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.
Microsoft's new Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC initiative runs on an Xbox 360 emulator that itself emulates original Xbox games through Xefu. Dataminers and the XWine1 team have already run Xbox 360 and original Xbox ROMs unofficially, confirming the platform can handle 360 titles despite Microsoft only releasing four original Xbox games so far.
HBO Max's Lanterns series just dropped its most revealing trailer yet at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, confirming a Manhunter invasion on Earth and teasing Atrocitus as the true mastermind behind the robotic incursion. The series premieres August 16 with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre leading as Hal Jordan and John Stewart.
At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, director Brad Bird revealed his long-gestating 1906 San Francisco earthquake project could shift from a feature film to an eight-episode miniseries. The project, which has been in development since 2007, would cover both the devastating earthquake and the subsequent fire that tore through the city.
Apple TV's Cape Fear delivers a disappointing ninth episode that resolves major mysteries through unearned exposition rather than dramatic tension. The Scar wastes strong performances and cinematography on a filler installment that fails the Bechdel Test and sidelines the season's most compelling character.
PlayStation Blog has featured a new round of community screenshots from Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced's Photo Mode, showcasing Edward Kenway's adventures aboard the Jackdaw. The blog also announced a fresh two-week theme inviting players to submit their own Jackdaw-focused captures by August 5, 2026.
Amazon Games has officially confirmed that Tomb Raider: Catalyst will not launch until 2028, pushing the Unreal Engine 5 adventure well beyond its original 2027 window. The announcement came alongside the firm February 12, 2027 release date for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, the series' immediate next entry.
Amazon's The Rings of Power will debut early versions of the Ringwraiths in its third season, reimagined as the Nazgnagôl — a show-invented term meaning "Ring-servant" in Black Speech. Khamûl the Black Easterling will be played by Zubin Varla, while Jamie Campbell Bower joins as Celeborn.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has sold 3.5 million copies in its first 14 days, exceeding Ubisoft's annual expectations for the remake. The strong launch comes as the publisher reports a 9% year-on-year decline in net bookings and confirms a third round of layoffs affecting 380 employees across its studios.
Woot is selling a Grade A Refurbished Nintendo Switch 2 bundle with Mario Kart World for $419, a $20 drop from last week's price. The deal arrives just before Nintendo raises the console's MSRP to $499.99 on September 1, making this the lowest price yet for the new hardware.
VITURE is offering an extra 15% off its entire lineup of refurbished XR glasses through its official eBay storefront using coupon code REFURBLOVE. The deal includes the gaming-focused Beast model and the productivity-oriented Luma series, each backed by a two-year Allstate warranty. For players who have wanted a portable giant screen without the full retail price, this refurbished sale makes the entry point significantly more approachable.
