Anno 117: Pax Romana’s second DLC, the Hippodrome, is here, bringing iconic Roman chariot races to your province. It is every governor’s dream to have such an establishment in their province, and your citizens will enjoy it as well, from the lofty Equites and Patricians in their VIP suites to the lowly Plebians in the stands, cheering for their favorite chariot. A monument to your grandeur, an architectural marvel, a beacon of culture and civilization – The Hippodrome will elevate your province to new heights.
This new monument takes up quite a bit of space, requires a great deal of granite, timber, marble, and mosaic to construct, and will be built in stages – first the foundation, followed by the outer walls and the stands, before finishing with decorations and VIP lodges.
The Hippodrome is part of the Patricians’ Marvels need category, and will fill that need for the entire island. It also provides the following effects:
Increases certain attributes of all affected buildings (covers the entire island)
Those attributes will go up further when you increase the Hippodrome’s Splendor, which is displayed in the Hippodrome’s menu
Some Splendor levels provide additional bonuses, such as, for example, increased offense and defence for newly recruited cavalry, and horses as an additional need for Equites and Patricians
Once your Hippodrome is constructed, a series of quests will help familiarize you with the monument and its features. In this high-stakes story, a young man with big dreams of becoming a racing champion, and you’ll help him grow from amateur to legend. However, if you prefer to dive in without doing the quests, that’s an option as well.
Off to the Races
The first step in running a chariot race at the Hippodrome is deciding what type of race to host. There are three race types:
Amateur – 4 Racers compete
Classic Quadriga – 6 Racers compete
Imperial Races – 8 Racers compete
You can unlock Classic Quadriga and Imperial races by increasing the Hippodrome’s Splendor. The larger the races are, the more racers can compete and the more Splendour you will earn, but it will come at a hefty cost and bring tougher competition.
Next, it’s time to choose from any specialist on your current island to be a racer. Each one comes with their own set of racing attributes, which are:
Speed
Stamina
Sprint
Reliability
Once you’ve selected your racer, it’s time to assemble the goods you’ll need to host the race. It’s similar to the Amphitheater, with one new mechanic: you can provide one extra good to increase your Splendor rewards after the race. Then, it’s time to start preparations for the race. In response to player feedback, you can now set events to auto-repeat, so you don’t need to remember to start a new event every time.
Once the race starts, you’re free to follow along on your screen and cheer your racer on! Occasionally, you can order them to do a sprint, giving them a temporary speed boost and an edge in the race – if you time it right.
The more Splendor you accumulate, the more the Hippodrome’s attributes increase. You can also get additional bonuses, such as:
Horses as an additional need for Equites and Patricians
Horse breeders produce chariots as an added by-product
Increasing productivity nearby
Completing races will also improve the participating Specialist’s racing attributes.
In addition to the “The Hippodrome” DLC, the large update also includes several new features and improvements for all players.
Honored Guests and New Specialists
Anno 117: Pax Romana is also adding a new Honored Guests feature with this update. These characters have come from far and wide to visit your splendid province, and will support you in your efforts, including bringing you new Specialists. Honored Guests will visit your island at random, but you can increase the chances of one gracing your shores by increasing the Prestige of your islands.
Update 2.0 also is adding a new Specialist rarity level, Heroic. These are extremely rare, cost quite a bit of prestige, and you can only have one of each per savegame, but they bring quite the positive impact to your province. Their visiting chance depends on the Splendour you amassed across your monuments, both the Amphitheatre as well as the Hippodrome.
One of them is Paldius, Ovine Authority Unquestioned. His effects include:
Population +2 from cheese
Health +1 from cheese
Sheep farms produce an additional 1t cheese every 12 cycles
Sheem farm required workforce is reduced
Photo Mode
You’ve spent countless hours building up and beautifying your city, and now you can show off your hard work in new and exciting ways. Photo Mode will feature:
A free-moving camera, allowing for more photographic angles and allowing you to zoom in and out further than with the regular game camera
You can select any time of day to create the perfect lighting and ambiance for your photo
Several lens effects, including depth of field, focal length, and tilt shift effect
Limited-Time Challenges
Ubisoft Connect challenges are rolling out for all platforms, giving you a chance to earn Ubisoft XP and level up your Connect account. As you level up, you’ll be rewarded with Ubisoft Units, which can be used for in-store discounts, rewards for the game, or Fame points to spend in your Hall of Fame.
These challenges will be on rotation, available for a short time before moving on to the next challenge. Challenges can be completed each time they become active, even if you already completed it, giving you the same rewards. However, progress doesn’t carry over.
Completing challenges also awards you Fame Points which you can use in the Hall of Fame in the game to unlock additional ornaments, music tracks, and more.
Other Updates
Here are some of the other changes coming with Update 2.0:
A note function has been added, allowing you to write notes to yourself
Amphitheatre Buff Rework – the monument now has a nine-stage buff system, with increased clarity and usefulness of the provided buffs
New resident quests are available, and can be repeated
Bread consumption has increased by approximately 50%
Bread now provides +3 population (increased from +2)
Major fires and major plagues now significantly affect more buildings, especially in large cities, increasing their impact
Play Anno 117: Pax Romana today on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via the Ubisoft Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. You can also play with a Ubisoft+ subscription.
am8bit has once again teamed up with Warner Bros. and WaterTower Music to pay tribute to the soundtrack from the final chapter of Steven Universe with the Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack) 4×10″ Vinyl Set ($54.99). This set complements the iam8bit Steven Universe collection, featuring 60 memorable tracks from the series and is available for pre-order starting today until September 21, and expected to ship in Q4 2026.
The Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack) 4×10″ Vinyl Set is packed with four discs with all of the fan-favorite songs from series mainstays aivi, surasshu and Jeff Ball. Thoughtfully designed, the discs are colored with shades from Beach City’s sunset to mark the symbolic end of the series. Just like previous soundtracks in iam8bit’s Steven Universe collection, this release also features art by Jasmin Lai for a set worthy of the show’s legacy.
Steven Universe Future follows Steven and friends two years after the original series’ end, after the conclusion of the war between Homeworld and the Crystal Gems. In a new world where Gems and humans coexist, Steven must confront real-life problems while focusing on his own growth and development, finding a new purpose.
Pre-orders for the Steven Universe Future (Original Soundtrack) 4×10″ Vinyl Set are open now through September 21 for $54.99. Fans can shop the entire Steven Universe collection at iam8bit.com.
The time has almost come. The treks are getting ready. The excitement and anticipation for the settlers who want to venture out to conquer the wild frontier and find their slice of the American dream is palpable. And now the start for the treacherous journey into the unknown has a date: Development studio Empire Crafters and publisher Toplitz Productions are excited to announce September 25, 2026 as the Early Access release date for the anticipated city builder.
Media and Content Creators visiting this year’s gamescom in Cologne have the chance to check out the game at the Toplitz Productions booth in the business area, Hall 4.1, Booth # D-038g/C-029g. With only a few timeslots left it is advisable to book an appointment via this link.
https://youtu.be/pmiikkO8GmY?si=or_wsc5LU8qn1Wd4
Prove that you have the entrepeneurial spirit and the strategic acumen to become Governor in the Western outskirts of the American frontierlands. Start by building a humble settlement and setting up first resource streams as well as production lines. React to the people’s demands and help them achieve the American Dream, while your settlement grows and thrives and slowly turns into a busy town or small city.
Send Scouts on expeditions to uncover the surrounding areas, discover new quests and secure new resources that will help you grow your municipalities even further. But be careful: Every decision you make, from chosing city officials like Mayor or Sheriff up to seemingly mundane choices like allowing other settlers into your village, might influence your standing with your people and lead to unforeseen consequences.
Main features:
It Is Your Choice You decide what the West will look like. Choose from a wide variety of buildings both residential as well as commercial like the sawmill or butcher up to warehouses and transport hubs to distribute your produce. Upgrade them over time to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the settlers. Pick mayors and sheriffs, but be careful who you appoint – their perks will affect the cities’ growth.
The West Is More Than One City One settlement is only the beginning. While you discover new resource streams and production chains the urge to expand will become unstoppable. Send your settlers into uncharted territory and build new villages. Then set up trade routes, so resources can be exchanged. Don’t leave anybody behind or it will cost you dearly.
Every Settler Is A Person Your villages are filled with characters. Everybody has needs and demands that you have to fulfill, if you want your reputation to precede you. Only with a sufficient happiness level influenced by job availability, health standards etc. will you be able to attract new settlers and become one of the driving forces in the expansion of the United States.
The Circle Of Life Day and night cycle have an impact on the game world. Watch the city life change from dusk till dawn and show true leadership skills when you take on the challenges of efficient production chains and trade routes.
Strategize Your Expansion Of The West The strategic map will help you to plan your progress. Send expeditions, establish trading outposts and dispatch wagons with daring explorers eager to found new settlements. With the sandbox character of Wild West Pioneers, no game will ever be the same.
Take A Seat Sit back, chill and watch your plans come to fruition. Observe the hustle and bustle of city life, where every job is executed by a person and not a backend value. Watching your settlement grow in its detailed glory is half the fun.
Mark your calendars and sharpen your quills: medieval tycoon game The Guild is stepping into Early Access on 17 September 2026 – and it’s doing so with a new title.
From now on, the game will be known as … *drumroll*: The Guild 1 Remake: Europa 1410.
A title that reflects exactly what it is: the spiritual heir to the original Europa 1400: The Guild, not a follow-up to the life-sim adventures of The Guild 2 or 3.
So why, you might ask yourselves, does the game need a new name? The name change reflects the feedback received so far. Plenty of fans found their way into the series through The Guild 2 or The Guild 3, games with their own beloved life-sim flavour, full of personal drama, romance, and character-driven storytelling. While both are great games in their own right, Europa 1410 was never trying to be that kind of game. The new title clears that up before players even click “wishlist.” We want people to know exactly what they’re signing up for the moment they see the name. No mismatched expectations, just a medieval tycoon experience done right.
The Guild 1 Remake: Europa 1410 is built on the economic-simulation DNA of the very first Guild game: smart business strategies, clever dynasty management, ruthless entrepreneurship, and political scheming, all handled from a bird’s-eye view rather than by micromanaging your characters. It’s a game about decisions that will influence your business, your dynasty, and the city your family lives in.
The Guild 1 Remake: Europa 1410 launches into Early Access on 17 September 2026. Wishlist now on Steam and keep an eye on the updated demo to get a taste of dynasty-building, business empire-scheming, and political backstabbing, medieval style..
GSC Game World is pleased to share S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope launches today on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Step into a new journey through the Zone — a massive nonlinear expansion offering dozens of hours of gameplay. Discover haunting stories, twisted characters, and the familiar atmosphere of decay… where even the darkest moments leave room for a flicker of hope.
It’s time to step into a new chapter of a well-known conflict. Duty, one of the Zone’s oldest factions, sees it as a threat that must be contained and ultimately destroyed. On the other side, Freedom believes it’s a gift — something to explore and harness for the greater good. For a time, this tension was held together by a fragile peace. But deals like that rarely last.
In Cost of Hope, players once again take on the role of Skif, the protagonist of the base game, as he navigates events unfolding alongside Heart of Chornobyl. Explore the iconic Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the maze-like paths of the Iron Forest — and discover new locations beyond your knowledge. New weapons and gear give Skif a fighting chance against mutants, anomalies, and other dangers lurking in the Zone.
“Throughout the Cost of Hope development, we allowed ourselves to experiment more. To take risks. To surprise. Sometimes that meant trying things we’d never attempted before. Sometimes it meant making bold creative decisions simply because we believed they would make the experience more memorable. Above all, we wanted to create something that would genuinely excite long-time fans of the series. We can’t wait to hear what you think,” said Ievgen Grygorovych, Game Director and CEO of GSC Game World.
“For us, the release of this DLC is proof that even in the most difficult times, Ukrainians continue to create, work and deliver great games, and even the full-scale war has not been able to put the development of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe on hold. We have done everything we could to bring this story to the world, because the game gives us a unique opportunity to reach millions of people around the globe and tell them about Ukraine: its strength, talent, culture, identity and resilience,” said Max Krippa, Owner of GSC Game World.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope is available as a part of the Ultimate Edition of the game or a standalone purchase for 29.99 USD/EUR (subject to regional pricing).
After reaching its initial funding goal in less than three hours, Felicia Day’s The Guild: Ren Faire’d has officially surpassed $5.79 million on Kickstarter, setting a Guiness World Record and becoming the most funded movie project in the crowdfunding history, with 2 days still left to go on the campaign.
The campaign has received support from more than 37,000 backers and reached 385% of its original funding goal, surpassing the previous record set by Veronica Mars, which raised $5,702,153. The achievement marks a major milestone for independently produced entertainment and cements the power of the creator economy, ensuring the original “Knights of Good” return for a new feature-length adventure ahead of The Guild’s 20th anniversary in 2027.
Now that The Guild: Ren Faire’d has officially surpassed the $5.79 million world-record mark, the adventure isn’t over yet. Every additional dollar raised will continue to support the film, while also helping fund an all-new animated special. For the first time, fans will get to see the Guildies fully become their in-game characters and venture into Dragonor, the fantasy RPG world they’ve spent years playing together. Except the same comedy, chaos and lovable dysfunction of the live-action series into a short animated fantasy adventure.
The campaign entered its launch as the most-followed movie project in Kickstarter history, nearly two decades after fans helped fund the original series through a PayPal donation button on The Guild’s website, pioneering online crowdfunding long before Kickstarter existed. That early support allowed Day to complete the show’s first season and helped demonstrate that creator-owned digital entertainment could find both commercial and cultural success outside of the traditional Hollywood system.
“Becoming the most-funded movie in Kickstarter history is completely surreal.” said Felicia Day, creator of The Guild. “We started this campaign because we wanted to prove there was still a way to make something weird and wonderful with the people who actually want to see it, instead of waiting for someone to give us permission. And once again, the Guildies showed up in a way I never could have imagined. I’m overwhelmed, incredibly grateful, and so incredibly pumped to go make the movie they deserve. But mostly grateful. As the community says, suck it suits!”
Created, written by, and starring Day, The Guild: Ren Faire’d will reunite Codex (Felicia Day), Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh), Vork (Jeff Lewis), Tink (Amy Okuda), Clara (Robin Thorsen), and Bladezz (Vincent Caso), continuing their story in the same independent, community-driven spirit that made the original series a defining part of online fandom and geek culture. Nathan Fillion, Misha Collins, and Wil Wheaton have also joined the cast, with even more surprise additions still to come.
In order to reach this record-breaking total, Day and her team took an unconventional approach to crowdfunding. While most film campaigns center on traditional rewards like Blu-rays, posters, and T-shirts, The Guild: Ren Faire’d expanded the campaign into something much bigger. By bringing together original tabletop games, premium collectibles, creator collaborations, exclusive merchandise, and live experiences, the campaign became a full-fledged fan event; one designed not only to fund an independent feature, but to celebrate the community and culture that made The Guild possible in the first place.
THE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN INCLUDES:
The full-length reunion movie featuring the original Knights of Good cast
Swords & Sweethearts, a dating-sim card game created by Ryan Copple and developed in partnership with Scrungo Games, the licensing division from the team behind Cyanide & Happiness and Joking Hazard
A collected The Guild graphic novel omnibus from Image Comics with original cover by Leila Del Duca
A 120-page The Guild tabletop roleplaying game written by Vince Caso and developed in partnership with Hit Point Press, along with art from Dan Gartman and Pauliina Hannuniemi
Custom 7-piece dice set with nods to the each main cast members
A collectible “Poopcorn” popcorn bucket inspired by the film’s ren faire setting designed by Ryan Lesser at Wild Power Games
A plush Codex “Emotional Support” bag charm by David DePasquale
A tapestry blanket of the series ‘ infamous “Highland Sextasy” painting by Greg Aronowitz.
A cast signed movie poster illustrated by Adam Allsuch Boardman
A signed and bound version of Felicia’s personal production script, with all the marks and doodles
A campaign-exclusive T-shirt designed by Sam Prentice Jones, blind-box enamel pin collection by David DePasquale, and sticker set by the original Guild character artist Erik McKenney
A three-disc, 20th anniversary Blu-ray of the original with new content
A limited edition Blu-ray of the The Guild: Ren Faire’d with exclusive content
Additional digital rewards, collectibles, add-ons, and campaign-exclusive experiences
As part of the campaign’s expanding slate of fan-unlocked content, Conludo – a new board game series co-hosted by Day and Wil Wheaton – was recently announced. Each episode of Conludo centers around a shared topic of conversation between Felicia and Wil, before they choose a board game that fits the conversation and invite their friends to play along. Fans can unlock up to 10 episodes of Conludo by continuing to support the movie via Kickstarter.
Created, written by, and starring Felicia Day, The Guild premiered on July 27, 2007, and followed the members of an online gaming guild whose virtual adventures frequently collided with their real lives. The series ran for six seasons and 70 episodes, plus three music videos, and generated more than 300 million lifetime views across platforms. Across its run, The Guild earned six Streamy Awards and four International Academy of Web Television Awards, appeared on Rolling Stone’s list of “The Net’s Best Serial Shows,” and was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, which accessioned Codex’s costume into its digital culture collection.
NACON and NACON Studio Ghent are pleased to announce that Hunting Simulator 3 will launch on October 29, 2026, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado and Texas, either solo or alongside your loyal hunting dog, as you track 35 different animal species using a wide range of gear from leading hunting brands.
Building on over 15 years of expertise, the team at NACON Studio Ghent is dedicated to delivering the most authentic hunting experience to date. Backed by a community of over one million players, the franchise introduces an all-new experience with Hunting Simulator 3 – preserving the core elements that made previous titles a success while introducing key new features and noticeable gameplay enhancements.
Developed on Unreal® Engine 5, Hunting Simulator 3 features a groundbreaking new system: “SimFauna”.
Created by the studio, this tool makes wildlife more vibrant than ever by faithfully replicating real animal behavior. SimFauna operates as a dynamic ecosystem that constantly evolves based on wildlife behavior and player actions. Animals reproduce, grow, and age, making every playthrough unique. Every choice players make directly impacts the ecosystem, offering a more authentic gameplay experience.
THE ULTIMATE HUNTING SIMULATION
Expansive Hunting Grounds: Explore vast open-world maps spanning 100 km² each across Colorado and Texas, featuring enhanced visuals. Traverse these iconic American regions behind the wheel of 5 off-road vehicles from renowned licensed brands (Ford, Kawasaki, Polaris).
Immersive Simulation: Hunt over 35 animal species with your trusted hunting partner! Choose from several hunting dog breeds with distinct behaviors to customize your approach to every hunt.
Authentic Arsenal: Gear up with nearly 75 meticulously modeled weapons and pieces of equipment from world-famous brands (Remington®, Beretta®, Winchester®, Browning®).
Hunting Simulator 3 will be available on October 29, 2026, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
We have all been there. You drop into a competitive lobby, call out an enemy flank, and your teammate asks if you are playing from inside a running washing machine. Headset microphones have come a long way over the years, but let us be honest, most of them still make you sound like you are ordering lunch at a drive-thru window.
If you want to sound clear on stream or in Discord, a standalone USB microphone is the easiest fix. The trouble is that good audio gear can get expensive fast. Once you start looking at XLR setups, audio interfaces, and heavy studio arms, your budget can vanish before you even hit the “Go Live” button.
That is where the HyperX SoloCast 2 USB Microphone comes into play. Retailing at an easy-to-swallow $59.99 (and often floating closer to $45 or $50 on sale), this little black cylinder promises clean, broadcast-ready sound without needing a recording studio degree.
I plugged it into my rig to see if it delivers the goods or cuts too many corners.
Goodbye Creaky Plastic
If you used the original SoloCast, you might remember its flimsy plastic stand cradle. It worked, sure, but taking the mic in and out could eventually crack the ring.
HyperX threw that entire design in the bin for the SoloCast 2, and thank goodness they did.
The SoloCast 2 is built as a single, solid cylinder with a matte-black finish. It weighs about 12.9 ounces (roughly 365 grams), so it has enough heft to sit firmly on your desk without wobbling around whenever you bump your mouse pad.
The coolest touch is the built-in stand mechanism. Instead of clipping into a separate plastic base, the back of the microphone has a sturdy metal friction hinge. You can tilt it back between 40 and 45 degrees to point the capsule straight at your mouth.
Flip it upside down, and you will find integrated 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch screw threads built right into the base. That means you can pull it out of the box, screw it directly onto standard boom arms, and skip hunting for those annoying little brass adapters that always seem to get lost in a drawer.
How Does It Sound?
Let us get straight to the point: audio quality is where this little mic punches well above its weight class.
Inside that compact body sits a single 14mm electret condenser capsule recording at up to 24-bit depth and a 96kHz sample rate. It uses a cardioid pickup pattern, meaning it listens closely to what is right in front of it while ignoring much of what happens behind it.
When you speak directly into it from about four to eight inches away, your voice sounds crisp, full, and surprisingly natural. The capsule has a subtle boost in the upper-mid frequencies, which helps your speech cut through loud game audio without sounding shrill.
Is it going to replace a $400 Shure SM7B hooked up to a preamp? No, of course not. But for your viewers on Twitch, your teammates in Valorant, or your boss on a Monday morning Zoom call, the raw clarity is night and day compared to any built-in laptop or headset mic.
There is a minor catch, though. Because it is a sensitive condenser microphone, it will pick up background noise if you crank up the gain. If you have a loud mechanical keyboard with clicky blue switches or a box fan roaring two feet away, that sound can creep into your raw audio feed.
Tap-to-Mute
One of my absolute favorite features on HyperX microphones is the capacitive tap-to-mute sensor on top, and it makes a welcome return here.
There is no clunky mechanical button to press. You just lightly tap the flat top surface, and your feed cuts out instantly. Because it is touch-sensitive, you never get that loud, deafening thump that physical buttons send straight to your friends’ eardrums.
Just be mindful when moving your hands around your desk; the sensor is wide, so reaching for a soda can behind the mic might accidentally mute you mid-sentence.
Then there is the status light.
Near the lower front of the capsule, a small red LED turns on when the microphone is live and listening. When you tap to mute, the light turns off completely.
This matches traditional broadcast studio setups, red means on air, but it can throw gamers for a loop at first. Many gaming headsets use a red light to show that you are muted, so you might need a day or two to reprogram your brain.
HyperX NGENUITY
You do not need to install any software to start using the SoloCast 2. You just plug the included USB-C to USB-A cable into your PC, Mac, or PlayStation console, and it works immediately.
If you do want to shape your voice, you can open the HyperX NGENUITY software on Windows. Inside, you will find some handy digital audio tools:
High-Pass & Low-Pass Filters: Great for cutting low rumble or high electronic hiss.
Equalizer: Lets you warm up your tone or add crispness to speech.
Compressor & Limiter: Keeps your volume steady so you do not blow out anyone’s speakers when you shout after a clutch win.
AI Noise Reduction: Digitally scrubs away keyboard clicks and background hums.
The software audio tools work well, but keep two things in mind.
First, running your audio through NGENUITY’s digital processing caps your output format at 24-bit/48kHz. That is still the standard format for gaming, streaming, and video calls, so you will not notice any practical loss.
Second, the NGENUITY app has a frustrating quirk where custom settings might not save directly to the microphone’s hardware memory. If you shut down the app completely, your custom EQ curves might reset, meaning you will want to keep the software running in the background to preserve your tweaks.
Desk Stand vs. Boom Arm
HyperX added both an internal rubber suspension system and a built-in foam pop filter inside the metal mesh of the SoloCast 2.
The pop filter does a respectable job softening sharp “P” and “B” plosives if you speak at a sensible angle. The internal shock mount also helps deaden minor vibrations.
However, physics are still physics. Because the built-in desktop stand sits quite low on your desk, hard keyboard clatter and direct fist thumps will still travel up through your tabletop and into the recording.
If you want the best possible audio, grab an inexpensive boom arm. Floating the mic closer to your mouth allows you to lower the software gain, which cuts out room noise and gives your voice that rich, warm radio tone.
The Final Verdict
The HyperX SoloCast 2 USB Microphone makes smart trade-offs. You do not get a physical analog gain knob, and there is no 3.5mm headphone jack for direct zero-latency monitoring. If those are deal-breakers, you might want to look higher up the product ladder.
For $60, this microphone hits the sweet spot. It looks clean, feels durable, mutes silently with a tap, and captures crisp, rich vocal audio straight out of the box.
If you want to ditch your crackly headset mic and level up your stream or Discord presence without emptying your wallet, the SoloCast 2 is easily one of the best budget picks you can buy right now.
Bus Simulator 27 will launch on September 8, 2026, for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S. The new Multiplayer Trailer showcases the various ways players can work together:
Felicia Bay is looking for new bus drivers to help rebuild the region’s public transport network. Fortunately, players do not have to take on this challenge alone: In the cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players, they can establish, expand, and manage their own bus company together.
Once the company is up and running, the team can take to the roads of Felicia Bay. Players can operate the same route together or independently take charge of different lines. They can also join another player’s bus to assist with tasks such as checking passengers’ tickets. Thanks to cross-platform play, players can run their bus company together across all supported platforms.
Bus Simulator 27 will be playable for all visitors at this year’s gamescom at the astragon Entertainment booth in Hall 6 (B-060). The demo offers a first look at the game, featuring a selection of city bus routes as well as the new intercity routes being introduced to the series for the first time.
Another highlight at the booth is a real Solaris Urbino™ 12. Thanks to our new partnership with Solaris, visitors can experience the bus both in-game and in real life.
Bus Simulator 27 will be released for Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store, as well as PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S on September 08, 2026. and is available for pre-order now on all platforms.
If you pre-order the game, you will receive the Deluxe Pack as a bonus, which includes the HESS lighTram 12 Plug and Alexander Dennis Enviro 100EV buses, as well as four exclusive bus skins. In addition to the Standard Edition, a Year 1 Edition will also be available. This edition includes the Year 1 Season Pass, featuring another popular coach bus, the Mercedes-Benz Intouro, as well as additional Bus Packs, Cosmetic Packs, and a major FlixBus Expansion, all of which will be released later during the Year 1 Season.
Knott’s Scary Farm, Southern California’s longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event, is excited to announce two new spine-chilling mazes that will take guests into an animated nightmare and to the base of terror.
The 2026 Knott’s Scary Farm lineup includes a total of 10 mazes, five sinister scare zones, two new shows plus fan-favorite, The Hanging, during its run Sept. 17-Oct. 31. Guests can expect to experience their worst nightmare as the most horrendous monsters await around every corner ready to find their next victim.
NEW OFFERINGS
Inked (maze) – Mortimer Morbid, a washed-up 1930s cartoonist and former head of Morbid Studios, discovering that when blood becomes ink, imagination becomes reality. Determined to create one final Halloween special, he brings his infamous cartoon characters to life—only to unleash a legion of murderous toons hellbent on pulling viewers into their twisted world.
Unearthed (maze) – Embark on a perilous journey through the heart of an excavation site as you and your search and rescue team arrive at a ravaged base of the summit days after receiving a distress signal. Beware, for the discovery of the ancient tablets has awakened a malevolent force from a forgotten age—an ancient evil has been unearthed.
Voodoo: Bayou’s Edge (show) – Calico Mine Stage – The dead keep rhythm. A slow drumbeat calls — and Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen, guides you past the gate into the court of Baron Samedi, Lwa of the dead. Dancers drift through the mist, flames rise, tombs drum and the cemetery wakes.
Occultum Curated by Magic Castle (show) – Bird Cage Theatre – Step inside the beautifully restored Bird Cage Theatre and experience an evening of wonder. Featuring magicians from the world-famous Magic Castle, these acclaimed wizards will leave you amazed with surprise, delight and mystery.
RETURNING MAZES
Mary – The Haunting of Worth Home – After the tragic death of her family, Mary was violently murdered and buried alive by jealous townsfolk who were envious of her perfect family and home. Through immense pain and grief of her loss, Mary returns from the grave searching aimlessly for her family as she and her legion of nightmarish creatures will do anything to exact revenge on anyone that steps inside her once beautiful home.
The Zoo – Something has taken over the abandoned zoo. What was once a lively showcase of exotic animals has been transformed into a terrifying laboratory of animal/human experiments. Hybrid creatures have turned on their creators and the compound is crawling with mutant soldiers thirsty for revenge. Rumors are swirling that the mutated monsters are planning something that will change everything!
Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman – Become immersed in a living fairy tale in an 18th century colonial township that’s under siege by an inhuman monster who has a sick penchant for eating fingers. As night descends, Eight Fingers Nine emerges from the shadows in search of fresh meat. His vicious bite penetrates deep, causing sleep paralysis which holds his victim in sway while he slowly consumes their flesh. Step lightly and beware of the dark, or you may be the main course at his next meal!
Widows – The night of the arachnid is upon us! Enter a web-covered nursing home where demonic, eight-legged black widows emerge from their silken tunnels to possess the withered bodies of the elderly residence. Their sole purpose is to secure a mate and hatch a clutch of eggs before sunrise. Will you climb into their web and succumb to their dark desires?
Room 13 – Violent murders at The Blind Tiger interrupt the Prohibition-era revelry on Memory Lane. A dangerously delicious new cocktail named The Devil’s Elixir seems to be at the root of the mayhem, but where did the mysterious green aperitif come from? The answers may lie at the heart of the extravagant Argive Hotel, where many have checked in to Room 13… but none have checked out.
Cinema Slasher – Venturing through the mystical Midnight Theater, guests travel through the silver screen and into a trilogy of slasher movies. As they are swallowed into the world of gothic horror, they become the movie characters who try to escape the wrath of the dangerous Slasher. The theater opens its doors once again, daring those brave enough to buy a ticket to Cinema Slasher!
The Chilling Chambers – Venture into a hellish trip down memory lane in The Chilling Chambers. Guided by the menacing Crimson Lord, you’ll face a collection of the most infamous monsters and themes from Knott’s Scary Farm’s horrific history! Each room reveals a different flavor of horror, drawing you deeper into a world filled with terror. Can you survive the Crimson Lord’s twisted tribute through the decades of fear, or will you become a permanent part of this macabre celebration?
Origins: The Curse of Calico – Pierce the veil of time and discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott’s Scary Farm in Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft.
REIMAGINED AND RETURNING SCARE ZONES
Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions. Every night hundreds of monsters take over the streets and turn theme-park midways into murderous scare zones. From the world-famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm.
*Reimagined* CarnEVIL returns to the Boardwalk this year with a twisted new vision of horror. Under the watchful eye of the hypnotist Mesmer, the circus has evolved into an even more sinister spectacle where the sideshow is the main event and countless deviant clowns, cutthroats, and curiosities will vie for your attention… and your ounce of flesh. Step right up, because this year, the evil has returned to CarnEVIL.
Ghost Town Streets is the original – and still most terrifying scare zone – that started it all. Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog. Beware the notoriously startling Sliders who lunge from every fog-filled corner of the land.
Step back into the dark decadence of a by-gone era as the newest scare zone, The Gore-ing ’20s, terrorizes even the bravest and most brutal souls. Here gangsters run illicit hooch for the ghostly revelers as the otherworldly musicians play the music of the damned. Tell the Bouncer the secret password, and you’ll have the time of your life…for as long as it lasts.
Once again, the lake underneath Silver Bullet reveals the horrors and creatures it’s kept hidden, until now. Forsaken Lake will unleash gothic creatures, which have been ravaged by the dark and murky waters, as they wander their crypts preying on unsuspecting visitors, looking for victims to drag back to their watery graves.
In The Gauntlet, guests will encounter the King and Queen of the realm, maniacal jesters, brutal barbarians, wicked wizards and lawless peasants.
RETURNING FAVORITE The Hanging – Noose Maxxxing (show) – Wagon Camp
The town of Calico is once again under siege! It’s up to the Lawman and the Hangman to rise up and battle the evildoers in an all-out blood fest featuring the vilest villains of the past year. Grab a seat and bear witness to the ultimate skewering of pop culture. This year’s show promises to deliver gore and laughs to the maxxx!
This show contains adult themes and is not suitable for children.
KNOTT’S SCARY FARM ADMISSION Scary Farm Pass – Enjoy the ultimate Scary Farm experience with unlimited visits to all event nights. A Scary Farm Pass is just $164 for a limited time. Knott’s Season Passholders can currently get a Scary Farm Pass for the discounted price of $155. Limited quantities available.
Single Night tickets – Buy tickets at knottsscaryfarm.com and save with prices as low as $65.
Knott’s Season Passholders also receive a discount on single-night tickets. Taxes may apply.
Fright & Fast Lane – Ride and scream all night long with unlimited priority access to all mazes plus priority boarding on all Fast Lane rides. Fright & Fast Lane starts at $139 and varies by night. Separate Scary Farm event admission is required and not included.
Knott’s Scary Farm Vacation Packages – Turn your Scary Farm experience into a gruesome getaway with an overnight stay at Knott’s Hotel. The Knott’s Hotel Rest in Peace Packages includes overnight stay, access to Knott’s Scary Farm, collectible key card and hotel parking. Depending on the package, each registered guest can receive daytime admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, an exclusive Knott’s Scary Farm t-shirt, Fright & Fast Lane for unlimited priority access to all mazes and select rides at the park, Pre-Scare Dinner Experience at the Knott’s Hotel with early entry into select areas and access to the breakfast buffet.
KNOTT’S SCARY FARM EVENT DETAILS
Knott’s Scary Farm has welcomed millions of visitors for more than five decades of never-ending nightmares and has become an institution in the Southern California theme park landscape. This year, the event returns on Sept. 17 and runs Thursdays-Sundays through Oct. 31, excluding Sept. 20. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13.
A chaperone policy will remain in effect for all Knott’s Scary Farm event nights. Under this policy, all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted into the park. The chaperone must present a valid government-issued photo identification with date of birth at ticket entry. One chaperone may accompany no more than ten guests ages 15 or younger per day. In addition, the chaperone must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests 16 years of age or older may be asked to present a valid government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, state-issued ID
card, passport) with date of birth at entry to verify their age. If unable to verify proof of age, guests may be denied entry into the park. Guests ages 15 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection.
In addition, a bag policy will remain in effect for this year’s Knott’s Scary Farm. Clear plastic bags smaller than 12” x 12” x 6” as well as non-clear wristlets or clutches no larger than 5”x 8”x 2” are allowed at Knott’s Scary Farm. All bags are subject to search prior to entry.
For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, parking, park hours, and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com.
Join the scary conversation by using #ScaryFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and TikTok.
Follow us on Instagram @knottsscaryfarm
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/KnottsScaryFarm
Follow us on TikTok @knottsscaryfarmofficial
Follow us on X @knottsscaryfarm
