At UK studio Rockstar North, around 40 employees - all organisers for the emerging Rockstar Games Workers’ Union - have been dismissed suddenly and without formal process, as they approached the legal threshold for recognition. The company claims “gross misconduct,” while the union says it’s blatant union-busting. Worker protests, legal claims and community mobilisation are in full swing. You can support them here.

Heart Machine has cut staff as Hyper Light Breaker wraps, citing funding shifts and industry uncertainty. A January update is still coming, while Possessor(s) still launches 11 Nov. The studio thanks its team and community as it continues with a smaller crew. No good.

Marvel’s Wolverine closed out State of Play with a brutal gameplay showcase and a “Fall 2026” release window. Liam McIntyre stars as Logan, with teases of Mystique, Omega Red and a Sentinel. Insomniac says we’ll see more in “Spring 2026”.

Nioh 3 has a new trailer and a release date: 6 Feb 2026. IGN’s preview suggests it’s shaping up to push the series further, building on what the first two games did so well. Keen.

More on ZA/UM’s Zero Parades - For Dead Spies: playing as Hershel, you’ll navigate paranoia, betrayal and failure, with new systems like dramatic encounters and “failing forward.” Launches 2026.

Housemarque opened State of Play with Saros, a new game (not a Returnal sequel) starring Rahul Kohli as Arjun Devraj on the shifting world of Carcosa. With ‘eclipse-powered’ weapons, abilities like Soltari Shield and Second Chance, and more brilliant bullet-hell, it launches 20 March 2026.

Death Stranding: Mosquito (working title) is an animated project from Hiroshi Miyamoto and Aaron Guzikowski. With a unique hand-drawn-to-digital style and Studio Easter (Dandadan) on backgrounds, it follows a new protagonist with a strange ability tied to the mosquito theme.

New details have emerged on PHYSINT, Kojima Productions’ action-espionage project for PlayStation. Still early in concept, it features a mysterious poster tagline “Here comes the feeling” and a cast including Charlee Fraser, Don Lee, and Minami Hamabe.

Kojima and Phil Spencer finally showed more of OD, a new horror starring Sophia Lillis, Udo Kier and Hunter Schafer. Kojima says it explores the “fear of the knock,” while Jordan Peele will tackle a different fear in his own OD story.

The 2025 Australia Plays study is out: nine in ten Aussie homes play games, parents say it’s not just fun but vital for learning, creativity and connection… most see gaming as a positive force in family life - a way to bond, build skills and spark imagination together. Read the full report here.