Though they quickly became one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples, Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s love story had a humble beginning.
The NBA star was 15 years old when he and Ayesha, then 14, met at church in North Carolina. Though they’ve both since admitted they were fond of each other at a young age, it wasn’t until years later that they would reconnect as adults and give romance a shot.
“I always had my eye on her, but I got a little shaken, for sure,” Stephen previously told Parents Magazine of their teenage years.
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A few years later, the Golden State Warriors point guard finally got the chance to pursue Ayesha while on a trip to Los Angeles, where she was living. During his West Coast visit for the ESPY Awards, Stephen and Ayesha spent the day together as just friends, and things later turned romantic.
The couple tied the knot in July 2011. Ayesha put her acting career on hold after finding out she was pregnant with their daughter Riley, who was born in 2012. The duo later welcomed daughter Ryan, son Canon and son Caius in 2015, 2018 and 2024, respectively.
Keep scrolling to see Stephen and Ayesha’s complete relationship timeline:
Days of Our Lives presents Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) really ticked off at Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) and may soon start plotting to help Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) get full custody, maybe even sole custody of little Kelsey rather than having to deal with Joy’s increasing demands about the child that they share.
Days of our Lives: Alex’s Emotions Run Amok
So, this week, Alex was so excited when his dad called and said that baby Kelsey’s birth certificate had been amended and was ready. So, now it has her new name, and Alex is officially listed as the dad, and she is now Kelsey Kiriakis. But when Joy and Alex discuss the custody arrangement with Justin, we saw Joy put her foot down about Stephanie because Joy doesn’t want Alex’s wife around Kelsey ever. And Alex was angry.
Then he stormed out and he went home to vent his frustration to Stephanie. And Alex had to explain why there’s no custody deal yet. So, Stephanie told Alex this is all her fault because if she hadn’t shot at Joy, there wouldn’t even be this topic of discussion and this leverage. Stephanie was double dosing medication with a loaded gun not locked up properly, and she knew that Joy had a key to their apartment. But then Stephanie woke up groggy and panicked and shot at Joy.
It was extremely irresponsible. But on the flip, Stephanie had PTSD because of a past trauma. She’s not just going around taking pot shots at people across town. So, it is understandable that Stephanie made a bad choice that day and Joy is understandably shaken. And this didn’t happen that long ago.
Stephanie Makes Things Worse for Herself on DOOL
But then after a conversation with Belle Black (Martha Madison), it looked like Joy was legit ready to cave on the custody thing and let Stephanie around her baby. But after Alex left for work, then Stephanie decided to go confront Joy about what she sees as her latest stunt.
Things were looking better until Stephanie got upset and intervened. And then she outright accused Joy of wanting her husband all to herself and accusing her of outrageous plots. And to be clear, Joy definitely wants Alex. But to be fair, I don’t think Joy has been inappropriate with him. Alex didn’t wait to hear what Joy’s issue was when she called about the insurance card.
He assumed the worst and he ran out. And now Stephanie assumes the worst of Joy in that situation. I actually think it was fine for her to call Alex for help since she and his baby daughter were on the side of the freeway. But despite that, Stephanie is not wrong about Joy having ulterior motives. And Stephanie likely does not believe Joy when she said she was about to change her mind on the custody until Stephanie ruined it.
Days of Our Lives: Stephanie’s Custody Plot Against Joy
So what’s going to happen now? Well, I think Alex might be a little annoyed that Stephanie confronted Joy, which Alex had to know wasn’t going to make anything better. But I also think Stephanie will convince Alex that Joy’s up to no good where he’s concerned. And from there, I don’t think Alex is going to be on board to plot against Joy no matter what Stephanie’s saying because I’m sure that Alex knows that will make things worse. However, I don’t expect Stephanie to back down. I think she’s going to start plotting on her own. I think she might do all she can to make sure Alex doesn’t just get 50/50 custody, but gets sole custody.
Because at this point, I expect that Stephanie wants Joy out of their lives and wouldn’t mind taking her baby away from her to make it happen. Because that’s how ticked off she is. And if Stephanie’s plotting against Joy, there’s a chance that she could find out that Kelsey’s mom is a gold digger. And maybe that’s not even Alex’s baby. Because think about it. When Joy was talking to Belle at the pub after Alex left the signing, Belle tried to convince Joy Stephanie would never hurt Kelsey.
Days of our Lives: Alex Not the Daddy?
And then something interesting happened that could foreshadow what’s coming. Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) and Tate Black (Leo Howard) came over to look at little Kelsey and Rachel said Tate thought he had a baby too, but it turned out the kid wasn’t his after all. It was awkward and Belle called her out, but honestly that’s just Rachel being Rachel. And then Tate was listening in on Joy and Belle and we saw that Tate got snippy with Joy saying it’s bad to use a child for leverage to get what you want and Tate said it never works out in the end.
So, the Days of our Lives writers could be hinting at what’s next for Joy, Alex, and Stephanie. Stephanie could try and expose Joy as a liar while investigating for this custody case. You know, Stephanie could find irrefutable proof from maybe a secretly run DNA test that Joy somehow falsified the results. It would be easy enough for Stephanie to do a test like that. And it would be wild to come down to a moment of Alex learning he is not the biological father. And of course, that would break his heart because he adores Kelsey. Of course, Joy was very proud that her daughter would have the Kiriakis name because of its prestige.
Days of Our Lives: Stephanie Johnson – Joy Wesley – Alex Kiriakis
Digging Up the Truth on Days
And since Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) brought Joy to town, he might have made some contacts in the lab that could help her. Every soap paternity test can potentially be faked. Hospital staff have done that before and might be open to taking a bribe to swap the test results. So yeah, that test might have been faked.
But if Stephanie’s scheming ends up with Alex losing the daughter that he’s come to love, that could actually be problematic for him and Stephanie. But then again, Alex deserves to know if he’s really the dad or not. And we could also see Stephanie talking Alex into plotting with her. Some kind of honeypot thing where they pretend to break up so that they can find out Joy’s real motives.
Because I’m sure if she thought Alex was single, then Joy might admit to all kinds of things to Alex. They could turn around and use those against her in custody court. And finally, Stephanie could convince Papa Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) to use his investigative skills to help her dig up some dirt on Joy. We don’t know a lot about her. Her origin story, of course, is that she’s a savior sibling.
Her parents basically made Joy so that she could donate to save her sister’s life. And she’s been offscreen most of her life until her mother brought her to Salem to audition for a TV show. At the time, her mother made comments to Joy about her loose habits of sleeping around. And that’s enough right there to make you wonder if Alex really is Kelsey’s dad.
Joy’s Bad Choices on DOOL
Plus, Joy doesn’t even have a job. She lives above a bar with the baby. Those are not exactly positive parenting choices. And all of that could be used as ammunition to help Alex in the courtroom. And Stephanie could testify that she’s been in counseling, got rid of the gun, she’s stable, she’s safe. But in the end, unless Stephanie gets some major dirt on Joy, what Stephanie did by shooting at her makes her a huge liability in any custody case. And Alex has to know that. I’m sure his father does, too.
So, Stephanie scheming to expose Joy and getting some leverage against her is a good idea. But if it ends up costing Alex access to his daughter, then Stephanie might live to regret it. Already, Joy may tell Alex she was going to relent on the custody until Stephanie went psycho on her.
And Alex might believe Joy, at least for a minute, and she can always simply threaten to take Kelsey and go back to New York. I do think Stephanie can be over the top at times, but also what woman is going to sit by and let Joy get away with all of this? Certainly not Stephanie Johnson. We’ll see what scheme she starts soon to deal with Joy.
We have a chilling new update regarding the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.
It has now been six months since Nancy disappeared from her home in Tucson, and police seem no closer to locating the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie or arresting the parties responsible for her kidnapping.
On Friday, investigators released two ransom notes that were sent to Savannah and her family following Nancy’s disappearance.
A photograph of Nancy Guthrie is seen on a sign that people can leave messages on February 26, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed. We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days,” reads the first note (via The Daily Mail).
“You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5PM on Thursday the 5th. If payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to 6 million USD which will need to be paid by 5PM on Monday the 9th,” the alleged kidnappers continued, adding:
“Once payment is received to the bitcoin address below she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed.
“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.”
The author also contained details about the crime scene, seemingly with the goal of convincing the Guthrie family of the authenticity of the note:
“She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed,” the note read.
The second note claimed that Nancy “perished” not long after she was abducted.
“Guthrie Family, We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken,” the note read.
“We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement indicating that in spite of these revelations, they are still investigating the matter as though Nancy is still alive.
“We have gathered a lot of evidence in this case and I wish you knew it, I wish the community could know all of the evidence, but that’s just not how investigations work,” Sheriff Chris Nanos said, adding:
“Whether it’s this case or any case. We have an obligation, we have a duty and a responsibility, to protect that case and its integrity.”
Savannah has issued public pleas to the kidnappers on several occasions, but it appears that she has not received a credible response.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Google removed an AI image-generation feature from Google Earth on July 31, just a day after its July 30 launch, saying users were sharing generated imagery that appeared to violate its policies.
Journalists and open-source researchers showed the Nano Banana tool could easily fabricate events that never happened—a blast crater in Los Angeles, a flooded U.S. Capitol, Iran’s Kharg Island on fire—raising fears it could supercharge misinformation.
Google’s defense that images carry a SynthID watermark failed to reassure critics, and the company said it would only restore the feature after adding stronger guardrails, giving no timeline.
Google has pulled a newly launched artificial intelligence feature from Google Earth barely a day after releasing it, following a swift backlash from journalists and open-source investigators who warned it could flood the internet with convincing fake satellite imagery.
The company introduced the tool on July 30, letting users zoom to any location on Google Earth’s web version, click “create image,” and generate a scene from a text prompt using its Nano Banana model. By July 31, it was gone.
In a statement posted to X, Google said people “uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world,” and that while geospatial professionals had found useful applications, others were sharing generated images that appeared to violate its policies. It said it was rolling back the feature while building stronger guardrails.
Tonight I typed just one sentence into Google Earth and put refugees near the Mexican border. Then I planted a nuclear plant in Iran. What on earth is Google doing? Check my latest post here: https://t.co/N0h6CVECqS pic.twitter.com/WSjdcEXWJx
— 𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚔 𝚟𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚜 (@henkvaness) July 30, 2026
The alarm centered on how easily the tool fabricated events that never happened. Tech outlet 404 Media demonstrated it could produce a blast crater in Los Angeles and add protesters outside Google’s own Mountain View campus. NPR generated images of Iran’s Kharg Island ablaze and a flooded U.S. Capitol, both of which would be major news if real. Open-source researcher Henk van Ess told NPR he tried prompts including refugees at the Mexican border and a nuclear plant in Iran, and that none were refused.
Re: our statement on Image Generation in Google Earth: “We know that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world. We’ve seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we’ve also seen people sharing screenshots of…
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) July 31, 2026
Satellite imagery has long served as a trusted anchor for verifying breaking news and atrocities, precisely because it has been difficult to fake. Bellingcat researcher Jake Godin cautioned that one-click generation would streamline the creation of fakes and accelerate their spread, adding that misinformation outruns any correction and that governments could now dismiss authentic images as fabricated.
Google had initially downplayed the concerns, noting that every image carries its SynthID watermark, which flags it as AI-generated in tools like Gemini, and that it blocks creation on harmful topics. Critics called that insufficient, arguing few people stop to verify images before sharing them.
Google said it would reinstate image generation in Google Earth only after implementing tighter protections, though it gave no timeline.
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Chainalysis said the Coldcard hacker targeted the largest Bitcoin wallets first, stealing over $38 million from around 500 wallets.
The attacker stole about $30 million in the first 10 minutes and completed the wallet sweep in roughly 25 minutes.
Coldcard users with affected devices are urged to create a new recovery seed on updated hardware, while Ledger confirmed its wallets were not affected by the vulnerability.
Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics company, said the hacker behind the recent Coldcard wallet attack did not steal Bitcoin at random. Instead, the attacker targeted the largest wallets first, helping steal more than $38 million in Bitcoin.
In a Friday post on X, Chainalysis shared its findings one day after nearly 594 BTC was stolen from about 500 single-signature Bitcoin wallets linked to vulnerable Coldcard devices.
Our analysis of the $38M+ Coldcard hack reveals that the attacker hit high-value wallets (including a $1.8M victim) early in the sweep. This pattern suggests that the attacker studied the victim wallet population before proceeding. pic.twitter.com/zpJb0QcCYt
— Chainalysis (@chainalysis) July 31, 2026
Chainalysis details how the attack unfolded
According to Chainalysis, the attack appears to have been planned before it happened. The hacker likely studied the wallets, identified the ones holding the most Bitcoin, and targeted them first. That strategy allowed the attacker to collect huge amounts of Bitcoin in a very short time.
Chainalysis said the total value stolen jumped to around $30 million within the first 10 minutes of the attack. In about 25 minutes, the hacker had already swept around 500 different wallets. “Our analysis of the $38M+ Coldcard hack reveals that the attacker hit high-value wallets (including a $1.8M victim) early in the sweep,” the firm stated. “This pattern suggests that the attacker studied the victim wallet population before proceeding.”
Using its blockchain investigation tool called Reactor, Chainalysis found that three of the ten largest victim wallets each held at least 10 BTC, worth about $636,000 at the time.
One victim lost around $1.8 million. The company said it is tracking the wallet used by the attacker as well as another address where part of the stolen Bitcoin has been gathered. It also said it is watching for signs that more wallets created with vulnerable Coldcard devices could still be at risk.
Why a simple software update is not enough
The company also warned Coldcard users that installing the latest software update alone will not fully protect them if their recovery seed was created using the affected firmware.
“If you own a Coldcard device, applying the latest hotfix is not enough to protect a seed that was generated on vulnerable firmware,” Chainalysis said. “Users must generate an entirely new seed on patched hardware. Utilizing a strong BIP-39 passphrase provides critical additional protection.”
Coldcard explains the firmware flaw
The warning came after Canadian hardware wallet maker Coinkite issued an urgent security advisory on July 30. The company said some Coldcard Mk3 devices running firmware versions 4.0.1 through 5.0.3 had a serious problem with the way they generated recovery seeds. Recovery seeds are the secret words that allow users to restore access to their crypto wallets. If those words are not created with enough randomness, they become much easier for attackers to guess.
Coinkite explained that the issue was caused by a software bug that stopped the device’s hardware random number generator from working as intended during seed creation. Instead of using enough true randomness, the affected devices relied more on software-generated randomness, making some recovery seeds much weaker than they should have been.
That reduced the number of possible seed combinations and made it possible for a determined attacker to recreate private keys offline and search for wallets holding Bitcoin. The company has released updated firmware that fixes the problem for new recovery seeds created on patched devices.
Ledger says its devices were not affected
Following the incident, Ledger said its hardware wallets were not affected by the vulnerability. The company said its devices use a certified True Random Number Generator built into the Secure Element chip, allowing every 24-word recovery phrase to be created with the full amount of expected randomness.
Ledger is not affected by the recently published Coldcard Mk3 advisory.
Ledger devices use a certified True Random Number Generator (TRNG) built directly into our Secure Element chip, generating full 256 bits of entropy for every 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase. Please refer to…
— Ledger (@Ledger) July 31, 2026
“Ledger devices use a certified True Random Number Generator (TRNG) built directly into our Secure Element chip, generating full 256 bits of entropy for every 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase,” the company said.
Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.
A German court ruled that Suno infringed copyrights by using music from GEMA’s catalog without a license.
The decision requires licenses for both AI model training and AI-generated music.
Suno said it disagrees with the ruling and is considering an appeal.
A German court has ruled against AI music startup Suno in a copyright lawsuit brought by music rights organization GEMA.
According to a report by Variety, the Munich Regional Court found that Suno violated copyright law by using music from GEMA’s catalog to train its AI models and by reproducing protected works without a license. The ruling requires AI companies to obtain licenses for the commercial use of GEMA’s repertoire, covering both AI model training and the generation of music.
The lawsuit centered on six songs, including “Daddy Cool,” “Rasputin,” “Forever Young,” and “Mambo No. 5.” GEMA accused Suno Suno of training its AI on copyrighted songs without permission.
In a statement, Suno said it built its platform to help people create new music, not reproduce existing songs. The company said the ruling is based on a misunderstanding of how its technology works and that it is considering its legal options.
“Our tools give people the ability to create new songs, whether they are top artists, product developers, songwriters using our tools in their workflows or everyday music fans,” Suno said in a statement. “From the beginning, we trained our models to create new songs, not reproduce existing ones, and built protections into our platform. We disagree with today’s ruling—which rests on a fundamental mischaracterization of how Suno’s technology works, how it is used and how U.S. law applies—and are evaluating all available options, including an appeal.”
The decision comes about eight months after GEMA won a separate copyright case against OpenAI, in which a Munich court ruled that ChatGPT unlawfully reproduced copyrighted song lyrics.
The ruling also comes as Suno faces mounting legal scrutiny over how it built its AI models.
Earlier this month, leaked source code showed the company’s training data included more than 113,000 hours of YouTube Music, 62,000 hours from Pond5, and 12,000 hours from Deezer, supporting claims by the music industry that Suno trained its AI on copyrighted recordings without permission, allegations that Suno continues to fight in court.
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Steve McDonald’s shock decision to end things with Cassie Plummer has left her facing a dramatic Coronation Street exit, as her latest scheme finally comes back to haunt her.
In Friday’s (July 31) episode of Coronation Street, Steve discovered the truth behind Tracy Barlow’s drink spiking after finding an empty packet of medication that Cassie had left behind.
With Steve cutting ties with Cassie, her time in Weatherfield is now coming to an end. But as she prepares to leave next week, her exit storyline could be far from straightforward. Here’s everything you need to know!
Steve and Cassie are over (Credit: ITV)
Steve dumped Cassie
Tonight in Weatherfield, Tracy Barlow was still recovering in hospital following her drink being spiked. Doctors revealed she had suffered a codeine overdose, leaving Steve desperate to find out what had happened.
Steve questioned Tracy about whether she had taken the medication herself, but she insisted she hadn’t. However, when he returned home and found an empty packet of tablets in Cassie’s cardigan, everything started to fall into place.
Realising Cassie was likely responsible, Steve confronted her about what she had done. At the time, Steve and the others believed Cassie had targeted Tracy, unaware that Ross was actually the person who gave her the contaminated drink.
Cassie admitted she hadn’t meant for Tracy to consume the drink, explaining that her real plan was to sabotage Ross’ workplace drug test and force him out of Weatherfield.
After being confronted by Steve, Cassie was also forced to come clean to Tyrone. But Tyrone made it clear that he wanted her gone.
Later, Cassie went to Steve’s home to apologise for the chaos she had caused. However, Steve wasn’t ready to forgive her and told her that their relationship was over.
Despite everything they had been through, Steve made it clear he no longer wanted anything to do with Cassie.
Cassie’s exit airs next week (Credit: ITV)
Cassie heading for dangerous Coronation Street exit on Monday
Next week’s Coronation Street spoilers have confirmed that Cassie Plummer will leave the soap on Monday (August 3), as Claire Sweeney’s final scenes air.
After burning bridges with those closest to her and failing to convince her family about Ross, Cassie decides to take a job on a cruise ship and leave Weatherfield behind.
However, her fresh start may not be as safe as she hopes.
With Steve ending their relationship and Tyrone turning his back on her, Cassie reaches breaking point. Following a whisky-fuelled low, she announces her plans to leave Weatherfield and head off to work on a cruise ship, sharing emotional goodbyes with those she cares about.
But before Cassie can get away, Ross offers her a lift and locks the doors.
As Ross’ behaviour raises questions for Steve, viewers will be left wondering whether Cassie’s departure could end in tragedy. Could her final moments in Weatherfield put her in serious danger?
Read more: Coronation Street opinion: Soap losing balance as villains dominate
Coronation Street usually airs Monday-Friday at 8.30pm on ITV.
What do you think about this story? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page @CoronationStreetInsider. We want to hear your thoughts!
Emmerdale has dropped a major twist in the aftermath of Billy Fletcher’s attack, but plenty of fans are already questioning whether Joe Tate has been set up. Instead, many viewers are convinced another villager is really to blame.
Billy was left unconscious at the Depot after clashing with several people. So when police confirmed he had been attacked rather than injured in an accident, suspicion immediately fell on Joe Tate.
Although Joe insisted he was innocent, the evidence appeared to be stacking up against him. But after watching the latest episode, some Emmerdale fans now think Billy’s own boss and friend Caleb could actually be the one behind the attack.
Emmerdale followup (Credit: ITV)
Joe was arrested as Caleb sent the police his way
Joe quickly became the prime suspect after learning Billy had kissed Dawn, something Caleb had revealed to him. And as soon as police confirmed Billy had been attacked, Caleb and Kerry wasted no time in suggesting Joe could be responsible.
Later, Caleb also shared his suspicions with Marlon in the pub, meaning it didn’t take long for the rest of the village to start believing Joe was guilty. Given Joe’s history, plenty of people thought the theory made sense.
It wasn’t long before police arrived at the hospital while Joe was assuring Dawn he had nothing to do with the attack.
Despite his protests, officers arrested him because he was the most obvious suspect.
Emmerdale followup (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale fans think another twist is coming after attack on Billy
Despite Joe’s arrest, viewers aren’t convinced the mystery has been solved. Instead Emmerdale fans believe Billy was attacked by someone closer to him.
With Caleb deleting the Depot CCTV footage to protect his own illegal scheme, and being so quick to point the finger at Joe, many fans now believe he could have attacked Billy himself.
Taking to social media, one fan wrote: “I actually don’t think Joe did this. It has to be Caleb surely?”
Another added: “Obviously Caleb is the culprit.”
“Nothing on CCTV? Caleb is looking very guilty! How convenient. Also, interesting that he was so quick to point to Joe,” a third commented.
A fourth fan penned: “I’m starting to really think that maybe Caleb did it to frame Joe.”
If Caleb is involved, viewers already think they know the motive. Joe had recently uncovered Caleb’s illegal operation and threatened to expose everything, so framing him for Billy’s attack could solve Caleb’s problem in one move.
But Caleb isn’t the only person with a possible motive. Gabby also warned Billy to watch his back following their split, leaving open the possibility that someone else could be responsible.
For now, fans will have to wait to discover whether Billy survives the attack. And if he regains consciousness, could he finally reveal who really assaulted him?
Read more: Emmerdale summer spoilers see soap female powerhouses thrown into peril
If there was ever a month that proved summer isn’t a quiet time for gaming anymore, August 2026 is it.
From long-awaited sequels and ambitious new RPGs to tactical strategy, survival horror and multiplayer warfare, Xbox players have an excellent selection of releases to look forward to over the coming weeks. Better still, Game Pass subscribers are in for a particularly good month, with two massive hitters arriving on day one.
Whether you’re venturing across a post-apocalyptic Japan alongside a faithful canine companion, surviving the horrors of a flooded Arkham, leading an elite Star Wars squad through the Clone Wars or reliving one of strategy gaming’s greatest classics, August’s new Xbox and Game Pass line-up offers no shortage of variety.
If you’re wondering which Xbox games deserve a place on your wishlist this month, or which games you should be downloading through Game Pass, these are the biggest, most exciting releases landing throughout August.
Best New Xbox and Game Pass Games – August 2026TitleDatePlatformsGame Pass?Play Anywhere?Beast of ReincarnationAugust 4thXbox Series, PC✅✅Hell Let Loose: VietnamAugust 13thXbox Series, PC–✅Defender of the Crown: The Legend ReturnsAugust 13thXbox Series, PC––The Sinking City 2August 18thXbox Series––Mortal Shell IIAugust 20thXbox Series ––Once HumanAugust 25thXbox Series, PC––Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2August 25thXbox One, Xbox Series––Star Wars Zero CompanyAugust 27thXbox Series ––Resonance: A Plague Tale LegacyAugust 27thXbox Series, PC✅✅The biggest Xbox and Game Pass releases landing throughout August 2026
Beast of Reincarnation – August 4th
Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak may be best known for Pokémon, but Beast of Reincarnation couldn’t feel more different.
Instead, this is a striking action RPG set in a haunting vision of post-apocalyptic Japan, where nature has reclaimed much of the landscape and humanity clings desperately to survival. You play as Emma, an outcast burdened by a mysterious affliction, accompanied throughout by Koo, a loyal dog whose bond with the protagonist forms the emotional heart of the experience.
Combat looks pretty flexible too. Whether you prefer charging headfirst into battle, striking from afar or adopting a stealthier approach, skill trees, equipment and spirit stones allow you to shape Emma into the kind of warrior you want her to become. Koo isn’t simply tagging along either, with coordinated attacks and companion abilities adding another tactical layer to every encounter.
Beautiful, melancholic and packed with promise, Beast of Reincarnation has all the ingredients to become one of August’s standout adventures – and with a Game Pass Day One launch, there’s every reason to jump in immediately.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
Publisher: Fictions
Developer: GAME FREAK Inc.
Game Pass: Day One
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam – August 13th
Hell Let Loose Vietnam
After establishing itself as one of the finest large-scale military shooters of recent years, Hell Let Loose heads into one of history’s most brutal conflicts.
Trading the battlefields of Europe for the dense jungles of Vietnam, this latest entry promises to retain the tactical teamwork that made the original such a success while introducing an entirely new theatre of war. Helicopters, patrol boats and extensive tunnel networks dramatically change how battles unfold, forcing teams to adapt to a far more unpredictable environment where danger can arrive from almost any direction.
With expansive maps inspired by real-world locations and a host of specialised combat roles available, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam should well deliver another authentic multiplayer experience for players seeking tactical warfare rather than arcade action.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
Publisher: Team17
Developer: Expression Games
Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns – August 13th
Defender of the Crown
For many players, Defender of the Crown remains one of the defining strategy games of the 1980s.
Now, one of Cinemaware’s most iconic releases returns with a modern makeover that respects its heritage while introducing plenty of new ideas. Veterans can relive the original Amiga experience almost exactly as they remember it through Retro Mode, while Classic Mode refreshes the visuals and streamlines the interface for a contemporary audience.
The biggest addition to Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns, however, comes in the shape of Kingdom Mode. Featuring procedurally generated maps, unlockable abilities and additional mechanics that keep every campaign feeling different, it gives returning players a compelling reason to keep coming back long after they’ve conquered England once again.
Castle sieges, jousting tournaments, territorial conquest and political manoeuvring all remain central to the experience, preserving everything that made Defender of the Crown such a landmark release.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Publisher: Cinemaware
Developer: Cinemaware
The Sinking City 2 – August 18th
The Sinking City 2
Few developers understand Lovecraftian horror quite like Frogwares, and The Sinking City 2 looks ready to push even deeper into cosmic terror.
Moving the action to a flood-ravaged version of 1920s Arkham, this sequel shifts its focus firmly towards survival horror. Supplies are scarce, every encounter carries genuine danger and careful exploration is often rewarded far more than reckless aggression. Managing your inventory, unlocking shortcuts and deciding when to fight – or when to retreat – all become essential parts of staying alive.
Arkham itself promises to be one of the game’s greatest achievements. From abandoned hospitals and decaying markets to submerged streets and hidden eldritch ruins, every environment appears drenched in atmosphere. Alongside the terrifying monsters lurking beneath the floodwaters sits a more personal mystery, as your desperate search for the woman you love slowly uncovers a far darker conspiracy.
For fans of the original The Sinking City, psychological horror and Lovecraft’s unsettling mythology, The Sinking City 2 could easily become one of the year’s most memorable releases.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
Publisher: Frogwares
Developer: Frogwares
Mortal Shell II – August 20th
Mortal Shell II
Soulslike fans won’t have to wait long before another brutally demanding challenge arrives.
Mortal Shell II builds upon the foundations of the original Mortal Shell while significantly expanding almost every aspect of the experience. Combat has become faster, more fluid and considerably more expressive, removing traditional stamina limitations in favour of relentless aggression and rewarding skilful execution.
The world itself also appears far more ambitious than before. Rather than a series of isolated locations, players can freely explore an interconnected landscape packed with more than sixty optional dungeons, powerful weapons and grotesque enemies guarding every path forward.
If Cold Symmetry can successfully balance challenge with exploration, Mortal Shell II has every chance of becoming one of the standout Soulslikes of 2026.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
Publisher: Playstack
Developer: Cold Symmetry
Once Human – August 25th
Once Human
Few survival games have generated as much buzz over the last couple of years as Once Human, and now Xbox players finally get the chance to discover what all the excitement is about.
Set in a sprawling open world devastated by the mysterious Stardust infection, Once Human blends survival mechanics, base building and multiplayer action into a compelling sandbox where no two adventures are ever quite the same. As one of the few Meta-Humans capable of harnessing the strange substance rather than succumbing to it, you’ll battle grotesque creatures, gather resources and carve out your own place in a world that has long since fallen apart.
Players will head into frozen wastelands and dense forests, as well as deserts, volcanoes and swamplands, while a deep building system allows you to construct elaborate fortresses complete with traps, workshops and living quarters.
Throw in the wonderfully bizarre Deviants – strange companions that can help gather resources, defend your base and even cook meals – and Once Human looks set to become another addictive multiplayer survival obsession.
Better still, it’s completely free to play, making it one of August’s easiest recommendations.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Publisher: NetEase Interactive Entertainment
Developer: NetEase Interactive Entertainment
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 – August 25th
Aliens Fireteam Elite 2
If the original Aliens: Fireteam Elite captured the frantic chaos of battling Xenomorph swarms, its sequel looks determined to make every encounter even more desperate.
This time around, four-player co-op takes centre stage, allowing larger squads to combine specialised classes, unique abilities and customised loadouts as they push through increasingly hostile missions. Teamwork has clearly become an even greater priority, with each class designed to complement the others rather than simply surviving alone.
The Xenomorphs themselves have also evolved. Smarter enemy behaviour, larger swarms and greater variety promise to keep players constantly adapting, while a fully customisable Specialist class allows you to mix and match abilities from across the game’s roster to create your ideal Colonial Marine.
Returning Horde Mode should provide endless replayability too, challenging squads to survive escalating waves of terrifying creatures while earning increasingly valuable rewards.
For anyone who’s ever dreamed of stepping into the boots of a Colonial Marine, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 looks ready to deliver another tense, action-packed trip into one of science fiction’s most iconic universes.
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
Developer: Cold Iron Studios
Star Wars Zero Company – August 27th
Star Wars Zero Company
The Star Wars universe has seen its fair share of strategy games over the years, but Zero Company feels like a proper return to classic tactical storytelling.
Set during the twilight of the Clone Wars, you command an elite squad assembled to confront a growing threat before it consumes the galaxy. Rather than focusing on massive battles, Star Wars: Zero Company appears to thrive on carefully planned operations where positioning, squad composition and intelligent decision-making determine success.
Between missions you’ll recruit operatives, strengthen relationships and customise both your squad leader Hawks and the wider team, creating a force that reflects your own tactical preferences. Jedi, clone soldiers, astromechs and scoundrels all offer unique abilities that can be combined in countless ways.
With cinematic storytelling underpinning every operation and meaningful player choice shaping each campaign, Star Wars Zero Company could easily become one of the year’s biggest surprises – especially for fans of turn-based strategy.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
Publisher: EA
Developer: Bit Reactor
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy – August 27th (Game Pass Day One)
RESONANCE A Plague Tale Legacy
Closing out the month is what may well become August’s biggest story-driven adventure.
Rather than continuing Amicia and Hugo’s tale directly, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy travels fifteen years into the past to follow Sophia, the fierce smuggler introduced in Requiem. Her search for answers leads to the mysterious Minotaur’s Island, where ancient myths, deadly puzzles and relentless enemies combine to create a fresh chapter within Asobo Studio’s acclaimed universe.
While familiar themes of survival and emotional storytelling remain intact, Sophia’s adventure introduces a stronger emphasis on melee combat, agile exploration and environmental puzzle solving. A mysterious Minoan sphere allows players to manipulate light itself, opening new paths and revealing long-forgotten secrets buried deep beneath the island.
Launching straight into Game Pass on day one, we suspect that Resonance will become essential playing.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Developer: Asobo Studio
Game Pass: Day One
August Delivers One Of Xbox’s Strongest Months Yet
August may arrive towards the end of summer, but there’s certainly no shortage of reasons to keep the Xbox switched on.
Whether you’re embarking on the emotional journey of Beast of Reincarnation, surviving the nightmarish streets of The Sinking City 2, mastering the unforgiving combat of Mortal Shell II, commanding elite operatives in Star Wars Zero Company, or uncovering ancient mysteries in Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, this month’s line-up offers remarkable variety.
Game Pass subscribers are particularly well served too, while multiplayer fans have plenty to dive into thanks to Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, Once Human and Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2.
Throw in the welcome return of Defender of the Crown, and August feels like one of the most balanced release months of the year – mixing blockbuster adventures with inventive indies, tactical experiences and multiplayer action in equal measure.
As always, let us know what you’ll be playing. The comments are below.
The Princess Ladybug Plush is the newly added plush in Palia, alongside the Shimmerfly Plush. It is one of the rare plushes in the game with high demand. Players are constantly farming the Princess Ladybug bug to get the Princess Ladybug Plush. In this guide, we will tell you how to get the Princess Ladybug Plush in Palia.
How to Get the Princess Ladybug Plush in Palia
The Princess Ladybug Plush is a rare drop from catching the Princess Ladybug. The Princess Ladybug is one of the rare bugs in the game that spawns along the coast of Kilima Lake in Kilima Valley at any time. Players can easily find a Princess Ladybug while traversing along the coastal areas in Kilima Valley. A few of the hot spots where the Princess Ladybug often spawns are Whispering Banks, Fisherman’s Lagoon, Remembrance Beach, Gillyfin Cove, and Leafhopper Hills.
How to Catch Princess Ladybug in Palia
Catching the Princess Ladybug is a bit more difficult than other bugs, as it moves fast by crawling in a straight line. They are easy to spot, and while running through the coastal areas in Kilima Valley, keep your eyes on the ground for any movement.
Additionally, stunning the Princess Ladybug will require multiple Smoke Bombs, so make sure you bring enough to stun it when you find it. If the Princess Ladybug gets alerted, it will try to flee by crawling. It is best to throw the Sticky Smoke Bombs on it to slow it down and then use the regular Smoke Bombs to stun it.
After stunning the Princess Ladybug, simply go near it and interact with it to pick it up. The Princess Ladybug also has a chance of dropping a 1-7 Silk Thread. If you are lucky, it will drop the Princess Ladybug Plush.
Best Tips to Get the Princess Ladybug Plush Quickly
Here are some of the best tips that can help you get the plush quickly.
Most of the players are farming the Princess Ladybug in the areas of Bahari Bay.
Join other players to farm alongside them.
Place down a Honey Lure at one of the spawn locations of the Princess Ladybug to farm it.
As you stun many mantises, you will have a high chance of getting the plush drop.
