Today's Summary
The day starts with a gift and ends with a spreadsheet. CD PROJEKT RED launches The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered today on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2, free for existing owners and with both expansions included. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella called Xbox’s repeated job cuts “streamlining,” a count Game Developer puts above 5,750 positions since October 2023. Sony opens God of War Laufey pre-orders for a February 16, 2027 PS5 release, Minecraft Dungeons II launches at $29.99 with a Metacritic score of 76 on Xbox and reviews ranging from 9/10 to 6/10, and Naughty Dog confirmed a full Intergalactic reveal in 2027 while keeping quiet for the rest of this year. On the platform side, Meta unveiled Horizon Create and Horizon Studio for prompt-based mobile game creation, YouTube Playables expanded to more than 50 markets including the EU, and Nippon Ichi Software’s CEO said the Ys, Disgaea and Trails publisher wants more simultaneous worldwide releases. Minecraft World was detailed as a £50 million Chessington project with a 69-room hotel and a Nether rollercoaster, Trophy Games agreed to buy Playrion from Paradox for €2.25 million upfront, Frontier shipped the Prehistoric East expansion for Jurassic World Evolution 3, and the cozy co-op road-trip game Seikyu: Let’s Go was announced for PC in Q4 2026.
Editor's Viewpoint
Two ways of spending goodwill sit side by side today. CD PROJEKT RED is giving a decade-old bestseller to its owners for free, a move that costs little at the till and keeps a catalogue title in conversation, while Microsoft’s CEO reaches for the word “streamlining” to describe thousands of lost jobs. Neither is surprising on its own, but together they show how differently studios and platform owners now talk to the people who buy and build their games.
The other thread is who gets to make things. Meta wants anyone with a phone to prompt a mobile game into existence, YouTube is opening Playables to a much larger audience, and small deals like Trophy Games buying Playrion keep niche studios changing hands for a few million euros. The open question for creators is not access but discovery: distribution keeps widening, while the attention available to any single title, from a Witcher remaster to a cozy road-trip game, does not. That is analysis, not reported fact.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launches today as a free upgrade on PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch 2
CD PROJEKT RED releases The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered today, September 29, on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and Battle.net), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. Anyone who already owns a version of the game gets the remaster free within the same platform ecosystem, and existing owners also receive the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions at no extra cost. According to VGC, the update is 45 GB on PC, PS5 and Xbox and 50 GB on Switch 2, and it unlocks at 3 a.m. PT (11 a.m. UK time).
The studio’s update notes go beyond a visual polish: native DirectX 12 rendering with ray-traced local shadows and improved ambient occlusion, skills reorganized into a tree with three ranks each, equipment reforging for cosmetic changes that leave stats alone, an expanded Photo Mode, and cross-platform mod support through mod.io. PS5 Pro gets Spectral Super Resolution and Switch 2 adds gyro aiming and touch controls. Giving a decade-old bestseller to its owners is a goodwill move that also refreshes a catalogue whose long tail was central to the studio’s first-half results earlier this month.
Key Points
- Free upgrade — Existing owners upgrade within their platform ecosystem, expansions included.
- Four platform families — PC storefronts, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 all launch today.
- Gameplay changes — A skill tree with three ranks per skill, equipment reforging and a bigger Photo Mode.
- Tech and mods — DirectX 12 with ray-traced local shadows, plus cross-platform mods via mod.io.
Nadella calls Xbox’s layoffs “streamlining” after more than 5,750 job cuts in three years
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described the Xbox division’s repeated job cuts as “some amount of streamlining” the team is doing, saying on the Sources Podcast that it was good to see, according to Game Developer. The outlet counts more than 5,750 Xbox positions eliminated since Microsoft closed its Activision Blizzard acquisition in October 2023, including about 3,200 positions targeted in a July 2026 restructuring.
Nadella also voiced confidence in Xbox’s IP portfolio and said the division would deliver growth and strong games under Asha Sharma, who replaced Phil Spencer as Xbox chief in February 2026. The framing sits awkwardly next to the human record: Double Fine, Compulsion Games and Undead Labs have moved out of Xbox, while Ninja Theory and Arkane face proposed closure or ongoing consultation. Former developers quoted by the outlet warn that cuts this deep risk game quality, a concern that only shipped games can answer.
Key Points
- “Streamlining” — Nadella’s word for the cuts, spoken on the Sources Podcast.
- 5,750+ jobs — Game Developer’s count since the October 2023 Activision Blizzard close.
- July 2026 round — About 3,200 positions in the most recent restructuring.
- Studios in limbo — Ninja Theory and Arkane face closure proposals or consultation.
God of War Laufey opens pre-orders today for its February 16, 2027 PS5 release
Sony announced that God of War Laufey pre-orders go live today, September 29, at 10:00 a.m. local time, ahead of a February 16, 2027 launch on PlayStation 5. The game is set in the Everywhen, described as the afterlife of the gods, and centers on Faye, who wields a new enchanted weapon, the Serpent Bow, which shifts between dormant and active states.
Every pre-order includes the Last Wish Armor Set, the Phranque Golden Leaves appearance and an in-game resource pack. The Digital Deluxe Edition adds the Dark Alchemy armor set, blade, bow scales and catalyst, a digital mini artbook and the soundtrack. PlayStation’s post highlights customizable armor, weapons and magical artifacts called Catalysts. Pricing was not confirmed in the pre-launch coverage we checked, so check the PlayStation Store listing before buying.
Key Points
- Release date — February 16, 2027, exclusively on PS5.
- Pre-orders open — September 29 at 10:00 a.m. local time.
- Pre-order bonuses — Last Wish Armor Set, Phranque Golden Leaves look and a resource pack.
- Deluxe extras — Dark Alchemy gear, digital mini artbook and soundtrack.
Minecraft Dungeons II launches to solid but split reviews, with Metacritic at 76 on Xbox
Minecraft Dungeons II is out today, September 29, for $29.99 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5, Switch and Switch 2, and it is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Early Metacritic scores sit at 76 for Xbox Series X and 74 for PC, per Pure Xbox, at or above the 70-74 range of the original.
The spread is wide. Destructoid scored it 9/10 and called it an excellent advancement, Game Informer gave 7.25/10 and said the endgame is where it came alive, and IGN gave 6/10, calling it a shallow action RPG that offers a few evenings of easy dungeon delving. Reviewers broadly agree on better loot, more varied builds and a more connected world, including The Sift dimension revealed at Minecraft Live on September 26, but disagree on depth. The consensus reads as iteration rather than reinvention.
Key Points
- Price and platforms — $29.99 on Xbox, PC, PS5, Switch and Switch 2.
- Game Pass — Included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Aggregate scores — Metacritic 76 on Xbox Series X and 74 on PC.
- Wide score range — From 9/10 at Destructoid to 6/10 at IGN.
Naughty Dog will fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in 2027 and stay quiet until then
In closing remarks for The Last of Us Day, Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann said the studio will fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in 2027 and will stay quiet for the rest of 2026. He called it the studio’s most ambitious game yet and said the team needs a little more time before showing it properly. No release window was given.
Druckmann also confirmed that new projects expanding The Last of Us beyond its two games are at a very early stage, and said the studio would only return to that world with something meaningful to say. Intergalactic follows Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter stranded on the planet Sempiria, played by Tati Gabrielle. For fans, this is a scheduling reset: no more teasers this year, and a proper look next year.
Key Points
- 2027 full reveal — Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet gets its proper unveiling next year.
- Quiet until then — No further reveals planned for the rest of 2026.
- More Last of Us — New projects are in very early stages, with no details or dates.
- The lead — Jordan A. Mun, played by Tati Gabrielle, on the planet Sempiria.
Meta unveils Horizon Create and Horizon Studio to build mobile games from text prompts
Meta introduced two AI game-creation tools built on the agentic capabilities of its Meta Horizon Engine. Horizon Create is a mobile app where users describe a game, test the result and iterate from a phone with natural-language prompts. Horizon Studio is a browser-based editor for visual scene changes, asset swaps, script parameter tweaks and manual layout work.
Meta says the tools can generate complete 2D and 3D mobile games with progression systems, balanced difficulty, art direction and multiplayer, and that projects move between the app and the browser with assets and history intact. Access is limited to testing through an early-access waitlist. Published games can be distributed across Facebook, Instagram and Horizon, and creators can earn through in-game monetization and possible Horizon Creator Fund payouts. Meta says discovery will favor engaging, stable and culturally relevant titles, which is where the real competition for creators will be.
Key Points
- Two tools — Horizon Create on mobile and Horizon Studio in the browser.
- Complete games — 2D and 3D mobile titles with progression, difficulty tuning and multiplayer.
- Waitlist only — Currently in testing with gradual early-access rollout.
- Where it ships — Facebook, Instagram and Horizon, with in-game monetization.
YouTube Playables expands to more than 50 markets, including the EU and Nordics
YouTube’s in-app games hub, Playables, is now available in more than 50 markets including the EU and the Nordic countries, through YouTube apps and the website. It runs web games built on standard APIs such as WebGL and Canvas.
Supported tools include BabylonJS, Cocos, Construct, Defold, melonJS, Phaser, PixiJS, PlayCanvas, React, three.js, Godot and Unity. The program remains in early access, with developers applying through an interest form. YouTube also began a closed beta of an AI-powered Playables Builder in late 2025, using Gemini 3, limited to creators in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. The report did not include usage figures, so this is a distribution story rather than a traction story.
Key Points
- 50+ markets — Now including the EU and the Nordics.
- Web tech — Games built with WebGL, Canvas and engines such as Godot and Unity.
- Early access — Developers submit games through an interest form.
- AI builder — Gemini 3-based Playables Builder is in closed beta in four countries.
The publisher of Ys, Disgaea and Trails says it wants more simultaneous worldwide releases
Nippon Ichi Software (NIS America) CEO Kenzo Saruhashi said the company wants to release more games worldwide at the same time, according to Kotaku. He explained that the Japanese and Western operations used to function as separate companies, so the Western side lacked the decision-making power to commit to a simultaneous launch. Under unified leadership, he said, that is changing.
The article points to how long gaps have been: Ys X: Nordics launched in Japan on September 28, 2023 and reached the US on October 25, 2024, and a follow-up called Proud Nordics went from Japan on July 31, 2025 to the US on February 20, 2026. Saruhashi cautioned that resources and other practical obstacles remain, so this is a direction of travel rather than a blanket promise. Long gaps push Western fans to import or wait, and that is the friction same-day launches are meant to remove.
Key Points
- Stated goal — More titles launching worldwide at the same time.
- Why it lagged — The Japanese and Western arms were separate companies without launch authority.
- The gap today — Ys X: Nordics took more than a year to reach the US.
- Caveat — Saruhashi says resources and other constraints still limit how far this can go.
Minecraft World is coming to Chessington in 2027 with a Minecraft hotel and a Nether rollercoaster
Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios detailed a £50 million ($66 million) Minecraft-themed area at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Greater London, due to open in 2027. The project was first announced in March 2026, and the specific attractions were revealed in September.
The headline attractions are a 69-room Minecraft hotel across four floors, with 20 premium and 49 standard rooms themed around game biomes and characters, an ocean-inspired restaurant and a Woodland Mansion potions bar. Escape the Nether, billed as the world’s first Minecraft rollercoaster, runs through mines before emerging through a Nether portal into an Overworld-themed area. It is a physical extension of a brand that is also getting a new dimension and a Dungeons sequel this week.
Key Points
- £50M investment — About $66 million, opening in 2027 at Chessington.
- Minecraft hotel — 69 rooms on four floors, with 20 premium and 49 standard.
- Escape the Nether — Billed as the world’s first Minecraft rollercoaster.
- Partners — Merlin Entertainments and Mojang Studios.
Trophy Games buys Playrion from Paradox for €2.25 million upfront
Trophy Games, the Danish company behind Airline Manager 4, is buying Playrion, a Paris-based developer of aviation simulation and management games, from Paradox Interactive. The price is €2.25 million ($2.6 million) upfront, with potential earnouts over three years based on revenue, and the deal is expected to close on September 30.
Playrion employs about 30 people and generates roughly €4 million ($4.6 million) a year from games including Airlines Manager and Airport Simulator: First Class. Trophy founder Søren Gleie said the plan is to use Airport Simulator’s technology to build a broader simulation series, as it did when it grew Airline Manager 4 into a six-game transportation franchise. Playrion keeps its Paris headquarters and gains access to Trophy’s marketing, technology and development resources. It is the largest acquisition in Trophy Games’ history, yet small by industry standards, and a reminder that much of the sector’s M&A now moves niche studios for a few million euros rather than blockbuster takeovers.
Key Points
- €2.25M upfront — Plus earnouts over three years tied to revenue.
- Expected close — September 30, 2026.
- What Playrion is — About 30 staff and roughly €4M in annual revenue.
- The plan — Build a wider simulation series from Airport Simulator technology.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 gets the Prehistoric East expansion and a free Walkway Attraction update
Frontier Developments releases the Prehistoric East expansion for Jurassic World Evolution 3 today, September 29, on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at £11.99, $14.99 or €14.99. It adds five dinosaur families, two herbivores and three carnivores: Nanshiungosaurus, Gobisaurus, Yangchuanosaurus, Sinosauropteryx and Tarbosaurus.
The pack brings East Asia-inspired decorations including bronze Dragon Statues, marble Guardian Lions, paper lanterns and lotus flowers, plus holographic dinosaur displays, 15 new blueprints and 237 items in total. Free Update 1.5 lands the same day, headlined by a Walkway Attraction that lets guests travel along custom elevated paths, and players do not need the expansion to get it. A 40-minute developer gameplay preview went out on September 28.
Key Points
- Out today — September 29 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Price — £11.99 / $14.99 / €14.99.
- New dinosaurs — Five families, two herbivores and three carnivores.
- Free Update 1.5 — Adds the Walkway Attraction, separate from the paid expansion.
Cozy co-op road-trip game Seikyu: Let’s Go is announced for PC in Q4 2026
Ace Entertainment and Logoi Games announced Seikyu: Let’s Go, a cozy co-op road-trip game for one to four players set in the world of Tales of Seikyu. Players create characters, pile into a yokai-designed campervan and drive through mountain paths, deserts and swamps in search of the best photo opportunities. It is planned for PC in Q4 2026.
The loop centers on photographing elusive creatures, decorating the van, helping locals, camping and cooking, with characters from the Seikyu world to meet and mini-games to play with friends. Announced alongside a crowded fall slate, it is a small, low-pressure pitch in a week dominated by remasters and sequels, and one of the few games in today’s report built entirely around playing together.
Key Points
- Players — One to four, with co-op as the core.
- Setting — A yokai-designed campervan crossing mountains, deserts and swamps.
- Activities — Photography, van decoration, camping, cooking and mini-games.
- Release — PC, planned for Q4 2026.