Gaming – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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The Verge’s gaming section brings the latest video game news, reviews of the most exciting releases, and interviews with the industry’s biggest names. We cover everything from PlayStation and Xbox blockbusters, to quirky Nintendo games, to the cool indie gems on PC and Android that you might otherwise miss.

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Valve is so behind on Steam Controller orders that some won’t ship until 2027

Any reservations made today ‘indicate a 2027 date for shipping.’

Jay Peters
You can now use the Game Boy Camera with your phone

A new mobile app for the GB Operator lets you snap terrible 2-bit, 128 x112 photos without the need for a Game Boy.

Andrew Liszewski

Latest In Gaming

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Doom composer Bobby Prince has died at age 81.

In addition to creating the heavy-metal soundtracks for Doom and Doom II, Prince also worked on the music for Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem 3D.

You can read his obituary here.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Is Wordle actually easier on hard mode?

Looking at the data suggests as much. The average number of guesses drops from 4.3 to 4.1, and the failure rate drops from 4.3 percent to just 2.5. It might be because more confident players are choosing hard, but the constraints might also keep players from making bad guesses.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
GTA VI preorders open June 25th.

Rockstar Games says preorders will be available “on digital storefronts and at other select retailers,” and revealed the game’s cover art in a teaser video:

Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
The CoD SSD.

SanDisk has a new 8TB PS5 drive, which will cost you a mere $2,959.99 (thanks, RAM crisis!). But that might not be enough for every game.

ItWasRamirez:

And the worst part is that Call of Duty still won’t fit

Get the day’s best comment and more in my free newsletter, The Verge Daily.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Valve’s big SteamOS 3.8 update is now available for everyone.

Three months after Valve’s doozy of an update arrived in preview — the first with support for the Steam Machine and a whole lot more — it’s getting a full stable release. Here’s the changelog. But when will the Steam Machine arrive? Valve’s had quite a few shipments now...

Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
Pokémon Champions works great on mobile.

The battle simulator is now available on Android and iOS — and it runs a lot better than it did when it was first released on the Switch in April. The mobile release comes alongside a new regulation that’s added more pokémon, including both Mega Raichu forms and the Hoenn starters, plus items like the long-awaited Life Orb.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
The EU decides against requiring developers to keep dead games alive.

In response to the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative, the European Commission said it can’t propose legislation to keep games playable after they’re removed from sale due to intellectual property rights. Instead, the Commission will work to develop new industry standards for video game shutdowns.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
“The retail SSD market has almost disappeared.”

That’s according to Silicon Motion (SMI) vice president Nelson Duann, who told Tom’s Hardware the memory shortage is pushing PC makers to buy third-party SSDs, while saying suppliers expect it will get worse in 2027:

The controllers we sell to module makers are now largely ending up in SSDs that are shipped to PC OEMs. The reason is that OEMs cannot obtain enough NAND directly from memory manufacturers, so they are increasingly sourcing SSDs from module makers instead.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
EA is launching a platform for in-game ads.

With EA Advertising, companies can place ads across stadium signage, scoreboards, sponsored replays, and other in-game content in “a way designed to enhance, not disrupt, the player experience,” according to an announcement. EA has already partnered with brands like Visa, Lowe’s, Red Bull, and Xfinity to embed ads in its games.

Brands can place their logo on uniforms inside FC 26, for example.
Brands can place their logo on uniforms inside FC 26, for example.
Image: EA
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
Android foldables are getting new gamepad controls.

Pixel foldables get the new feature first, which is being added to Android 17 alongside native controller remapping, but only rolls out “in the coming months.” We’ve seen control options like this in other foldables before, but it’s welcome to see Google bake it into the OS.

Google hasn’t said how customizable the bottom-screen controls will be.
Google hasn’t said how customizable the bottom-screen controls will be.
Image: Google
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Epic lays out how it uses generative AI in Fortnite.

In this video detailing the company’s concept and character design process, Epic says that AI tools like Google’s Nano Banana and its own internal GenMedia Bridge, allows “creative control to stay in the hands of the creator.” Given artists also have to fix stuff that AI generates without being asked to, we’ll let you be the judge of that.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Roblox’s new types of accounts with increased restrictions for kids are rolling out globally.

Roblox announced Kids Accounts (for ages 5-8) and Select Accounts (for ages 9-15) in April, and it has been testing them in select countries. Kids Accounts will have chat turned off by default, though parents can turn it on.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
MSI’s new Claw gaming handheld starts at $1,699.

That’s according to Best Buy’s listing for the MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus — and it’s “early bird” pricing, MSI’s Anne Lee tells The Verge. After retailers run out of their first batches of units, MSI expects them to sell the handheld for $1,799, like MSI’s US store already is.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

A screenshot from Best Buy’s store listing for the MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus.
Image: Best Buy
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
A pint-sized MMO.

Developer Gareth Williams is about to launch a massively multiplayer RPG on just about the tiniest device imaginable. PointlessQuest hits the Playdate starting on June 13th — you can download it now to get a jump on things — and promises most typical MMO features, but on a much smaller scale.

The Nintendo DS is still the best gaming handheld for travel

With solid hardware and a huge library of games, it’s the perfect device to slip in your carry-on.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Everyone is playing release date Tetris.

Game publishers are trying so hard to avoid GTA VI in November that they’ve created a new problem: September is far too stacked with releases. The developers of soulslike Valor Mortis are now attempting to get out of that window by delaying the game until October 13th.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
The Drifter, an excellent point-and-click thriller, is coming to the Switch.

It will launch on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on June 22nd. I played The Drifter last year on my Steam Deck, and it sucked me in like a gripping novel — I’d guess it will be just as compelling on Nintendo’s consoles.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
GuliKit is upgrading its portable dock to work with the Switch 2.

If you want your on-the-go Nintendo Switch 2 TV dock to actually hold your console you might want to wait for GuliKit’s new accessory it recently teased on X. It appears to be a new version of its TV Docking Station for Switch that trades a plastic case for aluminum and adds cooling vents on the underside.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Two images of the Nintendo Switch 2 connected to a portable dock from GuliKit.
Screenshot: X
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Ubisoft is reportedly closing its studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade.

It’s also restructuring Ubisoft Barcelona to focus just on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege and making cuts to its global publishing division, The Game Business says. The closures put 380 jobs “at risk.”

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Russia has lifted its ban on Roblox.

Russia banned Roblox last year over “LGBT propaganda” and “extremist” content, but the platform “has fully complied with Russian legislation on ensuring user safety,” according to a statement from the country’s Digital Development Ministry reported on by Interfax.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
I want your skulls (in Halo).

Like previous Halo titles, unlockable skulls in Halo: Campaign Evolved will allow you crank up explosions, turn down gravity, or celebrate every grunt headshot with confetti and fanfare. You can even mimic the gameplay of the classic Halo: Combat Evolved, or enable remixes of skulls for randomized choas.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
30 minutes of Fable.

Microsoft just shared half an hour of new gameplay footage from the upcoming Fable reboot. Why wasn’t this in Sunday’s Xbox showcase?

The game comes out on February 23rd, 2027, following a recent delay.

A screenshot from Fable.
For some reason, I can’t embed the trailer. But here’s the link.
Image: Xbox Games Studio
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Nintendo’s Alarmo can now wake you with Donkey Kong smashing things.

If you can’t start your day without the sounds of a simian rampage, Nintendo has added a new Donkey Kong theme to its Alarmo clock as well as 7 new alarm sounds from the Switch 2’s Donkey Kong Bananza. You can preview a few samples of them on Nintendo Japan’s website.

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