Gaming News Digest — July 2, 2026
Published:
Top news
Xbox has pulled the plug on its publishing deal with IO Interactive for Project Fantasy, even after 007 First Light was a success. The studio confirmed the split, and layoffs are already happening. Their statement is all warmth and PR: they're "100% committed" and promise the game will "see the light of day," but people are losing their jobs over this.
Ace Combat 8 will feature realistic hair dye mechanics, as Bandai Namco is teasing fans before the October 2 release. You'll be able to dye hair with insane detail, obviously they know how to keep us busy while waiting.
Godot bans AI contributions: the Godot Foundation updated its guidelines, prohibiting AI-authored code, AI agent pull requests, and AI-generated text in human communications. The logic being that only a human can be held accountable for bugs, not a neural network.
Battlefield 6 is free to play right now until July 6, 2026 on all platforms. The trial includes 5 modes, 4 maps, reworked gunplay, and new weapons, with full multiplayer access. Liking it? Grab the full game on Steam, it's on sale.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades has been shut down by Bethesda: the mobile RPG was yanked from stores first, then the servers got shut down. Devs tried a "dignified farewell" with steep in-game discounts before the end, but seven years of experiments ended with aggressive microtransactions and a dwindling player base.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 creator Guillaume Broche listed games that inspired him, including Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Kingdom Hearts II, and Tales of Vesperia. He calls KHII one of his five favorite games ever and the best action-RPG, having beaten Tales of Vesperia 6-7 times.
James Ohlen, lead designer of the original Baldur's Gate games, turned down making BG4, calling it a doomed idea. Hasbro's CEO pitched him the gig after Larian moved on, but Ohlen said it'd be "at least five years of hell" and Archetype couldn't compete with Larian's RPG expertise.
Shawn Layden, former PlayStation boss, slams Sony's reported plan to stop releasing single-player games on PC. He calls the reversal "pointless," pointing out that PC ports have always dropped a year or more after console launch, so console sales shouldn't suffer.
Kojima's OD, co-created with Jordan Peele, is safe from Microsoft's sweeping layoffs. The publisher confirmed the horror title won't be touched, even as other big-budget games get slashed, thanks to its strategic cloud tech and image-boosting value in Asia.
Rockstar Games employees formally requested voluntary union recognition via IWGB amid GTA 6 pre-order madness. The goal is worker protection and collective bargaining after 31 union activists were fired last autumn. If no voluntary recognition by fall, a strike is on the table right before GTA 6 drops on November 19, 2026.
Sony will stop pressing discs for PlayStation from January 2028, making all new games digital-only via PlayStation Store. Existing disc-based games are unaffected, as nearly 80% of full-game purchases on PS4/PS5 last year were digital.
PlayStation Store on PS3 and Vita will finally shut down in July 2027, with a phased closure starting in August 2026. Payment methods and standards are no longer supported, so the store can't keep up.
Marvel's Blade is in trouble again: insiders claim the game could be cancelled and Arkane Lyon studio downsized. According to Tom Warren, the project has gone way over budget, its release has been delayed by a year, and Xbox leadership is not happy.
Quantic Dream insists they have "all the resources" to make Star Wars Eclipse, despite employee protests and looming layoffs. Protesters say the game lacks resources and vision, with up to 115 people at risk, but the studio counters that development is "on schedule."
Exodus won't have a full character creator, as Archetype Entertainment dashed any hopes of a Shepherd-like editor. The protagonist is pre-written; you'll only pick gender, hairstyle, hair color, makeup, and tattoos.
Strikerz, the studio behind the football sim UFL, is slashing jobs, officially confirming layoffs of around 20% of staff, though leaks claim a much bigger purge. The shit hit the fan after a licensing deal with FIFA for the 2026 World Cup fell through.
Escape from Tarkov boss calls the game a "testing phase" and says devs should start making real games now. Over the past decade, Tarkov didn't just revolutionize modern shooters, it defined and popularized the entire extraction genre.
Subnautica 2 CEO Ted Gill exits again, but gets his bonus as Krafton finally pays the promised bonuses to all Unknown Worlds staff. Originally $250M for three leads, now everyone, including recent hires, gets a cut.
Quantic Dream is on strike outside its Paris office to save Star Wars Eclipse from cancellation. Union STJV says laying off 115 employees will kill the Jedi project and demands a change in management strategy.
Dragon Age creator called generative AI the "plague" of the gaming industry, slamming the tech for replacing human creativity. According to him, AI takes over key tasks while devs are left cleaning up its mistakes, also raising legal and ethical issues.
Manor Lords latest patch fixes physics and settler behavior, but the community is worried about the pace of development. While the update improves collision and logistics, players are demanding new mechanics, not just bug fixes.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC features six locations and takes 10-12 hours to beat. The devs recommend playing after the main campaign, as it's harder, with a new chain-spear, Archvile enemy, and Metroidvania-style levels.
Steam deals
Steam Discounts for Today — -85% Total War: WARHAMMER III, -80% Hearts of Iron IV, -75% Red Dead Redemption 2, -70% Crusader Kings III, and more.
Epic — free & deals
Epic Games Discounts for Today — -100% A Simple Garbage Sorting Game, -95% Hyper Warehouse Simulator, -92% Firelight Fantasy: Vengeance, -85% The Curse 404, -80% Chrono Stranded, -75% BodyCamera Shooter.
Spotlight
Yet Another Zombie Defense HD — Night after night, you fend off hordes of darkness, knowing it's a lost cause, but go out in style. Before sundown, build barricades, buy guns, set up turrets and traps, with each wave growing stronger. It features local and online co-op for up to 4 players. Details
Age of Mythology: Retold Arabization mod — This mod provides nearly complete Arabization for Age of Mythology: Retold, though bugs still lurk. If you spot one, hit up the Discord server. Details
Capcom Figure Builder Standard Model Plus Monster Hunter Vol. 29 — A new set of collectible figures from the series featuring Monster Hunter monsters. Details
ROGUE-FP — Descend into procedurally generated dungeons with first-person controls, no movement grid or rigid turn system. Your goal is to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor from monsters, traps, and magical items, with permadeath and many monsters and magic items. Details
ENDLESS Space - Definitive Edition — Strive for galactic domination by controlling the ancient Dust substance. Explore hundreds of star systems using trade, diplomacy, technology, or massive armadas, with twelve civilizations and unique ships. Details
