Google's AI Search accurately revealed an unreleased character for a tower defense game called Operation Octo, surprising the developer who claims the character's name was only present in a private Google Docs file.
SCS Software is working on upcoming downloadable content (DLC) and significant base map reworks for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.
For American Truck Simulator, Nevada will be reworked to revitalize existing locations, introduce new ones, and expand the road network, including new segments of US-95 and additional depots.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 will see a transformation in the UK, with new locations such as Inverness, Stonehenge, and Leeds, along with a revamped EuroTunnel.
Both games are anticipated to be released on console platforms, with progress being made, although a specific release date has not been provided.
SCS Software will participate in Gamescom 2026, showcasing their largest booth to date and partnering with Thrustmaster and Volvo, but details on the console versions remain undisclosed.
Over 17,250 games on Steam feature AI-generated content, with 69% of this AI usage dedicated to enhancing in-game content such as artwork, writing, audio, and localization. During a recent Steam event, nearly 20% of showcased games carried an AI warning. Some well-known titles like PUBG and Call of Duty also disclose their use of AI. While some developers express hesitance towards AI integration, data suggests that many gamers are open to the benefits of AI in their gaming experience. The primary use of AI is for in-game assets, followed by marketing materials at 17%, while only 5% of developers use AI solely for development purposes.
Jennifer Gibbons, Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), stated during a California State Senate hearing that community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are "illegal" and equate to "piracy." She mentioned that the ESA has pending lawsuits against private servers and that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has identified some private servers as notorious markets for piracy. Gibbons' comments were challenged by Assemblyman Chris Ward, who noted the existence of community servers for both games. An ESA representative later clarified that Gibbons was responding to a complex question and that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on the intellectual property rights of game publishers. The ESA reported a total revenue of ,614,556 in the fiscal year ending March 2025, with ,804,681 from member dues.
The California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act raised questions about the legality of private Minecraft servers. Assemblyman Chris Ward noted that games like Minecraft and Call of Duty have successfully used community servers, while Jennifer Gibbons from the ESA argued that these servers are illegal and unapproved by Microsoft, labeling them as piracy. Gibbons stated that the ESA has two lawsuits against private servers for infringing on intellectual property rights. In contrast, Minecraft's official stance encourages the creation of third-party servers, which are vetted for compliance with community standards. The ESA maintains that private servers infringe on publishers' rights. The USTR's Notorious Market Report referenced by Gibbons does not specifically target community servers for connecting friends but focuses on those bypassing subscription services. The Protect Our Games Act did not advance but will be reconsidered. An ESA representative later clarified that private servers hosting copyrighted content without authorization infringe on publishers' rights and highlighted concerns about safety standards on these platforms.
LDPlayer 14 was released on June 25, 2026, promising enhanced compatibility, improved performance, and a more stable gaming experience for mobile gamers worldwide.
Amazon Prime subscribers can claim 18 PC games for free through Amazon Luna in June. The available games include:
- Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
- Mega Man 11
- ULTRAKILL
- Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
- Mafia III: Definitive Edition
- XCOM: Chimera Squad
Upcoming games include:
- Tested on Humans: Escape Room (11 June)
- Sin Slayers: Reign of the 8th (11 June)
- G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra (11 June)
- Paradise Killer (11 June)
- Between Time: Escape Room (18 June)
- Sugardew Island (18 June)
- Wargame Construction Set III: Age of Rifles 1846-1905 (18 June)
- Space Grunts 2 (18 June)
- Space Grunts: Chrono Shard (25 June)
- Please Touch The Artwork (25 June)
- Terraforming Mars (25 June)
- Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (25 June)
These titles are available as PC codes redeemable on platforms like GOG, the Epic Games Store, or the Amazon Games App.
The collaboration between Peak, Aggro Crab, and Landfall Games originated from a four-week game jam. Aggro Crab's studio head, Nick Kaman, discussed this experience at the Game Developers Conference, highlighting a shift towards smaller projects and a stronger identity in co-op gaming. They collaborated with a studio known for the game Content Warning, which is recognized in the friendslop genre. After a taxing three-year development on a previous project, the team found renewed energy in creating Peak. Kaman announced the upcoming release of Crashout Crew, inspired by Overcooked, featuring unique elements like proximity voice chat and mouth animations that respond to player speech. He acknowledged that this new direction might not appeal to everyone but expressed excitement about the studio's evolution.
Pocketpair submitted a trademark application for 'Palworld Online' on April 27, 2026, which is currently labeled as 'live' by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A similar trademark was filed in South Korea on April 24, 2026. The trademark pertains to "recorded computer game programs and recorded game software," and includes "toy design," suggesting potential new merchandise linked to the Palworld Trading Card Game (TCG). It also references "Artificial intelligence as a service (AIAAS) services featuring software using artificial intelligence (AI) for developing computer games." The 1.0 release of Palworld is projected for sometime in 2026, with speculation about the possibility of an MMO format.
Players in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred can now increase the game's difficulty significantly. Streamer Mekuna achieved a rapid progression from level 1 to level 70 sorceress in 17 hours, utilizing a lightning variant of the Blizzard skill for efficient enemy elimination. Despite challenges posed by hidden late-game content, Mekuna's success demonstrates that the new torment tiers are conquerable, especially for strong characters. Blizzard has indicated that torment 12 will be challenging, but exceptional players can succeed. Additionally, the game features new activity skill trees that can further increase monster difficulty. The revamped skill trees, item crafting system, and restructured difficulty tiers change how character strength is assessed, generating excitement for other classes and upcoming leaderboards.