Author - Jerry Paxton

Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain to Celebrate July 4th

Don’t miss out on all the Fourth of July fun at Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain as the parks honor the nation’s birthday and semiquincentennial with spectacular fireworks displays and special family-friendly entertainment. Both parks will offer holiday desserts and drinks including a vanilla red, white and blue layered cake; Liberty Bell apple pie crazy shake; The Tavern Cherry cocktail or mocktail in souvenir cup and more.

At Knott’s Berry Farm, Independence Day celebrations start July 3 (and continues July 4) with an Open House at Knott’s Independence Hall, a full-scale, brick-by-brick replica of the Philadelphia landmark. Free to the public, the Adventures in Education team will staff tour stops where guests can learn more about American history, view presidential artifacts and hear the nation’s forefathers discuss the Declaration of Independence in the Assembly Room. Additionally, Benjamin Franklin and Abigail Adams characters will be available to interact with guests. And on July 4, the night sky will be painted bright for the 4th of July Fireworks Presented by M&M’s®.

Of course, lively entertainment is available all summer long with Ghost Town Alive! where guests are invited to become the star of this summer’s new action-packed storyline each day. The summer adventure continues as the sun sets with a nighttime summer party. Knott’s Summer Nights Presented by Blue Bunny offers a variety of live music and fun interactive games for the whole family to enjoy. NEW this year is the Knott’s Summer Nights Market featuring a variety of sumptuous Asian food booths, fun games, local crafters and a resident DJ.

At Six Flags Magic Mountain, all-American coaster thrills will combine with a patriotic display of fireworks for three nights July 3-5 during Star-Spangled Nights Presented by M&M’s®. The holiday display complements the addition of park fireworks on Fridays through the summer. Additionally two new live shows will debut at the park the weekend of July 4 titled “Songs of Summer” and “Metro Vibes.”

Opened May 8, 1976, The Great American Revolution roller coaster recently commemorated its 50th anniversary at Magic Mountain. When it opened, The Great American Revolution was dually named for the history-making, 360-degree revolution it made as the world’s first modern looping coaster as well as the country’s bicentennial celebrations taking place. To continue the fun, Magic Mountain will host season passholders and members an opportunity to enjoy an exclusive ride time 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4 aligning with semiquincentennial observances.

Night guests at Magic Mountain are witness to an epic battle between good and evil during the last days of the DC™ Heroes and Villains Fest. Set across a full evening timeline, the fest is a large-scale experience that unfolds as a real-world, interactive story that surrounds guests with live-action moments, stunts, music, comedy and crowd-powered theatrics to bring the world of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains to fans like never before.

WHEN

Open House at Knott’s Independence Hall – July 3 and 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
4th of July Fireworks at Knott’s Berry Farm – July 4, 9:30 p.m.
DC Heroes and Villains Fest at Magic Mountain – June 26-29 and July 3-4, 5 p.m. until close
Star-Spangled Nights at Magic Mountain – July 3-5, 9:15 p.m.

WHERE

Knott’s Berry Farm – 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Six Flags Magic Mountain – 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355

NBA 2K26 Season 8 Official Trailer

Today, 2K announced that NBA® 2K26 Season 8 launches this Friday, June 26. With the NBA offseason in full swing and the WNBA season heating up ahead of All-Star Weekend, Season 8 delivers a wave of new content across MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and more, all headlined by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. The update ensures players have fresh rewards and challenges to explore while cruising through The City* all summer long.

The latest rewards and updates include:

  • MyCAREER: Season 8’s theme centers on the paint dominance of Shaquille O’Neal. Players can grind to get Level 18 for the One Wheel Vehicle, Level 19 for ‘Hugo’ – Charlotte Hornets Mascot, Level 33 Green ‘Bloodline’ Eyes, Level 39 Animated Light Show Onesie, Level 40 +1 Cap Breaker, and more.
  • The Park: Old Town is back. A remastered version of the iconic courts from NBA 2K15 return to Season 8, providing a classic streetball environment where players can bring their squads and climb the competitive ranking system.
  • MyTEAM: Dominate this Season with a new MyTEAM rewards track that includes Level 1 G.O.A.T. Candace Parker, Level 28 Dark Matter Becky Hammon Coach Card, Level 35 G.O.A.T Chris Paul, Level 40 G.O.A.T. Paolo Banchero (SF/PF), and more.
  • The W Online**: The WNBA season is locked in, and All-Star Weekend in Chicago is on the horizon. Compete weekly for a Caitlin Clark Jersey, Jackie Young Jersey, and more. Seasonal rewards include a Los Angeles Sparks Basketball, Los Angeles Sparks Jersey Card, 5,000 VC, and more.
  • Season 8 Pro Pass & Hall of Fame Pass***: The grind goes deeper with the Season 8 Pro Pass, with 40 additional levels of premium content for players who want more. Automatic rewards include the Full Throttle Fit, White Dragon Drip, and an Invincible Cooper Flagg. Push further with premium rewards like Wrestler Facepaint at Level 9, Animated Two-Tone Overalls at Level 21, ‘Harry the Hawk’ – Atlanta Hawks Mascot at Level 30, a Pro Pass G.O.A.T. Paulo Banchero (SF/PG) card at Level 40, and more.

For full details on NBA 2K26 Season 8, check out the latest Courtside Report. NBA 2K26 is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam.

NBA 2K26 is rated E for Everyone from the ESRB. For more information on NBA 2K26, please visit https://nba.2k.com/2k26/.

House Flipper Remastered Collection OUT NOW on Consoles

House Flipper Remastered Collection is the ultimate bundle, featuring the base game and 10 DLCs. This improved version is fully optimized for the latest consoles: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Get the game from Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3710840/House_Flipper_Remastered_Collection/), PlayStation Store (https://store.playstation.com/pl-pl/concept/10017580/), Microsoft Store (https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/house-flipper-remastered-collection/9nmsv6nzlghf) for $49.99 USD, today!

Exclusive loyalty discounts are available for returning players:

  • On the PlayStation Store, owners of the original House Flipper can purchase the collection at a reduced price of $39.99 USD.
  • On the Xbox Store, returning players can take advantage of three tiered discounts:
    • 10% off for players who have played House Flipper via Xbox Game Pass.
    • 20% off for current owners of the original House Flipper.
    • 30% off for owners of the original House Flipper who also own at least one of the following DLCs: Garden, Pets, Luxury, Farm, or Dine Out.
The collection features not only the beloved houses and items from the original game, but also introduces hundreds of new items, quality-of-life improvements, new jobs, and empty plots. These additions elevate the flipping experience to a level never before seen on consoles.

Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara Now in Early Access

Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara has released into Early Access on Steam, inviting players to run their own capsule toy shop in the heart of Tokyo’s famous otaku district. The game went live on June 8, 2026 and immediately started spreading across Japanese and Asian streaming communities.

Within days after the release, some of Japan’s most popular VTubers and streamers, including Pekora, Retort, Sakuna, Karubi Akami, and SANNINSHOW, picked up the game and streamed it for marathon sessions lasting between three and eight hours. Many creators have already returned for multiple broadcasts, with their communities generating a steady flow of clips, memes, and fan art across social media platforms.

The game gives a fresh take on Akihabara and lets players grow their capsule empire. Neon lights, cosplayers, billboards, maid promoters, tourists, local anime fans, JDM cars, “truck‑kun,” and authentic city soundscapes all come together to bring the streets around the shop to life. Daytime focuses on running the business and serving customers, while nighttime activities unlock side events such as an underground robot fighting club where players can place bets and meet colorful characters.

UGC90 emphasizes that nearly a year of development has been shaped by community feedback, with players helping refine systems, content, and quality-of-life features throughout testing and demos. The game’s active Discord community continues to contribute ideas and suggestions for each new milestone and update.

Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara has already surpassed 50,000 wishlists on Steam, with more than 19,000 players jumping into the Early Access build in the first two weeks. In that time, players opened 14.6 million gacha capsules, reached an average playtime of 9.4 hours, and 20% of the audience has already exceeded 30 hours of play, highlighting strong engagement with the game’s core loop.

And this is just the beginning. UGC90 is preparing an upcoming Automation Program update, built directly from community feedback, which will introduce smarter automation tools, improved management systems, and new progression features designed to support hundreds of hours of long-term gameplay.

At launch, the Early Access version includes 24 capsule pack licenses, a variety of interactive gacha machines, and features such as rapid multi-capsule opening to keep the pace snappy. Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara also supports full localization in 26 languages, making it easy for fans of Japanese pop culture worldwide to experience a slice of Akihabara from their PC.

To underline its commitment to collaborative development, UGC90 has published a public feature roadmap for the full release that is actively informed by player feedback and suggestions:

https://app.notion.com/p/ca57fffcae104c5585e8689d98cc82d6?v=3835133311d981a7bb8c000c69504b0d

Fans of simulation games, Japanese street culture, and gacha-style collecting can now visit the Steam page for Gacha Capsule Shop Simulator – Akihabara and start building their own capsule empire today.

Warhammer: 40K Darktide Skiitari Class Launch Trailer

Fatshark today launched the much anticipated Skitarii Class for Warhammer: 40,000 Darktide alongside the Dark Rites live event, new Expeditions content and two new enemies – the Omnissiah has finally answered Tertium’s call!

The Skitarii Alpha Primus are elite operatives devoted to the Omnissiah. Bringing powerful cybernetic enhancements, highly versatile playstyles and a whole arsenal of iconic Adeptus Mechanicus weaponry to the fight! Supported by up to three servo skull companions, each with their own unique function including executing hacking protocols,reviving allies or unleashing a fury of flames upon the enemies of the Imperium. The Skitarii Class offers players a wealth of tactical possibilities, allowing strike teams to adapt to any threat unleashed upon Tertium.

The launch of the Skitarii Class marks one of Darktide’s most significant content updates to date, building on months of anticipation. Commenting on the release, Martin Wahlund, CEO and Co-Founder of Fatshark, said:

‘Our community’s passion and feedback has been instrumental through Darktide’s evolution. The excitement surrounding Skitarii has been remarkable, and we can’t wait to see players deploy their servo skulls, experiment with new builds and most importantly – have a great time.’

Players can purchase the Skitarii Class today on all platforms for the price of $11.99 / €11.99 or the Deluxe Edition for $18.99 / €18.99.

  • The Flesh is Weak, The Metal is Strong: The Skitarii Alpha Primus are special operatives, favoured soldiers of the Machine God, blessed with mental and physical augmentations beyond those of their fellow Skitarii. Their non-linear unique talent tree enables unprecedented levels of build customisation. Whether you envision your Skitarii as a ruthless long-range assassin with deadly aim, a frenzied servant of the Omnissiah carving through flesh with Transonic blades, or a walking storm of Voltaic power – all who behold you will cower.
  • Constructed for War: Though bound by the doctrines of the Adeptus Mechanicus, no two Skitarii are identical. Construct your Skitarii choosing material types, augment patterns and Forge World of origin. Choose from four distinct voice sets and then adjust the voice modulation to define your sanctioned configuration.
  • Sacred Arsenal of the Omnissiah: Skitarii have access to an all encompassing host of legendary weapons which are fiercely guarded by the armourers of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The advanced wargear of the Skitarii includes legendary Arc weapons, dazzling Phosphor Blasters, slicing Transonic Blades and high-powered Galvanic Rifles. Such power is unfathomable, and often lethal, to the unaugmented.

DC’s BATMAN KNIGHTFALL Official Trailer Reveal

DC, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have officially unveiled the trailer for *BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL*, a highly anticipated three-part animated movie event. This trilogy aims to bring to life one of the most iconic, brutal, and beloved sagas in the rich history of Batman comics. Fans eagerly awaiting the adaptation didn’t have to wait long for a first look, as *Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall* made its grand premiere tonight at the 2026 edition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, with an official home entertainment release slated for later this year.

The narrative promises to dive straight into the grim, high-stakes chaos that defined the original 1990s comic arc. According to the official description, the story kicks off when a mysterious, venom-fueled behemoth known only as Bane orchestrates a massive breakout at Arkham Asylum. By freeing Batman’s entire Rogues Gallery all at once, Bane forces the Caped Crusader into a grueling gauntlet, ultimately pushing Gotham’s protector to his absolute mental and physical breaking points.

This ambitious animated trilogy is closely based on characters from DC and the massive, multi-creator DC Comic Book Event. The original masterpiece was crafted by a legendary roster of talent, including Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Dennis O’Neil, Peter David, Jo Duffy, Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Norm Breyfogle, and Jim Balent.

Bringing this massive creative vision to the screen is a seasoned team of animation veterans. *Batman: Knightfall Part 1: Knightfall* is directed by Jeff Wamester and written by Jeremy Adams. The project is backed by a powerhouse production team, featuring Rick Morales as Supervising Producer, alongside Producers Jim Krieg and Kimberly S. Moreau. Legendary executives Sam Register and Michael Uslan serve as Executive Producers to ensure the adaptation stays true to its comic book roots.

The voice cast brings incredible star power to Gotham’s darkest hour. The film stars Anson Mount, taking up the cowl as Batman/Bruce Wayne, while Michael Mando lends his voice to the terrifying and calculating villain, Bane. Rounding out the central trio is Pablo Schreiber, who will portray the volatile Jean-Paul Valley, also known as Azrael—a character destined to play a pivotal role as Gotham’s fate hangs in the balance.

34BigThings Leaves Embracer Group and Goes Independent

The following is the official statement from the 34BigThings team on the new ownership structure of the studio, with original Founder Valerio Di Donato re-acquiring 100% of the company.

“34BigThings was born as an indie studio and has always remained indie at heart, guided by a simple philosophy: ‘We make games we love to play,’” says Founder Valerio Di Donato.

“By joining the Embracer Group in 2020, 34BigThings gained a secure platform that allowed us to scale to a mighty team of 70+, establishing us as an acclaimed force in the European development scene. This provided us with invaluable structure and stability, while offering a first-hand look at the complexities of balancing internal development with external stakeholders. Through this journey, we have cultivated deep, hands-on experience in managing world-class IPs and navigating complex global production pipelines, witnessing firsthand how business operations can be conducted within small and large teams, within a single entity and across multiple studios.

This is a level of experience we now bring to the next phase of our journey. By returning to a privately held, founder-owned structure, we are able to operate with greater focus and agility. We are well positioned to build direct, ambitious partnerships with global publishers and investors.”

Following the transition, the studio will be led by Head of Studio and original co-founder Giuseppe Enrico Franchi, together with a streamlined Board of Directors consisting of Valerio Di Donato and CFO Daniel Giagnorio.

“Since our inception in 2013, we have felt part of a rising, unstoppable tide. We were good and lucky enough to be part of a golden age of indie devs,” says Giuseppe Enrico Franchi. “Returning to full independence gives us absolute autonomy to shape our structure, our projects, and our development approach. It’s refreshing to be steering our own ship once more.”

“This new chapter will begin with an absolute bang. Later this year, we will be announcing a major title built on one of the most important, beloved, and revered intellectual properties in the world. And that’s just the start: our production pipeline is fully charged, with another major title scheduled for 2027 followed by another groundbreaking project slated for 2028.”

It all started as a post-degree dream in a living room. We have conquered so much, but what drives us today is the same ambition and curiosity. 34BigThings is back where it belongs, and we are ready for our next big step.

About 34BigThings

Established in 2013, with a growing team of over 70 talented people, 34BigThings is the second largest independent game development studio in Italy. The studio is a developer for premium games across PC, console, and mobile devices. We use cutting-edge technology to create innovative, genre-leading games that receive critical acclaim and capture the imagination of players around the world. We have released over 10 premium games topping charts on all gaming platforms.

Urban Strife Release Date Trailer

MicroProse and White Pond Games are pleased to announce that Urban Strife will officially leave Early Access and launch its full 1.0 release on Steam on July 14, 2026.

To mark the announcement, a new teaser trailer has been released, offering a glimpse of the challenges awaiting players as the campaign reaches its climactic conclusion.

Since entering Early Access, Urban Strife has steadily expanded through major content updates, new story episodes, gameplay systems, tactical improvements, and extensive community feedback.

The upcoming 1.0 release will deliver the complete campaign experience, including the long-awaited final act: the arrival of the Atlanta Horde and the desperate siege that will determine the fate of Urban Shelter.

Set in a devastated corner of the American South, Urban Strife combines old-school turn-based tactics, deep survival mechanics, shelter management, faction politics, and RPG storytelling. Players must build a militia, manage scarce resources, forge uneasy alliances, and survive against both the living and the dead.

Most recently, the game received its final story chapter, The Fall of the King, allowing players to explore the fallen kingdom of Urban High School and confront its ambitious ruler, Principal King Brown, as the road toward the endgame draws ever closer.

Frostpunk 2: Breach of Trust Launch Trailer

Today, Frostpunk 2: Breach of Trust launches across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. With it comes a launch trailer featuring a haunting choir, a final warning from the Old Captain, and a choice that will define what remains of humanity in the city of New Edinburgh.

The colony on the frozen lake – Aurora – waits. The volcano burns steadily. And somewhere between trust and force, you must lead New Edinburgh through catastrophe in this full-fledged new scenario, a harsh tale about humanity’s struggle for survival.

The city shall live – as long as we live. But survival demands a price.

Frostpunk 2: Breach of Trust is available now.

Key new features:

  • A gripping story exploring the fate of New Edinburgh and its former colony, Aurora.
  • 5 unique Communities and Factions, each with distinct backgrounds, identities, and ideologies
  • Lethal new environmental hazards, featuring the Tremors and Volcano Night mechanics
  • New narrative events and new custom gameplay mechanics provide fresh challenges
  • Independent Colony – navigate relations with the independent colony through peaceful trade, forceful extortion, or total conquest
  • 2 new scenario maps
  • 5 new buildings and hubs to reinforce your city’s infrastructure
  • New laws

Invincible Superhero Roleplaying Available for Pre-Order

Today, Free League Publishing launched a pre-order for Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying. The official tabletop RPG, based on the groundbreaking comic book and animated tv series Invincible, and voted one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2026, will be officially launched on July 30 at Gen Con and in hobby stores everywhere. Pre-orders in the Free League webshop give immediate PDF access.

Also, fans going to Gen Con can sign up to play the brand new adventure Superhero Season. This intense 2-hour thrill ride throws the heroes into a deadly predicament as a massive bounty is placed on their heads. Tickets are going fast but there are still some slots left on Saturday. And even fans who don’t play can get printed booklets of Superhero Season at the Free League booth #2449.

In Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying, you and your friends take on the role of superheroes in your own corner of the Invincible universe – or any superhero setting of your own choosing. You might be a wisecracking speedster, a super-genius inventor, a grizzled vigilante, a shape-shifting alien, or a high-flying symbol of hope. Whatever you play and wherever you go, you’ll have to juggle relationships with patrols, face tough challenges and choices, and learn how to use your powers… and learn more about yourself in the process.

Who knows? You might be INVINCIBLE.

Key Features:

  • Your Superhero: Instructions for how to create your own unique hero at any power level – from scratch or using pre-made archetypes to dive into the action quickly.
  • Powers & Talents: Details on close to 70 unique superpowers, and dozens of boosts , talents, and drawbacks.
  • Action & Combat: Fast and brutal rules for fast-paced action, super-powered combat, gruesome damage, and deadly challenges.
  • The Invincible Universe: A deep dive into the comic book universe, including key locations and organizations.
  • Campaign Tools: Tools for the Gamemaster to help set up campaigns , events, and encounters.
  • Dramatis Personae: Illustratred descriptions and statistics for over 60 key characters from the Invincible universe.
  • Crisis Mode: Play Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying on your own, without the need for a Gamemaster!