July 7, 2026
At Summer Game Fest 2026, Koei Tecmo unveiled Attack on Titan 3, promising to cover the anime's full story while remaining accessible. A new mode, Character Interaction, and more features were revealed.
Tencent is potentially expanding its Honor of Kings franchise with a new title, Honor of Kings: Ace, possibly tailored for PC with esports and live-service features. European trademark filings and insider reports suggest a pivot towards broader platform engagement, hinting at a significant strategy shift for the popular mobile MOBA universe.
Good Smile Company unveils "Hatsune Miku: Starry Party," a cross-platform party-action game set for Nintendo Switch 2 and PC in early 2027. Featuring multilingual support and up to six players, the game promises a fresh take on rhythm-based activities with a colorful chibi aesthetic, though specific gameplay details remain undisclosed.
July 6, 2026
Nintendo will phase out the original Switch in Europe by February 2027, introducing Switch 2 models with user-replaceable batteries to comply with EU rules. The updated products aim to maintain battery life while enhancing user convenience, with a staggered release starting summer 2026.
Palworld is set to leave Early Access with a comprehensive 2024 release, featuring a significant update on July 10. However, a patent dispute with Nintendo continues to overshadow its launch.
System76 debuts the Adder Pro, a Linux gaming laptop featuring Intel Panther Lake CPUs and Nvidia RTX 5060/5070 GPUs, with a 15.3-inch OLED display. Available mid-July, it supports up to 96 GB RAM and boasts dual M.2 slots for storage expansion, emphasizing performance and expandability.
Com2uS Holdings is pre-releasing "PawPop Match" via KakaoTalk and KakaoPay, ahead of a global launch in the second half of 2026. The game, developed by PentaPeak Studio, aims to enhance user engagement with unique features like an album collection system.
July 5, 2026
Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem, lauded for its blend of horror and action, is set for a July 30 release, with versions for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 port features amiibo figures, enhancing its collectible appeal, though rumors swirl about future franchise projects.
The Last Caretaker's Update 5: New Horizons enhances the sandbox survival game with a focus on Project Eden and expanded player goals. The update introduces new content like whale encounters, improved tools, and localization in Italian and Spanish, while also offering performance upgrades and richer world-building lore.
WayForward announced a new Shantae game at Anime Expo 2026, slated for a 2027 release, showcasing a redesigned Shantae but withholding title and plot details. This follows the recent release of Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, as the company hints at multiple future entries in the beloved series.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 leads a list of highly anticipated video game adaptations, praised for its franchise strength and successful track record. Meanwhile, The Angry Birds Movie 3 and A Minecraft Movie Squared are deemed less innovative, highlighting the broader challenge of adapting games to the screen.
July 4, 2026
BLEACH Mirrors High premiered at Anime Expo 2026 with a new trailer, beta test sign-ups, and two new Soul Reapers by Tite Kubo, signaling a fresh expansion for the franchise. The mobile game, compatible with iOS 17+ and Android 12+, excludes tablets and requires TestFlight for iOS access, while supporting multiple languages for widespread reach.
Looney Labs launches Seven Islands, a versatile card game where players race on a tropical island for a million dollars, supporting 1-4 players in various modes. Priced at $20, it offers solo and party competition with strategic play.
July 3, 2026
European regulators are intensifying restrictions on video games for minors, particularly targeting loot boxes, which could impact global gaming revenues. The Online Safety Act in the UK and PEGI's new guidelines reflect a broader trend towards stricter digital safety and consumer protection measures, potentially reshaping industry practices worldwide.
Hollywood is increasingly banking on video game properties like Mario and Link for new content, signaling a shift from traditional superhero franchises. Upcoming game-based films like 'Resident Evil' and 'Street Fighter' highlight this trend, with more adaptations slated through 2029, suggesting a reshaping of the industry's future landscape.
Nintendo is branching out beyond traditional gaming by creating new characters and expanding its intellectual property through movies, apps, and other media. This strategy, backed by successful examples like Pikmin Bloom, aims to broaden audience reach and drive game sales, marking a decade-long shift towards a multimedia entertainment brand.
A critical hardware issue dubbed the "Red Line of Death" has emerged in Steam Machines, causing GPU failures and rendering units unusable after a firmware update. Reports highlight consumer frustration and highlight Valve's challenges with hardware reliability, raising concerns about broader implications for early adopters.
Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower lead Metacritic's mid-year rankings as the top games of 2026, each earning a 90 score. The list reflects a strong year for gaming with a mix of big hits and indie gems, while GTA VI remains a highly anticipated release for later this year.
Bloober Team has unveiled new gameplay footage for Cronos: Lazarus, an expansion for Cronos: The New Dawn, with an autumn 2026 release planned for all major gaming platforms. The DLC introduces more aggressive enemies and action-oriented play, enhancing the Warden's journey with new weapons and abilities.
Rocksteady’s "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" faced development woes, leading to creative shifts towards monetization and a $200 million loss for WB Games by 2024. This turmoil saw director Axel Rydby depart to co-found an indie studio, highlighting industry trends prioritizing revenue over game quality and setting the stage for possible future pivots at Rocksteady, including a rumored single-player Batman title.