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This Week (Aug 23 to Aug 29) |
It's been a busy week between Gamescom 2026 and GTA 6’s preview pulling plenty of gamers’ attention, along with other news. The Witcher 4 finally got a release window alongside a new trailer of The Witcher 3's Songs of the Past DLC, HoYoverse pulled back the curtain on Nodusfall, a surprising new co-op action title with AAA graphics, along with Arknights: Endfield linking up with UNIQLO for a China-exclusive apparel collab. Rockstar also gave an extended look for GTA 6 gameplay via a Netflix showcase, and Path of Exile 2 confirmed its 1.0 launch.
Reviews, on the other hand, were pretty varied. A new co-op fishing game turned out to be a surprisingly chaotic hit with some rough edges. Nioh 3 got its first DLC, showing off some of the franchise's better level designs yet, even if it comes up short on content. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy also arrived as a strong prequel between two intertwined stories.
Here's a quick look at some of the week's biggest gaming headlines.
Gaming News At A Glance
The Witcher 4 Gets a 2028 Release as Witcher 3 DLC Reveals a New Trailer
HoYoverse's Nodusfall is Finally Revealed
Arknights: Endfield x UNIQLO Collab Releases in China This August
GTA 6 Gets an Extended Look on Netflix
Path of Exile 2 Exits Early Access on December
Other News and Developments This Week
Review Roundup: August 23 to August 29
One Fishy Hit, One Short Sequel, One Split Prequel
⚫︎ How to Fish
⚫︎ Nioh 3: Hell Rising
⚫︎ Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Gaming News At A Glance: The Witcher 4's 2028 Launch and Witcher 3's DLC Trailer, HoYoverse Reveals Nodusfall, Arknights: Endfield x UNIQLO Collab, GTA 6’s Extended Netflix Preview, and Path of Exile 2’s 1.0 Release
The Witcher 4 Gets a 2028 Release as Witcher 3 DLC Reveals a New Trailer
CD Projekt Red confirmed The Witcher 4 is aiming for a 2028 release window, with joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski revealing the game now has more than 500 developers on board. This lands sometime around Sony's plan to end physical disc production starting January 2028, drawing mixed reactions from fans and players who own the console.
The same announcement also sheds more light on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past DLC, the series' long-awaited third expansion. Trailer footage shows the new region, more movesets for Geralt, and more details.
HoYoverse's Nodusfall is Finally Revealed
HoYoverse revealed Nodusfall during Gamescom's Opening Night Live, a co-op action title that looks nothing like the anime-styled games the studio has ever done before. Players take on the role of Weavers, teaming up to battle towering mythical creatures in a world where "divine authority has crumbled."
The reveal trailer has already drawn comparisons to Monster Hunter and Elden Ring, though HoYoverse has yet to confirm a release window or the platforms it will be available on. The game is known to be co-op, following a distinct display of AAA graphics and animation involved.
Arknights: Endfield x UNIQLO Collab Releases in China This August
Arknights: Endfield confirmed a China-exclusive collaboration with UNIQLO through the UTme! customization service, letting buyers apply Endfield-themed artwork to T-shirts, tote bags, and sweatshirts at designated stores. The event runs from August 25, 2026 through August 25, 2027, split across two design collections themed around exploration and summer.
There's no indication of a wider international rollout so far, continuing the game's trend of leaning into region-specific, real-world collaborations alongside its ongoing content updates.
GTA 6 Gets an Extended Look on Netflix
Rockstar Games released a 26-minute gameplay showcase for Grand Theft Auto VI, streamed as a timed Netflix exclusive and captured entirely on PS5. The presentation gave fans their first real look at gameplay mechanics, missions, and open-world activities across Leonida, including a high-stakes mission featuring dual protagonists Jason and Lucia, a dynamic cover system, and seamless character switching.
The showcase also detailed a sophisticated new police tracking system built around specific evidence like clothing and vehicles, along with an optional relationship system for Jason and Lucia's bond. The presentation drew a massive audience, briefly crashing Netflix under the traffic, and sparked widespread fan discussion over its visuals, physics, and newly revealed mechanics.
Path of Exile 2 Exits Early Access on December
Path of Exile 2 will fully launch as a free-to-play title on December 11, 2026, according to a new trailer shown during Gamescom's Opening Night Live. The short trailer confirmed the release across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S and additionally showcased combat from the long-requested, sword-wielding "Duelist" class.
The Duelist and highly anticipated swords have remained unavailable throughout Early Access, which began in December 2024. This makes their confirmation for the 1.0 launch a big welcome for fans who have been waiting since the class's initial reveal.
Other News and Developments This Week
⚫︎ Fareidolia is the Official Title of Blue Archive Devs' Project RX
⚫︎ Rune Factory 6 and New Story of Seasons Game Get First Looks at Anniversary Stream
⚫︎ Diablo IV x Witcher 3 Collab Marks Blizzard and CD Projekt Red's New Partnership
⚫︎ Punishing: Gray Raven x Date a Live V Collab Welcomes Kurumi Tokisaki
⚫︎ FF7 Revelation's Weapons Are The Stars of The Newest Trailer
⚫︎ Game of Thrones: War for Westeros Reveals Gameplay, Heroes and Early 2027 Release
⚫︎ FF7 Revelation Deep Dive Details Vincent Valentine, FITS System, and Weapons
Review Roundup: August 23 to August 29
One Fishy Hit, One Short Sequel, One Split Prequel
This week's games offered different kinds of experiences. How to Fish gave chaotic co-op fishing, first-person shooting, and raid-like boss fights all smacked into one game. Nioh 3: Hell Rising delivers good level design to date but is held back by a short runtime and a noticeable amount of recycled content. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy attempted to reach the emotional highs of its predecessors in giving a worthwhile story.
How to Fish
How to Fish is a 1-4 player physics-based co-op fishing sim that swerves into first-person shooting once its bosses show up. The chaos and unpredictability of playing with friends is where the game shines, even if the loop can grow grindy and repetitive the further you get.
Between an unintuitive looting system and a lack of new mechanics past its growing weapon roster, How to Fish still has some rough edges. Even so, its addictive core gameplay loop and the sheer hilarity of playing it with friends make it an easy game to get hooked on.
Nioh 3 Hell Rising
Nioh 3 Hell Rising is the action RPG's first DLC expansion, sending Takechiyo to an alternate future Edo overrun by the Crucible. The DLC boasts some of the best level design in the franchise so far, along with a new Hoko & Shield weapon type that plays differently across the Samurai and Ninja Styles.
Unfortunately, a short 7-8 hour runtime, a forgettable story, and a good chunk of recycled content hold it back from being a must-play expansion, making it one best picked up on sale or held off until the next DLC arrives.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a narrative-driven prequel following Sophia, a young plunderer whose past experimentation ties her to an ancient hero named Theseus. The game builds its 15-20 hour journey around light-based puzzles, combat, and stealth sequences that reward paying close attention to the environment or map.
The dual narrative between Sophia and Theseus works but doesn't hit quite the same emotional highs as Innocence or Requiem. Still, it remains a strong, worthwhile addition to the franchise for fans looking for another substantial Plague Tale experience.
