Gaming

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• Latest news Sony orders Guerilla to reboot Horizon Hunters Gathering after poor playtests

  Guerilla Games is reworking Horizon Hunters Gathering from a live-service co-op action game into a smaller-scope, story-driven co-op title after three playtests earlier this year produced negative player feedback. Sony gave the studio several months to complete the reboot and set a December milestone that the team must impress or risk cancellation. Most developers on the project were reassigned to other work while a small Guerilla team continues development on the next single-player Horizon game. The change follows a string of Sony cancellations of live-service spinoffs and signals a retreat from large live-service investments.

• Latest news PC Gamer's tougher pixel-art quiz: identify 15 distorted game screenshots

  PC Gamer released a follow-up pixel-art identification quiz that increases difficulty by distorting images. Players must name as many of 15 games as they can within a six-minute time limit using blurred, cropped or reduced screenshots. The quiz mixes a few easy entries with heavily altered sprite and environment samples from games across genres and invites readers to share their scores in the comments.

• Latest news Saudi fund completes EA buyout, employees fear content restrictions

  The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia closed its purchase of Electronic Arts earlier this month, the largest leveraged buyout in private equity history. Many current and former EA employees expect tighter control over which games get approved and worry titles that emphasize diversity and LGBTQ+ themes — such as The Sims — could face restrictions. EA has told staff its "cultural values" will remain under Saudi ownership, but employees say the takeover could be used to polish Saudi Arabia's international image and that projects not aligned with the government's preferences may not be greenlit.

• Latest news James Pond trailer prompts AI-art controversy; System 3 denies using generative AI

  Developer System 3 released a reveal trailer for James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough that viewers flagged for apparent generative AI-created character art, and the studio disabled public YouTube comments after the backlash. System 3 says no generative AI was used and provided documents showing a human-led pipeline that began with original James Pond pixel graphics, was redrawn in Illustrator and Photoshop, rendered in 3D and then retouched. The dispute highlights fan scrutiny over asset creation and transparency for revived retro franchises.

• Latest news Live game-music concerts reconnect audiences with gaming's positive, communal side

  Eurogamer published a feature arguing that orchestral performances of video game music are fostering communal joy and highlighting the cultural value of games. The piece is part of Eurogamer's Optimism Week, a series of articles aimed at inspiring positive perspectives. It directs readers to the Optimism Week hub for related coverage.

• Latest news Horizon Hunters Gathering rebooted to drop live-service model after playtest backlash

  Horizon Hunters Gathering has been rebooted to remove its live-service elements. Developers made the change after early private playtests produced negative feedback about the live-service design. Dropping the live-service model alters the game's approach to ongoing updates and monetization, representing a strategic shift in development.

• Latest news Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta preload begins Aug. 20

  Preloading for the Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta opens on Aug. 20 across all platforms. Players who pre-ordered the game or hold an Early Access code can download the beta before it goes live. Preloading lets eligible players complete the download ahead of the beta launch so they can start playing immediately.

• Latest news New parent says video games helped them cope with sudden parenting anxiety

  A writer who became a parent describes intense, unexpected anxiety after their child's arrival, with ordinary objects and places suddenly feeling dangerous. They say playing video games became the most optimistic way they found to view the world and helped them manage the constant new worries of parenthood. This shift reframed daily hazards and reduced the overwhelming sense of threat created by new responsibilities.

• Latest news Boulies EP200 review: $209 budget chair with mesh back and limited adjustments

  The Boulies EP200 is a budget office/gaming chair priced between $209 and $299 that copies higher-end looks with a mesh back, fabric seat and metal frame. It assembles easily and proved comfortable for an average-sized user, but an inspected unit arrived with a small perforation in the back mesh that has not expanded during use. Adjustment options are limited — lumbar moves in/out but not up/down, the lower cushion slides but won’t tilt, the back reclines only partway, the headrest angles, and the arms lift without pivoting — making this a low-cost ergonomic choice that sacrifices fine adjustability and may show quality-control issues.

• Latest news Best Destiny 2 Legendary armor sets for PvE utility and survivability

  Legendary armor sets added after Destiny 2's Edge of Fate update include both two-piece and four-piece bonuses. Most set bonuses target a specific weapon type, ability, or subclass, but a handful provide broad utility and survivability that work across PvE activities. Choosing those generalist bonuses helps players build flexible, durable characters without relying on niche equipment.

• Latest news Warren Specter retires and urges credit for Epic Mickey's role in Oswald's return

  Veteran developer Warren Specter is retiring after more than 40 years in games and posted on LinkedIn that the Epic Mickey team deserves recognition for reintroducing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Disney. Epic Mickey (2010) marked Oswald's first Disney appearance since 1928 and helped reunite Mickey and Oswald; its sequel gave Oswald a Disney voice and developed his love interest Ortensia. The character's return traces back to a 2003 development document that pushed then-Disney chief Bob Iger to recover Oswald in a 2006 deal that traded sportscaster Al Michaels; Oswald is now getting a Disney+ miniseries and the original game received a 2024 remaster. This matters because Specter warns the game's creative contributions risk being forgotten as Hollywood promotes new adaptations.

• Latest news Warren Spector retires after 44-year career, plans books, lecturing and consulting

  Warren Spector, lead designer behind Ultima Underworld, System Shock and Deus Ex, announced on LinkedIn that he is retiring from game development after roughly 44 years in the industry. He cited age and health and said he feels he has done what he set out to do, and plans to write books, do lecturing and consulting, and return to playing piano. Spector highlighted that his successes were team efforts and recounted work across tabletop RPGs, board games and large and small digital development teams. His retirement removes a prominent figure in immersive sims and narrative-driven game design from active development.

• Latest news Tripwire gives Deceive Inc to players with community servers, mod support

  Tripwire Interactive will release community server tools, a server browser, and mod support for Deceive Inc so players can host and maintain the game's multiplayer after the original developer shut down. Deceive Inc is a 2023 PvP 'Hitman' shooter with a small but passionate player base that risked losing access when developer Sweet Bandits closed in 2024. Tripwire is converting the game's closed-server architecture to be community-hostable to keep the game playable indefinitely, offering an alternative to live-service shutdowns.

• Latest news Chromite in Palworld: find it on Feybreak Island with a Metal Detector or Smokie

  Chromite spawns underground on Feybreak Island just south of Mount Obsidian and can only be revealed with a Metal Detector or the Smokie pal's partner skill. The Metal Detector auto-scans nearby soil as you explore; Smokie's detection requires crafting and equipping a Smokie's Harness and improving the skill with a Pal Essence Condenser. When Chromite is found a rocky node with a blue beacon appears and must be mined with a pickaxe. Players can also set up a passive Chromite supply by breeding Smokies at a Breeding Farm and hatching their eggs.

• Latest news Warren Spector, 70, retires after nearly 45-year career; 'Thick as Thieves' halts updates

  Warren Spector announced his retirement from game development at age 70 after a career spanning nearly 45 years and 17 released games. Spector, a founder of the immersive sim genre best known for Deus Ex and Thief, said he no longer finds the same joy in the industry and plans to write books and provide consulting. His final release, Otherside Entertainment’s Thick as Thieves, launched earlier this year, was restructured from PvPvE to single-player/co-op, and will receive no further content updates after underperforming. Spector’s past work includes Epic Mickey, producing Ultima Underworld at Looking Glass, and an abandoned System Shock 3 effort.

• Latest news NBA 2K27 overhauls MyCareer and core gameplay ahead of Sept. 4 launch

  NBA 2K27 launches September 4 (August 26 for Deluxe/Ultra editions) with major changes to story mode, gameplay, and core modes. MyCareer gains 'eras' and cooperative play, while MyPlayer now allows female characters in The City. ProPLAY-driven animation updates, a Dynamic Layup Engine, and revamped defensive systems raise the game's offensive and defensive skill ceilings and alter progression systems.

• Latest news The Sinking City 2 shifts to classic survival horror amid Arkham evacuation

  In an early sequence players explore a waterlogged Miskatonic University strewn with toppled shelves and soggy books while a siren blares a final evacuation call for Arkham. The game moves the series away from investigative, puzzle-led play toward a more classic survival-horror approach. That tonal shift changes the atmosphere, pacing and player expectations for the sequel.

• Latest news Angela Sant'Albano to replace Jennifer English as Gwendolyn in Tides of Annihilation

  Jennifer English withdrew from voicing the main character Gwendolyn in the Chinese action game Tides of Annihilation last month. Angela Sant'Albano, who voiced Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem, is stepping in as the game's lead English voice. The swap replaces an award-winning performer with another established voice actor and changes the game's announced English-language lead cast ahead of release.

• Latest news Eurogamer says stepping outside can improve your gaming — Optimism Week piece

  Eurogamer published an Optimism Week feature arguing that leaving the house — colloquially 'touching grass' — can make gaming more enjoyable and support player wellbeing. The article is one of a series of pieces during Optimism Week that focus on optimism or aim to inspire it. Readers are directed to an Optimism Week hub for more related features.

• Latest news Bethesda's Fallout 4 patch may break mods; similar Skyrim update planned

  Bethesda is rolling out a new update for Fallout 4 that could break existing mods, and a comparable update for Skyrim is also being prepared. Both games are older but still have large mod communities, so changes to the base game risk making many mods incompatible. This matters because players and mod authors may have to wait for updated mods or choose whether to install the patch.

• Latest news Gunz the Duel returns to Steam; players cite network problems and AI claims

  Gunz the Duel, a cult classic 3rd-person action game first released in 2006, has been re-released on Steam. Players criticized the new release for network-related technical problems and alleged the re-release used generative AI. The backlash matters because it affects playability for the game's community and raises questions about how the relaunch was produced.

• Latest news BO7 & Warzone Season 5 Week 4: M15 MOD 0 AMR .50 Cal kit and 10,000 XP

  Week 4 challenges in Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 5 award an M15 MOD 0 AMR .50 Cal weapon kit and 10,000 XP. Completing the objectives also advances progress toward the Season 5 Murder and Nectar camo unlocks. The full set of Week 4 objectives includes recommended methods to help players complete them efficiently.

• Latest news Flying Wild Hog's Tomb Raider remake adds RPG skill trees, crafting and focus meter

  Amazon Game Studios and Crystal Dynamics released a new trailer for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a remake of the 1996 original developed by Flying Wild Hog. The trailer, the sixth behind-the-scenes video in the series, reveals RPG-style skill trees, crafting mechanics and a new 'focus meter' that alter core gameplay. These systems move the remake away from the original's platforming focus toward character progression, inventory and resource-management mechanics.

• Latest news Razer Naga V3 Pro: lighter Naga with 50K sensor, $180 — still aimed at MMO players

  Razer updated its MMO-focused Naga line with the V3 Pro, keeping the V2 Pro's dimensions but reducing weight and changing internals. The new model swaps the V2 Pro's 30K sensor for a Razer Focus Pro 50K sensor, adds doubleshot moulded keycaps, cleaner clicks and an audible switch sound. It supports wired, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connections and sells for about $180. The mouse works well for MMOs and everyday gaming, but is not a compelling upgrade for existing Naga V2 Pro owners.

• Latest news Warren Spector, designer of Deus Ex and Epic Mickey, announces retirement

  Veteran game developer Warren Spector has announced his retirement. He was a key part of the development of the Deus Ex series and also contributed to Epic Mickey, Ultima and System Shock. His departure ends a long career behind multiple high-profile, genre-defining titles.

• Latest news Yoshida urged studio to drop 'turn-based' label for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

  Shuhei Yoshida advised Sandfall Interactive to avoid describing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a "turn-based RPG" to prevent potential players from overlooking it. Early footage of the game showed fast, action-packed combat that contrasts with the traditional perception of turn-based games. Sandfall formally described the project as a turn-based RPG and said it reinvigorates the genre, a label that prompted some negative reactions.

• Latest news Season 4 adds limited Conquest leaderboard for Karel’s Mothership Mega Dungeon

  Season 4 of The First Descendant launches on Aug. 20 and concludes Karel’s storyline with the new Karel’s Mothership Mega Dungeon. A limited-time Conquest difficulty will start a few weeks into the season and turn the Mega Dungeon into a timed leaderboard race. Mega Dungeon runs can take up to 20 minutes and add new interactable mechanics, changing the pacing from previous dungeons that rarely exceeded five minutes.

• Latest news WoW housing tips from Blizzard art lead: use references, blueprints and break spaces up

  Blizzard principal artist and lead designer Jay Huang, who now oversees World of Warcraft's player housing systems, offered concrete tips for new creators after patch 12.1 expanded housing decor and tools. Patch 12.1 (The Curse of Ula'tek) added many new decor items and a blueprints feature that lets players save and copy entire rooms. The guidance aims to make player housing less intimidating by recommending reference images, copying blueprints to learn, and breaking large rooms into smaller decorated areas.

• Latest news Bethesda tells Fallout 4 players to save mod load orders ahead of Aug. 18 Creations patch

  Bethesda will deploy a Fallout 4 patch on August 18 that it says focuses on general Creations improvements. Players are advised to log into a save or manually save their mod load order so they can re-download their entire Creations list after the update. The warning follows previous Fallout 4 patches that caused breakages and required tools and follow-up fixes, making precautions important for mod-heavy players.

• Latest news Konami to remove Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade; will shut Sept 3

  Konami will remove Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade on August 20 and permanently shut the game so it is unplayable after September 3. The game, originally released in 2019, was re-released as an Apple Arcade exclusive in September 2021 with microtransactions removed. Konami gave no reason for the decision. The shutdown removes access to a modern 2D Castlevania entry that features series staples and multiplayer co-op, prompting fan interest in potential console or PC ports.