Anniversary Event
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Two Nintendo Directs confirmed for next week and one is all about Zelda
Nintendo has announced two Nintendo Direct presentations for the upcoming week. The first, airing September 8, will celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary and is expected to feature the Ocarina of Time remake and potentially news on the live-action movie. The second Direct will air on September 9, showcasing upcoming winter releases for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
Next week, for the first time ever, Nintendo is hosting two Directs back-to-back - and the first one is dedicated to The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary
Nintendo will host two back-to-back Nintendo Direct presentations next week, starting with a special 30-minute broadcast dedicated to The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary on September 8. This will be followed by a 45-minute general Nintendo Direct on September 9, focusing on Nintendo Switch 2 games for winter, with an extended Treehouse: Live session afterward. This marks the first time Nintendo has presented so much new information consecutively.
Zelda 40th anniversary Direct on 8th September and Nintendo Direct 9th
Nintendo has announced two upcoming presentations: a special Nintendo Direct for The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary on September 8th, followed by a general Nintendo Direct on September 9th. These presentations will be accessible via the Nintendo Today app on iOS and Android.
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct announced for September 8
Nintendo has announced a special 30-minute "The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary" Direct presentation scheduled for September 8. The event will air at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET / 3 PM UK / 4 PM Europe. A separate general Nintendo Direct is planned for the following day.
Halo Turns 25 and Hands Out Seven Free Items — Just Don’t Miss the Cutoff
343 Industries is celebrating Halo's 25th anniversary by offering seven free cosmetic items in Halo Infinite to players who log in before December 31, 2026. The giveaway includes nameplates, coatings, and a weapon charm, with no purchase or challenges required. This event is part of a broader year-long celebration for the franchise.
The oldest Guild Wars 2 characters are turning 14 years old this week with all the concomitant birthday gifts
Guild Wars 2 is celebrating its 14th anniversary this week, with players receiving in-game birthday gifts for their characters. The earliest characters were created on August 25, 2012, with some players able to claim rewards as early as August 23rd. The anniversary gifts include boosters, teleports, karma, spirit shards, and various weapon and wardrobe unlocks.
SEGA says major Sonic 35th Anniversary promotions ramp up from October
SEGA announced that major promotional activities for Sonic's 35th anniversary and the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will begin to ramp up starting in October. The company published this information during its Q1 financial results briefing, indicating more surprises are planned.
How to watch the Kingdom Hearts panel at D23 2026
Square Enix will host a Kingdom Hearts panel at D23 on August 15 to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. The panel, featuring voice actors Haley Joel Osment and David Gallagher, will be streamed live on the Kingdom Hearts YouTube channel and may include surprises for fans, though Kingdom Hearts 4 news is not guaranteed.
Diablo Immortal brings the Lord of Destruction back for its anniversary celebration
Diablo Immortal is celebrating the Diablo franchise's 30th anniversary with a special in-game event featuring the return of the Lord of Destruction, Baal. Players can participate in the Destruction's End dungeon and other challenges until September 1st to earn rewards. The event also includes goblin hunts and new wing customization options.
World of Tanks is celebrating its 16-year anniversary with heaps of presents for players
World of Tanks is celebrating its 16th anniversary with in-game rewards for players from August 12th to August 31st. Logins during this period will grant players bonds, credits, components, and a special crew member. The event also features weekly sales, buffs, and a road trip map with missions that award unique rewards, including a new vehicle and special 3D attachments.
Get Ghost Recon Future Soldier for Free; Breakpoint and Wildlands Free Weekend
Ubisoft is offering free copies of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Future Soldier on the Ubisoft Store to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ghost Recon franchise. Additionally, players can enjoy free weekends for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Is Now Free on Ubisoft Connect
Ubisoft is offering a free PC copy of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier through Ubisoft Connect to celebrate the Ghost Recon franchise's 25th anniversary. The promotion is available until August 13, 2026, and the game will be permanently added to the player's library once claimed. This giveaway is exclusive to the PC version and requires a Ubisoft account and the Ubisoft Connect application.
The Best Ghost Recon Just Got A Huge Update, And A New Game Is Coming
Ubisoft has released a major free update for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, titled 'Last Rites,' which includes a new mission arc, a visual overhaul for current-gen consoles with 4K and 60fps support, and hundreds of new customization items. The update also brings back the Predator crossover mission. Additionally, both Wildlands and Ghost Recon Breakpoint are available for free play all weekend, with significant discounts following, and a new Ghost Recon game is in development, with players invited to join the Insider Program.
World of Warcraft’s Chinese version plans a big ‘X Party’ to celebrate 21 years of the game
World of Warcraft's Chinese version is planning a large 'X Party' event in Shanghai on October 16th to celebrate 21 years of the game in the region. This offline event serves as the equivalent of BlizzCon for Chinese fans, featuring giveaways, news, and previews of upcoming developments.
Regal Brings All Eight Harry Potter Films to 4DX for the 25th Anniversary, Beginning August 27
Regal cinemas will screen all eight Harry Potter films in 4DX format from August 27 to September 3 to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. Tickets are priced at $9.75 per film, with the event leading up to Harry Potter Day. This special screening event is exclusive to Regal.
Global Open-World MMORPG MIR4 Opens Pre-Registration for New Class “Spirit Summoner” to Celebrate 5th Anniversary
WEMADE has opened pre-registration for the new 'Spirit Summoner' class in its open-world MMORPG, MIR4, as part of the game's 5th-anniversary celebration. The event includes various pre-registration activities and special video content to thank players. The new class, Spirit Summoner, uses elemental spirits to fight and acts as a damage-dealing buffer for allies.
Morning Gatherings and Events
Reverse: 1999 is holding a developer broadcast to celebrate its third anniversary. The event will likely cover upcoming content and developer insights for the game.
XBOX @ gamescom 2026
Xbox will host its presence at gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, celebrating 25 years of Xbox with 25 upcoming games playable across 140 stations. The event will feature hands-on demos for titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, and METRO 2039, alongside community events like Xbox FanFest. For those unable to attend, Xbox will provide live streams on YouTube and Twitch with developer interviews and gameplay reveals.
Diablo Immortal kicks off Diablo’s 30th anniversary with a new armor set and Mirrored Jewels
Diablo Immortal is celebrating the Diablo franchise's 30th anniversary with new in-game content. Players can claim the Immortal King Barbarian armor set and participate in Mirrored Jewels events from July 29th to August 26th. The latest patch also includes a cosmetic override toggle and reduced penalties for lower Paragon Level content.
World of Warcraft is removing Decor Duels in the next patch while The Burning Crusade Anniversary plans its next phase
World of Warcraft is removing the time-limited PvP mode Decor Duels in the upcoming patch 12.1, Curse of Ula'tek, though items will remain purchasable. Meanwhile, WoW Classic players celebrating The Burning Crusade's anniversary can expect phase 3 of the event to launch on August 13th.
