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!