Open-World Action
43 storiesThe boundary around Open-World Action remains mechanical rather than thematic or platform-specific. Coverage can compare representative releases, genre boundaries and technical trends across Open-World Action.
No Man's Sky Marks 10 Years With Less Than 1% of Planets Explored
Hello Games has revealed that, a decade after launch, players have explored under 1% of No Man's Sky's 18 quintillion planets, as the studio celebrates the game's anniversary and teases its next major update
Bethesda Veteran Criticises Starfield's 1,000 Planets Design Approach
A former Bethesda developer has outlined how he would have structured Starfield's planetary exploration, arguing that the game's focus on quantity over handcrafted content limited its impact compared to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout
Grand Theft Auto VI: Extended Look Streams First on Netflix This August
Rockstar has announced Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, a special showcase debuting exclusively on Netflix for six hours before wider release. The event promises new footage but leaves key details about its format and content unconfirmed
GTA 6 Standard Edition Priced at $80 as Take-Two Defends Value
Take-Two has set the standard edition of Grand Theft Auto VI at $80, a notable increase over previous AAA console releases, and insists the new pricing reflects the value and scale of the game as preorders open
Control Resonant Reveals Metro Fault Mission and New Traversal Ability
Remedy Entertainment has unveiled new gameplay from Control Resonant, highlighting the Metro Fault mission and introducing the Reach traversal skill as part of IGN First's August coverage
Crimson Desert patch resolves quick slot food bug after player outcry
Pearl Abyss has released a patch for Crimson Desert that addresses a persistent inventory bug, finally correcting how food items are assigned to the quick slot and responding to weeks of player frustration
GTA 6 Extended Look Paywalled on Netflix Before YouTube Release
Rockstar Games has announced that the next extended look at Grand Theft Auto 6 will debut on Netflix before arriving on YouTube, prompting debate over paywalled access and the company's evolving release strategy
The Legend of Khiimori Corruption Update Expands Survival and World Threats
Mindscape and Aesir Interactive have released the Corruption Update for The Legend of Khiimori in Early Access, introducing corrupted lands, new survival mechanics, and the powerful Breton horse breed across Steam and Epic Games Store
Monster Hunter Wilds demo launches with new bundles and global event
Capcom has released a playable demo for Monster Hunter Wilds, introduced new bundle options at a reduced price, and confirmed a global championship event for September 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Update 1.0.6 Adds Gear Toggle and Fixes
Ubisoft has detailed Update 1.0.6 for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, arriving 4 August on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with a new gear toggle and a long list of bug fixes across gameplay, visuals and UI
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Drives Insomniac's Games Up Steam Charts
Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 and the original Spider-Man have surged into Steam's top ten following the box office success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with discounts and new in-game content also playing a role
Assassin's Creed Black Flag's Seamless Sailing Faced Major Development Hurdles
Ubisoft developers have revealed the technical and design challenges behind Assassin's Creed Black Flag's seamless naval gameplay, explaining why the transition from mission-based sailing in Assassin's Creed 3 was far from straightforward
Marvel's Wolverine ESRB Rating Reveals Gore, Violence and Partial Nudity
Marvel's Wolverine has received an M rating from the ESRB, confirming blood, gore, intense violence, strong language and brief partial nudity for the PlayStation 5 exclusive ahead of its September 2026 release
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Remains a Standout in the Series
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars brought mature open-world gameplay to the Nintendo DS, introducing inventive mechanics and a distinct style that set it apart from other GTA entries
Grand Theft Auto's Original Open World Revisited for 2026
The original Grand Theft Auto is being re-examined ahead of GTA 6, highlighting its demanding controls, uncompromising difficulty and the unique freedom it offered players in the late 1990s
Black Desert adds Agent class and HYPERBOOST with major roadmap update
Pearl Abyss has released the Agent class for Black Desert, introduced the HYPERBOOST progression system, and detailed a roadmap including new regions, technical upgrades and family-wide features for the MMORPG
Wobbly Life Sets Nintendo Switch 2 Release for 20 August with Space Update
Curve Games and RubberBandGames have confirmed Wobbly Life will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on 20 August, bringing new multiplayer features, save migration, and the Space Update to the platform
Goeland: Seagull Adventure Announced for PC Release in Late 2026
Maarti Games has officially revealed Goeland: Seagull Adventure, a sandbox title in development for PC and targeting a Q4 2026 launch. The game invites players to cause chaos or lend a wing as a mischievous seagull in an open world
Assassin's Creed Odyssey Player Numbers Surge After The Odyssey Film Release
Assassin's Creed Odyssey has seen a sharp rise in active players following the debut of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, with Ubisoft leveraging the renewed interest through subscription services and social campaigns
JDM: Japanese Drift Master adds multiplayer events and new campaign
JDM: Japanese Drift Master has released a major update on PC, introducing multiplayer events, a new side story campaign, and long-awaited bug fixes, while console players receive campaign content and steering wheel support
The Blood of Dawnwalker Rejects Filler for a Connected Open World
Rebel Wolves has detailed how The Blood of Dawnwalker's open world is designed to avoid filler content, focusing on meaningful activities, deep lore and handcrafted experiences that connect gameplay and narrative in new ways
Lightspeed LA Restructures Last Sentinel, Staff Impacted by Creative Shift
Lightspeed LA has announced a major change in the creative direction of Last Sentinel, resulting in staff layoffs and a renewed focus on meeting player expectations for the upcoming open-world action game
PlayStation Plus August 2026 Lineup Brings Dying Light 2 and More
Sony has officially revealed the PlayStation Plus monthly games for August 2026, with Dying Light 2: Stay Human: Reloaded Edition leading the selection alongside Big Walk and Signalis for PS4 and PS5 subscribers
Spider-Man 2 Adds Tom Holland's Brand New Day Suit in Latest PS5 Update
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation 5 has received a new update introducing two additional Spidey suits, including Tom Holland's Brand New Day costume, alongside technical enhancements for PS5 Pro and a new Power Saver mode
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope expansion launches 20 August 2026
GSC Game World has announced S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, the first major story expansion for Heart of Chornobyl, arriving 20 August 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, alongside a free Unreal Engine 5 update
Snail Games to unveil new titles and updates at Gamescom 2026
Snail Games USA has confirmed its presence at Gamescom 2026, where it will showcase Bellwright, For The Stars, Honeycomb: The World Beyond, and two unannounced projects, offering a closer look at its upcoming line-up
GTA 6 Physical Editions in Japan Will Expire 170 Days After Launch
Rockstar has confirmed that physical copies of Grand Theft Auto VI in Japan will only include a digital code, which must be redeemed within 170 days of launch due to local regulations
Ubisoft Offers Select Xbox Game Owners Free PC Versions via Ubisoft Connect
Ubisoft has announced that Xbox players who own certain titles will receive free PC versions through Ubisoft Connect, provided their accounts are linked. The offer covers major releases and highlights a growing focus on cross-platform access
Stalker 2: Cost of Hope Expansion and 2.0 Update Arrive August 2026
GSC Game World has set 20 August 2026 for the release of Stalker 2: Cost of Hope, the game's first major story expansion, alongside a significant 2.0 update for all platforms, promising new content and technical improvements
Grand Theft Auto's Most Memorable Missions Ranked and Explained
From high-stakes heists to iconic story moments, Grand Theft Auto's mainline entries have delivered hundreds of missions. Here's a breakdown of the standout missions that shaped the series and why they matter to players
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