Daily Game News Digest - 2026-07-30

This just in from www.polygon.com.

Rare Pokémon game that deletes itself found 20 years later

Author: Patricia Hernandez

A 2005 Nintendo DS download-play demo called **PokéPark Fishing Contest DS**-a short-lived Pokémon fishing game that automatically deleted itself after use-has resurfaced online after two decades. The obscure cartridge, originally intended only for temporary play via Download Play, was recently discovered and made available by a collector, reviving interest in the self-erasing title.

Read the full article: https://www.polygon.com/rare-pokemon-game-pokepark-fishing-ebay-center-cost-gameplay/

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www.ign.com has a new write-up worth a look.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Gives Optimistic Outlook Despite Grim Fiscal Earnings Report

Author: Virginia Glaze

Xbox's Q4 2026 fiscal report showed a $1.7 billion (7%) drop in revenue, with content and services down 5% and hardware sales plunging 29%, pushing operating margins to 21% amid recent restructuring and layoffs. CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the gap between the 200 million new players added in FY26 and the company's performance, pledging investment in player-valued areas and projecting a return to growth by the end of FY27, a view echoed by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Read the full article: https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-gives-optimistic-outlook-despite-grim-fiscal-earnings-report

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A fresh post from www.gamerant.com is live now.

Stockpile of Incredibly Rare Nintendo Consoles Found in Weird Place

A collection of some of Nintendo's rarest early-generation consoles, including well-preserved Famicom/NES units with functional game cartridges, was uncovered in a Japanese love hotel. The consoles, dating back nearly four decades, were found in surprisingly good condition, highlighting the enduring interest in vintage Nintendo hardware.

Read the full article: https://gamerant.com/rare-nintendo-console-famicombox-love-hotel/

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www.gameinformer.com just dropped a new piece.

Thimbleweed Park 2 Announced, Launching In 2028

Author: Marcus Stewart

Terrible Toybox announced Thimbleweed Park 2, a sequel to the 2017 point-and-click adventure, slated for release in 2028; the game will again follow Agents Ray and Reyes as they investigate a murder at the Edmund Mansion, featuring returning characters such as Delores, Franklin Edmund and Ransome the Clown. The Steam page describes it as more Thimbleweed Park and just as weird, though no trailer has been released. The original Thimbleweed Park launched on March 30 2017 after a successful Kickstarter and received generally positive reviews, including an 8.5/10 from Game Informer.

Read the full article: https://gameinformer.com/2026/07/30/thimbleweed-park-2-announced-launching-in-2028