The European Union parliament has taken up the debate about the Stop Killing Games movement and whether game publishers have the responsibility to keep their titles online after players have already purchased and played them for years. However, Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik decided to derail the conversation by focusing on his personal beef with the gaming industry rather than addressing the issue at hand.

“Wokeness and aggressive monetization is destroying videogames,” said Uhrik when it was his turn to speak. “One thing that is definitely destroying video games is the crazy, woke ideology and political correctness which is being forced into the games. For example, if we want to play as a samurai, obviously we want to play as a Japanese warrior and not to be forced to play as a Black person warrior or female warrior as it happened recently in Assassin’s Creed. Or to play as a queer character, without any other choice. This is an issue, really, for players.”

The game in question, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, featured Yasuke, a historical figure who was a samurai of African descent and lived in Japan during the late 16th century. Yasuke shared the spotlight in Shadows with a fictional creation, Naoe, both of whom were playable characters. Late last year, Ubisoft acknowledged that the backlash against Yasuke was one of the reasons Shadows was delayed.  

Ubisoft inadvertently led to the creation of the Stop Killing Games movement when it decided to shut down The Crew. In response, YouTube host Ross Scott started Stop Killing Games by challenging the legal standing of publishers’ ability to shut down titles that had already been sold to players. In response, the EU lobbying association Video Games Europe responded that Stop Killing Games' proposals to keep older games alive "would curtail developer choice by making these video games prohibitively expensive to create." 

During a shareholders meeting in 2025, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot argued that games are a service, “but nothing is written in stone and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we are doing our best to make sure that things go well for all players and buyers, because obviously support for all games cannot last forever. But that's an issue that we're working on. That's something that the industry at large is working on, to minimize impact on players."

That’s the debate that continues to play out in the European Union parliament, despite the apparent attempt by Uhrik to turn it into something else.

Owlcat Games—the studio behind upcoming RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn—has announced plans to recast the actor voicing its male protagonist, after players complained about a perceived lack of emotion in his voice during the game's beta test last month.

"While the voice actor for the male protagonist and J put in a lot of good work, they felt less expressive than we wanted," Owlcat Games shared in a blog post on Osiris Reborn's Steam page. "Because of this, we are changing the voices of the male protagonist and J."

In The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, players can create their own player character (simply named "You" in the beta) and customize their gender, appearance, and background (Belter, Earther, or Martian). The player-character also has a twin sibling, J, who is voiced by the same actor who voices the protagonist. Based on Owlcat's statements, it seems that only the male protagonist (and thus the male version of J) are being recast, while the actor voicing the female protagonist (and the female version of J) is sticking around.

Interestingly, player feedback in the game's subreddit seems to focus more on the game's need for a dialogue overhaul, some story adjustments, and changes to the player-character's tone rather than complaints about a specific actor's performance.

"Belter Patois is undoubtedly a challenge for the devs but the almost complete lack of Belter slang, the lack of Belter cynicism, [and] the overly cheery delivery of the voice actors' tone are, in my opinion, awful," one player wrote on reddit after checking out the beta test.

Owlcat didn't share the name of the actor being replaced, nor did they share who will be replacing them (it's possible a replacement hasn't been chosen yet). The studio did say that some of J's voice lines are being reworked regardless of what gender players choose.

"We know J's battle cries got a bit repetitive," the dev team shared. "The 'ask' system was still very much a work in progress during the beta, and a full rework has been on our roadmap all along. Still, thank you for pointing it out and sharing your thoughts."
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is currently scheduled to arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X sometime in the Spring of 2027.

The future of Bungie is looking uncertain, as insider reports claim layoffs are on the way for the studio as it ends development on Destiny 2. There are reportedly no plans to move into development on Destiny 3, with Bungie looking to refocus on Marathon instead for the time being.

Following the news that Bungie would deliver its final content update for Destiny 2 this June, a Bloomberg report suggests the studio is planning “significant” layoffs. Amid speculation that the studio would move into production on Destiny 3, or another Destiny-related title, insider sources quoted by Bloomberg say that there is currently no project for the Destiny 2 team to move on to.

Bungie staff are reportedly pitching new projects to begin developing, including some Destiny-related titles, but none have currently been greenlit for production. With game companies--including Bungie's parent company Sony--more budget-conscious than ever amid rising hardware prices and a competitive market, it's not certain if any of these new projects will move into development.

Sony bought Bungie for $3.6 billion back in 2022, but has since written $769 million off the Destiny studio's value. In the time since the acquisition, Bungie has undergone significant layoffs and has canceled side projects to go all-in on Marathon and Destiny 2.

In a reply on Bluesky, reporter Jason Schreier added that the reason Bungie didn't immediately start production on Destiny 3 after the release of The Final Shape was because of concerns around costs. A planned Destiny spin-off codenamed Payback, which was referred to internally as "the next Destiny," was also canceled sometime after Bungie was acquired by Sony.

https://bsky.app/profile/jasonschreier.bsky.social/post/3mmfnevl6q22a

For now, Bungie is focusing on its extraction shooter Marathon, which hasn't performed as well as hoped since its release in March. Some staff from the Destiny 2 team were also moved to Marathon recently.

7 Marathon Beginner Tips To Help You Survive On Tau Ceti View Images

Join Bubsy on a new, intergalactic, platforming adventure! Yeah, we couldn’t believe it either. The world’s most infamous, wise-cracking bobcat has returned to 3D with new challenges, new moves, and even more purrsonality – in space! Run, jump, glide, and roll across alien planets, battle robotic sheep, and collect tons and tons of yarn. What could possibly go wrong? Bubsy’s longstanding enemies, the fleece-obsessed Woolies, have stolen all of the Earth’s sheep. Oh well, that ain’t Bubsy’s problem. Until the sheep overthrow their captors and return as deadly BaaBots, empowered by Woolie technology, determined to steal Bubsy’s most prized possession, The Golden Fleece. With the help of his motley crew of acquaintances, Bubsy must journey through space to defeat the BaaBots and take back the Golden Fleece.

Take-Two Interactive has reconfirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch November 19 in the company's fiscal 2026 results briefing. The commitment comes roughly a year since the open-world game was delayed to May 2026, which then led to another release-date shift this past November. 

There were rumblings of another possible delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, especially with Rockstar's history. Additionally, it's now been over a year since the game has even gotten a new trailer. But Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick noted the highly anticipated title is sticking to November 19 in the results briefing. "We believe fiscal 2027 will establish new record levels of operating performance driven by the November 19 launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, along with strong execution across our portfolio."

Variety also chatted with Zelnick, asking about a possible price-point reveal for Grand Theft Auto VI. The CEO said there wouldn't be any announcement today regarding pricing. Earlier this month, Bank of America stated that Grand Theft Auto VI should cost $80. 

Zelnick also told Variety that marketing will start in earnest this summer for Grand Theft Auto VI. That's still a month away in the US, with the season officially beginning June 21. There's a chance advertisements could pop up at the FIFA World Cup 26, which will run June 11 to July 19.

Grand Theft Auto VI will come to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19. The game won't launch on PC at the same time. 

Helldivers 2's next Legendary Warbond will bring the grim-dark future of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe to developer Arrowhead's co-op shooter, a match made in alien-destroying heaven.

The announcement came as part of the latest Warhammer Skulls presentation, revealing what fans can expect in the months ahead from Warhammer video games like the upcoming Boltgun 2 and a new Warhammer fantasy title, Deathmaster. During the presentation, Helldivers 2 director Mikael Eriksson appeared and confirmed the collaboration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOaB_8-ziwE

"At Arrowhead, we believe these two worlds fit perfectly together, and as a studio of diehard Warhammer fans, we are beyond thrilled to see this Legendary Warbond come to life," Eriksson said.

No date was given for when fans can expect the new Legendary Warbond to drop, but Eriksson confirmed it would be coming "later this year." It will be the third IP crossover in Helldivers 2, following crossovers with Sony's Killzone and Microsoft's Halo: ODST franchises.

It does seem to be a no-brainer pairing, as the Helldivers of Super Earth, much like the forces of the Imperium in Warhammer 40K, look to wipe out all alien threats in a hostile galaxy. What players probably shouldn't expect, however, are 40K's iconic Space Marines to appear.

Based on previous posts made by former Arrowhead CEO (now creative director) Johan Pilestedt where he responded to a fan's question about potential crossovers, it seems like Warhammer 40K's Astra Militarum faction is the most likely candidate for the crossover. In the post, Pilestedt literally draws a line between what crossovers he thinks would and wouldn't make sense for Helldivers 2. Halo's ODSTs and 40K's Astra Militarum soldiers are on the left side of the line, the Space Marines of 40K and Halo's super-soldier Master Chief are on the other.

He added more context in a follow-up comment, reiterating that crossovers in Helldivers 2 should be limited, shouldn't break immersion, and be close to a "1:1 match" between the two IPs.

Part of the appeal of Helldivers is that while the game's titular soldiers are the elite of Super Earth's armed forces, they are still grunts at the end of the day. Helldivers regularly die by the millions as part of the game's Second Galactic War, a sacrifice Super Earth's government seems more than okay with making. That gives Helldivers plenty in common with the Imperium's Astra Militarum forces, who are just regular humans sent in to die by the hundreds of millions to defend human worlds from all kinds of horrific alien enemies.

With all that in mind, it wouldn't make sense for the heavily genetically modified Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes to be seen stomping around in Helldivers 2, though there is certainly potential for plenty of powerful Warhammer 40K weaponry like bolters and chainswords to make an appearance as part of the Warbond.

Helldivers 2's most recent Warbond added two new Exosuits and made major balance changes, all at a time when the game's playerbase seems more frustrated than ever. Amidst Helldiver's 2 recent user reviews on Steam dipping into "Mostly Negative," Arrowhead put out a blog to address recent criticisms and outline what it's working on to improve the game, with aims to improve the meta-progression of the Galactic War and communicate more regularly with the playerbase about what the team is working on.

Helldivers 2’s New Premium Warbond Finally Does Something No Warbond Has Done Before View Images

Nearly nine years after its release, live service support for Destiny 2 is coming to an end. Bungie has announced that it plans to release the last content update for the online shooter on June 9, 2026.

In a blog post, Bungie explained that after the game's last big expansion, The Final Shape, it felt that it had reached time on the stories it wanted to tell with Destiny 2. Content for Destiny 2 had been trickling in at a slower pace after Bungie focused more on releasing its extraction shooter, Marathon, with more time now being spent on determining what the studio's next game will be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnsVFF6lfeE

"As our focus turns towards a new beginning for Bungie, we will begin work incubating our next games," the post reads. "To that end, on June 9, 2026, we will release the final live-service content update for Destiny 2 to begin that new journey as a studio."

Bungie has reassured fans that Destiny 2 won't be going offline, with the studio planning to continue supporting it to ensure it remains playable and welcoming to new and old players alike. The blog post did not specify if previously vaulted content would be returning, however.

Bungie's latest title, the PS5 and PC shooter Marathon, is being significantly changed soon with the introduction of a PvE mode, in an attempt to attract players that might not be as enthusiastic about the game's highly competitive PvP action. Bungie was acquired by Sony in July 2022 for $3.6 billion, with the PlayStation 5 manufacturer shifting its strategy away from live service titles significantly since then.

Back when IO's James Bond adventure, 007 First Light, was first revealed, eagle-eyed watch enthusiasts immediately noticed the new Omega watch that this latest iteration of the MI6 spy was wearing. That watch wasn't real then but now, on the eve of the game's release, Omega has started selling the Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph 007 First Light. And no, it's not cheap.

This iteration of the existing Seamaster Diver Chronograph mirrors the contemporary version quite closely, but adds some places of bronze to the dial to set it apart and tie it to the color palette of the game. The ring around the hour and minutes sub-dial, as well as the seconds hand, are now coated in nine-karat bronze gold, which makes it stand out a lot more than the regular, monochromatic version. You'll be able to see 007 First Light stamped on the sapphire crystal caseback, which showcases the watch's beautiful movement. This edition doesn't have a premium over the standard version, although given that this watch will still retail for $9,400, it's not something all fans of First Light are likely going to bundle with their game purchase.

It's also the first time Omega has released a Bond-specific watch that wasn't first seen in a Bond film. James Bond has worn Omega since GoldenEye in 1995, replacing Rolex as the spy's watch brand of choice. The last release came alongside Daniel Craig's last Bond film, No Time To Die, with the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition. Without a new film on the horizon, or a replacement for Daniel Craig, having a new edition tied to the re-launch of James Bond in the video game space makes sense.

That's especially so when you look at how many modern games have started collaborating closely with prestigious watch brands. Hamilton, which, like Omega, is owned by the Swiss watch giant Swatch, has released numerous watches to tie in with their appearances in games like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Resident Evil Requiem, and Call of Duty Black Ops 7.

Stealth-action is probably not the first thing you think of when you hear "Warhammer," but sometimes the most satisfying experiences are the most surprising. Announced during Warhammer Skulls 2026, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster is a 2D action-platformer starring a very talented--and disturbed--hooded assassin.

Starring the "ratman" Vihneek, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster will see you making use of stealth abilities and traps to move around your enemies or deliver death from the shadows. The cartoony art style might suggest something a bit lighter at first glance, but this is a very violent, very Warhammer experience. And as you can see in the teaser trailer, Vihneek might be losing it, just a little bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsKAic7di1M

"Vihneek's story is anchored in the rich lore of the Age of Sigmar, where the Skaven have erupted to seize the Mortal Realms for themselves," the official announcement said. In general, killing everything in your path is a reliable strategy for Warhammer video games, and Vihneek seems up to the task.

Publisher Dotemu has plenty of experience with 2D action games, including last year's excellent Absolum and the recent Marvel Cosmic Invasion. We'll have a little while to wait before we find out if Deathmaster continues that successful trend, as the game arrives in 2027 for PC and consoles.