Gaming Digest.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta Dates Revealed & Massive Pokémon Gen 10 Leaks Surface!

Pokémon & Nintendo — new reveals, game updates, Nintendo Direct news, Switch content, Pokémon announcements

  • Massive Pokémon Generation 10 Leaks Emerge: The Pokémon community is buzzing with massive leaks regarding the upcoming Switch 2 RPGs, reportedly titled Pokémon Winds and Waves. Rumors suggest the games could feature a staggering roster of over 300 brand-new Pokémon, alongside new Mega Evolutions and starters.
  • Catch the Zorua Event in Pokémon Pokopia: If you're logging into Pokémon Pokopia this month, don't miss out on the limited-time Zorua Hide-and-Sneak event running through July 2026. It might be trickier than it looks, but one solid run is all you need to walk away with some fantastic exclusive rewards.
  • Last Chance for a Discounted Nintendo Switch 2: If you've been holding out on upgrading, Woot just dropped the Nintendo Switch 2 down to $399. You'll want to act fast, as Nintendo is set to implement a global price hike this September, bumping the console's standard MSRP from $449.99 up to $499.99.
  • Anniversary Celebrations for Final Fantasy X and Mother 3: Square Enix dropped a heartwarming 25th-anniversary video for Final Fantasy X just ahead of its highly anticipated launch on the Switch 2. Meanwhile, Casio is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the legendary, Japan-exclusive Mother 3 with a slick new yellow G-Shock watch.

Fortnite — season updates, collabs, new skins, map changes, competitive scene

  • Avengers: Doomsday Hype Signals Future Collabs: The internet is collectively losing its mind over the first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, and the ensuing hype is a massive beacon for a potential Fortnite crossover. With Kevin Feige confirming the MCU won't fully reboot after Secret Wars in 2027—and the surprising "miraculous" return of Steve Rogers—Epic Games has plenty of fresh Marvel material to mine for upcoming skins.

Call of Duty — Warzone/Black Ops updates, new seasons, weapons, competitive

  • Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta Dates Revealed: Lock and load, because Activision has officially announced that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 open beta will run from August 28th to September 1st, 2026. Best of all, no pre-order is required to jump in, and Game Pass subscribers won't be getting any special early access treatment this year!
  • Movement Debate Ignites Over MW4 Gameplay: The recent multiplayer gameplay debut for Modern Warfare 4 has sparked a fierce community debate regarding exactly how fast movement should be. Players also got a terrifying first look at the new "Slaying Slab" mode, which promises to shake up the traditional multiplayer formula.
  • Call of Duty Movie Setting Confirmed: In a surprising pivot away from the modern battlefields, Activision has officially confirmed the setting for the upcoming Call of Duty movie. It’s apparently not the contemporary or near-future setting most fans would have guessed, leaving many curious to see how this franchise translates to the big screen.

Indie Games — notable releases, hidden gems, devlogs, Steam Next Fest picks

  • The Sims 4 Refuses to Die in 2026: It might be hard to believe, but The Sims 4 is now in its 12th year and still going incredibly strong, bolstered by the recent addition of a long-awaited auto-save feature. If you're diving back in, GameSpot has compiled an essential list of the 41 best mods to completely overhaul your simulation experience this year.

Steam & PC — top charts, big sales, Steam Deck compatibility, major PC releases

  • Valve Warns of Worsening RAM Shortages: If you were holding out hope for a cheaper, more accessible Steam Machine, Valve has some bad news. Engineers recently warned that the great RAM shortage is "getting worse," meaning component prices for PC building and future Valve hardware are likely to keep climbing.
  • The Ultimate Train Simulator Sale: Steam's Train Fest sale is officially live, allowing digital conductors to snatch up all 790 pieces of Train Simulator Classic DLC for a "mere" $6,993. It's a hilarious but genuine reminder of just how incredibly massive and dedicated the PC simulation community can be.
  • FBI Cracks Down on Malware-Infected Steam Games: In wild cybersecurity news, the FBI arrested a Florida student who allegedly stole over $220,000 in cryptocurrency by distributing malware-infected free games on Steam. Titles like BlockBlasters, Lunara, and Dashverse were used as trojan horses, serving as a massive reminder to be careful what you download!

Gaming Roundup — other notable news, trailers, industry moves

  • Forza Horizon 5 Director Critiques Game Pass: In a surprisingly candid interview, Forza Horizon 5 Creative Director Mike Brown stated that Xbox Game Pass "was a good idea but it didn’t work." It's a fascinating industry comment that adds fuel to the ongoing debate about the sustainability of Microsoft's subscription model in 2026.
  • UK Retailer GAME Faces Administration: The physical gaming market has taken another brutal hit, as major UK retailer GAME has officially entered administration owing a staggering £16 million. This alarming update casts a dark shadow over the future of brick-and-mortar video game sales across the globe.
  • UK Physical Charts See Assassin's Creed Dominance: On the retail side of things, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is enjoying smooth sailing at the number one spot in the UK physical charts. Meanwhile, a Star Fox title is barely clinging onto the top 10, proving that Nintendo's beloved IP still has serious physical sales legs!

Sources

Reddit Pokemon · 2026-07-21
Made the Sandile butterscotch brownie parfait from the pokemon baking book
Reddit Pokemon · 2026-07-21
I liked this order I recently placed so much that I wanted to share it with you.
Ign · 2026-07-21
Leon Kennedy Voice Actor Says Metallica, Nirvana Helped Shape His Performance for the Resident Evil Character
Nintendo Life · 2026-07-21
Stellar Blade Has Been Rated For Switch 2
Reddit Nintendoswitch · 2026-07-21
Nintendo Music - Additional Free Roam tracks have been added to Mario Kart World
Destructoid · 2026-07-21
Emberville countdown: Exact release date and time
Reddit Pokemon · 2026-07-21
I usually only use newly added pokemons on my first playthrough of the pokemon games, so I'm in a huge dilemma
Nintendo Life · 2026-07-21
Nintendo Music Updated With More Mario Kart World 'Free Roam' Songs
Nintendo Life · 2026-07-21
Donkey Kong Arcade LEGO Set Official Images Surface, Already In-Store
Reddit Pokemon · 2026-07-21
Bro is greedy
Pcgamer · 2026-07-21
A new Elder Scrolls is still years away, but this fun Arthurian take on the formula is 50% off right now
Reddit Pokemon · 2026-07-21
Ain't no wonder Spain won, look who they got on their side.
Reddit Nintendoswitch · 2026-07-21
/r/NintendoSwitch's Daily Question Thread (07/21/2026)
Destructoid · 2026-07-21
Tears of Metal release countdown: Exact date and time
Reddit Nintendoswitch · 2026-07-21
New Switch 2 - $22 off ($50 for new Woot customers) with code GIFT26
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
Modern Warfare 4 open and closed beta dates announced, including for Switch 2, alongside the return of Call of Duty: Next
Ign · 2026-07-21
Just 7 PlayStation Games Have Sold More Than 100,000 Physical Copies in the U.S. So Far This Year
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
Despite outrage at Sony's shift towards a discless future, only seven PlayStation games have managed more than 100,000 physical sales in the US this year
Vgc · 2026-07-21
Only seven PlayStation games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the US this year, analyst says
Reddit Nintendoswitch · 2026-07-21
2 Days until the release of Splatoon Raiders! Official Artwork from SplatoonJP
Rock Paper Shotgun · 2026-07-21
"Built for that world doesn't mean built to require it": Unity reveal their next game engine while walking a careful line around generative AI
Ign · 2026-07-21
Avengers: Doomsday Describes the Return of Steve Rogers as a 'Miracle,' but Some Marvel Fans Believe There's More Going on Than Meets the Eye
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
What sense can we make of the madness at id Software?
Ign · 2026-07-21
Nintendo Switch 2 Drops to Just $399 at Woot Ahead of Incoming Price Hikes
Nintendo Life · 2026-07-21
Nintendo Asks Court To Dismiss U.S. Tariff Refund Lawsuit
Reddit Nintendoswitch · 2026-07-21
Switch 2: Any game to entertain a 35 year old?
Rock Paper Shotgun · 2026-07-21
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's open beta is set for next month, and will offer a chance to take on the fearsome new slaying slab mode
Vgc · 2026-07-21
Ubisoft promises more Ghost Recon news in August as Wildlands Definitive Edition info emerges
Ign · 2026-07-21
The Odyssey Isn't 100% Matt Damon's Bulging Biceps — for One Scene His Stunt Double Was a Woman Who Had 'The Greatest Arms I've Ever Seen'
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
Xbox admits its game exclusivity strategy isn't "obvious", but insists Gears of War and Clockwork Revolution won't be the only non-PlayStation games
Vgc · 2026-07-21
Gamescom’s exhibition space has completely sold out for the first time
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
The next major moment for Marathon arrives today with a new update and the debut of its PvE mode, Vault Breaker
Pcgamer · 2026-07-21
Developer creates a password-cracking Game Boy Advance that is 'about thirty million times slower than a modern cracking rig'
Nintendo Life · 2026-07-21
Review: Moss: The Forgotten Relic (Switch 2) – A Port That Doesn't Fall Flat On A Flatscreen
Kotaku · 2026-07-21
After 12 Years, Hexcells Is Still The Best Logic Puzzle Game Ever Made
Eurogamer · 2026-07-21
007 First Light's secret best character was a perfect way for IO Interactive to celebrate British writing and "restrained emotion"
Pcgamer · 2026-07-21
Nvidia finally reveals what controls devs actually have for DLSS 5, and don't worry folks, there are TWO main sliders to control the AI filter
Destructoid · 2026-07-21
Best Summoner/Necromancer build in SpiritVale