Previews
25 article(s)Hands-on previews and first impressions of upcoming games.
Physint Cancelled by Sony: Kojima Stunned, Eyes on Xbox
Sony Interactive Entertainment pulled funding for Physint without warning. Hideo Kojima, speaking at Tokyo Game Show, expressed shock to IGN and The Washington Post — while appearing at Xbox's booth. This sudden reversal raises a fundamental question: how can a project backed by one of gaming's most bankable creators get axed so abruptly? And what does this shift reveal about the real state of relations between star auteurs and proprietary platforms?
Diablo V Announced for 2029: Blizzard Plays the Long Game
Blizzard officially unveiled Diablo V at BlizzCon 2026, targeting a spring 2029 release. That's nearly three years of waiting with the game already on the table. This is no calendar accident—it's a deliberate strategy banking on community as both development engine and marketing force. The stakes are high for a studio that restored its credibility with Diablo IV after years of turbulence.
Exodus at Gamescom: The Mass Effect Substitute Owns Its Limits
Hands-on at Gamescom, Exodus confirms what its marketing suggested: Archetype Entertainment's space RPG is clearly playing in Mass Effect's league without trying to hide it. The question isn't whether it draws inspiration, but whether this faithfulness to a twenty-year-old template is a viable strategy or an admission of limited ambition. First verdict after gameplay.
Exodus: The Sci-Fi RPG Aiming to End 14 Years of Drought
Archetype Entertainment brings together veterans from BioWare, Naughty Dog, 343 Industries, and Obsidian. Their project, Exodus, is shaping up as a third-person sci-fi RPG on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. Can one hour of gameplay reveal whether these veterans deliver on their promises, or does their pedigree mask a fragile project? First verdict: cautiously optimistic impressions included.
Metro 2039: Back to Basics, But at What Cost?
4A Games is bringing Metro back to the rubble of Moscow in early 2027 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. After a detour into virtual reality, the Ukrainian studio promises a return to fundamentals: oppressive corridors, survival under pressure, razor-sharp atmosphere. Three hours of gameplay later, the promise partially delivers—but several questions linger about the studio's ability to recapture the precise balance that made the first two entries legendary.
Gamescom ONL 2026: The Witcher, Metro 2039, and Silent Hill Townfall Confirmed
Gamescom 2026's Opening Night Live shapes up as a packed affair: additional content for The Witcher, a confirmed appearance by Metro 2039, and fresh footage of Silent Hill Townfall headline the slate. This is no ordinary lineup—three franchises with heavyweight nostalgia and demanding fanbases, all on the same stage. The pressure on publishers is real, and managing expectations without disappointing audiences will be a high-wire act.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4: Sonic, Ryu, Lara, and Sora Together
Epic Games just confirmed Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4's roster: Sonic the Hedgehog, Ryu from Street Fighter, Lara Croft, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts are joining the same season. Four major franchises, four separate publishers, one Battle Pass. It's Epic's usual gamble taken to a rarely seen level. Before launch, we break down what this lineup reveals about the game's crossover strategy and what players can reasonably expect.
The Blood of Dawnwalker: Rebel Wolves Reveals All Before Launch
Weeks before release, Rebel Wolves publishes a six-minute recap video covering the entire project: narrative choices, combat system, character progression, and open-world structure. A rare move that feels less like marketing and more like an admission of complexity. What this condensed preview reveals about the studio's ambitions—and the real risks The Blood of Dawnwalker is taking.
Star Wars Zero Company: BitReactor Proves the XCOM Formula Still Works
Ten hours with Star Wars Zero Company is enough to understand why this pairing seemed both obvious and risky. BitReactor, a new studio staffed by Firaxis veterans, didn't try to reinvent turn-based strategy—it applied a proven formula to a universe that needed it without knowing it. The result is solid, sometimes exciting, and raises questions about long-term depth.
Star Wars Zero Company: BitReactor Succeeds Where Others Feared to Tread
Ten hours of gameplay make it clear that Star Wars Zero Company is far more than a stylistic exercise. BitReactor, a studio founded by former Firaxis veterans, applies XCOM mechanics to the Star Wars universe with a rigor that catches you off guard. The question is no longer whether the marriage works—it does—but whether the studio can sustain its promises over the full campaign.
The Witcher 3 Gets New DLC Reveal at Gamescom 2026
CD Projekt Red officially confirmed that the opening ceremony of Gamescom will showcase the next DLC for The Witcher 3. Geralt returns to action, years after Blood and Wine. The question isn't whether the studio can still deliver solid content for this game—it's understanding why now, and what it reveals about a studio whose The Witcher 4 is still years away.
Xbox at a Crossroads: Halo French Dub, Fable, The Wolf Among Us 2, and Mara
This past gaming week sent mixed signals about Xbox's platform health: a controversial French dub for Halo Campaign Evolved, Fable still struggling to prove itself, The Wolf Among Us 2 resurfacing, and the mysterious Mara emerging. Behind these scattered updates lies a fundamental question: does Microsoft still know where it's headed?