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Google (GOOGL) reports $11.207 billion of YouTube ad revenue in Q3 2026
Google reported $11.207 billion in YouTube ad revenue for Q3 2026, an increase from $10.26 billion in Q3 2025. This revenue contributed to Google's overall Q3 2026 revenue of $127.58 billion. The article notes a significant increase in ad spend on YouTube during the US midterm election year.
Ahead of VisionQuest premiere, Marvel releases first three WandaVision episodes for free on YouTube
Marvel Studios has made the first three episodes of its Disney Plus series WandaVision available for free on YouTube ahead of the premiere of the new show VisionQuest. The move aims to promote the upcoming series, which continues the story of Vision.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo Direct viewership more than doubled PlayStation's last State of Play, analyst finds, and beat Gamescom Opening Night Live
A recent Nintendo Direct showcasing the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time achieved a peak viewership of 2.1 million, significantly outperforming Sony's last State of Play and Gamescom's Opening Night Live. While the Zelda remake's YouTube views are lower than Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer, its performance highlights the strong appeal of beloved remakes.
BlizzCon 2026 Preview: We’re So Back! | Official XBOX Podcast
The Official Xbox Podcast features a preview of BlizzCon 2026, with Blizzard's Senior Director of Global Events, Kiersten Crissman, detailing the upcoming event. BlizzCon 2026 will take place on September 12th and 13th in Anaheim, offering both in-person and online experiences with expanded programming, larger venues, and returning fan favorites like the Darkmoon Faire and Hearthstone Tavern. The event will also heavily feature esports competitions, including the Overwatch World Cup, and will be free to watch via livestream on official Blizzard channels.
GTA 6's gameplay reveal pulled in 3.97 million peak viewers, overwhelming Twitch and Netflix in the process
The first gameplay reveal for Grand Theft Auto 6 generated a peak viewership of nearly 4 million across livestreaming platforms, surpassing other major gaming events. Twitch hosted the largest portion of viewers, followed by YouTube and Kick. Despite technical issues on platforms like Netflix and Twitch, the reveal garnered significant online discussion, with most sentiment being neutral or positive, though some compared it unfavorably to Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
Here's how to watch the Future Games Show at Gamescom
The Future Games Show will broadcast live from Gamescom on Wednesday, August 26, featuring over 40 games and 13 world premieres. Subsequent shows include FGS Live from Gamescom with more reveals and FGS Best of Gamescom on Sunday, August 30, highlighting the show's best titles. Viewers can watch across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Steam, and X, as well as on various gaming websites and Ginx TV.
Here's how to watch the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2026
The Future Games Show at Gamescom 2026 will air on August 26, featuring over 40 games with 13 world premieres. The showcase will include behind-the-scenes looks at Tides of Annihilation and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a new trailer for Trees Hate You, and a developer diary for Maverick Games' Clutch. It will be streamed internationally on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Steam, with additional coverage on GamesRadar+ and other social media.
Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look Global Release Times Confirmed
Rockstar Games has confirmed the global release times for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, titled 'An Extended Look'. The trailer will be available on platforms including Netflix and YouTube.
Morning Metaverse
Larian Studios experienced brief content removal from YouTube and TikTok due to alleged 'demonic smut' violations, with a spokesperson for Perez Hilton stating their TikTok livestream was kept up due to moderator error. The article touches on content moderation issues across platforms.
Baldur's Gate 3's official livestream gets banned on YouTube and TikTok. Why? "Demon sex."
Larian Studios' official Baldur's Gate 3 livestream, featuring Senior Communications Director Aoife Wilson playing the Dark Urge origin, was banned on YouTube and TikTok due to 'Body Exposure and Sexualized Behaviors.' The ban occurred during a scene involving an Incubus character. Despite the bans, the team, including Publishing Director Michael Douse, took the incident with humor, viewing it as a badge of honor.
Why Gaming Is Becoming One Giant Digital Entertainment Ecosystem
Gaming has evolved from a niche hobby into a vast digital entertainment ecosystem, integrating consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and cloud streaming. Modern platforms now combine communication, commerce, and entertainment, with features like live streaming, subscription models, and cross-platform play fostering larger communities. Technologies like cloud gaming, VR, and AR further enhance immersion and accessibility, blurring the lines between playing, watching, and interacting, positioning gaming at the core of digital leisure.
AI music generator Suno has been hacked, detailing the data scraping of millions of songs from YouTube, Deezer, and…
AI music generator Suno has reportedly been breached, with a hacker accessing its database and revealing details about the extensive data scraping performed on platforms like YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius. Suno has previously argued that its training on copyrighted material falls under fair use, a stance that has drawn criticism from the music industry, though legal precedents exist for AI training data usage. The company stated the incident involved outdated code and no sensitive personal information was compromised.
Call of Duty League Championship 2026: Prize pool, schedule, MW4 open beta & how to watch
The Call of Duty League Championship 2026 will feature a $2 million prize pool, with the first-place team taking home $800,000. The tournament, held in Las Vegas, will showcase Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and conclude on Sunday, July 19. Viewers watching the Call of Duty League Championship on Twitch are eligible for early access keys to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 open beta through a sweepstakes.
Convergence Games Showcase returns on 16th July
The Convergence Games Showcase will return on July 16th, featuring two hours of indie game reveals and gameplay. Hosted by Dodger and Jesse Cox, the event will be broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube, with co-stream talent including LobosJr, Bricky, and BaerTaffy. The showcase will highlight 70 games from 29 countries, offering exclusive trailers, demos, and post-show deep dives, alongside giveaways and a 7-day Steam Sale.
You can sort-of play Mario Kart on YouTube as an "interactive video" that could lead to more complex experiments
A YouTube channel called Atlas Arcade has created a playable "interactive video" of Mario Kart using YouTube's 360-degree spherical video function and custom subtitles. While not a full game, this experiment demonstrates the potential for more complex interactive content on the platform, building on previous adaptations of games like Flappy Bird and Five Nights at Freddy's.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 Returns this Sunday
Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) 2026, a week-long speedrunning marathon, will take place from July 5-11 in Minneapolis, benefiting Doctors Without Borders. The event will feature speedruns of various games, including Super Mario 64, Half-Life, and Balatro, and will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube. Viewers can donate to Doctors Without Borders throughout the marathon.
All on board the kitty train!
Flyhighworks announced that the cozy desktop idle game Neko Station, developed by Sunny Syrup Studios and Secret Character, will be released on July 13, 2026, for PC. The game features a unique "Streaming connection" that allows players to interact with streamers via comments, transforming into a cat and visiting their virtual train.
Sonic the Hedgehog 35th birthday live stream set for June 23
SEGA will host a 35th birthday live stream for Sonic the Hedgehog on June 23, featuring gameplay, music, and activities. The event will be broadcast on YouTube and Twitch and will also serve as a charity fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Dealer's Choice
Shacknews CEO Asif Khan will be streaming The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the company's Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and X channels. The stream will also feature discussions about the Ocarina of Time Remake announcement and is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET.
Here's how to watch the PC Gaming Show 2026
The PC Gaming Show 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 7, featuring over 50 games and hosted by Frankie Ward, Mica Burton, Sean Plott, and Elz. The event will be broadcast on Twitch, YouTube, X, and Steam, with a pre-show hosted by Elz and Frankie starting 30 minutes prior.
