The rumored Xbox layoffs arrived earlier today, and they were even deeper than expected. Microsoft made significant job cuts across the board, including the cancelation of Rare's Everwild and a new MMO from The Elder Scrolls Online team. But Xbox boss Phil Spencer still has his job, and despite rumors to the contrary, he isn't retiring.

Xbox's head of communications Kari Perez told The Verge that, "Phil is not retiring anytime soon." That was in response to a rumor spread by Call of Duty leaker GhostofHope that claimed Spencer will step down from his role as Microsoft Gaming CEO after the next-generation Xbox console launch, which would pave the way for Xbox president Sarah Bond to succeed him. As that rumor gained traction, Microsoft communications chief Frank Shaw posted on X that it was made up.

In response to the outcry over the layoffs, Spencer claimed that the cuts were necessary and touted the future of Microsoft's gaming division.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Warcraft Rumble is shifting into life-support mode following the latest round of layoffs at Microsoft, which appears to be targeting about 4% of the company's workforce, or around 9000 employees.

In a post on Blizzard's blog, the studio announced that the team behind Warcraft Rumble would "continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content. " An email sent to staff by Blizzard president Johanna Faires about the layoffs, which was received and reported on by Aftermath, reads, "As part of these changes, we made the difficult decision to shift to a scaled down, live ops-only phase of development for Warcraft Rumble, similar to our current approach with games like StarCraft II and Heroes of the Storm.”

Warcraft Rumble, a mobile tower defense game based on Blizzard's popular Warcraft series, was released back in 2023 after nine years in development.According to this latest announcement though, Rumble "struggled to find its footing," and despite feedback from the community and changes implemented by the team, the efforts weren't enough to set the game on "a path to sustainability."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart (1,972 Pieces)

In stock for $170 at Amazon, Walmart, and Target

See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Target See at Best Buy See at Lego Store

The first Lego Mario Kart display model designed for adults is now available at major retailers. Preorders for the $170 Mario & Standard Kart had only been available at Walmart, but the superbly realized 1,972-piece replica of Mario and his signature red kart launched at all major retailers this week, including Amazon. Prime members can get the charming building set in time for the holiday weekend.

Get Mario & Standard Kart at:

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Mecha Break is an ambitious free-to-play anime mech shooter from Amazing Seasun Games. While Mecha Break's launch this week kicks off a number of events and the game's first season, it also adds a ton of new modes and features which were unavailable during its feature-limited open beta. The largest addition is a swath of multiplayer modes, ranging from co-op, PvP, and "extraction." A variety of new cosmetics and customization features are also newly available.

Here's how each of Mecha Break's new multiplayer modes work. In Operation VERGE, you'll battle in 6v6 matches. The first team to complete a map-specific objective--like capturing specific locations or escorting a vehicle--wins. Ace Arena is a 3v3 deathmatch mode, in which teams compete to be the first to kill eight opponents. In this mode, players can switch their mech mid-battle. Operation Storm is Mecha Break's extraction mode, taking place across a massive map called Mashmak. You'll combat both player- and computer-controlled enemies, stealing their loot, and attempting to make it back to a designated extraction point. You can enter Mashmak with a squad of teammates or all on your own. In co-op, you can explore restricted zones: locked areas where you have to fight a boss or complete objectives within a time limit.

Thanks to new features with Mecha Break's full release, your mechs and pilots are now customizable. You can pick up paints and patterns for your mech by paying for them through micro-transactions, or by completing in-game missions and achievements. The same applies to pilot cosmetics like makeup, hairstyles, outfits, and so on. You can also put your avatar design up for sale in the Matrix marketplace to earn in-game currency. he release update also adds the option to explore your base between missions. You can be joined by up to two friends, and the addition includes the ability to snap pictures together

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Corpse Bride Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray

$35 | Release date TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Tim Burton's cult-classic stop-motion animated film, Corpse Bride, is receiving a limited-edition steelbook 4K Blu-ray release to celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year. The film carries many of the recognizable trademarks of Burton's other works, including a dark and gloomy art direction, a score composed by Danny Elfman, and the voice talents of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. While the Corpse Bride Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray does not have a firm release date yet, preorders are available for $35 at Amazon.

Corpse Bride Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray $35 | Release date TBA

The upcoming Corpse Bride Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Blu-ray features a simple, plain black cover, while the interior is far more colorful, showcasing the titular Corpse Bride and several other characters. No bonus features are listed yet, but this will likely include a selection of extra content from previous Blu-ray and DVD releases, which featured behind-the-scenes featurettes, art galleries, and a music-only track that replaces the audio with composer Danny Elfman's score.

Preorder at Amazon

Corpse Bride is the dark tale of Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), a young bachelor roped into a wedding of convenience to his bride-to-be, Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson). After a series of incidents result in Victor accidentally marrying a deceased woman named Emily (Helena Bonham Carter), he must find a way to escape the Land of the Dead, help Emily move on.

While Burton's work spans multiple genres and decades, each film carries his signature style and visual atmosphere, and if you're looking to check out more of his catalog, many of his films are available on Blu-ray at Amazon. Burton made his directorial debut with Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, and he followed up it with several other cult-classic movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s, such as A Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, and Mars Attacks. He also directed two of the best Batman films ever, in 1989's Batman and its sequel, Batman Returns. Check out a list of even more Tim Burton Blu-rays below.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Amazon Prime Day 2025 (July 8-11)

Early deals are available now for Prime members.

See at Amazon

If you're in the market for new peripherals for your PC gaming setup, Amazon has some enticing early Prime Day offers on an assortment of premium Asus gear. Keyboards, gaming mice, and earbuds are all down to some of their best prices of the year right now--so if you’re itching to upgrade your setup, now is a pretty great time to start shopping.

Note: Most of the deals below require you to click a coupon box to get the full discount, so be sure to do that before adding it to your cart.

Best Asus Gaming Gear Deals at Amazon Asus Gaming Gear - Early Prime Day Deals

• Asus ROG Falchion Ace 65% Gaming Keyboard -- $149 ($200)
• Asus ROG Strix Scope II Wireless Keyboard -- $168 ($210)
• Asus ROG Keris II Ace Wireless Mouse -- $100 ($180)
• Asus ROG Harpe Wireless Mouse (Black) -- $90 ($150)
• Asus ROG Harpe Wireless Mouse (White) -- $90 ($150)
• Asus ROG Cetra Wireless Earbuds (Bluetooth) -- $70 ($100)
• Asus ROG Cetra Speednova Wireless Earbuds (2.4GHz + Bluetooth) -- $170 ($220)

Keris II Ace Mouse, Falchion Ace 65% Keyboard, and Cetra Wireless Earbuds

One of the best deals is for the Asus ROG Keris II Ace Wireless Mouse, which is seeing an $80 discount. The lightweight mouse is just 54 grams, features an ergonomic design with an elevated bump for extra palm support, and offers a polling rate up to 8,000Hz when used in wired mode. Users say the 42K optical sensor is reliable and accurate, while the optical microswitches are rated for an impressive 100 million clicks--so it should last you quite a long time.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Following rumors that a new My Hero Academia fighting game was in the works, Bandai Namco confirmed the news by announcing My Hero Academia: All's Justice during its summer showcase. The 3D fighting game is being developed alongside the anime series' final season, and as such, will feature the all of the series' final fights, allowing players to experience the conclusion of the popular manga firsthand.

After showing off its visuals in a short trailer, Bandai Namco offered a first look at combat and a brief overview of its mechanics. One of the highlights of the game is a "huge roster" that, for the first time ever, includes all students from class 1-A.

Limited Edition Echo Dot Spider-Man Stand

$30 (was $40) / Bundle it with a new Echo Dot for $32 (was $50)

See at Amazon

While Prime Day 2025 doesn’t officially begin until July 8, there are already some great early deals on Amazon devices. The fifth generation Echo Dot, for example, is just $32--the lowest price we’ve seen this year. And if you’re a Marvel fan, consider pairing it with the Limited Edition Echo Dot Spider-Man Stand. Modeled after Spider-Man’s iconic mask, it’s a fun choice for a kid’s room or game room. The stand is seeing its first-ever discount ahead of Prime Day, dropping the price to $30 (was $40).

Limited Edition Echo Dot Spider-Man Stand $30 (was $40) / Bundle it with a new Echo Dot for $32 (was $50)

This fun little Echo Dot Stand is compatible with the 4th and 5th generation Echo Dot. It’s designed so you can easily slot the smart speaker into the top of the mask, with a small cutout on the back for the power cable. The coolest part of the stand? Spidey’s eyes will glow, as the light ring on your Echo can shine through its translucent cover. The light adjusts automatically--so the darker the room, the brighter his eyes.

The stand doesn’t bring any additional functionality to your Echo, but it’s a fun way to display it in your home. It also won’t hinder your ability to operate the smart speaker, as all its buttons and ports are still easily accessible. As mentioned, this is the first discount we’ve seen for the stand, and it's prominently featured on Amazon's home page, so we wouldn't be surprised if it sells out.

See at Amazon

Amazon Prime Membership

Get exclusive deals and free games ahead of Prime Day.

See plans at Amazon Amazon Prime Day Smart Speaker & Display Deals

Unless otherwise stated, all of the deals below are for the newest editions of Amazon's various Echo smart home devices.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft laid off numerous Xbox developers, canceled games, and closed at least one studio this week as part of the company's latest round of significant cuts. The company still has 40+ projects that remain in the works, and it's now been reported that everything shown during the Xbox Games Showcase in June remains in development.

Windows Central reported that "everything" in that showcase is "safe." Some of the games on display in the showcase included Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2, Grounded 2, Keeper, Gears of War: Reloaded, and Clockwork Revolution. Some games not shown at the event, like State of Decay 3, are going forward as well, the report said. Separately, a source told Variety that "every game" on display at the event in June is "continuing on."

In terms of games that are not going forward, Rare's Everwild and the new Perfect Dark have been canceled--neither appeared at the Showcase, fueling theories about what that could mean. Microsoft's Matt Booty said in a memo to staff that "several unannounced projects" have been canceled as well, and one of them could be the reported MMO Blackbird from ZeniMax Online Studios.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Last of Us has been a major hit for HBO since its premiere in 2023, but the series is facing a creative change behind-the-scenes moving forward into Season 3. Neil Druckmann--the co-creator of The Last of Us video games and the co-showrunner of the series--has announced his departure from the show.

Naughty Dog shared the announcement on social media, noting that Druckmann is leaving The Last of Us to focus on his duties at the studio and to work on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the next game from Naughty Dog.

pic.twitter.com/baQee9IpHO

— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) July 2, 2025

"Co-creating the show has been a career highlight," wrote Druckmann. "It's been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. I'm deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sony UBP-X700U 4K Blu-ray Player (2025 model)

$218 (was $300)

Get deal at Amazon Get deal at Best Buy

Ahead of Prime Day 2025, Amazon is offering a stellar deal on the new 2025 edition of Sony's popular UBP-X700U 4K Blu-ray Player. The UBP-X700U launched a few weeks ago--Amazon started selling it on June 9--but you can already save more than $80 on Sony's newest mid-range media player. Physical media enthusiasts can snag this $300 4K Blu-ray player for only $218 for a limited time at Amazon or Best Buy. You could use some of the money you're saving on Criterion Collection Blu-rays while they are on sale for 50% off.

Alternatively, you can get the more budget-friendly Sony BDP-S1700U 1080p Blu-ray Player for $85 (was $95). This is also a brand-new release from Sony and is currently the best-selling new media player on Amazon.

Sony UBP-X700U 4K Blu-ray Player (2025 model) $218 (was $300)

Sony Blu-ray players have a solid reputation, and the X700U model on sale offers a number of features found in some of Sony's high-end line of Blu-ray players. It plays 4K Blu-rays in native 4K UHD (2160p) resolution and supports HDR10, which improves picture brightness.

It comes with an HDMI cable, but we'd recommend grabbing a second 4K cable if you don't have a spare. That's because the player has two HDMI out ports. The main one is for video and audio, and is the only one you must use, but the second output is dedicated to audio. Separating audio from video output produces a richer, clearer sound, so dual ports are common on dedicated 4K Blu-ray players. It's one of the benefits of using a media player for Blu-rays instead of a game console like the PS5 or Xbox Series X. You can grab an Amazon Basics 4K HDMI cable for $6 right now.

The UBP-X700U also has a Coaxial SPDIF, which can be connected to speakers, soundbars, and TVs. In- terms of audio support, the UBP-X700U is equipped with high-end audio enhancements, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

One of the coolest features of dedicated Blu-ray players like the X700U is picture upscaling. The X700U can read 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVDs. When enabled, the built-in tech will enhance the resolution of standard Blu-rays and DVDs.

While we haven't tested the 2025 edition of the X700U, the upscaling feature on previous iterations was quite impressive. Standard 1080p Blu-rays can look pretty darn close to 4K resolution, and 480p resolution DVDs are substantially better. Honestly, without upscaling tech, DVDs generally look terrible on modern 4K and HD panels. That said, upscaled output varies, and sometimes there are jagged edges or noticeable oddities that won't be appealing to viewers looking for an authentic experience.

Get deal at Amazon Get deal at Best Buy

For a higher-end 4K player with built-in streaming and voice assistant capabilities, check out the Panasonic DP-UB820-K. This is one of the most popular premium models on the market today. Normally $500, you can get it for $404 ahead of Prime Day.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Season 4 Reloaded is now live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, and the update is themed around cartoon content and a Beavis and Butt-Head collaboration. Data miners have now discovered a potential American Dad crossover in the new game files, meaning more cartoon skins could be on the way.

Data miners have leaked Call of Duty bundles for both Stan and Roger from Seth MacFarlane's American Dad animated sitcom. These leaks also suggest a price of 2,800 CoD Points ($25) for each bundle, which is typical for the pricing on most bundles for Call of Duty's big IP crossovers.

Here's the American Dad Stan Smith Skin in game.
(via @realityuk_) pic.twitter.com/jgihDmsZz7

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) July 2, 2025

It's uncertain when this American Dad collaboration might arrive. If this content is indeed still planned for Call of Duty, it's possible it might arrive with Season 4 Reloaded to continue the cartoon theme, or this could be planned for a later crossover event in Season 5.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Xbox's Perfect Dark reboot, first announced in 2022, has been canceled. Its developer, The Initiative, is also shutting down, Microsoft has confirmed.

First reported by Windows Central and corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, the cancellation of Perfect Dark and closing of The Initiative come as part of Microsoft's latest round of layoffs, which are affecting an estimated 4% of the company's workforce. That translates to around 9,000 people losing their jobs, many of them across Microsoft's various gaming studios.

The Initiative was formed in 2018 and based in Santa Monica. Billed as a "AAAA" studio, it was led by former Crystal Dynamics studio head Darrel Gallagher and made up of developers from Respawn, BioWare, Naughty Dog, and more. In 2021, The Initiative announced it would partner with Crystal Dynamics, developer of the most recent Tomb Raider games, to assist on the Perfect Dark reboot.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Mecha Break has officially launched, and like several other live-service games, there's a new event to take part in. The first one is Christian's Challenge, and this will run until July 27.

Christian's Challenge

Taking part is simple, as all you have to do is accumulate more Mission Tokens than the character Christian every week. The deadline for this is 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET for each Sunday that the event is active, and Mission Tokens and rewards are tallied weekly. To see if you're making any progress, you can check Christian's haul through the event interface. If you manage to come out on top, you'll get the following goodies:

• Head accessory: Disguise Glasses
• Insignia: Christian (also usable on outfits)
• Leg accessory pistol
• Christian pattern

Rally Order

The other event to take part in is Rally Order. In this mode, you'll select a theme--Rainfall, Sinslayer, Tempest, Skyred, Monarch, or Overlord--to form a tactical unit. You'll need to use invitation codes to invite other players to squad up with you, and doing so will earn your team Mission Tokens. One thing to note here is that you'll be unable to switch themes or join other units once you've formed a tactical unit, but if you're the sole member, you can disband the team. This will free you up to either select a new theme or accept invitations to join another unit.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The breadth and depth of Microsoft's latest layoffs continue to come into focus, as a report now claims that Call of Duty developer Raven Software and Forza Motorsport studio Turn 10 have been affected. This is in addition to the layoffs at Sea of Thieves developer Rare, Candy Crush studio King, and The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online Studios.

According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, "many" of the Xbox-owned game developers are facing layoffs due to Microsoft's broader push to cut 4% of its workforce globally. The cuts to Turn 10 are reportedly very significant, with "nearly 50%" of staff affected, Schreier said.

Raven Software is the main co-developer on Activision's upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 alongside Treyarch. Raven also works on Call of Duty: Warzone. Turn 10 Studios, meanwhile, is known for its work on the Forza Motorsport series, the latest entry of which came out in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

In addition to Rare's Everwild, it appears another canceled game at Xbox from the latest round of restructuring is a long-in-development MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios.

According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, Microsoft has canceled "Blackbird," the codename for the project from makers of The Elder Scrolls Online. Schreier said the game had been in development since 2018. No other details about the project were revealed.

"As one illustration of just how sloppy and chaotic today's mass Xbox layoff has been, some employees at Zenimax Online Studios are now watching their Slack accounts abruptly get locked out. No message from HR, no word on whether they still have a job, just an ominous Slack deactivation," Schreier added.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Earlier this summer, developer People Can Fly was hit by layoffs and the cancelation of two unannounced projects. Now, two reports have indicated that one of the canceled games was Outriders 2, the sequel to the 2021 action-shooter that People Can Fly developed for publisher Square Enix.

The Thumb Wars was the first outlet to report the story, which was subsequently corroborated by Insider Gaming. In June, People Can Fly explained that one of the canceled games--under the name Project Gemini--was suspended over issues with the game's publishers regarding its failure to give the developer assets it needed to continue. It also noted that the publisher failed to maintain a dialogue with People Can Fly that would allow the two sides to finish the project.

Insider Gaming identifies Project Gemini as Outriders 2, and Square Enix as the publisher in question. The outlet reports that Outriders 2 wasn't nearly as close to completion as The Thumb Wars' report suggested, but there were no firm answers about what went wrong between People Can Fly and Square Enix.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The big headline you're going to hear EA talk about in the lead-up to Madden NFL 26 is how this year's game boasts "the biggest franchise update in over a decade." You'll likely hear some other outlets and content creators repeating this phrase, accepting it as true. You won't read that here, though. Madden's Franchise mode has been in a rough place for years now, and last year's game taught me not to trust what I hear, only what I see for myself.

During a hands-off presentation of Madden's next Franchise update at the EA Orlando campus, the team detailed all the things it's adding to my favorite mode. Franchise is something I pour hundreds of hours into year after year, but my interest in the mode is sustained thanks to the fantastic and friendly league I'm in. If I needed the mode itself to keep me invested as a solo player, I'd play it far less, if at all. Madden has been improving on the field year after year lately, but Franchise remains a broken, frustrating experience, and I'm not willing to take EA at its word that this year's update will be so beneficial.

Last year, one of the marquee new features coming to Madden 25 was the plethora of new storyline scenarios that could unfold in Franchise mode. Any given week, you might have a team meeting in which you need to gameplan for your opponent, a press conference with a feisty reporter pool, or a sideline chit-chat with a frustrated player. The idea was to infuse the game with true-to-life drama. It's a fun idea on paper, but it was implemented incredibly, sometimes hilariously poorly.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

We're less than a week away from Amazon Prime Day 2025. While some deals will be available to everyone during the four-day sales event (July 8-11), many of the best offers will be exclusive to Prime members. If you don't have a membership and are between the ages of 18 and 24, you can save big on your subscription. Amazon's new Prime Young Adult subscription drops the price by 50%, lowering the monthly cost to only $7.49 (most members pay $15). Annual subscriptions are also half the cost at $69 instead of $139.

Even better, new accounts who qualify for the Young Adults membership get their first six months at no cost, plus 5% cash back on orders--both of which are perks exclusive to this new tier.

Join Amazon Prime Young Adult

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Ready or Not has been a huge hit for Void Interactive over on Steam, getting good reviews from critics and consumers alike. However, players have turned against the developer, with the game getting pelted by negative reviews over the past week. The reason? Void removed some material from the game in order to get it certified for its console port.

"Throughout this console port process we've done our utmost to only make changes when they are flagged as absolutely required by our first party partners, and any changes aim to remain faithful to the original tonality of the game, so there is no reason to be alarmed," Void said in a statement. "Our age rating as it stands for console is ESRB M-rating, PEGI 18, and USK 18 to give an idea. Still, there are other game content requirements that console platforms have in order to exist on their systems, and a portion of these changes will be visible on the PC version."

Void went on to describe the changes of the level of gore, but insist for the most part, everything will still be in tact. For example, dismemberment still has a large presence in the game, but is a little more limited.

Continue Reading at GameSpot