Latest Multi-platform Game News &amp; Updates

Zero Parades Dev Announces Layoffs Despite Game’s Critical Acclaim

Another day, another layoff announcement. This time it comes from Zero Parades: For Dead Spies(https://www.gamespot.com/games/zero-parades-for-dead-spies/) developer ZA/UM, which said on social media that despite the game's critical acclaim, the studio can't sustain the size of its team. ZA/UM took to Bluesky on July 17(https://bsky.app/profile/zaumstudio.bsky.social/post/3mqu7qi4txc24) to share the unfortunate news. The team said that although Zero Parades reviewed well, "its commercial performance" made it difficult for the studio to maintain its current employee count. As a result, the company has "served redundancy or at-risk notices" to up to 32 staffers at the RPG studio. https://bsky.app/profile/zaumstudio.bsky.social/post/3mqu7qi4txc24 "Throughout this difficult process, we have continued to consult and work with representatives of the ZA/UM Workers' Alliance," the studio wrote on Bluesky. "This changes the shape of ZA/UM, but not its purpose. Our artistic standards remain unchanged: We will persist." Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is the second game from ZA/UM following the studio's 2019 outing Disco Elysium(https://www.gamespot.com/games/disco-elysium/). Released in May 2026 for PC with a PS5 version coming later this year(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disco-elysium-studios-zero-parades-for-dead-spies-launches-this-may/1100-6539110/), Zero Parades is an isometric espionage RPG about a female operative named Hershel Wilk who's tasked with uncovering the secrets of her haunted past. It's chilling and thrilling in the best ways, receiving an 8/10 in GameSpot's Zero Parades: For Dead Spies review(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/zero-parades-for-dead-spies-review-cascading-choices/1900-6418491/) and an 83 score on Metacritic(https://www.metacritic.com/game/zero-parades-for-dead-spies/). ZA/UM is the latest developer to suffer layoffs, as 2026 has seen the games industry rattled by myriad studio closures and employee terminations. Earlier this month, Xbox let go of 1,600 staffers(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) as part of its big "reset" earlier this month, with another 1,600 planned to get laid off in the next 12 months. Skate studio Full Circle was also hit with layoffs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/skate-studio-lays-off-staff-as-game-enters-next-chapter/1100-6538430/) in February 2026, as was 2XKO developer Riot Games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/2xko-developers-laid-off-by-riot-games-less-than-a-month-after-console-release/1100-6538046/) in the same month. Meanwhile, Sony shut down Bluepoint Games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-shuts-down-bluepoint-games-dev-behind-consistently-great-remakes/1100-6538292/), the developer responsible for some excellent remakes, in February as well. It seems like everywhere you look, another layoff happens.

Where to find Catwoman in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3

Catwoman can now be found on the map as part of Fortnite's Hot Bat Summer update. Here's where to find her.

🎮 Fortnite

Todd Howard Addresses “Fan Chatter” About Bethesda-Obsidian Rivalry Conspiracies

Bethesda boss Todd Howard has addressed rumors of a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian, saying the online discourse does not reflect reality. He told Windows Central(https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/zenimax-bethesda/we-spoke-to-todd-howard-about-fallout-5-obsidians-fallout-elder-scrolls-6-starfield-and-more), "I appreciate some of the fan chatter, but behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of mutual respect between Bethesda and Obsidian." Obsidian developed 2010's Fallout: New Vegas, which was a much-loved entry in the series. The studio is now working on a new Fallout game, though we still don't know exactly what it is. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/newvegas0689c6.jpg?w=1024) New Vegas developer Obsidian is making a new Fallout game. A baseless online myth cropped up suggesting that Howard was annoyed or upset with the success of New Vegas. Over the years, Howard spoke multiple times about how much he enjoyed New Vegas and working with Obsidian, including a 2018 interview with The Guardian(https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/jul/18/bethesda-games-interview-todd-howard-pete-hines-elder-scrolls-starfield) in which Howard said Obsidian "did a fabulous job" with New Vegas. In the new interview with Windows Central, Howard said Bethesda was "always" trying to find a way work with Obsidian again "in the right way." It's now happening, with Obsidian developing a new Fallout game. Obsidian was among the Xbox studios impacted by Microsoft's latest round of cuts. Obsidian was said to be hit particularly hard, with 25% of staff let go.(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/obsidian-hit-hard-by-xbox-layoffs-with-25-devs-cut-from-studio/) In other Fallout news, Bethesda has confirmed that Fallout 5 is in pre-production(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-5-re-confirmed-alongside-fallout-3-and-fallout-new-vegas-remasters/) and that remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are coming. Additionally, a prequel story to Fallout 3 is coming to Fallout 76.

🎮 Fallout🎮 Starfield

Where to find Poison Ivy in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3

Poison Ivy has been added to Fortnite and can give you an extremely strong pistol. Here's where you can find her on the Chapter 7 Season 3 map.

🎮 Fortnite

Saudi Arabia’s EA Takeover Reportedly Set To Clear EU Hurdle

After announcing its $55 billion acquisition of EA in September 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-goes-private-in-55-billion-deal-from-saudi-arabia-jared-kushners-company-and-others/1100-6535078/), the European Union is reportedly set to approve Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) purchase at the end of July, according to new reporting from Reuters. As Reuters reported on July 17(https://www.reuters.com/business/saudi-pif-set-win-eu-nod-electronic-arts-deal-under-subsidy-rules-sources-say-2026-07-17/), people familiar with the deal said Saudi Arabia's PIF will secure the EU's approval under EU subsidy rules. This means that, after the EU completes its preliminary review under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) on July 22, the purchase will reportedly be cleared to go through on July 30. All told, the deal is expected to win unconditional EU clearance under merger rules. The FSR is meant to prevent non-European subsidies from distorting competition in the EU's internal market. However, as Reuters reported earlier this month(https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/eu-foreign-subsidy-rules-may-focus-more-bigger-deals-amid-red-tape-concerns-2026-07-14/), the FSR received tons of criticism that the regulation was too bureaucratic. Now, with the FSR essentially being moved aside by the European Commission--the EU's competition enforcer--Saudi Arabia's PIF is seemingly poised to acquire EA. Rumors of the deal swirled in September 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-nearing-50-billion-deal-with-saudi-arabia-and-other-investors-to-go-private-report/1100-6535057/), which saw Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the private-equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners all involved in the purchase. While EA admitted in November 2025 that there's a risk of selling to Saudi Arabia(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-acknowledges-risk-of-selling-to-saudi-arabia-claims-it-will-retain-creative-control/1100-6535894/), the company confirmed that it would still "maintain creative control" going forward. However, in December 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that a majority of EA's control would shift to Saudi Arabia's PIF(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/majority-control-of-ea-could-shift-to-saudi-arabias-public-investment-fund-report/1100-6536660/) after the purchase gets finalized. The deal has riled gamers since, prompting cosplayers to raid EA's California headquarters in protest(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cosplaying-gamers-will-raid-ea-hq-to-protest-saudi-arabias-55-billion-buyout/1100-6539869/). Should everything go as planned--and it reportedly sounds like it all will--this acquisition will be the second-largest gaming buyout ever(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/top-10-most-expensive-video-game-buyouts-of-all-time/2900-4718/) after Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October 2023.

Naruto creator says Marvel's Spider-Man 'left a huge impression on me'

Naruto manga creator Masashi Kishimoto says that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the best representation of what makes Peter Parker great.

🎮 Spider-Man

🎮 Diablo🎮 s Worst Mythic Change

Diablo 4 Season 14’s Worst Mythic Change Is No More: “Not Every Idea Lands”

Diablo 4(https://www.gamespot.com/games/diablo-iv/) Season 14's most controversial change, only being able to equip one crafted-Mythic item at a time, is now a thing of the past. In a surprise patch(https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d4/t/311a-patch-july-16-2026/263234) on July 16 for PC (and coming sometime on July 17 for console players), Blizzard opted to remove the one equipped crafted-Mythic restriction introduced as part of Season of Death Awakening, as well as increase Mythic and Iconic Mythic drop rates from the new seasonal Lair Boss. Blizzard announced the season's other most controversial addition, the Mythic Upgrade function of the Horadric Cube, will see changes too, but not until next season. As it currently works, Mythic Upgrade isn't really an upgrade at all, and instead takes a Unique item and then transforms it into an entirely different Mythic Unique item, much to the confusion of players. For reasons that aren't elaborated on in the patch notes, that change won't come until Season 15 several months from now. Both changes have been the subject of frustration in the Diablo community, with both prominent content creators and the wider community largely lambasting the changes to Mythics(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-4s-massive-mythic-item-changes-arent-finding-many-fans/), the crafted-Mythic equip limit, and the Mythic Unique upgrade system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuu7aOAw0is Dan Tanguay, design director for live service on Diablo 4, offered a brief explanation for the changes in a forum post(https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d4/t/season-of-death-awakening-changes-and-next-steps/263235). He said the team has heard player feedback surrounding topics like Mythic Unique drop rates, the equip limit, and more. "Seasons are where we experiment with new ideas and push Diablo 4 in new directions," Tanguay said. "Not every idea lands exactly as intended, but we'll continue listening to your feedback, addressing what's not working, and applying those lessons to future seasonal updates." The surprise patch 3.1.1a update on July 16 comes just a few days after a July 14 update increased drop rates for Pandemonium Fragments needed to upgrade Uniques into Mythics using the cube, as well as a reduced the number of fragments needed. That resulted in players being able to craft more Mythics than ever before(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-4-update-will-drown-you-in-mythics/), though they were still limited to equipping just one unless they were able to get extremely lucky and find a usuable Mythic out in the wild. Now, at least, players can actually deck themselves out in the purple items they craft, should they so choose. While the changes outlined above are likely to be well received in the Diablo 4 community, Blizzard has stopped short of walking back its Mythic changes entirely. Season 14 controversially nerfed the game's previously existing Mythics (now called Iconic Mythics) as part of an overhaul it coined "Mythic Uniques 3.0." Post-Season 14, any Unique item ccan potentially be found (or crafted into) an even stronger Mythic version, in theory opening up more diverse build options for Diablo 4's endgame. More than just a temporary seasonal change, Blizzard stated it intends Mythics 3.0 to be Diablo 4's new normal going forward, and in an interview with GameSpot, said the changes were for the good of the game's "long-term health."(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-knows-diablo-4-season-14s-mythic-changes-are-controversial-but-its-for-the-games-long-term-health/)

Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM announces layoffs after Zero Parades flounders

ZA/UM says that Zero Parades: For Dead Spies failed to perform commercially, triggering a layoff wave at the studio.

🎮 Battlefield 6🎮 Top Gun: Maverick crossover in latest seasonal

Battlefield 6 gets Top Gun: Maverick crossover in latest seasonal update

Battlefield 6's Season 4 update will include Top Gun characters, fighter jets, and themed modes.

🖥 PC, Multi-platform

Steam has three free-to-play games this weekend, including last year's hot mess MindsEye

MindsEye, the lowest-rated game of 2025, is free to play this weekend on Steam, as well as a couple of actually good games.

🎮 Steam

🎮 Magic Universes Beyond 2027

Magic Universes Beyond 2027 release dates revealed at MagicCon Amsterdam

Magic: The Gathering just revealed the release dates for all 6 sets coming in 2027, including Universes Beyond. Let's take a closer look.