We have prepared a digest of the main news for October 8, 2026, for Players readers.
Why Star Wars works best when the genre sets the rules
Today’s article was prepared by Søren Ahrensborg Kamper, who has been writing about Star Wars games, their history, and design since 2009. He edits Star Wars: Gaming — an independent publication dedicated to more than four decades of video games set in a galaxy far, far away.
On October 7, the Swiss stage of ESL Pro League Season 24 concluded, determining all eight teams that will continue the fight for the trophy in the playoffs. Over five tournament days, 16 teams fought for a spot on the stage at Spodek Arena in Katowice, while for some of the favorites, the tournament ended much earlier than expected.
Monster Hunter Stories — 10 Years of History About Hunters, Riders, and Monsters
On October 8, 2016, Monster Hunter Stories—the first game in the eponymous spin-off of Capcom's popular series—was released in Japan on the Nintendo 3DS. Unlike the main Monster Hunter installments, where players hunted massive monsters themselves, the new game offered a completely different perspective on the familiar world.
During ESL Pro League Season 24, we spoke with Vitality captain apEX. The French veteran talked about his eight-year history with the club, the team’s future, and a potential replacement for ZywOo if he ever switches to a rifler role.
Sony patents AI system that could dynamically change NPC behavior during gameplay
Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to patent unusual technologies for games. After a system that could potentially turn the DualSense controller into a payment terminal for PS Store purchases, the company has now patented another interesting concept. Patentlyze spotted a patent describing the use of artificial intelligence to dynamically alter NPC behavior while a game is being played.
