The Rundown #1

Knoebel

Knoebel

— 13 min read
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A tatooed man in a swimshort on a pink flamingo boey in a pool with floating empty cans.

Hey everyone, Welcome back to videogame news!

Thank you so much for all the nice words last week! I'm realy happy with last weeks reception and can't wait to do more! As every week in big 2026, it was a pretty exhausting week. Work stress kinda takes over hand and follows me in my privat life, some big publisher ghostet us for Gamescom and my knee decided to feel funny again. Anyways everything is temporary and there will be better weeks (Looking at you Petal Runner release week). Played some more Pokopia this week since it's the only game I have currently time for but this game is so good I can't see putting it down in the near future.

Gaming News Recap

Week 32| July 31st to August 7th, 2026 | Edition 186

Sony is now putting warning stickers about its decision to end physical disc in 2028 on PS5 boxes, EA is now owned by Saudi's and Kushner and the next GTA VI showcase is exclusive to Netflix... for 6h. This week's news categories: Xbox [10], PlayStation [02], Nintendo [09], Other News [26], Numbers [04], TV & Cinema [04], Releases Infos [44].

XBOX

  1. Xbox is getting a Platinum Trophy equivalent later this year.
  2. 'Candy Crush' developer King has declined staff's collective bargaining agreement after a year long negotiation process.
  3. Xbox Console Update August 2026:
    • Include voice chat in your game captures
    • New way to sort your achievement history
    • More control over cloud saves
    • You can now wishlist up to 1000 games (was 300 before).
  4. Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast set for September 17th at 3AM PDT.
  5. Seems like 'Wolfenstein 3D' is coming to Game Pass on August 11th.
  6. Game Pass games wave 1 August 2026
    • Aug. 6th: 'Monsters are Coming!'
    • Aug. 11th: 'Date Everything!'
    • Aug. 13th: 'Cricket 26', and 'Sandustry'
    • Premium: 'Bounty Star', 'PowerWash Simulator 2', 'Ball x Pit', 'Grounded 2', 'Mio: Memories in Orbit', and 'Egging On'
  7. Xbox announced its 25th Anniversary line up: community-created XBOX designs like background, themes and profile pics, 25th Anniversary badge, Game Pass collections, multiple Fan Fests, 25th Anniversary hub
  8. Xbox Back Compat Roadmap leaked online:
    • Disc to Digital general availability was planned this month for Insiders
    • Full Back Compat launch on PC this October
    • Xbox360 back catalogue rollout on Xbox next gen devices in 2027-2028
    • Disc version gives you a digital copy
  9. 'Return to Castle Wolfenstein' is now available for the first time in Germany on PC.
  10. Halo Studios has eliminated an unknown number of long-term contracts roles after the launch of 'Halo: Campaign Evolved'.

PlayStation

  1. The 'Nioh 3' console timed exclusive deal on PS5 should have ended this week.
  2. Sony is reportedly putting warning stickers about its decision to end physical disc printing in 2028 on PlayStation 5 boxes.

Nintendo

  1. Pokémon released its own free 'Pokémon Pokopia' overlay asset pack for streamers.
  2. Nintendo Numbers:
    • Switch 2 - 23.68M
    • Switch - 156.59M
    • 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' - 50.29M
    • 'Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream' • 7.96M
    • 'Donkey Kong Bananza' - 4.78M
    • 'Pokémon Pokopia' - 3.68M (without Japan sales)
    • 'Kirby Air Riders' - 1.9M
  3. 'Pokémon Pokopia' DLC Bubbly Basin and the free update launched today! Even if you don't buy the DLC, the free 2.0 update adds A LOT of useful stuff.
  4. Nintendo announced its line up for Gamescom 2026! Including 'Orbitals', 'Nintendo Switch Sport Resort', 'Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass', '007: First Light' and 'Modern Warfare 4'.
  5. More 'Mario Kart World' free roam tracks are now available on Nintendo Music.
  6. 10 preview tracks from 'Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave' are now available on Nintendo Music.
  7. A sequel to 'The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker' was in development but was scrapped for the more realistic The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess after fan backlash over Wind Wakers artstyle.
  8. Nintendo says 'Tomodachi Life Living the Dream' has already outsold its Nintendo 3DS predecessor.
  9. A 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto prefecture on July 28th. Nintendo offers free hardware repairs to people affected by the Kumamoto earthquake. It will also donating 50 million yen in relief funds to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
  10. Nintendo has sended out invitations for 'The Duskbloods' Network Test.

Other News

  1. Kazutaka Kodaka delayed 'Danganronpa 2×2' to 2027 because he wants to play 'GTA VI'.
  2. The 'Monster Hunter Wilds' Prologue Demo is now available on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC. Capcom also announced 4 new free DLCs: Azure Fantasy Wudwud Felyne Layered Armor, Happy-Go-Congakart Pendant, 4 x Rolling Poogie Pendants
  3. Azur Lane is selling rice balls made from rice that listened to gyaru ASMR throughtout its entire cultivation.
  4. Game Freak (Pocket Jockey) says its taking players feedback to heart and starting next week they plan continuous updates based on players feedback.
  5. SpiralAI and Koei Tecmo announced RyzaChat: Your Midsummer Dream Story with AI Ryza an AI chatbot based on 'Atelier Ryza'. They say no gen AI was used for the artwork and fair revenue are shared with the voice actors.
  6. Rokky and Revolution Software teaming up to bring 'Broken Sword' franchise to China.
  7. Team Asano kinda confirmed 'Octopath Traveler 3'? They said if they release a potential sequel they can't deliver something half baked and need to step it up.
  8. Sega has established a new subsidiary in Shanghai.
  9. Capcom says the move to an all digital future wont have a significant impact on its sales because their vast majority of its sales are already digital.
  10. 'Story of Seasons' 30th and 'Rune Factory' 20th Anniversaries Special Live Stream set for August 24th at 8PM JST.
  11. New look at 'Final Fantasy VII Revelation' at Gamescom ONL on August 25th at 11AM PT.
  12. Bandai Namco Entertainment President Nao Udagawa reportedly said that the Digimon IP has reached record profits after 'Digimon Time Stranger' and the TCG. It even surpassed the time period when Adventure's aired for the first time.
  13. 'Deltarune' Summer Newsletter 2026: concepts for Chapter 5 (Spoiler Warning), Toby really don’t read or watch theories, Toby's cat name is Kikky, no more wacky silly adventures in Deltarune as Chapter 6 is more shorter and straight forward, release in 2027.
  14. Publisher Secret Mode opens a new internal development studio in Sheffield to support internal projects.
  15. Eric Baptizat, who worked on 'Assassin's Creed Unity', 'Black Flag' and more has returned to Ubisoft to become game director for the 'Assassin’s Creed' brand after he left to work on the 'Dead Space' remake for EA.
  16. 'Marvel Rivals' will drastically reduce its install size on PC and console in the coming update. Console players will get a reduction by nearly 20% and PC players even 57%.
  17. The "Game industry hardship fund" bundle for devs which lost their job has raised over $130K so far.
  18. The Giant Slippery Frog (Conraua goliath) joins the 'Planet Zoo 2' roster!
  19. Atari's core business returns to profit but gets slashed by the Thunderful acquisition.
  20. Gen Al start up Reforged Labs is shutting down after three years.
  21. Rockstar Games announced an Extended Look on 'GTA VI' for August 27th at 3PM ET on Netflix. It will also launch on the official Rockstar Games YouTube channel and the Grand Theft Auto VI site at 9 p.m. ET on August 27th. So a 6 hours timed exclusive window for Netflix.
  22. Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defends his decision to release 'GTA VI' as a code in a box instead of a disc and compares physical video games to vinyl records.
  23. Devolver Digital plans to go private again.
  24. EA announces completion of acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
  25. EA's $55BN deal to go private comes with $18BN of debt for EA which will most likely result in other wave of mass layoffs
  26. Netflix exclusive 'FIFA World Cup' developer Refactor Games has reportedly been shut down by Delphi Interactive shortly after launch.
  27. That’s No Moon the studio which is currently working on a new 'Crossfire' title got hit with layoffs.

Numbers

  1. 'Clanfolk' has sold over 250K copies.
  2. 'Mistfall Hunter' surpassed 1M players. Roadmap announced.
  3. 'Village in the Shade' has sold over 100k copies in Japan.
  4. 'Gambonanza' has sold 300K copies.

TV & Cinema

  1. Eli Roth, the director of the 'Borderlands' movie says the film was a failure because the studio made cuts so they could get a PG-13 rating which resulted in a movie which basically "belonged to nobody".
  2. Dave Bautista in talks to play Kratos in Amazon's 'God of War' series after Ryan Hurst got injured on set.
  3. Paramount reportedly approached former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick for its new board post Warner merger.
  4. Sam Neill, Uli Latukefu, Dichen Lachman & Yvonne Strahovski joining Sony's The Legend of Zelda movie cast. It's Sam Neill's last role. Uli Latukefu plays Ganon.

Release Infos

  1. 'Minecraft' is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27th. A digital upgrade path will be available for Nintendo Switch players.
  2. 'Isle of Reveries' launches September 4th Xbox One/Series, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC. Demo available.
  3. 'Moonlighter' is free to keep on Steam.
  4. 'Welcome to Elderfield' launches September 10th on PC.
  5. 'Torii: Beyond The Gates' announced for PC. Demo available.
  6. 'Danchi Days' launches October 29th on PC. Demo available.
  7. 'Fallen Tear : The Ascension' erscheint am 16. September for PC!
  8. 'Beaten Path' launches in 2027 on Xbox Series, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
  9. 'Console Archives UFO -A day in the life-' launches August 6th on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
  10. 'Arcade Archives COMBAT SCHOOL' launches August 6th on Xbox Series, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch 1&2.
  11. 'Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault' launches September 2nd on Xbox Series, Game Pass, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. Currently in early access.
  12. 'Momotaro and the Oni Island' announced for Steam.
  13. 'Wild Hive' launches Q4 2026 on Steam. Demo available.
  14. 'Crimson Moon' launches September 1st on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.
  15. Drunken Rogue' is coming to Steam on August 21st. Demo available.
  16. 'Grit Shot' launches August 13th on PC.
  17. 'Discounty' free expansion People or Profit? is coming to Consoles on August 6th.
  18. 'Metal Saga: Season of Steel' is getting a remaster for PS4/5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC!
  19. 'Tearscape' is coming to Xbox Series, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Mobile on August 27th. Already on PC.
  20. 'Hayaku! Island of Darkness' announced for PC.
  21. 'SANASANA' launches this October on Steam.
  22. 'Ladder Lad' launches in 2027 on Nintendo Switch and PC.
  23. 'Attack on Titan 3' launches December 10th on Xbox Series, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
  24. 'Super Robot Wars Z II: Ruination Remastered' announced. No platform or date.
  25. 'Palworld Online' a new MMORPG based on moster taming hit 'Palworld' launches later this year on Mobile.
  26. 'Changeable Guardian ESTIQUE' launches August 6th on Xbox Series, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
  27. 'Suikoden STAR LEAP' launches August 7th in Japan on Mobile.
  28. 'Zenonia' launches August 31st on Nintendo Switch and PC.
  29. 'Caladrius 2/Dark Element' launches this winter on PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
  30. 'Dungeon of Dragon Knight Remake' announced for PS5.
  31. 'Rainbow Billy: The Book of Fears' Prologue demo now available on Steam.
  32. 'Mr Trippy' announced for PC.
  33. 'ENDLESS Legend 2' 1.0 launches September 17th ln Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.
  34. 'Quake' got a new free episode called Dawn of the Machine, 3 expansions developed by MachineGames: Dimension of the Past, Dimension of the Machine, and the all-new Dawn of the Machine.
  35. 'Peak's final update launches on August 11th.
  36. 'London Spirit Detectives' got an english fan translation and no AI was used.
  37. 'Ex Sanguis' launches on Steam Early Access on September 10th.
  38. 'Ghost Recon Wildlands: Last Rites' which comes with 4K/60, old timed exclusive missions and brand new missions is now available.
  39. 'Brave Dungeon: The Meaning of Justice' launches August 8th on PS5. Already on Nintendo Switch and PC.
  40. 'TOEM 2' launches September 29th on PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
  41. 'Karous: The Blur of Re:venant - New Order' announced for PS4/5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
  42. 'Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest' launches this year on Xbox Series, PS5, Nintendo Switch 1&2 and PC.
  43. 'Otterly Lost' launches September 23rd on Steam.
  44. 'Fake Me' announced for PC.
  45. 'Serious Sam: Shatterverse' launches August 31st on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC.

This week PDF version will be late

EA and it's new owners.

Electronic Arts and it's new main investores Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners closed the $55BN deal to go private. EA whitedraws from NASDAQ and will take $18BN in debt. The $18BN debt will most likely end in restructuring and layoffs.
▸source

GTA VI is coming to streaming services... kinda.

Rockstar announced that the wait is finally over and the long awaited GTA VI Showcase is set for August 27th at 3PM ET on Netflix. 6 houres later at 9PM ET on the same day Take Two will release the showcase on YouTube.
▸source

I guess people will buy everything.

The fanservice shoot 'em up Azur Lane will host an in-person event in Tokyo in September. Shoot 'em up fans can expect delicious cuisine like onigiri made out of rice that listened to gyaru ASMR throughtout its entire cultivation. The cultivation time for rice takes around 105-150 days.
▸source

If I'm completely honest, I started with two different opinion pieces before I decided to rant about this topic.

Grand Theft Auto VI Key art (1 of 3)

The next 'Grand Theft Auto VI' showcase is set for August 27th at 3PM ET on YouT...NETFLIX?!

When I saw this news the first thing I did was laugh. It wasn't a happy laugh, it wasn’t a maniac Joker-esque laugh, it was a laugh of a person who knows that we're so fucked.

Look, I get it. Targeting new audiences is important and they can be pretty hard to reach. You need some advertisement outside of the stinky capital-G Gamer bubble. Most people, (like around 70% of gamers) only buy one or two games each year, which is just a normal Monday for you and me, is basically a special event for them and basically everyone is competing to be in one of these two spots.

The best example I have, why "normie" marketing is so important is one of my co-workers. Now in his late 30s, 2 kids, watches his shows on Netflix and Disney+, has no social media and buys his stuff locally. Like he goes to an electronics store and buys his stuff there like our ancestors did! 

Back in the early 2020s we talked about gaming and for whatever reason we talked about Halo and he said he wished Xbox would still be around. I was confused as fuck and said they ARE still around. They also launched a new console. 

Turns out he thought they're gone because our local electronic store has only a handful of 10 year old Xbox One games and based on his lifestyle there was absolutely no overlap with Xbox ads so he thought they'd gone because why should he have to search online if they're still in business?

Okay, that's for the understanding part, let's come to my "OH MY GAWD WE'RE COOKED"-part.

I can understand that brands need this shit but hear me out there are 3 things on this planet which don't need ANY ADS: Trump, Jesus and fucking GTA.

GTA V sold 230 MILLION copies, the delay announcement of GTA VI was a topic on Germany's public news broadcast. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure everyone, everyone’s mom and the pope will notice that GTA VI (might) launch at the end of November. 

If you know my social media posting, you already know that I post a lot of trailers. Haters would say I skip to the end and make a screenshot of the title card, so I can post it as fast as possible but If stuff like this ends being successful I legit don't know If I could keep up with the trailer posting.

It makes everything worse. Netflix probably paid a shit ton of money for the 6h exclusive window which will probably result in a nothing burger because it will be ripped and up on YT 10min later. From every angle, this whole thing simply sounds like a stupid idea if it becomes the norm and I can't see someone subscribing to Netflix for a GTA VI showcase.

And I hope I'm right because Netflix should be for 20 year old sitcoms and some Japanese datingshows and not fucking game trailers.

Spiritstead (2026)

This weeks game recommendation is a small city builder called 'Spiritstead'! It kinda reminds of one of my favorite childhood games 'Cultures'. I only played 2h so far, it's not as complex as 'Cultures', more like a cute comedy version of it but it already has its cute claws in me and I can't wait to have some time to go back to it. OH AND IT HAS A FISHING MINIGAME!

Spiritstead is an easy-going and satisfying city builder. Arrive in a quiet, enchanted land where humans and magical spirits work together. Take charge and put your villagers to work as you create their homes, support their lives, and make your village beautiful along the way.
Overseeing the lives of so many can be hard work, but here you have a magical place full of spirits ready to help. Discover them through interactions with the world as you meet quirky, charming creatures who make each day in your village easier to manage. Collect them all to live alongside your people and create spirit buildings to support them.
Support your townsfolk by assigning them jobs, meeting all their needs, and helping them enjoy life with happiness-boosting buildings like cafes, markets, and bonfires. Unlock new buildings, decorations, and upgrades as you progress through the game to help you look after your residents.
Enjoy creating the town of your dreams in a stunning bespoke visual style inspired by Miyazaki films and your favorite cartoons, handcrafted by our talented artist. Beneath its comfortable atmosphere lie hidden secrets waiting to be discovered as you expand into new territories with the help of wandering spirits and work to restore the Grand Spirit Sanctuary, bringing balance between spirits and humans.

RELAXING AND SATISFYING

Create freely in creative mode without any pressures and just enjoy building. Here for a satisfying challenge? Manage your villagers needs and wants as you make something as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical in adventure mode.

A GENTLER EXPERIENCE

Enjoy an easy to learn, addictive city builder experience. Spiritstead is a simple yet satisfying city builder with fun clicker elements and takes around 4-7 hours to play through end to end in survival mode. Spiritstead is endlessly replayable, but the game world remains the same each time.

That's all for this week! I really enjoy this project and after some days of imposter syndrom and the late realisation that it's probably a trend right now to be bad at stuff, I can't wait what the future holds for me. So, enjoy your weekend and see you next week! If you want to read more from me follow me on my socials below!