EASportsMadden26 has released many of its player ratings ahead of the August 14 release date, and everyone’s upset regarding the player rating of number 1 NFL Draft pick, Cam Ward. Now, even ESPN has gotten involved. It’s no secret that Madden ratings are a hot-button issue among the most die-hard NFL fans, and leading to what many fans would refer to as ‘MaddenSeason,’ the controversy is heating up before launch once again....

Quick Links Umamusume: Pretty Derbymight seem like a simple game on paper since the general gameplay loop stays the same and doesn’t revolve around the main story. However, as you play this game more, you’ll realize just how complicated it can get not only in terms of training your characters, but also getting used to the currencies. You can get many different types of currencies in the game, and each one has its own separate use....

Fire Emblemhas been one ofNintendo’smore consistently-supported series in recent years, as anyone that’s ever playedSuper Smash Bros.can probably tell you. Even outside of that, we’ve had two major Fire Emblem games released in the past six years, those beingThree Housesin 2019, andEngagein 2023, both well-liked games for different reasons. When it comes to game development, a roughly four-year gap between games is considered pretty speedy, so with that kind of output, it’s sensible for people to start wondering when the next Fire Emblem might be coming....

Summary Although theDreamcastwas Sega’s final home console, it stood out at launch with powerful hardware and ahead-of-its-time innovations. Yet, it failed commercially. Sony’s PlayStation 2, with its DVD playback and massive third-party support, quickly overshadowed it. Sega’s past hardware missteps had already eroded consumer trust. Piracy, weak marketing, and shifting developer loyalty further hurt its momentum. Still, the Dreamcast introduced online console gaming with a built-in modem and creative features like the VMU....

In case you missed it,Gears of Waris finally coming toPlayStationconsoles viaGears of War: Reloaded, aremaster of the original 2006 title, complete with online multiplayer, and, of course, the game’s iconic campaign. With the game firmly set for late August, pre-orders have opened up, and, well,it’s already the top title on the PlayStation Store charts, ahead of evenDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that an Xbox title sits atop the PS Store top sellers list,as back in April, the chart was filled with the Oblivion Remaster, Black Ops 6, Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones....

Summary A new batch ofHalf-Life 3leaks that have been found within the code forDota 2andDeadlockgive even more evidence that the game is nearing the “tail-end” of its development and could be announced any day now. Half-Life fans have had it rough over the past few years while theywaited for any kind of official news on the long-awaited third game in the series, but their luck has certainly turned around lately.There’s been evidence for a long while that a new Half-Life is in development(under the codename HLX), but theleaks haven’t stopped coming in recent months....

Summary Hero Forge is a platform where miniature aficionados can go to design their own figures, whether that be virtually or with a mind to turning them into the real thing once they’re done. The customization options are almost endless, and while that’s usually a good thing, a recent example has landed Hero Forge in hot water, and whoever runs its social media channels isn’t helping the situation. Hero Forge will showcase some of the more impressive fan-made creations from time to time....

Summary Hollow Knight: Silksong,The Elder Scrolls 6, Half-Life 3 and, of course, my own white whale, Viva Piñata 3. These fan bases are united by their shared experiences waiting an unreasonable length of time for a sequel to their respective favourite games. Well, the so-called Silksongers have won a spiritual victory today.Today’s official announcementthat Grand Theft Auto 6 will be delayed until May 2026 means there’s now a strong chance that Silksong will be released before Rockstar’s presumptive mega-hit....

Summary Hollow Knight: Silksongis coming this year, and there’s almost no reason to think otherwise. We have Nintendo’s word that it’s dropping in 2025, we’ve hadseveral hints about a release date reveal this summer, and a company called ACMI has claimed that Hollow Knight: Silksong will beplayable at its Game Worlds exhibition this September. I’m a true believer. In fact,Game Worlds recently doubled down on Hollow Knight: Silksong’s inclusionbyrevealing its special exhibit to IGN earlier today....

Doom: The Dark Agesis the latest bloodthirsty shooter fromidSoftware, and, in usual fashion, offers up a bombastic single-player campaign to blast your way through hordes of demons. It comes outfitted with 22 distinct chapters and a variety of new locations to discover and a comprehensive arsenal of weapons to experiment with. But, unlike Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal before it, there are no multiplayer modes or other offerings to speak of, meaningyour main and only focus in Dark Ages is the campaign....

The main characters inClair Obscur: Expedition 33share a great bond regardless of what you do throughout the game. However, you can improve your relationship with most of them, as there is an in-game relationship level that indicates the bond you share with individual companions. It isn’t a part of the game right from the start, and when it is introduced, the game doesn’t give you a deep tutorial to explain the new mechanic....

Quick Links Monster Hunter Wilds’s Title Update 2 is bringing a fan-favorite monster back into the fold. Originally introduced in Monster Hunter Tri, Lagiacrus is a majestic sea creature, complete with protruding back crystals and a massive tail. Paired with its bioelectricity, it’s a difficult beast to bring down. Its introduction in Wilds is a bit worrisome, though, as your companion Erik remarks that Lagi’s presence in the Scarlet Forest represents a serious threat to the ecosystem....

Quick Links Ghasts are one of the oldest troublesome mobs inMinecraft, having been in the game not quite since its inception, but were introduced not long after. For a long time Ghasts were regarded, if not with fear, with irritation. Even to a player geared to the teeth, one wrong hit from a Ghast could send you sailing into the lava below. But not all Ghasts are to be feared; in fact, Happy Ghasts are here to fix the Ghasts bad rap....