Gaming

A forgotten old co-op Lord of the Rings game has been unexpectedly remastered and re-released, and there’s a promise of more to come

• War in the North returns with modern console support and gameplay improvements.
• It costs roughly £19, with Switch versions arriving on 18 August.
• Warner Bros. has hinted at more Aspyr Lord of the Rings re-releases.

Aspyr has remastered and re-released The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, a 2011 action RPG built around three-player co-operative play and a parallel Middle-earth story. The Legacy edition is available now for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with Switch and Switch 2 versions…

Phantom Blade Zero showcase scheduled for 18 August

• Phantom Blade Zero receives a dedicated State of Play on 18 August.
• Disc-production backlash may dominate the livestream discussion.
• Sony maintains its digital-only strategy will continue.

Sony has scheduled a dedicated State of Play presentation for Phantom Blade Zero on 18 August at 3am UK time, accompanied by a new trailer featuring Donnie Yen. The showcase is intended to spotlight S-Game’s action title, but it is likely to be overshadowed by continued criticism of…

10 Sci-Fi Video Game Masterpieces So Great They Became the Blueprint

• Classic sci-fi games established ideas later developers repeatedly adopted.
• Space Invaders helped shape arcade design and increasing challenge.
• Mass Effect 2 set a high bar for interactive space operas.

Collider highlights ten influential science-fiction games it considers “blueprints” for later titles, judging them by innovation, design, gameplay, storytelling, popularity and critical reception. The article argues that major games rarely innovate in isolation, instead building on earlier successes that established enduring genre conventions. - Space Invaders (1978): credited…

Harry Potter nerds have forced an undersea cable to be moved to avoid Dobby the house elf’s grave, now runs close to Bronze Age remains instead

• Fans prompted an electricity cable reroute around Dobby’s unofficial memorial.
• The £430m Wales–Ireland link can power about 380,000 homes.
• The revised route also avoids nearby Bronze Age remains.

Greenlink altered the route of its Wales–Ireland electricity interconnector after hundreds of Harry Potter fans objected to it passing through the unofficial “grave” of Dobby at Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire. The incident highlights how a fictional-film memorial, which has become a tourist attraction, influenced a major infrastructure…

All The Final Ascent badges and cosmetics in PEAK

• PEAK’s Final Ascent adds 10 badge challenges.
• GLOOM and CITADEL feature several new objectives.
• Completing badges unlocks themed cosmetic outfits and hats.

The Final Ascent update for PEAK adds 10 unlockable badges, linked mainly to the new GLOOM and CITADEL maps, alongside cosmetic rewards for completing them. The guide explains each objective, from navigating hazards and completing map ascents to finding specific items and performing co-operative actions. - Archery: remove…

Gamescom 2026 schedule: All of the dates, times, and where to watch the showcases

• Gamescom 2026 showcase timings are being compiled.
• Dates and streams will be updated as announced.
• Check time zones before watching.

Gamescom 2026 will feature several livestreamed showcases, with GamesRadar’s schedule intended to help viewers follow the announcements and presentations as they are confirmed. - Dates, starting times and viewing locations for each showcase will be added or updated as organisers announce them. - The schedule covers Gamescom-related broadcasts…

Fortnite Unstable Story Moment live event countdown: Exact start time and date

• Fortnite’s season-ending event starts at 7pm BST on 15 August.
• It concludes Chapter Seven, season three.
• The event is expected to introduce season four, Override.

Fortnite’s Unstable Story Moment live event will conclude Chapter Seven, season three and help set up the following season, Override. It matters chiefly to players following the game’s narrative, as it is expected to bring together the season’s story quests and reveal how the storyline moves forward. The…

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review: “A stunning comeback for superhero fighters essential for Marvel and genre fans alike”

• GamesRadar+ gave Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls an emphatically positive review.
• The 4v4 system aims to combine accessible controls with substantial team-based strategy.
• Reviews praised the visuals and combat, while noting limited solo content and PC technical issues.

GamesRadar+ published a strongly positive review of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls on 12 August, describing Arc System Works’ new Marvel fighter as a major return for superhero-focused fighting games. The review highlighted its comic-book-inspired presentation, anime-influenced art direction and escalating four-versus-four team format, in which combatants join the…

Avengers: Doomsday Advert Cost Marvel $160,000 in Fines After Safety Fears

Marvel incurred fines totaling $160,000 to display a lavish Avengers: Doomsday advert during San Diego Comic-Con, despite opposition by city officials.

Who put all these banjos in my sci-fi game?

Why have the recent crop of science fiction video games all sounded so... rustic? Do they have more in common than just a country-fried soundtrack?