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Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons II, Dune: Awakening, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding a variety of new titles throughout September and October, including Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons II, Dune: Awakening, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Several games are also leaving the service on September 30th.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers ratify first union contract with Microsoft
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by newly formed unions, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with parent company Microsoft. The contract, lasting four to five years, includes protections for generative AI use, crediting, remote work, and layoffs, establishing a 60-day notice period for job cuts and 14 months of recall rights. Meanwhile, Activision's subsidiary King has rejected a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions.
Xbox Game Pass Adds A Great Call Of Duty Game Today
Xbox Game Pass has added Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War to its service starting September 8. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the 2020 title is available on Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass, supporting cloud streaming. This addition marks a selective approach by Microsoft to integrate Activision Blizzard titles into the subscription service.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: RuneScape: Dragonwilds, SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed, The Royal Writ, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles throughout September, including RuneScape: Dragonwilds, SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Several games are also leaving the service on September 15th, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Dead Cells.
Classic Star Wars PS4 Game Drops to Just $3.99 on PlayStation Store
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is currently available for $3.99 on the PlayStation Store, a 60% discount from its original price of $9.99. PlayStation Plus subscribers can get an additional 5% off, bringing the price down to $3.49. This offer is a limited-time deal ending on August 27, 2026.
Evening Reading - August 18, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news, including NBA 2K27's new features like co-op MyCareer and the inclusion of female players. It also highlights the retirement of Warren Spector, the release of download codes for The Duskbloods Closed Network Test, and a review of Mortal Shell 2. The article also touches on indie game Servant of the Lake and mentions Kingdom Hearts 4 reveals.
Evening Reading - August 17, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news, including reviews for Mortal Shell 2 and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and the upcoming DLC for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. It also notes the passing of Hayden Panettiere and discusses the exclusivity of Grand Theft Auto 6 content on Netflix.
Mortal Shell 2 review: A monumental heavy metal sequel with the spirit of a '90s PC game
Mortal Shell 2 is a monumental sequel that blends modern Soulslike elements with the spirit of '90s PC games, offering a unique and humorous take on the genre. It significantly improves upon its predecessor with diverse playable 'Shells,' a more straightforward narrative, and innovative combat mechanics that forgo a stamina bar, making it highly accessible and flexible.
Weekend Discussion - August 16, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from Shacknews covers various topics including reflections on the past week's articles, reviews for Madden NFL 27 and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and a discussion about the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer exclusivity on Netflix. It also mentions older games like Heretic and Hexen, and features music recommendations.
Evening Reading - August 14, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes updates on Total War: Warhammer 3, a review of Madden NFL 27, and the opening of 2K's Small Axe Studios. Compulsion Games has removed Xbox as the publisher for South of Midnight on Steam, while Kingdom Hearts 4 is slated for a late 2027 release with an animated series coming to Disney+. The article also highlights new features for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Nintendo Switch and mentions upcoming content for Modern Warfare 4.
The Friday Knights: Heretic, Hexen, and the Origin of Raven Software
This article details the origin of Raven Software, founded by two brothers who combined their artistic talents to significantly impact the first-person shooter genre. It highlights their early work on games like Heretic and Hexen.
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.
Wolfenstein (2009) Might Get Remaster Announcement at QuakeCon 2026 – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Microsoft and Bethesda Softworks may announce a remaster of the 2009 game Wolfenstein at QuakeCon 2026. Recent updates to the game's SteamDB page, including mentions of Steam Deck compatibility and controller glyphs, hint at a potential re-release. The original title, developed by Raven Software, was previously delisted from Steam.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Xbox retreats again – but to where? | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees across various studios as part of a company 'reset' to focus on profitable franchises. This move raises questions about the future of Xbox's first-party strategy, its Game Pass subscription service, and the upcoming console generation, particularly given the high cost of components and the blurring lines between PC and console gaming.
The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard Merger
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
I picked out 31 must-play games going for $5 or less in the Steam Summer Sale
This article highlights 31 must-play games available for $5 or less during the Steam Summer Sale. The curated list includes a variety of genres such as RPGs and first-person shooters, with many titles developed by well-known studios like Larian and BioWare.
Call Of Duty Season 4 Reloaded Patch Notes Detail Major Gameplay Changes For Warzone
The Season 4 Reloaded update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone introduces significant gameplay changes, including weapon tuning, Zombies map improvements, and adjustments to Warzone's supply boxes, Hot Zones, and equipment. This midseason update, themed as the Summer of Action, also features a Nicolas Cage operator, new weapons, a Zombies map, and a summer-themed Rebirth Island. Key changes include nerfs to dominant weapons like the Voyak KT-3 and Kogot-7, adjustments to the Totenreich Zombies map, and fixes for Endgame. Warzone's Ranked Play restricts certain weapon attachments, while supply boxes will now disable in the gas, and Gulag wait times are dynamic. Equipment like the Point Turret and Stims receive nerfs, and the Grappling Hook is also adjusted, with some Warzone weapons receiving buffs.
Nicolas Cage becomes a Call of Duty skin in what may be one last hurrah for goofy collaborations
Activision has revealed that actor Nicolas Cage will be added as a playable operator in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone as part of the Season 4 mid-season update. This "Summer of Action" event also includes new maps, modes, and a limited-time event pass, with Cage's skin available on the premium track. While this marks a return for celebrity collaborations, developer Infinity Ward has stated that future Call of Duty titles like Modern Warfare 4 will focus on more authentic cosmetics.
Wizards of the Coast writes to staff to explain "how union representation works" as studio prepares to vote to unionize
Wizards of the Coast has communicated with staff about the implications of union representation as employees prepare to vote on unionizing with the Communication Workers of America. The company stated that all current benefits and perks would be subject to negotiation, potentially resulting in changes to existing terms. The vote is scheduled with the National Labor Relations Board for June 2.
