Month: July 2025

The Xbox version of Teyon’s RoboCop: Rogue City is currently available for less than seven dollars. Released in March 2023 across various platforms, this first-person shooter initially went unnoticed. It received a Fair rating from critics on OpenCritic, while nearly 20,000 user reviews on Steam present a more favorable picture, boasting an overall Very Positive rating.

Players appreciate the game’s nostalgic references to the original films and the gameplay style reminiscent of the early 2000s. RoboCop: Rogue City tells a brand new story centered on Alex Murphy, a fallen Detroit police officer turned cyborg. Returning to duty, this ultra-powerful crimefighter showcases an impressive array of abilities, such as reprogramming turrets, scanning for hidden areas, and engaging the public to unlock additional dialogue options.

While many suggest watching the first two films for context, the game stands well on its own. In addition to the game, Amazon is set to produce a sequel series that continues the 1987 film’s narrative, with hopes of avoiding the pitfalls of the 2014 reboot. Players looking to experience RoboCop: Rogue City on Xbox can grab the Alex Murphy edition, steeply discounted until August 1, 2025.

Priced at just seven dollars, this edition comes with the base game, a digital artbook, an OCP shotgun, and two cosmetic items inspired by the first film. There’s also a second DLC, the Vanguard Pack, which gives players the blue armor from RoboCop 2 and a sleek black skin for Murphy’s Auto-9. Although this pack is sold separately, it’s also available at a limited-time discount.

For fans who enjoy RoboCop: Rogue City, a standalone expansion titled Unfinished Business was released in July 2025. This new installment has similarly earned mixed reviews from critics but remains Very Positive among Steam users. Players accompany RoboCop as he navigates his way through OCP’s OmniTower, facing highly trained mercenaries.

Keeping with tradition, actor Peter Weller reprises his iconic role. Since the debut of the first film in 1987, the RoboCop franchise has thrived for nearly four decades, featuring numerous video games, a film reboot, animated series, and even themed rides at amusement parks worldwide.

Wild West: Prototype is a cowboy-themed first-person shooter designed specifically for LAN parties, available for free on Steam. Developed by indie creator Matteo S.-C., the game was released on July 14 and offers a chaotic player-versus-player (PvP) experience set in an Old West environment. Characterized by its lighthearted yet competitive nature, the game uniquely excludes automatic weapons, making it distinct within the FPS genre. The Steam listing for Wild West: Prototype indicates that it serves as a testing ground for a LAN-only FPS, allowing up to six players to compete against each other.

However, it remains unclear whether this LAN restriction is a temporary feature of the prototype or if it will play a significant role in future releases. While most mainstream multiplayer games on PC include online support for easier player connectivity, the market still offers a variety of couch co-op options for gamers. Players can easily add Wild West: Prototype to their Steam libraries through the game’s store page. Set in a ghost town surrounded by a dense forest, the objective is to accumulate a bounty by eliminating opponents while striving for survival.

Players can choose from classic Wild West weapons such as lever-action rifles, revolvers, and knives to increase their bounty. Interestingly, the Steam listing also features a content disclosure indicating the developer’s use of Generative AI in the game’s creation, specifically for the menu music. This practice is becoming common, with reports noting that since Valve mandated AI usage disclosures in January 2024, around one in five Steam games have acknowledged it. While the future of Wild West: Prototype as more than just a prototype remains uncertain, the game has garnered a mix of reviews, highlighting its potential for improvement.

Players have suggested the addition of more weapon choices, online play options, and overall refinement. Only time will reveal if Wild West: Prototype can establish itself among the top free co-op games on Steam.

Elden Ring Nightreign has seen a notable decline in its player count, currently sitting at only 17.81% of its peak figures from May. While FromSoftware is renowned for creating engaging single-player experiences, Elden Ring Nightreign stands out as primarily a cooperative game designed for three players. In this multiplayer-centric spin-off, players explore an alternate rendition of the Lands Between and confront a variety of formidable bosses, despite the option to participate solo.

With an initial price point of $39.99, Elden Ring Nightreign launched to a peak player count of 313,593, which pales in comparison to the original Elden Ring’s all-time high of 953,426. This disparity is expected, considering that Nightreign is not a true sequel but rather a multiplayer-focused offshoot. Despite facing challenges with solo gameplay, players have found success when forming matchmade groups and are encouraging others to join in with random players.

Interestingly, Nightreign’s player count has decreased by nearly 82% in just two months. Recent figures from SteamDB indicate a peak concurrent player count of 55,862 in the last 24 hours, while the original Elden Ring recently reached a 24-hour peak of 52,589. Despite the greater sales of the original game over the years, Nightreign’s numbers are still relatively strong for a two-month-old title, especially given its multiplayer focus.

Importantly, Elden Ring Nightreign is not a live-service game, meaning it can be enjoyed solo without being entirely reliant on player count. While losing 82% of its initial base is concerning for FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, the situation is not dire. Future updates are expected to attract returning players, including the addition of a two-player mode on July 30, allowing for new gameplay dynamics.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether these updates will invigorate player interest or lead to a continued decline.

Recent leaks surrounding Pokémon Champions, the upcoming strategy battle game featuring the beloved franchise’s iconic collectible monsters, have gained credibility following the July 2025 Pokémon Presents showcase. Although much remains undisclosed about the game, the recent updates have amplified fan interest, making several earlier rumors appear increasingly plausible. Introduced in February, Pokémon Champions is described as a spin-off that specifically emphasizes the franchise’s turn-based monster battles. The initial trailer highlighted the evolution of two-player Pokémon battles, starting from the classic Game Boy link cable days of the 1990s to contemporary gaming on the Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms.

One notable feature showcased in the trailer is a new mechanic that has never been seen in the series before, sparking considerable speculation about its potential impact on gameplay. Ahead of the July Pokémon Presents, two detailed posts surfaced that made bold assertions about Pokémon Champions. Initially met with skepticism, these posts have gained traction since some of their predictions were validated by the latest trailer. Notably, they indicated that players would accumulate points to level up their Pokémon and that Effort Values (EVs) could be adjusted at any time.

The July 22 trailer demonstrated this mechanic when it showed a player using sliders to adjust a Pokémon’s attributes, confirming the earlier rumors. With this confirmation, the credibility of other claims in the posts has also escalated. These include a potential release date of January 23, 2026, and plans for the game to feature approximately 350 Pokémon at launch. Additionally, although ranked and private battles have been confirmed, the posts hint at a Battle Frontier-style feature providing players with escalating challenges and unique rewards.

Other rumored aspects include dynamic gym leaders and opponents, as well as a single-player campaign with two distinct paths that must be completed sequentially. The posts also mention locked features, such as natures and stronger Pokémon, which will only become accessible through gameplay progression. Furthermore, while the trailer confirmed single and double battles, fans can expect additional formats like triple, rotation, and inverse battles, alongside raids, broadening the gameplay experience.

A leaked SpongeBob SquarePants game is set to bypass the popular Nintendo Switch in favor of the anticipated Switch 2. This decision by THQ Nordic, the publisher for the upcoming title, has raised eyebrows, especially since many Nintendo fans have yet to secure a Switch 2. The first indications of this unannounced SpongeBob SquarePants game surfaced when it received age ratings from the South Korean and German boards in June.

The game is titled “SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide” and will be available on PC and current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. This leak coincided with a teaser hinting at a new SpongeBob game arriving in 2024. Recent reports have revealed additional details, including the expected release date and pricing.

According to Dealabs, “SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide” is set to launch on November 18, 2025, for PC and consoles. Besides the confirmed PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions, it will also be made available on the new Switch 2 console. Consequently, this means that the title will not cater to players on the original Switch, PS4, or Xbox One, limiting its accessibility to a significant audience.

Sources indicate the game will be priced at $39.99 and will feature a physical release for PS5 and Switch 2. Furthermore, an official announcement from THQ Nordic could be anticipated within the next 15 days, possibly during a Nintendo Direct or the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase on August 1. Despite millions of Switch 2 units sold since its launch on June 5, stock shortages continue to pose challenges for many consumers, impacting the transition from the original Switch.

Although the new SpongeBob SquarePants game may leverage the enhanced hardware of the Switch 2, its sales could suffer by excluding original Switch users. However, with several months until the game’s launch, it is hoped that more players will upgrade to the Switch 2 in that time.

A Nintendo Direct is set to occur in late July, as indicated by recent leaks and rumors. While specific details about the event remain unclear, there is speculation that titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and various third-party projects could be featured during this highly anticipated presentation. The latest buzz follows the July 2025 Pokémon Presents, which provided updates on existing Pokémon titles and revealed more about previously announced projects.

Notably, the event unveiled the 2026 release window for Pokémon Champions and highlighted new characters from Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Additionally, Mega Dragonite was revealed as the first new Mega Evolution since the sixth generation, further exciting fans. It’s worth mentioning that Pokémon Legends: Z-A will launch with a Switch 2 bundle on October 16, retailing for $499.

Despite the upcoming Nintendo Direct remaining shrouded in mystery, reliable leaker CentroLeaks on Twitter stated that the broadcast is still planned for the final week of July, without offering further details on its content. NateTheHate, another respected industry insider, has also indicated that a Nintendo Direct is on the horizon, albeit without confirming a specific date. The excitement around the Nintendo Direct is compounded by news that some third-party games, such as Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, are confirmed to have Nintendo console ports in the works.

With significant events like Gamescom and the Tokyo Game Show scheduled for August and September, a late July Direct seems strategically timed. While Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a set release date, fans are still left waiting for updates on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which is one of the major 2025 releases without a confirmed launch date. Until Nintendo provides official confirmation about the Direct, however, all rumors should be approached with caution.

Borderlands 4 is gearing up for its launch later this year, and Gearbox is providing players with an exciting look at the new Vault Hunters. One of the standout characters is the melee-focused Exo-Soldier, Rafa. Fans of the franchise can expect significant changes, including the introduction of a new planet, fresh characters, and the emergence of new weapon manufacturers. The game will feature four new Vault Hunters: Rafa the Exo-Soldier, Vex the Dark Siren, Harlowe the Gravitar, and Amon the Forge Knight.

Recently, Gearbox released a gameplay showcase for Rafa, following earlier teasers for Vex. This allows players to get a glimpse of what to anticipate from the new characters. The latest “Beyond the Borderlands” video highlights Rafa’s gameplay, which centers around melee combat. Utilizing his Arc Knives, Rafa engages in close-quarters battles, and when activating his Action Skill, the perspective shifts to third-person.

This feature enables players to maneuver quickly and effectively take down enemies. Additionally, the video introduces his “Peacebreaker Cannons,” which act as a remote turret that helps in combat. Rafa’s character build offers a range of customization options, allowing players to upgrade the Arc Knives for different dash attacks and damage types, including corrosive damage. The versatile Peacebreaker Cannons can be swapped for various weapon types, enhancing gameplay further.

One developer even shared a test build that focuses on grenade usage, showcasing the potential for dual-wielding grenades in battle. With only a few months until its release, fans can anticipate more reveals about Borderlands 4. Two Vault Hunters, Harlowe and Amon, have not yet received their gameplay showcases, and past character favorites like Claptrap and Mad Moxxi will also make a return. The excitement for the newest installment of the franchise continues to build as the launch date approaches.

Hideo Kojima has recently shared the most popular features of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, based on player data collected through the Social Strand System. A month after the game’s release, the renowned game director and producer is celebrating the success of his new title by revealing players’ favorite weapons, vehicles, tools, and more. Launched exclusively for PlayStation 5 on June 26, Death Stranding 2 serves as a sequel to the hit action-adventure game that was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019. The new installment has achieved remarkable acclaim, boasting a 100-percent player rating on OpenCritic and surpassing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to become the highest-rated game on the PlayStation Store in early July.

In the months preceding the release of Death Stranding 2, Kojima hinted at ideas for a potential Death Stranding 3. Riding on the success of the latest game, he took to Twitter to share player statistics that highlight the game’s most beloved features. Players have shown a strong preference for equipping the assault rifle above all other weapons, followed by blood grenades and machine guns. For mobility, ladders have emerged as the most commonly used tool, with PCC portable construction devices and container repair spray closely following.

When it comes to transportation, the pickup off-roader reigns supreme, with the tri-cruiser in second place and on-foot travel in third. One of the standout features of Death Stranding 2 is the ability to capture animals and transport them to sanctuaries. Players have primarily rescued kangaroos, with emus and wombats also high on the list. The most constructed structures include zip-lines, generators, and timefall shelters, while signs featuring messages like “SPEED UP,” “YOU GOT THIS!

“, and “KEEP ON KEEPING ON” have been commonly placed throughout the game. Additionally, Kojima revealed that 79 percent of players who completed the game continued to play afterwards, indicating a high replay value. This is promising for fans, especially considering the team faced challenges during development. The continuing excitement post-game may alleviate some of the pressure the team felt throughout the project, encouraging progress on future titles.