Game Control: Among Other Things, August Sees Us Looking Around for the Next Kojima Release
Console: American developer Sucker Punch Productions has recently teased new game modes, music, and characters for Ghost of Yotei, an upcoming PlayStation exclusive. The Yotei Six, one of the newest tracks, is accompanied by new character biographies—targets for the Japanese protagonist, Atsu—on the game’s website. While Sucker Punch works on delivering an experience that honors Japanese filmmakers and culture, PlayStation promises to provide exclusive special edition PS5 console shells and DualSense controllers for Ghost of Yotei’s launch. However, fans are upset about the lack of support for the original PS5, as these special edition features are targeted for future versions of the PS5.
Woochi the Wayfarer, a new Korean story-driven action-adventure game, has been announced for the PS5 and Xbox Series (with a PC release) by South Korean publisher Nexon Games and developer LoreVault. The game is set in the Joseon era and has been described as a “Joseon fantasy,” following the tale of a legendary “Dosa” named Woochi. Nexon Games credits Jung Jae-il, who is behind the soundtracks of South Korean blockbusters like Parasite and Squid Game, with composing the games’ music in a statement about the game’s release. In a separate interview, LoreVault stated that they are “collaborating with experts” to “effectively represent” Korean history and culture as accurately as possible in the game.
Another South Korean publisher, Krafton, has announced the release of simulation game inZOI, a Sims 4 competitor, for the PlayStation 5 in early 2026, after first launching on Steam in March 2025. The game features an “immersive experience” with “unlimited customization” through the use of generative AI, as well as “diverse lives” with “realistic graphics,” powered by Unreal Engine 5.
In an interview with IGN Japan, members of the upcoming survival horror game Silent Hill F and Neobards development teams, led by producer Motoshi Okamoto, share exclusive details about the new addition to the Silent Hill franchise, following five hours of early access playtime for the public. It was revealed that it is going to take 12 hours to complete the game. There are also going to be multiple endings and a New Game + toggle, which is an option to restart the game with added challenges but also with all current equipment. The game is set to roll out in Sept. 2025. Publisher Konami will also release a new trailer for the game on Aug. 19 at Gamescom.
Renowned Japanese developer behind Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima reveals exclusive details to two new IPs at the “conceptual stage”: a new action espionage game named “PHYSINT” and a horror survival game, “OD,” co-written with renowned African American director Jordan Peele, behind horror blockbusters like Get Out, Us and Nope. In an interview for IndieWire, Kojima has added that he “doesn’t feel like he is done” with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, following the sequel’s massive success. Among “many interviews and photo shoots,” Kojima describes the casting and performance motion-capturing process for Death Stranding over the pandemic as well, working alongside legendary actors ranging from Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pinocchio, Crimson Peak, Pacific Rim) to African American game industry veteran Debra Wilson (Doom: The Dark Ages, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor). The interviewer labels Death Stranding 2 as “his most confidently made work.”
Mobile: Visual novel sports management simulator Umamusume: Pretty Girl Derby has skyrocketed in popularity in the West, surpassing its already established fanbase in Japan after being localized in June and released on Steam. Since its release in 2021, it has earned $1.9 billion for Japanese developer CyGames and has reached a record-breaking number of 87,000 concurrent players as of July 2025. Following the game’s virality, the developer has also issued a statement regarding conduct around the horses and horse ranches that directly inspired the characters of Umamusume, as all the horse-girl characters in the game are references to real-life racing horses, with examples like erratic speedster Goldship or lovable Haru Urara.
Finnish developer SuperCell hires former Niantic PM and Forbes 30 Under 30 Jessica Jung to lead the studio’s “new AI innovation lab” and to spearhead new IP (Intellectual Property). Jung, who was previously the lead producer of Niantic’s Peridot, an AR virtual pet app, and later the founder of her own AI startup, speaks to excitement over AI implementation in the industry. She adds that she is working on a new title that is not aimed at “Supercell’s demographic.” This is not SuperCell’s only success story this month, as Clash Royale hit a record-breaking $82.7M in player spending following the release of a new game mode.
PC: Yellow Lab, a Cape Town-based developer, has launched METAVOIDAL on Steam and Xbox, presently reaching #2 on Steam’s “Popular Upcoming Titles” list. It is a 2D pixel art, high-action rogue-lite where you play as a drummer fighting for their life in a town corrupted by what is called “Heavy Metal.” The game also has an itch.io release, complete with devlogs from the South African studio.
Japanese developer and publisher Capcom’s Monster Hunter: Wilds is swarmed with “Mostly Negative” reviews on Steam following the release of version 1.021. Though the updates are generally appreciated for their emphasis on content, the problem lies with performance issues. While the director, Yuya Tokuda, does not explicitly express concern over the game’s performance, he outlines steps to reduce CPU strain and GPU load reduction, but updates regarding these issues are expected as early as winter 2025, so the same complaints about performance issues might remain.
The Mongolian Counter-Strike 2 team, MongolZ, has defeated Turkish Aurora Gaming 2-0 in the semi-finals qualifiers for BLAST Bounty Season 2. This is also the fourth time the teams have played each other during tournament playoffs. While Aurora Gaming had an initial 11-point lead, MongolZ caught up miraculously and not only overturned the deficit but also achieved a rare comeback.
