Following Sony's announcement that it will no longer support physical game discs starting in 2028, Microsoft has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved's physical editions will include discs, including on PS5. Microsoft's announcement likely doesn't have anything to do with Sony's, however.

In a Q&A, Microsoft said people who buy a copy of the game will get a physical game case and disc "so that you have tangible items to add to your collection." This applies to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions of the game.

The timing of Microsoft's announcement about Campaign Evolved coming on a disc is conspicuous given it happened just after Sony confirmed its all-digital plans. But Microsoft no doubt had been planning to release Campaign Evolved on a disc for a very long time now given the logistics involved.

Sony's announcement that PlayStation will no longer support game discs starting in January 2028 might make business sense for the company, but it's also causing much consternation. While Sony's own data shows an increasing share of digital game sales, the company still sells many millions of physical, disc-based games every year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFVVcEM38c

A lot of people still enjoy and seek out physical media. The decision has also led to even more concerns about game preservation and fears that Sony will make gaming even more expensive by eliminating the secondhand market.

For what it's worth, some are saying the next-gen Project Helix console from Microsoft may not have a disc drive in its own push toward digital. It's also been reported that Microsoft may soften the blow with a "disc-to-digital" program that will allow people to convert their discs to digital copies.

Campaign Evolved is a remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved, and if that sounds familiar, it's because Microsoft already released a remaster of the original Halo in 2011 with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Campaign Evolved is a campaign-only remaster of the original game, featuring brand-new prequel missions and a variety of graphical and technical improvements.

The game launches on July 28 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but if you pay more, you can start playing early. For more, check out GameSpot’s Halo: Campaign Evolved buying guide.

One of Ubisoft's most underrated games, Watch Dogs 2, is on a super steep sale on Steam right now. So steep, in fact, that it seems to have inspired a new crop of folks to trawl through the technocratic world of digitized San Francisco to put an end to the surveillance state at a time when we're all under some sort of surveillance IRL.

Over on the game's Steam store page, you can pick Watch Dogs 2 for just $2.50 until Thursday, July 9. That's a 95% discount for a game that normally retails for $50. And that's just the base game! If you wanted to grab the DLC--which includes new cars, co-op adventures, outfits, weapons, world missions, and more--then you can snatch up either the Deluxe Edition for $3 or the Gold Edition for $4. Really, no matter how you look at it, this is a steal for the game.

Likely as a result of this nearly five-finger discount for a game that launched in November 2016, Watch Dogs 2's player count has soared. According to player tracker SteamDB, over 10,000 people are playing it right now, and it saw a 24-hour peak of over 16,000 people. These numbers are steadily encroaching on Watch Dogs 2's all-time concurrent high of 18,138 players. That's impressive for a nine-year-old game.

The game's surging popularity also makes a lot of sense considering the themes it tackles. As the Oakland-native Marcus Holloway, you get racially profiled and wrongfully accused of a high-tech robbery. This incident causes Marcus, an up-and-coming hacker, to join the hacker group DedSec--an Anonymous-esque collective hellbent on dismantling the technocracy ruling Ubisoft's San Francisco Bay Area. Through a series of hijinks, all meant to raise DedSec's clout, you confront the billionaires and the technology that's making life hell for the digital city's population. It's a riveting narrative with a protagonist that's very Black and very fun.

There are a lot of debates around whether we're in a surveillance state at the moment. However, given the rampant use of AI, the overreliance on systems that all communicate with one another--think of smart homes--and the infrastructure that makes all of this technology run, it's not hard to conclude that someone could be surveilling you. A cyberattack can occur in which a hacker gains access to, say, your webcam to watch you, making your "private" home much less so. In any event, it makes for good gameplay opportunities

In GameSpot's Watch Dogs 2 review, we awarded the game an 8/10, calling it an "effortless mix of covert and action-oriented gameplay [with] a likeable cast that knows how to have fun in their own way." That's exactly what you get when you play Watch Dogs 2, which is one of those games that's hard to put down despite some conflicting narrative decisions.

Now's a great time to pick it up, especially if you hate the government surveilling you.

Sony recently announced that it will stop supporting PlayStation game discs in January 2028. Even though Sony continues to sell many millions of discs, the share of digital game sales continues to rise as physical falls, and Sony cited this shift as the reason why it's going all-digital in the future. Now, Alinea Analytics analyst Rhys Elliott has weighed in with his thoughts on the matter, saying there is more to the story, and it's not necessarily a consumer-friendly decision.

"This is all about control," Elliott wrote.

He pointed out that physical game discs hold value for a company like Sony only until they're sold--rentals and resales of the same disc do not put any more money into Sony's pockets.

"Every resale and rental is value flowing to players and retailers instead of to the platform. Without discs, that converts into a fresh full-price digital sale or it doesn't happen at all, and both outcomes obviously suit Sony better than a thriving second-hand market," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY

Elliott went on to say that physical retail pricing is "elastic" and is based on supply and demand. This leads to an environment where pre-owned games are regularly sold for less than what Sony charges itself on digital stores. In killing discs, gamers on the fence about buying a game can no longer "just wait and buy it used," Elliott said.

"This move is all about profitability and control for PlayStation, at the expense of consumer choice," he said.

On the more positive side, Elliott said developers stand to gain from the shift away from discs. Developers need to submit "gold master" copies of their new releases for certification, and this can happen about three months before launch.

"On paper, that means a finished, cert-ready build of a game a quarter of a year before anyone's meant to play it," he said. "The reality is that already-stressed devs throw together a rough, held-together-with-tape build whose job is to survive cert, get it stamped, and then actually ship the game via a mandatory day-one patch."

"Assembling those builds pulls the team's attention onto cert box-ticking tasks that should come after the core development, like controller-disconnect handling, storefront compliance, edge-case plumbing, and all that," he said. "Polish can be the difference between a clean release and a rocky one, so technically a digital-only title can punt the 'final' build much closer to launch.
For a studio up against the wall (read: all of them…) that flexibility could mean the world. So that’s one silver lining."

Elliott also predicted that, should others embrace Sony's all-digital policy, then times might get even tougher for brick-and-mortar retailers. Rockstar's GTA 6 will be sold at physical retailers, but players are getting a code in the box, not a game disc.

"A code-in-box has none of the things that made physical worth choosing: no resale value, no lending, less collectability. The physical channel has no reason to exist, so it's the end for most dedicated games retailers. The nail in the coffin," he said.

It's not just Sony that has reported an increased share of digital games compared to physical games, as Nintendo, Capcom, EA, and others have as well.

Many expected Sony's announcement about ending support for PlayStation discs to be bad news for video game retailer GameStop, but the company's smallest business unit today is software.

A whole bunch of games are shipping out in July, but if you're in the mood for some treachery and leaps of faith on the high seas, then you're likely looking forward to Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced this month. Out on July 9, Ubisoft has revealed the official times for when you can expect to start playing, as well as the preload times in case you've preordered the game already.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X)

$60 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Digital Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC)

$70 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Collector's Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC)

$200 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Preorder at PS Direct

Xbox Series X|S players have had the option to preload the Black Flag remake for over a week, while PS5 and PC players will have to be patient until July 7 before they can prepare for the return of Edward Kenway--the wait might be worth it on PS5 Pro, for extra-realistic hair effects.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag: Resynced aims to modernize the original game with a whole host of improvements, but it might have created a few new problems in the process.

Other Upgrades include an overhauled combat system, craftier enemies, social stealth, and various options to customize the Jackdaw, Kenway's vessel for his trip across the Caribbean.

To get you in the mood for the swashbuckling adventure, you can sing along to the game's sea shanties and check out how some of the game's daredevil moves were recreated in real life.

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced preload times

• Xbox Series X|S: June 22 at 2 PM UTC
• PS5: July 7 at 12 AM local time
• PC: July 7 at 2 PM UTC

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced launch times (July 9)

Los Angeles

• 7 AM PT (PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

New York

• 10 AM PT (PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

Montreal

• 10 AM (PC)
• 12 AM (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

Mexico

• 8 AM CST (PC)
• 12 AM CST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

Sao Paulo

• 11 AM BRT (PC)
• 12 AM BRT (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

London

• 12 AM BST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 3 PM BST (PC)

Warsaw

• 12 AM CEST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 4 PM CEST (PC)

Paris

• 12 AM CEST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 4 PM CEST (PC)

Abu Dhabi

• 12 AM GST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 6 PM GST (PC)

Johannesburg

• 12 AM SAST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 4 PM SAST (PC)

Shanghai

• 12 AM CST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 10 PM CST (PC)

Tokyo

• 12 AM JST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 11 PM JST (PC)

Seoul

• 12 AM KST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 11 PM KST (PC)

Sydney

• 12 AM AEST (Xbox Series X|S, PS5)
• 12 AM AEST (PC) | July 10

10 Ways Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Differs From Ubisoft’s Original Pirate Adventure View Images

The next batch of games for Amazon Luna has been revealed, and this July, you can look forward to superhero workplace drama, turn-based RPG action, and some escape room fun. In total, there will be 12 downloadable games for PC to check out, and five games to stream through Luna Standard.

On the streaming side, the big draw for this month is Dispatch. One of the best games of 2025, the debut title from AdHoc Studio follows a down-on-his-luck superhero who takes up a desk job, where he's given control over superhuman resources. Similar to Telltale's classic games, Dispatch is a narrative-heavy experience where you're frequently tasked with making choices across branching dialogue paths, and then dealing with the consequences down the line. Other games being added to the Luna Standard streaming library this month include Sonic Mania Plus, Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, YouTuber's Life, and Arcade Paradise.

Right now, PC gamers can grab downloads for CyClones, LoneStar, and Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga, and each week in July will see more games made available. As a reminder, all of the free games that you claim through Amazon Luna are yours to keep forever, even if your subscription expires. If you aren't a member, you can sign up for Amazon Luna for as little as $15 for one month to take advantage of the subscription and its freebies.

Sign up for Amazon Prime Amazon Luna Free Games For July 2026 July 2

• CyClones (GOG)
• LoneStar (Epic Games Store)
• Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (Epic Games Store)

July 9

• Still There (GOG)
• Regular Factory: Escape Room (GOG)

July 16

• Poly Vita (Legacy games code)
• Framed Collection (GOG)
• Escape Academy (Epic Games Store)

July 23

• In Sound Mind (Amazon Games App)
• Mystic Academy: Escape Room (GOG)

July 30

• Zoria: Age of Shattering (GOG)
• Weakless (GOG)

Prime subscribers will also be able to play the following new games in July via the Luna channel:

• Dispatch
• Sonic Mania Plus
• Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
• YouTuber's Life
• Arcade Paradise

The Steam Machine is slowly making its way into the wild, with some folks getting their hands on Valve's not-a-console console. One of those people is former SIE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida, who called the device "meh" in some recent social media comments.

Yoshida took to X on July 2 to give his early impressions of the Steam Machine. In a long post, he not only called its performance "meh," but he also said that it's "hard to recommend" because of its high price tag.

https://twitter.com/yosp/status/2072582164898787363

"The system recommends to default to 1080p--am I going back to PS4 days?" Yoshida pondered. "Some games take a looooooong time to boot. What is it doing?"

He clarified that he'd only been playing it for "a few hours"--he posted his thoughts in the early morning on July 2--but ultimately concluded that the device just doesn't live up to its $1,000+ retail price.

It's not all bad for Yoshida, though. He did say that the Steam Machine's "small form factor and quietness" are good while commending the device's changeable faceplate, easy-to-use UI, and the ability to play Steam games on the living room TV. That last fact alone makes it "reason enough" to keep the Steam Machine, but these features appear to be where the positives end for now, as overall, Yoshida just isn't quite buying what Valve is selling.

The Steam Machine has begun shipping out to folks following its June 29 launch. It's very possible, though, that you may have to wait a while for yours, especially considering how confusing the preorder emails Valve started sending out were. You could always check out eBay, but be warned: You'll likely pay double the price.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation wraps up a story years in the making when it launches in 2027, but beyond that? The Unknown Journey might continue a little longer, as one store listing for the game mentions an expansion pass.

As seen on the Epic Games Store (via IGN), Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will have plenty of downloadable content and a "Story Expansion Pass" for purchase. It's not clear yet what these items are for--or if the titles are using placeholder text--but the Story Expansion Pass item does suggest that Cloud and company could venture into new territory.

The Final Fantasy 7 lore certainly allows for this--the animated film Advent Children and the spin-off game Dirge of Cerberus took place after the original game--while game director Naoki Hamaguchi hinted at possible character-specific stories in the future. "We have had a lot of voices from fans wanting to explore the stories, or side stories, of other characters and other parts of the story as well. That is something that is interesting," Hamaguchi said to GameSpot last month at Summer Game Fest.

What lies beyond the Unknown Journey?

Square Enix had previously expanded on the Final Fantasy Remake trilogy with Intergrade, a post-launch expansion for the first game focused on Yuffie. Oddly, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth didn't receive an expansion after launch, as Square Enix opted to instead focus on developing Revelation.

One of the big changes with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is that it won't be available exclusively on PlayStation when it launches. Square Enix is aiming for a multiplatform release, as the game will arrive on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on the same day as PS5. For more on the game, you can check out how minigames will be more optional, what the new FITS system brings to the table, and why Revelation's director believes that streamers are contributing to an RPG crisis.

The Best Final Fantasy Spin-Offs View Images

With Sony officially ending disc production for PS5 games in 2028, hurtling us toward an all-digital future, it's worth remembering that the PlayStation maker recently introduced a new pricing model that is all the more worrying in the wake of this news.

Back in March 2026, reports surfaced that PlayStation had unleashed dynamic pricing in various regions from Brazil to North America. This new model changed the prices you'd see on the PlayStation Store for a PS5 game depending on several factors, including your gaming habits (like when you last logged in), location, and PSN account details (like how old it is). For example, one Brazilian could get the action-adventure game Stellar Blade for $39.89 while another may snatch it up for $20.99.

According to reports from both Eurogamer and Insider Gaming, this pricing model impacted first- and third-party games. Astro Bot--developed by the PlayStation-owned Japanese studio Team Asobi--saw wildly different prices, as noted by Cheap Ass Gamer. Stellar Blade, on the other hand, was developed by the South Korean studio Shift Up and published by PlayStation.

This dynamic pricing model is quite concerning now that PlayStation is effectively killing physical games in 2028. Though they do go on sale occasionally, digital games aren't always cheaper than their physical counterparts. And because local governments require that the company collect sales taxes on digital goods, you're sometimes paying the same--if not more--for a digital game. This has resulted in class-action lawsuits in both California and the Netherlands.

All of this points to a potentially expensive--or, at the very least, dizzyingly unpredictable--all-digital future where you could pay one price, your friend may pay another price, and your sibling (or whomever) pays a totally different price. It's all up in there, and that's the worrying part.

If you have some downtime over the 4th of July weekend and are looking for a game to play, Microsoft is bringing back its Free Play Days promotion, offering up some top titles to play for the low, low price of $0.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's multiplayer and Zombies modes are free now through July 6, while Diablo IV is free through July 7. Demonschool and The Stone Madness have free two-hour trials now through July 5. None of these games require an Xbox Game Pass subscription during the free period.

Free is a nice price.

Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure is part of the Free Play Days promotion through July 5, but you'll need Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential.

This Free Play Days event comes at a tumultuous time for Xbox, as the company is expected to begin mass layoffs on July 6. Microsoft may close at least five studios as well, though it's possible other arrangements could be made that does not result in studio closures or game cancellations.

The new Resident Evil movie from Weapons and Barbarian director Zach Cregger does not feature characters from the games--why is that?

Cregger said in a new interview that it would be "inorganic" for his movie "try to shoehorn" legacy characters from Capcom's series into his film because it's a "self-contained story."

"I have to put the story first and foremost," he said told Empire magazine, as reported by GamesRadar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KDtokTO1c

Cregger's Resident Evil movie tells an "entirely original story" that takes place in the Resident Evil universe. Some fans have questioned this approach, saying they'd rather see one of the game's stories adapted and for the film to feature popular characters like Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine.

That's not going to happen, though, and Cregger thinks fans of the game will be happy with what he creates.

"When you watch it, you'll be like, 'This is very Zach.' It's just [that] it takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don't think fans of the games are gonna be bummed," he told Entertainment Weekly.

The Resident Evil movie comes to theaters on September 18. It stars Austin Abrams as an "idiot" medical courier named Bryan who gets mixed up in a horrifying adventure that Cregger says is akin to The Lord of the Rings.

“Not that he’s stupid, but he’s not your typical game character, with no combat skills whatsoever and completely inept at survival. Bryan is very much an everyman who happens to be burdened with this kind of sacred mission that’s going to take him into the heart of everything. It’s kind of like Frodo going into Mordor," he said.