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.
Sony has announced the September 2026 PlayStation Plus monthly games lineup, headlined by the physics-based sandbox Wobbly Life alongside Sniper Elite: Resistance, MLB The Show 26, and Chained Echoes. All four titles become free to claim for subscribers starting September 1 and remain available until October 5. The selection spans tactical stealth, sports simulation, retro RPG depth, and a multiplayer chaos simulator one critic called "GTA for kids."
Surreal immersive sim Militsioner is confirmed for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass with a 2027 release window. The game centers on escaping a Kafkaesque town while a gigantic, omniscient policeman watches your every move. Xbox Play Anywhere support means a single purchase covers both console and PC.
Dazed magazine's autumn 2026 issue reveals new GTA 6 gameplay details including seamless switching between dual protagonists Jason and Lucia, couple activities like beach trips and jetski rides, and a reactive morality system deeper than Red Dead Redemption 2's honour mechanic. Rockstar North also faces union controversy following mass staff dismissals.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told the BBC in August 2026 that the company wants to preserve player choice around physical games for its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix. While she declined to confirm whether the hardware will include a disc drive, Sharma emphasized affordability and efficiency as core design pillars. Xbox also announced a disc-to-digital program at Gamescom that lets Insiders convert physical discs to digital licenses starting August 31.
Microsoft has priced its translucent green Xbox Series X anniversary console at $899.99 with a November 13 launch date. The bundle includes a matching controller and a free copy of Halo: Campaign Evolved, while the standalone controller arrives October 20 for $79.99. Pre-orders open August 27 at 7 AM PDT.
Ubisoft showed a hands-on demo of Heroes of Might and Magic III Remake at Gamescom 2026, revealing a top-to-bottom visual rebuild that keeps the 1999 strategy classic's gameplay intact. The remake features entirely new 3D graphics, a modernized UI, and full support for original and community-made maps dating back 25 years.
Creative Assembly showed an early build of Total War: Warhammer 40k at Gamescom 2026, marking the series' first ranged-focused entry since Total War: EMPIRE in 2009. The demo featured a tutorial, campaign slice, and massive battle as Space Marines against Orks, revealing new mechanics like strafe-firing and orbital drop pods alongside a planetary-scale campaign map. Custom chapter creation is present but currently limited to base, accent, and detail armor colors with Games Workshop paint options.
Grinding Gear Games has confirmed Path of Exile 2 will exit early access with its 1.0 launch on December 11, 2026, arriving on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The announcement debuted during gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 alongside a new trailer revealing the Duelist class.
Paradox Interactive has officially unveiled LEGO Skylines at Gamescom, confirming a brick-based city builder developed by Iceflake Studios. The game blends functional urban planning with LEGO's signature whimsy across Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
After five years of silence since its 2021 reveal, Showa American Story finally lets players get hands-on with its alternate-history action RPG. The two-hour demo reveals a wildly imaginative world and deep combat systems, but technical roughness threatens to undermine the experience.
