Latest Multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Multi-platform News
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🎮 Multi-platformDragon Ball Sparking Zero Super Limit Breaking Neo DLC release date and new mode details revealed
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is getting a huge new update at the end of July. 30+ characters, new stages, gameplay adjustments, and more are on the way.
🖥 PC, Multi-platform99% of this hit Steam games' players are pirates, dev says
A cozy game on Steam is challenging assumptions around DRM and piracy
🎮 Multi-platformWith $1,000 Consoles On The Horizon, Amazon Games Boss Offers A Solution That Absolutely No One Asked For
Amazon Games' boss Jeff Gattis has a solution for the rising cost of console gaming, but it's certainly one that nobody wants and hasn't been successful thus far: cloud gaming. Let's hear him out real quick. In a July 23 interview with the BBC(https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9803j74091o), Gattis talked about what the future of gaming could look like as consoles soar past $1,000. Although he acknowledged how important systems are to the industry as a whole, he also noticed an untapped market beyond traditional consoles that Amazon Games has been trying to reach. "There are somewhere between 2.5 and 3 billion people who play games around the world, but only a fraction of those own dedicated gaming hardware," Gattis said. "As hardware becomes more expensive, and as streaming technology continues to improve, I think you'll naturally see more people asking whether they actually need that dedicated device." He reiterated this point to The Game Business(https://www.thegamebusiness.com/p/amazon-luna-were-not-trying-to-replace) on July 23. In a lengthy interview, Gattis said that Amazon isn't attempting to supplant consoles or PCs, but rather, to give players yet another option to play their games that doesn't make them decide between this month's rent and the next PlayStation or Xbox system. "Our business isn’t predicated on replacing consoles," Gattis said. "Historically, cloud gaming has been a little bit of a solution in search of a problem. Consoles, for the most part, have been relatively inexpensive until now. So, our business is more about reaching more players and expanding the market, not trying to get people to give up their consoles or gaming PCs." For Gattis, cloud gaming is that option. He believes that, as the technology around cloud gaming continues to advance, Amazon can capitalize on the market of underserved players who want to game but don't want to spend a fortune on it. "Having said all that, we saw the Steam Machine opening at $1,000. We hear rumors about consoles, because of the RAM crisis, pushing up over $1,000 in Gen 10. So, I do think you get to a point at which more people will be in the consideration set for a cloud gaming solution, just because of the sheer cost of buying dedicated hardware." He then spoke about developers and publishers, adding that if Amazon can target the "two and a half billion audience that I think is a little underserved," maybe developers and publishers would see Luna as a viable platform to release games on. "The skepticism you'll hear is, 'Well, if I put my games on Luna, particularly if we push it into Prime, I'm going to cannibalize all my sales on these other platforms,'" Gattis said. "And the reality is, at least the pitch that we keep making--and it is the truth--is that this is about reaching players that a lot of those games are never going to be able to reach. Particularly in a world of $1,000 consoles." This is all very interesting in the context of cloud gaming. Sure, PlayStation and Xbox have their own offerings that appear to be successful for their business, but Google Stadia shut down in 2023(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/google-stadia-is-shutting-down-on-january-18-2023/1100-6507919/) and Amazon Luna was folded into the larger Amazon Prime subscription service in 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-is-overhauling-its-luna-gaming-service-heres-whats-changing/1100-6535149/). Console gaming is getting more expensive, with price increases coming to the Nintendo Switch 2(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-increased-the-switch-2-price-to-500-and-it-still-isnt-enough/1100-6539893/), PlayStation 5(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-price-increase-confirmed-by-sony-amid-market-pressures/1100-6539060/), and Xbox Series X|S(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/) this year. The Steam Deck is also getting a price hike(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-deck-gets-massive-price-hike/), and Valve's $1,000 Steam Machine has certainly turned some heads(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-internet-has-some-thoughts-on-the-steam-machines-1000-price/). But cloud gaming isn't as reliable as a console, primarily due to the internet's potential instability. If, for whatever reason, your internet goes down or access to the cloud gaming servers becomes unavailable, then you won't be able to game. Speaking from personal experience, even when my Spectrum internet service is interrupted--because of some regularly occurring outage--I'm still able to play single-player games I've downloaded on my console like AI Limit(https://www.gamespot.com/games/ai-limit/) and Lords of the Fallen(https://www.gamespot.com/games/lords-of-the-fallen/). The same can't be said of cloud gaming. That's not to say that cloud gaming can't or won't ever be viable. There just likely needs to be more work done on reliability and stability to ensure that there's no latency and continued accessibility.
🎮 Multi-platformAmazon puts Luna cloud-streamed games like Fallout 4 inside Prime Video
The new strategy that Amazon gaming exec Jeff Gattis talked to The Verge about last month is getting clearer now that Prime Video has added a new Games tab on Fire TV devices. With Prime Gaming, Amazon Game Studios, and Luna now combined into one organization, it's aiming at the more casual audience of people &8230;
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft Brings Ads To Xbox In A Big New Way, Promises No Gameplay Interruption
Microsoft has rolled out a test for its free, ad-supported version of cloud gaming. Select members of the Xbox Insider program can start testing this out today. As announced by Microsoft(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/23/game-streaming-ad-supported-xbox-insiders/), ads play before people get into a session. The ads do not interrupt the gameplay experience like they might for ads on a TV or movie streaming platform. Sessions are limited to one hour per session, at least for now, as part of this early test version that supports games people already own. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/xbox-1.png?w=636) The test allows people to play games for free, in exchange for watching ads. This is a limited-time test version of free gaming with ads, Microsoft clarified. The program was available internally to Microsoft employees last year, and now it's rolling out to the public for another round of tests. Microsoft said in its announcement that playing games like this, over the cloud, can help with the affordability crisis going on now in games. A new Xbox, after all, is more expensive than ever due to the memory and component issues. With cloud streaming, people who might still be playing on an Xbox One can play the newest games without having to buy any new hardware. They will, however, need to have a strong and reliable internet connection. "Advertising has existed in gaming for decades, from in-game placements to free-to-play models. But it hasn’t always been built with the player in mind. When done well, advertising can help lower the cost of access. It creates another way for players to get into games without an upfront streaming purchase and expands audiences through new ways to play," Microsoft said. Microsoft also outlined how it plans to handle advertising going forward with the following pillars: 1. We start with the player. Ads should create value. 2. We do not interrupt the flow of gameplay. 3. We hold ads to the same quality bar as our content. 4. We’re clear about what’s advertising. 5. We make sure ads fit what players expect on each platform. Microsoft also stressed that this is all entirely optional. People can bypass ads by subscribing to a paid tier of Xbox Game Pass. They can also buy games outright. "We’ll learn from this test and continue to improve it based on how players use it and what they tell us. Our goal is simple. Give more people more affordable ways to play," Microsoft said. There are hundreds of games playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming currently(https://www.xbox.com/en-us/play). However, people currently need to subscribe to Game Pass to stream them. The new ad tier will allow anyone, even if they don’t have a Game Pass membership, to stream select games in exchange for watching ads. An ad-based tier is no surprise, as Xbox’s Tim Stuart first hinted at it some time ago(https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-for-free-microsoft-is-experimenting-with-ad-views-for-access-to-hundreds-of-xbox-games). In August 2025, Xbox boss Jason Ronald teased an evolution of Xbox Cloud Gaming, saying on a podcast(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biXDUvQByBw) that Microsoft was looking for a way to make the service “more affordable” and “accessible,” and adding an ad-based tier could be part of this. Microsoft is not alone in its pursuit of bringing more ads to gaming. Electronic Arts recently announced a program called EA Advertising(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-announces-new-plan-to-launch-ads-directly-into-gameplay-after-working-on-in-game-ads-for-decades-already/) that seeks to bring more ads to EA games in ways that the company claims should feel natural. In other Xbox news, the company is going through a "reset" of the business currently(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), and this has included 1,600 layoffs so far and 1,600 more to come. Additionally, Microsoft divested of five studios and canceled some games. In the US, Xbox sales "more than doubled"(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-sales-more-than-doubled-in-june-2026-in-the-us-while-ps5-and-switch-2-dropped/) in June 2026 compared to June 2025.
🎮 Multi-platformEA Sale To Saudi Arabia Clears A Major Hurdle
The proposed sale of Electronic Arts(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/unpacking-eas-55-billion-sale-to-go-private-what-does-it-all-mean/1100-6535168/) to an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has cleared a major hurdle in the closing process. The European Commission announced(https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex261675) today, July 23, that it has approved the merger, saying the deal does not raise competition concerns. This was the expected result(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saudi-arabias-ea-takeover-reportedly-set-to-clear-eu-hurdle/), and now it's official. The $55 billion deal, which is structured as a leveraged buyout (LBO), comes with billions in debt for EA. This has led many to believe EA will implement a dramatic cost-cutting effort to help service the debt, and that this could include mass layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. That remains to be seen, however, and no major changes are expected to be announced until the deal formally closes. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/EASale-1.png?w=636) Battlefield is among EA's top properties. A report from Insider Gaming(https://insider-gaming.com/bioware-staff-worried-about-studios-future/) cited multiple anonymous sources within BioWare stating they believe BioWare could be one of the first companies to see cuts under the new ownership. “I’ve been doing it since last year, but I’m making sure I have a portfolio ready and feelers out for other jobs,” a current BioWare developer said. “Kind of feels like a matter of time.” BioWare is known, in part, for making pro-diversity games featuring inclusive storytelling and characters. Longtime BioWare writer Patrick Weekes, who was laid off in 2025, speculated(https://bsky.app/profile/trickweekes.bsky.social/post/3lzraqcz3ts26) that EA’s new owners, including the PIF, might want to avoid “gay stuff” and politics that the PIF’s leadership does not agree with. Weekes theorized that EA might straight-up close or otherwise get rid of BioWare to avoid any concerns, should the deal materialize. In addition to the PIF, the sale includes private equity firm Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. In 2025, EA admitted(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-acknowledges-risk-of-selling-to-saudi-arabia-claims-it-will-retain-creative-control/1100-6535894/) that there were risks involved with selling itself, but was proceeding ahead. Additionally, cosplayers raided EA’s California headquarters in protest(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cosplaying-gamers-will-raid-ea-hq-to-protest-saudi-arabias-55-billion-buyout/1100-6539869/) of the deal.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders
Xbox Insiders can stream games from their libraries for free in ad-supported streaming sessions starting today. The free streaming sessions are limited to games you already own, and sessions are capped at one hour. However, ads will only play "before sessions begin." It's also optional - you won't need to watch ads if you have &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformDisney’s Former CEO Seems To Have No Memory Of Approving Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts is such a significant part of many people's lives, but for former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, greenlighting the iconic Square Enix franchise was just another Tuesday. Eisner must have taken a trip through Castle Oblivion, because he seems to have forgotten why he approved the series. Reporter Stephen Totilo of Game File(https://www.gamefile.news/p/delphi-interactive-james-bond-fifa-michael-eisner-disney) briefly had the ear of Eisner after a panel about video game company Delphi Interactive, for which Eisner is an investor. Totilo asked the 84-year-old businessman if he recalled giving the go-ahead for Kingdom Hearts, which launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002. Eisner simply responded: "No." Totilo says he clarified to Eisner that he was pitched the game in Tokyo and it was a crossover between Final Fantasy and Disney characters. While that jogged Eisner's memory a bit, he failed to remember why he gave Square the thumbs-up, according to Totilo. At least one person from that Tokyo meeting remembers how it went down--per Kingdom Hearts Insider(https://www.khinsider.com/news/Otocoto-reveals-history-of-how-Kingdom-Hearts-got-approved-by-Eisner-17299), Shuji Utsumi, then the managing director for Disney Interactive's Asia Pacific division, detailed that faithful day when he ran Kingdom Hearts by Eisner and over 100 members of management. Utsumi characterized Eisner's demeanor as that of an "ancient Chinese Emperor," and regarding the pitch for Kingdom Hearts, Eisner's response was "Keep at it, and do it right." The origin story of the wonderful and strange Kingdom Hearts series is well-known among hardcore fans, stemming from a chance encounter between Square's Shinji Hashimoto and a Disney executive on an elevator. Even with how big the first Kingdom Hearts and its subsequent follow-ups grew, it shouldn't be too surprising that it was just a blip to Eisner, who ran the behemoth entertainment corporation from 1984 to 2005. As for what's next for the franchise, Kingdom Hearts I-III Collection(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorders-for-kingdom-hearts-collection-i-iii/) is due for release in October, though its reveal was marred by some questionable artwork(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/players-think-kingdom-hearts-new-art-is-ai-generated/). There's no word on when Kingdom Hearts 4(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-gets-a-surprise-look-at-nintendo-direct-2026/) will come out, but with any luck, we'll hopefully receive news at next month's D23 expo(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/whats-next-for-disney-games-d23-is-about-to-tell-us/). The Best Way To Play Kingdom Hearts !3975724-kh4sora.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975724-kh4sora.jpeg?w=636) !3975734-kingdomhearts.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975734-kingdomhearts.jpeg?w=636) !3975729-kingdomheartschainofmemories.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975729-kingdomheartschainofmemories.jpeg?w=636) !3975725-kingdomhearts2.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975725-kingdomhearts2.jpeg?w=636) !3975732-kingdomheartsre-coded.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975732-kingdomheartsre-coded.jpg?w=636) !3975727-kingdomhearts358:2.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975727-kingdomhearts358:2.jpeg?w=636) !3975728-kingdomheartsbirthbysleep.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975728-kingdomheartsbirthbysleep.png?w=636) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-best-way-to-play-kingdom-hearts/2900-4082/)
🎮 Multi-platformStar Wars Zero Company Cast Includes Actors From Clone Wars, Hades II, Resident Evil, And More
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/23/bdf75396/star%20wars%20zero%20company%201.jpg.webp) Star Wars Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game set in a galaxy far far away, and today, ahead of a July 25 panel at San Diego Comic Con, we got a rundown of the actors in the game's voice cast.(https://www.starwars.com/news/sdcc-star-wars-zero-company-cast-announce) It includes returning favorites, like Dee Bradley Baker as a clone trooper and Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, reprising their respective roles from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but it also introduces plenty of new voices to the Star Wars universe. Here's the full list: !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/23/c22ff66f/sdcc-star-wars-zero-company-cast-announce-cast-reveal5512648e.jpeg.webp)(https://gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/nocompression/public/2026/07/23/c22ff66f/sdcc-star-wars-zero-company-cast-announce-cast-reveal5512648e.jpeg.webp) Zero Company Operatives: - Captain Hawks: Jonathan Freeman (M) (Goliath, Children's Hospital) / Erica Luttrell (F) (Star Wars: Squadrons, Steven Universe) - Trick: Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) - Kabb Uppercut: JB Blanc (Arcane) - Jae Mordant: Judy Alice Lee (Marvel Rivals, Hades II) - Tel-Rea 'Tel' Vokoss: Nicole Rainteau (Criminal Minds) - Cly Kullervo: Alex McKenna (Red Dead Redemption 2) - Luco Bronc: Jason Spisak (Arcane) Other Cast Members And Cameos: - Bennic Halloren: Leo Howard (Kickin' It) - Runa Blask: Vic Michaelis (Dropout, PONIES) - Neesh Renark: Jim Pirri (Marvel's Spider-Man 2) - M-3VO, "Meevo": DC Douglas (Mass Effect, Resident Evil 5) - Anakin Skywalker: Matt Lanter (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) - Gorga: Kevin Michael Richardson (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) - Fathom: Rekha Sharma (Star Trek: Discovery) - Typhon: Hunter Smith (Monster Hunter Wilds) - Visser: Dylan Kenin (Mayor of Kingstown) It's a pretty large cast with some fun pre-existing connections. For fans of Arcane, the animated adaptation of League of Legends, the cast includes the actors for both Silco and Vander (Jason Spisak and JB Blanc, respectively), two of the show's earliest rivals. The cast also includes video game actors like Jim Pirri, who played Kraven in Spider-Man 2, Judy Alice Lee, who played Melinoë in Hades II, Alex McKenna, who played Sadie Adler in Red Dead Redemption 2, and DC Douglas, who plays Albert Wesker in the Resident Evil series. (Speaking of which, a new trailer for the movie came out today!) If you're my age, you're especially delighted to see Disney's Leo Howard, who previously had a role starring in the Disney XD sitcom Kickin' It, and Vic Michaelis, star of Dropout shows like Very Important People. "In Star Wars Zero Company, former Republic officer Hawks gathers unconventional allies and forms a diverse squad that operates in the shadows of the Clone Wars," the cast reveal article on starwars.com reads(https://www.starwars.com/news/sdcc-star-wars-zero-company-cast-announce). "Work alongside ranks of recruits from across the galaxy, known as Operators, as you race against time to hunt Kundri Fathom, the dangerous leader of the Infinite Coil, a Separatist-aligned cult." Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27(https://gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/05/star-wars-zero-company-the-single-player-tactics-game-gets-august-release-date), a little over a month from today, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It's being developed by Bit Reactor, a development studio founded by people who formerly worked on the XCOM series, and so far, it looks pretty good.
🖥 PC, Multi-platformFortnite’s The Simpsons Crossover Is Coming Back
Epic Games has confirmed that The Simpson family, and characters from the wider world of Springfield, are returning to Fortnite. In a social media post, the company said, "I miss my friends: Bart, Lisa, Krusty..." A full reveal for the "Reloaded" of the Fortnite x The Simpsons event will take place on July 29, so we won't have to wait long to learn more. https://twitter.com/Fortnite/status/2080290057270018225 The Fortnite x The Simpsons crossover event originally took place in November 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-x-simpsons-event-gets-a-new-teaser-and-start-time/1100-6535729/). It was a tremendous success, helping propel Fortnite to its highest player numbers in a long time(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnites-simpsons-update-led-to-a-huge-surge-in-players-the-most-in-a-long-time/1100-6535919/), so it's no surprise to see it come back like this. In the original collaboration, the Fortnite map got turned into an explorable version of Springfield. That was novel for the game and helped encourage people to try it out. The crossover also led to a lot of great memes as young people discovered The Simpsons for the first time. Additionally, Epic has confirmed that The Simpsons is being added to the Fortnite UEFN program, which means players will be able to make “fully authentic” games based on the iconic animated show. This rolls out later this year, and you can bet that someone will make a new Hit & Run very fast(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-will-let-you-make-the-simpsons-games-and-you-can-bet-someone-will-make-hit-run/).
🖥 PC, Multi-platformEpic Games Store's new free PC game revealed
The Epic Games Store has a selection of free PC games that changes every week. The latest free offerings will be available until July 30.
🎮 Multi-platformMario Dad Miyamoto Says Companies Prioritizing Short-Term Profit Gains “Feels Like A Massive Failure”
Shigeru Miyamoto had some choice words for businesses that put profits over people, essentially saying it's a shame that the priority always seems to be short-term profits over long-term playability. In a recent interview with Famitsu(https://www.famitsu.com/) (that was machine translated by VGC(https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/miyamoto-games-based-on-developers-personal-interests-resonate-around-the-world-not-those-aiming-for-global-appeal/)), Miyamoto talked about his son, Mario the Plumber's, continued success in the face of companies who regularly chase profits. In pondering just why Mario remains so popular, Miyamoto explained that Nintendo as a company doesn't approach game development from a profit point of view but rather from one of playability. He cited Pokemon and Splatoon as two franchises that were designed like this because, had they been created with maximizing profits in mind instead of creating fun experiences, they would've been fundamentally different games. Miyamoto then expanded on his thoughts about Mario and how that franchise was created with physical movement as the center of the gameplay experience. Because of the simplicity of that concept, he said anyone in the world--regardless of culture or language--can enjoy a Mario game. That, to Miyamoto, is what separates Nintendo from other companies. That is also why Miyamoto finds it disappointing that the endgame for most businesses is profits instead of playability. "So, the reason Nintendo enjoys such strong global support is simply that we don't start by asking: 'What's trending right now?' Instead, we focus on who we’re actually doing this for. Who is it that's putting up the money? I really dislike terms like 'depreciation' or 'recouping costs,'" he said. "The people funding these projects are doing it to make a fortune, so why celebrate things like 'we recouped our investment' or short-term profits? To me, if you've burned through the talents of so many people just to achieve that, that feels like a massive failure." He underlined this point, saying that Nintendo's standard practice is what he calls the "principle of gameplay." It's the idea that, if something is unique and fun to play, it will have a longer-lasting impact on a person's life rather than something that came into existence only to satisfy shareholders or line their pockets. "We've always focused on creating the best possible product to match the 'fun gameplay' we envision," Miyamoto continued. "I think that's the only real difference. I might sound a bit arrogant saying this laughs, but if you make things while constantly asking 'will this make money right away?' you can't create anything truly unique or with broad appeal." Nintendo is a business, too; there's no doubt that profits are important to maintaining the company's longevity. However, at least for Miyamoto, fun and playability come first. Maximizing profits for the company's success comes second.