Here Is Xbox CEO’s Plan To Turn Things Around
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-is-xbox-ceos-plan-to-turn-things-around/
While Microsoft itself just set a record for the biggest single-day market cap swing in history (https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/article/microsofts-stock-rockets-more-than-15-for-largest-single-day-jump-in-history-120144134.html), the company's Xbox division is struggling. How will new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma turn things around?
In a memo to staff obtained by The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/games/973520/xbox-ceo-memo-one-year-growth), Sharma shared the top Xbox priorities for the current fiscal year and beyond. These included four main buckets--Core, Content, Creation, and Connection. Some of the efforts include making Minecraft "the world's creator platform" and getting Xbox games to become "global franchises." She also wants to "strengthen" the Xbox platform, "led by console" and undertake an effort to "extend the worlds that fans love."
Here are the four pillars, as written by Sharma:
CORE: Strengthen our platform, led by console
CONTENT: Grow great games into global franchises
CREATION: Make Minecraft the world’s creator platform
CONNECTION: Extend the worlds that fans love
Xbox revenue decreased by 7% for the latest fiscal year (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-was-microsofts-biggest-weak-spot-last-quarter/), or about $1.7 billion. It's not uncommon for businesses to have up and down swings, but what's particularly notable here is that most of Microsoft's other divisions are booming.
Microsoft's Windows and Devices division dipped, too, but not by as much as Xbox. Additionally, every other business unit showed year-over-year revenue gains. Microsoft's biggest success in the past year was its "server products and cloud services" division, which jumped by $31 billion thanks in part to the AI craze.
"Our business did not grow with our audience"
Sharma said (https://x.com/asha_shar/status/2082595819648373220) in FY2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), more than 200 million "new players" came to Xbox, "but our business did not grow with our audience."
She said Microsoft must "close that gap by investing in what players value." She said this will take time--but not that much time, at least for the first stage. Sharma said Xbox is expected to "return to growth" by the end of FY2027, so by June 30, 2027.
In her memo, Sharma said for FY2028 and FY2029, the Xbox division must "move into businesses producing meaningful player value and revenue acceleration." She also talked about trying to "scale what works" and by FY2030, she said Xbox's ambition is to "be halfway to our long-term daily-player goal with sustained double-digit growth in players and engagement and industry-leading margins."
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-is-xbox-ceos-plan-to-turn-things-around/
While Microsoft itself just set a record for the biggest single-day market cap swing in history (https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/article/microsofts-stock-rockets-more-than-15-for-largest-single-day-jump-in-history-120144134.html), the company's Xbox division is struggling. How will new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma turn things around?
In a memo to staff obtained by The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/games/973520/xbox-ceo-memo-one-year-growth), Sharma shared the top Xbox priorities for the current fiscal year and beyond. These included four main buckets--Core, Content, Creation, and Connection. Some of the efforts include making Minecraft "the world's creator platform" and getting Xbox games to become "global franchises." She also wants to "strengthen" the Xbox platform, "led by console" and undertake an effort to "extend the worlds that fans love."
Here are the four pillars, as written by Sharma:
CORE: Strengthen our platform, led by console
CONTENT: Grow great games into global franchises
CREATION: Make Minecraft the world’s creator platform
CONNECTION: Extend the worlds that fans love
Xbox revenue decreased by 7% for the latest fiscal year (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-was-microsofts-biggest-weak-spot-last-quarter/), or about $1.7 billion. It's not uncommon for businesses to have up and down swings, but what's particularly notable here is that most of Microsoft's other divisions are booming.
Microsoft's Windows and Devices division dipped, too, but not by as much as Xbox. Additionally, every other business unit showed year-over-year revenue gains. Microsoft's biggest success in the past year was its "server products and cloud services" division, which jumped by $31 billion thanks in part to the AI craze.
"Our business did not grow with our audience"
Sharma said (https://x.com/asha_shar/status/2082595819648373220) in FY2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), more than 200 million "new players" came to Xbox, "but our business did not grow with our audience."
She said Microsoft must "close that gap by investing in what players value." She said this will take time--but not that much time, at least for the first stage. Sharma said Xbox is expected to "return to growth" by the end of FY2027, so by June 30, 2027.
In her memo, Sharma said for FY2028 and FY2029, the Xbox division must "move into businesses producing meaningful player value and revenue acceleration." She also talked about trying to "scale what works" and by FY2030, she said Xbox's ambition is to "be halfway to our long-term daily-player goal with sustained double-digit growth in players and engagement and industry-leading margins."
Xbox is undergoing a "reset."
Additionally, Sharma said Xbox is already "one of the largest stadiums" out there, reaching 100 million people daily, 500 million monthly, and nearly 1 billion each year. Sharma also spoke about how important console is to Xbox, saying console "generates the majority of Xbox revenue and remains the foundation of our fandom." Microsoft is working on a new system, Project Helix, but it may be undergoing changes due to AI-related memory and component pressures (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) that are being fueled, in part and ironically, by Microsoft.
Also in the memo, Sharma talked about moving away from a decentralized model for game development to a system that is "more focused around our strongest franchises and biggest new ideas." Part of this has included divesting of five studios and re-focusing on games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/)that have the best chance at succeeding.
She added that Xbox leadership is coming up with "long-term plans" for the company's biggest franchises, spanning games, film, TV, consumer products, live experiences, sponsorships, and doing more in China.
On the subject of games specifically, Sharma said Xbox already has three franchises that generate $1 billion or more annually. She didn't name them outright, however. She also said Microsoft will invest in Minecraft "more than ever before."
As for film and TV projects, Microsoft is working with Paramount on a Call of Duty movie (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-movie-release-date-trailer-story-cast-director-writer/1100-6536962/) that's coming in 2028. There is also a Gears of War movie in the works for Netflix (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-movie-netflix-is-100-behind-it-director-says/1100-6539465/). A Gears of War animated TV show (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/gears-of-war-movie-tv-series-adaptation) is coming as well. There is also a new Minecraft movie set for release in 2027 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-minecraft-movie-2-announced-coming-july-2027/1100-6535348/), a third season of Fallout (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-season-3-adds-more-big-names-to-its-cast/), and a Sea of Thieves movie. In total, Microsoft has a dozen film and TV projects in the works (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-is-working-on-a-dozen-movies-and-tv-shows-including-sea-of-thieves/).
Earlier this year, Xbox's new chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, spoke frankly about how Xbox languished in recent years (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) and what comes next.
Another way Microsoft is trying to get back to growth is by cutting staff. The company laid off 1,600 people this month (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) and will part ways with another 1,600 people in the next year.
For more, check out GameSpot's breakdown of the Xbox studios that are left and what they're working on (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-after-the-layoffs-studios-left-and-what-theyre-making/).
Additionally, Sharma said Xbox is already "one of the largest stadiums" out there, reaching 100 million people daily, 500 million monthly, and nearly 1 billion each year. Sharma also spoke about how important console is to Xbox, saying console "generates the majority of Xbox revenue and remains the foundation of our fandom." Microsoft is working on a new system, Project Helix, but it may be undergoing changes due to AI-related memory and component pressures (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) that are being fueled, in part and ironically, by Microsoft.
Also in the memo, Sharma talked about moving away from a decentralized model for game development to a system that is "more focused around our strongest franchises and biggest new ideas." Part of this has included divesting of five studios and re-focusing on games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/)that have the best chance at succeeding.
She added that Xbox leadership is coming up with "long-term plans" for the company's biggest franchises, spanning games, film, TV, consumer products, live experiences, sponsorships, and doing more in China.
On the subject of games specifically, Sharma said Xbox already has three franchises that generate $1 billion or more annually. She didn't name them outright, however. She also said Microsoft will invest in Minecraft "more than ever before."
As for film and TV projects, Microsoft is working with Paramount on a Call of Duty movie (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-movie-release-date-trailer-story-cast-director-writer/1100-6536962/) that's coming in 2028. There is also a Gears of War movie in the works for Netflix (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-movie-netflix-is-100-behind-it-director-says/1100-6539465/). A Gears of War animated TV show (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/gears-of-war-movie-tv-series-adaptation) is coming as well. There is also a new Minecraft movie set for release in 2027 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-minecraft-movie-2-announced-coming-july-2027/1100-6535348/), a third season of Fallout (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-season-3-adds-more-big-names-to-its-cast/), and a Sea of Thieves movie. In total, Microsoft has a dozen film and TV projects in the works (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-is-working-on-a-dozen-movies-and-tv-shows-including-sea-of-thieves/).
Earlier this year, Xbox's new chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, spoke frankly about how Xbox languished in recent years (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/) and what comes next.
Another way Microsoft is trying to get back to growth is by cutting staff. The company laid off 1,600 people this month (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) and will part ways with another 1,600 people in the next year.
For more, check out GameSpot's breakdown of the Xbox studios that are left and what they're working on (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-after-the-layoffs-studios-left-and-what-theyre-making/).
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls’ Biggest Secrets Are Already Online
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-biggest-secrets-are-already-online/
August is shaping up to be a fun month (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-biggest-new-game-releases-of-august-2026/) with the release of games like Beast of Reincarnation and Pro Jank Footy, and if you're a fighting game fan, you can also grab Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (https://www.gamespot.com/games/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls/). Officially out next week, physical copies of the game have managed to break their street date, and naturally, there are plenty of spoilers online.
While we won't be listing them here, please start fine-tuning your filters for specific keywords. From what we've seen online, details include various game secrets, trophies, story details, and more. A lot of these details had been kept under wraps--and even managed to escape being data-mined during the recent open beta (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-beta-start-time-roster-and-how-to-get-in/)--but a few people who got their hands on the game early have wasted no time in spoiling those surprises for everyone else.
Posts detailing the secret content are being taken down as quickly as they go up, but you can't unsee a leak before that happens. It's a pity, because developer Arc System Works has crafted some pretty good narratives for its fighting games--like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ--and the single-player campaign for Marvel Tokon was penned by award-winning comic book writer Kieron Gillen.
If your spider-sense can help you dodge the leaks, then you won't have to wait too much longer to play the game. Marvel Tokon officially launches on August 6 for PC and PS5. So far, 2026 has been a great year for fighting game fans with all of the high-profile releases in the genre. Invincible Vs kicked things off in April with some brutal brawling, Avatar Legends has been a hit with fans of the series despite the high skill ceiling needed to master it, and Street Fighter 6 has continued to add new characters to its roster.
If you're on PC and looking to grab a bargain, you can preorder Marvel Tokon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/with-doomsday-approaching-grab-a-cheap-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-steam-key-with-this-preorder-deal/) for just $54 at Fanatical, a nice little 10% discount.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-biggest-secrets-are-already-online/
August is shaping up to be a fun month (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-biggest-new-game-releases-of-august-2026/) with the release of games like Beast of Reincarnation and Pro Jank Footy, and if you're a fighting game fan, you can also grab Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (https://www.gamespot.com/games/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls/). Officially out next week, physical copies of the game have managed to break their street date, and naturally, there are plenty of spoilers online.
While we won't be listing them here, please start fine-tuning your filters for specific keywords. From what we've seen online, details include various game secrets, trophies, story details, and more. A lot of these details had been kept under wraps--and even managed to escape being data-mined during the recent open beta (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-beta-start-time-roster-and-how-to-get-in/)--but a few people who got their hands on the game early have wasted no time in spoiling those surprises for everyone else.
Posts detailing the secret content are being taken down as quickly as they go up, but you can't unsee a leak before that happens. It's a pity, because developer Arc System Works has crafted some pretty good narratives for its fighting games--like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ--and the single-player campaign for Marvel Tokon was penned by award-winning comic book writer Kieron Gillen.
If your spider-sense can help you dodge the leaks, then you won't have to wait too much longer to play the game. Marvel Tokon officially launches on August 6 for PC and PS5. So far, 2026 has been a great year for fighting game fans with all of the high-profile releases in the genre. Invincible Vs kicked things off in April with some brutal brawling, Avatar Legends has been a hit with fans of the series despite the high skill ceiling needed to master it, and Street Fighter 6 has continued to add new characters to its roster.
If you're on PC and looking to grab a bargain, you can preorder Marvel Tokon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/with-doomsday-approaching-grab-a-cheap-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-steam-key-with-this-preorder-deal/) for just $54 at Fanatical, a nice little 10% discount.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.
Mistfall Hunter’s Best Class Just Got Even Better
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mistfall-hunters-best-class-just-got-even-better/
Developer Bellring Games' extraction brawler Mistfall Hunter (https://www.gamespot.com/games/mistfall-hunter/) is finally out after a handful of betas, and following its July 29 release, the developer has already dropped an update that made one of the game's best classes even better.
Launched on July 30, this new update makes some important balance adjustments to the newest class, the Withered Knight. During the beta, the hallowed sentinel only wielded a greatsword. But now that the full game is out, the Withered Knight gets a second weapon like the five other classes: a polearm and shield. It's this set of weapons that saw some improvements, with Bellring Games boosting the damage of some of its attacks to make the Withered Knight even more deadly in combat.
Despite sitting in the B-tier on GameSpot's class rankings (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/best-mistfall-hunter-classes-full-tier-list/), what makes the Withered Knight such a lethal class is its ability to apply constant pressure, its heavy burst damage thanks to the Wither skill (which explodes after afflicting a character or monster), and its chase-down potential with its dash attacks and grappling hook. It's a perfect mix between a flanking assassin and an aggressive brawler, making the Withered Knight scary to face head-on.
The July 30 update also fixes a plethora of issues that've cropped up. This includes things like adjusting the visual discrepancies with the Sorcerer's Flameblade, addressing connection problems for console players, ironing out game crashes, and fixing unresponsive keys when quickly closing the guide UI.
They're all very welcome fixes for a game that has the potential to expand the extraction genre. At the time of writing, almost 30,000 people are playing the game on Steam (https://steamdb.info/app/3282300/charts/#max), suggesting that there's a possible desire for more games in the genre that aren't just shooters.
You can check the full patch notes for Mistfall Hunter's July 30 update below.
Mistfall Hunter's July 30 Update Patch Notes
Class Balance Adjustments
Withered Knight — Polearm and Shield:
Charged Dash: Energy drain during the shield-raising charge phase has been slightly reduced, and the turning performance of a Tier-1 charged dash has been slightly improved.
Basic Attack: Damage of the 1st and 3rd thrust hits has been slightly increased.
Spear Barrage: Damage multiplier slightly increased.
Rainbow Piercer: Energy cost slightly reduced, and cooldown slightly reduced.
Block: Energy cost reduced.
Key Bug Fixes
Fixed incorrect key prompts in the Sorcerer's spellcasting tutorial in the beginner guide for certain languages.
Fixed a mismatch between the visual effect range and actual damage range of the Sorcerer's Flameblade.
Fixed an issue where repeatedly entering and exiting the area around a Soul Tree while summoning an extraction point would incorrectly consume an extra Soul of Return.
Fixed an issue where items could not be split via the secondary menu.
Fixed an issue where some matches on console platforms could not reconnect after a disconnect.
Fixed an occasional impassable-area anomaly in the "General Harald" challenge.
Fixed an issue where some keys would occasionally become unresponsive when the guide UI was closed very quickly.
Fixed a game crash caused by moving the cursor to specific regions with the stick on the Seasonal Leaderboard screen while using a controller.
Fixed an issue where equipment could not be unequipped from the Loadout system while using a controller.
Fixed an issue where certain gem slots could not be selected via the D-pad in the Auction House while using a controller.
Fixed an incorrect pop-up shown when exiting the game on the Xbox PC platform.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mistfall-hunters-best-class-just-got-even-better/
Developer Bellring Games' extraction brawler Mistfall Hunter (https://www.gamespot.com/games/mistfall-hunter/) is finally out after a handful of betas, and following its July 29 release, the developer has already dropped an update that made one of the game's best classes even better.
Launched on July 30, this new update makes some important balance adjustments to the newest class, the Withered Knight. During the beta, the hallowed sentinel only wielded a greatsword. But now that the full game is out, the Withered Knight gets a second weapon like the five other classes: a polearm and shield. It's this set of weapons that saw some improvements, with Bellring Games boosting the damage of some of its attacks to make the Withered Knight even more deadly in combat.
Despite sitting in the B-tier on GameSpot's class rankings (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/best-mistfall-hunter-classes-full-tier-list/), what makes the Withered Knight such a lethal class is its ability to apply constant pressure, its heavy burst damage thanks to the Wither skill (which explodes after afflicting a character or monster), and its chase-down potential with its dash attacks and grappling hook. It's a perfect mix between a flanking assassin and an aggressive brawler, making the Withered Knight scary to face head-on.
The July 30 update also fixes a plethora of issues that've cropped up. This includes things like adjusting the visual discrepancies with the Sorcerer's Flameblade, addressing connection problems for console players, ironing out game crashes, and fixing unresponsive keys when quickly closing the guide UI.
They're all very welcome fixes for a game that has the potential to expand the extraction genre. At the time of writing, almost 30,000 people are playing the game on Steam (https://steamdb.info/app/3282300/charts/#max), suggesting that there's a possible desire for more games in the genre that aren't just shooters.
You can check the full patch notes for Mistfall Hunter's July 30 update below.
Mistfall Hunter's July 30 Update Patch Notes
Class Balance Adjustments
Withered Knight — Polearm and Shield:
Charged Dash: Energy drain during the shield-raising charge phase has been slightly reduced, and the turning performance of a Tier-1 charged dash has been slightly improved.
Basic Attack: Damage of the 1st and 3rd thrust hits has been slightly increased.
Spear Barrage: Damage multiplier slightly increased.
Rainbow Piercer: Energy cost slightly reduced, and cooldown slightly reduced.
Block: Energy cost reduced.
Key Bug Fixes
Fixed incorrect key prompts in the Sorcerer's spellcasting tutorial in the beginner guide for certain languages.
Fixed a mismatch between the visual effect range and actual damage range of the Sorcerer's Flameblade.
Fixed an issue where repeatedly entering and exiting the area around a Soul Tree while summoning an extraction point would incorrectly consume an extra Soul of Return.
Fixed an issue where items could not be split via the secondary menu.
Fixed an issue where some matches on console platforms could not reconnect after a disconnect.
Fixed an occasional impassable-area anomaly in the "General Harald" challenge.
Fixed an issue where some keys would occasionally become unresponsive when the guide UI was closed very quickly.
Fixed a game crash caused by moving the cursor to specific regions with the stick on the Seasonal Leaderboard screen while using a controller.
Fixed an issue where equipment could not be unequipped from the Loadout system while using a controller.
Fixed an issue where certain gem slots could not be selected via the D-pad in the Auction House while using a controller.
Fixed an incorrect pop-up shown when exiting the game on the Xbox PC platform.
Fixed an occasional display anomaly on the deck screen on PS5--the issue can be resolved by restarting the game.
Fixed an issue where the public Training Room settings could not be opened while using a controller.
Fixed missing audio for the Execution Animation: Execute--Voidflame Requiem.
Fixed an incorrect description for the Sorcerer talent Chant Guard. The correct description reads: Increases Chanting Speed for Stardust spells. When chanting Stardust spells, the first attack received will not interrupt chanting (Stardust Torrent's casting phase also benefits from this effect). This effect has a cooldown.
Fixed an issue where the public Training Room settings could not be opened while using a controller.
Fixed missing audio for the Execution Animation: Execute--Voidflame Requiem.
Fixed an incorrect description for the Sorcerer talent Chant Guard. The correct description reads: Increases Chanting Speed for Stardust spells. When chanting Stardust spells, the first attack received will not interrupt chanting (Stardust Torrent's casting phase also benefits from this effect). This effect has a cooldown.
Pokemon Go August 2026 Events: Raid Bosses, Spotlight Hours, Pokemon Debuts, And More
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/
August has arrived, marking the final month of Pokemon Go (https://www.gamespot.com/games/pokemon-go/)'s Forever Forward season. The mobile game is closing the season out with a host of events and Pokemon debuts over the next few weeks, including the arrival of some big new monsters like Gigantamax Rillaboom and Mega Starmie.
On top of that, players have a few summery festivities to look forward to this month, including an Arctic Embers event and a week-long Water Festival. There will also be new Raid bosses and Spotlight Hours, as well as a big event to tie into the 2026 Pokemon World Championships later in August.
That's just a small glimpse of what's happening in the game this month. You can read more about Pokemon Go's August 2026 events below.
In This Article
August Raid Schedule (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-raid-schedule)Five-Star Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-five-star-raids)Mega Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-mega-raids)Shadow Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-shadow-raids)Max Battles (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-max-battles)August Spotlight Hours (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-spotlight-hours)August 6 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-6)August 13 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-13)August 20 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-20)August 27 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-27)Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-gigantamax-rillaboom-max-battle-day)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses)Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-summer-marathon-arctic-embers)Featured Pokemon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-featured-pokemon)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-0)Fire And Ice Hatch Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-fire-and-ice-hatch-day)Featured Pokemon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-featured-pokemon-0)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-1)Nickit Community Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-nickit-community-day)Bonuses
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/
August has arrived, marking the final month of Pokemon Go (https://www.gamespot.com/games/pokemon-go/)'s Forever Forward season. The mobile game is closing the season out with a host of events and Pokemon debuts over the next few weeks, including the arrival of some big new monsters like Gigantamax Rillaboom and Mega Starmie.
On top of that, players have a few summery festivities to look forward to this month, including an Arctic Embers event and a week-long Water Festival. There will also be new Raid bosses and Spotlight Hours, as well as a big event to tie into the 2026 Pokemon World Championships later in August.
That's just a small glimpse of what's happening in the game this month. You can read more about Pokemon Go's August 2026 events below.
In This Article
August Raid Schedule (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-raid-schedule)Five-Star Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-five-star-raids)Mega Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-mega-raids)Shadow Raids (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-shadow-raids)Max Battles (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-max-battles)August Spotlight Hours (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-spotlight-hours)August 6 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-6)August 13 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-13)August 20 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-20)August 27 (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-august-27)Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-gigantamax-rillaboom-max-battle-day)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses)Summer Marathon: Arctic Embers (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-summer-marathon-arctic-embers)Featured Pokemon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-featured-pokemon)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-0)Fire And Ice Hatch Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-fire-and-ice-hatch-day)Featured Pokemon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-featured-pokemon-0)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-1)Nickit Community Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-nickit-community-day)Bonuses
(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-2)Ultra Unlock: Water Festival (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-ultra-unlock-water-festival)Featured Pokemon (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-featured-pokemon-1)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-3)Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-ultra-unlock-starmie-super-mega-raid-day)Bonuses (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-bonuses-4)Pokemon XP & 2026 Worlds (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-august-2026-events-raid-bosses-spotlight-hours-pokemon-debuts-and-more/#h-pokemon-xp-amp-2026-worlds)
August Raid Schedule
August Raid Schedule
A variety of fan-favorite legendary and Mega Pokemon are returning to Raids in August.
Following Kyurem's departure on August 4, the legendary lake trio Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie will make another appearance in five-star Raids, each exclusive to a specific region of the world. Other legendaries like Groudon, Lunala, and the Regi trio will follow later in the month.
Mega Raids, meanwhile, will rotate between Mega-Evolved forms of Aggron, Blaziken, Garchomp, Swampert, and Gyarados, while Shadow Altered Forme Giratina will appear as a special Shadow Raid boss all month.
You can see August's full Raid schedule below:
Five-Star Raids
Kyurem (July 29-August 4)
Uxie [Asia-Pacific Region] (August 5-11)
Mesprit [Europe, Middle East, Africa, India] (August 5-11)
Azelf [Americas and Greenland] (August 5-11)
Groudon (August 12-18)
Lunala (August 19-25)
Regirock (August 26-September 8)
Regice (August 26-September 8)
Registeel (August 26-September 8)
Mega Raids
Mega Aggron (July 29-August 4)
Mega Blaziken (August 5-11)
Mega Garchomp (August 12-18)
Mega Swampert (August 19-25)
Mega Gyarados (August 26-September 8)
Shadow Raids
Shadow Altered Forme Giratina (August 5-September 8)
Max Battles
Dynamax Magmar (August 3-9)
Dynamax Beldum (August 10-16)
Dynamax Magikarp (August 17-23)
Dynamax Hitmontop (August 24-30)
Dynamax Eevee (August 31-September 6)
August Spotlight Hours
Following Kyurem's departure on August 4, the legendary lake trio Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie will make another appearance in five-star Raids, each exclusive to a specific region of the world. Other legendaries like Groudon, Lunala, and the Regi trio will follow later in the month.
Mega Raids, meanwhile, will rotate between Mega-Evolved forms of Aggron, Blaziken, Garchomp, Swampert, and Gyarados, while Shadow Altered Forme Giratina will appear as a special Shadow Raid boss all month.
You can see August's full Raid schedule below:
Five-Star Raids
Kyurem (July 29-August 4)
Uxie [Asia-Pacific Region] (August 5-11)
Mesprit [Europe, Middle East, Africa, India] (August 5-11)
Azelf [Americas and Greenland] (August 5-11)
Groudon (August 12-18)
Lunala (August 19-25)
Regirock (August 26-September 8)
Regice (August 26-September 8)
Registeel (August 26-September 8)
Mega Raids
Mega Aggron (July 29-August 4)
Mega Blaziken (August 5-11)
Mega Garchomp (August 12-18)
Mega Swampert (August 19-25)
Mega Gyarados (August 26-September 8)
Shadow Raids
Shadow Altered Forme Giratina (August 5-September 8)
Max Battles
Dynamax Magmar (August 3-9)
Dynamax Beldum (August 10-16)
Dynamax Magikarp (August 17-23)
Dynamax Hitmontop (August 24-30)
Dynamax Eevee (August 31-September 6)
August Spotlight Hours
Pokemon Go's Spotlight Hour events return once again in August.
Every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 PM local time, one species of Pokemon will appear more frequently in the wild. On top of that, a select bonus will be active during that same window, such as double XP or Stardust for catching Pokemon.
You can see August's full Spotlight Hour schedule below:
August 6
Featured Pokemon: Delibird
Bonus: 2x catch Stardust
August 13
Featured Pokemon: Wurmple
Bonus: 2x evolution XP
August 20
Featured Pokemon: Magikarp
Bonus: 2x catch XP
August 27
Featured Pokemon: Mankey
Bonus: 2x catch candy
Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day
Every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 PM local time, one species of Pokemon will appear more frequently in the wild. On top of that, a select bonus will be active during that same window, such as double XP or Stardust for catching Pokemon.
You can see August's full Spotlight Hour schedule below:
August 6
Featured Pokemon: Delibird
Bonus: 2x catch Stardust
August 13
Featured Pokemon: Wurmple
Bonus: 2x evolution XP
August 20
Featured Pokemon: Magikarp
Bonus: 2x catch XP
August 27
Featured Pokemon: Mankey
Bonus: 2x catch candy
Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day
Palworld TCG Prices Skyrocket as eBay Scalpers Profit Off of Card Game Launch
https://www.ign.com/articles/palworld-tcg-prices-skyrocket-as-ebay-scalpers-profit-off-of-card-game-launch
The Palworld TCG has officially launched, and so too has a wave of scalpers looking to make a quick buck on developer Pocketpair's new collectible cards.
https://www.ign.com/articles/palworld-tcg-prices-skyrocket-as-ebay-scalpers-profit-off-of-card-game-launch
The Palworld TCG has officially launched, and so too has a wave of scalpers looking to make a quick buck on developer Pocketpair's new collectible cards.
Preorder Beast of Reincarnation At A Discount And Get Some DLC For Free
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorder-beast-of-reincarnation-at-a-discount-and-get-some-dlc-for-free/
Beast of Reincarnation (https://www.gamespot.com/games/beast-of-reincarnation/) is an interesting action RPG. Developed by Game Freak, the studio behind the beloved Pokemon series, it's a chance for the developer to step out from Pikachu's enormous shadow and create something fresh. If you're looking to give it a chance, you can preorder a Steam key at a discount, making it cheaper than buying directly through Steam while also scoring some extra content.
Forget the father-figure, adopted-daughter dynamic that games like The Last of Us and Pragmata deliver. Beast of Reincarnation pairs one person with one loyal dog, putting you in the role of Emma, a shunned outcast the world now relies on as its potential savior, alongside Koo, a blighted canine companion. The world is harsh and unforgiving, but Emma and Koo's bond takes center stage, bringing moments of warmth to an otherwise bleak post-apocalyptic Japan.
The reveal trailer initially gave me Wild Hearts vibes, one of my favorite takes on the monster-hunting genre. However, Emma and Koo's combat leans much more toward the soulslike formula, with the pair fighting as a synchronized team. Emma handles close-range combat with her sword, while Koo's Bloom Arts provide magical abilities that let you attack enemies in a variety of ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trftF6Pu4tk
Game Freak appears to be channeling its decades of experience creating Trainers and Pokemon into the relationship between Emma and Koo. Their journey is intertwined as they set out to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation and the many powerful bosses that stand in their way. Along the way, you'll unlock new skills and build your ideal loadout to tackle increasingly difficult encounters.
While reviews haven't been published yet, you don't have to pay full price if you're planning to jump in at launch. Right now, you can preorder Beast of Reincarnation for $52.79 / £43.99 at Fanatical (https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=118821&awinaffid=2873961&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanatical.com%2Fen%2Fgame%2Fbeast-of-reincarnation), saving 12% before release. You'll also receive the preorder bonus, which includes an Alternate Brown Shiba Skin for Koo and 30,000 Amber, an in-game currency that gives you a helpful head start.
The rest of this year is packed with major releases, including one particularly colossal game (cough, Grand Theft Auto VI, cough). That makes discounts on upcoming releases (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/2026-upcoming-games-release-schedule/1100-6534941/)all the more welcome, and as a brand-new IP, Beast of Reincarnation is one I'm looking forward to playing.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical's deals team.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorder-beast-of-reincarnation-at-a-discount-and-get-some-dlc-for-free/
Beast of Reincarnation (https://www.gamespot.com/games/beast-of-reincarnation/) is an interesting action RPG. Developed by Game Freak, the studio behind the beloved Pokemon series, it's a chance for the developer to step out from Pikachu's enormous shadow and create something fresh. If you're looking to give it a chance, you can preorder a Steam key at a discount, making it cheaper than buying directly through Steam while also scoring some extra content.
Forget the father-figure, adopted-daughter dynamic that games like The Last of Us and Pragmata deliver. Beast of Reincarnation pairs one person with one loyal dog, putting you in the role of Emma, a shunned outcast the world now relies on as its potential savior, alongside Koo, a blighted canine companion. The world is harsh and unforgiving, but Emma and Koo's bond takes center stage, bringing moments of warmth to an otherwise bleak post-apocalyptic Japan.
The reveal trailer initially gave me Wild Hearts vibes, one of my favorite takes on the monster-hunting genre. However, Emma and Koo's combat leans much more toward the soulslike formula, with the pair fighting as a synchronized team. Emma handles close-range combat with her sword, while Koo's Bloom Arts provide magical abilities that let you attack enemies in a variety of ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trftF6Pu4tk
Game Freak appears to be channeling its decades of experience creating Trainers and Pokemon into the relationship between Emma and Koo. Their journey is intertwined as they set out to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation and the many powerful bosses that stand in their way. Along the way, you'll unlock new skills and build your ideal loadout to tackle increasingly difficult encounters.
While reviews haven't been published yet, you don't have to pay full price if you're planning to jump in at launch. Right now, you can preorder Beast of Reincarnation for $52.79 / £43.99 at Fanatical (https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=118821&awinaffid=2873961&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanatical.com%2Fen%2Fgame%2Fbeast-of-reincarnation), saving 12% before release. You'll also receive the preorder bonus, which includes an Alternate Brown Shiba Skin for Koo and 30,000 Amber, an in-game currency that gives you a helpful head start.
The rest of this year is packed with major releases, including one particularly colossal game (cough, Grand Theft Auto VI, cough). That makes discounts on upcoming releases (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/2026-upcoming-games-release-schedule/1100-6534941/)all the more welcome, and as a brand-new IP, Beast of Reincarnation is one I'm looking forward to playing.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical's deals team.
Hololive Dreams: How the Development Team Used RPG Mechanics to Create a Giant Rhythm Game
https://www.ign.com/articles/hololive-dreams-rhythm-rpg-mechanics
Hololive Dreams combines rhythm-based gameplay with RPG progression, offering over 150 songs and 50 VTubers in an accessible new mobile experience.
https://www.ign.com/articles/hololive-dreams-rhythm-rpg-mechanics
Hololive Dreams combines rhythm-based gameplay with RPG progression, offering over 150 songs and 50 VTubers in an accessible new mobile experience.
The Best Deals Today: LEGO Pokémon, DDR5 RAM, Death Stranding 2, and More
https://www.ign.com/articles/best-deals-for-august-1-2026
https://www.ign.com/articles/best-deals-for-august-1-2026
A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on select LEGO sets, Death Stranding 2, Saros, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, August 1, below.New LEGO Sets Now LiveLEGO has listed its latest round of sets on its website, including the LEGO Ideas | The X-Files set. Right now, you can score the LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade set (https://www.ign.com/articles/lego-donkey-kong-arcade-set-officially-announced), the LEGO Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler™ and Mudhorn, and even a new SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom set.20% Off the LEGO Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball SetMacy's has a great deal today on this LEGO Pokémon (https://www.ign.com/articles/all-lego-pokemon-sets) Pikachu and Poké Ball Set. Normally priced at $199.99, you can save $40 this weekend, with the set on sale for $159.99. Featuring Pikachu and a Poké Ball, this is a wonderful collector's item that can fit on any Pokémon fan's shelf or collection.Death Stranding 2: On The Beach for $39.99Death Stranding 2 (https://www.ign.com/articles/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach-review) took almost every major issue fans had with the original and provided a solution. The 2025 release is available right now for $39.88 on Amazon, which is a great price considering there's north of 100 hours of content here. As Hideo Kojima's latest, this is a must-play for any fan of Metal Gear, Death Stranding, and even those simply looking for an impactful experience.Save 26% Off 32GB of DDR5 RAMIt's no secret that with the demand for data centers, prices for memory have shot through the roof. I remember being able to stroll into my nearest Micro Center and pick up north of 64GB for under $200 at one point, yet here we are with prices close to $1000 at this point. This weekend, Woot has 32GB of Corsair Vengeance 5600MHz DDR5 RAM on sale for $369.99. All things considered, this is a pretty great deal, and if you're looking to build a new PC anytime soon, I wouldn't hesitate grabbing this.Mortal Kombat 4K Limited Edition for $32.49This 4K Blu-ray just released last month, but you can already save big and pick up a copy for $32.49. This is even lower than the $39.99 sale last week. The Mortal Kombat Kollection comes with both Mortal Kombat (https://www.ign.com/movies/mortal-kombat) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (https://www.ign.com/movies/mortal-kombat-annihilation). Both films have received brand new 4K restorations by Arrow Films, with Dolby Vision support, lossless audio support, and optional English subtitles.Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection for $29.99Amazon has PS5 copies of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection on sale for $29.99 today, which saves you $10 off this collection of seven games. In our 8/10 review (https://www.ign.com/articles/mega-man-star-force-legacy-collection-review), we wrote, "The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is the best way to play as the most underrated version of the Blue Bomber."Save Over $40 Off This LEGO Spider-Man SetIf you are planning on watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day (https://www.ign.com/articles/spider-man-brand-new-day-review) this weekend in theaters, chances are you may end up wanting more from the web crawler right away. While you can always throw on a Spider-Man movie on Disney+, this LEGO Spider-Man vs. Oscorp set is a great way to get your Spider-Man fill while adding a neat set to your collection. Normally priced at $139.99, you can save over $40 this weekend and score this LEGO set for $97.99 at Amazon.Saros for $49.99Saros is on sale for $49.99 today at Amazon, which matches the lowest price we've seen so far. As one of the biggest PS5 exclusives in 2026, now is a great time to check out Housemarque's latest if you haven't. In our review (https://www.ign.com/articles/saros-review), we wrote, "With Saros, Housemarque once again proved that its bullet-hell sensibilities mesh incredibly well with fluid and super-challenging action. This is primarily a test of skill that's
as much a rhythmic dance as it is a fireworks show with a punch-packing sci-fi arsenal."Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Elden Ring Players Are Hoping for Godwyn DLC After FromSoftware Shares Cryptic Social Media Post
https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-players-are-hoping-for-godwyn-dlc-after-fromsoftware-shares-cryptic-social-media-post
It's been two years since FromSoftware released its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, but a new post from the developer has some fans believing that even more Elden Ring DLC is on the way.
https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-players-are-hoping-for-godwyn-dlc-after-fromsoftware-shares-cryptic-social-media-post
It's been two years since FromSoftware released its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, but a new post from the developer has some fans believing that even more Elden Ring DLC is on the way.