Author: Emmanuel Bosque

{ "social": { "email": "", "facebook": "", "twitter": "", "linkedin": "" }, "ja-JP": "", "de-DE": "Emmanuel Bosque schreibt bei Softonic über Videospiele: Neuerscheinungen, Updates, die aus einem Spiel still und leise ein anderes machen, und eine Branche, die ihre Schritte selten vorher ankündigt. Er schreibt für die, die spielen wollen, nicht für die, die diskutieren wollen: was heute spielbar ist, auf welcher Plattform und ob der Download sich lohnt. Er gehört zum Redaktionsteam von Softonic und arbeitet täglich mit KI-Werkzeugen in der Produktion.", "en-US": "Emmanuel Bosque covers video games at Softonic: releases, the updates that quietly turn a game into a different one, and an industry that rarely announces its moves in advance. He writes for the person who is going to play, not the person who is going to argue: what you can play today, on which platform, and whether it is worth the download. He is part of Softonic's editorial team and works daily with AI tools in content production.", "es-ES": "Emmanuel Bosque cubre videojuegos en Softonic: lanzamientos, actualizaciones que convierten un juego en otro sin decirlo y los movimientos de una industria que casi nunca avisa. Escribe pensando en quien va a jugar, no en quien va a discutir: qué se puede jugar hoy, en qué plataforma y si de verdad merece la descarga. Forma parte del equipo editorial de Softonic y trabaja a diario con herramientas de IA en la producción de contenido.", "fr-FR": "Emmanuel Bosque couvre les jeux vidéo chez Softonic : sorties, mises à jour qui transforment discrètement un jeu en un autre, et une industrie qui prévient rarement à l'avance. Il écrit pour celui qui va jouer, pas pour celui qui va débattre : ce qui est jouable aujourd'hui, sur quelle plateforme, et si le téléchargement en vaut la peine. Il fait partie de l'équipe éditoriale de Softonic et travaille au quotidien avec des outils d'IA dans la production de contenu.", "it-IT": "Emmanuel Bosque si occupa di videogiochi su Softonic: uscite, aggiornamenti che trasformano un gioco in un altro senza dirlo e un'industria che quasi mai avvisa in anticipo. Scrive per chi ha intenzione di giocare, non per chi ha intenzione di discutere: cosa si può giocare oggi, su quale piattaforma e se vale davvero il download. Fa parte del team editoriale di Softonic e lavora ogni giorno con strumenti di IA nella produzione dei contenuti.", "nl-NL": "Emmanuel Bosque schrijft bij Softonic over videogames: releases, updates die een spel stilletjes in een ander spel veranderen, en een industrie die haar stappen zelden vooraf aankondigt. Hij schrijft voor wie gaat spelen, niet voor wie gaat discussiëren: wat je vandaag kunt spelen, op welk platform en of de download het waard is. Hij maakt deel uit van de redactie van Softonic en werkt dagelijks met AI-tools in de contentproductie.", "pl-PL": "Emmanuel Bosque zajmuje się grami w Softonicu: premierami, aktualizacjami, które po cichu zmieniają grę w zupełnie inną, i branżą, która rzadko uprzedza o swoich ruchach. Pisze dla tych, którzy chcą zagrać, a nie dla tych, którzy chcą się spierać: w co można zagrać dziś, na jakiej platformie i czy naprawdę warto pobierać. Należy do zespołu redakcyjnego Softonica i codziennie korzysta z narzędzi AI w produkcji treści.", "pt-BR": "Emmanuel Bosque cobre games na Softonic: lançamentos, atualizações que transformam um jogo em outro sem avisar e uma indústria que raramente anuncia seus movimentos com antecedência. Escreve para quem vai jogar, não para quem vai discutir: o que dá para jogar hoje, em qual plataforma e se vale mesmo o download. Faz parte da equipe editorial da Softonic e trabalha diariamente com ferramentas de IA na produção de conteúdo." }

Xbox tests Disc-to-Digital now: publisher support looks limited

Microsoft has begun testing Xbox Disc-to-Digital with Xbox Insiders. The feature turns eligible disc-based games into digital licenses, and some Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners can already use it to convert supported titles.

Xbox Download

When it works, you can keep playing those games without putting the disc in again. But reports from social media, forums, and XCT.live say a lot of games from Sega, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Bandai Namco currently throw up the same message: “This game is not participating in digital licensing.”

Microsoft says the rollout is happening gradually, so some of those unsupported games may simply not be in the program yet. Still, the fact that the wording keeps repeating points to publisher participation as a real factor, and some of those games may genuinely be opting out.

That’s the part likely to worry anyone thinking about moving to a discless Xbox. If a disc-only game never gets added, you could end up having to buy it again. Users have already pointed to Kingdom Hearts III as exactly the kind of issue this could create.

There’s another side to it, though. The feature could help with preservation, since testers say some delisted games already work. Microsoft and the publishers still haven’t explained why certain games are excluded, and the guesses are all over the place: protecting digital sales, concerns about used games, licensing complications, or just plain publisher strategy.

Microsoft says the test is live now through the Xbox Insider program on Xbox One and Xbox Series X. If you depend on a physical game library, this is something to keep an eye on, just not something to trust completely yet.

Steam Download

European game developers fear AI speed-ups over layoffs, survey finds

A new European developer survey on generative AI is out, and the clearest takeaway is this: for developers in Europe, the bigger worry is being pushed to work faster, not losing their jobs outright. The survey says 61% worry they’ll be expected to move quicker and produce more, compared with 35% who fear lower demand or layoffs. Most respondents also say generative AI is already changing their work. In total, 78% say these tools have changed their jobs, with 33% saying significantly, 45% somewhat, and 22% not at all.

ChatGPT Download

Separate research points in much the same direction. It shows 54% already use generative AI tools every day, and some studio-level estimates run even higher. Just over half think quality could decline, 46% say skills are getting harder to judge, and concerns about originality reach 52% overall, climbing to 59% in creative roles. That helps explain why there’s still so much resistance to moving generative AI tools directly into production.

If you work in games, these reports are hard to brush off. Gamescom data says 35% of founders skipped hires because generative AI tools could do the work, and 83% expect changes to teams or productivity. Of that group, 36% expect roles to change, 33% expect smaller teams, and 17% expect no cuts. The survey reports also say 48% of founders are operating at a loss, 60% are keeping teams small, 29% cite ethics concerns, and 12% cite none. A 2026 Game Developers Conference survey found that 52% now see a negative impact, up from 18%, while 7% see a positive one. Usage is also split: 47% among management, versus 29% for employees.

The figures are all in the survey reports.

Absolum launches on iPhone and Android on November 5: touch controls, co-op and cloud saves

Absolum, the fantasy roguelite beat ’em up from Playdigious, Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks, is headed to iOS and Android on November 5. The mobile version is set to ship with touch-first controls, controller support, and cloud saves.

Playdigious says it’s the same run-based fantasy brawling players got on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on October 9, 2025, then on Xbox Series on March 25, 2026, now reworked for phones with a redesigned mobile interface. It also adds Game Center and Google Play Games achievements, cloud saves between iOS and Android, and Android-to-PC cross-progression through the same Google Play Games account. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for 2026 as well.

The official description puts you in Talamh under the rule of Sun King Azra, fighting your way through repeated roguelite runs while stringing together combos with four heroes. You’ve got unlockable builds, two-player online co-op, hand-crafted art, expressive animation, and music led by Gareth Coker alongside additional composer collaborations. On paper, it sounds like the kind of setup that should play well when you’re away from a desk or console, and it lands in roughly the same territory as Playdigious’s phone version of Streets of Rage 4.

If you’re after a premium beat ’em up with short runs, co-op, and plenty of replay value, this one seems easy to keep an eye on.

For now, you’ll want to keep watch on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for the official listings, pricing, and preorder details, since those store pages weren’t yet widely available when the announcement went out.

Pokémon Pokopia reportedly gets a 2.0.1 update: bug fixes and stability improvements

An unverified report claims Pokémon Pokopia has been updated to version 2.0.1. If that’s accurate, it would follow the reported August release of version 2.0.0 and appear to focus on bug fixes and general stability improvements.

Pokémon GO Download

The patch notes quoted in that same unverified report say version 2.0.0 launched alongside the paid Bubbly Basin Expansion Pass, plus a separate free update. They also say version 2.0.1 fixes a list of problems: Ho-Oh and Lugia repeatedly falling and reappearing, broken Pokédex searches, an issue with picking up a Move Kit, looping sound effects, freezes, and loading screens that lock progression.

That report also says you’ll need the latest version for online play. For local and multiplayer play, it says every player has to be on the same version.

Still, don’t treat this as official yet. The English notes were reportedly translated from Japanese, there’s no verified evidence of an official Pokémon game called Pokémon Pokopia, and neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company has confirmed any of it. The same page also makes unverified claims about five million sales and a Korean packaged download release in September.

Right now, you have no confirmed official product page, no English changelog, and no verified download listing for this update.

Tenzing gets its Apple TV+ date: streaming starts October 16

Tenzing is set to debut worldwide on Apple TV+ on October 16, 2026. First, though, it’ll stop at Telluride, where it premieres on September 4, followed by a limited U.S. theatrical release on October 9. Apple picked up the film’s worldwide rights after a competitive bidding war at Cannes in 2024, then slotted it into the kind of fall rollout usually reserved for awards-minded titles.

Apple TV Download

The story centers on the 1953 Everest expedition. Tom Hiddleston plays Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok stars as Tenzing Norgay, Willem Dafoe appears as Colonel John Hunt, and Caitríona Balfe plays Jill Henderson. What sets the film apart is the angle: it tells the climb from Tenzing Norgay’s side rather than falling back on the standard British expedition version. That includes the long-argued question of who reached the summit first, but also the larger issue hanging over the whole story, which is how often Tenzing Norgay’s share of that achievement was treated as somehow second to Hillary’s.

Early reactions have singled out Genden Phuntsok in particular, and the film seems to lean hard into questions of class, ambition, recognition, and cultural difference.

Jennifer Peedom directs after years of Himalayan-focused work, including Sherpa. Norbu Tenzing is on board as executive producer, and the production shot in Nepal, around Everest, Kathmandu, and the Khumbu region. That should give the film a more grounded feel, not just another polished historical retelling. If you’ve been waiting for Tom Hiddleston’s next big streaming release, this looks like one to catch on Apple TV+.

JustWatch Download

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time leak points to a faithful remake

A retailer listing has brought The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time back into the spotlight just ahead of the Zelda showcase many people expect to see. What jumps out isn’t only the hint of a remake. It’s the price, which came in lower than a lot of fans figured it would.

Project64 Download

That price is doing a lot of the talking. If the retailer report holds up, this doesn’t look like Nintendo gearing up for one of its usual top-tier tentpole releases. That’s why plenty of fans think this may be a mostly faithful remake of the Nintendo 64 original, not a from-scratch overhaul with major structural changes.

A lower pre-order number usually points to a more restrained kind of release, so it’s probably smart to expect the same world map, the same dungeon progression, and the same major story beats, just with cleaner visuals , stronger performance, and a few quality-of-life updates.

For a game that means this much to Nintendo, a lighter-touch remake would make plenty of sense. And if you’re hoping the 1998 experience stays intact, this is the kind of rumor you’d want to keep an eye on.

Still, keep expectations in check. Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed any The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, retailer pages sometimes exist as placeholders, and pre-order pricing often shifts once the final details are out.

Even so, the timing of the listing has sent interest into overdrive, and even a straightforward remake would be major news for first-time players and longtime fans heading back to Hyrule. There’s nothing to download yet.

Nintendo confirms Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: it airs September 8

Nintendo says its The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 2026.9.8 will air on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and run for about 30 minutes.

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Right now, the confirmed list is pretty short: Nintendo says you’ll get details on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2, which is still scheduled for 2026, and you’ll also hear about a few non-game 40th anniversary projects. The clearest confirmations have come from Nintendo’s Japanese social accounts, not from the prediction-heavy coverage that’s been circulating in North America and Europe.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 looks like the big draw here. A new trailer feels likely, and maybe Nintendo will finally pin things down with a narrower release window or an actual date. What it still hasn’t explained is whether this is a remaster, a full remake, or something sitting somewhere between those two.

Movie speculation is picking up because the live-action Zelda film is due in April 2027, and reports say Sony has registered a related domain. Still, Nintendo hasn’t confirmed that the movie will show up here. It also hasn’t confirmed a Zelda-themed Switch 2, a matching Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch 2 ports of The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD.

If you follow Zelda, this Direct is worth your time.

You’ll be able to watch The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 2026.9.8 through Nintendo’s official channels on September 8.

The Blood of Dawnwalker gets a new mod to ease its 30-day story timer

Better Story Timer, a newly released mod for The Blood of Dawnwalker on Nexus Mods, is already catching on with players who feel boxed in by the game’s 30-day, 30-night story clock. According to its Nexus Mods page, it has already cleared 115,000 downloads.

Vortex: mod manager Download

By default, Better Story Timer stretches the main story limit out to 90 days, adds more time segments to each day, and gives you an ini file you can edit if you want to fine-tune the timer rather than just shut it off. It can also remove the time costs tied to learning active and passive skills while keeping the rest of the calendar events intact, which leaves more room to explore, mess around, and spend time on side content.

If you’re into The Blood of Dawnwalker’s world but not the constant pressure hanging over it, this mod is an easy one to pick up. That said, some players and critics argue the countdown is the whole point, since it forces meaningful trade-offs, even if that kind of risky design just isn’t going to work for everyone.

You can download Better Story Timer from Nexus Mods. The creator says it works during the prologue, is being kept current with patches, has already helped some players finish the game, and should be removed before the epilogue. It’s landing at a moment when Rebel Wolves’ hit, made by former CD Projekt Red developers, has already sold more than 1 million copies in three days and turned in strong numbers on Steam.

Killzone reportedly set for a return: remaster may arrive before Horizon 3

Sony has reportedly approved a Killzone comeback, with multiple reports saying the series may finally be stirring again after going dark following 2013’s Killzone: Shadow Fall on PS4. Still, there are a few big caveats: the project is said to be in very early development, neither Sony nor Guerrilla Games has confirmed anything, and the plan could still change before it turns into something real.

What the reporting points to isn’t a brand-new sequel so much as a remaster or remake, most likely of the original 2004 Killzone. That would give Sony a fairly safe way to see how much appetite is left for a shooter series that reportedly sold around 2 million copies, while also giving newer players an easy way into it.

The same reports say Killzone would land before Horizon 3, which is apparently still years off and in the hands of a small team. That timing may also have something to do with Guerrilla’s multiplayer project, Horizon Hunters Gathering, which was reportedly rebooted after negative feedback. Guerrilla is also said to be working with an outside studio. Right now, the main guess is People Can Fly, largely because of its 2025 Project Delta deal with PlayStation.

If you’ve been holding out for Killzone, this is one rumor to keep an eye on. The 2024 Helldivers 2 crossover also lines up with that reading, based on the same reporting. There’s nothing to download yet, but if this turns out to be real, it’d mark Killzone’s first return in more than a decade and a clear move beyond Horizon.