Author - Jerry Paxton

Pac-Man and Blink-182 Debut Collab at San Diego Comic-Con 2026

blink-182 and Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today revealed a broad ranging collaboration bringing together the influential punk rock band with PAC-MAN™. To coincide with the 25th anniversary celebration of their landmark 2001 album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, blink-182 teamed up with Bandai Namco Entertainment on a full collection of exclusive collectible merchandise only available at Comic-Con. The collection includes a limited-edition, numbered blink-182 x PAC-MAN Comic-Con vinyl produced by Blood Records, as well as a blink-182 version of the now memorable PAC-MAN x 7-Eleven T-shirt worn by Mark Hoppus at Coachella 2023. A moment that unexpectedly captured the mix of blink-182 humor, arcade nostalgia and convenience-store culture will now be shared with fans during San Diego Comic-Con. The collab items will be available at the blink-182 x PAC-MAN booth #1415 located at the San Diego Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con 2026 runs from Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26.

Comic-Con attendees can take a trip down nostalgia lane at the blink-182 x PAC-MAN booth (#1415), with an arcade-themed space that also celebrates the cultural resurgence of the band as they commemorate the 25th anniversary of their defining album. The visually rich booth includes the stylized animated depiction of the band along with co-branded arcade cabinets and a claw machine with PAC-MAN plush and other blink-182 items as prizes. The first set of blink-182 x PAC-MAN branded merchandize will be available for sale, including the exclusive SDCC vinyl featuring the top 10 modern rock hits “The Rock Show” and “First Date.” Visitors will also be able to take pictures with PAC-MAN and Bunny, who will be making appearances at the booth during show hours.

blink-182 and Bandai Namco Entertainment will reveal more details highlighting this collaboration between two pop-culture icons, including more limited edition blink-182 x PAC-MAN gear and merchandise.

Originally released as a coin-operated arcade cabinet, PAC-MAN is one of the most influential and longest-running video game franchises in history. In the game, players control PAC-MAN who has to chomp PAC-Dots while being chased by colorful Ghosts in mazes that get increasingly more difficult with each level. Since the official introduction of its innovative gameplay and game design, PAC-MAN sparked a worldwide phenomenon that attracted multiple generations of players across genders. Its popularity led to several game sequels, a full merchandising program and hit music single as well as two animated television series. With record breaking achievements, PAC-MAN has been recognized by the Guinness World Records with awards such as “Most Successful Coin-Operated Game.” The franchise continues to release new console and mobile games and in 2025, PAC-MAN™ commemorates its 45th Anniversary with a variety of partnerships, activations and launches.

DREADMOOR – Official Demo Release Date Trailer

DREADMOOR, the dark first-person fishing adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world from developer Dream Dock and publisher Digital Vortex Entertainment, cruises into the Submerged Lands with the demo launch on PC for Steam on Tuesday, Oct. 6, as announced in the Secret Sauce Showcase.

Take the helm of a creaky old boat and fish to survive in the Submerged Lands – a cursed region twisted in the aftermath of a cataclysmic catastrophe. Scout the best spots to reel in mutated monstrosities, ranging from sharp-toothed small fry to predatory fish that put up a desperate fight. Fill the ship’s hold, then float back to the bait shop looming over the water atop a set of gigantic crab legs.

Sell fish to buy new gear, or dissect them for their rare and valuable organs, which can be used to fashion complex and irresistible lures for drawing in craftier prey lurking in the deepest recesses of the bayou. Salvage wreckage and scrap to upgrade the boat, then fuel up for the journey ahead.

“DREADMOOR is a mash-up of our two favorite things – movies and fishing,” said Rostislav Fedorov, CEO of Dream Dock. “This demo will offer the deepest dive yet into what DREADMOOR has to offer, and with the valuable feedback we collect from our community, we will make the game even better.”

DREADMOOR’s PC demo launches on Tuesday, Oct. 6, on Steam for PC. The game supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish – Spain, Portuguese – Brazil, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Polish, Russian, and Japanese language text. For more information, wishlist the game, join the official Discord server, and follow DREADMOOR on X/Twitter for the latest updates.

Marvel Studios Avengers: Doomsday Debuts New Trailer

An all-new trailer and poster for “Avengers: Doomsday,” Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated December 18 theatrical release, are now available. Tickets to see the upcoming film in INFINITY VISION – a new certification for Premium Large Format (PLF) theaters, guaranteeing moviegoers an exceptional film presentation with big screens, bright images and outstanding sound – go on sale today.

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo; produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Jonathan Schwartz; and stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Mabel Cadena, with Tenoch Huerta Mejia.

In “Avengers: Doomsday,” beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.

“Avengers: Doomsday” releases exclusively in theaters December 18, 2026.

MXGP 26 – The Official Game Warm Up Trailer

NACON and Lyon-based development studio Artefacts Studio today revealed the first gameplay trailer for MXGP 26, the official video game of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The trailer offers a glimpse into the major technological and gameplay innovations of this new installment, scheduled for release in October 2026 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Unreal Engine 5: a photorealistic technological leap

Thanks to the transition to Unreal Engine 5, MXGP 26 achieves a historic visual milestone. The trailer showcases this striking photorealism through wide environmental shots, ultra-detailed mud textures under the rain, and precise mechanical close-ups (suspension, exhausts).

Redesigned physics and total helmet-cam immersion

Immersion is taken to the next level, notably through a gripping first-person helmet view, fully rewritten motorcycle physics, and completely reworked rider animations. The rider reacts dynamically to the track’s terrain, adopting realistic body movements during jumps, flat or banked turns, and while navigating ruts. Furthermore, the bike and gear progressively get dirty throughout the race, depending on the weather and soil conditions (dirt, sand, mud).

“Dynamic Deformation”: a living track that evolves in real time

The terrain in MXGP 26 is now alive. Dynamic deformation technology alters the track as riders pass through. As shown repeatedly in the trailer, the continuous passage of bikes digs deep, persistent ruts lap after lap, forcing players to constantly adapt their racing lines. Within just a few laps, the track is completely transformed from the start of the race!

Official 2026 season content in the spotlight

The trailer highlights a preview of the game’s rich official content and customization options:

  • Iconic Tracks: Including Bariloche in Argentina (volcanic soil), Riola Sardo in Sardinia (sand), Pietramurata in Italy (compact dirt), and Loket in the Czech Republic (hard-pack dirt).
  • Elite Riders: Across both MXGP and MX2 categories, players will find stars of the sport such as Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux, Kay de Wolf, and Calvin Vlaanderen.
  • Full Customization: A comprehensive editor allows players to design their rider and customize official machines from championship manufacturers (Kawasaki, Husqvarna, Yamaha, KTM, Honda…) with gear from leading brands (Fox Racing, Alpinestars, Scott, Airoh, etc.).

Whether competing in intense online races (up to 10 players), engaging in Grand Prix, Championship, and Time Attack modes, or freely exploring the vast training grounds of The Compound, MXGP 26 stands out as the ultimate motocross experience.

MXGP 26 will be available in October 2026 on nacongaming.fr, PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox.

Studio Ghibli Jazz Album from Norihiko Hibino Out Now

Scarlet Moon Records is pleased to present Prescription for Sleep: Ghibli, the latest album in their Billboard-charting jazz lullaby series. Saxophonist Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid / Bayonetta) and pianist AYAKI (Streets of Rage / PersonaQ), performing together as GENTLE LOVE, bring their signature therapeutic sound to the iconic scores of Joe Hisaishi and Studio Ghibli. Timed to the 25th anniversary of Academy Award®-winning Spirited Away and the 35th anniversary of Only Yesterday occurring today on July 20, the album is available today on all digital storefronts:

Prescription for Sleep: Ghibli on All Storefronts

The 12-track album features soothing jazz arrangements of beloved themes spanning the Studio Ghibli catalog, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) through The Boy and the Heron (2023). Listeners will find fan-favorites including “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle, “The Path of the Wind” from My Neighbor Totoro, and “The Dragon Boy” from the anniversary-celebrating Spirited Away, alongside an original GENTLE LOVE composition titled “Compassion.”

“This has been a year of cross-overs for us,” notes Scarlet Moon’s Jayson Napolitano. “We launched Prescription for Pop to bring Hibino-san’s therapeutic sound to mainstream music fans, and now with Ghibli, we’re building on what we started with our Attack on Titan album to reach even deeper into the anime community. Ghibli is personal for me, with Nausicaä and Castle in the Sky being my favorites. There’s something special about the fact that his compositions already feel like lullabies in some ways, and Hibino-san and AYAKI bring out that quality in a way that feels like these arrangements were always meant to exist. We’re honored to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spirited Away with this album.”

The full track listing for Prescription for Sleep: Ghibli is as follows:

  1. A Town With an Ocean View (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”)
  2. Merry-Go-Round of Life (from “Howl’s Moving Castle”)
  3. Marnie (from “When Marnie Was There”)
  4. Nausicaä Requiem (from “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”)
  5. The Path of the Wind (from “My Neighbor Totoro”)
  6. Princess Mononoke Theme Song (from “Princess Mononoke”)
  7. Theme (from “La Folia”)
  8. The Dragon Boy (from “Spirited Away”)
  9. Sosuke’s Voyage (from “Ponyo”)
  10. The Girl Who Fell From The Sky (from “Castle in the Sky – Laputa”)
  11. The Master of the Tomb (from “The Boy and the Heron”)
  12. Compassion (Original)

Prescription for Sleep: Game Music Lullabies kicked off on May 19, 2014, and has since enjoyed tens of millions of streams across 16 previous releases including three compilation volumes, nine more dedicated to Secret of Mana, UNDERTALE, Celeste, Shovel Knight, Wizard of Legend, Stardew Valley, Attack on Titan, ActRaiser, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a compilation of battle themes turned into lullabies, and two charity releases in honor of late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata and late game developer Yoshitaka Murayama.

Learn more about Prescription for Sleep: Game Music Lullabies: http://scarletmoon.com/sleep/

Borderlands: Dead ECHOs Audio Drama Premieres Today

Today, 2K and Gearbox Entertainment debuted the inaugural episode of Borderlands: Dead ECHOs, the first-ever audio drama set in the iconic Borderlands universe.

Dead ECHOs is darkly comedic in tone and packed with the unpredictable energy that defines Borderlands. The podcast follows Watts, a disenchanted DAHL Echo Operator who moonlights as a black-market secrets broker, sifting through undeliverable ECHO Logs and selling what he finds to the highest bidder. His operation gets a jolt when Junie, a curious stranger with big ideas and a mysterious past tied to a well-known weapons manufacturer, pulls him out of a jam and the two strike up a partnership.

What starts as a small-time criminal hustle quickly spirals into something much bigger. Their ECHO-brokering operation attracts the attention of ruthless corporations, violent outlaws, and DAHL’s notoriously lethal accounting department. As the heat rises, the two venture out into the wider Borderlands universe, visiting familiar locales like Pandora and Eden-6, and run into both new faces and beloved returning characters, such as Claptrap.

The series was created, written, and produced by April Johnson and Joel Watson of Gearbox’s Narrative team, who also voice Junie and Watts respectively.

The first episode of Borderlands: Dead ECHOs is available now, with new episodes planned to launch weekly. The series will be available on Borderlands and Gearbox’s YouTube channel, as well as all major audio platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & Audible, iHeart Radio, and Pandora.

For the latest information on Borderlands 4, visit www.borderlands.2k.com, and follow the game across YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

Felicia Day’s The Guild is back for a new Feature Film

Actor, producer, writer, and digital entertainment pioneer Felicia Day today launched the Kickstarter campaign for The Guild: Ren Faire’d, a new feature-length reunion film that brings the original Knights of Good back together for an all-new adventure ahead of the groundbreaking web series’ 20th anniversary in 2027.

For the first time since the series concluded in 2013, the original Knights of Good return together in a brand-new story. The fan-powered feature reunites Codex, Tink (Amy Okuda), Vork (Jeff Lewis), Clara (Robin Thorsen), Bladezz (Vince Caso) and Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh) for an adventure set in the vibrant world of the Renaissance Faire: a beloved corner of geek culture that has rarely taken center stage on film. Like the original series before it, The Guild: Ren Faire’d is being created independently with the support of the community that helped make The Guild a phenomenon. The film is executive produced by Felicia’s longtime collaborator Ryan Copple and directed by The Guild veteran Sean Becker.

Created, written by, and starring Felicia Day, The Guild premiered on July 27, 2007, following the members of an online gaming guild whose virtual adventures frequently collided with their real lives. Across six seasons, 70 episodes, and three music videos, the series generated more than 300 million lifetime views and helped pioneer creator-funded entertainment long before Kickstarter popularized crowdfunding, with fans supporting the self-funded first season through donations on the show’s website. The Guild went on to win numerous awards, a place on Rolling Stone’s list of “The Net’s Best Serial Shows,” and recognition from the Smithsonian Institution which accessioned Codex’s costume into its digital culture collection. Now, nearly two decades later, Day is once again inviting fans to help bring the Knights of Good back together.

“When I set out to make The Guild, I wanted to show the world that gamers and nerds could be the heroes of our own stories,” Day shared. “But even with the growth of geek culture over the years, Hollywood would never let me tell a story set in one of my favorite places: the Renaissance Faire. They’d consider both the setting and our characters too niche; just like they used to think people would never watch a show about geeks who play MMO’s. Instead of waiting for permission, we’re going directly to the people who’ve believed in us from the beginning. We’re going to make a hilarious movie together!”

Nearly twenty years ago, The Guild helped pioneer the creator economy before it even had a name, proving that passionate storytellers could build global audiences outside the traditional Hollywood system. Today, as creator-led films like Iron Lung, The Backrooms and Obsession make the leap from YouTube and online communities to the big screen, The Guild: Ren Faire’d aims to continue that trend to celebrate The Guild’s 20th anniversary where it has never been before: in movie theaters, surrounded by the community that made it possible.

At a time when most film crowdfunding campaigns revolve around Blu-rays, posters, and T-shirts, The Guild: Ren Faire’d is taking a radically different approach. By combining original tabletop games, premium collectibles, creator collaborations, exclusive merchandise, and live experiences into a single campaign, the project transforms crowdfunding into a full-fledged fan event. It’s an ambitious approach designed to fund an independent feature while celebrating the culture that inspired it.

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 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
  • Additional digital rewards, collectibles, add-ons, and campaign-exclusive experiences
  • Additional rewards, stretch goals, and campaign updates will be revealed throughout the Kickstarter.

Join the Guild and back The Guild: Ren Faire’d on Kickstarter HERE.

GROUND BRANCH 1.0 Out Now on Steam

The tactical shooter from one of the creators of the original Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon officially leaves Early Access, introducing the Campaign Prologue, major gameplay improvements, and the beginning of a new chapter for the game.

MicroProse and BlackFoot Studios are proud to announce that GROUND BRANCH Version 1.0 is now available on Steam, officially marking the game’s transition out of Early Access.

Created by one of the original developers behind the classic Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon series, GROUND BRANCH has built a dedicated following through its uncompromising approach to tactical realism, deliberate gameplay, and authentic team-based combat.

Version 1.0 represents the game’s biggest milestone to date, delivering its most complete and polished experience yet while laying the foundation for an ambitious roadmap of future content.

Heartopia x SANRIO CHARACTERS Event Launches Today

XD Games is thrilled to announce that the new Heartopia × SANRIO CHARACTERS collaboration event begins from 10 July and will run until 23 August.

Heartopia players can now obtain exclusive outfits, vehicles, and more, all themed around three hugely popular SANRIO CHARACTERS: My Melody, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi.

Watch the Heartopia × SANRIO CHARACTERS trailer below:

https://youtu.be/w-sg_Npy3zw?si=NK0e26dquXnqpX-c

While three new outfits are available from today, players who love Cinnamoroll can acquire a light blue and white ensemble inspired by Cinnamoroll’s blue eyes, huge ears, and curly cinnamon roll-like tail.

Players who prefer Kuromi’s sense of style can obtain a gothic purple and black outfit modelled on Kuromi’s edgier look. It comes complete with pink skull embellishments, just like her signature hood.

Finally, the My Melody outfit set includes a pink and white dress with frilly accessories, strawberry accents, and a rabbit ear headband inspired by My Melody’s iconic hood.

During the event, players can complete their preferred look with corresponding SANRIO CHARACTERS Vehicles Collection — one per character — and My Melody, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi character backpacks.

Additionally, players can also spin a SANRIO CHARACTERS Gacha Machine to win My Melody, Cinnamoroll and Kuromi-inspired decorative items and figures, SANRIO CHARACTERS stickers, and basic Heartopia resources. Players can also obtain furniture sets from SANRIO CHARACTERS’ Rainbow Cottage.

Alternatively, players can collect stickers via daily quests or by trading with others. There are three sticker sets in total, one for each SANRIO CHARACTERS. Collecting a certain amount of stickers will unlock pet outfits based on My Melody, Cinnamoroll and Kuromi.

For more information about the Heartopia x SANRIO CHARACTERS collaboration event, be sure to follow Heartopia on X.

The Heartopia × SANRIO CHARACTERS collaboration event begins today and runs until 23 August. Heartopia is available to play for free now on PC, iOS, and Android.

Mistfall Hunter Pricing and Deluxe Editions Announced

Skystone Games and developer Bellring Games today confirmed launch details for Mistfall Hunter, the dark-fantasy extraction ARPG. It will be released July 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM PT on Steam, PlayStation, and XBOX.

The release rides a breakout Open Beta. During Steam Next Fest, Mistfall Hunter pulled in nearly 430,000 players and landed on both Steam’s Top Demos and Top Trending Upcoming charts.

Every run is a high-stakes hunt. Drop into a cursed, mist-shrouded world, claim your loot, and extract with your life, or lose it all to rival hunters and the horrors waiting in the fog. PvPvE is the core of it: the threat of other players is what makes every extraction matter.