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Final FantasyMobile GamingGame Shutdowns

Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis Shutdown Leaves Japanese Prequel Unplayable

Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, the mobile game that aimed to faithfully retell the story of the classic 1997 RPG alongside its expanded universe, is shutting down, and the consequences extend beyond the game itself. The closure means that Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, a Japan-exclusive mobile prequel that was integrated into Ever Crisis, will remain effectively unplayable for the vast majority of fans. Before Crisis originally launched in Japan in 2004 and never received an official Western release, making Ever Crisis the best hope many players had of experiencing that chapter of the FF7 timeline.

2d ago

XboxAsha SharmaLayoffs

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Joins Fed Advisory Task Force on AI Jobs Days After 3,200 Layoffs

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been named an adviser to a newly announced U.S. Federal Reserve task force focused on "Productivity and Jobs," where she will help assess the economic impact of new general-purpose technologies, including artificial intelligence. The appointment, announced on July 9, 2026, was made under Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh as part of a broader push the Federal Reserve described as a "commitment to price stability and maximum employment." Notably, Sharma is reported to be the only active CEO named across any of the Fed's new task forces, lending her an unusually prominent role in shaping how the central bank thinks about emerging technology and labor markets. The timing of the appointment has drawn sharp criticism from observers across the gaming industry and beyond. Just days before joining the task force, Sharma oversaw the layoff of approximately 3,200 employees at Xbox, one of the largest single rounds of job cuts in the gaming industry's history. The juxtaposition of leading a federal panel on jobs and productivity while simultaneously eliminating thousands of positions has prompted pointed commentary, with some noting, wryly, that Sharma has firsthand experience with "the economic impact of new general-purpose technologies."

2d ago

Josh Hubi Yikes! the optics don't look great on this.

Love and DeepspaceMobile GamesChinese Gaming Regulations

Love and Deepspace Fans' Valko Campaign Rejected by Chinese Government

The ongoing saga surrounding Valko, a character in the popular romance game Love and Deepspace, has taken a definitive turn for the worse. Despite a passionate fan campaign pushing for his inclusion in the game, the Chinese government appears to have effectively shut the door on any chance of Valko becoming a playable love interest. Developer Infold Games seems to be standing firm in its decision, at least for now, as a recent update went live without any sign of the fan-favorite character.

2d ago

Pokémon GoNianticLive Service Games

Pokémon Go Fans Furious After Influencers Receive Perfect Mewtwo at 10th Anniversary Event

Pokémon Go's 10th anniversary celebrations took a sour turn this week after Niantic handed select influencers a "hundo" Mewtwo (a perfect 100% IV specimen) at a special Times Square event, sparking widespread outrage among the game's broader player base. The event was designed as a nostalgic recreation of the iconic 2016 Pokémon Go launch trailer, which depicted hundreds of players banding together in New York City to battle Mewtwo, but many fans felt the execution betrayed the spirit of that original vision. Critics were quick to label the event "the antithesis of what made Pokémon GO a phenomenon," arguing that gifting one of the most coveted Pokémon in the game exclusively to influencers runs counter to the community-driven, everyone-can-participate ethos that made the title a global sensation a decade ago.

2d ago

GTA OnlineRockstar GamesHeist Update

GTA Online's First Major Heist Update in 6 Years Drops Next Week

Rockstar Games is bringing GTA Online's biggest heist update in six years to players on July 14, 2026. The Kortz Center Heist marks the first major heist addition to the game since 2020, and anticipation is running high as the community gears up for a fresh cooperative challenge after a long wait. The update centers on the iconic Kortz Center location from GTA V's single-player story, giving the mission an extra layer of familiarity for longtime fans of the series.

2d ago

Assassin's CreedUbisoftLayoffs

AC Black Flag Resynced Launch Success Overshadowed by DLC Backlash and Studio Layoffs

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has landed as one of Ubisoft's biggest Steam launches ever, pulling in around 100,000 concurrent players at its peak, more than any other entry in the franchise's history on the platform. The remake also debuted to roughly five times the original Black Flag's all-time peak concurrent user count, signaling a genuine commercial win for a publisher that has struggled in recent years. A wide-reaching marketing campaign spanning Dead by Daylight, Control, and even McDonald's helped build momentum ahead of release, and early critical reception has been broadly positive.

2d ago

XboxLayoffsBethesda

Xbox's Massive Layoffs Gut Major Studios and Derail Key Projects

Microsoft's sweeping Xbox restructuring, which cut roughly 3,200 jobs, is continuing to send shockwaves across its first-party studios, and the full scale of the damage is only now coming into focus. ZeniMax Online Studios, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online, has confirmed over 200 layoffs in Maryland, part of a broader 379-person cut across ZeniMax's Maryland workforce. Obsidian Entertainment is losing an estimated 60 to 70 employees, with a WARN notice confirming at least 52 cuts, representing roughly a quarter of the studio's staff. Meanwhile, id Software, the legendary studio behind Doom and Quake, has reportedly been so severely gutted that its ability to operate as a standalone development team is now in question, with newly revealed game concepts killed before they ever had a chance.

2d ago

SonyComic-ConGod of War

God of War: Laufey, Marvel's Wolverine, and Marvel Tokon Confirmed for Comic-Con 2026

Sony has confirmed a major gaming presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, with dedicated panels for three of its most anticipated titles. God of War: Laufey, Marvel's Wolverine, and Marvel Tokon are all set to receive reveals at the iconic annual event, signaling that fans can expect significant new information on each project in the weeks ahead.

2d ago

Forza Horizon 6Racing GamesXbox

Forza Horizon 6 Brings Japan's Scenic Beauty and New Social Hubs to the Series

Forza Horizon 6 is making waves not just for its racing, but for the world it invites players to slow down and explore. Set in Japan, the latest entry in Playground Games' beloved open-world racing series is drawing attention for its breathtaking scenic driving routes, with outlets highlighting FH6's Japanese landscapes alongside fan-favorite locations from past games in Mexico, Britain, Colorado, and Australia. Whether carving through mountain roads or cruising coastal highways, the game is being celebrated as one of the most visually stunning entries in the franchise.

2d ago

Warhammer 40KBlack Librarylicensed media

Warhammer 40K's "The Infinite and the Divine" Gets a Sequel

Fans of the Warhammer 40,000 expanded universe have a surprise treat on the way: a sequel to "The Infinite and the Divine," one of the most beloved novels in the franchise. The original book, widely praised for its witty and surprisingly comedic take on two rival Necron lords locked in an eternal feud, was generally considered a self-contained story that didn't need a follow-up. Despite that, a sequel is now in the works, and early enthusiasm from fans suggests the announcement has been warmly received.

2d ago

Dragon BallBandai NamcoAction RPG

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Gameplay Deep Dive Shows a Major Step Up for the Series

Bandai Namco has released a six-minute gameplay deep dive for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, giving fans their most detailed look yet at how the game plays. The footage walks through the full flow and structure of a mission, and early impressions suggest the sequel is shaping up to be a significant leap forward from its predecessor. The showcase arrived alongside news of additional stops on an ongoing US demo road tour, giving players across the country a chance to go hands-on with the title ahead of its release.

2d ago

Destiny 2BungieLive Service

Bungie Gives Destiny 2 Players a Final Farewell Gift as Game Enters Maintenance Mode

Bungie has given Destiny 2 players one last surprise before the game fully transitions into maintenance mode. The developer posted a redemption code on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, offering fans a final farewell gift in the form of an emblem called Gloriabundus. It is a small but meaningful gesture from the studio toward a community that has spent years invested in the game.

2d ago

Nintendo Switch 2Ports and UpdatesMetroidvania

Switch 2 Roundup: Updates, Physical Editions, and New Ports Coming

The Nintendo Switch 2 continues to build out its library and feature set, with a flurry of news hitting on the same day. Developer Fumi Games has dropped a substantial update for Mouse: P.I. For Hire, introducing a new 40fps mode alongside uncapped Variable Refresh Rate support, giving Switch 2 owners noticeably smoother and more flexible performance options for the noir-styled detective adventure. It is one of the more technically ambitious updates the game has received since launch, and signals the developer's continued commitment to squeezing the best out of Nintendo's latest hardware.

2d ago

Stardew ValleyModsMerchandise

Stardew Valley Gets a Crochet Book and a 3D VR Mod in the Same Week

It has been a big week for Stardew Valley fans looking to experience ConcernedApe's beloved farming sim in entirely new ways. On the merchandise front, an official "Stardew Valley Crochet Book" has been announced, following in the footsteps of the previously released Stardew Valley Cookbook. Pre-orders for the crochet book are already live, with the finished product set to arrive in January 2027, giving crafty fans plenty to look forward to heading into the new year.

2d ago

Dragon AgeBioWareEA

Dragon Age's Future at EA Looking Bleak, Says Series Creator David Gaider

The Dragon Age series may have reached the end of its road at BioWare and EA, according to the franchise's own creator. David Gaider, the lead writer and creative architect behind the beloved RPG series, has gone on record saying it is "unlikely" that Dragon Age will continue following the poor commercial performance of 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Gaider, who departed BioWare years ago, noted that even during the series' active development, the franchise was perpetually on shaky ground, famously remarking that "we were always one breath away from the project being shelved."

2d ago