Major Gaming Highlights: Witcher 3 Remastered Launch, Path of Exile 2 December Release & More - August 2026

Key points

• •CD Projekt Red has launched The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered as a major free upgrade on September 29, 2026, featuring 30+ improvements including visual enhancements like HDR, raytraced hair, and PS5 Pro support. The remaster also offers a reimagined skill tree, immersive meditation mechanics, a loot rework, and Switch 2 exclusives, with both original expansions Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone included for free, significantly enriching the player experience.[The Verge Gaming][Rock Paper Shotgun][IGN][GamesRadar+]
• •The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past expansion was unveiled at Gamescom 2026, introducing new gameplay elements such as a chain weapon and the realm of Letten. Positioned as the final DLC, the expansion is anticipated to deepen the story and offer fresh challenges, marking the end of an era for the critical RPG franchise.[IGN]
• •Path of Exile 2 is set for its full 1.0 release on December 11, 2026, launching as a free-to-play title with new gameplay and narrative features, including the addition of a new sword class, promising to revamp the acclaimed action RPG series and attract a broad player base.[GameSpot]
• •Lego Skylines, a Lego-themed city builder, was announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live, offering a playful reinterpretation of the city-building genre. The game will be available on PC and consoles, including Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2, targeting fans who enjoy creative urban development in a distinctive Lego aesthetic.[Kotaku]
• •Ubisoft expanded its Rainbow Six franchise with the announcement of Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based tactical game for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Featuring top-down combat and a strategic gameplay focus, this new single-player spinoff aims to diversify the series’ offerings beyond its traditional tactical shooter roots.[Pure Xbox]
• •Star Wars Zero Company, a new tactical game set within the Star Wars universe, has a scheduled release with time zone-specific launch times to optimize player engagement globally. The game emphasizes strategic combat gameplay, adding to the growing portfolio of Star Wars-themed titles in the gaming market.[Polygon]
• •Stranger Things: Tales From '85 released its first trailer, revealing a supernatural storyline where players face ghostly monsters from the Upside Down. The game is set narratively between seasons 2 and 3 of the popular series, generating anticipation among fans eager for new paranormal adventures.[GamesRadar+]
• •The European video games industry reported strong economic performance in 2024, generating €24 billion in revenue from over 6,600 studios employing more than 95,000 workers. This robust growth signals a healthy and expanding sector within global digital entertainment.[GamesIndustry.biz]

Relevant articles

Go deeper

• Ox Alpha: The Anonymous AI Model Shaking Up Coding Benchmarks· full article
• Tesla Cybercab launch: Austin date set as sightings multiply· full article
• Washington squeezes Asian chip supply chains· full article
• Nvidia’s Vera Rubin cycle sharpens the AI earnings test· full article