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6 PS5 Games Releasing in October You Officially Cannot Miss
Too many games, never enough time
PS5 Pro Shortage Hits Japan As Sony Limits Console Purchases To Active Playstation Users Ahead Of GTA 6
A lottery system has been introduced in an effort to counter shortages while alleviating scalper concerns ahead of GTA 6
PS5 Jailbreak Exploit For Systems Running July 2026 Firmware
According to those who have installed the new Relapse exploit, it works with everything from Marvel's Wolverine to The Witcher 3: Remastered
New PlayStation 5 Console Jailbreak Released for PS5 & PS5 Pro
A new PS5 jailbreak has dropped, which applies to both PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles and unlocks new (illegal) capabilities.
No Intergalactic PS5 Updates Until 2027, New Artwork for Now
"We're going to be quiet for the rest of this year"
Enhance Your Ace Combat 8 Experience with Two Rival PS5 Flight Sticks, Out This Week
Do a barrell roll
The Last of Us Day Marked with PS5 Avatars, Ghost of Yotei DLC, Figures
Get your redemption code here
Review: Silent Hill: Townfall Largely Delivers on PS5 and Pro, Falls Short on PC
This unique setting deserves better.
PS5-exclusive Marvel’s Wolverine now boots on PC, Demon’s Souls reaches 40–50 FPS
KyTyPS5 development has produced two new demonstrations covering both compatibility and performance. Marvel's Wolverine can already reach its menu, while Demon's Souls now runs at up to around 50 FPS.
Famitsu sales (9/14/26 - 9/20/26) - first week sales revealed for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Famitsu are as follows: Switch 2 – 34,341 PS5 Digital Edition – 7,441 Switch OLED – 2,634 Switch Lite – 2,248 Switch – 823 PS5 Pro – 219 PS5 – 187 Xbox Series X – 136 Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 116 Xbox Series S – 19 For comparison’s sake, here are the...
God of War Laufey PS5 Editions Revealed, Pre-Order Tomorrow
Ahead of 16th Feb 2027 release date
The Xbox Series X Can Now Play PlayStation 5 Games - Here's How
A modder named Devran Cosmo Uenal has created a special port of the KytyPS5 emulator for Xbox Series X, allowing some PS5 games to be played on the console.
The Witcher 3 Remastered a 45GB PS5 Patch, Release Times Revealed
An update to current PS5 version
'Sony's Hearing a Lot of the Feedback from Customers': NIS America Boss Weighs in on PS5 Disc Debate
"We'll have to see what happens"
Experimental Emulator Brings Nintendo Switch Games to Jailbroken PS5 Consoles
An unofficial port of the Eden Nintendo Switch emulator is now running natively on jailbroken PlayStation 5 consoles. Developer BlackBearReloaded released ProsperoEden, which adapts Eden, itself a fork of the now-defunct Yuzu project, to run directly on Sony's hardware as homebrew rather than...
Nintendo Switch emulator now runs natively on jailbroken PS5, Cuphead reaches 60 FPS
ProsperoEden is an experimental native PS5 port of the Eden Nintendo Switch emulator, with several games already reaching gameplay on jailbroken consoles.
Is It Worth Keeping Your PlayStation 5's Box?
You don't need to keep your PS5 box, but the original packaging can protect the console during moves or shipping and may help when reselling it.
Silent Hill: Townfall compared on RTX 5080 and PS5 Pro with DLSS 4.5 and PSSR 2 in 4K
An extended comparative benchmarking of psychological horror films has been published online. Silent Hill: Townfall, in which the quality of graphics and level...
New PS5 RPG Beats Wolverine, Control Resonant, and Silent Hill With 97/100 Score
A new PS5 RPG has beat Marvel's Wolverine, Control Resonant, and Silent Hill: Townfall with a 97/100 user review score on the PS Store.
Newest Wolverine PS5 Update Wipes Out Scent Trails to Collectibles
Now find them for yourself
PS5 Fans Encouraged to Give Feedback on Discs in New Sony Survey
And any other pressing concerns
As Resident Evil Requiem Passes $500m Revenue, Analysis Shows 8.6% Sales Were on Xbox, With Remaining 91% Shared Between PS5 and Steam
Resident Evil Requiem sold just 8.6% of its copies on Xbox, new sales analysis indicates.
Infinite New Game+, Photo Mode on the Way to Control Resonant, No Word on Proper PS5 DLC
Updates in October and November
Review: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (PS5) - The Series Lands Its Most Confident Entry Yet
Rex machina
Unicorn Overlord director Takafumi Noma announces fantasy IP IGNISPHERE and action RPG DAWNGAZER for PS5, Switch 2, and PC
Publisher Good Smile Company and developer Monochrome Corporation have announced new fantasy intellectual property IGNISPHERE, and the first game set in that world, DAWNGAZER, led by Unicorn Overlo…
Xbox CSO Issues Response To Report About GTA 6 Sales Being 'Heavily Skewed' Towards PS5
"The title is breaking records for XBOX"
Xbox Says Its Share of GTA 6 Preorders Matches Its Share of the Console Market, Following PS5 Dominance Claim
Microsoft has stepped in to address a report that claimed GTA 6 preorders are “heavily skewed” toward PlayStation 5 over Xbox Series X and S.
Control Resonant Made Easier After Player Feedback, PS5 Patch Live Now
Small update makes a big difference
Rumour: PS6 Hardware Complete, Double the Power of PS5 with Handheld Model
Less powerful than new Xbox, but potentially cheaper
Which is the best version of Dragon Quest XI S? Switch 2, PC, PS4, Xbox, PS5, Steam Deck, & AYN Thor compared
We compare Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition launches for Switch 2 on September 24
World of Warcraft Would Never Work on PS5 or Xbox
The official gamepad support in WoW: Forever is about as good as it could be, but it's still a square peg in a round hole
Sudden Demand for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and War PS5 Ports After Switch 2 Bundle Is Revealed
Nemesis
Acclaimed PS5 Metroidvania Game Arrives Today on PlayStation Store, Has Free Demo
An acclaimed PS5 Metroidvania adventure game is now available on the PlayStation Store and on other modern consoles and PC.
PS Plus Discount for One of PS5's Best New Indie Games
Well Dweller opens to 90+ critic reviews
One of 2026's Best-Rated PS5 Games Is Out Today, and You Probably Don't Even Know It
Well Dweller opens to 90+ critic reviews
Dawnwalker's First Big PS5 Patch Adds an Even Easier Difficulty Mode and Improves Combat
Sun's up
Sony officially announces a new limited edition PS5 DualSense controller based on K-pop star Lisa
The Blackpink singer’s controller is coming next month…
Hideo Kojima doesn't know if Physint will be released on PS5, and he hasn't decided if it's going to use Sony's Decima game engine
Sony's sudden decision to drop Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear successor Physint has raised many questions about the game's future.
Say Sawadika to Your New PS5 Controller, Feat Lisa from Blackpink
Got this DualSense from Geneva
Stellar Blade Still Not Finished, Four Free Bayonetta Costumes Coming to PS5
Original game will get "some changes" for sequel
Video: Stellar Blade Nintendo Switch 2 vs. PS5 graphics comparison
A brand-new graphics comparison video has surfaced for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5 versions of Stellar Blade. For those that missed the news, Shift Up just dropped a demo for the Nintendo Switch 2 release on the eShop today. That’s where the latest footage comes in. Note that it’s possible we could see changes / improvements in the...
Lufia I & II: The Sinistrals Saga announced for PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
TAITO has announced Lufia I & II: The Sinistrals Saga for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2027. It will be published by Clear River Games in the west.
Don't Sleep on Fate/Extra Record - This Story-Driven PS5 RPG Shows Real Promise
Yes, master
Insomniac Confirms Wolverine Doesn't Contain AI-Generated Assets After A Weird-Looking Sign Goes Viral
A funky-looking bathroom sign is the result of an in-game glitch and is not AI slop
Forza Horizon 6, Skyrim, and More Microsoft-Published Games Are Getting Big Discounts in Best Buy’s Deal of the Day
Best Buy has dropped big discounts on Starfield for PS5, Skyrim for Switch 2, and a few more Microsoft-published games, but only for today.
Review: Control Resonant: Remedy's Tech Makes the Leap to a Wider Urban Sandbox
Every console tested - with PS5 Pro delivering the best experience.
PlayStation Plus Essential Users Surprised With Free PS5 RPG
PS Plus Essential users will get a surprise free PS5 RPG after being told that they were not eligible to claim it.
Psikyo Memories announced for PS5, Switch 2
Edia has announced shoot ’em up collection Psikyo Memories for PlayStation 5 and Switch 2. It will launch in 2027 worldwide.
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II announced for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC
Edia has announced RPG collection Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes I & II for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2027 worldwide.
Toshinden Collection announced for PS5, Switch 2, and PC
Edia has announced fighting game collection Toshinden Collection for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2027 worldwide.
There's a New Ni no Kuni Game, Kind of, and It's Now Confirmed for PS5
Bloomwalker drops Xbox exclusivity
Serenity Forge announces sci-fi visual novel and strategy card game Faraday Blues for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Serenity Forge has announced Faraday Blues, a science-fiction visual novel and strategy card game hybrid coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store in 2027.
Shape of Dreams now available for PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2 alongside ‘Starless Path’ update
Publisher NEOWIZ and developer Lizard Smoothie have released roguelite action video game Shape of Dreams for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC via Microsoft Store at a launch discount pr…
PS5 Linux dev quits after "the only hypervisor bug left" was reported to Sony
The developer behind the PS5 Linux project is stepping away, after getting frustrated with AI LLM Slop kiddies threw a spanner in the works.
Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back announced for PS5
Publishers Dragami Games and Nada Holdings, and developer JP Universe have announced Lollipop Chainsaw 2 Back2Back for PlayStation 5. It will launch in 2027. It is also playable at Tokyo Game Show …
Popular PlayStation Hacker Calling It Quits Due To AI-Using 'Slop Kiddies' Reporting Important Bug To Sony
An anticipated open source Linux mod for newer PS5 consoles might now be in jeopardy of never happening
New PS5 Features Are Live, Including One That Tells You What Games Are The Most Popular
You can now see what's trending in your region
PS5 Linux developer drops project after "last" hypervisor bug is reported to Sony
TheFloW is leaving the PS5 development scene after a dispute over disclosure of a hypervisor vulnerability. His unfinished PS5 Pro Linux support was planned for 2027.
PlayStation 5 System Software Update 14.0 Is Now Live, Yet Only PlayStation 5 Pro Users Will See A Real Improvement
Sony's PS5 system software update 14.0 turns on Enhanced PSSR image quality by default on PlayStation 5 Pro
PS5's New Firmware Update Available to Download Now, Here's What It Does
What does version 26.06-14.00.00 do?
PS5 Update Lets You Turn on Display Names, Adds Trending Now and Top 10 Views, and More
Sony has released a fresh system software update for the PS5 that makes a number of interesting changes. Check out the version 26.06-14.00.00 patch notes.
PS5 Update 26.06-14.00.00 Released on September 16 Turns on Enhance PSSR Image Quality
Sony has released the latest PS5 system update on September 16, and this one adds more than just your standard stability improvements. The biggest feature in PS5 system update 26.06-14.00.00…
PS5 Linux Dev Drops Project After "Slop Kiddies" Cash in on Crucial Exploit
Andy Nguyen, the developer behind the PS5 Linux project that released earlier in 2026, has officially declared that he will be stepping away from the PS5 modding scene before the release of support for Linux on the PS5 Pro that was under development. In an emotionally charged message on X,...
New PS5 Pulse Headsets Revealed by Sony with Better Sound and Comfort
Pulse headset this year, Pulse Edge headset in 2027
Grand Theft Auto 6 Ultimate Edition Is $11 Off on PS5 if You Use This Trick (Today Only)
Today only, you can save $11 on Grand Theft Auto 6 for PS5, by following a few simple steps.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jong REMASTER announced for PS5, Switch, and PC
City Connection has announced mahjong adventure game remaster Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jong REMASTER for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2027 in Japan. It will support Jap…
Fan PS5 boycott over discs seemingly has little impact in US
There was “no significant change at all” in player count during PS5 boycott…
PS5 Blackout Protest Made 'No Significant Change at All' to Player Counts, Says US Data
The state of play
Sega Confirms Persona 6 Physical Release for Switch 2
Persona 6 won't be a PS5-exclusive physical release after all
After Sony tells fans they don't own digital games, one Consumer Rights group is tracking all the times PlayStation said the opposite
PlayStation previously argued "reasonable consumers" know they don't own digital goods. One Consumer Rights group is now pulling out receipts.
Muramasa: Revenant Blades resolution and frame rate targets revealed for PS5, Switch 2, and Switch 1 docked
Marvelous reveals the resolution and frame rate targets for the console versions of Muramasa: Revenant Blades.
Here’s PS5’s First ‘Fairgames’ Trailer In 3 Years, Which Still Seems Doomed
Fairgames, the mythical live-service game that's been in development for 3 years, now has a new trailer that is actually pretty good.
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes DLC character Zohar launches September 15 for PS5, PS4, and PC, September 23 for Switch
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes downloadable content character Zohar will launch on September 15 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC, and September 23 for Switch, publisher Arc System Works …
PS5 Heist Shooter Fairgames Makes Surprising Return Under New Name
You remember Fairgame$? With the dollar sign?
Nintendo Switch 2 Docked VRR Leapfrogs PS5, but the Catch Falls Squarely on Game Developers
Nintendo Switch 2 gets docked VRR support, matching Xbox Series X|S and beating PS5 per Digital Foundry analysis
GTA 6 PS5 Controller Pre-Orders Go Live On PlayStation Store And It Immediately Collapses
Other players got stuck in hour long queues or couldn't check out at all
GTA 6 PS5 Controller Preorders Are Live, But Stock Is Limited
Preorders are live for Grand Theft Auto VI Limited-Edition PS5 DualSense Controllers, but stock is limited. Hurry if you want one.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake announced for PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
LEVEL-5 has announced Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake, a remake of the first game in the Professor Layton series, originally released for DS in February 2007. It will launch for Pla…
Preview: Playing Final Fantasy VII: Revelation On PS5 Has Me Worried For The Switch 2 Port
Took something perfect and painted it Red XIII
Sony’s Limited-Edition GTA 6 DualSense Controller Preorders Are Finally Live in the UK, but Stock Is Expected to Sell Out Fast
Secure your GTA 6 DualSense controller in the UK. Preorders are live for both Vice City-themed PS5 controllers starting at £74.99.
GTA 6 DualSense pre-orders LIVE — how to secure your limited-edition PS5 controller today
Add some Vice City to your PS5 setup
Koei Tecmo and Gust announce The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother for PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Gust, in cooperation with TOHO Games, have announced mystery solving adventure game The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother for PlayStation 5, Switch 2…
Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
Square Enix has announced Romancing SaGa 3 remake Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store). It will launch on February 16…
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
SNK has announced Metal Slug Ultimate Collection, a collection of 10 games in celebration of Metal Slug’s 35th anniversary. It will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, Switch, an…
Sony is reportedly preparing a big update for the PS5 and PS5 Pro with improvements to PSSR 2.0 upscaling
Sony is reportedly getting ready to release a major new system update for the PS5, with firmware version 14.0 currently is beta.
PS5 ‘major system upgrade’ on the way with hefty graphics boost
It's the biggest update to drop on PlayStation 5 in a while.
Forza Horizon 6 Dev Reiterates 2026 Release for PS5 Version
Excellent racer still on course for PS5
Forza Horizon 6 PS5 Release Window Confirmed
The developers of Forza Horizon 6 have just provided players with the PS5 release window. Here are more details.
PlayStation Issues New Official Statement on PS5, PS6 Digital Ownership
In an official, public response, PlayStation addresses its main argument against 'digital ownership' for PS5 and (future) PS6 owners.
PS5 Pro Consoles Are Back in Stock Right Now at Walmart for Labor Day in Bundles That Come With an Extra Controller
Walmart has a few PS5 Pro console bundles in stock right now during Labor Day sales... if you can stomach the price.
Affordability takes center stage as Shapiro and Garrity craft their economic pitch for Pennsylvania voters
Exhausted by high gas prices and stagnant wages, voters most want the candidates to address cost-of-living concerns, according to a recent poll.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Sells 1 Million Copies Days After Launch
Rebel Wolves' debut game is certainly off to a strong start. The Blood of Dawnwalker has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide, the studio confirmed on social media, just two days after its September 3 launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game hit 1 million sales fast enough that most...
Sony clarifies PlayStation disc production is dropping by 10 percent in 2028, not to 10 percent
Sony has clarified that PlayStation disc production is dropping 10 percent in 2028, not to 10 percent, after reports misread comments from a Sony DADC exec.
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.
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