Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 6 to 10

Battlefield 6 Screenshot

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 6 to 10

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Battlefield™ 6 Phantom Edition

Electronic Arts


104


$99.99

$89.99

Battlefield™ 6 Standard Edition

Electronic Arts


93


$69.99

$62.99


Battlefield 6 – October 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The ultimate all-out warfare experience. Fight in high-intensity infantry combat. Rip through the skies in aerial dogfights. Demolish your environment for a strategic advantage. Harness complete control over every action and movement using the Kinesthetic Combat System. In a war of tanks, fighter jets, and massive combat arsenals, the deadliest weapon is your squad. Pre-order the Battlefield 6 Standard Edition and get the Tombstone Pack.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Little Nightmares III Deluxe Edition Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$59.99


Xbox Play Anywhere

Little Nightmares III Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$39.99

Little Nightmares III – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

You play as Low and Alone, best friends ever since they found each other in this lonely nightmare. They each possess their own iconic item: a bow for Low and a wrench for Alone. Working together, they’ve become adept at sneaking through hidden passages, hoisting each other over massive obstacles, and watching each other’s backs. Pre-order Little Nightmares III and receive Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition digitally for free, available to download and play immediately.


Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition – October 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The Little Nightmares series has been captivating millions of players worldwide since 2017. Now it’s your turn to try to survive the first entry in the most charming horror series ever made. Take on the role of Six, a lone child lost in a massive metal vessel known as the Maw, surrounded by dangerous, distorted versions of adults. You’ll need to do your best to escape in one piece or your fate will be worse than you ever dared dream. Enjoy improved visual effects, including RTX reflections, water effects, more particles, and volumetric lighting.


NASCAR 25 Gold Edition

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, LLC

$79.99


NASCAR 25

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, LLC

$59.99

NASCAR 25 – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

With a physics model tuned by the experts, and based on real-world feedback from actual NASCAR drivers and race teams, you’ll be immersed in the sights and sounds of race day like never before. Work your way from your backyard shop in ARCA Menards series all the way through a multi-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion in Career Mode, and show the world what you’re made of. It’s the NASCAR game you’ve been waiting and asking for! Welcome to NASCAR 25!


Xbox Play Anywhere

SOPA – Tale of the Stolen Potato

StudioBando, Inc.

Sopa – Tale of the Stolen Potato – October 7
Xbox Play Anywhere

When Miho steps into the pantry to get a potato for his grandmother’s soup, he’s pulled into a distant, fantastical land where he must retrace the steps of a mysterious great traveler before him. He must venture through a world of wonderous rainforests, teetering towns, and talking beasts, outsmarting thieves and meeting quirky characters along the way.


Yooka-Replaylee

PM-Studios, Inc.

$29.99

Yooka-Replaylee – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Yooka-Replaylee is the definitive remastered and enhanced version of the 3D indie platforming collect-a-thon darling, Yooka-Laylee (2017). New remixed challenges and old favorites await as you embark to explore the huge, beautiful open worlds as the lovable buddy-duo Yooka (the green one) and Laylee (the purple one) once more, all while backed by a beautiful orchestral soundtrack. Did we mention there is a map now? A shiny new currency? And tons of customization options? The favorite buddy duo has never moved, looked, or sounded better!


Bye Sweet Carole

Maximum Entertainment


$24.99

$19.99

Bye Sweet Carole – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

With art inspired by classic animated movies and a story from Chris Darril (Remothered series), Bye Sweet Carole is a narrative-horror game that has you embark on a dark whimsical tale full of mystery, intrigue and secrets. Set in the early 1900s, in an age where the women’s suffrage movement has begun to shake the British nation, young Lana Benton must follow the last known trail of Carole Simmons to find her best friend and uncover the dark truth behind the Bunny Hall orphanage.


Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch – Deluxe Pre-Order Edition

Kakao Games

$34.99


Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch – Standard Pre-Order Edition

Kakao Games

$24.99

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

From the world of Lost Eidolons comes a tactical roguelite RPG, where death is just the beginning. Shipwrecked and dying, you strike a deal with a mysterious witch for another chance. The price? Become her champion and vanquish her enemies. As you awaken on a cursed island overrun by the dead, you have no memory and no way out – other than to forge ahead to fulfill the witch’s bidding. Pre-order Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch to unlock an exclusive skin set for the main character!


Barbie™ Horse Trails

Outright Games Ltd.

$39.99

Barbie Horse Trails – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Giddy up! Become a Junior Ranger and help give the already amazing park a fresh new look for everyone to enjoy. Gallop through wildflower fields and other beautiful landscapes. Tackle fun side missions with friends, capture amazing photos, dig up ceramics, and search for the mystery horse. Find chests filled with collectibles and add sparkle to Barbie and Lucky’s looks. From the cozy cabins to the lively campsite there is plenty to unlock and discover. Ride along on this wild adventure and see!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club

GameMill Entertainment

$39.99

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Join Snoopy and the gang in an all-new mystery adventure packed with charm, clever puzzles, and heartwarming friendships! Step into Snoopy’s paws and detective hat as you explore the town, solve challenging cases, and uncover hidden secrets—with help from the lovable Peanuts gang.


Blood of Mehran

Blowfish Studios

Blood of Mehran – October 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Blood of Mehran tells a story of love, loss and loyalty, drawn from “Arabian Nights” folk tales. Hack and slash your way through enemies, choosing from a variety of weapon combinations, or slip by like a ghost with intuitive stealth and cover mechanics. Explore a realistic recreation of Ancient Mesopotamia. Gallop across rolling sand dunes and through city streets. Scour the world for collectibles and secrets. Level up and ascend through the skill tree, extending the legendary prowess of your hero.


Hula Hula Wee (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Hula Hula Wee – October 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Tropical puzzles, fruity explosions! In Hula Hula Wee, every level is a refreshing mix of logic and fun. Push coconuts across colorful maps, smash them into pineapple towers, and watch as they burst together into delicious Piña Coladas. The adventure spans 30 puzzles across three vibrant settings. With its tropical theme, playful mechanics, and clever progression, Hula Hula Wee is the perfect puzzle getaway for anyone who loves a mix of brains and beach vibes.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Little Rocket Lab

No More Robots

Little Rocket Lab – October 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

You play as Morgan, an aspiring engineer headed home to complete your family’s dream project – a rocket ship! Finding home not quite how she left it, Morgan will need to research and build clever contraptions and sprawling factories to help the locals. From simple drills and furnaces to complex assemblers, cranes and miles of conveyor belts, you’ll convert local resources into useful materials and bring industry back to sleepy St. Ambroise.


Cats and Seek : Kyoto

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Cats and Seek: Kyoto – October 8

Cats and Seek: Kyoto is the third cozy adventure in this beloved series. Explore a charming scene set in the heart of Kyoto and play hide-and-seek with adorable cats! With soothing sounds, cute visuals, and relaxing gameplay, it’s the perfect way to chill out – solo or with friends.


Finding Paradise

Serenity Forge

Finding Paradise – October 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts have peculiar jobs: They give people another chance to live, all the way from the very beginning… but only in their patients’ heads. Due to the severity of the operation, the new life becomes the last thing the patients remember before drawing their last breath. Thus, the operation is only done to people on their deathbeds, to fulfill what they wish they had done with their lives, but didn’t. Finding Paradise is the second full episode of To the Moon‘s series. It follows the life of the doctors’ new patient, Colin, as they attempt to unravel a life that is split down the middle, and fulfill a wish that appears to be self-contradictory by nature.


Pirate Trails: Tentacles and Treasures (Xbox One)

Afil Games

Pirate Trails: Tentacles and Treasures – October 8

Captain! The seven seas still hide secrets—and no one is better suited than you to uncover them! In Pirate Trails 2: Tentacles & Treasures, the most beloved pirate puzzle game returns with new maps, new dangers… and even more tentacles! Embark on a tropical journey where your ship must follow perfect routes across a hexagonal ocean. But beware! The Kraken is watching, its tentacles blocking the path to the most precious treasures. Only gunpowder can prevent your ship from becoming sushi!


Star Station Frontier (Xbox Series X/S)

Synnergy Circle Games

Star Station Frontier – October 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Star Station Frontier, a company specialized in exploring and investigating possible planets for colonization, was studying a new planet when suddenly the base was attacked by aggressive aliens! The crew is locked behind the security system and only the Rescue Bot F580-T can open a safe path for the crew to escape safely!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Super Mining Mechs

Eastasiasoft Limited

Super Mining Mechs – October 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Get ready for an underground adventure! Earth has run out of natural resources and it’s up to you to find alternatives. Travel to another planet and explore the underground in your mining mech. Complete missions to unlock new parts or sell your loot for cold hard cash. Super Mining Mechs is a side-scrolling action game with resource management and sim elements. As you tunnel through the earth and locate ores and other resources, you can send them back up to the surface to meet your mining objectives.


Battle Puzzle 2048 – Wicked Witches

EpiXR Games

$6.99

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Wicked Witches – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Wicked Witches brings a spellbinding twist to the classic 2048 puzzle game! Slide tiles to combine matching numbers, build powerful combos, and take on a colorful array of supernatural foes. Face off against crafty witches, playful vampires, and adorable girly demons, each armed with unique abilities like hexing tiles, draining health, or summoning chaos on the grid.


Beacon of Neyda

Ghost Creative Studio

Beacon of Neyda – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

The “rusty ones” roam the dead lands of this world, their revolution failed but the world is in ruins, help humanity to escape. Beacon of Neyda is a strategy game where you have to build and defend your base from waves of enemies. Repair the main tower in every base to win. Each base creates a safe space, but be careful – fighting alone is not always the best option. Defend yourself and protect the core of your base at all cost!


Candy Rangers

JanduSoft


$14.99

$11.99

Candy Rangers – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Race against time in this brand new on-rails shooter where you control 4 characters at once! Meet Candy, Mint, Lemon and Plum, quadruplets that live together and work as rangers to fight creatures that come in to ruin the natural environments of the city.


Nocturnal Whispers

FMV Interactive

$14.99

Nocturnal Whispers – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Step into the shoes of a psychoanalyst and embark on a gripping journey of psychological drama. A woman plagued by recurring nightmares seeks your help. You must delve into her subconscious, deciphering strange and haunting symbolism to uncover the hidden truths buried within and solve the mystery behind her dreams. Experience a deeply realistic narrative brought to life by Hollywood veterans. Watch as each emotion and revelation unfolds through live action video.


Rise Eterna 2

Forever Entertainment S.A.

Rise of Eterna 2 – October 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Improving on the tactical RPG genre at the core of the first iteration, Rise Eterna 2 places you in the middle of an ongoing war between two families coveting the kingdom’s throne and a third force plotting its last act of revenge. Set a few years after the events of the first game, play as Jacht – a devoted Athracian soldier on a mission to reclaim the Empire’s lost glory and slay the Destroyer. Grow stronger, adapt to new challenges, and unleash your full potential!


Xbox Play Anywhere

DIY Fashion Star

QubicGames S.A.

DIY Fashion Star – October 10
Xbox Play Anywhere

Got a boring old blouse? Reshape it, style it, decorate it, and make it a trendy new tank top with some clothing design hacks! You’re about to blow the world away with all of your fabulously stylish DIY fashion design skills to give your followers the ultimate doll makeover. Get creative with super-fun, sweet doll dress-up projects. Use your outfit designer imagination and turn your ordinary clothes into OMG-to-die-for stylish DIY dress-up outfits! Take selfies with your new DIY clothes and compete in selfie contests! Run your own fashion designer channel and post videos of your DIY outfits to gain a huge fan base!


Gabriels Worlds The Sokoban Adventure (Windows)

RAFAEL V.F

Gabriel’s World: The Sokoban Adventure – October 10

Gabriel finally took a vacation, but his adventure is just beginning! During his travels, he discovered that mysterious villains have trapped helpless kittens inside boxes! Now, it’s up to him to solve challenging puzzles to set them free. Get ready for a journey full of color, charm, and fun! Take on 40 Sokoban-style puzzles and help Gabriel rescue all the kittens in this relaxing and delightful adventure.


MotoTrials

Proud Arts LLC

MotoTrials – October 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Disoriented, you wake up locked in a shipping container. A 100% physics-based dirt bike game, designed to break the human spirit… or prove it’s still alive.


Next of Kin: Fidelity

Spelkväll Games

Next of Kin: Fidelity – October 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Do you remember your worst nightmare? You follow Bjorn, a man haunted by a past that refuses to let go. A single event from his childhood still clings to him like a shadow. Every night, he wakes up drenched in sweat, trapped in the same nightmare over and over again. But what is it that’s haunting him – and how, or who, can set him free? Next of Kin: Fidelity is a deeply emotional journey lasting 2–4 hours, featuring pixel art, atmospheric music, and a strong focus on storytelling.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Platzle

Xitilon

Platzle – October 10
Xbox Play Anywhere

Platzle is a puzzle platformer in which you not only have to act fast, but also think carefully. Cards give you new opportunities – collect them to get to the exit. Proceed with caution, as the locations hide many dangers – there are various natural phenomena such as lava and exploding flames, as well as monsters in the form of spiders and even HUGE bosses that will not be so easy to deal with! We believe that perseverance and dexterity will help you overcome all the challenges!


SUBNET – Escape Room Adventure

M9 Games

Subnet – Escape Room Adventure – October 10

Do you have what it takes to puzzle your way through the underground subway system and stop the drkFORCE hacker groups underground exploit? Use your puzzle solving skills to make your way through the town and underground to track down the hackers and help stop their plans before they escape!


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 6 to 10 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Interview

MARVEL legends, assemble! Coming to PlayStation 5 in 2026, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a 4v4 team-based fighting game created in partnership with Arc System Works — renowned for Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball Fighter Z — PlayStation Studios, and MARVEL Games.

The game has captured the attention of both fighting game enthusiasts and MARVEL fans alike. We spoke with Arc System Works Producer Takeshi Yamanaka, Game Director and Lead Battle Designer Kazutoshi Sekine, and SIE PlayStation Studios XDEV Senior Producer Reed Baird about the game’s standout features, unique elements, and the debut of Spider-Man and Ghost Rider as playable characters at Tokyo Game Show 2025.

Takeshi Yamanaka
Producer, Arc System Works

Kazutoshi Sekine
Game Director & Lead Battle Designer, Arc System Works

Reed Baird
Senior Producer, SIE PlayStation Studios XDEV

From Japan to the world – a tribute to MARVEL and its fans

PS Blog: How was the title MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls chosen?

Yamanaka: A beam of light flashes between the characters when they’re swapped, and we interpreted that light as a “soul,” which inspired the inclusion of “Fighting Souls” in the title. However, “MARVEL Fighting Souls” alone didn’t capture the Japanese identity we wanted to convey, especially when one of the project’s goals was to deliver something special from Japan to a global audience. That’s why we added the Japanese word “Tōkon,” which means fighting spirit.

With heroes and villains able to join forces, is the game meant to be an epic yet chaotic crossover of MARVEL characters?

Yamanaka: I can’t reveal specifics just yet, but each character has their own detailed lore and backstory. As for why heroes and villains can team up, we’ll have more to share in future updates.

What was most important to you when bringing MARVEL characters into a fighting game?

Yamanaka: We made sure to respect each character by retaining their iconic elements that fans know and love. At the same time, our goal was to showcase our unique Japanese perspective and the Arc System Works identity within the designs. MARVEL Games responded most strongly to Iron Man and Storm. With Storm, I believe we were able to deliver the vision they were hoping to see from Japanese creators.

What did you prioritize in terms of presentation?

Sekine: We gave the character select screen a fresh, distinctive look, drawing on both American comics and Japanese shōnen manga for inspiration. Matches that conclude with a stage transition or a super move are presented in a manga panel style, creating a unique effect unlike anything before.

Spider-Man and Ghost Rider were made playable for the first time. What was the concept behind Spider-Man’s design?

Sekine: Our intention with Spider-Man was to faithfully capture his defining traits while making him truly enjoyable to play. We wanted to make him easy to pick up, reflecting his role as the “friendly neighborhood” hero. We fine-tuned the way he plays, and I wanted to make sure we include Spidey Sense*, which has never appeared in a fighting game before.

*In this game, Spidey Sense allows Spider-Man to evade attacks and throws while automatically striking back.

What about Ghost Rider?

Sekine: Ghost Rider’s standout mechanic is the “Vengeance Gauge,” designed to resemble a tachometer. When the gauge overheats, Ghost Rider becomes vulnerable, but when it hits the red zone, his abilities grow stronger. This system encourages Ghost Rider — typically a long-range fighter — to move in close. Managing the gauge is tricky, but the exhilaration of entering the red zone perfectly captures his fiery spirit.

Reed: That kind of mechanic is exactly what makes Arc System Works stand out. Storm, which you mentioned earlier, also fights in ways we’ve never seen before, which is very exciting.

How has the feedback been from past demos and the closed beta test (CBT)?

Yamanaka: We’ve received a lot of feedback, and I didn’t expect it to be so overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we also received constructive criticism, and we will use that to make meaningful improvements.

Sekine: At EVO, the demo stations were always packed, which spoke volumes about how beloved MARVEL is and showed how well this game is meeting those expectations. The players’ passion is what keeps us going.

Yamanaka: A father stood by as his kids played, their faces glowing with big smiles. As a creator, seeing people enjoy the games I worked on is profoundly rewarding.

Lastly, do you have any words for fans looking forward to the game? Are there other details you’d like them to look for?

Reed: I hope playing this game will become a cherished memory for players. I still remember being deeply moved by fighting games when I was a kid. We’ve poured a lot of love into this project, and with the theme of “from Japan to the world” in mind, we hope to reach fans all over the world.

Yamanaka: We put considerable thought into the role of music in fighting games, so I’d love for players to pay attention to the soundtrack. Listen closely to how the music shifts as the battle unfolds.

Sekine: The CBT proved that battles run smoothly online, and the stage designs are a highlight in their own right. Our aim is to present MARVEL in a new light while also evolving the team-based fighting genre. The game is full of hidden treasures, and we can’t wait for players to discover them.

‘We’re Taking Your Concerns Very Seriously but There Are No Easy Solutions’ — Arrowhead Explains Why the Helldivers 2 Installation Size Is So Big on PC

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Studios still doesn’t have a solution for the shooter’s groaning installation size on PC — but it is working on it.

In an update posted to Steam earlier today, Arrowhead’s deputy technical director, Brendan Armstrong, penned the first in a series of posts in which the engineering team talks about the “technical health” of the game, as well as the “technical challenges we’re working through.”

Admitting that the installation size “seems to be a hot topic right now” — at 150GB, Helldivers 2 takes up three times the space on PC than it does on console — the developer revealed that one of the reasons the PC size is so much bigger is because of data duplication and mechanical hard drives.

“The main issue with a mechanical HDD is seek time,” Armstrong explained. “An HDD stores data on a spinning platter, and a physical arm with a read head has to move across the platter to find and retrieve data. The time it takes for this arm to ‘seek’ or move to the correct location is a significant performance bottleneck.

“Imagine a large game level with various objects — trees, rocks, buildings, props. If the data for these objects is scattered all over the hard drive, the read head has to physically jump around the disk, which adds a lot of time to the loading process.”

This, the director added, is why Arrowhead deliberately duplicates certain data files like a common tree texture or a sound effect and “place copies of them in physically close proximity to where they would be needed in the game.”

“Much of the data in the PC version of Helldivers 2 is duplicated. The practice of duplicating data to reduce loading times is a game development technique that is primarily used to optimize games for older storage media, particularly mechanical HDDs and optical discs like DVDs,” the director explained. “This practice is largely unnecessary for games deployed on Solid State Drives (SSDs) which is why the console versions of Helldivers 2 do not do this.”

That said, the post admits that with the advent of SSDs — which store data on flash memory chips that have no moving parts — seek time is virtually nonexistent, but as long as mechanical HDDs are part of the minimum spec PC requirements, it has to be included. Steam user surveys are “unable to give us data on mechanical HDD use in the overall gamer population,” but Arrowhead’s “best estimates” put it at around 12% of all PC gamers.

“Until we can more accurately determine the number of mechanical HDDs that Helldivers 2 is installed on, it is difficult to know how many players will be impacted by reducing the amount of data duplication,” the post said. “Even if that number is small, keep in mind that the load time for each player dropping into a mission is determined by the slowest member of the squad.”

While Arrowhead grapples with this issue and tries to get better data on how many of their players use mechanical HDDs, the team said it’s made “some small gains in the next update” by sweeping for unused assets and “obvious problems,” but admits we “will not likely notice them because the new stuff we’ve added will eat those gains.”

In the longer term, the team will make improvements to the engine to ensure the game doesn’t waste RAM loading common data that isn’t needed.

“Beyond that, the remaining work is a bigger, riskier, more speculative project where we apply some kind of compression to the game data and potentially replicate some of the de-duplication we do on consoles,” the post concludes. “We don’t yet know if the impacts to load-times could make these approaches infeasible.

“We’re taking your concerns very seriously but there are no easy solutions. Until we live in a world where we know that most of our PC players are using SSD drives, sacrificing some extra hard drive space is necessary to ensure we’re all able to load into missions in a reasonable amount of time. We’ve clearly reached the limits of how much duplicated data is acceptable so smarter solutions and compromises are now required. We are very carefully weighing up the costs and tradeoffs of the options we have, and we’ll be sure to find a better balance between loading times and installation size soon.”

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense PS5 Controller Is Up for Preorder

Sony has been on a roll lately with custom designed PS5 DualSense controllers. We’ve seen limited-edition controllers with themes based on Ghost of Yotei, Astro Bot, Death Stranding 2, and more. The next one to release is now available to preorder at Amazon. It’s a God of War-themed PS5 controller that’s made to celebrate the series’ 20th anniversary. The God of War 20th Anniversary Limited Edition controller costs $84.99 and will release on October 23, 2025.

God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense PS5 Controller

The design itself is elegantly understated. It’s a white controller, with a jagged red stripe starting on the right trigger and going down the front of the device, past the face buttons and onto the grip. It’s an instantly recognizable design, as the stripe matches the Omega tattoo on Kratos’ face. The white body of the controller also echoes Kratos’ skin, which is white because the Oracle cursed him to wear the ashes of his dead family forever (fun times!).

The face buttons are white, with all-red symbols (circle, triangle, square, and cross), and the D-pad is white with tiny red arrows on each direction. The touchpad is also white. Unlike most other PS5 controller colors, the inside of the grips and the area around the thumbsticks is also white. On the back of it there’s a God of War 20th Anniversary logo.

The original God of War launched in 2005 for PlayStation 2. Since then, our boy Kratos has appeared in a whole lot of games across nearly every piece of PlayStation hardware released in the meantime. He’s killed gods on PS3, PS4, and PS5, as well as the handheld platforms PSP and PS Vita. He’s killed gods in Greek mythology and Norse mythology. No mythology is safe.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

Peak co-devs Aggro Crab unleash co-op forklifty mayhem with Crashout Crew, which’ll have a demo soon

Ok, so if you’re one of those high-vis types who can be driven up the wall by health and safety code violations, you might want to look away. Crashout Crew, a co-op chaos-generator all about forklifts, has been revealed by Peak co-developers Aggro Crab, with sights set on a 2026 release preceded by a Steam demo this month.

I told you to look away, high-vis types! Why are you already running to management with a written demand that all heavy machinery can’t be drifted around at top speed and slammed into boxes?

Read more

Baldur’s Gate 3 custom campaign mod Path to Menzoberranzan breaks silence with update on development re-think and character reveal tease

The modders behind a Baldur’s Gate 3 custom campaign dubbed Path to Menzoberranzan have put out their first progress update in a few months, having gone silent just after getting their first build working around June. The reason for that quiet spell, according to the group, has been a “wild” summer in which they’ve had to revamp their development pipeline to better fit the scale they’re aiming for with the mod.

They’ve also teased full reveals of three characters who’ll be playing roles in what the Path to Menzoberranzan team have thus far pitched as a custom adventure through some returning locations from previous games in the series to the Drow city that serves as the mod’s namesake.

Read more

The Voice Behind Mortal Kombat’s ‘Toasty!’ Is Leaving NetherRealm

Few games have given us as many iconic one-liners as NetherRealm’s fighting franchise, Mortal Kombat, but this week we’ve learned that the voice behind one of the most famous — “Toasty!” — is leaving the studio.

Audio director Dan Forden worked at Midway and its successor NetherRealm Studios since 1989, most famously on the Mortal Kombat franchise. It’s his voice we hear cry “Toasty!” in falsetto when we pull off an impressive uppercut. First appearing in 1993’s Mortal Kombat II, Toasty went on to become one of the most recognizable lines of dialogue in all video games.

Now, however, Forden is leaving NetherRealm, writing in a heartfelt message on social media that he was “really proud of what [the studio] accomplished.”

“Wednesday was my last day at NetherRealm. We made a lot of fun stuff over the years. I’m really proud of what we accomplished as well as how much fun we had making that stuff,” Forden wrote on Instagram. “There are so many smart, talented people there — look for more great things to emerge over the next several years. I love the little touches that people left around the studio like this little Toasty homage on the bathroom mirror.

“I wouldn’t have lasted 37 years in the industry if fans weren’t out there playing the games we made. Thanks to all of you for supporting what we’ve done. Live long and… Toasty!”

Asked in the comments why he was leaving now, Forden explained: “I figured I’d been around long enough. Want to reclaim that time for my own interests.”

Forden’s exit comes at an uncertain time for NetherRealm, which is owned by Warner Bros. In May, the studio confirmed what Mortal Kombat 1 fans feared after the launch of the Definitive Edition: no new DLC characters or story chapters would be released for the game.

In August, development chief Ed Boon said Mortal Kombat 1 had sold over 6.2 million copies. Its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 11, became the best-selling game in the franchise by passing Mortal Kombat X’s nearly 11 million units sold worldwide soon after launch. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. Clearly, Mortal Kombat 1 has underperformed compared to previous games in the series.

NetherRealm has said it shifted to “focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can,” but it has yet to say what it is. Current speculation points to Injustice 3, a continuation of NetherRealm’s DC fighting game series.

As for what else is happening in the Mortal Kombat world? Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Atari, launches at the end of October. Movie sequel Mortal Kombat II has been delayed from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026. It’s thought Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema believe the movie — which stars Karl Urban alongside Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, and more — will perform better at the summer box office given the wild fan response to the trailer.

Image credit: Atari / YouTube.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Borderlands 4’s first major balancing patch is out now, delivering beefy vault hunter buffage across the board

Borderlands 4‘s first round of vault hunter balancing tweaks has arrived, with Gearbox having waited until they’d had a chance to try getting some of the looter shooter‘s technical gremlins under control and observed the state of play balance-wise before whipping out the ol’ nerf/buff cannon.

That approach has meant some arguably overpowered early builds haven’t been coded out of existence as quickly as players might have imagined, with the developers seeming keen to avoid knee-jerk reactions when it comes to vault hunter changes in particular. I assume the fact they’ve had a DLC robo-cowboy to help keep post-happy exec Randy Pitchford occupied has probably helped maintain that lack of sudden and potentially ill-fated moves.

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Rock Band 4 Is Being Delisted from Digital Stores This Weekend

Rock Band 4 is being delisted from both the Xbox and PlayStation digital stores this weekend due to expiring lusic licenses, developer Harmonix has confirmed.

The news was posted across the game’s official Discord channel and its subreddit. The warning has come with just days to act, and arrives on the eve of the game’s 10th anniversary.

“On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Rock Band 4 turns 10,” reads the team’s statement. “What a ride it’s been.”

“With this milestone comes one big change: the original licenses for the core soundtrack are expiring. Because of that, Rock Band 4 will be removed from the PlayStation and Xbox digital stores. If you already own the game, nothing changes — you’ll keep full access and still be able to download the game and songs to any new, compatible devices. The same applies to Downloadable Content (DLC): songs will come down as they hit the 10-year mark, but anything you’ve purchased will remain in your library.

“We’re so grateful for the passion this community has shown. From the team, it’s been a special experience to serve you with Rivals challenges, a super deep DLC library and a best in class band sim. If you’ve been meaning to grab a few last songs, now’s the time.”

As of Sunday, Rock Band 4 and the Rock Band 4 DLC songs that were specifically released on its launch day will no longer be available to purchase. It has been clarified on Discord that DLC tracks from prior Rock Band games (released before Rock Band 4) are not being delisted “yet”, but the team “will be figuring those out over the coming months.”

Rock Band’s unique approach to DLC has resulted in the ability for owners to carry their libraries of songs (plus exports of the tracklists of past Rock Band games) across three generations of console hardware. The approach has seen thousands of pieces of bespoke DLC released for the series since 2007, almost all of which can be played within Rock Band 4.

The last DLC of the Rock Band 4 era was released in January 2024, after eight years of weekly content. The news that the axe is now looming for all Rock Band content, however, marks a sad moment in the history of the 18-year-old series.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

Atlus Rules Out Persona 3 Reload Switch Port

It would have delayed the launch.

Persona 3 Reload is en route to the Switch 2 later this month, and for anyone wondering about the chances of this remake getting a release on the original Switch, it’s probably not going to happen.

If this wasn’t already clear after the Switch 2 announcement in July, the Persona team has now confirmed this in a recent interview with Japanese outlet 4Gamer, while also providing some reasoning behind the decision.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com