This week’s GamingLeaksAndRumours thread is on fire with major developments across multiple franchises. From confirmed cover athletes to mysterious studio leaks and postmortem documents from canceled projects, the gaming rumor mill delivered non-stop this past week. Here’s your complete breakdown of what happened and what it means for 2026 gaming.
The discussion thread serves as the central hub where these stories collide, with thousands debating credibility, speculating on reveals, and sharing screenshots. Four major stories dominated conversations, each carrying significant implications for the coming year.
MLB The Show 26 – Aaron Judge Returns
The week kicked off with confirmed news rather than rumors. San Diego Studio revealed Aaron Judge as MLB The Show 26’s cover athlete on January 27, marking his second appearance after MLB The Show 18. The Yankees captain – fresh off his third AL MVP award – appears in Team USA World Baseball Classic uniform, hinting at Diamond Dynasty content.
Release date lands March 17, 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with Digital Deluxe early access starting March 13. Pre-orders open February 3 alongside a gameplay trailer. New features include improved pitch effects, mid-career Road to the Show progression, enhanced fielding mechanics, and new hitting options like Bear Down and PCI Sensitivity.
Judge joins Joe Mauer as only the second player with multiple cover appearances. His 2025 season featured a .331 batting title, 53 home runs (most ever by a batting champion), and AL records in intentional walks. The timing coincides perfectly with 2026 WBC captaincy announcement.
GTA 6 – Mid-February Tease
Polish outlet PPE.pl dropped the week’s biggest speculation bomb, with insider Graczdari claiming more GTA 6 information arrives mid-February 2026. Take-Two’s February 5 earnings call timing fuels speculation of major reveals including box art, gameplay trailer, or physical release details.
Physical edition rumors dominate discussions, suggesting digital-only launch to prevent leaks like 2022’s 90-file disaster. Reports claim physical copies might arrive 3-4 weeks post-launch or not until 2027. Tom Henderson reportedly backs the claims, though Rockstar stays silent.
November 19, 2026 remains official despite two delays and recent 31-employee layoffs. CEO Strauss Zelnick expresses “high confidence” in schedule, but Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier questions content completeness. Multiplayer leaks reveal 32-player sessions from court documents.
Elsewhere Entertainment’s Mystery RPG
Activision’s secretive Warsaw studio stole headlines with eXtas1s leak detailing their debut AAA IP. The third-person open-world RPG aims to rival GTA/Cyberpunk with contemporary fantasy setting, parkour+firearms+magic combat, realistic destruction, and multiplayer.
Studio veterans from The Last of Us, Uncharted, Witcher, Cyberpunk, Destiny, and Division staff the team. Launched May 2024 with transmedia ambitions, the project likely targets 2028-2029 release. Leaks describe stats-based progression, lifelike vehicles, and fluid movement rivaling Dying Light.
Warsaw’s gaming hub status grows with Larian’s recent studio opening. Activision positions this as narrative-driven franchise beyond gaming, accessing full company resources post-Microsoft acquisition.
Prince of Persia Sands of Time – Postmortem Leak
The week’s darkest story came from Ubisoft’s canceled remake. Complete 2024 workshop presentation slides leaked days after January 21 cancellation, revealing pre-alpha concept art, mocap, and development struggles after 2023 studio restart.
19-year-old Prince redesign, badass archer Farah as combat partner, new time powers, ray-traced lighting, and acrobatic combat overhaul defined ambitions. Technical targets (4K/60fps), scope creep, animator turnover, and corporate reprioritization killed the project consuming years and millions.
Mocap actor Eman Ayaz revealed shooting marketing material two months before cancellation, calling it her best performance. Rogue Prince of Persia early access success shows franchise viability despite remake failure.
Weekly Credibility Rankings
| Leak | Source | Credibility | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB The Show 26 | Official Reveal | 100% Confirmed | March Launch Certain |
| GTA 6 Feb News | PPE Graczdari | 75% Likely | Physical Details Expected |
| Elsewhere RPG | eXtas1s | 60% Speculative | 2028+ Timeline |
| PoP Slides | Internal Leak | 100% Authentic | Postmortem Document |
What’s Next
February shapes as massive month. Take-Two earnings call could confirm GTA 6 trajectory. MLB The Show trailer drops with pre-orders. Elsewhere Entertainment maintains radio silence while development continues. Prince of Persia community processes postmortem while Rogue Prince of Persia updates roll out.
Thread discussions reveal broader patterns. Physical media debates intensify ahead of GTA 6. Remake pitfalls dominate post-Ubisoft analysis. New studio ambitions signal post-layoff industry recovery. Activision’s non-CoD investment shows Microsoft diversification strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which leak matters most this week?
MLB The Show 26 cover reveal provides concrete release info. GTA 6 February timing speculation carries biggest industry impact given November launch shadow.
Can we trust eXtas1s on Elsewhere Entertainment?
Mixed record. Accurate on Game Pass titles, speculative elsewhere. Details align with studio mission though. Treat as educated guess until official reveal.
Why did Prince of Persia remake fail?
Scope creep, 2023 restart, technical struggles (4K/60fps), animator turnover, corporate reprioritization. Years of sunk costs yielded pre-alpha results.
Will GTA 6 skip physical launch?
Rumored digital-first strategy prevents leaks like 2022 disaster. Physical copies possibly delayed weeks or until 2027. Financial incentives favor digital margins.
When does MLB The Show 26 early access start?
March 13, 2026 for Digital Deluxe pre-orders. Full launch March 17 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch.
Is Elsewhere Entertainment making Call of Duty?
No. Confirmed new AAA narrative IP. First Activision project outside CoD franchise leveraging Last of Us/Uncharted/Witcher talent.
What happens to Prince of Persia franchise?
Rogue Prince of Persia early access succeeds. Remake cancellation doesn’t kill IP. Leaked slides preserve concept art for future reference.
Should I preorder MLB The Show 26 now?
Wait for February 3 trailer. Digital Deluxe guarantees early access if committed. Standard edition sufficient for most players.
The Bigger Picture
This week’s leaks paint 2026 as transitional year. Confirmed launches like MLB The Show balance ambitious speculation around GTA 6 and new IPs. Canceled projects remind industry fragility post-layoffs. Studio diversification signals recovery optimism.
GamingLeaksAndRumours threads thrive because they capture raw anticipation. Half the fun lies in community debate over credibility, timeline speculation, and connecting dots between disparate rumors. Bookmark the discussion thread – next week’s edition promises equally wild developments.