The second and final part of the Friday gaming news:

With Destiny 2 over, Bungie lays off 'most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/with-destiny-2-over-bungie-lays-off-employees-to-align-the-studios-resources-with-its-current-priorities-and-long-term-goals/
Bungie has announced a "reduction in force" as it reorganizes following the end of development on Destiny 2, saying that with its premiere game now ended and new projects still in very early stages of development, "we unfortunately could not continue operating at our previous size."
>> Other industry members have reacted to this already expected announcement (link).

It's not layoffs, but you can see them from here: Numerous Compulsion Games employees are looking for new jobs
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/its-not-layoffs-but-you-can-see-them-from-here-numerous-compulsion-games-employees-are-looking-for-new-jobs/
As reports that major layoffs are coming to multiple Microsoft-owned game studios continue to swirl, numerous developers at South of Midnight studio Compulsion Games have indicated that they are leaving the studio and looking for new work.
Posting "open to work" messages on LinkedIn is a very common way for game industry employees to search for new opportunities—and, sadly, it's also often a first sign of layoffs at game studios.
>> Two great articles in a row, right? /s

1 year after launch, spaceship shooter Wildgate will end development after its next update
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/1-year-after-launch-spaceship-shooter-wildgate-will-end-development-after-its-next-update/
After a year of struggling to pull in players, the PvPvE game Wildgate is calling it quits. Game director Dustin Browder said in a Steam update posted today that despite the best efforts of developer Moonshot Games, "Wildgate hasn’t found a large enough audience to sustain ongoing development," and so it's ending further updates.
"Wildgate is not going away," Browder wrote. "Wildgate will continue to receive occasional updates like bug fixes, balance updates, and small events, activations or rewards that generally repurpose existing content. And new players will still be able to buy the game on all platforms
>> At least they aren’t planning any layoffs.

Nightdive's Thief remaster is adding a weapon wheel and other UI changes, 'but we're not forcing you to use it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/nightdives-thief-remaster-is-adding-a-weapon-wheel-and-other-ui-changes-but-were-not-forcing-you-to-use-it/
Partway through Nightdive's video about remastering Thief: The Dark Project, producer Daniel Grayshon casually mentions that in the original you pressed 4 to bring up the water arrows and I realized I still remember a bunch of the keybinds for Thief's arsenal of items. The trusty blackjack was 2, rope arrows were 8, the get-out-of-jail-free flash bomb on F6, and so on.
"As with a lot of Nightdive games in the past we're not looking to change the core experience of the game," Grayshon says, something studio head Stephen Kick reiterates at another point when he explains they take all the comments on the trailer insisting they haven't changed anything as a compliment. If it looks the way you remember it looking, Nightdive considers that a success.
But Thief's controls were definitely in need of improvement. "The first thing that I wanted to do for the game was introduce a weapon wheel," Grayshon says. In the original I cycled through my collection of tools by pressing tab on the occasions when I couldn't remember the shortcut for gas mines or whatever, and a wheel would definitely help there.

Eric Barone gives players a small update on Haunted Chocolatier's progress: 'It’s not a simple task, as I torture myself over every last detail'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/eric-barone-gives-players-a-small-update-on-haunted-chocolatiers-progress-its-not-a-simple-task-as-i-torture-myself-over-every-last-detail/
It's been five years since Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone announced the idea of Haunted Chocolatier, since then we've got a few small updates on progress here and there, with the bulk of Barone's time being spent on making Stardew Valley one of, if not the best indie game available (which is currently 40% off in the Steam Summer sale).
It sounds like work on Haunted Chocolatier has been slow yet very deliberate, something that Barone yet again stresses in this latest update on progress. "I know it’s taking a long time," Barone says in a blog post. "A big part of that is that I am being very thoughtful about every aspect of the game. The things in the game which the player will be interacting with or using very often need to be 'perfect'. They need to be seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, aesthetic."

Here are the short ones as well:

The best farm sim since Stardew Valley is on sale right before its 1.0 launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/the-best-farm-sim-since-stardew-valley-is-on-sale-right-before-its-1-0-launch/
>> The game is Fields of Mistria and here’s the Steam link.

PC Gamer's 2025 GOTY is yours for a ludicrous $24 during the Steam Summer Sale
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/pc-gamers-2025-goty-is-yours-for-a-ludicrous-usd24-during-the-steam-summer-sale/
>> This time it’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and there’s also an update with a new quest.

Resident Evil 2 fans end 'years of searching' for identity of Jill Valentine's photo boyfriend
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/resident-evil/resident-evil-2-fans-end-years-of-searching-for-identity-of-jill-valentines-photo-boyfriend/

And now. Let’s take ta quick an easy look at the weekend deals at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• The Summer Sale is going on, until the 9th of July: https://www.gog.com/es/summer-sale

+Steam

• In case you haven’t heard it already, the Summer Sale has started and will last until the same 9th of July: https://store.steampowered.com

And that’s it. Until the next time, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend. And be careful with your wallet!

They locked features out of the $80 "base game." The actual game is $100. 

I'd love to say that I can relate, but I've never found myself in that situation. But I understand how f*cked up that is.

Over the years I learned to not buy anything during the first day (Steam used to crash during the first few hours of a big sale) and so the only thing I did yesterday was check the games on my wishlist to see the deals, but nothing was too enticing. I'll probably wait until the weekend to check the games I follow and then the rest of the store.

I'm not sure if I'll end getting something or not.

I know, I know. But those extras can't be that imnportant. The description says: "an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story", meaning that they are mostly cosmetic, and while the last bit may be worrying, Rockstar can't lock important story missions without hampering how the story is told.

I think it's more likely to be related to side-quests that help you explore the city and earn money, like the old "steal the cars of this list" kind of missions. Not a dealbreaker for most people.

Then again, I'm not going to buy it, so I'm not that upset about this d*ck move.

Here come the Monday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Meccha Chameleon proves an explosive hit with over 10 million copies sold
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/meccha-chameleon-proves-an-explosive-hit-with-over-10-million-copies-sold/
I was blown away when Meccha Chameleon, the friendsloppish PvP hit where you paint your body in an expressive game of hide-and-seek, sold a million copies in a few days. Here I am blown away again as the novelty refuses to wear off: less than a month after release, the game has sold a whopping 10 million copies, according to a Steam community news post. The proof is in the pudding—as I write this, the game has nearly 200,000 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.
This success feels like the perfect storm of a few different things. Hide-and-seek is a pretty timeless form of uncomplicated joy, as proven by long-lived games like Dead by Daylight and evergreen custom modes like prop hunt. Meccha Chameleon also feels adjacent to the friendslop craze despite its team-based format, seizing on a moment when inexpensive, low-spec multiplayer games are selling like hot cakes.

The Binding of Isaac hits new all-time concurrent player count peak on Steam 12 years after release
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/the-binding-of-isaac-hits-new-all-time-concurrent-player-count-peak-on-steam-12-years-after-release/
Mewgenics might be the hottest Edmund McMillen roguelike in town, but stone cold classic The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is no worse off. In fact, more abandoned children are fending off malformed horrors in their mother's basement than ever—the game reached a new all-time concurrent player count peak on Steam today.
The new big number is a whopping 123,429. It's simmered down a bit as I write this, but it's still comfortably in six figures territory. Not bad for a game that first released in 2014, effectively supplanting the Flash original.

Humble Bundle presents the Arc System Works: Evo Collection, featuring up to 16 items to get (11 games + 5 coupons) during 18 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/arc-system-works-evo-collection

Fanatical has a new Star Deal: DOOM: The Dark Ages, that will be 71% off during 48 hours or until they run out of keys: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/doom-the-dark-ages

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing for today-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Shader Injector Mod Released, Improving Lighting & Shadows
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-shader-injector-mod-released-improving-lighting-shadows/
Earlier this week, I informed you about a mod that aimed to add screen-space ray-traced shadows to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Well, the good news is that the mod is now out. The bad news is that it does not add screen-space ray-traced shadows. Instead, it adds support for contact shadows.
Going into more detail, Shader Injector is a DirectX 12 (D3D12) mod that intercepts the game’s rendering calls. This allows it to replace the game’s original shaders with modified versions while the game is running. The mod includes two custom lighting shaders that improve lighting and shadow quality. Best of all, these visual upgrades have only a small impact on performance.
My guess is that in the initial video, the modder mentioned screen-space ray-traced shadows by mistake. He most likely meant contact shadows instead. Even so, contact shadows are a welcome addition. As you will see, they can greatly improve the game’s image quality.
Right now, Shader Injector comes with a modified Directional Light Pass shader and a Local Light Pass shader that add contact shadows, micro shadows, and an upgraded Diffuse BRDF.
You can go ahead and download the mod from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find an installation guide for it.
>> The article also has an over 4 minutes video.

shadPS4 Will Soon Let You Play Online Multiplayer Games Without PlayStation Network
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shadps4-will-soon-let-you-play-online-multiplayer-games-without-playstation-network/
The team behind the best PlayStation 4 emulator for PC, shadPS4, has announced shadNet. ShadNet is going to offer shadPS4 users a way to connect and play online games together. Its key feature is that it will not require PlayStation Network. Instead, PC gamers will be able to play the PS4 games online without it.
ShadNet is still in development, and there is still a lot to be done. Right now, it can only track scores and nothing more. Also, even though you can register, you still cannot input your details in the shadQtLauncher. Still, PC gamers can register and try it out.
The latest version of shadPS4 is v0.16.0. That update introduced the foundation of a new configuration system. The new system makes settings easier to manage, improves game-specific options, and prepares the emulator for future features.
Version 0.16.0 also added a new OpenAL-based audio backend. This gives the emulator a more flexible audio system and improves support for PlayStation 4 audio features.
Another new feature is early PlayStation Camera emulation. This brings shadPS4 one step closer to supporting games and apps that require the PlayStation Camera.
The update also added local multiplayer support. Players can now enjoy supported games together through the emulator’s new local multiplayer system.
The team has also made numerous graphics improvements. The update includes a large number of Vulkan fixes that solve validation errors, synchronization problems, resource handling issues, swapchain bugs, and presentation stability problems. These changes reduce crashes and improve reliability on a wide range of GPUs.
In addition, the team fixed several GPU synchronization issues, memory handling bugs, image layout problems, and memory protection updates. Together, these changes improve rendering accuracy and reduce visual glitches.
Version 0.16.0 also included many mipmapping fixes that improve texture quality and remove rendering artifacts in several games. Support has been expanded for more advanced graphics pipelines, including extra tessellation and geometry shader combinations used by modern PS4 games.
Finally, the team upgraded the shader recompiler and the GCN decoder. These improvements should benefit games that make heavy use of PlayStation 4 Pro (“Neo”) GPU features.
You can download shadPS4 v0.16.0 from this link. Below, you can also find a video from the v0.16.1 night version. This version is not yet available to the public.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Will Get an Unofficial Multiplayer Mode on PC in September 2026
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-last-of-us-part-2-remastered-will-get-an-unofficial-multiplayer-mode-on-pc-in-september-2026/
Now here is something really cool. A team of modders is working on an unofficial multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part 2. This multiplayer mode will be made available in September 2026, and below you can find a 25-minute gameplay video for it.
As you will see, this multiplayer mode is still in an early development phase. Right now, there are a lot of placeholder graphics. However, its core gameplay mechanics appear to be working fine.
What’s funny here is that the first The Last of Us game featured a 4v4 multiplayer mode, called Factions. However, Naughty Dog decided to remove that mode from its sequel. And, in a strange turn of events, PC gamers will be able to experience it on PC really soon.
Modder Speclizer plans to release this Multiplayer Mod for The Last of Us Part 2 in September 2026. It’s worth noting that all the other mods from Speclizer are behind a Patreon wall. So, I don’t know whether this will also be a pay-to-play mod. I hope not, as this would kill all momentum for it.
>> There is an over 25 minutes video in the article.

Cyberpunk 2077 Got a True First Person Camera 2.0 Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/cyberpunk-2077-got-a-true-first-person-camera-2-0-mod/
Modder ‘DigitalVixen’ has released a new cool mod for Cyberpunk 2077, called True First Person Camera 2.0. This mod aims to overhaul the game’s first-person perspective. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
True First Person Camera 2.0 improves the game’s first-person camera in several ways. For example, it lets you adjust the camera’s height and depth to better match your preferences. It also adds a more immersive view when you look down at your character.
The mod introduces a free-look mode, allowing you to walk forward while looking around. It also adds a weapon IK system that lets your weapons sit at a more natural camera height, or keeps the original behavior if you prefer. In addition, the mod includes a new vehicle camera, bike leaning, an ammo inspection camera, and improved first-person views for weapon equip animations.
According to the modder, the biggest new feature in Version 2.0 is its built-in configuration menu.
You can open the menu at any time with a hotkey, so there is no need to switch between different menus. Every option and setting is available in one simple popup, making it easy to adjust the mod while the game is paused.
The update also adds a first-person camera tuning system for each vehicle. Players can choose from three cornering camera profiles and three bike leaning profiles. All six profiles can be adjusted directly in the game.
Furthermore, there’s a First Equip animation system. This system lets you set when the animations can play and what their likeliness is. You can also set different animation settings for melee, guns and cyberware.
Finally, the mod also features a system to display the head on the player’s body. If you play with Ray Tracing or Path Tracing and you have enabled player reflections, you can now also see your head in reflections. The head is hidden when you bring out a weapon and in some other situations.
All in all, this is a really cool mod for those who want to replay CP2077. If you are one of them, you can go ahead and download it from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find a few videos for it.

28 Years Later-Inspired Mod Released for Fallout 4
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/28-years-later-inspired-mod-released-for-fallout-4/
Modder ‘Anderson2888’ has released a new mod for Fallout 4 that is inspired by the 28 Years Later movie. So, if you are a fan of it, you may want to try it out.
Going into more details, the mod adds film-accurate recreations of the infected from 28 Years Later. These are the Alphas, the common infected, and the first generations. The mod also has custom sounds siphoned directly from the movie to make them feel more like their film counterparts. These new variants will spawn alongside ferals.
Do note that the mod does not add any missions from the movie. It will only add the three variants I mentioned above. Also, since this is Fallout 4 we’re talking about, its graphics look kind of meh. So, be sure to keep your expectations in check.
You can download the mod from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find the three variants that are added to the game.

New Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Adds Even More Random World Encounters
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/new-red-dead-redemption-2-mod-adds-even-more-random-world-encounters/
Modder ‘knoxien’ has released a pretty cool mod for Red Dead Redemption 2. Titled Random Events, this mod adds a variety of ambient encounters to RDR2 Story Mode. These include predator attacks, runaway wagons, public hangings, drunken townsfolk, and bounty hunter pursuits.
In a way, this feels like a more polished version of a similar mod we shared in November 2023. That mod offered three random world events, whereas this one has five. As such, I suggest switching to this new version (if you’ve been using the old mod).
As I said, the Random Events Mod brings five world encounters. Events fire on their own as you explore the game’s world. Each one is announced with a subtle on-screen line and a vanilla-style minimap blip so you can choose to ride over and get involved or just keep moving. Everything is controlled from a single in-game menu, so you decide which events happen, how often, and how close.
The five world events that can occur are the following ones.

• Predator Attack – a wild animal ambushes you out in the wilds.
• Runaway Wagon – a driverless-looking team of horses bolts down the road hauling a wagon; chase it down if you can.
• Public Hanging – outlaws drag a captive to a tree and string him up by the neck. Shoot the rope to cut him loose before he chokes, gun down the executioners.
• Drunken Folk – rowdy drunks stagger around and brawl with each other near settlements (at nighttime).
• Bounty Hunters – armed hunters and their scent hounds track you down and attack.

Those interested can go ahead and download the mod from this link.
>> The article has an over 5 minutes video.

GTA 4 RTX Remix Path Tracing Gets New 4K High-Polygon Models
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/gta-4-rtx-remix-path-tracing-gets-new-4k-high-polygon-models/
Modder ‘kapibos’ has released a new version of his 4K High-Polygon Models pack for Grand Theft Auto 4 RTX Remix. This mod adds new highly detailed 3D objects to the game. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
This latest version of the mod replaces 30 props/objects. All of them were remodeled to high-poly and retextured to 4K by the modder using Blender and Substance 3D Painter.
To showcase the visual improvements, kapibos shared a comparison video, which you can find at the end of the article. This video will give you a pretty good idea of the visual improvements. So, be sure to watch it.
The bad news is that the pack does not cover all of the game’s props/objects. As such, it can feel a bit inconsistent. At one time, you will see a highly detailed 3D object, and when you turn the camera, you will see an ugly vanilla prop. I’m not complaining here, just stating the obvious fact.
Those interested can download the mod from this link. This mod is only for the RTX Remix Mod of GTA 4. It may also be compatible with the HD Texture Packs I shared for it. Right now, there are two covering the South Bohan Apartment area. One is created by Wallaco, and the other is created by DarkoRTX. You can download them from here and here.

Web port wizards produce browser versions of Half-Life 2 and Portal
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/web-port-wizards-produce-browser-versions-of-half-life-2-and-portal/
It's been established that Doom can run on produce, but porting wizardry doesn't start and end with blasting cacodemons on increasingly ludicrous hardware setups. It's sometimes the simple things that stick out most, like this web browser port of Half-Life 2. Not as silly as potatoes, but impressive all the same.
It's got some kinks—my frames are a mite inconsistent and certain animations seem to be broken—but it is, in fact, Half-Life 2 in the browser. You can play the game as normal, use console commands, and send your working hours down the drain with a spot of entertainment slightly more sophisticated than the average Flash game.
The project has garnered lots of attention thanks to a post on X from Gabe Follower, which states it was "created by Slqnt and 98006 in just three months." A follow-up post shared that the project was based on a similar browser port of the original Portal, just in case you don't have enough browser-based Valve gaming in your life yet. Maybe try and get through these while waiting to respawn in Deadlock.
>> The article doesn’t have any media, but it has the link to this port.

Nightdive says compatibility with fan missions was a big priority for Thief Remastered, and there's one massive mod in particular it knew it had to get working
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/nightdive-says-compatibility-with-fan-missions-was-a-big-priority-for-thief-remastered-and-theres-one-massive-mod-in-particular-it-knew-it-had-to-get-working/
Thief: The Dark Project is a brilliant game for many reasons, among which is that it has one of the best mapping communities of any game. While the Doom and Quake mapping scenes are larger and more prolific, Thief's mappers consistently punch so far above their weight they should probably get into boxing sims rather than stealth games. They regularly deliver maps, missions and entire campaigns that are orders of magnitude more ambitious than what exists in the base game.
Hence, any remaster of Thief worth its salt would ensure the fan mission scene is well supported, and that's exactly what Nightdive plans to do with Thief: The Dark Project Remastered. Speaking on Nightdive's Deep Dive podcast, producer Daniel Grayshon delved into the significance of community creations for the remaster:
"There's been a very dedicated community that has created all sorts of wonderful additions to the game, and a lot of that has not gone unnoticed, " Grayshon explained. "Compatibility with those is extremely important, and that's what we're working on very heavily to ensure that when you buy a copy of the game on PC, you'll be able to very easily and very quickly get set up with whatever fan mission you would like to play."
Given the number of fan missions that are out there, this is pretty ambitious, and Grayshon does say that, while they want to support as many FMs as they can, Nightdive's resources are not unlimited. "We're doing our best to make sure that we have a good compatibility across the board with everything that we can test given the time that we have. There's a lot of content out there, but we're doing our best."
>> If you don’t want to click the link to the Deep Dive, it’s also included in the article.

First Look at Upcoming Multiplayer Co-Op Mod for Alien: Isolation
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-look-at-upcoming-multiplayer-co-op-mod-for-alien-isolation/
Now here is something cool for our Alien fans. Reddit’s member ‘Dropper7894’ is currently working on a multiplayer co-op mod for Alien: Isolation. And while there is no ETA for when it will come out, the modder shared the first gameplay video for it.
Dropper7894 has been working on this mod for the past few weeks. The goal is to turn Survivor Mode into a co-op experience. This means that you will be able to play that mode with a friend.
For those who do not know, Survivor Mode is a tense single-player challenge mode with specific objectives. Players must escape from small, enclosed areas inside Sevastopol Station as quickly as possible. Along the way, they must avoid a relentless Xenomorph that is always hunting them, making every run feel tense and unpredictable.
As I said, there is currently no ETA for when the mod will be released. We also don’t know whether the modder will be able to get it working in Campaign Mode. For now, the co-op mod will be available only in Survivor Mode.
>> The article has a less than 2 minutes video.

GAMING NEWS

Resident Evil Requiem June 25 Patch Released & Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/resident-evil-requiem-june-25-patch-released-detailed/
Yesterday, Capcom released a brand new update for its latest Resident Evil game, Resident Evil Requiem. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.

Here Are 49 Minutes of Gameplay From the Open-World Action-Driving Game, CLUTCH
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-49-minutes-of-gameplay-from-the-open-world-action-driving-game-clutch/
Maverick Games has presented 49 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from its open-world action-driving game, CLUTCH. This video shows a lot of new stuff. Moreover, it confirms that the game will be using Unreal Engine 5 and that it will take advantage of Lumen. So, if you are a racing fan, you should definitely watch it.

First 30 Minutes of Gameplay From Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Leaked Online
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-30-minutes-of-gameplay-from-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-leaked-online/
It appears that someone has shared a video on Bilibili, leaking 30 minutes of gameplay from Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. This video features the first 30 minutes of the game. The bad news is that of really low quality.

The Monday gaming news, the long part two:

Battlefield 6 is overhauling its gunplay next week, and it's adding one thing we've all asked for years on end
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/battlefield-6-is-overhauling-its-gunplay-next-week-and-its-adding-one-thing-weve-all-asked-for-years-on-end/
EA's had a hard time juggling Battlefield 6 since launch. It was a record-breaking release for the series, but it quickly dropped off amid frustrations over map design, gunplay, and its seasonal structure.
Six months later, the team was hit with layoffs. Since then, we've been living in the 'we've heard your feedback' era, with Battlefield Studios promising seven new maps in 2026, including the remakes of your old favourites. While the playerbase seemingly hasn't recovered (at least looking at Steam concurrents), the community has perked up.
And the developers have just announced one of the biggest changes yet: overhauls to gunplay coming in update 1.3.3 on Tuesday, June 30. It's looking to address all of the complaints we've had with Battlefield 6 since launch. "Growing a game like this means more than just adding content: it’s about revisiting your initial vision and having honest conversations about how it should change," the blog reads.

As its much newer sequel struggles, the 13-year-old Payday 2 is getting a 'massive engine upgrade' that improves performance and cuts the install size in half
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/as-its-much-newer-sequel-struggles-the-13-year-old-payday-2-is-getting-a-massive-engine-upgrade-that-improves-performance-and-cuts-the-install-size-in-half/
Back in 2025, Starbreeze turned its venerable heist-shooter Payday 2 over to a new studio, Sidetrack Games, so it could focus exclusively on trying to salvage the still-struggling Payday 3. Today we got our first look at the fruits of those efforts, and it's big news—not for Payday 3, to be clear, but for Payday 2, which is getting a major overhaul to its game engine.

Embark switches up Arc Raiders expeditions again, and this time it's giving away paid currency and precious blueprints
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/embark-switches-up-arc-raiders-expeditions-again-and-this-time-its-giving-away-paid-currency-and-precious-blueprints/
You can tell Embark is still figuring out what to do with Arc Raiders expedition wipes, because they keep changing every season.
The studio announced this week that the fourth expedition is completely changing the main incentive for wiping from permanent extra skill points to a mixture of premium currency and blueprints.

The game formerly known as Operation Flashpoint is getting a remaster, while developer Bohemia Interactive has released its engine source code
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/the-game-formerly-known-as-operation-flashpoint-is-getting-a-remaster-while-developer-bohemia-interactive-has-released-its-engine-source-code/
When Operation Flashpoint launched in June 2001, it was one of the most ambitious games I'd ever played. One of the earliest military simulators, for me it was significant for being an open world game before the concept of open world games really existed.
(...)
Now, Operation Flashpoint is 25 years old. It's no longer called Operation Flashpoint of course, as that license is lying dead in a ditch somewhere near the Codemasters office. Nonetheless, beneath its new title, ArmA: Cold War Assault remains the same game it ever was, and developer Bohemia Interactive has a bunch of plans to celebrate.

The next game from the director of Blood West is a frozen survival shooter where you scratch a living off the decaying corpse of a god
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/the-next-game-from-the-director-of-blood-west-is-a-frozen-survival-shooter-where-you-scratch-a-living-off-the-decaying-corpse-of-a-god/
Blood West is one of the better indie shooters to emerge in recent years, a dark Western spin on Stalker in which you roam dusty Badlands fighting eldritch horrors. The game's been well supported since its release in 2023, too, with developer Hyperstrange releasing a bunch of expansions, including the recent roguelike themed Scavengers DLC.
Yet while Hyperstrange continued to support Blood West, the game's director has been busy working on a new project. That was revealed earlier this week as Bloodwoven, and it looks to be something of a spiritual successor to Blood West, albeit much, much weirder.

Helldivers 2's next warbond is delayed, as Arrowhead says it 'needs more time to cook' following the shooter's massive progression rework
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/helldivers-2s-next-warbond-is-delayed-as-arrowhead-says-it-needs-more-time-to-cook-following-the-shooters-massive-progression-rework/
Big changes have been happening within Helldivers 2 of late. After tension within the community saw Steam reviews plummet to Mostly Negative, Arrowhead issued a statement promising a whole bunch of alterations to how the game works. Technical improvements! New red stratagems! And most importantly of all, a complete rework of how objectives and player progression functions.
Many of these changes have now been implemented, and they seem to have gone down well, with recent Steam reviews now at the upper end of 'Mixed'. But all that retooling may have had some knock-on effects for the game, as Arrowhead has announced that its next warbond is delayed.

Riot teases League of Legends Classic, with a full reveal coming in two weeks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/riot-teases-league-of-legends-classic-with-a-full-reveal-coming-in-two-weeks/
After a bunch of decidedly low-poly character models started leaking from League of Legends's public test servers, Riot decided to pull the ripcord: League of Legends Classic is real, though when exactly it will harken back to is yet to be seen.

Riot delays 'last hit indicators' in League of Legends ranked mode after fan response: 'We want to get more data and feedback'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/riot-delays-last-hit-indicators-in-league-of-legends-ranked-mode-after-fan-response-we-want-to-get-more-data-and-feedback/
Once you've lost a few thousand hours to a MOBA, it's easy to forget how hard it was to learn. A game like League of Legends has well over a hundred playable characters, all sorts of items and jungle monsters, and even the basics can be fussy. One of the most crucial is the zen practice of "last hitting," or swinging at a hostile creep right as it's about to die to get credit and gold for the kill.
While it's hard to get the hang of, Riot has been toying with a way to make last hitting easier for new players: last hit indicators. These indicators show the threshold at which a creep will be killed by one of your hero's autoattacks, making it easier to score kills if you don't have an intuitive sense of how much damage you're doing. While it's been quarantined in the game's casual modes for the last few months, patch notes from earlier this week stated the feature would be coming to normal draft and ranked play.
(...)
In response to the feedback, Riot announced in a post on X that it would pump the brakes on last hit assistance: "We want to get more data and feedback to decide if we should make them an option for ranked before making that call. So we’ll keep them enabled, but off by default, for swiftplay, co-op vs AI, and normal draft, to collect data and iterate." In other words, it may still come to ranked play, but it's no longer certain.

Palworld 1.0 update has '27 pdf pages of changes and additions,' says publishing lead
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/palworld-1-0-update-has-27-pdf-pages-of-changes-and-additions-says-publishing-lead/
Palworld just keeps moving. It's postured to more or less shrug off its prominent legal battle with Nintendo, and it's reaching that glorious threshold any survival-craft game hopes to eventually cross: actually being done. Or if not done, complete enough to call it version 1.0 when it finally releases July 10.
It seems like it will be much more than a formality, too, according to a post from Pocketpair's communications and publishing head, John "Bucky" Buckley. "Losing my mind trying to make nice patch notes for Palworld 1.0," he wrote. "Who'd have thought that, *checks notes*, 27 pdf pages of changes and additions would be hard to make neat?"

As we stare down more $80 games, it rules that Star Wars Zero Company is $50
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/as-we-stare-down-more-usd80-games-it-rules-that-star-wars-zero-company-is-usd50/
Amid Star Wars Zero Company's gameplay and release date reveal at the 2026 Summer Game Fest, it somehow slipped by me that the squad tactics game from XCOM veterans also got an official price tag: $50. What year is it, 2005? Not only is this what Firaxis charged for XCOM: Enemy Unknown in 2012, it's less than the beloved XCOM 2's launch price of $60 a decade ago.

Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse is struggling: 'We're understaffed,' say devs
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/quantic-dreams-star-wars-eclipse-is-struggling-were-understaffed-say-devs/
You're forgiven if you'd forgotten about Star Wars: Eclipse. After being revealed with a flashy cinematic trailer in 2021, all we heard about Quantic Dreams' Star Wars game was the briefest of mentions in a blog post by studio founder and CEO David Cage last year, in which he said, "Of course, development of Star Wars: Eclipse continues, and we are eager to share more with you in the future."
Quantic Dream was also working on a live-service game at the same time, a MOBA called Spellcaster Chronicles, which suffered a fate all too common in the genre when the plug was pulled on it back in May. 115 staff who worked on it came in line for the inevitable layoffs.
As reported by French outlet Gamekult, Quantic Dream's employees say those staff are needed to help with a struggling Star Wars: Eclipse, and laying them off will hurt its chances of ever being finished. They went on strike during a studio visit by LucasFilm to get their point across.

Creative Assembly wants to know which factions you wish to play as in Total War: Medieval 3, but whatever you do, don't ask to play as the Pope
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/creative-assembly-wants-to-know-which-factions-you-wish-to-play-as-in-total-war-medieval-3-but-whatever-you-do-dont-ask-to-play-as-the-pope/
All eyes may currently be fixed upon Total War: Warhammer 40,000, Creative Assembly's ferociously ambitious foray into the 40k universe. But it's worth remembering that the more traditional side of Total War is looking pretty exciting too, as CA is returning to one of Total War's best settings in Medieval 3.
Medieval 3 is much earlier in development than ol' Total Warty K, but the CA has been surprisingly open with the community about its development thus far, regularly showing the game off in preproduction livestreams. Now, it's also fielding opinion on which factions should be playable in Medieval 3, asking fans to complete a survey about which nations, dynasties, and city-states they want to control the destinies of.

Invincible VS devs would like to have guest characters like Spider-Man and Sub Zero: 'If we have that opportunity, we will definitely take it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/invincible-vs-devs-would-like-to-have-guest-characters-like-spider-man-and-sub-zero-if-we-have-that-opportunity-we-will-definitely-take-it/
Whether you're talking about multiverse-upending event comics or that time Shadow the Hedgehog called Darkseid "pathetic," comic book stories love taking unrelated groups of characters and smashing them together. The same is true of traditional fighting games, where Ryu is as likely to be seen throwing fireballs at the Hulk or Minecraft Steve as he is at Guile.
Currently, superhero tag battler Invincible VS is limited to the world of Robert Kirkman's acclaimed Image comic—but let's say I'm tired of watching Battle Beast smash other Invincible characters into gore. I want to watch him smash my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man into gore. In an interview with MMORPG.com, game director Dave Hall and lead combat designer Bau Bautista agreed that sounds pretty neat.

Mina the Hollower will make her fighting game debut in a crossover next year
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/mina-the-hollower-will-make-her-fighting-game-debut-in-a-crossover-next-year/
Rivals of Aether 2 isn't the only Smash Bros.-esque fighting game on Steam, but it might just be the best—unlike the first game, though, it hasn't included any guest characters just yet. Even Shovel Knight, who appeared in the first Rivals of Aether game, was effectively succeeded by an alarmingly sexy shark man earlier this year (listen, I'm just reporting the facts). But next year, Yacht Club's newest retro-inspired icon, Mina the Hollower, will join the game's roster.

Sony games boss says company will bravely keep sending live services over the top, despite cancelling 8 of the 12 ones planned for 2025 and wiping out most of Destiny 2's developers
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/sony-games-boss-says-company-will-bravely-keep-sending-live-services-over-the-top-despite-cancelling-8-of-the-12-ones-planned-for-2025-and-wiping-out-most-of-destiny-2s-developers/
Sony had a rough track record last year. As one of our contributors Rick Lane pointed out, the company had cancelled eight out of 12 live service games that were originally planned for 2025, including the trainwreck that was Concord—fast-forward to 2026, and it's called curtains on Destiny 2, a game just years prior I would've considered one of the most successful live service games on the market.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Sony might intend to make less live service games. Forgiven, but also wrong.
That's per a recent Famitsu interview with Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and president Hideaki Nishino, who told the site (the following quote is machine-translated): "We believe that live service games are content that attracts users on a global level, so we want to continue to revitalize the market through both first-party and third-party content.
>> And of course, those will be the games they’ll bring to PC.

CD Projekt rebrand makes things simultaneously simpler and more confusing
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/cd-projekt-has-rebranded-to-make-things-simultaneously-simpler-and-more-confusing/
I confess, even after several years writing about videogames for money, I still have to pause sometimes and remember which CD Projekt is which. I use this handy mnemonic rhyme: If CD Projekt Red you see, that's the folks who made The Witcher 3. If CD Projekt alone you view, that's the parent company. Doo bee doo.
But I guess it's time for me to throw that rhyme out, because CD Projekt is rebranding itself as CD Projekt Red, bringing the whole enchilada under the same brand. "In the opinion of the Management Board, the new company name will ensure full brand consistency and facilitate the identification of the Company with its products on the global market," quoth the company in the relevant resolution.

And here is the third and final part of the gaming news for today:

Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says the NCR and Caesar's Legion feel so real because their members disagree and challenge each other: 'You have to wrestle with the fact that it contains multitudes'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/fallout-new-vegas-director-josh-sawyer-says-the-ncr-and-caesars-legion-feel-so-real-because-their-members-disagree-and-challenge-each-other-you-have-to-wrestle-with-the-fact-that-it-contains-multitudes/

Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says Obsidian has 'Karma Police' who go through games making sure every skill gets enough cool stuff to do: 'We're not gonna leave you out to dry'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/fallout-new-vegas-director-josh-sawyer-says-obsidian-has-karma-police-who-go-through-the-game-making-sure-every-skill-gets-enough-cool-stuff-to-do-were-not-gonna-leave-you-out-to-dry/

Haunted Chocolatier fans don't have fresh screenshots to fawn over because Eric Barone says sharing them mid-development 'feels like serving half-baked bread'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/haunted-chocolatier-fans-dont-have-fresh-screenshots-to-fawn-over-because-eric-barone-says-sharing-them-mid-development-feels-like-serving-half-baked-bread/
>> Even smart people can say stupid things sometimes.

Not content with a Nightdive remaster, Thief's also getting a graphic novel and an original soundtrack featuring Garrett's voice actor
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/not-content-with-a-nightdive-remaster-thiefs-also-getting-a-graphic-novel-and-an-original-soundtrack-featuring-garretts-voice-actor/

To get Thief Remastered's cutscenes right, Nightdive brought on the dev behind the 1998 originals
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/to-get-thief-remastereds-cutscenes-right-nightdive-brought-on-the-dev-behind-the-1998-originals/

Skyrim's lead designer reckons releasing Elder Scrolls and Fallout games faster risks 'disappointing fans'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/skyrims-lead-designer-reckons-releasing-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-games-faster-risks-disappointing-fans/
>> He’s Bruce Nesmith.

Spyro speedrunner says a PC port of the original game is in the works, and it's being made with 'no AI'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/spyro-speedrunner-says-a-pc-port-of-the-original-game-is-in-the-works-and-its-being-made-with-no-ai/
>> Since it’s a rumor and from an unusual source, I decided to post it here,

The original version of Dead or Alive 6 was delisted in favor of a rerelease that's currently at 70% negative reviews on Steam: 'Tecmo just sees this as the coomer franchise'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/the-original-version-of-dead-or-alive-6-was-delisted-in-favor-of-a-rerelease-thats-currently-at-70-percent-negative-reviews-on-steam-tecmo-just-sees-this-as-the-coomer-franchise/

Planescape: Torment 2 was greenlit by Wizards of the Coast, 'they were really into what we were doing', but it refused to fund the sequel, and nobody else was interested
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/planescape-torment-2-was-greenlit-by-wizards-of-the-coast-they-were-really-into-what-we-were-doing-but-it-refused-to-fund-the-sequel-and-nobody-else-was-interested/

A Disco Elysium writer once told Josh Sawyer that 'we can do better than this now,' and Sawyer agrees
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/a-disco-elysium-writer-once-told-josh-sawyer-that-we-can-do-better-than-this-now-and-sawyer-agrees/

I wasn't convinced Cyberpunk: Edgerunners could have a sadder ending until I read its writer's other pitches—and boy did we get off easy
https://www.pcgamer.com/movies-tv/i-wasnt-convinced-cyberpunk-edgerunners-could-have-a-sadder-ending-until-i-read-its-writers-other-pitches-and-boy-did-we-get-off-easy/

Samsung, SK hynix and Micron sued over alleged DRAM price fixing

https://videocardz.com/newz/samsung-sk-hynix-and-micron-sued-over-alleged-dram-price-fixing

Last time there was a memory/storage price hike, the 3 being sued helped make the prices go back down. But this time has the Ai hype. Hopefully things will still settle down.

SteamOS now offered with new gaming prebuilt PCs

https://videocardz.com/newz/steamos-now-offered-with-new-gaming-prebuilt-pcs

NVIDIA App has no measurable FPS impact, but filters can reduce performance by up to 10%

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-app-has-no-measurable-fps-impact-but-filters-can-reduce-performance-by-up-to-10

Nintendo Switch 2 price in South Korea rises 17% in September

https://videocardz.com/newz/nintendo-switch-2-price-in-south-korea-rises-17-in-september

GeForce RTX 3060 returns to German retail from €333

https://videocardz.com/newz/geforce-rtx-3060-returns-to-german-retail-from-e333

AMD reportedly tells AIBs to expect 10% higher Radeon GPU and memory bundle prices in July

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-reportedly-tells-aibs-to-expect-10-higher-radeon-gpu-and-memory-bundle-prices-in-july

AMD EXPO ULL memory kits arrive with up to 79% price premium over standard kits

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-expo-ull-memory-kits-arrive-with-up-to-79-price-premium-over-standard-kits

AMD puts 32GB LPDDR5X on-package memory with Versal SoC

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-puts-32gb-lpddr5x-on-package-memory-with-versal-soc

Nintendo Switch 2 may get new LCD panel from Sharp

https://videocardz.com/newz/nintendo-switch-2-may-get-new-lcd-panel-from-sharp

AMD Radeon GPUs Can Now Run NVIDIA PhysX Games With 3x Boost Thanks To ZLUDA, Without Requiring A Dedicated PhysX GPU

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-gpus-can-now-run-nvidia-physx-games-with-zluda-3x-boost/

NVIDIA Quietly Claims Top Spot In The Datacenter Ethernet Switching Market As The Segment Balloons to $15.4b in Q1 2026

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-quietly-claims-top-spot-in-the-datacenter-ethernet-switch-market/

AMD Zen 6 Gains a New Low-Power Core Beyond Zen 6 and Zen 6C, Surfacing in Linux Kernel Patches

https://wccftech.com/amd-zen-6-new-low-power-core-beyond-zen-6-and-zen-6c/

Taiwan raids Supermicro and two supply-chain partners in widening Nvidia smuggling probe — nine sites hit as six people summoned for questioning

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/taiwan-raids-super-micro-and-two-supply-chain-partners-in-widening-nvidia-smuggling-probe

Why yes, dual 8gb sticks is better than a single 16gb stick regardless of what Valve claimed. But if the memory price does eventually go back down, you could add another 16gb stick and make it 32gb instead of needing to buy two 16gb sticks.

The Tuesday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 team reminds you it's got another Kingdom Come and a Middle-earth game on the way as it tops 6,000,000 sales
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-team-reminds-you-its-got-another-kingdom-come-and-a-middle-earth-game-on-the-way-as-it-tops-6-000-000-sales/
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, PC Gamer's 2025 game of the year and absolute all-timer, has hit the 6 million copies sold landmark. If you recall, this is the game that implemented a shoe-stealing system because of a PC Gamer article. So, if you think about it, it's almost like we've reached 6 million copies sold, right? Congratulations to us (this is a joke).
For reference, the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance took six years to reach this milestone, while Henry's second outing has managed it in about a year and a half. It's no surprise: KCD2 is, in many ways, KCD1 with more spit and polish (but with just as much obsessive attention to detail and humour).

Steam has new weeklong deals. Sure, there are a lot less than usual, but it’s still something work checking out.

Humble Store presents the new Summer of Anime Sale, with games up to 93% off during 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/summer-of-anime/

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 26.6.4 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/amd-radeon-software-adrenalin-26-6-4

FIXED ISSUES

• Intermittent install issue seen when installing AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 on Windows® 10 systems for Radeon™ RX 7000 series and above graphics products.
• Intermittent application crash may be observed in some games with AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 enabled on Radeon™ RX 7000 series graphics products.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Unofficial PC Version of Donkey Kong 64 Coming in Summer 2026
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/unofficial-pc-version-of-donkey-kong-64-coming-in-summer-2026/
A team of modders is currently working on an unofficial PC version of the Donkey Kong game that came out on Nintendo 64, Donkey Kong 64. Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled will be available on the PC in Summer 2026, and below you can find its debut PC trailer.
Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled is built on the N64: Recompiled project. N64: Recompiled is a tool that converts Nintendo 64 game code into C code. The new code can then be compiled to run on many different platforms. This makes it possible to create native PC ports and other tools. It can also run game code much faster than traditional emulators that rely on interpretation or dynamic recompilation.
This unofficial PC version of Donkey Kong 64 supports unlocked frame rates. That means you can play at well above 60 FPS if your PC is powerful enough. As a result, the game feels much smoother than it did on the Nintendo 64 when it launched in 1999.
Moreover, there will be support for widescreen, as well as, high resolutions. Those owning a 4K monitor will be able to game at Native 4K. What’s also cool is that the cut-scenes have been updated so that they can work with widescreen resolutions.
It’s also worth noting that this unofficial PC version will offer the best controls. The modding team has updated the mini games to scale with lagless gameplay. There will also be very low input delay. Furthermore, there will be mod support, with DK64: Randomizer coming at a later date.
All in all, this looks like it could become the best way to play Donkey Kong 64. Since the game uses a third-person camera, I hope the team adds basic keyboard and mouse support. I do not expect that to be a high priority, but it would be a nice QoL feature for PC players.
I’ll be sure to share the download link for Donkey Kong 64: Recompiled once it becomes available. Until then, you can enjoy its official PC trailer.

Gears of War Redux Overhaul Mod Version 1.0 Re-Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/gears-of-war-redux-overhaul-mod-version-1-0-re-released/
Earlier this month, I informed you about Gears of War Redux. This mod was originally released on NexusMods. However, in just a matter of days, it was taken down. But now, modder ‘PunishedWolfOG’ re-released it on ModDB.
For those who did not know, Gears of War Redux is a community overhaul of Gears of War 1 on PC that adds the content and quality-of-life improvements the original release never got.
Gears of War Redux adds maps from GW2 and custom community maps to the rotation and custom community maps. It also adds Horde mode, Horde+, KOTH, Guardian and TDM.
What’s also cool here is that the mod adds split-screen co-op support. As such, you can play the entire campaign mode with a friend on one PC. Not only that, but we get split-screen local multiplayer support for every multiplayer mode.
Bots now have adjustable difficulty in every multiplayer mode. Plus, there is a Last Stand Horde toggle. When you enable it, the wave ends when the last human dies. There is also an in-game chat system. And, in case you’re wondering, yes. We also have support for full keyboard rebinding with split cover/evade keys.
Furthermore, there are some tech improvements. For instance, we get support for DirectX 10 and DirectX 11. We also get ultra-wide support (21:9 / 32:9) with proper FOV.
Before closing, I should note that this mod is for the original PC version of Gears of War. It’s not for the Reloaded Edition. So, make sure to keep that in mind. The visual enhancements that came with the Reloaded Edition are nowhere to be found.
My guess is that the page for NexusMods was taken down because the mod includes the full Gears of War game. In other words, you don’t need to have an original copy of the game. Instead, you can download the mod and play it.
I don’t know for how long the ModDB page will be live. As I said before, I recommend downloading it while it is still available.
You’ll first need to download the mod’s launcher. Then, you’ll have to download its game data, which is around 21GB in size. Both of these are currently available on ModDB.
>> The article has a roughly 1 minute trailer.

GAMING NEWS

Battlefield 6 Update 1.3.3.0 Released – Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/battlefield-6-update-1-3-3-0-released-full-patch-notes/
DICE has released Title Update 1.3.3.0 for the latest BF game, Battlefield 6, and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.5.6 Released & Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/clair-obscur-expedition-33-patch-1-5-6-released-detailed/
Sandfall Interactive has just released Title Update 1.5.6 for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table.

Tuesday gaming news, the short part two:

The only fighting game I've ever been excited for is now getting a PC playtest before launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/the-only-fighting-game-ive-ever-been-excited-for-is-now-getting-a-pc-playtest-before-launch/
I'll admit I'm not a big fighting game person. I enjoy playing the likes of Mortal Kombat casually, but I don't get giddy for a new release. The one exception to that is Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, which I've loved ever since Sony revealed it at its 2025 State of Play. Despite Sony declaring it's pulling back from PC launches going forward, the superhero fighter is still on the docket for our desktops.
Developer Arc System Works has just announced that a Marvel Tōkon open beta test will take place from July 24-26, available on PC and PS5. The previous closed playtest was exclusive to Sony's console—greedy. This open beta features more stages and modes compared to the previous test, as well as Blade. ASW promises further details are coming soon.

5 years after we called this Kickstarted MMO 'a giant fiasco' and just 3 months after it finally launched, it's shutting down
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/5-years-after-we-called-this-kickstarted-mmo-a-giant-fiasco-and-just-3-months-after-it-finally-launched-its-shutting-down/
The sandbox MMO DreamWorld raised almost $65,000 on Kickstarter in 2021—not nearly enough to fund much of anything in the way of a videogame, let alone an "infinite open world MMO" that promised to host millions of players and thousands of biomes on a single shared world. But it had the backing of startup investor Y Combinator, and development did move ahead, culminating in an early access release on Steam in March, five years after its crowdfunding campaign. And now, it's closing.

ESA bafflingly declares private Minecraft servers 'illegal' in Stop Killing Games hearing: 'We consider it piracy, we have lawsuits'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/esa-bafflingly-declares-private-minecraft-servers-illegal-in-stop-killing-games-hearing-we-consider-it-piracy-we-have-lawsuits/
In a remarkably strange statement at a recent California State Senate hearing over the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921, California's Stop Killing Games-endorsed bill to compel publishers to provide ways to keep playing discontinued games), a representative of the Entertainment Software Association declared private servers for the likes of Minecraft and Call of Duty "illegal," adding that, so far as the ESA is concerned, "we consider it piracy."
The representative in question was Jennifer Gibbons, the ESA's vice president for state government affairs, and just to clear this up right away: what she said was nonsense. You can, literally right now, head over to the official Minecraft website and download a .jar file to let you run your own private server.

But wait, there's more! With the third part of the gaming news:

Baldur's Gate 2's co-lead designer was asked to make Baldur's Gate 4 after Larian declined: 'Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/baldurs-gate-2s-co-lead-designer-was-asked-to-make-baldurs-gate-4-after-larian-declined-having-to-compete-against-baldurs-gate-3-that-would-be-insanity/
>> He’s James Ohlen.

Yet another Marvel Rivals creator tournament gets overshadowed by drama, except this time there was $300,000 on the line: 'I got Zazza'd in a tournament 10x the prize pool'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/yet-another-marvel-rivals-creator-tournament-gets-overshadowed-by-drama-except-this-time-there-was-usd300-000-on-the-line-i-got-zazzad-in-a-tournament-10x-the-prize-pool/

With a dumpster-truck full of cash, New Vegas director Josh Sawyer would probably make a 'spiritual successor' to a crunchy 1992 RPG
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/with-a-dumpster-truck-full-of-cash-new-vegas-director-josh-sawyer-would-probably-make-a-spiritual-successor-to-a-crunchy-1992-rpg/
>> He also said that games can take inspiration from everywhere (link).

World's smartest Meccha Chameleon player bamboozles opponents by not disguising themselves at all: 'Hiding is for amateurs'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sports/worlds-smartest-meccha-chameleon-player-bamboozles-opponents-by-not-disguising-themselves-at-all/

Hideki Kamiya thinks there should be a cozy Resident Evil game, where 'retired Leon goes fishing in the countryside'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/resident-evil/hideki-kamiya-thinks-there-should-be-a-cozy-resident-evil-game-where-retired-leon-goes-fishing-in-the-countryside/

Xbox marketing takes embarrassing turn with new Call of Duty ads loudly disclaiming 'NOT ON XBOX GAME PASS THIS YEAR'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/xbox-marketing-takes-embarrassing-turn-with-new-call-of-duty-ads-loudly-disclaiming-not-on-xbox-game-pass-this-year/

After leading the studio through 2 rounds of layoffs and 1 game release, the CEO of Supermassive is stepping down
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/after-leading-the-studio-through-2-rounds-of-layoffs-and-1-game-release-the-ceo-of-supermassive-is-stepping-down/

Hearing about the future of PlayStation from its top dogs made me so depressed I had to go lie down
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/hearing-about-the-future-of-playstation-from-its-top-dogs-made-me-so-depressed-i-had-to-go-lie-down/