Mina the Hollower, the 8-bit action-platformer from Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games that launched last week on May 29, sold 300,000 copies in its first three days. In the lead-up to the game’s launch, Yacht Club told Bloomberg Businessweekthat Mina the Hollower was a “make or break” moment for the studio, explaining that the studio had to pause a planned second project and burn through a lot of its cash reserves as a result of taking six years to develop the game, and with 300,000 copies sold, it sounds like the studio is in the clear.
Yacht Club co-founder and Mina the Hollower director Sean Velasco told Bloomberg that “he’s thrilled with the critical reception for the new title,” adding that the “strong sales mean that Yacht Club can keep operating without making cuts or taking outside investment, at least for now,” according to the publication. Bloomberg writes that the 15-person studio owned by its co-founders is relying directly on revenue from Mina the Hollower to continue operating, but despite selling 300,000 copies in three days, Velasco hopes to sell more.
“I wonder how come the best-reviewed game of 2026 [Editor’s Note: Mina the Hollower is currently the highest-rated game of 2026 on Metacritic] is not the fastest-selling game, so I feel a big fire lit to close that gap,” Velasco told Bloomberg.
At the very least, it’s great news to hear that Mina the Hollower is performing well critically and well enough fiscally that Yacht Club is free from the “make or break” feeling present prior to the platformer’s launch.
Team Clout once again revealed its first-person horror game Ill during today’s State of Play. To the surprise of no one who has kept up with the game since its original reveal last summer, it looks as gruesome as ever.
Today’s trailer showed a bit more story, with the protagonist exploring a fort overtaken by some type of evil entity. The facility is filled with horrors ranging from infant-like creatures to hallway-filling monstrosities. Today’s trailer is definitely not for the faint of heart, but feel free to give yourself some nightmare fuel by giving it a watch.
Ill has no release date but it’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
The Lego Group and The Pokémon Company International have revealed 12 more Lego Pokémon sets and they’re all being released this August. Preorders are now live for the sets, which range from lower price tags like $19.99 upwards to $119.99, and if you preorder/purchase more than $130 worth in one go, you’ll receive a free Ditto Squirtle set.
All of these sets will be released on August 1, and while a lot of them look really cool, there is one potentially disappointing catch: every single set is a Smart Play all-in-one or compatible service. Now, Lego’s Smart Play features are pretty cool, allowing certain Lego figures to interact with others, light up, and make sounds, but if you’re someone who builds your set and places it on a shelf to look at (and not play with), you’re paying a premium for the baked-in Smart Play compatibility that you won’t be using. And considering these Lego Pokémon sets already come with a premium price tag, with the biggest released earlier this year for a whopping $649.99, it might be a disappointment that these are likely pricier because of Smart Play.
Nonetheless, the sets vary in size and total number of pieces, and together you could create some pretty neat dioramas. Take a look at each set in the image gallery below:
Here’s a quick look at what to expect with each set:
Splitgate developer 1047 Games has released the first-ever cinematic trailer for Empulse, its in-development 6v6 first-person shooter, and it sure does remind us of Titanfall 2, but that’s by design because the team is not hiding its inspiration. The game is set to launch into Early Access sometime in the future, though it doesn’t specify on which platforms. However, you can wishlist the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, so it’s presumably at least going to be playable there.
The cinematic trailer gives a quick look at this neo-futuristic world where Empulse’s first-person shooting action takes place, and of course, there are grapple hooks, wall-running, jump pads, and mechs. Alongside this cinematic trailer, released yesterday, 1047 Games says it will reveal the first-ever look at Empulse gameplay on Sunday, June 7, during the PC Gaming Show (just one of the many Summer Games Fest-adjacent showcases).
Check out the Empulse cinematic reveal trailer for yourself below:
1047 Games describes Empulse as a “fast-paced 6v6 movement shooter set in the post-utopian streets of Freehold,” where wall-running, grappling, holojumps, and more form the foundation of every fight and “where player-controllable mechs become the most contested objective.” The team also makes clear that Empulse is directly inspired by Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall series.
“Our dream has always been to be a multi-game studio, and this is the kind of game we love making: a fast, arcade-style FPS gameplay that rewards player expression and skill,” a post on X from the studio reads. “That is the type of gameplay we love, and Empulse is the purest version of that idea we have built so far. We have a lot of Titanfall fans on this team, and we have heard a lot of the same from our community over the years. More movement. More verticality. More ways to express yourself in a fight. Empulse is our answer to that.”
In Empulse, you can wall-run forward and backward, use a grappling hook to swing and close gaps, and jump via holojumps to experience a snowboard-like sensation of momentum. You can also deploy Plasma Activated Infusion of Nano-Tech (P.A.I.N.T.). Bombs to make different surfaces behave in unique ways that include speed and jump boosts, new lines that didn’t exist prior to the deployment, and more.
Here are some additional Empulse screenshots:
The studio says mechs are the “true power spike” in Empulse, adding that they change the energy of a match the second they arrive. “Instead of being something every player calls in throughout each game, mechs spawn on the map as the most powerful objective in the match, and your crew has to fight for control of them,” the post on X reads. “Think of it like fighting over the rocket launcher in classic Halo, except this rocket launcher walks, has unique abilities, and a massive health pool.”
Empulse is expected to launch into Early Access sometime this year.
Do you think this features the right Titanfall vibes? Let us know in the comments below!
If you can think it, Crocs will build it, or whatever the saying is. In other words, if you’ve ever wished you could wear shoes that would fit perfectly in the Mushroom Kingdom, next month is going to be an exciting one for you because Nintendo and Crocs are teaming up to bring a Super Mario Bros. collection to you next month.
Launching Wednesday, July 15, this collection features five Super Mario-themed Crocs and some packs of Crocs Jibbitz charms for those who want some additional customization. Your mileage will vary with these depending on your thoughts on Crocs, but as far as Crocs go, these are nicely themed, which is to say they are designed in that fine-line space between hideous and amazing. There’s a more general pair featuring theming from across the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as a pair themed around Mario, Yoshi, Bowser, and Peach.
You can check out each pair in the image gallery below:
The Super Mario Core Classic Clog will be available in adult and kids’ sizes, while the other four pairs will be sold only in adult sizes. There’s no word on pricing yet, but if these Crocs follow recent collaboration trends, they will likely fall in the $60 -$120 range.
Here’s a look at the Jibbitz charms that will be available for purchase, too:
This Super Mario x Crocs collaboration will go live on online stores and official Crocs storefronts next month, on July 15.
Which pair is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Publisher Team17 and developer Expression Games have delayed Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, its quasi-sequel to WW2 shooter Hell Let Loose, to August 13 following feedback from players in recent open betas and in internal playtests. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam was originally due out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on June 18, but will now launch roughly two months later on those same platforms.
“We have been so excited watching you share your experiences and seeing the great videos from our War Correspondents and being able to receive and implement your important feedback throughout both our Closed and Open Betas,” a press release reads. “In addition to your feedback, we have also been carrying out intensive internal playtests for both the PC and console versions of Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, and we have identified several areas where additional development time will allow us to deliver a stronger launch experience.
“Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided to delay the launch to August 13. This will ensure that Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches at the quality level we expect and you deserve.”
The most recent open beta started May 29 and ended June 1, but closed betas were held before that. It seems that feedback from those betas, alongside feedback from internal playtests, has helped Expression Games identify areas for improvement, and the team is taking extra time to shore up the loose ends.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on August 13.
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the premiere of 1996’s Toy Story. If the upcoming Toy Story 5 isn’t enough to get you excited to hang with Woody and Buzz Lightyear one more time, perhaps revisiting their old video games will do the trick.
Digital Eclipse, the team behind retrospective collections such as Atari 50, The Making of Karateka, and Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has announced two Toy Story nostalgia projects. The first is Toy Story: Retro Roundup, a “definitive collection” of classic Toy Story games from the ’90s/early ’00s. The bundle features the following titles, including a surprise bonus game:
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! (1999)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000)
Toy Story Racer (2001)
A Bug’s Life (1998)
Each game in Toy Story: Retro Roundup can be played in its original visuals or in an upgraded resolution. The games also feature the now-signature rewind mechanic, save states, and a practice mode featuring guided walkthroughs. You can also use Rex’s Cheat Codes to immediately unlock characters, levels, invincibility, unlimited lives, and bonus modes.
Retro Roundup also includes extensive archival content, such as development materials, as well as six behind-the-scenes video interviews with creators from Pixar and TT Games, voice actor Jim Hanks, and more.
The next game is Toy Story 3 Complete Edition, a remaster of the cult-favorite 2010 game (and a favorite of Korn frontman Jonathan Davis). The game now boasts 4K resolution and 60 fps performance. It also includes content previously exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version, such as the option to play as Zurg in the game’s Toy Box mode, Toy Story 3’s signature open-world sandbox.
Toy Story: Retro Roundup and Toy Story 3 Complete Edition will be released on October 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
Somewhere along the lines, I lost count of the number of times I beat Star Fox 64. It was one of those games that I would start over as soon as I finished it, aiming to not only beat my high score, but find more secrets en route to taking on Andross in the climactic final battle. Sadly, the franchise lost its way after that masterpiece, and no matter what studios like Nintendo, Rare, Namco, Platinum, or any of the other teams that have tried, nothing has recaptured the magic of that N64 game.
To attempt to put the Star Fox franchise back on the right track, Nintendo last month announced Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2, a game that remakes Star Fox 64 with new graphics, voice acting, cinematics, challenges, and multiplayer modes. I flew to New York to spend an hour playing this latest Star Fox title, and it has, thus far, earned its wings.
Before diving into the beginning of the story campaign, I play through the training mode, which takes place over the course of multiple segments. After learning how these controls work on the modern gamepad (including one-button options for somersaults and U-turns), I get a brief cutscene showing the team exiting the training simulation and transitioning to the beginning of the campaign.
In the campaign, I get a chance to see the call between Fox and General Pepper in the lead-up to the first mission on Corneria. The mission briefing is much more organic and grants significantly more context about what’s happening in the galaxy. Once the intro cutscene, where the team reports their statuses, plays, the mission on Corneria begins.
Star Fox looks incredible in motion, and Corneria looks fantastic. The highly detailed ship models and environments perfectly complement the tight gameplay, strong original designs, and frenetic action. Speaking of which, Star Fox feels as good as ever, and if, like me, you’ve played it a lot, it doesn’t take long for the muscle memory to kick in.
I have the chance to play through Corneria twice: first, on the normal track, and second, on the ‘good’ track where you fly under the arches and follow Falco through the waterfall. Taking down the Granga in All-Range Mode took me less than a minute, which is to say, it’s just like the original. The “secret” encounter with the Attack Carrier after going through the waterfall stays consistent with that.
In this second playthrough of Corneria, however, I was doing so in co-op, where I steered using a Pro Controller, and my co-op partner used a Joy-Con in Mouse mode to aim and shoot. This gameplay style requires a level of communication and anticipation of where the other will go, making for a more difficult way to play. I don’t know that I’ll spend much time in this mode, but it’s nice to have the option.
Next, I play Meteo, the asteroid field that serves as the second mission of the bottom path. Watching the meteors bounce off each other still feels impressive all these years later, and I loved seeing the new designs of some of the odder enemy units in this stage. However, rather than going through to the end to face off against the Meteo Crusher boss, I instead unlock the alternate route using the warp gates to access the warp zone. Thanks to the kaleidoscope effect of this area, the warp zone is a beautiful, vibrant sight to behold in this release.
The cutscenes between missions show off much more about the effort against Andross, including General Pepper acknowledging the branching paths, and laying out the missions of each level in instances where you have a choice. After Meteo’s warp zone, the path would normally take me to Katina to assist Bill (a personal favorite mission of mine), but in the cutscene, General Pepper lays out the stakes of each selectable mission, making it feel like a more impactful decision.
I was itching to play more of the campaign, but it was time to move to the multiplayer side of the experience. Though I will always consider the campaign of Star Fox 64 the main course, the multiplayer Battle Mode was a mainstay for me at friend gatherings, despite being super barebones, even after I unlocked the special on-foot mode. Star Fox on Switch 2 revamps the entire multiplayer suite, allowing for online or GameShare multiplayer for up to eight players. And it’s not just deathmatch; Star Fox’s Battle Mode suite gives you three maps to choose from, each with its own objectives.
On Corneria, the multiplayer objective consists of securing zones around the map, while Fichina has you collecting energy crystals. I played a couple of matches in Sector Y, which dumps you into a giant All-Range Mode area full of NPCs and the other human-controlled players. Split into two teams of four (Star Fox vs. Star Wolf), we blasted pirates smuggling cargo, then retrieved and delivered it to our respective bases. We didn’t have a full eight players, so the remaining characters on our team were replaced with bots, who were surprisingly competent; I was downed by the opposing team’s bots on multiple occasions. This version of Battle Mode evolves the concept of Star Fox 64’s Battle Mode in so many different ways. I can’t wait to spend hours matchmaking in this mode.
Though many of Nintendo’s choices for Star Fox on Switch 2 are polarizing, I fall on the side of liking much of what the developers have seemingly accomplished with this title. With the series being out of the cultural zeitgeist long enough that multiple generations of players think of Fox, Falco, and Wolf more as Super Smash Bros. characters than stars of their own game series, it makes sense to take the series’ story back to the origin of this iteration of Star Fox. With the more fleshed-out cutscenes and seemingly vastly increased dialogue, new and returning players alike will get even more insight into who these characters are, the dynamics that exist between them, and how their story plays out over the course of this adventure. My hope is that this entry will serve as a reminder of this well-liked story before Nintendo takes the story in new directions.
The Japanese box art for Star Fox (1993) on Super Famicom and the keyart for Star Fox (2026) on Switch 2
And perhaps even more controversial: the character designs. I’ll admit that Fox and Falco, in particular, were jarring to me the first time I saw them, particularly when juxtaposed against the sleeker Fox design from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Nintendo did itself no favors by starting the announcement Direct with that movie footage), but in the subsequent weeks, I’ve come to appreciate the character designs. It all began with the realization that these designs are largely meant to pay homage to the original puppets from the Star Fox game on SNES, which is especially evident when you compare the Japanese Super Famicom box art with the key art for Switch 2 (see above).
But even beyond that, once I saw the character models in motion within the context of the game, I came around to genuinely thinking they look good. This is true when they’re in the cutscenes, but it’s especially true when their faces pop up during gameplay to deliver a voice line. I truly think that once players and fans adjust to the new design, just as they needed to with Donkey Kong last year, this version of the characters will be widely considered good.
As you can probably tell from this preview, I loved my time with Star Fox. As someone who 100 percented Star Fox 64 all those years ago, I really wish I could have played some of the new Challenge mode, but the campaign, co-op, and competitive multiplayer are all hitting the right notes. I don’t know how many times I’ve played through Star Fox 64’s narrative in my life, but I can guarantee you I will be greatly adding to that number with this remake when it arrives on Switch 2 on June 25.
Maverick Games has announced an open-world action-driving game called Clutch. Clutch will be the debut game for the studio, which was founded by Mike Brown, who designed Forza Horizon 2, 3, and 4, and served as creative director for Forza Horizon 5. While that history with perhaps the premier open-world racing franchise will help in creating Clutch, it sounds as though this new title will be more cinematic and narrative-driven.
Clutch features a cinematic, story-driven campaign telling the story of sibling racers competing in a historic racing series called the R1K. Within the R1K, players can take part in sanctioned events. However, on the other side of the campaign is the Midnight Collective, the underground circuit that’s more about style. The hero of the story finds himself in trouble, and the seedier elements of the world are brought to light.
As you play, you jockey for position in races, while earning reputation and rewards within the broader narrative. According to a press release, players will need to react to and navigate shifting alliances and rival crews within the context of a living PvPvE world. Missions are hand-crafted, with both planned and spontaneous missions popping up as you speed through the game. Maverick Games touts its proprietary physics engine and open-world sandbox as key factors in delivering cinematic action and emergent, chaotic opportunities within the game.
In addition to the racing and story, players can expect deep vehicle customization, which includes the standard of custom paint and aftermarket parts, but also other elements that Maverick Games claims will help players create a one-of-a-kind ride and deliver on the tiny details that, “build on the connection between car and driver.”
While this is Maverick Games’ first title, Brown’s work on the Forza Horizon series bolsters confidence. The Forza Horizon franchise has always scored well, with 5 serving as the pinnacle in the eyes of many. That game, of which Brown was creative director, earned a 9.5 out of 10 from Game Informer when it launched in 2021.
We will learn more about Clutch during the Summer Game Fest Showcase this Friday, June 5. Until then, if this sounds up your alley, you can look forward to playing Clutch when it launches spring 2027.
We learned that Sega’s long-running beat ’em up series, Streets of Rage, was getting the film-adaptation treatment back in 2022 via Lionsgate, around the same time Paramount Pictures acquired the movie franchise rights to Sonic the Hedgehog. Now, three movies later (with a fourth in production), Lionsgate has tapped Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the writer duo behind the Sonic films, to write its Streets of Rage adaptation.
That’s according to Variety, which also reports that The Harder They Fall director Jeymes Samuel will now direct the untitled Streets of Rage movie. Casey and Miller join the film production following the departure of John Wick writer Derek Kolstad, who wrote an earlier draft for the movie.
There’s still no word on what the film will be about, but Variety writes that the adaptation is described as leaning “heavily into the cult classic game known for its iconic characters, acclaimed electronic soundtracks, and beat ’em up action.” Streets of Rage 4, the last release in the series thus far, launched in 2020, selling more than 2.5 million copies within a year, and fans have been clamoring for a new entry since.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s Sonic series has grossed more than $1 billion across three movies, with the fourth – aptly titled Sonic the Hedgehog 4 – set to hit theaters in March of 2027. Notably, both Casey and Miller are the writers behind Sonic the Hedgehog 4, with stars like Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Keanu Reeves, Lee Majdoub, and others set to return alongside newcomer Kristin Bell, who will provide the voice of Amy in the film.
There’s no word on when Liongsate’s Streets of Rage movie will hit theaters, but the ball/sidescrolling-asphalt-that-is-the-arena-for-beat-em-up-combat is finally moving along. Considering Lionsgate is behind the ultra-violent/ultra-great John Wick movies, Streets of Rage could turn out to be an action hit.
