Liam Ryder

Activision has announced that the Modern Warfare 4 beta will include an early playable campaign mission called “Entrenched,” the new Kill Block mode in 3v3 and 10v10 formats, and five multiplayer maps: Silkworm, Rooftops, Cachette, Transit 213 and Lotus. The first weekend runs from August 21 to 25 for pre-order customers and early-access code holders on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, while the open beta runs from August 28 to September 1 and adds Nintendo Switch 2 support. Warzone’s Zodiac Resurgence map and two Ground War maps will also be available during the second weekend.

House House’s cooperative indie game Big Walk has sold more than one million copies since its August 4 launch and earned strong reviews on PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. Studio developer Nico Disseldorp said the “friendslop” label is useful for categorizing games designed for groups of friends, although he dislikes the negative connotations of the word “slop.” Stuart Gillespie-Cook explained that the game’s cartoon characters and photorealistic setting were chosen to balance playful design with real-world navigation. House House has not announced plans for an Xbox release.

The WrestleMania 42 DLC pack for WWE 2K26 is scheduled for release on August 19 at a price of £8.99 for players who do not own the Monday Night War Edition. It includes two WrestleMania arenas and personas for Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan and Alexa Bliss. Fans have criticized the omission of Paige, who returned at WrestleMania 42, while the article speculates that she may be held back for WWE 2K27 or a later paid DLC release.

An EA FC 26 simulation predicts Arsenal will beat Manchester City 2–1 in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Kai Havertz gives Arsenal the lead, Omar Marmoush misses a Panenka penalty for City, and Phil Foden briefly equalises before Viktor Gyokeres scores a late winner. The result suggests Arsenal have the depth to begin their title defence strongly, while Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City are left to regret Marmoush’s decisive penalty miss.

Sports Interactive has opened registration for an expanded Football Manager 27 playtesting programme through FirstLook, following Football Manager 26's bug-filled and technically troubled launch. Testing will include a wider online player group and selected in-studio community members, with participants providing feedback, completing surveys and reporting bugs. Successful testers will receive access to dedicated forums and Discord spaces and may interact directly with the game's community and development teams. FM27 is expected to launch in late autumn.

Leaked packaging attributed to Brazilian journalist Felipe Lima appears to show a green-and-gold Nintendo Switch 2 and matching Pro Controller celebrating The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary. The designs feature Triforce imagery and references to the original NES game. The report speculates that Nintendo could reveal the products, additional Zelda content, and possibly a film trailer in a September Nintendo Direct. Separate rumors point to a November 12 release for an Ocarina of Time remake, partly based on delisted Amiibo listings, though none of the details has been confirmed.

Xbox Free Play Days features five games this weekend, led by NBA 2K26. Sports Renovations is available only to Xbox Game Pass members, while Ghost Recon Wildlands, Ghost Recon Breakpoint and Sports Renovations can be played for free by all Xbox users until Sunday, August 9. Wax Heads is offered as a two-hour trial, and NBA 2K26 remains available until August 14.

The upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda film has reportedly cast Australian actor Uli Latukefu as Ganondorf, the franchise’s principal villain. Directed by Wes Ball and scheduled for release on April 30, 2027, the film may also feature the late Sam Neill, Dichen Lachman and Yvonne Strahovski. Fans have responded positively to Latukefu’s casting, while it remains unclear whether his Ganondorf will transform into the Ganon beast.

Xbox is introducing party-chat and in-game audio recording for native video captures, initially for Xbox Insiders before a wider rollout. Players can opt in or out of audio capture, and fans have welcomed the update while criticizing its delay compared with PlayStation and PC. Additional updates include achievement sorting, restoration of supported cloud saves—starting with Forza Horizon 6—and expanded wishlists allowing up to 1,000 games.

EA Sports has revealed The Grounds, a new open-world social hub in EA FC 27 that will support up to 100 players and serve as the new home for Clubs. Players will gather at The Terrace, visit Clubhouses, compete in Leagues, Playoffs and new 11v11 Clubs Live Tournaments, and explore three football-inspired districts: Montclair, Zeiza and Parkside. The mode will also feature Kickabouts, weekly challenges, seasonal campaigns and four mentor characters. The Grounds is limited to current-generation platforms, excluding PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Xbox Game Pass is adding a range of games during August 2026, including the Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta, which receives early access for Ultimate and PC Game Pass members from August 6. Other additions include Sandustry, Cricket 26, Date Everything!, PowerWash Simulator 2, Grounded 2, Ball x Pit and Mio: Memories in Orbit. Four games—Menace, Atlas Fallen, Aliens: Fireteam Elite and Firewatch—will leave the service on August 15.

Gears of War: E-Day’s Open Beta early-access period begins on August 6 at 12 p.m. PT, or 8 p.m. BST, and ends on August 10 at 10 a.m. PT, or 6 p.m. BST. Access is available to players who pre-ordered the game and to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, with different download instructions depending on the platform and purchase method. The beta includes Horde Siege, invasion events and later 4v4 versus modes, with limited maps, classes, levels and rewards compared with the full release. Players can unlock exclusive character, weapon, banner, emblem and title rewards by completing specified challenges, with the rewards carrying over to launch on October 6.

Xbox has raised UK prices across its console range, taking the standard Xbox Series X from £499.99 to £669.99 and increasing prices for Series S and digital models. The discontinued or soon-to-be-sunset Galaxy Black Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage remains listed on Microsoft's website for £589.99, although it was out of stock when reported. Certified refurbished units cost £529.99, while Argos and Smyths were still selling 1TB models below the new official prices.

Microsoft has raised UK and European Xbox console prices effective August 1, 2026. The 1TB disc-drive Xbox Series X now costs £669.99, up 34% from its original price, while the digital model costs £619.99. Xbox Series S prices have risen to £519.99 for the 1TB version and £429.99 for the 512GB model, increases of 48.5% and 43.3% respectively; the 2TB Series X model is being discontinued. Microsoft attributes the increases to sharply higher memory and storage costs amid a wider components crisis, but fans say the prices are excessive and risk pricing people out of gaming.

Valve’s latest Steam Client update restores full display resolution options for Steam Deck users, resolving a long‑standing complaint about docked play. Additional improvements include new framerate options for Remote Play, reduced frame drops, UI fixes, expanded Steam Input features, and added support for several third‑party controllers. The patch introduces enhancements across desktop, Steam Machine, and Steam Deck environments, aiming to improve stability, compatibility, and user experience.

Details the start time and duration of the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls open beta, outlines access requirements for PC and PS5 players, and lists available stages, modes, and playable characters. Highlights inclusion of Episode Mode chapters and social features in the Open Lobby.

Production of the Prime Video God of War series has been halted after lead actor Ryan Hurst suffered a torn bicep during a stunt, prompting Amazon MGM Studios to recast the role of Kratos and reshoot all scenes involving him. Hurst, who had undergone surgery and requires extended recovery time, can no longer meet the production schedule. Filming began in February in Vancouver and is unlikely to resume until October. The adaptation, featuring a large ensemble cast and based on the acclaimed PlayStation games, continues development alongside upcoming franchise titles.

Blizzard released a hotfix for Diablo 4’s Season 14 that increases Mythic Unique drop rates from the Corrupted Reaper boss and removes the limit on equipping crafted Mythic items. Additional changes coming next week will add Superior Lair Keys to repeatable caches and boost Mythic Tribute drop rates. Players have responded positively, saying the update corrects earlier frustrations and puts the season back on track.

Dispatch will launch on Xbox Series X/S on July 29, nearly nine months after its debut on PS5 and Steam. The episodic superhero narrative game, praised for its storytelling and voice cast, arrives on Xbox in the uncensored version previously available on PS5 and Windows. Earlier releases on other platforms earned high review scores, though the Nintendo Switch 2 port drew criticism for default censorship. Fan reactions to the delayed Xbox release are mixed, with some excited for the launch and others noting that many players may have already watched the game online.

A simulation using EA Sports FC 26 predicts England defeating Norway 3–1 in the 2026 World Cup quarter‑finals, with neither Harry Kane nor Erling Haaland adding to their Golden Boot tallies. Jude Bellingham scores twice, while Anthony Gordon adds another after England dominate midfield play. Norway briefly equalise through Martin Odegaard, but England control key moments and advance to the semi‑finals with the Golden Boot race still tight.

Xbox restructuring and layoffs have led Obsidian Entertainment to cancel multiple projects and shift focus toward developing a new Fallout game directed by Josh Sawyer. The change in priorities halts plans for an Avowed sequel while work continues on The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2. Fans welcome progress on a new Fallout title but express disappointment over the loss of an Avowed follow-up.

Major 2K titles across sports, strategy and shooter franchises are discounted by up to 85 percent on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation during a limited summer sale. Steam offers the largest savings, with discounts ending earliest, while other platform sale end dates extend into mid‑August.

Nintendo Switch Online expands its retro catalogue with three Game Boy titles and a Game Boy Advance two‑in‑one release, available to subscribers depending on membership tier. Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 drives most of the excitement among fans, while reactions to Fortified Zone, The Sword of Hope II and Dr Mario and Puzzle League are more subdued, though some users praise their quality.

Xbox announced the first wave of July 2026 Game Pass additions, led by the remastered Gears of War: Reloaded and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. Several new and indie titles join throughout the month, including Winds of Arcana: Ruination, Ascend to Zero, Tamashika and Palworld 1.0. A total of 10 games will leave the service on July 15, including EA Sports FC 24 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.

A simulation using EA Sports FC 26 predicts England defeating Mexico 3–1 in their World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match at the Azteca, highlighting challenges posed by altitude, psychological pressure, and tactical adjustments. Changes including starting Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, and John Stones contribute to England’s simulated success. Despite Harry Kane missing an early penalty, goals from Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Elliot Anderson secure the win, while defensive lapses allow Mexico a consolation goal. Jordan Pickford makes crucial saves to preserve the result, with victory setting up a quarter-final against Brazil or Norway.

PlayStation plans to stop producing physical game discs in 2028, and reports indicate the next Xbox will also launch without a disc drive. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella argues that Nintendo is unlikely to follow this shift, maintaining its own strategy and continuing to support physical media longer than its competitors. Although physical game sales continue to decline, retail channels remain strong for Nintendo, and future releases may still include boxed codes, merchandise, and special editions even as the overall market moves further toward digital distribution.

A retailer listing from Playasia suggests The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2 may be priced around £58–£60, lower than some recent major releases. The leak has sparked debate among fans over whether the remake will be a faithful update or a more ambitious reimagining, with comparisons drawn to titles like Link’s Awakening and Star Fox. Nintendo has not confirmed the price.

Following Larian’s decision to leave the Baldur’s Gate franchise, Hasbro has struggled to find a studio willing to take on a fourth installment. Former Baldur’s Gate 2 co-lead designer James Ohlen declined the opportunity, citing the difficulty of competing with Baldur’s Gate 3 and the extensive work required to build a sequel from scratch. He noted that fans should expect at least a five-year development timeline, leaving the future of Baldur’s Gate 4 uncertain.

Microsoft is considering cancelling Arkane Studios’ Marvel’s Blade game as part of large-scale layoffs and potential studio closures following declining revenue. The project, announced in 2023 and originally planned for release this year, has seen its launch window pushed to 2027 amid development uncertainty. Leadership at Xbox recently warned of major organisational changes, despite Bethesda’s Todd Howard praising Arkane’s progress on the title in May.

A simulation using EA Sports FC 26 predicts England overcoming an early setback to defeat DR Congo 7-1 in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage. Despite injury issues at right-back, the projected lineup includes Djed Spence and a returning Declan Rice. Eliot Anderson, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham each play decisive roles as England pull away after conceding first. The piece notes that a similar simulation overestimated England’s margin against Panama, underscoring uncertainty despite the optimistic projection.

Ubisoft detailed the enhancements for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on PS5 and PS5 Pro, emphasizing rebuilt technology on the Anvil engine and expanded features such as extended ray tracing, improved lighting, and advanced hair rendering. The PS5 Pro offers additional graphical upgrades through greater GPU power and enhanced ray‑tracing performance. The game also includes modernized water systems, real‑time environmental reactions, and support for HDR, Dolby Atmos, and DualSense haptics. The title launches July 9 on PS5, PS5 Pro, Windows and Xbox Series X/S.

Major discounts across genres headline the Steam Summer Sale, including notable reductions on recent Game of the Year winners such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Baldur’s Gate 3. Many titles are Steam Deck verified, and additional deals include blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077 and Diablo IV, along with indie favourites such as Stardew Valley and Hades II. The sale runs until July 9, offering savings of up to 90 percent on selected titles.

Nintendo will release the Switch 2 Pokémon Pokopia bundle in the UK on July 2, offering the console and a digital copy of Pokémon Pokopia for £429.99, a saving compared with purchasing separately. Pre-orders are available through the Nintendo Store and major UK retailers, some offering minor discounts or free delivery. The bundle includes the Switch 2 console, accessories and the full game download but excludes the paid Expansion Pass.