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Call of Duty Black Ops 1 + 2 PS5 Are a Complete Mess
Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for $39.99 each, with Season Passes costing an additional $29.99. These ports are criticized for their high price, lack of modern features like FOV sliders or 120fps support, missing original game modes, and technical problems including input delay and server issues. The situation is particularly notable as Microsoft, which owns Activision, has not released comparable native versions for Xbox players.
Xbox gamer wins lawsuit against Microsoft to restore account and digital library
An Xbox gamer has won a lawsuit against Microsoft, resulting in the restoration of their account and digital game library. Microsoft has also been ordered to pay approximately $400 in damages to the user.
The PlayStation physical games debacle is taking over everything Sony does — it’s the biggest tech PR disaster since Sonos’ app update, so will Sony learn the lessons that turned Sonos around?
Sony's move towards digital-only game sales is causing significant backlash from PlayStation owners concerned about cost, resale value, and true ownership, drawing parallels to Sonos' past app update disaster. The article suggests Sony could learn from Sonos' approach to rebuilding customer trust through humility and improved execution, but questions whether the company will prioritize this over its business interests, given its large customer base.
Elder Scrolls Online studio echoes id Software, claims to now be the same size it was 10 years ago following Xbox…
ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, has reportedly returned to its circa 2015-2018 headcount following recent layoffs, a situation echoed by id Software. This mirrors the size the studios were during the development of acclaimed DLCs like Orsinium and Summerset. The article critiques this narrative, arguing that a decade of growth cannot be undone without significant impact, regardless of current headcount.
Fallout: New Vegas level scaling is designed to teach players that "this is not actually Fallout 3," Josh Sawyer says: "You're going to get your ass handed to you if you're not careful"
Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer explains that the game's level scaling was intentionally designed to differ from Fallout 3, aiming to teach players that the world is more dangerous and unforgiving. This approach, inspired by the original Fallout, allows for more open-ended exploration with difficulty gates, encouraging players to level up before tackling certain areas.
The Sunday Papers
Criterion Games, known for racing titles like Burnout and Need For Speed, is now solely focused on developing for the Battlefield series, as confirmed by studio leadership. Meanwhile, an analysis of Xbox's recent restructuring highlights the company's significant layoffs and the challenges faced by the division, drawing parallels to past industry missteps.
Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: 'The through line from KotOR2 to…
Obsidian Entertainment game director Brandon Adler has refuted claims that the studio has lost its original talent and identity. He stated that many key personnel remain from the development of games like Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Fallout: New Vegas, asserting that the studio's core DNA is unchanged despite recent layoffs and restructuring within Xbox.
New Doom Title in “The Early Stages,” Despite Extensive Layoffs at id Software – Rumor
Despite significant layoffs at id Software, reports suggest the studio is in the early stages of developing a new Doom game. While some outlets claimed the studio was reduced to a support role, id Software has confirmed it remains roughly the same size as when it developed Doom (2016). The future direction of the new title remains speculative, with possibilities ranging from continuing the Slayer's story to returning to an old-school Doom experience.
Saturday Legal Briefs
Atlassian illegally fired a worker, resulting in a rare legal victory for tech employees. The article also briefly mentions a separate issue where Microsoft allegedly deleted a user's account.
id Software insists in new statement that it still has "the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for"
id Software has issued a statement assuring players that despite recent layoffs impacting some teams, the studio retains the necessary talent to create its signature games and technology. The company emphasized that its current team size is comparable to when Doom (2016) was developed and that it remains committed to its flat studio philosophy. This comes in the wake of Microsoft's broader layoffs within its Xbox division, which also affected studios like Obsidian Entertainment, leading to project cancellations and a shift in focus to the Fallout franchise.
The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two years
Microsoft's recent layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, impacting an estimated 60% of the workforce, are criticized as cruel and short-sighted. Despite The Elder Scrolls Online's profitability and a recent positive shift in player sentiment and development strategy, the studio has faced significant workforce reductions, including the cancellation of the long-in-development Project Blackbird. This analysis argues that these cuts jeopardize the future of the MMO and the Elder Scrolls franchise's presence in the gaming landscape.
"I sued their asses and won!" Gamer wins legal battle to get hacked Xbox account back after they were told to rebuy all their digital games
A gamer in Brazil has won a legal battle against Microsoft after their Xbox account was hacked and subsequently suspended, leading to the loss of all their digital games. The court ordered Xbox to restore the account within 15 days and pay $400 in compensation for moral damages.
WRUP: Welcome to Gleepgurp’s Annual Whatever Awards edition
This installment of Gleepgurp's annual awards features host Feldon Snurch complaining about his long-term contract and the bizarre award categories. Staff and community members share their weekend gaming plans, including Pokemon Go, Guild Wars 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Warframe, and Crimson Desert, while also discussing hobbies they wish they had pursued.
Obsidian game director reacts to people "spouting off" about the studio and how it's not what it "used to be"
Obsidian Entertainment director Brandon Adler defended the studio's current identity amidst recent layoffs and external criticism. He emphasized that the core team and creative DNA remain consistent with the studio's history, despite changes and project shifts, including a new Fallout game.
Your Samsung Gallery won't be able to sync with Microsoft OneDrive soon
Samsung Gallery will soon lose its ability to sync photos with Microsoft OneDrive. This change affects users who rely on the integration for cloud backup and access across devices.
Something for the Weekend – 11/07/26
This week's news includes Microsoft confirming significant layoffs affecting multiple studios, Palworld's 1.0 launch with a large patch, and matchmaking issues for Black Ops players on PlayStation 4 and 5. God of War Laufey is slated for a 2027 release, and a petition to save physical games has garnered over 285,000 signatures.
id Software gives statement after layoffs with a positive outlook for its future
id Software has issued a statement following recent layoffs, emphasizing a positive outlook for its future in game and technology development, as well as hosting QuakeCon. The studio's current team size is comparable to when they developed Doom (2016), and they maintain a flat studio structure. Reports regarding the id Tech team's status have been clarified by Microsoft, confirming multiple individuals are working on the technology across various locations.
Doom dev Id is now "about the same size we were when making Doom 2016" after layoffs
Id Software has addressed recent layoffs, stating that the studio remains adequately staffed to continue developing games and technology. Despite significant job cuts impacting over half the team, the developer confirmed its current size is comparable to when it was developing Doom 2016. The studio emphasized its commitment to its core philosophy and supporting affected employees, while looking forward to future projects and QuakeCon.
Call of Duty fans surprised to discover new Black Ops 2 port preserves the emblem editor, not surprised to find…
Activision has released updated ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation, featuring 1080p upscaling. Notably, the beloved emblem editor from both games has been preserved, leading to the creation of controversial and offensive designs by players, a situation the article suggests could have been mitigated with an option to disable custom emblems.
PlayStation and Xbox are both dead, they just don’t realise it yet - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that both PlayStation and Xbox are in terminal decline due to recent layoffs, a move away from physical media, and increasing prices. The author believes that in ten years, only PC and Nintendo consoles will remain dominant, with Xbox and PlayStation potentially becoming third-party publishers.
