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• 10 new movies to stream this weekend on Peacock, Netflix, and Hulu (Jul 17–19)

  Ten new films arrive on Peacock, Netflix, and Hulu for the weekend of July 17–19. Releases cover multiple genres, providing fresh options for weekend viewing. Availability and specific titles vary by service and region.

• PC Gamer awards $500 to reader for Crimson Desert clip — monthly PC Gamer Clips

  PC Gamer awarded $500 in Amazon gift cards to the creator of this month’s winning Crimson Desert clip. PC Gamer Clips is a monthly reader-submission feature that selects one PC gameplay clip for a $500 prize. Submission details and eligibility (US/UK only) are listed on the PC Gamer Clips page. Clips from any PC game are welcome, especially those that are funny, exciting, surprising, or showcase skill.

• Sony cancels multiple live-service projects and shutters Bluepoint Studio

  Sony has canceled a large portion of its planned live-service titles and closed Bluepoint Studios after assigning it to a live-service God of War spinoff. Concord, another high-profile live-service effort, was shelved after costing hundreds of millions. Despite these setbacks, Sony leadership has signaled continued interest in live-service games.

• Ascend to Zero — a roguelike built around a 30‑second run

  Ascend to Zero frames each run around a 30‑second "save the world" timer. The game applies inventive twists to familiar roguelike mechanics. Early impressions say it’s engaging enough to keep players past the initial pitch.

• Studio ZA/UM to lay off up to 32 staff after Zero Parades underperforms

  Studio ZA/UM said it has issued redundancy or at‑risk notices affecting up to 32 employees two months after releasing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies. The studio stated the game's commercial performance did not allow it to sustain its current size, despite some positive reviews. Observers and social media also noted mixed reception and prior departures of key personnel at ZA/UM.

• Mortal Kombat 2 to stream on HBO Max July 24

  Warner Bros. confirmed Mortal Kombat 2 will debut on HBO Max on July 24. The film has grossed $129 million worldwide. Director Simon McQuoid said the streaming debut begins the movie's "full life cycle" and could affect the chances of Mortal Kombat 3.

• Hytale publishes major devblog with 22 videos and 37 images

  Hypixel Studios posted a ~4,000-word devblog featuring 22 new videos and 37 images outlining upcoming Chapter 1 content. Planned additions include a handcrafted dungeon, a goblin chieftain boss, new goblin variants and a Goblin Breach world event. The team cautions the game is still early access and not feature-complete, so there are limited reasons to return right now.

• Valve veteran Christopher Green retires again, says a popular mode was made in secret

  Christopher Green announced his permanent retirement after a second stint at Valve and held Reddit AMAs reflecting on 45 years in game development. He said that at least one of Valve's beloved game modes was developed in secret to avoid pushback from peers. Green spent a combined 16 years at Valve and worked on projects including both Source engines, Portal, The Orange Box and Day of Defeat: Source.

• Todd Howard reiterates respect for Obsidian as Fallout partnership confirmed

  Todd Howard repeatedly says he does not hold a grudge against Obsidian and emphasizes mutual respect between Bethesda and Obsidian. He told Windows Central Bethesda is open to working together when it makes sense. Bethesda's recent roadmap confirms an Obsidian-led Fallout project, remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas, and Fallout 5 in pre-production. The announcement came amid wider Xbox layoffs but highlights continued Fallout plans.

• Top Palworld mods for grind relief and quality-of-life

  Palworld mods span a wide range of features. Some let players bypass repetitive grind, while others add quality-of-life improvements. Players can pick mods to tailor difficulty and convenience to their preference.

• HEROIC reach Stake Ranked grand final as 3DMAX eliminated

  HEROIC secured a place in the Stake Ranked grand final on day three in Barcelona. 3DMAX were eliminated from the tournament. Only three teams remain in contention for the title.

• Marathon director Joe Ziegler departs Bungie; Del Chafe III promoted

  Joe Ziegler has announced he is leaving Bungie and will reveal his next role later. Del Chafe III, previously assistant game director, will take over as Marathon game director and will co-lead the project with creative director Julia Nardin. The change comes after a prior director’s dismissal and amid recent layoffs that affected Bungie’s Destiny and Marathon teams.

• ZA/UM to cut up to 32 jobs despite Zero Parades' strong reviews

  ZA/UM announced on July 17 that it has served redundancy or at‑risk notices to up to 32 staff. The studio said Zero Parades reviewed well but its commercial performance made the current team size unsustainable; it is consulting with the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance. Zero Parades launched on PC in May 2026 with a PS5 version planned, and holds an 8/10 from GameSpot and an 83 on Metacritic.

• BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2 live draft — 16 low seeds pick opponents

  BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2 is running a live draft in which the 16 low-seeded teams will select their tournament opponents. The draft determines matchups for the first major tournament of the fall season.

• Todd Howard: Bethesda and Obsidian respect each other; Obsidian on a new Fallout

  Todd Howard said online rumours of a feud between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian don’t reflect reality, noting mutual respect and a desire to collaborate. Obsidian, developer of Fallout: New Vegas, is now working on a new Fallout title. Howard reiterated past praise for New Vegas as Bethesda confirms other Fallout projects are in the pipeline.

• EU reportedly set to clear Saudi PIF's $55B EA takeover at end of July

  Reuters says the European Commission is poised to approve Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund purchase of Electronic Arts after its Foreign Subsidies Regulation review. The FSR preliminary review ends July 22 and the deal is expected to be cleared on July 30, with unconditional EU merger clearance likely. The $55 billion acquisition was announced in September 2025 and would be the second-largest gaming buyout. The transaction has drawn regulatory scrutiny and public criticism.

• Diablo 4 removes crafted-Mythic equip limit, boosts Mythic drop rates

  Blizzard removed the Season 14 restriction that limited players to one equipped crafted-Mythic in a surprise patch on July 16 for PC and July 17 for consoles. The update also increases Mythic and Iconic Mythic drop rates from the seasonal Lair Boss. Changes to the Horadric Cube's Mythic Upgrade are planned but delayed until Season 15; developers say player feedback informed the decision.

• Modder Turns SSDs Into Physical Steam Game 'Cartridges'

  A Reddit user built plug-and-play physical 'Steam cartridges' by loading games and a custom script onto used SATA SSDs and adding custom cases. They published the code and say it may work with SD cards, USB drives and other storage, but tested only on an older Windows 10 setup. Using SSDs raises costs, and the industry continues to shift toward digital-only distribution.

• Todd Howard: Elder Scrolls 6 Progressing, Fallout 5 in Pre‑Production

  Todd Howard said The Elder Scrolls VI is Bethesda’s primary focus and development is progressing well. Fallout 5 is in pre‑production. Full remakes of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas were confirmed. Obsidian is working on a Fallout spin‑off, and Starfield will receive a Starborn DLC and expanded Creation Club tools; no release dates or exclusivity were announced.

• StarSeries Fall announces closed qualifier invites

  Organizers have revealed the invitees for the closed qualifiers to StarSeries Fall. Three regional qualifiers will compete for four available spots at the main event. The tournament carries a $500,000 prize pool.

• Deborah Ann Woll says she's unbothered by criticism of God of War: Laufey

  Since the game's announcement in early June, God of War: Laufey has attracted notable negative commentary despite only one trailer. Much of the criticism has focused on Deborah Ann Woll, who reprises the role of Laufey from God of War (2018). Woll has said she feels "totally unbothered" by the online criticism.

• ultimate to stand in for Liquid at BLAST Bounty; Jorko’s debut delayed

  Team Liquid will use stand-in player ultimate for the BLAST Bounty event. Their newly signed AWPer Jorko will not debut as planned. The team confirmed the roster change ahead of the tournament.

• 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.

• Bethesda: The Elder Scrolls 6 'on the way' amid Xbox cuts

  Bethesda Game Studios has reassured players that The Elder Scrolls 6 remains in development after recent Xbox cuts. The studio said the project is "on the way", "where we planned to be", and that developers are "loving how it looks" and "playing it every day." No release date or additional development details were provided.

• Bethesda says Starfield remains important and will continue to be supported

  Bethesda has confirmed Starfield remains an important part of its future and will continue to receive support. The statement follows recent studio layoffs and a company refocus on core franchises. Bethesda pledged to keep providing updates and resources for the sci‑fi RPG.

• fame and BELCHONOKK sign with TDK

  TDK have added players fame and BELCHONOKK to their roster. The signings follow a successful first half of the year for the team. TDK strengthen their lineup ahead of upcoming events.

• 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.

• ECSTATIC lose Buzz and Anlelele; nut nut placed on transfer list

  ECSTATIC have announced roster changes after four players left the team. Buzz and Anlelele have departed, and nut nut has been placed on the transfer list. The organisation says the exits trigger a significant rebuild. Further moves are expected as the team restructures.

• BO7 & Warzone Season 4 Week 7: Six challenges unlock Unescapable Deep blueprint

  Week 7 is the final stretch of Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 4. Completing any six Week 7 challenges awards the Unescapable Deep weapon blueprint plus 10,000 XP. Each individual challenge also grants between 2,500 and 5,000 XP. The article lists the Week 7 challenges and how to complete them quickly.

• BO7 & Warzone Season 4 Week 6: Velox 5.7 chassis, Endgame token and XP

  Completing Week 6 challenges in Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 4 awards the Velox 5.7 Carbine Chassis attachment, an Endgame Restore Token and a 10,000 XP bonus. Each individual challenge also grants between 2,500 and 5,000 XP. The Dot Esports article lists all Week 6 challenges and offers tips to complete them quickly.