Gaming News Digest — July 17, 2026
Published:
Top news
Depth of Field — Infinity Ward urges players to keep Depth of Field on in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, arguing it enhances immersion despite the common instinct to disable blur effects.
Arknights: Endfield — Korean players spotted what they consider offensive gestures in character animations, leading Studio Hypergryph to issue an official apology on Naver. The controversy revolves around a pinch gesture that has been a recurring trigger.
Criterion Games — The studio turned 30 and rebranded as Criterion: A Battlefield Studio, dashing hopes for a Burnout revival. However, an executive producer hinted that a Need for Speed return is possible in the future.
Salt and Soil — Sergey Orlovsky announced a strategy game built entirely with generative AI, created by a single developer in six months. It is a minimalist roguelite family colony sim set on the American frontier from 1609 to 1900.
The DuskBloods — Registration is open for closed beta testing of the multiplayer mode, running August 21-23 on Nintendo Switch. Up to eight players can participate, and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required.
Arknights: Endfield — The game received a massive Homecoming update with new regions, operators, and freebies. The main story advances to Chapter II Process VII, and limited-time events offer special banner passes.
DOOM — The 1993 shooter was recognized as a major American cultural treasure by The Washington Post for the US's 250th anniversary, beating out even The Simpsons. The game was released for free in December 1993 and ended up on more computers than Windows 95.
Valve — Valve released the 2027 sale schedule, including two seasonal price cuts and themed festivals through July. Highlights include Spring Sale, Summer Sale, and various genre-specific festivals.
Beast of Reincarnation — GameSpot showed 1.5 hours of gameplay from this action-RPG by Game Freak and Fictions, launching August 4, 2026. Set in post-apocalyptic Japan, it features hybrid turn-based/real-time combat.
Path of Exile — Grinding Gear Games launched a Twitch Drops campaign offering the Abyssal Soul Shatter Rare Finisher Effect for watching 45 minutes of any eligible stream. The cosmetic works in both PoE and PoE 2.
Langrisser: Sea of Sword — BlackJack Studio announced a tactical RPG for PC and mobile with music by Octopath Traveler's composer. Set on a foggy continent, the story follows a Nameless hero searching for lost memories.
Caliber — A massive update brings the legendary MK 18 assault rifle in the new battle pass, along with a marathon for a Sniper skin, double rewards event, and revamped clan season. Weapon assignments now let players unlock modules directly.
NOIR BLOOM — A demo is out for this 2D brawler with Katana ZERO vibes, where players plan every move. The hero dons the White Ghost mask to rescue a girl in an Asian metropolis, with release planned for 2027 on PC.
Microsoft layoffs — Layoffs hit ZeniMax Online Studios' top brass, including studio head Joseph Burba and TES Online executive producer Susan Kath. 213 people were cut, but the community manager promises great content and an updated roadmap.
Aretha — Japan launched a crowdfunding campaign to revive the classic 90s JRPG series. If 30 million yen is raised, ports of the first three games will be released for Nintendo Switch and other platforms.
Crimson Desert — Patch 1.14.00 brings cross-save to all platforms except Mac, allowing players to link accounts and continue progress across devices.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced — A New Game+ mode is in development, confirmed by the game director. The mode is a priority but no timeline has been given.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves — SNK confirmed that new fighters will be added every month in 2026 as part of Season 3, expanding the roster by 12 characters. The game is available on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series.
Perfect World — The game turned 18 with a massive update including a new region, easier tier-9 gear grind, and class balance tweaks. A live event in Moscow attracted over 500 players.
PowerWash Simulator 2 — A Star Wars DLC adds Tatooine and Hoth levels, new droids, and Star Wars-themed skins. Free update 1.3 also adds a new level and bug fixes.
Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes — Update 1.1.0 adds a photo mode, experimental fast-paced battles, and many fixes. The final fight is more epic, and Easy mode got easier.
OBAKEIDORO 2 — The cute asymmetrical horror launches August 6 on Switch and Switch 2, featuring 8-player matches with humans vs monsters. Pre-orders are open.
The Legend of Zelda — The franchise teams up with Hasbro ahead of the Ocarina of Time remake, hinting at an announcement soon.
Overwatch — The Stadium mode is being shelved due to low player interest, with only 3% of daily players engaging. Meanwhile, experimental 6v6 queue options are being tested.
Ground Branch — The tactical shooter left early access with version 1.0, featuring a new Operations storyline system, improved AI, and Extraction missions. More campaign chapters are planned.
Machine Party — A grim party game from the Buckshot Roulette developer launches July 30, blending Mario Party with SAW. It supports 2-4 players in co-op with brutal mini-games.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — The game won Game of the Year at the Develop:Star Awards 2026, taking home three trophies. Death Stranding 2 and Blue Prince each won one award.
GTA VI — Analysts report the strongest pre-order launch in industry history, with an estimated $260 million in the first week globally. The game could gross $4.5 billion and sell 51 million copies by the end of its first week.
Hearthstone — Guildrun, a solo auto-battler from ex-Hearthstone devs, launches in late 2026 on Steam. A demo is available with 25 heroes and over 300 relics.
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival — New gameplay footage shows the Cenobites and protagonist Aidan Lynch fighting cultists. The game releases October 8 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.
EA Advertising — EA's VP of ad sales says in-game ads should be planned from day one of development. EA launched its own advertising platform built into Frostbite for 3D banners.
Roblox — Starting September 24, Plus subscribers can only have one free private server per game. Extra paid spaces will expire unless manually paid.
Capy Castaway — A capybara-and-crow adventure launches August 6, where players solve puzzles and help locals on a mysterious island. No Russian localization.
Nintendo — Nintendo revealed new Joy-Con internals with a replaceable battery, complying with an EU law requiring easy battery replacement from 2027.
Hela: of Mice & Magic — A 3D adventure starring a mouse launches in late 2026, inspired by Nordic folklore. It supports solo and co-op play on multiple platforms.
Emberville — The action-RPG enters Early Access on October 27, featuring dynamic combat, class-switching, and town-building. Player choices shape the city's fate.
Pro Jank Footy — An arcade Australian footy brawler with over 150 power-ups launches August 12. It includes local and online multiplayer with chaotic modifiers.
Marvel's Wolverine — A new trailer shows Logan in Madripoor, Canadian wilderness, and Tokyo, facing Mystique and Red Omega. The game launches September 15 on PlayStation 5.
Kill Block — Infinity Ward teased a new mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a procedurally generated arena with hundreds of combos. It launches October 23.
Mortal Shell II — Physical editions are sold out before release, with reprints unlikely before August 20. The Revered Edition includes a steelbook and artbook.
Epic — free & deals
KeepUp Survival — Free on Epic Games Store. Also discounted: Echo Generation: Midnight Edition, Umm Oyoun, Trine 2: Complete Story, Bookbound, BlazeRush.
Spotlight
Gordian Quest — A deckbuilding RPG with roguelite elements and turn-based combat, inspired by old-school classics. Lead heroes to save a fallen world from a sinister curse. Details
Bounty Bay Online Alternative Soundtrack — A mod that adds more vibes to the game, freely shareable. Details
Back to Bed — An atmospheric isometric puzzle game set in a surreal dreamscape. Guide Bob, a narcoleptic sleepwalker, back to bed by manipulating the world. Details
My Soul Forever — A 2D puzzle game about a knight who controls his ghost spirit. Descend into a dungeon, avoid obstacles, and solve puzzles using dual character control. Details
