Shooters

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• Latest news Gears of War: E-Day adds Crucible — 4v4 PvP built around a shrinking Power Core zone

  The Coalition unveiled Crucible, a round-based 4v4 PvP mode for Gears of War: E-Day that combines classic Gears spatial control with battle-royale-style mechanics. Teams must capture and carry a heavy Power Core into a designated scoring zone; the Core restricts mobility and weapon options and can discharge a powerful close-range electrical blast with a long recharge. Once the Core is placed the scoring area begins to shrink, creating intense zone pressure that forces standoffs and defensive front-building. The design aims to produce fast-paced, high-stakes matches where holding the objective creates a tactical disadvantage for the carrier.

• Latest news Star Wars Zero Company — key operator talents, respecs, and why they matter

  Each recruitable operator in Star Wars Zero Company comes with one of ten talents and both class and talent can be respec'd in the change-specialization menu after recruitment. That makes it reasonable to pick operators you like visually, since talents and class can be adjusted later. Talents provide concrete combat or economic effects (damage vs elites, evasion, guaranteed crits, taunts, bonus credits) and scale across three levels. Choosing appropriate talents changes an operator’s role and mission effectiveness.

• Latest news 1047 Games ends Splitgate: Arena Reloaded development, shifts both titles to P2P

  1047 Games has stopped active development on Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and its other shooter Empulse, with no further updates planned. Dedicated servers for both games will be turned off on September 3 and the titles have been reworked to use peer-to-peer, player-hosted multiplayer. The studio made the change because neither game generated enough revenue to sustainably cover dedicated-server costs. Splitgate originally launched in 2019 and had previously moved to P2P on August 29, 2025; Arena Reloaded returned in December 2025 after a June 2025 beta.

• Latest news Boltgun 2 launches Oct. 14 with Mick Gordon score and dual protagonists

  Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 will release on October 14 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version following shortly after. Composer Mick Gordon, known for his work on Doom and Wolfenstein, provides a cameo composition that will play during the game's final boss fight. The sequel expands the original boomer-shooter action, letting players control Ultramarine Malum Caedo or Battle Sister Nyra Veyrath as they face the daemonic demigod Vashtorr.

• Latest news Microsoft's 25th‑Anniversary Xbox Series X sells for $900 and includes Halo remake

  Microsoft opened preorders for a 25th‑anniversary Xbox Series X: a 1TB translucent green console with an "Xbox 25" logo and individual unit numbering that costs $900. Each console includes a download code for Halo: Campaign Evolved. Preorders start Aug. 26 for some fans and Aug. 27 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET for everyone; consoles ship Nov. 13. The special translucent green controller is sold separately for $80 and releases Oct. 20, with one console preorder allowed per customer.

• Latest news Rainbow Six Siege Operation Split Fire launches Sept. 1 with Noor and 3v3 mode

  Operation Split Fire launches globally on Sept. 1, 2026, and its test server opened Aug. 17 for early access. The season adds Noor, an Egyptian Defender, a fast-paced 3v3 Arcade mode and a Villa map rework. Operator and weapon balancing tweaks aim to shift the meta and affect competitive play across PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

• Latest news PC Partner warns entry-level GPU supplies will tighten and push prices higher

  PC Partner, a major graphics-card manufacturer for Zotac, Inno3D and Manli, says GPU supply will become tight in the coming months and that entry‑level cards will be hit hardest. Supply of Nvidia’s RTX Blackwell GPUs is already lower in Q3 than Q2 and is expected to fall further by year‑end. Shortages stem not only from GPU and memory demand but also longer lead times for PCBs and power components, a change that threatens higher prices for mainstream cards. Current midrange models such as the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 are trading near $800, illustrating how affordability could worsen for typical gamers.

• Latest news Respawn nerfs Axle, Bloodhound and Seer early in Apex Legends Season 30

  Less than one month into Season 30, Respawn Entertainment pushed a balance update that nerfed Axle, Bloodhound and Seer. Axle — the dominant pick since her release last season — had every part of her kit modified, from Tactical to Ultimate, to neuter her lethal speed. The changes are intended to reduce Axle’s dominance in pick rates and rebalance high-speed engagements.

• Latest news Blackout mod turns Doom into a slow, tactical shooter with Crysis-style nanosuit

  Blackout is a playable alpha mod that remakes Doom as a slow, methodical tactical shooter. The mod was created by PKmX for Zandronum and UZDoom and makes players more fragile while emphasizing cover, breaching, and stealth. Weapons are modelled on real firearms with ADS, reloading, and realistic damage/recoil, and classic Doom monsters have been retuned for deadlier, suppressive combat. The mod also adds a Crysis-inspired energy suit that provides a damage-absorbing shield and an adrenaline speed boost when near death, shifting Doom’s fast-paced combat toward deliberate tactics.

• Latest news Arc Raiders pauses Expeditions until early 2027 for major overhaul

  Embark Studios will suspend Expeditions in Arc Raiders after the upcoming fifth run and not resume them until early 2027 while it reworks the system. Expeditions are a prestige-style feature that lets high-level players reset progress in exchange for unique rewards, and the system has drawn criticism for grind, reward balance, and accessibility. Earned consecutive buffs will remain active during the pause and any partially completed Caravans will be converted into Ermal Vouchers. Embark will publish more details about the planned changes in September.

• Latest news Robin Atkin Downes Joins Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

  Robin Atkin Downes has joined the cast of Naughty Dog’s upcoming PS5 game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Downes is a veteran voice actor known for Robert in The Last of Us and multiple Uncharted roles. Intergalactic is a sci‑fi action title set thousands of years in the future that stars Tati Gabrielle, has been in development since 2020, and features a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross; no release date has been announced.

• Latest news Metal Gear Solid 4 re-release brings OctoCamo stealth, heavy weapons to PC Aug 27

  Konami and Kojima Productions re-released Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on PC and Steam Deck as a Master Collection port on August 27, 2026, priced at $50/£40. The port is Steam Deck Verified, has no multiplayer, and was tested on an RTX 5090 system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 64GB RAM. Gameplay still pairs classic stealth tools like the OctoCamo sneaking suit and tranq pistol with a large, customizable lethal arsenal, making loud combat an option that physically stresses the protagonist. The re-release highlights MGS4’s continued relevance as a hybrid stealth-action experience and its themes of war, automation and desensitized violence.

• Latest news Doom runs on Canon EOS 550D DSLR via Magic Lantern module

  GitHub user Lauris-nl built a module that runs Doom inside the open-source Magic Lantern firmware on the Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i). The port maps the camera's radial controls to movement, uses the Set button for select/fire, and runs at a smooth frame rate on the camera's image processor. Installation requires the Magic Lantern 550D.109 build on an SD card, the GitHub module, and compatible Doom .wad files; other Canon models or firmware versions are unsupported and can damage the camera.

• Latest news Halo co-creator proposes darker, grounded reboot and questions Xbox leadership

  Marcus Lehto pitched a new Halo that is darker, more grounded and military-focused, with PvP as the "brains" and PvE as the "heart and soul," and said it would not aim to please all fans. He urged resetting much of Halo's convoluted lore into a new baseline and argued the game should be built by a local, fully invested team rather than outsourced. Lehto expressed doubt that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cares about reviving the franchise, and framed that skepticism as a major obstacle to his proposal. This matters because the pitch outlines a clear creative and production shift for a franchise that has lost prominence and could influence future development decisions if adopted.

• Latest news Marvel ramps up Avengers: Doomsday hype as D23 spotlights Doctor Doom

  Avengers: Doomsday arrives in under four months and Marvel Studios has intensified promotion for the film. The studio has released five teaser trailers and a D23 “special look” that emphasizes Doctor Doom's destructive power. A cast member's recent comments have been interpreted as a possible spoiler about Doctor Doom, increasing attention on the villain ahead of release.

• Latest news Mattel opens preorders for $330 life‑size buildable original Xbox kit

  Mattel opened preorders for a 1:1 buildable replica of the original Xbox priced at $330. The kit contains 3,509 pieces to construct a life-size console with realistic lights and sounds, plus a Duke controller with working buttons and four light-and-sound sequences and three slot-in dioramas themed to Halo: Combat Evolved, Psychonauts, and Morrowind. Kits begin shipping in October, timed for Xbox’s 25th anniversary. The release comes as Xbox faces mass layoffs, console price increases and a $1.7 billion revenue decline while refocusing on major IP such as Fallout and Gears of War.

• Latest news Overwatch Season 4 adds Emerald rank between Platinum and Diamond

  Season 4 introduced a rank reset and a new Emerald tier slotted between Platinum and Diamond to bridge a growing skill gap. The change targets the large player base clustered in Gold and Platinum by giving a closer middle rank and clearer skill identity. Emerald matches tend to be chaotic, with teams alternating between solid plays and basic mistakes, which makes outcomes unpredictable and can frustrate players. The new tier compresses the previous high-Platinum/low-Diamond disparity into a single rank and can be a brief waypoint for players who quickly push into Diamond.

• Latest news Xbox to unveil new entry in a Microsoft-owned franchise at Gamescom, developed externally

  Microsoft will announce a new game at Gamescom that is a new entry in an existing Microsoft-owned franchise rather than a new IP. The project will be developed by a studio Microsoft does not own and is explicitly not a new Banjo-Kazooie title. Microsoft is not holding a dedicated Xbox showcase; the reveal could appear during Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live on August 25 while the Xbox booth will host demos and live broadcasts August 26–27. The announcement matters because it shows Microsoft expanding its owned franchises via external partners ahead of Xbox's 25th anniversary.

• Latest news Best crosshair settings for every Overwatch hero, organized by role

  Dot Esports presents recommended crosshair settings tailored to each Overwatch hero and grouped by role (Damage, Tank, Support). The guide matches crosshairs to heroes’ different abilities and weapon types to improve targeting. It targets the current Overwatch roster after the sequel expanded the number of characters and notes that optimal crosshairs can make a difference in clutch moments.

• Latest news Sledgehammer prototyped Halo multiplayer for Microsoft, then canceled it

  Microsoft had Sledgehammer Games build a prototype for a Halo multiplayer game in June, but that prototype was canceled in July after only basic gameplay elements like player movement were tested. Microsoft is still exploring using Activision-era Call of Duty studios on Halo projects but has not greenlit any permanent transfers. The move comes as Halo Studios faces criticism after Halo Infinite and the recent Halo: Campaign Evolved remaster underperformed, and as Halo Studios develops a live-service multiplayer title described as "like Fortnite."

• Latest news Top Gun joins Battlefield 6 as Season 4 adds naval combat and biggest map

  Battlefield 6’s fourth season introduced naval combat and the franchise’s largest map, expanding play beyond traditional land and air battles. The game now features a Top Gun crossover that goes beyond a simple cameo and includes a naval-focused Carrier Strike mode. The crossover’s deeper integration highlights a shift toward large-scale sea operations. The author argues Carrier Strike’s scale and gameplay merit making it a permanent mode.

• Latest news Sledgehammer Games built — then scrapped — a Halo multiplayer prototype

  Sledgehammer Games, the Activision studio behind Call of Duty: WWII, Vanguard and Modern Warfare 3, developed a multiplayer prototype for Halo. Xbox engaged Sledgehammer to explore the project, but the prototype was ultimately cancelled. The effort is notable because a studio known for Call of Duty was tapped to work on Halo multiplayer.

• Latest news Quake community drops 22-map Q30 Deathmatch Jam for classic Quake

  Quake mappers released Q30 Deathmatch Jam, a 22-map pack of arenas built for the original Quake and launched to mark the game's 30th anniversary. The pack was organized by community mappers Annihilazor and Infiniti and includes themed levels from gothic castles to an industrial sewer called The Filth Pit. Notable contributors include Mazu and Makkon, who collaborated on the map Overflow. The pack runs as a standalone mod in modern sourceports (Ironwail, Netquake, Nightdive's Kex) and can be installed for local or online play.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved patch next week adds visual toggles and gameplay fixes

  Halo Studios will release the first major patch for Halo: Campaign Evolved next week. The update adds options to disable film grain and chromatic aberration, applies stability improvements across platforms, and fixes gameplay issues including Jackal stagger behavior and a Sgt. Johnson bug that blocked mission progress. Mid-mission saves will be lost when installing the update, while unlocked missions and rally points remain; the game has sold 1.2 million copies across all platforms and is off to a slow start on PlayStation 5.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved patch set for 17–21 Aug with five studio-outlined fixes

  The studio behind Halo: Campaign Evolved has announced a patch will arrive between 17 and 21 August. The update packages five specific fixes aimed at some of the biggest problems players have experienced since the game's launch a few weeks ago. A precise release day inside that window has not been set.

• Latest news Original Halo art director criticizes remake's shiny, 'toy-like' Halo rings

  Marcus Lehto, art director on Halo: Combat Evolved and its two sequels, publicly criticized the Halo rings in Halo: Campaign Evolved for looking like shiny, recently built metal rather than ancient, weathered structures. He singled out the main menu ring as 'offensive,' saying it lacks microdetail, scale and the battered look expected after millennia of war, Flood outbreaks, repairs and collisions. Lehto also praised the remake's movement, cinematics, visuals and lighting and previously called the game 'genuine' and 'gorgeous' in 2025. His views carry weight with fans because he helped define Halo's original visual identity and could influence community reaction to the Unreal Engine 5 remake.

• Latest news Bulkhead’s Wardogs lists 10 reasons not to buy, sets Steam Early Access for Sept. 10

  Developer Bulkhead announced Wardogs will launch in Steam Early Access on September 10 and posted a video explicitly listing 10 reasons players should not buy it. The studio says early access will cost $40 and will rise to $60 by the end of development, and warns of limited launch content, performance and monetization concerns, and a likely decline in player count. Wardogs is positioned as a hardcore, milsim-style shooter where deaths force long returns and equipment rebuys, a design choice Bulkhead says will punish run-and-gun play and shape the player base.

• Latest news Overwatch World Cup 2026 group stage in Busan to offer Twitch Drops

  The Overwatch World Cup 2026 group stage will take place in Busan and runs from Aug. 20 to Aug. 23. Viewers who watch the matches on Twitch can earn multiple Twitch Drops each day. The Drops grant in-game Overwatch rewards for those who watch the broadcasts. This gives fans a way to collect game items by viewing the competition live.

• Latest news Halo co-creator criticizes Campaign Evolved art as game posts weak PS5 sales

  Halo: Campaign Evolved launched to generally positive reviews but underperformed commercially on PS5, where Black Ops 1 and 2 ports outsold it by a 16:1 margin. The launch was followed by multiple contractor role terminations and public criticism from a Halo co-creator over the game's art direction. Players have also expressed anger at mechanical and artistic changes, raising concerns about the franchise's direction and ongoing support.

• Latest news Overwatch World Cup 2026 returns; group stage kicks off in Busan

  The Overwatch World Cup returns in 2026 after multiple years of downtime, with the main event's group stage beginning in Busan. Preparations for the event took place throughout the year. The tournament brings top national teams from around the world and coverage includes the schedule, participating teams, format, and standings.