Spider-Man: Brand New Day is projected to have the largest opening weekend of 2026, according to box office analysts. Deadline estimates a domestic opening of $180 million to $190 million, which would surpass Toy Story 5’s $159 million opening and make Spider-Man the highest‑grossing weekend of the year so far. Box Office Pro forecasts $230 million to $250 million domestically, placing the film second only behind Spider-Man: No Way Home, which earned $260 million in its opening weekend. Global Box Office projects an $800 million worldwide opening, approaching the $1.2 billion debut of Avengers: Endgame. The Odyssey, released two weeks earlier, set a high bar and continues to benefit from exclusive IMAX screenings, though premium formats such as Dolby are expected to support Spider-Man’s earnings. Analysts note that the film’s strong cast, including Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal, and its broad appeal contribute to the optimistic forecasts. The projection suggests a continued strong summer for theaters, though the final figure will depend on audience turnout and competition from other releases.

Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the 2001 game Halo: Combat Evolved, began early access on July 23 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X, and includes three new missions set before the events of Combat Evolved. The original title has been re‑released several times; this version adds a narrative thread that follows Master Chief and Sergeant Avery Johnson on a mission to infiltrate a Covenant ship and rescue a marine, Lieutenant Wiliams. Some online commentators have criticized the presence of Lieutenant Wiliams, labeling her a “girlboss” and suggesting the inclusion reflects a focus on diversity initiatives. A gaming influencer on X posted that the character “is a poor design choice for Xbox,” a statement that attracted over a million views. Other observers noted that the new missions contain dialogue that feels cinematic and includes a line referencing an earlier Halo title as a nod to longtime fans. While several reviews have praised the remake for its fidelity to the original game, the controversy over the character has limited broader discussion of the title’s quality. The reaction to the character echoes earlier debates over casting choices in films such as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, indicating ongoing polarization about representation in entertainment media.

Stardew Valley players can now run a shop through a new mod called Farmer's Store. The creator described the mod as one of the most ambitious business management additions for the game. It lets players manage inventory, hire staff, order supplies and conduct marketing campaigns. The trailer shows gameplay where the player serves customers, prepares meals and attends to employee needs. Villagers visit the store and leave reviews based on their experience. The developer said the mod aims to recapture early‑game excitement by giving all product types equal profitability. Features include taking photos to boost item value and writing item descriptions to make them more enticing. The interface currently displays Chinese text, though the developer noted that the content is machine translated and English support is available. Some UI elements remain untranslated, and the author is collaborating with community members to add more language options. Dialogue is generated with an AI model that can switch languages as needed. The mod is built to work with other popular Stardew modifications such as Stardew Valley Expanded. Multiplayer functionality is planned for a future update. Nexus Mods users have given the mod overwhelmingly positive feedback despite occasional readability issues.

A multiplayer prop‑hunt game named Meccha Chameleon experienced a security incident involving user‑made maps on its Steam Workshop in early June. Player Feint reported that the map “Lazer Tag Zero” contained a malware dropper, leading to its removal from the workshop. Additional maps with similar issues were later identified. The game’s Discord server was compromised; the creator’s account was hijacked and all administrators were banned. Lemorion_1224, the game’s creator, posted on X that the server’s security had been breached and that the team could not act from its side. An update on the Steam page clarified that the game itself was not at risk and that players could continue using the game safely if they avoided custom maps. The update also described a fake listing for a Meta Quest‑compatible version of the game, which the developer said was unauthorized and for which no refunds would be issued. Following the weekend disruption, version 3.3.1 was released, restoring the correct Discord link, fixing a physical collision issue, and enhancing virus protection. The developer indicated that the new protection may address the map‑borne malware problem, but full resolution had not been confirmed. Players are advised to use the default maps until further verification.

Polygon's article highlights ten video games recognized for having every level considered a masterpiece. The selections span releases from 1986 to 2024 and include titles across multiple platforms.

The Legend of Zelda (NES), released February 21, 1986, featured distinct dungeon palettes, varied enemy placement, and additional quest elements such as false walls and altered mechanics after the initial quest.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS1), released September 20, 2000, offered compact, location‑specific stages that provided diverse opportunities for tricks and score accumulation, with later re-releases bringing the experience to modern consoles.

Mega Man X (SNES), released December 17, 1993, utilized enhanced hardware to create varied environments ranging from ruined highways to underground mines, waterlogged passages, towers, and frozen tundra, with stage interactions affecting later sections.

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES), released October 23, 1988, organized levels into worlds with maps, introduced new mechanics and hazards per stage, and was praised for its consistent, engaging design.

Celeste (multiplatform), released January 25, 2018, presented challenging platforming sequences that built on classic design principles, included optional strawberry collectibles, and emphasized player skill development.

Astro Bot (PS5), released September 6, 2024, delivered a variety of level concepts that referenced classic platforming titles, offered no filler content, and included optional challenging sections.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch), released March 25, 2022, employed a hybrid 2D‑3D perspective, featured alternate routes, hidden items, and added downloadable content that expanded the level count.

Super Monkey Ball (GameCube), released May 2001, presented tight, tilting‑based stages across three difficulty settings, with brief but demanding courses that encouraged repeated play.

Pizza Tower (Switch, PC), released January 26, 2023, offered platforming freedom similar to Wario Land, included varied transformations, and provided numerous opportunities for repeated play despite occasional demanding boss battles.

Battletoads (NES), released June 1991, featured difficult stages with diverse hazards such as spikes, lava, and water rapids, and required memorization and skill to progress.

The list demonstrates the range of level design excellence across video game history and remains a reference for developers and players.

Episode 16 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm premiered on Crunchyroll and received a community rating of 4.1. The episode consists mainly of action sequences and two dialogues involving the characters Yuru, Hayato, Asuma, and Dera. In the first dialogue, Hayato and Asuma question Yuru and attempt to persuade him to cooperate, discussing tactics such as blackmail, hostage taking, or torture, while Asuma describes a vision of freedom for Daemon bearers that Yuru rejects because he seeks a simple life for himself and his sister. Hayato notes that Yuru’s trust has been damaged and mentions his allies, including Left, Right, Dera, Hana, and Ken, as well as Asuma’s effort to be transparent. Yuru appears to engage in conversation to buy time, aware that the factions Right, Left, and Dera are searching for him. In the second dialogue, Dera meets a member of the Higashi Village Bandits and states that he cares about Yuru as a person rather than as a tool for domination, expressing concern about the sacrifice of a child for his own happiness. The episode also indicates that the series is streaming on Crunchyroll and provides navigation links for previous episodes. The article reflects the author's opinions and does not represent the views of Anime News Network.

At the Final Fantasy Fan Festival in Berlin, Square Enix's Naoki Yoshida said that remaking the extensive titles Final Fantasy 6, 8, or 9 would likely need multiple installments. The Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy is scheduled to finish next year, leading fans to ask which game will be remade next. Yoshida noted the size of the original games makes a direct remake difficult. Yoshida explained that Final Fantasy 6 contains more than a dozen protagonists, numerous major battles, and extensive worldbuilding, indicating a substantial development effort. He added that Final Fantasy 8 and 9 are similarly large with distinct gameplay systems. Modern hardware and evolving player expectations increase development complexity, and a skilled team is required for sequels, as seen with the staff who worked on Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Square Enix has released several HD-2D games, such as Octopath Traveler and the upcoming Final Fantasy Resonance, which combine pixel art with 3D graphics and may provide a more practical approach for a full remake. Producer Masaaki Hayasaka has said Final Fantasy 6 would be a top priority for an HD-2D project. While Square Enix has not announced any imminent remakes, the HD-2D framework offers a possible path forward, and fans continue to await official confirmation.

The next Super Smash Bros. title for the Switch 2 could feature a substantially revised roster, according to a Polygon article published July 27, 2026.

Super Smash Bros. games have historically updated their character lists to reflect recent Nintendo releases, using each new title as a snapshot of the company's current franchises.

The article suggested that the Mechanic from Splatoon Raiders might be added, providing a ranged fighter with multiple gadgets. It noted that Donkey Kong could receive a redesign inspired by Donkey Kong Bananza, including new attacks that involve breaking stage elements and a Final Smash featuring Pauline. The piece indicated that Samus Aran might gain new suit variants and a directed projectile based on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It also mentioned that Yoshi could obtain abilities from Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, such as throwing Peckadees or spreading spore effects. The article proposed that Tomodachi Life characters could replace Mii Fighters, allowing customizable avatars to appear as combatants. Additionally, it said that Karate Joe from Rhythm Heaven Groove might be introduced as a 2‑D fighter whose moves are synchronized with background music, and that Ditto from Pokémon Pokopia could be added as a shape‑shifting opponent.

Whether Nintendo will implement any of these changes remains unknown.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - the Calamity, episode 1, is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The episode received a community rating of 4.0. The episode is the first of the final ten-episode arc of the series, which continues the story after the previous installment that was shown in theaters. The episode opens with a wide shot of ruined scenery that re-establishes the setting and the combatants. The animation quality matches cinematic standards seen in earlier parts of the series. A brief recap of prior events is included, lasting less than a minute. The main fight features Yoruichi Shihouin in her God of Thunder form, where she defeats an opponent. The antagonist Askin displays multiple forms, indicating that his defeat is not yet complete. The pacing of the episode is steady, with several fight sequences occupying a substantial portion of the runtime. The reviewer notes that the series maintains strong animation and consistent pacing compared to earlier seasons, and expresses anticipation for the remaining episodes.

Best Buy is offering Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PCs for $497.99 with free shipping, a discount of roughly $100 from the original retail price. The devices, introduced in October 2025, feature an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512 GB SSD. They run Windows 11 and launch directly into the Xbox app, aiming to reduce background resource use. The non‑X model uses the same processor as the Steam Deck’s APU, while the higher‑end Xbox Ally X includes a Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Best Buy also lists preowned Xbox Ally X units for as low as $838.99, down from $1,000, with a 15‑day return policy. IGN senior writer Jackie Thomas noted that the Xbox Ally provides a comparable experience to the Steam Deck at a lower price, though performance may vary for more demanding titles. Pricing and availability may vary as retailers adjust offers.

The review of episode 28 of "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You" season 3, which streams on Crunchyroll, reports a community rating of 4.2. In the episode, Rentaro organizes a group idol performance with the series' female characters, assisted by tutor Kuori Tina, who evaluates each participant's suitability. The episode contrasts the harem premise, where all characters are included irrespective of skill, with typical idol conventions that require cohesive group performance. Preparation challenges include choreography adjustments for members with differing physical abilities and health concerns, and the group assembles a compromise performance that incorporates participants with varied talents. The performance is presented without dramatic conflict, and the narrative emphasizes the inclusion of all characters. The review notes that the episode does not introduce major new plot developments but continues the series' focus on group dynamics.