Pokémon & Nintendo

• Pokémon Pokopia is getting its first post-launch limited-time event! The "Wish Upon a Jirachi" event arrives next week, allowing trainers to meet the mythical Wish Pokémon and earn exclusive cosmetics. The game also just dropped Version 1.1.1, preparing the servers for the upcoming celebration.
• The Nintendo Switch 2 just dropped a sizzle reel highlighting an incredible lineup of third-party games on the way. Fans can look forward to heavy hitters like Final Fantasy and Turok making their way to the hybrid console.
• If you're planning a trip to Japan, Nintendo has announced that a 'SUPER FAMILY RESTAURANT' will be opening at the Nintendo Museum in Autumn 2026.
• Capcom surprised everyone with a new update for Pragmata, granting protagonist Hugh an adorable new suit. In other Switch 2 news, the beloved Two Point Hospital: Full Health Collection is "coming soon" to the console, while Two Point Museum just received a free Dave the Diver update.
• Over in the Japanese charts, the juggernaut known as Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream has finally been knocked from the number one spot. The culprit? None other than the massively popular baseball sim, Powerful Pro Baseball.
• Hardware enthusiasts will want to check out the Brook Wingman P5S adapter, which finally lets you use almost any controller on the Switch 2—including the elusive Steam Controller. Speaking of Pokémon fan creations, the community is going wild for some amazing pixel art enamel pins and a massive Vaporeon build in Minecraft!

Fortnite

• Fortnite OG Season 9 is officially on the horizon, bringing back the late stages of Chapter 1 for veteran players. Get ready to drop into classic map changes and earn rewards through the retro-themed OG Pass.
• In industry news, Vampire Survivors studio Poncle has announced it is "reviewing" its upcoming Fortnite collaboration. This hesitation follows Epic's recent State of Unreal presentation, which heavily focused on integrating generative AI into Unreal Engine 6.

Indie Games

• If you're looking for a hidden gem, keep an eye on Iron Nest: Heavy Turret Simulator. It tasks you with managing a walking artillery unit, delivering an unexpectedly emotional narrative alongside its heavy ordnance.
• Deck-builders rejoice, as Slay the Spire 2 just received a massive update. The patch adds Steam Workshop support for mods, introduces a new boss named Aeonglass, and hilariously fixes a broken RNG issue that was exposed by a gruelling eight-hour community video exposé.
• A 1986 Japanese adventure game is making its way to Steam this year, and it is an absolute must-play. This retro classic is already a guaranteed contender for the Game of the Year lists of anyone who appreciates gaming history.

Steam & PC

• Epic Games has finally confirmed that a "ground-up rebuild" of its launcher is underway, promising 5-6.5x improved performance. A massive redesign of the Epic Games Store is also planned over the next year to finally bring it up to modern standards.
• Valve's recently launched Steam Controller is facing massive supply chain issues due to overwhelming demand. The company is changing reservation estimates, warning some customers that they might not get their hands on the device until 2027.
• The gaming industry's debate over generative AI continues to heat up. Following Take-Two's former AI boss calling the genAI hype "poisoning the well," the communications lead for Palworld has planted his flag firmly on the right side of the discussion, advocating for traditional development practices.

Gaming Roundup

• Battlefield 6 is gearing up for its Season 3 "Wet Work" event by bringing back the classic High Value Target mechanic. Interestingly, this fan-favorite mode actually originated in Call of Duty: Ghosts!
• Sports fans have new content to grind in EA FC 26, as the 1 of 3 92+ TOTS Summer Nations, UEFA Winners or FOF PTG SBC is now live. Completing this challenge guarantees you a high-tier promo item for your Ultimate Team.