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The Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Presents the Forged in Valor Series, A Look into the Making of the Valor Pack
The Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) has announced the Forged in Valor Series, which will offer a look into the creation of the Valor Pack. The article also mentions the use of optional cookies for website experience and personalized advertising.
FZ High Score - Deadline för Call of Duty vid midnatt!
The deadline for submitting review score predictions for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is midnight. The article encourages readers to guess the final scores, which will be based on the average from Opencritic.
Unionized Activision QA workers authorize a strike after two years of stalled negotiations
Unionized Activision QA workers have authorized a strike after two years of stalled negotiations with the company. The union, representing 600 workers, is seeking wage increases, AI guardrails, and improved working conditions. Both sides accuse the other of bad-faith bargaining.
Activision QA United-CWA union vote to authorise strike, claims publisher has "failed to bargain in good faith over key issues"
Members of the Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA union have voted to authorize a strike, citing Activision Blizzard's alleged failure to bargain in good faith over key issues such as wages and AI guardrails. The union, which formed in March 2024, has been in negotiations for a first contract since August. Activision Blizzard stated they are working in good faith and have plans to prevent disruption to players.
MMO Week in Review: Funcom’s folly
Funcom has confirmed significant layoffs and the stepping down of its CEO as part of a restructuring effort. The company will now focus on its existing titles, Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles. This news comes amidst a broader week of MMO updates, including RuneScape halting its Reignited plans and Enshrouded launching its 1.0 release.
GTA 6 Has “Hundreds” of Little Interiors to Explore, Says Rockstar
Rockstar Games has revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature "hundreds" of explorable interiors, significantly expanding on the scale of its previous titles like Red Dead Redemption 2. The game's world is reportedly three times larger than Red Dead Redemption 2's map, with a focus on detailed environments and a narrative inspired by the relationship between two protagonists.
Samson dev Liquid Swords has reportedly gone bankrupt
Swedish studio Liquid Swords, developer of the action game Samson, has reportedly filed for bankruptcy, affecting nearly 30 employees. The studio, co-founded by Christofer Sundberg, allegedly failed to pay developers for months, though Sweden's state wage guarantee should cover unpaid salaries. Samson received mixed reviews and suffered from technical issues upon its release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review-in-progress: A campaign you shouldn't skip
This review-in-progress for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 praises its campaign, calling it the most fun in years and a significant improvement over recent entries. The article highlights the engaging story centered on South Korean marines and a standout sandbox mission, while noting that the Captain Price segments feel disconnected and less interesting.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Can Be Played Early on PS5, Here’s How
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is now available for early access on PlayStation 5 for players who preorder the game, with full release scheduled for October 23, 3036. Preordering grants access to exclusive in-game items and DMZ early access starting October 20. The game is a standalone title and will not be available on Game Pass until the holiday season of 2027.
Activision CMO Decries 'Call of Duty Tax'
Activision CMO Tyler Bahl claims traditional games media applies a 'Call of Duty tax,' negatively impacting reviews and coverage due to the series' long history and large player base. The article argues that critical reception is based on game quality and innovation, not audience size or development team size, citing franchise fatigue and declining quality in recent Call of Duty titles as reasons for diminished media interest.
Activision Workers Authorize Strike Ahead of Call of Duty Launch
The Activision QA union has voted to authorize a strike, citing two years of unresolved contract negotiations. This action comes ahead of the launch of the new Call of Duty title, potentially impacting its release.
Jagex cancels MMO reset RuneScape Reignited after player backlash: "The last time we didn't listen to player…
Jagex has canceled its controversial RuneScape Reignited project, a plan to soft-reset the MMO with forked servers and fresh economies, following significant player backlash. The developer acknowledged that the plan alienated its existing community by potentially forcing players to abandon their accounts and pay for new memberships. This decision comes after Jagex previously faced criticism for the Evolution of Combat update, which led to the creation of Old School RuneScape.
'There is no secret sauce' to a successful live service game according to Overwatch's associate game director, but knowing your audience is a good start
Overwatch's associate game director Alec Dawson and game director Aaron Keller discuss the challenges and strategies behind maintaining a successful live service game. They emphasize that there is no single 'secret sauce,' but rather a consistent focus on making good decisions daily, understanding player needs for novelty and variety within a competitive framework, and ensuring players feel in control of their actions.
Minecraft updates on PlayStation and Nintendo would end, but Xbox is reportedly asking fans how they feel about greater console exclusivity for current and upcoming games like Fallout 5
Xbox is reportedly surveying players about their feelings on increased console exclusivity for current and upcoming games, including titles like Fallout 5 and Hideo Kojima's Physint. A particularly concerning hypothetical question suggests removing Minecraft from PlayStation and Nintendo consoles and ceasing updates for those versions, which is seen as a potentially disastrous move given the game's massive player base on those platforms.
Evening Reading - October 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers several gaming news items, including Rockstar Games' statement on future development timelines after Grand Theft Auto 6, details on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake features like an enemy gallery and Amiibo support, and the announcement of the pocket-sized Xbox Nano Controller. Epic Games is bringing Fortnite to Linux, and World of Warcraft: Forever is implementing a Temporary Economy Holds system. The article also notes renewed interest in Star Wars games and celebrates the anniversary of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
Xbox Has Started Surveying Users About Future Games Being Exclusive – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly surveying users about making future games, excluding Call of Duty, console exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem. Franchises like DOOM, The Elder Scrolls, Minecraft, Diablo, and Fallout were mentioned as potential exclusives. This move aims to gauge player interest in investing in Xbox for exclusive content, with titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution already confirmed as non-timed exclusives.
Ukraine says Starlink is limiting its internet service and disrupting military operations
Ukraine's military is experiencing disruptions to its internet service due to speed limitations imposed by SpaceX's Starlink, according to Ukrainian leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser stated that these restrictions, implemented without warning, are impacting military operations amidst ongoing attacks from Russia. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk commented that Zelenskyy had "gone too far."
Jeff Kaplan Was An Industry Icon, Now Peers Ignore His Emails: Ex-Overwatch Director Talks “Humbling” Reality Of Indie Dev
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan discusses the humbling transition from AAA development at Blizzard to leading his independent studio, Kintsugiyama, and its debut title, The Legend of California. He reflects on the challenges of indie development, including industry contacts ignoring his emails, and emphasizes the importance of a developer-run studio focused on creative integrity over corporate mandates. Kaplan also shares personal inspirations for The Legend of California, drawing from his upbringing in California and his father's love for Westerns.
Epic says its new 'vibe coded' Epic Games Store launcher is faster than Steam
Epic Games has released a new preview client for its Epic Games Store launcher, claiming it is significantly faster than Steam. The rebuild, which Epic refers to as 'vibe coded,' features a redesigned library and utilizes AI tools for development. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is bullish on AI's potential to enhance game development across the company.
GTA 6 was delayed partially because the amount of NPCs was 'horrifying' and required a dedicated studio full…
Grand Theft Auto 6 experienced a delay to November due to the 'horrifying' number of NPCs required for its detailed world, necessitating the creation of a dedicated studio. Developers Rob Nelson and Phil Hooker discussed how the scope led to a date shift to ensure the game's quality. The article also touches on the industry's reliance on AI versus human writers for background details.
