Gaming News — 2026-07-14#

Top Story#

Riot Games has officially announced League of Legends Classic, rolling the clock back over 15 years to bring players the original Summoner’s Rift, a 60-champion starting roster, and the glorious return of old-school runes and masteries. Launching July 29, this heavily requested mode promises a nostalgic trip for MOBA veterans while blending in essential modern quality-of-life updates like improved matchmaking and server infrastructure.

News & Reviews#

Halo Studios Reportedly Cancels New Multiplayer Project · IGN Microsoft’s flagship sci-fi franchise is taking another hit, as a massive new Halo multiplayer project codenamed ‘Ekur’ has reportedly been scrapped. Developed by Certain Affinity, the title was planned as a large-scale battle experience utilizing Unreal Engine, but development troubles on Campaign Evolved forced a tragic reallocation of studio resources. It’s a bitter pill for competitive Spartans who are desperately craving a fresh PVP experience to tide them over until the next console generation.

Sony Faces Anti-Trust Lawsuit From Mexican Lawmakers Over Its Decision to End Production of Physical Games · IGN Sony’s highly controversial decision to kill off all physical disc production by 2028 is landing the publisher in legal hot water. Mexican lawmakers are filing an anti-trust complaint, arguing that forcing all PlayStation game sales exclusively through Sony’s digital storefront creates a monopolistic stranglehold that destroys the second-hand market and consumer choice. As a firm believer in physical media, I think this kind of pushback is absolutely vital to protect our right to actually own the games we invest our hard-earned money in.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s Controversial Day 1 DLC Earned $1 Million, Just on Steam · IGN Despite intense player backlash over an outrageous $85 worth of day-one DLC, Ubisoft has still managed to rake in an extra $1 million in Steam revenue from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Gamers rightfully review-bombed the title for pushing expensive map packs in a premium $70 remake, but a 6.34% attach rate proves that these controversial microtransactions remain highly profitable for the publisher.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic Review · IGN This charming compilation successfully bridges the gap between virtual reality and traditional gaming, offering a wonderfully engaging fairy tale adventure. IGN awarded it high praise for its seamless blend of combat and platforming, noting that players will form a genuine, heartwarming connection with the heroic mouse, Quill.

Dying Light: The Beast for PS4 and Xbox One Canceled After Dev Accepts ‘The Technical Realities of Development’ · IGN Techland has officially abandoned plans to bring Dying Light: The Beast to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, citing the severe technical limitations of the aging 13-year-old hardware. The studio acknowledged that bringing the open-world zombie title to last-gen consoles would require unacceptable compromises, and is currently offering refunds to disappointed fans.

Dead Space Creator Glen Schofield Announces Retirement From Gaming Industry · IGN After a legendary 35-year career crafting some of the industry’s most memorable titles, Glen Schofield is officially retiring from day-to-day game development. From creating the terrifying, genre-defining masterpiece Dead Space at Visceral Games to co-founding Sledgehammer Games and directing The Callisto Protocol, Schofield leaves behind an indelible mark on sci-fi horror.

Steam’s Record-Breaking $11 Billion Profit in First Half of 2026 Was Funded Mostly by Older Games · IGN Valve’s storefront just posted its most profitable six-month period in 22 years, raking in a staggering $11 billion. Surprisingly, 79% of these sales were driven by older titles released in 2025 or earlier, proving that massive back catalogs and viral co-op hits hold immense power over the modern PC gaming market.

Free Games & Deals#

While we don’t have any Epic Games Store freebies to claim in today’s roundup, deal hunters have plenty of massive hardware and software discounts to dig into. The absolute best steal right now is the Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle, which is heavily discounted by $50 on Amazon, essentially granting you a free first-party game before the looming $50 console price hike hits in September. For the PS5 crowd, last year’s fantastic Game of the Year winner, Astro Bot, has plummeted to just $39.99 at Amazon and Walmart. Finally, Capcom has permanently reduced the base price of Monster Hunter Wilds while introducing new comprehensive DLC bundles, making it the perfect time to jump into the hunt.

Also Worth Knowing#

• Nintendo Reportedly Considering Switch 2 OLED Model — Though Remains Concerned Over How Much It Would Cost · IGN: Industry insiders claim Nintendo is exploring a 1080p OLED upgrade for the Switch 2 featuring Samsung screens, but ballooning electronic component costs are threatening to price it out of reach.
• Rockstar Should Charge $200 for GTA 6, Analyst Says, as It’ll Be ‘The Last Great Game’ Before Everything is Built Using AI · IGN: In an absolutely wild take, an industry analyst is suggesting that Grand Theft Auto 6 is underpriced at $80 and should command a $200 price tag for representing the “pinnacle of triple-A craftsmanship”.
• Microsoft Deletes User’s 25-Year-Old Account With Thousands Spent on Games and His Son’s Baby Pictures After It Was Hacked · IGN: In a terrifying reminder of digital ownership risks, Microsoft permanently deleted a hacked user’s 25-year-old account, wiping out thousands of euros in digital games and priceless family photos from OneDrive.
• As England’s World Cup Semi-Final Nears, David Beckham Announces He’s Joining Fortnite · IGN: Football legend David Beckham is dropping into Epic Games’ battle royale this week with two distinct cosmetic skins to coincide with England’s ongoing World Cup campaign.
• Far Cry TV Series Casts Steve Buscemi in Mystery Role · IGN: The incredible Steve Buscemi has joined the cast of FX’s upcoming Far Cry anthology television series, leaving fans to speculate if he’ll be stepping into the shoes of the franchise’s next sadistic villain.