Grand Theft Auto VI's version of Florida will have tropical storms, hurricanes and more than 170 animal species, according to Game Informer's cover story, which went live for digital subscribers on September 29, 2026. Also in this roundup: Xbox opened disc to digital to every player, Activision detailed Modern Warfare 4 on PC, Xbox Insiders got Mythic Achievements, Star Fox added four-player split-screen, and Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor got console dates.
GTA 6 will have hurricanes, rainbows and over 170 animal species
Game Informer's 14-page cover story, built on interviews with Rockstar Games, went live for digital subscribers on September 29. Two free excerpts cover the headline details. The weather piece says Leonida, the game's Florida, has clouds that roll across the map and local storms: you can stand in sunshine and watch rain fall in the distance, then drive over and find puddles, or even a rainbow. Tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes are in too. The wildlife piece counts over 170 species across land, air and sea, from alligators and manatees to invasive iguanas and rhesus macaques.
What it means for you:
- Release: Rockstar's official page lists November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-orders open.
- Wildlife to hunt down: some animals are sorted into Rare, Discoverable and Legendary groups that you can track. Rockstar hasn't said which animals those are.
- Still unknown: Game Informer says it doesn't know yet how often the big storms hit or how they affect missions and the story.
Our take: Hurricanes are the detail to watch. If a storm can shut down a heist or flood the streets you planned to escape through, weather stops being scenery and becomes part of the game.
Xbox disc to digital is now open to every player
The official Xbox account announced on September 29 that all players can now turn most Xbox Series X and Xbox One discs into digital licenses. Microsoft first revealed the feature on August 26 and tested it with Xbox Insiders from August 31. According to Xbox Support, you just play a supported disc while signed in, and a confirmation tells you when the license is yours.
What it means for you:
- Which discs: supported Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs only. Xbox 360 and original Xbox discs are not supported, and not every newer game takes part.
- Keep the disc: Microsoft says the license belongs to the disc. If you lose, sell or give the disc away, you can lose access to the digital copy.
- Beyond the console: claimed Xbox Play Anywhere games also play on PC and handhelds through the Xbox app.
- Big collections: turn off "Play disc automatically" under Settings > Devices & connections > Disc, then use Get digital license from each game's menu on Home, so your games don't all start installing.
- Not included: DLC or bonus items that came as separate codes in the case.
Our take: A digital license just for playing a disc you already own is a good deal, but treat it as tied to the disc. Selling your old discs now means giving up the digital copies too.
Modern Warfare 4 on PC: preload October 15, new Collateral mode
Activision's PC blog post, published September 29, covers Modern Warfare 4 on PC, which launches October 23 on Xbox on PC, Battle.net and Steam and targets 90 FPS in multiplayer on High settings with recommended hardware. The same post reveals Collateral, a new multiplayer mode for Search and Destroy fans: teams take turns attacking and defending two bomb sites, everyone starts with a pistol, and you spend the cash you earn on gear between rounds, with no respawns, killstreaks or custom loadouts.
What it means for you:
- Preload: October 15 at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET for digital pre-orders on PC.
- Early access: digital pre-order owners can play the campaign from October 16. The full game unlocks at midnight local time on October 23.
- Requirements: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and 115 GB on an SSD. Graphics cards range from a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 470 (minimum) to an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6600 XT (recommended).
Our take: Check the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot settings on your PC before you pre-order, because older setups may need a BIOS change. Collateral is the part to watch: a round-based mode where you buy your gear with cash could win over Search and Destroy fans.
Xbox Insiders get Mythic Achievements for completed games
Xbox Wire announced on September 29 that Xbox Insiders can now try Mythic Achievements. You earn one when you unlock every original achievement in a game. Achievements added later through DLC or updates don't count toward it, and once you earn Mythic status you keep it.
What it means for you:
- Your old games count: Mythic status is added automatically to eligible games you already completed, including Xbox 360 games.
- New Gaming tab: your profile gets a tab with your achievements, your next Gamerscore milestone and your completed games, and you can view your friends' tabs too.
- Progress bar: each game's achievement list shows how close you are to Mythic, and marks later achievements as "add-on".
- Who gets it: Xbox Insiders only for now. Microsoft didn't give a date for everyone else.
Our take: Leaving DLC achievements out of Mythic status is the right call, since nobody should have to buy an expansion to "finish" a game. Insiders get it first, so expect some changes before the full release.
Star Fox update 1.2.0 adds four-player split-screen
Nintendo released Star Fox version 1.2.0 for Nintendo Switch 2 on September 29, 2026. Battle Mode gets three new stages (Katina, Sector X and Venom), new items, and split-screen for up to four players on one console, with each player needing their own controller. You can also join random online matches as a split-screen team.
What it means for you:
- Price: free, and it installs on its own if auto-updates are on.
- Online play: you need the update to use online features, and online play needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- Fixes: the online lobby no longer breaks up when the host leaves, and the patch fixes several freezes against bosses in Campaign Mode.
Our take: Four-player dogfights on one screen are what Battle Mode needed. If you have spare controllers, this makes Star Fox a much better couch game.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor reaches PS5 October 7, Switch October 9
Ghost Ship Games' announcement trailer, posted September 29, says the auto-shooter spin-off comes to PlayStation 5 on October 7 and to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on October 9. The Nintendo eShop listing confirms October 9 for Switch.
What it means for you:
- Switch price: $12.99 on the US eShop, which says Switch 2 runs the Switch version. It has in-game purchases.
- PS5: the PlayStation Store page lists October 7 but no price yet.
- What it is: a single-player game where your dwarf fires automatically while you move, mine and dodge swarms of bugs.
Our take: At $12.99, this is an easy pick for short handheld sessions. PS5 players should wait for the price before planning around it.