A new app called Messages by OzarksMade aims to emulate the look and feel of Samsung Messages and include RCS support via integration with Google Messages.
Corsair Cove, a pirate-themed strategy game, has been added to Xbox Game Pass for PC users and has received a 'Generally Favorable' rating of 79 on Metacritic. Critics praise its engaging gameplay, charming aesthetics, and vibrant visuals, comparing it to titles like Sea of Thieves. The game features city-building mechanics that allow players to manage an island, raise a fleet, and govern a crew, although some reviewers note that the building mechanics may lack complexity for veteran players. Corsair Cove will be available on PC Game Pass at 4pm BST / 8am PDT / 11am EDT / 5pm CEST.
GameDiscoverCo newsletter has reached 45,000 subscribers. The Video Game History Foundation launched a ‘history of E3’ collection, including an introductory video, vintage footage, and a podcast. Microsoft reported a decline in Xbox revenue for four consecutive quarters, with Content & Services revenue at approximately .75 billion (down 10% year-over-year) and hardware revenue around million (down 13% year-over-year). Asha Sharma noted over 200 million new players joined Xbox in FY2026, but the business did not grow. PlayStation's PS5 sales reached 95.3 million, with a 1.6 million increase for the quarter but a 36% year-over-year decline. Active PSN users rose to 125 million, and profit surged by 37%. Meta's Reality Labs reported a loss of .6 billion in Q2, despite million in revenue. Slotbound, a roguelike auto-battler game, achieved 50,000 wishlists and 2,900 peak demo concurrent users. Over 1,000 PC games now operate direct channels, saving developers an estimated billion in platform fees in 2025. GameDiscoverCo’s Steam Fan Snapshot data revealed that the average age of players is 31 for Clair Obscur and 25 for R.E.P.O. 37.5% of respondents find games through short-form video, while 27.9% use traditional media websites. Players of ARC Raiders show a strong preference for the Steam Deck, and as playtime increases, console playtime declines.
Sony announced its plan to transition to a fully digital gaming platform by 2028, ceasing production of game discs. This decision has raised concerns among gamers regarding ownership and accessibility, particularly the ability to trade in games and access libraries during service outages. CFO Lin Tao stated that Sony is committed to this digital shift, emphasizing the strength of curated content and the stability of the gaming environment. Tao also noted that physical discs are not a significant differentiator for their products and expressed a vision of coexistence with PC games. Additionally, estimates suggest that the material costs for the upcoming PlayStation 6 could exceed 0, raising questions about pricing and competition in the market amid ongoing supply chain challenges.
You can play Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow on your Android device with the new Gen1Recomp port, which allows you to add mods like updating the graphics to 3D voxel graphics.
Australian authorities have initiated legal proceedings against Telegram for alleged negligence in removing content linked to terrorism, including footage from the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting that resulted in 51 deaths. Australia’s Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, stated that Telegram could face penalties of up to 0,000 for violating the Online Safety Act. Telegram has rejected the allegations and plans to contest them in court, emphasizing its commitment to combating extremist content by blocking thousands of extremist communities in 2026. The platform also hosts various crypto-related discussions but has not commented further on the legal situation.
GeForce NOW allows students to balance study and gaming by transforming everyday laptops into powerful gaming machines through cloud gaming. Members can access a library of thousands of supported PC games, including the newly added Halo: Campaign Evolved, which features high-definition visuals and enhanced gameplay. The service enables users to stream games they own from platforms like Steam and Xbox Game Pass without lengthy downloads or installations. The Ultimate membership offers advanced gaming performance with NVIDIA technologies. New titles available this week include Halo: Campaign Evolved, Mistfall Hunter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Sudden Attack Zero Point, The Ranchers, Corsair Cove, Funnel Runners, and Pathogenic.
The subreddit r/whatisit allows users to identify peculiar items and fosters community engagement. Individuals often search through loved ones' belongings, leading to assumptions about the nature of the items found, such as drugs or intimate toys, though many items are innocuous. This highlights the importance of communication over snooping. The author has created a quiz called What is it?, where participants identify bizarre-looking objects from video game characters.
Ubisoft is offering Xbox players free PC versions of thirteen select games they own digitally on their consoles, accessible through the Ubisoft Connect app on PC. Most editions and downloadable content (DLC) purchased on console will transfer to PC, but in-game currency and one-time-use content may not be included. Customers purchasing digital versions of these titles will receive both Xbox console and PC versions immediately, while existing owners will have the PC versions rolled out progressively until August 4. The initiative is part of a collaboration between Xbox and Ubisoft to expand the publisher's catalog across platforms. The offer does not apply in reverse; owning the PC version does not grant access to the console version.
Ubisoft and Xbox have launched a dual-entitlement system for thirteen games, allowing players who buy these titles through the Xbox Store to access them on PC via the Ubisoft Connect launcher. The games included are:
1. Assassin’s Creed Mirage
2. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
3. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
4. Far Cry 6
5. Immortals Fenyx Rising
6. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
7. Riders Republic
8. Skull and Bones
9. The Crew 2
10. The Crew Motorfest
11. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
12. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
13. Watch Dogs Legion
The rollout of PC licenses is set between July 21st and August 4th, with some titles already appearing in users' PC libraries. This system allows Xbox users to claim a complimentary PC version, but does not provide reciprocal access for PC players. Most single-purchase downloadable content (DLC) will carry over, but certain microtransactions may not.
