Gaming News — 2026-07-10#

Top Story#

Massive structural layoffs have struck Xbox, resulting in severe cuts across Bethesda and id Software that have the industry reeling. Bethesda’s restructuring has cast a dark shadow over highly anticipated titles, with The Elder Scrolls 6 reportedly still at least two years away and the Elder Scrolls Online team facing heavy losses, while id Software lost roughly half its staff but insists it retains the core team needed to make great games.

News & Reviews#

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Hits 2 Million Sales Amid Backlash · IGN Ubisoft’s highly anticipated remake scored a massive 9/10 in our review and moved over 2 million copies on its first day, smashing concurrent player records on Steam. However, the $60 game is being mercilessly review-bombed by fans furious over the greedy inclusion of $85 worth of Day 1 cosmetic and time-saving DLC. Ubisoft claims these packs are “entirely optional,” but the exorbitant monetization is definitely leaving a sour taste for players looking to sail the high seas.

EA Sports College Football 27 Faces Brutal Backlash Over Offline Microtransactions · IGN Speaking of awful monetization, EA is facing an organized fan revolt under the hashtag #CFBPlayDontPay after quietly replacing offline XP settings with real-money microtransactions in College Football 27. Players are furious that upgrading a coach to the maximum level in an offline Road to Glory or Dynasty mode could cost up to $100, driving the game’s Steam rating down to “Mostly Negative”.

Palworld 1.0 Impresses in Early Review, But Pals Get a Redesign · IGN Palworld has officially launched its 1.0 update, and it drastically improves the game’s performance while smoothing out early progression and adding a fully realized story. Curiously, developer Pocketpair quietly altered the designs of several popular Pals like Verdash and Robinquill to make them look significantly less like the Nintendo Pokémon they were originally accused of copying.

God of War Laufey Physical Release Confirmed for PlayStation · IGN Physical media fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Santa Monica Studio confirmed that God of War Laufey will be available on an actual disc. With Sony ending physical disc production for new games starting in January 2028, this confirmation heavily suggests that the Deborah Ann Woll-starring afterlife adventure is targeting a 2027 launch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 Port Slammed for “Low Effort” · IGN Activision is under fire from tech experts at Digital Foundry for its incredibly lazy PlayStation 5 port of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. Despite a steep $40 price tag, the 16-year-old game is locked to 1080p and 60Hz, completely failing to utilize the PS5’s modern hardware horsepower.

Backyard Baseball Reboot is Too Easy to Enjoy · IGN The nostalgia-fueled reboot of Backyard Baseball from Mega Cat Studios passes the eye test but completely fumbles the core gameplay. The reimagined hitting mechanics make it far too easy to hit home runs, while the AI fielding is frustratingly incompetent, making this version feel hollow compared to the classic ‘97 release.

Free Games & Deals#

While we don’t have a new Epic Games Store freebie today, you can claim a free pet monkey for your ship in the new Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced by redeeming the code “ASC-BFR-PMK-000” on the official social channels. If you’re looking for cheap top-tier games, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on PS5 is at an absolute steal right now for $25.38 on Amazon. You can also score a $100 PlayStation Store Gift Card for just $90 via Newegg by using the promo code “BUDF78” at checkout, which is perfect for grabbing some discounted digital titles. For hardware hunters, the 360Hz Samsung 27” Odyssey OLED G6 monitor is $400 off, bringing it down to a very tempting $499.

Also Worth Knowing#

Cyberpunk 2077 Sees Player Resurgence: Cyberpunk 2077 recently surged to over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, causing fans to beg CD Projekt for a second DLC despite the studio firmly insisting it has no plans to make one.
Peter Serafinowicz Cast in Elden Ring Movie: The voice actor behind the famous Dark Souls player death grunts, Peter Serafinowicz, revealed he has officially joined the cast of A24’s upcoming live-action Elden Ring film.
Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book Announced: Fans can craft their own Junimos and Lucky Purple Shorts with The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book, featuring 45 projects and launching January 2027.