Hasbro's ambitious plan to expand into video games appears to have hit an expensive snag, as the company has recorded a $56 million impairment charge related to its video games portfolio for 2028 and beyond, according to its second-quarter earnings results. For the uninitiated, an impairment charge is a sudden loss of value for an asset, making it worth far less than what a company originally paid for it.

"Over the last several quarters, we have reviewed our portfolio and updated our plans for Hasbro's digital future," Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks said to shareholders. "That work included canceling several games scheduled for release in 2028 and beyond and recording a $56 million non-cash write-down this quarter for related capitalized costs. The write-down reflects the standard we are applying to the portfolio. We are focusing our digital investment behind the franchises, platforms, and partners where we see the clearest upside and where Hasbro has the strongest right to win."

According to Cocks, Hasbro will have four priorities going forward for its video game projects--focus, cost discipline, ownable platforms, and partnership. The plan includes a new focus on "trading card games and role-playing games,"  a decrease in total digital spend, prioritizing its own IP, and finding the right partners for these projects. Cocks cited Scopely as a prime example, as the studio's work on Monopoly Go is expected to exceed a lifetime revenue of $8 billion later this year.

While Hasbro had big video game plans lined up, recent years have seen the company scale back and cancel several of its projects. It hasn't detailed exactly which games got cut, but it did mention that sci-fi adventure Exodus and its Dungeons & Dragons game Warlock are still scheduled to launch in 2027. While Atomic Arcade--the studio behind a new GI Joe game featuring fan-favorite character Snake Eyes--had layoffs earlier this year, Hasbro said that the developer's project still remains in development.

"The digital strategy is straightforward. We are taking lower-conviction-projects out of the portfolio, reducing our annual spend base and concentrating investment behind the places where Hasbro has the best chance to build durable digital franchises: Magic, D&D, owned platforms, partner-led economics, and a concentrated number of high-conviction owned titles," Cocks added.

Hasbro initially announced that it had formed six new internal studios in 2022, but since then, there have been some big changes behind the scenes. Baldur's Gate 3 and Monopoly Go were early hits for Hasbro, but in 2023, five of its game projects were canceled, and there were sweeping layoffs throughout its newly formed video game division. In 2024, head of digital product development Dan Ayoub said that Hasbro had invested $1 billion across its Invoke, Archtype, Skeleton Key, and Atomic Arcade game studios, and in 2026, Ayoub told The Game Business that not a single one of those projects was designed to be a game-as-a-service title.

In May, Hasbro confirmed that the single-player action-adventure title set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons and being developed by Giant Skull--the studio founded by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and God of War 3 director Stig Asmussen--had been canceled.

After years of theories and speculation, World of Warcraft players may have finally uncovered the real endgame of its current main villain, Xal'atath.

Xal'atath has been Azeroth's big bad for the past several expansions, but aside from amassing power in her Dark Heart artifact, her exact motivations haven't been entirely clear. She doesn't seem to work for the Old Gods but for herself, though to what end has been up for debate.

Now, a datamined bit of dialogue from the game's upcoming 12.1 update may have just revealed her ultimate goal: one that will almost certainly spell doom for Azeroth and perhaps even the entire Warcraft universe.

Potential spoilers for patch 12.1 and future updates below.

As spotted by Reddit user rapunzel1213, a datamined (and likely subject-to-change) script from the game's 12.1 public-test realm looks to have revealed Xal'atath's true goal, and it's not to corrupt or destroy Azeroth. No, it's to become Azeroth herself.

https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/1v1pyas/spoilers_datamined_igc_scripts_show_xalataths/

For a little context, the last few expansions have built up the idea that within the planet Azeroth is a slumbering Worldsoul, essentially an unborn cosmic entity called a Titan. Azeroth, however, is not just any Worldsoul, but the Prime Worldsoul. It's for that reason Azeroth seems to be in many ways the center of the Warcraft universe. The Titans sought to protect Azeroth's Worldsoul, the Burning Legion sought to destroy it, and the Void aimed to corrupt it, knowing it would be the most powerful being in the universe were it to ever awaken.

Xal'atath, it seems, is looking to become the ultimate power in the universe by somehow merging with Azeroth's Worldsoul. The datamined script looks to be part of patch 12.1's Epilogue, setting up the events of patch 12.2. In it, Arator and Orweyna arrive to deliver an urgent message to Blood Elf leaders Lor'themar and Liadrin.

"Xal'atath has reached the Worldsoul," Arator says. "We have to move now. We have to find a way down there, blast open the coreway, anything."

Liadrin asks if they don't make it in time if Xal'atath will consume Azeroth.

"No," Orweyna replies. "Xal'atath will become her."

Other datamined information, like a new Renown faction called the Radiant Core, does indicate players will indeed be heading to the Worldsoul chamber as patch of 12.2. Content creators like Bellular have done a great job putting all the pieces together, if you want more context.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuTl3jdD874

Plus, there's the whole fact that Blizzard is calling this current expansion trilogy (of which Midnight is the second act) the "Worldsoul Saga." It would certainly be weird if players didn't confront the Worldsoul-sized elephant in the room at some point during this expansion. 

If Xal'atath does become Azeroth, that certainly raises some questions about the game's next expansion, The Last Titan. Is Xal'atath the titular last Titan? Or will players defeat her, cleansing Azeroth of her influence and ushering in a new age? Players will have to wait to find out, but it's clear WoW's narrative stakes have never been higher, and fans are eager to see how it will all play out.

As players ponder Xal'atath's endgame, many are still trying to wrap their heads around WoW's latest lore reveal involving the Haranir. And for those wondering what's next for the Warcraft franchise, an alleged leak may have revealed new games and shows set in Blizzard's fantasy universe.

A handful of filmmakers have begun testing the waters of AI-generated movies, and this week, Gran Turismo director Neill Blomkamp showed off a 14-minute short that was made entirely with the technology. Could the famed director of cult-classic movies like District 9 and Elysium be one of the first people in Hollywood to use generative AI in a way that wasn't met with overwhelming negativity? Probably not, as the comments for Blomkamp's latest project have ranged from apathetic to hostile, with pleas for the filmmaker to make a District 10 film instead.

Blomkamp's project, Nightborne, features 32 AI characters based on real actors, according to him. Clocking in at around 14 minutes, the short film follows a helicopter pilot who has been resurrected into a zombie super-soldier. "I've been experimenting with AI for a couple of years, and it's now at the point where I want to tackle a full feature in this format. This is a 13-minute test start," Blomkamp said online.

https://youtu.be/8Wbtt2JxP7g

Like other AI-generated films, Nightbourne suffers from several technical issues. Characters and assets are hamstrung by various inconsistencies--from injuries to pocket pens--wooden acting, and the overall production having a very uncanny-valley vibe to it. Comments have been less than kind, with celebrated comic book creator Stjepan Seijic dropping a barb of note:

https://twitter.com/stjepansejic/status/2079235069881819626

Negative comments aside, Blomkamp seems intent on producing a feature-length movie with generative AI, and he announced that he had created a studio dedicated to the project called Barley Studios. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's Greek epic The Odyssey has gotten off to a strong start at the box office and is being hailed as one of the best movies of the year. While Nolan has once again emphasized how important the human factor is in making a film like The Odyssey, other opportunistic companies are attempting to ride his coattails by making their own version of an ancient story with generative AI.

While production company Fountain 0 and director Ash Koosha have admitted that their AI-generated project, Odysseus: The Fall, won't be on the same level as Nolan's movie, the people behind it are hoping it'll start new discussions on how AI can be used to make movies.

Xbox Game Pass is teaming up with another subscription service this week, albeit one that appeals to a niche section of gamers. Facebook parent group Meta and Xbox have announced that a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass is now available to Meta Horizon+ subscribers, giving them access to over 50 games via cloud streaming. Games can also be downloaded directly from the cloud and onto a Meta Quest headset, and the starting lineup includes a mix of AAA hits and classic indies. One thing to note is that cloud-streaming games do have a time limit of 10 hours per month through this subscription, and a high-speed internet connection is also required.

So far, the list includes games like Fallout 76, Fallout 4, Overcooked 2, Grounded, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic, and Snowrunner. Meta says that players will soon be able to use their Meta Quest Touch controllers to emulate an Xbox controller, or if you already have one, you can pair it with the headset to play games. If you're unfamiliar with it, Meta Horizon+ is a subscription service similar to Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, as it offers users a library of VR games, deals, and a few freebies for an $8 fee every month or $60 annually.

If you'd prefer a bigger library, you can also access Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via the dedicated Xbox app on the Meta marketplace, and use cloud streaming to access those games. This is a separate--and pricier--subscription, and to ensure lag-free gaming, a 5Ghz internet connection is recommended.

This isn't the first time that Meta and Xbox have teamed up, as last year, the companies unveiled the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition that featured a carbon black color scheme, matching Touch Plus controllers, an Xbox controller, an Elite Strap, and a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass. That version of the virtual- and mixed-reality headset is designed to be a smaller sibling to the older Quest 3 headset, and in a nutshell, its lenses aren't quite as impressive in comparison. It does have slightly improved battery life, and it is cheaper, but the price of these headsets recently increased by $50-$100 each.

Meta said that the current global memory shortage led to price increases, but it pledged to keep Quest headset accessories at their current prices. Both of these headsets are popular as entry-level devices, as they're fairly powerful and they're completely wireless, while the game library includes well-received titles like Batman and Deadpool VR games.

The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026 View Images

Nintendo is just one of many companies that has been claiming refunds on the tariffs it was forced to pay on goods entering the United States from August 2025, but says it doesn't have to, and won't, pass these onto customers.

In August 2025, Nintendo increased the price of the original Switch console in accordance with ongoing tariffs at the time. These were deemed illegal but a US court in February 2026, with Nintendo suing the US government in an attempt to get their tariffs (and associated interest) refunded. A class action lawsuit, filed in April 2026 on behalf of Nintendo consumers, argued that Nintendo had an obligation to refund customers who purchases products at the inflated price.

Nintendo, in the latest reply to the lawsuit, argues against that logic, saying that customers were never forced to make a purchase in the first place. The documents, highlighted by Game File, also show that Nintendo is attempting to have the case dismissed.

"Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying," the new filing reads. “Those who bought Nintendo’s products received exactly what they bargained and paid for: a console, game and/or accessory at a price to which both parties agreed.”

Nintendo argues that it also didn't raise the price of all of its products, implying that it didn't completely benefit from passing on some tarrif costs to customers.

“Instead, Nintendo imposed modest and selective price adjustments, and it chose to bear the costs of tariffs on some of its most popular products of 2025, including its flagship console, the Nintendo Switch 2," the filing continued.

Nintendo closes its opposition by stating that consumers have always been free to seek out alternatives if they deemed its price increases to be too extreme. “If a consumer did not want to pay the advertised price, they were free to abstain from purchasing the product or seek out competing products," the filing concluded.

It's unclear yet if the class action lawsuit will go to trial, but it's evident Nintendo has no plans to refund anyone should it receive all of its tariff expenditure back. That might help it weather the ongoing memory crisis for a little longer, perhaps avoiding another Switch 2 price hike that is scheduled for later this year.

Writer-director Hideo Kojima, famous for creating Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, has commented on how he would like to die.

During a recent event, Kojima said he would like to die in a movie theater, and he even knows when, exactly, he'd like to pass away. "I like the time before the movie starts the best. Enter the movie theater, the lights turn off, the commercials and trailers play, then just before the movie starts is when I want to pass away," he said.

https://twitter.com/Kojima_Hideo/status/2079486124133900651?s=20

It's a morbid comment, but it's not altogether surprising to hear Kojima say this. He is, after all, a huge fan of cinema. His social media bio says he is a game creator whose body is 70% made of movies.

Kojima is known for his one-sentence movie reviews and regularly comments on the latest films and the wider movie industry. He's also friends with a number of famous Hollywood directors, including Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn.

He's working with another Oscar-winner, Jordan Peele, on his new horror game OD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sMNtH21-JU

Kojima was asked to direct the Death Stranding movie, but he declined because he thought he would give too many notes. Instead, Michael Sarnoski (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One) is directing the Death Stranding movie.

With Gamescom Opening Night Live just a little over a month away, it looks like the first big reveal for the showcase has been revealed: The Witcher 3. Not too long ago, CD Projekt Red confirmed that a third expansion for its fantasy-themed action-RPG is in development, and today, it confirmed a first look at The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past will be held during Geoff Keighley's annual Gamescom kick-off show on August 23.

Beyond that, CD Projekt Red--not to be confused with CD Projekt Red--added that the expansion will also have a presence on the Gamescom showfloor, via a guided presentation at the studio's booth for the duration of the convention. Arriving 12 years after The Witcher 3 first launched, Songs of the Past follows Geralt of Rivia on a new quest, but other than that, CD Projekt Red has been cagey with details. What we do know is that the expansion is being co-developed with Fool's Theory, a studio comprised of several veteran developers who worked on The Witcher 3. The expansion will launch for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game in 2027.

One controversial decision by CD Projekt Red was to drop Windows 10 support for the expansion. Many PC gamers prefer to use Windows 10 as their operating system, citing improved performance in games, and while CD Projekt Red said that the requirement doesn't mean that the game won't run on the older OS, it does mean that the studio won’t support or test the game on Windows 10 going forward.

It's a busy time for The Witcher franchise, as Fool's Theory is also working on a remake of the first game in the series and CD Projekt Red has scaled up development on The Witcher 4, with over half the studio focused on it.

The Not-E3 Guide To Summer Game Fest Showcases View Images

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls launches soon, but if you're impatient, then you can dive into the game's open beta this weekend. While fighting game betas aren't a novelty, the Marvel Tokon one is turning heads for the sheer amount of content that it's offering to players, ranging from a stacked roster of playable characters to multiple modes that you can try out. For a closer look at how long it runs for and how you can get in, you can check out all the details below.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls open beta dates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqAdybFeoOI

The Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls beta kicks off on July 24 and runs through July 26 at the following times:

Start time

• July 24 at 9 PM ET / 12 AM PT / 8 AM BST / 4 PM JST

End time

• July 26 at 8:59 PM ET / 11.59 PM PT / 07:59 AM BST (July 27) / 3:59 PM JST (July 27)

How to get into the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls open beta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPXIhvQfQ7E

This is the easy part, as you can grab the open beta client through the PS5 storefront, and on PC, through Steam and the Epic Games Store. No registration is required, and pre-downloading will be available two hours before the open beta goes live.

Is a PlayStation Plus subscription required for PS5 players?

While you will need an online connection for some social fisticuffs, you will not need to be a PS Plus member to access the open beta and its modes.

What is Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls?

The next fighting game from Arc System Works--the studio behind the popular Guilty Gear series and Dragon Ball FighterZ--Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls features a roster of playable heroes and supervillains from Marvel Comics.

A 4v4 tag-fighter with fresh visual spins on each character, the game features a deep combat system and comic book-inspired action sequences when special moves are successfully pulled off.

Playable characters

When it comes to fighting games, open betas typically give you a handful of characters to play as. In the case of Marvel Tokon, players will have access to 15 of the game's 20 playable characters, including the legendary Daywalker himself, Blade. Developer Arc System Works has also released several gameplay guide videos for these heroes and villains, and we've linked them in their character names to help you brush up on your homework before you start fighting. Here's the full list of playable characters:

• Black Panther
• Blade
• Captain America
• Danger
• Doctor Doom
• Ghost Rider
• Iron Man
• Magik
• Magneto
• Ms. Marvel
• Peni Parker
• Spider-Man
• Star-Lord
• Storm
• Wolverine

Marvel Tokon open beta stages

Six stages inspired by Marvel locations will also serve as the arena for some superpowered beatdowns:

• Knowhere
• Marvel's New York (Day)
• Marvel's New York (Night)
• Savage Land
• Wakanda
• X-Mansion

Playable modes

Online casual and ranked matches will be the big draw of the beta, but Arc System Works is also offering several modes to try out. You can sit down for some couch co-op with the local Versus Mode, test your skills out on a PC dummy in Practice Mode, and explore the Open Lobby social space between bouts. This hub will allow you to choose from one of 16 unique avatars, meet other players, chat with them, and start a match by sitting down at an arcade cabinet in this zone.

Marvel Tokon has a playable tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR2K4wbdvo4

In case you missed out on the previous beta, you can learn the ropes with Start Up Battle, an interactive tutorial that'll get you up to speed quickly. This mode will teach you everything you need to know about Marvel Tokon's 4v4 matches, team-based skills, and advanced combos before you challenge players.

Marvel Tokon's Episode Mode offers a chunk of the story to play through

Players can also try out the first three chapters of the Amazing Guardians storyline in Episode Mode, the story mode of Marvel Tokon. This story focuses on Spider-Man as he assembles a team to help fight back against the Champion, and it features illustrated comic book panels that blend directly into the gameplay.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Roster – Every Character Revealed (So Far) View Images

It's that time of the month again, as the second wave of Xbox Game Pass games for July 2026 has been officially revealed. As usual, subscribers can expect several day-one releases, including one of the biggest games of the month, Halo: Campaign Evolved. Microsoft has also dropped a sneak peek at what you can expect in August, as part of the first wave of new arrivals for Game Pass subscribers that month.

The day-one launch of Midnight Shift lands on July 22, and in this online co-op detective horror game, players have to work together across randomly generated shifts to investigate their customers. Some of them are normal, some of them are horrific monsters in disguise that want to murder you, and the only way to survive your shift is with teamwork and traps.

Released last year, Hell Is Us is a throwback to an age of action-RPGs that refused to hold your hand. Set in a nation that has been left shattered by civil war, players have to master melee combat as they explore the anomalies of Hadea, sharpen their observation skills, and solve a dark mystery at the heart of the game. Full of rewarding exploration and brutal combat, it'll be available through Game Pass starting July 23.

The main event this month is Halo: Campaign Evolved, a complete remake of the original Halo from 2001. Arriving just in time for the 25th anniversary of the franchise, this remake of the original Halo campaign includes upgraded visuals, modernized controls, new co-op missions, and an expanded arsenal of weapons to use in the war against the Covenant.

You can also look forward to the day-one launch of the dark fantasy extraction ARPG Mistfall Hunters on July 30, and on July 31, you can build a sprawling pirate haven in Corsair Cove. Looking ahead to next month, Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation kicks off a busy month with a one-person, one-dog adventure that blends real-time and turn-based combat together.

Xbox Game Pass July Wave 2 Additions July 21

The Planet Crafter (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

July 22

Shift at Midnight (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

July 23

Hell is Us (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

July 28

Halo: Campaign Evolved (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

July 30

Mistfall Hunter (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

July 31

Corsair Cove (PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

August 4

Beast of Reincarnation (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Heretic + Hexen (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass 

As a reminder, several more games will exit Xbox Game Pass on July 31. In total, eight games will leave, including titles like Whiskerwood and Celeste.

The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026 View Images

In the wake of Sony announcing that it will end support for physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, new data has come to light that speaks to the growing decline in physical PlayStation game sales in the US.

Mat Piscatella of Circana released new data recently that reveals that only two PlayStation games sold more than 10,000 physical units in the US for the week that ended on July 11, 2026. And only 7 have sold more than 100,000 physical units so far in 2026.

Piscatella also remarked that people should use their voice to comment on how much they might not like Sony's decision to kill physical discs. "But commenting is cheap," he wrote.

A former community manager for MyDearest, Imran Khan, replied to Piscatella, saying that people may be wasting their breath by speaking out to challenge Sony's decision to end support for discs.

"It doesn't filter up to decision-makers. Frankly, half your job is making sure it doesn't. There's no threshold of abuse or numbers where they have to send all of it in an Excel document to the CEO," Khan said.

Piscatella also re-shared data from May 2026 that showed spending on new physical games--across the entire industry--has been on a steady downward trajectory since 2009.

https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mr5my6cnrk2k

Piscatella added: "The console manufacturers have all the data on sales and play that take place on their platforms globally in mind-boggling detail."

"Yes, physical currently matters far more in some places than it does in others, and digital isn't a great an option in some places. The console mfgs know all that."

The data has shown for years that physical game sales are declining at most major publishers, so Sony's switch to an all-digital world is not surprising.

It is unfortunate for those who want to see physical media continue, and hundreds of thousands of people signed a petition to encourage Sony to change its mind. This petition and other efforts will not work, experts have said, because making more money and tightening control of marketplaces are the main motivations here.

The biggest game of 2026, GTA 6, will launch as a digital-exclusive game. People can buy a copy of GTA 6 at physical retailers, but they only get a code in the box. Rockstar stands to make more money from GTA 6 and have greater control over it as a digital-exclusive game, so it's not hard to see why it opted for this, even if it will upset some people.

While Sony has announced plans to stop supporting physical game discs/cartridges, Microsoft and Nintendo have not made any announcements about their own plans.

Xbox Game Pass used to be hailed as the "best deal" in gaming, but it started to lose its luster following a steep subscription price increase several months back--that is still higher than what it used to be even after a decrease--and shifting membership tiers. Some of Xbox's leaders aren't too high on Game Pass either, especially after it proved to be a disruptive influence on Microsoft's biggest franchise, Call of Duty. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, several people within Xbox see Game Pass as a "detriment" to the video game industry.

"There are a lot of people out there in studio leadership within Xbox who absolutely detest Game Pass. [They] think it has destroyed the value of their games, think it has taken away the value from all games in general and has been a detriment to the games industry in those people's view, because of how it devalues games," Schreier said on the Triple Click podcast.

That statement was backed up by a former Xbox studio lead, who added that Game Pass had devalued their work. "Giving games away for 'free' in Game Pass from day one sends a message to consumers that the games don't have inherent market value. It almost creates an assumption that these titles could not sell on their own," the source said to Windows Central. "It felt like a race to zero."

Another Xbox lead added that while Game Pass was designed to be a stable source of revenue for games in an era where live-service titles dominate, Microsoft's opaque engagement formula made it hard for studios to stay motivated. For a time, Game Pass was a lifeline for studios that would release titles that would often go under the radar of players, but things have changed recently for the subscription's business model.

Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown also gave his thoughts on Game Pass, saying that while it was a good idea, it failed to reach the lofty subscriber goals that it was aiming for.

The biggest shift is that Call of Duty is no longer a day-one launch through Game Pass, as the service took a bite out of direct sales. Schreier has speculated that Microsoft could make even more changes to the day-one model of Game Pass, especially at a time when Xbox is aiming to become a more profitable arm of the company. A new report also claimed that Game Pass has been an $80 billion gamble that hasn't panned out the way Microsoft envisioned, and Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said that decisions by the previous Xbox leadership did not help to grow the service meaningfully.

The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026 View Images

Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown has weighed in with his thoughts on the situation at Xbox currently, and one of the things he commented on was Xbox Game Pass. He said in an interview that Xbox Game Pass, simply put, was not able to attract enough subscribers to make it viable as a business, and this contributed to the pain Xbox is going through today. After all, we recently found out that Microsoft was hoping to have 77 million subscribers by now, but the number is actually only around 30 million.

"That’s actually just really sad because we’re now going to see studios getting shut down or spun off," he told MinnMax, as reported by Kotaku. "Loads of people are going to lose their jobs. And that is honestly just a result of a well-meaning player-focused concept of Xbox Game Pass not quite landing. And I think that’s just, it’s just a real shame."

Brown, who worked at the Xbox-owned Playground for years before splitting off to start his own company, said Game Pass is a "good idea," but Microsoft could not stick the landing.

"If more people had subscribed, that makes enough money, and it works and and all those studios go on and those games get made again and those teams will make other games. Unfortunately, it didn’t," he said.

Microsoft invested a "fortune" in making Game Pass work through its various acquisitions and funding efforts, Brown added. This was done with the vision of having a steady release of new games to help keep people subscribed and amass more members, but it didn't come to be.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma herself has acknowledged that Xbox Game Pass was a bet that did not pay off after Microsoft spent more than $80 billion buying studios to help funnel content to the service.

Internal strife

It has been reported for some time already that some inside Xbox did not buy into the vision for Xbox Game Pass and even tried to warn executives. Microsoft itself admitted that Xbox Game Pass could cannibalize full-game sales.

Recently, reporter Jason Schreier said on the Triple Click podcast, "There are a lot of people out there in studio leadership within Xbox who absolutely detest Game Pass." He said these people think Game Pass has "destroyed the value of their games" and has been an overall detriment to gaming across the board "because of how it devalues games."

A former Xbox studio lead, meanwhile, told Windows Central that launching games into Game Pass "almost creates an assumption that these titles could not sell on their own. It felt like a race to zero."

So what happens next?

Microsoft admitting that Xbox Game Pass is a bet that did not work out suggests the company may have some changes afoot for the service. Already, Sharma has cut the price of Game Pass and announced that new Call of Duty games will no longer be included in the service at launch, so some big changes have already been enacted. No one is expecting Microsoft to completely kill off Game Pass, but instead there could be other changes, like the kind of "windowing" of new releases that Microsoft has talked about.

This would involve keeping key titles out of Game Pass at launch and for a period of time, similar to how movies are only available in theaters at first before coming to digital and streaming. The idea here would be to help maximize revenue with people paying full price before they are included in the catalog. New Call of Duty games, for example, now won't come to Game Pass until the following holiday season. So if you want to play Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox or PC at launch this year, you have to buy it outright, as it won't come to Game Pass until Holiday 2027 at the soonest.

Activision has confirmed the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer beta dates, which begin on August 21. The company also revealed how you can get it, what's in the beta, and when to expect more details. Read on to learn more.

Modern Warfare 4 beta dates

Early access to the open beta runs August 21-25 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The multiplayer beta then opens for everyone, regardless of preorder status, from August 28-September 1. The open beta also brings in Switch 2 as a supported platform.

How to get in

The early access period is available for people who preorder Modern Warfare 4, but the open beta is free and available to everyone. The fine print also states that an "online multiplayer subscription" may be required.

The early access period is not available on Switch 2 because Switch 2 preorders don't begin until August 26.

The MW4 beta begins in August. What's in the beta?

The Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer includes multiple maps and modes and a "wide selection" of playable characters. The beta includes "as many as" 19 different weapons, while some of the supported modes include Search & Destroy and Kill Block, and the Training Mobility Course to help players learn the ropes.

The beta also includes a "wide variety" of tacticals, lethals, field upgrades, perks, and killstreaks to try out ahead of launch.

People who preorder the Vault Edition of Modern Warfare 4 can use the operators and weapons included in that version of the game during the beta.

These include content from the Vault Edition preorder bundles below:

Hostile Alliance Operator Pack

• Price
• Valeria
• Ghost
• Blix

Special Forces Operator Pack

• COM SFT (France)
• KSK Amphibious (Germany)
• SK Special Forces (South Korea)
• SAS (United Kingdom)

Signature Weapons Collection 

• Kastov 762 Assault Rifle and “Voltspine” Blueprint
• ISO Nightshade Submachine Gun and “La Sombra Venenosa” (“The Poisonous Shadow”) Blueprint
• Rezi 12 Shotgun and “Shattered Code” Blueprint
• Oris 8.6 Marksman Rifle and “Volt-Edge” Blueprint
• Combat Knife (Melee) and “Sombra Besada” (“Shadow’s Kiss”) Blueprint

More announcements to come

Activision said it will share more details on what it called an "unprecedented beta experience" in the weeks to come. This will include more details on beta rewards and "other surprises."

Call of Duty Next

The annual Call of Duty event, Call of Duty Next, returns on August 21, Activision announced. This live event will feature new gameplay footage, an "in-depth briefing" on Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer content, along with developer interviews and "new reveals."

How does a sex toy shop stand out in the modern era of easily obtainable neck massagers and bedside buddies? The answer is surprisingly easy, as all you have to do is look at a popular IP and put in some elbow grease to transform that idea into a surprisingly cute nightstand buddy. Which is exactly what one company has done, with the return of its line of Pokemon--or Pokemoan--sex toys.

These will go on sale starting July 21, and let's see Pokemon scalpers try and ruin this launch. Geeky Sex Toys offered these toys 10 years ago, and they proved to be popular enough to quickly sell out, a scenario that will probably occur again this week. The store has brought back its four unique Pokemon-inspired sex toys, and the line includes bedside back-up plans inspired by the original Kanto region starters--Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander--alongside a gluteus goblet that looks very similar to a Pikachu tail.

A closer look at the pocket monsters.

Each toy comes with a 350gsm holographic trading card, and you can also grab all of them alongside exclusive cards in a limited-edition collector's set. Geeky Sex Toys says that it's only making 151 of these--a nod to the original Generation One Pokedex--and it'll sell for $399. That's a pretty good deal, as each of the starter Pokemon-inspired sex toys costs $169 each, while the "Pikyplug" is priced between $69 and $100 depending on which size you choose for the port-cork.

The collector's edition includes five cards in total, and all the toys come inside a themed hardshell case. The full lineup includes the following imaginatively titled marital aids, and they all serve various needs:

• Bulbypulse
• Charmybuzz
• Squirtyblast
• Pikyplug

The drop goes live on July 21 at 7 PM ET / 10 PM PT, and you can sign up to be notified when sales go live. The designs are actually surprisingly cute, and somehow, they haven't caught the legal eye of Nintendo--yet. For something that's also surprisingly cute while dealing with adults-only topics, check out Tomodachi Life for a game that doesn't judge you for being horny on main.

Tides of Annihilation developer Eclipse Glow Games has announced that voice actor Jennifer English will no longer be voicing the game's protagonist, Gwendolyn, due to personal health reasons. In an update on its social platforms, Eclipse Glow Games confirmed that English stepped down in June from the role, but she'll still be involved in the game in an advisory role. English has already helped to recommend a new voice actor to take over as Gwendolyn, but Eclipse Glow Games has not yet revealed her replacement.

"Earlier in June, Jennifer informed us that she would no longer be able to continue in the role," the studio wrote online. "While we were, of course, saddened by her decision, we completely understood and respected Jennifer in prioritizing her well-being. We are also deeply grateful for the care and responsibility she showed throughout this process. We'd also like to thank Jennifer for everything she brought to the character and to the project. Her performance brought depth, strength, vulnerability, and heart to the role."

In an Instagram story (via Genki), English thanked the Tides of Annihilation team and said that she was excited for players to hear the "passion, talent, and care for the craft" that the new actor brings to the role. The new voice of Gwendolyn is currently recording her lines, and with Tides of Annihilation offering a hands-on demo at Gamescom 2026 next month, players will get to hear her vocals very soon.

Set during an otherworldly invasion that has left London devastated, Tides of Annihilation follows Gwendolyn on her quest to find the Holy Grail, save her sister, and exact vengeance against the dark forces of Avalon. No easy feat for a mere mortal, but Gwendolyn quickly discovers that she has the power to summon the legendary Knights of the Round Table to assist her in battle and grant her powerful skills.

There's no release date for the game just yet, but it is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

As for English, the actress won several awards last year for her portrayal of Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and her other credits include notable roles in Baldur's Gate 3 (Shadowheart) and Elden Ring (Latenna).

Among the flurry of announcements presented at MagicCon Amsterdam was the debut of The Hobbit, Magic: The Gathering’s next expansion and a return to the universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. That debut was only the beginning, though, as we are now in preview season as the set’s release approaches in August. 

We can exclusively reveal two new Rare cards from the main Hobbit set. One is a powerful green enchantment that can keep your battlefield stocked, and the other is a creature that will slot neatly into mill strategies in multiple formats.

First, here’s Part In Friendship.

Template_GroupedStyles

• Part In Friendship (Enchantment)
  • Costs four generic and one green mana
  • Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature card. If its mana value is less than or equal to the number of lands you control, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. This ability triggers only once each turn.

The solemn scene of Bilbo visiting with Thorin on his deathbed becomes a potent enchantment that will either replenish a fallen creature immediately, or place one into your hand for a future turn. In long, grindy games, it can be a big difference maker, especially if you can manipulate the top of your deck and sacrifice a smaller creature to bring down something massive. Imagine turning a 1/1 token into Craterhoof Behemoth, now that’s friendship.

Our second card is The Master of Lake-town.

Template_GroupedStyles

• The Master of Lake-town (Legendary Creature - Human Advisor)
  • Costs one generic and two black mana to cast
  • 3 power/2 toughness
  • Deathtouch
  • Whenever a player loses life, that player mills that many cards. (Damage counts as loss of life.)
  • When The Master of Lake-town dies, draw a card for each graveyard with seven or more cards in it.

The greedy and cowardly Master of Lake-town is an interesting addition to mill decks, as he rewards aggression and damage with milling your opponent. Then, should he die in battle, he can immediately draw you a card thanks to the graveyards he helped stock. Self-mill decks won’t get too much out of him, but if your gameplan involves depleting your opponent’s library, you should definitely check this out.

The Hobbit expansion for Magic: The Gathering launches August 14 in local game stores and big box retailers. Prerelease events will take place in local game stores starting one week prior, on August 7. 

The next Game of Thrones game, the RTS War for Westeros, has been delayed. The PC game was originally set for release in 2026, but developer Playside has announced that it's been delayed to "early 2027."

"We remain unwavering in our mission to deliver a real-time strategy game set in the world of Westeros that meets the expectations of both RTS players and Game of Thrones fans," the developer said in a blog post. "This decision gives us the time needed to continue building towards that goal and ensure that the game reaches the high level of quality we are aiming for."

"Thank you for your patience and continued support. We know the wait has been long, and we do not take your support for granted."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI9MDe0evFU

Announced in 2025, War for Westeros has players controlling one of the franchise's legendary Houses (Stark, Targaryen, or Lannister), or the Night King, with the aim of conquering the Seven Kingdoms. The game has a single-player campaign and multiplayer.

The developer has said the aim with War for Westeros is to make you feel like you're playing the TV show.

The Game of Thrones series is owned and controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery, which is in the process of being acquired by Paramount for more than $100 billion. Warner Bros. management has said it will focus on four major franchises going forward with respect to its gaming endeavors: Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, and DC.

The next set of Xbox Games Pass removals has been identified, and it appears there are a bunch more games leaving the service at the end of the month.

Pure Xbox was first to discover that the "Leaving Soon" tab on the Xbox mobile app lists off eight games leaving the service on July 31. These include games like Celeste, Whiskerwood, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Crusader Kings 3, among others. You can see the full list below.

Microsoft removes (and adds) games to Game Pass across two waves per month. On July 15, Microsoft removed 11 games from Game Pass, and with a further eight getting dumped on July 31, it's proving to be a big month for removals.

As a silver lining, Game Pass subscribers can save 20% on these titles before they leave. As for new additions to Game Pass before the end of the month, the biggest release for July is Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28).

For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of the best Xbox Game Pass games.

Game Pass removals for July 31

• Back to the Dawn -- console, PC, cloud
• Celeste -- console, PC, cloud
• Crusader Kings 3 -- console, PC, cloud
• Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord -- console, PC, cloud
• My Friendly Neighborhood -- console, PC, cloud
• Rain World -- console, PC, cloud
• Sniper Elite: Resistance -- console, PC, cloud
• Whiskerwood -- PC

With San Diego Comic-Con kicking off this weekend, Hot Toys has unveiled several new sixth-scale figures, including a Luna Snow collectible that's going to make Marvel Rivals fans very happy. This is the first sixth-scale Marvel Rivals figure from the company, and like all of its other collectibles in this line, it's an impressive-looking replica of the South Korean K-Pop idol turned cryokinetic superhero.

When it comes to figures that show plenty of skin, Hot Toys usually uses a specialized silicone body to make them look as life-like as possible. The Luna Snow figure follows this approach, and she's dressed in her default Marvel Rivals costume that features a blue, black, and white color scheme. For the headsculpt, Hot Toys has gone with a sculpted black-and-white two-toned asymmetrical mid-length bob hairstyle, and the head also has separate rolling eyeballs for when you need a subtle expression.

As usual, you're getting several swap-out hands, including pairs that allow her to use her iconic "hand heart" and "finger heart" gesture emotes. Her jacket also looks like a work of mini-tailoring art with its straps, buckles, and studs, and other accessories include a floating music notes effect, a stand featuring the Marvel Rivals logo and character nameplate, and an attack effect.

There's no release date or pricing yet, but Hot Toys usually announces these figures with a minimum of a year's lead time and a retail price of around $300 through vendors like Sideshow Collectibles.

If a superhero K-pop star doesn't appeal to you, you can also check out the new--and very limited--edition of Sam Porter Bridges from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach that Hot Toys revealed. While the company revealed figures based on the intrepid courier and his nemesis, Higgs, last year, this new limited-edition version features a Timefall-resistant suit that's adorned with illustrations by Junji Ito, one of the greatest horror manga storytellers of the modern era.

Other figures coming from Hot Toys include a monstrous Alien Queen from Aliens, an intimidating Savage Hulk from Spider-Man: Brand New Day,  a quarter-scale replica of The Dark Knight's Joker, and a whole lot of Kamen Riders. Last week also saw the first look at a new Street Fighter 2 Cammy figure from Infinity Studio, a massive 1:3 scale replica of the M. Bison clone.

Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals has gotten a substantial update for Season 9. A ground-up rework has introduced new strategies to the game, the Team-Up System has been transformed, and the X-Man Jubilee has been added to the game roster.

Hot Toys Reveals Death Stranding 2 Higgs Figure That Looks Impressively Realistic View Images

Activision has clarified a key detail about the upcoming Call of Duty movie from director Peter Berg and writer Taylor Sheridan. At Fanatics Fest this weekend, Berg confirmed that the movie takes place in the Modern Warfare universe.

This is a major detail, considering the Call of Duty series is known for its multiple brands, including Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and others, each with its own distinct tones, settings, and characters. Many were wondering which universe the film might take place in, and now we know.

The Call of Duty movie releases in theaters on June 30, 2028. There is no word yet on the cast or specific plot points, however.

https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/2078547067577004220

The Call of Duty movie is in the works at Paramount, which is owned by billionaire David Ellison, who himself is a big fan of Call of Duty. Paramount is in the midst of trying to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for more than $100 billion.

Director Peter Berg is known for his action and war movies, including Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. In the world of TV, he garnered praise for the drama miniseries Painkiller, which was about the opioid epidemic in America.

As for writer Taylor Sheridan, he's known for writing and directing the movies Sicario, Wind River, and Hell or High Water. He also created the popular Yellowstone TV series. In recent times, he's railed against Hollywood media, saying he gets excited by rage-baiting the press with his works.

Just because a movie has been announced, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll ever be made, however. There are dozens of video game movies currently at some stage of production, and no one expects them all to come out.

This is just the latest attempt to make a Call of Duty movie. Activision first announced plans for an entire connected universe of Call of Duty movies more than 10 years ago, and nothing ever came of that.

As for the Modern Warfare game series, the newest entry, Modern Warfare 4, comes out this October. The game will have a free open beta at some point before launch, and preordering gets you in early.