Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's multiplayer beta begins today, October 2, and if you're looking for an edge on the battlefield, we've got something that might interest you.

The game's top directors have shared their loadouts, and given they're the ones who made the game, they might know a thing or two about what a solid loadout might look like. Matt Scronce, Black Ops 7's design director, is running with the Peacekeeper MK1 and pinpoint grenades, along with the Ninja, Assassin, and Dexterity perks and Active Camo as a field upgrade.

Associate design director Lawrence Metten, meanwhile, is playing with M8A1 as a primary weapon, with Psyche grenades and the Ninja, Hunter's Instinct, and Dexterity perks. Metten is also using the Overkill wildcard to get a second main weapon, and they chose the Echo 12 shotgun.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The KPop Demon Hunters Fortnite takeover is underway, and it's pretty thorough! This blockbuster collab brings back the old Horde Rush mode with a KPop Demon Hunters flavor, adds four new items to the Battle Royale and Blitz loot pools, and--of course--all three members of HUNTR/X are available in the item shop. That's a lot for a collab that Epic kept completely under wraps until less than a week ago, and given the surge in popularity for the Netflix movie, it's possible it all came together quickly.

The item shop cosmetics include skins for Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, along with a pickaxe and a ramyeon back bling for each--and the set is rounded out by the Zoey's Thumbs Up emote. The skins cost 1,500 V-Bucks each, and a bundle with everything will run you 3,500, saving you a lot if you plan to get everything anyway.

As you might expect from a collab like this, though, there are also some free KPop Demon Hunters cosmetics that you can earn for free by playing Fortnite. There are two sets of free KPop Demon Hunters items--ones you earn by gaining levels in any mode, and ones you earn by completing quests that are specific to the Demon Rush limited-time mode.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Battlefield 6 is arriving later this month, and Achievement and Trophy hunters now have an idea of what they need to do when it arrives.

Exophase has shared all 53 of the Xbox Achievements in Battlefield 6, which will show up as Trophies on PlayStation 5. On Xbox, the Achievements account for 1,185 Gamerscore points.

There are 11 secret tasks, including awards for playing 74 matches in any version of Battle Royale or winning seven matches in Battle Royale: Duos. Some of the awards appear to have random numbers chosen for their goals, including stunning enemies 316 times or reviving teammates 1988 times.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta early access has arrived, and with the huge popularity of the franchise combined with the specific Black Ops 7 beta start time, you may face some connectivity issues. Some of those issues could be down to your own PC, specifically whether it meets Activision's requirements for anti-cheat protection. Luckily, we've got all of the information you need on how to turn on your PC's secure boot if you're struggling. However, there's also every chance that the servers are struggling to cope with the influx of players and are facing instability, or emergency maintenance is underway. Fear not, we've got the latest on the Black Ops 7 server status so you can get back into the mix during the limited-time beta.

Is Black Ops 7 down?

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 servers are currently active with no reported issues, as the beta has now started for early access players. They will go live on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST for everyone else.

While any notifications around the server status will be posted on the Activision Support X page, these could be delayed while the developer addresses any issues. Make sure to bookmark this page for up-to-date information.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Early access for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta starts today, and Treyarch has released some new patch notes regarding changes and new additions to the beta content. Most notably, the beta will now include a Zombies training course for new players. The developer also warns about a few known bugs it's working to fix during the beta period.

For the first time ever, Call of Duty's Zombies mode is included in the beta. Players will have access to the Vandorn Farm Survival map. This isn't the full round-based map experience in Black Ops 7 Zombies, but instead it is a small Survival map, where players will have access to all the perks and equipment they need to try and survive for high rounds.

It's worth noting that this Zombies content will not be available for the entire length of the beta, and it will instead be featured during two days of early access and two days of the open beta. Zombies content unlocks on October 3 and ends on October 7.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Volume One

$48 | Releases October 15

Preorder at Bitmap Books

Bitmap Books has announced the next entry in its library, The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs. This is a deluxe tome designed to be a visual guide to an iconic era of video game history, and if that piques your interest, you can preorder it for $40 ahead of its shipping date later this month.

The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Volume One $48 | Releases October 15

The first volume in this new series will cover games titled to A-K, and this 550-page book is written by game critic and researcher Moses Norton. The hardcover edition will focus on games like The 7th Saga, Eye of the Beholder, Breath of Fire, Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, EVO, Final Fantasy 2, and many more, and it features detailed writing, developer quotes, and genre history.

Additionally, there's restored art and "lost knowledge", and Bitmap Books says it's "an uncompromising and exhaustive study of the artistry, ideology, and legacy of SNES RPGs" using a methodology that doesn't rely on picking favorites. The cover features striking art, provided by professional artist Stephen "Stumpyfongo" Sitton.

Preorder at Bitmap Books A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games $45

A great book to pair this with is A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games. A massive collection of reviews and essays on over 600 JRPGs, A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games explores the expansive history of this genre, from its early days on 8-bit microcomputers to modern entries on PC and console. It covers a variety of titles like Fire Emblem and Etrian Odyssey, and it's another high-quality print from Bitmap Books.

See at Amazon More from Bitmap Books

Other noteworthy books from the publisher include recent entries like From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror for a deep-dive into digital terror and The Art of the Box for a visual tour of how retro games grabbed your attention with stunning paintings and illustrations.

• A Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games -- $45
• The Art of the Box -- $38 ($45)
• Game Boy: The Box Art Collection -- $43.50
• SNES/Super Famicom: A Visual Compendium -- $66.30
• I'm Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 -- $42.49
• The Art of Point-and-Click Adventure Games -- $43.50
• From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror -- $36.11 ($42.49)
• PC Engine: The Box Art Collection -- $40
• NEOGEO: A Visual History -- $66.24
• NES/Famicom: A Visual Compendium -- $63
• The SNES Pixel Book -- $73.57
• The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition -- $55.82
• The CRPG Book - Expanded Edition -- $61.24
• Run 'n' Gun: A Guide to On-Foot Shooters -- $38.86
• 50 World-Changing Indie Games -- $58
• Commodore Amiga: A Visual Compendium -- $49.31
• Artcade: The Book Of Classic Arcade Game Art -- $65
• Metal Slug: The Ultimate History -- $102.71
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum A Visual Compendium -- $50.75
• The Games That Weren't -- $68.41
• Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection -- $50.75

Another video game history book you can add to your collection is PlayStation: The First 30 Years. Scheduled to ship out in 2026, the book is now available to preorder and is priced at $125.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

In a shocking development, Electronic Arts announced on September 29 that it will go private as part of a $55 billion leveraged buyout. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and private equity company Silver Lake are taking 100% ownership of the company behind franchises like Battlefield, Mass Effect, Madden, and many others.

Industries tend to consolidate over time as they mature, and EA going private is just the latest example of such a move in the video game space. Prior to this, Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard, Take-Two acquired Zynga, Sony purchased Bungie, and the list goes on from there.

There are a number of particulars pertaining to EA's sale that make it unique, however, and the setup has led to numerous questions from industry-observers about what happens next. No one knows the answers for certain, but here are some of the key things to know and unanswered questions about the EA deal to a private consortium.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 finally made their way to the Switch, and they've never looked better. Before now, you could only play them on the old Wii or through the limited-time Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection on Switch--which didn't even include Galaxy 2. Now, both games are available on the regular Switch and Switch 2.

There are a lot of things to appreciate with the new remasters, and Digital Foundry took a deep dive into the biggest differences and the mild downgrades. The biggest difference is that the original Switch runs the games at up to 1080p, while the Switch 2 boosts the visuals all the way to 4K resolution, making everything look much sharper and cleaner, especially on modern TVs. You can check out the full breakdown below.

Basically, most of the menus, cutscenes, and controls are the same as the 2020 3D All-Stars version, including things like touchscreen and motion controls. The pre-rendered cutscenes still run at 1080p, even on Switch 2, and haven't been upgraded to 4K. That's a bit of a letdown, especially since those scenes also show some compression issues and color problems. Still, the improved resolution and sharper gameplay visuals on Switch 2 do a lot to make up for it. Shadows now show from farther away, and character models look better at a distance, too.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Stack Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Prepaid Codes

1 month for $20 / 3 months for $60

See at Amazon

Microsoft has announced a price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, raising the price by 50% from $20 to $30 per month. You do not have to pay that much everywhere, however. GameStop, for example, has announced that it will not raise the price of Game Pass Ultimate for in-store and online shoppers, at least not yet.

The retailer continues to sell one-month Game Pass Ultimate memberships for $20 or three-month memberships for $60. This appears to be a promotion, so it's not likely to last forever, meaning you may want to snap it up now before it's too late. The price comes down to $19 for one month or $57 for a three-month subscription if you're a GameStop Pro member ($25/year).

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and the company has now attempted to defend the hikes.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft director of gaming and platform communications Dustin Blackwell said, "We understand price increases are never fun for anybody, but we're trying to reinforce by adding more value to these plans as well."

He added: "It's something we don't take lightly, and we're listening to the feedback of players and the community to try to provide them with more of what they’re asking for."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Developer Sucker Punch Productions' samurai fantasy sequel, Ghost of Yotei, is finally out on PlayStation 5, and it's already received favorable reviews from critics. As such, it's safe to think that we could see yet another entry in the Ghost franchise in the future; however, the team isn't quite sure about that, as Sucker Punch Productions said in a new interview that timing is key.

Speaking to VGC on October 2, co-founder Brian Fleming explained that the next Ghost game or a return to Sly Cooper isn't out of the question, but because the team only gets to develop a new game "about every five years," that idea has to be "the best idea" possible.

"The truth is that whatever we do next, whether it's continuing Ghost or going back to Sly, the decision is really more limited by, again, our cherishing of focus and time to iterate, which means that we really can only do one thing at a time," Fleming said. "If we were good at juggling four projects, yeah, we’d have a remaster, and let’s go do one of those, and one of those, and do some fan request, that would be really popular. But we only get to do one thing. So it kind of has to be your best idea, right? And that's really clarifying. It's not like there aren't 15 good ideas. But you only get to do one. And by the way, you only get to do one about every five years. So that choice is really important. I mean, that is choosing your college and your major every five years … that's a really big decision, so you better think carefully about it."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

When it comes to building a winning team in EA Sports FC 26, the right formation is just as important as the players you pick. A good formation can unlock your team’s true potential, while the wrong one can leave you exposed at every turn. But whether you’re someone who favors the gegenpress over tiki-taka, there’s a formation for you.

Table of Contents [hide]

• 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow

This guide will explain the best FC 26 formations, breaking down their strengths and weaknesses, while explaining what type of players you’ll need to make it work. From tried and tested setups like 4-2-3-1 Wide to more experimental systems like 3-5-2, we’ll help you find the perfect shape to dominate in your next Division Rivals or Career Mode game.

4-1-2-1-2 Narrow

The 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow meta is back, and we couldn’t be more delighted. This diamond formation wasn’t really favoured in the FC 25 meta, but it’s having a bit of a resurgence.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Starbreeze has canceled its upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, which was in the works under the working title Project Baxter. The developer said its board of directors and management opted to cancel the project after a "strategic review" found that resources would be better deployed on its successful Payday franchise instead.

Starbreeze is taking an impairment charge of about SEK 255 million ($27.2 million) as a result of Project Baxter's cancellation.

"This was a difficult but necessary decision," Starbreeze CEO Adolf Kristjansson said. "Our strategy is clear: Payday is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched reach and potential. By focusing our investment and talent here, we can accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and reinforce Starbreeze's position as the clear leader in the heisting genre. This is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Like most games on the Roblox platform, the developers of Grow A Garden give away free stuff to celebrate big updates in the form of codes. Valid for only a limited time, these can give you access to items that aren’t available anywhere else, or a handful of rare items that are tough to get otherwise.

While there haven’t been all that many of them in the Roblox game’s lifespan so far, the ones that have been made available have mostly been cosmetic items, and in some rare cases, eggs for Grow A Garden pets. Sadly, none of these can help summon rare weather conditions, as it’s only those with admin permissions who can use Grow A Garden console commands, but there are plenty of freebies available. Here are all the currently known Grow A Garden codes, along with instructions on how to redeem them.

Table of Contents [hide]

• All active Grow A Garden codes

This Torii Gate is one of the many exclusive items that was made available via Grow A Garden codes.All active Grow A Garden codes

All of these Grow A Garden codes have been checked and verified since the last update. You can only redeem them once, and the vast majority of them will either appear in your backpack or in the separate cosmetic items section.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft opened preorders for the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally on September 25, and they quickly sold out at some retailers. The high-end handheld is still two weeks away from launch, but at least one fan in Europe got it early thanks to a mistake by Amazon France.

The fan in question goes by TechnicalFun77 on Reddit (via Xbox Era), and the user largely had positive things to say about it before deleting their account for some unexplained reason.

"It's a good console," wrote TechnicalFun77. "Very good ergonomics, controlled weight, pretty nice handheld, armory crate in the full screen experience is very responsive, no latency problem when pressing buttons, quite fluid in the menus in general, and superb battery life at 17-25w. And my god, the console is quiet and well-cooled even at high TDP. One of the main strengths is the sound of the device. It [feels] like the sounds are going all around my head, I almost don't need headphones."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Allow us to introduce you to the most-watched, sometimes controversial but always talked-about survival gameshow that is always looking for show-offs: KING OF MEAT! Get ready for a joyfully unhinged world filled with skeletons, trolls, and of course, corporate commercialism. Are you a Contender ready to destroy anything that steps into the Dungeon? Or are you a Creator, crafting the most devious challenges with your own dungeons?

Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier. Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu's quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.