Happytown Applesauce

Here's a high level summary of the June 2026 gaming landscape in the United States using Google Trends. The month was driven by high-profile summer reveals (like the Xbox Games Showcase and PlayStation State of Play), highly anticipated remakes, and massive pre-order surges, Google Trends data shows a fascinating mix of upcoming blockbusters, brand-new releases, and nostalgic anniversaries. Here is the top 25 list of games that dominated search interest across the U.S. in June 2026, including their current trend drivers. 1. Grand Theft Auto VI Summary: Rockstar's upcoming open-world epic set in Vice City. Trend Insight: Blew past every other game on Google Trends this month as pre-orders officially went live. Search interest spiked massively for the $99.99 "Ultimate Edition," which instantly topped the PS Store charts nationwide ahead of its November launch. 2. Star Fox (Remake / Rebirth) Summary: A ground-up reimagining of Nintendo’s classic sci-fi rail shooter...

KCD2 Part 2: Istvan Toth, Closed Churches, and a Terrible Sign

This is my second post as I meander my increasingly bummed way through Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. ------------ Istvan Toth Istvan Toth is a recurring character central to Henry's development, featuring in both Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel. In KCD2, the player learns that Toth has a deep bond with Erik, whom he raised from a young age. The narrative includes moments that suggest a potentially romantic dimension to their relationship, including a scene observed by Henry. When confronted, Toth provides his backstory with Erik (whom he groomed from childhood) and then engages Henry in a dialogue where he suggests they share similarities. This interaction occurs against the backdrop of Henry's own developing close relationship with Hans Capon. The game thus presents a complex relationship that some may interpret as crossing moral boundaries. The relative absence of critical analysis of this element within video game journalism and commentary is worth noting. Closed C...

Impressions on Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look

Rockstar is in the final days before the titanic launch of one of the most popular franchises in modern gaming. Here are a few thoughts on the " extended look ." 1. Hardline After finishing the half-hour preview, my first thought went to Battlefield Hardline (2015), a game of which I revisit more than others in my library. I remember it made GTA V feel more like a cartoon at the time. Looking back at clips, it certainly still does. I also got Cyberpunk vibes at the opening of the preview. Nothing wrong with that, of course. 2. Tired My first experience with GTA was GTA 2 on the Sega Dreamcast, probably around the year 2000. While later on in life I played Vice City, my next GTA was San Andreas on the Xbox, then IV and V in order. Looking at VI, it seems like it retains the DNA of SA, IV, and V with Red Dead 2 light mechanics. I'm sure it'll be enjoyable, but I've played this game many times before. I suspect they know that as well, at least for the 30+ year-old de...

Google Trends Game Report: JANUARY 2026

Here are the top 25 video games by search trend volume in the U.S. for January 2026: 1 Roblox (Consistently the #1 searched gaming entity in the US) 2 Fortnite (Driven by the "Chapter 7" mid-season event) 3 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition launch and 3.0 update) 4 Minecraft (Sustained volume) 5 Grand Theft Auto VI (Sustained "Upcoming" trend volume) 6 Hytale (Massive breakout following its January 13 release) 7 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S launch) 8 Code Vein II (Highly anticipated Bandai Namco sequel) 9 MIO: Memories in Orbit (The month's top-trending indie breakout) 10 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Primary competitive shooter search) 11 Highguard (New hero shooter from Respawn Entertainment veterans) 12 Cairn (Hardcore climbing survival sim; viral on Twitch and social) 13 Pathologic 3 (Leading the "Psychological Horror" trend for January) 14 The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Open-world anime RPG launch) 1...

Google Trends Game Report: JULY 2026

GOOGLE TRENDS SUMMARY: Here is the comprehensive top 20 list of trending video games across the United States for July 2026, featuring major new blockbuster releases, high-profile remakes, major updates, and community-driven hits: -------------- 1. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows Description: A thorough current-gen overhaul of Ubisoft's fan-favorite 2013 pirate adventure, upgrading the Caribbean exploration, naval warfare, and parkour mechanics. Why it was trending: Launching on July 9, it dominated U.S. search charts as players flocked back to the high seas for Edward Kenway's journey with enhanced graphics and new dynamic weather systems. 2. Halo: Campaign Evolved Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam) Description: A ground-up Unreal Engine 5 remake of the seminal 2001 Xbox sci-fi shooter, featuring completely overhauled visuals, modern controls, and supplementary campaign scenarios. Why it ...

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