Video game news digest: Thursday, October 15, 2026

Ubisoft is closing RedLynx and cutting jobs in Singapore and Germany, Rockstar opens up about GTA VI's development and Xbox unveils a pocket-sized controller: here's what mattered yesterday.

Ubisoft is closing Trials studio RedLynx

Ubisoft has proposed closing RedLynx, the Finnish studio behind the Trials series, affecting up to 52 positions, according to a statement quoted by GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer. At Ubisoft Singapore, which made Skull and Bones and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, 70 positions are being cut. In Germany, the publisher confirmed to Game File a voluntary departure plan at its Düsseldorf, Berlin and Mainz studios, the latter home to Anno. Game File puts the figure at around 100 jobs, which Ubisoft hasn't confirmed.

Rockstar says its next game won't take as long as GTA VI

In a lengthy interview with Bloomberg, Rockstar Games' leadership said its next game won't take eight years to make, GamesIndustry.biz reports. The engine, tools and team built for GTA VI should let the studio move faster. Rockstar grew from 2,441 employees when Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018 to 4,711 this year, across 12 offices. Grand Theft Auto VI is still set for Thursday, November 19, 2026.

Xbox Nano Controller fits in your pocket

Microsoft has revealed the Xbox Nano Controller, its smallest controller yet, shorter and lighter than most smartphones. It still has all 18 standard inputs, plus a rechargeable battery and a programmable button for screenshots or gameplay capture. It connects over Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth. It's available to order now at $49.99 in the US, ahead of a November launch in more than 30 countries, the UK and France included.

Gran Turismo 7 gets Spec IV, plus a 30th anniversary controller

Part 1 of Gran Turismo 7's free Spec IV update arrives on Thursday, October 15 at 7am BST (8am in Paris), PlayStation announced. It adds six cars, from the 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta to the Citroën 2 CV, along with the Sportsland Sugo circuit and six new World Circuit events. To mark the series' 30 years, a limited edition Gran Turismo DualSense controller launches on Thursday, December 10 for $84.99 / £74.99 / €84.99. Pre-orders open on Thursday, October 22 at 10am local time.

PlayStation Plus adds Mafia: The Old Country and Horizon Forbidden West on October 20

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can play Mafia: The Old Country, Horizon Forbidden West and Mycopunk from Tuesday, October 20, the latter joining the catalog on its launch day. In that four-player co-op shooter, a crew of robots wipes out fungal aliens. Premium also gets Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition.

Funcom narrows its focus to Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles

Tencent-owned Norwegian studio Funcom will now work only on Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles and is laying off an undisclosed number of staff. CEO Rui Casais will leave at the end of the year. Scott Junior, executive producer on Dune: Awakening, will succeed him.

Fortnite is coming to Linux

Epic Games plans to release Fortnite on Linux through the Epic Games Launcher once it has rebuilt Easy Anti-Cheat for the platform, according to PC Gamer. No date has been set. Steam Deck isn't supported yet, and Epic says it is talking with Valve about it.

Out today

Konami's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse launches on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch and PC. Enshrouded hits version 1.0 on PC and PS5, while Ratatan reaches full release on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2 and PC. It Takes Two arrives on Switch 2, and Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea on Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series and PC. The Jackbox Party Pack 12 is out on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Switch 2, Switch, PC, Mac and mobile.