Game News Round-Up - 24th July 2026

Sources:

• ESA Foundation awards 31 university students scholarships to support careers in games and esports: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/esa-foundation-awards-31-university-students-scholarships-to-support-careers-in-games-and-esports
• Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform now added to Prime Video in the US and UK: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amazon-luna-cloud-gaming-platform-now-added-to-prime-video-in-the-us-and-uk
• Fortnite’s The Simpsons Crossover Is Coming Back via Fortnite Reload on July 30th: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnites-the-simpsons-crossover-is-coming-back/
• Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' first DLC revealed: Phoenix Cyclops: https://www.polygon.com/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-year-1-dlc-announcement/
• Microsoft is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders: https://www.theverge.com/games/969969/xbox-testing-ad-supported-streaming
• Human Fall Flat reaches 60m players as it celebrates 10th anniversary: https://www.gamespress.com/en-GB/Human-Fall-Flat-Celebrates-10-Year-Anniversary-Alongside-60-Million-Pl
• The studio behind Blumhouse-published horror game Crisol: Theater of Idols has reportedly shut down: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-studio-behind-blumhouse-published-horror-game-crisol-theater-of-idols-has-reportedly-shut-down/
• UK Games Growth Package driving "exceptional demand" one year on from launch: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-games-growth-package-driving-exceptional-demand-one-year-on-from-launch

Game News Round-Up - 23rd July 2026

Sources:

• Xbox Backward Compatibility launches on PC, four Xbox games playable now: Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fuzion Frenzy: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-backward-compatibility-launches-on-pc-four-xbox-games-playable-now/
• Gamescom 2026's exhibition area is fully booked for the first time: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamescom-2026s-exhibition-area-is-fully-booked-for-the-first-time
• Steam has overhauled their gift features, allowing users to gift games to email addresses, to people not on their friends list and to people in different regions: https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/669497052089025105?
• Hasbro records $56m write-down and cancels "several games" scheduled for 2028 and beyond: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hasbro-records-56m-write-down-and-cancels-several-games-scheduled-for-2028-and-beyond
• Alpha Dog Games founders reacquire studio from Microsoft following 2024 closure: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/alpha-dog-games-founders-reacquire-studio-from-microsoft-following-2024-closure

Game News Round-Up - 22nd July 2026

Sources:

• Marathon releases limited time PvE mode Vault Breaker: https://www.eurogamer.net/marathon-vault-breaker-pve-mode-details-gameplay
• Unity 7 to launch in Q1 2027: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unity-7-to-launch-in-q1-2027-new-engine-is-a-direct-continuation-of-unity-6
• Former Wreckreation team starts up new studio, named When Tides Turn, working on sequel titled Wreckreation 2: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/former-wreckreation-team-starts-up-new-studio-working-on-sequel
• Splitgate dev 1047 games lays off staff less than a month since the launch of Titanfall-inspired shooter Empulse: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-splitgate-dev-1047-games-lays-off-staff

Game News Round-Up - 21st July 2026

Sources:

• Free-to-play DC fighting game DCKO announced for iOS, Android. Due out in 2027: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/07/free-to-play-dc-fighting-game-dcko-announced-for-ios-android
• Steam Machine Engineers at Valve Claim Memory Crisis Is 'Still Getting Worse': https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-machine-engineers-at-valve-signal-grim-future-as-memory-crisis-is-still-getting-worse
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 3 million copies in its opening week: https://x.com/assassinscreed/status/2078146457568235659
• UK games retailer Game has entered administration (again) owing £16m: https://www.eurogamer.net/uk-retailer-game-administration

Game News Round-Up - 20th July 2026

Sources:

• Bethesda confirms Obsidian Fallout game, Fallout 5 is in preproduction and Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters are in development: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fallout-3-and-new-vegas-remasters-now-in-development/
• Final Fantasy 14 Mobile’s global launch has been cancelled: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/final-fantasy-14-mobiles-global-launch-has-been-cancelled/
• The live action God of War show is recasting Kratos after Ryan Hurst was tore his bicep on set: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-live-action-god-of-war-show-is-recasting-kratos-after-ryan-hurst-was-injured-on-the-set/
• Fortnite has started adding AI voices to its NPCs for an upcoming ‘conversations’ feature that launches July 30th: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fortnite-has-started-adding-ai-voices-to-its-npcs-for-an-upcoming-conversations-feature/
• Call of Duty movie will be set in the Modern Warfare universe. The movie is planned for release June 30th 2028: https://www.eurogamer.net/call-of-duty-movie-set-modern-warfare-universe
• An anime adaptation of Wuthering Waves, a popular gacha action-RPG from Kuro Games, has been announced: https://www.polygon.com/wuthering-waves-elysium/
• Cliff Bleszinski Blames Personal Ego And Alcohol Issues For Boss Key’s Failure: https://kotaku.com/cliff-bleszinski-blames-personal-ego-and-alcohol-issues-for-boss-keys-failure-2000717494
• Marathon director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie just four months after launch: https://www.eurogamer.net/marathon-director-ziegler-leaves-bungie
• Controversy-laden Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM to lay off up to 32 workers two months after releasing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/za-um-studios-to-lay-off-up-to-32-workers-two-months-after-releasing-zero-parades-for-dead-spies
• Palworld Hits Almost 1 Million Concurrent Players on Steam as 1.0 Releases: https://insider-gaming.com/palworld-million-concurrent-players-steam-unfolds/

Game News Round-Up - 17th July 2026

Sources:

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game at Develop:Star Awards 2026, alongside awards for Best Narrative and Best Audio: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/clair-obscur-expedition-33-wins-best-game-at-developstar-awards-2026
• Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is releasing two weeks earlier (new release date is 10th September): https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/07/16/hot-wheels-infinite-rush-gets-an-earlier-release-date-and-an-island-hopping-trailer/
• Netflix has announced its latest video game, Netflix Minigolf, a couch co-op party mini-golf / pinball fusion game releasing on July 28 for all Netflix subscribers. The game uses various Netflix IP such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton and Squid Game: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-netflix-game-brings-together-the-streamers-most-popular-shows/

Game News Round-Up - 16th July 2026

Sources:

• Dead Space creator Glen Schofield is retiring after 35 years: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/dead-space-creator-glen-schofield-is-retiring-after-35-years/
• Roblox is shutting down its video chat service Roblox Connect: https://www.theverge.com/games/966181/roblox-connect-video-chat-calling-service-shut-down
• The developers of the mobile game Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem have confirmed that the mobile game is shutting down on October 15th: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-warner-bros-looney-tunes-game-is-shutting-down-soon/
• The Odyssey is coming to Fortnite via an Odysseus skin later this week: https://www.polygon.com/the-odyssey-christopher-nolan-fortnite/
• The Duskbloods closed network test set for August 21st to 23rd: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/07/the-duskbloods-closed-network-test-set-for-august-21-to-23
• July’s PS Plus Game Catalog titles announced: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/julys-ps-plus-game-catalog-titles-include-rise-of-the-ronin-and-avatar-frontiers-of-pandora/
• Xbox has removed Tony Hawk 1+2 from its upcoming Game Pass releases due to a licensing issue: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-has-removed-tony-hawk-12-from-its-upcoming-game-pass-releases/

Game News Round-Up - 15th July 2026

Sources:

• Ubisoft pivots to "selective model" to reduce reliance on individual game launches. Ubisoft plans to prioritise legacy portfolio and live service offerings to navigate competitive market and ongoing organisational shifts: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-pivots-to-selective-model-to-reduce-reliance-on-individual-game-launches
• Paramount confirms Mike Zaimont is employed by Avatar Legends developer Gameplay Group International. He was previously accused of sexual harassment during his time as CEO of Lab Zero Games: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/paramount-confirms-mike-zaimont-previously-accused-of-sexual-harassment-is-employed-by-avatar-legends-dev
• Former Epic Games VP Steve Allison appointed chief business officer at Saber Interactive: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/former-epic-games-vp-steve-allison-appointed-chief-business-officer-at-saber-interactive
• MOUSE: P.I. For Hire has reached over 1 million players across all platforms: https://www.facebook.com/mousethegame/posts/pfbid0eSa5GJYKVPHBQtPA4M76Fn76TYHxFyoCuUMr8JRYWA2SrgbAXSZz1TjwZJPJH8zBl
• Azra Games, the studio led by Mark Otero, former general manager of EA Capital Games and BioWare, is laying off staff less than two years after raising a $42 million investment. Unknown amount of people affected: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ex-star-wars-galaxy-of-heroes-gm-studio-lays-off-staff

Game News Round-Up - 14th July 2026

Sources:

• GamesIndustry.Biz announces External development focused week, starting off by asking senior figures from various external development companies (such as Myke Parrott, CEO of CodeDev) what the future of external development looks like: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/what-does-the-future-of-external-development-look-like
• PS5 Emulator KytyPS5 Reaches GTA V Menus, Quake II Gameplay, As First 3D Games Load On PC: https://respawnfirst.com/ps5-emulator-reaches-gta-v-menus-as-first-3d-games-load-on-pc/
• ‘Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts’ event set for D23 2026: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/07/deep-dive-into-kingdom-hearts-event-set-for-d23-2026
• The Alters and Frostpunk developer 11 Bit Studios is laying off 20 employees: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-alters-and-frostpunk-developer-11-bit-studios-is-laying-off-20-employees-
• Mexican Lawmakers to File Antitrust Complaint Against PlayStation and Sony Over PS Store Following the Potential End of Physical Games: https://www.levelup.com/en/news/mexican-lawmakers-to-file-antitrust-complaint-against-playstation-and-sony-over-ps-store-following-the-potential-end-of-physical-games/

Game News Round-Up - 13th July 2026

Sources:

• Summer Games Done Quick 2026 raised more than $2,408,701 for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): https://www.eurogamer.net/sgdq-2026-raises-24-m
• EA has removed College Football 27’s Dynasty and Road to Glory microtransactions after player backlash and boycott threats: https://www.vice.com/en/article/college-football-27-microtransactions-removed/
• Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced opens to 2 million sales on launch day. Series has sold 250 million units to date: https://www.eurogamer.net/assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-2-million-sales