Pokémon & Nintendo

• The Pokémon Company is gearing up for the launch of the 'Everyday Wonders' set in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Fans are already calling it one of the cutest expansions yet for the wildly popular digital card game!
• The embargo has finally lifted on Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2, and critics are thrilled with its fresh visuals, updated controls, and classic on-rails action! Nintendo also dropped the launch day patch notes today to ensure smooth flying ahead of the game's highly anticipated release tomorrow.
• Just ahead of EVO 2026 in Las Vegas, 8BitDo has revealed the new Arcade Controller Pro, an enhanced leverless fight pad for the Switch, Switch 2, and PC. Meanwhile, the reveal that Grand Theft Auto VI will use a code-in-a-box Game-Key Card on the Switch 2 has reignited the physical media debate among Nintendo fans.

Indie Games

• Surprise! Deltarune Chapter 5 is officially out now, and players are already diving deep into its secrets. Make sure you don't miss the Red Ribbon for your companions, figure out how to activate the Mysterious Structure's power to climb the vines, and track down the well-hidden Secret Egg!
• 1047 Games, the studio behind Splitgate, is back with a brand new FPS called Empulse. While the CEO insists they aren't trying to build Titanfall 3, this fast-paced shooter is already scratching that high-speed wallrunning itch for fans of the genre.
• With the Backrooms movie adaptation successfully storming the box office, horror fans are now heatedly debating which indie game deserves a theatrical release next.

Steam & PC

• Valve's upcoming Steam Machine is one of the most exciting hardware launches of the year, but players are discovering a surprising number of major titles are currently unplayable due to Linux and SteamOS anti-cheat restrictions. If the £1000 price tag scared you, you're not alone—Valve even admitted the one thing they would change about the Steam Machine is to "make it cheaper!"
• Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney opened up about the future of the industry, noting that it's finally clear nobody will end up with an absolute monopoly over PC gaming. In a surprising blast from the past, the 18-year-old strategy classic King's Bounty: The Legend just received a massive quality-of-life update, achievements, and official Steam Workshop support!

Gaming Roundup

• The marketing blitz for Grand Theft Auto VI has officially begun, locking in a November 19, 2026 release date with a massive $80 price tag for the standard edition. Players will also have to navigate a $100 Ultimate Edition, which locks away bonus content, alongside Rockstar's assertion that the game "plays best on PS5."
• In a huge win for creative stability, the incumbent CEO of FromSoftware's parent company Kadokawa Corporation successfully survived an aggressive attempt by an activist hedge fund to oust him.
• It is a massive week for deals, as Amazon Prime Day, Target Circle Week, and Woot's Summer of Gaming sales are all live right now, offering huge discounts on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 hardware, and accessories like the mClassic graphics upscaler. If you need a break from gaming to relax, Season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender also debuts today on Netflix!