Quick Hits

• The September 2026 Nintendo Direct was a monster: Metroid Ravenous announced for Switch 2 (launching 28 January 2027), a new 3D Kirby adventure in Kirby and the World Beyond (Spring 2027), Pikmin 4 finally getting its Switch 2 Edition (12 November), Persona 4 Revival confirmed for the platform, and a free Mario Kart World retro update available today.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has a weapon skin you can only properly see on Xbox — per Eurogamer, it's Activision's latest pre-order play with launch roughly a month and a half away.
• Around 1,900 Blizzard Entertainment employees represented by the CWA have signed a union contract with Microsoft, which GameSpot reports could set a new standard for game developers.
• Valheim 1.0 has left early access and shot to a five-year high in Steam player count — though Eurogamer notes even that isn't enough to beat the viking survival game's original viral peak.
• Australian Steam users now need a credit card — not a bank debit card — to verify their age and purchase R18+ games, following new Australian laws.

Pokémon & Nintendo

If you missed today's Direct, Destructoid has the full roundup of everything announced — and it's a big one, building on the recent Ocarina of Time remake reveals. The headliners, via Nintendo Life:

• Metroid Ravenous is officially Metroid 6, launching on Switch 2 on 28 January 2027, with amiibo and a special edition confirmed.
• Kirby and the World Beyond closed the show — a new 3D Kirby landing on Switch 2 in Spring 2027.
• Pikmin 4 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition finally arrives on 12 November, ending the long wait.
• Mario Kart World gets its free content update today, bringing back 10 classic Super Mario Kart circuits.
• Persona 4 Revival is officially heading to Switch 2 after being announced for nearly everything else — and Atlus teased Persona 6 for the future.

On the Pokémon front, GameSpot reports that a prominent collector and investor at Griffin Gaming Partners accidentally pitched what sounds like a genuinely compelling Pokémon apocalypse movie — three decades of Pokémon popularity apparently invites bold pitches. Meanwhile, the r/pokemon community is delivering as always: a handcrafted Piplup rug is in the works, with the creator asking which Pokémon to tackle next, and a delightfully stretchy Poliwhirl illustration is making the rounds.

Fortnite

Chapter 7, Season 4 is in full swing, and Destructoid has a guide for one of the trickier quest steps: collecting Looper's essence from eliminated players. If that mission has you stumped mid-battle-pass grind, it's worth a look.

Call of Duty

The Modern Warfare 4 marketing machine is getting creative: Eurogamer and PC Gamer both covered Activision's new pre-order incentive — a weapon skin that can only be seen properly on an Xbox console. With release about six weeks out, expect more stunts before launch.

Indie Games

• Silent Hill f has collaborated with Japan's biggest indie game of 2025 — and per Kotaku, the free crossover mini-game is playable right now in your browser.
• Rock Paper Shotgun flags that the Touhou Project's cult classic shoot-em-up Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil has a remake out now — a lovely modern treatment for one of the most fan-active series in gaming.

Steam & PC

• Valve has implemented proof-of-age verification for Australian Steam users due to new laws, and as PC Gamer and IGN both note, only a credit card will do — debit cards won't cut it for R18+ purchases.
• Valheim's 1.0 launch has sparked a huge resurgence on Steam, hitting a five-year player-count high, though Eurogamer notes it still trails the game's explosive early access debut.
• PC Gamer reports VR headset shipments are down 18% year-over-year — potentially worrying news for Valve's headset ambitions.
• In genuinely delightful news, GOG's preservation initiative is reprinting physical game discs, resurrecting one of the coolest (and least practical) staples of old PC gaming as the industry pushes away from discs.

Gaming Roundup

• Marvel Rivals is breaking its 17-month streak of adding two heroes per season — but PC Gamer reports creative director reassurances that it's not "the new normal." Destructoid has the Season 10 countdown, with Gorr set to bring chaos to the god-heavy roster.
• Blizzard's union milestone: GameSpot reports the 1,900-strong CWA-represented group secured several guarantees in its contract with Microsoft — a potential template for the industry.
• Spyro: A Realm Beyond got a deeper look during Spyro Community Day, per Destructoid — the purple dragon's comeback is really happening.
• Gears of War: E-Day has a Smash Mouth/Shrek-inspired achievement, and GameSpot thinks that's fantastic. Honestly? Agreed.
• Three fan-favorite Batman movies return to theaters this month for Batman Day, per IGN.
• Director Zach Cregger is pre-apologizing for his upcoming Resident Evil film, calling himself naive — though PC Gamer's writer argues he doesn't owe us anything yet.
• Destructoid's hands-on with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn says Owlcat's RPG fixes an issue Mass Effect never could — one to watch.
• Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition's The Baltic Powers expansion is nearly here, adding two new races — Destructoid has the exact release countdown.

What a Direct. See you tomorrow — same time, same energy. 🎮