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• Latest news Blade and Magik lead usage in Marvel Tōkon beta Vibranium matches

  The Marvel Tōkon open beta showed Blade and Magik as the most-picked characters in high-tier (Vibranium+) matches. Data collected by creator AlietteFaye after the first 24 hours ranks Iron Man, Magneto and Black Panther next. The beta suffered PlayStation Network outages and reported PC performance issues; the usage snapshot reflects a small, early sample and may not predict launch meta.

• Latest news Halo: Combat Evolved helped launch the Xbox and began a major franchise

  Halo: Combat Evolved helped establish Microsoft’s original Xbox after its 2001 release. The game acted as a system seller and demonstrated how first-person shooters could succeed on consoles. It launched the long-running Halo franchise and influenced Xbox’s early strategy.

• Latest news Secret ending in Halo: Campaign Evolved hints at Halo 2 remake

  The Legendary difficulty secret ending in Halo: Campaign Evolved shows Sergeant Johnson breaking the fourth wall and saying, "See you in the sequel." Fans and outlets interpret the moment as a nod to a possible Halo 2 remake. Leaks have previously claimed Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes are in development. Campaign Evolved is the first title from the rebranded Halo Studios and releases July 28 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC.

• Latest news Reports suggest a Halo 2 remake could be next

  Eurogamer reports signals point to a Halo 2 remake as the next remaster, but there’s no official confirmation. The article highlights Halo’s long history of hidden or non‑canon campaign endings across multiple titles. Examples mentioned include secret scenes in Halo 1, Halo 2, Halo 3, ODST and Reach.

• Latest news Halo: Combat Evolved remake adds third-person mode and modern controls

  Third-person mode in the Halo: Combat Evolved remake was widely publicized and drew controversy ahead of launch. The 2001 original was strictly first-person. The remake also introduces sprint and aim-down-sights for automatic weapons.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved premium buyers on Xbox can't access early access

  Players who purchased the Halo: Campaign Evolved Premium Edition or upgrade on Xbox and the Xbox PC app are unable to access the game's early access. A message reading "You're too early" appears for affected users. Halo Support says it is investigating the issue. The PlayStation 5 version appears to be playable.

• Latest news European Commission approves EA sale to Saudi-led consortium

  The European Commission has approved the proposed $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The clearance removes a major regulatory hurdle but the transaction has not yet closed. Reports and anonymous sources warn the deal’s debt load could lead to cost-cutting, layoffs, or studio changes; no major actions are expected until closing. Consortium partners include PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.

• Latest news Eurogamer review: Halo: Campaign Evolved revisits Master Chief on Halo

  Eurogamer reviews Halo: Campaign Evolved, focusing on Master Chief's first arrival on the mysterious ringworld. The piece highlights the game's opening sequence of ambush, survival and discovery on Halo. It also draws a parallel between the game's themes and the real-world transition from Bungie to Halo Studios.

• Latest news Doom lead artist animated sprites using Deluxe Paint's undo key

  Adrian Carmack, id co-founder and Doom's lead artist, says he used the undo/redo function in Deluxe Paint as his primary animation tool. With no dedicated animation software and strict frame limits set by programmer John Carmack, he cycled frames via undo to build sprite loops. Colleagues were impressed and Carmack developed a cautious workflow to avoid losing work.

• Latest news Miyamoto defends remakes ahead of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2

  Shigeru Miyamoto said remakes help new players access older games and that their commercial success can fund future projects. He told Famitsu remaking titles makes them more playable for people who missed them and can spur further development. Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake is due on Switch 2 this year, while remakes remain common across the industry.

• Latest news Play Halo: Campaign Evolved Cross-Platform — Steps, Early Access, Pricing

  Halo: Campaign Evolved supports cross-play between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with early access beginning July 23 and full launch on July 28. To play with friends, add their Gamertag/Username to your Xbox friends list via the Xbox site, Game Bar, or mobile app, then invite them from the in-game "Cross-Platform Friends" list in Play Co-op. Early access requires the $70 Premium Edition preorder; the game is day-one on Xbox Game Pass.

• Latest news CDL weighs careful expansion to 16 teams as monetization interest rises

  At CDL Champs 2026, Call of Duty esports GM Daniel Tsay said rising viewership has boosted interest from potential franchise buyers and monetization opportunities. The league remains a 12‑team closed franchise, and Tsay said he hopes to grow to 16 teams. He emphasized the need for internal 'housekeeping' and a measured approach rather than rushing expansion.

• Latest news Datamine Suggests Xal'atath Seeks to Merge With Azeroth's Worldsoul

  Datamined dialogue from World of Warcraft patch 12.1 PTR suggests Xal'atath's endgame is to merge with Azeroth's Worldsoul and effectively become the planet. The lines appear in the patch 12.1 epilogue and set up events for patch 12.2. These files were uncovered on the PTR and are datamined spoilers that could change before release.

• Latest news Xbox Game Pass adds Halo: Campaign Evolved in July second wave

  Microsoft is rolling out a small second wave of games to Xbox Game Pass at the end of July 2026. The highlight is Halo: Campaign Evolved, arriving on Game Pass the day it releases. The additions follow the removal of nearly 20 titles from the service earlier in July.

• Latest news Xbox Game Pass adds Halo: Campaign Evolved remake and more in July

  Microsoft revealed the second wave of Xbox Game Pass additions for July 2026. The lineup includes Halo: Campaign Evolved and multiple day-one releases. Notable dates: Midnight Shift on July 22, Hell Is Us on July 23, Mistfall Hunters on July 30 and Corsair Cove on July 31. Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation was previewed for August.

• Latest news MTG: The Hobbit expansion previews two rares — Part In Friendship and The Master of Lake-town

  Magic: The Gathering’s The Hobbit expansion, returning to J.R.R. Tolkien’s setting, was previewed at MagicCon Amsterdam. GameSpot exclusively revealed two Rare cards from the main set: Part In Friendship and The Master of Lake‑town. The set is scheduled for release in August.

• Latest news Battlefield 6 adds largest map yet — Tsuru Reef arrives with Season 4

  Tsuru Reef, the largest map in Battlefield 6, launches tomorrow as part of Season 4. The map introduces distinctive terrain and design that broaden the game's map lineup. The reviewer praised it as an asset but warned it may become a rarely played curiosity rather than a regular rotation.

• Latest news id Software employees dispute director's reassurances after Xbox cuts

  Microsoft announced 3,200 layoffs that affected Xbox teams, including id Software. Early reports said the Doom and Quake studio had been largely gutted. Director Hugo Martin denied those claims, but current and former employees tell a different, less optimistic story.

• Latest news Eight games leave Xbox Game Pass on July 31, including Celeste

  Xbox Game Pass will remove eight titles on July 31, according to the app’s “Leaving Soon” list. Notable departures include Celeste, Crusader Kings 3 and Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord. Microsoft runs two removal waves per month — it removed 11 games on July 15 — and subscribers can buy departing games at a 20% discount before they leave. Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled as a headline addition on July 28.

• Latest news MerK and Maven reflect on casting CDL Championship 2026 in Las Vegas

  At the Call of Duty League Championship 2026 in Las Vegas, Dot Esports interviewed veteran casters Clint “Maven” Evans and Joseph “MerK” DeLuca. They described calling the season finale as a culmination of careers and discussed the event’s significance for players and the league.

• Latest news Dusk creator David Szymanski on Myst, Iron Lung film and a new isometric game

  David Szymanski spoke to PC Gamer's Disk Cleanup about the games on his PC and his influences. He cites Myst as an early, formative first-person experience and helmed the retro-FPS revival with 2018's Dusk. His submarine horror Iron Lung was adapted into a film by YouTuber Markiplier this year. Szymanski is now working on an early-stage isometric project called B.U.G.B.I.T.E and is currently playing the 2007 FPS Instinct.

• Latest news Battlefield 6 Season 4 adds evolved Carrier Assault and expanded Top Gun tie-in

  Battlefield Studios shared early details for Season 4, highlighting an evolved Carrier Assault mode. The studio previously revealed a first look at naval combat. The Top Gun collaboration will include more than just cosmetic items, according to the update.

• Latest news PlayerX named Presenting Partner for CDL Championship Weekend 2026

  Fantasy engagement platform PlayerX will be the Presenting Partner for the Call of Duty League Championship Weekend 2026 in Las Vegas. Built by World Champion Fantasy, Inc. (WCF), PlayerX will host a dedicated fantasy gaming hub for the event. The platform lets users build lineups from active CDL pros and includes integrated live streams and real-time stats to track rosters alongside the broadcast.

• Latest news Halo TV Director Joins New 'Odysseus' Series; Karl Gajdusek Showruns

  A TV adaptation titled Odysseus has been announced with Karl Gajdusek (Stranger Things) as showrunner and Roel Reiné (directed episodes of the Halo TV show) directing. The pilot was written by Sean Finegan, Scott Windhauser, Noah Lang, and Blake Hoss. Filming is planned for early 2027 in Greece and Armenia; no cast, release date, or distributor have been announced.

• Latest news Ubisoft: 2026–27 will be quieter; bigger Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Ghost Recon slate later

  In its 2025‑26 annual report Ubisoft says the 2026–27 fiscal year (began April 1) will have a lighter new‑release slate but will include Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and other targeted premium games. The company expects a much larger content pipeline in fiscal years 2027–28 and 2028–29, with new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Ghost Recon entries. Ubisoft also plans to accelerate its live services, citing continued support for titles like Rainbow Six Siege.

• Latest news Halo: Campaign Evolved goes gold ahead of release

  Official Halo social accounts announced that Halo: Campaign Evolved has gone gold. That indicates the remake’s development is essentially complete and it’s ready for release. The update brings players a step closer to the original game that launched the franchise. The announcement did not include details on early access.

• Latest news Doom: The Dark Ages — Revelations adds Chain Spear, 10–15 hour expansion

  Revelations is a paid DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages priced at £17.99 / $19.99. The review praises it as a strong blend of Eternal-style movement and The Dark Ages' timing-based combat, calling it among the best Doom content. It introduces the Chain Spear, a mobility-focused weapon with multiple uses, and runs about 10–15 hours. The DLC is single-player and Steam Deck verified.

• Latest news Twisted Minds signs Biofit and Americana Foods as sponsors ahead of EWC 2026

  Saudi organisation Twisted Minds has added wellness provider Biofit and regional food company Americana Foods as sponsors ahead of Esports World Cup 2026. The deals expand the team's commercial roster and position it among the more commercially active MENA organisations at the event. Americana's logo will appear on the left sleeve of Twisted Minds' jersey. The team will compete in nine of the tournament's 25 featured titles, including Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG and Fortnite.

• Latest news Microsoft says H‑1B visas not the cause of mass Xbox layoffs

  Microsoft communications lead Frank X. Shaw disputed reports that large H‑1B visa approvals prompted the recent Xbox layoffs, saying H‑1B workers are a small share of the company and not specific to Xbox. The company cut 1,600 roles immediately (about 20% of Xbox staff), with total reductions expected to reach roughly 3,200 over the next year. Microsoft also separated from five studios and id Software lost about half its headcount.

• Latest news Overwatch's new hero Shion criticizes Emily Dickinson

  Shion is Overwatch's newest hero, presented with an action‑movie revenge vibe and flashy visuals. Her profile features stunts like buying and throwing high-end motorcycles. The character also includes a dismissive reference to American poet Emily Dickinson.