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Sonic Racing's First Free Character Update Of 'Year Two' Is Bayonetta
A 'Year Two' showcase has also been announced
Walmart Just Discounted Over a Dozen Nintendo Switch Games, Plus Get an Extra $10 With This Secret Coupon
It's a good time to be a Switch gamer.
James Bond Game 007 First Light Delayed Until 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2
James Bond game 007 First Light has been delayed yet again on Nintendo Switch 2, and will now arrive in March 2027.
007 First Light On Switch 2 Delayed Until March 2027
The move will help tighten up performance, IO Interactive says
Diablo IV Switch 2 Performance And Resolution Officially Revealed
Blizzard also details Switch 2 features, net requirements & more
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Voice Actors Officially Revealed
The voices behind the characters
Top 20 best-selling GameCube games of all time in the U.S. revealed
New list has been revealed showing the top 20 best-selling GameCube games of all time in the United States.
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time - Electric Ocarina Nintendo Store Pre-Orders Now Live (US)
Get it while you can
Nintendo Opens the Zelda: Ocarina of Time Pre-orders Fans Were Waiting For
The Switch 2 accessory was conspicuously missing from Nintendo's official Zelda gameplay reveal, but now it's back with a date, price, and more
The best deals from Nintendo’s ‘customer appreciation’ sale
Nintendo is giving gamers discounted games as a thank you for dealing with tariffs.
Entertainment News: September 14, 2026
Here are today's entertainment stories for September 14, 2026 featuring the guy who produced "The Office," Snoop Dogg, and Nintendo's latest release.
Nintendo Just Slashed the Price of Metroid Dread to $41 After Ravenous Reveal, and There's a Simple Trick To Save Even More As Well
Nintendo just slashed the price of Metroid Dread as part of its 'Customer Appreciation' sale. This is the perfect time to pick it up after our first look at Metroid Ravenous during last weeks Nintendo Direct.
Sega Confirms Persona 6 Physical Release for Switch 2
Persona 6 won't be a PS5-exclusive physical release after all
Remembering Nintendo GameCube, 25 Years On From Launch
Today marks 25 years since the launch of Nintendo GameCube, a console that provided one of the company's most joyous eras of console gaming — even if it felt underappreciated at the time.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Gets A Seven-Minute Overview Trailer
Ready for this week's launch
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave ‘Overview’ trailer
Publisher Nintendo and developer Intelligent Systems have released a seven-minute overview trailer for Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave.
Diablo IV Reveals What's Next - 30th Anniversary Diablo Celebration, Amazon Class & Future Seasons
"Our deepest thanks to every fan and player"
The huge Nintendo Switch 'tariff refund sale' has begun, and there's 30% off iconic games
The Customer Appreciation Sale is Nintendo's way of giving back to US gamers.
Diablo IV x The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Collab Unveiled, Here's A First Look
As part of a new partnership between Blizzard & CD Projekt Red
Nintendo Customer Appreciation sale: Best deals you can still grab
Enjoy up to 30% off dozens of Nintendo games, accessories and merchandise for a limited time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Map Officially Revealed
Nintendo is giving fans a first look at the revamped map of Hyrule within the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Overwatch Announces What's Next As It Reaches The End Of Its First Year-Long Story Arc
A new hero, map and more is on the way!
Digital Foundry: Zelda Ocarina of Time remake is 1080p and 60fps, but no DLSS
The big title this holiday season for Nintendo Switch 2 owners is the gorgeous The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Naturally the tech sleuths at Digital Foundry have taken a look at the game…
US: Target lists some of first party games in Customer Appreciation Sale
Customers in North America will be getting ready to spend in the upcoming Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale. While Nintendo hasn’t announced which first party games will be including in the sale…
It's Official, Diablo 4: Age Of Hatred Collection Brings Hell To Switch 2 Next Week
"Blessed Mother"
Diablo 4 coming to Nintendo Switch 2
As announced by Activision Blizzard today, Diablo 4 is receiving a new Nintendo Switch 2 version with the Age of Hatred Collection. It will be available on September 15, 2026. Diablo 4: Age of Hatred Collection includes the base game and expansions. According to the Nintendo eShop listing, HDR and touchscreen support are included. The action RPG first came out...
Scalpers are already reselling the sold-out Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 for £700+
Nintendo's new Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 sold out in hours, and scalpers are already reselling it on eBay for hundreds of pounds over the retail price.
"We Will Take This As A Lesson" - Level-5 CEO Doubles Down On GenAI Despite Backlash
"It appears that some people felt uncomfortable about this"
Nintendo Confirms Zelda 40th Anniversary Collection Restocks
Expect an announcement via the Nintendo Store app
Mario Kart World isn't Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's replacement
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still getting updates from Nintendo, so they definitely want it to co-exist alongside Mario Kart World - here's why.
Nintendo launches major sale with help from tariff refunds
Nintendo is offering 30% off games and other products, with the company saying tariff-related refunds helped make its latest sale possible.
26 Details You Might Have Missed From The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 Reveal
Under the lens of truth
Nintendo's Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Gets More Pre-order Bonuses
There's a version of the Switch 2 game that looks like the original Nintendo 64 Zelda box cover, and it's a region exclusive pre-order
Nintendo Secures Legal Victory Against Sale of Switch Game Piracy Devices
Nintendo has won a major legal victory aimed at blocking the sale of devices that enable Switch game piracy.
Nintendo Officially Reveals The Legend of Zelda: Master Collection
To celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, Nintendo officially unveils the upcoming Master Collection.
Nintendo Wins Court Case Ruling The Sale Of Switch "Circumvention Devices" Unlawful
"avoid purchasing or using circumvention devices"
Metroid Dread Dev MercurySteam Seemingly Confirms Work On Ravenous With Ninja And Love Heart Emojis
🥷❤️😊
The Retroid Pocket Duo Looks Perfect for DS and 3DS Emulation
It’s no secret that handheld gaming is in a bit of a renaissance right now. Ushered in by the Nintendo Switch and carried forward by the Steam Deck. Alongside these mainstream offerings are another class of handhelds aimed more at the past than the future. In particular, Android-powered dual-screen handhelds like the new Retroid Pocket Duo look to offer hardware designed for emulating the Nintendo DS and 3DS.
Metroid Dread studio MercurySteam appears to confirm it's making Metroid Ravenous, addressing a lingering question from yesterday's Nintendo Direct
For a moment there, we weren't sure which studio was making the new Switch 2 Metroid game, but MercurySteam appears to be back at the helm.
Nintendo Offers Rare Discounts For American Customers—Thanks To Tariff Refunds, Company Says
Nintendo is one of more than 80 companies facing lawsuits from customers who want to see a piece of the federal tariff refunds given by the government.
Nintendo of America thanks fans for dealing with tariff-related price hikes by encouraging them to spend more money in a new sale
Nintendo America has faced a lot of pushback for not passing tariff refunds onto consumers, so its new tariff-related sale is causing some backlash.
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
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake revealed for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch
Level-5 is working on Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, the company just announced. The title arrives for both platforms in 2027. Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake marks the return of the Nintendo DS classic. According to Level-5, exploration has been enhanced. Additionally, characters are now in 3D plus there’ll be...
Nintendo Announces Big 'Customer Appreciation Sale' Supported By Tariff Refunds It Doesn't Want To Pay Back To Players
No, the company won't provide any refunds, but it will sell you some games and merch at a discounted price
Preview: Playing Final Fantasy VII: Revelation On PS5 Has Me Worried For The Switch 2 Port
Took something perfect and painted it Red XIII
Nintendo’s latest Switch 2 update adds VRR support in TV mode
The new firmware update also includes nostalgic Mii themes
Capcom Announces Mega Man: Dual Override amiibo, Here's A First Look
Arriving the "same day" as the new game
Mario Kart World Has Been Updated To Version 1.8.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
You can download this free update now
Kirby and the World Beyond, which seemingly includes a Legend of Zelda crossover, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027
A new reveal trailer Kirby and the World Beyond ended today's Nintendo Direct, showing off a large open world and lots of Zelda tie-ins.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch
Koei Tecmo included a brief announcement in today’s Nintendo Direct that The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is planned for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch. This one is slated for early 2027.
Metroid: Ravenous announced, launches January 2027 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2
Metroid Ravenous is a sequel to Metroid Dread, coming in 2027.
Nintendo Direct September 2026 Live Report: All the Announcements as They Happen
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, we have a brand new Nintendo Direct — and IGN will be reporting all the news live right here.
Multiple amiibo Listings Have Apparently Been Spotted On GameStop's Internal Database
New Zelda amiibo were announced yesterday
Mega Man: Dual Override Robot Masters leaked, including winner of design contest
Complete list of Robot Masters in Mega Man: Dual Override has now leaked, including reveal of winner from design contest picked for the game.
Major Kingdom Hearts 4 leak surfaces, new worlds revealed
New worlds have just been revealed for Kingdom Hearts 4 as part of a major leak for the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake gameplay finally revealed during 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, and it looks… interesting
Gameplay has been released for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake during today's 40th anniversary series Nintendo Direct.
The Legend of Zelda getting Link and Epona LEGO set, playable Ocarina, more
A number of new products have been announced for The Legend of Zelda, including a Link and Epona LEGO set and a playable Ocarina, and more. We have a look at the LEGO set above. Here’s a look at the new ocarinas, which includes an electric version: Also on the way are Hasbro’s figures as well as an electronic Master...
Nintendo Store Leak Reveals The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake Pricing
It looks like Nintendo has inadvertently revealed how much its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will cost on Switch 2.
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 9.8.2026 and Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026
Tune in on Sept 8 at 7am PT for The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct (Approx 30 mins) and on Sept 9 at 7am PT for Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026 (Approx 45 mins).
Pokémon Champions Director Wants To Keep The Game's Focus On PvP
"At least while more people are increasingly playing"
Street Fighter 6's Next DLC Character Joins The Fight October 2026
Here comes a new challenger!
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Gets Early Australia Nintendo Store Listing Pointing To A Possible $60 Digital Price
More info is expected at this week's Nintendo Directs
Nintendo reveals Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake price on Switch 2
Nintendo has now confirmed how much The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Nintendo Switch 2 remake will be with the official price.
Nintendo Reveals What To Expect From The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
You probably already know
How To Watch The Legend Of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct
Nintendo is expected to reveal details about the 'Ocarina of Time' and other Zelda projects during the 30-minute stream.
New Super Smash Bros and Nintendogs games are on the way, according to prominent Nintendo leaker
A prominent Nintendo leaker has spilled more information about the Switch 2's upcoming games, which include a Nintendogs comeback and a new Super Smash Bros.
Video: Here's What Nintendo's Revised Switch 2 Console Looks Like
Spoiler: It's really similar
Rumour: Leaker Claims A Brand New Super Smash Bros. Game Is In The Works
Plus Nintendogs, Metroid, 3D Mario, and more
Zelda Direct will feature Ocarina of Time remake and “initiatives beyond games”
Nintendo has clarified a little more about the special The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct presentation. One game which will naturally be present is the long-awaited The Legend of…
Nintendo Developing New Smash Bros, Nintendogs, Mario Kart DLC With Star Fox, Leaker Claims
Nintendo is developing an all-new Super Smash Bros and Nintendogs, a notable leaker has claimed.
Brand new Smash Bros and Nintendogs games are in development, Nintendo leaker claims
They allege Smash Bros will be an entirely new game, not a remaster of Super Smash Bros Ultimate…
How to Watch Nintendo's Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
Nintendo's celebration of Zelda's 40th sounds big
Civilization VII Unveils First Expansion "Earthrise" And Major Free Update
Prepare for liftoff in 2027
Video game makers really don't want to give customers tariff refunds
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are all arguing in court that they don't have to the pass tariff refunds they've received to their customers.
Video game makers really don't want to give customers tariff refunds
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are all arguing in court that they don't have to the pass tariff refunds they've received to their customers.
Video: Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Series Recap Trailer
Featured at Revelation's PAX West panel
New Super Smash Bros. Switch 2 game leaks before September Nintendo Direct
After revealing the Ocarina of Time remake and upcoming Nintendo Directs, the same leaker has offered another revelation. Rather than a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch 2 upgrade, a game with unique characters may be in development. Even so, the platform fighter’s release date could be years away.
Rumor: New Smash Bros. game on the way, Nintendogs returning, more
A number of Nintendo rumors have come to light from malo932, who is building up some credibility when it comes to leaks. Most recently, malo932 indicated that we’d be getting presentations next week for The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo in general days before they were announced. That ultimately turned out to be true, as two Directs were confirmed yesterday....
How to Watch the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
Nintendo is going big this September with two Nintendo Direct showcases airing on back-to-back days. Here's everything you need to know.
5 Huge Reveals To Expect From Nintendo’s Zelda Anniversary Direct
It could be a legendary event
Maneater Sequel Now In Development For Switch 2, Surfacing 2027
"The ultimate apex predator is back"
Famitsu review scores - September 5, 2026 - Orbitals, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, more
The latest Famitsu review scores for the week of August 23, 2026 are as follows: Orbitals – 8/9/9/9 Onimusha: Way of the Sword – 9/9/8/8 The Blood of Dawnwalker – 9/8/8/9 Afterlove EP – 7/8/8/7 Asdivine Knot – 7/7/7/7 John Fox – 6/6/5/6 Note that for each review, four editors gave out scores. The final total in the Famitsu review...
Mario Kart 8 Refuses to Let the Switch 2 Rule Nintendo
So what happens to Mario Kart World?
Is it Finally Time for 3D Mario? 14 Predictions for the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
IGN's Logan Plant shares 14 predictions for the pair of Nintendo Directs airing in the coming days.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online now seems to have an advantage for Nintendo Switch 1 players vs. Switch 2
It's been found that the new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update has given Nintendo Switch 1 players an advantage online when playing Switch 2 users.
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.