Editorial

Patch notes — Page 5

Hand-written analysis when we cover a patch. The Steam News feed below covers the rest of the games we track, automatically refreshed every 30 minutes.

From the editors

Editorial patch notes

Hand-written when our writers cover a patch in depth.

40 notes

patch-noteswuthering-waves2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

Wuthering Waves 3.5 — Huanglong return, Yangyang SP debut, and the road to Mengzhou in 3.6

Wuthering Waves Version 3.5 is live (Jul 9 - Aug 20, 2026). Headline is the return to Huanglong and the debut of Yangyang SP, the first alternate-version Resonator. Plus the new Suisui 4-star, the Starpath Reverbs Resonator banner, and a setup for Version 3.6's Mengzhou reveal.

Read full analysis

zenless-zone-zero2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

Zenless Zone Zero 2.4 patch notes — WatchEye of Motorcity, new Hollow, Astra Yao rerun

ZZZ 2.4 launches August 20 with the WatchEye of Motorcity season, a new Investigation zone, the Astra Yao rerun banner, a rework of Anomaly class mechanics, and the new "Smart Bomb Bangboo" combat pet. Includes 600+ Polychrome compensation for the delay.

Read full analysis

hearthstone2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Hearthstone 'Whispers of the Old Gods' expansion: full breakdown (Aug 26)

Hearthstone 'Whispers of the Old Gods' expansion launches August 26 with 135 new cards, the Corruption keyword, the Old Gods neutral minion cycle, 110 free packs, and the Twist mode return. The most-anticipated Hearthstone expansion since Murder at Castle Nathria (2022).

Read full analysis

patch-noteshonkai-star-rail2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Honkai Star Rail 4.4 — Fate collaboration breakdown (Rin Tohsaka, Gilgamesh, Himeko Nova, Kafka rerun)

Honkai Star Rail Version 4.4 is live (July 15 - Aug 25, 2026). Headline is the Fate collaboration with Rin Tohsaka, Gilgamesh, and Himeko Nova. Plus multiple 5-star reruns (Sparxie, Permansor Terrae, Evernight, Cerydra, Anaxa, Aventurine). Banner phases, new mechanics, and the meta impact.

Read full analysis

league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

League of Legends Patch 25.16: Worlds calibration begins

The 25.16 patch is the first balance pass focused on the Worlds 2026 meta. Three mid-lane mages return to the spotlight, jungle clears get a small QoL buff, and the new ranked-decay grace period is finally live.

Read full analysis

league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

League of Legends Patch 25.17: Season 3 launch with Doom Bots

LoL's Season 3 begins August 27 with the return of Doom Bots, the Xin Zhao visual update, Vayne and Sett in the jungle, and the new seasonal Battle Pass. Patch 25.17 is the second-to-last major patch before Worlds 2026.

Read full analysis

patch-notesleague-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

League of Legends patch 25.16 — Briar nerf, Smolder buff, ARAM balance pass

LoL patch 25.16 ships Aug 14. Briar E cooldown nerfed (12s → 16s), Smolder Q damage buffed, ARAM balance pass (12 champions adjusted), and a ranked decay change for high-Elo players. Worlds 2026 patch preview at the end.

Read full analysis

league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

League of Legends Patch 16.15 patch notes — Worlds prep begins

Patch 16.15 is the first Worlds prep patch. Three mid-tier junglers get buffed (Vi, Lee Sin, Viego), two top-lane bullies get nerfed (Camille, Renekton), and the new Warding system overhaul lands. Patch hits live servers August 13, 2026.

Read full analysis

patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Rivals 3.5 Blade — full August 8 + August 21 follow-up patch notes

Full notes for the Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 Blade update on August 8 and the August 21 follow-up. Includes the Blade hero release, 2 team-ups removed, 2 team-ups added, ranked MMR overhaul with team-size caps by rank, automated chat moderation, and the August 21 sustain buffs.

Read full analysis

patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 — full patch notes for the Blade update (August 8 + August 21 follow-up)

Full patch notes for the Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 update on August 8, including the Blade hero, team-up rework, ranked matchmaking changes, and the August 21 follow-up balance pass that buffed Blade's sustain. Includes every hero buff and nerf.

Read full analysis

patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Rivals Season 3 Empire of Eternal Night — full patch notes

Marvel Rivals Season 3 "Empire of Eternal Night" launches with two new heroes (Doctor Doom and Clea), a new 6v6 mode (Doom's Domain), a new map (Castle Doom), and a new ranked tier. Full patch notes.

Read full analysis

patch-notes2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Snap August 2026 hotfix — Sandman nerf, Agent 13 buff, the meta shift explained

Second Dinner shipped a balance hotfix on August 2 with changes to Sandman, Agent 13, and three underused cards. The patch opens the meta after the Loki nerf, with the Bounce, Move, and Sandman-Onslaught archetypes all viable for the first time since 2025. This article breaks down every change and the new tier list.

Read full analysis

marvel-snap2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Snap August 3 balance patch: full breakdown

Marvel Snap August 3 balance patch nerfs the dominant Sandman + Lockjaw decks, buffs Zabu and Darkhawk, and adds a new Spotlight Cache. The last balance pass before the Fractured Frontier season launches Aug 4.

Read full analysis

patch-notesmarvel-snap2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Marvel Snap August 3 balance patch — Hawkeye + Hulkbuster + Vision buffed, Captain Marvel nerfed

Marvel Snap's August 3 OTA patch is a buff-heavy update ahead of the August 8 full patch. Hawkeye +1 Power on the On Reveal, Hulkbuster +1 Power, Vision +1 Power, Captain Marvel moved to a different slot (5/6 -> 4/5). Plus Absorbing Man gets +2 Power. Smaller meta shifts than July's patch but a solid set of buffs.

Read full analysis

overwatch-22026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Overwatch 2 Season 18 patch notes (August 26, 2026)

OW2 Season 18 launches August 26 with Wuyang, the new Payload Race mode, Stadium Quick Play with crossplay, Hero Progression 2.0, and the biggest balance patch of 2026 (Roadhog rework, 60+ new perks, 8 hero updates).

Read full analysis

patch-notesoverwatch2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Overwatch 2 Season 18 Stadium overhaul — full patch notes

Overwatch 2 Season 18 overhauls the Stadium mode, introduces hero bans to ranked, and adds a new Healer meta. Full patch notes for the most ambitious gameplay change since the Stadium mode launch.

Read full analysis

path-of-exile-22026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 'Return of the Ancients' patch notes

PoE2's 0.5.0 'Return of the Ancients' patch brings the Huntress class, Smith of Kitava ascendancy, a full endgame overhaul, and the Runes of Aldur league. The final Early Access league before 1.0.

Read full analysis

patch-notesrocket-league2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Rocket League Season 21 — Pursuit in Paris brings Ranked Heatseeker, Parc de Paris Arena, RLCS 2026 decals

Rocket League Season 21 (December 10, 2025 - March 11, 2026) brought Ranked Heatseeker, the Parc de Paris Arena, improved Quads matchmaking, RLCS 2026 decals, and the 'Bring the Heat' event. French-themed season with French music, French designs, and the first real-life location-based arena in the game.

Read full analysis

patch-notesvalorant2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Valorant Episode 14 Act 1 patch notes — new agent, Sunset rework, ranked refresh

Valorant Episode 14 Act 1 launches with a new Initiator agent (Waylay), a major rework of Sunset, a fresh ranked split, and a new battle pass. Full patch notes.

Read full analysis

patch-notesvalorant2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Valorant patch 9.07b notes — Sage wall HP buff, Ascent tweaks, Reyna flash duration fix

Valorant 9.07b shipped Aug 12 with a Sage Barrier Orb durability buff (400 → 500 HP), Ascent mid boxes repositioned for better CT-side cover, and a Reyna Leer duration fix (1.6s → 2.0s). Plus Premier Act 3 schedule and the VCT 2026 Champions ticket pre-sale.

Read full analysis

patch-noteswarframe2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Warframe: 1999 finale patch notes — The Hex concludes, new warframe, new questline

Warframe's 1999 expansion finale wraps the Hex storyline, adds the new Cinderframe warframe, opens a new endgame zone (The Undercroft), and ships a year-end celebration event. Full patch notes.

Read full analysis

patch-noteswarframe2026-08-17T09:02:24.559Z

Warframe Dog Days 2026 + Amir's Shockwave Nightwave — full August event notes

Warframe's August 2026 drops include Dog Days 2026 (Aug 4), Amir's Shockwave Nightwave (Aug 12), Fables & Frontiers: Running Late (Aug 12), six new Tennogen items including the first for Oraxia and Kullervo, and the Baruuk Deluxe Shaoshi skin. Plus 5 double-Affinity weekends from Aug 6 through Sep 3.

Read full analysis

patch-notesapex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Apex Legends Season 24 Takeover — Ash + Ballistic rework, helmet removal, new Mythic armor

Apex Legends Season 24: Takeover drops a major Ash + Ballistic rework, removes all standard helmets, adds a new Mythic armor system, and launches the Creator Commissioner event. R-99 returns to floor loot, Peacekeeper enters the Care Package. Full breakdown of the meta shifts.

Read full analysis

apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Apex Legends Season 30 'Marked' patch notes: full breakdown

Apex Legends Season 30 'Marked' launches August 4 with a complete Bloodhound rework, World’s Edge map rework with 3 new POIs, Corrupted Attachments, energy weapon overhaul, and the end of Switch support. The biggest Apex season since Season 16 (Vantage).

Read full analysis

patch-notescounter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Counter-Strike 2 July 2026 update — Cache returns to Active Duty, Premier Season 5, C4 explosion rework

CS2's July 8, 2026 update added Cache to the Active Duty Map Pool, removed Overpass, launched Premier Season 5, and reworked the C4 explosion model. New weapon collections (Spy Tech + Arabesque), new sticker collections, and a Source 2 engine update. Plus the Cologne 2026 Major shop and sticker pricing tools.

Read full analysis

patch-notescounter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

CS2 Operation Breakthrough patch notes — new Premier mode, three new maps, weapon changes

CS2's Operation Breakthrough ships the new Premier map-pick mode, three new competitive maps (Ravine, Calavera, Cobblestone reworked), and a balance pass on the M4A1-S and the AK-47. Here's the full patch breakdown.

Read full analysis

counter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

CS2 Premier Season 5 + Cache rework — August 3, 2026 patch notes

Valve dropped a ~10GB CS2 update on August 3, 2026, officially launching Premier Season 5 and shipping the Cache rework plus new scripting API for map creators. Full breakdown of every change.

Read full analysis

deadlock2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Deadlock August 2026 update: 6 new heroes drip-fed, community voting, Hideout pre-game lobby

The August 18 Deadlock update adds 6 new heroes drip-fed over 2 weeks, community voting on release order, the Hideout pre-game lobby, and the long-awaited profile page. The biggest content drop since the August 2024 reveal.

Read full analysis

deep-rock-galactic-survivor2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor update 1.0 'The Hollows'

DRG Survivor 1.0 launches August 18 with the new Hollows biome, 4 new classes, and the deep-rock season pass. The full release leaves Early Access after 18 months.

Read full analysis

delta-force2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Delta Force August 2026 Warfare patch notes

Delta Force's August Warfare patch reworks the Layton Grove map, buffs 4 underused weapons, and adds a new 64-player "Rush" mode for Layton Grove.

Read full analysis

diablo-immortal2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Diablo Immortal Season 15 patch notes — Bone Prison raid, monetization rollback, 2 new Helliquary bosses

Diablo Immortal's Season 15 "Bone Prison" launches August 18 with the first 12-player raid (Cathedral of Bones), 2 new Helliquary bosses (Lilith and Diablo), and a sweeping monetization rollback — the Legendary Crate system is being removed entirely. Plus a new zone (The Dry Steppes) and full cross-progression parity between mobile and PC.

Read full analysis

patch-notesdota-22026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Dota 2 Patch 7.39c — the meta stabilizes ahead of TI qualifiers

Dota 2 Patch 7.39c is a balance pass ahead of the TI 2026 qualifiers. The patch targets the most overperforming heroes and items, with a focus on stabilizing the meta for competitive play.

Read full analysis

patch-notes2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Dota 2 7.39d patch notes — neutral item rework, Aghanim's Shard drop rate, and 14 hero changes

Dota 2 7.39d is a small-to-medium balance patch focused on the new neutral item drop rates. The big change: Tier 4 and 5 neutral items now have a 35% combined drop rate after the 30-minute mark (was 18%). 14 heroes get targeted buffs and nerfs, mostly in the mid-tier competitive scene.

Read full analysis

fortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 hotfix — map changes, weapon nerfs, and the new live event countdown

Fortnite 34.20 lands with a small map rework, three weapon nerfs (including the controversial Drum Gun), and the start of the live event countdown. Here's what changes and how to prep.

Read full analysis

patch-notesfortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 patch notes — new map, new weapons, ranked refresh

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 4 ships a new map focused on a post-apocalyptic wasteland theme, four new weapons (including the railgun rework), a new mobility item, and a major ranked refresh. Full patch notes.

Read full analysis

fortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 'Shaken' launch recap

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 'Shaken' launched July 30 with a new island location, Spider-Man collaboration, and the end of Chapter 7 Season 3 'Runners' on August 19. The new season is rumored to be a 1-month mini-season.

Read full analysis

fragpunk2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

FragPunk July 2026 patch 1.4 notes: Shard Card rework

FragPunk's 1.4 patch is a Shard Card system rework. 20 cards rebalanced, 5 new cards, and a veto system that lets teams block 1 card per round.

Read full analysis

genshin-impact2026-08-17T09:02:24.558Z

Genshin Impact 5.0 'Flowers Resplendent' patch notes

Genshin Impact 5.0 launches August 28 with the Natlan region, Mualani + Kachina + Kinich, 4th anniversary rewards, Capturing Radiance gacha, World Level 9, and Sanctifying Elixir. The biggest patch of 2026.

Read full analysis

apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.557Z

Apex Legends Season 23: From the Ashes

Respawn's mid-year season drop. New legend, new map, ranked rework that finally brings the algorithm into the cross-progression era. The Newcastle-Horizon TTK rebalance is the most-requested community change of the past two seasons.

Read full analysis

apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.557Z

Apex Legends Season 24.1 patch notes — Conduit balance pass, World's Edge rework, and the Catalyst buff

Apex 24.1 is a mid-Season-24 patch with a Conduit balance pass, a World's Edge rework, a Catalyst buff, and a new ranked reward track. Here's what changes and how to adapt your play.

Read full analysis

From Steam

Live Steam news

88 items

War Thunder

Work-In-Progress: PLZ45

Hey everyone! We’re back with another Work-In-Progress blog, this time for the Chinese PLZ45 with a 155 mm cannon, planned for the upcoming major update. Let’s take a look at it!Right then, what is the PLZ45? This SPG is built around a modernized 155 howitzer with a length of 45 calibers. You may be familiar with a distant relative of this gun from the G6 Rhino, but this specific variant is new to

Blitzkrieg Wulf · 2026-08-10via Steam News

War Thunder

Monthly Decals for August!

Hello everyone! How are you? Fine thank you. We’re glad to be back with another round of collectible decals for you! We’re happy to include this rare big cat for Japan, and one of the Bagram birds for the USSR, recreated excellently by Fenris.We’d like to give a big thanks to all of you who completed the survey last month as well, we’ve collated all of your answers and suggestions and we’ll work t

Blitzkrieg Wulf · 2026-08-10via Steam News

Path of Exile

Fan Art Competition

It’s been a while since we last hosted a fan art competition, and with the recent updates to Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2, we’re sure our community artists have plenty of inspiration to draw from. We’re excited to announce a Path of Exile Fan Art Competition inspired by the Return of the Ancients and Curse of the Allflame expansions! The prize pool includes official merchandise and in-game

Natalia_GGG · 2026-08-09via Steam News

Brawlhalla

Community Art Round-Up | July 2026

Another month, another incredible batch of community art! If you're posting Brawlhalla fan art remember to use #BrawlhallaArt and/or tag us @Brawlhalla so we can find it 😄@Zustos_ has continued his Draw Every Legend project. It's looking FANTASTIC!@bubu_bug Aurus eats a pomegranate. Could this have a deeper meaning?@Renicuzwhynot_ loves Vector. They also made some neat Heatwave art!@MrSzillaz “Lo

Diffensive · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Delta Force

Fortune Run is coming soon. Claim 2,600 Limited-Time Delta Tickets for free!

Dear Operators, We'll be rolling out an update on 8/6 with no downtime. Gameplay and matchmaking will not be affected. If you encounter any issues after the update, please restart the game to complete the update. If your game client is out of date, you'll need to update to the latest version to log in. The main content of this update includes: 【Cross-Mode Events】 ● Delta Ticket Giveaway Event Peri

DF OPS | QIQI · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Marvel Rivals

Многопользовательский хит Marvel Rivals скоро похудеет на консолях и ПК

NetEase Games подтвердила, что уже 7 августа условно-бесплатная соревновательная игра Marvel Rivals получит крупное техническое обновление. Патч внедрит новые алгоритмы сжатия текстур, благодаря которым проект будет занимать значительно меньше места на накопителях всех доступных платформ .

Семен Страндов · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Team Fortress 2

Operation Mooncrash

{STEAM_CLAN_LOC_IMAGE}/554111/9d27b988ee35f2abf369a4fa2645365a1e2ecb5c.png In a desperate effort to attain ultimate global dominance, RED and BLU race to conquer the final frontier! Destination – the Moon! TF2 Painter's Workshop is proud to host a new community project that aims to revive and expand upon the Moon Base theme! They're encouraging all kinds of participation and will be considering co

erics · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Team Fortress 2

Operation Mooncrash

In a desperate effort to attain ultimate global dominance, RED and BLU race to conquer the final frontier! Destination – the Moon! TF2 Painter's Workshop is proud to host a new community project that aims to revive and expand upon the Moon Base theme ! They're encouraging all kinds of participation and will be considering cosmetics, war paints, maps, weapons, weapon unusuals, map assets and more .

Steam · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Warframe

Prime Resurgence

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4437469/0599b00b20216a15e13fd978c66516e3680f87b8.png Two iconic forces return to the Origin System! Baruuk Prime and Revenant Prime are now available in Prime Resurgence. Whether you’re a new Tenno beginning your journey or a veteran returning to battle, this rotation offers the opportunity to expand your Arsenal instantly with Regal Aya. Meet the Primes Baruuk Prime A master of

lemlemPrime · 2026-08-06via Steam News

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 players are learning how to crack into its infamous content vault by tinkering with old game builds

In June 2020, Bungie made what would come to be remembered as one of the most reviled PR incidents in modern videogames: It announced the content vault . To make Destiny 2's long-term development more manageable, the studio said, the launch of its Beyond Light expansion coincided with a culling of in-game content, paring away story campaigns, world regions, and activities of all stripes... Read mo

Lincoln Carpenter · 2026-08-05via Steam News

The Daily Patch

The day's biggest gaming stories, in your inbox.

One email. Morning, weekdays. No spam, ever.

View past issues