Editorial

Patch notes — Page 6

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

zenless-zone-zero2026-08-17T09:02:24.563Z

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.

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patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notes2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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marvel-snap2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notesmarvel-snap2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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overwatch-22026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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).

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patch-notesoverwatch2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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path-of-exile-22026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notesrocket-league2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notesvalorant2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notesvalorant2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-noteswarframe2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-noteswarframe2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-noteswuthering-waves2026-08-17T09:02:24.562Z

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.

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patch-notesdota-22026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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patch-notes2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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fortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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patch-notesfortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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fortnite2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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fragpunk2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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genshin-impact2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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hearthstone2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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).

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patch-noteshonkai-star-rail2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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patch-notesleague-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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league-of-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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patch-notesmarvel-rivals2026-08-17T09:02:24.561Z

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.

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apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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patch-notesapex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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apex-legends2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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).

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patch-notescounter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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patch-notescounter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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counter-strike-22026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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deadlock2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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deep-rock-galactic-survivor2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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delta-force2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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diablo-immortal2026-08-17T09:02:24.560Z

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.

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From Steam

Live Steam news

88 items

Old School RuneScape

Wyrmscraig and Sailing Changes | August 5th

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/39707052/bca4eb05b718ff079cebb08b47a426276cddf4aa.png Initial updates to Wyrmscraig have arrived, alongside a series of Sailing changes, including fishing at sea! Plus, tweaks to the Blood Moon Rises, permanent Deadman world and more... Changelog - August 5th Wyrmscraig and Sailing Changes We've added a shadow beneath the Mad Angel to help you click more accurately during the en

Mod Yume · 2026-08-05via Steam News

Path of Exile

Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame Interview with Zizaran

Yesterday, Path of Exile 1 Game Designers Andrew and Octavian sat down with community streamer Zizaran to discuss Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame. In case you missed it, check out the VOD below.

Natalia_GGG · 2026-08-05via Steam News

Apex Legends

Apex Legends™: Marked

This season, Bloodhound evolves into the ultimate predator, World’s Edge shifts with new POIs, and Corrupted Attachments arm every squad for the hunt. The gods are watching, prove you deserve their favor. The Hunter of Legends Blessed by the Allfather, Bloodhound evolves from skilled tracker to lethal hunter. Follow the trail with an improved Passive, keep prey in sight with longer Tactical scans,

Electronic Arts · 2026-08-04via Steam News

Warframe

Dog Days 2026

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/4437469/2f216322346e99c77e852e7a445db02765914a5b.png Get ready to soak up some summer sun, Tenno! Dog Days returns on August 4, bringing back Warframe’s annual summer splash with new Rewards, gameplay adjustments and plenty of seaside fun. New to Dog Days? Welcome to the beach, Tenno! Dog Days is a summer celebration where everyone plays on equal footing. Complete Vor’s Prize an

LukeSimms · 2026-08-04via Steam News

Delta Force

G.T.I. Security | Notice of penalties for violations

Hello Operators, The Delta Force security team is committed to maintaining a fair gaming experience,and will impose appropriate restrictions on those found to be cheating or in breach of our terms of service. As developers, we understand the importance of ensuring a safe and fun environment for Delta Force players. As such, we adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards anyone found to be in violation o

JZ-DFSecurityTeam · 2026-08-03via Steam News

Path of Exile

Path of Exile 1: Curse of the Allflame Developer Interview

Later this week, Game Designers Octavian and Andrew will join Zizaran to discuss Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame. Tune in to hear the team discuss the latest developments and answer questions from the community. 2pm Tuesday August 4th PDT - at https://www.twitch.tv/zizaran See you there!

CommunityTeam_GGG · 2026-08-03via Steam News

The Finals

THE FINALS will be adding a new "Elytra" anti-cheat

Embark have given an update in the ongoing fight against cheaters, with a new anti-cheat named Elytra to begin rolling out that's home-grown. Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/08/the-finals-will-be-adding-a-new-elytra-anti-cheat/

Steam · 2026-08-03via Steam News

Albion Online

Wehype Community Rewards

//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/b934f2c7d4308e1e0b9e0cea527bf3db7da40587.jpeg The Wehype August Campaign is live! Until August 24, you can earn rewards like Premium, Scrolls of Fame, and Learning Points just by watching your favorite streamers. What are Wehype Community Rewards? Wehype Community Rewards allow streamers to reward their viewers. Creators sign up, and by reachin

Ekki Mukk · 2026-08-01via Steam News

Albion Online

The Divine Challenge Returns

//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/ee8123ef823b04921923ea97e407d1ba8061b520.jpeg Summer in Albion is in full swing, and the Divine Challenge is back! For the entire month of August, earn Challenge Points to earn valuable rewards and claim your very own Divine Owl. This ghostly white flying mount carries you with heavenly swiftness across Albion and has its own unique ability, Fo

Ekki Mukk · 2026-08-01via Steam News

Albion Online

Last Chance to Complete your Anniversary Collection

//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/d1d555c6ce7437860e9c26c7ca2f371adb8d8f5f.jpeg As Albion’s ninth anniversary celebration winds down, one final surprise awaits. For the remaining days of the anniversary sale, the Anniversary Barbarian, Priest, and Paladin Vanity Bundles are making a comeback! Last year’s trio are available alongside the Anniversary Alchemist, Corrupted Preacher

Ekki Mukk · 2026-07-31via Steam News

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