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• Latest news A 2025 Soulslike Became a Sleeper Hit After Joining Xbox Game Pass

  A Soulslike released in 2025 has emerged as a sleeper hit following its addition to Xbox Game Pass, gaining substantial player attention. The game's rise came during an unusually busy 2025 that also produced a Kirby Air Ride sequel, a critically improved Battlefield 6, Blue Prince, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Game Pass availability drove discovery among subscribers and helped the title stand out amid heavy competition.

• Latest news Japan asks US to stop using Mario, Pokémon and other game imagery in official posts

  Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the US government to stop using images and clips from Japanese videogame franchises in official social-media posts. US agencies and the White House used game footage and characters across 2025–2026 — examples include a DHS montage with Pokémon clips, a Customs and Border Patrol dancing Pikachu video, and a White House tweet using Wii Sports footage tied to strikes on Iran. The Pokémon Company said those uses were unauthorized and distanced itself from the political messaging, while DHS said it would not stop. Japan's complaint focuses on copyright infringement and potential damage to global brands such as Mario and Pokémon.

• Latest news D.Mon introduced as Season 4 tank — MEKA pilot with shield and sword

  D.Mon debuts in Overwatch Season 4 as a new tank hero. She pilots a MEKA-class mech similar to D.Va's but equipped with a deployable shield and a sword for close combat. Her kit includes a primary weapon, a passive, Perks that alter playstyle, and an Ultimate, offering a distinct frontline option for teams.

• Latest news D.Mon: Overwatch’s new sword-and-shield mech is a unified tank built for stability

  Blizzard will add D.Mon as a new tank hero in Overwatch Season 4 next week. D.Mon is a sword-and-shield mech who functions as a single entity in code rather than as separate hero states, which required doubling animations but makes the hero easier to fix and support. Her kit includes an energy sword and shield, a shoulder-mounted machine gun for ranged damage, a directional dash that uses limited fuel, and a charge that knocks enemies back. Her ultimate, Limit Break, is a large whirlwind sword slash.

• Latest news Overwatch unveils D.Mon, new MEKA Squad hero and former esports champ

  Blizzard released first gameplay for D.Mon, revealing her as Overwatch's newest hero. D.Mon is the second playable member of Korea’s MEKA Squad and, like D.Va, is a former esports champion who pilots a mech. Her addition expands Overwatch's roster of mech pilots and increases representation for Korea's MEKA unit.

• Latest news John Romero says id Software enlisted Taiwanese pirates to spread Doom

  John Romero, co-founder of id Software and creator of Doom and Quake, has recounted that the company worked with Taiwanese pirates to distribute Doom. He frames the use of unauthorized distributors as a deliberate channel to spread the game. The revelation shows piracy played a role in Doom’s early international reach and illustrates an unconventional distribution approach by a major developer.

• Latest news New free expansion for original Quake launches at QuakeCon for 30th anniversary

  A brand-new, free expansion for the original Quake was announced and released during QuakeCon's opening ceremony to celebrate the game's 30th birthday. The expansion is available immediately across PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. The surprise release delivers new content to a decades-old title and drew loud applause from the event audience.

• Latest news Trent Reznor appears at QuakeCon, reflects on Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake work

  Trent Reznor made a brief livestreamed appearance at QuakeCon during a panel marking Quake's 30th anniversary, where co-creator John Romero and id co-director Marty Stratton also spoke. A new 19-level Quake episode was announced and released during the panel. Reznor, who composed Quake's original soundtrack and worked on its sound effects, said Wolfenstein inspired him to buy a PC, Doom “sealed the deal,” and he felt a creative parallel between the game's rebellious tone and his approach to music. His remarks underscore the continuing cultural impact of 1990s shooters and the role of prominent musicians in game audio.

• Latest news Quake gets 19-level 'Dawn of the Machine' update with new weapons and archival gallery

  MachineGames released a major Quake update adding a new chapter, Dawn of the Machine, which contains 19 levels and new weapon variants. The update also includes an archival gallery with several playable early, unfinished development levels and developer notes. The announcement was made at QuakeCon in a panel featuring id Software co-founder John Romero, while id Software continues to contend with past founder departures and recent Microsoft-imposed layoffs that John Carmack said will dampen the mood of the founder reunion.

• Latest news MachineGames releases new Quake episode for 2021 remaster on 30th anniversary

  MachineGames released an entirely new episode for the original Quake to mark the franchise's 30th anniversary. The episode is included in and playable across every version of the 2021 Quake remaster. No new standalone Quake game was announced at QuakeCon, making this update the main new content for fans.

• Latest news Halo Studios lays off staff one week after Halo: Campaign Evolved launch

  Halo Studios laid off staff one week after releasing Halo: Campaign Evolved. The cuts affect employees at the developer and come during the immediate post-launch window when teams typically issue patches and updates. The timing matters because it could disrupt ongoing support for the new game and signal instability at the studio.

• Latest news Halo Studios lays off team members despite acclaimed Campaign Evolved remake

  Halo Studios has laid off members of the development team behind Halo: Campaign Evolved. The remake is considered one of the best remakes of all time. The staff reductions come despite the game's strong critical reception.

• Latest news Writer says Halo 4 is the best Halo as Combat Evolved remake returns

  A modern remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved, has launched and brings 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved back into the spotlight. The remake highlights the original’s moody atmosphere, strong level design, and continued playability. The piece argues that, despite renewed nostalgia for the original, Halo 4 remains the strongest entry in the franchise — a view that reframes fan debate about Halo’s high point.

• Latest news Rainbow Six Siege at Esports World Cup 2026 — $2M prize, 22 teams, Six Invitational berth

  The Rainbow Six Siege tournament has begun at the Esports World Cup 2026 with 22 international teams competing for a $2 million prize pool. The event awards the winner a direct spot at the Six Invitational 2027, making it a key qualifier. The competition opened with Play-ins and will move into a Group Stage before single-elimination Playoffs, concluding in mid‑August.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved posts slow PS5 launch, ~452K PS5 sales and ~$28M revenue

  Halo: Campaign Evolved is the first Halo release on PlayStation but has posted a notably slow start on PS5. It has sold an estimated 351,000 copies on PS5 in July and about 452,000 on PS5 to date, generating nearly $28 million, compared with roughly 212,000 copies on Steam and about 900,000 on Xbox across console and PC. Priced at $50, lacking multiplayer, and offering three new prequel missions, the remake’s performance highlights weaker demand on PlayStation and raises questions about Halo’s commercial momentum relative to earlier peaks and major ports like Black Ops 1 and 2.

• Latest news Eric Baptizat returns to Ubisoft as game director for the Assassin's Creed brand

  Eric Baptizat has rejoined Ubisoft to become game director responsible for the entire Assassin's Creed franchise. Baptizat previously led design on Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and served as game director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla after a 16-year run at Ubisoft. He left Ubisoft in 2021 for EA Motive, where he directed the Dead Space remake and then worked as game design director on Battlefield 6, making his return a notable leadership hire for the franchise's future direction.

• Latest news Kingdom Come actor Luke Dale buys Vinohrady tavern, plans medieval‑style Nobleman

  Actor and streamer Luke Dale purchased a tavern in Prague’s Vinohrady and intends to convert it into a medieval‑inspired pub called the Nobleman. He plans a cozy, Bohemian‑style venue focused on good beer and food — combining British and Czech dishes with medieval decor rather than a tourist theme. Dale will document the renovation and opening in a video series, framing the pub as a tangible project alongside his acting and streaming career.

• Latest news AMD leans into AI PCs as Q2 revenue hits $11.5B

  AMD is targeting AI-centric PCs with a product roadmap through 2027 that highlights Ryzen AI Halo and chips like the Ryzen AI Max+ 388 for handheld gaming. Q2 revenue reached $11.5 billion, driven in part by strong data-center demand, even as gaming revenue fell 31%. The company shifted sales toward lower-end and mobile Ryzen processors this quarter, and client-segment revenue (CPUs, APUs, chipsets for desktops and notebooks excluding gaming) was about $3.1 billion. Component-cost volatility is expected to influence hardware pricing and the market mix over the coming quarters.

• Latest news Battlefield 6 patch 1.4.1.5 fixes Nvidia RTX 50-series crashes tied to water and SOR-300SC

  Battlefield Studios released update 1.4.1.5 on August 4 to fix a crash that affected some Nvidia GPUs when changing attachments on the SOR-300SC, using custom server search, or playing on maps with large bodies of water. The problem disproportionately impacted NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series cards and appeared after a recent Nvidia driver update; players who rolled back to driver 596.49 should update their drivers. The patch also includes improvements to deployment, aiming, water transition, vehicle behavior, and multiple UI and loadout elements, which matters because the new Tsuru Reef map's heavy water content exacerbated the crash issues.

• Latest news Obsession star Inde Navarrette to pursue video game roles; cites Resident Evil and Shrek

  Inde Navarrette has been offered roles in video games and plans to begin with smaller parts to "test the waters." The Obsession actor is a longtime gamer who names Resident Evil, Call of Duty and the PS2 title Shrek Super Party as favorites and was later given a physical copy of Shrek Super Party after saying it was hard to find. Activision booked her for a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 panel in July and she has previously hosted Call of Duty Twitch streams. Obsession grossed more than $470 million worldwide on a reported $750,000 budget, raising Navarrette’s public profile as these gaming opportunities emerge.

• Latest news Ryan Lastimosa returns to Respawn as Franchise Art Director for Apex Legends

  Ryan Lastimosa, a founding member of Respawn who helped define Titanfall’s visual style, has rejoined the studio as Franchise Art Director after leaving in early 2023. He will work on Apex Legends as the live service enters its 30th season. His return gives him direct responsibility for the franchise’s visual direction and is likely to push Apex’s aesthetics closer to the grittier Titanfall-era look. The game’s appearance has already changed considerably since launch, making his role significant for future seasons.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved has a humorous post-credits scene that implies a character survives

  Halo: Campaign Evolved includes a post-credits scene that functions like a reveal rather than a hidden secret. The short scene implies that a character from the ending is still alive and is presented in a humorous way. The game's main ending also leaves questions that could confuse players encountering Halo for the first time, affecting how they interpret the story and character fates.

• Latest news Nuclear Throne producer: industry's fear of failure is its biggest risk

  Rami Ismail led a workgroup at DevGAMM Madeira that concluded the games industry's growing aversion to risk is now a major threat to creativity and commercial success. Publishers increasingly favor sequels and remakes; Xbox has recommitted to franchises like Halo, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls while cutting staff and studios and posting its worst quarter in years. The group warned that risk-averse financing and publishing produces homogenized, uninspiring games, whereas recent hits such as Peak, Balatro and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 succeeded because creators followed their personal vision rather than market analysis. Restoring courage in funding, publishing and marketing is presented as essential to revive creativity and long-term industry health.

• Latest news Esports Nations Cup to host Apex Legends national teams starting in August

  The Esports Nations Cup launches in August and will showcase Apex Legends national teams. The event is organized by the same group that runs the Esports World Cup and arrives just weeks after the Split 1 Year 6 Playoffs in Paris. Tournament materials cover the competition format, match schedule, and the list of participating countries.

• Latest news Kazuma Jinnouchi named lead composer for Guild Wars 3

  ArenaNet has appointed Kazuma Jinnouchi as the lead composer for its upcoming MMORPG Guild Wars 3. Jinnouchi is known for composing music for Star Wars projects, Metal Gear, and Halo titles released after Bungie. He will collaborate on the Guild Wars 3 soundtrack as part of ArenaNet's audio effort, bringing high-profile franchise experience to the game's music.

• Latest news Mick Gordon to Bring Doom Soundtracks to Radar Festival Using Custom Analog Rig

  Mick Gordon, composer of Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal (2020), will headline the Radar Festival in the UK next summer and perform his trademark heavy sound live. He built a custom analog effects and audio-routing rig to create the aggressive, harmonically dense textures heard in those soundtracks. Gordon describes his process as uncovering music that already exists and says he ends involvement after delivering audio files, crediting fans for his work’s continued life.

• Latest news Guide: Where to find all three skulls and the terminal in Halo's 343 Guilty Spark

  In the 343 Guilty Spark mission of Halo: Campaign Evolved, players search for Captain Keyes. The level contains three skull collectibles and one terminal, but low lighting in the map makes them difficult to spot. A guide identifies the exact positions of all three skulls and the terminal so players can collect the full set.

• Latest news Apex Legends Season 30 overhauls looting, adds 'corrupted' attachments and Legend buffs

  Respawn Entertainment revamped loot and weapon attachments in Season 30 of Apex Legends and added a new 'corrupted' attachment type. The update is designed to significantly reduce the time players spend finding weapons, attachments, grenades, and survival items. Season 30 also delivers major buffs to Bloodhound, Loba, and Rampart, pushing the game toward faster-paced matches and shifting the meta.

• Latest news Apex Legends Season 30 reworks Bloodhound, buffs Rampart and Loba

  Season 30 of Apex Legends gives original Legend Bloodhound a rework that replaces their previous kit with refined abilities and an entirely new ultimate to better suit the game's faster pace. Rampart and Loba receive smaller balance changes to improve their competitiveness relative to newer Legends such as Sparrow and Axle. The updates aim to modernize legacy characters and rebalance the roster.

• Latest news Vantage Studios reportedly developing new open-world Far Cry

  Vantage Studios is reportedly working on a new open-world Far Cry first-person shooter. The shift comes after an unannounced Far Cry extraction shooter was canceled. Vantage, an internal Ubisoft team, has previously worked on Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six and is said to be leading the project.