Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
Microsoft laid off 268 Xbox staff members this week, including Gears of War: E-Day story director Juan Vaca just days after the game went gold. The cuts also hit Halo Studios cinematic director Josh Daniels one day after his promotion, as Activision takes over future Halo development.
IGN reports that Wardogs Season 2 has a confirmed release date and will introduce dynamic weather systems including rain to the PC tactical shooter. The update aims to shake up match flow with environmental conditions that affect visibility and audio cues during firefights.
Microsoft has confirmed Activision will develop the next mainline Halo game as part of a sweeping Xbox Studios restructure that includes 268 layoffs. The move effectively guts Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, while folding Rare and World's Edge under the Call of Duty publisher's umbrella.
Funcom's open-world survival game Dune: Awakening arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Game Pass on September 17 with a massive update that adds a full single-player mode, concludes the Book One storyline, and overhauls combat, progression, and endgame systems. The launch also brings a new Film Archive DLC and a free Polar Cap expansion arriving later this year.
A new leak from MP1st suggests NetherRealm's unannounced Injustice 3 will feature both Supergirl and Batwoman as playable fighters. While Supergirl's return aligns with her starring role in Injustice 2, Batwoman would make her mainline series debut despite dying in the canon Injustice comics.
Take-Two Interactive is removing YouTube videos and posts featuring leaked Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA 6 content from the 2022 hack. The material includes a scrapped Liberty City expansion, early GTA 6 map details, and cut dialogue hinting at alternate story outcomes. With GTA 6's release just two months away, the publisher is cracking down on unauthorized leaks to prevent spoilers ahead of launch.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed an automatic level-up feature at Tokyo Game Show 2026 that lets players match the recommended level for story missions without grinding side content. The announcement has divided the community, with critics arguing it removes challenge and perseverance from RPGs while defenders call it a valuable accessibility option for story-focused players.
Bungie leadership has acknowledged Marathon's struggling player counts and pledged to reshape the extraction shooter into a deeper survival experience with greater player agency. Studio Head Poria Torkan and Marathon GM Josh Dean also confirmed that Destiny will continue with new stories and a return to the series' original promise, following May's controversial decision to shutter Destiny 2 content updates.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Royal Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with a full suite of story expansions and bonus content. Preorders are live now at Amazon for $59.99, though the game ships as a game-key card requiring a download. The release date remains unconfirmed.
Hideo Kojima has confirmed that he does not know whether his next project, Physint, will remain exclusive to Xbox platforms. The legendary developer made the statement during a recent interview, leaving the door open for potential PlayStation or PC releases. For fans tracking Kojima Productions' next move after Death Stranding 2, the platform uncertainty adds another layer of intrigue.
