Minecraft Dungeons II, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch, PC: New Gameplay, graphics, characters for gamers on the way

New video games are on the way this week on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch and PC and gamers can try their luck. "Minecraft Dungeons II" is releasing on Tuesday and "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve" will be available on October 2.

The world of Minecraft has expanded well beyond computers, with books, Lego sets, all sorts of merchandise and even a hit movie. But developer Mojang is still in the video game business, and its latest spinoff is "Minecraft Dungeons II".

It takes the familiar blocky characters — and maybe a chicken or two — and drops them into an uncharted new dimension called the Sift. You can play solo or join forces with up to three friends to battle the mobs threatening to invade the Overworld.


The quest begins on Tuesday on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch and PC.

As "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve" begins, things are looking rough in Strangereal, Bandai Namco’s alternate-universe Earth. The Federation of Central Usea has been invaded by the Republic of Sotoa, but despite the rout, the FCU still has a few fighter jets at its disposal.

It’s up to you and your wingmen to reclaim the skies over your homeland. The Ace Combat series has been delivering high-flying dogfighting action for 30 years now, and the latest chapter promises state-of-the-art graphics and exotic new weapons.

Gamers can play the new video game on Friday, October 2, on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analysts said earlier this year that advanced artificial intelligence tools could help cut down video game developing costs by nearly half, potentially unlocking about $22 billion ​in annual profits for game makers worldwide

The adoption of ‌AI tools to automate tasks such as creating gaming environments, generating dialogue and testing software could help shorten production timelines and reduce costs, helping lift margins over time, the brokerage said.

The Wall Street brokerage estimates global consumer spending on video games ⁠will total $275 billion this year, with roughly 20%, or about $55 billion, set to be ​reinvested in game development and operations.

Typically expensive and labor intensive, game development could become leaner ​as AI enables smaller teams and faster post-launch improvements, Morgan Stanley added.

The scale of modern game development is illustrated by Take-Two Interactive's Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the industry's most anticipated titles, that is being developed since around 2018 - five years after the release of GTA V. It is currently slated for a November 2026 launch after multiple delays.