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Modern Warfare 4 beta includes campaign and Warzone as Activision get desperate
Activision is including campaign and Warzone modes in the beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in an effort to regain player trust after the reception of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The beta will feature a campaign mission, the new Warzone Zodiac Resurgence map, and various multiplayer modes across multiple testing phases. The game is set to launch on October 23, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Will Do Something No Previous CoD Beta Has
Activision has announced that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta will feature campaign and battle royale content in addition to multiplayer. The beta will be available in early access from August 21-25 for pre-orders and open to all from August 28-September 1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to release on October 23 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2, notably skipping PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
UK video game industry charity football match raises over £63,000 for physically disabled gamers
The video game charity SpecialEffect's One Big Game football event successfully raised over £63,000 to support physically disabled gamers. The 24-hour event featured teams from various UK game development studios, including Activision, Electronic Arts, and Xbox, competing to raise funds for adaptive gaming hardware and tools.
Games Inbox: What character do you most associate with PlayStation?
Readers discuss which characters are most associated with PlayStation, with Lara Croft and Crash Bandicoot being strong contenders for the PlayStation 1 era, while Kratos and Aloy are mentioned for the PlayStation 5. The discussion also touches on the perceived lack of iconic mascots for Sony and the development of games like Hogwarts Legacy and Grand Theft Auto 6.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s Beta Includes Campaign Mission in Series First
Activision is offering a campaign mission in the beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a first for the series, to win back fans. The beta will also include multiple multiplayer maps and modes. The game launches on October 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with campaign early access starting October 16th.
CoD: Black Ops 7 And Warzone Season 5 Reloaded Release Date And Details
Activision has detailed the upcoming Season 5 Reloaded update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, launching on August 20. The update introduces new weapons, multiplayer maps like Turbo Tilt and Descent, and the final round-based Zombies map, Rex Infernus, which includes the return of the Widow's Wine perk. Warzone will also see the return of Loaded Resurgence and Special Delivery Drones.
Halo: Campaign Evolved needed PvP to match Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 PS5 sales, analyst says
An analyst suggests that Halo: Campaign Evolved's lack of PvP maps is hindering its sales on PlayStation 5, causing it to significantly underperform compared to older Call of Duty: Black Ops ports. While Halo: Campaign Evolved sold 1.2 million copies, the PS5 ports of Black Ops 1 and 2 sold a combined 12 million units, with the analyst attributing the difference to the strong multiplayer component in the Call of Duty titles.
Bethsoft devs roast Microsoft with a giant inflatable rat as unions plan huge rallies next week
Developers at Bethesda Game Studios have protested Microsoft's recent mass layoffs by erecting a giant inflatable rat and flags representing laid-off workers outside their Rockville HQ. This action precedes planned rallies by Microsoft game developers across the US and Canada on August 18th to protest layoffs and corporate greed.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s Latest Campaign Teaser Reveals An Unexpected Returning Character
Activision and Infinity Ward have released a new teaser for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign, revealing that Captain Price will team up with Valeria from Modern Warfare 2. The campaign is set to launch on October 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders granting seven days of early access. The article also briefly mentions a new multiplayer mode called Kill Block.
CoD: Modern Warfare 4 Beta May Include A New Warzone Map
Infinity Ward is hinting that the upcoming beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 may include a new Warzone Resurgence map codenamed 'Zodiac'. The beta, scheduled to begin on August 21, will also feature various multiplayer maps, game modes, and up to 19 unlockable weapons. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to release on October 23 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Showcases Fan Reaction to Kill Block Mode’s Alpha Build
Infinity Ward and Activision released a video showcasing player reactions to an alpha build of the new 'Kill Block' mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The video highlights player experiences at Fanatics Fest, where the mode was unveiled and bugs were reported. Developers expressed excitement about the player response to Kill Block, which offers over 500 map configurations and various objectives.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch's resurgence reportedly drove Blizzard to its "first back-to-back years…
Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly Xbox's top-performing studio, experiencing its first back-to-back years of growth in nearly a decade, largely driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and a resurgence in Overwatch. Blizzard President Johanna Faries indicated that the company achieved its third-highest revenue in history, with Overwatch having its strongest quarter since 2022.
Hit markers are an FPS crutch
This opinion piece argues that hit markers, while providing clear feedback in multiplayer first-person shooters, have become an overused crutch that detracts from immersion, particularly in single-player experiences. The author contrasts the effectiveness of intuitive visual and audio feedback in older titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Left 4 Dead 2 with the modern prevalence of hit markers in games like Halo and Back 4 Blood, suggesting a decline in immersive design.
Cancelled Quake 4 expansion gets surprise GitHub release after former XCOM 2 developer discovers it on an old hard…
A cancelled expansion for Quake 4, titled Awakening, has been unexpectedly released on GitHub after former XCOM 2 developer Justin Marshall discovered a build on a second-hand computer. The expansion, developed by Ritual Entertainment, was previously shelved by Activision due to poor sales of the base game. Marshall uploaded the build for preservation, hoping the community can utilize the near-complete content.
Weekend Discussion - August 8, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including the release of Super Troopers 3, Marvel's explanation of Charles Xavier and Magneto's dynamic, and an examination of the phenomenon Freakazoid. It also features a look at Subnautica 2 with an astrobiologist and a musical send-off from Reel Big Fish. The article emphasizes Shacknews's policy against using generative AI in its content.
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 1&2 PS4 and PS5 ports sold more than 11 million copies in under a month
The PlayStation ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II have achieved significant sales, with combined figures exceeding 11.2 million units across PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 within their first month. Black Ops II was the stronger performer, accounting for 8.2 million of the total sales, with the majority of purchases for both titles being on PlayStation 5.
Why is everyone playing Call of Duty: Black Ops in 2026?
Despite missing features and technical issues, the recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II have seen a surge in popularity. The article suggests this resurgence is driven by a desire for the series' simpler, pick-up-and-play gameplay and a nostalgic look back at a less contentious era of online gaming, rather than remakes or updates. It contrasts this with the complexities of modern live service games and acknowledges the problematic aspects of older online communities.
Games Inbox: Why are Call Of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 so popular?
This article discusses the surprising resurgence in popularity of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, attributing it to nostalgia despite them being straight ports. It also touches on EA's developer layoffs, Amazon Luna's performance, and the ongoing debate about game map size versus content.
Black Ops 1 And 2 Ports Sold 11 Million Copies Combined On PlayStation, Benefitting Both Xbox And Sony
Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 for PlayStation have sold over 11 million copies combined, generating nearly half a billion dollars. Developed by Iron Galaxy, these straight 1080p ports were released on PS4 and PS5 and capitalized on significant pent-up demand. The success benefits Microsoft, Activision, and Sony, with the latter earning an estimated $130 million from its 30% cut.
Silver Lining Interactive launches first title from its development label Silver Bullet
Silver Lining Interactive has launched its first game, Mr Trippy, from its internal IP development label, Silver Bullet. Mr Trippy is described as a darkly comedic management simulator. Silver Bullet, initially an indie incubator, has evolved into a full-fledged IP development label dedicated to creating original and unconventional gaming experiences.
