Games news

• 007 First Light Almost Turned James Bond Into “Mr. Gadget”

  16-07-2026 19:47 via gamespot.com
  
  007 First Light strikes a key balance between keeping James Bond grounded while also placing him in believably outlandish sequences, but for longtime fans of the franchise, the lack of any over-the-top gadgets was sorely missed in the game. That's not to say that developer IO Interactive didn't consider giving Bond some extra black ops hardware during the development of the game, but these gadgets were cut back so that Bond's arsenal would more accurately reflect the world he was living in--whic
  
  Read more

• In An Era Of AI Slop, Meccha Chameleon Embraces Human-Crafted Chaos

  17-07-2026 22:26 via gamespot.com
  
  Of the game industry’s many problems, one of the most depressing is how quickly generative AI has wormed its way into development. According to GDC’s 2025 State of the Game Industry report, more than 50% of surveyed devs work at companies that use AI tools (a figure that has almost certainly increased since then). In some ways, it isn’t surprising that a medium at the intersection of art and technology has embraced this fad born from the latter. That doesn’t make it less
  
  Read more

• Marathon Game Director Leaves Bungie At A Tumultuous Time

  17-07-2026 21:31 via gamespot.com
  
  Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has announced that he's leaving Bungie for a new job, and his departure comes at a tumultuous time for the studio.Ziegler said in a note that taking over for him as game director on Marathon will be Del Chafe III, who was previously the assistant game director. Chafe III will work alongside creative director Julia Nardin to "guide the game forward."
  "Both of them have been operating in a strong leadership capacity for the team and are ready to guide Marathon in
  
  Read more

• Zero Parades Dev Announces Layoffs Despite Game’s Critical Acclaim

  17-07-2026 20:33 via gamespot.com
  
  Another day, another layoff announcement. This time it comes from Zero Parades: For Dead Spies developer ZA/UM, which said on social media that despite the game's critical acclaim, the studio can't sustain the size of its team.ZA/UM took to Bluesky on July 17 to share the unfortunate news. The team said that although Zero Parades reviewed well, "its commercial performance" made it difficult for the studio to maintain its current employee count. As a result, the company has "served redundancy or
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Todd Howard Addresses “Fan Chatter” About Bethesda-Obsidian Rivalry Conspiracies

  17-07-2026 20:30 via gamespot.com
  
  Bethesda boss Todd Howard has addressed rumors of a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian, saying the online discourse does not reflect reality.He told Windows Central, "I appreciate some of the fan chatter, but behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of mutual respect [between Bethesda and Obsidian]."Obsidian developed 2010's Fallout: New Vegas, which was a much-loved entry in the series. The studio is now working on a new Fallout game, though we still don't know exactly what it i
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia’s EA Takeover Reportedly Set To Clear EU Hurdle

  17-07-2026 19:59 via gamespot.com
  
  After announcing its $55 billion acquisition of EA in September 2025, the European Union is reportedly set to approve Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) purchase at the end of July, according to new reporting from Reuters.As Reuters reported on July 17, people familiar with the deal said Saudi Arabia's PIF will secure the EU's approval under EU subsidy rules. This means that, after the EU completes its preliminary review under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) on July 22, the
  
  Read more

• Diablo 4 Season 14’s Worst Mythic Change Is No More: “Not Every Idea Lands”

  17-07-2026 19:55 via gamespot.com
  
  Diablo 4 Season 14's most controversial change, only being able to equip one crafted-Mythic item at a time, is now a thing of the past.In a surprise patch on July 16 for PC (and coming sometime on July 17 for console players), Blizzard opted to remove the one equipped crafted-Mythic restriction introduced as part of Season of Death Awakening, as well as increase Mythic and Iconic Mythic drop rates from the new seasonal Lair Boss.Blizzard announced the season's other most controversial addition,
  
  Read more

• Mystery Booster Commander Combines Two Of Magic: The Gathering’s Best Things, And I Can’t Wait

  17-07-2026 19:30 via gamespot.com
  
  As part of MagicCon Amsterdam, Wizards of the Coast has laid out its entire 2027 plan for Magic: The Gathering's in-universe slate, including three new sets and four more MagicCon events spread throughout the year. Nestled among those announcements, however, was one that made my ears perk up: Mystery Booster Commander.Mystery Booster 1 and 2, for those unaware, are specially-curated sets filled with reprints that are only available at MagicCon events and through Convention-In-A-Box drops on the
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Magic: The Gathering’s 2027 Roadmap Features A Return To Kamigawa, An Underwater Plane, And Huge Events

  17-07-2026 19:30 via gamespot.com
  
  MagicCon: Amsterdam is officially in full-swing, and with it comes some major announcements for Magic: The Gathering's future. After sharing a closer look at Reality Fracture, Magic's upcoming and world-altering set that sees Planeswalker Jace Belren reshape the game's multiverse, Wizards of the Coast offered fans a highly anticipated first look at everything coming in 2027.Next year, Magic: The Gathering is kicking off a brand new story arc supplemented by three in-universe sets: Nauctis: The S
  
  Read more

• Magic The Gathering – Zhalfir Worldbuilding Trailer

  17-07-2026 19:30 via gamespot.com
  
  The kingdom of Zhalfir has reentered the Multiverse as its own plane! Zhalfir will showcase its namesake like never before, lush with vibrant magic and rooted in its storied past, as its people find their place in the Multiverse. Teferi Akosa will also be making his return to Zhalfir, giving a new generation of players the chance to meet Magic's master of chronomancy.
  Players can immerse themselves in the beauty of Zhalfir and harness innovative new forms of magic. The minds behind this plane ha
  
  Read more

• Magic The Gathering – Nauctis: The Sunken Realm Worldbuilding Trailer

  17-07-2026 19:30 via gamespot.com
  
  Nauctis: The Sunken Realm introduces players to Nauctis, Magic’s take on an undersea plane.The set features merfolk, seals, homarids, and other aquatic creatures, along with deities who rule over the currents.As tensions bubble between two warring kingdoms, a group of unlikely heroes must rise to the occasion – or their home will be swallowed up by the seas. Adventures await under the water, and players will come face-to-face with fearsome creatures that dwell far, far from the surfa
  
  Read more

• Magic The Gathering – Kamigawa: Titanbreach Worldbuilding Trailer

  17-07-2026 19:30 via gamespot.com
  
  When an Omenpath opens above the neon-lit skies of Towashi, a huge mass of Ikoria crashes through, unleashing mayhem. The people of Kamigawa must band together to stop the monsters of Ikoria that threaten to stomp, scorch, and shatter their home. Kamigawa: Titanbreach is a clash between two iconic Magic planes, Ikoria and Kamigawa.Face the incursion head on when Kamigawa: Titanbreach releases on June 4, 2027.
  
  Read more

• This PC Gamer Is Making His Own Physical Steam Games, One Expensive Cartridge At A Time

  17-07-2026 19:27 via gamespot.com
  
  Physical PC games have been out of fashion for many years, thanks to the rise of digital distribution platforms like Steam. While big PC game boxes containing CD and DVD-ROMs have essentially died out, one modder has decided to bring back game cartridges to their Steam library, blending solid-state drives with Steam's flexible desktop client.Over on the PC Master Gaming Race subreddit, Jibril-sama detailed their plug-and-play approach to playing Steam games. They'd recently purchased a stack of
  
  Read more

• MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls – Official Ghost Rider Character Gameplay Guide

  17-07-2026 19:16 via gamespot.com
  
  Robbie Reyes unleashes the Spirit of Vengeance!Our latest Character Guide breaks down Ghost Rider's devastating toolkit, from long-range chain and scythe attacks to blazing hellfire that keeps opponents under constant pressure.Learn how to use the Hellcharger to rip through every fight, master the Vengeance Gauge to boost your skills and dominate from a distance before the flames consume you.MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is coming to PS5 and PC on August 6th, 2026 PT!
  
  Read more

• After 12 Years, EA Is (Mostly) Nudging The Sims 4 In The Right Direction

  17-07-2026 19:12 via gamespot.com
  
  In the 12 years since The Sims 4 launched in 2014, EA has released over 100 DLC packs in an attempt to fill in a game that was largely barren of content at launch. The end result is a game with loads of content, but also loads of bugs and optimization issues. (Though some of those optimization issues are a result of The Sims 4 initially being conceived as an online mobile game that could be played on any device.)But recently--especially since the 25th anniversary of the franchise in 2025--EA has
  
  Read more

• Bethesda Boss Talks Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, Xbox Layoffs, And More

  17-07-2026 19:01 via gamespot.com
  
  Todd Howard, the top man at Bethesda Game Studios (BGS), has finally broken his silence on just about everything Bethesda. This includes news on Fallout games (like Fallout 3, Fallout 5, and Fallout: New Vegas), confirmation of Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout spin-off (which we kinda already knew), updates on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, and more.
  https://twitter.com/BethesdaStudios/status/2078117386935214101
  There's a lot to get into, so let's jump in.What's up with The Elder Scrolls 6 a
  
  Read more

• Final Fantasy Resonance Trailer Imagines A World Without Final Fantasy 7 Changing Everything

  17-07-2026 18:08 via gamespot.com
  
  Final Fantasy games have been rendered in 3D engines for far longer than they have in 2D, but the new trailer for Final Fantasy: Resonance wants you to imagine a world where Square Enix's risky 1997 gambit never happened. What would Final Fantasy look like if it stuck to its 2D pixel-art guns? We'd probably have gotten the HD-2D aesthetic a lot sooner, but regardless, this reimagining of the mobile gacha game Fantasy Brave Exvius continues to look stunning:
  https://youtu.be/ftCvnEE6rfI
  While the
  
  Read more

• Starfield Remains “Important” To Bethesda, New Content Coming In 2027

  17-07-2026 18:03 via gamespot.com
  
  As part of Bethesda's big announcements today about its future and what's coming next, the company also gave an update on Starfield. In its statement, Bethesda said, "Starfield remains an important part of our future."Starfield released in September 2023, so the game is now going into its third year. Bethesda said it will continue to expand the game with "new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates." There will be "new Starborn content" coming to the game in 2027, Bethesd
  
  Read more

• Riftbound Vendetta Is All About Dueling Rivals, Both In The Game And In Real Life

  17-07-2026 18:00 via gamespot.com
  
  The phrase "you can't beat someone at their own game" has never been more true, in my experience, than for Dave Guskin. I've had the opportunity to cover Riftbound: The League of Legends Card Game since its inception, first traveling to Riot Games's office last year before its October debut to get an early look, and then covering each expansion since. Every time I've spoken to lead designer Dave Guskin, it's been over a few games of whichever set is next on the schedule. Every time, he's wi
  
  Read more

• Physical Games Are “Irrelevant” To GameStop’s Business, Says CEO

  17-07-2026 17:19 via gamespot.com
  In a games industry that is increasingly shifting to digital, amplified by PlayStation phasing out physical game discs starting in 2028, where does a brick-and-mortar chain like GameStop fit into this future? GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen appears to have no concern for this monumental shift whatsoever.When asked by Bloomberg about how Sony's digital policy would affect GameStop's business, Cohen responded: "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all."
  While his answer appears flippant and preposterou
  
  Read more

• Todd Howard Says Fallout’s Future Is Bigger Than The Long Wait For Fallout 5

  17-07-2026 16:54 via gamespot.com
  
  The post-apocalyptic world of Fallout expanded a few years ago with the release of a TV series on Prime Video, but anyone expecting a new Fallout game to release in time with the show was out of luck. Two seasons have already aired--and a third is on the way--but the gap between new Fallout video games continues to widen. Bethesda Game Studios boss Todd Howard has a different viewpoint on the MIA status of the games, and as he explained to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier on his YouTu
  
  Read more

• How To Get Mysterious Mushrooms in Palworld

  17-07-2026 16:35 via gamespot.com
  
  The Mysterious Mushroom is an item that was added with the Sakurajima update in mid-2024, but if you're jumping back into the game after a break to enjoy the 1.0 release, you might be wondering where to find this elusive ingredient.Pretty unsurprisingly, you can find the Palworld Mysterious Mushroom on Sakurajima Island. This special ingredient can be harvested by cutting down the large blue mushrooms that appear throughout the environment near water. You can also kill Shroomer and Shroomer Noct
  
  Read more

• How Long Is Halo: Campaign Evolved?

  17-07-2026 16:33 via gamespot.com
  
  The upcoming remake of Halo: Combat Evolved is launching soon, aiming for a July 28 release date. With so many games coming out soon, and limited resources with which to both buy and have the time to play them, you might be wondering how long it'll take you to complete Halo: Campaign Evolved.Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, but it adds three new missions and reworks certain sections. It'll depend on the difficulty settings and your experience with the fran
  
  Read more

• Is Halo: Campaign Evolved On Game Pass?

  17-07-2026 16:31 via gamespot.com
  
  Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to instill nostalgia in gamers when it releases on July 28. The original Halo released a massive 25 years ago, and Combat Evolved's Anniversary Edition was 15 years ago. Now, you'll be able to take on the classic adventure in a modern setting, complete with new missions, and even new Skulls to hunt down. But will you have to fork out to enjoy it, or is it included on Microsoft's subscription service?The good news is yes, Halo: Campaign Evolved is available on Game P
  
  Read more

• Pokemon Pokopia – Zorua’s Hide-and-Sneak Contest Event And Rewards

  17-07-2026 16:30 via gamespot.com
  
  A new event arrives in Pokopia this month, allowing you to earn limited-time rewards. Pokopia’s latest event is themed around Zorua, the adorable shape-shifting Pokemon. This guide will explain how to participate in Zorua's Hide-and-Sneak Contest event and all known rewards.Zorua's Hide-and-Sneak Contest event details Zorua's Hide-and-Sneak Contest event runs from July 19-27 , and the event will start and end at 5 AM for your local time. Some of the earlier events worked with time tra
  
  Read more

• NHL 27 Brings Back A Fan-Favorite Mode Not Seen In Years, But It’s Not What It Seems

  17-07-2026 16:28 via gamespot.com
  
  EA Sports has officially announced NHL 27, with 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini gracing the cover. The new entry in the pro ice hockey series includes all the stuff fans would expect, including better graphics, rebuilt team playbooks, and updated camera work, but there were also a few reveals fans might not have seen coming.
  One of the marquee new additions to NHL 27 is Connected Franchise, a feature fans have requested for years. It hasn't been in an NHL game since 2013's NHL 14. People were init
  
  Read more

• Fallout 5 Is Really Happening, Along With Fallout 3 And Fallout: New Vegas Remasters

  17-07-2026 16:15 via gamespot.com
  
  In a statement today, Bethesda re-confirmed that Fallout 5 is in the works, along with remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. These projects are in the works alongside Obsidian's new Fallout game, so there are a lot of Fallout games coming.Developing....
  
  Read more

• The Odyssey Has Us Thinking About Christopher Nolan’s Video Game Adaptation Ideas

  17-07-2026 15:57 via gamespot.com
  
  A new Christopher Nolan movie is always cause for celebration, as the celebrated filmmaker has produced some of the most talked-about flicks of all time. The Odyssey is looking to be another blockbuster, and also a reminder that the world could do with a video game or two based on his movies. That's not to say that Nolan hasn't toyed around with the idea of a video game adaptation of his work, but he's well aware of just how tough the industry is."Making films is complicated and takes a long tim
  
  Read more

• Palworld’s 1.0 Update Is Massive, And It’s Just Got A Jormuntide-Sized Discount To Celebrate

  17-07-2026 15:49 via gamespot.com
  
  Palworld is exactly the type of wacky mashup I love to play. The monster-taming aspects of a great Pokemon game, combined with survival mechanics and creating a (potentially) brutal society with your Pals, sound like a nightmarish combination, but Pocketpair's hit proves it's a lot of fun. I mean, a peak concurrent player count of more than 2.1 million can't all be wrong, so there's no reason to miss out anymore.Like many players, I was caught in the tidal wave of its launch, swept up in the hyp
  
  Read more

• Netflix Says Part Of Its Games Business Is Up 600%, But It’s Still Early Days

  17-07-2026 15:07 via gamespot.com
  
  As part of Netflix's latest earnings report, the streamer gave an update on its growing video game efforts, which include cloud-based TV games and mobile games. In short, the business is growing and showing positive signs, but it's still early days.
  June 2026 saw the release of Netflix's two "most successful" launches ever for cloud games on TV with FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition and the horror game Unhinged, though Netflix did not share any specific datapoints about them.
  The Netflix Playground
  
  Read more

Follow @GamesUKnews on Twitter!