GAMING BUZZ: SEPTEMBER 2026

NEW MW4 MODE: COLLATERAL!

Modern Warfare 4 introduces a brand-new multiplayer mode called Collateral, inspired by Counter-Strike and Valorant.

• Buy items before each round
• Cash carries over between rounds
• Loadouts reset after every death

“XBOX IS NOT FOR SALE”!

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has declared that Xbox is not for sale.

Speaking in a New York Times interview amid ongoing restructuring and spin-off speculation, she said the company will do whatever it takes to set Xbox up for long-term success.

GUNS OF ESCHATON – WORLD’S FIRST SOULSLIKE FPS!

A look at Guns of Eschaton, the “world’s first” soulslike FPS where you play as a legendary gunslinger.

• Set in an apocalyptic Old West
• Study your enemies to identify weaknesses
• From the late Viktor Antonov (Half-Life 2, Dishonored, Fallout 4)
• Your own weapons can harm you

FIRST LOOK: SHIPMENT RETURNS IN MW4!

The classic map Shipment is coming back in Modern Warfare 4.

First look at the map is now circulating.

GEARS OF WAR PIZZA CUTTER INCOMING!

Xbox has teamed up with Prince St. Pizza for Gears of War: E-Day.

They’re releasing a $60 pizza cutter shaped like the Prototype Lancer, and it comes with an in-game pizza emblem.

GTA VI CHASE SCENE OST EXTRACTED!

The music from the police chase scene in the GTA VI Extended Look has been cleanly isolated.

Credit to@Lucas7yoshi_RS
, who pulled the pure audio tracks from the Netflix 5.1 version (surround channels contained only the music, separate from gameplay audio).

Visualizer edits are already circulating.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n24S27iqiew
Img Credit:@mnm345x

SUPREME EXPERIMENT – SCI-FI SINGLE-PLAYER!

A new atmospheric first-person sci-fi adventure from Argunov Games.

Setting:

• 100 years after humanity fled into towering Spire Cities
• Machines left behind to run the toxic surface wasteland
• Those machines have evolved into a new species with their own gods and beliefs, Survive, explore, and uncover the truth on the desolate surface below- @SUPREME_S112

GTA 6 GAME INFORMER COVER STORY TOMORROW!

Game Informer’s 14-page cover story with Rockstar Games goes live Tuesday.

What to expect:

• Advanced weather systems inspired by Florida’s less-sunny conditions
• Deep dive into GTA VI’s wildlife across land, air & sea
• Rockstar designers on how Leonida and Vice City were built
• Studio’s research into real-life Miami and Florida
• 12 brand-new exclusive screenshots
• Tomorrow is going to be a big day for GTAVI.

NEW GOD OF WAR: LAUFEY SCREENSHOTS & ARTWORK!

Fresh screenshots and official artwork for God of War: Laufey have been released.

(Image(s) Credit: Sony/Santa Monica Studio)

PENNSYLVANIA MOVES TO PROTECT DIGITAL GAME OWNERSHIP!

A Pennsylvania state senator has proposed the Protect Our Games Act.

The bill would require companies to give 60 days’ notice before shutting down access to a purchased digital game, then offer at least one of these solutions:

• Enable offline mode
• Provide a patch for continued play
• Refund at least 25% of the original price

A step that could reshape what “buying” a digital game actually means.

PS5 PRO APPLICATIONS OPEN AT SONY STORE (JAPAN)!

Applications to purchase the PlayStation 5 Pro at the Sony Store began today, September 28.

If demand exceeds supply, units will be allocated by lottery.

There are eligibility conditions (including playtime requirements).

NEW GTA 6 COLLECTIBLE SET ANNOUNCED!

Rockstar has introduced the Grand Theft Auto VI: The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection.

This premium collectible set includes all the essentials for a good time, inspired by Leonida’s hit TV show Macca the Gator.

GTA 6 VICE CITY COLLECTION!

The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection is officially available on the Rockstar Store for $399 USD.

What’s inside the Collector’s Box:

• Macca the Gator figure
• Oakley Frogskins sunglasses
• Leonida Keys crossbody bag
• New Era snapback
• Macca magnetic mirror
• Chunkee the Manatee shot glass
• Vice City swizzle spoon
• Razor blade keychain
• Enamel pin set
• Sticker pack
• Double-sided poster with full
• Leonida map
• (GTA 6 game sold separately)
  
  Grab it here:
  https://store.rockstargames.com/merchandise/gtavi-goodtime-state-vice-city-collection

MICROSOFT FILES PATENT FOR IN-GAME AD BREAKS!

Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that inserts ads during natural pauses in games.

Possible triggers include:

• After boss fights
• Completed quests
• End of cutscenes
• Loading screens
• Multiplayer rounds

Watching an ad would award a “credit” granting roughly 20–30 minutes of uninterrupted playtime.

The system appears aimed at an ad-supported tier of Xbox Game Pass on PC and console.

Note: This is a patent filing — not a confirmed feature yet.

ACTIVISION PRESIDENT ON THE NEXT HALO!

Activision President Rob Kostich vision for the next Halo game:

“For Halo, our goal is clear: make the greatest Halo game ever, worthy of its universe and legacy, while staying true to what made players love it in the first place.

It is a bold ambition, one that this franchise deserves. We have already begun assembling a purpose-built team, unique in capability and talent, ready and excited to deliver this next chapter with the community.”

A dedicated new team (sep. from COD) is already being put together

REPORT: RED DEAD REDEMPTION 3 PRODUCTION SET TO RAMP UP!

Reports claim early production on Red Dead Redemption 3 will significantly increase following the launch of GTA VI.

According to the latest info:

• Conceptual work began in 2018, shortly after RDR2
• A small core team has been working full-time on the project since 2020
• Full-scale development is expected to ramp up after GTA 6 ships
• ⚠️Rockstar has not officially confirmed these details.

HALO STUDIOS DIRECTOR PROMOTED THEN LAID OFF!

Halo Studios cinematic director Josh Daniels was promoted this week — only to be laid off the next day as part of Xbox’s latest cuts.

He confirmed the news himself, noting he is one of many affected at the studio.

With Activision now taking over the next mainline Halo game, Halo Studios is being reduced to a small community support team, and multiple lead roles appear to have been hit.

ACTIVISION TAKES OVER NEXT HALO GAME!

Xbox has officially announced that Activision will develop the next major Halo title.

It will be handled by a brand-new, purpose-built team that is completely separate from ongoing Call of Duty development.

A smaller team at Halo Studios will remain to support the existing games and community.

This forms part of Microsoft’s ongoing Xbox restructuring and further layoffs.

MEDAL OF HONOR BUNDLE DROPS IN BF6!

A new Medal of Honor themed bundle has arrived in Battlefield 6 for 2,000 BFC, paying homage to the classic military shooter series.

AVL now:

• Fireteam Vedmak – 1,800 BFC
• Highland Thistle – 1,100 BFC
• Glaciar Howl – 1,600 BFC
  
  Free this week:
  
• 15-minute Hardware XP Booster (Battle Pass owners)
• ‘Steel Overcast’ skin for the M77E Falchion vehicle

GTA 6 MARKETING GOES LIVE IN MIAMI!

Rockstar’s GTA VI campaign has officially kicked off in Miami, with the massive “Welcome to Vice City” signage being installed on the Kaseya Center rooftop — and it made local live TV coverage.

More promotional signage is expected across the area.

The deal was approved under the County Mayor’s delegated authority (no separate commission vote), which surprised and drew opposition from some commissioners.

REPORT: XBOX FACING ANOTHER ROUND OF LAYOFFS!

A new report claims Xbox could be preparing for more job cuts, with hundreds of employees potentially affected.

Several studios may also face consolidation as Microsoft continues restructuring its gaming division and reviewing how its teams operate.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is pushing further changes to streamline the business.

No official confirmation from Microsoft yet.

GHOST OF YOTEI GETS MAJOR 29GB UPDATE!

A large ~29GB patch has dropped for Ghost of Yotei, preparing the game for its upcoming Complete Edition.

One of the new features already live is “Beauty of Yotei” mode —described as a world showcase mode where players can explore locations with slow-motion cinematic shots and atmospheric music to highlight the beauty of the world.

Transmog and some new trophies are also available early.

FF7 REVELATION DIRECTOR RECOMMENDS PS5 PRO!

Director Naoki Hamaguchi says the PS5 Pro is one of the best ways to play Final Fantasy VII Revelation.

Using PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), the team has implemented a mode that delivers both 4K image quality and 60 FPS

Hamaguchi: “For players who want to enjoy Revelation with both enhanced visual fidelity and smooth performance, I believe PS5 Pro will be one of the recommended ways to experience the game.”

ACTIVISION: CHEATING MARKET WORTH $8.5 BILLION!

Activision’s Team Ricochet says the global video game cheating industry is now valued at around $8.5 billion a year.

This includes cheat subscriptions, account sales, boosting, and spoofing services.

Some players reportedly spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually just to keep cheating.

The company is ramping up both technical bans and legal action against cheat providers.

COD YOUTUBER LAUNCHES SBMM PETITION!

Call of Duty YouTuber Tdawgsmitty has started a petition calling for the complete removal of skill-based matchmaking from unranked lobbies.

Inspired by successful Destiny community protests, the petition asks Activision to keep SBMM only in Ranked Play and prioritize connection quality in regular matches.

It gained hundreds of signatures quickly and comes ahead of Modern Warfare 4.

ROCKSTAR DROPS OFFICIAL MOD GUIDELINES!

Rockstar has launched an official Mod Guidelines page under its Community Resources:

Key rules:

• Do not expand or modify official storylines, plots, missions, or characters
• Do not combine assets/IP from one Rockstar game into another
• Multiplayer modding limited to official licensed Creator platforms
• No mods that run games on unsupported platforms/hardware
• Strict limits on monetization and third-party IP

ROCKSTAR PATENTS POINT TO BIGGER GTA ONLINE!

Rockstar/Take-Two patents and recent legal documents offer insights into tech that could power future open worlds (including GTA 6 Online):

• Server-side NPC management for denser, more vibrant worlds
• Procedural/adaptive animations that respond to terrain, slopes, and carried weight
• Improved server systems for smoother multiplayer, reduced loading, and sessions supporting up to 32 players
• The 32-player format was referenced as a highly confidential feature in recent court filings.
• These technologies suggest Rockstar is aiming for significantly more ambitious online experiences.

RUMOR: GTA 6 MUSIC STREAMING ON IFRUIT!

Claims are circulating that GTA VI will include a dedicated music streaming app on the iFruit phone, letting players listen to music anywhere using in-game AirPods (not just in vehicles).

Exclusive tracks are said to drop regularly from artists like Travis Scott, Future, Metro Boomin, and others.

Note: Wearable AirPods/headphones have appeared in leaks and screenshots as cosmetics, and artists are currently teasing soundtrack involvement, but a full on-foot streaming app with regular exclusive drops has not been officially confirmed by Rockstar.

BILL SKARSGÅRD CAST AS LEAD IN PHYSINT!

Hideo Kojima surprised everyone at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show broadcast with a major casting reveal:

Bill Skarsgård will play the lead role in PHYSINT.

Kojima confirmed they are long-time fans of each other’s work and have already done costume fittings, scans, and camera tests.

He joins previously announced cast members Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe.

ARTISTS TEASE GTA 6 COLLABORATIONS!

Multiple big-name musicians are posting GTA 6-style artwork today, teasing involvement with Rockstar:

• Travis Scott
• Future
• Metro Boomin
• Rauw Alejandro
• Keith Richards
• Morgan Wallen
• CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

CAPCOM SPOTLIGHT AT TGS 2026!

Tokyo Game Show 2026 kicks off with a Capcom Spotlight presentation on September 16 (3pm BST / 4pm CEST).

Expect a new Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen trailer ahead of its October 9 launch, plus updates on:

• Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance
• PRAGMATA
• Mega Man: Dual Override
• Street Fighter 6
• Resident Evil 2, 3 & 4 on Switch 2
  Watch: https://twitch.tv/capcomeurope

BATTLEFIELD 6 FREE TRIAL LIVE!

Free Trial runs September 15th – 22nd.

• Download Battlefield REDSEC on your platform to access it
• All progression, unlocks, and rewards carry over if you buy the full game

XBOX CEO ANSWERING SUPPORT TICKETS HERSELF!

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been spending several hours each month personally handling player support tickets.

She stepped into the customer service queue to experience problems firsthand and understand what frustrates Xbox users —without relying only on internal reports.

Reported in a recent Wall Street Journal profile.

GRAN TURISMO 8 DEVELOPMENT RUMORS HEAT UP!

Polyphony Digital is heavily hiring for “production of Gran Turismo,” with dozens of open roles in:

• Engineering & programming
• Vehicle simulation
• 3D modeling
• Technical design
• Project management

The studio’s own recruitment page explicitly states it is hiring for the production of Gran Turismo. While Gran Turismo 8 has not been officially named, the scale of the hiring push strongly suggests the next mainline entry is moving into a more serious development phase.

📅 SEPTEMBER ON PLAYSTATION!

🧛 Out Now – The Blood of Dawnwalker

👹 Out Now – Onimusha: Way of the Sword

🏀 Out Now – NBA 2K27

😾 Sept 8 – Mewgenics

🎃 Sept 8 – Halloween: The Game

🤖 Sept 8 – Sprawl Zero

📱 Sept 10 – BrokenLore: Don’t Lie

🏎️ Sept 10 – Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

🟡 Sept 15 – Marvel’s Wolverine

🐉 Sept 15 – RuneScape: Dragonwilds

🐺 Sept 16 – Aniimo

⚔️ Sept 17 – Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

🪱 Sept 22 – Dune: Awakening

🐦‍⬛ Sept 22 – Well Dweller

🌫️ Sept 24 – Silent Hill: Townfall

🌆 Sept 24 – Control Resonant

⛏️ Sept 29 – Minecraft Dungeons II

GTA 6 LAUNCHES AT MIDNIGHT LOCAL TIME!

Grand Theft Auto VI will not drop at one global time.

It unlocks at 12:00 midnight local time in each region.

• New Zealand players get it first
  
  
• Xbox users can change their console location/region to New Zealand to play earlier
  
  
• PS5 requires a New Zealand account + local payment method for the same trick

PHYSICAL MEDIA IS FIGHTING BACK!

While gaming pushes harder toward digital-only, music is going the other way:

• US CD revenue jumped 58.6% in H1 2026
  
  
• Vinyl climbed 17.7%
  
  
• Overall physical music revenue grew 25.9%
  
  People clearly still want to own their entertainment — not just rent access to it.

GTA 6 LAUNCH DAY ECONOMIC IMPACT (ESTIMATES)!

Economist projections suggest GTA 6 could hit the US economy hard on launch day:

• ~$1 billion+ in lost productivity from absenteeism
  
  
• Roughly 1.5 million workers expected to call in sick or take PTO
  
  
• Up to a 2% drop in labor productivity
  
  
• Tech sector & men aged 18-30 most affected
  
  
• Expected spikes (& possible shortages) in hardware: consoles, TVs, monitors, SSDs, headsets, controllers
  
  
• Tourism boost expected in Miami/South Florida as fans visit real-life locations

SONY CLARIFIES DISC PRODUCTION CUT!

Earlier reports were wrong. Sony’s Austria disc factory will not slash production to just 10%.

A spokesperson confirmed the expected decline is by 10%, not down to 10%.

The plant will keep making discs for games released before 2028,and publishers can still order more copies.

Source▶️https://eurogamer.net/sony-playstation-disc-production-10-percent-decline-not-90

MIAMI PROPOSES GTA 6 BILLBOARDS!

Downtown Miami is pushing to allow Rockstar temporary GTA 6 promotional banners:

• Max of 6 banners
  
  
• Display period: October 15 – December 31
  
  
• Rockstar would pay $202,000 per banner ($1.2 million total)
  
  
• Still needs approval from Take-Two Interactive
  
  
  Funds would go toward a local heritage trail project.
  
  
• Source▶️https://themiamian.net/p/miami-wants-to-get-in-on-the-vice-city-action

HIDEKI KAMIYA STILL WANTS SCALEBOUND!

In a new interview, Hideki Kamiya said if Xbox & CEO Asha Sharma are interested, he’d love to revive the cancelled project

“If they want to do it, let’s make it happen!”

He noted former Scalebound staff are also on board.

XBOX CLOUD GAMING HOURS CAPPED!

Microsoft is introducing monthly limits for Xbox Cloud Gaming starting in November:

• Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours
• Game Pass Premium: 10 hours
• Game Pass Essential: 5 hours

After using your included hours, you’ll need to buy extra playtime bundles. Microsoft says this will only affect about 4% of subscribers.

Source➡️ verge