Activision Archives

AppWizard

October 16, 2026

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review-in-progress: A campaign you shouldn’t skip

The author attended a three-day review event in Los Angeles for Modern Warfare 4, spending nearly 24 hours on the campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ modes. They have been engaged with Call of Duty for over two decades, initially drawn in by the campaigns. The campaign of Modern Warfare 4 features relatable characters, primarily a group of young South Korean marines during a North Korean invasion, and aims to recapture the essence of earlier installments. Key missions include "Mayhem," "Losing Ground," and "Stranded," the latter showcasing a sandbox level with non-linear objectives. Concerns about integrating Warzone mechanics into single-player gameplay were alleviated by the assurance that the map was designed specifically for the campaign. The narrative includes Captain Price but feels disjointed, with his character fading from the story. Overall, Modern Warfare 4 is noted for its robust campaign, extravagant set pieces, and solid gunplay, marking a return to form for the series.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Leisure Suit Larry is about to take his final bow

Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don't Dry and its sequel, Wet Dreams Dry Twice, are set to be removed from digital storefronts, specifically Steam, on October 23. In anticipation of this delisting, both games are currently being offered at a 95% discount. The reason for the removal is unclear, but speculation suggests it may be due to expiring licensing rights.

Winsage

October 7, 2026

Call of Duty coming to Nvidia’s RTX Spark is a huge win for Windows on ARM

Microsoft announced that the Call of Duty series will debut on Nvidia RTX Spark-powered devices in 2027, including the Surface Laptop Ultra. The Ricochet anti-cheat system will be adapted for Arm64 architecture to address challenges faced by gamers on Arm-based laptops. Upcoming RTX Spark-powered laptops from manufacturers like Asus, Dell, MSI, and HP were also mentioned. Speculation suggests that the title may be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

AppWizard

October 5, 2026

Kingdom Come Maker Hopes GTA 6 Lifts Game Prices

Martin Klima, co-founder of Warhorse Studios, argues that the video game industry has undervalued its products and that a price increase is necessary for the survival of mid-sized developers. He highlights that production costs for high-quality RPGs and open-world games have risen significantly, while retail prices have remained stagnant. Rockstar Games is set to launch Grand Theft Auto VI at .99 for the standard edition and .99 for the Ultimate Edition, which is being observed as a potential benchmark for future game pricing. Klima believes that if GTA VI's pricing is successful, it could encourage other developers to raise their prices as well. He notes that adjusted for inflation, games today cost less than they did in the 1990s. The last significant price increase in the industry occurred in 2020, when the standard price rose from .99 to .99. Analysts suggest that franchises like Call of Duty, NBA 2K, and EA Sports FC may follow suit if GTA VI performs well commercially.

BetaBeacon

October 2, 2026

Thanks to fans, the original Halo just got an unofficial Windows, Linux, PS5, and Android port

Fans have unofficially ported the original Halo: Combat Evolved to several platforms, including Windows, Linux, Android, and PS5, featuring the full campaign and multiplayer with support for up to 128 players.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Call of Duty ‘cosmetic toggle’ will cleanse Warzone of its Party City aesthetic

Warzone has introduced a "cosmetic toggle" that allows players to disable legacy character skins at a client level, specifically for Warzone, while Modern Warfare 4 will not carry over any cosmetics from previous titles. This feature aims to address concerns about mismatched crossover skins and create a more cohesive gaming experience. The toggle is a response to previous commitments to avoid old skins, although collaborations have complicated this effort. Its effectiveness may diminish with the introduction of new characters in future seasons, and its future depends on Infinity Ward's commitment to aesthetic integrity and potential expansions of the toggle.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Microsoft files patent for “ad-credit” system to show ads on PC and Xbox without disrupting gameplay

Microsoft has patented an "ad-credit" system to integrate advertisements into PC and Xbox gaming without interrupting gameplay. The patent, named 'Contextually Aware Management of Interactive Software Application Access', identifies natural pauses in gameplay to display ads, rewarding players with credits for uninterrupted playtime after viewing. In 2022, Microsoft began testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox. Additionally, new monthly cloud gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers will take effect in November 2026, with Essential subscribers limited to five hours, Premium to ten hours, and Ultimate to fifteen hours per month. Xbox has also announced layoffs affecting 268 positions across various studios as part of restructuring efforts.

AppWizard

September 15, 2026

Steam Price-Fixing Lawsuit: Valve, 10 Publishers Sued [2026]

On August 27, 2026, a class action lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by three California gamers—Alexander Shimota, Ricardo Camargo, and John Elliott—against Valve Corporation and ten video game publishers, accusing them of colluding to maintain uniform pricing for PC games across digital storefronts. The lawsuit alleges that Valve requires publishers on its Steam platform to agree to a most-favored-nation clause, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms, which stifles competition and limits consumer choice. The ten implicated publishers include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The lawsuit is filed under California's Cartwright Act and claims that the coordinated pricing strategy harms consumers by reducing product diversity and inflating prices. Valve's commission structure, which has largely remained unchanged, is central to the plaintiffs' argument. Valve's co-founder, Gabe Newell, has previously denied dictating prices to third-party developers. The lawsuit is distinct from a prior case, Wolfire Games v. Valve, which focuses on monopoly abuse against developers rather than consumer pricing. Additionally, Valve faces a parallel £2 billion class action in the UK regarding similar pricing allegations. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact the pricing landscape for PC games and the practices of digital storefronts.

AppWizard

September 9, 2026

Call of Duty introduces a gun skin that you can only see on an Xbox console

Call of Duty has introduced the Inner Circuit blueprint, an exclusive gun skin for the M4, available only to Xbox players. While it can be pre-ordered across various platforms, the design differs on Xbox compared to PC, PlayStation, and Switch 2. Despite the visual differences, the weapon blueprint has the same attachments and performance across all platforms.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Modern Warfare 4 team “hard at work” to improve PC optimization and mouse controls, as players express beta frustrations

The beta phase for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has started, facing performance issues, especially for PC gamers who report input delays with mouse and keyboard setups and a perception that multiplayer favors controller users due to aim assist. Activision and Infinity Ward are working to improve the PC experience, focusing on customizable settings, mouse input responsiveness, and a preload feature for shaders. Some players are frustrated with the game's requirements for Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, which may not be recognized even after installation. An update is planned to address footstep audio, map voting, weapon balance, and bug fixes. The beta currently has a 53% positive rating on Steam, with concerns about movement mechanics and map sizes affecting gameplay.