Strap in, gamers – June’s first week delivered a haymaker of game news that left the internet with whiplash and the PlayStation crowd with a fresh batch of discourse heartburn. Whether you were celebrating Faye finally getting her axe-swinging moment in the God of War spotlight, or mourning the lack of a 19” Wolverine statue to complete your man-cave, there was something for everyone. Let’s break down the week’s biggest stories, with a side of snark (and a dash of skepticism about pizza brands moonlighting as gaming critics).

**PlayStation’s State of Play: All Killer, Some Filler, and a Whole Lotta Faye**
Sony’s State of Play showcase was the main event, stacking the deck with reveals, gameplay, and enough drama to keep Reddit’s servers sweating. The boulder-sized bombshell? ‘God of War Laufey’ is real, it’s Faye’s story (Kratos’ wife, for you lore-skippers), and the internet predictably imploded. Some fans loved the new perspective and magical swordplay; others, armed with hot takes and nostalgia, wailed about Kratos’ absence like it was Ragnarok all over again.

Santa Monica Studio’s Cory Barlog and Ariel Lawrence told IGN that Laufey isn’t a prequel – it’s a parallel story, running alongside 2018’s God of War and Ragnarok. So yes, Kratos stans, your boy isn’t gone – he’s just letting Faye run the show for a bit. Santa Monica even promised “many more stories to tell” with Kratos, so expect more bearded dad rage in the future.

The reveal even lured Domino’s UK into the fray, who compared a Kratos-less God of War to a pepperoni pizza with no pepperoni. The response from Santa Monica Studio? “ok thanks for the feedback, dominos pizza corporate account.” Brutal. Maybe stick to dough, Domino’s.

**Wolverine Unleashed: Blood, Guts, and No Collector’s Edition?**
Insomniac finally let Wolverine off his leash, showing off unapologetically violent gameplay that made Spider-Man look like a Saturday morning cartoon. Fans got what they wanted: claws, carnage, and a healing factor that’s OP but not invincible. (Yes, you can toggle off the gore if you’re squeamish.)

But here’s the real shocker: no collector’s edition. That’s right. No 19” adamantium statue, no steel book, no “scent of Logan” air freshener. Just a digital deluxe edition with in-game goodies. The internet’s collective disappointment is palpable – and a little whiny, if we’re honest. Still, with gameplay this good, it probably won’t matter. Also, don’t expect Spider-Man to cameo; Insomniac confirmed these two are staying in their own corners (for now).

**Rayman Legends Retold, Control Resonant, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Go Big on Remakes**
If you love a good glow-up, this week delivered in spades. ‘Rayman Legends Retold’ is heading your way with fresh 3D visuals and all-new content, available for preorder now. Remedy dropped a new trailer and release date for ‘Control Resonant’ (September 24), and threw in a two-day PS5-exclusive early access window, which predictably sparked some salt from Xbox and PC players.

Meanwhile, Lara Croft’s first adventure is getting the full Unreal Engine 5 treatment in ‘Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’, with preorders (and a massive collector’s edition) now live. Get ready for double jumps, dino fights, and nostalgia-fueled wallet pain.

**007 First Light Sells Big, Amazon Takes the Controls**
James Bond’s latest outing, ‘007 First Light’, sold an estimated 2.2 million copies in its first week. That’s $150 million in revenue, baby – though with a reported $200 million budget, IO Interactive’s probably hoping for a bit more shaken, not stirred. Amazon Game Studios will take over publishing for future Bond games, so expect more corporate synergy than a Bond villain’s board meeting.

**Xbox Game Pass and GeForce NOW: More Games Than Time**
Xbox Game Pass June 2026 Wave 1 is headlined by Persona 5 Royal, with a solid lineup including Solarpunk, Undisputed, and Beastro. On the cloud side, GeForce NOW dumped 18 new games into the wild, so if you’re not drowning in backlogs, you’re doing it wrong.

**Industry Drama, Leaks, and Delays: The Usual Suspects**
- Persona 6 images leaked, got hit with Sega’s copyright hammer, and now fans expect a reveal at Summer Game Fest or Xbox’s showcase. Get your hype hats ready.
- Black Ops 7’s new Classic Mode strips out fancy movement, going back to basics – and players are loving it. Maybe we didn’t need all that wallrunning and sliding after all?
- Phantom Blade Zero and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game both delayed (again), citing polish and “surprise” new content.
- No Rest for the Wicked’s Xbox delay? Blame the Series S, says dev Moon Studios, reigniting the “is Series S holding back gaming?” debate for the 900th time.

**GTA 6’s Shadow Looms Over September**
With GTA 6 dropping November 19, the entire industry is running for cover. September is now an all-out war zone: Marvel’s Wolverine, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Rayman Legends Retold are all crammed together, hoping to cash in before Rockstar’s juggernaut drops. Good luck to everyone – may your sales be swift and your reviews strong.

**Quick Hits & Oddities**
- John Blanche, the artist who defined Warhammer 40,000, has died. Grimdark won’t be the same without him.
- Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is now a playable character in WWE 2K26. You can finally powerbomb a gaming exec. Dreams do come true.
- Stuntman is back after 20 years, now with real movie tie-ins like Fast & Furious and Back to the Future. Time to crash cars for Hollywood!
- Magic: The Gathering keeps printing wild crossovers, this time with an exclusive Winter Soldier card and a Codex Bundle so rare it’s already being scalped.

**Closing Thoughts: Risk, Reinvention, and the Next Big Thing**
Between God of War Laufey’s bold new direction, Wolverine’s blood-soaked carnage, and the AAA remakepalooza, this week proved that big risks are still being taken (even if they’re occasionally met with Twitter outrage and pizza memes). GTA 6’s shadow might dominate the end of the year, but the industry’s not going quietly.

So, whether you’re maining Faye, Logan, or Lara this fall, just remember: in this backlog-blessed, discourse-drenched, hype-stuffed world, the only real loser is your free time. See you next week, gamers.