Minecraft Reveals a New Dimension | ARC Raiders Tests PvE

Minecraft Live reveals The Sift, its first new dimension in 14 years

Minecraft Live’s fall showcase revealed The Sift, a new dimension coming to Minecraft next year. It would be the first new dimension added to the main game since The End arrived, giving the long-running sandbox a major world-generation and exploration hook.

Mojang also previewed new features for the coming game drop and highlighted Minecraft Dungeons II, whose interconnected world includes The Sift as an explorable area. The showcase recap says players will be able to experience the dimension in Dungeons II before it reaches Java and Bedrock. The exact release date for the main-game addition has not been set.

A new dimension is a rare, high-impact promise for a game that has evolved through incremental drops for years. The key follow-up will be how much it changes exploration and survival, and whether the new content reaches both editions on a clear schedule.

ARC Raiders will test an optional PvE matchmaking queue in October

Embark Studios plans a limited PvE matchmaking test for ARC Raiders from October 13 to 20. Players will be able to switch between the familiar PvPvE extraction mode and a cooperative session focused on fighting the ARC machines, responding to a long-running debate about how much player-versus-player pressure belongs in each raid.

The studio says PvE sessions will have no player-to-player damage and will support solo, duo, and trio groups in the same matchmaking pool. Certain high-tension conditions and locations will be excluded, and PvE play will not affect a player’s PvPvE matchmaking rating. Embark describes the feature as an experiment, not a permanent mode commitment.

The test could bring in players who enjoy the world and looting but avoid hostile encounters. It also risks changing the uncertainty that gives extraction games their tension. Embark says it will use the test to learn how both styles can coexist.

Gears of War: E-Day story director says he was laid off days after the game went gold

Juan Vaca, the story director on Gears of War: E-Day, said he had been laid off just days after posting that the game had gone gold. The timing drew attention because gold status generally means the launch build is ready, though the studio may still be working on updates and future content.

The report says Vaca shared his job search publicly after celebrating the milestone on September 17. Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled to launch October 6. The available account concerns one employee and does not establish how many other roles were affected or why the decision was made.

The contrast between a completed game and a senior creative losing their role is a reminder that production milestones do not guarantee job security. It also raises questions about how studios plan post-launch work and retain the people who built a game’s narrative.

Resident Evil Requiem reportedly passes $500 million in sales estimates

Alinea Analytics estimates that Resident Evil Requiem has generated more than $500 million in gross revenue and sold about 8.5 million copies across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. These are analyst estimates, not audited figures released by Capcom.

Alinea estimates that PlayStation 5 accounts for 48.1% of the game’s 8.5 million players, followed by Steam at 43.4%. It also estimates that physical PS5 copies make up about 30.8% of that platform’s sales. The report examines whether the Resident Evil film release changed game engagement and sales.

Third-party estimates can offer an early view of a hit, but they are not a substitute for publisher-reported sales. The figures and platform splits should be read as Alinea’s analysis, not Capcom’s official total.

Reports say Sony asked developers about the planned 2028 disc cutoff

Sony has reportedly surveyed game developers about its plan to end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games in January 2028. The reported questionnaire is being read by some players as a sign that Sony may be gathering feedback on the impact of its policy, but the survey itself has not been publicly released by Sony.

Sony’s announced plan remains that manufacturing new PlayStation game discs will stop in 2028; existing discs and hardware are not the same question. The latest story traces back to a report about developer feedback and should not be treated as an official policy reversal or promise that the cutoff will change.

Physical ownership remains a high-interest issue for collectors, retailers, and players with limited broadband. Until Sony speaks directly, the most accurate reading is narrow: developers may have been asked for input, while the published 2028 plan still stands.

Unconfirmed developer-survey report

VALORANT Champions opens with a 606,000-viewer peak in Shanghai

VALORANT Champions 2026 opened in Shanghai with a reported peak of 605,896 concurrent viewers on its first day, according to viewership tracking cited by Players Realm. Team Liquid versus Paper Rex was the most-watched match in the opening slate, giving the tournament an early audience milestone.

The opening figure reportedly exceeded the first-day peak recorded by the previous Champions edition. It is not the event’s final viewership result: the tournament continues through its bracket, and overall peak audience can rise during elimination matches and the final.

The number signals strong initial interest but should be compared on a consistent basis across language streams and platforms. The event’s final peak and total watch time will better show whether the Shanghai tournament grew beyond its opening-day momentum.

A new RTX Remix mod brings path tracing to 1999’s Grand Theft Auto 2

A community modder has released an RTX Remix project that adds real-time path tracing and a dynamic time-of-day cycle to Grand Theft Auto 2. The 1999 top-down crime game is an unlikely showcase for modern lighting, and clips of the transformation have circulated widely among PC players.

The project relies on NVIDIA’s RTX Remix toolkit and a custom compatibility layer to expose the older game’s rendering to the modern path-tracing pipeline. Players still need a legitimate copy of GTA 2 and compatible PC hardware; the mod is an unofficial community project, not a Rockstar remaster.

The experiment shows how preservation work can give old games a new technical life, while also highlighting the fragility of fan projects that depend on access to legacy software. Its value is as a visual modification and demonstration, not an endorsed new release.

Sony’s new Sly Cooper trademark filing covers merchandise, not a game

A new Sly Cooper trademark application filed by Sony has revived discussion around the dormant platform series. The filing covers merchandise categories such as clothing, toys, and printed goods, and arrives as the franchise approaches its 25th anniversary.

The application is pending and concerns physical goods. It does not list a video game, and trademark filings alone are not evidence that a new Sly Cooper title is in development. The distinction matters because fan speculation quickly turned the filing into a possible comeback story.

Merchandise can be part of an anniversary campaign, but it offers no confirmation of a revival. Until Sony announces a game or project directly, the responsible takeaway is limited: the company is protecting or preparing the brand for products, while the series’ game future remains unknown.

Rayman Legends Retold’s physical edition is set to include two games

Ubisoft’s Rayman Legends Retold is drawing attention for a physical PlayStation 5 edition that includes both the remade game and Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition. The package arrives amid wider debate about physical releases and what buyers actually receive when they purchase a boxed game.

The publisher previously confirmed that Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition would be bundled with Retold. The new physical-edition details emphasize that both games are included on the PS5 disc, while other platform versions and editions may use different distribution formats. Rayman Legends Retold is scheduled for December 3 after a delay from October.

A complete on-disc release can matter to collectors and players concerned about long-term access. It is a concrete product detail rather than a broad promise about preservation, and buyers should check the exact edition and platform before preordering.

Counter-Strike 2 adds a queued 3v3 Rush mode and quieter reloads

Valve’s September 22 Counter-Strike 2 update introduced Rush, a queued 3v3 mode built around quick arena rounds and a push toward the opposing team’s castle. The update also changed Premier map selection and added a slower, quieter reload option for players who hold the reload key.

Rush rotates arenas between matches and asks teams to control a tower after eliminating opponents or running out the clock. Premier now uses a different map-pick sequence intended to give players more chances to select maps they have been learning. Valve also made smaller audio and visual clarity adjustments.

Rush offers a shorter, more direct alternative to standard rounds while retaining team tactics. The update is already live, so community response and queue health will determine whether it becomes a lasting mode or a brief experiment.