Hardbit's Grand Outlaws: RP Life Online is set to launch globally on Android and iOS in late summer 2026 after an extensive eight-month beta testing period focused on player engagement and technical performance.
Xbox is currently facing challenges under new CEO Asha Sharma, dealing with strategic misalignment, significant acquisitions, layoffs, and a financially burdensome games subscription service. The company has launched advertisements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which include the disclaimer "NOT ON XBOX GAME PASS THIS YEAR," reflecting its current difficulties. These ads began running on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads on June 27. The decision to exclude Call of Duty from Game Pass at launch follows reports of a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In a notable chapter of its recent history, Xbox finds itself navigating a turbulent landscape as it seeks to redefine its identity under the leadership of new CEO Asha Sharma. Despite ambitious aspirations, the gaming giant grapples with the repercussions of a strategic misalignment that has characterized its endeavors in the current decade. The company has made headlines primarily for its significant acquisitions within the gaming industry, only to face subsequent layoffs, alongside the launch of a games subscription service that has become a financial burden. This tumultuous journey has been further complicated by a brief insistence that all games should be synonymous with Xbox, a stance that inadvertently discouraged potential console ownership.
Strategic Shifts and Marketing Challenges
As the company braces for another potential wave of layoffs and studio closures, it has recently unveiled a series of advertisements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. These ads, first spotted by a user on Resetera, encapsulate the ongoing challenges faced by the gaming division, prominently featuring the disclaimer: “NOT ON XBOX GAME PASS THIS YEAR.” This stark message serves as a reflection of the brand's current predicament.
According to the Meta ad library, these advertisements commenced their run across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Threads on June 27. While the decision to exclude Call of Duty titles from Game Pass at launch may be seen as a pragmatic move—especially following reports of a 0 million loss attributed to the service's impact on sales of Black Ops 6—it underscores a broader narrative of confusion and inconsistency in Xbox's branding strategy.
The removal of Call of Duty from Game Pass, coupled with adjustments to its pricing structure, appears to have yielded positive results in revenue growth for the service. However, the necessity of advertising that consumers must now pay for a title, rather than highlighting enticing features like “137 NEW WEAPON ATTACHMENTS,” signals a retreat from the previously bold marketing tactics. This shift raises questions about the clarity and coherence of Xbox's messaging, which has not shown significant improvement under the new leadership.
As Xbox continues to navigate these complex waters, the industry watches closely, pondering whether the adjustments will ultimately lead to a revitalized brand or further entrench the challenges that have plagued its recent history." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million loss linked to the service's effect on sales of Black Ops 6. Although removing Call of Duty from Game Pass and adjusting pricing has led to revenue growth, the need to advertise that consumers must pay for titles instead of promoting features indicates a shift in marketing strategy. This situation raises concerns about the clarity and coherence of Xbox's messaging under the new leadership.
Daniel Grayshon from Nightdive Studios discussed the remastering of Thief: The Dark Project, highlighting the original controls, such as the blackjack assigned to number 2 and water arrows to 4. Nightdive aims to preserve the core experience of the game while refining the controls. Grayshon introduced a weapon wheel for easier access to tools, replacing the cumbersome tab key method. This change is intended to enhance gameplay fluidity, allowing for quicker selection during critical moments. The weapon wheel is optional, catering to players' preferences and muscle memory.
Salmi Games has announced its new project, Drifters: Blackout Crew, a virtual reality co-op extraction shooter, set to launch on Meta Quest and SteamVR platforms. In the game, players are stranded in deep space and must complete missions in fortified facilities to gather resources for upgrades and enhancements. It supports cooperative gameplay for up to four players and features tactile weapon handling and a jetpack for dynamic movement. The game aims to establish a unique identity in the VR extraction shooter genre, which includes popular titles like Ghosts of Tabor. Salmi Games, a German developer, has a history of providing ongoing support for its titles, with expectations for similar support for Drifters. The project has received funding from the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. Players can wishlist the game on Meta Quest and Steam, but there is no announcement for PlayStation VR2.
The review of Dishonored in PC Gamer issue #246 (December 2012) highlights the game's immersive experience, customization options, and technical execution. The reviewer describes a gameplay moment where they successfully eliminate an enemy after a miscalculated leap. The PC version offers extensive customization, including field-of-view adjustments and graphics settings. The game runs smoothly on a 2.8GHz Core i7 with a 2GB GeForce GTX 670 graphics card. Dishonored is noted for its originality as a major title that is neither a sequel nor a remake, and it avoids unskippable boss fights, enhancing player freedom and engagement.
Halfbrick Studios is developing a dungeon crawler game called Guncrypt, which features a unique weapon system with three guns, over 60 bullet types, and 80 relic types. Players can customize their gameplay by strategically loading bullets and fusing them for new effects. The game includes tarot cards for passive bonuses and a Curse Level that introduces escalating challenges across five tiers. It consists of four procedurally generated floors with various enemies and a boss at the end. The demo version runs smoothly on Linux using Steam Play with Proton, and the gameplay involves innovative movement mechanics and combat strategies. The game currently has no confirmed release date or pricing, but a demo is available, and a native Linux build is in development.
Bungie has allowed a notable bug to persist in Destiny 2, encouraging players to engage with it until it is addressed next week. Following the conclusion of the game's live service, Bungie introduced new features, including catalysts for every Exotic weapon and various broken perk combinations. This has led to a return to the chaotic 'Craftening' era, where players can transfer perks between weapons. Current bugs allow players to equip multiple instances of the same artifact perk and create powerful builds, enabling them to tackle raids and dungeons more easily, including soloing difficult encounters.
Publisher Perp Games and developer Project Cloud Games announced that The Relic: First Guardian will be released on July 31 for PC (Steam) and PlayStation 5, moving up from its initial 2025 release date. Ports for Xbox Series S and X, as well as Nintendo Switch 2, are expected later in the summer. An exclusive retail version for PlayStation 5 will be available on September 4. The game is set in the world of Arsiltus, where players act as a First Guardian to combat a blight. It features over 70 boss encounters, five weapon types, and twelve skill trees, allowing for personalized builds. The stamina system is designed for dodging and blocking only, freeing players to attack without resource constraints. Progression is based on collectible items called Relics, which offer over 70 passive effects that enhance combat dynamics. PC system requirements have not yet been disclosed.
IO Interactive released game update 1.0.5 for 007 First Light, identified as patch 1.013, which addresses issues from the previous update 1.0.4. Key fixes include resolving an offline mode connection issue, optimizing performance, and fixing various crashes related to startup, corrupted save data, and specific missions. Gameplay improvements were made, including fixes for progression blockers and gadget functionality. Cinematic and animation issues were addressed, along with UI/UX improvements and achievement unlock problems. Performance and stability enhancements were implemented, particularly for PC and PlayStation 5. Localization improvements were made for Korean and Simplified Chinese, and an issue with IOI Account rewards on PlayStation 5 was fixed.
