Gaming

I played Mario Kart World and it was a full-throttle race to the finish

It’s the most intense Mario Kart yet!

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Mario Kart World is everything you love about Mario Kart, but crazier. From new characters to fresh game modes, it takes what we know and pushes it further. And let me tell you, I had no idea what I was in for.

First things first, character selection. The roster is massive, featuring all the familiar faces plus some unexpected new ones — including, believe it or not, a literal cow from Moo Moo Meadows.

Yes, I actually raced as the cow on my first go. The new vehicles look super glossy, and picking one is much simpler now. No more choosing a glider.

If you are in the air, you automatically get wings. If you hit water, your kart just turns into a boat. No fuss, no overthinking.

Knockout Tour

The real difference is the number of players. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had 12 racers. In Mario Kart World, there are 24.

Imagine the amount of bumping into each other, the amount of objects flying around, the constant shifting of your position. It is crazy.

One second, I was in fourth place, feeling good about myself. The next thing I knew, I had dropped to 16 or 17. If you are not careful, you can go from leading the pack to fighting for your life in an instant.

After some test runs in handheld and docked mode (shoutout to my friend, Enebong, for the friendly competition), it was time for the real deal.

We were all ushered into a big room with 24 players standing side by side, ready to test out the new mode called the Knockout Tour.

This is how it works. There are six races back-to-back. No breaks. At each checkpoint, there is a cut.

First, you have to finish in the top 16. Then the top 8. Then the top 4. Once you get to the final four, it is a battle for first place.

I would love to say I dominated, but that would not be true. Every round, I just barely made the cut.

I was never at the top, always just scraping by. When I made it to the final four, I was in fourth place. But somehow, when it mattered the most, I got to first and held my lead till the end. I still do not know how that happened, but I am not complaining.

Beyond the racing, there is something completely unexpected. Mario Kart World introduces an open-world concept. Think Forza Horizon, but with Mario.

Instead of being stuck on a track, you can roam around, interact with NPCs, and explore. I did not get enough time to figure everything out, but there are tasks, coins to collect, and maybe even some hidden surprises. I am curious to see what you can actually do with those coins.

Bonus adventure

Just when I thought I was done, I also got to play Donkey Kong Bananza. It is best described as Super Mario Odyssey, but with Donkey Kong as the lead.

He is fully dressed this time, and the whole game is centered around mining for gemstones. You smash things, hurl obstacles, and collect ores, all leading to the ultimate prize — a banana-shaped diamond.

I played through both levels of the demo, and I already know I want more. It has that platformer style I enjoy, but with more brute force. There is something so satisfying about just smashing your way through a game.

Shaking things up

Mario Kart World is going to be a very exciting game to play, whether you are just messing around with friends or taking on the Knockout Tour.

The 24-player madness, the way you can lose your lead in a blink, and the open-world exploration all make this something I can see myself coming back to again and again.

And if Donkey Kong Bananza is any indication, Nintendo is cooking up some really good stuff this year.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to schedule my next Mario Kart night. See you on the track.

Gaming

Valve unveils price of the Steam Frame

The VR headset starts at US$ 1,059.

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The trifecta is complete. Almost a year after announcing their new hardware, Valve has finally unveiled the price tag of the Steam Frame, complementing the Steam Machine and Steam Controller revealed a few months ago.

Whereas the Steam Machine is a console of its own, the Steam Frame is a traditional VR headset with a pair of controllers for both hands. Unfortunately, despite being in a different segment, the headset is not immune to the rising prices of technology. The Steam Frame will start at US$ 1,059 for a 256GB model and can go up to US$ 1,299 for the 1TB model. On the plus side, each box will come Half-Life: Alyx packaged along with the headset.

Here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’re getting. The Steam Frame will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM. Each eye comes with a 2160 x 2160 LCD screen, putting out images at up t0 a 144Hz experimental refresh rate. As mentioned above, the headset will start with 256GB of storage but can go up to 2TB. It will come packaged with SteamOS 3 and a rechargeable 21.6Wh battery.

This might be a hard buy for some. The industry currently has more affordable options, for one. Also, virtual reality isn’t the most thriving segment of gaming today.

If you’re still decided on buying one, however, Valve is using its lottery system. Interested customers can sign up from now until September 17. The company will then randomize the purchasing order. Those who draw the first ones in the lottery can get a purchase email as soon as September 18. Meanwhile, anyone who registers after September 17 will automatically be put at the back of the queue.

SEE ALSO: Valve announces its own console called the Steam Machine

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Gaming

BlizzCon 2026 announces World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more also get news

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Blizzard Entertainment kicked off BlizzCon 2026 with a packed Opening Ceremony featuring new games, major expansions, updates, and other announcements across its biggest franchises.

Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries opened the event at the Anaheim Convention Center, celebrating the community behind the company’s games and the teams that bring its worlds to life.

World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

The biggest announcement was World of Warcraft: Forever, a new World of Warcraft experience launching November 5 AEDT, with its beta beginning September 18 AEST. The new experience will feature three zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and a new Skyborne race.

Blizzard also officially announced Diablo V, marking the next era of the franchise. The game is set to launch in North America in Spring 2029, with Sanctuary having fallen and Diablo having won.

StarCraft is also returning with a new story-driven, open-world shooter. The game is currently planned for a Spring 2030 release in North America.

Beyond games, Blizzard revealed that an animated series set in the Diablo universe is in development with Netflix. The company says this is only the beginning of its plans to expand its universes beyond gaming.

For Warcraft III Reforged, the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign is available today. It marks the Warcraft RTS series’ first new storyline in more than 23 years and explores the fall of Lordaeron and the origins of the Undercity. The accompanying 3.0 update also brings graphical improvements and a revamped World Editor.

Heroes of the Storm is adding Xal’atath as its newest Hero. She arrives in the Nexus on September 29 AEST, with her PTR release scheduled for September 15 AEST.

Existing games updates

Meanwhile, Diablo IV is preparing for its next major content drop. Season of Hell’s Legacy begins September 16 AEST and celebrates the franchise’s 30-year history with the return of the Prime Evils and Deckard Cain, alongside themed rewards and gear.

The legendary Amazon class will also arrive in the first half of 2027 as part of Diablo IV’s first class pack. The Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is additionally coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 16 AEST with cross-platform play and cross-progression.

For World of Warcraft, Blizzard teased the next major update for Midnight. Eclipse (12.2) will see Xal’atath move closer to her goal of claiming Azeroth’s Worldsoul. Blizzard also offered another look at The Last Titan, the next expansion in the Worldsoul Saga and a major culmination of more than two decades of Warcraft storytelling. More information is coming early next year.

Overwatch is getting a major update with Season 5. The season introduces new Support Hero Doctrine, reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, and the new Watchpoint: Grimsvötn map. It will also conclude The Reign of Talon, Overwatch’s first year-long narrative arc.

LE SSERAFIM & YOASABI

BlizzCon also featured performances from YOASOBI and LE SSERAFIM. YOASOBI will perform during the first-ever esports halftime show at BlizzCon, while LE SSERAFIM will return to the Main Stage to close the weekend. A new LE SSERAFIM in-game collaboration is available now, with another Overwatch Spotlight scheduled for February 2027.

Finally, Hearthstone is getting its first new class in more than six years. The Monk arrives in 2027, while the upcoming Reign of the Black Empire expansion takes players back to the earliest age of Azeroth. It introduces the Assemble keyword, which combines two cards into a new one. Battlegrounds is also adding Aberrations as a new minion type.

BlizzCon 2026 is now underway, with Blizzard promising more announcements and details throughout the weekend.

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Just Dance: Decades of Hits to launch on October 13

All-new Just Dance experience that brings every generation together

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Just Dance: Decades of Hits will launch on modern consoles on October 13, Ubisoft has announced.

This will offer fans of the franchise a new experience across eras of music. The game will be available on PlayStation5 , Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on the launch date.

Nintendo Switch 2 users, meanwhile, will be able to enjoy the title by November 10, 2026.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits brings together every generation to one dance floor with 25 iconic songs across six different decades:

  • Mamma Mia by ABBA
  • Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
  • It’s Tricky by Run-DMC
  • No Scrubs by TLC
  • Wannabe by Spice Girls
  • Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC
  • Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
  • Turn Down for What by DJ Snake and Lil Jon
  • Danza Kuduro by Don Omar feat. Lucenzo
  • Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter
  • NUEVAYoL by Bad Bunny
  • And more!

Bringing every generation together

Songs, visuals, and an all-new Adventure Mode are all designed to immerse players in the spirit that made each decade unforgettable.

From the funky ’70s disco floors and the electrifying ’80s rock scene to the glossy 2000s pop and beyond, travel through time and share the joy of rediscovering iconic moments with friends and family.

In Adventure Mode, follow Lyra, Dr. Gigavolt’s daughter, in a playful journey through time to rescue her father.

Explore the decades through six themed worlds, enjoy fun mini activities, and unlock exclusive rewards.

For unpredictable, chaotic fun where the rules change every round, players can jump into Party Mode. Or they can get moving with the Workout Mode, which tracks calories burned with each dance.

Up to six players can dance locally in the game, with no extra accessories needed.

In addition those who own Just Dance: Decades of Hits as well as Just Dance 2023-2026 editions will be able access all their songs in one place on the same console without having to switch games or separate menus.

This also includes songs from purchased Music Packs and songs available through an active Just Dance+ subscription.

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