Strategy Sessions Weekly: Mushroots Goes Free-to-Play and a Loaded Week for Sim Racers

Mushroots is about to become a lot more popular for a very simple reason. Let’s break down the changes that actually matter for your strategy, simulation, and platform gaming plans this week.

Story	What’s Happening	Date	Platform	Action
Mushroots	Exits Early Access, goes free-to-play; owners get free Supporter DLC	10 July 2026	Steam	Buy now for DLC, or wait and grab free
MSFS 2024	Sim Update 5.1 + World Update 22 (US National Parks) live	Live now	All platforms	Update now
MSFS Goodyear Blimp	New flyable aircraft, free	Live now	All platforms	Free in Marketplace
MSFS Marketplace Sale	Up to 80% off 1,250+ add-ons	Until 9 July 2026	All platforms	Check wishlist before it ends
Assetto Corsa EVO	Update 0.8 adds Kyalami circuit, 3 licensed cars, VR overhaul	TBC (watch official channels)	PC	Recalibrate VR settings once live
Train Sim World 6	July roadmap + Cargo Line Volume 6: Gas DLC	Later in July 2026	PC/console	Plan for paid DLC drop
Blood Bowl	Slitherine takes over the licence	Announced 5 July 2026	N/A	Watch for future support
Company of Heroes 3	New DLC confirmed	Announced 5 July 2026	N/A	Watch for details
Total War: Warhammer III	New DLC teased	Announced 5 July 2026	N/A	Watch for reveal
Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition	Confirmed release	Autumn 2026	TBC	Bookmark for launch
Dawn of War IV	Multiplayer footage shown, balance testing underway	This week	N/A	Watch for meta signals
Tokyo Game Show 2026	Exhibitor list published (Sony, Square Enix, Capcom, more)	Show scheduled later in 2026	N/A	Expect strategy/sim announcements

🎯 Quick Wins

Mushroots exits Early Access and turns free-to-play on 10 July. The whimsical management sim drops its price tag entirely on Steam, and anyone who already owns it gets a free Supporter DLC as a thank-you. If you want that bonus content, buy in before the switch flips; if you just want to try the game, wait a couple of days and grab it for nothing.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 lands Sim Update 5.1 and World Update 22. The update improves the core sim across every platform, and World Update 22 refreshes scenery at a long list of US National Parks. It ships alongside a free Goodyear Blimp you can fly right now, no purchase required.

The MSFS Marketplace Summer Sale is live until 9 July. Over 1,250 third-party add-ons are discounted by as much as 80%, so if you have been eyeing payware aircraft or scenery packs, this week is the moment to check your wishlist before the sale ends.

🧠 Strategy Spotlight

Assetto Corsa EVO’s Update 0.8 is the story worth slowing down for this week. The patch adds the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, three new licensed cars, and a significant VR overhaul, which is a meaningful signal for a game still building out its content roadmap post-launch.

For sim racers, VR performance has been one of the more common complaints since EVO launched, so an overhaul aimed squarely at headset users matters more than a single new track. Kyalami also adds real strategic variety: it is a fast, flowing circuit with elevation changes that rewards a very different setup approach than the tighter European tracks already in the game.

If you race in VR, this is the update to actually sit down and test rather than skim past. Recalibrate your settings once it lands, because overhauls like this often shift what your headset can comfortably handle at high framerates, and the difference between a smooth lap and a nauseating one usually comes down to those first few tweaks.

👀 Worth Watching

Train Sim World 6 has a fresh July roadmap out, with the Cargo Line Volume 6: Gas DLC pencilled in for later this month, a solid pickup for anyone building out a freight-focused rail collection. On the strategy side, Slitherine is taking over the Blood Bowl licence, Company of Heroes 3 has new DLC on the way, and Total War: Warhammer III has more content teased, so tactics fans have a genuinely busy few weeks ahead. Company of Heroes: Definitive Edition is also confirmed for autumn 2026, which is worth bookmarking if you have been waiting to jump into the series.

💬 Community Corner

Dawn of War IV’s community got a look at fresh multiplayer footage this week, and the early read from strategy circles is that the developers are actively testing balance rather than treating multiplayer as an afterthought. If competitive RTS is your thing, that is the kind of signal worth watching closely over the next few patches, since early multiplayer showcases often hint at where a game’s meta is headed.

⏭️ Next Week’s Prep

Keep an eye on Assetto Corsa EVO’s official channels for the exact Update 0.8 release date, and expect more detail on Train Sim World 6’s Cargo Line Volume 6: Gas as July rolls on. Tokyo Game Show 2026’s exhibitor list just dropped too, with Sony, Square Enix, and Capcom among the names attending, so expect strategy and simulation adjacent announcements to start trickling out ahead of the show.

If Factorio is more your speed this week, our breakdown of science pack optimisation and tech tree progression pairs nicely with any factory rebuild you have been putting off. And if you want a longer read on how last week shaped up, catch up with the previous Strategy Sessions Weekly roundup.