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Sony's big PlayStation State of Play broadcast has come and gone without any update on Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet — or word from several other first-party studios that haven't shipped a game in years.
Last night's showcase provided our best look yet at Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games, as well as a big reveal for God of War Laufey from Sony Santa Monica. We also saw the long-rumoured Until Dawn 2 pop up, from UK studio Firesprite. But other games that fans had been anticipating failed to materialize.
The lack of any update from The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog was the showcase's most glaring omission. Naughty Dog last released a brand new game in the shape of The Last of Us Part 2, back in June 2020. The years since have seen it abandon a Last of Us multiplayer spinoff and begin work on its new sci-fi franchise Intergalactic — though there's still no word when this will arrive.
A sci-fi action adventure starring a bounty hunter with a cool plasma sword, Intergalactic began early development in 2020 and was revealed at The Game Awards in 2024. Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann previously described the project as the studio's most expansive and ambitious game, and also likely its most expensive.
PlayStation fans had also been expecting to see more of Fairgame$, the debut title from Montreal-based Haven Studios. Founded in 2021 and acquired by Sony in 2022, the company is yet to ship a game.
Bend Studio's most recent project remains Days Gone, launched in 2019. Media Molecule's most recent project was Dreams, released in 2020. Polyphony shipped Gran Turismo 7 in 2022, with no word on a new project either.
It was also something of a surprise that State of Play did not feature Horizon Hunters Gathering, Guerrilla’s new co-op action game spinoff set in the Horizon universe, which is going through betas right now.
Earlier this week, newly-analysed sales data laid bare the fact that PlayStation's first-party game sales have been declining over the past five years, though last year's Ghost of Yotei helped Sony buck that trend.
There are various reasons for this, such as the failure of various live-service games and the cancellation of other in-development projects before release. In general, though, Sony is simply releasing fewer games.
For more on what we did see, be sure to read our interview with God of War Laufey's Ariel Lawrence and Cory Barlog and our chat with Insomniac Games on making Marvel's Wolverine an "unapologetically violent" adventure. We also have word on whether Spider-Man will pop up alongside Logan and an option to dial back the game's gore, if you so choose.
For all the other announcements, check out our roundup of everything from the June 2026 State of Play.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Sony’s big State of Play announcement was God of War Laufey, the next entry in Sony Santa Monica’s God of War franchise due out exclusively for PlayStation 5. While the game's focus on Faye as opposed to Kratos had leaked months before the showcase, it’s fair to say Sony’s 20 minute gameplay reveal sparked a vociferous reaction across the internet.
It’s worth noting that IGN spoke with God of War Laufey's game director Ariel Lawrence and Santa Monica Studio creative director Cory Barlog ahead of the reveal to discuss why the developer went with Faye as the main character this time, and we’ve got an explainer on Faye herself if you need a catch-up on her story. So if you need some context before diving into the reactions, IGN has you covered.
Let’s start with some of the reactions from IGN readers, which I think I would characterize as mixed. Some had complaints about the nature of the gameplay, which included sequences that required the player to focus on pressing R2 to progress. “I understand that this is a demonstration and everything, obviously Sony wants it to look the best that it can. But maybe don’t introduce it as a 20 minute uninterrupted gameplay sequence that features nothing but hitting the R2 button to advance a cutscene,” IGN reader TacticalEA commented. “Also in the boss fight, she clearly takes damage and does not react and does not lose health.”
Another common observation I’ve seen not just from IGN readers but across the internet is that the gameplay shown doesn’t meaningfully shake up the God of War formula. “I'll pass on this one,” IGN reader Doodelino said. “GoW 2018 was a masterpiece, Ragnarok was great but at the end I felt like I'm a bit tired of the formula and Laufey doesn't seem to add anything new. Also, I'm not interested in the character.”
That last point is another common theme. Faye as God of War Laufey's main character is, clearly, the big talking point coming out of the State of Play reveal, and not everyone is on board. David Jaffe, one of the original creators of God of War, is clearly not a fan of the game. “That looks so uninspired, and it looks so dull,” he said during a YouTube livestream. “You have to remember, that is the opening of the game probably, because it says ‘X for New Game.’ It’s possible there’s a prelude, but that seems clearly towards the opening. It’s dead. That game is not going to do well for what they expect it to do. That may be a cheap game. They may be like, this is not one of those $400 million gambles. This is like $80 million. I have no clue.
“God of War, the originals, they had their hooks,” he continued. “It was Kratos as a badass and Greek mythology, violence. And then it wore out its welcome. So Cory [Barlog] comes along with the brilliant idea of evolving it. And that was awesome for 2018. I loved that game. And then you get Ragnarok, which felt like it was running out of gas. And now… yeah.”
“This just feels like Cory or somebody wanted to write a fantasy story," Jaffe added. "I’m not saying it’s not going to be rooted and grounded in some actual mythology, maybe it already is and I’m just not aware of it. But you’ve lost the gore and the violence that made the first game. You’ve lost the character — you already lost him after 2018 because he changed so much he wasn’t Kratos any more. Now you’ve lost the identifiable mythology of it, and you’ve also lost me with the cube and the little Disney character at the beginning. This seems like just a fantasy. If they would have taken God of War off the title, and you didn’t know the God of War story and there wasn’t Kratos, it was just a story about this goddess who dies, you would not be talking about this game, in my opinion, compared to a lot of other games they showed today that looked a lot more interesting.
“This just looks like more of the same s**t. Really f***ing goofy, man. I didn’t like it at all."
But it's important to include the many positive comments about God of War Laufey from fans who are excited to play it. “This looks better than 2018 and Ragnarok in basically every single way hands down,” IGN reader shoras commented. “This combat actually looks like what I imagined the original trilogy's combat evolving into instead of what we got in 2018. Loved all the color and fantastical creatures. Great reveal.”
There’s plenty of praise for the combat, which we got to see towards the end of the reveal. Even Jaffe, so critical of pretty much every other aspect of God of War Laufey, said he thought the combat looked like fun. And there is praise for Sony Santa Monica's decision to set the game in parallel to the timeline of God of War 2018 and Ragnarok, as opposed to it being a prequel. “Actually looks really good. I'm glad this isn't a prequel story and is doing something new,” IGN reader sirdan357 said. "I'm glad it isn't a prequel, 'Fey died, she fights through the afterlife' is a much better hook," added redditor Tulipanzo.
The cube, played by The Boys star Jack Quaid, already feels like a 'love it or hate it' character. Some are fully on board with a Hughie voice following you around the game, whereas others are worried it will get annoying.
“This looks great to me and I’m excited for it. I heard some of the rumors and didn't think we would get something this fast,” redditor Jatacus offered. “I'll say this, though: As of now, I'm not sold the on the Jell-O cube character. I honestly thought it would transform into something else (like it's real design) at some point during the demo. Maybe it's inspired by something from mythology we don't know yet? Regardless, I've never seen anything like it, and did not expect something like this in a God of War game. But I trust the studio.”
So, yes, there are definitely comments from people who do not like the look of God of War Laufey for a number of reasons, but there is also a huge amount of positivity around the game. What is clear is that these talking points won’t go away any time soon. But as we see and learn more about the game, we’ll get a better understanding of what to expect when it eventually comes out.
Here's everything announced at State of Play June 2026 if you need a catch up on what PlayStation has in store.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PC and PlayStation 5 received a major patch today that adds the “streamlined progression” feature.
This feature includes various options to streamline combat and exploration, such as unlimited HP and MP at all times, 9,999 damage dealt to enemies during battles and minigames, and the maximum number of each item available (with some exceptions). Square Enix said this feature is designed to help players “advance through the game smoothly, not only during your first playthrough but also when you replay it.”
Also added is the "New Game - Head Start" feature, which lets you start the game with level 65 characters (max level: 70) equipped with several enhanced materia.
The PC version specifically also now supports AMD FSR upscaling, enabling “more stable and detailed image processing.” PC players are reporting that the update weighs in at a hefty 71GB.
The update comes as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches across Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X and S, and on the Microsoft Store on Windows. It brings the game up to version 1.005. Patch notes, courtesy of Steam, are below.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s arrival on more platforms comes as fans await an announcement for the third part of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. In April, director Naoki Hamaguchi assured fans that Part 3 was "proceeding on time and on schedule," and asked them to wait for "just a little longer."
"What I can say is that development itself is proceeding on time and on schedule," Hamaguchi said. "We believe it’ll become a title we can deliver with confidence as the culmination of the trilogy. We know many fans are eagerly waiting, and preparations toward the announcement are steadily underway. Please look forward to it just a little longer."
Final Fantasy 7 Remake was chopped up into three different installments, with Part 1 releasing in 2020 and Part 2 in 2024. That means that even if Part 3 is released by the end of this year, there'll have been six years between the release of Part 1 and Part 3. Hopefully it won’t be long before we hear more.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth update 1.005 patch notes:[Updates]
・ “Streamlined Progression Feature”
・ “New Game - Head Start”
are now available.
The Streamlined Progression feature includes several enhancement options to streamline combat and exploration—like unlimited HP and MP at all times, 9,999 damage dealt to enemies during battles and minigames, and the maximum number of each item available (with some exceptions)—which can be tailored to suit the player’s preferences. The feature helps you advance through the game smoothly, not only during your first playthrough but also when you replay it.
"New Game - Head Start" allows you to start the game with level 65 characters (max level: 70) equipped with several enhanced materia.
The PC version now also supports AMD FSR upscaling, enabling more stable and detailed image processing.
We hope you apply this latest update and utilize these features to enjoy FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH’s story and refreshed game experience.
*The Streamlined Progression feature can be toggled on or off for each option at any time from the in-game options menu.
*This update also includes additional minor bug fixes.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Team 17 and Expression Games have announced that the launch of Hell Let Loose: Vietnam will be delayed until August 13. The game had been planned to launch digitally on June 18.
The decision comes following Closed and Open Beta programs for the 50v50 multiplayer shooter.
“In addition to your feedback, we have also been carrying out intensive internal playtests for both the PC and console versions of Hell Let Loose: Vietnam and we have identified several areas where additional development time will allow us to deliver a stronger launch experience,” the companies explained in a joint statement.
“Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided to delay launch to August 13th. This will ensure that Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches at the quality level we expect and you deserve.”
For those of you who may be unacquainted with Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, you can check out our thoughts on this hardcore Vietnam War milsim in our recent hands-on preview.
Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.
Developer S-Game has announced a delay for Phantom Blade Zero that will see its PC and PlayStation 5 release date pushed back almost two months.
CEO and game creator Soulframe took to the studio's X/Twitter account to share the news and their "sincere apologies" following its appearance at today's State of Play June 2026 presentation. It's a lengthy note to players with a full explanation for the 50-day delay, which will see the PS5 console exclusive action-RPG move its launch from September 9, 2026, to October 29, 2026.
"First of all, I want to offer my sincere apologies to all the players who have been following and supporting us," Soulframe said. "This was not an easy decision. More than anyone, we understand the expectations our players have placed on us. And precisely because of those expectations, we do not want to release Phantom Blade Zero knowing there is still an opportunity to take it one step further."
Soulframe said they saw "one final opportunity" to make "another meaningful leap forward" while polishing Phantom Blade Zero during the last few months. This final push past the finish line involved upgrading character models, reworking environments, and "preserving as much of this visual impact as possible even without relying on ray tracing." Soulframe acknowledged that ray tracing could improve visuals, but said the studio's first goal is to "make sure the core look, atmosphere, and intensity of Phantom Blade Zero come through at full force for as many players as possible."
The message continued, explaining that, while the delay to late October "cannot solve everything," it will give the team "enough time to complete a number of clearly defined and genuinely important improvements." It's a schedule change that will look to have Phantom Blade Zero delivered as a strong experience immediately upon launch. S-Game aims to give fans "the best version of Phantom Blade Zero we can deliver from the very beginning."
"I am truly sorry for the delay, and I want to thank everyone who has continued to follow and support Phantom Blade Zero," Soulframe continued. "This summer, we will have much more to show you. I believe every extra day of waiting will be worth it."
S-Game's presence at the State of Play showcase saw it confirm that Phantom Blade Zero pre-orders will arrive alongside a full trailer this summer. Its follow-up message clarified that the aforementioned trailer will feature "entirely new in-game footage." A late-summer gameplay and story deep dive State of Play, which was also announced during Sony's presentation, will be 15 to 20 minutes long and is said to highlight "the game’s world, combat, exploration, and character progression systems."
Phantom Blade Zero will launch for PC and PS5 October 29. It will remain a PlayStation console exclusive for at least 12 months after its release date. For what else Sony had to announce at its State of Play June 2026 show, you can see everything announced here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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World of Warcraft
Sturmgrenadier is more organised, more active, and more structured than most guilds you would come across in WoW. We believe this gives us a distinct advantage in being the best guild we can be for our members, because everyone knows where they stand, and are treated equally. Players with negative attitudes will not be tolerated. That means that there is no epeen measuring, no belittling of other players, and no trolling.
EVE
EVE Online is Sturmgrenadier’s longest-played game, with over 16 years of continuous influence throughout New Eden. Traditional hallmarks of our gaming syndicate; organization and leadership, have propelled our in-game history to include participation in many of the defining moments of EvE gameplay.
New World
New World is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing video game by Amazon Game Studios set to release in May 2020. Set in the mid-1600s, players colonize a fictional land modeled after British America in the Atlantic Ocean. Players scavenge resources, craft items, and fight other players.
Coming Soon!
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Join us and get involved early!
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