Activision has made a key announcement about the Carry Forward program for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and that is that it's no longer happening.

"Operators, Operator Skins, and Weapons from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward into Black Ops 7," Activision said. "Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting. That is why Black Ops 6 Operator and Weapon content will not carry forward to Black Ops 7."

"This change applies only to Black Ops 7. Call of Duty: Warzone is not affected, and all your Black Ops 6 content stays usable there."

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EA has announced the official date for the early-access release of Skate, which will start on September 16 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players.

Fifteen years have passed since the release of the last game in the Skate series, 2010's Skate 3. After a lengthy hiatus, EA originally announced the Skate reboot back in 2021, this time as a free-to-play live-service game designed to attract both series veterans and newcomers.

While details on Skate remained under wraps during its early development period, the last year has seen a trickle of new information released and at least one memorable promo featuring skateboarder and I Think You Should Leave star Tim Robinson. What we do know is that Skate will be an always-online game supported by microtransactions, and in terms of gameplay, players can pull off some impressive tricks using the redesigned Flick-it system. The game will also feature a new approach to soundtracks and lots of customization options.

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Every item in Peak serves an important purpose. Some are vital survival tools, aiding your injuries or keeping your tummy full to keep you climbing for longer. Others can jeopardize an entire expedition in an instant. Depending on who you're playing with, the latter can be dangerous--there's always that one player who won't hesitate to create a TikTok-worthy moment.

Here's the trick with items in Peak: While the game tells you its name, it doesn't actually explain what an item does. Some are easy enough to guess from looks alone, but more often than not, you should be wary of using something to avoid being penalized or affecting the run by accident. Don't fret, though--if you're wondering what things like the strange gem or the crystal skull do, the list below includes every item in Peak and what they do, so you can have a helpful page at hand to dispel doubts in the group chat.

I'm sorry, Bing Bong. I'm just doing research.Peak Items List and What They Do

The list includes every item up to the Mesa update of Peak, which was officially released on August 11. There have been quite a few smaller patches, but by and large, here are all the items available thus far. Note that we're skipping most of the food, as their purpose is largely self-explanatory.

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Before you start chainsawing Locusts, developer The Coalition has released a day-one update for Gears of War: Reloaded to address crashing problems across platforms and add quality-of-life improvements. In addition, the patch notes detail a fix for a weird bug where using a DualSense controller on PC would lead to low frame rates in the game.

This is a required patch, per the official Gears of War account on X. The Coalition states that "support for handheld devices is enhanced, allowing them to properly switch to mouse-and-keyboard UI mode when appropriate." The remaster of the cover-based shooter is verified for Steam Deck, and it will be playable on the ROG Xbox Ally when it launches in October.

For almost 20 years, the Gears of War series has been a console exclusive on Xbox. But Gears of War: Reloaded brings the franchise featuring chainsaw guns and Locust enemies to PlayStation for the first time--PS5, to be specific. Funnily enough, Xbox and PlayStation are trading exclusives today: Gears of War: Reloaded hits PS5, while Helldivers 2 finally arrives on Xbox Series X|S. For his part, Gears of War co-creator Cliff Blezinski is "thrilled" about the series becoming available to more players.

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Helldivers 2 is having a big day. The game launched today, August 26, on Xbox Series X|S, and it also got a big new update, including a Halo crossover. All of the excitement has led to a surge in players and sales for Helldivers 2--here are some of the key things to know about Helldivers 2's latest success.

No. 1 on Steam

On Steam, Helldivers 2 is the top-selling game overall in the US based on revenue. Helldivers 2 is also No. 2 in the UK. Filtered by global stats, Helldivers 2 is No. 2, only behind Counter-Strike 2.

In terms of player numbers on Steam, Helldivers 2 reached more than 114,000 peak concurrent players today, August 26, meaning the game is inside Steam's top 10 overall most-played games. This is the highest figure since June.

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Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece (812 pieces)

$37.49 (was $50)

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Labor Day is just around the corner, and Amazon is celebrating with a massive sale on everything from headphones to security cameras. But if you're looking forward to the cooler fall weather, consider checking out the affordable Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece. The 812-brick set brings an abundance of fall colors to your table or wall, and it's currently listed for $37.49--the lowest price we've seen since February.

Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece (812 pieces) $37.49 (was $50)

This festive Lego set lets you build a variety of flowers, including a rose and gerbera. The entire set features muted colors typically associated with autumn, and it can be either placed on a table or mounted on your wall. And--unlike real flowers--you don't have to worry about them making a mess. The set can also be reused year after year, saving you a bit of cash on floral decor.

Lego designed this set so two people could work on it in tandem. Each builder can use their own instructions to build a portion of the bouquet, before combining their flowers into the final product. That makes it great for a date night activity. The final Dried Flower Centerpiece is 16 inches wide, 3 inches tall, and 5 inches deep. Another cool tidbit about the set--it was created using elements of "plant-based plastics" sourced from sugarcane, making it a sustainable piece of home décor.

See at Amazon The Lego Icons Dried Flower CenterpieceGallery

Several other Lego sets are on sale for Labor Day, including many in the Botanicals Collection. From the vibrant yellows and pinks of the Petite Sunny Bouquet Flower Set to the adorable Botanicals Succulents, there are plenty of other sets to peruse. The Mini Orchid, Plum Blossom, and Chrysanthemum sets are also quite enticing, as these are all self-contained in their own buildable gardening pot--making them super easy to display in your home.

For something more affordable, you'll find smaller sets that let you build a few roses, lotus flowers, and sunflowers. These clock in at under $15 each, and while they're likely too small to be a centerpiece on their own, they're a good option for frugal shoppers.

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The Mass Effect TV series may begin filming as soon as later this year. That's according to a posting on Production Weekly, which mentions a "Q4 2026" date for when cameras may start rolling.

This is not confirmed and things can always change. IGN spotted the listing originally.

The Mass Effect show was first revealed back in 2021, so it's been in the works for a long time already. In November 2024, the TV series got a key update, when a report said the show was actually in development. The report said Daniel Casey (Fast & Furious 9) is writing and executive producing the show, while EA's Michael Gamble is an executive producer as well.

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Pokemon Go developer Scopely has revealed new details on the game's next season, Tales of Transformation. The season will start on September 2 and will run through December 2, with some of the highlights including a new transformation for a legendary Pokemon, more Mega Pokemon, and a few new pocket monsters will be coming to the game.

Kicking things off is confirmation that Keldeo will be able to transform into its Resolute Form during a season-long Special Research journey. In the Pokemon games, this form gives the mythical Pokemon more power and speed, and players who have already caught Keldeo can earn Keldeo Candy to power it up further.

Fans of Mega Pokemon can look forward to Mega Raid Days throughout the season, as Mega Sharpedo, Mega Camerupt, and Mega Metagross will all appear during this event. There'll also be new Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon appearing during Tales of Transformation, like Dynamax Abra, Dynamax Duraludon, and Gigantamax Garbodor. Anyone looking to capture some new critters can also hunt for Dripplin and Hydrapple next month.

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As part of a long and storied tradition, creative modders have ported the original 1993 Doom to many unlikely platforms, including a calculator, a pregnancy test, and even a PDF. The latest unexpected device to run the classic game is a smart-charging station by Anker--which can run Doom with no hardware modifications.

The Doom charging station was created by Aaron Christophel on YouTube, who noted the relative power of the chip inside Anker's Prime smart-charging station and knew what he had to do next.

Doom runs surprisingly smoothly on the Anker Prime, with a simple control scheme making the most of its limited inputs--turn the dial to move forward or back, click it to fire or open doors, and click and turn at the same time to turn left to right.

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The latest Grounded 2 patch may not be adding anything completely new to the game, but it is removing some of the survival sandbox's biggest annoyances. Patch 0.1.3 includes some improvements for the Buggy, save-repair options, and makes sure resources will no longer respawn through your structures--though players still report frequent crashes.

In what Obsidian refers to as a "quick fix" pending more major changes, Grounded 2 is getting a handful of game-repair options to remove a few annoyances. You'll now be able to use the Creature Reset option to move all creatures back to their original locations, and the Buggy Reset to send all Buggies back to the nest, no matter where they were--or what state they were in.

The game now ensures that all Snail Shells will automatically despawn after 24 hours, while a separate fix stops resources from spawning in the middle of player-built structures. Obsidian notes that you will still have to get rid of resources that are currently in your base once the update is applied, but that it shouldn't return after this.

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Battlefield 2042 was not a highly regarded entry in the Battlefield series, but the 2021 game is seeing a new boost in players recently, and it has to do with Battlefield 6.

Numbers on SteamDB show that Battlefield 2042 recently reached the highest peak concurrent-player numbers since 2023--reaching about 75,000 players on August 24. The game's all-time peak was 107,376, which was achieved in October 2023. At launch, in 2021, the game peaked at about 105,000.

What's prompting this latest surge in players? No doubt it's the Road to Battlefield 6 update, which added a reimagining of the fan-favorite Iwo Jima map and dozens of rewards redeemable in Battlefield 6. The promotion runs through October 7, so players have plenty of time to unlock everything.

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Baby Steps, the hilariously awkward walking simulator from Devolver Digital, has taken a more cautious step back. In the looming shadow of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the team announced a new release date for September 23. However, the developers released a fun new video of Nate, the game's perpetually off-balance, onesie-clad walker, attempting (and failing) to climb a massive statue of Hornet, the star of Silksong.

This isn't the first game to quietly adjust its footing in the wake of Silksong's long-awaited launch and an increasingly packed fall release schedule. Demonschool, another upcoming indie title from publisher Ysbryd Games, has recently pushed its release to November, retreating from its original September 3 launch date.

Behind Baby Steps' slapstick charm is an all-star indie dev trio: Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It), Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out), and Maxi Boch. Together, they've crafted a seemingly absurd yet oddly touching game about Nate, an unmotivated basement-dweller who discovers his one true gift: walking. One foot at a time, players guide Nate through a mysterious, scenic world using physics-driven controls that transform every hill into a mountain and every step into a monumental achievement.

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A much-hyped meet and greet with Lady Gaga on Roblox's Dress to Impress did not play out as advertised, according to fans who were not exactly impressed by the event. DTI has issued an apology, promising to "take accountability" for fans' disappointment over the meet and greet.

Fans were disappointed to discover that, while Lady Gaga was in fact present and in control of her avatar during the event, only a select few players--including devs, influencers, and contest winners--were actually able to interact with her directly. Other players only saw a broadcast version of Gaga's avatar from a different server. Fans also expressed disappointment that the Gaga Q&A was purely text chat, instead of a voice broadcast.

In case you were wondering if it was me #MAYHEMtoImpress #dresstoimpress pic.twitter.com/6nxfO9RpY0

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 23, 2025

However the biggest controversy over the event was the way feedback was handled by DTI's community team both on official channels and on their own personal socials. "None of you are forced to be here," one community manager said on a YouTube Live stream of the event when reading player criticisms in the chat. "If you're unhappy just leave." The community manager, who streams as BeaPlays, issued a personal apology via DTI socials. "I should not have responded with such a lack of empathy, and that is completely on me," Bea said. "Moving forward, I will keep in mind your feedback and ensure that my responses are more appropriate and thought out."

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Today is a somewhat unusual day for game releases, as two high-profile games that originated as console exclusives are now leaping to competing platforms. Sony's Helldivers 2 launched today on Xbox, with Microsoft's Gears of War: Reloaded debuting on PlayStation 5.

Sony announced that it was bringing Helldivers 2 to Xbox back in July, while Microsoft's announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded in May confirmed a PS5 release.

The launches are notable in part because of what they say about the evolving landscape for games. Microsoft has been embracing a multiplatform release strategy for some time now, and Gears is just the latest effort for Microsoft to put its games on the biggest console platform in a bid to make more money.

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One of the biggest surprises from Summer Game Fest earlier this year was Lumines Arise, a Tetris Effect-style psychedelic puzzle and rhythm game from Enhance--developers of Tetris Effect Connected. Today, Enhance has announced that Lumines Arise will drop its puzzler beats on consoles and PC November 11--and that a demo is available now on Steam and the PlayStation Store.

Lumines Arise is a reimagining of the classic puzzle series Lumines, which was developed by Q Entertainment and first released in 2004 for the PSP. Each Lumines session sees players drop 2x2 blocks--which are made up of smaller squares in two different colors--onto a playing area, and by doing so, they will create larger blocks in order to score points.

Lumines AriseGallery

A demo for Lumines Arise is available starting today on both PlayStation Network and Steam, and it will feature the first three stages of the single-player Journey mode, as well as a new multiplayer mode called Burst Battle. The demo will only be available to download for one week, as it is set to leave both marketplaces on September 3.

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When Overwatch debuted in 2016, it came with an eclectic cast of characters and a backstory that was explored through animated shorts. The mythology of the franchise has only gotten deeper since Overwatch 2 followed in 2022. And the game's director, Aaron Keller, is still hopeful about the franchise getting its own TV series.

During a recent interview with GameSpot, Keller was asked about the potential of a large-scale Overwatch story along the lines of Netflix's Castlevania and Arcane adaptations. His response offered some hope that it may happen someday.

"The team would love to have something like that come out," said Keller. "You know, we're also fans of those shows and fans of those universes. To have something like that for Overwatch would be really, really cool. But I can't really discuss the plans for future stuff like that."

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It's no exaggeration to say that the opening hour of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival has some of the most gruesome sights I have ever seen in a video game.

Games have regularly pushed the boundaries of ultra violence, including Mortal Kombat's fatalities and the grisly cycle of violence depicted in The Last of Us Part 2. But the graphic content depicted in Saber Interactive's twisted adaptation of the infamous horror series is on another level, committing itself to be as true to the British author and director's original nightmarish creation as possible, and completely unfiltered.

This means you're not just coming across a brutally mutilated corpse without actually seeing how they met their horrible demise. A woman's mouth is pulled with a hook while more dig into her bare skin before her whole back is opened up. A nail is hammered through a man's hand and into the arm of a chair, which he's also pinned to with stitches from his stomach. Even the leftover body parts of victims are not just left as idle backdrops but something you will need to reach into and interact with.

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Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is quickly approaching the finish line, scheduled to launch in September. I got the chance to play the kart racer for a second time recently, and my opinion of the game is largely unchanged from my verdict during Summer Game Fest: It's dropping the best aspects of its predecessors to become something closer to Mario Kart. This second session, I spent a little more time with the game, getting a chance to race on additional tracks and play as the previously unavailable Hatsune Miku and Ichiban Kasuga.

CrossWorlds sees you jump into a kart or onto a hoverboard and compete against several other racers from Sega's catalog of Sonic characters (plus a few guests from other franchises!). Each race across the 24 different tracks is three laps, with the second taking place in an entirely different world after the racers teleport through a travel ring. Whichever competitor is in the lead as the racers approach the second lap chooses which world everyone hops over to, with two options given at random from a total pool of 15 other worlds.

It's an interesting gimmick, best seen in the Grand Prix mode that was the focus of both the SGF preview and my latest hands-on. In that mode, you're awarded a number of points depending on your place, which are added up at the end of a series of races to determine the ultimate winner. Each Grand Prix is four races, with the fourth and final race taking place across the three previous tracks--the first lap is on the track from the first race, the second lap is on the track of the second race, and so on.

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