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UK's Advertising Standards Authority bans Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 commercial for "trivializing sexual violence"
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a commercial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for trivializing sexual violence. The advertisement depicted fake airport security staff engaging in inappropriate behavior, which the ASA deemed irresponsible despite Activision Blizzard's arguments about its parodic nature and 18-rating.
Call of Duty ad banned in the UK for trivializing sexual violence
The UK Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has banned a live-action advertisement for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, concluding that it trivialized sexual violence. The ad, which depicted airport security officers in a suggestive manner, received nine complaints. Activision Blizzard argued the ad was targeted at adults and intended as humor, but the ASA found it irresponsible and offensive, ordering it not to appear in its current form.
Activision is shutting down Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
Activision is shutting down Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile on April 17, 2026, due to underperformance. The game was effectively discontinued in May 2025 when it was pulled from stores, with support ending for seasonal content, social features, and updates. Launched in March 2024 for iOS and Android, the title failed to retain player interest despite significant pre-registrations.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile servers to shut down in April 2026
Activision will shut down servers for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile on April 17, 2026, as the game did not meet expectations with mobile-first players. The game, which launched in March 2024, will have its social features and in-app purchases discontinued immediately, with guest accounts becoming inaccessible after the server shutdown.
ByteDance reportedly in "advanced talks" to sell Mobile Legends dev Moonton Technology to Savvy Games for over $6bn
ByteDance is reportedly in advanced negotiations to sell its mobile game developer Moonton Technology, known for Mobile Legends, to Savvy Games Group for over $6 billion. The deal, which could close this quarter, would signify ByteDance's significant withdrawal from the online gaming sector. Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has existing investments in several major gaming companies.
Highguard's high-profile mistakes should be a lesson for other developers | Opinion
The article analyzes the significant missteps made by Wildlight Entertainment with their hero shooter Highguard, including a muddled pitch, a risky shadow-drop strategy, and a poor launch state, leading to layoffs. It argues that while the game faced criticism, much of the vitriol was disproportionate and highlights the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market, drawing parallels to the failure of Concord.
Jobs Roundup: February 2026 | UK games publisher PQube appoints Dominic Wheatley as chairman
Several key appointments and leadership transitions have occurred across the games industry. Dominic Wheatley has been named chairman of PQube, Ricardo Briceno is the new CEO of Gamefam, and Craig Cincotta has returned to Xbox. Additionally, Christie Golden joins IO Interactive as principal writer, and Joshua Mills takes over as creative director for Rainbow Six Siege at Ubisoft Montréal.
Meet Delphi Interactive, the publisher/developer behind the new FIFA game
Delphi Interactive, a new LA-based firm founded in 2020, aims to disrupt the traditional game publishing model by focusing on licensing and financing games based on iconic intellectual properties. The company is working on a new FIFA game for Netflix set to release in 2026 and was involved in IO Interactive's James Bond project. Delphi Interactive, led by CEO Casper Daugaard, plans to build AAA games outside the legacy system with a lean core team and co-development partners.
Super Hang-On, Power Drift, Harley Davidson And SmashTV Reviewed.
This article reviews four Amiga ports: Super Hang-On, Power Drift, Harley Davidson: Road to Sturgis, and Smash TV. Super Hang-On is praised as a near-perfect arcade conversion, while Harley Davidson: Road to Sturgis is highlighted for its originality and immersive gameplay. Power Drift is criticized as an unplayable mess, and Smash TV is noted as a solid, fun port with good two-player support, despite not being the developer's best work.
Legendary game creator Vince Zampella has passed away
Vince Zampella, a legendary figure in the video game industry known for co-creating the Call of Duty series and founding Respawn Entertainment, has died at the age of 55. Zampella was instrumental in the development of major franchises including Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series. His death, resulting from a car crash, has sent shockwaves through the industry, with many mourning his significant contributions to game development.
It’s official: Battlefield 6 is 2025's best-selling game, but Black Ops 7 still managed to be November’s top-seller
Battlefield 6 has officially become the best-selling game of 2025, a title previously dominated by the Call of Duty series. While Black Ops 7 topped sales in November, Battlefield 6 secured the year-to-date lead. The report also highlights a significant decline in video game hardware sales across all major platforms in November.
Game the Halls: GeForce NOW Brings Holiday Cheer With 30 New Games in the Cloud
NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is adding 30 new games in December, including Hogwarts Legacy and various Activision titles streamed through Ubisoft+. The service is also offering a limited-time "Half-Price Holiday" sale on premium memberships and has implemented Battle.net single sign-on for easier access to Blizzard Entertainment games.
Battlefield 6 kicks off its first free trial post the Black Ops 7 launch to twist that knife
EA has launched a one-week free trial for Battlefield 6, six weeks after its initial release, in response to Activision's free weekends for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The trial includes three maps and four game modes, though it was unfortunately impacted by a matchmaking outage at launch. Battlefield 6 reportedly outsold Black Ops 7.
Battlefield 6 may have actually done it: beaten Call of Duty
Battlefield 6 has achieved unprecedented sales success for the franchise, becoming the best-selling game of 2025 year-to-date and surpassing the lifetime sales of Battlefield 1 in its launch month of October. The game also set a new record for the highest single-month dollar sales across all platforms in the last three years. It is now positioned to potentially outsell Call of Duty titles for the year, a feat that has eluded the Battlefield series for over a decade.
Microsoft Confirms Xbox Next-Gen Console Development, Denies Cancellation Rumors - New Game Network
Microsoft has officially denied rumors that it is canceling its next-generation Xbox console development, reaffirming its commitment to new first-party hardware. The company stated that it is actively investing in future consoles and devices, referencing its ongoing partnership with AMD for custom silicon. This comes amid speculation fueled by reports of potential shifts towards cloud gaming and recent price increases for Xbox Game Pass.
Costco Quietly Pulls Xbox Consoles and Games From US and UK Websites - New Game Network
Costco has quietly removed all Xbox consoles, games, and accessories from its US and UK websites, with searches for the products now returning no results. This move comes amid Microsoft's reported struggles in Xbox hardware sales, which have seen a significant year-over-year decline, contrasting with PlayStation 5's performance. Despite console sales challenges, Xbox Game Pass continues to generate substantial revenue.
30 Best PS5 Multiplayer Games To Play In 2026
This guide lists 30 of the best multiplayer games available on the PlayStation 5, covering a variety of genres and playstyles. The selection includes both competitive PvP and cooperative PvE experiences, with options for solo players and groups of friends. The article highlights games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Helldivers 2, and Baldur's Gate 3, among many others, offering brief descriptions of their gameplay and multiplayer features.
Epic just recommended this Fortnite iPhone app - and you can get it for free now
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recommended the independently developed Fortnite companion app, Dilly, for iPhone users. Meanwhile, Apple has blocked Epic Games from releasing Fortnite on iOS in the US, continuing their ongoing dispute over App Store policies, despite Fortnite's return to Europe.
Will Shattered Veil Get an Intro Cinematic in Black Ops 6 Zombies?
Fans are discussing whether the upcoming Shattered Veil map for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies will receive an intro cinematic, following the precedent set by The Tomb map which launched without one. The lack of a cinematic for The Tomb was potentially due to SAG-AFTRA voice actor strikes or development priorities. A cutscene featuring Eddie Richtofen within the Project Janus mansion may serve as the introduction for Shattered Veil, as it doesn't directly relate to the Liberty Falls map and teases elements of the new Zombies experience.
Will the Black Ops 6 Zombies Story Continue in Call of Duty 2025?
Speculation is mounting regarding the continuation of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies storyline in the upcoming Call of Duty 2025 title, reportedly developed by Treyarch. Leaks suggest a potential return of the original Zombies crew and a shift in map settings compared to Black Ops 6, though the narrative has already seen some continuation in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies.
