Call of Duty
News, coverage and analysis tracking Call of Duty across the outlets.
Evening Reading - July 30, 2026This article rounds up various gaming news items from July 30, 2026. Highlights include a live-action Persona adaptation for Netflix, a fall 2026 release window for Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2, and SECI Interactive warning of staffing decisions after Microsoft pulled out of publishing Project Fantasy. It also touches on esports events like EVO 2026 for 2XKO and mentions updates for games like Battlefield 6 and Turok: Origin.
Minecraft, Call Of Duty Community Servers Are “Illegal,” Claims ESA RepAn Entertainment Software Association (ESA) representative claimed that private community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are illegal and constitute piracy. Jennifer Gibbons, the ESA's vice president of state government affairs, argued that these servers are not affiliated with Microsoft and do not adhere to the same safety standards as official servers. The 'Stop Killing Games' movement has vowed to continue advocating for game preservation and the legality of community servers in future legislation.- Rumor: Microsoft’s next layoffs are poised to hit Blizzard, Bethsoft, and Undead LabsRumors suggest Microsoft is planning significant layoffs across several of its gaming studios, including Undead Labs, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bethesda Softworks. These cuts are reportedly the largest for Xbox and come as the company evaluates its recent Activision Blizzard acquisition. Unionized workers at Xbox are reportedly organizing to negotiate over potential job losses.
- The ESA is up to its tired old tricks in helping to block a California games preservation billThe Electronic Software Association (ESA) is reportedly lobbying against California's AB 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to preserve online games. The ESA is accused of using misleading claims to deter lawmakers, including calling private servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty illegal. Despite the bill failing to pass committee, the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative plans to continue advocating for game preservation.
ESA lobbyist claims Minecraft & Call of Duty community servers are illegalAn Entertainment Software Association lobbyist claimed that community servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty are illegal during a hearing for California's Protect Our Games Act. The bill, which aimed to provide consumer protections for game preservation and prevent the shutdown of older games, was ultimately voted down in committee. The ESA's stance may surprise players who have long utilized community servers for Minecraft.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennialsArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
ESA bafflingly declares private Minecraft servers 'illegal' in Stop Killing Games hearing: 'We consider…The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) declared private servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty to be illegal and considered piracy during a California State Senate hearing. ESA vice president Jennifer Gibbons stated that these servers infringe on publisher intellectual property rights and do not meet safety standards, despite community pushback and the failure of the Protect Our Games Act to pass in its current form.
"Everybody got the rug pulled out from under them": Xbox are putting third-party Game Pass deals "on pause", claims publishing veteranIndustry veteran Fernando Rizo claims that Microsoft has put a pause on new third-party deals for Xbox Game Pass as the company reassesses its gaming business strategy. This alleged halt comes as Microsoft's financial year ends and follows decisions to reduce the price and remove day-one Call of Duty releases from the service. While Rizo believes Game Pass is not over, he suggests a hiatus on new third-party acquisitions is likely.
Xbox reportedly stops signing third-party Game Pass dealsXbox has reportedly halted new third-party deals for Game Pass, with sources indicating that developers were informed of a pause in negotiations. This decision comes as new Xbox boss Asha Sharma assesses the company's strategy following significant acquisitions and a recent price increase on consoles. While the future of third-party content on Game Pass is uncertain, the service remains a key component of Xbox's business model.
Delta Force's "biggest update of the year" adds a radioactive map, Terminator-style enemy agents, and a transport chopperThe free-to-play shooter Delta Force is receiving its "biggest update of the year," titled 'Season Meltdown,' on Tuesday, June 30. This update introduces a new map called Coliseum for Havoc Warfare mode, two new weapons, a transport helicopter, and a new operator with freezing abilities. Hazard Operations mode will feature the AZ3 Nuclear Plant location with radiation hazards and a new Terminator-inspired enemy boss, the Neural Device Agent H1000.
How To Unlock Nicolas Cage In Call Of Duty And All Other Event RewardsCall of Duty's Season 4 Reloaded update introduces a limited-time event themed around actor Nicolas Cage, featuring his operator skin, two new weapons, and various cosmetics. The event runs until July 16 and includes both free and paid reward tracks, with Nicolas Cage himself unlockable via the premium pass for 1,100 CoD Points. Players can earn rewards by grinding XP across multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone.- GameStop CEO Came Up With Plan To Buy eBay On The Toilet, Wants It To Become Re-Seller Of Digital Gaming ItemsGameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has proposed acquiring eBay for $56 billion, outlining a vision that includes creating a marketplace for digital gaming items like skins and weapons. While eBay has rejected the offer, Cohen believes this market has massive potential utility beyond physical collectibles. He also plans to cut costs and expand live commerce if the takeover is successful.
- Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney is trying to reinvent the metaverse (again) without calling it thatEpic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is discussing new technologies for massively multiplayer online games, aiming to support millions of concurrent players without complex programming. He also addresses industry challenges like high AAA development costs and player retention in live service games, proposing solutions involving cross-game social links and asset ownership, potentially utilizing blockchain technology.
- Xbox CEO says Call of Duty is bigger than the Marvel Cinematic UniverseXbox CEO Phil Spencer stated that the Call of Duty franchise is more popular than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also confirmed that the next Call of Duty title will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting Xbox's strategy to leverage its acquired IPs like those from Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
I always forget to cancel free trials, so I'm sticking with Newegg's anti-Prime Day deals this weekNewegg is running its Fantastech sale concurrently with Amazon's Prime Day, offering numerous deals on PC gaming hardware, components, and accessories. The article highlights various discounts on items like GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and gaming chairs, encouraging readers to find better prices than those offered by Amazon. It also provides advice on navigating marketplace sellers and checking for price protection.
007 First Light Is Making The Case For Shorter, Sharper AAA CampaignsThis article argues that shorter, focused AAA campaigns can offer superior value compared to bloated open-world or live-service titles. It highlights games like 007 First Light, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Titanfall 2 as examples of delivering quality experiences within reasonable playtimes. The piece suggests that despite rising development costs, publishers can still find success with well-crafted, linear narratives.
"Call of Duty is bigger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe": New Xbox CEO brags as more of its games turn to…Xbox CEO Asha Sharma claims the Call of Duty franchise is larger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, citing its success in video games and upcoming adaptations. While the MCU has grossed over $30 billion, Sharma believes Call of Duty's consistent sales and popular free-to-play titles give it broader cultural impact. Xbox is expanding its gaming IPs into film and TV, with projects based on Gears of War, Sea of Thieves, Minecraft, Fallout, and Wolfenstein in development.
Is There a Letterboxd for Board Games?The article discusses the lack of a unified platform for tracking both video games and board games, similar to Letterboxd for films or Goodreads for books. While apps like Backloggd, GG, and HowLongToBeat cater to video games, and BoardGameGeek serves the board game community, none bridge the gap. SavePoint is presented as a new solution aiming to consolidate tracking for both types of games.
Sea of Thieves is becoming a live-action movie, the Gears of War film apparently has a plot, and Microsoft's considering bringing the Halo TV show backMicrosoft is expanding its entertainment ventures beyond gaming, with a live-action Sea of Thieves movie in development and plot details emerging for the Gears of War film. The company is also considering reviving the Halo TV series. These projects highlight Microsoft's strategy to leverage its game franchises across various media platforms, even as the company faces potential restructuring and studio closures.
Xbox boss declares Call Of Duty is bigger than Marvel and the MCUXbox boss Asha Sharma has claimed that the Call of Duty franchise is financially larger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe, citing revenue figures. While acknowledging Call of Duty's significant financial success, the article notes that the MCU has generated more cultural fervor and hype, particularly with recent trailer view counts. Sharma also highlighted the success of Xbox's video game adaptations like Fallout and Minecraft, and announced plans for a Sea of Thieves live-action movie.