Latest Multi-platform Game News &amp; Updates

These Fortnite Swimsuit Skins Better Not Awaken Anything In Me

Fortnite is never without its summer event, but this year's sunny celebration has a special focus: DC Comics. Hot Bat Summer is the official name of the weeks-long event, which runs for five weeks starting on July 16. It includes a new Batman Sprite(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-best-to-use-the-new-sprites-in-fortnite-chapter-7-season-3/), the return of the grapnel gun, new Shiny Hours, and lots of free cosmetics. Perhaps the highlight, however, is the foursome of new swimsuit skins for the DC Comics lineup. Mirroring Marvel Rivals' penchant for nearly naked superheroes and villains, Fortnite is introducing swimsuit versions of Catwoman, Batman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy, all of whom you can see below. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-beach-party.jpeg?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1e86c4c0-1b68-4de8-ac4a-d57316f7ac69.png?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/01b868c1-351f-4d83-8769-2b61d549b60f.png?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/013a2a05-8a73-42f0-9443-47b38dff7aad.png?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/41e09e81-ad18-4c83-b4dd-65ff1d2397bf.png?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FNBR41-20MMSEPelicanBuggyGunSpriteBlogInlineSupportingImage1920x1080.jpeg?w=1024) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-outfits.jpeg?w=1024) They follow a recent trend of Epic being comfortable with putting out skins with more revealing features than it once would. It started when Kim Kardashian's skin was the first to introduce cleavage(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kim-kardashian-is-coming-to-fortnite-this-week/1100-6536858/). Soon after, Homer Simpson became the first Fortnite skin to feature nipples(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/leaked-underwear-homer-would-be-first-fortnite-skin-with-nipples/1100-6536357/). Just recently, the Chapter 7 Season 3 battle pass included its horniest skin ever(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnites-next-battle-pass-comes-with-games-horniest-skin-ever/). Well, until today, because I think the new Poison Ivy skin probably has that one beat. This better not awaken anything in me. The event also includes tons of quests that will periodically dole out free items, with the highlight being a really cool glider styled like comic-book pages. During matches, players will also see things like an unvaulted grapnel gun, a Batman Beach Buggy vehicle, and the addition of the Bat Cave being a temporary location you can visit on the island. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fortnite-hot-bat-summer-rewards.jpeg?w=1024) On July 18, battle royale will feature Shiny Hours from 2 PM ET to 4 PM ET, as well as 9 PM ET to 11 PM ET. During these blocks, all players will start rounds with a grapnel gun, while self-revive devices, Batman Sprites, and Batman Beach Buggies will spawn more frequently. Rare Sprites will also appear more often. If you're curious, the Batman Sprite lets you deploy your cape midair, as well as find rare Sprites in chests more often. Hot Bat Summer runs for the next five weeks, which means it'll disappear with about two weeks left in the season, as the next Fortnite season is expected to start around August 20. Just kidding; my wife already knows about my Harley Quinn thing.

🎮 Fortnite

Hasbro Announces Partnership With Nintendo For Zelda Toys, First Will Be Revealed Soon

Hasbro has announced a multiyear licensing partnership with Nintendo to create products based on The Legend of Zelda franchise. The deal kicks off in 2027, but you won't have to wait that long to see what Hasbro is cooking up. Hasbro will reveal three six-inch-scale figures at San Diego Comic Con this month. Hasbro has not revealed any images or details about these, however. The 2027 timing for the deal, and the tie-in with Comic-Con, is leading some to believe that Hasbro's toyline will be focused on the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-legend-of-zelda-movie-release-date-trailer-story/2900-6252/). Some are hoping to see the first trailer for the film at Comic-Con, but Nintendo has not confirmed any plans yet for that. What Nintendo has shared, however, is that it's partnering with The Rizzler once again for a gaming event at Comic-Con.(https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/nintendo-gives-early-access-to-new-games-and-delivers-interactive-adventures-at-san-diego-comic-con-2026/?srsltid=AfmBOoptxzFQfSa7iHocGEye0TQmdu5Hj7ofas-FGyvtHQuT4CEjLdfM) Hasbro executive Billy Lagor said, "By combining Nintendo’s iconic storytelling with Hasbro’s leadership in action and role-play, we’re delivering toys that invite fans to play, explore and forge their own epic adventures." Specific terms of the Hasbro-Nintendo partnership, including financial considerations, were not disclosed. The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is a joint production between Sony Pictures and Nintendo. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link, with Bo Bragason portraying Zelda. Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) is directing, and the film shot at the same locations in New Zealand where Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings franchise also filmed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zelda-movie-filming-at-same-locations-as-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-people-are-excited/1100-6539223/). As for the game series, the next entry in the franchise is a new remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-finally-reveals-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-for-2026/), which is coming to Switch 2 this year.

🎮 Zelda🎮 First

Crimson Desert's new patch add finally adds an essential feature

Pearl Abyss is making it easier to play the massive RPG across any platform in Crimson Desert Patch 1.14.00, which adds cross saves

🎮 Crimson Desert's new

🎮 The best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie of the century

The best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie of the century is getting a different kind of sequel

IDW's new TMNT limited series features a deep-cut villain from the '90s

How to get all trinkets in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

Here's where to find every trinket location in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

🎮 PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Multi-platform

Star Ocean: The Second Story R Gets Switch 2 Edition, But With The Usual Square Enix Caveats

!Star Ocean The Second Story R Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Square Enix(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/16/9731159c/staroceanthesecondr.jpg.webp) Square Enix has surprise-released a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Ocean: The Second Story R(https://www.gameinformer.com/product/star-ocean-the-second-story-r), its sci-fi RPG(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2023/06/21/star-ocean-the-second-story-remake-announced) that launched on Switch (and PlayStation and PC) in 2023. This Switch 2 version boasts 1080p resolution, both docked and in handheld mode, with a 60 FPS frame rate, making it a big improvement over the significantly lower resolution and 30 FPS frame rate of the Switch version. But, this edition comes with the usual Square Enix caveats. Similar to the Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler II Switch 2 editions(https://gameinformer.com/node/127099) announced earlier this week, anyone who wants to play this Star Ocean remake on Switch 2 will have to pay $49.99; there is no upgrade path for owners of the Switch 1 version, and your save data does not transfer. It's another step down this disappointing trend for Square Enix, which expects players to fork over more money to play a game they already own on a new system – the company doesn't even opt for low-cost upgrade paths, something even Nintendo itself(https://www.gameinformer.com/nintendo-direct/2025/04/02/metroid-prime-4-tears-of-the-kingdom-and-more-get-enhanced-switch-2) does with games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/the-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom/such-great-heights) and more. Maybe Square Enix is seeing enough purchases to justify it, but it's not a player-friendly practice either way. Check out the Star Ocean: The Second Story R Nintendo Switch 2 edition trailer below: Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a remake of the original Star Ocean: The Second Story, which launched on PlayStation in the U.S. in 1999. It's about a Federation officer named Claude C. Kenny who is mysteriously transported to a mystical planet. There, he searches for a way home but is drawn into a quest to save the planet by a young girl who lives there, becoming wrapped up in an ancient prophecy in the process. Star Ocean: The Second Story R is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch 2, Switch, and PC. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to remove mention of Star Ocean: The Second Story R being an HD-2D game, as that is incorrect How do you feel about the way Square Enix handles Switch 2 re-releases? Let us know in the comments below!

🎮 Star Ocean: The Second Story R

GameNewsabout 1 month ago

🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platform

Upcoming Souls-Like So Popular It Sells Out Of PS5 Preorders

While Sony gets ready to kill its disc production of PlayStation games in 2028, there are still plenty of games launching on physical media before disc-ageddon happens. One of those games is Mortal Shell 2(https://www.gamespot.com/games/mortal-shell-ii/), but unless you got your preorder in before its August 20 release, you'll have to wait if you want a specific physical version of the upcoming souls-like for PS5. Developer Cold Symmetry and publisher Playstack took to X on July 16(https://x.com/MortalShellGame/status/2077713025247613325) to share the unfortunate news. In revealing that the demand for the game's physical PlayStation 5 release "exceeded expectations," the studio confirmed that the supply just couldn't keep up. "We sincerely apologize if you were planning on preordering the Revered Edition and it is no longer available in your territory," Cold Symmetry wrote. "Due to Mortal Shell II’s release date of August 20, and the manufacturing time required to replenish stock, there is a very low chance of additional physical copies becoming available before the game’s release." https://twitter.com/MortalShellGame/status/2077713025247613325 "We are working with our distribution partner to review ongoing demand, and we'll update as soon as we hear their decision on next steps," the studio said. "To be clear, there is no guarantee of a stock replenishment plan after launch as this decision is not ours to make." It's worth mentioning that this supply-and-demand issue is specific to Mortal Shell 2's $70 Revered Edition for PS5, which comes with some extra goodies alongside the game, such as a collector’s tuck-in box, a steelbook case, fine art prints, and a physical artbook. Checking places like Best Buy and GameStop bears this out, too, as this edition is either "coming soon" or outright unavailable. You can still preorder the base game for $50 if you'd prefer a physical copy, but you won't get the aforementioned accoutrements. Mortal Shell 2 is a standalone sequel to the studio's 2020 outing, Mortal Shell(https://www.gamespot.com/games/mortal-shell/). It's a somewhat novel souls-like in that you outfit your character with "shells" that change your playstyle while providing you with distinct interactions in combat. While the game launches on August 20, there's an open beta (read: demo) you can check out on Steam right now(https://store.steampowered.com/app/4711740/MortalShellIIOpenBeta/) that, should you finish it, unlocks a very bloody Flayed Harbinger skin and the option to skip the prologue when the full game launches.

The Legend of Zelda getting huge action figure lineup in 2027

Nintendo and Hasbro team up for a new line of The Legend of Zelda toys that will be released in 2027 and first revealed at San Diego Comic-Con.

🎮 Zelda

How to find all map pieces in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

Here's where to find every map piece and restore the treasure maps at the Treasure Dealer in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.

God Of War Laufey Star Doesn’t Care What The Trolls Think: “I Just Know It’s Great”

God of War Laufey(https://www.gamespot.com/games/god-of-war-laufey/) was the big highlight of Sony's recent State of Play livestream, as plenty of gameplay was shown off for the first game in the series not tofeature Kratos in a lead role. Naturally, the announcement of Kratos' late wife, Faye, as the protagonist didn't sit well with a small part of the internet, and since then, the game has received some oddly placed hate. Most of this has been directed at its star, Deborah Ann Woll, who provides the likeness and voice of Faye in God of War Laufey. Fortunately, the actress has adopted a very sound strategy for dealing with online hate. "Genuinely, I thought I was going to be much more affected by it. But one, I'm like not on social media so that helps, and two, I don't know, I feel totally unbothered because I just know it's great," Woll said to TikTokker Quinnphobic(https://www.tiktok.com/@quinnphobic) at Florida SuperCon. "Like, it's okay if it's just not your cup of tea, but in no universe is it bad." https://www.tiktok.com/@quinnphobic/video/7662451619644181774 Woll has been involved in the development of the game for several years, as developer Sony Santa Monica has been building up to its release for almost a decade(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-of-war-has-been-building-toward-laufey-for-almost-a-decade/). Contrary to what the rage-bait machine on YouTube says, Woll said that the game features story elements that don't have anything to do with gender or sex. "This is a story about a parent. This is a story about regret. This is about being a better person than who you were before," Woll said(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/god-of-war-laufey-actor-says-the-games-story-is-not-about-gender/) in a previous interview. In addition to Faye, God of War Laufey also features The Boys star Jack Quaid as a gelatinous cube character named Phranque(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/im-starting-to-think-phranque-the-cube-is-why-people-are-excited-for-god-of-war-laufey/), who might be the breakout star of the game. God of War Laufey is coming to PS5, and since it is confirmed to have a physical release, it will likely land sometime in 2027, before Sony stops producing game discs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-tries-to-change-the-subject-after-killing-playstation-discs/) in January 2028.

🎮 God of War