Grand Theft Auto VI Leaks, Double Fine Leaves Xbox, Switch 2 Grows
Grand Theft Auto VI dominates the week as an apparent playable build continues leaking and Take-Two Interactive turns takedowns into a federal-court investigation . At the same time, Xbox’s reset pushes multiple studios toward independence, while Nintendo Switch 2 adds high-profile ports and exclusives amid a UK price increase
.
Grand Theft Auto VI Leak Fallout Becomes a Legal Battle
The Grand Theft Auto VI leak grows from scattered clips into a sustained release of gameplay, assets, and map material that appears to come from a playable build . Reported footage shows Jason Duval driving, playing basketball, and attracting police attention, while additional videos continue circulating after copyright takedowns
.
Take-Two Interactive files federal-court subpoenas seeking information from Microsoft and Discord that could identify the person or people behind the leaks . The requests reportedly cover OneDrive data, Xbox accounts, and Discord users, with Microsoft and Discord asked to respond by September 4; Microsoft says it is working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games
.
The leak also creates a security risk, with warnings about fake Grand Theft Auto VI downloads appearing on piracy sites even though no confirmed playable copy is circulating . Stop Killing Games rejects any connection to the leakers and condemns the use of illegal methods, while Grand Theft Auto VI remains scheduled for November 19, 2026
.
Double Fine and Compulsion Games Regain Independence From Xbox
Double Fine Productions regains control of the intellectual property and publishing rights for every game it made during its seven years under Microsoft . Tim Schafer says the Psychonauts developer will let fans vote on its next game, hold its first game jam since 2019, and return to Kickstarter as it plans its post-Xbox future
.
Compulsion Games also becomes independent after its management completes a buyout of the studio and its staff . The We Happy Few and South of Midnight developer says it controls the rights to its original intellectual properties and its publishing operations, with CEO Guillaume Provost confirming that the team is already working on an existing project
.
Nintendo Switch 2 Adds Metal Gear Solid 4, Diablo 4, and Call of Duty
Nintendo Switch 2 receives Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 on August 27, 2026, bringing Metal Gear Solid 4 beyond its previous PS3 exclusivity and adding a new PS5 version . A side-by-side comparison also highlights the visual differences between the Switch 2 release, the original PS3 game, and the PS5 edition
.
The reportedly upcoming Diablo 4 Nintendo Switch 2 port targets September 15 as part of the Age of Hatred Collection, which is said to include the Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred expansions . The port and release date remain based on insider reports rather than a formal Blizzard announcement
.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is also scheduled to come to Nintendo Switch 2 in October, marking Call of Duty’s return to Nintendo platforms after 13 years . Activision partner Digital Legends is supporting the Switch 2 version, and Nintendo players are scheduled to join the open beta during the second beta weekend
.
Nintendo’s current console becomes more expensive in the UK on September 1, with the price rising from £395.99 to £419.99; Ireland’s price increases from €469.99 to €499.99 . The change adds pressure to the platform’s growing software lineup even as Nintendo Switch 2 continues expanding its library.
The Duskbloods Leaks Before a Troubled Switch 2 Network Test
FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive built around PvP battles, and leaked footage shows fights involving guns, wolves, and velociraptors ahead of its closed beta . Nintendo denies a reported September 24 release date, leaving the game without a confirmed launch date in the available coverage
.
The first network test ends early after widespread server and connectivity problems prevent players from logging in . FromSoftware apologizes for the disruption, while Hidetaka Miyazaki says the project uses skill-based matchmaking to protect newcomers from more experienced players
.
Miyazaki also says FromSoftware remains interested in returning to single-player games despite The Duskbloods and Elden Ring: Nightreign focusing on multiplayer . The combination of leaked footage, uncertain launch timing, and a failed first test leaves the Switch 2 exclusive with plenty of attention but few firm release details.
Sony Faces PlayStation 6 Uncertainty and Horizon Hunters Changes
Sony still reportedly has no internal release date for PlayStation 6, with ongoing component shortages complicating the company’s next-generation hardware planning . The lack of an internal target leaves Sony’s next console without a confirmed release window.
PlayStation also reportedly reworks Horizon Hunters Gathering after negative private playtest feedback, shifting the project away from live-service features and toward a smaller co-op game with a story mode . Developers are reportedly being reassigned within Sony’s studios, while the next mainline Horizon game remains years away
.
The platform’s digital ownership messaging creates another source of tension, as Sony reminds PlayStation users that digital games are licensed rather than sold shortly before a planned boycott over the company’s decision to end new PlayStation disc releases from 2028 . Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo use similar language for digital purchases, but the timing makes Sony’s reminder especially contentious
.
Against that backdrop, Helldivers 2 reaches more than 22.9 million players, making Arrowhead’s co-op shooter one of PlayStation’s biggest games even as reporting questions whether Sony’s wider live-service strategy has matched that success .
Phantom Blade Zero and Marvel’s Wolverine Set the PS5 Release Calendar
Phantom Blade Zero receives a confirmed October 29 release date for PlayStation 5, with S-GAME’s State of Play presentation showing its wuxia combat, Wulin setting, story, and involvement from Donnie Yen . The showcase does not confirm the rumored PS5 demo, which remains unannounced
.
Marvel’s Wolverine goes gold ahead of its September 15, 2026 PlayStation 5 release, confirming that the version 1.0 build is complete and included on the game’s disc . Insomniac Games also confirms that players can unlock Wolverine’s gold claws
.
Remedy Entertainment’s Control Resonant goes gold ahead of its September 24 digital launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but physical copies slip to October 15 . The Sinking City 2 also launches on PS5 during the week, with Frogwares moving the sequel toward focused Lovecraftian survival horror while retaining investigation elements; early reviews are mostly positive
.
Elsewhere on the calendar, Kingdom Hearts IV targets late 2027 after a new D23 trailer, with co-director Tai Yasue saying the game will launch in 2027 . Xbox players receive the game as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, providing access on Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox PC app without a second purchase
.
The Blood of Dawnwalker offers a more limited technical target at launch, with Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco confirming that its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions top out at 40fps rather than offering a 60fps mode .
2XKO and Arc Raiders Retreat From Their Live-Service Plans
Riot Games plans to end active development on 2XKO in December 2026, less than a year after the League of Legends fighting game’s full release, because it has not retained enough players to establish a sustainable future . Online play continues after active development ends, while Riot unlocks all playable characters and refunds in-game purchases
.
Embark Studios delays future Arc Raiders Expeditions until early 2027 while it works on major improvements based on community feedback . The game’s fifth Expedition opens next month and becomes the last such event until early 2027, leaving players without another Expedition during the rest of 2026
.
Together, the two decisions show live-service games scaling back their content ambitions when player retention does not support the original plan .
Warren Spector Retires as Harvey Smith Starts a New Immersive Sim Studio
Warren Spector retires after more than 40 years in game development, a career that includes Deus Ex, System Shock, Thief, Ultima, and Epic Mickey . Spector says development is no longer as enjoyable and that he feels he has accomplished what he set out to do, although he still has ideas for three games he would like to make
.
Harvey Smith, known for Deus Ex and Dishonored, launches Black Pony Immersive with former Arkane Austin developers including co-founder Ben Horne . The studio plans to create first-person action RPGs and immersive sims built around emergent systems and detailed worlds after Microsoft’s 2024 closure of Arkane Austin
.
Black Myth: Zhong Kui and Silent Hill: Townfall Show New Gameplay
Game Science releases a 15-minute early gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, the follow-up to Black Myth: Wukong . The work-in-progress footage introduces the Chinese mythological deity Zhong Kui, his abilities, the game world, combat, and a prominent parry sequence
.
Konami and Annapurna Interactive publish a 19-minute gameplay deep dive for Silent Hill: Townfall, an upcoming PS5 survival horror game from Screen Burn Interactive . The footage follows Simon through the fog-covered Scottish town of St. Amelia and shows exploration, combat, puzzles, the CRTV device, and the first glimpse of the Otherworld
.
Twitch Streamer Sues Amazon Over Alleged AI Training
A Twitch streamer files a proposed class action against Twitch and Amazon, alleging that his broadcasts and those of other creators are used to train generative AI without consent or compensation . The complaint centers on whether Twitch can use creator broadcasts for AI training without permission or payment
.
The lawsuit adds another dispute over who controls and profits from digital content, alongside the week’s arguments over PlayStation licenses, game leaks, and studio ownership.