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Electronic ArtsSaudi PIFAcquisitions

Saudi PIF's $55B EA Acquisition Reportedly Set to Clear EU Approval

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is reportedly on the verge of clearing a major regulatory hurdle in its pursuit of Electronic Arts, with the European Union set to approve the landmark acquisition. The deal, announced in September 2025, carries a staggering price tag of $55 billion, making it one of the largest transactions in gaming industry history. EU approval would mark a significant step forward for the PIF as it looks to cement its position as a dominant force in the global games market. With one of the most scrutinized regulatory bodies now expected to wave the deal through, attention will likely turn to any remaining approvals needed in other jurisdictions before the acquisition can be finalized. The move underscores Saudi Arabia's continued and aggressive push into the entertainment and gaming sectors, a strategy that has already seen the PIF invest heavily in major publishers and esports organizations over the past several years.

Jul 18, 2026

Pokémon TCGPitch BlackTarget

Pokémon TCG Pitch Black Set Hits Shelves, but Target Stores Left Customers Empty-Handed

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's highly anticipated Pitch Black set officially launched on July 17, 2026, bringing a wave of Darkrai-themed cards to players both in print and digitally via Pokémon TCG Live. However, the launch day excitement was quickly dampened for many fans who headed to their local Target stores, only to find empty shelves where the new product should have been. Reports from customers across the country suggest the distribution issues are widespread, spanning multiple regions rather than isolated pockets.

Jul 18, 2026

Magic: The GatheringStardew ValleySecret Lair

Stardew Valley Coming to Magic: The Gathering in Secret Lair Superdrop

Fans of both farming sims and card games have something exciting to look forward to: Stardew Valley is making its way into Magic: The Gathering later this month via a special Secret Lair drop. The collaboration is part of the "Superdrop of the Midnight Jellies," which includes three Secret Lair drops themed around ConcernedApe's beloved indie title. First looks at the cards have already been revealed, giving players a glimpse at how the cozy world of Pelican Town will translate into MTG card art and mechanics.

Jul 18, 2026

God of WarAmazon Prime VideoTV Adaptation

God of War TV Series to Recast Kratos After Ryan Hurst Suffers Serious On-Set Injury

Amazon Prime's highly anticipated God of War live-action TV series has hit a major setback. Kratos actor Ryan Hurst suffered a serious injury on set, tearing his bicep, and will need to be recast in the role. Production on the show has been paused as the search for a replacement gets underway.

Jul 18, 2026

Final Fantasy XIVMobile GamingGame Cancellation

Final Fantasy XIV Mobile Cancelled and Shutting Down in September

Square Enix and developer Lightspeed have confirmed that Final Fantasy XIV Mobile is ending service in September 2026, with a planned global launch now officially cancelled. The mobile adaptation, which had been available in China, will shut down entirely, meaning players outside of China will never get a chance to experience the official FFXIV mobile experience that was once in development.

Jul 18, 2026

Magic: The GatheringCard GamesWizards of the Coast

Magic: The Gathering Reveals Three 2027 Sets: Zhalfir, Kamigawa, and Nauctis

Wizards of the Coast used a major stage presentation on July 17, 2026 to pull back the curtain on three brand-new Magic: The Gathering sets scheduled for 2027. The trio covers a wide range of settings and tones: a long-awaited return to the iconic African-inspired plane of Zhalfir, a mechs-versus-monsters spectacle set in the neon-lit cyberpunk world of Kamigawa, and a deep dive into an all-new undersea plane called Nauctis. The announcements signal that Wizards is blending beloved returning locations with fresh worldbuilding as it maps out its next year of releases.

Jul 18, 2026

Battlefield 6Top GunSeason 4

Battlefield 6 Season 4 Brings Top Gun: Maverick Crossover, But Maverick Himself Is MIA

Battlefield 6's Season 4 update is shaping up to be one of the game's most ambitious yet, featuring a headline collaboration with the Top Gun: Maverick film franchise. The crossover brings themed fighter jets, Top Gun characters, and exclusive cosmetics to the game, alongside an evolved Carrier Assault mode that promises to shake up the naval combat experience introduced earlier in the game's lifespan. The season looks to blend blockbuster Hollywood appeal with meaningful gameplay additions, making it a notable milestone for the live-service shooter.

Jul 18, 2026

Diablo 4Blizzard EntertainmentAction RPG

Diablo 4 Season 14's Most-Hated Mythic Crafting Limit Has Been Removed

Blizzard has issued an emergency patch for Diablo 4's Season 14, the Season of Death Awakening, rolling back one of the most controversial changes to hit the game in recent memory. The update removes the one-crafted-Mythic-item-per-character cap, a restriction that had sparked widespread backlash from the community almost immediately after the season launched. Blizzard acknowledged the misstep in a statement accompanying the patch, noting that "not every idea lands exactly as intended."

Jul 18, 2026

FalloutElder ScrollsBethesda

Bethesda Confirms Fallout 5, Elder Scrolls 6, Remasters, and Obsidian Collab

Bethesda Game Studios has dropped one of its biggest announcements in years, publishing a sweeping studio letter from executive producer Todd Howard that outlines the company's plans for the next several years. Fallout 5 is officially confirmed to be in pre-production, running alongside active development on The Elder Scrolls 6. In addition, remasters of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are now confirmed to be in development, and a brand-new Fallout project is in the works at sister studio Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind the beloved New Vegas original. Howard stated that "the timing is right" for a collaboration with Obsidian, a partnership that fans have been requesting for over a decade. Fallout 76 is also getting a major expansion called Raven Rock, described as a prequel story to Fallout 3, expected to arrive next year. Bethesda also moved to reassure fans about The Elder Scrolls 6, saying the studio is "loving how it looks" and "playing it every day," and that development is "where we planned to be" despite the game having been announced eight years ago.

Jul 18, 2026

BungieMarathonGame Industry

Marathon Game Director Joseph Ziegler Leaves Bungie Just 4 Months After Launch

Joseph Ziegler, the game director behind Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio effective immediately, just four months after the game's launch. Ziegler confirmed the news himself, stating he will be "heading to something new, somewhere else," leaving the already-struggling title without its creative lead at a critical time. A replacement game director has been installed, though the transition adds yet another layer of uncertainty to a project that has faced a turbulent road since release.

Jul 18, 2026

layoffsRPGZA/UM

ZA/UM Laying Off 32 Staff After Zero Parades' Poor Commercial Performance

Just two months after releasing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, Studio ZA/UM has announced it will lay off up to 32 employees. The Disco Elysium developer confirmed the cuts in a social media post, citing the game's disappointing sales as the driving force behind the decision. "Its commercial performance has not enabled us to sustain a studio of our current size," the studio wrote, in what amounts to one of the more painfully ironic announcements in recent gaming memory, given that Zero Parades centers on characters thrust into impossible situations.

Jul 18, 2026