Mortal Shell II and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's Cost of Hope Lead a Heavy August for Triple-A and Indie Releases

Developer Cold Symmetry has released the highly anticipated soulslike sequel to Mortal Shell on PlayStation 5. Mortal Shell II arrives five years after the original, which added a unique twist to the soulslike gameplay formula. The sequel adds more shells, an improved combat system with more to offer, and an expanded open world. Ahead of its release, reviews for the game praised it unanimously — Mortal Shell II currently has a strong critical reception, with positive reviews for both its PC and PS5 versions. On the PlayStation Store, Mortal Shell II is available in three editions: Mortal Shell II at $49.99 and Mortal Shell II Devout Edition at $59.99, with the Devout Edition including additional cosmetic and quest content.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope Drops Same Day

On the same day, August 20, Ukrainian studio GSC Game World released S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, the first major expansion for Heart of Chornobyl. The expansion is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, both as a part of the Ultimate Edition of the game and as a standalone purchase for $29.99. "Throughout the Cost of Hope development, we allowed ourselves to experiment more. To take risks. To surprise," said Ievgen Grygorovych, Game Director and CEO of GSC Game World. "For us, the release of this DLC is proof that even in the most difficult times, Ukrainians continue to create, work and deliver great games, and even the full-scale war has not been able to put the development of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. universe on hold."

What Cost of Hope Adds

The expansion explores the tension between two of the Zone's oldest factions, Duty and Freedom, who had reached a fragile peace that "rarely lasts." Players once again take on the role of Skif, the protagonist of the base game, navigating events unfolding alongside Heart of Chornobyl. New locations include the iconic Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the maze-like paths of the Iron Forest, with new weapons and gear giving Skif a fighting chance against mutants, anomalies and other dangers lurking in the Zone.

Call of Duty Comes to Switch 2

Meanwhile, the first impressions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 are now live. Switch 2 users won't be joining the open beta until the weekend of August 28, 2026, but Activision gave select creators and outlets a chance to drop in on Nintendo's new hardware this past weekend. Activision has also revealed Digital Legends worked on the native Switch 2 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Early coverage suggests the port holds a stable frame rate and resolution that brings one of the biggest console franchises onto Nintendo hardware for the first time in years.

The Indie Counterpoint

On the indie side, AMATA K.K. released Dungeon Antiqua 2 on August 20 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at $10.99 — a 15% launch discount runs for two weeks across all platforms (the PlayStation Store discount is exclusive to PS Plus members). The 1000xResist Switch 2 Edition also shipped August 21 at $19.99 with 4K TV resolution, 1080p tabletop and handheld modes, and an enhanced frame rate; original Switch owners can download the upgrade pack at no cost. Physical editions from Fangamer ship February 12, 2027.

What to Watch Through Year-End

Three checkpoints follow. Mortal Shell II's first-month sales data — particularly the Devout Edition attach rate — will indicate whether the soulslike genre has expanded beyond FromSoftware's dominance or remains a niche category. The August 28 Switch 2 Call of Duty open beta, the first major third-party franchise to run natively on Nintendo's new hardware, will set expectations for ports from other large publishers. And S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's Cost of Hope player-count metrics will measure how much of the base game's audience is still engaged 20 months after launch — the leading indicator for whether the franchise can sustain a second full-priced release by 2028.