Gaming News Digest — June 26, 2026
Published:
Top news
TennoCon 2026 — Warframe devs dropped the TennoCon 2026 trailer, promising the largest event ever. Tickets are sold out, but you can watch for free on July 10-11, with exclusive Twitch & Steam prizes and a chance to snag the Mesa Prime Warframe.
Sandrone — A fresh Genshin Impact video showcases Sandrone and the ghosts of her past. She is a limited 5-star Cryo claymore character, and a new reaction called "Stellar Conductor" will boost Cryo and Electro interactions.
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round — Dead or Alive 6 Last Round just dropped on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, featuring 29 fighters, updated mechanics, and a photo mode. A new character, Minato, arrives this summer as DLC, and a free Core Fighters version is also available.
GTA 6 pre-orders in Russia hit ₽9999 — M.Video will open pre-orders for GTA 6 in early July at ₽9999, with demand expected to be insane. The first batch of physical copies (PS5) is capped, and the launch is set for November 19, but empty boxes (no disc) ship November 12 for preload.
MIRESI: Invisible Future — From the makers of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, MIRESI: Invisible Future opens pre-registration. First playable at Anime Expo 2026, the game blends real-time and turn-based combat with time-travel mechanics, coming to PC and mobile.
GTA VI — Everything you need to know about GTA VI: pre-orders are live, release November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series. Two protagonists, Vice City, social-media satire, no physical discs, and Russian localization confirmed. PC version expected late 2027-2028.
Call of Duty: Mobile Season 6 — Season 6 kicks off on July 1 with a crossover with Persona 5 Royal. A themed Treasure Hunt mode transforms parts of the Battle Royale map into Persona zones, and multiplayer gets Throwable Frenzy with no guns.
Rhythm roguelike Ratatan delayed — Ratatan has been delayed to October 15, exiting Early Access on Steam and hitting consoles the same day. The devs apologized for going silent, citing polishing and bug fixes, but promise multiplayer and 100+ unit brawls at launch.
Qliphah in Providence's Shadow — Arc System Works announced a tactical RPG called Qliphah in Providence's Shadow, featuring a non-linear timeline. Set in Tokyo's Shibuya district, it hits September 24, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Switch.
Deltarune Chapter 5 — Deltarune Chapter 5 is out now, free for all owners. The "Festival Day" chapter includes new locations, mercy-based combat, and a 38-track OST, with a Steam peak of 290K players. Chapter 6 is targeting a 2027 release.
Project ZETA — KRAFTON's open beta for the PvPvE action game Project ZETA launched from June 25-28. Four squads of three fight over the Prism, with 14 heroes and 4 classes. Early access is slated for the second half of 2026.
Кorea: IL-2 Series — Early access for Korea: IL-2 Series is live, letting you fly a MiG-15 or Sabre. Full release is August 4, 2026, with eight detailed planes, a 200,000+ km² map, and reworked flight & damage models.
GTA 6 ships without a disc — GTA 6 boxes contain only a download code, sparking gamer backlash. Analysts say Rockstar aims to kill the used game market, making this the new standard for AAA releases.
Elden Ring — Shareholders tried to oust Kadokawa's CEO for failing to milk Elden Ring enough, but lost. Support for the CEO crashed from 90% to 59.68%, as investors want more from the 30M+ seller.
Rockstar — Rockstar sticks to its old playbook, and GTA 6 might make fans buy the game twice if they want both a disc and early access. Insiders claim a full disc release is coming in December 2026.
Bungie — Bungie kept pitching a Destiny dating sim, but bosses shot it down every time. A team built a prototype with ROI estimates, but management rejected it year after year.
Blasphemous — Blasphemous has sold over 5 million copies. To celebrate, the original is 90% off on Steam until 20:00 MSK, and the sequel is 75% off. Free DLC The Third Sin just dropped.
Xbox Layoffs Hit Compulsion Games — Reports say the first round of cuts is already rolling inside Compulsion Games, right after the 2026 Showcase.
GTA 6 physical edition region-locked — Major UK retailers warn that the download code in the box activates only on a UK PlayStation account. German and French stores have different policies, causing confusion.
The Witch's Bakery — The Witch's Bakery drops August 20, 2026, a cozy RPG with Parisian charm, magic, and croissants. It's a bakery sim, visual novel, and puzzle hybrid, coming to PC and consoles with physical editions.
Sony — Sony is axing most of the Destiny 2 team at Bungie, with another wave of layoffs confirmed. Leadership admits the game didn't meet expectations, and Sony booked a $765 million write-down.
Dead or Alive 6 Last Round — The re-release launched to a 20% positive rating, mainly negative. Owners of the original must pay $30+ for an upgrade, and technical improvements are underwhelming.
Enshrouded — Enshrouded leaves Early Access on October 15, hitting PC and PS5, while Xbox Series arrives spring 2027. The survival RPG got 8 major content updates and supports up to 16 players.
Physical game sales just rose — Physical game sales rose for the first time since 2009, but analysts urge caution. The trend may not last as digital dominates.
King's Bounty: The Legend — After 18 years, King's Bounty: The Legend gets a fresh update with achievements, mod support, and widescreen. Fulqrum Publishing upgraded it for modern PCs, with an 85% discount on the series.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader — Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader has sold over 2 million copies. To celebrate, physical editions for PS5 and Switch 2 were announced, dropping October 15.
Sony triggers layoffs at Bungie — An undisclosed number of employees are out as Sony restructures Bungie. Even Marathon isn't safe, creating uncertain times.
Xbox Series consoles get a price hike — Xbox Series consoles get a $100-150 price hike globally starting August 1, blamed on component shortages. Xbox offers 0% interest installment plans to soften the blow.
Pragmata — Capcom's sci-fi sleeper Pragmata sold 2 million copies in 16 days. Voice actor David Menkin revealed fans DM him saying the game helped them reconnect with loved ones.
Xbox hikes console prices — Xbox raises console prices for the second time in 12 months, starting August 1, 2026. The company cited tough economic conditions.
Marvel Rivals — Marvel Rivals drops an Aquatic Assassin skin for Black Widow, a sleek one-piece swimsuit with summer vibes. Fans are calling it a future bestseller.
Dragon's Dogma 2 — Dragon's Dogma 2 drops to a permanent $40, and Capcom removes the Deluxe edition and most DLC from digital stores ahead of the Dark Arisen expansion.
GTA 6 console shortage — Retailers warn of a major shortage of PS5 and Xbox Series by late 2026 due to GTA 6 demand. Launch is November 19, with no disc in the box.
Enshrouded 1.0 — Enshrouded 1.0 leaves Early Access on October 15, 2026, but Xbox Series X|S owners will have to wait until spring 2027 due to porting challenges.
Path of Exile 2 — Patch 0.5.4 brings a 24-node Atlas Passive Tree and Orbs of Sacrifice for endgame customization. Unique gear now scales with character level, enabling stronger builds earlier.
Half-Life 3 — Dataminers claim development of Half-Life 3 has sped up, with Gabe wanting an exclusive for the Steam Machine. Leakers deny cancellation rumors and suggest development is accelerating.
The Elder Scrolls 6 — Ex-Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith warns against rushing TES6 and Fallout 5 under Xbox pressure. He cites the production triangle and notes TES6 has been stuck for 8 years.
Grand Theft Auto 6 regional pricing — GTA 6 prices vary wildly by region, from $58 in South Korea to over $105 in Australia and Brazil. The US standard edition is $79.99.
Sudden Strike 5 — Sudden Strike 5's Road to Liberation DLC drops July 23 on PC and consoles, featuring six new missions based on Operation Dragoon. A free co-op update hits in July.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sold 6 million copies and just got a Balatro-inspired quest in Patch 1.5.6. The game is up to 80% off on Steam.
Steam Summer Sale — The Steam Summer Sale is live until July 9, with discounts up to 90% on hits like Dead Space and Far Cry 4. After the sale, the Social Deduction Fest starts July 13.
Deltarune Chapter 5 FF14 easter egg — Deltarune Chapter 5 includes a meta inside joke about Toby Fox's obsession with Final Fantasy 14, turning it into one of the funniest easter eggs in the series.
The NES's first-ever JRPG — The NES's first-ever JRPG is coming to Switch 2 and PS5, 41 years later. It predates Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
State of Decay 3 — State of Decay 3 details co-op for 4 players, with shared community and resources. Up to 36 survivors across three bases, out in 2027 on PC and Xbox Series.
Steam deals
Steam Discounts — Today's Steam discounts include -80% on Batman: Arkham Knight, Hearts of Iron IV, STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, NBA 2K26, -75% on Blasphemous 2, and -70% on Stellaris.
Epic — free & deals
Epic Games Discounts — Today's Epic Games discounts include -95% on Hyper Warehouse Simulator, -90% on Dragon Age: Inquisition Game of the Year Edition, -80% on Populous, The Casting of Frank Stone, Poly Plaza ULTIMATE, and -75% on Bodycamera Chase.
Spotlight
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash (Steam) — JUJUTSU KAISEN debuts on consoles with 2 vs. 2 Cursed Technique Battles. Combine attacks for Joint Attacks and assess the battlefield as characters like Yuji, Megumi, and Satoru Gojo. Details
Darksiders III Fury Amazon mod — A new character mod for Darksiders III drops the Fury Amazon, a savage warrior armed with rage and a spear. An absolute nightmare for enemies. Details
Bamboo Raft Fisherman Figurine — A detailed PVC statue of an elderly fisherman on a bamboo raft, perfect for display or collection. Details
Dementium II HD (Steam) — Face nightmarish visions and escape the Bright Dawn Treatment Center as William Redmoor. This horror game immerses you in a twisted reality of blood and screams. Details
Airport CEO (Steam) — Build and manage your own airport with deep simulation. Construct infrastructure and satisfy passengers with unique personalities and needs. Details
