Big Walk, the cooperative open-world puzzle adventure from House House, is out now on PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and App Store, and has sold over 1 million copies in its first six days. It is also part of the August 2026 PlayStation Plus free games lineup.
Big Walk launched on August 4, 2026, from House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game, with Panic publishing. The game supports 2 to 12 players exploring a handcrafted island as bird-like creatures with three-sphere bodies. Communication is the core mechanic, built around proximity voice chat where voices fade with distance and muffle behind walls, and players can temporarily lose the ability to speak. Tools like radios, laser pointers, binoculars, megaphones, smoke flares, whiteboards, and cowbells help coordination, and players can also wander aimlessly or sit and watch sunsets.
The game launched on PC via Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and the App Store, with cross-platform play. It was added to the PlayStation Plus free games lineup on its release day, a rare same-day availability for a new title. Ahead of release, Big Walk earned a Metacritic score of 93, the highest for a new game that year, and outlets including Polygon called it a Game of the Year contender. The Verge compared its exploration to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Guardian praised the experience of wandering with friends.
Within six days of release, Panic announced that Big Walk had sold over 1 million copies. On Steam, it peaked at over 46,000 concurrent players and held an approximately 87 percent positive rating, later earning a 'Very Positive' status with roughly 9,000 reviews. It entered the Steam global sales chart at number three for the week of August 8, 2026, competing directly with live-service staples and other breakout indies.
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KIWIWALKS announced Shadow of the Doll: Piyorita's Story on September 14. The 3D story action RPG is planned for 2027 on PC via Steam and consoles, with Japanese display and subtitles. Players control Piyorita, a doll who wakes in a white room called the Nest and enters a world hidden behind a mirror, absorbing other dolls to become the one and only finished product.
GameBusiness.jp traces proximity voice chat from the 2002 Xbox Live launch, where the bundled MotoGP demo let riders talk to the three racers nearest them, through Halo 2's Voice Proximity, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory's sound-based stealth, and Project Reality's positional audio. The feature argues the simple mechanic, voices fading with distance, now anchors co-op games like R.E.P.O., PEAK, and Big Walk, turning player speech into spatial information.
UMINEKOwalKing released the demo for BLACKOUT ~Kyoufu Shashin~ on Steam on September 7. The psychological horror adventure is built around a sorting job: photos meant for a TV spirit photo special have normal pictures mixed in, and the protagonist Matsushita, on leave from work, is asked to separate them. As he sorts, his daily life breaks down. The demo runs to the end of the second week, about 30 minutes, and supports Japanese and English.
Game Spark praises Big Walk, a multiplayer open-world game for 2 to 12 players, as a masterpiece that overturns multiplayer history. The review highlights its simple controls, puzzle design that encourages teamwork, and visual guidance with no text after the tutorial. The game is available on Steam and included in PlayStation Plus as of September 2026.
Game Spark's feature traces the history of proximity voice chat, from 2000's Planet Ring and 2001's Alien Front Online on Dreamcast to PC titles like FireTeam and Tribes 2. The article examines how modern co-op games such as R.E.P.O., PEAK, MIMESIS, and Big Walk use distance-based audio to shape gameplay and social dynamics.
Bandai Namco Entertainment published new details on August 31, 2026 about the skill and ability system in The Blood of Dawnwalker, the open-world dark fantasy action RPG set in 14th century Europe that launches September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The protagonist Coen lives as a human by day and a vampire by night. Skills are divided into three trees: swordplay, magic, and bloodsucking. Swordplay emphasizes precision and timing, with branches that specialize in durability or combo attacks. Magic is usable during the day and includes attack and defense spells, crowd control, damage over time, and buffs and debuffs. Vampire abilities awaken at night and grow stronger as Coen accepts the curse and deepens his mutation, at a cost. Experience comes from defeating enemies, completing quests, discovering hidden places, and beating bosses. Leveling grants skill points, and a single type of point is usable across all three trees, so points earned by day can be spent on night abilities. Learning new abilities requires time in addition to skill points, and each tree has its own unlock method: guide books for swordplay, magic books for magic, and drinking blood to raise the mutation level for vampire powers.
The week of August 31 to September 6, 2026, brings a heavy slate of new game releases across Japan and North America, led by two major action titles. Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword launches on September 4 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, priced at 8,990 yen. The sword-fighting action game is set in early Edo-period Kyoto transformed by miasma, with players controlling swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, who bears the Oni Gauntlet and battles the supernatural Genma. Stages recreate real landmarks like Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Yasui Konpira-gu Shrine. A pre-order bonus offers an omamori charm and sword fittings set usable in-game. The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy action RPG from Rebel Wolves, arrives on September 3 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S at 9,790 yen. It stars a Dawnwalker who lives as a human by day and a vampire by night, with day and night gameplay duality as a key attraction. Also releasing this week are Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition, My Hero Academia: All's Justice, and Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault.
KONAMI announced issues in the PS5/Steam versions of METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER (MASTER COLLECTION version). The Steam version has control issues with mouse operation depending on the mouse used. The PS5 version shows audio-visual desync and screen flickering in some demo scenes. A patch is scheduled for a later date, and temporary workarounds have been provided.
House House's co-op game Big Walk, released August 4 by Panic for PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2, has seen repeated reports of a mysterious helper named John Bigwalk. A Kotaku reporter waited in a lobby and met him. He is a streamer, not a developer, who joins random lobbies to assist only when players are in trouble.
Bandai Namco Entertainment, publisher of Rebel Wolves' open-world action RPG 'The Blood of Dawnwalker', announced on August 24 via the official X account that a Performance Mode targeting 60fps will be available for PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X versions from day one. The mode was added after overseas players on forums like Reddit asked for 60fps support, including on PS5 Pro. The game previously offered a Quality Mode targeting 30fps at dynamic 4K and a Balance Mode targeting 40fps at dynamic 4K for those platforms, with no 60fps option. The developer said the mode had been in development and testing for some time, and prioritizing testing led to the decision to include it in a day-one patch. The Xbox Series S version runs at 30fps with no other modes. The release schedule was also confirmed: the PC version launches September 3 at 7:00 AM Japan time, and console versions launch at midnight local time. The game is set in 14th-century Europe and follows Coen, a young man who becomes a 'DAWNWALKER' living between night and day. It launches September 3, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, priced at 9,790 yen.
Rebel Wolves released new console gameplay footage for the open-world vampire RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker. The footage shows Quality Mode on PS5 Pro, PS5, and Xbox Series X. The game releases September 3 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
Konami Digital Entertainment releases Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2 on August 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, priced at 6,600 yen. The collection includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, originally released on PS3 in 2008, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, originally on PSP. Metal Gear Ghost Babel, a Game Boy Color title from 2000, is included as a bonus for bundle buyers. Reviews highlight that MGS4 is its first port since its original release, marking the first time it is playable on platforms other than PS3. The port supports up to 4K resolution and 60fps on some systems. Both main titles include a Master Book and Scenario Book, with MGS4 also featuring the Metal Gear Solid 4 Database. Reviewers note the collection's value in preserving the series' history, with the scenario books digitized from the 25th anniversary collection. The bundle also includes Metal Gear Solid Digital Soundtrack Vol.2.
Rebel Wolves announced PC requirements for The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world vampire RPG set for September 3, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game has surpassed 2 million wishlist registrations. Specs cover 1080p to 2160p, with a minimum of a GTX 1060 and 16 GB RAM.
Big Walk, the cooperative online game from House House and Panic, has sold 1 million copies in 6 days. Steam reviews are Very Positive, with players praising its childlike sense of adventure. It supports 2 to 12 players and is available on Switch 2, PS5, and PC with cross-play.
Panic announced on August 11 that Big Walk, a cooperative adventure game developed by House House, surpassed 1 million copies sold within six days of its August 4 release. The game, which supports 2 to 12 players, emphasizes teamwork and communication through a proximity voice chat system where voices fade with distance and muffle through walls. Players can also use tools like radios, megaphones, and laser pointers, or gestures such as pointing and waving, to coordinate. The open world allows free exploration, with the store page encouraging players to wander aimlessly or watch the sunset. On Steam, the game holds a 'Very Positive' rating with 93% of approximately 9,901 reviews recommending it, and it has a Metacritic score of 92. On launch day, peak concurrent players exceeded 40,000 on Steam, with similar numbers during peak hours since. Big Walk is available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with cross-play support. It is the latest work from House House, the team behind Untitled Goose Game.
The Steam global sales ranking for the week of August 8, 2026, shows a mix of live-service staples and breakout indies. 'Big Walk', the co-op open-world puzzle adventure from House House, the studio behind 'Untitled Goose Game', entered at number three. The game launched on August 4 for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and App Store, and has drawn attention for its proximity-based voice chat, which makes communication fade with distance, leading players to get lost on a handcrafted island. It holds an approximately 87 percent positive rating on Steam and peaked at over 46,000 concurrent players. The Verge compared its exploration to 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild', while The Guardian praised the experience of wandering with friends. Also in the top ten, 'IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator' reached seventh place, a dieselpunk simulator about operating a 5,000-ton turret, with about 94 percent positive reviews. 'MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls' ranked eighth but holds only about 46 percent positive Steam reviews, despite a stronger PS5 reception. Other notable entries within the top 100 include 'GRAIN ROT' at 28th and 'Sovereign Tower' at 53rd.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Episode 2, "Resting Place," directed by Sharat Raju, introduces an unprecedented community-building policy: actively recruiting new members. Maggie and Renata light the Statue of Liberty as a signal of hope, but a violent group of men approaches. The episode also highlights Maggie's changed attitude toward revenge.
Anime NYC announced panels and premiere screenings for August 22, including a Big West panel on the Macross franchise with a screening of Macross Delta the Movie: Passionate Walkure, the English dub premiere of Go Forward with a Q&A with director Phebe Fabacher, and the world premiere of the English dub of Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram.
Independent developer bilge released the casual game 'walk' on Steam on July 18. The game, themed around taking a walk, contains over 40 mini-games in partitioned windows. It has maintained a 100% positive rating from 195 user reviews for more than 10 days, earning a 'Very Positive' status. A demo is available on itch.io.
Sony distributed the August free play games for PlayStation Plus subscribers on August 4, 2026, across all plans. The lineup includes Dying Light 2 Stay Human, a parkour action RPG set in a zombie-infested world; Big Walk, a cooperative puzzle adventure for up to 12 players; and SIGNALIS, an action-adventure with pixel art and low-polygon visuals. The titles are available until August 31, and adding them to the library keeps them playable while the subscription stays active. A Marvel-themed pack follows on August 6.
Manga Mavericks Books announced three licenses during its Otakon panel on Friday. Oni King and Royd, both by creator Zenzo, launch digitally in December 2026 with print releases to follow. Town Walking With Ghost Dog, a travelogue by Tokyo artist Ippan Nakamura, arrives in physical and digital formats on May 25, 2027. Oni King debuted at Comiket 2023 in the anthology Revengers, and Royd premiered at Comitia 154 in 2025.
Publisher Panic released Big Walk, the new cooperative multiplayer puzzle adventure from House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game, on August 4. The game is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with the Switch 2 version priced at 2,300 yen. Big Walk supports 2 to 12 players and cross-platform play, and it is designed to be played with a group of friends from start to finish. Players control bird-like creatures with three spheres for bodies and explore a vast open-world island filled with puzzles and challenges. Communication is central to the experience, using a proximity voice chat system where voices fade with distance and muffle behind walls, and where players can temporarily lose the ability to speak. Various tools and toys, such as radios, laser pointers, binoculars, megaphones, smoke flares, whiteboards, and cowbells, help players coordinate. The game has a clear ending, but players can also ignore objectives and wander freely. Ahead of release, Big Walk earned a Metacritic score of 93, the highest for a new game this year, and many outlets, including Polygon, have called it a Game of the Year contender.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the PlayStation Plus free games lineup for August 2026 on July 29. Three titles will be available to subscribers from August 4 through August 31. The headliner is Dying Light 2 Stay Human, an open-world action RPG set in a zombie-infested city, available on PS5 and PS4. The sequel to 2015's Dying Light, it features parkour movement, weapon modification, and up to four-player co-op. Also included is Big Walk, a multiplayer cooperative walking game for two to twelve players, developed by House House, the studio behind Untitled Goose Game. It launches on August 4 for PS5 and joins the free lineup the same day. The third title is SIGNALIS, a survival horror game for PS4 set in a dystopian future where a humanoid android named Elster searches for her missing partner Yang. All three games can be added to a subscriber's library during the distribution period and played while the subscription remains active. The lineup applies to overseas regions, and the Japanese selection may differ. An additional PlayStation Plus Pack for the fighting game MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls will be distributed on August 6.
Rebel Wolves announced that its open-world vampire RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker has gone gold. The game, developed by former Witcher 3 staff, launches September 3, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It features a day/night cycle, a 30-day time limit, and player-driven story branches. The title has surpassed 2 million wishlists on Steam.
Rebel Wolves, the studio founded by former CD Projekt RED developers, and Bandai Namco Entertainment held a media preview for their debut title "The Blood of Dawnwalker" on July 7, 2026. The open-world dark fantasy action RPG launches on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Narrative director Jakub Szamałek gave an interview alongside hands-on play sessions of the first four hours. The game stars Coen, a young man who becomes a Dawnwalker-human by day and vampire by night-after his village is attacked by the vampire lord Brencis. Coen has 30 days and 30 nights to rescue his family before Brencis's coronation. Time advances only when the player makes significant choices, not during exploration or combat. The "narrative sandbox" design allows players to approach the main goal freely, including the possibility of storming the castle on day one. Combat uses a directional system where blocking and attacking in the right direction conserves stamina. The vampire form offers powerful abilities like teleportation and bloodsucking, but bloodlust can trigger uncontrollable urges to bite and kill NPCs, even those with whom Coen has built close relationships. The game is the first entry in a planned multi-title saga spanning centuries.
Digital manga publisher Omoi announced four new manga licenses during its Anime Expo panel on Saturday, including the sequel to its hit series Natsume & Natsume. The company also revealed partnerships with Red String Manga and Square Enix Manga to add their titles to Omoi Premium, expanding its catalog with dozens of series.
Gentle Troll Entertainment released the fantasy visual novel sequel 'Tavantalk Story: Dreamwalker' on Steam. The game is set 36 years before the original 'Tavantalk' and puts players in charge of a seaside tavern where they serve magical drinks to adventurers. Drink-making involves mixing magic potions to match customer requests, and players can also create quests from rumors gathered at the bar.
Panic and House House, the studio behind 'Untitled Goose Game,' announced on June 9 that their cooperative puzzle adventure 'Big Walk' will release on August 4. The game supports up to 12 players exploring an open world filled with puzzles and challenges. Teamwork and communication are central: players use tools like radios, laser pointers, binoculars, smoke signals, and even a cowbell to coordinate. A proximity voice chat system makes voices sound distant when far away and muffled behind walls, and radio use adds static noise. When players cannot speak, they can gesture by pointing, waving, or flailing. The game includes cross-play and is launching on PC via Steam, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, and PS5. Players can also wander aimlessly, sit and watch sunsets, or snatch a friend's binoculars. The minimum player count is two, and the maximum is twelve.
Gentle Troll Entertainment released the fantasy visual novel Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker on Steam on June 10. The prequel to Tavern Talk is set 36 years earlier in the port town of Dragon's Dream Bed. A 10% launch discount runs for a limited time. The Nintendo Switch version follows on June 25.
Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco Entertainment released a new trailer for the action RPG 'The Blood of Dawnwalker' during Summer Game Fest 2026 on June 6. The game is set in 14th-century Europe and follows Cohen, a half-vampire who lives as a human by day and a vampire by night. The trailer showed new cutscenes, combat action, and footage of the protagonist consuming blood packs and transforming into a monster. It also depicted scenes from both the modern era and the 14th century, including various monsters and human fighters. 'The Blood of Dawnwalker' is scheduled for release on September 3, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The story is said to change based on player actions. The game is an open-world dark fantasy RPG developed by Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by former 'The Witcher 3' developers.
A play report on the survival adventure game ASHWALKERS - A SURVIVAL JOURNEY describes a post-apocalyptic world where a squad of four must reach a refuge. The player's decisions affect resource management and survival, with each choice carrying weight. The game presents a constant tension between risk and safety, as shown in an early encounter with a wolf where the player's attempt to scare it off fails.
Bandai Namco and Rebel Wolves have released new information on The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action RPG set in 14th-century Europe. The update focuses on characters Coen meets on his journey, including the rebel leader Malat, the vengeful Lacra, and the secretive Anka. The game launches September 3, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Universal Studios Japan held an opening ceremony on May 29 for its new limited-time attraction, "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Story Walk ~Journey of Memories~," which opens to the public on May 30. Voice actors Atsumi Tanezaki (Frieren) and Nobuhiko Okamoto (Himmel) attended the ceremony and spoke about their experience previewing the walkthrough attraction. Tanezaki said the attraction made her feel like she was in the same space as the characters and that she almost cried during scenes revisiting Frieren's journey. Okamoto praised the realism of the townscapes and the statue of Himmel, saying the experience left him speechless. The attraction is the first collaboration between USJ and the Frieren anime and uses a new format called Universal Story Walk, combining giant screens, projection mapping, lighting, sound, and sets. The event runs through January 11, 2027. USJ is also offering a themed restaurant, "Frieren ~Restaurant of Memories~," and a story ride, "Frieren × Story Ride ~Journey with the Bird Monster and Carriage."