Gaming

A dev tried to warn WB Games not to launch Lord of the Rings: War in the North 10 days before Skyrim, but was ‘overruled’

• Developer warned against launching near Skyrim.
• WB Games reportedly overruled the concern.
• Poor timing coincided with weak sales and Snowblind’s closure.

A former developer says he warned Warner Bros. Games against releasing The Lord of the Rings: War in the North only 10 days before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but the decision was overruled. The episode matters because it illustrates how a crowded launch window can undermine a…

10 Game of the Year Winners That Aged Like Fine Wine

• Older Game of the Year winners can still feel influential and enjoyable.
• ‘Street Fighter II’ remains a fighting-game landmark.
• ‘Arkham Asylum’ and ‘Shadow of the Colossus’ retain distinctive appeal.

Collider highlights ten Game of the Year-winning video games it considers to have remained exceptional over time, judging their gameplay, influence, originality, design, visuals, storytelling, and lasting critical and fan support. The list matters as it argues that older games can retain cultural and mechanical relevance despite major…

All FC 26 FUTTIES Best of Re-Release Batch 4 players

• Final FUTTIES re-release batch adds 200 special cards to packs.
• Cards span numerous earlier FC 26 promotions.
• The listed players include several 94-rated Icons and stars.

FC 26 has released the fourth and final FUTTIES Best of re-release batch, returning 200 previously issued special Ultimate Team cards to packs. The update gives players another opportunity to obtain high-rated promotional cards that may have been unavailable when their original events ran. - The re-release includes…

25 Years of Mafia Video Games: An Oral History

• Mafia reaches its 25th anniversary with developer reflections and a new collection.
• Storytelling and characters shaped the series from its early development.
• A free 60fps console update accompanies the collection’s release.

IGN marks 25 years of the Mafia series with an oral history featuring long-serving developers from Hangar 13, including staff involved since the first game. The article traces how a small Czech studio’s crime-game idea developed into a story-led franchise, and why the series’ characters and cinematic focus…

The 5 Greatest New Games to Play on Steam This Weekend

• Five Steam releases span retro homages, shooters and new DLC.
• Several games evoke popular Nintendo 64 and PS2-era titles.
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam brings 50v50 warfare to Steam.

Polygon highlights five notable new Steam releases for the weekend, following a quieter week after several major game launches. The selection matters chiefly for players seeking either modern shooters or nostalgic takes on older console genres, including games inspired by Kingdom Hearts, GoldenEye 007 and Star Fox 64.…

Want More Story In Your Stardew? Fields Of Mistria Is Right Up Your Valley

Despite first hitting storefronts a decade ago, Stardew Valley still remains king of the farming simulators. Solo developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone struck gold when he took the formula established by games like Harvest Moon and improved on just about every facet, weaving charming visuals and music with a…

Ahead of GTA 6, Rockstar ramps up GTA Online roleplay as nopixel V prepares for exclusive Closed Beta launch in September

• nopixel V’s closed beta is due to start on 8 September 2026.
• Access will initially be limited to selected invitees via the Rockstar Games Launcher.
• The rebuilt GTA V roleplay server is being developed in collaboration with Rockstar Games.

NoPixel, a prominent Grand Theft Auto V roleplay community, has said that its rebuilt server, nopixel V, will begin a closed beta on 8 September 2026. The test will be available to selected participants through the Rockstar Games Launcher, rather than being a general public release. According to…

Patchdle is the Toughest Wordle-like for Gamers

• Patchdle asks players to identify games through patch-note clues.
• It provides six guesses and limited franchise or developer hints.
• More than 60 challenging puzzles are available in its archive.

Patchdle is a browser-based Wordle-like game that challenges players to identify video games from snippets of their patch notes. Created by Håkon Medhus Fornes and released on 9 June, it turns normally dry development updates into a difficult test of gaming knowledge, while drawing attention to the humour…

“Just buy the game on Steam”: Indie publisher behind a recent banger that sold 300k copies in its first week warns against key resellers after canceling hundreds of scalped keys

• tinyBuild revoked hundreds of ReStory keys linked to unauthorised reselling.
• Some legitimate Green Man Gaming customers were affected.
• The publisher said replacement keys would be issued.

tinyBuild cancelled hundreds of Steam keys for ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs after finding keys being resold through unauthorised marketplaces, and urged customers to buy directly through Steam. The incident highlights the risks of grey-market key sales, which can leave buyers without access to a game while providing little…

GTA 6 isn’t too expensive for superfans, as 90% opt for the pricier $100 copy according to analysts: “It lives in a league of its own”

• Analysts expect strong demand for GTA 6’s $100 premium edition.
• Around 90% of superfans may choose the pricier version.
• The forecast does not establish a $100 standard price.

GamesRadar reports that analysts believe Grand Theft Auto 6 can sustain a $100 premium edition because of unusually strong demand from its most committed fans. The claim matters because it suggests the game’s exceptional cultural reach may allow Take-Two to test higher-priced editions without substantially deterring its core…