Kodansha announced on Friday that its Defying Kurosaki‑kun manga will be adapted into a live‑action series that will debut on Fuji TV On Demand. The manga, written and illustrated by Makino, concluded in October 2021 after 19 compiled volumes and had previously been turned into a live‑action film in January 2016 and a two‑episode drama in December 2015. Kodansha USA Publishing is releasing the series digitally in English. The story follows high‑school student Yu Akabane, who wants to date the popular Shirakawa‑kun but must contend with Kurosaki‑kun, a feared classmate. No details about the number of episodes or a premiere date have been provided. The adaptation adds to the growing trend of manga‑to‑live‑action productions and expands content on Japan’s streaming platform.
Art, books, film, gaming, and the conversations defining the week.
Nintendo may remain the only major console manufacturer to offer physical game media after Sony announced plans to sell PlayStation games exclusively as digital products beginning in 2028, and Microsoft is rumored to adopt a similar digital‑only approach with its next‑generation Xbox Project Helix. Industry analysts say the shift could reinforce Nintendo's advantage in physical sales, as Nintendo's Switch 2 has maintained a strong share of physical software and hardware, with digital game sales accounting for 67.2% of its software revenue for fiscal year 2025/2026, compared with 78% digital sales on Sony platforms over the past decade. Reports indicate that both the PS6 and Project Helix will eliminate disc drives entirely. Mat Piscatella, senior director and video game industry advisor at Circana, said he expects both PS6 and Project Helix to be digital‑only consoles and that Nintendo is unlikely to alter its plans because of those moves. He noted that retail support for Nintendo has increased and that Nintendo holds a substantial portion of physical software and hardware sales. Nintendo's games are sold on cartridges, and many third‑party titles use Game‑Key Cards, which are authentication keys that require the cartridge to be inserted to play. These cards can be resold and are not tied to a specific console account. While similar to disc‑based systems on PlayStation and Xbox, Game‑Key Cards have attracted criticism from some historians concerned about the long‑term preservation of video games. The transition to digital‑only consoles could affect game preservation and resale markets, but Nintendo continues to support physical media for the current generation.
BluPetal announced at its Anime Expo panel on Thursday that it has secured licensing rights to Masashi Kumamoto's Last Heaven and Raika Suzumi's The Black World is Dyed in White Chalk. Both titles are slated for print and digital release in early 2027. BluPetal also said it will lead English-language marketing and fan engagement for Kaiohsha's Gush Comics imprint, including the launch of social media channels and a newsletter. The partnership follows a marketing services agreement with Kaiohsha, which earlier announced Last Heaven as its first Gush title in English. BluPetal said it will introduce a subscription service on BluPetal.net, which is currently accepting early signups, targeting readers of BL, GL/yuri, shoujo, and josei manga. A launch date has not been disclosed. BluPetal, founded last year, publishes manga aimed at women, including boys‑love, shoujo, yuri, and other genres, and includes former employees of Crunchyroll, Seven Seas, Viz, and other media companies. Kaiohsha released The Black World is Dyed in White Chalk on Line Manga and ebook Japan on February 11, with its first compiled volume scheduled for July 16. The timing of the subscription platform remains undetermined, and the impact of BluPetal's expanded marketing efforts on the English release market is yet to be seen.
Neuroscape TCG, a digital‑themed trading card game created by Neoroscape and published by Asmodee, is scheduled for release later this year after completing its Kickstarter fulfillment.
The trading card game market has seen increased activity, with new titles from major publishers and independent creators entering the space.
Neuroscape features two health tracks, a mainframe and a bioframe, which represent a player’s neural computer and physical body respectively. Players reduce an opponent’s health to zero by dealing damage to either track, as indicated by the color of attack numbers on character cards or the symbol on effect cards. Attack numbers printed in baby blue target the mainframe, while red numbers target the bioframe. Damage can be applied directly or blocked by the defender, who may choose to interrupt the attack.
The game uses a separate RAM deck for resource management. During the draw phase, players may increase two RAM to the resource pool, skip RAM and draw two cards, or add one RAM and draw one card. RAM cards must be committed to characters on the field, after which they become unavailable until the character leaves play, at which point they are returned to the resource pool through a force quit action at the start of the turn.
The starter kits include six factions: Hacker, Cybernetic, Corpo, Dustrunner, Mystic, and Thrashers. Hackers focus on mainframe damage and program cards such as single‑target spells and traps. Cybernetics emphasize bioframe damage and gear with potential psychosis side effects. Corpo prioritizes rapid RAM ramping to afford higher‑cost cards. Dustrunners use tether keywords to link characters and can move RAM to hand. Mystics employ tarot program cards with effects that depend on cards in the discard pile. Thrashers specialize in destroying targets and activating Overrun to deal excess damage when blocked.
Each player’s mainframe provides three slots for passive abilities and can host hidden Trojan or trap programs that affect the opponent’s cards. Environment programs can be played in a central slot that influences both players, similar to stadium cards in other trading card games, and can be overwritten by playing a new environment card.
The game includes original artwork from creators who have worked on series such as Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K, Star Wars, Netrunner, and Cyberpunk 2077. Rarity tiers range from common to quantum rare, with chase serialized cards available in competitive event variants.
Neuroscape TCG is slated for release in the same period as the CD Projekt Red‑backed Cyberpunk TCG, offering an alternative gameplay experience. Asmodee will handle distribution, potentially increasing access for players interested in the cyberpunk theme.
Silent Hill has been revived through external studios developing new entries after a period of dormancy. Konami has supported projects such as Bloober Team's remake of Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f, an original story by NeoBards and Ryukishi07. Earlier adaptations including a film and the spinoff The Short Message have received mixed reception. The upcoming title Silent Hill: Townfall, developed by Screen Burn, is set in the fictional Scottish port town of St. Amelia and features first‑person stealth gameplay. Players assume the role of Simon Ordell, who investigates the town's abandonment while using a handheld device called the CRTV to scan signals and solve puzzles. The game emphasizes limited melee weapons, including a wooden plank wrapped in barbed wire, and incorporates environmental clues such as notes, files, and phone messages, with narrative input from a character named Zoe Ellis. Townfall is scheduled for release on September 24 for PlayStation 5 and PC. The preview was authored by Michael Higham, an editor at IGN.
PlayStation announced that it will cease manufacturing of physical discs for PS5 games in 2028, moving the console toward a fully digital distribution model. In March 2026, the company began testing a dynamic pricing system on the PlayStation Store that adjusts the listed price of games based on factors such as the user’s last login date, geographic region and account age. According to reports from Eurogamer and Insider Gaming, the pricing has resulted in varied prices for titles including Astro Bot and Stellar Blade, with reported costs ranging from $20.99 to $39.89 for Stellar Blade in different regions. The model applies to both first‑party and third‑party games, and PlayStation has stated the adjustments reflect market conditions and user behavior. Critics have pointed out that digital games often incorporate mandatory sales taxes, which can make them comparable to or higher than physical copies, and class‑action lawsuits have been filed in California and the Netherlands alleging violations of consumer protection regulations. The shift to a disc‑less future, scheduled for 2028, means consumers will rely exclusively on online purchases, potentially increasing price variability across user groups. Analysts note that the combination of dynamic pricing and the elimination of physical media introduces new considerations for gamers and retailers.
AliExpress is offering the AOVOPRO TMAX 48V 500W electric scooter with a 12 Ah battery for $155.52 during its Fourth of July sale, with free shipping after using the “FJUS20” coupon.
The scooter uses a brushless motor and a 48 V 12 Ah battery that provides up to 22 miles of range and a top speed of 22 mph, according to the product listing. It weighs about 35 pounds, features 10‑inch tires and dual suspension for rougher terrain, and can be folded for transport.
AOVOPRO, the official manufacturer, stocks the scooter in a US warehouse, eliminating import fees and reducing delivery time, the listing said. The motor’s 500 W output is comparable to entry‑level electric bikes, and the scooter’s specifications are similar to those of higher‑priced models such as the Segway Ninebot E2 and the Niu KQi 100P, which use 300 W motors and sell for roughly twice the price, IGN reported.
The IGN Deals team, which has more than 30 years of combined experience identifying online discounts, highlighted the promotion in a recent article, noting the limited‑time nature of the offer.
The promotion ends after the Fourth of July holiday, and buyers should check the product page for availability and shipping details.
BluPetal announced at its panel during Anime Expo on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Animate International to act as the sole agent and subdistributor for English-language editions of Animate International’s titles worldwide, effective October 2026. Under the agreement, BluPetal will manage sales, metadata, and retailer relationships for Animate International’s titles and will distribute them through Consortium Book Sales & Distribution. Animate International, a subsidiary of the retail and merchandise chain Animate, primarily publishes boys’ love manga. The titles slated for release include Mask Danshi, Kabukicho Bad Trip, and Tashiro‑kun, Why’re You Like This? BluPetal, which launched last year and focuses on works aimed at women, including boys’ love, shōjo, yuri, jōsei, teen love, and gay comic series, is staffed by former employees of Crunchyroll, Seven Seas, Viz, Anime Trending, OG Yaoi Crate, Kodansha, Activision, Roku, Panasonic, Media Do, and other companies. The deal is intended to expand the availability of English‑language boys’ love manga in global markets.
Sony announced that it will stop manufacturing physical discs for its consoles in 2028, which could mean the next PlayStation model will not include a disc drive. The PlayStation 5 currently supports 4K Blu‑ray playback, making it a common entry‑level player for physical movies. Sales data showed that 4K Blu‑ray sales increased in 2025 for the first time in several years. Owners of PS5 consoles equipped with disc drives can continue using them after 2028. The company has not said when or how the change will be implemented, but analysts note that the shift could affect consumers who rely on physical media for games and movies. The transition will occur years after the current console generation, giving the market time to adapt. Whether the industry will see a sustained decline in physical media consumption after the PS6 arrives remains uncertain.
Former PlayStation Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida expressed lukewarm impressions of Valve's Steam Machine on July 2, saying the device performed "meh" and was hard to recommend at its price.
Valve began shipping the Steam Machine after its June 29 launch, and early preorder emails created confusion about delivery timelines.
Yoshida, writing on X, noted that the system defaults to 1080p, that some games take a long time to boot, and that he had only tested the unit for a few hours.
He said the machine's small form factor, quiet operation, interchangeable faceplate, user-friendly interface, and ability to stream games to a TV are positive features, but overall he remains unconvinced by its more than $1,000 cost.
Retail availability is limited, and some buyers may face extended wait times or higher secondary‑market prices.
Epic Games Store releases a free game each Thursday at 8 AM PT. Users must create a free Epic account and enable two‑factor authentication to claim the titles, which remain in the library for one week. The current free titles are River City Girls 2 and I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, an enhanced version of the 1996 adventure game set in a subterranean environment. The promotion is also available on Android devices, offering a free game each week. Epic says the weekly giveaway has provided hundreds of titles and will continue indefinitely.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is scheduled for release in 2027.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is scheduled for release in 2027. It will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. A store listing referenced by IGN shows a Story Expansion Pass available for purchase. The pass has not been described in detail. Director Naoki Hamaguchi said at Summer Game Fest that fan interest in character‑specific narratives and side stories is notable. He added that exploring those possibilities is of interest. Square Enix released Intergrade, a post‑launch expansion for Final Fantasy 7 Remake focusing on Yuffie, and decided not to issue an expansion for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The company is prioritizing development of Revelation. The upcoming release will be multiplatform, unlike the previous title’s PlayStation exclusivity. Details about the expansion pass and other downloadable content remain undisclosed.
Crunchyroll announced it will release Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira anime film in select U.S. and Canadian theaters on September 4 in 4K and IMAX formats, offering both Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub. The 1988 film is widely regarded as a landmark cyberpunk work that influenced animation and cinema. Otomo began his career as a manga creator and later directed the animated adaptation after establishing himself in the manga industry. The release will be available only in theaters and no home-video or streaming option has been announced. Industry analysts note that the IMAX presentation reflects a growing trend of showing high-resolution anime in large-format cinemas. The screening is scheduled for a single night in participating theaters, and further details about ticket availability remain pending.
Sony announced that PlayStation game disc support will end in January 2028, as the company shifts toward a fully digital distribution model. The move follows a steady rise in digital game sales and reflects Sony’s aim to improve profitability and maintain control over the distribution chain. Rhys Elliott, an analyst at Alinea Analytics, said the change would eliminate resale and rental value that currently benefits retailers and third‑party sellers, converting those transactions into direct digital purchases or eliminating them. He noted that physical retail pricing is influenced by supply and demand, which can result in lower prices for used games compared with digital prices on the PlayStation store. By removing discs, consumers would lose the ability to purchase used copies, potentially reducing flexibility for price‑sensitive buyers. Elliott also argued that developers could gain from an earlier “gold master” certification process, allowing a finished build to be submitted up to three months before launch, though this may shift development focus toward compliance tasks rather than final polishing. He suggested that broader adoption of an all‑digital policy could further pressure brick‑and‑mortar retailers, citing Rockstar’s upcoming GTA 6 as a title that will be offered with a download code rather than a physical disc. Other companies, including Nintendo, Capcom and EA, have also increased the share of digital sales in recent years. GameStop’s software segment, the smallest part of its business, may experience limited immediate effects from the announcement.
Ink Pop, the manga imprint of Penguin Random House that targets kids and teens, announced at Anime Expo on July 2 that it will release the English version of noho's My Neighbor Yokai manga in spring 2027 as a paperback and a jacketed hardcover.
The series, which began as a Twitter serial in 2018 and later continued on the Mato Grosso website, follows a town where humans and yokai coexist. The story follows Buchio, a cat that develops a second tail and becomes a spirit, prompting him to learn about the yokai around him.
The manga has four main volumes and two spinoff volumes; the most recent spinoff volume shipped on April 17, 2026. An anime adaptation debuted in April 2024 and has been streamed worldwide by Crunchyroll since its Japanese broadcast.
The deal adds the title to Ink Pop's catalog and represents its first major manga release for the English market.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announced that a third Moana film is in development at Disney. He made the remarks during a press conference promoting the upcoming live‑action Moana movie. Variety reported that Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who wrote Moana 2 and the live‑action remake, will write Moana 3. Johnson said the animated sequel will likely take several years to complete. The live‑action Moana is scheduled to open in theaters next weekend. Some critics have questioned the decision to remake a recent animated classic, noting that live‑action versions of other Disney titles have been released. Disney is also developing a live‑action Lilo & Stitch sequel slated for a 2028 release. Moana 2 earned more than $1 billion worldwide but received mixed reviews; IGN rated it 6/10, saying it did not significantly expand the world established in the original. Cade Onder, a freelance writer for IGN, covered the story.
Silo season 3 premieres on Apple TV on Friday, July 3, and consists of ten episodes.
The series is a science‑fiction thriller set in a sealed underground community; earlier seasons introduced a mystery surrounding the origin of the silos and featured flashback sequences.
The ten episodes alternate between present‑day events in Silo 18 and flashback narratives that focus on characters such as Daniel (Ashley Zukerman) and Helen (Jessica Henwick), as well as a storyline involving a junior congressman and a reporter investigating pre‑ and post‑Silo conspiracies.
The season also follows the arc of Juliette, whose memory is lost after season 2, and the role of Camille Sims, the new head of IT, who must make difficult decisions while her husband Robert provides counsel. The review indicated that the series provides new information that changes the audience's understanding of the show's world and its characters.
Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil movie will hit theaters on September 18 and tells an original story set in the franchise without featuring any characters from the games.
Cregger said in an interview with Empire that using legacy characters would be inorganic and that the film must focus on its own plot.
The movie stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier with no combat experience who becomes embroiled in a horror adventure. Cregger described Bryan as an everyman drawn into a mission comparable to Frodo’s journey in The Lord of the Rings.
Fans have voiced disappointment that familiar figures such as Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine will not appear, but Cregger said he expects the film to satisfy viewers with its distinct vision.
The release is pending, and the choice to omit established game characters remains a topic of conversation among the franchise’s audience.
Best Buy reported that its 4th of July sale this week includes discounts on several 2026 television models, with price reductions ranging from $159.99 to $600. The promotion follows Amazon’s Prime Day event and is timed for the holiday weekend, a period traditionally associated with increased consumer spending on electronics. The 65‑inch LG G6 evo 4K Smart TV (2026) was reduced by $600, according to Best Buy. It features an evo OLED panel with perfect blacks, a matte finish, and four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 165 Hz, variable refresh rate, and a 0.1 ms response time. The 55‑inch Samsung S84F OLED 4K TV (2026) was discounted by $600, bringing the price to $699.99. It uses a W‑OLED panel, a 120 Hz native refresh rate, and includes ALLM and variable refresh rate support. TCL’s 65‑inch Designer Series 4K QLED TV (2026) was discounted by 46 %. The model includes an off‑white bezel, a removable light‑wood frame, a Quantum Dot LED panel, a 144 Hz native refresh rate, and variable refresh rate support. The 50‑inch Insignia F50 LED 4K Fire TV was listed at $159.99. It offers basic 4K HDR support and Fire TV integration, but has a 60 Hz refresh rate and no variable refresh rate. The 55‑inch Samsung S90F OLED 4K TV (2025) was offered for just under $1,000. It features a 120 Hz panel, variable refresh rate on its HDMI 2.1 ports, and quantum dot OLED technology, though IGN noted a bloated user interface. The 65‑inch Hisense U7 MiniLED QLED TV (2026) was reduced to its lowest price yet. It includes a mini‑LED panel with up to 3,000 nits brightness, a 165 Hz refresh rate, and variable refresh rate support. The sale runs through the holiday weekend, and availability of each model may vary.
Razer announced the Iskur V2 NewGen gaming chair, a refreshed version of its 2020 flagship model, priced at $649.99. The original Iskur debuted in 2020 and has served as Razer’s flagship gaming chair. The V2 replaced the original in 2021, and the NewGen version, introduced in 2023, updates the design and features while retaining the same price point.
The chair features a wide backrest and seat, a three‑headed snake logo on a memory foam pillow, and a black and green color scheme with accent stitching on the EPU leather surface. Adjustable lumbar support uses side knobs to set height and depth and incorporates HyperFlex technology that reacts to movement. The seat includes dual‑density foam with a softer top layer over a cold‑cure base and microperforations intended to improve breathability. The chair supports users up to 300 pounds, offers a height adjustment range of 17 to 21 inches, and reclines up to 152 degrees. The aluminum wheelbase and a Class 4 piston provide durability and stability.
Assembly requires approximately 20 minutes and includes all necessary tools and gloves; armrests are pre‑installed. The 4D armrests allow adjustments of height, depth, width, and angle. The upholstery uses Gen‑2 EPU leather with CoolTouch technology, marketed as more breathable than prior PU leather. The chair is available in four colors: black, light gray, quartz pink, and black/green.
The review noted that the lumbar system and contoured backrest help distribute weight and reduce pressure points, and that the neck pillow is shaped for comfort. The price remains unchanged from the previous version, and Razer has not announced a successor, indicating the NewGen continues the line while a V3 model is expected. The update adds incremental features without a price increase, aiming to maintain the chair’s position in the competitive gaming‑furniture market.
Watch Dogs 2 is on sale for $2.50 on Steam through July 9, a 95% discount from its regular $50 price.
The game was developed by Ubisoft and released in November 2016.
Set in a fictionalized San Francisco, the story follows Marcus Holloway, a hacker who joins the group DedSec to oppose a technocratic regime.
According to SteamDB, the game currently has more than 10,000 concurrent players, and its 24‑hour peak reached over 16,000.
The all‑time concurrent high is 18,138.
GameSpot rated the game 8/10, describing the gameplay as an effortless mix of covert and action elements and noting a likable cast.
The increase in player numbers coincides with the sale period.
The sale ends on July 9.
Microsoft is offering free access to several video games on Xbox during the July 4 weekend. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 multiplayer and Zombies modes are available without charge through July 6. Diablo IV is free through July 7. Demonschool and The Stone Madness provide two‑hour trials until July 5. None of the titles require an Xbox Game Pass subscription during the promotion. Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure is included in the Free Play Days lineup through July 5 but requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential. The promotion coincides with expected Microsoft layoffs beginning July 6. Microsoft indicated it may close at least five studios, though other arrangements are possible.
Steven Spielberg is set to produce a feature film adaptation of the YouTube horror series The Mandela Catalogue, according to Deadline. The film will be produced for Amazon MGM, and series creator Alex Kister, age 22, will direct. Specific plot details have not been disclosed. The Mandela Catalogue series, which began in summer 2021 and continued through March 2024, depicts demonic doppelgangers that use deception to encourage self‑harm and is presented in an analog horror style using low‑fidelity recordings. Kister said much of the series was created using a phone. It is not clear whether the movie will directly adapt the series or serve as an extension of its narrative, similar to the Backrooms franchise. Warner Bros. recently announced a Siren Head film script by Zach Cregger, and the Backrooms series, which originated from an online creepypasta popularized by YouTuber Kane Parsons, has earned over $300 million at the box office. An extended version of the Backrooms film will open in theaters this weekend with a 15‑minute addition. In early June, Deadline reported that Parsons is considering a sequel, though it has not been greenlit. YouTuber Curry Barker achieved commercial success with the original film Obsession, which grossed more than $370 million on a budget of about $750,000, and he is now writing the script for A24’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, which he will also direct. Barker said Gen Z audiences are eager for well‑made original films and are tired of rushed productions.
Mahjong Pros Publishing announced at Anime Expo on Thursday that it has licensed the manga Golden Sakura and Maetel of the Glassy Sea for English-language physical and digital release in November 2026.
Mahjong Pros Publishing, the imprint of Mahjong set company Mahjong Pros, focuses on licensing, localizing, and distributing mahjong-themed manga and textbooks. The imprint was established in June 2025.
Golden Sakura, written by Sayaka Okada and illustrated by Kazuo Maekawa, depicts the story of Takuya Saotome, a professional mahjong player who, after facing debt, assumes a female identity to compete in the women's professional mahjong scene.
Maetel of the Glassy Sea, created by Katakei and Yoshiki Suda, follows Akina Mizuhara, a film student who discovers mahjong and advances through the M.League, experiencing marriage, rivalry, team success, and pressure while representing the U-NEXT Pirates as a "Noble Female Pirate."
The company plans to release both titles in physical and digital formats in November 2026, with additional details to be provided as they become available.
At the First Look | Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi panel during Anime Expo, a new trailer was shown announcing that the series will premiere on August 5 on Disney+ and Hulu. The panel also presented the series’ first episode with Japanese audio and English subtitles. The series is a limited anime spinoff that expands the short story “The Ninth Jedi” from the Star Wars: Visions anthology into a longer narrative. Kenji Kamiyama, known for directing “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” and “Eden of the East,” returns as supervising director and script supervisor. Shunsuke Tada, who directed “Kuroko’s Basketball” and “STARMYU,” is the series director. Hitoshi Itō serves as producer, and Lucasfilm executives Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes are listed as executive producers. The first volume of Star Wars: Visions launched on Disney+ in September 2021, followed by the second volume on May 4, 2023, and the third volume on October 29. Volume 2 featured nine shorts produced by animation studios from Japan, India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Chile, France, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. The upcoming series continues storylines from three shorts of the first volume: “The Duel,” “Village Bride,” and “The Ninth Jedi.” The short “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope” depicts a war that began before the character Kara’s birth. Production I.G handles the animation for the series.
Danny McBride announced details of a new G.I. Joe film, stating that it will be a suspenseful action picture and that production is planned for 2027. McBride, a comedian and co‑writer of the recent Halloween trilogy with director David Gordon Green, said he has completed a script that Paramount has approved. He described the story as following Duke and other Joes in the town of Springfield, which is secretly controlled by the Cobra organization. McBride added that several actors are in talks to star in the film. He emphasized his long‑standing interest in the G.I. Joe franchise and noted that he had previously pitched a Dreadnoks‑focused project before being asked to develop a proper G.I. Joe movie. The previous live‑action G.I. Joe film, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, was released in 2013, and a 2021 Snake Eyes movie failed to meet box‑office expectations. A teaser for a G.I. Joe crossover in the latest Transformers movie remains unrealized. The film could be released as early as 2028 if production proceeds smoothly, though an official release date has not been set.
Rockstar Games is expected to release Grand Theft Auto 6 on PC after an initial console launch, and its potential performance on Valve's Steam Machine has been the subject of recent discussion.
The Steam Machine, priced at $1,049, has generally been considered less powerful than the PlayStation 5, and its Linux‑based SteamOS operating system has faced compatibility concerns, particularly with anti‑cheat software.
Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated in a Bloomberg interview that Rockstar intends to prioritize its core console audience, though he acknowledged that PC platforms now account for roughly half of a game's sales. Previous Rockstar titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Enhanced Edition of Grand Theft Auto V have demonstrated strong scalability on PC, with adjustable graphics settings that allow performance on a wide range of hardware.
Independent testing has shown that Red Dead Redemption 2 can run at approximately 65 frames per second at 4K resolution with FSR set to performance and mixed graphics presets on the Steam Machine, while the Enhanced Edition of Grand Theft Auto V achieves 60 to 70 frames per second on high settings with ray tracing.
Analysts anticipate that Grand Theft Auto 6 will require more computational resources than its predecessors, potentially limiting frame rates on the base consoles to around 30 frames per second, but the PC version is expected to offer extensive graphical options.
Grand Theft Auto Online relies on BattlEye anti‑cheat, which currently does not support Linux, raising questions about online play compatibility on SteamOS; Rockstar has not indicated plans to modify its anti‑cheat solution.
Steam's latest hardware survey reports that Linux represents 3.9% of the platform's install base, a figure higher than macOS but still a minority that may not influence Rockstar's development priorities.
While Grand Theft Auto 6 is likely to run on the Steam Machine, performance may be constrained to single‑player modes and lower graphical settings compared with console versions; the timing of a PC release remains unspecified, with speculation suggesting a window of one to two years after the console launch.
Millie Bobby Brown said she auditioned for the role of X‑23 in Logan when she was 11 or 12, about ten years ago, and that she screen‑tested with Hugh Jackman.
She said she felt broken when she did not get the part and believed another actor was more suitable.
The role was awarded to Dafne Keen, whose audition was later released online, showing her improvisation and partial use of Spanish.
Keen has reprised the character in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Brown made the remarks in a promotional video for Enola Holmes 3 published by Entertainment Weekly.
Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced will launch on July 9 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. The Standard Edition costs $60, the Digital Deluxe Edition $70, and the Collector’s Edition $200, each releasing the same day. Preorder options are available through retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, GameStop, the Ubisoft Store, and PS Direct. Players on Xbox Series X|S can preload the game starting June 22 at 2 PM UTC. PlayStation 5 users may preload beginning July 7 at local midnight, and PC users can preload on July 7 at 2 PM UTC. Launch times on July 9 vary by region: in Los Angeles the game becomes available at 7 AM Pacific Time; in New York at 10 AM Eastern; in Montreal at 10 AM; in Mexico City at 8 AM Central; in São Paulo at 11 AM Brasília; in London at 12 AM BST, with PC releases at 3 PM BST; in Warsaw, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and other locations, times are listed similarly, with PC releases generally occurring a few hours after console launches. The update includes an overhauled combat system, improved enemy AI, social stealth mechanics, and customization options for the player’s ship, the Jackdaw.
Bandai Namco Pictures announced on Friday that the Aikatsu Stars! anime will receive a new film titled Aikatsu Stars! Hoshiboshi no Progress, scheduled to open in early spring 2027. The television series premiered on TV Tokyo in April 2016 and concluded in March 2018 after 100 episodes. The upcoming film returns original staff members Teruo Sato as director, Yūko Kakihara as writer, and Yukiko Aikei as character designer. It marks the 10th anniversary of the series and follows the 2023 release of the previous 10th anniversary film, Aikatsu! 10th Story ~Mirai e no Starway~. The franchise began with an arcade card game in October 2012 and has since produced multiple television series, films, and related games. Aikatsu! Planet, a hybrid anime‑live action series, received its own film in July 2022.
Amazon Prime members will receive 12 downloadable PC games and five streaming titles through Luna Standard during July. The downloadable games are released weekly: on July 2, CyClones, LoneStar, and Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga become available; on July 9, Still There and Regular Factory: Escape Room are added; on July 16, Poly Vita, Framed Collection, and Escape Academy are released; on July 23, In Sound Mind and Mystic Academy: Escape Room become available; and on July 30, Zoria: Age of Shattering and Weakless are offered. The streaming additions include Dispatch, Sonic Mania Plus, Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, YouTuber's Life, and Arcade Paradise. All claimed games remain accessible after the subscription ends. Luna can be accessed for $15 per month, and new members may sign up to take advantage of the offer.
Xbox is planning a large layoff that will begin on Monday, July 6, affecting several of its studios, but a recent report indicates that Obsidian Entertainment is not slated for closure. According to a July 2 Bluesky post by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, Obsidian is not in negotiations to avoid a shutdown, and the layoffs are expected to start with the developer of South of Midnight, Compulsion Games. An addendum to a July 2 Game Business article later clarified that Obsidian remains intact. Xbox says it will invest in its major franchises such as Gears of War and Halo while trimming smaller studios, many of which are currently negotiating to remain open. Obsidian, based in Irvine, California and founded in 2003, is known for role‑playing titles including Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, Alpha Protocol, and more recently Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, which fell short of Microsoft’s sales expectations. Head Feargus Urquhart told Bloomberg that the underperformance was not a disaster but a learning opportunity, noting the six‑year development cycle and the need to reassess spending and timelines.