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Weekend PC Download Deals for July 10: Palworld exits Steam Early Access
Palworld has officially launched version 1.0 out of Early Access on Steam, accompanied by a launch discount. This article highlights various PC game deals available this weekend across multiple digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle, and 2K Publisher Sale.
Weekend Discussion - July 4, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including a mention of Dunkmeleon playing an unknown game, Eric Andre's movie filming issues, Elyse Willems and Nikole Zivalich playing Tomodachi Life, and a patriotic segment with Sam Eagle. The article also includes musical recommendations from Mumford & Sons and encourages reader engagement via Shacknews Chatty and Discord.
Evening Reading - July 3, 2026
This edition of Shacknews' Evening Reading covers various gaming news and features, including updates on LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Dead Space, and upcoming download deals for PC and Nintendo platforms. The article also highlights Shackmaps, a collection of interactive video game maps, and features a segment on video game music with a focus on Bloodborne.
Fatekeeper Early Access Review – The potential to be a Skyrim successor, but you’ll have to wait
Fatekeeper, currently in Early Access, shows potential as a successor to Skyrim with its atmospheric fantasy world and engaging combat mechanics. Despite some performance issues on PC and messy physics-based combat, the game offers a compelling experience for its low price, with publisher THQ's support expected to help it reach full release.
Evening Reading - June 26, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers news and deals from June 26, 2026, including updates on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It also notes a decrease in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X sales in the US for May and highlights weekend download deals for Nintendo Switch and PC.
Weekend Discussion - June 20, 2026
This article is a weekend discussion piece from Shacknews, featuring various segments and reader engagement prompts. It highlights the staff's commitment to original content creation, free from generative AI, and includes personal anecdotes about gaming history and preferences from one of the writers.
Evening Reading - June 19, 2026
Shacknews is observing Juneteenth and will return on Monday, with their next Evening Reading on June 22. The site highlights their Shackmaps feature for game maps, weekend download deals for PC and consoles, and upcoming Games Done Quick events. The article also mentions a new LEGO Batman game and a video game music feature.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
Weekend Console Download Deals for June 19: Dispatch your wallets
This article highlights various digital game sales available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch for the weekend of June 19. It features discounts on a wide range of titles, including notable games like Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, Dave the Diver, and Grand Theft Auto 5, across different storefronts and subscription services.
Weekend Discussion - June 13, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 2 hacks, a critique of a sports apparel company, and a "Pitch Meeting" segment on a Star Wars property. The article also features a musical recommendation from The Linda Lindas and mentions Shacknews' policy against using generative AI in its content. Staff writer Ozzie Mejia shares his background in gaming and his preferred genres.
Evening Reading - June 12, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news and features, including discussions on Destiny 2 raids, roguelike autoshooters like Blood Dungeon, and the Virtua Fighter series. It also highlights deals for PlayStation and PC, updates on Sea of Thieves and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and mentions of Pokémon UNITE and Super Mario RPG. The article also touches on unrelated news like SpaceX's IPO and AI model suspensions.
Naughty Dog founder speaks on losing Crash Bandicoot and "abysmal" Universal Interactive partnership
Naughty Dog co-founder Jason Rubin described the studio's past relationship with Universal Interactive as "abysmal," detailing harsh working conditions and a lack of respect that ultimately led to the studio parting ways with the Crash Bandicoot IP. Rubin expressed regret that Crash Bandicoot is not more prominently featured at Universal Studios today, suggesting a better partnership could have led to theme park attractions.
Assassin's Creed creator's forgotten fantasy game 1666: Amsterdam will finally release this year, over a decade after Ubisoft ripped it from his fingers
1666: Amsterdam, a supernatural action-adventure game originally conceived by Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Désilets, is set to release this year with a prologue now available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Désilets, who founded Panache Digital Games after leaving Ubisoft, has regained the rights to the project and is leading a team of nearly 70 developers to bring the game to fruition.
The Pirates Of Dark Water
This review examines The Pirates of Dark Water, a 1994 Super Nintendo beat-em-up based on the short-lived Hanna-Barbera animated series. While the game features rough graphics and mechanics that don't fully capture the ambition of its source material, it offers a functional co-op experience and successfully evokes the atmosphere of the original show. The article highlights the game's strengths, such as its unique swinging pirate enemies and the potential for nostalgic appeal, while acknowledging its limitations and the property's overall legacy of lost potential.
New Games Publisher Helmed by Ex-Meta Leadership Team Emerges from the Shadows
A new game publisher, Dark Arts Syndicate, has been launched by former Meta (Oculus Publishing) leadership, including Melissa Brown, Donal Gordon, and Coray Seifert. The company aims to provide comprehensive publishing services to developers across various models, leveraging their experience in the VR ecosystem and broader games industry.
Dawn of War 2 review (2009)
This 2009 PC Gamer review of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II highlights its shift from traditional RTS mechanics to a more squad-based, RPG-like experience. While praised for its tactical depth and satisfying co-op, the review notes a lack of variety in missions and limited unit customization as significant drawbacks compared to the original game.
The Legacy of WWE All Stars, 15 Years Later
This article revisits WWE All Stars fifteen years after its release, highlighting its embrace of arcade-style, over-the-top action and fantasy matchups between current and legendary wrestlers. Despite some flaws in gameplay mechanics and presentation, the game is remembered for its fun, less simulation-focused approach to wrestling games, offering a unique experience that broke from the norm.
"Be creative 99% of the time" – Glen Schofield on how creativity can help fix AAA industry woes
Glen Schofield, director of The Callisto Protocol, argues that the AAA industry's woes stem from inexperienced individuals being placed in leadership roles due to excessive funding, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes the solution lies in identifying and empowering true creative talent, leveraging AI as a tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, and optimizing release timing to avoid market saturation. Schofield emphasizes that while AI can enhance efficiency, it cannot replicate the nuanced creative process essential for developing innovative AAA titles.
Gothic 3 Classic revealed for Nintendo Switch 2
THQ is planning to release Gothic 3 Classic on the Nintendo Switch 2, with physical versions arriving on November 24, 2026. This open-world action game, originally launched in 2006, will follow previous entries in the series that were released on the original Nintendo Switch. The upcoming release will integrate the Community Patch 1.75 and offer gameplay improvements, a tailored gamepad UI, and optimized performance.
Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger, a beat 'em up developed by Malibu Interactive and published by Sony Imagesoft, is considered one of the worst movie-licensed titles of its era. The game loosely follows the plot of the movie but suffers from stiff controls, tedious combat, and frustrating platforming segments, making it a boring and uninspired experience.
