Xbox Game Pass Heading For A Massive Shakeup, Report Says

One of the most memorable demos I played at Gamescom Latam 2026 was that of Talaka, a watercoloured 2D action-roguelike that - like many games at the São Paulo-based show – leaned deeply into Brazilian culture and mythology. In this case, it's something of a side-scrolling Hades, with the permahorny Greek gods replaced by a playful pantheon of Orishas (vaguely human-shaped forces of nature) hailing from the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion. Though no fault of theirs, I kinda sucked at Talaka when I played it then, and the demo currently available during Steam Next Fest confirms I kinda suck at it now – though it's still colourful enough, and steeped in a folklore that games so rarely explore, that I'm going to keep an eye on it. The Hades comparison isn't just me doing some divine typecasting: even with the different perspective, some light platforming, and the fact that Talaka herself is an isekai'd artist instead of a rogue demigod, the structure is the same. Pick a weapon, clear a room of lesser mythological minions, get chatted up by an upgrade-granting deity. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until death.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode has dynamic op phones scattered around the map, which let you begin a dynamic operation even when you're in free roam mode. Collecting one of them is required to complete the DMZ order "Payment Due," which is in the second stage of the "Human Intel" chapter, but completing this requires you to know what to look for in order to find a dynamic op phone. We're here to help though, so here's a complete explainer on how to find and collect a dynamic op phone in DMZ in Modern Warfare 4. How to collect a dynamic op phone in DMZ

Elijah is a freelance news writer at Polygon. He was an associate editor at The A. V. Club and Paste, and has been featured in outlets like Game Informer, Fanbyte, Unwinnable, and more. He loves media in all forms, from fighting games and horror flicks to slow cinema and visual novels. He's from the Greater Boston area. Xbox reportedly planning 3 more rounds of layoffs

The first permanent Pokémon store outside Asia will open in London “by 2029.” The retail space will be open to fans of all ages, with merchandise, community spaces, and “one-of-a-kind experiences.” According to The Pokémon Company, the store’s opening will kick off a broader rollout of stores across the world. The exact location for the London store hasn’t been announced. “We are always exploring new opportunities that help us create unique and memorable experiences for our fans,” chief product and experience Officer at The Pokémon Company International, Gaku Susai, said. “This new London store will give visitors the chance to step into the world of Pokémon, whether they’re discovering the brand for the first time or have been Trainers for years. “We hope it becomes a place where everyone can come together, feel like part of a community and enjoy the magic of Pokémon in a whole new way.”A previous location opened in New York in 2001, but was closed in 2005 to make way for Nintendo New York, a store with broader Nintendo-based merch. The London store doesn’t have a name yet, but The Pokémon Company avoided calling it a Pokémon Center in its announcement.

What are the best games on PlayStation 5? Hard as it is to believe, the PS5 is — by Sony's own admission — already well past the halfway point of its life-cycle. (It's even time to start thinking about PS6.) It's fair to say that PS5 hasn't been deluged with classics, and the rate of must-play new releases is slower than it has been on previous PlayStations. What's sure to be the console's defining game, Grand Theft Auto 6, isn't even out yet. Even so, the PS5's library has grown to the extent that there's a lot to sort through, and new and old PS5 owners will be wondering what to play. So here’s our living list of the best video games we’ve played on the platform — influenced by the personal tastes of the Polygon team — to be updated as more games come out. Our latest update to this list on Oct. 21 added Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

Willa Rowe is a contributing writer at Polygon, covering games and entertainment. She is a New York-based journalist and critic whose work has been featured in Kotaku, Digital Trends, the A. V. Club, GamesRadar+, and more. She also co-hosts the Girl Mode podcast. What can't you do in Pearl Abyss' sprawling RPG?