The Elder Scrolls is no longer just role-playing games. Well, it's no longer just single-player RPGs. Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim transformed The Elder Scrolls into a global phenomenon. But it's also now the massively multiplayer online RPG, The Elder Scrolls Online, and--just recently heading into open beta--The Elder Scrolls: Legends.

Legends wants a slice of that collectible card game pie. It'll occupy the same space currently dominated by Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering and, to a lesser degree, simply because the mechanics are so different, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game.

The Elder Scrolls, thanks to the hundreds (hundreds!) of in-game books, has always had plenty of lore to draw upon. Not to mention the hundreds of characters populating its high-fantasy setting. Combining that fact with a bunch of lovely artwork makes it pretty easy to assemble a full deck of playing cards to do online battle with other Elder Scrolls: Legends players.

I just downloaded the open beta. Card games aren't my forte, but I have more hours of my life invested in The Elder Scrolls than I do in Warcraft, so there's a slim chance I'll fire up Legends more times than Hearthstone. A slim chance. Here are some screenshots and card art to pique your interest.

           

The US Army developed an in-house disaster response video game called Disaster Sim (the initial scenario deals with responding to an earthquake in Guatamala). Pope Francis doesn't want you to be a video game-playing couch potato, he wants you to engage in social activism and politics to create a more just world. And somebody is designing a point-and-click adventure game based on Netflix's summer smash, Stranger Things (a cease and desist letter is probably, unfortunately, already in the mail).

What are you playing this weekend?

Russell Archey, Staff Writer, @NeoScyther
For probably the first time since I started working retail, I took a full two weeks off work. That means my gaming backlog is going to love me. First on my list is Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim. I've come close to finishing Ys Origins, making it to the final boss before getting annihilated multiple times, and I'm not fond of the combat system of the first two games in the series, so I decided to skip ahead to the sixth. So far I'm really enjoying it. I've also been working through WWE 2K16's My Career Mode and chronicling my journey over on YouTube. Within five months I've captured the NXT Championship, but decided to stay on NXT to work on improving my character. If I can somehow retire with a Hall of Fame induction just by being NXT Champion, I'd be all for it. A major Hall of Fame requirement is holding any title for a full year, not sure if NXT title counts, though.

Sean Colleli, Staff Writer, @scolleli
While I understand Randy's dilemma, I'm trying to keep from spoiling too much No Man's Sky for myself. With prerelease copies in the wild and the typical clickbait brigade shouting gloom and doom, I'm keeping distracted by replaying Deus Ex: Human Revolution in anticipation for Mankind Divided in a couple weeks. Human Revolution is one of my all-time favorite games, and it looks like Eidos Montreal is outdoing themselves with the sequel.

Chapel Collins, Staff Writer, @ChapelCollins
It's looking like a Bethesda-heavy weekend for me. I finally got around to getting DOOM from the Bethesda sale, and as I was downloading it, I was reminded that I never quite finished Fallout 3's. I may try to finally wrap that up, eight years later.

Jeremy Duff, Senior Staff Writer, @Duff3c
You mean people actually play something other than Pokemon GO? Yes, I am one of those people who is helplessly addicted to the game. I spent quite a bit of time blaming my relationship with the game on the fact that I have a young daughter. But I am afraid that I just can't hide behind that anymore. My daily routine now consists of evening strolls through Columbus's various local parks in an attempt to add just one more Pokemon to my ever-growing roster of creatures. Sure, the game has a lot of technical problems, but I am enjoying every second of both the gaming experience and the local community playing alongside of me. When I am not out exploring the world and looking for imaginary creatures, I am going to be digging into A.W.: Pheonix Festa on the Vita. I love a good action-RPG, and am hoping that this anime-based adventure is strong enough to captivate me. We shall see in my upcoming review.

Charles Husemann, Editor-in-Chief, @chusemann
This weekend I'll be joining nearly 7,700 bicycle riders for the Pelotonia ride to raise money for cancer research. It's a pretty amazing event as the route is lined with cancer survivors and their families who cheer you on as you pass. This year I'll be riding for my Aunt Mary who had a brief but difficult battle with lung cancer last year. She was an amazing and funny woman who was taken from us way too soon.  I'm still riding Sarah (https://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/Meet-Sarahs-Mech---Two-Wheeled-Edition/Item30664.aspx) the bike with stickers from the MechWarrior Online fundraiser and I'll probably get a few sessions in on Sunday after I recover from the ride.

Randy Kalista, Staff Writer, @randykalista
I clutch my chest and cough up blood. It pools around my feet. I have visions of oily rain falling up into the sky, and inhuman creatures stalking my dying breaths. I am the Hyper Light Drifter. And I am Randy's favorite new game this year. That is, until the No Man's Sky hype train finally hollers, "All aboard!" to the millions of us waiting in the station until next week. Until then, I've seen Randy flipping frantically through sci-fi classics on his library shelf, trying to shoehorn in literary parallels to his future experience with No Man's Sky. He's going to turn this place into a thinkpiece hell.

 John Yan, Senior Hardware Editor, @TheJohnYan
So this weekend I have the in-laws coming, which means I won't get much playing time in. But, I'll probably fire up Fallout 4 and try to do a little construction in making an ammo factory. I run out of my .45 a lot shooting my favorite weapon that I've named, Spray 'N Pray. If there's any time left in the weekend, maybe some Out of Ammo and Pool Nation VR will be in order.

Get ready to discover new life because a new species pack for the sci-fi strategy game Stellaris has been released! The Stellaris: Planatoids Species Pack contains new templates for plant-styled military and civilian ships, fifteen new species portraits, and new art for the Planatoids' cities. The new pack is available for $7.99 on PC and be sure to check out the release trailer below: 

Back in February of this year, Mad Catz went through a very rough stretch, having massive turnover with executives and laying off over 60% of their staff.  Fast forward to yesterday when Mad Catz released their earnings for 1st Qtr 2017 and updated investors on their restructuring plans.  The picture is still bleak, as they took massive losses on the left over Rock Band 4 inventory tied to severing ties with Harmonix along with what appears to be major sales decreases in core products and brands.

Mad Catz leadership continues to blame the Rock Band 4 partnership for the poor results. Per Mad Catz CFO David McKeon, “…Rock Band 4 continues to have a negative effect on our financial performance and we continue to have working capital constraints, we are confident that we can further strengthen our business and deliver a more sustained operating performance for our shareholders by the end of the 2017 fiscal year.”

However, the companies sales trends for the past three months seem to paint a different picture as did investors who have continued to hammer what is left of the meager stock price.  The Americas are actually did ok with a 7% increase over the prior quarter (likely due to clearance Rock Band 4 peripherals), but the EMEA (European) and APAC (Asian-Pacific) sales were atrocious, down 29% and 37% respectively.  Those markets tend to be purchasers of Mad Catz core products such as gaming headsets, fight sticks and specialty controllers, so that has to be a disappointment regardless of how the financials were presented.

With constraints on working capital and slowdown in sales, Mad Catz appears to still be in a struggle to get back to where they want to be if they can avoid bankruptcy.  I personally think they should shed some of the more valuable brands (Saitek and Tritton) they have acquired over the years to get back to their core controller and fight stick business.  Regardless, take a look at the key points presented to investors and the street:

Key Highlights of Fiscal 2017 First Quarter and Subsequent:

• Fiscal 2017 first quarter net sales decreased 17% to $10.8 million, driven by a 29% decrease in net sales to EMEA and a 37% decrease in net sales to APAC, offset partially by a 7% increase in net sales to the Americas;
• Gross margin declined to (1.0%) from 22.2% in the prior year quarter, driven by $2.7 million of charges related to Rock Band 4 for price reductions with retailers and write-downs of inventory and other assets
• Total operating expenses decreased 31% from the prior year period to $4.6 million as the Company realized the benefits of restructuring activities undertaken during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016
• Operating loss was ($4.7 million) compared to ($3.8 million) in the prior year
• Diluted net loss per share was ($0.07) compared to ($0.05) in the prior year
• Net position of bank loans, less cash and restricted cash, was $9.4 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $13.0 million at March 31, 2016 and $5.8 million at June 30, 2015
• Sold no shares under the “At-the-Market” (“ATM”) equity offering program
• Announced the initial details of the newest addition to the Tritton audio range: the ARK™ series
• Shipped the “Designed for Samsung” version of the Micro C.T.R.L.R™ Mobile Gamepad
• Shipped the X-56 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. Advanced Flight Control System™, the Company’s newest addition to its Saitek Pro Flight Range of PC-based simulation accessories
• Shipped the Tritton Katana HD 7.1 DTS surround sound gaming headset, the first HDMI-powered gaming headset and a 2016 CES Innovation Award Honoree
• Agreement with Harmonix for Rock Band 4 was terminated resulting in a 120-day wind-down period, ending September 6, 2016, to sell remaining $7.1 million of Rock Band 4 inventory.  

Capcom announced earlier today that their Free monthly DLC series for Monster Hunters Generations begins today, with the availability of first monthly DLC pack.  Today’s pack (Aug DLC) allows the Felyne characters to have a canine look with a set based on Amaterasu from Okami or the ability to suit up as Link from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker.  In addition to the gear sets, the pack includes 10 new quests, armor sets and weapons for both hunters and Felynes.  Take a look below at the release trailer and some of the images.

Harmonix is partnering with Gamestop to get a little exposure to their upcoming Rock Band expansion, Rock Band Rivals.  This weekend at the Watkins Glen road course for the NASCAR Zippo 200 at the Glen, driver Erik Jones will be sporting a white Rock Band Rivals and Gamestop paint scheme on the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Toyota Camry.

Joe Gibbs Racing has had a long standing relationship with Gamestop and its partners, with many gaming themed paint schemes over the years.  If you want to check out the car during the race, it will be on CNBC this Saturday (8/6) at 2:00p EST.

One bonus, Harmonix has promised to announce the full August DLC schedule early if Jones finishes in the Top 5 of the race, although we will still have to wait to the actual week the tracks are scheduled for to get them.

Harmonix dropped the names of the bands that will be part of the August DLC for Rock Band 4 (including this week), and it is an interesting collection with several stretching the spirit of what would be a “rock band”.

Included will be Counting Crows, Heart, Winger, Vertical Horizon and Tonic, with tracks also from Niki Minaj, Robin Thick eft Pharrell, Jason Mraz, The Barbazons and Belinda Carlisle.  This week, Counting Crows “Mr. Jones” and Robin Thicke's ft Pharrell “Blurred Lines” were made available.  All tracks are $1.99 each as usual.

If you're a Disney fanatic or gamer during the 90s you probably remember the 16-bit games Disney The Lion King, Disney the Jungle Book, and Disney Aladdin. Players looking to relive the games again or looking to add to their Walt Disney collection will be excited to hear that Disney and GOG.com have teamed up to bring three of the classics back to PC! Exclusively available on GOG.com, all three of the games have been updated to work with modern operating systems while preserving the classic sounds, graphics, and gameplay. The games can be purchased separately for $9.99 ($8.99 at launch) or together as a bunch for $19.99.

What is better than a great skateboarding game? How about 2 great skateboarding games in a single package?! OlliOlli: Epic Combo Edition offers gamers just that and it is making its way to retail stores on August 9, 2016.

This package brings together two fantastic digital titles along with a slew of exclusive content and bonuses. In addition to getting both the original OlliOlli and OlliOlli 2, the package will feature three making-of documentaries, a studio booklet, and the official OlliOlli 2 soundtrack.

Still not convinced that this is worth picking up? Then check out our reviews of both games, which can be found here and here.

If anyone has a good chance of winning the King of Fighters tournament, surely it is a team of highly trained mercenaries, right? We’ll find out in just a few short weeks when the Ikari Warriors team joins the roster of King of Fighters XIV. The trio of Colonel Ralf Jones, Lieutenant Clark Still, and Leona Heidern are true soldiers. Each one is a highly trained operative and together they are truly a force to be reckoned with.

The King of fighters XIV is set to launch exclusively on the PlayStation 4 on August 23, 2016. If you would like to get a taste of the action ahead of time, there is a playable demo readily available on the PlayStation Store.