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Evening Reading - August 24, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news including Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Marvel Snap's Draft mode, The Witcher 4 targeting a 2028 release, and a class-action lawsuit against Twitch. It also mentions new games like Blasterbug: Last Bug Standing and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, as well as updates for Elden Ring and The Duskbloods.
Video: Nintendo shows the recording of Mario Kart World music
Nintendo has released two new behind-the-scenes videos showcasing the music recording sessions for Mario Kart World. The videos feature the creation of the game's main theme and the Crown City track. Mario Kart World, which has been available for a year, offers a new racing experience with up to 24 players, a Knockout Tour mode, and a Free Roam exploration feature.
Early Build Footage of Avalanche Studios’ Canceled Iron Man Game Spotted – Rumor
Footage from Avalanche Studios' canceled Iron Man game, developed in the early 2010s, has surfaced online. The leaked videos showcase early builds and gameplay demos like "Kinetic Combat" and "Freestyle Flight," suggesting a design influenced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe and planned for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The project was reportedly canceled due to company politics and tight deadlines, though a new Iron Man game is confirmed to be in development at EA Motive.
Okami Sequel Studio Fills Audio Team With Veterans Who Worked on the Original, Bayonetta, and More
Clovers, the studio developing the Okami sequel, has expanded its audio team with veterans who worked on the original Okami, Bayonetta, and NieR: Automata. Industry veterans Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hitomi Kurokawa, and Aoba Nakanishi have joined the team, alongside Misaki Shindo and Hiroki Niwa. Director Hideki Kamiya confirmed the sequel will feature Amaterasu in a new adventure, though details remain scarce and a release is still some time away.
Hideo Kojima Shares Reflective Look At “The Time He Has Left” on His 63rd Birthday
On his 63rd birthday, legendary game director Hideo Kojima reflected on the finite time he has left to create games, emphasizing his desire to focus on projects like OD and the upcoming action espionage title Physint. He acknowledged the need to reassess how he uses his time to balance his 'have to do' and 'want to do' lists, while fans anticipate his future works including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
GTA 6’s Leaks Situation is a Total Mess
The article discusses the significant negative impact of recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks on Rockstar Games and its developers, highlighting the creative and security challenges they present. It criticizes the fan frustration over marketing delays while emphasizing that leaks harm the development team and perception of the game, regardless of fan anticipation or pre-order success.
Indie MMO Hollowed Oath says that ‘content implementation has started in earnest’
The MMORPG Hollowed Oath has entered a new phase of development with content implementation starting in earnest, including tutorials for all 16 classes. The latest patch also improved buff persistence, connected all 10 existing zones with portals, and introduced a key-hold ability repeat function. The development team will also be present at Dragon Con for panels on September 5th and 6th.
Fractured Conquest schedules a September 3 playtest after cutting the July one short
Fractured Conquest, a PvP-focused version of Fractured Online, has scheduled a new playtest for September 3rd after its July 23rd test was cut short. The upcoming 24-hour test will focus on core game systems, network stress, updated visuals, and bug fixes, with sign-ups available on the game's website.
Highly Anticipated PlayStation 5 Action RPG Gets Major Release Date Update
CD Projekt Red has announced that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window, with Ciri as the main protagonist. The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 and aims for 4K 60 fps performance with ray tracing on PlayStation 5. This title is intended to be the start of a new trilogy, with a remake of the first Witcher game and a new expansion for The Witcher 3 also in development.
Pantheon Rise of the Fallen outlines work on items, NPCs, rocks, and trees
Visionary Realms provided an update on Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, detailing work on NPCs, quests, items, and environmental assets like rocks and trees. The development team also focused on bug fixing, crafting progression, and itemization, particularly for weapons.
A Third Ori Game Could Be Coming, But The Series’ Creator Doesn’t Believe It
Rumors suggest a third Ori game may be in development, but Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler has dismissed them as "nonsense." Mahler stated that Moon Studios has discussed purchasing the Ori intellectual property back from Microsoft and believes only their studio can do justice to the series. He also commented on Microsoft's perceived mishandling of its studios and legacy IPs.
CDPR is aiming to release The Witcher 4 in 2028
CD Projekt Red is targeting a 2028 release for The Witcher 4, which its co-CEO described as their most ambitious game to date. The company is investing heavily in the project, aiming for a significant leap in scope and quality.
Trine 6 delayed, statement released
Frozenbyte has announced a delay for Trine 6: Together in Time, pushing its release from September 17, 2026, to March 4, 2027. The studio cited feedback from a private playtest, indicating a need for additional time to improve puzzles, combat, camera behavior, onboarding, and online multiplayer systems.
Hideo Kojima Says He’s Aware Of His Mortality As He Celebrates 63rd Birthday
Game designer Hideo Kojima celebrated his 63rd birthday by reflecting on his mortality and the increasing need to balance his 'have to do' and 'want to do' lists. He reaffirmed his commitment to creating games, with projects like Physint and OD in development, and noted that 2026 will mark his 40th anniversary in game development and the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions.
The Witcher 4 release year confirmed as DLC prepares for Gamescom unveiling
CD Projekt has announced that The Witcher 4 is targeted for a 2028 release, with joint CEO Michał Nowakowski describing it as their most ambitious game to date. While The Witcher 4 will not be present at Gamescom, an upcoming DLC for The Witcher 3, titled Songs Of The Past, is scheduled for 2027 and will be showcased at the event. The article also briefly mentions The Blood Of Dawnwalker, a game developed by former CD Projekt staff.
Hideo Kojima wants to keep making new video games as he turns 63 years old
Hideo Kojima, celebrating his 63rd birthday, has reaffirmed his dedication to game development, stating he has no immediate plans to retire. He expressed a desire to continue creating games, despite the increasing number of ideas and decreasing time. Kojima is currently working on the horror game OD and the stealth action title Physint, with OD utilizing Xbox cloud technology and Physint being a spiritual successor to the Metal Gear series.
Valve fyller 30 år – företaget som förändrade PC-spelandet
Valve, founded 30 years ago by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, has significantly impacted PC gaming through titles like Half-Life and its sequels, and the revolutionary digital distribution platform Steam. The company has also ventured into hardware with the Steam Deck and VR, continuing to innovate in how and where PC games are played.
The people of video games on what gives them cause for hope
Industry professionals share their reasons for optimism despite current challenges, highlighting the resilience of game developers, the innovation within the indie scene, the growing cultural impact of games, and the enduring passion of players. They emphasize community support, creative freedom, and the potential for new ideas to emerge from difficult times, suggesting a bright future for the medium.
Maria Redin of mobile giant MTG on rebranding, buying Raid: Shadow Legends, and plans to double the company's size
MTG CEO Maria Redin outlines ambitious plans to double the company's size within three to five years, primarily through acquisitions, following the $620 million purchase of Raid: Shadow Legends developer Plarium. The company is rebranding its studio districts to Playsimple and Playamp, focusing on employee retention and integrating technology across its portfolio. Redin also highlights the crucial role of embracing generative AI to maintain competitiveness and enhance game development workflows in the maturing mobile gaming market.
"I want to keep pouring my energy into game creation going forward" - Hideo Kojima still wants to make games even at 63
Hideo Kojima, director of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid, celebrated his 63rd birthday and expressed his continued dedication to game creation. Despite his age, Kojima stated he wants to keep pouring energy into making games and is looking forward to continued support from fans. He is currently working on projects like the horror game OD and the stealth action game Physint at Kojima Productions.
