Super Mario Galaxy Movie Crosses $1 Billion, Fortnite's Sprites Take Over, and Arc Raiders Faces a Duping Crisis
The Pokémon Company is absolutely printing money right now, with a jaw-dropping financial report showing net sales up 29.3%, operating profit up 43.0%, and net profit jumping a massive 70.7%. To put that into perspect...
Pokémon & Nintendo — new reveals, game updates, Nintendo Direct news, Switch content, Pokémon announcements
The Pokémon Company is absolutely printing money right now, with a jaw-dropping financial report showing net sales up 29.3%, operating profit up 43.0%, and net profit jumping a massive 70.7%. To put that into perspective, their annual revenue sat around $750 million back in 2021 and has more than quadrupled in just five years.
In blockbuster film news, the Super Mario Galaxy Movie has officially passed $1 billion at the box office, making it the first film of 2026 to hit that milestone. Over on the gaming front, the classic stealth experience Thief: The Dark Project is getting a remaster this winter for practically every platform under the sun, including the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo fans also got a look at Demi and the Fractured Dream with a new gameplay trailer for the Switch 2, and Hori revealed a slick new line of official accessories for Splatoon Raiders in Japan. If you're looking for something to play right now, Dave the Diver just dropped its "In the Jungle" DLC, and Super Yooka-Laylee Kart got an announcement trailer at Summer Games Fest. Plus, someone made an incredible map proving how desperately Mario Kart World needs new Knockout tours to utilize its unused roads!
Fortnite — season updates, collabs, new skins, map changes, competitive scene
Fortnite's Chapter 7 Season 3, dubbed "Runners," is being hailed by many fans as the "Best Season Ever" thanks to its incredibly cute and expressive Sprite system. The community is already finding fun ways to interact with the new mechanics, including using sprays on Jones' comatose body and debating the existence of empty sprite display cases.
In a huge lore drop, the community is buzzing about the Geno reveal and how it gives the classic Omega skin some serious "generational beef." On the voice acting front, Maggie Robertson—famous for playing Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village—has been confirmed as the voice of the new character PJ. Players are also loving the Shattered Coast map, though some are begging Epic Games to bring back the Wind Sprite and maybe cool it with the sheer number of dog sidekicks.
Call of Duty — Warzone/Black Ops updates, new seasons, weapons, competitive
Call of Duty fans are currently dealing with some serious nostalgia and technical hurdles alike. Some players are diving back into the classic Call of Duty 2 with their old physical discs, while others are seeking zombie recommendations after getting back into the undead mood via Resident Evil.
On the technical side, players are expressing frustration with Modern Warfare-era hardware requirements, specifically struggles with TPM 2.0 and CSM settings just to boot the game. Others are running into game-breaking errors when trying to launch older titles like Black Ops. In a fun community moment, someone is looking for a high-resolution video of the Dark Matter camo effect from Black Ops 3 to use as a live wallpaper.
Arc Raiders — beta news, updates, community highlights, Embark Studios announcements
ARC Raiders is currently facing a massive in-game duplication glitch that threatens the game's economy. The community is rallying to upvote a video by Gaming Merchant exposing the issue in hopes that Embark Studios will push a fix quickly.
In lighter news, players are sharing incredibly wholesome moments from their playthroughs, including one dubbed "the most wholesome side quest in ARC Raiders history." There are also fun feature requests floating around, like a Tears of the Kingdom-style compound bow that lets you stick items to arrows!
Indie Games — notable releases, hidden gems, devlogs, Steam Next Fest picks
The indie scene is thriving with new demos and release date announcements! The water-powered action-adventure game Fading Echo finally has a release date of July 21, 2026, and you can check out a brand new demo on Steam right now. If you're looking for something a bit more relaxed, the cozy game Missі also just dropped its first demo today.
For those who prefer a bit of mobster action, La Cosa Nostra—a 2.5D side-scrolling game inspired by classic action titles—is bringing a demo to Steam Next Fest. We also love a good community success story; one developer celebrated hitting 0.00000085 billion wishlists for their game, proving every wish counts. Unfortunately, a smaller indie team had to deal with a "culture-warrior" Steam Curator leaving a negative review simply because the devs made their female characters less sexualized.
Steam & PC — top charts, big sales, Steam Deck compatibility, major PC releases
If you missed Steam Next Fest, don't worry—there are tons of free demos available right now thanks to the flurry of game shows this week. It's a perfect time to try before you buy.
In hardware news, the mysterious "Steam Frame" has surfaced in the Canada ISED REL database (the Canadian equivalent of the FCC), hinting that Valve might have a new hardware trick up its sleeve. On the software side of the platform, users are advocating for a much-needed feature: notifications for when a wishlisted game is being removed from the store. Players are also trying to figure out the quirks of the Steam Community Market, asking how to sell or gem-convert seasonal emoticons and trading cards from delisted games.
Gaming Roundup — other notable news, trailers, industry moves
The gaming world is still processing the fallout from the Xbox Games Showcase, which included the surprise reveal of Minecraft Dungeons II. The trailer has Nintendo Switch owners buzzing about a potential port.
In map design news, the community surrounding Mario Kart World continues to produce incredible content, with one fan creating a detailed map to highlight the game's massive potential for new Knockout tour routes. Finally, players across the industry are rediscovering why they fell in love with gaming in the first place—whether that's through the cozy sprites of Fortnite or the nostalgic discs of yesteryear.