NewsLand: Gaming Digest – August 2026

August 2026 has once and for all put to rest the notion that summer is one of the quieter periods in the gaming world. Gamescom set off an avalanche of trailers, gameplay footage and major announcements, with several long-awaited projects finally revealing their hand.

In this gaming digest, we bring you a return to Vice City, Geralt’s next adventure, significant changes to the NHL and EA Sports FC, Logan’s sharpened claws and a xenomorph unleashed into the wild. We’ve also included new release dates for highly anticipated titles, sequels to well-known series, and news that’ll have your hard drive scrambling for an external partner.

Below you’ll find a video from our YouTube channel, where we also cover the latest news, but in a different style.

GTA VI Finally Revealed in Action. Vice City Will Be More Lively and the Police More Dangerous

We can’t begin our regular monthly round-up of gaming news this time with anything other than the biggest gaming event of the year. Rockstar has finally revealed extensive gameplay footage of Grand Theft Auto VI, taken from the PlayStation 5 version. Thirteen years after the release of the fifth instalment, the series moves to Leonida, a fictional counterpart to Florida, and returns to a significantly expanded Vice City.

The biggest change, however, is not the size of the map or the graphics, but the way the world reacts to the player. Residents will notice a drawn weapon, may react to suspicious behaviour, and a casual conversation on the street can escalate into a new activity. There’s no shortage of packed clubs, social media, satirical adverts and all the other manifestations of Floridian madness, which mesh suspiciously well with Rockstar’s sense of humour.

The story will follow Jason Duval, a former soldier involved in drug trafficking, and Lucia Caminos, who has just been released from prison. We’ll be able to switch seamlessly between the characters, send them into action together or let them act independently, so their relationship won’t merely serve as a backdrop to the heists. Living together, shopping, exercising or exploring Leonida can influence how close they become, although romance will not bring any direct in-game benefits.

Factors such as diet, training, lack of sleep or frequent nights out will also affect both protagonists. In our spare time, we’ll also play basketball, head to the gym, go kayaking or jet-skiing, visit the zoo or go diving. All this alongside the main storyline, which, according to initial estimates, will take around 80 hours to complete.

Crimes and police chases will also be given much greater depth. The police must first record an incident via a witness or an alarm, but they can then memorise the perpetrator’s appearance, clothing and vehicle. Masks, changing clothes or swapping cars will therefore help during a getaway, and police officers will no longer automatically appear on the mini-map. The series also returns to the six-star wanted level system.

Heists will present players with the choice of prioritising a quick getaway or taking a risk for a bigger haul, whilst the Criminal Profile system will monitor whether Jason and Lucia are behaving like professionals or simply leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Grand Theft Auto VI is due for release on 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version has not yet been confirmed.

Vice City in GTA VI Will Sound Like Vice City Again

A return to Vice City wouldn’t be complete without the music that gets permanently stuck in your head after a few hours of driving. The new GTA VI presentation hinted at a varied selection of tracks spanning different eras, with Depeche Mode’s 1984 hit ‘People Are People’ attracting the most attention. The band thus returns to the series following their track ‘Everything Counts’, which was played on Wave 103 in Vice City Stories. The 1980s are further represented by Def Leppard’s ‘Love Bites’ and Phil Collins’ ballad ‘Against All Odds’, whilst the country-pop hit ‘Let Your Love Flow’ by The Bellamy Brothers serves as a reminder that Leonida isn’t just a neon-drenched Miami.

However, Rockstar isn’t basing the entire music selection solely on nostalgia. Alongside tried-and-tested classics, the trailer featured Lil Wayne, Birdman, Kodak Black and Sexyy Red, who bring a more contemporary sound from the Florida hip-hop scene to the game. It is not yet certain whether all the tracks featured will end up on the in-game radio stations, but the presentation itself showed that music will once again be just as important in setting the atmosphere as fast cars, palm trees and regularly flouting most traffic regulations.

Geralt Returns to Letten, and The Witcher 3 is Getting a Free Remaster and a New Expansion

Geralt of Rivia clearly has no intention of retiring, even eleven years after the release of The Witcher 3. At Gamescom, CD Projekt RED unveiled not only the first footage from the ‘Songs of the Past’ expansion, but also an extensive remaster of the original game, which will arrive on 29 September 2026 as a free update for current owners on supported platforms.

The enhanced version will feature more modern graphics, refined combat and movement, new sign effects, improved control of the Dagger, reworked monster behaviour and a revamped skill tree. New finishing moves, transmog, an expanded photo mode and several technical improvements, including higher-quality ray tracing, will also be added. The package will also include the ‘Heart of Stone’ and ‘Wine and Blood’ expansions, which will be available free of charge even to players who only own the base game.

‘Songs of the Past’ itself is being developed in collaboration with Fool’s Theory studio and will take Geralt to the entirely new region of Letten, Marigold’s homeland. The story takes place after the events of ‘Wine and Blood’, during the Belleteyn festival, and will introduce a landscape situated roughly between Kovir and Kaedwen. When designing it, the creators drew inspiration from the Polish countryside and the British Isles, so the green meadows, picturesque villages and peaceful nooks and crannies have an almost holiday-like feel. However, as this is The Witcher, an ancient evil is, of course, stirring beneath the idyllic surface.

The new story is set to offer dozens of hours of content, plenty of quests, secrets and choices with consequences, whilst Marigold’s family – including Lilly, who, according to the dialogue shown, is his cousin – will play a significant role.

The approximately thirteen-minute gameplay presentation showcased an exploration of Letten, new Gwent cards and enemies, including humanoid swarmions and plant-like monsters known as thornblooms. Geralt uses a chain attached to his forearm to pull individual enemies out of the group. The ‘Songs of the Past’ expansion is due to be released in 2027 on PC via GOG, Steam, the Epic Games Store and Battle.net, as well as on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. An exact release date has not yet been announced.

Ciri Won’t Set Off on Her Journey Until 2028. CD Projekt is Keeping the New Witcher Under Wraps for Now

There will be no major presentation of The Witcher 4 this year. Michał Nowakowski, a member of CD Projekt RED’s management team, has confirmed that we will not see the sequel in 2026 and that the studio is currently planning for its release in 2028. No exact date or narrower timeframe has been set as yet. However, the Polish developers intend to return to Gamescom in future years, so Cologne may later serve as the stage for the first major showcase.

Development is already being carried out by a team of more than 500 people, and in terms of scale, it is set to surpass everything the studio has created to date. Geralt’s role as the main character will be taken over by a grown-up Ciri, who is already setting out to hunt monsters on her own. Her journey is set to combine a vast open world with more dynamic encounters and a story built around significant personal choices. The technical foundation will be Unreal Engine 5, which CD Projekt is adapting to the needs of its open worlds in collaboration with Epic Games.

NHL 27 Brings Back Online Leagues and Puts a Stop to Endless L2/LT Spins

NHL 27 won’t attempt to rebuild the entire virtual skating system from scratch; instead, EA has focused on a problem that has plagued the series for years – matches between different clubs often differed only in their logos and kits. All 32 teams will therefore receive their own in-game playbook, created using NHL EDGE positional data. The differences are set to be evident in build-up play, transitions through the neutral zone, attacking, movement in the attacking third and defending the lead.

The biggest draw will be the return of the Connected Franchise mode, which last appeared in the series in NHL 14. Players will create their own online league for between three and 32 managers, set its rules, schedule, salary cap and conference structure, and then get stuck into matches, trades and signing free agents. A commissioner will oversee the competition, equipped with tools to manage results, transactions and other league matters. The mode supports cross-play, and EA sees it as a foundation that it intends to expand upon in the coming years.

Players who have grown fond of endlessly spinning with the puck using L2 or LT will also notice changes. Sharp pivots will noticeably slow the skater down, and repeated overuse of this move will expose them to a greater risk of being body-checked or having the puck stolen. The function itself remains useful for subtle adjustments to body angle and creating unexpected passes, but it should no longer serve as a one-size-fits-all solution for circling around an opponent.

EA has also revamped the TV presentation and atmosphere of all the arenas. They will differ in terms of player entrances, lighting, chants, goal music, on-ice animations and crowd reactions, whilst commentary will be provided by John Buccigross and Darren Pang. NHL 27 will be released on 11 September 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with Deluxe Edition owners able to take to the ice as early as 4 September.

EA Sports FC 27 Switches off Autopilot and Opens Up the Pitch to a Hundred Players

EA wants to make it clearer in FC 27’s competitive modes who is really in control of the match. AI-controlled defenders will no longer be so keen to win the ball back themselves and will instead focus on holding their positions. Success will therefore depend more on switching players correctly and the timing of tackles. However, manually controlled players will move more nimbly when defending and will have a greater reach when challenging for the ball.

The attacking side of the game will also receive less assistance. Through balls will follow the direction of the analogue stick more closely, crosses will be aimed into open space more often, and during corners players will be able to set up runs or create space inside the box themselves. Off-the-ball movement is also expected to become smarter, thanks to improved spatial awareness, curved runs around defenders, and additional manually triggered movement options.

The biggest new feature outside traditional matches will be The Grounds, a shared world for up to 100 players and the new hub for Clubs mode. Its three districts are inspired by different football cultures and will offer small-sided matches, various activities, and spaces where players can meet and interact with others. EA plans to keep the area evolving through seasonal updates and events. However, it will only be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2.

Career Mode will introduce a revamped transfer market, more dynamic club behaviour, new contract conditions, and the ability to create and share custom managerial scenarios. Player Career will expand the rivalry system, while Ultimate Team will add the collectible FUT Gallery, branching Evolutions, and separate Live Events against AI opponents.

EA Sports FC 27 will launch on September 25, 2026, for PC, both generations of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as Switch and Switch 2. Owners of the Ultimate and Ultimate Plus editions will be able to start playing earlier, on September 18.

Wolverine Sharpens His Claws for a September Massacre in New Trailer

With only a few weeks left until the release of Marvel’s Wolverine, Sony and Insomniac Games have released a four-minute trailer summarising Logan’s bloody arsenal. The game will revolve around fast and extremely aggressive close-quarters combat, combining his adamantium claws with kicks, critical strikes, special techniques, upgrades, and a three-tier Rage system. Wolverine will not remain confined to a single part of the world during the campaign, with his journey taking him through Madripoor, the bustling Shinjuku district of Tokyo, the jungles of Telembang, and the snow-covered Canadian wilderness.

Logan will face off against Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike, and other enemies, while the game will also make room for exploration, hidden secrets, and encounters with allies in safer locations such as the Nathaniel Essex Institute and Princess Bar. After finishing the story, players will be able to replay individual missions, jump into New Game Plus, or capture the aftermath of Logan’s rampage in Photo Mode.

Marvel’s Wolverine will launch on September 15, 2026, exclusively for PlayStation 5, and will also include Czech subtitles.

Lara Croft Returns to Her Roots: New Gameplay Shows Dinosaurs and Smarter Enemies

Gamescom brought around thirteen minutes of gameplay from Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a modern remake of Lara’s first adventure from 1996. The opening footage shows jungle exploration, acrobatic traversal, hidden caves, collectibles, cleverly designed mechanisms and, of course, encounters with dinosaurs.

Combat has also undergone a significant overhaul, with enemies no longer simply running blindly into Lara’s gunfire. Instead, they will actively dodge and react to her attacks, while health bars will help players plan their next moves more effectively.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will launch on February 12, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, while the brand-new sequel, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, is scheduled for 2028.

Xbox Will Bring Physical Games Into Digital Libraries. New Console Faces a “RAMpocalypse”

Microsoft has confirmed a long-rumoured feature that will combine physical games with the benefits of digital distribution. Xbox Insider members will begin testing it on August 31 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles equipped with disc drives. After inserting a supported disc and launching the game, players will receive a digital entitlement that allows them to use Xbox Play Anywhere or cloud gaming, provided the title supports those features.

Thousands of games are expected to work at launch, with more being added gradually. However, the licence will remain tied to the specific disc, meaning that if the owner sells or lends it to someone else, the digital rights will transfer to the next person who uses it. Microsoft has also promised to continue supporting backward compatibility, although it has yet to confirm whether the next Xbox will include its own disc drive.

Performance will not be the only concern when designing the new console. Xbox executive Asha Sharma has warned about the sharp rise in prices of memory, storage, and other components, driven largely by demand from AI data centres. She described the situation as a “RAMpocalypse” and acknowledged that the entire industry will need to focus more on hardware efficiency and affordability rather than simply chasing the highest possible performance.

Westeros Gets Its Own Classic RTS. This Time, Even the Night King Can Win

Game of Thrones: War for Westeros will not force players to recreate the events of the TV series. Australian studio PlaySide is turning the battle for the Seven Kingdoms into a real-time strategy game where players can choose House Stark, House Lannister, House Targaryen, or the army of the dead led by the Night King. Each faction will feature its own units, buildings, and tactical options, ranging from infantry and cavalry to siege weapons, giants, and dragons. The struggle for power will unfold across a story campaign as well as standalone multiplayer battles.

Jon Snow, Tywin Lannister, and Daenerys will be more than familiar faces on the battlefield, serving as commanders with their own unique abilities. The latest trailer, for example, showed Robb Stark defeating Jaime Lannister before driving home the game’s central idea with a shot of the Night King sitting on the Iron Throne. The outcome of the war will therefore be shaped not by the TV series’ script, but by the player’s decisions. Game of Thrones: War for Westeros will arrive on PC in early 2027, with a beta planned ahead of launch, although its date has not yet been announced.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Builds an Amusement Park on the Edge of Disaster

The return of the famous management series is being handled by Springloaded, the studio behind Let’s Build a Zoo. In RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks, the developers will combine the classic isometric perspective with more accessible controls and richer customisation options. Players will design their own roller coasters, test how they behave under physics-based systems, and at the same time manage budgets, staff, guest satisfaction, and management demands. You can find similar games here.

The peaceful operation of the park can easily be disrupted by technical failures, operational problems, or simply a terribly designed attraction, turning a successful business into a full-blown amusement park apocalypse. Atari unveiled the game during gamescom Opening Night Live and plans to launch it in Steam Early Access this winter for €24.99, with console versions set to follow once the PC version is complete.

Alien: Isolation 2 Unleashes the Xenomorph From Tight Corridors Into a Hostile Wilderness

Creative Assembly is once again proving, twelve years later, that it can terrify players without relying on cheap tricks. The half-hour Gamescom prologue of Alien: Isolation 2 follows Blake and a three-person expedition on a planet colonised by Weyland-Yutani, where a devastating storm disables their vehicle and forces the crew to continue on foot.

Their journey through a rain-lashed forest leads to the wreckage of an escape pod from the Sevastopol station, directly connecting the sequel to the events of the original game. It is inside the pod that an exceptionally detailed xenomorph finally appears, with its subtle movements and terrifying animations clearly demonstrating the technological leap between the two games.

Across repeated attempts, the alien did not follow the same route, reacted to an active flashlight, and could not be easily fooled by hiding in ventilation shafts or cautiously peeking around corners. Survival therefore depended largely on moving quietly, using obstacles for cover, and distracting the creature with thrown objects. The demo did not yet feature crafting or other active enemies, although a damaged android did make an appearance.

Excellent visuals, sound design, voice acting, and a cinematic art direction created a convincing horror atmosphere, although the frequent button-mashing required to open doors or save the game remains a potential concern. Alien: Isolation 2 does not yet have a release date, but versions for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 have been confirmed. In the meantime, why not give the brilliant game Alien: Isolation a go?

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Opens a Portal to the Dangerous The Sift

The first gameplay footage from Minecraft Dungeons 2 introduces a new dimension called The Sift, where a party of four adventurers will face fast-paced combat, a flood of loot, and enemies capable of swallowing heroes whole. The sequel remains faithful to its action dungeon crawler roots, pitting players against guardians, illagers, swarms of spiders, and other threats. The co-op adventure will launch on September 29, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and both generations of Nintendo Switch, while also joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one.

Dave Bautista Will Pick Up Kratos’ Axes as God of War Starts Filming From Scratch

Dave Bautista will replace Ryan Hurst in the God of War TV series after Hurst was forced to leave the project due to an injury sustained during filming. Amazon will not use the footage shot so far and plans to restart production in Vancouver in mid-October, with Frederick E. O. Toye once again directing the first two episodes. The adaptation of Kratos and Atreus’ journey is being led by Ronald D. Moore as writer, producer, and showrunner.

Hogwarts Legacy Gets the Sequel Fans Have Been Waiting For

Warner Bros. Discovery has put an end to the speculation by listing a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy among its upcoming games in a report to shareholders. The follow-up does not yet have an official title, release date, confirmed platforms, or revealed story, but after the first game sold more than 40 million copies, it is hardly a surprising spell from the financial playbook. Job listings from Avalanche Software also suggest an interest in multiplayer, although its inclusion has not yet been confirmed.

Trailers & Gameplay videos

In a Nutshell

• Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to launch without microtransactions and without the use of generative AI during development, while Rockstar has equipped the game with more than 600,000 handcrafted animations.
• Rockstar drew directly from the real Florida when creating Leonida, working with local residents, street artists, and professional racers to make the world of GTA VI feel as authentic as possible.
• GTA VI’s open world will offer plenty of leisure activities, dynamic events without traditional map icons, and roughly 80 hours of content, complemented by a diverse soundtrack featuring names such as Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, and Lil Wayne.
• Hideo Kojima celebrated his 63rd birthday with a personal reflection on ageing, the lack of time, and choosing future projects, while he is currently working on the horror game OD and the espionage action title Physint.
• City-building strategy game Star Trek: Outposts Unknown will arrive on PC on October 20, 2026, taking players to the 23rd century, where they will explore unknown planets, expand research bases, manage their crew, and face a threat capable of destroying the entire X'Lehari system.
• Tropico 7 will launch on January 28, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, including Game Pass, and alongside the return of El Presidente it will introduce larger archipelagos, terraforming, and more sophisticated economic and political management.
• According to unofficial information, the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 may be delayed until 2027, which would fit Xbox’s more cautious multiplatform strategy as well as an effort to avoid the autumn rush surrounding GTA 6.
• Cute free-to-play adventure Aniimo will arrive on September 16 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, offering creature collecting, riding, combat, PvP, and an open world inspired by games such as Pokémon and Palworld.
• Crimson Desert Enhanced brings all previous fixes for free, along with new content, a redesigned skill tree, the Abyss Link system, and expanded language support, while version 2.0 also adds new abilities and story scenes.
• Legendary turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic III will receive a full remake in 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, featuring a completely rebuilt 3D world in 4K, the original expansions, and Czech subtitles.
• Free-to-play action RPG Ananta will launch on January 15, 2027, for PC, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS, offering a vast modern city, more than 100 NPCs, varied transportation, different professions, and dynamic open-world combat.
• Rainbow Six Tactics will arrive in 2027 and transform the familiar series into an XCOM-style turn-based tactical strategy game, in which players will assemble teams of operators, plan assaults, and rescue hostages on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
• 007: First Light attracted 4 million players during its first three months and became one of the best-selling games of the year, while IO Interactive is already preparing additional content in the form of new TacSim challenges, weapons, gadget upgrades, cosmetics, and further expansion of the Webb Industries storyline.
• Ghost of Yōtei will expand on October 1 with the Echoes of Sekigahara story expansion, the Most Wanted roguelike mode, and a Complete Edition, combining the base game, new content, and the cooperative Legends mode in a single package.
• Valve is warning European customers about a personal data breach following an attack on logistics partner CEVA Logistics, and although passwords and payment details were not compromised, leaked order information could be exploited by attackers for convincing phishing attempts.
• Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed will arrive on iOS and Android on September 16 for €14.99 with all content included and touchscreen controls, while the Nintendo Switch 2 version will follow on October 6.
• Gothic 1 Remake will receive official mod support, the cult-classic Marvin Mode, Photo Mode, and an alternative character progression system in the coming months, while Alkimia Interactive is already teasing another project set in the Gothic universe.
• Capcom is not concerned about the possible end of physical games on PlayStation, as roughly 90% of its sales already come from digital distribution, with franchises such as Resident Evil and Pragmata continuing to drive strong results.
• According to a credible leak, Diablo IV will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 in mid-September for €69.99, with both a digital version and a boxed edition that contains only a download code for the game.
• Interest in the Resident Evil Veronica remake is extremely high – more than two million players have already added it to their wishlists, while Capcom is preparing the return of the cult classic for 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has received a major update featuring dozens of fixes for parkour, combat, naval battles, and technical issues, while Ubisoft has also finally given players the option to hide Edward’s blowpipe on his back.
• PlayStation 5 has now surpassed 95 million units shipped, but while console sales are gradually slowing, digital distribution accounts for 82% of games sold, and both PlayStation Plus and PSN continue to grow.
• Legendary horror game Amnesia: The Dark Descent is set to return in a new version at the end of 2026, although Frictional Games has yet to reveal whether it will be a remaster, remake, or another form of modernisation of the original game.