Author - Jerry Paxton

Throttle Trace Launches into Early Access

MicroProse and Unordered Games are excited to announce that Throttle Trace is now available in Early Access on Steam, inviting players to discover a racing game where speed is only the beginning – and every corner is a decision.

Built around an immediately accessible throttle-and-brake control scheme but powered by a detailed simulation underneath, Throttle Trace distills racing down to the decisions that matter: how much speed to carry into a corner, when to push the tires, when to preserve them, where to attack, when to defend, and how to react when weather, traffic, damage, or strategy suddenly change the race.

To celebrate the Early Access launch, MicroProse and Unordered Games have released a brand-new launch trailer, showcasing the breadth of Throttle Trace: close wheel-to-wheel battles, changing conditions, career racing, multiplayer, detailed telemetry, and the tools that allow players to create entirely new circuits.

Racing Made Accessible. Simulation Without the Compromise.
Getting a car around the circuit is simple. Getting it around fast is another matter.

Behind Throttle Trace’s approachable controls is a simulation tracking the forces and systems that shape every lap. Tire temperatures and degradation, fuel, grip, aerodynamics and dirty air, track conditions, weather, collisions and component damage all interact to create races where the fastest solution is rarely as simple as holding the throttle down.

AI competitors race with their own strategies and react dynamically to what happens around them, while the Race Engineer helps players make sense of an evolving race. The result is a racing game that’s easy to start playing but designed to keep revealing new layers as players chase those final tenths.

Fright Fest Starts this Friday at Six Flags Great Adventure with Four New Haunted Mazes

The wait is almost over. Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS® begins this Friday, Sept. 18, at Six Flags Great Adventure, unleashing four new haunted mazes, returning fan favorites, sinister scare zones, live entertainment and world-class thrill rides after dark.

The Northeast’s premier theme park destination is preparing to transform after dark with one of its most ambitious Fright Fest lineups yet, bringing blockbuster horror franchises, original Great Adventure nightmares and decades of Halloween tradition together for select nights through Nov. 1.

Four new haunted mazes lead the charge this year, including JASON: Blood Reign and Final Destination: Death’s Playground, inspired by two blockbuster horror franchises, plus two all-new original Great Adventure nightmares, Twisted Holidays and Deadwood Cabin. They join returning licensed experiences The Conjuring Universe™ and Army of the Dead®, additional original haunted mazes, sinister scare zones and a packed live entertainment lineup.

This Friday, the nightmare begins.

Beginning Sept. 18, guests can experience hours of Halloween entertainment across the park, from haunted mazes and scare zones to the return of Dead Man’s Party and nighttime rides on Great Adventure’s world-class roller coasters.

“Fright Fest is one of the events our guests wait for all year, and this Friday we are turning the fear all the way up,” said Mike Fehnel, Park President of Six Flags Great Adventure. “With four new haunted mazes, major horror franchises, the return of Dead Man’s Party and an entire park that transforms after dark, this is a Fright Fest built to deliver big scares and even bigger thrills.”

Guests wishing to experience haunted mazes must have valid park admission, a Season Pass or membership, plus a Haunted Attractions Pass. Options include a one-night Haunted Attractions Pass, an All Season Haunted Attractions Pass for eligible season passholders and members, and a Haunted Attractions Express Pass offering priority maze access.

THE ENTIRE PARK BECOMES PART OF THE NIGHTMARE

At Fright Fest, fear doesn’t stop at the maze exit.

Scare zones transform entire sections of Great Adventure into open-air nightmares. Carnevil unleashes maniacal clowns across The Boardwalk; zombies lurk within Exile Canyon; restless souls take over Plaza De La Muerte; the undead surround Bloody Fountain; and pirates and sea creatures roam Curse of Blackbeard’s Bounty.

Scare zones, live entertainment and nighttime ride experiences are included with park admission, giving guests hours of Halloween entertainment beyond the haunted mazes.

Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13.

DEAD MAN’S PARTY RISES AGAIN

After a one-year hiatus, one of Great Adventure’s most celebrated Fright Fest traditions is rising from the grave.

Dead Man’s Party returns in 2026, bringing Dr. Fright and his undead friends back to the stage for the high-energy production that became a fall tradition for generations of Great Adventure guests.

Blending the energy of a rock concert with theatrical choreography and Halloween spectacle, Dead Man’s Party has spent decades helping define Fright Fest entertainment at Great Adventure. Now, after a year away, Dr. Fright and his undead crew are ready to rock the afterlife once again.

The entertainment doesn’t stop there. The nightly Awakening signals the start of the park’s transformation, Blade Drummers gets fired up with demonic bladesmiths, and Unleashed combines live-action entertainment with cirque-style feats, dance and acrobatics.

Together, the shows add another full layer of entertainment between haunted mazes, scare zones and nighttime rides.

FRIGHTFULLY GOOD FOOD AND DRINKS

At Fright Fest, even the menu gets a sinister makeover.

Great Adventure’s Halloween food and beverage lineup extends the experience beyond the mazes with limited-time specialty food, cocktails and nonalcoholic creations served throughout the park.

Among the most eye-catching offerings are specialty blood bag cocktails, including Transfusion, made with vodka, cranberry juice, grenadine and lemonade; Alien Blood, featuring vanilla vodka, candied-orange syrup and sweet and sour; and Zombie Juice, an undead-inspired combination of vodka, Granny Smith apple syrup and lemonade.

Guests looking for all the Halloween presentation without the spirits can sink their teeth into specialty mocktails including Vampire’s Kiss, combining lemonade, cherry and vanilla; the Purple People Eater, a mix of desert pear, cranberry and lemonade; and Pixie Potion, a colorful combination of blue raspberry, green apple and lemonade.

Limited-time Halloween food and sweet treats round out the menu, giving guests even more to discover between haunted mazes, scare zones, shows and nighttime rides.

MAKE FRIGHT FEST PART OF A FULL SEASON OF THRILLS

For guests who want to experience Fright Fest and return throughout the seasons ahead, a 2027 Season Pass or eligible membership stretches the value well beyond Halloween.

Eligible products can be used during the remainder of 2026, giving guests access to Great Adventure’s fall events and more opportunities to visit participating Six Flags parks across the region.

At nearby Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, that includes Halloween Haunt presented by SNICKERS® and the all-new Blair Witch: No Signal. Step into the legend of The Blair Witch Project and venture deep into the mysteries of the Black Hills Forest. In near-total darkness, you’ll navigate environments inspired by the world of the franchise, including winding trails, abandoned camps, eerie ritual sites, and the infamous Rustin Parr House as the forest itself seems to close in. Reality unravels within — experience Blair Witch: No Signal.

When Halloween ends, the value continues.

Holiday in the Park returns to Six Flags Great Adventure for the 2026 holiday season, giving passholders and eligible members another reason to return before the year is over.

Then comes 2027 and Bakunawa.

Great Adventure’s record-breaking new spinning launch coaster will rise 382 feet above The Boardwalk and reach speeds of 100 mph when it debuts next year, adding another major experience to a full 2027 season.

Eligible passes also include free parking and regional access to participating Six Flags parks, turning one purchase into opportunities for multiple visits, multiple seasons and multiple destinations.

Fright Fest this fall. Holiday in the Park this winter. Bakunawa in 2027. One pass unlocks a lot more than one visit.

For event dates, operating hours, tickets, Haunted Attractions Passes and 2027 Season Pass information, visit the Six Flags Great Adventure website.

Teardown Mod Pack 6 and Multiplayer Update Out Now

Tuxedo Labs is thrilled to release Teardown’s online multiplayer update on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S today, giving console players the chance to experience the game’s fully destructible world together for the first time! Team up to tackle the original base game’s campaign in co-op, go head-to-head in multiplayer game modes, or simply create chaos in Sandbox Mode.

Mod Pack 6 also launches today, bringing 30 brand-new multiplayer-compatible mods to consoles, including popular game modes like Battle Royale and Prop Hunt! In addition, today’s update introduces multiplayer support for dozens of favorites from previous Mod Packs.

The new online multiplayer update gives up to 12 players the freedom to experience the fully destructible, voxel-simulated world and realistic physics of Teardown together in nearly endless ways, including:

  • Sandbox Mode: Get creative (or destructive!) with unlimited resources in Sandbox Mode.
  • Co-op Campaign: Play the base game’s campaign with 40 missions in co-op, discovering unique and emergent gameplay possibilities together.
  • Competitive Multiplayer: Battle it out with multiplayer classics like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag.
  • Two New Official Maps: Discover new arenas for chaos and destruction on Splitfield Estate (featuring the built-in game mode Treasure Thieves) and Cratertown, designed to be mirrored for team-based game modes.
  • Dozens of Mod Adventures: Explore a curated library of multiplayer community mods, including over 40 updated mods from Mod Packs 1-4 as well as the newly released Mod Pack 6, introducing 30 multiplayer-friendly mods like Battle Royale, Vehicle Sumo, and Prop Hunt!

With so many ways to play, Teardown’s multiplayer update turns every heist, arena, and destructible playground into an opportunity for epic teamwork… or total mayhem. Whether you’re coordinating the perfect getaway or competing to cause the most destruction, there’s no shortage of things to tear up together!

Razer Unleashes the Kraken V4 X Sensa HD Haptics

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Kraken V4 X Sensa HD Haptics Edition, a wired gaming headset designed to add physical sensation to every session.

Powered by Razer™ Sensa HD Haptics and integrated across more than 100 supported PC games, the headset expands the gaming experience beyond sight and sound by turning supported gameplay events and in-game audio into rich, layered tactile feedback. From the thunder of an explosion to the subtle cue of approaching footsteps, every sensation is designed to pull players deeper into the action.

Purpose-built for gamers who want a more physical connection to their games, the Kraken V4 X Sensa HD Haptics Edition brings together immersive haptics, powerful wired audio, clear voice capture, lasting comfort, and Razer Chroma™ RGB customization in one accessible headset designed to make every session feel more alive.

Feel It All.

At the heart of the headset is Razer Sensa HD Haptics, the high-definition haptic technology that turns supported gameplay and in-game audio into sensations players can physically feel.

This is a world away from basic rumble. Sensa HD Haptics responds to intensity, duration, and position, so a distant explosion lands differently than a point-blank shot, and a footstep never feels like a grenade. In supported titles, every weapon, every ability, every moment of tension carries its own feedback.

Two modes bring it to life, depending on how deeply a game is built for haptics.

Dynamic Haptics[1] is for titles built with Sensa HD Haptics, which come first: game developer-authored effects mapped directly to key in-game events like weapons, abilities, and movement.

On top of that, players can layer on Audio-to-Haptics (A2H), drawing on profiles Razer has tuned for that specific title. Authored effects always lead, while A2H fills in around them, so when the action goes off-script, players stay in it

Engineered for Immersive Sound.

Equipped with Razer™ TriForce 40 mm Drivers, the headset delivers rich, detailed audio through a proprietary 3-part driver design that separately tunes highs, mids, and lows. Advanced 7.1 Surround Sound places players at the center of the action with realistic positional audio, while the Razer HyperClear Cardioid Mic keeps communication clear by prioritizing vocal clarity and cutting unwanted background noise.

Built for Comfort and Style.

FlowKnit Memory Foam Cushions combine breathable fabric and plush cushioning for lasting comfort through extended sessions, while Razer Chroma RGB unlocks greater personalization with 16.8 million colors and dynamic lighting effects to light up any battlestation.

A New Sense for Gaming.

With the Kraken V4 X Sensa HD Haptics Edition, Razer adds an entirely new sense to how players experience their games. Powerful audio, clear communication, and lasting comfort now work alongside high-definition haptic feedback to bring every session closer to the action, because gaming was never meant to be just seen and heard. Now, it can be felt.

For more information on the Razer Kraken V4 X Sensa HD Haptics Edition, please visit https://rzr.to/krakenv4x-sensa-hd-haptics.

Notes:

[1] Supported game titles are subject to change. For the latest compatibility information, visit https://www.razer.com/chroma-workshop#–sensa-games. Availability of Dynamic Haptics features may vary by game title, platform, and software version.

NASCAR 26 Launches Today on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X

NASCAR and iRacing Studios are excited today to kick off the early access launch period for Gold Edition owners of NASCAR 26, the newest installment in the best-selling racing game franchise, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. True NASCAR and racing fans can get their careers started now before the game’s Standard Edition releases on September 18. Race as your favorite drivers across all four premier NASCAR series – the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series – in the best NASCAR experience ever delivered on consoles.

Players can purchase NASCAR 26’s Gold Edition today for $79.99, unlocking the full game along with the Season Pass, featuring four monthly DLC packs through the end of the year including new paint schemes, fire suits, and career mode perks (VIP employees, 1,000 rep points, and a $10,000 career bonus). Pre-ordering either the Gold Edition or the Standard Edition ($59.99) before September 18 will unlock an additional $5,000 career bonus, 500 career reputation points, and an exclusive Kyle Larson paint scheme.

“The response to NASCAR 25 reflected the momentum we’re seeing across NASCAR and gave us a strong foundation to build from,” said Nick Rend, Vice President of Interactive & Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with iRacing Studios and listened to our community to identify where we could make the experience better. NASCAR 26 is the result of that work, and you can see it across the game, from how the cars drive and tracks evolve to cross-platform play that brings players together.”

Built in collaboration with NASCAR and powered by iRacing Studios’ industry-leading simulation technology, NASCAR 26 continues the franchise’s commitment to delivering the most authentic representation of the sport both on and off the track. Become a legend in the improved Career Mode, take on opponents in competitive cross-platform online multiplayer, and fight for the championship in The Chase, a new standalone mode. There’s also a groundbreaking dynamic track feature that evolves over each race weekend, a new Peak Performance training mode, dramatically improved graphics and lighting, and so much more!

Key Features

  • Favorite Drivers & Tracks: Race across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series with your favorite drivers and tracks from each series.
  • Improved Career Mode: Career Mode returns deeper than ever, featuring new weekly strategic planning decisions with Facility Upgrades that shape your journey from day one, along with performance coaching and tips from NASCAR greats Steve Letarte and Jamie McMurray. 
  • New Game Modes & Features: Experience the thrill of The Chase, a new customizable standalone mode where you fight for a championship over the last 10 races of the season against the field of your choice, along with a new Peak Performance training mode to perfect your abilities on every track, plus cross-platform multiplayer.
  • New Upgrades & Enhancements: Enjoy visual upgrades across the entire game, including improved graphics, skies, and dynamic lighting and cloud interactions, plus better replay cameras and an all-new particle system for enhanced smoke, debris and additional effects. On the track, you’ll experience an all-new tire and braking model for a more authentic racing experience along with dynamic track technology that changes the grip over the course of a race weekend.
  • And So Much More: Discover a ton of other additions, such as burnout celebrations, an all-new Ram truck, a new spotter (Freddie Kraft), new tracks (including the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, Chicagoland, and St. Petersburg), a trophy room, an enhanced paint kit, and all-new (fully customizable!) driver ratings for 2026.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition Coming to Nintendo Switch 2

Buckle those seat belts and get ready for an epic journey across the cosmos. As announced last week during the Nintendo Direct, developer and publisher Eidos-Montréal is thrilled to reveal, in collaboration with Marvel Games, that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition will be available on Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 5, 2026 for $39.99, complete with exclusive new ‘80’s-inspired outfits, mouse controls, and gyro support. www.eidosmontreal.com/games/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy/

To celebrate the announcement, the team has released a brand-new trailer showcasing the Switch 2 version and its features:

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition includes everything fans love about the original game, plus exclusive new content for Switch 2:

  • Full base game —The original Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, including all previously released digital content
  • 5 new exclusive outfits — brand-new looks for each of the five Guardians inspired by 1980s glam rock, available only in the Encore Edition
  • Mouse control support — full mouse functionality using Nintendo Switch 2’s built-in mouse, for menus and aiming
  • Gyroscope motion support — Tilt your controller to guide the Milano through space or to move Peter around when sliding or during zero gravity gameplay sequences
  • Three play modes — TV mode, Tabletop mode, and Handheld mode

“We poured a lot of love into these five characters, and the response from players confirmed they felt it too. The Encore Edition is our way of giving the Guardians one more night on stage, this time on Nintendo Switch 2,” says Jean-François Dugas, Studio Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal.

Inès Bruckner, Associate Producer, adds: “By developing the Switch 2 version internally at Eidos-Montréal, our objective was to ensure we deliver a version of the game that feels right at home, whether you play on a TV or handheld. And with the addition of the new Encore Edition outfits, we wanted to give the Guardians unique looks inspired by the same glam rock era as the Star-Lord band’s album, which resonated so much with fans.”

“Bringing one of our most critically acclaimed Marvel Games stories to a new platform on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a no-brainer. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition allows players to go hands-on with a genuine video game classic. Hearing that the Star-Lord band would re-string their guitars and crank their amps to 11 for an encore is the icing on this delicious treat. We can’t wait for new generations of fans to play one of our greatest hits.” says Eric Monacelli, Executive Producer, Marvel Games.

In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition, take on the role of Star-Lord, the self-proclaimed leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and lead the Guardians in combat, exploration, and conversation. Discover new cosmic Super Heroes, Super Villains, and worlds. Upgrade Guardians and experiment with 50 in-game outfits, and much more. Last, but not least, rock out to a killer soundtrack with 30+ classic ‘80s hits. Headbanging required.

tinyBuild Debuts Graveyard Keeper 2 Demo at tinyBuild Connect Showcase

tinyBuild and Lazy Bear Games have just hired you as the Kingdom’s new graveyard manager in the new demo for Graveyard Keeper 2, playable today on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2! Announced at the tinyBuild Connect showcase, and just in time for next week’s official launch of the medieval-est graveyard simulator, this new demo is available today until September 22. Start running your own cemetery and lead your very own undead army now, and rest in peace with the knowledge that all progress will carry forward to the full game when it releases on September 22!

Turn townsfolks’ problems into pure revenue. Gather and collect decayed materials like hearts, bones, brains, and skin to create your ideal zombie army and make all the work autonomous for you. Take care of your livestock, exterminate the undead, and cultivate the creepiest form of capitalism to become the most productive keeper and revitalize your quaint medieval town.

Key Features

  • DEMO PROGRESS CARRIES OVER AT LAUNCH: Players who dive into the demo will have all saved progress carry over once the full game launches!
  • CORPSE BURYING YOU KNOW & LOVE: All the graveyard keeping, grotesque characters and twisted humor you love is back! Manage your graveyard, craft, upgrade abilities, complete engaging storylines, fish, trade, customize your character and so much more!
  • A TOWN TO DIE FOR: Explore a massive town overrun by the undead, helping the townsfolk rebuild while earning some revenue along the way. Explore tons of varied locations and travel between areas with the convenient city map.`
  • MANAGE. GRIND. AUTOMATE: Build and manage your own medieval graveyard. Harvest flora and human remains to build extraordinary machinery, automate production, and expand your graveyard for pure profit.

Aether & Iron Official Console Reveal Trailer

Seismic Squirrel today announced that Aether & Iron, the narrative RPG set in an alternate 1930s New York transformed by anti-gravitational technology, is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S consoles in 2027.

A new content update featuring two new side quests in Nations Crusade will also launch tomorrow, alongside a 20% discount on Steam during the Steam Party-Based RPG Festival, running from September 14th through September 21st.

The new content update adds two side quests that give players new opportunities to explore the characters and mysteries of Aether & Iron. In one quest, Gia and Benny get a chance to spend time together, giving players a closer look at their relationship and the people behind the smuggling crew. The second quest takes players deeper into the aether research taking place in Nations Crusade, revealing more about the technology that has transformed New York and shaped the world of Aether & Iron. The update will be available on Steam at 3:00 PM Pacific Time / 11:00 PM BST on September 15th.

From September 14th through September 21st, Aether & Iron will be available at 20% off on Steam as part of the Steam Party-Based RPG Festival.

Aether & Iron is now available on Steam for Windows and macOS, featuring full English voice acting and text localization support for English, Spanish (Spain & Latin America), French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Players can purchase Aether & Iron and try the demo today on Steam. The game will also come to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S consoles in 2027, bringing its story-driven adventure to a new audience. Further details about the console versions and release date will be announced at a later time.

ACE COMBAT 8 Official Story Trailer

Bandai Namco Entertainment America has released a new story trailer for ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. Lies, conspiracies, and gossip form a dense fog that obscures the truth behind the war, and the legend of the Wings of Theve is no exception. The trailer sheds new light on the events surrounding the conflict and the legendary ace fighting to reclaim the Federation of Central Usea from the Republic of Sotoa, becoming a symbol of hope for the citizens of their occupied homeland.

View the ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE story trailer here:

ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE is coming to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam® on October 2, 2026, and is now available for preorder. For more information, visit https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/ace-combat-8.

The Triple-i Initiative Showcase Returns on Oct. 8

Evil Empire is back with a surprise edition of the Triple-i Initiative showcase on Oct. 8, for another 45-minute extravaganza of back-to-back trailers from Triple-i games – all killer, no filler. Tune in for world premieres, gameplay reveals, release dates and other announcements across 40 games, including Dave the Diver, Risk of Rain 2 and Windrose.

Watch the announcement trailer for the upcoming Triple-i Initiative Showcase on YouTube here:

Having debuted in 2024, The Triple-i Initiative showcase has already become a must-watch event for players and fans around the world by revealing games such as Slay the Spire 2, Don’t Starve Elsewhere and Graveyard Keeper 2 along with DLC content for fan favorites like Katana ZERO, Vampire Survivors and Barotrauma.

The upcoming show will bring even more exciting announcements, including eight exclusive world premieres, from studios such as Team17, Amanita Design, Strange Scaffold and Norsfell. But fans of previously released games will have plenty to see too, with reveals for Dave the Diver, Brotato, Chained Together, Risk of Rain 2 and Windrose. If all that wasn’t enough, the show will be topped off with big news from highly anticipated titles such as Hela: of Mice and Magic, Militsioner, the new Among Us title, Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, Haunted Paws and Outward 2.

Viewers can watch the 45 minute-long show on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, bilibili and niconico, and with some of the very best content creators.

The Triple-i Initiative showcase is run by developers for developers. Now in its third year, the not-for-profit initiative has seen year over year growth in the industry’s top global markets, with success attributed to an approach centered on content curated to a specific audience. Focused on engagement and conversation on a global level, the all killer, no filler showcase has no unengaging fluff, no ads, no sponsors and no hosts. Evil Empire’s no-b.s approach has achieved high visibility for today’s best creative teams and the show continues to go from strength to strength.

For more information on the Triple-i Initiative showcase visit https://iii-initiative.com/, and be sure to keep an eye out for updates on who will be participating in the show this year.