Google has introduced a new passive sign-in feature for YouTube, allowing users to stay signed in to their Google account while accessing the platform, eliminating the need for repeated logins.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been remastered, originally released in 2015, featuring enhanced graphics and minor gameplay improvements. A new expansion titled Songs of the Past is set to be released in 2027, with previous expansions available for free. Players will need a fresh save file to access the new DLC.
PC Gamer has reviewed Metal Gear Solid 4, highlighting activity in the modding community, particularly a custom map unveiled by TriggerHappy on YouTube. This is noted as the first demonstration of a custom single-player map for MGS4. The modding scene has improved with official patches, and various projects are emerging on platforms like MGS4 Nexus, including custom textures, gameplay tweaks, and an FPS unlocker. Additionally, there is an option to implement DLSS5 for enhanced visuals.
Mortal Kombat 1 was cracked by voices38, bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper protection, nearly three years after its release for PC in September 2023. The previous Denuvo-protected title to be cracked was Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced. Warner Bros has previously removed Denuvo from Mortal Kombat 11 and other titles, raising questions about similar actions for Mortal Kombat 1. Other publishers, including Square Enix and Capcom, have also removed Denuvo from various titles. KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, IO Interactive, Bethesda, and Bandai Namco have also eliminated Denuvo from their games.
Modders have integrated Nvidia’s leaked DLSS 5 Neural Rendering library into over a dozen PC games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V, following its discovery in an early access build of NBA 2K27. The RenoDX Discord community reverse-engineered this feature and used tools like RenoDX and ReShade to apply the library to various games. Nvidia describes DLSS 5 as a significant architectural advancement in real-time neural rendering that enhances graphics with photorealistic lighting and materials. Modders have successfully applied the library to titles such as Control, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. These modifications are unofficial and not sanctioned by Nvidia or the game publishers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has defended the technology against criticism, emphasizing that it allows for artist oversight rather than being a generic AI filter. DLSS 5 is set to launch in fall 2026, with support confirmed from major industry players. All current comparisons and tests are based on the leaked build rather than official Nvidia code.
In 1998, notable PC games included Half-Life, Unreal, StarCraft, Thief, and Baldur's Gate, while console games featured Nintendo 64's Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie, and PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil 2. Sanitarium, an isometric point-and-click adventure game, was released in April 1998, focusing on the story of Max, an amnesiac in a sanitarium. A new version, Sanitarium Enhanced, is set to be released by Ziggurat, featuring widescreen support, controller support, an extras gallery, a new hint mode, bug fixes, and optimizations for the Steam Deck, with availability on Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles in 2026.
The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 is set to release on August 27, and Fanatical is offering Steam codes for preorder at .49, which is a 23% discount off the standard retail price of .99. The collection includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Preorder bonuses include Cardboard Camouflage for Metal Gear Solid 4 and the LOVE BOX Uniform for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The collection also features additional content such as digital soundtracks and screenplay books.
This week marks the arrival of Gamescom, featuring a highly anticipated documentary on GTA 6 set to stream on August 27th via Rockstar and Netflix. Notable new PC releases include:
- Burned Horizons (early access): A military simulation game set in a fictional 2002 war in Europe.
- Money for Girls: Amortized: A horror detective visual novel by Porpentine.
- 1666: Amsterdam (early access): A time-bending witch game from Patrice Désilets.
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2: A cooperative game for 1-4 players.
- Astral Court DX: A bullet hell game with 189 levels.
- Blood Dungeon: A frantic platformer by the creators of Nidhogg.
- Sokogram: A hybrid puzzler with sokoban mechanics.
- Western Rye (early access): A survival game combining cowboy simulation and zombie encounters.
- the cabin game (early access): A multiplayer experience in a haunted cabin.
- Lou's Lagoon: An adventurous platformer on an archipelago.
- Star Wars: Zero Company: A squad tactics game set in the Ahsoka era.
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2: A remastered package featuring MGS4 and Peace Walker.
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy: An installment set on an island with light-based puzzles.
- Captain Tsubasa: A return to the football franchise.
- Don't Drop The Cake: A game where players balance a tray in a chaotic environment.
- Alice's Gaze: A blend of autobattling and spooky mansion exploration.
- A Little Age: A laid-back city-building game.
The coverage approach for Gamescom this year will focus on in-depth stories rather than liveblogging, with a team on-site in Cologne and others covering news from home.
Nintendo has an impressive lineup of products available for pre-order during the week of August 23, 2026. Key upcoming game releases include:
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 on August 27
- Brigandine Abyss on August 27
- Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and Wanderstop on August 28
- Orbitals on September 3
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition on September 3
- Onimusha: Way of the Sword Steelbook Edition on September 4
- NBA 2K27 on September 4
- Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush on September 10
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave collection on September 17
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on October 1
- Final Fantasy Resonance on October 22
- Hello Kitty Party Land on October 30
New amiibo figures include Kirby Air Riders – Chef Kawasaki on September 3 and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Mineru’s Construct on September 17. Upcoming books include the Pokemon Deluxe Character Guide Limited Edition Box Set Collection on August 25 and The Art of Final Fantasy Tactics on November 10.
PC gaming on Android has significantly improved with the introduction of applications like Winlator and the emergence of GameNative, a refined PC emulator. The custom Turnip GPU drivers for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chips have enhanced gaming performance, expanding mobile gaming possibilities. Testing with a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, various PC games were explored using GameNative, which supports Steam. Lightweight 2D games ran smoothly, while 3D titles from the late 2000s to early 2010s, like Crysis and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, performed well, though some games encountered issues. The Witcher 3 was playable with frame rate adjustments, and Cyberpunk 2077 launched but was largely unplayable due to low frame rates and crashes. The DeX experience on the Galaxy S25 Ultra was mostly positive, with updates improving performance and resolving bugs. Overall, the device can serve as a lightweight gaming PC alternative, allowing for the enjoyment of older PC games on mobile.
