Elden Ring
News, coverage and analysis tracking Elden Ring across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Treasure Chest Trick Behind Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors' success, including its BAFTA win over Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok, is partly attributed to its engaging chest drop mechanic, inspired by slot machine design. Creator Luca Galante, who previously worked on gambling software, meticulously crafted the sound and visual feedback for these moments, demonstrating how detailed polish in small interactions can significantly enhance player experience and drive genre innovation.
Asha Sharma announces Xbox Labs project to "explore new technology," which sure sounds like tinkering with old games through AI
Asha Sharma announced the creation of Xbox Labs, a new R&D initiative focused on exploring emerging technologies like AI for game remixing and rejigging. While Microsoft clarified AI usage won't be mandatory, the initiative aims to turn new ideas into player experiences, potentially by decompiling and rebuilding old games or making new ones more moddable. The article expresses skepticism about the initiative's true goals, linking it to recent layoffs and a focus on existing franchises.
Nodusfall – Gameplay, Beta Dates, And Everything We Know So Far
miHoYo's upcoming dark fantasy adventure, Nodusfall, draws inspiration from Elden Ring and Monster Hunter, featuring co-op action gameplay where players team up to defeat bosses and earn loot. The free-to-play title will focus on cosmetic monetization, with new characters earnable through gameplay. Platforms are yet to be announced but are expected to include PC and PlayStation 5.
Microsoft reveals Xbox Labs and it's desperately pretending it's not about AI
Microsoft has announced the formation of Xbox Labs, a new division focused on experimenting with 'emerging ideas' in response to AI-driven game modding and browser-based games. Led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who previously worked on AI at Microsoft, the division aims to explore new possibilities in game accessibility and player creation without explicitly mentioning generative AI. The initiative, headed by CTO Scott Van Vliet, is intended to leverage Xbox's expertise in game development to shape future technologies, though the article expresses skepticism about the venture's tangible outcomes and potential monetization.
ShackStream: Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link on The Stevetendo Show! Episode 758
The Stevetendo Show is featuring The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link on its 758th episode, paying homage to the series before an upcoming remake. The stream will also include updates on Elden Ring playthroughs and previews of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. Viewers can tune in on the Shacknews Twitch channel.
Xbox Labs is the company’s response to recent game mods and decompilations
Xbox has launched Xbox Labs, a new initiative focused on exploring emerging technologies like AI for game development and player experiences. This comes in response to the growing trend of AI-powered game mods and decompilations, which have enabled games like Call of Duty: Black Ops and Minecraft to run in browsers or be combined with other titles.
Valor Mortis Review – They’re Called Catalysts Now
Valor Mortis, developed by One More Level, attempts to distinguish itself in the crowded Soulslike genre by incorporating a first-person perspective and a Napoleonic Wars setting. While the game features fluid melee combat, a unique magic system, and engaging boss fights, it struggles with inconsistent difficulty spikes and a less impactful progression system compared to its contemporaries. Despite these issues, its innovative approach and solid gameplay mechanics make it a potentially good entry point for newcomers to the genre.
Valor Mortis review: "First-person Souslike parrying feels clutch, but I need more for this to truly stand out"
Valor Mortis is a functional Soulslike with a first-person perspective and parry-focused combat, but it struggles to stand out in a crowded genre. While it features some charming writing and a fresh parkour element, its gameplay ideas have been done better elsewhere, and scripted parkour sequences are frustratingly bad. Technical issues like crashes and framerate drops were also present at launch.
Nintendo reveals Japan’s best-selling Switch 2 and Switch digital games for September 2026
Nintendo has released the best-selling digital games for the Japanese Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 eShops for September 2026. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave topped the charts for the Switch 2, while Rhythm Heaven Groove led on the Switch. The lists include a variety of new and established titles.
Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree Finally Gets A Discount, And Your NG+ Save Isn’t Ready
Elden Ring's expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is now available at a discounted price of $35.19/£30.79 on Fanatical, marking a 12% reduction. The DLC, praised for its challenging gameplay and expansive new content, has received a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam and a 10/10 from the publication's own review.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – October 11, 2026 – Kingdom Hearts soars, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 starting off strong
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 11, 2026, show Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 retaining the top spot. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 debuted at number two, with several Resident Evil titles also charting strongly.
Evening Reading - October 9, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes updates on Dead by Daylight, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Gears of War: E-Day, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. There are also previews for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode and Armatus, alongside news about Bungie's Marathon and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The article also touches on video game maps, download deals, and speedrunning events.
Famitsu software sales (9/28/26 – 10/4/26) – Top 30
Famitsu has released its Japanese software sales data for the week of September 28 to October 4, 2026. Ace Combat 8 debuted at the top of the charts on PlayStation 5, while Rhythm Heaven Groove continues to perform strongly on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch 2 game-key card sales have increased by 631% in the U.S.
Sales of Nintendo Switch game-key cards in the U.S. have surged by 631% in 2026 year-to-date, according to Circana. This increase in digital game card sales has driven overall new physical software spending up by 5%, offsetting a decline in other physical media formats. Elden Ring was noted as a recent title that saw a boost from game-key card releases.
NBA 2K27 Tops Madden NFL 27 In August, Shocking Absolutely Nobody
Circana's August 2026 report shows NBA 2K27 as the best-selling game, continuing its streak against Madden NFL 27. New releases like Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls and Star Wars Zero Company also performed well, with five new titles in the top 10. NBA 2K27 is now third in year-to-date sales, behind Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light, with Grand Theft Auto 6 anticipated to be a major seller later in the year.
Best-selling games in the U.S. for August 2026 – Nintendo Switch 2 boosts Elden Ring to the top 10, Big Walk makes the list
Circana's August 2026 US sales chart shows NBA 2K27 and Madden NFL 27 leading, with Elden Ring surging to seventh place following the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. The list also features Mario Kart World and Splatoon Raiders, with Big Walk making an appearance. The year-to-date chart is topped by Resident Evil Requiem.
NBA 2K27 tops US August charts, becomes third-best selling game of 2026 | US Monthly Charts
NBA 2K27 topped the US sales charts for August 2026, becoming the third-best-selling game of the year according to Circana data. New releases like Madden NFL 27 and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls also performed well. Overall consumer spending on video games in the US fell 9% in August, with hardware unit sales reaching their lowest point since 2013, though PlayStation 5 hardware sales saw a 17% increase.
US Video Game Hardware Sales Just Had Their Worst August In 13 Years
US video game hardware sales experienced their worst August in 13 years, with a 15% year-over-year decline in unit sales. Despite fewer consoles sold, higher prices, including those for mid-generation upgrades like the PlayStation 5 Pro, led to a significant increase in dollar sales for Sony. Market saturation and price increases are cited as key factors for the overall downturn.
Nintendo Switch 2 – One Year In, How Does It Hold Up?
One year after its launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 has proven to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering more powerful hardware that supports advanced features like DLSS and ray tracing. While performance in demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 can still have compromises, the overall gaming experience is vastly improved with faster load times and better visuals. The console's library has expanded with enhanced editions of existing games and new titles, though the absence of a new 3D Mario game is noted. Despite some drawbacks like battery life and internal storage limitations, the Switch 2 represents a worthwhile evolution of Nintendo's hybrid formula.
The Witcher 3 Remastered: Still the Open-World Game to Beat?
This article compares The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered to other top open-world games like Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While The Witcher 3 excels in storytelling and characters, it falls short in combat compared to some titles but remains a must-play experience.
