We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Summit Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of "Playing the Edge." Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. I have returned from my small staycation, and my first revelation is that apparently everyone is scared of the incredibly crowded October coming this year. In Rapid Succession, both Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Alan Wake 2 shifted their release dates to avoid the middle of the month, where Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros Wonder and Lords of the Fallen battle for dominance. All this is to say … this has been an amazing year for games so far and I can’t believe we’re only half-done.Microsoft also announced recently that it’s shutting down the Xbox 360 marketplace just shy of its 20th birthday. While the company appears eager to reassure everyone this won’t present a problem for game owners, I can’t help but think that something will be lost. An analysis from VGC suggests that over 200 games could be lost when the marketplace shuts down, and that peeves me to no end. But if nothing else, hopefully it won’t feel as melancholy as the 3DS eShop closure.In the meantime, we have several new announcements this week, including the addition of an 8-strike system to Xbox. Baldur’s Gate 3 appears to be soaring high while Overwatch 2 seems to be floundering somewhat. Activision dropped a trailer for Modern Warfare 3 that has me wondering who’s going to die this time. It’s been a fun week to come back from time off — enough happened this week to keep me interested.In personal news, I can confirm that I’m playing Starfield for review, which will hopefully be done on August 31! That’s assuming I don’t get hopelessly lost — and after playing three other RPGs in rapid succession, that’s a distinct possibility. I’ll have to wrap up my Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough in short order, or I’m really going tax what few brain cells remain functioning after so many excellent games.What’s new:New on subscription services:GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.Enjoy access to special events, private newsletters and more.© 2023 VentureBeat. All rights reserved.