This month, PC Gamer gets world-exclusive access to Planet Zoo 2, the ridiculously ambitious and impressive new management sim from Frontier Developments. For our huge, authoritative cover feature, PC Gamer travelled to Frontier Developments’ Cambridge headquarters, got up close and personal with the game for multiple hours, and then interviewed seven key devs about all aspects of the game. The result is your ultimate one-stop shop for Planet Zoo 2 information, including stunning, never-before-seen images. This isn’t just shaping up to be the best animal management game ever, but the best management sim full stop when it launches in October this year.
There’s another awesome feature in this issue of PC Gamer, too. The fountain of love for the FPS genre never runs dry here at PC Gamer. And, for good reason, too. The FPS was born on PC and, despite incursions by a few console-leaning series such as Call of Duty, still thrives first and foremost on PC, with a greater selection of top shooters available to play on it than on any other platform. As such, the PC Gamer team has come together to decide upon the FPS games that we recommend gamers should play today in 2026, ranging from immersive single-player adventures, to hyper competitive online milisims.
This issue comes loaded with a dynamite preview section, too. Leading the assault this month is the adrenaline-inducing action flight game Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. And, we’re pleased to say that, after our dedicated hands-on time playing the game, this is truly looking like a thrilling experience, with hyper-detailed jet fighters dogfighting it out in some of the most luscious-looking skyboxes we’ve ever seen. If you’ve got the need for speed (and plenty of big explosions), then this is looking like a total treat. In addition, we also preview Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Tides of Annihilation, Frontier Legends, Subnautica 2, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, and Denshattack!.
Meanwhile, in terms of reviews, this issue features definitive judgments on Forza Horizon 6, Directive 8020, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, 007 First Light, Mixtape, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, among other games.
Cover feature: Planet Zoo 2
Written by: Robert Jones
Magazine exclusive: Until July 27th, 2026
What’s in this month’s cover story: For this issue’s all-access, world-exclusive cover feature, PC Gamer travels to Frontier Developments’ headquarters and interviews no less than seven key developers about its ambitious new animal management sim. If you like the idea of using an incredible suite of creative tools to build the zoo or wildlife reserve of your dreams, then this game is going to be like Christmas coming early.
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Additional content in this month’s issue
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Our lead preview this issue sees us go hands-on with Bandai Namco’s thrilling new action flight game, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, for multiple hours of explosive dogfighting and tactical strikes. And, we’re pleased to report that if you’ve got the need for speed, then this is looking like the genuine Top Gun experience.
Our lead review this issue sees us pass judgment on the latest installment in the Forza Horizon open-world racing series. And while our reviewer finds it is very much business as usual in terms of overall quality, this game’s Japanese setting really elevates the high-octane driving action. It’s time to burn some rubber in and around Tokyo.
Ever wanted to save more of the scientists in Half-Life’s labyrinthian Black Mesa complex? Well, if so, then this is the mod for you. Half-Life: Lemmings reworks the original Half-Life, as well as the AI powering its beloved boffins, so that Gordon Freeman can help shepherd them to safety. We install the mod and report in.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Gray Matter Studios’ Return to Castle Wolfenstein remains a cult-classic FPS for many in the PC gaming community, delivering plenty of Nazi-slaying, supernatural shooting action. However, is its reputation today overblown? We fire up our flamethrower and go fascist hunting to find out.
In the dramatic final installment of our Total War: Warhammer 3 diary, PC Gamer’s Matthew Elliott finds out what happens when you try to play this classic grand strategy game as an undead faction that, counterintuitively, you might think, protects humans at all costs, doesn’t ally with other undead factions, and remains firmly in their home territory. Will it end in tears or triumph?
How AI was tricked to help build bombs
This month’s special report explores a fascinating study where academics at two Italian universities managed to repeatedly circumvent AI safeguards so that they could trick them into supplying information and instructions that could be used to build bombs.
With video meetings, in-game streaming, and video content creation on the rise, looking good on camera has never been more important. That’s why in this issue, the PC Gamer hardware team reviews and rates six of the most notable webcams on the market today, appraising them for image quality and features.
Now Playing: The PC Gamer team writes about their adventures in Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Bloodletter, Sable, and Crabmeat.
They’re Back: Matthew Elliott re-reviews Resident Evil: Village, Bramble: The Mountain King, and Pendragon.
Making of: Rick Lane speaks to Nightdive Studios about how it went about reconstructing System Shock’s iconic Citadel Station.
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