Rockstar Games has been unusually quiet about the online side of GTA 6. The studio has said just one clear thing so far. The game ships as a single player experience, and there is nothing to share about multiplayer right now.

That silence leaves a lot of questions hanging in the air. Will there even be an online mode? If there is one, when do you get to play it?

Most people assume an online component will show up at some point. A recent interview gave us a rough answer. Along with that, a handful of other stories have surfaced that are worth knowing before launch day. We are going to walk through all of them here.

A Twitch Executive Dropped the Biggest Hint So Far

The comments come from Twitch CEO Dan Clancy. You have probably spent more hours than you care to admit on that platform watching your favorite creators. In a business interview with Bloomberg around the Tokyo Game Show, he said his company has spent a lot of time talking with Rockstar about their plans and how to bring streamers into the mix.Bloomberg interview

His exact words were pretty direct. You will see a big bump when GTA 6 arrives, but then an even bigger one the following year when they launch multiplayer. Since he runs one of the biggest streaming sites around, it is fair to assume he has some inside knowledge about what is coming.Twitch CEO expects GTA 6 multiplayer in 2027

His wording points to 2027 for GTA Online 2. What he did not say is which part of the year. It could be early, mid, or late 2027. Nobody outside the studio can say for sure. Rockstar has not given a date, and it has not even confirmed that a sequel to its online service exists. That said, almost everyone already takes it for granted that one is in the works.IGN report on Twitch CEO comments

Why the Online Mode Keeps Getting Pushed Back

This lines up with a pattern that has been building for years. Every time Rockstar releases a new game, the online portion shows up later and later as it grows more complex.

Go back to Grand Theft Auto 4 and the first Red Dead Redemption. Both had their multiplayer ready on day one. That pattern has slipped further behind with every release since.

Grand Theft Auto 5 pushed things back by about two weeks. Red Dead Redemption 2 made you wait roughly a month. What you got was technically a beta. The finished version arrived only about six months after the game went on sale.

With GTA 6 set to release on November 19, 2026, it makes sense that the online side will not be ready at the same moment. The team likely needs extra time to get GTA Online 2 out the door. The holiday season seems unlikely. Early 2027 looks more realistic, probably in alpha or beta form, with the full version landing around summer 2027.

Summer 2027 Would Be a Smart Window

Summer would be a smart choice for a multiplayer launch. Students are out of school. Plenty of adults take time off work. Everyone has more hours to spend gaming. It is hard to think of a better window to launch an online mode.

The timeline also matches where things stand today. Only 58 days remain before the game arrives, and the studio still has not acknowledged multiplayer for GTA 6. That is a lot to squeeze into a few short weeks. Because of that, the online mode will likely come out separately from the main game.

Splitting it off this way is not exactly unprecedented for Rockstar. It could end up as a standalone add-on that you download on its own. It may even carry a price tag when the time comes. For now, keep 2027 in mind as the launch window for GTA Online 2.

Rockstar Is Not Happy About the Twitch CEO Sharing That Information

It is unclear whether Rockstar Games was happy to see the Twitch executive share that information, assuming he is accurate. The studio has also shown it is not pleased with voice actors and motion capture artists telling people they are involved in the game.

This appears to be a reaction to Stephen Root. The veteran actor confirmed his role as Brian Heder in GTA 6 during an interview about a week ago. He told the interviewer that you would see him in the game, that he was in the second trailer, and that everyone knew it was him.PCQuest report on Rockstar NDA warning

Most players had already assumed he was playing that character. The studio apparently was not thrilled about the confirmation.

According to a podcast that covers the game, the studio has been firm about its NDA rules. It has reminded everyone involved to stick to them. The message was to remember your NDA. You are still not allowed to announce your involvement until November 19. That means you should not expect any more actor confirmations before then.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Shows Exactly How This Plays Out

It is the same approach the studio took with Red Dead Redemption 2. When that game launched in October 2018, all of the voice actors and motion capture artists came forward on the same day to confirm their characters and their part in the project.

It looks like the same rules apply this time around. Whether you are curious about the actor behind Jason Duval or the actress playing Lucia Caminos, you should not expect to hear from either of them anytime soon. The studio is trying to run a tighter operation. With the constant stream of leaks surrounding GTA 6 that never seems to let up, locking down the cast is likely its way of shutting off one more possible source.

The Massive GTA 6 Leak and Rockstar’s Response

Speaking of leaks, you may remember that close to 200 gigabytes of Grand Theft Auto files spread online a few days ago. The material included the original idea for a Liberty City expansion that went beyond the city itself and covered the surrounding areas of Liberty State.IGN Adria report on GTA leak takedowns

It also contained a large number of beta missions from Grand Theft Auto 5. There was also plenty of details about an early version of the GTA 6 map from around 2015.

Rockstar Games was not happy about any of it. The studio has been working to get the files taken down. It sent out DMCA claims and copyright strikes. Those takedowns essentially confirm the material is real. They also show the studio is keeping a close eye on the situation. With release day approaching, it is clearly in full cleanup mode over anything related to GTA 6.

New Mod Guidelines Published on September 10, 2026

The studio also published a new support article called Mod Guidelines on September 10, 2026. It is not obvious why it appeared now. The page explains that the studio is the home of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series. It also notes that parts of its games and services let people create new or modified versions of scripts, code, tools, maps, vehicles, NPCs, weapons, apparel, and other in game assets.Rockstar Games official mod guidelines

The page adds that mods count as either custom content or user generated content under the terms of service, depending on how they are made. It asks everyone to keep these points in mind. Ultimately, it is about keeping the community creative and welcoming for newcomers and veterans alike.

The timing suggests the studio is preparing for the moment players get their hands on GTA 6 and start trying things out. It seems to want to limit, or at least control, what can happen with its games.GameRant breakdown of Rockstar mod guidelines

What the New Mod Rules Actually Say

The updated guidelines are split into several sections. The first one asks modders to respect Rockstar’s games. This section states that Rockstar creates unique worlds, characters, and stories. It says the studio has the right to set limits on how others can use its games and brand. As such, it asks modders not to expand or modify any official Rockstar storylines, missions, characters, or other elements of its established continuity.Eurogamer report on mod guidelines

Rockstar also asks modders not to take maps, locations, characters, storylines, or in game assets from one IP and merge it with another Rockstar title. That means no putting Arthur Morgan in Vice City. It also means no mixing assets from different games into one project.

The rules also state that any multiplayer mods should only be created through the official Rockstar Creator Platform. Mods cannot feature real money gambling, loot boxes, or gacha mechanics. Third party intellectual property is also off limits. You cannot use art, characters, music, photos, games, advertisements, brands, or logos from other companies in your mods.IGN report on modding policy and RP servers

There is also a section that directly addresses monetization. Mods cannot be sold unless they go through a digital storefront approved by Rockstar Games. This is likely a reference to the Cfx Marketplace, which serves as Rockstar’s official shop for approved GTA 5 mods. It is an extension of the FiveM and RedM modding clients for GTA and Red Dead Redemption.

This policy has crushed the dreams of some influencers who were planning monetized GTA 6 roleplay servers. People like Adin Ross have spent the last couple of years making claims that they would create a GTA 6 server where players could essentially live inside of it and earn real money. Ross even went as far as saying players could quit their jobs in real life and live off the money made in his GTA 6 server. Unless Rockstar signs off on it, that will not be possible.

Rockstar Has Always Been Strict With Modders

The studio has always been fairly harsh toward the modding community when it comes to changes to its titles. That is understandable from a business perspective, but it has created tension over the years. The new guidelines make it clear that Rockstar wants to keep tight control over what happens with its games.

Some of the rules are pretty reasonable. Rockstar will not tolerate abuse, bullying, threats, or harassment of any kind. Mods also cannot be monetized unless permitted through Rockstar’s official Creator Platform. Those points are hard to argue with.

Other rules are stricter. The ban on expanding or modifying official storylines means modders cannot create new missions for GTA 6 that fit into the existing narrative. They cannot port maps from one game to another. They cannot combine assets from different Rockstar titles. The tradition of a modded Shrek showing up in almost every video game in existence may very well end here.

The full list draws a pretty strict line in the sand. It is hard to imagine we will see nearly the same amount of zany mods for GTA 6 as we have for GTA 5 as a result. That said, Rockstar did acquire the FiveM modding team a few years ago and has partnered with the biggest RP server, nopixel, to develop a new iteration. So the studio is not completely against modding. It just wants to control how it happens.

What This All Means for You

Put it all together, and the picture is fairly clear. The Twitch executive’s comments point to 2027 for the online mode. The studio is reminding its cast of their NDAs. It is pulling down leaks as fast as they appear. Its new mod guidelines set out what players can and cannot do.

Rockstar wants to control the message before GTA 6 lands. It is doing that on several fronts. Until the studio says something official, 2027 is the best guess you have for the online mode. Nothing about it is confirmed.

What is confirmed is the November 19 release date. With 58 days to go, the next few weeks should show how much more the studio is willing to reveal about GTA 6.

If you are planning to jump into GTA 6 at launch, you should prepare for a single player experience first. The online component will likely arrive later. Whether that is early 2027, mid 2027, or late 2027 remains to be seen. The only thing you can count on is that Rockstar will take its time to get it right.

For now, keep an eye on official Rockstar channels. That is where the real announcements will come from. Everything else is speculation until the studio says otherwise.

Sources

• Bloomberg interview with Twitch CEO Dan Clancy
• Yahoo Tech report on Twitch CEO expecting GTA 6 multiplayer in 2027
• IGN report on Twitch boss comments about GTA Online 2
• PCQuest report on Rockstar warning voice actors about NDAs
• GameRant breakdown of Rockstar’s new mod guidelines
• Eurogamer report on Rockstar’s mod restrictions
• IGN report on modding policy and monetized RP servers
• IGN Adria report on GTA leak takedowns
• Rockstar Games official mod guidelines page

The post GTA 6 Online Could Slip to 2027 as Rockstar Tightens NDAs and Mod Rules appeared first on SteamTurn.

I walked into my local game shop last week and asked the guy behind the counter if they were taking GTA 6 pre-orders. He laughed. Not a happy laugh. More like a tired, frustrated laugh. He said they were not stocking the physical edition at all because there is no disc inside the box. He called it a waste of shelf space. That conversation stuck with me because it sums up the situation better than any press release ever could.

The GTA 6 physical edition is not a physical game. It is a plastic box with a piece of paper inside it. And now we know that piece of paper has an expiration date.

The Download Code Expiration Date Nobody Is Talking About

Rockstar Games confirmed that the download codes included in physical copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 will expire on May 8, 2027, according to a report from Daily Times. That is roughly 170 days after the game launches on November 19, 2026.

Think about that for a second. You buy a physical box. You pay $80 or $100 for it. You put it on your shelf. You get busy with life. Maybe you are finishing school, maybe you are moving, maybe you just have a backlog of games to get through first. You come back to it six months later and that code is dead. The box is now a paperweight.

The expiration is linked to Japan’s Payment Services Act, which is overseen by the Japan Financial Services Agency. The law requires sellers of digital codes to maintain reserve funds in case a company becomes insolvent. Products with an expiry period of less than six months are exempt from those financial requirements. So Rockstar set the expiration at 170 days to stay under that threshold and avoid holding reserve funds.

There is also a regional restriction. You can only redeem and use download codes purchased for the same region as your gaming console. That means if you import a copy from another country to save money, the code might not work on your system at all. Players who buy games while traveling or who rely on international sellers are going to get burned by this.

Retailers Are Refusing To Sell The Physical Edition

Some retailers have decided they want nothing to do with this. Two video game retailers announced they will not stock the physical edition of GTA 6 after Rockstar confirmed that boxed copies contain a download code rather than a game disc, according to The Express Tribune.

This is not a small deal. Retailers make money on physical games. They buy stock, put it on shelves, and sell it at a markup. When a boxed product has no disc, it becomes harder to justify the shelf space. It is basically a gift card at that point. You could hang it on a rack near the checkout counter and it would serve the same purpose.

The retailers who are refusing to stock it are making a statement. They are saying that if publishers want to abandon physical media, they can do it without retail support. That is a bold position to take when you are talking about one of the biggest game launches in history.

There is also the used game market to consider. Retailers like GameStop have built a significant part of their business on buying and reselling physical discs. A download code cannot be resold. Once it is redeemed, it is gone. That entire revenue stream disappears when games go digital-only.

The Conflicting Reports About a Disc Version

This is where things get messy. There have been multiple reports claiming that a disc version of GTA 6 might come out later. A Polish outlet called ppe.pl, citing a source named Graczdari, said that players who pre-order the physical edition would initially get a download code, while a second production run featuring discs could follow in December. The report said “the code will be a one-off run, followed by the option of a disc release,” according to The Express Tribune.

But The Hollywood Reporter threw cold water on that claim. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source with knowledge of Rockstar’s launch strategy said there are “no plans” for GTA 6 discs to be printed, “not at launch, and not months after.”

IGN also confirmed that viral social media posts claiming a disc version was coming were incorrect. The confusion started when an email from Rockstar Support went viral. The email said, “You will be able to acquire a physical copy during the following months.” People took that to mean a disc version was coming. But Rockstar was actually referring to the physical edition that was already announced, the one with just a code in the box.

The language was poorly worded. That much is clear. But the message from Rockstar and Take-Two has been consistent when you strip away the noise. There is no disc version planned. Not now. Not later.

What Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Actually Said

During the August 2026 earnings call, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the physical edition controversy directly. His words were reported by VGC and Gfinity Esports.

He said, “Our business is well over 90% digitally distributed. It’s already a digital business.” He also said, “Discs just, and note I said discs, don’t really make sense for the consumer.” His reasoning was that most games require an online connection to register and play anyway, so downloading digitally is the same experience but more convenient.

He did leave a tiny door open for future physical releases. He compared it to vinyl records in the music industry, saying physical editions might still happen occasionally where it makes sense. But he made it clear that this would be rare and not the norm going forward.

What is interesting is that Zelnick’s comments came after Rockstar Support had already told customers they could “acquire a physical copy during the following months.” That mismatch between what the CEO says and what support tells customers is part of why there is so much confusion around this whole situation.

Why This Hurts Game Preservation More Than Anything

Game preservation experts have been warning about this moment for years. The Video Game History Foundation released a statement about Sony’s decision to stop making discs, and they mentioned GTA 6 specifically.

Their director, Frank Cifaldi, said, “Asking museums to download a copy of Grand Theft Auto VI and hope it’ll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution.”

He has a point. When a game is only available digitally, its survival depends on the platform holder keeping it available. If the storefront shuts down, if the servers go offline, if the license expires, the game disappears. There is no physical copy to fall back on. There is no way for future generations to experience it.

ScreenRant pointed out that GTA 6 will eventually become unplayable for everyone unless something changes. That is not speculation. That is just how digital-only games work. The servers will not run forever. The storefronts will not stay open forever.

The VGHF also pointed out that even physical discs have not been a perfect preservation solution for years because day-one patches mean the disc often does not contain the full game. But at least a disc gives you something. A download code gives you nothing once it expires or once the store closes.

The GTA 6 Album Vinyl Sold Out and Is Being Scalped

Meanwhile, the soundtrack album is a completely different story. The limited edition vinyl for Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album sold out in minutes after pre-orders went live on September 17, 2026. It cost $124.98. Now it is being resold on eBay for nearly $400, according to TheGamer.

Some listings have gone even higher. RTBF Actus reported that the collector’s vinyl was being resold for 550 euros in some European markets. That is more than four times the original price.

The album has 34 original songs and features artists like Yung Lean, Travis Scott, PinkPantheress, Morgan Wallen, Rauw Alejandro, and Keith Richards. The first six tracks are already available on streaming platforms. The physical versions exist for collectors who want something tangible.

The irony is hard to miss. Rockstar is manufacturing liquid-filled vinyl records for the soundtrack. They are pressing CDs. They are creating elaborate collector’s editions for music. But for the actual game, the physical edition is a code that expires in 170 days.

The Pre-Order Numbers Tell an Interesting Story

According to estimates from Sensor Tower, GTA 6 has already sold around 5 million units in pre-orders. About 89 to 90 percent of those pre-orders are for the $99.99 Ultimate Edition, not the $79.99 Standard Edition.

That is way above normal. For most games, special editions make up only 10 to 20 percent of sales. GTA 6 is flipping that ratio entirely. People are not just willing to pay $100 for a game. They are choosing to pay $100 when an $80 option exists.

The average revenue per pre-order is around $97. That is significantly higher than the industry average. Take-Two is making more money per copy than almost any other publisher could dream of.

This tells you something important about the physical edition backlash. Most people are not buying the physical box anyway. They are buying digital. The people who are upset about the lack of a disc are a vocal minority, but they are a minority that cares deeply about ownership and preservation.

What Analysts Are Saying About the Backlash

Industry analysts have weighed in on whether the physical edition controversy will actually hurt sales. IGN spoke to several analysts who said the decision makes commercial sense even if it angers some fans.

Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, told IGN that having no physical discs actually helps with “Rockstar’s near-pathological secrecy.” Without a disc, there is nothing to leak early. No broken street dates. No data miners getting their hands on the game files weeks before launch.

That is a real concern for Rockstar. The company has dealt with massive leaks before. The early build footage that circulated online was a nightmare for them. A digital-only launch gives them complete control over when the game becomes available.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick also said during the earnings call that he does not expect the lack of a disc to hurt the company financially. He said the vast majority of their business is already digital, and the people who want a disc are not going to skip the game entirely just because there is no disc in the box.

What Happens If You Buy the Physical Edition

If you buy the physical edition of GTA 6, here is what you actually get. You get a plastic case. Inside the case, there is a piece of paper with a download code printed on it. You take that code, enter it into the PlayStation Store or Xbox Store, and download the game. The box goes on your shelf. The code expires on May 8, 2027.

You cannot lend the game to a friend. You cannot sell it to a used game store. You cannot trade it in. Once you redeem that code, the game is tied to your account forever. If your account gets banned, you lose the game. If the storefront closes, you lose the game. If you forget to redeem the code before May 8, 2027, you lose the game before you ever played it.

The regional restriction adds another layer of complication. If you buy a physical copy from another region, the code might not work on your console. That is a problem for people who live in countries without official distribution or who rely on importing games.

The Bigger Picture for Physical Media in Gaming

GTA 6 is not the first game to ship without a disc. It is not even the first big game. But it is the biggest, and that matters. When Rockstar does something, the rest of the industry pays attention.

Circana data reported by GamesIndustry.biz showed that US physical software sales fell to $85 million in July 2026. That was the lowest monthly total since Circana began tracking in 1995. Overall physical game spending for the year was around $1.5 billion, down 11 percent from the previous year.

Xbox physical game sales accounted for only about 4 percent of the market. Nintendo led with 63 percent, and PlayStation held 32 percent. Those numbers make it clear why publishers are moving away from discs. The audience is shrinking, and the cost of manufacturing and distributing physical games is not getting cheaper.

But here is the thing. The audience for physical collector’s items is not shrinking. The GTA 6 soundtrack vinyl sold out in minutes. The limited edition is being scalped for $400. People still want physical products when those products are worth owning. A vinyl record with liquid inside it is worth owning. A download code that expires in 170 days is not.

Should You Buy the Physical Edition of GTA 6

If you are a collector who values having a disc in the box, do not buy the physical edition. It does not have a disc. You will be disappointed. Wait and see if Rockstar ever changes their mind, but do not hold your breath based on what The Hollywood Reporter and IGN have reported.

If you want the game on day one and you have decent internet, the physical edition works fine as a pre-order method. You get the box, you get the code, you download the game, and you play. The box looks nice on a shelf. Just redeem the code before May 8, 2027.

If you are a music fan, the GTA 6 soundtrack on vinyl is a much more interesting physical product. The standard vinyl costs $49.98 and is still available. The limited edition is sold out and being resold at inflated prices. If you want the limited edition, you are going to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions About the GTA 6 Physical Edition

Does the GTA 6 physical edition have a disc?

No. The physical edition contains a download code inside the box. There is no game disc. Rockstar confirmed this on its customer support page and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended the decision during an earnings call.

When do the GTA 6 download codes expire?

The codes expire on May 8, 2027, according to a report from Daily Times. That is about 170 days after the game launches on November 19, 2026. The expiration is linked to Japan’s Payment Services Act.

Can I use a GTA 6 download code from another region?

No. The regional restrictions mean you can only redeem codes purchased for the same region as your gaming console. This has created uncertainty for players who import games or buy codes from other countries.

Is a disc version of GTA 6 coming later?

According to The Hollywood Reporter and IGN, there are no plans for a disc version at launch or months after. Some reports suggested a disc might come in December, but those were incorrect.

Why are some retailers refusing to sell GTA 6?

Some retailers have announced they will not stock the physical edition because it has no disc. According to The Express Tribune, retailers see the box as a waste of shelf space when it contains only a download code.

How much does the GTA 6 physical edition cost?

The Standard Edition costs $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition costs $99.99. The Ultimate Edition includes additional in-game content like exclusive stores and a single-player mission.

What happens if I do not redeem my GTA 6 download code before it expires?

If you do not redeem the code before May 8, 2027, it expires and becomes useless. You will have paid for the physical edition but will not be able to download the game. There is no indication that Rockstar will offer refunds or replacements for expired codes.

Can I resell the GTA 6 physical edition?

No. Once you redeem the download code, the game is tied to your account. You cannot resell it or trade it in. This is one of the main reasons some players are upset about the physical edition.

Final Thoughts on the GTA 6 Physical Edition Situation

The GTA 6 physical edition is a mess. Not because the game is bad. The game is not even out yet. It is a mess because Rockstar and Take-Two have created a product that does not do what a physical product is supposed to do. It does not give you ownership. It does not give you something you can lend or sell. It does not even give you something that lasts forever. It gives you a box and a code that expires in 170 days.

Meanwhile, the soundtrack album gets liquid-filled vinyl. The album gets a collector’s edition that people are paying $400 for on eBay. The music gets the physical treatment that the game does not.

That contrast says everything about where the industry is heading. Physical media is not dead. It is just being reserved for things that are worth collecting. And apparently, a download code that expires in May 2027 is not one of them.

If you want to play GTA 6 on November 19, you will need to download it. There is no disc. There is no way around it. The code in the box is just a slower way to get the same digital file. And it comes with an expiration date that you have to remember.

Set a calendar reminder. You have until May 8, 2027.

The post GTA 6 Download Codes Expire In 170 Days: The Physical Edition Mess Rockstar Did Not Explain appeared first on SteamTurn.

Something strange happened when I loaded up Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced for the first time. I expected to feel that familiar wave of nostalgia. Instead, I felt something closer to genuine surprise. The water looked incredible. The ship combat felt smoother. And Edward Kenway still had that same roguish charm that made the original so memorable. It was the first time in years that an Assassin’s Creed release actually made me excited about where this franchise is heading.

That excitement is not just nostalgia talking. Ubisoft has been quietly assembling one of the most ambitious roadmaps in the history of the series. We are talking about multiple new games, several remakes, a mobile entry, a multiplayer experiment, and even a live-action television show. This is not a small lineup. This is Ubisoft betting big on Assassin’s Creed becoming a multi-format entertainment brand.

The positive reception surrounding Black Flag Resynced has given the company something it desperately needed. Momentum. After years of mixed reactions and internal struggles, the franchise finally has a win that players can rally behind. And according to insiders like Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming, that win is funding a very long list of projects.

The Man Behind the Curtain

Before we dig into the games themselves, we need to talk about who is steering this ship. Ubisoft recently brought back Eric Baptizat, a veteran developer who spent nearly sixteen years at the company before leaving for EA Motive. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Baptizat served as lead game designer on the original Black Flag, worked on Unity, led game design on Origins, and directed Valhalla. He also directed the Dead Space remake at EA, which was critically acclaimed.

According to VGC, Baptizat has returned as the new Game Director for the entire Assassin’s Creed brand. Jean Guesdon, the head of content for the series, announced the move on LinkedIn and described it as a homecoming. Guesdon wrote that Baptizat’s passion for gameplay craft and deep connection to the franchise speak for themselves.

That is a big deal. Having someone who understands both the classic formula and the modern RPG direction in charge of the whole brand suggests Ubisoft wants consistency. It also suggests they are willing to invest in experienced leadership rather than chasing trends with outside hires.

Assassin’s Creed Hexe: The Dark Horse

The next major mainline entry is expected to be Assassin’s Creed Hexe. This is the project that has generated the most speculation because it sounds so different from what we have come to expect. Instead of a massive open world RPG, Hexe is reportedly taking a more linear approach while still featuring a large map. Think of it as a tighter, more focused experience rather than a hundred hour time sink.

Earlier reports suggested Hexe would lean heavily into supernatural mechanics. We are talking about possession, animal control through a cat companion, and other magical abilities. However, more recent information indicates that some of those elements have been removed or changed. One example involves the main character’s disappearance ability. Instead of using actual magic to vanish, she apparently uses smoke bombs to create the illusion of a supernatural exit. That is a subtle but important shift. It keeps the game grounded while still delivering a dramatic visual.

There have also been persistent rumors that Ezio Auditore could return in Hexe. That remains unconfirmed, but multiple leaks have pointed in that direction. The TechPowerUp leak from August 2026 claims that Hexe will carry a PEGI 18 rating, release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and launch in June 2027 at a base price of $69.99. The same leak mentions deluxe and collector’s editions, as well as Denuvo integration. Ubisoft has not officially commented on any of this.

The reported combat system has also been pared back compared to recent RPG entries. If you loved the deep build crafting of Odyssey or Valhalla, Hexe might feel like a step in a different direction. But for players who miss the more focused action adventure style of older games, this could be exactly what they have been asking for.

Assassin’s Creed Invictus: The Multiplayer Experiment

Alongside Hexe, Ubisoft is reportedly working on Assassin’s Creed Invictus, a multiplayer experience that has been described as a Fall Guys style party game. The concept is simple on paper. Bring together different Assassin’s Creed characters and legacy locations, then throw them into party style competitions.

According to a report from IXBT, insider xj0nathan claimed that April 2026 playtests were terrible and that the game might be canceled altogether. However, Tom Henderson responded to that report with a more measured take. Henderson acknowledged that the game is not where you would expect a project with such a long development cycle to be, but he also noted that Ubisoft sees potential in it. He also clarified that Invictus is often described online as AC plus Fall Guys, and while it does have round based elimination elements, the game itself looks like a typical Assassin’s Creed experience. Players choose their favorite characters and fight in arenas set in iconic locations from the series.

Invictus is also reportedly expected to use a free to play model. That would make sense for a multiplayer focused title. Ubisoft has not provided much official information about the project, and reliable details about development progress remain scarce. This one is worth watching closely because multiplayer experiments in this franchise have a mixed history.

Assassin’s Creed Jade: Mobile Finally Gets Its Due

Another project on the roadmap is Assassin’s Creed Jade. This is expected to be the franchise’s first truly open world Assassin’s Creed game designed for mobile devices. The gameplay shown so far looks closer to what you would expect from an RPG style entry similar to Origins or Odyssey, but built from the ground up for touch screens.

Jade was originally expected to release in 2025 before rumors suggested it had been pushed into 2026. As of May 2026, Ubisoft still has not provided a firm release date. The game was also in development before the Ubisoft and Tencent partnership, meaning its development began before Tencent became involved with part of the Assassin’s Creed business.

There have even been claims that the developers nearly abandoned Jade at one point. Whether that is accurate remains unclear, but the project has gone through enough delays to raise legitimate questions about its development. With the Tencent partnership now in place, however, the team may have a stronger reason to continue supporting the game after launch and ensure it becomes a properly optimized mobile experience.

The multiple delays could also have allowed the developers additional time to make changes and plan post launch content. That remains speculation, but a longer development period often means a more polished final product.

The Netflix Connection

Beyond the games, Ubisoft is working with Netflix on a live action Assassin’s Creed television series. This is not a small side project. Netflix has officially given the series a green light, and production began in Rome in March 2026. The show is set in 64 AD and tells an entirely new story rather than retelling Ezio’s journey or adapting an existing game.

Roberto Patino and David Wiener are attached as creators, showrunners, and executive producers. Patino is known for his work on Dmz, while Wiener worked on Halo. The series has spent five years in development, which suggests Netflix and Ubisoft have been taking their time to get it right. The upcoming series will be completely disconnected from the critically panned 2016 film starring Michael Fassbender.

Netflix has described the show as focusing on human connection across cultures and time. That is a broad mission statement, but it also gives the creators room to tell a story that does not need to tie directly into any specific game. The goal appears to be creating something closer in quality to major game adaptations like Fallout or The Last of Us. Whether it reaches that level will depend on the writing, performances, and direction.

The Deeper Roadmap: Scarlet, Stardust, Emerald, and Beyond

Ubisoft’s plans do not stop with these projects. Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson previously reported that several additional Assassin’s Creed games have appeared on an internal roadmap. Many of these projects are still years away, so details are sparse. Some plans may have already changed.

One of those projects is reportedly known as Assassin’s Creed Scarlet, or potentially Assassin’s Creed Nebula. Henderson described Scarlet as the next major RPG following Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with its release expected after Hexe receives around a year of post launch support. One possibility is that Scarlet is actually Nebula, which has previously been associated with three different settings. Those settings are India, the Mediterranean, and the Aztec Empire.

If that information is accurate, the project could represent another major expansion of Ubisoft’s open world RPG formula. A game built around several major settings could also provide an opportunity to bring back systems like naval combat, potentially with modern improvements based on the technology used for newer titles.

Another project reportedly in Ubisoft’s plans is Assassin’s Creed Stardust, which is expected to be the company’s second remake. The project is said to enter production following the release of Black Flag Resynced. It remains unclear which Assassin’s Creed game will receive the remake treatment. Possibilities include the original Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed III, or even the Ezio Auditore trilogy.

An Assassin’s Creed 1 remake would be particularly compelling because it could allow Ubisoft to rebuild the original game with modern technology while reworking some of its older systems. It could also give the developers an opportunity to reconsider how the modern day portions are handled, especially as the franchise has recently been changing or reducing those elements. According to reports, the most likely release window for Stardust is November 2027, which would mark exactly two decades since the original game launched.

Following Stardust, Ubisoft reportedly has another project called Assassin’s Creed Emerald. Tom Henderson has stated that this game could arrive only a few months after Stardust and could be another multiplayer project with a planned five year support period if it performs well internally. There was speculation that Emerald could become an Assassin’s Creed game inspired by titles like ARC Raiders, potentially mixing PvE extraction gameplay with PvPvE elements. However, Ubisoft’s recent cancellation of a Far Cry extraction project may have caused the company to rethink that direction. More recent reports suggest Emerald could be a massive multiplayer adventure where players go on raids, take on challenging objectives, and fight large enemies together.

The roadmap reportedly extends even further with another major RPG simply referred to as Assassin’s Creed RPG 3. There is currently no known codename, developer, or specific setting attached to it. The plan is reportedly for it to follow Scarlet after roughly two years of support, meaning Ubisoft already appears to have another RPG planned beyond its next major project.

Finally, Ubisoft reportedly has another remake planned after Stardust. Like RPG 3, this project does not currently have a codename, confirmed developer, or information about which game will be remade. The company appears to have penciled it in as another remake for the future, showing that remakes could become a continuing part of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed strategy.

What This Means for Players

This entire roadmap should be treated carefully because much of it comes from older reports and projects this far away can change significantly. Some of these plans may already have been canceled, delayed, renamed, or redesigned internally. Still, the overall direction suggests that Ubisoft wants Assassin’s Creed to cover several different genres rather than relying entirely on massive open world RPGs.

The success of Black Flag Resynced could also encourage Ubisoft to create dedicated subseries around popular parts of the franchise. That could potentially include remakes of Freedom Cry and Assassin’s Creed Rogue, followed by a completely new Black Flag 2 using modern technology and an upgraded naval combat system. There is also the possibility of bringing back Bayek for a future project like Scarlet or Nebula. If that game really does feature three different settings, Bayek could return alongside two new protagonists in a structure somewhat similar to Grand Theft Auto V.

Overall, Ubisoft appears to have a long list of Assassin’s Creed projects planned across games, remakes, multiplayer experiences, mobile releases, and television. Not every project will necessarily make it to release in its current form, especially with several of them still years away. Even so, the roadmap suggests that Assassin’s Creed is entering another period where Ubisoft is willing to experiment with different formats while continuing to build on the franchise’s most popular games.

For longtime fans, that is probably the most encouraging news in years. The franchise is not standing still. It is trying new things while also respecting its history. And if Black Flag Resynced is any indication, Ubisoft might finally be figuring out how to do both at the same time.

One thing is certain. The next few years are going to be very busy for Assassin’s Creed. Whether you prefer the classic linear style, the massive RPG format, or something completely new, there is likely something on this roadmap for you.

Sources and Further Reading

This article is based on reports from the following sources. Each link points to the specific article or announcement referenced in the text.

• VGC reported on Eric Baptizat’s return as Game Director for the Assassin’s Creed brand.
• Nasdaq published Ubisoft’s official press release about Tencent’s 1.16 billion euro investment in Vantage Studios.
• Tom’s Hardware provided details on Assassin’s Creed Hexe’s development status and release window rumors.
• TechPowerUp reported on leaks regarding Hexe’s pricing, rating, and platforms.
• KitGuru covered the negative playtest reports for Assassin’s Creed Invictus.
• IGN Italia published insider reports on Invictus and Jean Guesdon’s official comments.
• VGTimes reported on Ubisoft’s confirmation that Assassin’s Creed Jade is still in development.
• Netflix Tudum published official details about the live action Assassin’s Creed series, including its setting and cast.
• IMDb reported on additional cast members joining the Netflix series.
• Wirtualne Media provided details on the Stardust remake project and its potential 2027 release window.
• GameStar reported on Assassin’s Creed Scarlet and its possible connection to Nebula.
• VGTimes covered Tom Henderson’s Insider Gaming report on Ubisoft’s 2026 plans.
• Insider Gaming published Tom Henderson’s original roadmap report, which serves as the foundation for many of the rumors discussed here.
• xj0nathan on X shared insider information about Invictus playtests and Hexe development.
• AgaiinTx on X leaked details about Hexe’s pricing, rating, and release date.

The post Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Roadmap is Packed With New Games and Remakes appeared first on SteamTurn.

I remember sitting in my apartment back in 2022 when the first Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer dropped. Like a lot of fans, I had waited years for even a whisper about Sora’s next big adventure. The trailer showed a realistic looking city, a slightly older Sora, and absolutely no release date. Fast forward to now, and the conversation has shifted from cautious excitement to full blown chaos. Something big happened in the last few days, and it has nothing to do with an official trailer or a carefully planned announcement from Square Enix.

A massive leak has surfaced online, and it looks like it came straight from the backend of Steam. This is not a random forum post or a blurry screenshot from a closed door presentation. Achievement tracking websites like Exophase and SteamDB suddenly displayed achievement information for dozens of unreleased games, and Kingdom Hearts 4 was right in the middle of it. According to the owner of Exophase, Mike Bendel, the issue was caused by a mistake on Valve’s part, where data that should have remained private became accessible through the Steam API. This means the information was not stolen from a developer’s laptop or leaked by a disgruntled employee. It was sitting there on Steam’s own systems, waiting to be scanned.

If you have been following this game for as long as I have, you know how rare any concrete information has been. Square Enix has been extremely careful about what they show and when they show it. So when a leak of this size hits, it changes the entire conversation. We are no longer just speculating about which worlds might appear. We are looking at a list of achievement names that potentially spoil some of the biggest surprises the developers had planned for the next year.

What Exactly Leaked and Why It Matters

The leak was not a small thing. Around fifty achievements for Kingdom Hearts 4 reportedly appeared online, with some sources pointing to a full list of forty eight entries covering story missions, collectibles, combat challenges, and even multiplayer features. The Japanese version of the achievement list, according to a report from TheGamer, contains even more detail and is absolutely worth avoiding if you want to go into the game fresh. Reddit user ResistanceEvermore pointed out on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit that the Japanese descriptions are fleshed out with more specifics about world visits, major story beats, and new gameplay mechanics.

This is different from the usual rumor cycle. When a leak comes from a random anonymous user on a message board, you can usually dismiss it as wishful thinking or an elaborate hoax. But when the data comes from Steam’s own achievement system, the credibility jumps significantly. These achievements have to be configured by the developers themselves. They are part of the game’s internal structure, and they have to exist in Steam’s backend before the game launches so that they can be unlocked when players start playing. The fact that they were visible at all, even briefly, is a technical failure on Valve’s end, not a marketing stunt or a deliberate tease from Square Enix.

Square Enix has not officially confirmed that any of these achievements are genuine. That is an important thing to keep in mind. It is possible that some of the names are placeholders, or that certain achievements were cut from the final game. But the sheer volume of information, and the fact that it aligns with things fans have been speculating about for years, makes it very hard to dismiss. This is not a situation where one vague achievement hints at something. This is a full picture of what the game’s world structure might look like, and it is a lot to take in.

The Worlds That May Be Waiting for Sora

Let us start with the biggest reveal, because it is the one that has set the entire Kingdom Hearts community on fire. One achievement reportedly references a world called A Galaxy Far, Far Away, while another story achievement is titled May the Light Be with You. If you have ever watched a Star Wars movie, you know exactly what that means. The phrase May the Force be with you is one of the most recognizable lines in cinema history, and changing Force to Light is a very Kingdom Hearts twist. Light is a central theme in this series, so it fits perfectly.

I have to be honest. When I first saw this, I did not believe it. Star Wars in Kingdom Hearts is something fans have joked about for years. It felt like the ultimate impossible crossover, the kind of thing that would never actually happen because of licensing issues or because Disney and Lucasfilm would want to keep the brands separate. But Disney owns Star Wars. Disney also owns Kingdom Hearts. The pieces have been in place for a long time, and this leak suggests that Square Enix is finally pulling the trigger.

The leaked achievement list does not just hint at Star Wars. It reportedly includes two separate story achievements labeled Episode 1 and Episode 2. That suggests the Star Wars section of the game is substantial, possibly split into multiple acts or chapters. Fans have already started theorizing about which era of Star Wars the game might visit. The original trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 featured a forest that some fans thought resembled Endor, and there were whispers about an AT ST foot in the background. At the time, it was a stretch. Now it feels like a clue that was hiding in plain sight.

But Star Wars is not the only world on the list. A location called Savanna Central appears in the achievements, which points directly at Zootopia. This is a world that fans have been requesting for years. The modern, bustling city of Zootopia would be a perfect fit for the more realistic art style that Kingdom Hearts 4 is going for. One achievement called Magnanimous Mammal reportedly asks players to complete all requests in Savanna Central, which suggests there will be side quests and activities to do in this world. If Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde show up as party members or allies, it would be a dream come true for a lot of people.

Then there is the Haunted Mansion. This one is interesting because it is not a traditional movie. The Haunted Mansion is a Disney theme park attraction, one of the most iconic ones in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Kingdom Hearts has a history of turning theme park rides and attractions into worlds, and the Haunted Mansion has been at the top of fan wish lists for a long time. An achievement titled Haunted Housekeeper reportedly confirms its inclusion. The idea of Sora exploring a spooky, ghost filled mansion with a Keyblade in hand is exactly the kind of weird, wonderful thing that this series does best.

Toy Story is reportedly coming back as well. The Toy Box world from Kingdom Hearts 3 appears in the achievement list, which suggests that Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang will return. Kingdom Hearts 3’s Toy Box was a fan favorite, partly because it featured an original story that took place after the events of the films. Returning to that world would give the developers a chance to continue that story and maybe explore what happened after the toys left Andy’s house. It is a safe bet, but a welcome one.

Coco is already officially confirmed. The Land of the Dead was revealed at D23 in August, and the trailer showed Sora with Día de los Muertos face paint fighting alongside Miguel and Hector. The leaked achievements reportedly include an achievement called Remember Me nial Laborer, which is a playful reference to the film’s theme of remembrance. The Land of the Dead is divided into two sections according to the leak, which suggests it will have a substantial story that unfolds over multiple visits.

Quadratum, the Tokyo inspired city that was introduced in the first trailer, also appears in the achievements. This is not a surprise. Quadratum is where Sora wakes up at the beginning of the game, and it serves as a hub world of sorts. The achievements mention exploring rooftops, collecting treasure for a custodian, and completing civilian requests. There is also an achievement called It’s Not Junk to Me, which Reddit user Kurai_46 pointed out is almost certainly a reference to WALL E. The description reportedly asks players to fill up the treasure collection of a custodian on a Quadratum rooftop, and WALL E is a custodian robot who collects junk and treasures it. If WALL E makes an appearance in Quadratum, even as a small side character, that is a lovely detail that rewards fans who pay attention.

Two worlds in the leak are complete mysteries. Monochrome Origins has attracted a lot of attention because the name sounds like it could refer to a classic black and white Disney era. Reddit user Quiccies pointed out that the achievement Hotsy Totsy Helper Outer includes the phrase hotsy totsy, which is the catchphrase of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald is one of Walt Disney’s earliest characters, predating Mickey Mouse, and he has never appeared in a Kingdom Hearts game before. A world based on Oswald or the early days of animation would be a fascinating choice, and it would give the developers a chance to explore Disney history in a way the series never has before.

The other mystery is Imagineer Planet. Walt Disney Imagineering is the research and development division responsible for designing Disney theme parks and attractions. The name suggests a world built around the concept of Imagineering, which could mean anything from a theme park themed world to a location that celebrates the creative process behind Disney’s most famous attractions. One achievement called Planet Producer only asks players to complete any mission on the Imagineer Planet, while another called Globe Trotter asks them to complete all Test Planets. That wording is interesting. It suggests that Imagineer Planet might contain multiple smaller planets or areas, each one themed around a different Disney park or attraction. If that is the case, it could be one of the most ambitious worlds in the entire game.

The achievements also mention Scala ad Caelum, the ancient Keyblade wielder city that played a major role in Kingdom Hearts 3. Scala ad Caelum is reportedly home to achievements for collecting all key volumes and setting new records in time trials. That is a change from its role in Kingdom Hearts 3, where it served as the setting for the final battle against Master Xehanort. Bringing it back as a world with its own activities and collectibles suggests that it has a larger role to play in the story this time around.

Hundred Acre Wood also appears in the leaked information, which means Winnie the Pooh and friends are almost certainly returning. The Hundred Acre Wood has been a staple of the series since the first game, and it is usually a quieter, more relaxed world focused on minigames and puzzles. The leak mentions fishing and music minigames, which fits with the series tradition of using this world as a break from the action.

How the World Structure Might Work

One of the most interesting things about this leak is not the number of worlds, but how they seem to be structured. The Star Wars section reportedly contains two separate story achievements labeled Episode 1 and Episode 2. The Coco world also seems to be divided into two sections. This is a departure from how Kingdom Hearts 3 handled its worlds. In that game, you would visit a world, play through its story, and then move on. There was usually little reason to go back unless you wanted to collect missing items or complete optional challenges.

If Kingdom Hearts 4 allows you to revisit the same worlds later for major story developments, the game could have fewer total worlds while giving each location considerably more content. This approach fits with comments that director Tetsuya Nomura made after D23. He explained that Kingdom Hearts 4 would not have a large number of worlds because the development team is putting an extremely high level of detail into each one. According to a report from GoNintendo, Nomura and co director Tai Yasue said that the game features the most detailed worlds the team has ever made, but the amount of new worlds will be limited compared to previous entries.

That is a smart trade off. Kingdom Hearts 3 had a lot of worlds, but some of them felt rushed. The Pirates of the Caribbean world, for example, had a lot of impressive visuals but very little actual story content. If Kingdom Hearts 4 focuses on fewer worlds and gives each one the attention it deserves, the overall experience could be much stronger. A Star Wars world with two full episodes of story content is more exciting than a Star Wars world that you finish in two hours and never think about again.

The achievements connected to Scala ad Caelum support this idea. Collecting books and completing time trials are not the kinds of things you would expect from a world that only exists for a single boss fight. They suggest that Scala ad Caelum is a fully explorable hub with its own secrets and challenges. The same goes for Quadratum. The achievements mention completing civilian requests, collecting treasure for a rooftop custodian, and exploring the city in ways that go beyond the main story. Quadratum sounds like it will function as a home base, a place where Sora can take a break from the action, interact with characters, and prepare for the next world.

Gameplay Systems That Are Making a Comeback

The leak is not just about worlds. It also reveals a lot about the gameplay systems that will be returning in Kingdom Hearts 4. Gummi routes are apparently making a comeback, with seven different route bosses allegedly listed. The Gummi Ship has been a part of the series since the first game, allowing players to travel between worlds in a customizable spaceship and fight enemies in rail shooter sections. It was absent from Kingdom Hearts 3 in its traditional form, replaced by a more open ended exploration mode. Bringing back the classic Gummi route structure suggests that the developers are listening to fans who missed the more focused, arcade style space combat.

Lucky Emblems are also returning. These are hidden symbols that players can find by taking photographs in each world, and they have been a part of the series since Kingdom Hearts 2. Collecting them is usually optional, but they often unlock rewards or contribute to the Ultima Weapon crafting process. The Ultima Weapon itself is reportedly back as well, which means players can expect a long, challenging quest to forge the ultimate Keyblade. Treasure collecting and training challenges are also mentioned, giving completionists plenty to do.

Some of the new systems are more difficult to understand without more context. The leaked list reportedly includes something called Scrap Commands and Build Finishers, with an achievement connected to unlocking all of them for a Keyblade. There is also an achievement for reaching 100 points in Sora’s current role value and another for obtaining equipment at maximum rarity. Those details may indicate that the Build mechanic shown in the first Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer is more important than it seemed at first glance.

In the trailer, the Build mechanic looked like a way to construct temporary structures or platforms in the environment, almost like a Lego set that Sora could manipulate with his Keyblade. But if the leak is accurate, Build is tied to a larger progression system that includes role values and equipment rarity. That suggests a level of customization and character building that goes beyond anything the series has done before. Kingdom Hearts has always had RPG elements, but they have usually been fairly simple. You level up, you equip abilities, and you choose which Keyblade to use. If Kingdom Hearts 4 adds a deeper system of character builds and equipment upgrades, it could give players a lot more freedom in how they approach combat.

One achievement stands out as particularly strange. Chains for Playing reportedly asks players to defeat ten rival players in something called Royal Chain. That is the first hint of player versus player content in a mainline Kingdom Hearts game. The series has had multiplayer before, in games like Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, but those were limited to local wireless play or specific mission modes. A PvP mode called Royal Chain would be a major departure. It is possible that Royal Chain is not traditional PvP, but rather a series of arena battles against AI controlled rivals. Without more information, it is hard to say. But the wording rival players does suggest that you will be fighting against other human players, or at least against characters that are meant to represent other players.

The leak also mentions something called Link Pieces and Special Finishers. Summon Specialist is an achievement that asks players to use Link Pieces to activate any Special Finisher. This suggests that the summon system from previous games, where Sora could call on Disney characters like Simba or Genie to help him in battle, is being reworked. Instead of traditional summons, players might collect Link Pieces throughout the game and use them to trigger powerful team attacks with different characters. That would be a fresh take on a classic mechanic.

The Story Is Shaping Up to Be Massive

Even without the leaked information, the story of Kingdom Hearts 4 was already shaping up to be considerably larger than initially expected. Nomura has reportedly said that the script is nearly twice as long as Kingdom Hearts 3’s script. In an interview with Famitsu, he explained that the recording schedule was really tough because there was so much dialogue. He also mentioned that there were parts of the script he wanted to make even longer, but it was already over the limit. According to a report from GoNintendo, Japanese voice recording has already been completed, while English and other international recordings are said to be around sixty to seventy percent finished.

That is a lot of dialogue. Kingdom Hearts 3 already had a massive script, filled with cutscenes and character interactions across a dozen different worlds. If Kingdom Hearts 4 doubles that length, it suggests a game with an incredibly dense story, one that takes its time to develop characters and plot threads rather than rushing toward the climax. That is exactly what a lot of fans wanted after Kingdom Hearts 3, which was criticized for cramming most of its major story moments into the final few hours.

The story will also bring in characters and concepts from the mobile games. Sora will reportedly be working with a group called the Dandelions in Quadratum. The Dandelions are a faction from Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the mobile game that explored the ancient history of the Keyblade War. Characters like Vali and Sigurd, who originated in the χ series, are being brought directly into the main story. That is a big deal for fans who have followed the mobile games, because it means that those stories are not just side content. They are essential to understanding what is happening in Kingdom Hearts 4.

The latest trailer shows Riku in Quadratum, which suggests that he will have his own storyline that runs parallel to Sora’s. Donald and Goofy are shown connecting to the Underworld side of the story, which means they will be searching for Sora in Hades’ realm while Sora is trapped in another world. Mickey is also expected to appear in playable sections, which is a first for the series. In previous games, Mickey was usually a non playable character who showed up at key moments to help Sora. Making him playable, even for a short section, would be a major change.

The achievements mention a world called Underworld from Hercules, which confirms that Donald and Goofy’s storyline will take them to Hades’ realm. One achievement titled A Hot Tip asks players to get advice from the lord of the Underworld. That is almost certainly Hades himself, which means the god of the dead will be playing a role in the story. Hades has been a recurring villain in the Kingdom Hearts series, and his involvement suggests that the Underworld will be more than just a backdrop. It will be an active part of the plot.

There is also an achievement called The Dark Avenger, which asks players to defeat someone seeking vengeance. Nobody seems to agree on who that might be. It could be a new character, or it could be someone from the existing lore who has a grudge against Sora or the Keyblade wielders. The achievement The Last Name asks players to defeat the final hurdle in your path, which is a suitably vague description for a final boss. The leak does not reveal the identity of that boss, which is probably for the best. Some surprises are worth preserving.

The Timing of the Leak Could Not Be Worse for Square Enix

Square Enix has spent years being extremely careful with Kingdom Hearts 4. The game was announced in 2022 with a brief teaser, and then the company went almost completely silent for a long time. Fans waited, and waited, and waited. Then, in June of this year, new footage was shown. In August, at D23, Square Enix finally started the marketing campaign in earnest. They confirmed the Coco world, announced a late 2027 release window, and made it clear that the game was entering its final stages of development.

That announcement was supposed to be the beginning of a gradual rollout of information. Nomura said during the D23 panel that a lot of the marketing for the game had only just started, and he hoped people would look forward to hearing more news. He also made a point of promising that the game would not be delayed. I saw online that some people were saying maybe the actual release date might still get pushed back, Nomura said. I just wanted to set the record straight. That is not happening.

Now, because of a Steam API error, a huge portion of that planned information rollout may have been spoiled. If the leaked achievements are legitimate, some of the biggest surprises that Square Enix was saving for future trailers and events are already out there. Seeing Star Wars officially revealed for the first time in a major trailer would have been a huge moment for the series. Instead, fans are finding out about A Galaxy Far, Far Away through an achievement list on a third party website. That is a very different experience, and it is not the one the developers wanted to create.

It is worth noting that Square Enix has not commented on the leak. The company has not confirmed or denied any of the information, and it may choose to stay silent on the matter. That is often the best approach when dealing with leaks. Acknowledging them gives them more attention, and it can make the situation worse. But the lack of an official statement does not mean the leak is fake. It just means that Square Enix is not going to help spread the information any further than it already has.

What This Means for Fans Going Forward

If you are a Kingdom Hearts fan, you are probably feeling a mix of excitement and frustration right now. On one hand, the leaked information is incredibly exciting. Star Wars, Zootopia, Haunted Mansion, and a possible Oswald the Lucky Rabbit world are all things that fans have wanted for years. The idea of a Kingdom Hearts game with fewer but more detailed worlds, a longer script, and deeper RPG systems is exactly what a lot of people were hoping for after Kingdom Hearts 3.

On the other hand, nobody wanted to find out this way. Leaks can ruin the experience of discovering a game’s secrets through official reveals. They can also put developers in an awkward position, forcing them to either confirm information ahead of schedule or stay silent while fans speculate endlessly. The best thing you can do as a fan is to be patient. The game is still targeting a late 2027 release, and there will be plenty of official trailers and announcements between now and then. The leak has given us a lot to think about, but it has not changed the fact that Kingdom Hearts 4 is coming, and it is going to be a massive game.

I have been playing Kingdom Hearts since the first game came out on the PlayStation 2. I remember the confusion of the opening hours, the thrill of exploring Hollow Bastion for the first time, and the emotional gut punch of the ending. This series has been a part of my life for over two decades, and the idea that the next chapter might take me to a galaxy far, far away is almost too much to process. But that is what makes this franchise special. It is unpredictable. It is weird. It mixes things that should not work together and somehow makes them work. If the leak is real, Kingdom Hearts 4 is going to be the biggest, boldest entry in the series yet. And I, for one, cannot wait to see what Square Enix has in store for us when the game finally launches in 2027.

For now, the official information remains straightforward. Kingdom Hearts 4 is targeting the second half of 2027. Coco is confirmed. Development is progressing toward release, and Nomura has promised that there will be no delay. The leaked achievement list potentially adds Star Wars, Toy Story, Haunted Mansion, Zootopia, and several other locations to that picture, while also hinting at returning systems and new progression mechanics. Whether all of that turns out to be accurate remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. The conversation around Kingdom Hearts 4 has never been more intense, and the wait for the next official reveal is going to feel very long indeed.

Sources cited in this article include Exophase, SteamDB, Polygon, DualShockers, GameRant, TheGamer, GoNintendo, VGC, Gigazine, and the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit. Achievement data was reportedly accessed through Steam’s backend API on September 9, 2026. Square Enix has not officially confirmed the authenticity of the leaked achievements.

The post Kingdom Hearts 4 Steam Leak May Send Sora to Star Wars and Zootopia appeared first on SteamTurn.

I still remember the day I walked into my local game store and picked up my copy of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Two discs. Heavy box. That feeling of actually owning something. Fast forward to now, and I am looking at the preorder page for Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the final chapter of this remake trilogy, and that same excitement is mixed with a nagging frustration that a lot of us are feeling right now.

The release date is locked in. April 8, 2027. The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Preorders opened right after the September 2026 State of Play showcase, and fans have been buzzing about the gameplay footage showing off the Highwind airship, an open world to explore, and a combat system that looks like the most refined version of what this team has built so far.

But there is a catch. A big one. Every physical copy of Final Fantasy VII Revelation requires a mandatory download before you can actually play the full game.

The Disc Is Not the Game Anymore

Square Enix confirmed this in their official launch announcement. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game ships on a single disc, and as their disclaimer states, “An internet connection is required to download additional game data in order to play the physical version of the game.” For Nintendo Switch 2, the situation is even more digital. Revelation comes on a Game Key Card, which is essentially a license that tells your console to download the game from the internet. The Switch 2 version needs 130 GB of storage space to install the full experience.

This is a big deal for a lot of reasons, but especially because Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth both shipped on two discs with all the game data included. You could install the game and play it without ever connecting to the internet. That was a point of pride for collectors and preservationists. It was a signal that Square Enix still cared about the physical format.

That signal is gone now.

IGN reported that the first two games in the trilogy came on two discs, one for installation and one for play. With Revelation, Square Enix has made the call to ship a single disc with a forced download instead. This decision sparked immediate backlash across social media, with the Does It Play? account on X posting that “the game not getting a proper physical release on any platform is the only detail that should be discussed.”

Naoki Hamaguchi Responds to the Backlash

Game director Naoki Hamaguchi addressed the situation in an interview with IGN. He acknowledged that after preorders went live, fans voiced concerns and asked questions about why a physical disc would still require an internet connection. He wanted to address that directly.

According to Hamaguchi, the development team discussed internally whether to use the same two disc setup they used for Rebirth. But they concluded that doing so would mean compromising the visual quality of the game. He explained that PS5 discs can hold up to 100 GB, and the game simply exceeds what a single disc can carry without cutting content or lowering fidelity.

“Realistically, the only choice that we had was to release this physical disc, but with certain sections of the game being a digital download format,” Hamaguchi told IGN.

He also noted that he is happy Square Enix was able to release a physical version at all, given that the industry as a whole is moving toward an all-digital future. On social media, he added that every platform has its own physical storage limitations, and compromising the quality of the final chapter just to squeeze everything onto discs would not serve most fans.

“I completely understand that not all players might be happy with this decision, but at the same time, I am happy that we were still able to release a physical format of the game,” he said.

Why This Decision Does Not Add Up for Many Fans

Here is where the argument starts to fall apart for me, and I know I am not alone in feeling this way. The previous game, Rebirth, shipped on two discs. That was a known, accepted solution. Square Enix even used it as a marketing hook, with a trailer that literally ended on the reveal that the game would ship on two discs. They treated it as something to celebrate, not something to apologize for.

So what stopped them from doing a two disc or even three disc release for Revelation? There is no technical reason a game cannot ship on multiple discs. It has been done for decades. The only explanation that makes sense is cost. Printing extra discs costs money. Packaging costs money. And at some point, someone in a boardroom decided that the savings from shipping a single disc with a download outweighed the goodwill that a complete physical release would have generated.

That is a bad trade.

The gaming industry keeps pushing this narrative that digital is inevitable, that physical media is dying, and that gamers should just accept it. But the numbers do not really support that narrative as strongly as some would have you believe. While it is true that digital sales dominate on PlayStation, a significant portion of the player base still buys physical copies, especially for big single player RPGs. And those players are the most vocal, most engaged, and most loyal customers a publisher has. Ignoring them is not a smart long term play.

The Switch 2 Game Key Card Issue

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Revelation is a Game Key Card. This is not a cartridge with the game on it. It is a piece of plastic with a download code essentially embedded in it. You insert it, your console connects to the internet, and it downloads the entire 130 GB game to your system’s internal storage or a MicroSD Express card.

PCMag explained that Game Key Cards are “your key to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.” They do not contain the game data. You still need to insert the card to play, and you cannot play without downloading the game first.

The backlash against Game Key Cards has been building since the Switch 2 launched. Game preservationists have called them “a form of deception” because they look like physical games but function like digital licenses. Nintendo has even started polling players about their feelings on the system, which suggests they are aware of the frustration.

For Revelation, the 130 GB file size explains why a standard cartridge was not used. Switch 2 cartridges max out at 64 GB, which is less than half of what the game needs. But that does not make the situation any less frustrating for someone who wanted to own a real copy of the final chapter of this trilogy.

The Broader Trend of Incomplete Physical Releases

This is not just a Final Fantasy problem. A study from the game preservation group Does It Play found that only 66 percent of tested PS5 discs work without a download, and that number drops to 50 percent on Xbox Series X/S. That means half of all physical Xbox games are incomplete without an internet connection.

The reasons vary. Some discs ship with game breaking bugs that need patching. Others contain only a small portion of the game and act as a download key. The trend has been accelerating for years, and it is only getting worse as file sizes grow and publishers look for ways to cut costs.

But Final Fantasy VII Revelation feels different because this trilogy has been a bright spot. Remake and Rebirth both shipped complete on disc. They proved that it was still possible to do physical releases right. And then, for the final chapter, Square Enix blinked.

What This Means for Game Preservation

One of the biggest concerns with incomplete physical releases is what happens down the road. When servers eventually go offline, when digital storefronts shut down, when the next console generation makes backwards compatibility a question mark, physical discs are supposed to be the backup. They are supposed to be the version that still works.

But a disc that requires a download is not really a backup. It is a temporary license that only works as long as the servers are still running. If you buy Final Fantasy VII Revelation on disc in 2027, and then in 2035 the PlayStation Network servers for PS5 games are shut down, that disc becomes a coaster. You cannot play the full game. You cannot even install it.

That is a real problem. It is a problem for preservationists, for collectors, and for anyone who cares about games as art that should be accessible to future generations. The industry keeps talking about gaming as a cultural medium, but decisions like this undermine that claim.

The Goodwill Factor

What bothers me most about this whole situation is that it was avoidable. Square Enix could have shipped Revelation on two or three discs. It would have cost more. But the goodwill it would have generated would have been enormous.

Imagine the messaging. “We know printing extra discs costs more, but this is the final chapter of a story that has meant so much to so many people. We wanted to give you something you can actually own, something that will still work decades from now. Thank you for sticking with us for all these years.”

That would have been a mic drop moment. It would have been the kind of decision that fans remember and talk about for years. It would have generated headlines, positive ones, in a news cycle that is usually dominated by frustration and disappointment.

Instead, we got a single disc with a mandatory download and a director explaining why it had to be this way. Hamaguchi is clearly passionate about the game and about physical media. He has said publicly that he loves physical editions and that it would be a shame to lose that culture. But he is also a company man, and the company made a call.

What Other Publishers Are Doing

It is worth noting that not every publisher is making this choice. Earlier this year, Fable shipped on PS5 with the full game on disc, no download required. Xbox Series X owners had to download additional data, but PS5 players got the complete experience. That decision generated a wave of positive press and goodwill.

There are still publishers out there who understand that physical releases matter. They understand that there is a segment of the audience that will pay extra, that will preorder, that will buy collector’s editions, specifically because they want to own something real. And they are willing to spend a little more on production to keep that audience happy.

Square Enix used to be one of those publishers. This decision suggests they are not anymore, at least not for this release.

The Release Date and What Is Coming

Final Fantasy VII Revelation launches on April 8, 2027. It is the third and final part of the Remake trilogy, covering the events from the original game’s disc two and disc three. The story will take players to locations like Wutai, the Northern Crater, and the final confrontation with Sephiroth.

The game is also getting story DLC. The Premium Edition, which costs $100, includes access to two story expansions. The first is focused on Sephiroth, targeting a Winter 2027 release. The second is focused on Vincent and the Turks, targeting Spring 2028. There is also a Collector’s Edition for $350 that includes a statue of Cloud, Zack, and Sephiroth, along with art books, a steelbook, and other physical extras.

None of this is going to stop Revelation from selling well. The hype is real, and the trilogy has built up a tremendous amount of goodwill over the years. But that goodwill is not infinite. Every decision like this chips away at it a little bit. And eventually, if publishers keep making choices that prioritize short term cost savings over long term customer loyalty, that goodwill will run out.

My Personal Take

I have been buying physical games since I was a kid. I have shelves full of them. I have a copy of the original Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation 1 that I still play from time to time. There is something about holding a game in your hands, about knowing that you own it, that digital cannot replicate.

I want Final Fantasy VII Revelation to be great. I want it to sell well. I want the trilogy to be remembered as one of the best remakes ever made. But I also want Square Enix to remember who got them here. It was the fans who bought Remake on disc. It was the fans who bought Rebirth on disc. It was the fans who showed up, year after year, to support this project.

Asking those fans to accept an incomplete physical release for the finale feels like a betrayal. It feels like the company is saying, “We appreciate your support, but not enough to spend a little extra on printing another disc.”

Maybe that is the reality of the industry in 2027. Maybe physical media is on its way out, and this is just one more step in that direction. But if that is the case, at least go out with dignity. At least give the fans who stuck around for the whole journey something they can hold onto.

Right now, that is not what is happening. And that is a real shame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Final Fantasy VII Revelation require an internet connection to play?

Yes. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the physical disc requires an internet connection to download additional game data before you can play the full game. On Nintendo Switch 2, the Game Key Card requires you to download the entire game.

How big is the Final Fantasy VII Revelation download on Switch 2?

The Switch 2 version requires 130 GB of storage space. That is more than half of the console’s internal storage, so you will almost certainly need a MicroSD Express card.

Why did Square Enix choose a single disc instead of two?

Director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that using the same disc setup as Rebirth would have required compromising the game’s visual fidelity and overall quality. The development team did not want to make that trade-off.

Will the game still work if the servers eventually go offline?

No. If the download servers for the physical version are shut down in the future, the disc will not contain the full game. This is a significant concern for game preservation.

What is a Game Key Card on Switch 2?

A Game Key Card is a physical card that contains a license to download the game. It does not contain the game data. You insert the card, connect to the internet, and download the entire game to your console’s storage.

Are there any other platforms where the full game is on the disc?

No. All physical versions of Final Fantasy VII Revelation require a download. There is no platform where the full game ships complete on physical media.

The post Final Fantasy VII Revelation Discs Will Not Work Without a Download appeared first on SteamTurn.

I have been covering Nintendo hardware launches for over a decade now, and I can tell you with complete honesty that I have never seen anything quite like what is happening with the Switch 2 right now. The original Switch had a fantastic first year. Nobody is disputing that. But if you were a fan of big third-party franchises, you were often left waiting. Sometimes for months. Sometimes forever. I remember staring at my Switch library in 2018, wondering when the next big non-Nintendo game would actually show up. It felt like a drought that never quite ended.

The Switch 2 is telling a different story entirely.

After two major Direct presentations in 2026, Nintendo has quietly assembled one of the most crowded release calendars I have ever seen for a Nintendo platform. And here is the part that really caught my attention. The biggest surprises are not even Nintendo’s own games. Third-party publishers are showing up in a way they simply did not during the early Switch years. Major releases are stretching from the final months of 2026 all the way into 2027, and the list keeps growing.

This matters for a very specific reason. Nintendo raised the price of the Switch 2 in 2026, and the console is no longer the budget-friendly option it once was. When you are asking people to spend more money on hardware, you need to give them a reason to believe the investment is worth it. Games sell hardware. Always have. Always will. And Nintendo seems to understand that better than ever this time around.

Why the Switch 2 Third-Party Situation is Different

Let me take you back to the original Switch launch for a moment. Third-party publishers were interested, sure, but they were also cautious. The hardware was underpowered compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Porting big games required significant compromises. Some ports arrived late. Some arrived broken. And some never arrived at all. I still remember the frustration of watching games like Monster Hunter World skip Nintendo entirely, and the wait for a proper portable version of certain franchises felt endless.

The Switch 2 has changed the math. The performance gap between Nintendo’s hardware and the competition has narrowed enough that publishers can bring over much bigger games without the same level of compromise. According to Nintendo Life, the company has stated there are “more titles for Nintendo Switch 2 than there were in the first year for Nintendo Switch,” and that “numerous other titles are in active development.”

Instead of an occasional port surrounded by long stretches without major third-party releases, the Switch 2 calendar is now filled with recognizable franchises. This is not a subtle shift. It is a fundamental change in how publishers view Nintendo hardware.

September and October 2026: The Floodgates Open

The immediate schedule tells the story better than any analysis could. September and October 2026 are packed in a way that should make any Switch 2 owner pay attention.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave arrives on September 17, 2026, and it is shaping up to be something special. According to Nintendo’s official page, the game takes place in the Dagdan Empire, a land ruled by gods. You play as one of four heroes competing in the Heroic Games, where the winner is granted a single wish. Five years later, the empire faces destruction at the hands of a revived demon god named Balor. The four heroes have vanished. You are charged with saving the world, and you can use the goddess Fortuna’s time-traveling powers to change the fates of those heroes. That is a fantastic setup for a strategy RPG, and early previews have been overwhelmingly positive.

On the very same day, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter arrives, giving role-playing game fans another major option. If you enjoy Fire Emblem’s tactical combat and also love a good story-driven RPG, September 17 is going to be an expensive day.

Then there is LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which follows shortly afterward. It launched on other platforms months earlier, so the delay is worth noting. That has been a common pattern during the early Switch 2 period. The hope is that by the console’s third year, those delays become less common. For now, at least, the game is finally arriving.

007 First Light is another example of this pattern. Its 2026 release remains uncertain after Nintendo reconfirmed the game without providing a firm date. I would not be surprised if it slips to early 2027, but the fact that it is coming at all is a meaningful change from the original Switch era.

Sports Games and Mainstream Support

One of the clearest signs that third-party support has genuinely shifted is the sports lineup. EA Sports FC 27 is arriving alongside other major sports franchises, following NBA 2K27 and Madden releases. Having these mainstream games appear at launch rather than months later is a meaningful change from the original Switch generation.

I know sports games are not everyone’s cup of tea. But their presence matters. Sports titles are often the first games casual players look for when they buy a new console. If Madden and FIFA and NBA 2K are not available, that is a problem. The fact that they are arriving day and date on the Switch 2 tells you that publishers now view the platform as a priority rather than an afterthought.

October continues that momentum with Kingdom Hearts finally appearing on the platform. The Kingdom Hearts games were previously available only as cloud versions, which understandably frustrated a lot of people. Cloud games are not guaranteed to remain available forever. They depend on servers that can be shut down. A native version gives players a better long-term option, and it is something I have personally wanted to see on Nintendo hardware for years.

Capcom is also loading the calendar with Resident Evil titles. According to Escapist Magazine, the rapid-fire sizzle reel during the September 2026 Direct covered Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4, all arriving in October. That is a lot of survival horror in one month, and I am here for it.

Call of Duty on Nintendo: A Big Deal

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026, and it will be the first Call of Duty game to launch on a Nintendo platform in around a decade. That alone makes it notable. But the details make it even more interesting.

According to Gamereactor, the Switch 2 version is being developed by Digital Legends, a studio based in Barcelona. In an interview, associate production director Beatriz Gonzales confirmed that the game runs at 60 FPS in docked mode for multiplayer, and the team is still optimizing image quality ahead of launch. The file size is landing at around 87 gigabytes, which Gonzales described as “a good number considering the insane amount of content that goes into a Call of Duty game.”

It may not match the performance of versions on more powerful hardware, especially in frame rate and visual quality. But portability changes the equation. For players who value having a game available both handheld and docked, that trade-off could still make sense. I have played Call of Duty on handheld devices before, and there is something genuinely appealing about being able to jump into a match from anywhere.

Minecraft and the Power of Ongoing Support

Minecraft is another important release for the Switch 2. Its upgrade may not sound as dramatic as a brand-new game, but Minecraft remains one of the biggest games in the world. A technical upgrade gives existing players another reason to keep using the system and could also encourage Switch owners to make the jump to newer hardware.

I have put hundreds of hours into Minecraft across various platforms, and the Switch version was always a bit rough around the edges. The draw distance was limited, the frame rate could dip, and loading times were not great. A Switch 2 upgrade has the potential to fix most of those issues. For a game that people play for years, that kind of improvement matters more than any single new release.

November 2026: The Crowded Month

November is where the Switch 2 calendar gets truly crowded. According to Polygon, Ocarina of Time is scheduled to arrive close to several other major releases, including Stellar Blade and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Metaphor: ReFantazio follows soon after on November 12, 2026, according to Nintendo Life.

GTA 6 is also scheduled for November 19, but Nintendo does not appear to be moving its plans around it. That is notable because other console makers are clearly factoring GTA 6 into their release schedules. Without that game on its platform, Nintendo can still place Ocarina of Time only a couple of weeks ahead of it. That gives players enough time to spend with Nintendo’s major release before turning their attention elsewhere.

I think this is a smart move. Ocarina of Time is one of the most beloved games ever made, and a remake for Switch 2 is going to sell enormous numbers regardless of what else launches around it. By spacing it a couple of weeks before GTA 6, Nintendo is giving players room to breathe.

December 2026 and the Duskbloods Question

December keeps things moving with Dragon Quest Monsters, Monster Hunter Wilds, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, and other releases. Monster Hunter Wilds arrives on December 4, 2026, with local play support, and its Ascendance expansion follows in 2027, according to Escapist Magazine. Professor Layton and the New World of Steam finally got a firm release date of December 10 for both Switch and Switch 2.

Stage Tour also stands out because it appears to tap into the same appeal that made Guitar Hero-style games popular. The concept includes guitar, drums, and microphone support, and the visuals do not need to be groundbreaking for that kind of game to work. If the gameplay stays smooth, the key is making the controls and timing feel right. I spent countless hours with Rock Band back in the day, and I would love to see that style of game make a comeback.

There is still one major question mark for the end of 2026. The Duskbloods was expected during the year, but Nintendo has not provided enough new information to make its release feel certain. At this point, a delay into 2027 would not be surprising, though a late 2026 launch remains possible. If that happens, 2027 could become even more crowded than it already is.

2027: An Unusually Dense Lineup

Speaking of 2027, that is where things get really interesting. According to Polygon, Nintendo is quietly putting together a killer 2027 lineup. Metroid Ravenous kicks things off on January 28, 2027. Kirby and the World Beyond is set to launch sometime in spring 2027. Xenoblade Genesis and Pokémon Winds and Waves are also slated for 2027.

Metroid Ravenous deserves special attention. According to Yahoo Tech, this is a new 2D entry in the franchise and a follow-up to Metroid Dread. The trailer showed Samus talking for the first time since Metroid Other M, and it also revealed a surprisingly aggressive playstyle. At the end of the trailer, Samus literally devours a creature with a crazed glint in her eyes, stating it is “eat or be eaten.” That is a bold direction for the character, and I am genuinely curious to see how it plays out.

Interest in the game is already extremely high. According to HobbyConsolas, the Metroid Ravenous trailer surpassed the lifetime view count of the Metroid Dread trailer in just 48 hours. It became the most-watched trailer of the entire September 2026 Nintendo Direct, surpassing 2.6 million views on Nintendo of America’s YouTube channel. That level of engagement suggests the game is going to be a major release.

Kirby and the World Beyond is also worth watching. It is a sequel to 2022’s excellent Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which revitalized the Kirby series after a few so-so outings. If developer HAL Laboratory can take everything it nailed in Forgotten Land and apply it to an open-world game, we could be looking at a second major hit.

Persona 6 is another major addition to the 2027 lineup. According to Gamereactor, Atlus confirmed during the September 2026 Direct that Persona 6 and Persona 4 Revival will both come to Switch 2. Persona 4 Revival is scheduled for May 20, 2027. The fact that Persona 6 is launching alongside other versions suggests Sega and Atlus may finally be reaching the point where major releases can launch with much closer platform parity.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation arrives on April 8, 2027, according to G2A News. Kingdom Hearts IV is also planned for the platform alongside its other versions. And there is the possibility of a 3D Mario game for the 2027 holiday period, although that game has not been officially announced.

Other games expected in 2027 include Mega Man: Dual Override, Spyro, Crazy Taxi, and Resident Evil Veronica. Far Cry 3: Classic Edition and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – Classic Edition are also part of the conversation. The rumored and announced lineup keeps expanding, and it is getting hard to keep track of everything.

The First-Party Lineup is Strong Too

It would be easy to focus entirely on third-party support, but Nintendo’s own games are not taking a back seat. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a major release. Metroid Ravenous is generating enormous interest. Kirby and the World Beyond looks like another winner. Xenoblade Genesis and Pokémon Winds and Waves are both slated for 2027.

Nintendo is also bringing back Ocarina of Time, which is arguably the most requested remake in the company’s history. The original game defined what 3D adventure games could be, and a modern version for Switch 2 has the potential to introduce a whole new generation to one of the best games ever made.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is getting a Switch 2 upgrade with 60 FPS battles and more enemies on screen, according to Escapist Magazine. Pikmin 4’s Switch 2 Edition adds voice commands for Oatchi and a new Dandori Academy mode spread across 72 stages. These may not be brand-new games, but they give existing players more reasons to stay invested in the ecosystem.

Why This Shift Matters Beyond One Year

Nintendo systems have often been treated differently from PlayStation and Xbox when it comes to third-party support. This was particularly true when large multiplatform games were too demanding for the hardware. The GameCube and Wii U both suffered from this problem. Even the original Switch, despite its massive success, missed out on some major releases entirely.

The Switch 2 suggests that the situation may finally be changing. Performance expectations are evolving. As developers find ways to optimize games for the hardware, some ports are becoming more practical. That does not mean every game will run identically to its versions elsewhere, but the gap is no longer automatically large enough to prevent a release.

For Nintendo, that creates a useful cycle. Stronger third-party support makes the platform more attractive. A larger player base gives publishers more reason to support it. Successful releases make future ports easier to justify. If that cycle continues through the rest of this generation, seeing the Nintendo logo attached to a major third-party announcement may eventually stop feeling unusual.

Performance and Hardware Context

It is worth putting the Switch 2’s hardware into context. According to Digital Foundry, the console features 12GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 6400MT/s while docked, providing 102GB/s of bandwidth. In handheld mode, the memory is downclocked to 4200MT/s. The GPU is based on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture with 1536 CUDA cores, a massive increase over the original Switch’s 256 cores.

Compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the Switch 2 is not in the same power tier. According to Yahoo Tech, the Switch 2 falls closer to a PlayStation 4 or Steam Deck in raw performance, with some notable improvements on both. That gap is real, and it is not going away.

But here is the thing. The gap matters less than it used to. DLSS upscaling technology allows developers to render games at lower resolutions and then upscale them to higher resolutions with impressive results. The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 port running at 60 FPS in docked mode is proof that the hardware can handle demanding games when developers put in the work.

For players who value portability and Nintendo’s exclusive games, the trade-off is often worth it. I have played demanding games on handheld PCs, and there is a certain freedom in being able to take a big game with you. The Switch 2 offers that same freedom with a more streamlined experience.

The Price Increase and What It Means

Nintendo confirmed a price increase for the Switch 2 in 2026. According to VGC, from September 1, 2026, the price of Switch 2 consoles in the US increased by $50 to $499.99. In Europe, the hardware increased by 30 Euros to 499.99 Euros. In Canada, the console increased by $50 to $679.99. In Japan, the price revisions took effect on May 25, with all of Nintendo’s hardware increasing by around ¥10,000.

Nintendo attributed the increase to “changes in market conditions” and the “global business outlook.” The company also said it sincerely apologizes for the impact these price revisions may have on customers. It is worth noting that the price of RAM has significantly increased over the last year, largely due to AI data centers, and US tariffs also affected the Switch 2’s launch.

This is the reality of the current market. Sony and Microsoft have both raised prices on their consoles as well. The days of console prices dropping over time appear to be over, at least for now. Nintendo is not alone in this, but that does not make the increase any less frustrating for consumers.

The strong software lineup helps justify the investment, though. If you are buying a $500 console, you want to know that there will be plenty of games to play on it. The Switch 2’s 2026 and 2027 calendar is making that case convincingly.

Sales Momentum and Player Base

The Switch 2 is selling extremely well. According to Gamesurf, the console reached 23.68 million units sold worldwide by June 30, 2026, roughly 14 months after its launch. In its first year, the Switch 2 outpaced the original Switch, which sold around 17 million units over the same period.

That is a remarkable pace. A larger player base gives publishers more reason to support the platform, and it also makes future ports easier to justify. The cycle is already working in Nintendo’s favor.

The first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year did show a more than 30% year-over-year drop in hardware sales, but that was expected after the launch period. Software sales remain strong, with 10.78 million units sold in the quarter ending June 30, 2026. Games are what keep a platform alive, and the Switch 2 has plenty of them.

The Bottom Line for Switch 2 Owners

The next year or so is shaping up to be packed. From Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave in September 2026 to Metroid Ravenous in January 2027, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in October 2026 to Persona 6 sometime in 2027, the Switch 2 is getting a level of software support that Nintendo platforms have not enjoyed in a very long time.

I have been critical of Nintendo in the past when the company has rested on its first-party laurels and let third-party support languish. That is not happening this time. The Switch 2 is starting to look less like a Nintendo machine that occasionally receives third-party games and more like a platform that publishers expect to support.

There are still questions. The Duskbloods remains uncertain. Delays are still common. The price increase is a real barrier for some people. But the overall picture is clear. Nintendo has built a console that third-party publishers want to support, and the results are showing up in the release calendar.

For players, the takeaway is straightforward. If you own a Switch 2, there is more to play than ever before. If you are on the fence about buying one, the lineup makes a stronger case with every passing month. And if you are a longtime Nintendo fan who has been waiting for the third-party gap to finally close, this may be the generation where it actually happens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest third-party games coming to Switch 2 in 2026?

The biggest third-party releases for 2026 include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 23, Monster Hunter Wilds on December 4, EA Sports FC 27 on September 25, Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 in October, Metaphor: ReFantazio on November 12, and Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29.

Is Persona 6 coming to Switch 2?

Yes. Atlus confirmed during the September 2026 Nintendo Direct that Persona 6 will launch on Switch 2 alongside its previously announced PlayStation 5 version. A release window has not been announced, but Persona 4 Revival is scheduled for May 20, 2027.

How much does the Switch 2 cost now?

As of September 1, 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 costs $499.99 in the US, 499.99 Euros in Europe, and $679.99 in Canada. The price increased by $50 in the US and Canada and by 30 Euros in Europe. In Japan, the price increased by around ¥10,000 in May 2026.

Is Metroid Ravenous a sequel to Metroid Dread?

Metroid Ravenous is a new 2D entry in the Metroid series and a follow-up to Metroid Dread. It is being developed by MercurySteam, the same studio behind Metroid Dread and Metroid: Samus Returns. It launches exclusively on Switch 2 on January 28, 2027.

What is the file size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2?

According to Digital Legends associate production director Beatriz Gonzales, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be approximately 87 gigabytes on Switch 2. The game will run at 60 FPS in docked mode for multiplayer.

Why did Nintendo increase the Switch 2 price?

Nintendo cited “changes in market conditions” and the “global business outlook” as reasons for the price increase. The cost of RAM has significantly increased due to AI data centers, and US tariffs also affected the console’s launch. Sony and Microsoft have also raised prices on their consoles.

Sources

Nintendo Life – Nintendo Highlights Multiple Major Third-Party Releases For Switch 2 In 2026 And Beyond

Escapist Magazine – Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct Maps Out Releases Through 2027

IGN – Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Games: Release Dates for 2026 and Beyond

VGC – Nintendo confirms Switch 2 price rises, consoles now $500 in the US

Nintendo – Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Direct

Polygon – Nintendo Is Quietly Putting Together a Killer 2027

Gamereactor – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will clock in at around 87 gigabytes on Switch 2

Yahoo Tech – Metroid Ravenous, Out in January 2027, Gives Samus the Power to Devour

HobbyConsolas – El tráiler de Metroid Ravenous supera las visualizaciones de Metroid Dread

Gamereactor – Persona 6 has been confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2

Digital Foundry – Nintendo Switch 2: the Digital Foundry hardware review

Gamesurf – Nintendo Switch 2: Sales Exceed 23 Million Units

G2A News – Nintendo Direct September 2026: Every Game Announced for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch

Yahoo Tech – How the Nintendo Switch 2 Stacks Up Against the PS5 and Xbox Series X

The post Switch 2’s Third-Party Explosion: Why Nintendo’s Console Finally Feels Like a Real Platform appeared first on SteamTurn.

Capcom finally did it. After more than two decades of fans asking, begging, and theorizing, the company officially announced the Resident Evil Code Veronica remake at Summer Game Fest 2026. The game is simply called Resident Evil Veronica, and it is coming in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. For a lot of longtime fans, this feels like the last major gap in the remake lineup finally getting filled. Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 all got modern versions. Code Veronica sat there waiting. Now it is happening.

The reveal trailer opened Summer Game Fest, and it did not waste time. Claire Redfield walks into what looks like a Paris apartment looking for her brother Chris. She gets grabbed by a masked figure. The camera cuts through quick glimpses of environments. Zombies show up. It set the tone without giving away much. But the real story since the announcement has been about what happens behind the scenes. Fresh information from well-known Resident Evil insider Dusk Golem has painted a clearer picture of the development timeline, the game’s structure, and what players can actually expect when the remake launches.

This article breaks down everything that has been confirmed by Capcom and everything that is still circulating as rumor. I will separate the facts from the speculation. I will also explain why the next six months are critical for this project and what a semi-open world structure means for a survival horror game. If you have been waiting for Code Veronica to get the remake treatment, this is the most complete picture available right now.

Resident Evil Veronica Release Window: Early 2027 Remains the Target

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is simple. When can you actually play this thing? According to the insider reports, the final release date depends heavily on how the next six months of development go and whether Capcom manages to hit its internal milestones. If everything continues smoothly, the current target is reportedly the first quarter of 2027. That would put the launch somewhere between January and March. This lines up with what other insiders like Nate the Hate have said, pointing toward a first-half 2027 launch window.

There is also a possibility that the game could move slightly later if Capcom decides the team needs more time to polish it. In that situation, the remake could reportedly slip into the second quarter of 2027, covering April through June. A third-quarter release would apparently require something to go seriously wrong during development, and there is currently no indication that such a major problem has occurred. For now, the first half of 2027 looks like the safer prediction, with Q1 remaining the internal target.

What does this mean in plain terms? If you are planning to take time off work or save money for a new console, early 2027 is the window to watch. The game could land in your hands around February or March if everything stays on track. If there is a delay, it probably will not be a long one. Capcom has a reputation for polishing its major releases, and the company has shown it will take extra time when needed. The difference here is that the game is reportedly ahead of schedule, not behind it. That changes the conversation entirely.

Development Status: Ahead of Schedule but Still Being Reworked

Here is where things get interesting. Dusk Golem’s information suggests the Code Veronica remake is actually ahead of schedule. That is not something you hear very often in modern game development. Delays, troubled productions, canceled projects, and unfinished launches have become common across the industry. A major title being ahead of its internal schedule is a positive sign. But being ahead of schedule does not mean Capcom plans to rush it out the door.

Despite the progress, Capcom apparently still wants to revisit and rework several parts of the game before it launches. The company seems willing to use that extra development time to polish up areas that could use more attention. This approach makes sense when you consider the scope of the original Code Veronica. Resident Evil Code Veronica released in 2000 and was one of the franchise’s more ambitious entries. Instead of relying on relatively contained environments like Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 3, it featured larger interconnected locations that allowed you to revisit areas and move between different sections throughout the story.

In many ways, Code Veronica was an early example of a semi-open-world approach within Resident Evil. That makes rebuilding it more complicated than remaking games with tighter, more contained environments. Areas need to be redesigned. Enemy encounters need to be balanced. Progression systems need to be modernized. Exploration needs to be rewarding without allowing players to break the game accidentally. All paths must be checked, and puzzles must work independently of how players approach the environment. Cutscenes have to flow, and all that stuff has to sync up without breaking the survival horror vibe that comes with Resident Evil.

This also explains why extra development time could be good even if the game is ahead of schedule. A remake with interconnected environments has a greater potential for failure than a simple linear experience. Capcom has to make sure the different locations connect properly while ensuring the progression remains understandable and reliable. If the current reports are accurate, the team is using that extra time wisely rather than rushing toward a date on a calendar.

Semi-Open World Rockfort Island and the Motorcycle

One of the most significant changes coming to the remake involves the game’s structure. According to multiple reports, Rockfort Island has been redesigned as a semi-open, interconnected environment. Players can freely return to previously explored areas and search for new items and puzzle clues through repeated exploration. This is a major departure from the original game’s more linear progression, and it has big implications for how the remake will play.

The semi-open world approach is not just about map size. It changes how you approach resource management, enemy avoidance, and puzzle solving. In the original Code Veronica, you moved through the story in a fairly set order. You went from one area to the next. You could sometimes backtrack, but the game guided you along a mostly linear path. A semi-open Rockfort Island means you might have more freedom to choose where you go and when. That could make exploration feel more rewarding. It could also make the game much harder to balance.

Here is where the motorcycle comes in. An official “Motorcycle” tag appeared on the Steam page for the Resident Evil Code Veronica remake. This tag was added by the developers at Capcom and came to the attention of the gaming community through social media. The page update indirectly confirms earlier claims from Dusk Golem about dramatic changes to the level structure and movement mechanics. According to those previous leaks, protagonist Claire Redfield will be able to repair a recovered motorcycle and use it to quickly travel between different areas of the complex.

This approach is significantly different from the original 2000 game, which featured strictly on-foot and linear movement. It is also consistent with Capcom’s recent experiments in the survival genre. The introduction of controllable vehicles could seriously alter the classic balance of resource management and enemy evasion, adding new tactical elements to the gameplay. Some fans are excited about the idea of driving across Rockfort Island. Others are worried that greater freedom to avoid enemies could reduce the tension that makes survival horror work. It is a valid concern. In survival horror titles, the constant threat of enemies is what keeps you on edge. If you can just drive past them, does that threat go away?

That is a question Capcom will have to answer. The semi-open world structure is a bold choice. It shows the studio is not simply copying and pasting the Resident Evil 2 remake formula onto Code Veronica. They are rethinking how the game works. That is risky, but it is also what makes this remake interesting. A straight retread of the original with better graphics would have been safe. This sounds like something more ambitious.

Physical Release: Full Game on the Disc

Another detail that has fans talking concerns the game’s physical release. According to the latest information, the Code Veronica remake is expected to receive a full physical release with the actual game included on the disc. That is becoming increasingly notable as more publishers have started releasing physical boxes that contain download codes instead of the game itself.

For players who still collect physical games, having the complete title on a disc makes the release considerably more appealing. The physical release is especially relevant because collectors have become increasingly frustrated with the shift toward code-in-box releases. A physical case does not offer quite the same value when the disc itself does not contain the game, particularly for people who want to preserve their collections.

There is some evidence to support this. A listing for a physical PlayStation 5 version of the game appeared on PlayAsia with a price of $70. The retailer usually does not create placeholder pages without reason, and fans took it as a serious commercial signal. If the current reports are accurate, the Code Veronica remake will avoid the code-in-box approach and include the full game on the disc. That would make it a welcome release for physical media fans who still prefer owning their games in a traditional format.

It is worth noting that this could be one of the last major Resident Evil games to get a full physical release with a disc included. The industry is moving toward digital distribution, and every year it feels like physical media becomes less of a priority for major publishers. If you care about owning your games on disc, this is a release to pay attention to.

Story Changes and The Connections Organization

Capcom has been upfront about the fact that the remake will feature story changes. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi stated during a Summer Game Fest Q&A that while the remake will remain true to the central storyline of the original Code Veronica, players should expect significant changes in how that story unfolds. According to Hirabayashi, the developers will not cut scenes but will “simply rearrange them.” Players can expect “a lot to be reworked and rethought.” The goal is to create more continuity in the larger Resident Evil universe and to avoid unnecessary repetition while building a more coherent story.

One specific rumor about story changes has caught a lot of attention. Recent reports suggest that the Connections criminal organization could appear in some form within the Code Veronica remake. The group has become increasingly important to the modern Resident Evil timeline, particularly through Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Requiem. In Requiem, a document revealed that the Connections were involved in almost everything in the saga. They were the true force behind the destruction of Raccoon City and the orchestration of Umbrella’s fall. The group also has ties to other known factions like HCF, TRICELL, and the Family.

The theory is that the Code Veronica remake could finally show the organization acting directly. Albert Wesker invades Rockfort Island alongside HCF, which is now linked to the Connections. That would be the first glimpse of the group’s military division in the field. Fans have theorized for years that Wesker joined the Connections after betraying Umbrella. The remake would have the perfect chance to confirm that link.

Another possibility that has been discussed is a larger role for HUNK, who is an important piece of the island’s story. The masked figure who grabs Claire in the trailer is someone many fans are betting is HUNK. If that is true, it suggests the remake is expanding on characters and connections that were only hinted at in the original game.

It is important to be clear about what is confirmed and what is rumor. Capcom has confirmed that story changes are happening. Capcom has confirmed that the goal is better continuity with the modern games. Capcom has not confirmed that the Connections will appear in Code Veronica. That part is still speculation based on insider reports and fan theories. Until Capcom officially shows more of the game, treat the Connections angle as an interesting possibility rather than a fact.

Gameplay Details: Third-Person, Dodge Mechanic, Crafting, and 3D Audio

The trailer for the remake ran in first person, which led to confusion about whether the game would use a first-person perspective like Resident Evil 7 or a third-person perspective like the recent remakes. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi cleared that up quickly. During a Summer Game Fest Q&A, he stated plainly that Resident Evil Veronica is a third-person game. It will not be first person. The trailer was designed to be atmospheric and misleading in that specific way.

The game will use an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective built on the architecture of the successful Resident Evil 2 remake. That means familiar controls and a familiar camera style for anyone who played the recent remakes. But there are some changes to the combat mechanics. Internal test reports suggest that Claire Redfield may utilize a quick dodge skill instead of the knife-parry mechanism seen in Resident Evil 4. This would make her feel different from Leon and give the game its own identity in terms of moment-to-moment combat.

Resource management will remain a core part of the experience. Leaks suggest that Claire will be able to combine herbs with chemicals in the lab during the first half of the game to create more efficient healing tools. This system allows players to create a wider range of medicines and offers more flexibility in how they approach survival. The crafting system is said to be inspired by Resident Evil 7 and Village, which introduced more involved crafting mechanics compared to the simpler herb-mixing of the older games.

There is also a significant focus on sound. The game will reportedly support 3D audio on modern platforms. Players will be able to hear the footsteps of approaching monsters, the echo of falling water droplets, and the howling of icy wind with precise directional accuracy. This is meant to heighten tension and terror during play. In a survival horror game, sound is often just as important as visuals. Being able to hear exactly where an enemy is without seeing it can make the experience much more intense.

One more detail that has surfaced involves the game’s difficulty. Rumors suggest that Resident Evil Veronica could be much darker and more hardcore than the Resident Evil 2 remake. The resource management is reportedly more demanding. If true, this would position the remake as a more challenging experience than the recent remakes, which were already quite difficult on higher settings. For fans who felt the modern remakes were too action-oriented, this could be welcome news.

Trailer Analysis and Fan Reactions

The reveal trailer for Resident Evil Veronica did a lot of work in a short amount of time. It opened with a high-angle night shot of Paris before moving into the apartment where Claire is searching for Chris. The trailer suggested a darker, more grounded tone similar to the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes. The setting looked more oppressive and less exaggeratedly gothic than the original Code Veronica.

Fans have been debating what the trailer showed and what it hid. The first-person perspective caught a lot of people off guard. Some thought Capcom was making a first-person game. Others noticed the visual quality and the atmosphere and got excited regardless. Once Hirabayashi confirmed the game was third person, the discussion shifted to what the trailer did not show. There was no gameplay. There was no clear look at Rockfort Island. There was no sign of Wesker, Steve Burnside, or any of the other characters fans were expecting.

That was intentional. The trailer was a mood piece. It set a tone. It said this is a Resident Evil game. It said Claire is back. It said the production values are high. Capcom is holding the actual gameplay reveal for a later date, probably a dedicated showcase or a State of Play. When that happens, fans will finally get to see how the semi-open world works, how the dodge mechanic feels, and how Rockfort Island has been rebuilt. Until then, the trailer is all we have to go on, and it did its job. It got people talking.

Personal Experience with the Original Code Veronica

I played Resident Evil Code Veronica for the first time on the Dreamcast. I remember the graphics being stunning for the time. The transition from pre-rendered backgrounds to fully real-time 3D environments was a big deal. I remember the difficulty being punishing. The game did not hold your hand. It did not give you much ammo. It expected you to manage resources carefully and make smart choices. I remember getting stuck on the Tyrant fight on the plane and having to restart because I had wasted too many healing items earlier in the game.

That experience is probably why I am so interested in this remake. Code Veronica was ambitious in ways that did not always work. The scope was huge. The story went to places the series had never been before. But the execution could be rough around the edges. The tank controls were stiff. The backtracking could become tedious. The game had a reputation for being unforgiving in ways that were not always fair. A modern remake has the chance to fix those problems while keeping what made the original special.

I am also curious to see how Capcom handles the story changes. Code Veronica sits in a weird place in the timeline. It bridges the gap between the classic era and the modern era. It introduced elements that became important later, like Wesker’s return and the Ashford family. Connecting it more directly to Resident Evil Requiem and the Connections storyline makes sense from a narrative perspective. It could make the whole series feel more cohesive. It could also alienate fans who want a faithful retelling. That is the balance Capcom has to strike.

What This Means for the Resident Evil Series

Resident Evil Veronica is not just another remake. It is a statement about where the series is going. Capcom has been on a remarkable run with its recent Resident Evil releases. The Resident Evil 2 remake, the Resident Evil 4 remake, and Resident Evil Requiem have all been successful critically and commercially. Requiem sold more than seven million copies in under three months, and the franchise has now passed 200 million lifetime sales. That momentum is real.

Rolling that momentum into a Code Veronica remake makes commercial sense. It also makes creative sense. Code Veronica is the last major classic entry that had not received a full modern remake. Resident Evil Zero is reportedly next in line for 2028. After that, the series will have remade every significant early entry. That opens the door for something new. A new mainline entry, a new spinoff, or something else entirely. The remakes have been a way to bring the old stories up to modern standards. Once that job is done, Capcom will need to figure out what comes next.

For now, the focus is on Veronica. The game is reportedly ahead of schedule. The Q1 2027 target remains in place. The semi-open world structure is ambitious. The story changes are designed to tie the game more closely to the modern timeline. The physical release will include the full game on disc. All of these details point to a project that Capcom is taking seriously. If the current reports hold up, this could be one of the most significant Resident Evil releases in years.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Resident Evil Veronica remake coming out?
The current target is the first quarter of 2027, which means January through March. If the game needs more polish, it could slip into the second quarter, covering April through June. A third-quarter release is considered unlikely unless something goes seriously wrong during development.

Will Resident Evil Veronica be open world?
It is not a full open world. It is a semi-open world. Rockfort Island has been redesigned as an interconnected environment where players can freely return to previously explored areas. Claire can repair a motorcycle and use it to travel between different sections of the complex.

Is Resident Evil Veronica first person or third person?
It is third person. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi confirmed during a Summer Game Fest Q&A that the game uses an over-the-shoulder perspective. The first-person shots in the trailer were a stylistic choice, not a reflection of the final gameplay.

Will Resident Evil Veronica have a physical release?
Yes. According to reports, the game will receive a full physical release with the actual game on the disc. A listing for a PS5 physical edition appeared on PlayAsia with a $70 price tag.

What platforms is Resident Evil Veronica coming to?
The game is scheduled for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Will the story be different from the original Code Veronica?
Yes. Capcom has confirmed that the story will be reworked to create more continuity with the modern Resident Evil timeline. Iconic moments will not be cut, but they will be rearranged and rethought.

Is the Connections organization in Resident Evil Veronica?
This is still a rumor. Insider reports suggest the Connections could appear in the remake, possibly through Wesker and HCF. Capcom has not confirmed this.

Resident Evil Veronica is shaping up to be one of the most interesting remakes Capcom has attempted. It is not a simple retread. The semi-open world structure, the motorcycle, the story changes, the Connections rumors, and the focus on modern continuity all point to a project that is trying to do something new with familiar material. The reported Q1 2027 target gives fans something concrete to look forward to. The next six months will be critical for hitting that date.

If you are a Resident Evil fan, this is the game to keep on your radar. If you never played the original Code Veronica, this remake will be the best way to experience one of the most important and ambitious entries in the series. If you did play it, you already know why this matters. Code Veronica has been the forgotten stepchild of the Resident Evil franchise for too long. It is finally getting the attention it deserves.

The game is scheduled for release in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Capcom has not announced a specific release date yet. The current internal target is Q1 2027. Expect an official gameplay reveal at some point in the next year. Until then, the rumor mill will keep turning. Just remember to separate the confirmed facts from the speculation. Capcom has confirmed the game exists. Capcom has confirmed the platforms and the 2027 window. Everything else is still subject to change.

The post Resident Evil Veronica Remake: Why Early 2027 Looks Likely and What Capcom Is Changing appeared first on SteamTurn.

I have played every Star Wars Jedi game since Fallen Order launched in 2019. The moment Cal Kestis first climbed through the wreckage of a Venator on Bracca, I knew Respawn Entertainment had something special. Survivor then took everything I loved about the first game and pushed it further. The stakes grew larger. The combat became sharper. The story left me staring at the credits wondering where Cal could possibly go next.

Now we are waiting for the third game. Respawn has stayed quiet about the project for a long time. That silence has not stopped the rumor mill from spinning at full speed. I have spent the past few weeks digging through official announcements, insider reports, and community discussions to piece together what we actually know versus what we hope might happen.

This article is a rumor roundup. I am not here to report original news. I am here to organize the information that is already out there, separate the confirmed details from the speculation, and explain why certain ideas keep coming up again and again. Where I cite a leak or a rumor, I will link directly to the original source so you can judge it for yourself.

What EA and Respawn Have Actually Confirmed

Before diving into the speculation, let us start with what is solid. Electronic Arts has officially confirmed that a third Star Wars Jedi game is in development. During EA’s Investor Day 2024 presentation, company president Laura Miele stated that the next game in the series will be the final chapter of Cal Kestis’ story. She said, “Respawn is working hard to bring the final chapter of this thrilling story to players”.

Miele also revealed that the first two games have sold over 40 million copies combined. That number alone explains why EA and Respawn are treating this finale with such care. Cal Kestis has become one of the most recognizable original characters in modern Star Wars gaming.

The confirmation that this will be the final chapter comes directly from EA. You can read the official coverage from ComicBook.com and EpicStream.

We also know that Cameron Monaghan, the actor behind Cal Kestis, has spoken about the project. During an appearance at Ocala Comic-Con in Florida, Monaghan told the audience, “We’re working on the third. We are in the process of doing it right now”. He described the project as a “big undertaking.” You can watch the panel footage uploaded by a fan on YouTube.

What we do not have is a release date, a full trailer, or a confirmed title. The game has no official window beyond being in development. That has not stopped insiders from offering their own estimates.

Rumors About the Release Date and Development Timeline

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is simple. When will Star Wars Jedi 3 come out?

In January 2026, Kinda Funny co-founder Tim Gettys said on the Kinda Funny Gamescast that he had “heard some things” suggesting the game could release sometime in 2026. He described it as a “solid chance” but not a “slam dunk”. That comment alone sparked a wave of speculation across Reddit and gaming forums.

A separate report from Insider Gaming suggested the game could be revealed in mid-2026 at an event like Summer Game Fest or a PlayStation State of Play. Co-host Tom Henderson added that he had heard the game would center around an older version of Cal Kestis. If that is true, the gap between Survivor and the third game could be much larger than the five-year jump between Fallen Order and Survivor.

Respawn has also posted job listings for narrative roles on the project. One report from ixbt.games noted that the studio was still hiring for a narrative specialist in July 2026. That suggests the story was still being actively worked on well into 2026, which makes a 2026 release date seem unlikely.

My honest read on this? I would not expect to play Star Wars Jedi 3 before late 2027. Respawn is not a studio that rushes its games, and the scope of this finale sounds massive. The fact that they are still hiring writers in mid-2026 tells me the script is not locked yet.

Rumor Roundup: The Time Jump and an Older Cal Kestis

One of the most persistent rumors is that Star Wars Jedi 3 will feature a significant time jump. Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming has reportedly said the game will focus on an older Cal Kestis, possibly in his 30s or 40s. That would place the story much later in the Star Wars timeline, potentially after the events of Return of the Jedi.

This idea makes sense for a few reasons. The Jedi games have always followed a pattern of time jumps. Fallen Order took place in 14 BBY. Survivor jumped forward five years to 9 BBY. A third game that jumps another decade or more would allow Respawn to show a Cal who has grown far beyond the frightened Padawan we met on Bracca.

An older Cal also opens up new storytelling possibilities. He could be a seasoned Jedi Knight who has survived the worst of the Empire’s purge. He could have trained new students. He could have built a life on Tanalorr. A time jump also creates distance from the original trilogy’s events, which gives Respawn more freedom to tell a story that does not need to tie directly into Luke Skywalker’s journey.

I am personally excited about this possibility. One of my favorite things about Survivor was seeing how much Cal had grown since Fallen Order. A third game that pushes him even further into adulthood could deliver the most mature Star Wars story we have seen from Respawn yet.

Tanalorr as a Real Home Base

If there is one location that deserves to play a bigger role in the third game, it is Tanalorr. Survivor spent its entire story building up to the moment Cal and his crew could reach this hidden planet. Dagan Gera obsessed over it. Bode Akuna saw it as a refuge for his family. Cal recognized it as a safe haven for the Hidden Path and anyone fleeing the Empire.

Then the game ended, and Tanalorr became little more than a backdrop for the final scenes. That felt like a missed opportunity to me when I finished Survivor. A planet with that much narrative weight should not just be a place you visit for a handful of missions and then forget about.

Several writers and fans have suggested that Star Wars Jedi 3 could turn Tanalorr into a genuine hub world. Instead of a static location, it could grow and change as the story progresses. New characters could arrive. Additional areas could open up. Families fleeing the Empire, members of the Hidden Path, and survivors of the Jedi purge could slowly build a new life there.

This does not need to be a full base-building system like Fallout 4. Simple changes would be enough. Imagine returning to Tanalorr after a major mission and seeing a new settlement where there was once an empty canyon. Imagine walking through a market where refugees are trading supplies. Imagine seeing children training with wooden sticks under the watchful eye of a Jedi survivor.

That kind of environmental storytelling would give players a tangible reason to care about Cal’s mission. Every time you save someone, you could see the result of that effort back at home base. It would make Tanalorr feel like a place worth protecting, not just a level select screen with a nice view.

The Wookieepedia entry on the Hidden Path confirms that Tanalorr became the organization’s central base of operations after the events of Survivor. That gives Respawn a canonical foundation to build on. Tanalorr is not just a random planet. It is the headquarters of a network dedicated to saving people from the Empire.

The Starkiller Question

No rumor about Star Wars Jedi 3 generates more discussion than the possibility of Starkiller appearing. Galen Marek, the protagonist of The Force Unleashed, is one of the most powerful Force users ever depicted in Star Wars media. He pulled Star Destroyers out of the sky. He defeated Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine in combat. He was, quite frankly, absurdly overpowered.

Bringing that version of Starkiller into the modern canon would break the Jedi series. Cal Kestis is a talented Jedi, but he is not on the level of someone who can crush an AT-AT with the Force. Respawn knows this. If Starkiller appears in Jedi 3, he will not be the same character from The Force Unleashed.

The more interesting approach would be to introduce a new version of Galen Marek as an Imperial weapon. He could be a secret assassin trained specifically to hunt Force-sensitive targets. He would not need to be a one-man army. He would just need to be dangerous, calculating, and relentless.

This interpretation has generated a lot of fan interest. A recent article from NoobFeed argued that the important part would be giving Starkiller an actual purpose. A brief cameo designed purely to generate fan reactions would feel like unnecessary fan service. A confrontation with Cal could instead explore two very different approaches to the Force.

Cal protects others while surviving under Imperial pressure. Starkiller was shaped into a weapon by the Empire. Putting those two characters in the same room would create a powerful contrast. Cal fights to preserve life. Starkiller fights because he was built to destroy. That is a story worth telling.

I have mixed feelings about this rumor. I loved The Force Unleashed when I was younger, but I also recognize that Starkiller’s power level does not fit the more grounded tone of the Jedi games. If Respawn can find a way to use the character that serves the story rather than just the nostalgia, I am open to it. If it is just a fan service cameo, I would rather they leave him out.

For a deeper look at the debate around Starkiller’s canon status, you can read this analysis from TheGamer.

Darth Vader and the Rematch

Darth Vader has already played a memorable role in the Jedi series. Fallen Order ended with one of the most terrifying sequences in any Star Wars game. Cal, Cere, and Trilla were all helpless against Vader. Cal escaped only because Vader chose to let him run. That scene made it clear just how far Cal still had to go.

By the time Star Wars Jedi 3 takes place, Cal should be a much more experienced fighter. He has survived years of Imperial pursuit. He has trained. He has fought Inquisitors and Jedi hunters. A rematch with Vader would be a natural way to show how much he has grown.

I do not think Cal should win. That would undermine everything we know about Vader. But Cal should be able to fight back. A long duel where he genuinely holds his own would be a powerful payoff to the relationship between these two characters. Cal could lose, escape, or have the fight interrupted. The key is that he should not run this time.

There is also a practical reason to include Vader. He is the most recognizable Star Wars villain. A well-made Vader encounter would generate massive interest and give the game a marketing moment that no other character can match. Respawn has shown they understand how to use Vader effectively. I trust them to do it again if they choose to bring him back.

Expanding Holotactics Into Something Bigger

Holotactics was one of the most pleasant surprises in Survivor. This tabletop mini-game let players assemble teams of scanned enemies and watch them fight in holographic battles. It was simple, addictive, and a perfect break from the main story. I probably spent more time playing Holotactics than I should admit.

Star Wars Jedi 3 could turn Holotactics into a much larger optional system. As Cal travels across the galaxy and BD-1 scans new enemies, those units would become available for use in increasingly challenging matches. Different opponents could use different strategies. Some might overwhelm you with cheap units. Others might rely on powerful creatures or elite enemies.

The system could even become part of the larger world. Tournaments could appear on Tanalorr or other hubs. New opponents would unlock as the story progresses. Rewards could encourage players to keep experimenting without forcing the activity into the main campaign.

An article from AdventureGameLand argued that Holotactics could become the “Gwent of Star Wars,” transforming Cal’s journey with thrilling strategy and essential gameplay. That comparison is apt. The Witcher 3’s card game started as a side activity and became one of the most beloved parts of the entire experience. Holotactics has the same potential.

Not every optional feature needs to deliver another major story beat. Sometimes a simple system that players genuinely enjoy is enough. Expanding Holotactics would give players something fun to return to between major missions while also providing another reason to explore the galaxy and scan new enemies. For a completionist like me, that is a huge selling point.

You can find a full guide to Holotactics in Survivor on PowerPyx if you want to see how the system currently works.

Cal Kestis’ Ending and What It Should Look Like

None of these features will matter as much as Cal Kestis’ ending. If Star Wars Jedi 3 is truly the final chapter of his story, Respawn needs to stick the landing. That does not necessarily mean Cal needs to die. A tragic sacrifice would fit some aspects of Star Wars storytelling, but killing a character just because a trilogy needs an emotional conclusion would not automatically make the ending satisfying.

Cal could live. His journey through the trilogy has already started to make him question what it actually means to be a Jedi. The final game could give him the opportunity to decide what kind of life he wants after years of running from the Empire. Maybe he chooses to walk away from the fight. Maybe he builds something new on Tanalorr. Maybe he finds a way to be happy.

I want to see Cal find peace. He has spent three games fighting, running, and sacrificing. A quiet ending where he chooses to stop fighting would be just as powerful as a dramatic death if it feels true to the character he has become.

That said, if Respawn does go the tragic route, it needs to be for a good reason. If the story leads to Cal surrendering his life to save Merrin, Kata, the Hidden Path, or the people of Tanalorr, that could work. The important thing is that the player should understand why Cal made that choice. It should feel inevitable rather than sudden.

Survivor ended with Cal, Merrin, Greez, and Kata together on Tanalorr. They had survived. They had a home. The final game needs to honor that ending while also providing closure. Whether Cal lives or dies, his conclusion should reflect the entire journey. Players have followed him from a young Padawan struggling to survive into a confident Jedi Knight who repeatedly risks himself for others. The ending should make sense for the character he has become.

What the Rumored Gameplay Changes Could Look Like

Several rumors suggest that Star Wars Jedi 3 will feature significant gameplay changes. A report from ScreenRant mentioned that the game could have more planets, larger and more varied environments, and a non-linear path to progression. A separate leak from GameRant claimed the game will feature a double-bladed blaster stance and a deeper focus on tactical, heavy combat with smarter enemy AI.

These changes make sense for a third game. Respawn has always improved the combat and exploration systems with each entry. Fallen Order introduced the core lightsaber combat. Survivor added multiple stances and larger semi-open areas. The third game could push those systems further while also adding new layers.

I would love to see more enemy variety. Survivor had a good mix of Imperials, droids, and wildlife, but the third game could introduce new threats that challenge Cal in different ways. A darker tone, as some rumors suggest, could also give the combat more weight. If Cal is struggling with the dark side, the gameplay could reflect that struggle through more aggressive options or risk-reward mechanics.

What I Want to See as a Longtime Fan

I have been following Cal Kestis since the first teaser for Fallen Order dropped. I have played through both games multiple times. I have scanned every enemy for Holotactics. I have explored every corner of Koboh and Jedha. I care about this series, and I care about Cal’s story.

What I want most from Star Wars Jedi 3 is a game that respects the journey we have been on. I want Tanalorr to matter. I want Holotactics to grow. I want Cal’s relationship with Merrin to continue developing in a way that feels natural. I want to see Kata grow up. I want to see the Hidden Path succeed. I want an ending that makes me feel something, whether that is joy, sadness, or hope.

Respawn has earned my trust. They made two excellent Star Wars games that understood what makes this universe special. They know how to balance fan service with genuine storytelling. They know how to create moments that make you feel like a Jedi.

Star Wars Jedi 3 does not need to reinvent everything to succeed. It just needs to identify the most important parts of the series and give them the attention they deserve. If Respawn can make Tanalorr a meaningful representation of Cal’s journey, expand on the systems players loved in Survivor, and provide its protagonist a satisfying ending, this game could leave a lasting impression long after the final credits roll.

Until then, I will be here, waiting for news, replaying Survivor, and hoping that the next time I see Cal Kestis, he is standing on the soil of a home that he helped build.

Sources and Further Reading

• EA Investor Day 2024 announcement via ComicBook.com
• Cameron Monaghan’s Ocala Comic-Con comments via GameSpot
• Release date speculation via IMDb News
• Older Cal Kestis rumor via ComicBook.com
• Gameplay and scope rumors via ScreenRant
• Story leak details via GameRant
• Tanalorr and Hidden Path lore via Wookieepedia
• Holotactics expansion analysis via AdventureGameLand
• Starkiller canon debate via TheGamer
• Development timeline update via ixbt.games

The post Star Wars Jedi 3: Every Confirmed Detail and Rumor About Cal Kestis’ Final Chapter appeared first on SteamTurn.

You know that feeling when you sink your claws into something and it just feels right? That is Marvel’s Wolverine in a nutshell. Insomniac Games spent years building its reputation on Spider-Man games that let you swing through Manhattan like a superhero. With Wolverine, the studio threw out that playbook and built something meaner, tighter and way more personal.

I spent about twenty hours with the game on PS5 Pro, and I walked away convinced this is the best Wolverine game ever made. Not because it is perfect. It is not. But because it finally understands what makes Logan work as a video game character. He is not a superhero who quips his way through fights. He is a broken man with metal claws trying to figure out who he is. The game leans into that hard.

This Marvel’s Wolverine review breaks down everything you need: the release date, the combat system, the story, the Nightmare Doors, the suit list, the PS5 Pro performance, the trophies and whether this linear approach works better than Spider-Man’s open world. If you are on the fence about buying this game, stick around. I have got you covered.

Marvel’s Wolverine Release Date and Platforms: What You Need to Know

Marvel’s Wolverine launched on September 15, 2026, exclusively on PlayStation 5. Insomniac confirmed the release window during a Sony State of Play presentation in September 2025, then followed up with an exact date in February 2026. The timing makes sense. Sony wanted the game out well before Grand Theft Auto 6 arrived in November to avoid getting buried under the biggest launch of the decade.

The game is a PS5 console exclusive. Insomniac is a PlayStation first party studio, and Sony acquired the developer back in 2019. If history is any guide, a PC port will probably arrive a year or two down the line. Insomniac’s Spider-Man games eventually made their way to PC, and there is no reason to think Wolverine will be different. But for now, if you want to play this game, you need a PS5.

You can grab the standard edition or the Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 console bundle and accessories that Sony announced in August 2026. The game is fully playable on disc out of the box, which matters more than ever now that Sony is moving away from physical game production. The version I played ran on PS5 Pro in Performance Pro mode, and I also tested the base PS5 version to compare.

What Comes in Each Edition

• Standard Edition: the base game, digital or physical
• Digital Deluxe Edition: base game plus three early unlock suits and a set of claw designs
• Collector’s Edition: steelbook, art book, digital soundtrack and a Logan statue
• PS5 Pro bundle: console, one DualSense controller and a digital copy of the game

The Deluxe suits are cosmetic only. None of them give you a stat advantage, which is the right call. I hate it when games sell power. You can unlock every suit in the base game by playing, and the Deluxe versions just save you some crafting materials.

Marvel’s Wolverine Story: Logan’s Fight to Escape Himself

The story in Marvel’s Wolverine starts in a pretty dark place. Logan has stepped away from Team X, a mutant task force formed by Nathaniel Essex to protect mutants in a world that barely knows they exist. He tried to leave that life behind. He tried to become someone else. But when Bolivar Trask, a billionaire industrialist with a god complex, starts abducting and experimenting on mutants, Logan gets dragged right back into the fight.

What makes this story work is the personal angle. Trask is not just some generic villain. He represents something real within the game’s world: the fear that mutants will never be safe as long as people like him hold power. Essex, on the other hand, founded Team X to build a world where mutants can live openly. Logan finds himself caught between these two visions of the future, and the game forces him to confront what kind of person he wants to become.

The supporting cast pulls their weight too. Mystique brings a dry, sarcastic energy to the team that balances out Logan’s brooding. Sabretooth is a savage presence who feels genuinely dangerous every time he shows up. Victor Creed’s relationship with Logan gets plenty of screen time, and it never feels like the game is just checking boxes for comic book fans. The real standout, though, is Jean Grey. Her dynamic with Logan grows naturally throughout the campaign instead of being treated as background material.

The game takes Logan to several locations around the world. You will visit Canada, Japan and Madripoor, and each setting has its own atmosphere and gameplay style. The constant movement between locations keeps the campaign feeling fresh. You are never stuck in one giant map for hours on end. Every few missions, the game throws you somewhere new with different enemies and different environmental challenges.

I have to give credit to Liam McIntyre’s performance as Wolverine. He captures the anger, the exhaustion, the pain and the rare moments of vulnerability that make Logan more than just an angry dude with claws. Hugh Jackman will always be the definitive Wolverine for a lot of people, but McIntyre comes surprisingly close in his own way. There are moments where you can hear the weight of decades of violence in his voice, and it sells the character in a way that a lesser performance would not.

The campaign runs about twenty hours, which feels right for this kind of focused experience. Insomniac could have stretched it to forty hours by padding it with open world busywork, but they did not. The story moves at a good clip, and there are plenty of quieter scenes that let the characters breathe between all the bloodshed.

Why the Story Feels Different From Other Superhero Games

Most superhero games follow a simple pattern. A villain shows up, the hero stops them, the city is saved. Marvel’s Wolverine does not do that. The villain is a threat, yes, but the real conflict is internal. Logan is fighting himself as much as he is fighting Trask. He does not want to be the weapon everyone else wants him to be, but he keeps getting pulled back into that role because nobody else can do what he does.

That internal conflict gives the story weight. When Logan snaps and goes on a rampage, it does not feel cool. It feels sad. The game wants you to understand that violence is not a superpower for Logan. It is a curse he cannot escape. Very few superhero games try to make that point, and even fewer pull it off.

Game director Mike Daly explained the linear structure decision in an interview with Eurogamer, saying the team wanted every moment to feel like it was driving Logan somewhere instead of letting him wander. That philosophy shows in the writing. Every scene has a purpose. There is no filler dialogue and no pointless detours.

Marvel’s Wolverine Combat: Brutal, Fast and Addictive

Combat is the heart of Marvel’s Wolverine, and Insomniac nailed it. Logan does not just attack enemies. He launches himself at them from across the room. He closes gaps in an instant and uses his claws to tear through groups of enemies with a speed that never stops feeling satisfying.

The core combat loop is built around aggressive momentum. You are not supposed to sit back and block. You are supposed to push forward, parry incoming strikes and keep the pressure on. Light attacks let you chain quick barrages. Heavier strikes deal more damage. A powerful kick can knock enemies off balance and set them up for a brutal finisher.

What really makes combat sing is the variety of tools at your disposal. You can lunge at enemies, leap over obstacles and use environmental objects to make encounters more dynamic. There are launch points that let you hurl Wolverine at enemies, opportunities to set his claws on fire for extra damage, and environmental takedowns that get genuinely nasty. You can kick enemies into furnaces. You can smash them against walls. You can use the environment to finish fights in ways that make Logan feel like the dangerous animal he is.

The DualSense features add another layer to the violence. Every slash, parry and takedown has a noticeable impact thanks to the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. When you are tearing through a group of Reavers, the controller makes you feel every hit. It is not a gimmick. It genuinely makes the combat feel more physical.

Special Techniques and Skill Progression

As you progress through the campaign, you unlock Special Techniques that expand your combat options. Tornado Spin lets you clear space around you when enemies try to surround you. Knee Breaker is perfect for interrupting tough enemies. Spiral Strike lets you drill into enemies with a flurry of attacks. You can equip four Special Techniques at once, and they charge up during battles so you can use them when you need them most.

The skill tree is fairly straightforward. You earn XP throughout the campaign and use it to gain technique points, which you spend on roughly two dozen skills. These include multi target attacks, health restoration, drop kicks, stealth takedowns and the special moves I just mentioned. It is not the deepest skill tree I have ever seen, but it gives you enough meaningful choices to make your Logan feel distinct.

Here are the skills I found most useful during my playthrough:

• Health restoration on parry, because it keeps you alive during long boss fights
• Multi target attacks, because groups of enemies are the most common threat
• Drop kick, because it closes distance fast and staggers heavy enemies
• Stealth takedowns, because some sections are much easier if you thin the herd first
• Tornado Spin, because it builds rage quickly when you are surrounded

The Rage System and Healing Factor

Wolverine’s rage meter is one of the more interesting mechanics in the game. As you deal damage, the rage meter fills. Once it reaches Tier 3, you can unleash much more powerful attacks that let Logan tear through enemies spectacularly. These attacks look brutal without becoming repetitive too quickly, and they give you a reason to stay aggressive during combat.

The healing factor is tied directly into the rage system. If Logan’s health reaches zero while rage is available, that rage is consumed and he regenerates. If there is no rage left, Wolverine dies. It is an interesting way to translate his famous healing ability into a game mechanic. It does feel a little strange given the character’s established powers, but it works well from a gameplay perspective. The lowest difficulty setting removes that restriction and lets Wolverine regenerate automatically, which is a fair compromise for players who want a more authentic power fantasy.

I played on the standard difficulty and found the rage system forced me to stay aggressive. If you hang back and play defensively, you will run out of rage and die. The game wants you to keep pushing forward, and that design choice makes every fight feel tense in a good way.

Adaptations: Passive Bonuses That Change How You Play

Adaptations are passive bonuses that support the technique system. They let you reduce incoming melee damage, recover health after successful parries or increase the timing window for defensive actions. There are dozens of Adaptations to unlock, and they let you tune Logan to your playstyle. If you like staying aggressive, you can stack adaptations that increase rage effectiveness and make your parries more forgiving. If you prefer a more defensive approach, you can build around damage reduction and health recovery.

The combinations are where things get interesting. Tornado Spin can hit multiple enemies and build rage quickly. The right adaptation can make that approach even more effective by helping you take advantage of the rage meter and survive longer during drawn out encounters. It is not a game where you need to min max every stat, but there is enough depth here for players who want to dig into the systems.

Some adaptations only unlock in New Game Plus. That gives you a reason to replay the campaign with all your upgrades intact. The second run is much harder, so you will need every advantage you can get.

Marvel’s Wolverine Is Not Open World and That Is a Good Thing

One of the biggest differences between Marvel’s Wolverine and Insomniac’s Spider-Man games is the structure. This is not an open world game. It is a linear, level by level experience that keeps the story moving at a fast pace.

Game director Mike Daly explained the decision pretty clearly in an interview with Eurogamer. He said Logan is a character who is constantly being driven forward, either by an urgent need, a sense of duty or a desire to chase something from his past. He does not anchor himself in one space and wander around. That philosophy shapes every aspect of the game’s design. Instead of spending hours on one giant map, you are always thrust into a new environment or situation.

You still get opportunities to explore, but exploration is designed around the mission you are currently playing. One section might give you a larger part of Madripoor to move through while you use Wolverine’s senses to track enemies and investigate your surroundings. Another section might emphasize climbing, platforming or stealth. The variety keeps things interesting without ever feeling overwhelming.

The linear structure also benefits the pacing. There are no traditional side missions in the main campaign. Instead, Insomniac keeps the story moving from one mission to another. You might move through a tense story sequence, fight a massive Sentinel and then find yourself speeding through encounters on a bike. The game rarely leaves you in the same place for too long, which helps maintain the fast pace.

I get why some players might be disappointed. Spider-Man’s open world was a huge part of what made those games fun. But Wolverine is not Spider-Man. He is not a character who swings around a city looking for collectibles. He is a character who gets dragged into conflicts and has to fight his way out. The linear approach fits him better than an open world would.

Insomniac made the right call here. If you want an open world superhero game, Spider-Man 2 is still there. If you want a focused, story driven action game that respects your time, Marvel’s Wolverine delivers.

How Long Does It Take to Beat Marvel’s Wolverine?

The main campaign takes about 20 hours to complete on normal difficulty. If you want to do all the Nightmare Doors, collect all the suits and find every whiskey bottle, you can easily add another 5 to 10 hours. A second playthrough on New Game Plus adds another 15 to 20 hours if you want to see everything.

Here is a rough breakdown of completion times:

• Main story only: about 18 to 20 hours
• Main story plus Nightmare Doors: about 24 to 28 hours
• Full completion including all suits and collectibles: about 30 to 35 hours
• New Game Plus run: add another 15 to 20 hours

That is a good length for this kind of game. It does not overstay its welcome, and it does not feel rushed either. The pacing stays strong from start to finish.

Nightmare Doors: Optional Content That Actually Matters

There are no traditional side missions in Marvel’s Wolverine, but Nightmare Doors give you optional activities to tackle when you want something outside the main campaign. These challenges can involve surviving waves of enemies, completing traversal sections or reaching a specific destination through a parkour focused challenge.

What makes Nightmare Doors interesting is how they connect to the story. Senior project director Jess Reiner-Reed described them as manifestations of the horrible things happening in Logan’s mind during an interview with PlayStation Blog. Each door represents a piece of Logan’s past that he has tried to bury. Completing these challenges unlocks adaptations and reveals additional fragments of his history.

I found myself genuinely looking forward to these challenges. They build on combat and traversal systems you already use during the campaign, but they give you a reason to spend more time mastering those mechanics. Some of the combat trials get pretty intense, especially the later ones when you are facing waves of tougher enemies. The traversal challenges are a nice change of pace too.

One thing I appreciated is that Nightmare Doors are not just filler content. They tie directly into progression. Completing them can unlock adaptations that make Logan stronger in meaningful ways. They also reveal additional story details that flesh out his past. If you are the kind of player who likes to see everything a game has to offer, these are worth seeking out.

How Many Nightmare Doors Are There?

There are around thirty Nightmare Doors spread across the campaign. Some are easy to find. Others are hidden in optional areas that require a bit of exploration. You do not need to complete all of them to finish the story, but doing so unlocks some of the best adaptations in the game.

I would recommend doing them as you find them instead of saving them for the end. They break up the pacing nicely, and the adaptations you earn make the later missions much more manageable.

Suits, Claws and Cosmetics: Customizing Logan

The campaign also includes a collection of Wolverine suits and claws to unlock. Some require materials to craft, while others become available naturally as you progress through the story. Certain designs are connected to Nightmare Door challenges, giving you another reason to explore the optional content.

Seeing Wolverine’s different designs pulled from his long history is one of the more enjoyable parts of the progression system. You can unlock suits inspired by Weapon X, Old Man Logan, Ultimate Wolverine, Patch and even civilian staples like a tank top or a leather jacket. You can toggle some of those cowls and hats on or off, which is a nice touch for players who prefer a specific look.

Crafting additional suits can also provide extra health upgrades, so collecting them is not purely cosmetic. There are different claw designs too: bone claws, notched claws, curved claws, reflective claws and angled claws. These are mostly visual, but they add a nice layer of customization for fans who want their Wolverine to look a specific way.

Full Suit List and How to Unlock Them

Here are the suits I unlocked during my playthrough and how I got them:

• Classic Yellow and Blue: unlocked through story progress
• Brown and Tan: craft with materials found in Madripoor
• Weapon X: complete a Nightmare Door in Canada
• Old Man Logan: craft with rare materials from boss fights
• Patch: complete all Madripoor side objectives
• Ultimate Wolverine: New Game Plus reward
• Tank Top Logan: unlocked from the start
• Leather Jacket Logan: unlocked through story progress
• X Force: craft with materials from Sentinel fights
• Team X: complete a specific Nightmare Door in Japan

The crafting materials come from enemies, chests and optional objectives. You will need to explore a bit if you want every suit. The good news is that none of them are missable. You can always go back and farm materials if you need more.

PS5 and PS5 Pro Performance: How Does It Run?

Marvel’s Wolverine looks exactly like the kind of major PlayStation production you would expect from Insomniac. Character models are detailed, environments are packed with visual information and the effects during combat help sell the force behind Wolverine’s attacks.

On PS5 Pro, the game runs exceptionally well. I played through most of the campaign in Performance Pro mode, which runs at 60 frames per second while outputting the visuals of the standard Fidelity mode and improving them through PSSR, which stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. The game also includes an Advanced Ray Tracing option that adds enhanced reflections and global illumination details.

Here is the impressive part. Advanced Ray Tracing on PS5 Pro only causes a performance hit of around 3 to 4 frames per second according to WCCFtech. That is negligible. There is basically no reason not to have it on if you are playing on PS5 Pro. The game looks noticeably sharper on Pro thanks to PSSR, and the ray tracing improvements make a visible difference in certain scenes.

On base PS5, the game still looks and runs well. Fidelity mode is capped at 30 FPS, while Performance mode targets 60 FPS. If you have a 120Hz display with VRR, Fidelity mode can approach 60 FPS, and Performance mode can exceed 100 FPS in certain scenes. I did notice a few minor frame drops now and then on both consoles, but nothing that interfered with gameplay.

Loading times are extremely quick on both systems. I never found myself waiting around for more than a few seconds between missions. The game also supports New Game Plus at launch, which is a nice change from Spider-Man 1 and 2, which added it post launch.

PS5 Performance Modes Compared

If you are on PS5 Pro, Performance Pro with Advanced Ray Tracing enabled is the way to go. The visual upgrade is noticeable and the frame rate stays smooth. If you are on base PS5, Performance mode is the better choice for most players because the combat feels much better at 60 FPS.

Boss Fights and Enemy Variety

The boss encounters in Marvel’s Wolverine are some of the game’s strongest moments. The boss roster is designed as large cinematic showcases, with battles that feel like events rather than just tougher enemy encounters. Encounters with Omega Red and the Sentinel are particularly memorable. These fights require you to use everything you have learned about combat, and they look spectacular while you are doing it.

The standard enemies are mostly cyborgs and Sentinels, with different versions appearing over the course of the campaign. They can still be dangerous, especially when several attack at once, but the limited variety might get repetitive for some players. The Reavers are the most common enemy type, and while they are fun to fight, you will see a lot of them.

The occasional quick time event appears during some sequences, but they are not overused. They mostly show up during big cinematic moments and do not interrupt the flow of combat too much.

Here are the bosses I fought and how tough they were:

• Omega Red: the hardest fight in the game, requires perfect parries and rage management
• Sentinel: a spectacle fight that uses the environment in creative ways
• Sabretooth: multiple encounters that get harder each time
• Lady Deathstrike: fast and aggressive, punishes slow reactions
• Trask Guard: a mid game wall that forces you to learn the parry system

If you are struggling with a boss, my advice is to focus on parries instead of dodging. The parry window is generous, and successful parries build rage quickly. Once you have Tier 3 rage, you can unleash a devastating attack that takes off a huge chunk of health.

Stealth: The Weakest Part of the Game

If there is one area where Marvel’s Wolverine falls short, it is stealth. The game does not force you to approach every situation stealthily, but certain sections clearly encourage it. Hiding in tall grass and silently taking down enemies works well enough, but the mechanics feel basic compared to the rest of the game.

For a character like Wolverine, stealth makes sense when the situation calls for it. He is not a character who is above sneaking around when it serves his purposes. But the stealth sections in this game feel like an afterthought. The rest of the combat feels so developed that the simpler stealth mechanics stand out in a bad way. Insomniac could have either cut these sections entirely or given them more depth. As it stands, they are serviceable but forgettable.

The good news is that you can often ignore stealth and just fight your way through. The game rarely punishes you for going loud. If you prefer to play Logan as a berserker who charges into every fight, you can do that most of the time.

Technical Issues: Minor but Noticeable

There are some technical issues worth mentioning. Wolverine’s animations can behave weirdly sometimes, like when he gets stuck in a corner. There were a few rare occasions when the game stopped progressing and forced me to reload from a checkpoint. These issues are minor enough that they never seriously interfered with my experience, and they would likely be straightforward fixes for a patch.

The sound design does a lot of work alongside the combat. Every slash, parry, impact and environmental takedown is given enough weight to make the action feel physical. Combined with the DualSense feedback, the audio reinforces the sensation that Wolverine hits things with considerably more force than an ordinary superhero.

Accessibility Options

Insomniac has a strong track record with accessibility, and Marvel’s Wolverine continues that trend. The game includes a wide range of options that let you tune the experience to your needs.

• Adjustable difficulty at any time
• Auto complete quick time events
• Larger subtitles with background opacity options
• Color blind modes for different types of color vision deficiency
• Controller remapping
• Screen reader support for menus
• Motion reduction options
• High contrast mode for important objects

The lowest difficulty setting removes the rage requirement for healing, which makes the game much more forgiving. If you are here for the story and not the challenge, you can play on that setting and still enjoy everything the game has to offer.

Marvel’s Wolverine vs Spider-Man: Different Games, Different Goals

It is worth comparing Marvel’s Wolverine to Insomniac’s Spider-Man games because they share a developer but not much else. Spider-Man is about freedom. You swing through New York, stop crimes and collect backpacks. Wolverine is about constraint. You are pushed from mission to mission, and the game rarely gives you room to breathe.

The combat reflects this difference too. Spider-Man’s combat is about flow and acrobatics. You dodge, you web enemies, you use the environment in creative ways. Wolverine’s combat is about aggression and brutality. You get in close, you tear through enemies and you do not stop until everything is dead.

Both approaches work for their respective characters. If you go into Marvel’s Wolverine expecting Spider-Man with claws, you will be disappointed. But if you accept it for what it is, you will find a game that understands Wolverine better than almost any other adaptation.

What Wolverine Borrows From Spider-Man

That said, you can still see some familiar ideas if you have played Insomniac’s previous superhero games. You earn experience, unlock abilities, find new suits and gradually make Wolverine stronger. The progression systems will feel familiar. The difference is in how everything is presented. This is a more concentrated experience built around Wolverine’s personality, his brutal fighting style and a story that understands why the character has remained so popular for decades.

If you enjoyed the combat in Spider-Man but wanted something with more weight and consequence, Marvel’s Wolverine delivers that. If you loved the open world exploration and side content, you might miss those elements here.

Is Marvel’s Wolverine Worth Buying?

Marvel’s Wolverine is a strong example of Insomniac understanding when not to repeat its own formula. After building its reputation around the Spider-Man games, the studio could have easily made another large open world superhero game and simply replaced web swinging with claws. Instead, Wolverine takes a more focused approach, and that decision makes the campaign feel more purposeful.

The roughly 20 hour campaign rarely feels like it is wasting your time. You move between locations, encounter new situations, fight increasingly dangerous enemies and gradually learn more about Logan and his past. The lack of traditional side missions might disappoint players who enjoyed filling out the huge maps in Spider-Man, but it also keeps the story moving at a much better pace.

Combat is the real star. Wolverine feels appropriately brutal, and the combination of claws, environmental attacks, rage abilities, adaptations and progression gives you plenty of ways to make him stronger. The enemy variety could be better, and the stealth sections are noticeably weaker than the rest of the game, but the boss encounters and larger set pieces compensate for many of those shortcomings.

Most importantly, the game understands that Wolverine is not simply a character defined by violence. The story gives you plenty of action, but it also spends time with Logan’s relationships, regrets, anger and emotional struggles. Liam McIntyre’s performance sells that side of the character, while Wolverine and Jean Grey’s relationship becomes one of the narrative highlights.

If you are a Wolverine fan, this game is a must play. If you enjoy action games with tight combat and a strong story, you will find a lot to love here. The stealth sections are weak, and the enemy variety could be better, but those issues are not enough to undermine the overall experience. What you get instead is a tightly paced superhero adventure that knows exactly what it wants to be.

Marvel’s Wolverine is available now on PlayStation 5.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marvel’s Wolverine

Is Marvel’s Wolverine open world like Spider-Man?

No. Marvel’s Wolverine is a linear, mission based game. It does not have a large open world to explore like Insomniac’s Spider-Man games. The game focuses on a story driven campaign with levels set in different locations around the world.

How long does Marvel’s Wolverine take to beat?

The main campaign takes about 20 hours to complete. If you want to do all the Nightmare Doors, collect all the suits and find every whiskey bottle, you can easily add another 5 to 10 hours.

Does Marvel’s Wolverine have New Game Plus?

Yes. Unlike Spider-Man 1 and 2, Marvel’s Wolverine has New Game Plus available at launch. You can replay the game with all your upgrades, unlocked suits and adaptations. There are also some adaptations that are only available in New Game Plus.

What is the release date for Marvel’s Wolverine?

Marvel’s Wolverine released on September 15, 2026, exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Is Marvel’s Wolverine coming to PC?

Insomniac has not announced a PC version yet, but given the studio’s history with the Spider-Man games, a PC port is likely at some point in the future. For now, the game is a PS5 exclusive.

Who voices Wolverine in Marvel’s Wolverine?

Liam McIntyre voices Wolverine in Marvel’s Wolverine. He is best known for his role as Spartacus in the Starz television series Spartacus.

What are Nightmare Doors in Marvel’s Wolverine?

Nightmare Doors are optional challenges that let you confront manifestations of Logan’s nightmares. Completing them unlocks adaptations and reveals additional fragments of his past.

Does Marvel’s Wolverine have ray tracing on PS5?

Yes. Marvel’s Wolverine supports ray tracing on both PS5 and PS5 Pro. On PS5 Pro, there is an Advanced Ray Tracing option that adds enhanced reflections and global illumination details with only a minor performance hit.

How many suits are in Marvel’s Wolverine?

There are over twenty suits to unlock in Marvel’s Wolverine, plus multiple claw designs. Some are unlocked through story progress, while others require crafting materials or completing Nightmare Doors.

Can you play Marvel’s Wolverine on PS4?

No. Marvel’s Wolverine is a PS5 exclusive. It does not have a PS4 version, and Insomniac has not announced plans to bring it to older hardware.

Does Marvel’s Wolverine have multiplayer?

No. Marvel’s Wolverine is a single player game. There is no multiplayer mode, co op or online component.

What is the file size of Marvel’s Wolverine?

Marvel’s Wolverine takes up around 90 to 100 GB on your PS5 SSD. The exact size depends on whether you have the digital or physical version and which patches you have installed.

Are there difficulty settings in Marvel’s Wolverine?

Yes. Marvel’s Wolverine has multiple difficulty settings you can change at any time. The lowest setting removes the rage requirement for healing and lets Wolverine regenerate automatically.

Does Marvel’s Wolverine have a photo mode?

Yes. Marvel’s Wolverine includes a robust photo mode with options for adjusting camera angle, field of view, depth of field, filters and character poses. You can also hide enemies and UI elements for cleaner shots.

Final Verdict: A New Benchmark for Wolverine Games

After years without a truly great Wolverine game, Insomniac’s take may very well become the new benchmark for the character. It is violent, emotional, focused and surprisingly heartfelt, while still delivering the kind of blockbuster action you would expect from the studio. Marvel’s Wolverine does not try to be Spider-Man with claws. It gives Logan his own space to breathe, and that may be the smartest decision Insomniac could have made.

The combat is the best I have played in a superhero game since Batman Arkham Asylum. The story treats Logan like a real character instead of a cartoon. The performance from Liam McIntyre is a career highlight. And the linear structure keeps the pacing tight from start to finish.

Yes, the stealth sections are weak. Yes, the enemy variety could be better. Yes, the game has a few technical hiccups. But none of those issues come close to ruining what is otherwise an outstanding action game.

If you own a PS5 and you enjoy action games, buy this game. If you are a Wolverine fan, buy this game. If you are tired of open world games that waste your time with filler content, buy this game. Marvel’s Wolverine respects your time and delivers a focused, brutal and emotional experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.

For more information about the game, visit the official Insomniac Games website or the Marvel games page. You can also read more hands on impressions at GameSpot and Push Square.

The post Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 Review 2026: The Brutal Linear Masterpiece That Redefines Superhero Gaming appeared first on SteamTurn.

I have been following the Forza Horizon 6 PS5 saga closely since it launched on Xbox and PC in May, mostly because I own both an Xbox Series X and a PS5, and I genuinely did not know which console I would end up playing it on. That question just got messier again. For a few days it looked like the whole thing had settled down. Now it has flipped right back into rumor territory, and the timing is almost funny.

Here is where things stand today, and why this small story about one racing game says a lot about where Xbox is heading as a company.

The Short Version, If You Are In A Hurry

Forza Horizon 6 launched on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC on May 19, 2026. A PS5 version was promised for later in 2026 with no exact date given. In late August, veteran Xbox reporter Tom Warren of The Verge said he did not expect the PS5 version to arrive in 2026. That set off weeks of confusion. Then, on September 8, Playground Games posted an update saying the PS5 version “will be releasing on PS5 later this year.” One day later, Warren reported through The Verge that Microsoft is actually planning to delay the PS5 release into early 2027, timed to launch alongside the game’s first expansion, close to the one year anniversary of the original release around May 2027.

So right now, on paper, you have Playground Games saying 2026 and one of the most reliable Xbox reporters in the industry saying early 2027. Neither side has fully backed down, and Microsoft has not issued an official statement confirming a delay.

How This Started: The August Rumor

The first crack appeared on August 27, when YouTuber Colt Eastwood posted a message asking if Playground Games was quietly delaying the PS5 port to 2027. Tom Warren replied directly on X with a short but pointed line: he was not expecting to see Forza Horizon 6 on PS5 in 2026. You can read that original post here.

What made this notable is that Warren is not a random commenter. He covers Xbox for The Verge and has broken accurate Xbox and Microsoft stories for years, so when he says he is “not expecting” something, people in the Xbox community tend to listen. IGN reported that it had separately confirmed similar information from its own sources around the same time, which added more weight to the original claim rather than it being one lone tweet.

A few days later, when someone else asked directly whether the game had been cancelled on PS5, Warren clarified that it was “definitely still releasing.” That distinction matters a lot. A delay and a cancellation are very different things, and at no point has anyone credible suggested Forza Horizon 6 is skipping PS5 entirely. The disagreement has always been about timing, not whether the game is coming.

Playground Games Pushes Back, Then Gets Contradicted Again

On September 8, the official Forza account posted a short update aimed directly at PlayStation players, telling anyone planning a trip to Discover Japan on PS5 to stay tuned, and confirming the game “will be releasing on PS5 later this year,” with an invitation to add it to a PlayStation Store wishlist.

That statement briefly looked like the end of the story. It read like an official correction to the rumor. Then, less than 24 hours later, The Verge published a new report from Warren stating that Microsoft is in fact planning to delay the release, citing sources familiar with Playground Games’ plans. According to that report, the studio wants the PS5 launch to line up with the release of Forza Horizon 6’s first expansion rather than shipping the base game alone, which points to a window before the one year anniversary of the original launch, so likely around spring 2027. Warren also specifically noted that the delay does not appear to be about avoiding competition from GTA 6, which had been an earlier theory floating around online.

So as of writing this, you have a public studio statement and a reporter’s sourced claim actively contradicting each other within the same 24 hour window. That almost never happens this cleanly, and it tells you that something is genuinely unresolved internally at Microsoft, even if the public messaging says otherwise. My own read, and this is just an opinion from someone who has watched a lot of these Xbox release cycles play out, is that Playground’s post was written before the final call was locked in, and Microsoft has not caught up with its own PR yet.

Why This Keeps Getting Tangled Up With Xbox Exclusivity

Part of why this story spread so fast is timing. Microsoft has been noticeably more willing to keep certain games as Xbox exclusives lately, including Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. For a while, Xbox’s public position was that basically everything would eventually go multiplatform. That is no longer a safe assumption, and it is why people jumped to the conclusion that Forza Horizon 6 might be the next game to get pulled back into an exclusive lane.

Based on what has actually been reported, that does not appear to be what is happening here. Warren’s reporting frames this specifically as a scheduling and content pacing decision, tying the PS5 release to an expansion rather than treating PS5 access as leverage. It is worth separating those two things clearly. A delay for business timing reasons is not the same as a strategic exclusivity play, even though from the outside they can look similar for a few weeks.

Forza Horizon has sold well for years without any PlayStation release at all, so Microsoft does not need PS5 sales to justify the franchise financially. That actually makes a full exclusivity U-turn less likely here than it would be for a newer or less proven series.

Xbox Game Pass Is Also Quietly Testing New Pricing

While the PS5 story was unfolding, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate pricing has been going through its own separate shake up, and this part is not a rumor. It is documented across multiple user reports and screenshots.

Microsoft cut the standard price of Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 back in April 2026. That alone was a meaningful reduction for monthly subscribers. Now, according to reports gathered from Reddit’s r/XboxGamePass community and covered by Notebookcheck and Game Rant, select former subscribers are being offered a locked in rate of $16.09 per month for 12 months, which works out to roughly $193 across the year instead of $275.88 at the standard rate. That is a savings of about $83.

The offers are not consistent across accounts. Some Reddit users reported being shown $18 or $20 per month instead of $16.09, and at least one current Ultimate subscriber said they were offered $20 per month for a year, which is an odd wrinkle since that person had not even lapsed. Others reported seeing no discount at all. This strongly suggests Microsoft is running a targeted, account-by-account pricing test rather than a broad public promotion, similar to how airlines and phone carriers price differently depending on your account history.

I will be honest, this kind of pricing model annoys me a little as someone who has kept an active Ultimate subscription for years without a break. There is no visible reward for staying subscribed, and in some cases loyal subscribers are being shown worse deals than people who cancelled. If you have been paying full price the whole time, it is worth logging into your Xbox account page just to check whether you have been offered anything, because right now there is no guarantee Microsoft will offer existing subscribers the same deal automatically.

This pricing test also lands right after Microsoft confirmed changes to Xbox Cloud Gaming limits set for November, which several outlets, including GamingHQ, have pointed out is a separate but related frustration for cloud focused subscribers. A cheaper annual rate does not fix a reduced cloud gaming allowance, and for players who mainly use Game Pass through cloud streaming rather than a console, the discount may not actually solve the problem that made them cancel in the first place.

The Bigger Problem Nobody Is Talking About: Optical Drives

Away from Forza and Game Pass, there is a quieter and honestly more interesting issue building around Microsoft’s next generation hardware, currently known internally as Project Helix. The question is simple: will it have a disc drive at all.

Reports from Windows Central and Digital Foundry have both pointed out that the global supply chain for optical disc drives is shrinking fast. These drives used to be dirt cheap, standard components in nearly every PC and console. Manufacturing support for them has been quietly drying up for years as physical media demand has dropped across the industry, and that makes future production runs more expensive and less predictable for console makers.

This creates a real dilemma for Microsoft. Dropping the disc drive entirely from the main console and offering an optional external drive is one path, similar to what Sony already does with the PS5 Digital Edition setup, except taken a step further. Letting third party manufacturers build compatible external drives is another option, which could spread out the cost risk. Either way, if component costs keep climbing, even an optional accessory could end up priced high enough to frustrate the exact players who wanted physical media in the first place.

This matters beyond just nostalgia for physical discs. Microsoft’s disc-to-digital program, which lets players convert eligible physical Xbox games into digital licenses, depends entirely on there still being working disc drives out in the world capable of reading those old games. If future consoles cannot read discs at all, that conversion pathway eventually becomes harder to use, especially for people who own large physical libraries built up across multiple Xbox generations.

Not every publisher is even participating in that disc-to-digital program right now. Ubisoft has opted out, which is a strange choice given how closely Ubisoft has worked with Xbox through Ubisoft+ and Xbox Play Anywhere. Sega has also not opted in as of now, though that could still change. Electronic Arts, on the other hand, is participating, which means EA disc owners get access to the PC version through Xbox Play Anywhere along with cloud gaming access.

PlayStation Is Digging Into Its Back Catalog Too

While Xbox works through its own pricing and hardware questions, Sony appears to be looking backward for its next move. According to a report first surfaced by MP1st and covered by outlets including VGC and Gagadget, Guerrilla Games is reportedly working with Polish studio People Can Fly on a Killzone remake or remaster, currently in early development. Neither Sony nor Guerrilla has confirmed this publicly yet, so treat it as a rumor for now, not an announcement.

The original Killzone launched on PS2 back in 2004, and the series has been dormant since Killzone: Shadow Fall released alongside the PS4 in 2013. That is well over a decade without a new entry, which is a long time for any shooter franchise to sit untouched, especially one that once positioned itself as Sony’s answer to Halo. People Can Fly is a sensible partner for a project like this given their track record with fast, physical shooters like Bulletstorm and Painkiller, and they already signed a codenamed co-development deal with PlayStation back in March 2025 known as Project Delta, though it is not confirmed whether that deal and this Killzone project are the same thing.

If Sony is genuinely willing to dust off Killzone, it raises an obvious follow up question for PlayStation fans who have been asking for years about Resistance, Sly Cooper, and Infamous. None of those have been confirmed to be in development. But a studio revisiting one dormant shooter franchise at least signals that Sony is not treating its older IP as permanently retired.

Sega Finally Explains Why It Killed Super Game

One more piece of recent industry news worth understanding here, because it explains a broader pattern across the industry this year. Sega president and COO Shuji Utsumi gave an interview to Nikkei, later translated and reported by Video Games Chronicle and Push Square, explaining exactly why Sega scrapped its long rumored Super Game project, first teased back in 2021.

Super Game was meant to be a brand new, large scale global IP built specifically as a live service title, not tied to an existing franchise like Sonic or Phantasy Star. Utsumi explained that Sega believed it had the technical ability to pull it off, saying the company had hypothesized it could successfully launch a large scale original IP globally and that the potential rewards would be enormous. But as research continued, the scale of investment and ongoing operational cost needed to match that ambition kept growing, to the point where Sega decided, in Utsumi’s own words, that taking on the challenge right now would be too risky.

Sega had already taken a $200 million financial write-off tied to its Rovio acquisition earlier in the year, and operating revenue had reportedly dropped by more than 54 percent year on year in that segment, so the company clearly had less appetite for open ended financial risk. Utsumi did note Sega has not abandoned live service games entirely, pointing to Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, Sega Football Club Champions 2026, and Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage as ongoing examples, alongside an upcoming Total War: Warhammer 40,000 closed beta from Creative Assembly.

Instead, Sega’s near term plan leans on smaller, more contained projects with a clearer built in audience, including a Crazy Taxi revival, Persona 4 Revival, and other single player focused titles. Given how many live service games have failed to find an audience across the industry this year, walking away before spending years and hundreds of millions of dollars on an unproven original IP looks like a reasonable call in hindsight, even if it means Sega is playing things safer than it originally hoped to.

What This All Adds Up To

None of these stories exist in a vacuum. Xbox is trying to figure out how strict or loose its exclusivity strategy should be, testing new subscription pricing on a subset of its user base, and quietly wrestling with whether physical media has a real future on its next console. PlayStation is looking backward at old franchises for fresh ideas instead of only funding new ones. Sega just publicly admitted it walked away from its biggest live service bet because the math stopped making sense.

As for Forza Horizon 6 specifically, here is the honest state of things right now. Playground Games says PS5 players will get the game later in 2026. A well sourced report from The Verge says internally it is being pushed to early 2027, tied to the first expansion. Both cannot be fully true at the same time, and Microsoft has not issued a direct statement resolving the contradiction as of this writing. If you are a PlayStation player holding out, the safest plan is to keep watching for updates around the Tokyo Game Show or a future PlayStation State of Play, since either event would be a logical place for Microsoft or Sony to finally settle this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forza Horizon 6 confirmed for PS5 in 2026?

Playground Games publicly said on September 8 that the game will release on PS5 later in 2026. However, a report from The Verge published the very next day claims the release is internally planned for early 2027 instead. No official statement from Microsoft has resolved this contradiction yet.

Has Forza Horizon 6 on PS5 been cancelled?

No. Every report on this topic, including Tom Warren’s, has been about timing, not cancellation. Warren directly said the PS5 version is “definitely still releasing” when asked.

Why is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate showing different prices to different people?

Microsoft appears to be testing targeted, account based pricing to win back subscribers who previously cancelled. Reported rates for a 12 month period range from about $16 to $20 per month, compared to the standard $22.99, though not everyone is seeing an offer.

Will Xbox’s next console have a disc drive?

It is unclear. Shrinking global supply for optical disc drives is making them more expensive and harder to source, and reporting suggests Microsoft could ship its next console without a built in drive, possibly offering an external one instead.

Is the Killzone remake officially confirmed?

No. It is currently a rumor based on reporting from MP1st, with Guerrilla Games reportedly working alongside People Can Fly. Neither Sony nor Guerrilla has confirmed a project publicly.

A Note On Sourcing

This article is a roundup of ongoing reporting and unconfirmed rumors, not original reporting from official Microsoft, Sony, or Sega statements except where directly quoted or linked. Where a claim comes from a specific reporter, studio post, or executive interview, that source is linked directly at the point of the claim above rather than only listed here. Treat anything described as a report or rumor accordingly until an official confirmation is issued by the companies involved.

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