into something special. Marathon is proof Bungie is still at the top of its game. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: March 5, 2026 Saros Moving, shooting, improving (both in stats and skill), winning, and even losing is an unequivocal joy, and I only wish I could write this final sentence faster so I can hurry up and get back to planet Carcosa and attempt another run. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5 Release Date: April 30, 2026 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park Super Mario Bros. Wonder was a joy to play through in 2023, and now, a few years later, it's even better. Read review Platforms: Switch 2 Release Date: March 26, 2026 9 Deadzone: Rogue Thanks to superb gunplay, a compelling mystery, and terrific use of the roguelite formula, Deadzone: Rogue avoids getting lost in the crowded sci-fi shooter genre. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: August 11, 2025 (PC), September 3, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S), March 17, 2026 (Switch 2) Mixtape Mixtape's stellar writing, concise runtime, and inspired use of its licensed soundtrack make it an instant classic and a heartfelt trip down memory lane. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: May 7, 2026 Nioh 3 Nioh 3's consistently rewarding approach to open-world design, combined with its entertaining Ninja gameplay style, cements it as the best entry in the franchise. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC Release Date: February 6, 2026 Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is a brilliant modern adventure game, filled with mysteries, delightful characters, and gorgeous art. Read review Platforms: Switch 2, Switch, PC, iOS, Android Release Date: February 19, 2026 Pokémon Pokopia Despite minor complaints, Pokémon Pokopia sticks out as one of the best examples of a third-party developer using the Pokémon license to the fullest extent possible. Read review Platforms: Switch 2 Release Date: March 5, 2026 World of Warcraft: Midnight Now more than ever, Azeroth feels like a home away from home. Read review Platforms: PC, Mac Release Date: March 2, 2026 8.75 Death Howl Death Howl is a cohesive and well-crafted fusion of deckbuilders and Soulslikes. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Release Date: December 9, 2025 (PC), February 19, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) High On Life 2 High on Life 2 is the kind of game that you can put on, laugh at for a while, and forget what's troubling you, even though reminders might slip in through the pointed social commentary. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: February 13, 2026 Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Even with my dissatisfaction with stealth and some minor glitches, the latest Lego Batman is a rain-slicked success. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: May 22, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (Switch 2) MIO: Memories in Orbit Taking cues from the likes of Hollow Knight and Ori, this punishing platforming and exploration game is well worth your time if you're up for a big challenge. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC Release Date: January 20, 2026 8.5 Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Lord of Hatred is an exceptional cherry on top of Diablo IV, further cementing the entire package as among the best action RPGs of the generation. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Release Date: April 28, 2026 Fur Squadron Phoenix Nintendo may not know what to do with the Star Fox franchise, but Fur Squadron Phoenix makes a great case that the genre can still flourish in 2026. Read review Platforms: Switch, PC Release Date: February 18, 2026 (PC), February 25, 2026 (Switch) Invincible VS With a solid foundation built upon approachability and personality, Invincible VS is easy to recommend to both seasoned fighting games fans and Invincible enthusiasts. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: April 30, 2026 For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to the links below. 202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014 View the full article

Marvel Cosmic Invasion’s first two DLC characters are now available for purchase, introducing a new X-Man and the game’s first Fantastic Four member: Cyclops and The Thing. Cyclops, rocking a pretty sweet jacket, can fire his optic beams to keep foes at bay while pummeling them in hand-to-hand combat. The Thing is, as you would expect, a powerhouse who pummels foes using his rocky fists, living up to his catchphrase “It’s clobberin’ time!” Both characters can be purchased together for $3.99. Check them out in action in the trailer below. Developer Tribute Games also teases that DLC 2 arrives this fall, though we’ll have to wait a few months to see which characters it will include. In the meantime, be sure to check out our review of Marvel Cosmic Invasion here. View the full article

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Warner Bros. Games Developer: TT Games Release: May 22, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (Switch 2) Rating: Everyone 10+ As a lifelong Lego Batman fan, Legacy of the Dark Knight is nothing short of a dream come true. While I will praise the revamped combat, detailed open world, and charming story, it's the design philosophy they're spawned from that makes the game so successful. Legacy of the Dark Knight leaves no meat on the bone, with no corner of Batman's mythology left unturned as it depicts every version of the Caped Crusader fans have come to love. Even with my dissatisfaction with stealth and some minor glitches, the latest Lego Batman is a rain-slicked success. As I played, I heard developer TT Games' thesis ringing through, loud and clear: People love Batman; here are all the reasons why. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review: Story mode takes players across decades of Bruce Wayne's life, from young child to rookie vigilante to greying patriarch of the Bat Family. To do so, TT Games pulls sequences from most of Batman's live-action appearances, remixing them into a single narrative. Despite recognizing every reference, I never got tired of seeing Batman's highlights in goofy, brick-based form, and I was always curious to learn how TT Games would transition from one movie villain to the next. Ultimately, however, Legacy of the Dark Knight combines these pieces into a new story, which I appreciated. The ending and final boss fight are particularly exciting, as they alter expected twists to tell an original conclusion. Each chapter also introduces a new companion for Batman. You train alongside Talia al Ghul at the League of Shadows, take on Carmine Falcone with Jim Gordon, battle Mr. Freeze with Batgirl, and even get to see Dick Grayson's journey from Robin to Nightwing. That said, I was left wishing Nightwing felt more distinct from his younger self, as both wield escrima sticks and their gadgets are nearly identical. Catwoman is also present, and while I enjoyed playing as her early on, she feels cast aside by the story's conclusion compared to the rest of the cast. Players inhabit these characters to use the game's overhauled mechanics, which are the most complex a Lego game has ever had, while remaining comprehensible to younger audiences. Plenty of prior Lego games were specifically designed for children, but with skill trees, gadget upgrades, great level design, and a new combat system, Legacy of the Dark Knight is truly meant for all ages. The aforementioned combat system is lifted almost verbatim from the Arkham games, with counter-based gameplay and familiar enemy variants. While there are also three included difficulty levels (a first for the Lego franchise), the highest level was only mildly challenging. It's likely my prior Arkham playthroughs altered my experience, but I played the whole game without upgrading my health and never lost all three of my lives. However, it's certainly engaging enough to hold my interest, and I still had lots of fun punching henchmen. Meanwhile, stealth is Legacy of the Dark Knight's least consistent element. It's an option in many story encounters, but it's either far too simple, with enemies lined up with their backs to you, or simply intended as an entrance move, with enemies so clustered up that you can only take out one or two before being seen. Luckily, it's also not very punishing, as a failed stealth approach just turns into normal combat, but I wish more thought had been put into this side of the Dark Knight's skillset. You'll spend time between story missions in open-world Gotham City, which is easily one of the game's most successful features. Across its four islands, it's dynamic and organic, full of diverse architecture, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and just about every Batman-related landmark you could hope for. There's plenty to discover just by driving the city's roads, but it's also built with Batman's verticality in mind, with puzzles and collectibles scattered across the skyline. There's no shortage of things to do here, with hundreds of puzzles and short sidequests appearing on the map as you progress through the campaign. It will take me hours and hours to scour the city in the quest to reach 100-percent completion, and I plan to enjoy every second of it. I should also note that I encountered some scarce bugs across my roughly 15-hour playthrough, usually because of the game's physics. I'd grapple to a ledge but fail to hold on, characters would oddly vibrate on uneven surfaces, and a few times my camera clipped out of bounds. No issues were game-breaking, but all were distracting, even though they only happened about a dozen times. Still, I am utterly delighted by Legacy of the Dark Knight. Its story is charming and effective, its combat is engaging, and its open world is top-notch. It's a no-holds-barred approach to the revered character, and though there are spots where the execution could have been better, TT Games included everything I could have asked for in one wholly entertaining package. The Dark Knight has a storied legacy, and this adventure does it justice. Score: 8.75 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

Nex Playground is now available for pre-order in the UK and Ireland. Read more View the full article

Score Spirit Catcher 93' for free via Epic Games Store! Spirit Catcher 93' is a 3d retro-futuristic first person game. Check it out! View the full article

In this week's episode, we dive into the exclusive details of our Blood of Dawnwalker cover story, including an early look at romance options in the vampiric role-playing game from The Witcher 3's former game director. The crew also discusses Forza Horizon 6 and where the racing game goes next, why Directive 8020 disappointed executive editor Kyle Hilliard, and Call of the Elder Gods, another puzzle game from Out of the Blue Games. Finally, we wrap the podcast with a new wave of listener questions! The Game Informer Show is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Friday for chats about video game reviews, news, and exclusive reveals alongside Game Informer staff and special guests from around the industry. Support the show by subscribing to our physical video game magazine! Submit a question or topic you'd like to hear us discuss: Podcast@GameInformer.com Sponsored: Logitech G just changed the game again with the new PRO X2 Superstrike. This isn't just an upgrade; it’s a total reimagining of the mouse click. Stop playing fair and start playing faster. Go to LogitechG.com and enter code GAMEINFORMER25 at checkout to save 25% off Logitech G products.Watch or Listen to the Podcast:Listen to "The Blood of Dawnwalker Exclusive Details & Forza Horizon 6 Review" on Spreaker. Follow our hosts online:Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken)Kyle Hilliard (@KyleHilliard)Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7)Brian Shea (@BrianPShea)Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 05:02 – Forza Horizon 6 Review 25:46 – Directive 8020 Review 38:39 – The Blood of Dawnwalker Exclusive Details (Cover Story) 01:11:44 – Call of the Elder Gods 01:23:11 – Listener Questions View the full article

It's the freakin' weekend, baby. It was a busy week here at Game Informer. We revealed the next cover and launched the issue! We're highlighting The Blood of Dawnwalker, a new game about vampires from the director of Witcher 3. There's plenty more to the game than that, but you will have to read the cover story for the full picture. That issue also includes a big interview with Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, which subscribers can read right here and lots more. Here's some other articles that we put online this week before we offer up some weekend gamin' recommendations. Cover Reveal – The Blood Of DawnwalkerForza Horizon 6 Review - Remaining On The PodiumDirective 8020 Review - A Failed CopyCall of the Elder Gods Review - Maintaining SanityBest Buy May Have Leaked Grand Theft Auto VI Preorders Going Live MondayAs Early Access Fav Witchfire Nears 1.0 Launch This Year, Its Devs Make Clear You Won't Ever Find Generative AI In It Subnautica 2 Marcus Stewart I adored the original Subnautica, so I’m pumped that the third game (Subnautica: Below Zero still exists, guys) is finally here. I don’t often put much time into Early Access titles, but I’m looking forward to exploring Subnautica 2’s depths and enduring what will likely be several jumpscares from all manner of Leviathan-class organisms lurking below. It seems I’ll be far from alone given how massively successful the launch has been, so here’s hoping the game is nothing but smooth sailing throughout its Early Access period. Forza Horizon 6 Brian Shea As the follow-up to my favorite racing game of all-time, taking place in my favorite travel destination on the planet, Forza Horizon 6 has a lot of pieces in place to appeal directly to me. However, it goes beyond that, as this entry continues to make a case for being the best racing franchise around. Speeding around Japan is an absolute delight, full of all the incredible vistas you've come to expect, and the open-world design has me constantly veering off course to discover new collectibles, vehicles, and events. After more than 30 hours in Playground's gorgeous rendition of Japan, I'm still itching to jump back into the driver seat and explore more of what wonders still await. Of course, all of that comes with the caveat that in order to play Forza Horizon 6 today, ahead of its official May 19 release date next week, you do have to opt in for the $120 Premium Edition, which includes a bunch of digital extras alongside early access to the game. It's a hefty price tag that will be much lower next week, and even lower if you're a Game Pass subscriber. Game Informer's Forza Horizon 6 Review Infinity Sweeper Matt Miller For long years, the one game you could count on to be loaded up on school and work PCs was Minesweeper. For many, it was a respite from boredom that was hard to beat. Infinity Sweeper takes that very old gaming concept and adds a roguelite twist. You're still clicking on a big grid of numbers and trying to flag and avoid enemy mines, but playing and building score gives you the chance to unlock both single-run and permanent upgrades that improve your chances as additional traps and other complications. Is this the game that is going to change your world? No, it's definitely not. But if you recall the way Minesweeper could offer an absorbing logical rabbit hole to climb down, it's fun to see someone add a new twist. Marvel Rivals Season 8 Matt Miller If Jeff the Land Shark just wasn't quite large and fierce enough for you, but you still are hoping for that "adorable apex predator" vibe in your multiplayer game, then the arrival of Devil Dinosaur into Marvel Rivals should be right up your alley. NetEase continues to offer one of the most consistent and regular approaches to game updates currently on the market; this new character is the beginning of a rollout this season that includes the arrival of X-Man Cyclops, a new map, and a whole host of new costumes and other cosmetics. As for our early matches playing as (or against) the infamous red T-Rex, our expert conclusion is that he's...big. Call Of The Elder Gods Marcus Stewart If you’re looking to spend the weekend testing your smarts, Call of the Elder Gods offers a fun challenge. The Lovecraft-inspired adventure packs several well-designed and inventive riddles into a comfortably succinct runtime, allowing you to feel like a genius without devouring your entire weekend. And if you enjoy pulpy cosmic horror mysteries, the game has that in spades. I promise you’ll only go a little mad while playing it. Game Informer's Call of the Elder Gods review Directive 8020 Kyle Hilliard I didn't particularly like Directive 8020, the latest cinematic choice-driven game from Supermassive, the makers of Until Dawn. You can read my full review here where I voice complaints about the story, characters, and gameplay. But, my review was on the lower end of the critical pool, which is to say that just because I didn't love it doesn't mean you also won't. Supermassive games also benefit from playing with a group, like you're in a theater watching an interactive movie. There is definitely fun to be had in watching the fates of doomed astronauts play out with your input... it just didn't particularly work for me. But maybe it will for you! Game Informer's Directive 8020 Review View the full article

Claim your free Eldritch Escape Playtest Steam Key and join the playtest event until May 28. Eldritch Escape is a 3d extraction bullet heaven game with metroidvania-inspired worlds. View the full article

The NFL season will commence this September, but ahead of Week 1, all 32 teams in the league released their schedules today to let fans know the teams they'll face. There are a lot of unique and funny ways the teams went about this, but nothing tops the Los Angeles Chargers spoofing Halo and the Cleveland Browns spoofing Street Fighter 2. These aren't just creative workarounds either – the Chargers worked directly with Halo Studios to create various in-game Halo matches, complete with custom armor and other creative touches to showcase each football team in the style of the long-running FPS. They even got Jeff Steitzer, the man behind the iconic Halo multiplayer voice, to provide new voice lines for the video, and it rules. You can check out the Chargers' Halo-inspired schedule release video here (the Chargers have annoyingly blocked the videos from being embedded on websites). The Cleveland Browns dug even deeper into the nostalgia bag, utilizing an old-school aspect ratio, grainy film, hiring MatPat as a corny host, and displaying plenty of arcade cabinets to spoof Street Fighter 2 for the team's schedule release. Each NFL team is represented with a pretty good approximation of a Street Fighter 2 character in this fake version of the game, and you can see the Browns' fighter face off against them. Check it out below (shout out to the Browns for letting this video be embedded, unlike another NFL team...): For more, read Game Informer's Street Fighter 6 review, and then head to our Street Fighter 6 coverage hub (from when the game graced our cover back in 2022) for behind-the-scenes interviews and more. After that, check out the Halo: Campaign Evolved reveal trailer for a look at this Halo: Combat Evolved remake coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Which schedule release video do you think is better? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

So... basically, you can be a furry chasing a dino in this 2.5D runner game that’s free on Steam until May 30. View the full article

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: Rebel Wolves Release: September 3, 2026 Rating: Mature We recently announced our latest cover story as The Blood of Dawnwalker, the debut title from Rebel Wolves, a studio co-founded by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who directed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. We spent a full day in the Rebel Wolves' studio in Warsaw, Poland, seeing an extended hands-off demo and speaking with key members of the development team. After watching a long demo consisting of the prologue (read our impressions of that here), we went into a small room with Tomaszkiewicz to get an exclusive look at an extra sequence that hints at how relationships will play out as you play through this extremely promising action/RPG built on player choice. In the extra quest I see, protagonist Coen, a Dawnwalker who is a human by day and vampire by night, visits the town herbalist, Anca, to procure an elixir to strengthen the body and mind of his mother, Esme. Coen does this so that the primary antagonist, Brencis, and his clique of vampires don't know Esme's been starving herself. When Coen arrives at Anca's house, he asks her about a concoction that can calm his mother's mind and fortify her body. However, a surprise storm rolls in, trapping Coen and Anca in the house. Anca asks Coen if he'd like to use this opportunity to practice his Latin; it turns out she's more than just an herbalist. Choosing to stay consumes a time segment, a finite resource that dictates the passage of time within the daily calendar. They begin working through a poem that Anca originally indicates might be a bit much for Coen, but they dive into it anyway. The ode to the poet's lover certainly sets the mood, and small facial expressions indicate there might be a bit more to this teacher/student relationship. The fact that I can read their facial expressions stands in stark contrast to how romance options used to feel even just a few years ago, where it felt like two mannequins talking, flirting, and getting physical, highlighting how far the technology has progressed in recent years. "Now, you can believe that they are really characters or people," game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz says. "Our goal is to allow you to believe that and to feel that, because then immersion is totally different, you know, and emotions are different because you believe that you are speaking almost with a real person." However, that mood is interrupted as the storm knocks over a tree, smashing through the roof of Anca's herb shack. Since those herbs are her livelihood, it's a "drop everything" kind of situation. Coen and Anca run outside, but in the pouring rain, Anca slips and cuts herself. Coen saves the herbs, but now he must address Anca's injuries. Though she's resistant to the idea, Coen insists he helps patch her up. She agrees and removes her shirt so he can see the wound on her back. Now, the chemistry between the two feels even more intense. Through an interactive scene, Coen dresses the wound while the two make small talk. Nothing too risqué occurs in this sequence (aside from the shirt being removed), but Coen certainly gets in a few flirtatious lines on the way out. Player choice is at the center of The Blood of Dawnwalker, and that includes not only what quests you take on and how you complete them, but how you interact with people in the world. "We have a number of systems around this; some of them are kind of exposed to you as a player," creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz says. "The system we have in place for that, we call 'infamy.' And this system tracks your actions throughout the game and how known you become to the vampiric court and to the people of Vale Sangora in this negative way. This can be done in multiple ways: If you go on rampages, if you just kill people, if you steal things and people catch you, you, of course, get this bad rep. But also, like, quest choices and just choosing to go after Brencis, his retinue, and their organization will definitely bump you up on their 'bad people' list. There are consequences to this, negative and positive. On the negative side, Brencis will take notice, and he will enact these edicts that basically are meant to make your life harder. So, for example, he might send bounty hunters after you, or he might put the city on lockdown, in an extreme case, where it's very difficult to get in and get out and get to those shopkeepers, or you have to find your way around it. [He might] put more military patrols on the street, and so on." But it's not all negative, as infamy can aid Coen in his quest to take down Brencis and save his family. "On the positive side, there are people that hate Brencis and work against him, and raising your infamy will provide them with proof that you're on their side, that you're not just another vampire that is working against them," Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz says. "It also might make it easier for you to intimidate people because now, suddenly, you have this reputation of this infamous guy that goes around and wrecks the [vampire] organization." But it goes beyond widespread infamy and Coen's reputation, as Rebel Wolves also tracks your interactions with people on a micro level, building a database of Coen's relationships, which can eventually lead to romance. “We track your choices individually on a more detailed level,” Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz says. “Because of that, we have a lot of reactivity to your choices in the quests. NPCs might remember certain things you do and react to it in other places.” “You can build relations in our game, not only through normal dialogue, but also action,” Konrad Tomaszkiewicz says. “We have a lot of different activities and quests in the game. Some of them are flashy and you have combat or magic, and some are subtle or more calm, but you have people with whom you can speak or do some other thing to help them and build your relation. Sometimes, maybe romantic relations will come out of it.” This demo, when combined with these systems, plants the seed for how romance can play out in Rebel Wolves' debut game, but the studio isn't quite ready to share much beyond what I saw. "We have a rule that we are not speaking about romances," Konrad Tomaszkiewicz says. "You will see it after we release the game, but there will be some romance options that you can do. [Regarding this demo], we are taking a lot of care about the details to create those people to be really rich and interesting, and you'll need to build your relations to achieve that." If you're a subscriber, you can read more about this sequence, as well as get the most comprehensive look at The Blood of Dawnwalker yet in our cover story. It's available online for both print and digital subscribers right now, with the print issues arriving in mid-June. The Blood of Dawnwalker launches for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on September 3. View the full article

Games Done Quick (GDQ) has announced that its flagship speedrunning marathon, Summer Games Done Quick, will return to Minneapolis this July to benefit Doctors Without Borders. The full schedule has been released and will feature a wide range of speedruns from July 5 to July 11, including a game-breaking Balatro run, a unique tool-assisted Super Mario 64 run, the NES Tetris Tournament Finals, and so much more. The in-person event will be held at the Hilton Minneapolis Downtown in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to benefit Doctors Without Borders, a private international humanitarian organization founded in 1971 to provide lifesaving medical care to those most in need around the world. The money raised helps Doctors Without Borders' mission – last year's Summer event raised more than $2.4 million. You can check out the full Summer Games Done Quick schedule here. Here's a quick look at some of the speedruns GDQ is highlighting for this year's Summer event: Super Mario 64 – GDQ’s first-ever 120 Star TAS (tool-assisted) run.Total Nuclear Annihilation - Runner Ryan McSquid will be doing a Total Nuclear Annihilation pinball run, all while explaining his advanced techniques.NES Tetris Tournament Finals - The finals hit the mainstage! Online qualifiers will be live on GDQ Hotfix in June, with a last chance qualifier for attendees on-site.Balatro - Runner adef will attempt to reach a score in Balatro so high it breaks the game.Gordon & Daxter - A one-of-a-kind hybrid run where Half-Life 1 movement is imported into Jak & Daxter.Summer Games Done Quick will be available to watch in person (with a pass) or live on the organization's YouTube and Twitch accounts. View the full article

Bungie revealed earlier this week that Season 2 of Marathon will begin on June 2. Ahead of the new season's start, the studio has released a massive blog post detailing plans for Season 2 and beyond, what went wrong with Season 1, what went well, and more. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the post is the news that Bungie will implement experimental PvE modes in Marathon during Season 2. In a section of the blog post titled "More Options To Chill And New Survival Experiences," Bungie says it is looking to evolve Marathon as a whole to be an experience where you can find more novel ways to play when "you're stressed out from a nail-biting run and just need to cool off." In steps experimental PvE modes. "In Season 2, we will be experimenting with two modes, one at the beginning of the season and one towards the middle/latter half of the season," the blog post reads. "The experimental mode at the beginning of the season will focus more on PvE, but with a light touch of PvP. The second experimental mode will be a PvE-only mode that's focused on crews being tasked with completing objectives together and making some progress across matches." While I, personally, quite enjoy Maratho's PvP stress, I can understand why the intense focus on it might be a turn-off for some would-be players, and PvE modes would likely draw them in (and maybe convince them to give the excellent PvP a go, too). Bungie says it will continue to run experimental queues beyond these two offerings in Season 2 and beyond, testing the waters around other mechanics, like a more purely PvP-focused mode) with potential for these modes to become part of the core game loop. In Season 3, Bungie says it plans to introduce many revisions to Marathon's early experience, including major updates to Perimeter, a new Runner shell, and additional content. Season 4 will focus on building more depth into the existing extraction loop, and Season 5 will be about bringing the "whole ecosystem of (Pv(P)vE) play together and evolving our weird sci-fi world in new ways." Bungie The upcoming Sentinel Runner shell Elsewhere in the post, Bungie Duos will return in Season 2 alongside Vault size expansion and increased faction progression rates. It will dive deep into more Season 2 content, like Night Marsh, the new Cradle progression system, and the brand-new Sentinel Runner shell (pictured above), the week of May 25. The blog post goes into extreme detail on plenty of other topics, so if you're a more hardcore Marathon player, check it out here. For more, read Game Informer's Marathon review to find out why it's one of our favorite shooters of the year. If you're not already playing Marathon, would PvE modes bring you in? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Kwalee Developer: Out of the Blue Release: May 12, 2026 Rating: Everyone 10+ Professor Harry Everhart may have survived the cosmic horror that plagued him while he was trapped on that accursed Pacific island in Call of the Sea, but he still suffers from ominous visions decades later. Elsewhere, university student Evangeline Drayton has similarly bizarre dreams of a life and civilization beyond her understanding. When fate brings these two together, it leads to an intriguing and fun mystery centered on solving puzzles that bend the mind and reality itself. Like its 2020 predecessor, Call of the Elder Gods challenges players to solve elaborate environmental puzzles using observational and deductive skills, with no small amount of out-of-the-box thinking. As a whole, the first-person adventure has much in common with Call of the Sea, but I like how the globetrotting premise allows for more varied visuals. Players solve riddles in a storm-battered mansion, an abandoned snow-covered facility, a sweltering Australian desert, plus surreal locations not of this world. Puzzles sometimes require switching between controlling Evangeline, an engineer, and Harry, an archaeologist, though neither possesses distinct gameplay abilities. Instead, exercises require two heads to tackle, such as using Harry to carefully open a series of rooms for Evangeline to explore while evading and containing a supernatural threat. These exercises are fine subversions of the generally good and often challenging solo-character-designed puzzles, but I would have liked more tandem puzzles, given that they’re the biggest difference from the first game. Still, I was both impressed and perplexed by multi-layered riddles, such as deciphering otherworldly musical notes to open doors using ancient instruments or uncovering information on members of a mysterious cult to access their inner chambers. Finding every clue strewn about an area and recording key information in a journal is key, as missing one piece of evidence can be the difference between a breakthrough and an hour spent staring at your notes. While I find the puzzles logical, journal notes are sometimes too vague. On a few occasions, I questioned the exact meaning of a phrase or instruction because a note stopped short of fully clarifying or contextualizing something, turning some problems into frustrating guessing games (a cable-to-socket-matching exercise being the most egregious). Thankfully, a penalty-free hint system offers gentle nudges that build to outright solutions, depending on how deeply you choose to delve into it. Some puzzles lay out a buffet of notes, photographs, and other clues before you even have a grasp of the problem at hand. I would have liked some of these clues to be a bit more funneled, as sifting through so much out-of-context information at once is sometimes overwhelming. Furthermore, I was annoyed that certain clues I found useful would not be recorded in the journal for easy reference; revisiting these clues wherever they lay to cross-reference any hunches is a pain. Ultimately, these are small complaints, but they reared their heads often enough to be irksome. Call of the Elder Gods’ roughly seven-hour story, narrated by Call of the Sea protagonist Norah Everhart, is a decently entertaining mystery that takes some unexpected but neat twists. Despite having a good emotional core, particularly in how each character’s motivation is rooted in the loss of a loved one, Evangeline and Harry still aren’t the most memorable leads. The game’s villains fall even further below that benchmark; you won’t see them often, and one major foe’s fate unfolds anticlimactically. While the modest character models and illustrated cinematics won’t wow anyone, strong voice performances give the adventure some gravitas. Although it may not reach the heights of other narrative-puzzle contemporaries released since Call of the Sea, Call of the Elder Gods is still an entertaining test for your noggin, wrapped in an adequately engaging Lovecraft-inspired story. Harry and Evangeline would say otherwise, but it’s okay to embrace this game’s insanity-inducing madness with open arms. Score: 8 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

Unity has named the winners of its 2026 Unity for Humanity Grant, highlighting the achievements of ten developers and three honourable mentions from eight countries. Read more View the full article

Developer/publisher Unknown Worlds Entertainment launched Subnautica 2 into Early Access yesterday, May 14, and in just 12 hours, the game surpassed 2 million copies sold. Subnautica 2 also reached 651,000 peak concurrent players across Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox yesterday, making it clear that this highly anticipated underwater survival game is an Early Access hit. Subnautica 2 also has more than 12,500 reviews on Steam and maintains a "Very Positive" rating. Though Subnautica 2 still has a ways to go before matching its predecessor's sales, which sits at 18.5 million copies sold worldwide, it's off to a great start. Unknown Worlds Entertainment is Subnautica 2's publisher, but Krafton originally filled that role. However, a lengthy (and still ongoing) legal battle saw Krafton fire Unknown Worlds Entertainment's then-CEO Ted Gill and other studio co-founders over allegations that they (and the team) had failed to get Subnautica 2 up to par for launch, arguing that Gill and others were even working on other games instead of the survival sequel. The legal battle led to Gill and others being reinstated and Unknown World Entertainment gaining publishing rights for Subnautica 2. Gill and co-founders Max McGuire and Charlie Cleveland argued in court that Krafton did this to prevent Unknown Worlds Entertainment from earning a $250 million bonus payout (which activates upon Subnautica 2 achieving certain performance and sales milestones), but that the collection period was extended to September. And, given how well Subnautica 2 has performed in less than 24 hours, it seems very likely the studio will get that bonus. Game Informer will be streaming Subnautica 2 later today, so if you're interested in seeing the game in action, check it out on our Twitch channel later. Are you playing Subnautica 2? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Nexon reported strong first-quarter results, with net income rising 118% year-over-year, supported by a ¥14.5 billion ($91.4 million) foreign exchange gain. Read more View the full article

Square Enix has reported financial results for the year ending March 31, 2026, noting a decline in net sales due to reduced revenues from MMOs and games for smart devices and PC browsers. Read more View the full article