Call of Duty
News, coverage and analysis tracking Call of Duty across the outlets.
Sony announces PlayStation Plus price rises "due to ongoing market conditions"Sony is increasing the prices for its PlayStation Plus subscription service for new customers in select regions starting May 20, citing "ongoing market conditions." The Essential tier's one-month subscription will rise to $10.99 USD and three-month to $27.99 USD. Current subscribers are largely unaffected unless their subscription lapses or changes. This follows recent price adjustments for the PS5 hardware and contrasts with Microsoft's recent price reduction for its Game Pass subscription.
'It Should Be Free to Play Online Games': PS Plus Price Squeeze Taken to Task by PS5 OwnersSony is increasing the prices for one-month and three-month PlayStation Plus Essential subscriptions starting May 20, 2026, while keeping annual plans unchanged. This move is seen as an attempt to encourage longer-term commitments and potentially monetize the existing player base, despite the company posting record profits. The article questions the necessity of paid online services in 2026, especially when PC gaming offers free online multiplayer for many titles.
Voice Chat Safety: The Practical Guide for Online Gamers (2026) | TAGThis guide provides practical advice for online gamers on managing voice chat safety in 2026, addressing the uneven implementation of AI monitoring across various games. It details different voice chat configurations like 'Voice Off,' 'Party-Only Voice,' 'Push-to-Talk,' and 'Open Mic, Active Muting,' and offers specific settings for popular titles such as Call of Duty, Valorant, and Fortnite. The article also discusses the privacy implications of voice chat and recommends using platforms like Discord as a safer alternative for communication.- Tom Kane, Longtime Star Wars And Call Of Duty Voice Actor, Dies At 64Voice actor Tom Kane, known for his extensive work in video games and animation, has passed away at the age of 64. His death was attributed to complications from a stroke he suffered in 2020. Kane was notably the voice of Yoda in various Star Wars projects and Takeo Masaki in the Call of Duty Zombies series.
Call Of Duty's Anti-Cheat Took A Cheater's Guns Away Mid-MatchActivision's Ricochet anti-cheat system has been observed disabling cheaters' weapons mid-match in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. This feature, confirmed by Activision, is one of several methods used to deter and punish players using unauthorized software. The anti-cheat system also includes features like causing cheaters to fall to their death or isolating them in lobbies with invisible players.- Call Of Duty's Anti-Cheat Took A Cheater's Guns Away Mid-MatchActivision's Ricochet anti-cheat system has been observed disabling cheaters' weapons mid-match in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. This feature, confirmed by Activision, is one of several methods used to deter and punish players using unauthorized software. The anti-cheat system also includes features like causing cheaters to fall to their death or isolating them in lobbies with invisible players.
PlayStation Plus Essential Price Increase Starts on May 20th for New SubscribersSony is increasing the price of PlayStation Plus Essential for new subscribers starting May 20th. Monthly subscriptions will rise to $10.99 USD and three-month subscriptions to $27.99 USD, with existing subscribers unaffected unless their subscription lapses or changes. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers remain unchanged.
Xbox Has Seemingly Rebranded to XBOX (Seriously)Microsoft Gaming has seemingly rebranded to XBOX, adopting an all-caps version of its name following a Twitter poll. This change, spearheaded by CEO Asha Sharma, follows other recent updates including a new logo, console start-up animation, and adjustments to Game Pass pricing. The article notes that time will tell if this rebranding will be a lasting change.
PS5's New Weekly Player Tracker Has Revealed Some Brutal Truths for FansSony's new PlayStation 5 weekly player tracker reveals that live service games dominate player engagement, with titles like Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto 5 showing significantly higher player numbers than other games. This data highlights the importance of ongoing content updates and microtransactions for sustained player interest and profitability on the platform.
Xbox Is Rebranding Itself, Sort OfXbox, under CEO Asha Sharma, has seemingly rebranded its social media accounts to all caps "XBOX," mirroring the original console's naming convention. This change follows a fan poll and may be an effort to evoke nostalgia amidst recent hardware and game sales declines. The company is also adjusting its Game Pass strategy, with Call of Duty titles no longer receiving day-one access.
PS5 Will Reveal the Most Played Games with Steam-Like Player NumbersSony is beta testing a new PlayStation 5 widget that will display weekly player numbers for the top ten games in a user's region, similar to Steam's concurrent player data. While not identical to concurrent player counts, this feature aims to provide more insight into the PS5 ecosystem. The widget also includes a toggle for tracking sudden surges in game activity.
Sony Surprise Drops New Feature via May 2026 Beta UpdateSony has introduced a new 'Community Activity' widget to the PlayStation 5 via a beta update, which displays the most popular games and modes in a user's region. While the feature is currently in beta and its usefulness is questioned compared to PlayStation 4's social offerings, it may see a full rollout in the coming months.
How to make Titanium Ingots in Subnautica 2This guide explains how to craft Titanium Ingots in Subnautica 2, a necessary step for creating items like the Sonic Resonator and Repair Tool. Players must first build a Processor using a Habitat Builder, which requires scanning for the blueprint. The Processor then uses three titanium pieces to create one Titanium Ingot.
How to get Acidic Raion Pouch in Subnautica 2This guide explains how to find Acidic Raion Pouches in Subnautica 2, a crucial component for crafting the scanner's basic battery. The pouches are harvested from purple, brain-shaped plants called Acid Raions, which can be found in caves near the starting Lifepod. Players will need a Survival Multitool to harvest them and should collect the pouches before the Medical Gel Sack to avoid acid damage.
Game Consoles Are Pricing Themselves Out of RelevanceThe increasing price of game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is making them less relevant to a growing audience, especially younger gamers who are accustomed to more affordable or free-to-play experiences on PC and mobile. Analysts predict future consoles could cost as much as $900, a price point that, combined with stagnating graphical advancements and the increasing availability of games on PC, may alienate consumers. This trend is further exacerbated by declining hardware sales and rising component costs due to factors like inflation and supply chain issues.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic Won’t be 200 Hours Long or Use Generative AICasey Hudson, director of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, stated the upcoming RPG will not be excessively long, aiming for completion rather than hundreds of hours of gameplay. He also confirmed the game will not utilize generative AI, which he described as "creatively soulless." The project is being funded by Simon Zhu's GreaterThan Group, which has raised $40 million and secured commitments for nearly $60 million more, with a goal of publishing innovative projects.
Xbox CEO Wants To Know If You Spell It "Xbox" Or "XBOX"Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is polling players on whether the brand name should be spelled "Xbox" or "XBOX," with "XBOX" currently leading. The discussion comes as Xbox faces challenges, including declining hardware and services revenue and a shift towards multiplatform releases, with games like Call of Duty no longer being day-one additions to Game Pass.
"If David Lynch made shooters" is Black Ops veteran David Vondehaar's catchphrase for his new game that isn't a "Call of Duty killer"Former Call of Duty: Black Ops designer David Vondehaar is developing a new shooter with his studio BulletFarm, funded by GreaterThan Group. Vondehaar described the game as being in the vein of "if David Lynch made shooters," emphasizing it will not be a military simulation or a "Call of Duty killer." The project aims for a three-year development cycle with a team of around 50 people.
New Steam Controller does a Wilhelm scream if you drop itValve's new Steam Controller features an unexpected Easter egg: it emits the Wilhelm scream sound effect when dropped. This is achieved through the controller's haptic motors, as it lacks a built-in speaker. The article also touches on delays for the Steam Machine and VR headset due to a memory crisis.
Call of Duty legend returns after losing NetEase funding with plans for a new FPS game that isn't a CoD "killer," but more like "if David Lynch made shooters"David Vonderhaar, a veteran developer known for the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has confirmed his studio BulletFarm is developing a new first-person multiplayer/co-operative shooter. Despite previously losing funding from NetEase, the studio has secured new backing from GreaterThan Group. Vonderhaar described the project as a creative experience, likening it to 'if David Lynch made shooters,' and aims for a three-year development cycle.