~Gaming

Jason Schreier from Bloomberg has published a massive article about the development of GTA 6 after visiting Rockstar’s offices and speaking with some of the people leading the project. There’s actually a lot of interesting stuff here, especially about the NPCs, Jason and Lucia’s relationship, and what Rockstar plans to do after GTA 6. Here’s a summary of the most interesting bits. Development and why it’s taken so long * GTA 6 has been in full development for over eight years, making it Rockstar’s biggest project ever. * The original plan was much bigger, with parts of North and South America included in the map. Eventually, Rockstar scaled everything down to Vice City and the surrounding areas. * Red Dead Redemption 2 took up so many resources that GTA 6’s development was delayed by several years. * Rockstar has grown from 2,441 employees in 2018 to 4,711 in 2026, spread across 12 studios. * The early development period was apparently known internally as the “dark period” because the team was struggling to figure out exactly what the game should be. * The main story involving Jason and Lucia was already established by late 2019, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the different systems started coming together. The open world sounds absolutely insane One of Rockstar’s main goals was to make the world feel genuinely alive, rather than just filling the streets with NPCs walking around. Jason and Lucia can apparently spend time together outside story missions. You can even text Lucia while playing as Jason and arrange to meet her somewhere. Getting their relationship to work naturally in the open world required years of work on the game’s AI systems. But the most interesting part of the Bloomberg article is a gameplay demonstration. Phil Hooker, one of Rockstar’s development leads, was trying to reach a story mission when he accidentally hit another vehicle. He went into a convenience store to recover his health, but another NPC started insulting him. Things escalated into a fight, and he noticed the cash register was unattended, so he robbed the store. The police came after him, forcing him to steal another car. He then encountered a vehicle blasting music, followed it, and discovered a compound containing valuables. After stealing those valuables, he visited someone who could buy them, which led to yet another activity. Two hours had passed, and he still hadn’t reached the story mission he originally wanted to test. Apparently, none of that sequence was scripted. It emerged naturally from the interactions between NPCs, police, criminal activities and the environment. Rockstar considers this kind of unpredictable gameplay one of GTA 6’s biggest achievements. They even created an entirely new studio in Los Angeles dedicated to producing NPC content because the existing teams couldn’t keep up with the amount they wanted. Leaks, delays and working conditions The massive 2022 leak was apparently devastating for the developers. Rockstar described it as deeply invasive, particularly because the footage showed unfinished work that was never intended for the public. COVID also caused significant problems, especially with motion capture. Rockstar says the delays weren’t caused by one specific technical issue. The problem was getting all these incredibly complex systems working together. They also tried to avoid the extreme crunch associated with RDR2, when some employees were working around 60 hours per week for months. According to management, conditions have improved, although crunch hasn’t disappeared completely. Remote work was restricted for security reasons, and Rockstar may reconsider its policies after launch. A couple of other details: * Rockstar denied rumors that GTA 6’s development budget exceeded $1.5 billion. * GTA 6 Online is expected in 2027, although Rockstar hasn’t officially detailed its launch plans. * Take-Two’s CEO was reportedly surprised by the second delay but supported Rockstar’s decision. And what happens after GTA 6? This might actually be the most exciting part. Rockstar believes the technology, tools and development pipelines created for GTA 6 will allow them to make future games considerably faster. They compared it to the transition from GTA III to Vice City, when they could build another game relatively quickly because the technological foundation was already there. The developers don’t expect their next project to require another eight years of development. Obviously, that doesn’t mean GTA 7 or Red Dead Redemption 3 is coming anytime soon, but it’s encouraging. Personally, I’d love to see Rockstar return to releasing games more frequently. Imagine getting Bully 2 or RDR3 without another decade-long wait. And honestly, the description of that unscripted two-hour gameplay session has made me even more excited for GTA 6. What do you think? Is Rockstar taking open-world games to another level, or are we getting a bit carried away with the hype? https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2026-grand-theft-auto-6-making-of/

https://x.com/_tom_henderson_/status/2110013641080578145?s=46

Ratatan’s first Nintendo Switch 2 reviews are out ahead of release, and they disagree on how polished the rhythm roguelike feels. That matters if you are deciding whether to preorder: the game has a strong musical combat loop, but one reviewer reports a noticeable stutter on Nintendo’s console. Pocket Tactics awarded the Switch 2 version 7/10. Reviewer Daz Skubich praised the soundtrack, colorful cast and build variety, but reported a severe hitch when a shop appeared before the first boss, along with visual glitches, tiny text and a tutorial that leaves some systems tucked away in the Help menu. [CGMagazine’s review](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/ratatan-nintendo-switch-2/) was much more enthusiastic at 9/10: it liked the faster, freely controlled roguelike combat and described the docked image as crisp, while noting some pixelation on characters in handheld mode. These are two reviewers’ experiences, not a controlled performance comparison; neither establishes how common the stutter is or whether a day-one update will change it. The standard edition is listed at $34.99, with the publisher advertising a 10% preorder price of $31.49. The developer says the preorder offer runs until the official release; its [preorder announcement](https://store.steampowered.com/news/posts/?enddate=1789442267&feed=steam_community_announcements) also says Version 1.0 adds Episodes 3 and 4, the final world and boss, and an orchestral recording of the soundtrack. [Nintendo’s US store listing](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ratatan-switch-2/) gives October 14 for Switch 2, while the publisher’s announcement gives October 15 for Version 1.0. Check your local store for the platform-specific release time. Ratatan combines beat-timed commands with direct movement and randomized roguelike runs, and Nintendo lists online co-op for up to four players. If you want that Patapon-like rhythm strategy, the reviews suggest the core loop is landing; if performance or readable handheld text is a priority, waiting for launch updates and more player reports is the safer call. Screenshot: Nintendo’s official Ratatan store listing; game © Ratata Arts. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2 

Nintendo will release a Japan-only Nintendo Switch 2 bundle on November 12 for ¥63,980 (about $403), including a download code for one game chosen from three options. At Japan’s current recommended price of ¥59,980 (about $378) for the console on its own, the bundle adds ¥4,000 (about $25) for the game code. Dollar equivalents use the October 12 USD/JPY rate and are approximate; they are not U.S. retail prices. Buyers can choose Mario Kart World or Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Switch 2, or Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for the original Switch. That last option makes this a choice across two generations, rather than three Switch 2 games. Nintendo says the code must be redeemed by March 31, 2027, and downloading requires a Nintendo Account and internet access. [Nintendo’s announcement](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2026/261006.html) lists the full package contents. The regional limitation matters as much as the price. Nintendo’s Japanese-Language System (Japan Only) supports Japanese as its system language, and only accounts set to Japan can be linked. That makes the bundle a poor fit for international buyers looking for a lower-cost way into Switch 2. [Nintendo’s system information](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/en/hardware/switch2/lineup/index.html) spells out those restrictions. The Japanese console’s recommended price rose from ¥49,980 (about $315) to ¥59,980 (about $378) on May 25. The new package adds one game choice for ¥4,000 (about $25) over the current hardware price. [Gematsu reported the bundle announcement](https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/switch-2-japanese-language-system-choose-your-game-bundle-launches-november-12-in-japan), while [Nintendo’s price notice](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2026/260508.html) documents the increase. The dollar equivalents use the [October 12 USD/JPY rate](https://www.investing.com/currencies/usd-jpy-historical-data). ~Nintendo ~Switch2

Fedora 45 is still a beta as of 12 October 2026. The Fedora Project currently lists 20 October as its target for the final release, but that date can move. For gamers, the useful question is not whether a new Fedora number automatically adds frames per second; it is which parts of the Linux gaming stack are changing, and whether those changes help a particular game and GPU. [Fedora’s beta announcement](https://fedoramagazine.org/announcing-fedora-linux-45-beta/) and [current Fedora 45 release status](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Design_Suite/Fedora_45) describe what is available and what remains subject to change. ## What happens when a game launches? A native Linux game can use Linux graphics interfaces directly. For a Windows game running through Steam, [Proton](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton) provides a compatibility layer built on Wine and other components. Tools such as DXVK and VKD3D-Proton translate Direct3D graphics calls into Vulkan commands. On many AMD and Intel systems, Mesa supplies the open-source graphics drivers that handle those Vulkan or OpenGL commands; the Linux kernel driver then communicates with the GPU. The desktop session sits alongside this path: GNOME and its Wayland compositor handle windows, display and input. The exact route varies with the game and graphics hardware, and NVIDIA’s proprietary driver follows a different graphics stack. That is why “Linux gaming compatibility” is not one switch. Proton can translate many Windows interfaces, but it cannot make every game work. A problem in a game’s Windows compatibility path is different from a graphics-driver bug, and both are different from a desktop bug that stops Steam accepting clicks. ## What Fedora 45 changes for that stack The Fedora 45 Workstation beta uses GNOME 51. Fedora’s package tracker currently lists Mesa 26.2.3 as the Fedora 45 stable build, and Linux kernel 7.2.9-300 as stable, with 7.2.9-301 in testing. Those are a snapshot of the beta repositories, not a promise of the final launch versions. The Fedora 44 kernel tracker also lists a stable 7.2.9 build, so the kernel version alone is not a Fedora 45-exclusive leap. A newer Mesa point release may include driver fixes or hardware support, but a version number by itself does not tell you whether your games will run faster. [Phoronix’s Fedora 44 versus Fedora 45 beta comparison](https://www.phoronix.com/review/fedora-45-beta-benchmarks) helps put performance claims in perspective. Its September 23 software snapshot used the same Linux 7.2 kernel, Mesa 26.2 and GCC 16.2.1 on both releases, on one high-end AMD workstation. The author found no broad system-performance shift, though some individual workloads changed. These were not game benchmarks, and the hardware was neither a gaming handheld nor a typical gaming laptop, so the results cannot predict frame rates for every setup. They do show why “Fedora 45 means more FPS” is too strong a conclusion. ## A beta bug can be in the desktop, not the GPU During the early beta, Fedora users reported that Steam and other XWayland windows stopped accepting mouse clicks under a GNOME 51 release candidate. In the [Fedora discussion thread](https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/fedora-45-beta-issue-with-steam/202218), users later reported that updating to Mutter 51.0 fixed the problem. That was a beta regression with a reported fix, not evidence that the current beta still has the issue. It is a useful example of why a broken Steam window does not automatically mean Proton or the graphics driver is at fault. ## Should a gamer upgrade now? If this is your main gaming PC, wait for Fedora 45 to reach its final release and check the final package versions and your GPU’s driver support. If you want to test the beta, use a spare drive or a setup you can roll back; keep in mind that package versions and behavior can still change before release. Fedora Workstation is a general-purpose desktop rather than a handheld-specific gaming image. For a handheld-first Linux setup, see [Mushimu’s Bazzite guide](https://www.mushimu.com/post/8728). The diagram is an original, simplified illustration of the software path; individual games and GPUs can use different components. ~Gaming 

I’ll be posting any GTA leaks I come across in this thread. https://x.com/jaake_so_ja/status/2108376481235890316/video/1?s=46

Paramount Pictures is developing a live-action feature set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura attached and CD Projekt Red also producing. TheWrap first reported the project; Reuters later reported that CD Projekt co-CEO Michał Nowakowski welcomed Paramount as a future partner. No director, cast, release date or plot details have been announced. That means this is not confirmed as a direct retelling of V’s story, and Keanu Reeves’ return as Johnny Silverhand remains unknown. The attached image is an official Cyberpunk 2077 game still credited to CD Projekt Red, not footage or artwork from the film. CD Projekt announced a live-action collaboration with Anonymous Content in 2023. The studio has not publicly explained how that project relates to the new Paramount film. For now, the confirmed development is a feature project in the franchise’s universe, with no production timetable disclosed. Sources: [TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/cyberpunk-2077-movie-adaptation-paramount/), [Reuters](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/paramount-to-develop-cyberpunk-2077-film-lifting-cd-projekt-reds-shares-4940347), [CD Projekt’s 2023 announcement](https://www.cdprojekt.com/en/media/news/cd-projekt-red-partners-with-anonymous-content-to-develop-live-action-project/).

ARC Raiders’ Frozen Trail update arrives October 8 with the new Pendola Pass map, Outposts, additional ARC threats and a high-level Operation. Embark is also opening the full game for free on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox from 09:00 UTC on October 8 until 08:00 UTC on October 12. New players can enter Pendola Pass during the trial if they join someone who has already unlocked it. The update is followed by a one-week PvE matchmaking test, running October 13–20. Players can switch between the usual PvPvE raids and sessions with no player-to-player damage; solos, duos and trios will share the PvE pool. Night Raids, Hidden Bunker, Locked Gate and Frigate are excluded. Embark says the test is temporary, with reduced loot in PvE and slightly higher baseline loot in PvPvE while it studies player feedback and queue times. That makes this more than a new-map launch: Embark is testing whether players can choose a calmer co-op run without weakening the tension that defines its extraction mode. A permanent PvE option is not guaranteed. Details: [Frozen Trail](https://arcraiders.com/news/frozen-trail-is-coming-october-8th) · [free-play dates](https://arcraiders.com/news/play-for-free-weekend) · [PvE test rules](https://arcraiders.com/news/pve-toggle-beta-test). 

**What’s confirmed as of October 8, 2026:** Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar calls it a single-player experience; it has not announced a PC release or a separate online mode. The story follows Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, whose botched score draws them into a criminal conspiracy across Leonida, Rockstar’s fictional Florida. The studio has named six areas: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, Grassrivers and Mount Kalaga National Park. [Rockstar’s character and location guide](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/only-in-leonida) has the official descriptions. **The map: what is real, and what is still speculation?** Rockstar has not published a readable full map of Leonida. Its official screenshot gallery groups images by location, and the attached image is an in-game view of the Leonida Keys—not a map. Rockstar’s store does confirm that its $399.99 Goodtime State merchandise collection includes a double-sided poster with a full Leonida map on the reverse; the game is sold separately. The product photos do not show that map clearly enough to verify its complete layout. Fan reconstructions and alleged leaked layouts are not confirmation of the final game. Recent online debate has focused on whether those images reveal extra islands or how big the world is, but exact map-size multipliers and unannounced locations remain unverified. [Rockstar’s official screenshots](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media/screenshots) and [collector’s-box details](https://store.rockstargames.com/merchandise/gtavi-goodtime-state-vice-city-collection) are the reliable references. Reporting on an alleged early-development map leak also cautions that it may not represent the finished world: [PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/evidence-of-canceled-grand-theft-auto-5-liberty-city-and-agent-trevor-dlc-plus-early-version-of-gta6s-map-surface-online/). **The newest developer details:** In its September 29 cover story based on interviews with Rockstar, Game Informer reported more than 170 animal species, including manatees, flamingos, pelicans and alligators. It also reported localized weather, persistent puddles, tropical storms and hurricanes. Rockstar North co-studio head Aaron Garbut described Leonida as the largest map the studio has built, but Rockstar has not released an official area measurement. Read Game Informer’s [wildlife details](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-includes-over-170-animal-species) and [weather report](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-features-tropical-storms-and-hurricanes). **Official videos:** [Trailer 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBZY2fkU-0) is the original reveal. [Trailer 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQRLujxTm3c) mixes gameplay and cutscenes, captured in-game on PS5. [Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJbzMqJGH4k) is the longer PS5 in-game showcase that premiered on Netflix on August 27 and is now on Rockstar’s YouTube channel. Rockstar’s [video archive](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media/videos) also lists its character clips and provides a download of the official clips. Rockstar has also confirmed Standard and Ultimate editions and a 34-track official album arriving with the game. Still unknown: a complete gameplay feature list, final PC plans, and detailed online plans. [Official GTA VI page](https://www.rockstargames.com/VI) 

Deadlock’s second hero from the City Never Sleeps rollout is now playable. Baba, the eccentric Central Park pigeon keeper, joins the roster with abilities built around stealing enemy spirit, turning her bench into a mobility tool, and unleashing her birds in battle. Valve says the next hero will arrive Friday at 2 p.m. Pacific. The update also extends the first ranked season to November 5 at 2 p.m. Pacific, with the next season beginning immediately afterward. Source: [Deadlock official update](https://steamcommunity.com/games/1422450/announcements/detail/703281025618282872)

Insomniac’s latest Marvel’s Wolverine update adds an optional way to hide story-related Scent trails. Players can toggle them with the Hint button, mapped to R3 by default; the patch also includes additional crash and bug fixes. The change follows several updates to the game’s sensory prompts. Earlier patches softened the trail visuals and added controls for some side-content cues, while the main story route remained visible. Insomniac says the new option responds to player feedback, addressing a broader design question: how much guidance should an action game provide, and how much control should players have over it? Source: [Insomniac Games patch notes](https://support.insomniac.games/hc/en-us/articles/56161572160019--NEW-Update-1-002-001)

E-Day’s redesigned Horde Siege is built around four-player squads and selectable Assault, Marksman, Medic and Breacher classes. The Xbox Store says teams will defend larger maps, complete shared objectives and fight world bosses; surviving earns rewards and loadout upgrades for the next match. The campaign also supports solo play, two-player split-screen on console and up to four players online, while Versus returns with 4v4 modes. These are the game’s co-op and multiplayer details beyond the release date and pricing in our [earlier Xbox launch roundup](https://www.mushimu.com/post/8748). Image: Microsoft / Xbox Store. Source: [Xbox Store — Gears of War: E-Day](https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/gears-of-war-e-day-pre-order/9pltg5dj32xq) 

The October PlayStation Plus monthly games are now available to claim. The lineup includes F1 25 and Hunt: Showdown 1896 for PS5, plus Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 for PS4 and PS5. Sony lists the games as available through November 2. Open the PlayStation Store to add them to your library; the monthly selection may vary by region. Source: [PlayStation Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/30/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-october-f1-25-hunt-showdown-1896-earth-defense-force-world-brothers-2/) 

Jagex has removed the Dragon Slayer II trailer for RuneScape 3 after players pointed to apparent generative-AI artifacts, including a character with six fingers. The studio says it is investigating how the material passed review. Jagex said the trailer was produced by an external partner that had explicitly assured the company that generative AI would not be used. It apologized, reaffirmed that it will not knowingly use generative AI in games, artwork or creative assets, and said it would overhaul its review process and commission community creators to retell the quest’s story. The dispute has drawn attention because the company had recently reiterated its position against generative AI in player-facing work. The central issue now is how Jagex will enforce that policy across contractors and rebuild confidence in the approval process. Source: [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/runescape-developer-jagex-takes-down-trailer-gen-ai-2000739980) 

Before buying a virtual-currency bundle, take a moment to check: - Can you see an item’s real-money price as well as its in-game coin price? - How much currency must you buy to get the item, and will the bundle leave you with an unused balance? - Are the purchase and cancellation terms clear, including the rules for unused currency? - What spending controls are available for children and other vulnerable players? These questions reflect consumer-protection issues currently under review in Europe. They do not establish that any particular company has broken the law. Our [report on the coordinated EU actions](https://www.mushimu.com/post/8757) explains the investigation; the [CCPC’s summary](https://www.ccpc.ie/news-and-media/news/article/2026/10/01/ccpc-and-eu-consumer-authorities-launch-joint-actions-into-online-gaming-practices) sets out the principles authorities are examining. Illustration: Original conceptual artwork, not a screenshot from a game.