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New Games This Week: October 12-18, 2026

Just Dance, Planet Zoo 2, Boltgun 2, Enshrouded and Jackbox lead the week, with DayZ Badlands and a crucial Call of Duty early-access distinction.

By Zypher XP Published Updated 4 min read

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Turn Down for What gameplay from Just Dance: Decades of Hits, with three dance coaches in an airport security setting

Clear some room on the calendar: Just Dance: Decades of Hits and Planet Zoo 2 arrive Tuesday, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 follows Wednesday, and Thursday brings two very different survival outings alongside a new Jackbox pack. Friday also has a Call of Duty date to watch, with an important early-access condition.

These are Zypher XP's selected releases for Monday, October 12 through Sunday, October 18, 2026. Publisher dates were checked October 12. The calendar below separates full launches, an expansion and campaign early access; regional storefront unlocks can differ.

Featured image: Turn Down for What gameplay from Just Dance: Decades of Hits. Ubisoft press asset. © Ubisoft Entertainment.

Tuesday, October 13: dancing and zoo building

Just Dance: Decades of Hits

Ubisoft confirms the October 13 launch for Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its 35 songs cover six decades, with an Adventure Mode connecting the routines through themed worlds. That makes it a useful one to discuss with the whole household: which songs would actually get people off the couch?

The separate Switch 2 edition follows on November 10, as Ubisoft's US purchase guide also specifies. Our Decades of Hits preview explains the version and controller choices.

NUEVAYoL gameplay in Just Dance: Decades of Hits, with two dance coaches on a colorful city stage
NUEVAYoL is one of Ubisoft's announced songs. Publisher-supplied gameplay; capture platform unspecified. Ubisoft press asset. © Ubisoft Entertainment.

Planet Zoo 2

Frontier dates the sequel for October 13 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Aviaries and aquariums add flying and fully aquatic animals, while Wildlife Reserves extend conservation beyond the zoo. The attraction for builders is the range of environments to work with. Pick an animal you want to understand before committing to an enormous park.

Official Planet Zoo 2 promotional artwork featuring a tiger, birds and aquatic habitats
Planet Zoo 2 promotional artwork supplied by Frontier Developments through Bastion's press release.

Wednesday, October 14: Boltgun 2

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 launches on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to the Auroch Digital and Big Fan Games announcement. Malum Caedo and Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath take on Vashtorr across the sequel's worlds. A Switch 2 version is announced for later in 2026, with a separate date still needed. For this week, plan around the first three platforms.

Nyra in first-person combat in a publisher-supplied Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 screenshot
Pre-release Boltgun 2 gameplay, marked as not final footage. Auroch Digital and Big Fan Games via Cosmocover.

Thursday, October 15: two survival returns and a party

Enshrouded 1.0

Keen Games' release announcement marks October 15 as Enshrouded's exit from Steam Early Access. Its official press release also confirms PS5 and PS5 Pro that day, with Xbox Series X|S planned for spring 2027. Returning PC groups can use the occasion to organize another building session; PlayStation players get their own starting point. Our 1.0 preparation guide covers the changes worth checking first.

Enshrouded characters gathered around a campfire in official 1.0 promotional gameplay
Enshrouded 1.0 promotional screenshot supplied in Keen Games' official press kit.

DayZ Badlands

Steam lists October 15 for this expansion, which requires the DayZ base game. Nasdara brings 267 square kilometres of desert terrain, damaged cities and unreliable water sources. Existing survivors have a new landscape to learn; first-time buyers need to account for both the game and add-on. Console players should check their exact edition and online requirements, including the Xbox listing.

A DayZ Badlands survivor looking across the damaged buildings of Nasdara from a rooftop
Nasdara's rooftops offer long views across damaged streets. Official DayZ Badlands screenshot: Bohemia Interactive.

The Jackbox Party Pack 12

Jackbox's launch announcement sets October 15 across its listed PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and Apple platforms. Five new games divide the evening among greeting cards, word association, debate, team trivia and distorted photos. That is enough variety to choose around the people attending. The Steam page checked here displays October 14, so check your own storefront's unlock before setting a start time.

Player-created greeting cards displayed in We Forgot a Card from The Jackbox Party Pack 12
We Forgot a Card turns writing and visual choices into the evening's material. Publisher-supplied gameplay: Jackbox Games.

Watch the official Jackbox gameplay trailer

The Jackbox Party Pack 12 official gameplay trailer is linked by Jackbox Games in its October 1 announcement. YouTube provides playback and may show advertising.

Four more dates to keep straight

These entries follow Xbox Wire's official weekly schedule. They describe the Xbox calendar, rather than asserting identical unlocks on every platform.

Date Game Release note
October 13 Valor Mortis Xbox launch; listed for Game Pass.
October 15 Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Xbox release date in the platform's schedule.
October 16 Tales of Eternia Remastered Xbox release; check other storefronts separately.
October 16 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign early access for eligible preorders. Global launch is October 23.

Revisit Just Dance on Wii

For an earlier dance night, Zypher's Wii catalog includes Just Dance and Just Dance 4. Check each product page for its current condition options and availability.

This is a selected release calendar, with publisher announcements and platform listings linked beside each entry. We will add a dated correction if a verified date changes. DayZ image use follows Bohemia's game-content rules. This website is not affiliated or authorized by Bohemia Interactive a.s. DayZ and related trademarks belong to Bohemia Interactive.

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