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.
PlayStation has released its September 2026 download charts revealing a clear regional divide on PS5, where Marvel's Wolverine dominated in the US and Canada while EA Sports FC 27 claimed the top spot across Europe. The VR2 charts showed rare unity with I Am Cat leading in both territories, while free-to-play rankings split between Call of Duty: Warzone and newcomer Aniimo.
Bulkhead has implemented ping-based region locking in Wardogs to combat cheating from regions the studio says are more prone to cheating, but the move has blocked legitimate players from cross-region play and drawn accusations of anti-Asian discrimination. CEO Joe Brammer acknowledged the harm to a percentage of players while defending the decision as necessary to protect the larger player base.
CD Projekt Red has released the free Edgerunners 2 Update for Cyberpunk 2077, adding a new quest featuring anime character Weak Kingsley and a brand-new Night City Prison location. The patch also introduces dual-wielding pistols, cyberware appearance customization via glamdocs, cross-platform mod support through mod.io, and Xbox Play Anywhere functionality for seamless cross-save progression.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode returns in 2026 with a massive Korean map, Dynamic Operations, and deep progression systems. After five hours of early access play, the extraction shooter feels more engaging than its 2022 predecessor, though long-term value and operator uniqueness remain open questions.
Bandai Namco has narrowed the release window for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 to the second half of 2027, cutting the previous 12-month target in half. Producer Masayuki Hirano confirmed the change comes directly from player feedback and survey results gathered over recent months. The multiplayer-enabled brawler will focus on battle customization and PvE missions as core pillars.
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6 launches next month on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and a limited-time Newegg promotion lets players save up to $11 on preorders through discounted gift cards. The deal requires specific promo codes and expires today, making timing critical for anyone planning to buy the Ultimate Edition at launch.
EA has halted development on Project Lotus, the mobile multiplayer Sims spin-off formerly known as Project Rene, to prioritize Project Evergreen. The rumored Sims 4 sequel is reportedly targeting a September 2027 gold deadline for a fall 2027 launch on PC and handhelds like Steam Deck. This marks the first new mainline Sims entry since The Sims 4 launched in 2014.
Netflix's animated hit KPop Demon Hunters is getting a guaranteed theatrical release for its 2029 sequel after the original became the streamer's most-watched offering ever. The deal, brokered by former film chief Dan Lin before his departure, signals a major strategy shift as the franchise expands into live-action, stage productions, and a planned trilogy.
Marvel Comics has released new preview artwork for the upcoming Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles crossover series by Kevin Smith and David Marquez, set to launch in January 2027. The images confirm that Marvel's heroes are fully aware of Star Wars as a fictional franchise before being thrust into the events of Episode IV. Only Captain America appears unfamiliar with the movies, setting up a self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking narrative.
Microsoft is reportedly planning a major overhaul of Xbox Game Pass that would let subscribers pick features à la carte, including cloud gaming, multiplayer, and console-only game add-ons. The changes come as Xbox CEO Asha Sharma pushes a tiered structure to address internal concerns about Game Pass cannibalizing first-party game sales during launch windows.
