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Title: Beyond the Horizon: The Most Anticipated Games of 2026 Introduction If you thought 2025 was going to be a blockbuster year for gaming, just wait until you see what’s lining up for 2026. While the immediate future is packed with heavy hitters like Grand Theft Auto VI and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (currently slated for 2025), the delay-prone nature of game development means many of the industry's biggest titans are likely to land in 2026. As we look further down the pipeline, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of refinement, massive sequels, and the fruition of long-gestating projects. Here is a preview of the announced and highly anticipated gaming releases slated for 2026. The "Safe Bet" Blockbusters While few publishers have stamped "2026" on their marketing materials just yet, industry trends and development cycles suggest these giants will arrive that year. 1. Grand Theft Auto VI (The Likely Delay Candidate) Let’s address the elephant in the room. Rockstar Games has officially targeted a 2025 release window for the return to Vice City. However, Rockstar is infamous for polishing its games until they shine. Given the sheer scale of the map and the leap in technology required, many analysts and betting markets are quietly predicting a slip into early 2026. Why we’re watching: The first trailer broke the internet, and the hype is unmatched. If it lands in 2026, it will undoubtedly be the biggest entertainment launch of the year, possibly the decade. 2. Fable Playground Games, the masters behind the Forza Horizon series, are taking their first crack at a serious RPG with a reboot of the beloved Fable franchise. While a 2025 window has been tossed around, the transition from racing mechanics to deep RPG combat and storytelling is massive. Why we’re watching: We haven't had a true Fable entry since the Xbox 360 era. Early footage suggests a whimsical, dark fairytale aesthetic that runs on Unreal Engine 5. If Playground brings the same joy to exploration that they bring to driving, this could be a system-seller for Xbox. 3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Nintendo recently shocked fans by finally revealing gameplay for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. While they haven't given a hard date, the revitalization of Retro Studios usually implies a "when it's done" mentality. While late 2025 is possible, a 2026 release feels like a comfortable fit for Nintendo’s schedule, allowing them to space it out from other Switch successors launch titles. Why we’re watching: It has been nearly two decades since Metroid Prime 3. The return of Samus in first-person form is one of the most requested comebacks in history. The Next Generation of RPGs Role-playing games are getting longer, bigger, and more expensive to make, pushing several massive titles into the 2026 window. 4. Assassin’s Creed Hexe Ubisoft is entering a new era with the Codename Infinity platform, and Assassin's Creed Hexe is a major pillar of that strategy. Set in 16th-century Europe during the witch trials, this title promises a return to the stealth-heavy, darker roots of the franchise, moving away from the massive RPG bloat of Valhalla. Why we’re watching: Rumor has it that this will be the most narratively dense Assassin's Creed in years, ditching the vast open worlds for a tighter, more terrifying experience. 5. Civilization VII The Civilization series is the king of the "one more turn" addiction. With Civilization VI released in 2016 and supported for nearly eight years, a sequel is overdue. Development has likely been in full swing for years, and a 2026 window fits perfectly with the lifecycle of the previous game. Why we’re watching: Firaxis always reinvents the wheel. How will they handle districts now? What will the new combat mechanics look like? For strategy fans, this is the event of the decade. The Wildcards & Wish List These games are currently floating in "TBA" (To Be Announced) limbo, making 2026 a very realistic possibility. 6. Hollow Knight: Silksong Okay, we’ve been burned before. We’ve been waiting for this sequel for what feels like eons. However, Team Cherry has stated that the game is content-complete and in the polishing phase. It is highly unlikely it will arrive in late 2024 alongside Shadow of the Erdtree. Could 2026 finally be the year? Why we’re watching: If 2017’s Hollow Knight was a masterpiece, Silksong promises to be bigger, harder, and faster. The hype for this indie giant rivals AAA titles. 7. Monster Hunter Wilds (Potential Expansion?) While the main Monster Hunter Wilds game is slated for 2025, Capcom is known for its aggressive expansion cycles (G/U versions or Title Updates). A massive expansion or the "Iceborne" equivalent for Wilds would be a prime candidate for late 2026, keeping the hunt alive for another two years. Conclusion While 2025 might be the year of the initial splash with the arrival of the Switch 2 and GTA VI, 2026 looks to be the year where the next console generation truly finds its footing. From the fairy-tale lands of Albion to the witch-hunting grounds of Central Europe, the lineup is shaping up to be diverse and deep. Keep your savings jars ready, gamers. The future is bright, and it’s arriving in 2026.

The first episode of Fallout's second season debuted yesterday, and within its hour or so run time solved one of the biggest cut content mysteries from New Vegas, which had been left unanswered for 15 years. Please be aware of spoilers for Fallout season two episode one below. Along with introducing some new faces, the second season of Fallout also reunites us with the likes of Lucy and The Ghoul, who left together at the end of season one on the trail of disgraced (at least, in the eyes of many) Vault-Tec executive Hank MacLean. Hank, meanwhile, was last seen fleeing towards a ruined New Vegas in his pinched Brotherhood of Steel Power Armour. And, that brings us to the first episode of season two, with Lucy and The Ghoul following the bloody trail Hank has left in his wake. This includes a little stop off at Vault 24, a cut location from Fallout: New Vegas. We only know about this place because players discovered a Vault 24 jumpsuit tucked away in New Vegas' game files, which could only be found using console commands Now, as I am sure you are aware if you have read this far, many of the vaults in Fallout - both the show and the games - were set up to conduct experiments and such within. This has included the TV show's Vault 4, which experimented with mutants, and Fallout 76's Vault 63, which was set up by Vault-Tec's Hugo Stolz and his wife as a research facility for various technologies that would help with setting up post-War societies. There was also that poor chap that got put into Vault 77 totally on his own save for some puppets. So, what was tucked away in Fallout: New Vegas' Vault 24? For a long time it seemed likely we would never know, but, thanks to Amazon's show, we now have an answer. And that answer is… communists! When Lucy and The Ghoul step into the vault, which is now derelict and covered in vegetation, they come across skeletons strapped down in front of a propaganda video, which when they were alive would have been brainwashing the poor chaps. These aren't the only skeletons that were left to rot in the vault. Lucy and The Ghoul find many more strapped down within Vault 24, with pseudo-Soviet gear about the place. "These are Americans," Lucy realises, "and the Vault turned them into communists." This seems like a pretty odd thing for the Vault-Tec heads to have done, but to be fair, when did they ever do anything that couldn't be labelled as pretty odd? (Again, that poor man with the puppets). On further exploration, Lucy and The Ghoul come across someone alive down there. A Wastelander with a chip in his head like the one House used at the start of the episode, which allowed him to control a goon's mind, is sitting strapped down and clearly not of sound mind. This mind controlling chip is what Hank went into the vault to get a hold of, though it still needs some work to perfect, as so far the only people we have seen with the chips in their heads have not lived very long… that's probably a plot thread for another episode. So, there you have it. After 15 years, we now know what's in Vault 24. https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/Dogmeat-enters-Vault-24-in-Amazon's-Fallout-show.jfif?width=570&height=320&fit=crop&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp The second season of Amazon's Fallout is releasing on a weekly basis, with the final episode airing in February of next year. The team is already hard at work on season three, though, with the next series being written as we speak. Filming is then expected to begin in summer 2026, Fallout series executive producer Jonathan Nolan said earlier this month.

Hasbro is shuffling its video game division after making a big splash at the Game Awards James Ohlen joined Wizards of the Coast back in 2019 after a 22-year stint at BioWare to create a new IP for the Hasbro-owned tabletop gaming company. Six years later, after cofounding Archetype Entertainment to ship a very Mass Effect-looking RPG called Exodus, he’ll no longer be head of the studio when the game eventually ships in 2027. “At this stage, James felt his work on the game was complete and that the polishing and tuning were in great hands with the team,” Hasbro VP of Communications Abby Hodes told Bloomberg in a statement. She added that Ohlen asked to “shift his creative focus” and would remain a consultant for the company on tabletop gaming. Updated with a new trailer during last week’s Game Awards 2025 showcase, Exodus touts all of the things fans loved about Mass Effect, including bespoke relationships with NPCs, but with a new time dilation twist where the impact of choices players make will show up when they return to past locations decades or even centuries in the future. It’s an expensive-looking game from a brand new studio that began work during the pandemic, which might be part of why the delayed project is still a couple of years from launching. But Exodus isn’t just the potential start of a new franchise, it’s an entire world that Hasbro wants to use as a springboard for other products. Wizards released an Exodus TTRPG book earlier this year and would no doubt love to look at trading card and TV spin-offs if the game eventually becomes a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33-like hit. Bloomberg also reports that Ohlen stepping down comes alongside Blizzard veteran and Dreamhaven co-founder Paul Della Bitta becoming head of Wizards’ Digital Ventures division underneath fellow Blizzard veteran John Hight. Plenty of other BioWare veterans still remain at Archetype, including Chad Robertson and Drew Karpyshyn.

Who knows how many more holidays of physical game shopping we have left? This time of year makes me miss being a kid and unwrapping a cool new RPG I could then spend the winter quietly toiling through. Not an internet guide in sight. Just a fan living in the moment. So I’m always on the lookout to see what games are getting discounted during the holiday sell-off in case there are one or two things I can pick up and add to my physical collection for cheap. I might even wrap them and put them in a stocking or under the tree and pretend they’re from Santa. Here are a few of the good deals out there so far. I’ll be on the lookout for more and will update the list if I find them. Please feel free to share any good ones you’ve spotted in the comments as well. Visons of Mana The whimsical action-RPG is currently just $20 everywhere across both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (physical only). It’s a surprisingly decent stab at reinvigorating the Mana franchise after more than a decade without a real sequel. Final Fantasy 16 This one’s also $20 at most stores this week, a steal for a 2023 GOTY contender that shines despite its most glaring flaws. The music, performances, and cinematic boss fights are all top-tier and the action feels great even when it gets repetitive. Unicorn Overlord This Vanillaware strategy RPG also gets a bit repetitive in the back half but is worth it for the current price of just $25 across PS5 and Switch. The story makes no sense but the art is exceptional and the mash-up of turn-based combat and RTS micro-management is enough to keep you powering through. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 I’m still not very far in Warhorse Studios’ open-world immersive sim but I’m liking it a lot more than the first game. It’s also surprisingly cheap for a 2025 Game Awards nominee. It’s just $40 for PS5 and only $30 for Xbox. The PS5 version’s also been going in and out of stock at GameStop for the same lower price. Fantasian Neo Dimension Don’t let the mobile game origins fool you. Fantasian Neo Dimension is the good stuff. Mistwalker’s Hironobu Sakaguchi channels his early Final Fantasy roots to deliver a slick turn-based adventure that feels like it would have been right at home on the PS1. Amazon has the PS5 and Switch copies for just $30. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection I’ve been meaning to pick this one up for a while and for some reason it’s just $20 right now on Amazon. The games themselves are very similar but the hybrid strategy gameplay remains peak Game Boy Advance nostalgia. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age I feel like FF12 is a bit underrated these days. It’s pound-for-pound one of the densest entries in the series and the remaster does an excellent job of polishing up the PS2 visuals and improving some of the job board progression to make it feel more like a familiar job-based MMO system. It’s only $25 on both PS5 and Switch at the moment. Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Is the Pixel Remaster collection overpriced? Yes. Are the smoothmaster visuals a bummer? Also yes. But you can’t get too picky about owning a piece of history. Adding it to your collection for just $40 isn’t bad. Super Mario RPG You’ll probably never own the original SNES version of Super Mario RPG. Used copies start at $50. Nice ones are quite a bit more. The Switch remaster, which looks excellent and improves combat with a new ultimate system, is a great pickup at just $25 right now. Persona 3 Reload The physical version for PS5 is currently just $17 at Amazon and only $25 a Best Buy. It’s a stellar remake and probably my favorite game in the series at this point. Not as flashy as Persona 5 but with way better melancholy teen vibes.

If you thought Dying Light: The Beast was hard before, wait until you see the advanced difficulties of the Nightmare Experience. If you've been looking for more of a challenge from Dying Light: The Beast, then you're about to get it. Developer Techland has dropped Update 1.5 for Dying Light: The Beast, and it's giving players the chance to test their skills in the Nightmare Experience. To turn up the heat on players, human and infected enemies are now smarter, more aggressive, significantly stronger, and more reactive to the players' actions. Volatiles may now even appear during the day in some of the Dark Zones, and players have far fewer resources to deal with them all. If that wasn't enough, there's a new super enemy, the Alpha Volatile. Techland calls it "the most intelligent Volatile in the history of Dying Light." It's even smarter than the traditional Volatiles and its heightened senses can track the player across the entire map unless they reach a safe zone. The Alpha Volatiles can be killed, but good luck trying to pull that off. At night, the player is the prey for this creature. Players can also get new finishing maneuvers, including one-handed blunt weapons and one-handed slashing weapons. The dev team must not have thought the new Volatiles were enough to make Nightmare Experience a true challenge. Now players have to deal with hunger, which is tracked through The Hunger System. If players don't keep their character fed, they will succumb to debilitating effects that will weaken their stamina, health regeneration, and combat efficiency. The developers even added more challenge to the game by using the flashlight--its battery can become too low to use if players don't periodically recharge or replace it. The rest of the additions to the game are included below. Dying Light: The Beast Update 1.5 Notes Gameplay New Game+ & Legendary Levels Adjusted the NewGame+ and Legendary Levels progression curves to reduce farming exploits and balance the experience better. Starting a NewGame+ will now check the Legend Level of players to adjust enemies difficulty accordingly. Reaching Legend Level 300 before reaching NewGame+ 10 will make enemies' difficulty adjust accordingly. Legend Levels Fixed the possibility for players with no Legend Levels progress to pick up Legend Levels reward weapons left by coop teammates and obtain blueprints of such weapons Balanced mods bonus damage related to Legend Levels Rewards Balancing of durability of legend weapons Balanced situation where car HP scaled inconsistent with player damage for legend levels Fix for the buff “+15% damage (humans) of “Butcher’s Dream” failing to apply correctly Fix for critical hit damage does not scaling accordingly with legend levels Fixed cases of weapon mods and charms multiply base damage different than the one visible to the player NewGame+ Balancing amount of XP granted on higher NewGame+ levels Suiciders, Gas Tank Bitters and Gas Tank Virals fixes of explosion strength for higher NewGame+ levels Fixed the case of XP loss on Story Mode NewGame+ upon player’s death Fixes related to AI having higher ranks than quest rank in cases where it is not intended Performance & Stability Fixed multiple COOP crash cases when peer joins the host Fixed a crash triggered by changing FPS limiter values Fixed instances of FPS drops when switching graphics settings from Ultra to High Graphical improvements Raytracing Fixed laggy tree shadows when Raytracing enabled Applied various lighting fixes in Side Quest interiors on Raytracing mode Fixed COOP synchronization issues on PS5 Fixed graphical artifacts in the Exile cave upon adjusting Upscaler settings Implemented various occluder fixes across the environment Fixed rectangular blood shapes on the Peacekeeper weapon Fixed of reward icons glowing irregularly depending on how players highlight or claim rewards Environmental & navigational fixes Resolved an environmental issue in the Exile Cave where players get stuck behind a tent Corrected several geometry gaps visible when climbing ledges in the old town Addressed several geometry gaps visible when climbing ledges in the swamps area UI & Audio Fixed the big message for Legend Level gained suggests using "U" key for the Skills Menu instead of the correct "L" key Resolved missing strings related to Legend Levels Applied several Steamdeck UI issues related to misaligned or overlapping text Fixed weapon damage display for high Legend Levels (above 10m) Fixed the crest of recommended Legend Levels in the NewGame+ config screen not matching the actual Legend Levels crest of players on higher NewGame+ levels Re-enabled Photo Mode at the beginning of NewGame+ Adjusted the NewGame+ category title in Public Games section to prevent overlapping with other titles in certain languages Corrected the camouflage skill sound not playing correctly

Battlefield Studios has announced a free trial for Battlefield 6, taking place over the Thanksgiving break for people in the US. The free trial runs November 25 through December 2, and it'll feature a sampling of the full game, including five modes and three maps (these were not specified, however). The free trial will be available across all platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Battlefield 6 free trial start-times The free trail begins November 25 at 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET. It ends at the same time on December 2. November 25 4 AM PT 7 AM ET 12 PM GMT The announcement of the free trial came on the same day that Battlefield Studios launched the Battlefield 6 California Resistance update. This adds a new map, Eastwood, along with a "fast-paced" limited-time event mode called Sabotage. The November 18 update also added a new Gauntlet mission for the Redsec battle royale mode, along with new items called Prepper Stashes, which are now scattered throughout the Fort Lyndon map. The next phase of Battlefield 6's Season 1 arrives on December 9 with Winter Offensive; this update will add "special seasonal themed content" to the game. For more, check out the full Battlefield 6 California Resistance update patch notes, which includes a major change for aim-assist. Battlefield 6 launched in October and has reportedly sold more than 10 million copies. Its owner, EA, is in the process of being acquired for $55 billion.

In today's blog, we're excited to share another preview from the Nordic Horizons DLC with our amazing #BestCommunityEver! This time, we're heading to the stunning city of Trondheim to explore its beauty and check out the new oversized cargo routes available for truckers owning the Special Transport DLC. On the banks of the Trondheimsfjord lies the charming city of Trondheim, with over a thousand years of history dating back to the Viking Age, when it was founded by Olav Tryggvason in 997. If you're familiar with Trondheim, you'll likely recognize several of these in-game locations our map designers have recreated with attention to detail. In the northern part of Trondheim, you'll find a unique two-storey roundabout along the Rv706, which spans both the surface and an underground level, connecting to a tunnel leading into the city center. Nearby, we've recreated a shopping mall, the town hall, and the Leangen train station, all positioned close together just as they are in reality. Continuing along the Rv706, you'll reach the city's port area, home to another historic landmark: the Dora submarine pens. Right next to them is the Trondheim Maritime Center and a local factory. From this area, you can also see the popular local waterfront sauna and cultural venue - everything faithfully recreated to mirror the real-life locations. We've also paid attention to smaller, yet distinctive architectural details that enhance the sense of place: the utilities near the port shaped like a submarine sail, and several sculptures along a nearby roundabout. Together, these elements aim to make you feel as if you're truly there. Trondheim is a major land and sea transport link of Norway, connecting the more densely settled south with the far-northern regions. Because of that, you will find plenty of industries to deliver cargo to and from, including a supermarket, scrapyard, furniture factory, quarry, construction site, river port, and paper mill. At the last three mentioned depots, you will be able to experience the new dynamic cargo loading and unloading feature (loading at the river port, and unloading at the construction site and paper mill)! BIG in Nordic Horizons If you own the Special Transport DLC, which lets truckers haul oversized cargo, you'll want to know which routes are designated for these massive loads! In Nordic Horizons, drivers will be able to tackle five new routes, each carefully planned with escort vehicles and local police support to ensure smooth deliveries. Apart from the new routes, you will also be able to transport new cargoes - the Wind Turbine Blade and the Underground Loader. You can read more about these cargoes in the dedicated blog. The payoff is worth the challenge - these jobs offer extra rewards for your skill and effort. But don't underestimate them: even with escorts, manoeuvring oversized cargo through tight turns and tricky terrain is no easy feat. Think you have what it takes? Pick a job and prove your skill on these special routes: Jyväskylä to Vaasa (Finland) Kuopio to Kajaani (Finland) Oulu to Rovaniemi (Finland) Narvik to Kiruna (Norway to Sweden) Trondheim to Östersund (Norway to Sweden) If you don't own this DLC and want to give these challenging jobs a try, you can buy the Special Transport DLC on Steam!

2025 delivered one of the strongest lineups in PC gaming history, with over 10,000 Steam releases, massive AAA blockbusters like Monster Hunter Wilds and Civilization VII, long-awaited sequels like Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong, and critically acclaimed indies topping Metacritic charts (e.g., Hades II at 95, Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at 92). Here's a chronological table of standout PC releases (curated from major calendars; all confirmed for PC/Steam, many multi-platform): Date Game Genre/Notes Jan 9 Freedom Wars Remastered Action RPG remake Jan 23 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth JRPG epic (PC port) Jan 30 Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Open-world superhero action (PC port) Feb 4 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Medieval RPG Feb 11 Civilization VII 4X strategy Feb 18 Avowed First-person fantasy RPG Feb 28 Monster Hunter Wilds Action RPG Mar 6 Split Fiction Co-op action-adventure (91 Metacritic) Mar 20 Assassin's Creed: Shadows Stealth-action in feudal Japan Mar 27 Atomfall Survival shooter Mar 27 The First Berserker: Khazan Soulslike ARPG Apr 8 South of Midnight Action-adventure Apr 10 Blue Prince Puzzle adventure (92 Metacritic) Apr 24 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Turn-based RPG (92 Metacritic) Sep 4 Hollow Knight: Silksong Metroidvania (90 Metacritic) Sep 25 Hades II Roguelike (95 Metacritic, top-rated) Oct 3 Digimon Story: Time Stranger JRPG Oct 10 Battlefield 6 Multiplayer FPS Oct 10 Little Nightmares 3 Horror platformer Oct 21 Jurassic World Evolution 3 Management sim Oct 21 Ninja Gaiden 4 Action hack-and-slash Oct 21 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 RPG Oct 29 The Outer Worlds 2 RPG shooter Oct 30 Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake JRPG remakes Oct 30 Arc Raiders Co-op extraction shooter Nov 14 Where Winds Meet Open-world action Nov 15 Escape from Tarkov (full release) Hardcore FPS Nov 19 Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Roguelike shopkeeper Dec 4 Octopath Traveler 0 JRPG prequel Dec 4 Routine Horror exploration Dec 8 Skate Story Stylish skateboarding This focuses on highly anticipated/AAA titles and top critics' picks; full SteamDB calendars show thousands more indies monthly (e.g., Dec has dozens upcoming). For Steam's top-rated by user reviews, early 2025 hits like those in March (96%+) and October dominated peaks over 400k concurrent. Check PC Gamer or SteamDB for exhaustive lists/updates.

Where Winds Meet is a free-to-play open-world action-adventure RPG developed by Everstone Studio (published by NetEase), set in a fantastical version of 10th-century China during a turbulent era of warring factions. You play as a martial artist mastering Wuxia-style combat with weapons like swords, spears, fans, and umbrellas, exploring a massive seamless world filled with quests, boss fights, base-building, stealth, minigames, crafting, fishing, and multiplayer elements like co-op, PvP, and battle royale modes. It launched globally on November 14, 2025, for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PS5 (console exclusive initially), with mobile versions in China earlier. The game has exploded in popularity, hitting 2 million players in its first 24 hours and maintaining high Steam concurrent peaks into week two (over 200k recently). Aggregate Review Scores Platform/Source Score Reviews Notes Steam (User) 85% Very Positive 35,894 total (recent focus) Users praise combat, world, and value; some note UI jank. Metacritic (PC) 70 Mixed/Average 13 critics; User: 6.8 PC-focused; critics call it ambitious but unfocused. OpenCritic 73 (Fair) 9 critics 62% recommend; highs from GamingBolt (9/10), Wccftech (8.5/10). IGN 6/10 N/A "Action RPG amusement park... every ride at half speed." GamesRadar+ Unscored (Positive) N/A "Bloated but fun"; loves Sekiro combat and spectacle. Critic reception is mixed—praising the spectacle but critiquing bloat—while users are far more enthusiastic, especially for a F2P title. Pros Stunning visuals and world: Breathtaking landscapes, immersive Wuxia atmosphere, rewarding exploration with secrets, creepy quests, and verticality (triple-jumps, parkour). Combat shines: Fluid, Sekiro-inspired parry/dodge system with spectacular bosses ("exploding fireworks factory"), combos, and "Mystic Arts" (e.g., Tai Chi throws). Evolves with progression; optional challenges for Soulslike fans. Depth and variety: Rich lore/story, excellent character creator/customization, side content (hunting, cooking, base-building), charming tone with witty scripts and scoundrels. F2P value: Not predatory; cosmetics are gaudy but earnable in-game, no major P2W. Huge content for free. Cons Overwhelming UI/menus: "Four million currencies," cluttered screens, hard to navigate—like "Gatwick airport drunk." Throws everything at you early. Jank and inconsistencies: Floaty movement, poor hit feedback, buggy stealth (e.g., spotted while invisible), minigames/rhythm debates feel forced/annoying, occasional performance issues. Kitchen-sink bloat: Too many half-baked systems (AI NPCs, multiplayer rituals) dilute focus; simple puzzles, tonal whiplash. Microtransactions: Battle pass and pricey cosmetics ($30+ outfits) pop up often, though skippable. Verdict: A ambitious, joyous Wuxia playground with top-tier combat and a gorgeous world that's perfect for fans of open-world action (think Assassin's Creed meets Nioh/Sekiro). It's rough—especially the UI—but the highs outweigh the lows for most players, and patches could polish it further. Highly recommended as F2P; download on Steam/PS5 and try it yourself. If you love martial arts spectacle and exploration, it'll hook you despite the chaos.

We’re excited to share with our community that the 1.57 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now officially released! This free update brings new content, refreshed DLCs, quality of life improvements, and more. Let’s dive in and take a look at what’s in store. Before we take you through all the new features this update brings to the game, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the Open Beta and reported issues on our forum. This really helped us fine-tune the update and make it ready for the full update release. Scandinavia Refresh Update 1.57 for ETS2 brings the long-awaited refresh for the Scandinavia DLC. Our team has embarked on an ambitious refresh of the Scandinavia map expansion to create and bring the region up to the quality standards of newer map content. Key improvements include: A full refresh of the region with updated textures, vegetation, and road assets, alongside new rest stops and fuel stations. A major overhaul of the road network: custom-designed junctions replacing old prefabs (notably around Denmark’s motorways and Sweden’s busy E-corridors). New map additions, including the brand-new cities of Aarhus in Denmark and Karlstad in Sweden, along with a completely rebuilt Copenhagen featuring modern infrastructure and landmark recreations to enrich the network and scenery, and much more for you to discover! This update is intended to ensure that when players cross through the Scandinavia region en route to the upcoming Nordic Horizons expansion, the visual and structural transition feels seamless and up-to-date. HDR Support We are implementing HDR (High Dynamic Range) support in the game. HDR is a feature that enhances image quality, allowing players with HDR-compatible monitors or TVs to experience richer colours and improved contrast. Alongside HDR, we are also updating the brightness setup to give players more control over visual settings. This will include a dedicated setup screen where you can preview your brightness adjustments on actual in-game images, as well as an HDR Calibration feature, which lets you fine-tune the HDR effect using a simple slider. For players using HDR-compatible displays, the feature will be automatically enabled in the game, ensuring you get the best possible visual experience from the moment you start playing. Cursor Navigation Enhancements We've also fine-tuned the cursor navigation experience. The cursor speed is now consistent across all screen resolutions, and the overall speed and control precision have been slightly increased when using a controller, making navigation smoother and more responsive. Dynamic Cargo Loading and Unloading The long-awaited dynamic loading and unloading feature is debuting in Euro Truck Simulator 2, bringing even more immersion and realism to your trucking experience. Originally introduced in American Truck Simulator, this feature will now appear in selected custom and prefab depots across ETS2, starting with locations in the Nordic Horizons DLC and expanding to suitable depots throughout the base map, other map DLCs, and even a custom shipyard in Athens, Greece. For the initial rollout, logging trailers will be the first to benefit from this feature. Players hauling Logs, Large Tubes, or Iron Pipes will see material handlers or crawler excavators dynamically loading and unloading their cargo. Simply position your trailer in the designated area, and the process will start automatically, adding a satisfying touch of realism to every delivery. From sawmills and construction sites to steelworks and material stores, drivers will find plenty of opportunities to try out this new system. And this is just the beginning, our team plans to expand dynamic loading and unloading to more cargo types and locations in future updates. Scania R/S SUPER, 770 V8 + Smart Dash The Scania R & S series will receive a major overhaul in 1.57, introducing the newest SUPER engines (420–560 hp) and V8 powertrains (590, 660, 770 hp) alongside Opticruise G25, G33, and G38 transmissions. Inside, drivers can enjoy Scania’s new Smart Dash and Smart Dash Advanced interiors, available in several variants. On the outside, there are fresh customization options such as SUPER badges, sensor-equipped fenders, and official Scania SUPER and 770 paint jobs for both trucks and trailers. Special Transport DLC Update We have some thrilling new content for owners of the Special Transport DLC. This free update adds two massive new cargoes designed to push your driving precision and skill to the limit, perfect for those who love a real challenge on the road. Wind Turbine Blade First up is the Wind Turbine Blade, an impressive 30-metre load that demands full control and focus. Hauled on a 4-axle steerable trailer, this heavy cargo will test even the most experienced drivers. You’ll find this contract available from Rostock to Berlin in Germany and, for those exploring the upcoming Nordic Horizons DLC, from Jyväskylä to Vaasa. Underground Loader The second addition, the Underground Loader, is a mining powerhouse that comes with serious weight and scale. Carried on a 6-axle low loader trailer, this job will challenge your ability to handle long and heavy loads, with routes available from Dortmund to Hannover and Narvik to Kiruna in Nordic Horizons. Krone Trailer Pack DLC Update The Krone Trailer Pack DLC is expanding with several new configurations and visual upgrades! This update introduces city versions of existing Krone trailers, each featuring steerable axles for improved manoeuvrability in tight urban environments. New Additions Include: Profi Liner City Cool Liner City Dry Liner City Profi Liner HCT Additional Updates & Features Profi Liner gains a new body variant: Profi Liner TIR with sideboards. Profi Liner and Dry Liner both receive new 15m chassis and body variants The Profi Liner building variant receives a new chassis with a steerable axle plus an additional new body design Reworked Players' Company Logos & Paint Jobs Last but not least, the update 1.57 refreshes your company identity with a new set of logos to choose from when creating or updating your profile. The classic designs were modernized to give every company a fresh but familiar look. The update also adds new customisation options for paint jobs - you can now choose your own colours using the RGB picker or select from preset combinations to create a look that perfectly fits your company’s identity. Adjustable Trailer Suspension Height Adjusting your trailer height can make all the difference when hooking up or making a delivery, and in this update, we're introducing a new feature to help with exactly that. Adjustable trailer suspension height lets you raise or lower your trailer as needed whilst on the road. Much like the existing option for adjusting your truck’s suspension height, players can set up dedicated hotkeys in the settings to control the trailer suspension, giving you the flexibility to fine-tune the height whenever you need to. It’s a simple but practical addition that we hope you’ll find helpful! Changelog Vehicles Dynamic Cargo Loading and Unloading Scania R/S SUPER, 770 V8 + Smart Dash Special Transport DLC Update Krone Trailer Pack DLC Update Added new AI truck variants to traffic Adjustable trailer suspension height controls added Map Scandinavia Refresh Visual HDR Support Reworked Players' Company Logos & Paint Jobs UX Cursor Navigation Enhancement

We’re thrilled to announce that the Open Beta for the 1.57 update of Euro Truck Simulator 2 is now available to try and test out! Scandinavia Refresh Update 1.57 for ETS2 brings the long-awaited refresh for the Scandinavia DLC. Our team has embarked on an ambitious refresh of the Scandinavia map expansion to create and bring the region up to the quality standards of newer map content. Key improvements include: A full refresh of the region with updated textures, vegetation, and road assets, alongside new rest stops and fuel stations. A major overhaul of the road network: custom-designed junctions replacing old prefabs (notably around Denmark’s motorways and Sweden’s busy E-corridors). New map additions, including the brand-new cities of Aarhus in Denmark and Karlstad in Sweden, along with a completely rebuilt Copenhagen featuring modern infrastructure and landmark recreations to enrich the network and scenery, and much more for you to discover! This update is intended to ensure that when players cross through the Scandinavia region en route to the upcoming Nordic Horizons expansion, the visual and structural transition feels seamless and up-to-date. HDR Support We are implementing HDR (High Dynamic Range) support in the game. HDR is a feature that enhances image quality, allowing players with HDR-compatible monitors or TVs to experience richer colours and improved contrast. Alongside HDR, we are also updating the brightness setup to give players more control over visual settings. This will include a dedicated setup screen where you can preview your brightness adjustments on actual in-game images, as well as an HDR Calibration feature, which lets you fine-tune the HDR effect using a simple slider. For players using HDR-compatible displays, the feature will be automatically enabled in the game, ensuring you get the best possible visual experience from the moment you start playing. Cursor Navigation Enhancements We've also fine-tuned the cursor navigation experience. The cursor speed is now consistent across all screen resolutions, and the overall speed and control precision have been slightly increased when using a controller, making navigation smoother and more responsive. Dynamic Cargo Loading and Unloading The long-awaited dynamic loading and unloading feature is debuting in Euro Truck Simulator 2, bringing even more immersion and realism to your trucking experience. Originally introduced in American Truck Simulator, this feature will now appear in selected custom and prefab depots across ETS2, starting with locations in the Nordic Horizons DLC and expanding to suitable depots throughout the base map, other map DLCs, and even a custom shipyard in Athens, Greece. For the initial rollout, logging trailers will be the first to benefit from this feature. Players hauling Logs, Large Tubes, or Iron Pipes will see material handlers or crawler excavators dynamically loading and unloading their cargo. Simply position your trailer in the designated area, and the process will start automatically, adding a satisfying touch of realism to every delivery. From sawmills and construction sites to steelworks and material stores, drivers will find plenty of opportunities to try out this new system. And this is just the beginning, our team plans to expand dynamic loading and unloading to more cargo types and locations in future updates. Scania R/S SUPER, 770 V8 + Smart Dash The Scania R & S series will receive a major overhaul in 1.57, introducing the newest SUPER engines (420–560 hp) and V8 powertrains (590, 660, 770 hp) alongside Opticruise G25, G33, G38 CM, and CMR transmissions. Inside, drivers can enjoy Scania’s new Smart Dash and Smart Dash Advanced interiors, available in several variants. On the outside, there are fresh customization options such as SUPER badges, sensor-equipped fenders, and official Scania SUPER and 770 paint jobs for both trucks and trailers. Special Transport DLC Update We have some thrilling new content for owners of the Special Transport DLC. This free update adds two massive new cargoes designed to push your driving precision and skill to the limit, perfect for those who love a real challenge on the road. Wind Turbine Blade First up is the Wind Turbine Blade, an impressive 30-metre load that demands full control and focus. Hauled on a 4-axle steerable trailer, this heavy cargo will test even the most experienced drivers. You’ll find this contract available from Rostock to Berlin in Germany and, for those exploring the upcoming Nordic Horizons DLC, from Jyväskylä to Vaasa. Underground Loader The second addition, the Underground Loader, is a mining powerhouse that comes with serious weight and scale. Carried on a 6-axle low loader trailer, this job will challenge your ability to handle long and heavy loads, with routes available from Dortmund to Hannover and Narvik to Kiruna in Nordic Horizons. Krone Trailer Pack DLC Update The Krone Trailer Pack DLC is expanding with several new configurations! This update introduces city versions of existing Krone trailers, designed with steerable axles for improved manoeuvrability in tight urban environments. The new additions include the following: Profi Liner City Cool Liner City Dry Liner City Profi Liner HCT Reworked Players' Company Logos & Paint Jobs Last but not least, the update 1.57 refreshes your company identity with a new set of logos to choose from when creating or updating your profile. The classic designs were modernized to give every company a fresh but familiar look. The update also adds new customisation options for paint jobs - you can now choose your own colours using the RGB picker or select from preset combinations to create a look that perfectly fits your company’s identity. Changelog Vehicles Dynamic Cargo Loading and Unloading Scania R/S SUPER, 770 V8 + Smart Dash Special Transport DLC Update Krone Trailer Pack DLC Update Map Scandinavia Refresh Visual HDR Support Reworked Players' Company Logos & Paint Jobs UX Cursor Navigation Enhancements If you wish to participate in this Open Beta, you can find this version in the Experimental Beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 → Properties → Betas tab → Beta Participation drop-down menu → public_beta. No password is required. Sometimes you will have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

We hope that you are eager to drive your truck in the captivating landscapes of northern Scandinavia! Because today, we have some really exciting news for our #BestCommunityEver. Make sure to mark your calendars - we are excited to reveal that the... Nordic Horizons DLC will be released on November 27, 2025 Believe us, we're just as excited as you are! It won't be long until you are driving through breathtaking fjords and towering mountains that stretch all the way to the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by stunning landscapes brimming with nature. Along the way, you'll pass vibrant cities, iconic bridges, underwater tunnels, narrow roads, charming coastal villages, and smaller towns with classic Nordic architecture. This is the incredible adventure awaiting you in our largest Euro Truck Simulator 2 map expansion yet. Want to see what's in store for you with your own eyes? Watch our official video trailer for the very first time below! And if you haven't done it already, make sure to add the Nordic Horizons DLC to your Steam wishlist to be notified when it releases! We can't wait for you to put your truck to work in the breathtaking lands of northern Scandinavia! Dozens of beautifully recreated cities and towns across Norway, Sweden, and Finland are ready to welcome you, with hundreds of depots prepared to receive your deliveries and load your trailer - setting you off on your next unforgettable journey. There is plenty to discover in this map expansion - behind every corner is something new to explore, as you can see in these screenshots. If you'd like to watch more in-game action from this DLC, we've also previously released two gameplay video previews. In the first one, we take you from a rest stop near Tromsø through the Swedish town of Karesuando, and further northeast - you can watch it here. The second follows a drive from the town of Andenes all the way to picturesque Svolvær - watch that one here. Can't wait to be trucking in Nordic Horizons? Then make sure to add this DLC to your Steam Wishlist! Until next time, we will see you on the road!