Euro Truck Simulator 2 is, outside of the well-known titles such as GTA 6, one of the most hyped upcoming console releases. We know it's coming to Xbox Series X|S and PS5, but other than that, nothing.

The lack of information is only adding to the build-up, but now, finally, there's a strong chance it might be ready for people to see for the first time.

Its maker, SCS Software, has announced it is going to Tokyo Game Show for the first time. While it means we're probably not hearing anything at Gamescom a few weeks prior, SCS is hoping to have a playable console version of Euro Truck Simulator 2 on the Tokyo Game Show floor.

"We're also doing everything we can to bring playable demonstrations of our upcoming Road Trip and Coaches projects to Tokyo Game Show, along with a PlayStation 5 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. While we're not quite ready to make any promises, our teams are working hard behind the scenes, and we hope to give visitors an early hands-on look at these exciting new experiences."

Alright, so first up, it's the PS5 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2. Which, given it's in Tokyo, makes a lot of sense. Xbox will also be at the show, but let's face it, PS5 is the clear king in Japan of the two. There will be more players at that event that are on PS5 than on Xbox.

It's also not a guarantee, but the fact that SCS has even mentioned it at all must mean they're somewhat confident of making it stick. The other content they're hoping to show off we've at least already seen to some degree. The console version is the unicorn right now.

There are so many questions players have over how the experience will translate to console. It has to be flawless on a controller, for example, and I'm confident enough it will be. I play both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator on my Steam Deck regularly with its built-in gamepad.

But a PC game supporting a controller is not the same as a truly controller-native console experience. It's also great news for the development of the game if SCS believes it's in a good enough state to allow members of the public to take a look.

What it very much isn't, though, is any confirmation of imminent release. For one, it's only one of the two games. American Truck Simulator isn't mentioned. Is there a chance we'll hear more about the desired timeframe? Possibly.

Either way, for console players who are waiting impatiently for the insanely popular truck simulators to finally break free of their PC exclusivity, this is the best piece of news since they were first revealed.

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The excitement for Gears of War: E-Day continues to build as Xbox announces brand-new, limited-edition Gears of War: E-Day-style Xbox controllers, now available for pre-ordering on the Xbox website.

One controller is pre-made with a design to resemble the Gears of War logo, while the other controller features a custom-made Xbox Design Lab faceplate along with several buttons, triggers, and joysticks that the player can customize the look of to fit their fashion sense.

Here's everything you need to know about these awesome-looking controllers.

For starters, these accessories are regular Xbox Series X|S controllers with modified cosmetic looks inspired by Gears of War: E-Day, meaning they'll feature all the high-quality ergonomics, responsive controls, and satisfying feedback that earned them a spot among our favorite Xbox controllers.

The pre-made Gears of War: E-Day controller features 3D-molded, laser-etched details meant to resemble the cracked asphalt of a road giving way to a Locust Emergence hole, with the Gears of War logo shining brightly in the middle.

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Additionally, the pre-made controller has a mix of sharp black and red buttons and joysticks to help it stand out more, firm textured grips to make it more comfortable, and a painting of a COG tag on the battery door as a fan-servicey reference to all the dog-tag-style COG tags players collect throughout the Gears of War series.

The limited-edition Gears of War: E-Day Xbox controller will cost you $89.99 and is available for pre-ordering on the Xbox Store or at your local retailer.

The custom Xbox Design Labs Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Controller features a custom faceplate with bloody, heavy-metal-style artwork by Luke Preece, who created official artwork for heavy metal bands like System of a Down, Metallica, Black Sabbath, and more.

As with any Xbox Design Labs controllers, players will be able to augment the controller with cosmetic upgrades like metallic triggers and D-Pads, rubberized side and back grips, and a personalized engraving to make it their own.

If you're going to Gamescom this year, you will be able to see them firsthand, as they'll be on public display at the Xbox Booth, where players will get their first playable taste of Gears of War: E-Day's story campaign mode.

The Xbox Design Labs Gears of War: E-Day Xbox Controller will be available for purchase and customization on September 30, 2026, on the Xbox Store.

But wait, there's more. 8BitDo is collaborating with Xbox to create a special charging dock designed to be paired up with the pre-made Gears of War: E-Day Xbox controller, and it is called the '8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day'.

This charging dock is also compatible with regular Xbox Series X|S controllers and Xbox One controllers, and it includes an 8BitDo rechargeable battery pack to save you the trouble of buying one separately for your controller to work with this dock.

The '8BitDo Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX Controllers – Gears of War: E-Day' will cost you $39.99 and is available for pre-ordering on Amazon and 8BitDo's eShop.

Windows Central's take

Xbox has had some wild tie-in controllers over the years, but these Gears of War: E-Day controllers are possibly the coolest ones I've seen in a long time.

The pre-made is definitely my favorite, as its well-done design gives off the cool effect of the Gears of War logo erupting from the ground, and the overall black and red color scheme looks so sick.

I can't wait to get my hands on one of these controllers and play Gears of War: E-Day with it when the game comes out on October 30, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC.

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GOG (formerly known as Good Old Games) is one of the most popular spots to buy, download, and curate PC game collections. It competes directly against the behemoth Steam, the oft-maligned Epic Games, and plenty of other PC game storefronts, and over the years it has garnered quite a positive reputation among gamers.

Why? It's all about GOG's focus on consumer rights and actual game ownership, which in 2026 is becoming increasingly rare.

GOG's games don't come with DRM. Older titles are often fixed, patched, and updated to run on new hardware. There's a rather generous 30-day return policy, and there are frequent sales with massive discounts.

Yeah, it all looks great, and I'm a huge fan of GOG.

So where is this going? I recently came across a user-maintained catalog of "Games that treat GOG customers as 2nd Class." It was just updated on August 11, 2026, and I'm shocked at how many titles are listed as having some sort of disparity compared to other digital storefronts.

GOG's game version disparity is a lot worse than I ever expected

I was aware that some GOG games weren't the same as the versions found in other stores, but I never knew the problem was this widespread.

This effort to track issues with GOG versions of games actually got started in 2018 in a GOG forum thread that's still alive today, now reaching 400+ pages with thousands of replies.

The spreadsheet catalog contains a list of 1,140 games with at least one issue. There are 1,531 issues in total. Those numbers are not typos. Sure, some of the issues are less severe than others, but that doesn't mean GOG customers should receive an inferior product.

The catalog tracks the following issues:

• Missing updates (308 total issues)
• Missing languages (100 total issues)
• Missing free DLC (51 total issues)
• Missing paid DLC (200 total issues)
• Missing features (111 total issues)
• Missing soundtrack (439 total issues)
• Missing builds (278 total issues)
• Region locking (12 total issues)

Sources are provided for many of the games listed as having issues, and others are sourced directly from first-hand experiences.

Out of all the 1,140 games on the list, there are 17 special mentions. The game The Messenger from Devolver Digital, one of my favorite publishers, is flagged as special. Why? The GOG version is missing a Unity security update, and the soundtrack files are of a "lower quality than on Steam."

Another special mention is given to the game Nuclear Throne for its five issues, including a missing 10-year anniversary update, missing languages, missing challenges, missing soundtrack, and missing Linux version.

I could go on with plenty more examples, but I'm sure you get the idea. Missing soundtracks seem to be the most frequent offender with 439 total issues, while missing updates place second with 308 total issues.

Why do some developers seem to give GOG less attention?

GOG's disparity with other storefronts isn't really GOG's fault. It's ultimately up to the developers and publishers what to include in their games when they're sent to GOG, and what to update thereafter.

Devolver Digital and THQ Nordic GmbH are both at the top of the list with 29 issues each in total across their published games.

Correct me in the comments section below if I'm wrong, but Steam's far larger user base and its savvy workshop integration make it the go-to spot for most game companies. Much more attention is paid to Steam, and GOG seems often to be treated as "we'll get to it when we can."

And because GOG requires games to be DRM-free, there's definitely extra work to be done in many scenarios. For older games that may or may not have a dedicated development team, this is especially painful.

GOG is a great place to shop if you care about game preservation and proper functioning of classic titles, but you're still paying for the games. There's a certain irony here in buying a game to preserve it properly, only to find out that it's missing one or several features that you could have received if you'd purchased it, say, on Steam.

My advice for the next time you're buying a game on GOG

Like I said, I support GOG and its mission to deliver DRM-free games. However, I was not aware of how many titles have issues.

From now on, I'll be checking the spreadsheet carefully any time I head over to GOG and pick up a new game. I suggest you do the same, lest you end up with a DRM-free version that's missing the content you bought it for in the first place.

Were you aware of how many games on GOG have missing content and issues compared to other storefronts? Has it tainted your opinion of GOG? Is there any hope to solve the major issues that some of these games have? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Yesterday, on August 11, 2026, a post in the r/Controller subreddit shared images of what appears to be the long-awaited Xbox Elite Series 3 controller, a successor to one of the best Xbox controllers, which we gave a near-perfect score to back in 2021.

The original poster deleted their "leaked" gallery of the implied prototype (potentially in response to an unconfirmed cease-and-desist order from Microsoft). Still, the images were nonetheless preserved and shared again by The Verge's Tom Warren, who clarifies how the original post claimed the poster purchased it from "OfferUp", an online reseller marketplace.

As with any rumor —or supposed leak — it's always best to take them with a pinch of salt, as any could turn out to be fake, and these images of the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller are no exception. Then again, there are plenty of hints in its design that this is indeed a prototype that was never intended to be seen publicly. The Verge's report even confirms that the battery pack says "Prototype, not for sale".

Still, these could be knockoffs of the official Xbox Elite Series controller or an early, unfinished model that looks nothing like the final product. However, the fact that these images were quickly removed implies they may be real.

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If it is genuine, it at least doesn't appear at a glance that the Elite Series 3 has changed much from its predecessor, other than a slightly different rubberized grip design and different-looking trigger locks.

However, The Verge's analysis shows some new features. These include two new scroll wheels along the bottom edge, a wireless mode that would connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers, and a 'Pair' button that switches the controller's connection between Cloud Gaming servers and an Xbox console.

Either way, we will have to wait for Microsoft's official announcement of the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller to see whether this design becomes the final product or an outdated prototype/knock-off. Gamescom is coming up, so we'll see.

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Atlus has been on a roll these past few years with the Persona series. We've had an amazing remake of Persona 3, a cool Persona 5 XCOM-like spin-off, and now we're getting a remake of Persona 4 along with the long-awaited Persona 6, both of which are headed for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass.

Needless to say, it's been a happy time to be a Persona fan...unless you happen to be a fan of the very first few Persona games like Revelation: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

In which case, you feel like an abandoned puppy, as these PlayStation 1-era cult classics that helped shape the Persona franchise have not received substantial updates or re-releases in decades since the release of their PSP ports between the late 2000s and early 2010s.

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However, that may change, as during an interview with GamerBraver regarding Persona 4 Revival, an Atlus producer called Wada Kazuhisa was asked if Atlus had plans to remake the aforementioned games, as it did with Persona 3 and 4.

Wada Kazuhisa responded with, and I quote, “At this point, I can’t say for sure, but personally, I think it’s something we should definitely do. I think we have to do it.”

Windows Central's take

Revelation: Persona and 2 were very different compared to their more famous successors. There was no social link system where you bonded with characters, and there were no time management/high-school simulator gameplay elements.

These games were traditional, linear dungeon crawlers that had way darker storylines and themes that tackled psychological horror and apocalyptic scenarios that leaned more closely toward the franchise Persona originally spun off from: Shin Megami Tensei.

A tone that Atlus may be bringing back in Persona 6, judging by how creepy its announcement trailer shown at the June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase was.

Personally, I would like to see remakes of the first few Persona games, as I never got a chance to play them due to how rare and scarce they are to find where I live. Persona 2 especially, because the idea of playing a Persona game where we played as older characters instead of teenagers in most Persona games sounds really refreshing.

Heck, I'd even take a re-release of their PSP ports or even their original PS1 versions on Xbox and PC, especially considering that it will be impossible to do on PlayStation systems since Sony is shutting down the PSP's and PlayStation 3's PSN stores, making them even more scarce to find and own.

After all, if Atlus was willing to bring back a cult-classic like Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzonoha for modern systems, why can't it do the same for the games that helped shape this weird, wacky, deranged, dark, and heartwarming franchise we know and love today?

🗨️ Over to you

How do you feel about the idea of Atlus remaking Revelation: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment? Are there any other classic Atlus JRPGs you want to see come back with a re-release, remaster, or remake?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.

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It seems like every time I turn around, there's another round of layoffs affecting video game studios.

In July, Xbox announced its biggest downsizing ever, cutting 3,200 jobs throughout 2026 and 2027. At the same time, Xbox made deals with four major studios to go independent or take on new management.

That independence didn't come without a cost either, as studio Double Fine Productions announced it was laying off 23 employees shortly after going solo.

It's all starting to feel like white noise with the same language. Streamlining. Restructuring. Focusing resources. Adapting to changing markets.

After reading an excellent report from Rest of World about the plight of small game developers in Turkey, I realized that the entire video game industry is likely in more trouble than most people realize.

While Microsoft and other big companies at the apex of the industry have been cutting thousands of jobs at the top, there's something just as disruptive going on at the bottom.

Solo developers are shipping full games with a tiny team, empowered by tools like Claude Code and Cowork, OpenAI Codex, and Copilot. This shift in how games are developed is eating up the entry-level jobs that used to serve as a way to break into the game dev industry. The candle is burning at both ends, as they say.

Turkey's AI game development example doesn't bode well

Over the last decade, Turkey has become a mobile gaming hotspot with more than 800 studios at its peak. It served as a pipeline for young developers who finished school, applied, got hired, worked in junior roles, and eventually made their way up the ladder.

This pipeline is no longer functioning as it should, and it's largely due to AI. One developer interviewed by Rest of World went from a huge studio pumping out a game per week to founding his own studio.

With Claude Code in his back pocket, the developer realized he needed just two employees to achieve similar productivity.

This shift in Turkey's game development scene is having dire effects. Entry-level jobs are understandably disappearing at smaller studios, and the larger studios are reticent to hire inexperienced developers.

The AI stack designed to make us more productive is killing key jobs

The AI stack negatively affecting one of the largest game development booms in European history is the same AI stack that Microsoft is racing to put in front of every developer, on every platform, including the ones building for Xbox and Windows.

Microsoft has famously spent years telling Windows users that Copilot will make us all more productive. But Turkey's example is likely a preview of what that means when followed to its logical end.

👉 "The 'AI Stigma' is real and severely punishes developers": A new study shows how much using AI in games hurts sales, and the numbers are hard to believe

Not a team of developers shipping games faster (OK, maybe a bit faster). One developer doing the job that used to require a team. Set this dilemma on top of a video game industry that just saw Xbox cut thousands of jobs, and the math really starts to hurt.

It's worth noting that Microsoft stated that AI is not being used to replace the most recent batch of laid-off employees at Xbox, but the company's overall massive spending on AI infrastructure and data centers has undoubtedly played a role in cuts to underperforming sectors like Xbox.

With layoffs at the top and an ever-shrinking front door at the bottom, the entire industry is being squeezed for all its juice.

Windows Central's take

The part that stuck with me the most is the plight of junior developers. A university director in Turkey is warning students not to follow the traditional path of getting hired on in an introductory position and working their way up. Instead, they should be building their own games while in school in order to land a job.

So, yes, AI tools definitely lower the barrier to creating a game. At the same time, however, AI tools do nothing to ensure that a game actually finds an audience.

Key steps in the nurturing and maturing of a video game developer are being skipped, and artists, writers, and programmers aren't necessarily getting the experience needed to compete at the upper levels of the industry.

Turkey's degrading video game development scene seems like a preview of what's to come for the rest of the industry, and I'm not sure I like it.

Are you a developer who uses Copilot, Claude, or any other AI tools in your workflow? Has it made you more ambitious? More productive? Are you more nervous now about who you're competing with? Let me know in the comments section below!

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I've long been a fan of XCOM, which is why when I heard two of my favorite franchises were about to collide on Xbox and PC, my interest was immediately piqued.

This is Star Wars: Zero Company, an upcoming turn-based tactics game set in the legendary sci-fi universe that needs little introduction.

Developed by Bit Reactor, who themselves are comprised heavily of XCOM and Firaxis vets, I recently was lucky enough to talk to the team behind the game, as well as go hands-on for the first time.

Bit Reactor's Greg Foertsch, art director of XCOM fame, was candid on the game's origin story. It was actually the late great Vince Zampella of Titanfall and Call of Duty fame who offered it up first, and the rest is history: "Star Wars was not on my bingo card, to be quite honest, till Vince brought it up, and frankly, I was a little terrified at first, but I had to say yes."

Terrified they might've been. But from what I've seen, I think they've absolutely nailed it and have nothing to fear whatsoever. Star Wars Zero Company is now a personal game-of-the-year contender, if indeed the full game continues to be as infectious and intriguing as the demo slice I played.

Bit Reactor noted that they felt the turn-based tactics genre still had a big story to tell, even as Take Two essentially wound down the XCOM franchise in favor of focusing on Civilization. What better way to introduce the genre to a new audience than via one of the biggest franchises in the world?

But Bit Reactor has also been keen to modernize every aspect of it for modern sensibilities: photorealistic art, a third-person camera, high-quality story writing and cinematic treatment, and a Mass Effect-like character bonding system that has enormous potential.

Star Wars: Zero Company launches on Xbox and PC on August 27, 2026.

A heaping of XCOM, a dash of Mass Effect?

In Star Wars Zero Company, you take command of a "dirty dozen" style mercenary outfit, which immediately gave me Mass Effect 2 vibes.

This ragtag group of rejects, bounty hunters, and warriors of fortune come together under a variety of difficult circumstances. The Clone Wars are in full swing, and the Republic needs mercs willing to undertake missions that are perhaps beyond their remit (and missions that skirt the law ... and perhaps even basic morality.)

As such, you play as Captain Hawks, a fully customizable humanoid and former Republic officer who has gone into business for himself. You can fully tailor Hawks' identity and pick from a variety of iconic Star Wars species to lead your crew.

As you get further in, you'll meet other heroes who join your squad for a variety of their own reasons. There's Tel-Rea, who is a former Jedi Padawan, Trick, a "forcibly retired" clone trooper, and Cly, a Mandalorian driven by vengeance.

The eclectic cast led Bit Reactor to create its "Bond system," which gave me a ton of Mass Effect 2 vibes. As your crew collaborates both in missions and during trips to The Den (your base of operations), they build relationships and synergies that benefit your tactical options and also develop their characters.

"I wanted that to have a long arc of play over the course of the whole campaign… you’re not just learning to power your characters up, but you’re also having them develop relationships that’s evolving in your head," game director James Brawley explained to us. "Characters grow stronger as a result… that’s why they’re able to beat these overwhelming threats, because they know how to work together."

"This is your Star Wars game… how you get there, what you experience, the characters you build, the relationships and bonds you make — they’re all unique to your playthrough."

The team explained that the events of Zero Company take place adjacent to The Clone Wars, in the shadows, using an entire cast of new characters. And indeed, like any good XCOM-like, permadeath is a feature here. If you have two characters that synergize well and unlock powerful abilities as a result, having one of them die not only severs that bond but also deprives you of access to those powerful abilities. The stakes remain incredibly high as a result, in true XCOM-fashion. You'll also lose the resolution of their stories and experiences too, making every playthrough potentially unique (unless you save scum, that is ... but there are auto-saves-only Ironman modes for those who don't want to be enticed into such heretical gameplay styles.)

I didn't get to experience too much of the combat gameplay, but from what I played, it felt every bit as satisfying and fun as previous official XCOM-style games I've played from the team here. Bit Reactor is comprised of XCOM and Firaxis vets, as noted, and you can feel that pedigree in every aspect of play. The team said Disney was on hand too to verify the Star Wars authenticity but was also incredibly open to Bit Reactor's own agency therein. The team said they "couldn't praise Disney enough," in what sounds like a very productive working relationship.

Disney hasn't always handled the Star Wars IP as well as I would've liked ... but it's hard to deny that they've had some absolute bangers on their hands. Rogue One has been a particular highlight for me, but also the games. Cinematic delivery I'd argue is more important in a Star Wars-adjacent title, which obviously comes with certain expectations. You can expect great characters, a grand adventure across the galaxy, and big cinematic moments sprinkled throughout Zero Company, the developers tell me. But crucially, also dark villains.

The Clone Wars are in full swing in corners of the galaxy, but while bounty hunting, Hawks and his crew get caught up in a uniquely dangerous situation. The separatist-aligned cult known as the Infinite Coil rears its head early on. Its members seem infected with a mysterious space plague that, if I were a betting man, potentially has dark side origins.

The Jedi Fallen Order franchise has been well-received, and before Vince Zampella's passing, it seemed like EA was on an upward swing with its Star Wars license stewardship. Zero Company looks set to continue that legacy and also maintain the quality bar Jedi Fallen Order established.

Indeed, I was surprised to discover how far Zero Company diverges from the typical XCOM formula from a story perspective, where most of the characters are throwaway soldiers designed to ultimately be expendable. The detailed characterization of the heroes in Zero Company are every bit as cinematic and interesting as any story-heavy action game or big-screen Star Wars experience you might expect.

Zero Company makes heavy use of a traditional third-person over-the-shoulder camera for some of these sequences too, making the game feel almost more like a CRPG in the vein of Baldur's Gate 3 or Wasteland 3, as opposed to a pure tactics game. Tactics games with fixed isometric cameras often come with stylized art given that the camera is zoomed out a lot of the time. Zero Company went deeper on visuals to accommodate its more cinematic delivery, and the results speak for themselves. Zero Company feels painstakingly authentic.

"We should be better looking, not worse. We should be better frame rates, not worse. We should have more stories, more immersion," Bit Reactor explained. "We’re just making a great game — it just happens to be turn‑based.”

If you've never played an XCOM-like before, its RPG systems might be what entices you most

I was incredibly encouraged by Star Wars: Zero Company's preview cycle. I was immediately drawn to the characters and intrigued by the potential of the game's Bond system. What events and storytelling opportunities would I be able to unlock? What consequences would befall me for mismanaging those bonds and potentially getting some of my heroes killed? What exactly is the Infinite Coil, and what do they want?

Star Wars: Zero Company is a bit of a rarity in 2026, as big publishers chase service games, infinite experience, and microtransaction hellscapes. Take Two itself no longer seems to want to service the XCOM franchise sadly, and other companies that have attempted it have often struggled to broaden their appeal. Truly "AAA"-grade tactics games have become vanishingly rare.

Star Wars is the perfect universe to offer a take on this genre in my view, particularly in the Clone Wars era. But Bit Reactor's clear efforts on the cinematic and story-delivery side give Zero Company broad potential that similar attempts at the turn-based tactics genre have missed in recent years. Baldur's Gate 3-style cinematics and character delivery, atop modern high-quality visuals and focused XCOM-style tactical play? Zero Company has everything I didn't know I needed from this quarter's very busy slate of games.

Star Wars: Zero Company is something every Star Wars and turn-based afficionado should put on their wishlist.

If you have any questions about the game, drop them in the comments and I'll get them answered!

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Xbox is legally required in some territories, such as the UK and, more recently, Australia, to verify the age of its users in order to access certain features.

Whether we like it or not, there's no way around it. Governments will always government. But what most of us objected to more was the use of faceless third-parties that were being used to verify some of our most personal information. In Xbox's case, it was Yoti, a company that's found itself in hot water before over its handling of data.

Fortunately, at long, long last, if you've held out on completing Xbox age verification, it looks like you won't have to. A message is hitting the inboxes of those accounts that haven't yet verified their age through other means but have been determined as having an "adult account" through their activity.

Our own Ben Wilson was one such holdout and got the message himself last night. Here's what it says in full:

Due to longstanding account activity, we've estimated your Xbox profile to be an adult account and updated its age verification status to "Verified." You are no longer required to complete full age verification for uninterrupted access to social features on Xbox. While no further action is required, you can update your privacy and safety settings on Xbox at any time. For more information, click "Learn more" below.

Reddit is likewise lighting up with folks who've had the same message and have been released from the requirements to verify their age for full access.

This seems to be taking place predominantly in the UK, with Australian age verification recently hitting the news as frustrated users see what us Brits were faced with at first.

But since Xbox can clearly identify your age effectively using your account data, why isn't it applied automatically to everyone immediately?

I don't personally care whether I have to be verified as an adult or not, but I do care about being asked to hand over biometric data to companies I have no usual business with. I remember many years ago, being told by a local shop they wouldn't photocopy my passport for me because they wouldn't handle personal information such as this.

Now we're being asked to funnel all that into a computer somewhere, trusting that they're going to behave responsibly with it.

But a win's a win. Even if it's a win that took a little long to get here. Hopefully it can roll out quickly in any subsequent markets that require age verification.

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A couple of weeks ago, Xbox's live services suffered the biggest outage in the brand's recent history. For over a day, Xbox players couldn't access online services, their game library both online and offline, their apps, and more.

The outage was so bad it even prevented physical Xbox game discs from working, as it stopped their entitlement checks from functioning.

Fast forward to today, and the CTO of Xbox, Scott Van Vliet, took to social media to provide Xbox fans with a detailed explanation of how this disaster occurred, what Xbox's engineers did to fix it, and what their plans are to ensure this never happens again.

Scott reiterates from his interview with The Verge that this outage was caused by an update made to an underlying service within the Xbox's digital ecosystem that was required for Xbox Home Console sharing, Xbox Game Pass purchased content, and PC scenarios to function, putting them in an unresponsive state.

While this update was happening and causing these systems to shut down, a bug within the Xbox client software stack caused other digital game licence checks to fail. These multiple issues combined created a domino effect where the accumulating failure scenarios blocked some players from launching games while causing issues with library enumeration.

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To combat this, Scott says Microsoft is transferring ownership of the underlying licensing service to the Xbox team while Microsoft's engineers work on improving the stability of Xbox Live's services and infrastructure for future updates.

As for the client bug, it will be fixed in an update to the Xbox that rolls out today and will become mandatory to download on August 17, 2026.

In addition, Scott says Microsoft has plans to roll out new features for players along with quality-of-life improvements for system updates as it looks for more ways to improve the stability of its products and services.

Windows Central's take

On the one hand, it's nice to see Xbox be a little transparent for once regarding its mistakes and its attempts to fix them, as it shows there are people higher in the company who do care about the quality of their product.

But on the other hand, it's going to take a miracle for Xbox or anyone else to convince me to trust digital games ever again, especially when companies like Sony are so keen on killing physical media and the risk of Microsoft blocking people's entire accounts for no fault of their own if they get hacked.

To me, getting DRM-free games (like the ones you see at GOG for example) with their own dedicated launchers and storing them in external SSDs is currently the best way to preserve your modern games library and play them without being shackled to licence entitlements or online services (unless you're playing multiplayer-only games like Overwatch or World of Warcraft, in which case, you're out of luck).

Either way, time will tell if this new update to the Xbox client will prevent any future fiascos for Xbox Live's services.

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Recently, the Australian gaming journalist website Press Start has confirmed that Xbox players in Australia are now forced to verify their age to play games rated for people aged 18+ and over on Xbox Series X|S and PC.

This was done because, according to Microsoft's email notice sent to Australian players, and I quote, "As part of our compliance program in Australia, beginning late August 2026, adult XBOX accounts must verify their age to be able to access apps and games rated 18+ on the Microsoft and XBOX Store. Access to such content may be restricted unless you verify your age. Apps and games you already own won’t be affected. Select below to verify now. Please ignore if you’ve already verified.”

Players consigned to this must verify their age either through Email-based age verification, facial age estimation by taking a self-portrait using their camera, providing credit card details, or providing government-issued ID like a driver's license, passport, national ID, or residence permit.

Around the same time this happened, Australia had banned "The Halloween: The Game", an upcoming Xbox horror game based on the iconic Halloween movie franchise because of the presence of a controlled substance, rather than the violent murders that occur in the game.

A bleak glimpse at the digital future?

Now, Australia banning a horror game is nothing new, as the country has a long history of censoring games or outright banning them in the past, such as the Grand Theft Auto series and South Park: Stick of Truth.

Although some games do manage to get released under the "Adults Only" rating, such as Hotline Miami, Outlast 2, and We Happy Few, to name a few.

However, what is concerning is the age verification enforcement, as we're seeing more Western countries like Australia, the UK, and several states in the US implementing it across many websites, online services, and video games, bottlenecking what we can or cannot access.

As physical discs come under attack and governments act as a morality police over the types of content adults are allowed to consume, gamers and game developers like Hideo Kojima are increasingly concerned that we're on a slippery slope where eventually we'll own nothing digitally and what we do own will be so censored that it's not even worth owning.

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Not to mention there's the big risk to our private freedom, with gaming activists like Stop Killing Games proclaiming these age verification systems are just another means for corporations and governments to gatekeep content, collect sensitive data (which is at risk of being stolen or leaked by hackers), and make the open web harder for everyone to use.

Either way, between this and the ongoing memory crisis hiking the price of Xbox Series X|S and other related tech, the gaming industry is in a volatile and chaotic state right now that I pray we recover from soon somehow because, if things keep going the way they are...I think it may be time to invest in a new hobby we actually have ownership and freedom over.

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If you ordered any of Valve's products within Europe, such as its Steam Machine gaming PC or the modern Steam Controller, there's a chance your private information may have been compromised. This morning, an email detailed "a note about a security incident at our shipping partner in Europe" involving a cyberattack on Valve's EU shipping partner, CEVA Logistics, on August 7.

I bought the Steam Controller in May, though I skipped the Steam Machine pre-order queue, and still received the notice as a customer in the United Kingdom. Crucially, Valve clarifies that this attack on CEVA and its subsequent data breach does not affect "your payment information, passwords, Steam Guard codes or other information."

Your Steam account should remain safe, and right now, there's no reason to change your password or change any account settings. However, Valve warns that customers could "expect fake messages" from bad actors asking for money or other information. Personal details that "may have been compromised" include:

• Your name
• Your street address, postal code and city
• Your country
• Your phone number
• Your email address — the same one your Steam account uses
• The type and price of the ordered product

How did the CEVA Logistics breach happen?

Valve says that it is "pressing CEVA for the full scope of what was taken and how, and we are in the process of notifying the data protection authorities in the countries affected", and clarifies that the affected system has been taken offline and isolated from further leaks, but there is currently no confirmation on which customers have been affected or exactly how this happened.

For now, Valve invites anyone with concerns or questions to reach out to its support team at help.steampowered.com or to write to its contact point at Artana Digital GmbH, Alstertwiete 3, 20099 Hamburg, Germany.

Fake messages from convincing impersonators are unfortunately common, and bad actors will go through extreme lengths to make their text messages, emails, and phone calls appear genuine. If you're new to Steam, remain vigilant but remember that Valve only handles account issues via its dedicated support site, and "never by email, Steam Chat, or Discord — Anyone who contacts you elsewhere claiming to be Steam Support is not."

I'd also caution anyone who might be at risk that, while Valve implies that your credit card information is safe, bad actors can use other personal information to attempt various identity fraud and access accounts elsewhere. It's important to stay vigilant as data breaches like this happen, and scrutinize every message you receive from delivery companies asking for money: "Treat all of them as fake", Valve says.

Customers based in the United States and, in turn, anywhere outside CEVA Logistics' operating area in Europe shouldn't be affected by this breach. Nevertheless, it should come as an important lesson in customer privacy and data security. Keep using strong passwords that are unique to each platform, and protect yourself as much as possible.

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Desktop gaming PCs have a reputation for being huge, and, to be honest, a lot of them are. However, if you're confident enough to dive into the twisted world of cable management, then a compact build could be a fantastic challenge that pays off as a space-saving monster rig. When the Cooler Master Qube 340 case appeared at Computex earlier this year, I was immediately intrigued, even if I can't afford the full gamut of parts to build inside of it just yet.

Cooler Master provided a sample but did not see the contents of my article before publishing. I'm also refraining from assigning a traditional review score to this case until I can complete a build with a full set of components.

How much does the Qube 340 cost?

For now, the best place to buy the Cooler Master Qube 340 is Newegg at $54.99. It's currently listed by Newegg itself, rather than any third-party sellers, and is in stock at the time of writing. A listing for the Qube 340 in black on Amazon US lists "Newegg Business" as a reseller at $59.49, which isn't worth the extra money. At the time of writing, the white variant of this case is "currently unavailable" on Amazon and is outright missing from Newegg.

What I like about the Qube 340

Ever since the RAM crisis ruined any prospect of affording Valve's Steam Machine gaming PC, I've thought about how I could repurpose some of the spare components I have in storage — and even then, it isn't a huge pile. Still, I knew I'd never manage anything quite as purposefully tiny, but I could come close with a mini ITX build, and the Qube 340 looked perfect on paper.

It came in a huge box, but it feels as compact in person as I'd hoped. The removable handles are also ideal for what I've planned: A desktop that I can set up and take away at a moment's notice, rather than leaving something permanently underneath our TV. Sure, I'll need to buy some more niche parts, like a compatible motherboard, but Cooler Master impressed me out of the box.

My most important consideration was whether the ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card I have would fit, depending on my front-fan decisions. I could also use an AIO radiator, but the cheesegrater-esque design of the Qube 340 feels better suited to a traditional air cooler — even if only in aesthetics — plus there's a 140mm 'DF1402512RFLN' fan pre-installed at the rear.

At a glance, there's nothing to worry about, as the 290mm GPU fits with around 78mm to spare. My immediate idea is to have a single 140mm intake fan mounted at the top, pulling cool air into the case and pushing it through a CPU air cooler before exhausting it out the back. Still, I have options, including adding an even longer card, as long as everything is measured correctly.

Next up are cable management and routing options. Like most hobbyists, I prefer to take my time with my own builds and get everything as clean as possible, which is more of a mandatory requirement in a compact case than a preference. While there aren't any dedicated trunking channels, there are a few mounting points for zip ties, so I just need to plan everything carefully.

The front-mounted I/O plate is also removable, so I can move it to the top of the case for easier access and re-route the attached cables from the start. It all depends on my motherboard of choice and how it determines the shortest route for each component, but it's fantastic to have the option. I'll always prefer my power button and front ports to be at the top of the case.

What I don't like about the Qube 340

The build quality is generally great on the outside, with those sturdy carry handles and rubberized feet keeping it steady in a vertical position and similarly when laid flat for construction and upgrades. However, the metal on the inside — particularly around the motherboard tray — is quite thin with some flex, but I doubt I'd ever accidentally bend it in any permanent way.

I found the removable 2.5/3.5-inch drive tray similarly skinny and flexible, but it hardly has to do anything beyond holding my storage in place, and it at least removes with a single thumbscrew. It would likely take a heavy dent from an accidental drop to twist this case out of shape, and though it's well padded in its box, it's still worth checking everything over as soon as you buy one.

Concerns about missing rubber grommets are tempered by the fact that this is a $55 PC case. Not to excuse any internal mishaps that might happen, but again, it feels unlikely given how solid the outer shell is overall. Otherwise, being mostly toolless also raises some concern about the glass side panel, which holds well but is secured only by a single protruding tab.

Should you buy the Qube 340?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want to build a portable mini ITX gaming PC

✅ You're prioritizing airflow with dust protection

You should not buy this if ...

❌ This is your first-ever rig; compact builds are tricky

You can go smaller, but for my first planned adventure into a mini-ITX build, the Qube 340 is exactly what I wanted it to be. If, like me, you're toying with the idea of a compact gaming PC that's easier to move around than a full-sized desktop, I think you'll be quite happy with this incredibly affordable case. Some of my opinions might change once I have enough parts to build inside it, but that won't affect the overall praise I have for Cooler Master on this occasion.

Microsoft purchased Blizzard as part of its big Activision acquisition a few years ago. The Warcraft maker has had a roller coaster decade in a variety of ways, with downturns in hit franchises like Warcraft and Overwatch prevented the legendary studio from finding its mojo.

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Free from the reins of Activision, Blizzard now operates as a limited-integration entity within Microsoft's Xbox division, and the results well and truly speak for themselves. Overwatch is arguably better than ever, with a razor-sharp focus on fan feedback and new content. World of Warcraft still has issues with its writing and polish, but the content cadence has never been so consistent. Genre-defining franchise Diablo has also seen a stunning return to form, with an overhaul of the endgame loop atop a truly spectacular expansion in the form of Lord of Hatred.

All of that painstakingly hard work has seemingly paid off. A new email sent by Blizzard President Johanna Faries to staff this past week celebrated the division's roaring return to growth.

Blizzard President Johanna Faries opened the email rallying the team ahead of BlizzCon 2026, set to go live in Anaheim on September 12, "the weekend will reflect the bold and collaborative work of everyone reading this," she said. "It's my hope that the event can shine a light on the work underway at Blizzard, and that it can serve as a powerful springboard into a new era of momentum and excitement behind our mission to bring joy and belonging for communities worldwide."

Faries also laid out Blizzard's performance through FY26, which just ended for Microsoft with Xbox 11% down overall (owing to some big franchises like Call of Duty and Candy Crush having a difficult year). While Xbox overall has struggled, Blizzard is one area that continues to thrive and grow.

"In FY26 Blizzard ended the year as the top-performing studio in Xbox's studios division, and this past year has marked our third highest fiscal for top line revenue in Blizzard's history."

Faries went on to explain that Blizzard has begun seeing consecutive years of growth again for the first time since Overwatch launched back in 2016. It's a huge feat considering intense competition from the likes of Roblox, Fortnite, and other service-type entities eating up a lot of the attention.

"FY25 and FY26 were our first back-to-back years of growth since FY17," Faries explained. "Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch drove exceptional performance in particular, with Overwatch delivering its strongest quarter since 2022." Faries emphasized that the success will help them invest even more in Blizzard games, staff, and other initiatives that will "shape Blizzard's future."

BlizzCon could be a really huge moment

The news comes against a fairly negative backdrop at Xbox over the summer, who is known to be seeking cuts to the tune of thousands of employees throughout the next 12 months. Microsoft has already laid off thousands of staff across its divisions, with divestitures hitting Xbox staples like Undead Labs, Ninja Theory, and others. id Software of DOOM fame has been particularly hard hit with cuts, and it remains to be seen what other studios might be hard hit in the coming months.

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Given Faries' upbeat note, it would be dire indeed if Microsoft's c-suite spreadsheet spectres decided Blizzard also needed to bear some of the burden of higher-up managerial failings of late. Xbox's confused strategy over the last few years hurt the division's revenue diversification, leading to an over-reliance on mega-franchises like Candy Crush, Minecraft, and Call of Duty to subsidize growth. A lack of investment in Xbox's core, i.e. console, has led to a decline in the division's most lucrative user base by Microsoft's own admission. Although incoming Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has begun work to strengthen this aspect of the business.

In September, BlizzCon will offer a glimpse at the near and long-term future of Blizzard's universes. We should see the next Warcraft expansion, dubbed The Last Titan, revealed in full. I've heard Blizzard is working on a variety of mobile game spin offs with partners too, as well as potential trans-media projects similar to Cyberpunk Edgerunners or the Fallout TV show for its own franchises. Blizzard is also known to be working on a StarCraft third-person shooter led by Far Cry director Dan Hay, and the next core Diablo project is also moving ahead.

Who knows what other surprises could be awaiting us? A Heroes of the Storm revival maybe?! Higher-quality remakes of Blizzard classics? Something completely new?! It's exciting to think about as a long-time Blizzard fan, but more importantly, it's encouraging to see Blizzard's industry-leading devs have a spot in the sun after many years of turbulence. Faries and the team at Blizzard should serve as an example for Xbox CCO Matt Booty to follow. Let's hope (and pray) Microsoft continues to let them cook.

What Blizzard franchise do you want to hear most about at BlizzCon? Vote in our poll!

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The next premium Call of Duty release, Infinity Ward's upcoming Modern Warfare 4, is just a few months away from hitting consoles and PCs, and it's finally time for players to get a good look at the upcoming first-person shooter's multiplayer gameplay.

As it has with previous Call of Duty launches, Activision will show off Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer in detail during this year's Call of Duty NEXT showcase. COD NEXT is a fan-favorite event where many of the top Call of Duty players — from popular streamers to esports pros — go live to broadcast gameplay, dev commentary, and more across YouTube and Twitch.

Here's everything you need to know so you don't miss out on COD NEXT 2026.

When and where to watch Call of Duty NEXT 2026

Call of Duty NEXT 2026 is set to go live on August 21 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. Players can tune in to the official Call of Duty channels to catch the live stream. Those who have preordered or have otherwise received an early access beta code can hop into the Modern Warfare 4 beta via the Call of Duty HQ immediately following the broadcast.

The Early Access Beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is only for players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Xbox on PC, Steam, and Battle.net. Modern Warfare 4 will not release on last-gen consoles, but it will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time. Switch fans will have to wait until the open beta on August 28 to try out multiplayer.

What to expect from Call of Duty NEXT 2026

Official Call of Duty NEXT details remain scarce, even as the event draws nearer. Activision and Infinity Ward have been oddly tight-lipped on what players can expect to see during the showcase, but there have been some vague clues that the experience may be a bit different this year.

In previous years, Activision would pool together popular streamers, sports professionals, and more to show off gameplay. However, Xbox and Activision previously partnered with Fanatics Fest in July to spotlight the upcoming Kill Block map. Many of the popular streamers who typically participate in Call of Duty NEXT were present at the Fanatics Fest event for hands-on gameplay.

In an official blog post, the Call of Duty team calls COD NEXT 2026 a "global event featuring live gameplay, an in-depth briefing on the lineup of content coming to Modern Warfare 4's Multiplayer, developer insights, and new reveals ahead of the Beta."

The description is a bit vague, but the phrase "global event" has led many to speculate that this year's COD NEXT event will not feature the in-person gameplay event that has been a staple for the showcase. For the first time ever, the beta for this year's Call of Duty title will go live immediately following the COD NEXT broadcast — a welcome move that just might help the hype generated by the NEXT showcase carry over into the beta experience.

That move, however, may ultimately make it unfeasible to bring big-name gamers who might not want to miss streaming the beta during its early access period to an in-person event.

Infinity Ward has confirmed that it will showcase multiplayer during COD NEXT 2026, but the team has been surprisingly mum on Modern Warfare 4's third mode since the initial DMZ reveal. DMZ is not expected to be playable during the two beta weekends for Modern Warfare 4.

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Sony's decision to kill physical games from 2028 is the discussion that won't go away, and we're still waiting to see what the Xbox stance will be.

But wading in today is Strauss Zenick, CEO of Take Two (via IGN), otherwise known as the company that counts Rockstar Games among its portfolio. The same Rockstar Games that recently printed a ridiculous sum of money when GTA 6 pre-orders went live.

Only this time, and for the first time in the franchise, there will be no physical version at all. If you buy it from a retailer, all you get is a download code. Naturally, Zelnick is all for this.

“Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed,” Zelnick said. “It's already a digital business. So in certain instances, especially if it's a big game, discs just — and note I said discs — don't really make sense for the consumer.

Also, most instances you have to register online to play anyhow. So if you're already connected, who cares if you download digitally? It's all the same and it's much more convenient."

Granted, I'll give Rockstar Games specifically a little more slack here. GTA V came on two discs on the Xbox 360 originally because the game was too big for one (PS3 used Blu-Ray and was a single disc). Likewise, even on the larger capacity discs for Xbox One, Red Dead Redemption 2 suffered the same fate.

Nobody wants to get up and have to change discs. Not to mention more raw materials, manufacturing costs, etc. But I take particular exception to the second part of the quote above.

It's not our fault we have to register online to play a game. It's not our fault we need to have a Microsoft or Sony account, probably also a Rockstar Games account created alongside either of those. A subscription to play online. Alongside an account for every other different publisher who says we need to have an account.

Are digital games more convenient? Of course they are. But let's not pretend that this has anything to do with making our lives easier. Without a physical copy of something in our hands, we know that at any point it could just vanish without a trace.

It's not remotely surprising GTA 6 is digital-only. Even ignoring the likely technical issues fitting much of it onto a disc, it kills the resale market stone dead. Used game stores won't have copies of GTA 6 on the shelves after players are done with it. GTA Online is the cash cow, but there are still plenty of us who will play the campaign and call it a day. Those players can't sell on or trade in their copy anymore.

Curiously, Zelnick also said that "It doesn't mean that we won't have physical additions now and then, I'm sure we will in the same way that there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business." I don't even know where he's going with that one.

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Everyone knows Xbox isn't doing so hot these days, but new research from Statista Consumer Insights has put that common belief to the test.

Xbox is "unhealthy" according to new CEO Asha Sharma, which has led to thousands of layoffs this summer and many more throughout the next fiscal year. Gaming as a whole is struggling from a variety of headwinds, including the memory crisis, dilution of attention, competition from non-gaming hobbies, and potentially an unhealthy dependence on free-to-play forever games like Fortnite.

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Indeed, Microsoft's gaming division saw a decline to the tune of 11% last fiscal year, which sources tell me almost entirely revolves around Call of Duty having an off year. I suspect diversifying the Xbox business would probably be a good idea to reduce dependence on the firm's handful of mega-games, but that's a discussion for another time.

It's no secret that Xbox One was ill-received by the core gaming community, and Microsoft is still paying for those mistakes over a decade later. New data from Statista Consumer Insights put common beliefs about Xbox's performance to the test, surveying over 3,200 gamers in the United States.

Users were asked which console platforms they frequently play on specifically, with PC and mobile excluded from the picture. Of console players in the United States, some 85% frequently play on PlayStation platforms, 76% play on Nintendo platforms, with Xbox coming in last at 58%. The figures suggest that most people own multiple consoles and frequently play across different platforms. What is perhaps most striking is how popular the Xbox 360 still is, which is even giving the Nintendo Switch 2 a run for its money. It aligns with what I've previously heard about Xbox 360 engagement, which is uniquely sticky for Microsoft.

In a universe where some service games last "forever," there are arguably few reasons to upgrade from a PS4 or an Xbox One if all you enjoy playing is Fortnite or Minecraft and the like, which are still updated and fully functional on older platforms. At least it shows that users remain engaged, even if they are playing on older platforms. The challenge is figuring out how to convince them the upgrade is worth it.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, which in a usual console cycle would likely have a dramatic upward impact on the current-gen systems. That uptake is likely going to be a tad muted for Xbox, which is struggling to source memory at reasonable prices for its Xbox Series X|S range. The box is already more expensive than ever, and has firmly slipped beyond your average luxury purchase.

It'll be interesting to see how Xbox CEO Asha Sharma addresses the delta here. Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming are obviously excluded from the results here, and both of these platforms represent a huge growth area for Microsoft. Microsoft has barely marketed Xbox Cloud Gaming arguably, and Xbox Game Pass on PC remains a fantastic deal too. Putting more investment into these products (and maybe I dunno, marketing them?) could make for an easy win.

Sharma said that there are "200 million" Xbox players last month, but it's unclear exactly how Microsoft arrives at this figure. Does that include Minecraft players on PS5 or Nintendo Switch for example? It's hard to parse. What isn't hard to parse is the scale of the challenge facing Xbox, whose identity has been rocked by a variety of experiments that landed with mixed results.

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Xbox has a new console on the horizon, in the form of Project Helix, but so too will PlayStation. The competition for the future will remain fierce, but it's unclear if Microsoft still has the stamina to keep investing in gaming as shareholders heap demands for more AI.

It'll be interesting to see how Xbox weathers the next few years, with no end in sight for memory shortages, demographic shifts to PC, and the rise of free-to-play perpetuating something of a race to the bottom.

We've seen where the United States prefers to play, but where do YOU prefer to play, Windows Central reader? Vote in our poll below!

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