Release Date Announced for STALKER 2’s Cost of Hope Expansion and Free 2.0 Update in August
Grab your Geiger counter and your copy of The Arbinger Institute’s seminal conflict resolution handbook The Anatomy of Peace, because STALKER 2‘s faction war-y story expansion Cost of Hope has a release date. It’s out on August 20th, developers GSC Game World have announced, and will launch in tandem with the long-awaited Update 2.0 – which, among other tweaks, will move the base game over to a newer, less technically perilous version of Unreal Engine 5.
Weekend Gaming Plans: Discovering Popular Titles Among Players
I wonder what’s going to happen when we eventually run out of crusty old public-domain drawings to put in these. Hopefully by that point the standards of what’s considered ‘old’ will have shifted and we can start using photos and video stills of, I dunno, my fourth birthday party or something. Or maybe Mark can learn woodblock printing and we can make some ourselves. Should Mark learn woodblock printing? Let us know in the comments, and also, what you’re playing this weekend.
“Steam Game ‘Crashphalt’ Sees Unexpected Popularity Surge as Players Utilize It for Undertale Online Multiplayer”
Released back in 2018, Crashphalt is a free and eccentric multiplayer game in which players do ground-pounds to send out seismic ripples, striving to punt each other off-screen. It’s got an “overwhelmingly positive” Steam user review reception, as of writing, but that’s not entirely a judgement on its quality. You see, Crashphalt is a hit today partly because you need it to run an online multiplayer mod for Toby Fox’s wonderful RPG Undertale.
Of Crashphalt’s 555 currently existing user reviews, the vast majority were written over five years after release, and either totally disregard or cruelly dunk on Crashphalt. An example: “10/10 Funny Undertale game, will never play this.”
“Dragon Age: Thedas at War – A Total Conversion Mod for Crusader Kings 3 Inspired by BioWare RPGs, Reviving the Series During EA Development Pause”
Who knows when or if BioWare’ll ever be allowed to make a follow-up to Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Whatever ends up being the future of a series EA’ve left in a rather ambiguous place, a group of Crusader Kings 3 modders have stepped up to make a Dragon Age total conversion that lets folks play out a bit of their own kingdom-battling history in Thedas.
“Car Park Capital: A Visually Stunning Tycoon Game with MicroProse as Publisher”
Car Park Capital is a triumphantly unwholesome tycoon game in which you try to make an entire society utterly dependent on cars. You start with a relatively green-ish map, and do your best to tarmac it all over. A strange and unlikely prospect, I know!
When we first covered this motorist management sim last year, the options included putting up billboards to brainwash obstinate pedestrians, and selling people banana-mobiles. Since then, developer Hilko Janssen of Hilkojj Interactive has found a publisher in MicroProse. If you were hoping that MicroProse might persuade Janssen to give up on his visions of total automotive apocalypse, you were hoping in vain.
A Comprehensive Examination of the Post-Credits Sequence in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
**Spider-Man: Brand New Day – An Examination of the Post-Credits Scene and Future Consequences**
*Spider-Man: Brand New Day* represents the newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the 38th chapter. In keeping with Marvel’s custom, the film includes a post-credits scene that foreshadows future directions for the franchise. Although Tom Holland has not been officially announced to reprise his role as Spider-Man in forthcoming projects, this concluding scene offers an enticing clue that fans can anticipate his comeback.
For those wishing to steer clear of spoilers, *Brand New Day* features a single post-credits scene at the end, with no mid-credits offering. However, for viewers who have seen the film, examining the post-credits moment unveils potential noteworthy ramifications.
In the post-credits scene, we meet Ned, the best friend of Peter Parker, who has become infatuated with Spider-Man. He has created a Spidey Tracker app intended to keep tabs on the superhero’s appearances throughout New York City. The scene exudes a sense of urgency and thrill as the app alerts to a new Spider-Man sighting. Yet, the twist comes from the sighting’s location—it shows Spider-Man is currently off-world, implying he has traveled beyond Earth for unknown reasons. This revelation culminates with the classic Marvel line, “Spider-Man Will Return,” driving home the idea that Peter Parker will make his return.
While the reasons for Peter being away from Earth are not explored within *Brand New Day*, this story element likely sets up the forthcoming *Avengers: Secret Wars*. This narrative is grounded in the comics, where Doctor Doom reconstructs the multiverse into a singular realm known as Battleworld. Following this storyline, it would be logical for Spider-Man to be transported to this new domain, thereby creating the perception of his disappearance from Earth.
Additionally, *Brand New Day* showcases Spider-Man’s ties to the New Avengers, especially during an interaction with Yelena, the new Black Widow. This context raises questions about his noticeable absence during the confrontation with Doctor Doom in the upcoming *Doomsday*, with little information available regarding the film’s ensemble cast. Speculation suggests that the trailers for *Doomsday* may deliberately hide or omit certain heroes to keep audiences surprised when it premieres on December 18.
In conclusion, the post-credits scene in *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* not only hints at the character’s future but also suggests significant plot developments in the broader MCU. As fans look forward to *Doomsday*, the intrigue surrounding Spider-Man’s next journey is sure to keep audiences engaged and pondering what lies ahead for this cherished hero.
“Red Echoes: A Turn-Based Strategy Game Set in Weimar-era Berlin Focused on Overthrowing the Kaiser”
Red Echoes: Berlin is a narrative-driven turn-based strategy game in which you join the German “November Revolution” across 1918 and 1919, during the final days of World War 1. Over the course of three chapters, you’ll play as three budding agitators from different walks of life, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. You’ll move your subversives around a beautiful Berlin map inspired by “classic Weimar-era graphic design”, deploying their special abilities against the minions of the state.
Game Developers Launch Itch.io Bundle with More Than 100 Games to Aid Recently Terminated Peers
### Assistance for Developers: The Game Industry Hardship Bundle
Amidst an ongoing employment crisis in the video game sector, a new effort has surfaced to aid individuals impacted by recent job cuts. The Game Industry Hardship Bundle, coordinated by [Necrosoft Games](https://necrosoftgames.com/) and the [United Videogame Workers-CWA](https://uvw-cwa.org/) (UVW-CWA) union, provides gamers with an opportunity to lend direct support to developers who have faced layoffs.
#### What is the Game Industry Hardship Bundle?
Introduced on July 30, the Game Industry Hardship Bundle includes over 100 games, with all revenues (excluding itch.io processing fees) designated for the [UVW-CWA’s worker hardship fund](https://uvw-cwa.org/hardship-fund-2026), which aids laid-off developers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The bundle employs a pay-what-you-want approach, with a minimum price of $10, allowing players to donate whatever amount they feel inclined to.
Among the prominent titles featured in the bundle are:
– [A Short Hike](https://kotaku.com/the-bittersweet-journey-of-a-short-hike-1841525700)
– [SkateBIRD](https://kotaku.com/skatebird-puts-cinnamon-roll-birds-in-a-bleh-skateboard-1847696269)
– [Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure](https://kotaku.com/arranger-role-puzzling-adventure-review-puzzle-game-1851600269)
The bundle raised over $20,000 shortly after its debut, reflecting a robust community initiative aimed at supporting affected developers.
#### A Safety Net for Laid-off Developers
The hardship fund is intended to assist developers who have been terminated from their positions since January 2024. Those impacted can seek assistance via the [UVW-CWA website](https://uvw-cwa.org/hardship-fund-2026). Notably, eligibility is open to laid-off developers, contractors, or freelancers within the U.S. and Canada, regardless of their membership in a union.
#### The Context of Layoffs in the Industry
The realm of video game development has been unstable, with layoffs becoming alarmingly prevalent. Large publishers, small studios, and even businesses with successful launches are not insulated from this phenomenon. The [2026 GDC State of the Game Industry report](https://kotaku.com/gdc-2026-survey-ai-union-layoff-xbox-ps5-trump-2000664245) reveals that over 25% of developers have encountered layoffs in the last two years, a figure that approaches one-third in the U.S.
Such layoffs have far-reaching effects beyond mere job losses; they disrupt lives and impact entire families. The Game Industry Hardship Bundle, along with the fund it bolsters, seeks to offer support for those affected, highlighting the significance of community involvement and advocacy through unionization.
#### Conclusion
The Game Industry Hardship Bundle is up for grabs until August 13, offering gamers a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the sector during tough times. By participating, gamers not only gain a varied assortment of indie games but also provide aid to fellow developers in distress, reinforcing the essential interconnectedness of the gaming community.
Civilization 7 Update Enhances Peace Deal Brokerage and Leader Relations, Prepares for Significant Future Additions
Civ 7‘s July update drops today, July 28th, delivering a handful of useful tweaks as devs Firaxis continue to build on their substantial revamp of the strategy game via its Test of Time update. This time around, adding more depth to interactions between the player and other civs is the focus, via changes to peace deals and leader relationship mechanics.