Autumn arts preview games
The boisterous “looter shooter” series returns, bringing ridiculously powerful weapons, a cool new hoverbike and a vast planet to explore, while dealing with the threat of a ruthless cosmic dictator known as the Timekeeper.It’s been five years since the last instalment, and developer Gearbox has massively updated the signature cartoon visuals to bring us the next generation of sci-fi comic book anarchy.Released 12 September; PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch (3 October)Looking to scare yourself stupid as the long dark nights draw in? The first completely new instalment in Konami’s psychological horror series for over a decade has been cautiously welcomed by fans – but the proof will be in the (extremely bloody) pudding.Set in 1960s Japan, it follows high-school student Hinako Shimizu as her home town becomes shrouded in a dense fog filled with freakish monsters.25 September; PC, PS5, XboxThe superlative footie simulation heads back on to the pitch, sporting a revived game engine with an emphasis on fluid animation, super smart computer-controlled teammates and of course accurate up-to-date teams and players.
Designed in conjunction with fans and pro footballers it’s a marked improvement on last year’s edition.26 September; PC, PS5, Switch, XboxThe sequel to acclaimed samurai adventure Ghost of Tsushima takes place 300 years later in the early 17th century, with vengeful ronin Atsu on the trail of a renegade samurai warlord and his clan.Expect another sombre and challenging epic, combining authentic combat and leisurely exploration beneath the beautiful and imposing Mount Yōtei.2 October; PS5Billed as a spiritual successor to the excellent Battlefield 4, this pulverising first-person shooter is set during a modern-day global conflict, abandoning the sci-fi shenanigans of its predecessor, Battlefield 2042.Early previews of the game’s online multiplayer mode have been promising, with incredibly intense battles and detailed scenic destruction.
10 October; PC, PS5, XboxIf you need a little light in your life as the evenings darken, Nintendo and developer Game Freak have the answer, a fresh instalment in the Pokémon series, set in the French-themed Lumiose City, a peaceful place to explore during the day, a hive of ambitious Pokémon trainers at night.Expect the usual blend of cosiness and gentle challenge.16 October; SwitchSo few video games these days give you the chance to play as a sentient lighthouse with a friendly seabird assistant – thank goodness kooky San Francisco studio Double Fine is here to address the shortfall.It promises an emotional tale of companionship and metamorphosis, set in a mythical seaside realm.17 October; PC, XboxSet in a near-future Tokyo awash with the blood of fallen warriors, the latest hack-and-slash adventure from Team Ninja dials up the gore and introduces a new character, the young ninja prodigy Yakumo.
This is an unapologetically tough old-school brawler, designed to be played at a lightning pace.21 October; PC, PS5, XboxCreated by designer and artist Keita Takahashi, the Katamari series of surreal puzzle games require players to collect a variety of familiar objects into huge balls in order to repair broken planets.Once Upon a Katamari is the first new instalment for 14 years, bringing a whole new generation into this bright, weird and funny universe.24 October; PC, PS5, Switch, XboxNice Dream, the LA-based team behind Bafta award-winning game Before Your Eyes, returns with another offbeat, emotionally intelligent adventure, this time centring on six-month-old baby Isaac whose burgeoning psychic powers capture the attention of a shadowy government agency.Like its predecessor, the game makes interesting use of webcams, lending a cinéma vérité feel to the narrative.
11 November; PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox
The Spin | ‘I’ll bat anywhere for England’: in-form Jordan Cox confident of making the step up
Jordan Cox’s timing has been off. Not with the bat – it’s pinged off the middle for some time. The 24-year-old has averaged more than 60 in the County Championship since joining Essex from Kent two years ago, and he has serious white-ball pedigree. He meets the Spin at the Oval four days after his unbeaten 29-ball 86 in the Hundred on this ground. “It’s the best place in the world to play cricket,” he says
A Mets-Yankees-Red Sox super division sounds crazy. Until you think about it ...
It’s been more than a week since MLB commissioner Rob Manfred dropped his latest bomb. Manfred, as we’ve learned, enjoys throwing ideas out into the universe to get his sport some easy pop while seeing how the masses will react. Just a few months back, he scrambled the brains of baseball fans with his idea of a “golden at bat”, which would allow a chosen player to come to the plate, once a game, when it wasn’t their turn to hit. Oh, he got his publicity alright: many of us took the bait. Was it a genuine, bona fide idea? Probably not
Mitch Brown’s coming out shows the AFL what courage and grace look like | Jonathan Horn
As a footy writer, I keep a rather shambolic database of current and former footballers. It’s kind of a buoy I can grab on to when I’m up against a nasty deadline. Sometimes it’s four of five paragraphs; sometimes it’s a sentence on so-and-so’s inability to kick on his left, or his poor record against a certain player, or something vaguely interesting he said on a podcast. When Mitch Brown became the first man in VFL/AFL history to come out as gay or bisexual, I was curious to see what I had written on him. Here’s my Pulitzer worthy offering: “Nathan’s twin
From the Pocket: AFL finals fever cools as buds of the silly season shoot early
Winter is done, spring has sprung. The AFL season has finally found a wave of momentum. Port Adelaide leaned into their emotion, Collingwood and GWS Giants hung on in thrillers, Fremantle sealed their return to the finals. A neatly scheduled four days of football filled with tension ended as Brisbane reaffirmed their premiership credentials.The home-and-away season has reached a crescendo, and there is still one more game to play
Stan to show more ads despite price hike amid ‘extraordinary’ Premier League impact
Streaming provider Stan is set to introduce more advertisements on its sporting broadcasts despite recently raising its price by $5 per month, as it enjoys an increase of around 100,000 subscribers directly thanks to its acquisition of the Premier League rights from Optus.The chief executive of its parent company Nine Entertainment, Matt Stanton, confirmed in Nine’s annual results briefing on Wednesday there will be no more Premier League matches on free-to-air after this Saturday’s clash between Chelsea and Fulham, despite outstanding audience numbers in the first two weeks.Last weekend’s 9.30pm AEST clash between Manchester City and Tottenham attracted an average audience of 567,000 across Nine and Stan, with a reach of over 1.5m, according to Stanton
Coco Gauff digs deep to survive Ajla Tomljanović test in US Open marathon
Coco Gauff survived a shaky serving performance to battle past Ajla Tomljanović in the first round of the US Open, winning 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 after 2hr 57min on Tuesday night.The No 3 seed finished with 10 double faults, was broken six times and squandered a string of opportunities to close the contest earlier, but conjured enough resilience to scrape into round two under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.Gauff appeared in control after winning five of six games from a break down to take the opener and twice leading by a break in the second. Yet she faltered when serving for the match at 5-4 in the third, conceding two double faults and a pair of forehand errors as Tomljanović levelled at 5-5.The 21-year-old American responded instantly, breaking back before sealing victory at her second attempt with a crisp backhand winner down the line, lifting her arms to the crowd in relief as much as celebration
The death of the review? Cultural criticism is at risk of erasure
Autumn arts preview games
‘Wall of blowing dust’ sweeps through Burning Man festival and upends camps
Noel Clarke libel case: a resounding victory for the Guardian, women and the law | Letters
‘The pope complained about the lyrics!’: the Bluebells and Siobhan Fahey on how they made Young at Heart
Can Netflix find your new favourite watch based on your star sign?