ENDED This live page has ended. It covered the biggest gaming news on October 20, 2026. Follow today’s updates on our latest live page.
Table of Contents
Key stories so far
- Riders Republic Switch 2 Release Date Is Dec 9, With Offline Play
- Helldivers 2 Scope of Authority Warbond: Items, Cost and 7.2.0
- Report: Xbox plans a major Game Pass overhaul with à la carte add-ons
- Report: Xbox CEO plans more layoff rounds this month, in November and in January
- Report: Xbox handheld targeted for holiday 2027, Project Helix console for 2028 at a projected $1,200-$1,800
- ID@Xbox Showcase Recap: Shrek 2 Remastered and Every Announcement
Live updates
Riders Republic Switch 2 Release Date Is Dec 9, With Offline Play
Ubisoft's Riders Republic hits Switch 2 on December 9, when a new offline mode also comes to every platform. Free weekend Oct 22-26; price not announced yet.
Helldivers 2 Scope of Authority Warbond: Items, Cost and 7.2.0
Scope of Authority costs 1,000 Super Credits and about 603 Medals: Sightliner, Apex, Nova, Mist, Caltrops. Plus 7.2.0 buffs and Easy Anti-Cheat launch fixes.
Report: Xbox plans a major Game Pass overhaul with à la carte add-ons
Fortune's Sebastian Herrera reports that "Xbox is planning a major overhaul of Game Pass that would have players choose features à la carte, including add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer, with the system operating on a tiered structure," citing people familiar with the strategy. The report gives no timeline or pricing. Microsoft hasn't confirmed the plan, and the report includes no company comment.
Source: Fortune
Report: Xbox CEO plans more layoff rounds this month, in November and in January
Citing people familiar with the plans, Fortune reports that Asha Sharma is planning the next rounds of Xbox layoffs for October, November and January, and notes the plans can change. According to the report, 1,868 people have been cut so far under the plan announced in July to reduce Xbox headcount by 3,200 over the next year. Microsoft hasn't confirmed the timing, and the report includes no company comment.
Source: Fortune
Report: Xbox handheld targeted for holiday 2027, Project Helix console for 2028 at a projected $1,200-$1,800
Fortune's Sebastian Herrera reports that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma plans a next-generation handheld by the 2027 holiday season and the next console by the 2028 holidays, and that the Helix console's price "has internally been projected to cost consumers between $1,200 and $1,800, unless Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost." Microsoft hasn't confirmed any of it, and in an April interview Sharma told Game File "we're not ready to share a launch timeline right now," adding that memory costs will affect pricing and availability.
Read our full story | Source: Fortune
ID@Xbox Showcase Recap: Shrek 2 Remastered and Every Announcement
Shrek 2 Remastered hits Xbox and PC on Nov 10 for $29.99, Arctic Eggs is out now and Mouthwashing joins Game Pass Oct 29. All 21 games, dated.
ID@Xbox Showcase: Mouthwashing hits Xbox and Game Pass on Oct 29, Arctic Eggs is out now
Publisher Critical Reflex used today's ID@Xbox and IGN Showcase to confirm three games for Xbox. Arctic Eggs is available now on Xbox Series X|S. Mouthwashing launches October 29 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox on PC, day one with Game Pass. No, I'm Not a Human follows in 2027 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, also with Game Pass.
Source: Xbox Wire
Helldivers 2 patch 7.2.0 adds Easy Anti-Cheat and the Scope of Authority Warbond
Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 update 7.2.0 is out, introducing Easy Anti-Cheat alongside the new Scope of Authority Premium Warbond, which brings the R-40 Sightliner bolt-action sniper rifle, P-44 Mist machine pistol, AMW-20 Apex anti-materiel rifle, LAS-44 Nova energy rifle and G-11 Caltrops. The patch also buffs the Killzone and Halo legendary Warbond weapons, the Sickle variants, light-penetration shotguns like the Punisher and Breaker, and stratagems including the M-1000 Maxigun and Orbital Airburst Strike. The Warbond requires the base game, Super Credits and game progression to unlock.
THE FINALS' PRIME TIME update is live with a new Light playstyle and Solo Showdown mode
Embark's PRIME TIME update for THE FINALS is out now, bringing what the studio calls the biggest destruction upgrade since launch, with gradual structural damage, dynamic building collapses and improved explosion physics. It adds The Infiltrator, a new Light playstyle with True Sight, the Mimic Device and the Translocator, plus Solo Showdown, a 12-player solo mode with three elimination rounds of randomized mini-modes. Monaco, Seoul and Skyway Stadium are remastered, the HUD and menus are redesigned, and Dynamic Commentary (in beta) lets Scotty call out players by name.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade leads Xbox Game Pass's late-October lineup
Xbox Wire's second October wave adds Sandustry (Game Preview, PC, Oct 21), Dodo Duckie (Oct 22), Scramble Knights Online (Game Preview, Oct 26), The Séance of Blake Manor (Oct 27), Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted and Terrible Lizards (all Oct 29), and Pit of Goblin (Nov 3). Dodo Duckie, Séance, FF7 Remake Intergrade and Pit of Goblin come to Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass; Scramble Knights Online, PvZ Replanted and Terrible Lizards are Ultimate and PC Game Pass only, and Sandustry arrives in Premium first before joining Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Nine games leave on October 31, including Deep Rock Galactic, Wartales and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
Source: Xbox Wire
Steam Scream Fest 2026: Dates and Horror Deals Live Now
Steam Scream V runs October 26 to November 2 from 10am PT, but horror deals are live now: Darkwood $1.99, SOMA $5.99, Dead by Daylight $7.99, with end times.
Unofficial open-source launcher Xodus Nexus gets PC Game Pass games running on Linux and SteamOS
Xodus Nexus, a free, MIT-licensed launcher from independent developer domsvoboda, lets Linux and SteamOS users browse, install and launch supported Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass games, with Xbox sign-in and cloud saves for supported titles. It is an unofficial project, not from Microsoft or Valve, and it still needs a Microsoft account plus a game purchase or Game Pass subscription; it ships as a Linux AppImage on GitHub. Version 0.3.8, released Oct 19, added Xbox achievements and playtime tracking, but it is early software: support varies by game and controller navigation is still experimental.
Source: Xodus Nexus on GitHub
Over $963,000 in PSA-graded Pokémon and sports cards stolen from a FedEx truck
More than 200 packages of graded Pokémon and sports cards, on their way back to owners, were stolen last week from a FedEx truck parked outside PSA's headquarters in Santa Ana, California, The Athletic reported on Oct 19. According to that report, PSA told Santa Ana police most of the stolen packages were worth more than $963,000, a figure that could rise as it confirms exactly which cards were taken. PSA's parent company Collectors confirmed the theft in a statement, saying it has deactivated the certificates for the stolen items, alerted marketplace partners to watch for rare and serialized cards, and is contacting affected customers to arrange compensation based on fair market value.
Source: Collectors (PSA parent company)
Umamusume LA Concerts Canceled Over US Visas; Refunds Coming
Cygames canceled the Oct 22-23 Umamusume 7th EVENT shows at LA's Peacock Theater after failing to get US visas. On-site and streaming tickets will be refunded.
Mortal Shell II's free Rotten Autumn update is live with 15 new dungeons and Photo Mode
Cold Symmetry's free Rotten Autumn update for Mortal Shell II is out now on Steam, PS5 and Xbox, the studio announced on Steam on October 20. It adds 15 new dungeons, Photo Mode, an alternative soundtrack by Rotting Christ's Sakis Tolis, new Shell Shades for every Shell and 10 new Tarstones (one of them just for the sheep). Seasonal extras include a Harbinger pumpkin helmet, an Impervious Lute skin with more Lute tracks, new Nightmode lighting presets and Overkill graphics settings, plus bug fixes; just update the game to get it.
Source: Mortal Shell II on Steam
Obsession's Nikki hits the Fortnite Item Shop on October 21
Fortnite's official X account teased the horror film Obsession for October 21, and the Item Shop refresh at 8 p.m. ET that day is when the cosmetics are expected. According to leakers who decrypted the Fortnitemares files, the bundle has a Nikki outfit with a "Splatter" style, One Wish Willow back bling, a Broken Bottle pickaxe and a "No No No" emote. Epic hasn't officially shown the items or a price yet, so treat the contents as leaked until the shop goes live.
Source: Polygon
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA gets a native Switch 2 version on February 25, 2027
NIS America and Falcom announced a Switch 2 release of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA for February 25, 2027. The new version runs at up to 120 fps, supports two-player co-op through GameShare, and adds Spanish language support for the first time. No price or edition details were given in the coverage of the announcement.
Source: Gematsu
Ace Combat 8 patch 1.01.002 lands Oct 23 with a long list of fixes
Bandai Namco's Update Ver. 1.01.002 for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve rolls out Oct 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. It fixes progression-blocking bugs in several campaign missions, adjusts Mission 15's Ladon difficulty on Elite and above, and patches Ace Combat Online, with more online menu and UI improvements promised in later updates.
Source: Bandai Namco (Ace Combat 8 news)
Final Fantasy Resonance reviews land: 85 on Metacritic, with a few dissenters
Reviews for Final Fantasy Resonance, Square Enix's first HD-2D Final Fantasy (out Oct 22), went live today, and Metacritic shows 85 from 24 critic reviews. The Verge praises its SNES-era feel with modern touches, while VGC gives it 3/5 ('a nostalgic JRPG limited by its mobile origins') and Polygon calls it 'a missed opportunity for Square Enix'.
Read our full story | Source: Metacritic
Switch Sports Resort reviews are in: 79 on Metacritic so far
Review embargoes lifted today for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, out Oct 22 on Switch 2. The Verge says the Wii Sports formula is back 'and it rules', Tom's Guide gives it 4/5, and Wccftech scores it 7.5/10, calling it 'a solid greatest-hits package' without much that's new. Metacritic shows 79 from 12 critic reviews in the early count.
Read our full story | Source: The Verge
PEGI Re-Rates Loot Box Games to 16, Including Marvel Rivals
PEGI is moving digital-only games with paid random items from PEGI 3, 7 or 12 to 16 this month. Marvel Rivals and Fire Emblem Heroes are already re-rated.
99 Nights in the Forest Trick or Treat: Candy, Costumes and Shop
Trick or Treat Part 1 ends Oct 24, 12:00 UTC. How costumes turn into Candy (8 per full set), every Halloween shop price, the 3 new badges and codes that work.
Xbox X25 controller is out today and includes an exclusive dynamic background
The XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition, a translucent green pad for Xbox's 25th anniversary, launches today, October 20, at $79.99 / £74.99 on the Xbox Store. Xbox says it comes with an exclusive dynamic background; Pure Xbox describes it as a large Xbox 25 logo with a green vignette inspired by the original Xbox. The matching 25th Anniversary Series X collection follows on November 13 at $899.99.
Source: Xbox
Nintendo's new Ocarina of Time ad channels the fiery '90s N64 spots
Nintendo UK has shared a new ad for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 that copies the style of the original N64 TV commercials, with flaming text questions such as "Willst thou flee? Or fight?" over brass music and existing game footage, Nintendo Life reports. The game launches November 5 on Switch 2, priced at $59.99 for the digital version on Nintendo's US store.
Source: Nintendo Life
Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.5 Out Oct 22: Free Edgerunners 2 Content
Cyberpunk 2077's free Edgerunners 2 Update (2.5) lands Oct 22 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with Switch 2 to follow. Patch notes arrive Oct 21.
Meowdoku Tips: Rules, Solving Tricks and How to Remove Ads
Solve any Meowdoku board: small regions first, line locks, and a no-risk what-if test, plus a Level 1 walkthrough and what Premium costs on iPhone.
GTA 6 Pre-Orders Hit 6.08 Million, Sensor Tower Estimates
Sensor Tower estimates 6.08M GTA 6 pre-orders worth $594M as of Oct 13, 74% on PlayStation and 148% ahead of MW2. Third-party estimates, not Rockstar's.
Intel submits code to bring faster XMX-powered XeSS to Valve's Proton
An Intel engineer opened pull requests on Valve's Proton and Wine repositories on October 19 that would let Windows games use XeSS upscaling through its faster XMX path on Intel GPUs under Linux, instead of the slower fallback mode. The change routes a game's XeSS calls to Intel's native Linux XeSS library when one is installed. The requests are still open and not yet merged, so Valve has not committed to shipping it in Proton or SteamOS, but it could help future Intel-powered handhelds running SteamOS.
Source: GitHub (ValveSoftware/Proton)
Sensor Tower: GTA 6 preorders are running 148% ahead of Modern Warfare 2
Analytics firm Sensor Tower estimates GTA 6 had been preordered 6.08 million times as of October 13, worth an estimated $594 million, with 74% of preorders on PlayStation and 26% on Xbox and most buyers choosing the $100 Ultimate Edition, GamesIndustry.biz reports. Comparing launch trajectories, Sensor Tower puts GTA 6 148% ahead of 2022's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 at the same point before release, and well ahead of Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. These are third-party estimates, not Rockstar figures, and the launch comparison covers US digital preorders only, with no boxed copies.
Fortnite Horror Map Codes: 12 Top Islands for Fortnitemares
Murder Mystery, SCALE and Trick, Treat, Die! lead Epic's Horror ranking. 12 island codes checked Oct 20, plus how to unlock the Safety in Numbers rewards.
Super Bowl LXI gets a Star Wars animated telecast on Disney+
ESPN, Lucasfilm and the NFL will run Star Wars Funday Football, a real-time animated version of Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, streaming on Disney+ and the ESPN App and airing on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Sony's Beyond Sports turns live player-tracking data into Star Wars-style animation, and Anthony Daniels returns to voice C-3PO. It follows the earlier Toy Story, Simpsons and Monsters Funday Football broadcasts.
Source: StarWars.com
Fortnite Metro ads in Madrid tease anime pirates, with no One Piece characters shown
Fortnite-branded digital posters photographed in Madrid's Metro on October 20 show two anime-style characters with the lines '¿Has visto el tesoro?' (Have you seen the treasure?) and 'Únete a la cacería' (Join the hunt), plus a pirate llama logo, but no One Piece characters. Polygon reads this as a sign the November 1 mini-season may be a general pirate or anime theme rather than a full One Piece crossover. Epic hasn't announced the theme yet, so a One Piece collab is still unconfirmed either way.
Read our full story | Source: Polygon
12 Games Like Pokopia on Switch, Steam, PS5 and Xbox
Pokopia is Switch 2 only. These 12 creature and town-building games play on Switch 1, Steam, PS5 and Xbox, with US prices checked October 20, 2026.
MW4 Carry Forward: What Moves Over From Black Ops 7 and Warzone
Black Ops 7 guns, camos and Operators stay behind in MW4, but COD Points, 2XP tokens and pre-order rewards transfer. Warzone keeps skins and blueprints.
Anime Vanguards Codes (October 2026): 2nd Anniversary Update
Finally, TrueShadowMonarch and the 2ndAnniDay codes with official rewards, plus how to get True Shadow Monarch, Yuvi and more from the 2nd Anniversary update.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is now streaming on Netflix
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is now streaming on Netflix, the official Edgerunners account confirmed at 07:01 UTC on October 20, with all 10 episodes released at once. The standalone series from CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger brings an all-new cast to Night City, and Hideo Kojima returns as braindance director Hideyoshi Oshima.
Zelda Switch 2 Restock: Nintendo Confirms More Stock, No Date Yet
Nintendo says more Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 consoles are coming but has no dates. It's out of stock at Nintendo; Best Buy has units Nov 5.
We Were Here Tomorrow Release Time, Price and Platforms
We Were Here Tomorrow unlocks Oct 20 at 13:00 UTC (6 AM PT, 2 PM BST) on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S for $19.99 with a 10% launch discount and crossplay.
MW4 DMZ Early Access Starts at 10 AM PT: Who Can Play and How
DMZ opens Oct 20 at 10 AM PT (17:00 UTC) for digital MW4 pre-orders on PS5, Xbox, PC and Switch 2. Vault perks, XP carry-over and the PC TPM 2.0 rule.
12 Best Merge Games on iPhone and Android, Led by Gossip Harbor
Gossip Harbor, Tasty Travels, Hotel Legacy and 9 more merge games from Apple's grossing chart, with ratings, downloads and ads labels checked Oct 20.
Xbox Project Helix: Everything Microsoft Has Confirmed So Far
Microsoft's next Xbox runs on a custom AMD chip, plays console and PC games and reaches developers in 2027. No date, price or disc drive decision yet.
Royal Kingdom vs Royal Match: Key Differences and Tips
Royal Kingdom plays like Royal Match but adds Dark King Kingdom levels and district building. Power-up names, boosters and beginner tips compared.
