Will this week be one to remember or a damp squib? (Summer Game Fest)
The Monday letters page is loving 007 First Light and its amazing montage, as readers are glad that Fable has been pushed back until next year.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
A promising week It’ll be Monday by the time you show this (if you show it!) and what I’m hoping will be the biggest week for video games this year. We’ve got the State of Play on Tuesday, Summer Game Fest on Friday, and Xbox on Sunday. I’m also seeing rumours of Nintendo on Thursday but if not they’ll be sometime this month I should think.
There’re usually two candidates for the biggest moments on the gaming calendar, with not-E3 week and The Game Awards. Although this year you’ve also got the launch of GTA 6. That’s obviously the biggest overall, but I’m hoping this week will be the biggest in terms of reveals and news and general upbeat-ness.
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We’ve had a few years like this now, but 2026 really is shaping up to be an ugly mixture of great game releases and absolutely everything else about the industry being awful. I’m hoping that this year we get a lot of positive news, not just of new games, but maybe new hardware, lowering prices, and Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft acknowledging the problems and saying they’re going to do better.
I know I’m being naïve there, but I hope we get something to be optimistic about for all three formats. It feels like a long time since we’ve had optimism in anything and it’s starting to wear on me. Crispin
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Yearly Call So Fable is delayed till 2027. I’m surprised Call Of Duty hasn’t been delayed, I know some people would rather play Call Of Duty back in the day. I’d choose Call Of Duty over everything but times really have changed. Wasn’t so long ago Xmas number one was always Call Of Duty, now it’s Battlefield or EA Sports FC but when a company says there going to make $8 billion in the first year of a game coming out everyone knows you don’t release a game a month before or a month after.
Maybe give it a good five months for that and as big as Call Of Duty was it won’t make £1.5 billion in the whole year before the next one comes out, never mind the $8 billion Rockstar are saying it’s hoping it will do. If I was Microsoft, I’d delay it. I really would, because I’ve got a feeling on November 19th, on my friend’s list, it’s going to be saying GTA 6 they’re playing. Call Of Duty is a big game but compared to what GTA 6 is going to be, it’s going to make Call Of Duty look like an ant on a hilltop. David
GC: You are grossly overstating how much Call Of Duty’s popularity has dwindled. Its reveal trailer is now at 48 million after just three days. Plenty of games are coming out within five months of GTA 6, including Fable.
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Back to school Can’t say the Persona 6 leaks were particularly interesting… I mean, the characters have some high school anime designs that are slightly different to the high school anime designs of the last lot. Great, tell us something we don’t know.
However, I wonder where they’re going to take the franchise generally? Persona 5 was such a great realisation of the concept that I’m struggling to come up with something that wouldn’t be a step backwards. It’s as perfect a piece of young adult fiction as I can remember, up there with other media like Harry Potter or Hunger Games. Also, despite the anime inflection the games story is as relevant today as it was in 2016, if not more so. It feels like they had a real lightning in a bottle moment, so no wonder it’s taken them a while to come up with the follow-up.
The quality of Metaphor: ReFantazio shows Atlus still have the talent to pull something out the bag. That game shows where obvious improvements could come about too… in the technology. It’s a great game but the art design carries it and it looks terrible on my 4KTV, it’s basically a PlayStation 3 game. Post Clair Obscura they need to up their game, though Persona 6 has been in development for years at this point, so is likely similar. Even Atlus’s own Shin Megami Tensei 5 in Unreal 4 looks far better, especially after it was ported to modern platforms from Switch. Marc
Best. Montage. Ever. Having just completed the Malta training sections, I’m enjoying 007 First Light. During the opening mission the game did feel like it was on autopilot a bit, but I must say that with regards to the game’s locations, characters, and dialogue the developers really have managed to capture the essence of Bond, and it was a great relief to me that the man himself isn’t annoying at all.
What I found particularly interesting during the Malta training mission was the playable montage. So here the game was cut together just like a film. Bond/the player starred in a series of short playable scenes in slightly different locations. I wonder if this cinematic device has been used in other games. This was the first time that I’ve seen it implemented. I think the technique worked because it gave the player different things to do while driving the narrative forwards at an entertaining pace.
I’m looking forward to seeing what else First Light has to offer. Personally, I’d like a bit more gunplay but otherwise so far so good. Michael Veal (@msv858)
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Max disappointment My PS5 has stopped working in this heat, so I’ve gone back to my Xbox 360 and dug out Max Payne 3. I forgot how good this game is!
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I won’t go on a list about why but it’s hard hitting and the gunplay is second to none. I’m probably the only person on the planet who isn’t interested in GTA 6 but if they ripped off the gameplay from this then I’d buy it on day one.
An absolute classic. Simon
GC: They had the chance to do so with GTA 5, but they didn’t. So the chances seem very slim.
Wise move Sensible decision, I feel, to move Fable back to February 27. I always felt Microsoft made a mistake putting Indiana Jones And The Great Circle out in December. Made the game feel a bit of an afterthought and missed the nominations for that year’s awards.
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It’s why I’m happy to take Microsoft’s reasons for the delay as stated and genuine, rather than just cover for it not being ready. With Wolverine in September, Call Of Duty in October, and GTA 6 in November, along with a lot of other games, it is a busy period.
Microsoft have delayed big games like Starfield and Halo Infinite, after the Craig the Brute mocking, and made no bones about the reason being they’re not ready.
It’s only really haters that respond negatively to delays for that reason. Anyone actually interested in the game would rather a delay and for it to be ready than put out unfinished. Which is why I think Microsoft would of just said that if that was the reason for Fable being moved to next year.
Microsoft even put a funny Easter egg in Halo Infinite for Craig the Brute. I say funny but as they botched the post launch content for that game, it’s more a sad testament to their incompetence rather than taking ownership of their failings.
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Due to things like that I’m really not sure how Fable will turn out. I have my fingers crossed though and if it’s as good as Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, and deserves success, then moving it out of a busy release schedule that includes the most anticipated game ever, so it can enjoy more column inches upon release, is a sound decision. Simundo
Adding to the list Very pleased Microsoft chose to delay Fable. As an Xbox Series X owner I don’t need it this year, just my personal opinion.
And it’s one less game for me to focus on, as I still haven’t found the time for Resident Evil, Forza, or 007 First Light yet, not to mention when and if GTA 6 ever comes out. Besides, they should take their time with Fable and make it decent at least. icelticghost
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Bond is back I completed 007 First Light over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. More Uncharted than Hitman, but you can feel the influences of both.
I really enjoyed switching between melee, guns, and gadgets in combat, in a very satisfying and free-flowing way. There were a few too many situations where the game just has loads of enemies firing at you from all angles though. I died too many times during a particular part near the end.
What I would like to see is a crossover with Agent 47. They’ve already done a Bond mission in Hitman, with Mads back as LeChiffre, so I don’t see why not.
Ideally, they’d have the same event in both games, and you could play as Bond and 47 in their own games and see the same scenario from the different perspectives and skillsets.
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I could see them having a little chat and 47 mentioning he’s never been bothered about having to have a licence in order to kill.
I’ve got the Tacsim side of the game to explore now. I’m hoping it’s not just various combat scenarios and there’s more of the Hitman style investigations and problem solving.
I hope the game sells well and iO can make the next game so heavily signposted by the events at the end. I also hope that whenever they cast the new movie Bond they don’t force him in the game and stick with Patrick Gibson as he was excellent throughout. Euclidian Boxes
Inbox also-rans Any plans to review Necrophosis: Full Consciousness? Art direction and visuals look morbidly interesting. Lizardpudlian
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GC: Not at the moment, no.
Thank you for reminding me of the Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg theme tune, definitely one of the all-time greats! Coursier
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Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two from Connecticut, died after falling 150 feet at Madison Square Garden
Paige Ingram Multimedia Journalist, Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor, Reanna Smith and Somaiyah Hafeez
00:54, 22 Jun 2026Updated 00:59, 22 Jun 2026
A 51 year old man who fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night has been identified as a beloved married father of two from Connecticut.
Paul Kueker plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during the Goose concert, shortly before 10pm on Saturday. His mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post: “He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world, he’d give you the shirt off his back. He took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”
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Kueker had attended the concert with his wife, with whom he has two children. Following the tragic fall, he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to police.
Kueker and his wife were at Goose’s second night at MSG as part of the band’s summer tour. The group concluded its 16-song set at around midnight, reports the Mirror.
A statement from the band read: “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
Concertgoers reported that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 tier down to level 100. The multi-storey venue’s main 100, 200, and 300 seating sections sit at a height equivalent to that of a typical 10-storey building.
One photograph of the alleged incident, shared by a gig-goer on Reddit, showed multiple damaged seats at the venue with police tape sealing off the section.
The band reportedly went on to perform a second set following the incident after a prolonged break. Multiple witnesses confirmed that paramedics carried him out on a stretcher.
Ghana, meanwhile, boast serious talent, including Antoine Semenyo, who scored 17 Premier League goals this season but veteran coach Carlos Queiroz must get the best out of him here.
Date, kick-off time and venue
England vs Ghana is scheduled for a 9pm BST kick-off on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
The match will take place at the Boston Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Where to watch England vs Ghana for FREE
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One with coverage starting at 8pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer or the channel’s website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.
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Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer and their websites.
England vs Ghana team news
Declan Rice and Harry Kane are fit and available for this game, after Tuchel confirmed Rice’s substitution was precautionary, while Kane, pictured with his leg strapped, said he felt physically “good” after the game.
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon
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Home run: Declan Rice in training on Saturday
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Ghana’s star man is Semenyo, but Kamal Deen Sulemana and Inaki Williams offer a threat going forward, while Coventry’s Thomas Brandon-Asante assisted Yirenkyi after coming on, so could start.
They have Thomas Partey available after he was denied entry to Canada and missed their Panama opener.
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Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Anang, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Derrick Luckassen, Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Augustine Boakye, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu, Iñaki Williams, Jordan Ayew
England vs Ghana prediction
England’s second-half display after Tuchel’s half-time intervention produced a dynamic attacking display alien to most people who have watched the Three Lions at the World Cup over the decades.
Ghana were lucky to beat a stolid Panama, so an England win is a foregone conclusion – almost.
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Head to head (h2h) history and results
England vs Ghana match odds
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As many of us head to the seaside to enjoy the nice weather, there are five common habits that could lead to fines of up to £2,500.
These include illegal beach camping, pocketing pebbles, using disposable barbecues, allowing dogs to roam freely, and littering.
Camping on the beach
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While appealing to many, camping remains illegal across much of England’s coastline without permissions.
This is enforced by major landowners such as the National Trust and the Crown Estate.
Visitors caught camping illegally could face fines of up to £1,000.
Taking pebbles
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It seems like a small issue, but taking pebbles, rocks, or plants is also an offence under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, with similar fines in place.
Disposable barbecues
BBQs are banned by many coastal authorities because of the fire and environmental risks they pose.
Visitors who ignore the ban may receive a fixed penalty notice of round £100.
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If you want to bring a picnic, experts recommend using ready‑made food, cold boxes and reusable containers instead of trying to cook on the beach.
Letting dogs roam freely
Dog restrictions are also in place on several beaches under Public Space Protection Orders.
On some beaches, including Roker and Seaburn in Sunderland, dogs are banned from designated sections between 10am and 6pm during the summer months.
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Owners who breach these rules risk a fine of up to £100.
However, not every shoreline is off‑limits, with some stretches of Northumberland coast – such as parts of Bamburgh and Alnmouth – allow dogs all year, often off‑lead in designated areas.
Littering
The final warning on the list, carries the heaviest penalty, with fines reaching £2,500 in serious cases.
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Prosecution is also possible for repeat or persistent offenders.
North Tyneside Council recently placed beach‑toy recycling boxes made from reclaimed pallets along parts of the seafront, encouraging visitors to donate old plastic toys instead of abandoning them on the beach.
Cape Verde pulled off another stunning shock at the 2026 World Cup as they held Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Miami.
The team had already produced a remarkable 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in their opening game, and they added another point to their tally as they took advantage of mistakes in Uruguay’s defensive line.
The man appeared to have a “medical emergency” on board the plane which saw him allegedly bite a passenger and start “trying to fight everybody” triggering the pilot to make an emergency call
A pilot was forced to make a chilling call to air traffic controllers before landing on Sunday as a man allegedly bit another passenger on board.
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The American Airlines flight was landing in Philadelphia when the passenger was “trying to fight everybody” and suddenly got out of control.
Audio from the call from the pilot heard him say: “I don’t know if he’s hallucinating or whatever, but he just bit a passenger, and he’s trying to fight everybody.”
He then requested emergency medical crews and law enforcement before telling a controller in an audio recording obtained by CBS News, “what a day, huh?”
The controller wished him a happy Father’s Day and he responded: “I’ll be sure to tell my daughters about this one.”
American Airlines said in a statement the passenger was experiencing a medical issue, and a medical professional on the plane assisted him before the flight landed.
According to tracking sight FlightAware the flight left Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in the morning, and landed just before 10 am ET.
The news of the passenger’s behaviour follows other incidents onboard flights recently.
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On a Frontier Airlines flight a man allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight, having to be held down by passengers and crew members.
The plane bound for Guatemala City was flying at 36,000 feet at the time of the incident.
On a Lufthansa flight a female passenger attacked somebody on board and it had to make an emergency landing.
Sharp, fearless and brimming with confidence, Lamine Yamal drifted past defenders with ease and injected life into Spain’s attack. There was a sense of inevitability about what would follow.
When the breakthrough came, it was fittingly his.
A low cross flashed across goal and Lamine Yamal arrived at the back post, sliding in to convert and score his first World Cup goal.
The Atlanta stadium erupted as fans cheered, danced and chanted Lamine Yamal’s name. This was the superstar they had come to see.
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Guillem Balague, speaking on 5 Live, said he saw Lamine Yamal walking out looking around like he had just conquered the world.
“Is it arrogance? Or confidence? A mixture of both,” he said. “He is the chosen one, he wants to be the chosen one.
“He is so happy in the role he is taking on as leader of the team. He told me once that his joy when he plays football is seeing the same reaction when he used to play five-a-side.’
Lamine Yamal became the seventh player in history to score at a World Cup before turning 19, and only the second aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a match, the other being a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against Wales in 1958.
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Wayne Rooney was highly complementary of the teenager – the comparisons to Lionel Messi inevitable.
Lamine Yamal has broken many of Messi’s records at Barcelona and now he has pipped him on the global stage, too – the Argentine was just shy of his 19th birthday when he netted his first World Cup goal in 2006, the Spaniard has done it two weeks younger.
“For Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the application and dedication they’ve had is the reason they are both playing in this World Cup,” the former England forward told Match of the Day. “They have done everything right. Hopefully Lamine Yamal can do that.
“What is really impressive to me is when Messi came in to that Barcelona team, there was some top players and a crossover with Ronaldinho.
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“[Lamine Yamal] has come in to the Barcelona and Spain team and it is his team, he is the main man.
“Everyone is looking to him to win. [He was] a big part of winning the Euros and will be a big part of this World Cup. That is what really impresses me, he is taking the pressure on at such a young age. You hope he can do that for the next 15, 20 years.”
Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, said last week that Atkinson claimed he did not know the midnight curfew was in operation after the completion of a game. In response, Key said the details had been communicated via the Team England Player Partnership – an umbrella group representing those with central contracts – and were widely known.
“Countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy and several other European destinations are attracting increasing interest from Indian students because of lower tuition costs, favourable post-study work pathways, strong employment prospects and a more attractive overall value proposition,” said Mayank Maheshwari, co-founder and COO of University Living, a student accommodation platform.
Officers were called to the beach after concerned members of the public saw the men on Sunday afternoon, June 21.
Police in Northern Ireland were called to reports of men “believed to have a knife” on a beach – only to find they were preparing for a barbecue.
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Families had been out enjoying the summer sun at Portstewart Strand, near Coleraine, in County Derry on the country’s north coast when a number of people spotted one of the men carrying the knife.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have moved quickly to allay fears after speaking with the men and discovering the innocent intentions behind the incident, reports Belfast Live.
Several officers were dispatched to the scene but it was quickly de-escalated. No crimes were recorded but officers did remove the knife which will be destroyed.
In a statement, PSNI said: “Police received a report of a number of men – one of whom was believed to have a knife – in the Portstewart Strand area on Sunday afternoon, 21st June.
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“Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene where they spoke with the men.
“A subsequent search of the men’s van established that they had been preparing barbecue at the beach and the knife was being used for this purpose.
“No criminal offences were noted, however the knife was removed for disposal. No further police action was taken.”
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Bowie, who was recently made an MBE for services to radio and charity in the west of Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow deserves a special kind of star power, so it was an honour to share a few tips with Scotland’s own global superstar, Sam Heughan, and help get him ready for the occasion.
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