Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
EA Play members can now jump into a 10-hour early access trial of EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 across Xbox Cloud Gaming, PC Game Pass, and Ultimate tiers. The trial includes full access to the new Persona Engine, revamped gameplay mechanics, and the G.O.A.T. Career Journey, with all progress carrying over to the full release.
Ubisoft Bordeaux has released Last Rites, a major free update for Ghost Recon Wildlands on Xbox Series X|S that introduces a new story mission featuring antagonist La Llorona, the return of the Predator boss fight, and extensive customization options shaped by nearly a decade of community feedback. The update also delivers 4K 60 FPS performance on current-gen consoles.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has launched its multiplayer servers today, giving players access to online battles across supported platforms. The rollout follows a staggered schedule that determines exactly when different regions can jump into matches.
Xbox's latest news roundup covers NBA 2K26 free play days and indie highlights for August 2026, but contains no mention of a Gears of War: E-Day Early Access Open Beta. The Coalition has not announced any beta timeline for the upcoming prequel.
Rockstar Games has confirmed an extended look at Grand Theft Auto 6 will premiere on Netflix on August 27 at 3pm EST, followed by a YouTube release at 9pm ET. The announcement includes new key art featuring protagonists Jason and Lucia, ending a year-long wait since Trailer 2 dropped in May 2024.
Nintendo sold 3.82 million Switch 2 consoles in the quarter ending June 30, down from 5.82 million during the system's launch quarter a year earlier. The company maintains that life-to-date adoption still compares favorably to the original Switch, though the year-on-year decline reflects the natural cooling after massive pent-up demand. Software sales rose across the board, with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream moving 7.96 million copies in three months and Mario Kart World reaching 15.39 million total.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally demanded the U.S. government stop using characters from Mario, Pokémon, and Naruto in official social media posts without permission. The requests, made at least twice in June 2025 through diplomatic channels, cite copyright concerns and potential brand damage from pro-war content. Japanese fans have amplified the pressure through a petition that reached the Cabinet Office and drew international media attention.
Microsoft has removed two support documents that recommended 32 GB of RAM for serious gaming, a move that coincides with the reintroduction of 8 GB Surface laptops priced at $1,299. The deleted guidance conflicts with Microsoft's new hardware lineup, which fails to meet Copilot+ PC memory requirements while charging a premium for baseline specifications.
Mojang has confirmed Minecraft launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27 with a visual overhaul called Vibrant Visuals. Existing Switch owners face a paid upgrade to access the enhanced version, following a trend Nintendo set with its own first-party titles.
After extensive hands-on time with the open beta, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls emerges as a mechanics-driven 4v4 tag fighter that respects the Marvel legacy while introducing unique shared-lifebar and assist-unlock systems. The active tag mechanics feel restrictive compared to contemporaries like 2XKO, but the character design and progressive learning curve show genuine promise ahead of the full release.
