Coliseum

Last month, Xbox announced a new disc-to-digital program that allows players to use physical game discs to access their digital counterparts. After rolling out this program to Xbox Insiders, it is now live for all Xbox owners.

Inserting an eligible Xbox Series X or Xbox One disc into a console will automatically grant players a digital license associated with that disc. In layman’s terms, if you own a physical copy of Gears 5, for example, you will also unlock and download the digital version in your library. The original disc will still function normally afterward. 

The idea behind this program is to let players use their physical media to enjoy the perks of digital gaming, such as being able to access the game across multiple platforms and take advantage of Xbox’s Play Anywhere (letting them play an owned game across console and PC) and Cloud Gaming (which is getting hourly play time limits in November). 

Your discs just got a digital upgrade today! 💿

Now, all players can experience the benefits of digital with most XBOX Series X and XBOX One physical discs: https://t.co/TuUdSr7Or8 pic.twitter.com/IVgrV2NY4v

— — (@XBOX) September 29, 2026

A support page clarifies how digital licenses are tied to associated discs, stating, “A disc to digital license is associated with the qualifying game disc. Without possession of the qualifying disc, you may lose the disc to digital licensing benefits. For example, if you lose, sell, give away, or otherwise no longer possess a qualifying disc, access to associated disc to digital licenses may be limited or revoked.”

Xbox has previously touted its disc-to-digital program as an example of its commitment to game preservation, stating in August that “As technology, devices, and distribution continue to evolve, preserving access to the games people own matters more than ever.” This initiative comes as PlayStation continues to face backlash over its plans to cease production of physical game discs in 2028. 

In more recent Xbox news, the company laid off 268 more employees after cutting over 1,500 earlier this year, gutting Halo Studios and moving development of the next Halo game to Activision. The company also became the new publisher of Hideo Kojima’s action-espionage game Physint after PlayStation dropped the project. 

China-based NetEase Games acquired Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind the No More Heroes series, Lollipop Chainsaw, and more, back in 2021. Now, months after the launch of Romeo is a Dead Man, the studio’s latest release, Grasshopper Manufacture has split from NetEase to become an independent studio once more. 

Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda, better known as Suda51, published a press release today announcing the split, saying the decision came after thorough discussions with NetEase and “their generous cooperation.” Romeo is a Dead Man is the only game Grasshopper released under NetEase.

“Having finally completed this all-hands project [Romeo is a Dead Man], as we reflected on the next stage of Grasshopper Manufacture’s future, we found a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere,” Suda51 writes in the press release. “As such, Grasshopper Manufacture has chosen to move forward as an independent developer once again.

“This decision was reached after thorough discussions with NetEase Games, and with their generous cooperation. We continue to cherish the amazing relationship our companies have built, and look forward to further collaboration when the opportunity arrives. Having improved our own self-publishing know-how, we now have a broad range of options available to us, and regardless of how our games may be published, we remain committed to creating unique titles featuring the ‘NO GAME NO LIFE’ gaming experience expected of Grasshopper Manufacture with our own signature flavor and further enhanced quality.” 

This split comes roughly a year and a half after word arrived that NetEase was looking to divest itself of most of its overseas teams, as reported by Game File. In the past couple of years, that’s been evident, too, with NetEase closing Canada-based developer Worlds Untold in 2024, just a year after the company unveiled the studio. In January, NetEase put Jar of Sparks, a studio it helped open in 2022, on ice; in 2025, it laid off workers at Liquid Swords, its Sweden-based studio it had invested in in 2022. Months after the launch of Marvel Rivals, a successful Overwatch-like shooter that uses Marvel heroes and villains as playable characters, NetEase laid off the entire U.S. team developing the game. 

Suda51 makes clear Grasshopper Manufacture is leaving of its own volition, with “generous cooperation” from NetEase, but it’s possible the studio read the tea leaves and left voluntarily before being forced to lay off staff or shut down. 

There’s no word on what Grasshopper Manufacture is up to now that it’s newly independent, but Suda51 said back in February, around the launch of Romeo is a Dead Man, that the studio plans to release another game this year (thanks, GameSpot). That remains to be seen. 

In the meantime, read Game Informer’s Romeo is a Dead Man review. 

Naughty Dog celebrated The Last of Us series yesterday alongside fans as part of its usual September 28 “Outbreak Day.” That’s when studio head Neil Druckmann revealed that the team is working on two “projects” that will expand The Last of Us canon beyond Part I and Part II. It’s also where Druckmann shared the studio’s latest update on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, its in-development sci-fi action game revealed during The Game Awards almost two years ago. 

Since that initial reveal, we’ve learned very little, though Druckmann has discussed the game’s casting in interviews, and it sounds like we won’t be seeing any more of it in 2026 either. In a Naughty Dog blog post made yesterday for Outbreak Day, Druckmann says the team needs to cook for just a little bit longer. 

“The team is heads down on what is shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious yet,” Druckmann writes as a response to the Naughty Dog fan community wondering when Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will be shown again. “There’s an electricity around the studio right now as all the pieces come together, and we’re stoked to finally unveil Intergalactic in all its glory. But… we need to cook for just a little bit longer. So we want to set expectations: we’re going to be quiet for the rest of this year. In 2027, that changes. We’ll fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and give you a proper look at Jordan’s wild sci-fi adventure.”

Druckmann closes by saying Naughty Dog knows it’s been a long time since it’s shared anything about the game, and it doesn’t take continued support for granted. “We’re working incredibly hard to make something worthy of your patience,” he writes. 

Here’s a piece of new Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet art included in the Naughty Dog blog post: 

In the meantime, read Game Informer’s reviews of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. You can also read about the latest casting for season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us, which includes John Goodman. After that, check out our list of the top 10 PlayStation 5 games. 

The digital version of our exclusive Grand Theft Auto VI cover story is now live, and the story focuses on how Rockstar Games approached making the game’s state of Leonida as accurate as possible to its real-world inspiration, Florida. A crucial element of Florida’s patchwork is its native, exotic, and outright invasive wildlife.

Leonida will teem with over 170 animal species across land, air, and sea, several of which have never appeared in a Rockstar Game. Native Florida animals such as flamingos, manatees, pelicans, and, of course, alligators will coexist alongside invasive creatures such as green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats, and even rhesus macaque monkeys (Yes, Florida has monkeys). 

Additionally, Rockstar is building upon its work on the Red Dead Redemption series by having animals demonstrate iridescence, bioluminescence, translucency, and feather types, plus new hair and fur systems for coats and pelts. You can also track certain animals categorized as Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary, though the identities of these harder-to-find creatures are being kept secret. 

To read Rockstar’s full developer details and insights into GTAVI’s wildlife and other game features, be sure to subscribe to read the full cover story.

For our exclusive cover story on Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar Games details the game’s advanced weather systems. Designed to simulate the tropical climate of real-life Florida, the game’s setting, Leonida, will feature not only sunny weather but also plenty of the state’s more violent weather phenomena.

Rockstar confirms that the game features dynamic cloudscapes that roll across Leonida, creating a broad spectrum of weather from clear skies to cloudy days. The game also features localized storms, meaning you can occupy a dry, sunny area and spot storms in the distance where it is actually pouring down. Drive to that spot after the storm passes, and you’ll be able to tell it just rained thanks to persistent puddles and other wet surfaces. Under the right lighting conditions, you can even spot rainbows following a fresh shower. 

Florida is known for experiencing tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes; the same is true in Grand Theft Auto VI’s Leonida. While we don’t know how often these larger, more violent storms occur or how they affect gameplay and storytelling, it’s exciting to know they’ll be present. 

To read Rockstar’s full developer details and insights into GTAVI’s weather systems and other game features, be sure to subscribe to read the full cover story.

The digital version of our November 2026 issue featuring Grand Theft Auto VI is now live! Subscribe to Game Informer now to get a physical copy of the GTAVI issue as your first magazine in the U.S. and in 52 countries internationally. 

Our 14-page cover story features new details on Leonida, the setting of GTAVI, which includes new developer interviews with Rockstar Games and 12 exclusive new screenshots. If you want to learn how far Rockstar has gone to recreate the state of Florida as accurately as possible, both ecologically and culturally, you don’t want to miss this story.

Elsewhere in the issue is a 10-page preview of Tides of Annihilation, written by senior associate editor Wesley LeBlanc, who traveled to China to play the upcoming action game. Comedian Mike Drucker wrote an entertaining (and, naturally, hilarious) feature defining, in his mind, what makes a “good” bad game. Editor-in-chief Matt Miller spoke with Invoke Studios to learn more about Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, an upcoming dark fantasy action game set in the popular tabletop universe. After traveling to Gamescom last month, Wesley LeBlanc wrote his thoughts on attending the event in person and how the show reflected the broader state of the game industry. Executive editor Kyle Hilliard even spoke with Finn Wolfhard (AKA Mike from Stranger Things) about his music career, his favorite video game soundtracks, as well as his fandom for Pokémon. 

The Grand Theft Auto VI issue also features extensive previews for upcoming games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Ravenous, State of Decay 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, Kirby and the World Beyond, Stage Tour, Rhapsody in Scarlet, and many more. We also have plenty of reviews, including Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Star Wars Zero Company, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.

Subscribe to Game Informer now to receive 10 issues over the course of your membership, both physical and digital. 

Naughty Dog kicked off The Last of Us with the launch of the first game on PlayStation 3 way back in 2013. Since then, it has released a beloved DLC, Left Behind; a remaster of the PS3 release for PlayStation 4; The Last of Us Part II on PS4; a remake of the first game on PlayStation 5; and a remaster of its sequel on PS5. That’s a lot of Last of Us from Naughty Dog, but it doesn’t seem to be the end, as studio head and Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann has revealed that the team is working on two “projects” that will expand the series’ canon beyond Part 1 and Part II. 

This news arrived yesterday as part of Naughty Dog’s usual Outbreak Day celebration, which takes place every year on September 28, the same date the Cordyceps brain infection took over the world in the Last of Us games. While the day is meant more for fans to celebrate the series, Naughty Dog also uses it to tease what’s happening at the studio, so it’s no surprise Druckmann teased glimmers of more Last of Us. 

“Since Grounded II, we’ve talked about the possibility of telling more stories in the world of The Last of Us,” Druckmann writes in a Naughty Dog blog post made yesterday. “We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages – so we can’t say much about them at this point. I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II. The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn’t return to it unless we had something meaningful to say. We believe these stories are worth telling.” 

It’s important to note, however, that Druckmann doesn’t specifically say “games” – he writes “projects.” While one would hope these are games, since that’s what Naughty Dog is best at, it could indicate more of this world in the form of TV, movies, comics or books, or something else entirely. 

Considering Naughty Dog has yet to release Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, its upcoming action game revealed during The Game Awards 2024 almost two years ago, it will likely be a while before we see these additional Last of Us projects. In the meantime, read Game Informer’s reviews of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. You can also read about the latest casting for season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us, which includes John Goodman. After that, check out our list of the top 10 PlayStation 5 games. 

Let us know where you want The Last of Us to go next in the comments below!

Season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us has three new cast members, Deadline reports. John Goodman, Ian Alexander, and Laura Bailey have joined the cast.

Deadline reports that Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Monsters, Inc., 10 Cloverfield Lane) will play Joey, the partner of Ian Alexander’s (The Gatekeeper, The OA)  character Paco. The pair are billed as a friendly duo who call themselves the Heroes of the Highway. Laura Bailey, best known as a prolific voice actor in animation and video games, plays Elizabeth, a leader of the Seraphites religious faction.

Fans will remember Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander as the voices of Abby and Lev, respectively, in The Last of Us Part II. However, they’re portraying different characters in the show since it features Kaitlyn Denver as Abby and Kyriana Kratter as Lev. 

The plot of The Last of Us season 3 has not been revealed beyond that it continues to adapt the events of The Last of Us Part II. The season has no premiere date but is expected to arrive sometime in 2027. Season 3 may also be the show’s last, according to HBO’s CEO. 

Ever since the PS5 launched in 2020, people have wanted to see what games are the best showpieces of PlayStation 5’s power and also which ones take their beloved medium to new heights. The Game Informer staff has selected 10 games that we consider to be the PlayStation 5’s absolute best. Over time, this article will be updated with the latest releases that we think crack the top 10.

Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren’t ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it’s a must-play, period. As such, we’ll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you’ll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you’re already caught up on the latest hits.

Here are Game Informer’s picks for the top 10 games on PlayStation 5:

Resident Evil Requiem

Release: February 27, 2026

Capcom has found a good rhythm with the Resident Evil franchise as it moves back and forth between remakes and new entries. Requiem is the latest entry (at the time of publication), and to date it has been the most successful at finding the middle ground between tense exploration and bombastic action. Grace Ashcroft explores intimidating locations, carefully preserving ammo and solving puzzles, while Leon worries less about counting bullets and more about kicking zombies. It gives Requiem a fun alternating pace while retaining many of the absurd elements we’ve come to love and expect from the larger franchise. | Our Review

Resident Evil Requiem

Platform:

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC

Release Date:

February 27, 2026

More Info

Ghost of Yōtei

Release: October 2, 2025

Developer Sucker Punch – despite its string of quality games like Sly Cooper, Infamous, and Ghost of Tsushima – often feels like an underrated studio. In Ghost of Yōtei, the studio took Tsushima’s framework and delivered a stellar follow-up. Virtually every element of the game has been improved, from very obvious details like better visuals to harder-to-quantify elements, like a stronger story. Atsu’s journey of vengeance is one we’ve explored often in video games and other media before, but it is still a stirring, expertly executed journey through her difficult life that you won’t soon forget. | Our Review

Ghost of Yōtei

Platform:

PlayStation 5

Release Date:

October 2, 2025

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Release: April 24, 2025

There is a reason we (and many others) picked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the Game of the Year for 2025. Developer Sandfall Interactive boasts impressive creatives who worked at studios like Ubisoft, but it still felt like it came out of nowhere to floor us all. Taking place in a universe where how long you live is dictated by the mysterious Paintress, Clair Obscur follows the 33rd expedition to explore the Paintress’ home and confront her. What follows is an emotional and unpredictable RPG journey that takes clear inspiration from games like Final Fantasy X all while looking and sounding beautiful and unique. Clair Obscur’s world is melancholy, but it is one we wish we could experience all over again for the first time. | Our Review

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Platform:

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Release Date:

April 24, 2025

More Info

Astro Bot

Release: September 6, 2024

What began as a relatively obscure PlayStation VR character in 2016’s The Playroom VR has blossomed into both a mascot staple for PlayStation and a sign of quality game design and joy. Astro Bot Rescue Mission showed us that developer Team Asobi was quietly a powerhouse of platformer design, and Astro’s Playroom (included with every PlayStation 5) showed that it wasn’t a VR fluke. And it all culminated in our 2024 game of the year. We loved it so much that we awarded it the rare 10/10 in our review, where Marcus Stewart wrote, “Astro Bot has always been good at propping up its contemporaries, but the adorable little robot can now proudly stand beside the PlayStation icons it so fondly celebrates.” | Our Review 

Astro Bot

Platform:

PlayStation 5

Release Date:

September 6, 2024

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Release: February 29, 2024

Square Enix created an impossible task for itself when it set out to remake one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. Not only would it be visually overhauling the PlayStation classic, but it would be rewriting it, changing the combat, and expanding it into a three-game trilogy. And so far, the plan is coming together. 2020’s Final Fantasy Remake kicked the series off with fantastic visuals and combat, and the sequel took it all a step further. Not only did the story continue its steady march toward conclusion and showcase one of the game’s most impactful moments, but it moved the party out into the open world and gave them lots of tasks to complete, all in the interest of letting everyone get to know one another. | Our Review

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Platform:

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC

Release Date:

February 29, 2024 (PlayStation 5), 

January 23, 2025 (PC), 

June 3, 2026 (Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2)

More Info

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Release: October 20, 2023

Coming off an incredible second act in its Spider-Man series starring Miles Morales, Insomniac Games had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, the studio was beyond capable, delivering one of the greatest superhero video games of all time with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Swinging through New York while in pursuit of iconic foes remains as amazing as it was in the first two games, but it’s the additional moves and traversal options (including the game-changing web wings) that make this the stand out entry in one of PlayStation’s most beloved exclusive franchises. | Our Review

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Platform:

PlayStation 5, PC

Release Date:

October 20, 2023 (PlayStation 5), 

January 30, 2025 (PC)

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Baldur’s Gate 3

Release: September 6, 2023

The role-playing video game emerged from the dream of being able to go on a Dungeons & Dragons-style adventure with the convenience and immersion that only video game consoles and computers can offer. Perhaps no game has better captured that fantasy than Baldur’s Gate 3. Complete with a built-in DM, story-altering player choices, and front-facing d20 rolls – not to mention the ability to play cooperatively with your friends – Baldur’s Gate 3 is the electronic D&D experience players have been waiting decades for, and delivers one of the greatest RPGs in recent memory. | Our Review

Baldur’s Gate 3

Platform:

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Release Date:

August 3, 2023 (PC), 

September 6, 2023 (PlayStation 5), 

December 7, 2023 (Xbox Series X/S)

More Info

God of War Ragnarök

Release: November 9, 2022

When 2018’s God of War turned the series upside-down by changing the action, combat, pacing, and its hero’s emotional range – all to widespread critical and fan acclaim – many wondered how Sony Santa Monica could possibly top its accomplishment. The answer was God of War Ragnarök, a sequel that stunningly pushes forward the gameplay, narrative, and characters. Following Kratos and Atreus’ adventures through Norse mythology is a blast, while the meaningful evolutions of both the puzzle-solving, world exploration, and combat cement it as one of the best action games available on PlayStation 5 today. | Our Review

God of War Ragnarök

Platform:

PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC

Release Date:

November 9, 2022 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4), 

September 19, 2024 (PC)

More Info

Elden Ring

Release: February 25, 2022

The wait for Elden Ring was excruciating, but it was nothing compared to the trials and challenges that awaited us when From Software finally delivered its masterpiece to the masses. But those who persevere through the studio’s trademark difficulty are handsomely rewarded with incredibly tight combat mechanics, rewarding exploration, and one of the greatest open-world action games ever crafted. Elden Ring smacked us down with its daunting boss battles and unfathomably massive world time and time again, but we kept lining up for more punishment with smiles on our faces, and we loved it so much that we awarded it a rare 10 out of 10 review score and it was an easy choice for Game of the Year 2022. | Our Review

Elden Ring

Platform:

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release Date:

February 25, 2022

More Info

Returnal

Release: April 30, 2021

As both a fast-paced third-person shooter and an atmospheric, mysterious journey through alien horror, Returnal succeeds at delivering an incredibly competent and cohesive experience. Returnal takes advantage of all that next-gen gaming has to offer, including comprehensive feedback from the DualSense controller. With adrenaline-fueled and creative boss fights, hundreds and hundreds of impressive “bullet-hell” projectiles to dodge, and an assortment of impressive weapons to experiment with, Returnal keeps you enthralled to the very end. | Our Review

Returnal

Platform:

PlayStation 5, PC

Release Date:

April 30, 2021 (PlayStation 5), 

February 15, 2023 (PC)

More Info

For more lists about the best games on other platforms, check out our lists of the top 10 games on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch.

Previous Entries: 

• Horizon Forbidden West | Our Review
• It Takes Two | Our Review
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Our Review
• Resident Evil Village | Our Review
• Demon’s Souls | Our Review
• Yakuza: Like A Dragon | Our Review
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War/Warzone | Our Review
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Our Review
• Astro’s Playroom | Our Review
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light | Our Review
• Resident Evil 4 | Our Review
• Deathloop | Our Review
• Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | Our Review
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Our Review
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade | Our Review

Santa Monica Studio has revealed new combat details for God of War Laufey, chiefly a new weapon for the titular protagonist. With the game slated to launch in February, pre-order details and a Digital Deluxe Edition have also been announced.

God of War Laufey stars Kratos’ wife, Faye, as she battles to liberate and survive the Everywhen, the afterlife of the Gods, after she dies at the beginning of God of War (2018). A PlayStation Blog post reveals a new weapon for Faye alongside her sword: the Serpent’s Bow. This mythical bow gives Faye a ranged option to keep foes at bay, and its quickness allows players to weave arrow shots into their melee attack strings. Short clips posted on the blog show Faye knocking opponents in mid-air and peppering them with a few quick arrows before resuming her melee combo. 

Holding down the fire button charges precision shots to target weak points that can hinder enemy movement and offense. Charging shots also allows Faye to notch and unleash up to five arrows at once. Faye also has an arsenal of arrow types, including rapid-fire, explosive, and multi-targeting options. The Serpent Bow can also be customized by equipping scales that alter its appearance and performance. 

God of War Laufey pre-orders open tomorrow, September 29, and include the following items. According to the blog post, items with an asterisk are denoted as “Unlock in-game items via story progression.”

• Last Wish Armor Set*
• Phranque Golden Leaves Appearance* (cosmetic) 
• In-game resource pack

A Digital Deluxe Edition, which currently has no listed price, includes the following bonuses:

• Dark Alchemy Armor Set*
• Dark Alchemy Blade* 
• Dark Alchemy Bow Scales*
• Dark Alchemy Catalyst*
• In-Game Resource Pack
• Digital Mini Artbook 
• Official God of War Laufey Digital Soundtrack

God of War Laufey launches on February 16 for PlayStation 5.