A whole lot of gaming news today, and some noteworthy upcoming releases.
Short beats
EVO, or Evolution Championship Series, is a big fighting game tournament taking place in Las Vegas this weekend from Aug 2–4 (GMT+8), featuring the best fighters, the top fighting games being used, and upcoming news about the future of the genre.
EA has announced the next mass multiplayer PvP military-themed shooter Battlefield 6, launching this 10 October. Open beta weekends for the game are set for Aug 9–10 and Aug 14–17.
Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct July 2025 Partner Showcase featured a slew of new game announcements:
Octopath Traveler 0, the next JRPG entry slated for Dec 4.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, a new action RPG from the makers of Octopath Traveler, out in 2026.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a new hack-and-slash Zelda game out this Winter.
Plants vs Zombies: Replanted, a remaster of the original 2010 tower defence puzzle title, out this October.
Once Upon A Katamari, a new entry in the ball-rolling and stuff-amassing puzzle series slated for October.
Les Copaque has released a YouTube video addressing burning questions about the Upin & Ipin Universe, including copyright claims on SEA streamers playing their game (like CupID15) and the RM177+ price tag.
Sony is suing Tencent, claiming its upcoming game Light of Motiram is a “slavish clone” of the Horizon series.
Op-Ed
We made a comparison video between the new Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and the classic 1988 NES original.
Games out this week
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a 2D action platformer title that pits you as ninjas Kenji and Kumori as they team up to defeat the demon onslaught in Japan. Features lovely graphics & animation, fast-paced 2D action, epic boss fights, a slew of upgrades & Ragebound moves, and gameplay design work from The Game Kitchen (of Blasphemous series fame).
Mashina is a new stop-motion adventure game where you play as a robot who has to dig for resources and fix up its top-level robot community.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is the follow-up 3D arena fighting game sequel based on the acclaimed Demon Slayer manga/anime series. The new entry boasts over 40 characters and more high-flying attacks and story scenarios to relive in 3D battle form.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is a fantasy life simulation title taking place in the Shire. You play as a Hobbit as you discover, decorate, and share your homestead and house designs in a cosy simulated playground.
Recommended viewing
Accursed Farms has teamed up with Olive Badger and Alderon Games to provide a very detailed Stop Killing Games FAQ for game developers.
Ryan “gootecks” Gutierrez opened up an insightful thread on the future of fighting game tournament organisers, as well as why large-scale open-bracket tournaments are not a viable business model.