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.
Warner Bros. Discovery has officially confirmed Hogwarts Legacy 2 is in development, targeting a 2027 or 2028 release window. The announcement came in an August 6 shareholder letter where the company outlined its strategy to focus on four key franchises, with the Wizarding World serving as a cornerstone. The original game sold over 40 million copies, making a sequel one of the publisher's highest priorities.
Kinetic Publishing, the new label from Phasmophobia creator Kinetic Games, announced five indie titles coming to PlayStation 5 between 2027 and 2028. The lineup includes Contact Protocol, a sci-fi starship job simulator launching Spring 2027, alongside Crescent County, Shellbound, Aether Wizard Life, and Precognition from Sam Barlow and Brandon Cronenberg.
Sony has revealed the August PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup, headlined by the surprise addition of Helldivers 2 on day one. The update brings nine titles across Extra and Premium tiers, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Vampire Survivors, and Metro Exodus, with staggered release dates through August 25.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed he will not make a cameo appearance in Grand Theft Auto 6. The statement follows his surprise inclusion as a playable character in the recently announced WWE 2K26. Zelnick addressed the speculation directly during a recent interview.
Helldivers 2 joins the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium subscribers starting today, coinciding with the launch of the major Devoid of Liberty update. The expansion introduces new Void missions, mutated enemies like the Wretch and Crusher, SEAF platoon reinforcements, and a community challenge to eliminate 500 million enemies by August 18.
Phantom Blade Zero will appear in next week's State of Play presentation, bringing fresh footage of the action RPG to PlayStation and PC audiences. The new trailer features martial arts legend Donnie Yen, confirming his involvement with the project. S-GAME's title continues to build momentum ahead of its eventual release.
X-Men '97 Season 2 concludes with "Survival of the Fittest," an episode that delivers spectacular mutant-on-mutant action but fumbles the season's primary villain. The finale's brief Apocalypse confrontation feels anticlimactic compared to the original series' "Beyond Good and Evil" arc, while Nightcrawler's sacrifice provides the episode's only genuine emotional payoff.
Amazon's Intel Gamer Days sale now includes the Acer Predator Orion 6000 with an RTX 5070 Ti for $2,099, bundling two free upcoming AAA titles: Star Wars: Galactic Racer launching October 6 and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis arriving February 12. Buyers receive redemption instructions at purchase to claim both games when they release.
Sony and Insomniac Games have unveiled the Marvel's Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Digital Edition bundle and accessories for Southeast Asia, featuring designs inspired by the Battle Reborn suit and artwork from graphic artist Jock. Pre-orders open August 19 at 10 AM local time with hardware launching alongside the game on September 15, 2026.
Phantom Blade Zero is now available for pre-order on PlayStation 5 ahead of its October 29, 2026 launch. A dedicated State of Play broadcast on August 17 will showcase nearly 20 minutes of new gameplay featuring dynamic combat and the dark wuxia setting. Martial arts legend Donnie Yen serves as creative consultant and portrays protagonist Soul's father, Mó Yuan.
