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The lost art of video game announcements – or come back E3, all is forgiven
The article discusses the decline in excitement surrounding video game announcements, attributing it to publishers opting for less engaging methods like blog posts and tweets over traditional, drawn-out reveal campaigns. This shift, driven by perceived cost-saving and a desire to avoid player fatigue, has led to a loss of anticipation and an increase in leaks, diminishing the impact of official reveals.
XBOX Celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Improved Adaptive Thumbstick Toppers and More
Xbox is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day with updates to its Adaptive Thumbstick Toppers, including a new Goal Post shape available through Xbox Design Lab. The company also refreshed its Accessible Gaming page on Xbox.com for easier navigation of features and tools. Several games like Forza Horizon 6, Kiln, Sea of Thieves, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are highlighted for their ongoing commitment to inclusive design and accessibility features.
'We're Proud of What We've Been Building': Infinity Ward Teases New Call of Duty Ahead of Crucial Reveal
Infinity Ward has teased its upcoming Call of Duty title, with new studio heads Mark Grigsby and Jack O’Hara expressing pride in their work. The studio aims to recapture the magic of the franchise, with the new game expected to be revealed soon, potentially during the Xbox Showcase. The article notes the franchise's recent struggles and the challenge of competing with titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.
Introducing the XBOX Game Studios Shop
Xbox Game Studios has launched the Xbox Game Studios Shop, a new online destination for official merchandise from its popular titles like Halo, Forza, Gears of War, and Fable. The shop will feature a growing range of items, including collectibles and apparel, with new products planned to coincide with major game releases.
Modern Warfare 4 Reveal Looks Imminent As Infinity Ward Teases A “Relentless” Experience
Infinity Ward has begun teasing its next Call of Duty title, presumed to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, promising a "bold" and "relentless" experience. The studio, known for the original Modern Warfare trilogy, is focusing on visceral combat. The game will not be available on Game Pass or PlayStation 4 at launch, and is expected to compete with Grand Theft Auto 6 in November.
Modern Warfare 4 Reveal Looks Imminent As Infinity Ward Teases A “Relentless” Experience
Infinity Ward has begun teasing its next Call of Duty title, presumed to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, promising a "bold" and "relentless" experience. Unlike recent entries, Modern Warfare 4 will not launch on Game Pass or PlayStation 4. The game is expected to launch in November and will compete with Grand Theft Auto 6.
ToxMod vs GGWP: Which AI Moderation Tool Is Actually Better? (2026) | TAG
This analysis compares ToxMod by Modulate and GGWP, two leading AI moderation tools for the gaming industry. ToxMod specializes in real-time voice chat analysis, significantly reducing toxicity in games like Call of Duty. GGWP offers a broader platform, focusing on reputation scoring across text, voice, and gameplay behavior to influence matchmaking. While not direct competitors, both tools represent significant advancements over previous moderation methods, with ToxMod excelling in voice and GGWP offering a more comprehensive community management solution, especially with its integration via Unity Vivox for smaller studios.
Transformers to finally get a big budget video game as Hasbro invests millions
Hasbro is investing $1 billion into developing traditional video games, focusing on action-adventure and RPG titles for PC and console, and explicitly avoiding live service models. CEO Chris Cocks indicated that new games based on franchises like Transformers, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering are in development. The company aims to build its own games internally after previously licensing its properties.
Obituary: Veteran voice actor Tom Kane has passed away at 64
Veteran voice actor Tom Kane, known for his extensive work in video games and animation over three decades, has passed away at the age of 64. Kane had a prolific career, with notable roles in the Star Wars franchise, Grim Fandango, Final Fantasy XII, Wolfenstein, and Ghost of Tsushima. He retired from voice acting in 2021 following a stroke.
Call Of Duty's Anti-Cheat Took A Cheater's Guns Away Mid-Match
Activision's Ricochet anti-cheat system has been observed disabling cheaters' weapons mid-match in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. This feature, confirmed by Activision, is one of several methods used to deter and punish players using unauthorized software. The anti-cheat system also includes features like causing cheaters to fall to their death or isolating them in lobbies with invisible players.
Call Of Duty's Anti-Cheat Took A Cheater's Guns Away Mid-Match
Activision's Ricochet anti-cheat system has been observed disabling cheaters' weapons mid-match in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. This feature, confirmed by Activision, is one of several methods used to deter and punish players using unauthorized software. The anti-cheat system also includes features like causing cheaters to fall to their death or isolating them in lobbies with invisible players.
Evercade Announces Activision Collection 3
Blaze Entertainment announced Activision Collection 3, the third cartridge release featuring 13 classic Atari 2600 titles from Activision. This collection will be compatible with all Evercade and HyperMegaTech! Super Pocket devices and is set to release in June 2026. The cartridge will be priced at £19.99, $29.99, and €24.99.
Live now: Red Rust Pioneers teaser trailer, 4-player co-op frontier survival
Fish in a Bottle, under its Rusty Robot publishing label, has released a new teaser trailer and development update for its co-operative frontier survival game, Red Rust Pioneers. The game, set in 1842, features 4-player co-op, homestead building, and survival mechanics, and is built with community feedback in mind. Developed using Unreal Engine 5.7, Red Rust Pioneers is planned for Early Access on PC in 2026.
Fortnite Dev Understands The Fear That "AI Is Going To Take All Our Jobs"
Epic Games is exploring AI tools to improve game development efficiency, not to replace human jobs, according to senior external development manager Stephanie Arnett. While some in the Fortnite community are concerned about generative AI in art, Epic's focus is on speeding up tasks. Other companies like Activision, Take-Two Interactive, and Sony's Naughty Dog are also investigating AI for game development.
How a trio of Canadian modders stumbled into making an official Die Hard game: 'I've had projects disappear that had 10 times the promise that this did'
This article details the journey of Canadian modders Russ Bullock, Bryan Ekman, and Jay Holtslander as they transformed an unofficial Half-Life mod into the official Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza game. The founders of Piranha Games faced challenges with engine choices, creative differences, and the transition from modding to commercial development, ultimately leading to Holtslander's departure before the game's release.
Evercade Indies Continue to Shine in Mega Cat Studios Collection 3
The Evercade platform continues to support indie developers with its latest releases, including Mega Cat Studios Collection 3, Taito Arcade 3, The Turrican Collection, and Activision Collection 2. These cartridges offer a variety of genres and retro experiences, with Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 featuring ten diverse titles like Plyuk and Rocket Panda.
'90s virtual reality, Battlefield 2142, and Total War: This month in PC Gamer 10, 20, and 30 years ago
This article looks back at PC Gamer magazine issues from May 1996, May 2006, and May 2016, highlighting cover stories and notable news from those periods. It revisits predictions about virtual reality and online gaming, discusses sequels like Battlefield 2142, and covers the launch of Total War: Warhammer and the early days of VR technology.
Grayson Wendell Fire & Ice RGX 2026 Guest of Honor
Professional programmer Grayson Wendell, a veteran of the game industry since 2007, will be a Guest of Honor at Fire & Ice RGX 2026. Wendell has worked at companies like id Software, EA, and Activision on titles such as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. He will also host a panel on N64 reverse engineering and randomizers at the event.
Project Ethos, The New 2K Shooter, Undergoes Changes As Dev Lays Off Staff
2K's 31st Union studio is undergoing significant changes for its third-person shooter Project Ethos, shifting its direction to a skill-based PvP roguelike and laying off staff. Studio head Ben Brinkman confirmed the renewed direction, aiming to make the game more nimble and aligned with development goals. This pivot follows a previous report in February 2025 suggesting the game needed to change or face cancellation.
Is GTA Online Toxic? An Honest Answer Backed by Data (2026) | TAG
Grand Theft Auto Online is analyzed for its toxicity, with the article concluding that the issue stems from game design rather than a lack of moderation. The game's structure actively facilitates griefing, leading to a low community safety score. While Rockstar Games has improved anti-cheat measures, the core problem of gameplay-based harassment persists, with players often resorting to private sessions or workarounds to avoid negative interactions.
