Call of Duty
News, coverage and analysis tracking Call of Duty across the outlets.
PlayStation To "Enhance Gameplay Visuals" With Buyout Ahead Of PS6Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired UK-based machine-learning company Cinemersive Labs to enhance gameplay visuals and rendering techniques. The acquired company's AI technology can transform photos into volumetric 3D experiences. This acquisition comes as Sony prepares for the next generation of PlayStation consoles and follows recent studio closures.- Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel retires after 36 yearsRaven Software co-founder Brian Raffel has retired after 36 years in the industry. The studio, which began in 1990, played a key role in the development of the Call of Duty franchise and previously worked on titles like Hexen.
- Business and FinanceRaven Software co-founder Brian Raffel has retired after 36 years, having worked on titles like Call of Duty, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel. In separate news, Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired Cinemersive Labs.
Call of Duty Zombies dev starts new studio with 2 failed PlayStation collabs behind him, just 1 week after Sony shut down his last project: "Third time's the charm"Former Call of Duty producer Jason Blundell has launched a new studio, Magic Fractal Studios, just one week after Sony shut down his previous venture, Dark Outlaw Games. This marks Blundell's third studio attempt, following the earlier collapse of Deviation Games, a PlayStation partner.- Brian Raffel, Co-Founder of Call of Duty Developer Raven Software, Retires After 36 Years at StudioBrian Raffel, co-founder of Raven Software, is retiring after 36 years with the studio. Raven Software, known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, also developed titles based on Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel properties during Raffel's tenure.
Call of Duty Veteran Jason Blundell Returns With Another New StudioCall of Duty veteran Jason Blundell has announced a new development studio named Magic Fractal, following the closure of his previous company, Dark Outlaw Games, by Sony. The specifics of Magic Fractal's projects are currently unknown, but it's speculated that work from the previous unannounced project might be carried over. Blundell's past credits include Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
How to complete Last Entry in Arc RaidersThis guide details how to complete the 'Last Entry' quest in Arc Raiders' Flashpoint update. Players must navigate to the Seed Vault on Stella Montis, interact with a workstation to access a researcher's log, find the Seed Vault Box Key, and then use it to unlock the Seed Box within the vault to obtain the Official Shutdown Documentation for extraction.
Co-Founder Of Call Of Duty Studio Raven Retires After 36 Years And 42 Games ReleasedBrian Raffel, co-founder of Call of Duty studio Raven Software, is retiring after 36 years and shipping 42 games. Founded in 1990, Raven Software initially developed titles like Black Crypt and Heretic before becoming heavily involved with the Call of Duty series starting with Call of Duty: Black Ops. Raffel's career spanned 18 Call of Duty titles and 12 original intellectual properties.
Here's your chance to get Marathon for just $1 and score one of my favorite FPS games in recent years for a tiny priceBungie's extraction shooter Marathon is available for a limited time for $1 as part of a Fanatical Mystery Egg Bundle promotion. The game is praised for its sci-fi atmosphere and intense gunplay, though it features a challenging learning curve where players lose all gear upon death. Other potential prizes in the bundle include indie titles and older AAA games.- April Fools' 2026 Roundup IIThis article rounds up April Fools' Day jokes from 2026, including a real announcement for the smallest Call of Duty map in history. It also humorously notes an online shooter that was announced, launched, and shut down within the time it took to write the headline.
Marathon has made everyone's favourite loot spot harder to access but even more rewarding, and it's got solo…Bungie has implemented changes to the Marathon Outpost map in patch 1.0.5.2, altering the accessibility and rewards of the central Pinwheel loot spot. These modifications have sparked debate, with some players finding them detrimental to solo play while others acknowledge their potential benefits after further experience.
Phasmophobia Haunts Gamers While Mario Gets a Major Upd... | TAGRecent gaming news includes Mario Kart World receiving a patch that nerfs the Lightning Bolt item, a rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake being put on hold, and Amazon offering deals before its Big Spring Sale ends. Additionally, ASUS released the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard, Disney is reportedly considering acquiring Epic Games, and a KPop Demon Hunters x McDonald's collaboration is being highlighted. Guides are also available for Crimson Desert's Secret Garden Abyss puzzle and Arc Raiders' Outstanding Balance quest.
Call Of Duty's April Fools Joke Brings The Franchise's Smallest Map And A Dead MemeCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 is celebrating April Fools' Day with a new, extremely small map called GRWM, designed as a limited-time free-for-all mode. Matches conclude when a player reaches 67 eliminations, referencing a dated meme, and are accompanied by a double XP event. This follows a similar April Fools' prank in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
The Call of Duty schism: Why fans are trapped in a forever war with each otherThe Call of Duty series is experiencing a significant schism among its player base, driven by creative differences between its primary development studios, Infinity Ward and Treyarch. This divide manifests in player preferences for distinct gameplay styles, such as Infinity Ward's grounded realism versus Treyarch's faster-paced, more experimental approach. The article examines how this long-standing conflict, exacerbated by Activision's demanding release schedule and studio roles, impacts the franchise's direction and player loyalty.- Call of Duty breaks its ‘immersive’ Black Ops 7 collab streak with…comedian Dave Chappelle, of all peopleCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 is introducing a new operator skin featuring comedian Dave Chappelle as his character Thurgood Jenkins from the movie Half Baked. This collaboration marks a departure from the game's recent focus on "grounded" and "immersive" content, following previous themed skins and a Fallout TV series collaboration.
Marathon review - ignore the noise, this game speaks for itself | EurogamerMarathon is a challenging multiplayer shooter that rewards strategic risk-taking and punishes mistakes, drawing comparisons to Dark Souls for its steep initial learning curve. The game emphasizes fair gunplay and avoids catering to a "lowest common denominator" audience, offering a high-stakes experience akin to Halo crossed with Rainbow Six Siege when played with others, or a solo equivalent of Alien: Isolation.
Players can 'unlock Xbox-themed interactive challenges' by buying special edition Fanta cans plus win in-game content for Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, along with console prizesXbox and Fanta have launched a special anniversary collaboration featuring themed drink cans and bottles inspired by franchises like Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Forza Horizon, and Diablo. Purchasing these drinks allows players to unlock interactive challenges and redeem in-game rewards for these titles, with chances to win prizes such as an ASUS ROG Ally and Xbox Series S consoles.
Xbox celebrates 25 years with... Fanta cosmetics for Halo and Forza HorizonXbox is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a limited-edition Fanta collaboration featuring themed cans and bottles for games like Halo, Forza Horizon 6, and Diablo 4. Scanning QR codes on the packaging will unlock interactive challenges and in-game rewards, including cosmetic items and entries for prizes like an Xbox Series S and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
Fanta And Xbox Go Big – “Wanta Fanta?” Becomes A Global Gaming ChallengeFanta and Xbox have launched a global "Wanta Fanta?" campaign, blending the beverage brand with several Xbox franchises including Halo, Call of Duty, and Diablo IV. The collaboration features special edition drinks and a gamified experience with challenges and rewards, rolling out across over 60 markets starting April 2026.
Xbox and Fanta Team Up for a Special-Edition Collection – With Prizes and In-Game Rewards to be ClaimedXbox and Fanta have partnered to celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary with a special-edition collection of Fanta bottles and cans featuring iconic Xbox franchises like Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Forza Horizon 6, and Diablo IV. Fans can scan QR codes on the packaging starting April 6 to participate in interactive challenges, with chances to win prizes such as an Xbox Series S and an ASUS ROG Ally, as well as redeem in-game rewards for the featured titles.