Pokémon & Nintendo

• Strategy RPG Alert: Brigandine: Abyss is officially getting a demo on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop later this month! Ahead of its full August launch, NIS America and Happinet are giving players a chance to test the waters before buying.
• A Bear and Bird Return? Developer Toys For Bob is once again publicly campaigning to develop a new Banjo-Kazooie game. With the studio's upcoming Spyro: A Realm Beyond on the horizon, they noted that making a new Banjo game "would be amazing" if the opportunity ever arises—make it happen, Xbox and Nintendo!
• Comic-Con Hands-On: Nintendo is bringing Nintendo Switch Sports Resort to San Diego Comic-Con this year! From July 23rd to 26th, attendees will be able to go hands-on with 4 of the 12 different sports featured in the upcoming game.
• Fighting Game Future: Can you believe Street Fighter 6 is already over three years old? Capcom is remaining coy about a potential Super Street Fighter 6 update, but producers promise the game still has a long lifespan ahead of it.
• Perks and Crimes: In a great win for European gamers, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers now get practically free delivery from the Nintendo Store for any orders over £1. Meanwhile, in bizarre crime news, two men have officially pleaded guilty to stealing over £71,000 worth of Pokémon TCG merchandise in a string of targeted small-card-store burglaries.
• Pokémon Community: The Pokémon subreddit is buzzing with incredible talent today! A user going by Old-Biscotti647 is steadily making every single Pokémon using only Microsoft PowerPoint (they just finished all the Eeveelutions!), while other fans are showing off adorable Scorbunny road trip plushies and custom Energy Card paintings.

Arc Raiders

• Matchmaking Overhaul: Embark Studios has dropped Arc Raiders Patch 1.36.0 across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, introducing separate Solo, Duo, and Trio tracking. Now you can be a friendly ally in one mode and an absolute rat in the others without ruining your reputation!

Indie Games

• Bloodsucking Immersive Sim: Bithell Games has announced Vampirium: 1997, a stylish immersive sim set in an alternate 90s timeline where Dracula sits on the English throne. Slated to launch into Steam Early Access soon, you'll step into the shoes of King Dracula's personal vamp-assassin in what looks like a phenomenal hidden gem.

Steam & PC

• Pirate King: Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced officially launches today (July 9th) and is already tracking to perform better on Steam than last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows. Even better, the developers have confirmed the game runs buttery smooth on both the Steam Deck and Steam Machine with the right settings tweaked. Ayo, a pirate's life for me!
• Proton Magic: Valve's incredible Proton tech (the software that lets Windows games run flawlessly on Linux and the Steam Deck) just received a massive update. The system has been rebased and is now fully optimized to run the Resident Evil franchise seamlessly on the go.
• End of an Era: In a somber bit of PC news, the free-to-play Final Fantasy 7 gacha game is shutting down less than three years after it launched on Steam.

Gaming Roundup

• Hero Shooter Chaos: NetEase is throwing traditional balance out the window for Marvel Rivals. The upcoming Season 9 update is going to adjust a staggering 80% of the roster in pursuit of a more "fun" approach to the game, so get ready to completely relearn your favorite heroes!
• Industry Moves: Sony has officially reached a settlement with fired Marathon game director Christopher Barrett, who originally sued PlayStation and Bungie for over $200 million. As part of the agreement, Barrett's name will now be added to the game's credits.
• Cursed Content: Destiny 2 fans are eating well with a new, unofficial, and highly cursed fan-made raid called "Pete Carsons' Vault of Cars." If you want a wildly surreal experience to cap off your live-service grind, this community creation is a must-play.
• Cozy Quests: For the cozy gamers out there, Disney Dreamlight Valley just dropped a massive wave of new walkthroughs for the Honeyglow Woods storyline. You can now find guides for recruiting Eeyore, clearing the Everoak Tree, and finally unlocking Piglet in Chapter 9.
• Brick Deals: LEGO Insiders Days 2026 is officially live right now at the LEGO Store, dropping major prices on sets and offering freebies for Insiders. If you've been waiting to snag a gaming-themed build, now is the time!