Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is set to help kick off the Halloween season thanks to the reveal of its launch date. The survival horror adventure set in the popular Hellraiser universe is coming on October 8.

The single-player first-person adventure features an original story, with players controlling Aidan as he must rescue his girlfriend from the hellish Labyrinth. Naturally, the infamous Pinhead is front and center, with original actor Doug Bradley reprising the role. Gameplay sees Aidan wielding guns and supernatural abilities such as pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and Hell Chains to battle supernatural threats. Check out the game’s latest trailer below.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is developed by Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games. It will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. 

Summer Game Fest 2026 has come and gone. But while the GI crew was out in Los Angeles, we took the opportunity to invite a few of our games media pals up to our studio to chat about everything: the state of the industry, how SGF has grown and changed, and of course, all the games we've played (that we can talk about right now). 

Join us for an extra special, extra-long episode of The Game Informer Show, live from Los Angeles, brought to you thanks to Rode and their excellent equipment which powered our entire studio setup. Thanks for the sponsorship, Rode!

Watch or listen here:

Listen to "Summer Game Fest Special Episode w/ Jason Schreier, Janet Garcia, + More" on Spreaker.

Follow our hosts (and guests) on social media:

In order of appearance:

• Alex Van Aken (@itsvanaken.games)
• Marcus Stewart (@marcusstewart7)
• Eric Van Allen (@seamoosi)
• John Carson (@johncarson)
• Myles Obenza (@mylesobenza)
• Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier)
• Jessica Cogswell (@jessicogs)
• Imran Khan (@imrankhan)
• Jesse Vitelli (@mamavitelli)
• Liss the Lass (@lissthelass)
• Janet Garcia (@gameonysus)
• Jill Grodt (@finruin)/(@theindieinformer)

Some helpful timestamps:

• 00:00 - Game Informer Editors Alex Van Aken, Marcus Stewart and Eric Van Allen 
• 33:52 - John Carson, Myles Obenza, and Jason Schreier
• 1:06:30 - Jessica Cogswell, Imran Khan, and Jesse Vitelli
• 1:38:10 - Liss the Lass, Janet Garcia, and Jill Grodt

Update - June 16, 9:43 a.m.: Following yesterday's breaking news about reported studio closures being planned for Xbox's gaming division, The Verge reported yesterday that, based on its own source, Ninja Theory is indeed being closed down by Xbox and is currently looking for a new buyer. The report states that the studio's employees were made aware of the situation on Monday. As of now, there has been no official confirmation of the news. 

There have been no major updates regarding the status of Compulsion Games or Double Fine beyond the latter posting a cryptic emoji in a Bluesky post late Monday evening. 

😅

— Double Fine (@doublefine.com) June 15, 2026 at 11:08 PM

Original Story: Earlier today, Kotaku reported that South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games may be closing its doors following a report from last week that Xbox is preparing another round of significant layoffs. Although we still have no official confirmation of Compulsion's status, it may not be the only studio at risk of being shuttered.

Bloomberg reports that Compulsion Games, along with other studios, including Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and Psychonauts developer Double Fine, are at risk of being shut down by Xbox. The news comes from sources close to the situation who have not been authorized to speak to the press.  According to Bloomberg's sources, each studio is negotiating with Xbox to buy itself back and go independent, though that would result in significant job cuts. Bloomberg also reports that employees at these studios have been made aware of the situation and given permission to look for new work. 

If true, this information lines up with Kotaku's earlier reports that Compulsion’s leadership is negotiating with Microsoft over the studio’s future; the exact details of this alleged discussion are unknown. Microsoft has not officially confirmed Compulsion’s closure, and the studio has not issued an official statement on the matter. However, some studio employees, such as writer Bijan Stephen and senior writer Zaire Lanier, made social media posts today announcing they are looking for work. 

Last week, it was reported that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty were planning layoffs. A message penned by the pair was sent to staff detailing an “Xbox Reset” to address ongoing issues at the company. Part of this message stated that Xbox “overextended” itself by acquiring so many game studios over the last several years, while acknowledging other challenges such as declining revenue, hardware component shortages, and systems described as "overly complex" and not ready for the years ahead. 

"For some of you, these realities will be surprising and even frustrating to discover. We won’t succeed by hiding hard truths, nor will we succeed by doing the same thing and expecting different results. Like the ‘everyday wins’ mentality from the first 100 days, we will sprint to make progress against hardware, content, experience, and services together," reads a section of Sharma and Booty's message.

Microsoft announced its acquisition of Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory during E3 2018; at the 2019 show, it announced it had purchased Double Fine. Compulsion's most recent release was South of Midnight, which launched in 2025 to positive reviews. As noted by Kotaku, the studio had announced it was hiring only two months ago for work on a new IP. 

At the Xbox Games Showcase during Summer Game Fest last week, Ninja Theory announced a new Hellblade game simply titled Senua and billed it as a pure action experience compared to previous entries. Senua is scheduled to launch in 2027. Double Fine launched its multiplayer party game Kiln earlier this year, and has shipped 2024's Keeper and 2021's Psychonauts 2 under the Xbox umbrella. 

Game Informer has contacted Compulsion Games for comment and will update this story should they respond. Keep in mind that this is a developing story and nothing has been confirmed. We'll be keeping an eye on the situation and will update the story as more details become available. 

Electronic Arts has announced EA Advertising, a new platform “transforming how brands connect with audiences through digital and real-world experiences across its global portfolio of games.” The platform will allow brands and partners to create "bespoke integrations" across EA's portfolio of games, such as its roster of sports titles. 

EA Advertising will enable brands to be integrated directly into gameplay experiences “through dynamic, real-time placements, from stadium signage to custom in-game content, designed to enhance, not disrupt, the player experience,” according to a press release. “In these interactive gameplay environments, brands become part of the game itself, reflecting how players engage with advertising in real-world contexts.”

EA states that brands can be activated across live environments and that ad placement will be customized to “meet campaign objectives, and update campaigns with ongoing optimization informed by aggregated engagement insights.” Some of the brand integrations EA uses as examples include digital ad boards, scoreboards, and brand broadcast overlays for its sports titles. Advertisers can also collaborate with EA “in a privacy-safe way” to improve ad targeting and take advantage of the EA Sports Partner Program, a premium ecosystem for select partners to develop "in-game integrations, live service activations, creator tools, social play experiences, and community-driven programs."

EA Sports College Football 27

“Players come to EA’s games and live experiences every day to play, watch, create and connect,” said David Tinson, EA’s chief experiences officer in the press release. “That gives brands a meaningful opportunity to show up in ways that add value and respect the player experience, while maintaining authenticity in the worlds our teams are building. With EA Advertising, we’re helping brands become part of those moments in ways that are relevant and built for players.”

Visa, Lowe's, Red Bull, Xfinity, Peacock, and Mountain Dew have already partnered with EA Advertising after already appearing in titles such as Madden, College Football, and FC. 

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Alkimia Interactive
Release: June 5, 2026
Rating: Mature

Few games are more deserving of a remake than the original Gothic. Over 25 years ago, this RPG from a small German team redefined the genre’s possibilities with its scope, scale, and unparalleled freedom. Although most people here in the West weren't even aware of it, Gothic influenced a generation of European developers; its DNA can be seen in everything from The Witcher to Stalker and beyond. Now Alkimia Interactive has taken on the task of rebuilding Gothic for a new generation, and perhaps more importantly, revitalizing it for old fans. The result is a remake that does both, walking a fine line between dedication and innovation while making only a few missteps along the way.

The vast, dense penal colony of Khorinis has never looked better, and you’re completely free to explore it as soon as your nameless convict gets thrown into it. From the frosted peaks to the winding rivers, Alkimia has beautifully rebuilt the colony in Unreal 5, complete with both new content and restored cut content. From the moment I set out until I saw the credits roll, I lost count of the number of times I stopped to stare while climbing a mountain face, standing atop a castle keep, or wading through a swamp, all beneath the huge magical barrier keeping everyone and everything in.

What really sets Gothic’s world apart, though, is its sense of discovery and self-sufficiency. You can go almost anywhere at any level; there are no forced tutorials, map markers, or hard barriers (other than the magical one overhead). The forests, mines, and ruins of the colony are packed with deadly creatures and empowering treasures in equal measure, just waiting for you to exploit them or die trying. Nothing comes free, either; you have to cut deals with your fellow prisoners if you want something even as simple as a map (or you can play a dreadful new lockpicking minigame). Fans will be thankful that Alkimia has firmly committed to the original’s unsparing design philosophy, and lovers of games like Dragon’s Dogma and Elden Ring will feel right at home.

Combat and movement have also been fully revamped for this remake, and both are much more functional… when the poor technical performance isn't dragging them down. The rigid, clumsy swinging and shooting of the original game has been converted into a much faster, more accurate combo system. Movement is greatly improved over the formerly stiff, tank-like controls. The game still punishes you for mashing buttons and leaves you wide open after a swipe or dodge, but once you’re trained up and the combo system clicks, you can weave attacks and dashes together in satisfying ways. 

 

Even when you understand the game’s combat, however, you’ll still be fighting against framerate drops, wonky hitboxes, and the occasional teleporting enemy. Pervasive technical issues and performance problems are the worst things about this remake in its current state. Even while playing on modest settings, the framerate doesn’t stay stable for long. There are buggy animations, collision traps, and plenty of other annoyances. However, none of these things are truly game-breaking, and it simply wouldn't be Gothic without some amount of janky charm.

Despite all the games it influenced over the years, Gothic still stands alone. This remake is both faithful and fresh, providing much-needed improvements and wider accessibility in spite of its unforgiving nature and undeniable eurojank (a term the original Gothic helped establish). Newcomers may feel the game is a relic in some ways, but anyone interested in an underplayed yet seminal classic owes it to themselves to give Gothic 1 Remake a shot.

Score: 8

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