This week in gaming features the major release Pathologic 3, a psychological horror game where you have 12 days to save a town from a plague, along with several other new titles including DuneCrawl, StarRupture, Past Fate, Ancient Farm, and Shadows of Soldiers, offering a variety of genres from survival horror to MMORPG and tactical shooter. The week also coincides with CES, which may limit gaming time.
Arc Raiders has been the top-selling premium game on Steam every week since its October launch, surpassing major titles like Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and has made a significant impact on the gaming scene in 2025 despite some controversy over its AI usage.
Vanquish, a highly acclaimed 2010 action shooter by PlatinumGames, offers fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay with unique mechanics like slowing time and rocket sliding, and is now easily accessible for under twenty dollars, making it a must-play for fans of intense, skill-based games. Despite its age, it remains a standout in the genre, though the studio's recent struggles cast a shadow over its legacy.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is offering a free demo from October 16-20 on consoles and until October 23 on PC, featuring story missions and multiplayer modes, allowing players to try before buying this highly-rated shooter set during the Fourth Tyrannic War.
Battlefield 6 has had a highly successful launch with over 6.5 million units sold in the first few days, generating more than $350 million in revenue, and establishing itself as a major player in the gaming industry. The game is particularly popular on Steam, with a strong and consistent player base, and is attracting a diverse audience that includes many new and casual players. Despite competition from upcoming shooter titles, Battlefield 6's focus on accessible gameplay and ongoing content updates position it well for sustained success, although its long-term retention remains to be seen.
Nintendo is adding the classic 3D N64 shooter Forsaken 64 to its Switch Online service's mature library on September 4th, allowing players to experience the 1998 game in single or multiplayer modes, featuring vehicular combat against mechanized enemies on Earth.
The beta for Battlefield 6 showcases dynamic destruction, versatile class customization, and engaging gameplay, indicating it could be one of the most enjoyable shooters of the year, with strategic depth and accessible combat.
A new shooter game, Ready or Not, has become a hit on PS5, surpassing PC sales rapidly and generating excitement among players for offering a fresh alternative to popular titles like Call of Duty and Fortnite, with praise for its intense gameplay and co-op features.
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business is a standalone mini-sequel that offers satisfying combat and captures the campy spirit of RoboCop, but suffers from rough presentation, repetitive gameplay, and limited variety, making it a decent but flawed addition for fans of the franchise.
A mass shooting at a high school in Graz, Austria, resulted in at least 11 deaths, including the shooter, a 21-year-old former student who was reportedly bullied. The attack, Austria's deadliest outside of war, involved firearms and targeted classrooms, prompting national mourning and police operations. The incident highlights issues of gun ownership and violence in Austria, which has a history of similar events.
Mundfish announced a new MMORPG shooter called The Cube, set in the Atomic Heart universe, featuring a massive shifting structure with dangerous enemies, deep progression, and innovative technology, launching on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in the future.
Kingmakers, a medieval third-person shooter and strategy game, will launch in Early Access on October 8 for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Players can build kingdoms, lead armies in real-time battles, and use modern weapons in a historically altered medieval setting, with options for solo or cooperative multiplayer gameplay.
Authorities have identified the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks, who was killed by the Secret Service, used a semiautomatic rifle and fired eight shots before being neutralized. Investigators are examining whether the gun belonged to his father and if it was legally purchased. Crooks' motive remains unclear, and his family is cooperating with the investigation. Multiple suspicious items were found in his vehicle, but their functionality is uncertain. Crooks was described as a loner and had no known military affiliation.
Selaco, a retro-inspired shooter from Altered Orbit Studios, has entered Early Access, showcasing impressive gameplay and smart AI using the GZDoom engine. With 31 action-packed maps, Steam Workshop support, and various gameplay modifiers, it offers a rich and detailed experience. Inspired by classics like F.E.A.R and DOOM, Selaco emphasizes tactical combat and world interactions. The game is available on Steam for $24.99, with plans for further expansions and a full release in 2026.
XDefiant, Ubisoft's latest multiplayer shooter, offers fast-paced combat and interesting hero shooter-like abilities but suffers from lackluster progression, questionable netcode, and missing features. The game features five factions from various Ubisoft properties, but the characters lack distinct traits. Despite well-designed maps, the game feels incomplete and fails to stand out in the competitive shooter market.
