Fortnite is returning to the Google Play Store after Epic Games and Google settled their legal disputes. The settlement allows for support for other digital stores and payment options on Android, marking a significant shift in the Android ecosystem.
Nvidia has launched its GeForce Now game streaming service on Amazon's Fire TV Sticks and select Fire TVs, allowing users to stream games they already own from various digital stores. The streaming quality is capped at 1080p/60fps, and the service operates on a tiered subscription model, with a free tier offering one-hour sessions supported by ads. The GeForce Now application is compatible with specific Fire TV Stick models, but not with the Fire TV Stick Select. The platform distinguishes itself by enabling users to access their existing game collections rather than providing a Netflix-style library. GeForce Now competes with other streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna and is accessible on multiple devices.
A mini PC is an effective budget gaming option that allows gamers to play high-performance AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, and Elden Ring using modest hardware by leveraging cloud gaming services such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Game Pass. To set up GeForce NOW on a mini PC, users need to connect the device to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, complete the Windows setup, download and install the GeForce NOW app, log in, connect digital stores, and select games to play. Key considerations for cloud gaming on mini PCs include the need for a stable internet connection (at least 25 Mbps download speed), potential subscription costs for enhanced experiences, the lack of a game library with GeForce NOW, and the importance of researching trusted brands to avoid malware in budget mini PCs. Additionally, dedicated gaming mini PCs exist but are often more expensive.
A security bug in Unity, identified as CVE-2025-59489, affects the Runtime component and allows insecure loading and local file inclusion, potentially leading to code execution and information disclosure. Developers have prepared patches for supported versions, while Valve and Microsoft have released updates to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. Popular games affected include Hearthstone, The Elder Scrolls: Blades, and DOOM (2019).
Prey (2006) is a gravity-defying FPS that has become abandonware, with its rights shifted and the original game lost digitally. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) is considered the definitive Wolverine game but is difficult to find due to licensing issues, leading fans to seek it on abandonware sites. Transformers: War for Cybertron (2010) redefined the Transformers gaming experience but was delisted after Activision lost the rights, now existing as abandonware. James Bond 007: Blood Stone (2010) is a high-quality Bond game that is hard to find due to licensing issues but is accessible through abandonware platforms. Colin McRae: Dirt 2 (2009) is a critically acclaimed racing game that has become abandonware due to licensing problems. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010) introduced a multiverse concept but is also abandonware due to licensing issues. Wolfenstein (2009) has been relegated to abandonware despite its unique blend of action and narrative. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) is an immersive Hogwarts experience that is no longer available on digital storefronts but can be found as abandonware. Deadpool (2013) is a humorous game that has become nearly impossible to find due to licensing challenges, now classified as abandonware.
Epic Games filed lawsuits against Apple and Google in 2020 for restricting users' access to Epic's offerings through third-party app stores. The Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Epic against Google, finding antitrust violations, while Epic lost the federal antitrust case against Apple. The Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against Apple under Section 2 of the Sherman Act for monopolization. Apple's closed system was found to be successful, while Google's open-source system faced legal challenges. The court in the Google Play case issued remedies targeting exclusivity, which could lead to better user experiences and lower prices.
Amazon Prime Gaming is offering free games for August 2025, including:
- Available Now:
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 3 Complete (GOG)
- Thief: Definitive Edition (GOG)
- The Academy: The First Riddle (Amazon Games App)
- August 14:
- Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective (Amazon Games App)
- Silver Box Classics (GOG)
- August 28:
- Heroes of Loot 2 (GOG)
- Fantasy Empires (GOG)
- City Legends: The Ghost of Misty Hill Collector’s Edition (Legacy Games)
Players can also access July's offerings, which include:
- Marvel’s Midnight Suns
- Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
On August 8, 2025, Mafia: The Old Country, a prequel in the mafia franchise developed by Hangar 13, will be released. The game is set in early 20th-century Sicily and follows Enzo Favara, a young Sicilian orphan and miner. It features a linear narrative focusing on deep storytelling and atmospheric immersion, departing from the open-world format of previous titles. Mafia: The Old Country will not be officially available for sale in Russia due to publisher Take-Two's policies, but players can use workarounds to acquire it. The game will include Denuvo anti-piracy protection, and it is unlikely to appear on torrent sites before summer 2026. Previous Mafia games were quickly pirated, but current Denuvo protections present a greater challenge, with cracking timelines for Denuvo-protected games averaging between two months to two years.