Gaming News — 2026-07-08#

Top Story#

Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly canceling Avowed 2 to shift its focus entirely onto a brand-new Fallout game led by Josh Sawyer. This shocking pivot follows a massive corporate reset at Xbox and thousands of internal layoffs, but it finally gives diehard fans hope for the first mainline, single-player Fallout title in over a decade.

News & Reviews#

[Microsoft Reportedly Pivoting Back to Xbox Exclusivity] · IGN After admitting its multiplatform video game strategy has failed to work out, Microsoft is reportedly planning to make more of its best games console-exclusive again to give gamers a tangible reason to buy an Xbox. It’s a massive shift from their recent release strategy, begging the question of whether major heavy-hitters like The Elder Scrolls 6 or the next mainline Halo will skip the PlayStation 5 entirely.

[Palworld Hits 40 Million Players Ahead of 1.0 Launch] · IGN Pocketpair’s breakout monster-taming hit Palworld has reached a mind-blowing milestone of 40 million players just in time for its big 1.0 launch on July 10. Despite early warnings on its Steam page that the retail price might increase, the developers have decided to keep the game priced at a very reasonable $29.99 as a massive “thank you” to the community for its runaway success.

[Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Review] · IGN Ubisoft Singapore’s full remake of the beloved 2013 pirate adventure is bigger and better in all the ways that matter. It boasts a stunning Anvil engine visual upgrade, a more discovery-focused map, modernized freerunning, and overhauled combat that introduces heavy attack finishers and instant takedowns. Earning high praise in its review, the remake confidently brings Edward Kenway’s swashbuckling journey into the modern era and remains a top-tier Assassin’s Creed experience.

[Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations DLC Review] · IGN The Revelations DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages is already shaping up to be an essential, must-play expansion that brilliantly injects the hyper-mobility of Doom Eternal back into the game. By swapping out the Shield Saw for the versatile new Chain Spear and giving the Slayer his quick dash ability back, id Software has completely changed the flow of combat to make demon-slaying encounters more creative, agile, and expressive.

[Destiny 2 Support Winds Down Following Bungie Layoffs] · IGN Bungie has confirmed that Destiny 2 will receive only severely limited support moving forward, stepping away from notable content updates to focus primarily on server maintenance and critical crash fixes. Following hundreds of layoffs and internal reports that a massive Destiny Infinity relaunch was scrapped, the studio is now shifting its high-investment focus entirely toward its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon.

[Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Reveals The Crew Motorfest] · IGN A credible leak points to Ubisoft releasing a Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the open-world racer The Crew Motorfest this October. To keep the price down to an attractive $49.99, the game will reportedly get a physical release via a cheaper “Game-Key Card,” requiring players to download the full game digitally despite having a physical box on their shelf.

[Mario Kart Tour Shuts Down Without an Offline Version] · IGN After seven years of successful service on mobile phones, Nintendo is officially shutting down the servers for Mario Kart Tour on September 29. Unlike Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Nintendo is tragically not planning a standalone offline version, meaning several unique tracks tied to the mobile game will soon become entirely unplayable.

Free Games & Deals#

July is bringing some serious heat to your PC library with the latest Humble Choice lineup, scoring you eight fantastic games—including the critically acclaimed RPG Sea of Stars, the Zelda-like Tunic, and the speedrunning shooter Neon White—for just $14.99. If you’re looking to upgrade your rig, Walmart is offering a massive deal on a 4K-ready Andromeda Insights gaming PC equipped with our 10/10-rated AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT for an incredibly low $1,499. Racing fans can also snag a refurbished Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedal set (compatible with PS5 and PC) for a staggering 60% off at $149.99 via Logitech’s eBay store.

Also Worth Knowing#

[The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Still 2+ Years Away] (IGN): Over eight years after its official announcement, a new report confirms that Bethesda’s highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6 remains at least two more years away from release.
[Bernie Sanders Slams Xbox Over Layoffs] (IGN): Senator Bernie Sanders fiercely criticized Microsoft, stating that their decision to eliminate 3,200 Xbox jobs and raise console prices proves that billions in corporate tax breaks “never trickle down” to workers.
[Controversial Film Citizen Vigilante Gets a PS5 Game] (IGN): Uwe Boll’s critically panned movie Citizen Vigilante is inexplicably receiving an official PS5 first-person shooter tie-in next week, and screenshots show it looking as remarkably rough as a PS2-era title.
[Wario Land Hits Nintendo Switch Online] (IGN): Nintendo Switch Online’s July update adds the classic Game Boy title Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 to the catalog, alongside a handful of other retro puzzle and shooter titles.
[Subnautica 2 Update Adds Creature Mitigation] (IGN): The Early Access 1.1 update for Subnautica 2 introduces improved creature flinches and stuns so players can better defend themselves, though the developers strictly stand by their rule against actually letting players kill predators.