Latest Multi-platform Game News &amp; Updates

🟩 Xbox, Multi-platform

The Elder Scrolls 6 Devs Fear “More Delays” After Layoffs Have “Crushing Effect On Morale”

The Elder Scrolls 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-6-release-date-trailer-news/1100-6492383/) is one of the biggest upcoming games in the works at the Xbox-owned Bethesda Game Studios. But after Microsoft's sweeping layoffs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/), which also impacted BGS, developers there have expressed concerns about the impact on The Elder Scrolls 6 and the possibility of a delay. A source at BGS told IGN(https://www.ign.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-6-will-suffer-because-of-xbox-layoffs-bethesda-staff-say-fearing-delays-crunch-and-generational-talent-being-replaced-by-contractors) that the developers have been "very excited and hyped" for The Elder Scrolls 6, and that the big Xbox "reset" has "had a crushing effect on morale" at the studio. "We were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game (though a final release date was not yet chosen as far as we know)," the developer said. The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018, so it's been in the works for a long time. A recent report from Bloomberg(https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/behind-xbox-s-big-layoffs-a-streaming-strategy-that-failed) said The Elder Scrolls 6 was still a couple years away from releasing, but it remains to be seen if the cuts may impact timelines. Bethesda boss Todd Howard previously said the game may have been announced too soon(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/elder-scrolls-6-was-announced-8-years-ago-today-heres-why-it-didnt-show-up-at-xbox-showcase/). The report cited another Bethesda developer who said "there is a fear" at the studio that the developers will be "replaced by cheaper, contracted labor" or that Bethesda will hire new developers to replace the laid-off ones who will then need to get up to speed with Bethesda's proprietary tools. This, in turn, could lead to "more delays," the developer said, with workers then needing to "crunch to make up on time." Bethesda cutting staff will lead to a "substantial and cascading effect" on The Elder Scrolls 6 and general morale, a developer said. "It's been a mix of every discipline: programmers, artists, and designers," said another source. "One person who's been at the company since Morrowind was cut." In addition to The Elder Scrolls 6, Howard has discussed how the team is planning to make Fallout 5(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-5-release-date-trailer-news/1100-6522412/) later. At the same time, it was recently reported that Xbox's Obsidian studio is making a new Fallout game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-fallout-game-is-new-focus-for-new-vegas-developer-obsidian-entertainment-report/), with Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer leading the team. Bethesda higher-up Jill Braff told staff in an email that the company needs to "change course" and focus on projects with the highest likelihood of making money.(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-tells-workers-the-company-needs-to-change-course-and-focus-on-games-with-greatest-potential/) Before that, another report said Microsoft was making structural changes to help speed up the development of The Elder Scrolls (and Fallout) games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considering-spinning-off-xbox-speeding-up-elder-scrolls-and-fallout-game-releases-report/). The Xbox layoffs impacted 1,600 people this week, with another 1,600 people set to lose their jobs in the next year. Beyond the cuts at Xbox, Microsoft is slashing jobs throughout the entire company, with 4,800 roles impacted (about 2.1% of the company's total workforce). In addition to layoffs, Microsoft is divesting of five studios(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-and-hellblade-devs-are-being-sold-but-buyers-remain-mysterious-for-now/) and cancelling projects, like Avowed 2(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-kills-obsidians-avowed-sequel-in-the-wake-of-layoffs-report/).

🎮 Elder Scrolls

New Perfect Dark, Co-Op Doom Were Reportedly In The Works At Id Software Before Mass Layoffs

Doom: The Dark Ages(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/doom-the-dark-ages-review/1900-6418361/) just received the Revelations expansion(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-the-dark-ages-swaps-the-shield-for-an-awesome-looking-spear-in-new-revelations-dlc/) earlier this week, the latest work from prominent developer id Software. But what the studio was reportedly working on next sounds fascinating, according to GamesBeat(https://gamesbeat.com/inside-a-studio-layoff-big-questions-for-microsofts-intentions-for-id-software/). The team was reportedly playing around with a new Perfect Dark game, a co-op or multiplayer-centric version of Doom, and a John Wick-esque experience named Fury. However, the chances these projects ever get fully fleshed out seem low after mass layoffs hit id Software(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-hit-id-software-and-zenimax-as-focus-shifts-to-bigger-franchises/) earlier this week as part of the Xbox reset plan(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-layoffs-studio-closures-and-spin-offs-everything-announced-today/) put in place by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. In fact, VGC(https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/id-software-dev-claims-its-been-relegated-to-support-studio-size-as-136-layoffs-confirmed/) reports that apparently 136 people were fired. GamesBeat added that more than half of id Software got hit by the job cuts, with a former employee saying that "it's a bloodbath." In addition, former id Software principal VFX artist Derek Best posted on LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/posts/derek-best-5180b215a-little-over-12-years-ended-unceremoniously-share-7480289235128852482-yuFk/?utmsource=share&utmmedium=memberdesktop&rcm=ACoAABJbzd4BEEwsjiQGWfFwBV0wW67MbvFv1Y) that Microsoft is just "relegating them to support studio size" after the layoffs. Best had worked at id Software for 12 years before being let go earlier this week. The Perfect Dark project became a possibility for id Software after The Initiative was closed down(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-aaaa-perfect-dark-reboot-canceled-developer-shutting-down/1100-6532921/) and that studio's game for the FPS franchise was canned. This appears to be a new take separate from The Initiative's, with concept art already made. Meanwhile, Doom: The Dark Ages director Hugo Martin was behind the proposal for Fury. The game was reportedly not greenlit officially from Microsoft, but incorporated "elements of sci-fi, noir, and Louisiana and Chicago gangsters." On top of these projects, the id Software layoffs could hint at the end of the historic id Tech engine(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/some-of-the-most-impressive-gaming-tech-ever-wasnt-enough-to-save-devs-from-xbox-cuts/). Other studios hit hard by the job cuts from Xbox leadership include Obsidian Entertainment(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/obsidian-hit-hard-by-xbox-layoffs-with-25-devs-cut-from-studio/) and ZeniMax Online Studios.

GTA 6 Fans Are Getting Excited Again For A Date In August, As Take-Two Makes A Notable Change

Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/prewrite-preorders-are-live-for-grand-theft-auto-vi/1100-6539953/) have finally arrived. New screenshots(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/gta-6-screenshots-images/2900-6525/) were also recently released. The game's November 19 release date is locked in. But Rockstar Games is still staying relatively quiet about the specifics of GTA 6, like what new kinds of gameplay experiences it provides. To date, all that's been revealed are screenshots, story descriptions, and cinematic trailers. Fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of any new information about the game, or a third trailer, and while it remains to be seen when that could happen, fans are now circling a new date on their calendars: August 7. That is the day that Rockstar owner Take-Two will release its next quarterly sales report(https://www.take2games.com/ir/news/take-two-interactive-software-inc-report-first-quarter-fiscal-7). Intriguingly, Take-Two is changing things up in terms of how it shares this update. Take-Two's quarterly reports, and the Q&A sessions that follow, are historically held after the market closes at 4 PM ET. But this new report on August 7 will be released before the market opens, with a conference call following at 8 AM ET. The market will then open that day at 9:30 AM ET. People are speculating as to what this could mean, but Take-Two has not offered any official explanation for the change-up. Many companies report earnings before the bell and many report after. The notable bit here is that Take-Two normally reports after the market closes, not before it opens. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GTA6Fishing.jpg?w=1024) GTA 6 is coming this November. In any event, there is precedent for Rockstar announcing new GTA 6 info around the time of Take-Two's earnings reports, so the excitement is not unfounded. Take-Two has also said it will begin the marketing campaign for GTA 6 this summer(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-gta-6-parent-company-is-talking-about-eating-red-meat-for-breakfast/1100-6537914/), so people are waiting for that as well. GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game will not be available on a disc, and that just makes sense.(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-not-releasing-with-a-disc-and-that-just-makes-sense-in-2026/)

🎮 GTA🎮 Grand Theft Auto

D&D Fiends and Foes is a new monster book — see the first pages here

D&D Fiends & Foes explores the origins of Tiamat, Acererak, Lolth and more in a sweeping new book.

🎮 D Fiends and Foes

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Delivers The Series’ Best Reviews Since 2013

The first big release of July 2026(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-biggest-new-game-releases-of-july-2026/) has set sail, and so far, it looks like Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced(https://www.gamespot.com/games/assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced/) is hitting a critical high note that the series hasn't seen since Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. The remake of the 2013 game currently has a metascore of 84, a number that previous games have not reached for a very long time. In comparison, the original Black Flag has a metascore of 88, and the highest review score aggregate between that game and its remake was Assassin's Creed Odyssey at 83. One thing that is worth pointing out is that Assassin's Creed Black Flag's metascore was gathered from 36 reviews on GameSpot's sister site Metacritic, while Black Flag Resynced's data stems from 83 critic reviews. https://youtu.be/niSS6zePbYs 2013'S Black Flag may be a critical high point for the franchise, but it's not the highest-rated game across the mainline series. That honor belongs to Assassin's Creed 2, which has a metascore of 90, while Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood clocks in at 89. Here's a closer look at how Assassin's Creed games have scored over the years: - Assassin's Creed -- 81 - Assassin's Creed 2 -- 90 - Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood -- 89 - Assassin's Creed: Revelations -- 80 - Assassin's Creed 3 -- 84 - Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag -- 88 - Assassin's Creed Rogue -- 72 - Assassin's Creed Unity -- 72 - Assassin's Creed Syndicate -- 76 - Assassin's Creed Origins -- 81 - Assassin's Creed Odyssey -- 83 - Assassin's Creed Valhalla -- 80 - Assassin's Creed Mirage -- 76 - Assassin's Creed Shadows -- 81 - Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced -- 84 While most of the reviews have been positive, our own one wasn't as jazzed with the changes made to what some consider to be the peak of Assassin's Creed games. "You will see why the original game was the de facto pirate video game for years. But you will also find a remake that doesn't manage to take the crown from the very game that it's remaking," Jordan Ramée wrote in GameSpot's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/black-flag-resynced-is-a-bad-remake-of-peak-assassins-creed/). !4687544-acbf-standard.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4687544-acbf-standard.jpg?w=300) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X) $60 See at Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY5YZC4P?tag=gamespot-preorders-20 "See at Amazon") View at other stores See at Best 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GameStop(https://clicks.trx-hub.com/xid/fandom32094gamespot?q=https%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%3Fkey%3Dfbff19622bfc4d759c94ca50d964e98d%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.gamestop.com%252Fvideo-games%252Fplaystation-5%252Fproducts%252Fassassins-creed-black-flag-resynced----playstation-5%252F445519.html%26cuid%3D--&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamespot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fnews&articleid=1815139&eventtype=click&fntitle=Assassin%26%238217%3Bs+Creed+Black+Flag+Resynced+Delivers+The+Series%26%238217%3B+Best+Reviews+Since+2013&fnauthor=darranged&fndate=2026-07-09+05%3A24%3A10&fnupdated=2026-07-09+05%3A24%3A10&fnarticleid=1815139&fncategory=Gaming%7CNews&fnstorytype=News "See at GameStop") !4687545-acbf-de.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4687545-acbf-de.jpg?w=300) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Digital Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC) $70 See at Ubisoft Store(https://store.ubisoft.com/us/assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-deluxe-edition/699e950e2f25b911ef69de9a.html?lang=enUS&ucid=UWB-275125comparison-table "See at Ubisoft Store") !4687543-resynccollectmod.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4687543-resynccollectmod.jpg?w=300) Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Collector's Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC) $200 See at Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY5RPBFS?tag=gamespot-preorders-20 "See at Amazon") View at other stores See at Best 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🎮 Best

Overwatch's new hero Shion disses a girlboss icon of American literature

Overwatch's new hero Shion has a voice line with a direct reference to Emily Dickinson, and the Omnic gang leader isn't her biggest fan

🎮 Overwatch

The best Star Wars TV show could have been Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible in space

The original concept for Andor, a gritty sci-fi series with Mission Impossible vibes, is revealed in the official behind-the-scenes companion.

10 best new dark fantasy books for fans of The Witcher and Game of Thrones

Read stories of heists, magic, monsters, and morally gray characters.

PolygonIndie, Newsabout 2 months ago

🖥 PC, Multi-platform

July 2026 new video games are about to run the table

Your backlog is about to get longer, as the week starting on July 13 is bringing nearly a dozen exciting games.

🎮 Grand Theft Auto🎮 GTA

D&D unveils new Arcana Unleashed book, which includes the first real testing ground for 5.5e

Arcana Unleashed is a high-magic-focused D&D product that will include the first big adventure for 5.5e, releasing this September.

All shanty locations in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

Here's how to find all song sheet locations needed to unlock shanties in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.