Game Awards Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Tomb Raider: Catalyst delayed to 2028

Jeffrey Gattis, head of Amazon Gaming, announced that the release of the Tomb Raider game, Catalyst, has been delayed from 2027 to 2028. This delay follows challenges faced by developer Crystal Dynamics, including multiple layoffs, which may have impacted the game's development.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

One week after going independent in the Xbox bloodbath, South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games is looking for work

Compulsion Games has regained its independence after layoffs at Xbox and is seeking new collaborations within the games and entertainment industry. The studio's game, South of Midnight, has won several awards, including a BAFTA Award, a Peabody Award, and seven Canadian Game Awards, and has been recognized on multiple 'Best Games of 2025' lists with an 83% review score. Despite its critical acclaim, the game did not achieve blockbuster sales, leading to concerns about the studio's long-term viability. Compulsion Games was founded in 2009 and has previously provided services to other studios. Before their independence announcement, several employees began exploring new job opportunities with the support of studio leadership, reflecting uncertainty within the studio.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

Amidst mounting fears of Xbox closures, Todd Howard says Arkane is ‘doing a really, really good job’ on Blade

Arkane Lyon's stability has been questioned following Xbox's recent restructuring, particularly after its absence from the Xbox Games Showcase and concerns about potential studio closures. Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Softworks, provided reassurance about Arkane's progress on Marvel's Blade, stating he saw promising work as recently as May. However, skepticism remains regarding Arkane's long-term viability due to Microsoft's history of project announcements coinciding with studio cuts, such as the closure of Arkane's Austin studio in 2024.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

Rockstar Games Launcher 2026: 18.3M Players, GTA 6 PC Signals

As of January 2026, the Rockstar Games Launcher has 18.3 million monthly active users engaged with Grand Theft Auto V. A software update on March 31, 2026, introduced support for Windows 11 and various performance improvements. The anticipated launch of GTA 6 is scheduled for November 19, 2026. Since its launch in September 2019, the launcher has focused exclusively on Rockstar titles, facing competition from platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. As of March 2026, GTA Online recorded 17.9 million players across major platforms, with 4.2 million daily active users. In 2026, PC players accounted for 42% of GTA V's global player base, translating to approximately 7.7 million monthly active PC players. The March 2026 update included enhancements such as an upgraded embedded browser and a new Discord Social SDK. Players in Brazil faced restrictions on purchasing through the launcher due to local consumer protection laws. The GTA+ subscription service had 878,284 active subscribers as of early 2026.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

Xbox is reportedly closing South of Midnight studio Compulsion Games after bragging about its award-winning developers earlier this year

Compulsion Games, known for titles like We Happy Few and South of Midnight, may be facing imminent closure as Microsoft’s gaming division undergoes significant layoffs and restructuring. Reports indicate that Compulsion and Double Fine are in negotiations to potentially spin off to avoid shutdown. Employees have expressed concern over job security, with many searching for new opportunities. Compulsion Games, founded in 2009 and based in Montreal, received critical acclaim for its recent title, South of Midnight, which won several awards. Despite previous praise from Xbox executives for the studio's achievements, the future remains uncertain amid corporate changes.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Every Xbox and PC game announced during Summer Game Fest 2026

The seventh annual Summer Game Fest showcased upcoming titles for 2026 and beyond, featuring a two-hour presentation with trailers and gameplay reveals. Key announcements included: - Resident Evil: Veronica - A remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica set to launch in 2027 on Xbox and PC. - Cuphead - Two new games: a sequel and an 8-bit arcade title called Mighty Cuphead Adventure. - Alien Isolation 2 - Teased with a trailer; release date not announced. - gen ATLAS - A mech-themed game from GenDesign. - Blood Message - A single-player action-adventure game expected on PC and consoles. - Stranger Than Heaven - Set for release on January 15, 2027, featuring Tupac as a character. - HAEX - An open-world survival shooter for 1-4 players. - Mortal Shell 2 - Open beta now available on Steam. - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - A game set in a future New York City. - Gundam: Rogue Orbit - A new entry in the Gundam series. - Crossfire - A stealth-action single-player adventure. - Guild Wars 3 - Set to launch with a beta expected in 2027. - Star Wars: Galactic Racer - Releasing on October 6, 2026. - Virtua Fighter Crossroads - Announced for 2027. - RuneScape: Dragonwilds - Launching on Xbox on September 15, 2026. - 1666 Amsterdam - Entering Early Access in late 2026. - SAW: Genesis - A multiplayer horror game. - Star Wars: Zero Company - Releasing on August 27, 2026. - The Blood of Dawnwalker - Launching on September 3. - Among Us Story: On Guard - A story-driven spinoff available for wishlisting. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance - Expansion set for 2027. - Swords of Legends - An action RPG inspired by Soulsborne games. - Clutch - An open-world racer expected in Spring 2027. - Chronicles: Medieval - Entering Early Access later this year. - Palworld - Fully launching on July 10. - The Wolf Among Us 2 - Set for release in 2027, alongside a remaster of the original. - Stellar Blade: Blood Rain - Sequel to Stellar Blade. - Final Fantasy 7: Revelation - Launching in Spring 2027 on Xbox, PC, and PS5.

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Console and PC players can try Resident Evil Requiem for free from today

Capcom has released a demo for Resident Evil Requiem, which will be available in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The demo allows players to experience the game's early stages, but save data will not transfer to the full version. Since its release in February, Resident Evil Requiem has sold 7 million copies in two months, making it the fastest-selling game in the series. The game sold 5 million copies in its first week and reached 6 million shortly after. The previous record for 7 million sales was held by Resident Evil 4 (2023), which took over a year to achieve. The best-selling title in the franchise is the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2, with 16.8 million copies sold, followed by Resident Evil 7 at 16.4 million, Resident Evil Village at 13.5 million, and the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 at 12.2 million.

AppWizard

May 24, 2026

Epic reveals first Unreal Engine 6 game, and it’s not Fortnite

Epic Games has announced Unreal Engine 6 during the Paris Major of the Rocket League Championship Series, showcasing enhanced vehicles and cinematic gameplay in a brief clip. The engine has gained popularity among developers, including CD Projekt and indie creators, and is also used in the film industry by studios like Disney. Unreal Engine 5 has seen significant adoption but faced criticism for performance issues, particularly on PC, despite Fortnite running smoothly on it. The reveal of Unreal Engine 6 is more subdued than the announcement of Unreal Engine 5. The trailer hints at Epic's broader metaverse ambitions, featuring other Epic titles and suggesting a vision for interconnected experiences. Tim Sweeney has indicated that Fortnite will evolve into a platform for independent developers and interoperable games in 2024.

AppWizard

May 20, 2026

Lords of the Fallen 2 set to potentially release on Steam as developer CI Games and Epic terminate PC exclusivity deal

Lords of the Fallen 2, the third installment in the series, is progressing towards a tentative launch in 2026 after a gameplay showcase at The Game Awards 2025. CI Games has concluded its multi-year exclusivity agreement with Epic Games, allowing the game to potentially launch on Steam while maintaining collaboration with Epic for Unreal Engine and other services. The exclusivity termination is described as "conditional in nature." The console versions will remain unaffected by these changes. The game has sparked discussions due to comments from CI Games' CEO about "political correctness" and the introduction of more revealing armor sets for female characters. Eurogamer's review of the rebooted Lords of the Fallen rated it two stars, noting it as "a perfectly acceptable Soulslike" but critiquing it for "Soulslike clichés and performance woes."

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Surprise: The studio making Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is full of former BioWare devs

LucasFilm Games announced a new title, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, at The Game Awards 2025, described as a "spiritual successor" to the Knights of the Old Republic series. Casey Hudson, former project director of KotOR and Mass Effect, is the CEO and game director at Arcanaut Studios, which he co-founded after leaving BioWare. The development team includes former BioWare employees, such as Chris Bain, the CFO, and Ryan Hoyle, the CTO. The studio's team also features talent from companies like Microsoft, Epic, Remedy, The Coalition, and ZeniMax. The game's artistic direction includes sci-fi visuals that align with the Old Republic aesthetic. Fate of the Old Republic will introduce new characters and a fresh storyline, not serving as a direct sequel to previous games. Arcanaut Studios was established in 2025.