Recent reports suggest that the anticipated release of Fallout 5 has led to the cancellation of ZeniMax Online Studios’ latest MMORPG, known as Project Blackbird. This claim has been reiterated by Jez Corden, a reputable Microsoft insider with a history of providing accurate information regarding the company. In a podcast episode from mid-July 2025, Corden revealed that Bethesda had received the green light for Fallout 5, which seemingly influenced ZeniMax’s decision to halt development on Blackbird.

Corden returned to this topic just a few days later during another podcast episode, reinforcing his initial claims regarding Fallout 5’s approval and Blackbird’s cancellation. He initially framed his comments as speculation but later indicated that he had gained confirmation following an all-hands meeting at Microsoft. During this meeting, an inquiry was made addressing the reasons for Blackbird’s cancellation, with leadership indicating that strategic focus was shifting towards different projects.

Although Fallout 5 was not explicitly identified as the cause, the timing suggested its role was significant. Additionally, the decision to cancel an untested MMORPG like Blackbird seems relatively understandable, given the current market dynamics and the rising popularity of the Fallout franchise, especially after the success of Amazon’s television adaptation. It is rumored that multiple Fallout games are currently in development, including a potential remaster of Fallout 3, likely handled by an external team.

Despite the excitement surrounding Fallout 5, it is anticipated that this title will not be released anytime soon. Bethesda is currently concentrating its efforts on The Elder Scrolls 6, which entered production around the time Starfield was finalized in 2023. With the extended development cycles typical for AAA titles, Fallout 5 may not arrive until well after 2033.

Jordynne Grace, known as a star in NXT and a playable character in WWE 2K25, has expressed her desire to see her memorable TNA Wrestling matches included in the game’s Showcase mode. WWE 2K25, released in March 2025, features a thrilling array of downloadable content (DLC) planned for the year that adds new wrestlers and special guests.

Grace is slated to be part of the upcoming Fearless Pack DLC, set to release on July 23, 2025, alongside notable figures like Penta, Bull Nakano, New Jack, and a rumored celebrity guest, KSI. Grace’s journey includes her debut in WWE during the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble as the reigning TNA Knockouts Champion.

By 2025, she had officially signed with WWE and became an active performer in NXT. In a recent interview with Gaming Bible, Grace shared her enthusiasm about being part of WWE 2K25’s roster.

She highlighted two matches from her TNA career that she hopes to be included in Showcase mode: her 2020 championship bout against Deonna Purazzo at TNA Slammiversary and her contest with Masha Slamovich during Bound for Glory last year. While those matches occur outside WWE events, the ongoing partnership between WWE and TNA suggests it may be feasible to feature her favorites in future installments of the game.

Additionally, WWE has featured several TNA stars, including Joe Hendry, enhancing the crossover between the two promotions. With the inclusion of TNA legend Abyss in the Dunk and Destruction DLC, there is potential for even more TNA personalities to appear in the WWE 2K lineup.

The roster of WWE 2K25 is the largest yet, showcasing a mix of current WWE and NXT talent alongside legendary wrestlers. With high-profile events like WWE Evolution taking place, the upcoming WWE 2K games could benefit greatly by offering a broader range of matches in the Showcase mode.

Genshin Impact players have reason to celebrate with the release of a new redeem code that offers valuable rewards, including Primogems and EXP materials. Recently, the developers shared exciting information regarding the upcoming Version 5.8 update, which promises a host of new content including a summer event, additional quests, and more. During a recent special livestream, the Genshin Impact team unveiled a range of features that will be included in the upcoming patch.

One of the highlights is a new Archon Quest Prelude that introduces players to Nod-Krai. Additionally, the much-anticipated summer event for Natlan will debut, along with a new permanent area that will enhance the game’s open-world map. To help players gear up, the livestream also featured promotional codes for in-game items, including a new redeem code that grants an easier path to acquiring Primogems.

In Version 5.8, players can now track how many Primogems will be available, allowing them to plan their character pulls effectively. The newly released promotional redeem code offers 60 Primogems and 5 Adventurer’s Experience. It is important to note that these codes are time-limited, so players should redeem them promptly.

While 60 Primogems may seem modest, they can still be beneficial for players looking to secure characters from the soon-to-be-released banners, particularly the new 5-star Electro polearm unit, Ineffa, and the return of popular characters like Citlali, Mualani, and Chasca. Looking ahead, HoYoverse is building excitement for Version 6.0 with a teaser trailer introducing the first Nod-Krai character, a striking woman with deer horns who has the ability to transform into a stag. Rumors also suggest that fan-favorites Varka and Columbina could soon join the roster.

While the wait for Version 6.0 continues, Version 5.8 is shaping up to offer rewarding experiences for players, particularly through the summer event, which will feature new skins for beloved characters Bennett and Yelan.

A recent study revealed that the average age of a Final Fantasy fan is 42, reflecting a significant challenge the franchise has faced over the years. As December 18 marks the 38th anniversary of Final Fantasy, the series has established itself as one of the longest-running JRPG franchises, as well as one of the enduring names in video gaming history. With a legacy that spans five decades, Final Fantasy has cultivated a mature fan base compared to most other video game franchises. This finding, based on a survey conducted by GEM Partners involving 180,000 respondents in Japan, sheds light on the demographic trends within the fan community.

The study presents two key interpretations. Firstly, the average age of 42 signals that Final Fantasy has successfully managed to retain its long-time fans, a trend seen in other legacy JRPGs like Dragon Quest. On the flip side, the data indicates that the franchise struggles to attract new players. Despite efforts such as mobile spin-offs and re-releases aimed at drawing a wider audience, the fan base remains predominantly older.

This challenge is reflected in the historical sales figures. Final Fantasy 14, originally released in 2010 and relaunched later, is the best-selling title with around 24 million sales, while the iconic Final Fantasy 7 from 1997 holds the record for single-player games at approximately 15 million. However, recent reports indicate that newer titles, including FF7 Rebirth and FF16, have struggled to meet sales expectations. While an apparent plateau in outreach might seem typical for long-standing franchises, Square Enix may wish to counter this trend and attract a younger demographic.

As the average age of gamers in the U.S. is estimated at 35, the company might aim to decrease the average fan age to better align with the overall gaming population and counter the rising costs of AAA game development.

Since the release of the 2.0 update, titled “Storm’s Brewing,” for 7 Days to Die in late June, the game has faced significant backlash from its player base. Longtime fans, who once celebrated every update, are now urging developer The Fun Pimps to revert the game to its previous state. The update was intended to introduce new biomes, resources, zombies, and storms while enhancing quality-of-life features, but player reactions have been far from positive. On Steam, where the game initially received an outstanding approval rating of 88 percent from over 257,000 reviewers, recent feedback has shifted to a “Mixed” status.

The last 30 days show only a 68 percent approval rating, signaling a growing discontent among players. Critiques have ranged from the alterations to gameplay mechanics to the slowdown of progression, with one prominent review claiming that the update represents “a betrayal of everything this game stood for.” While the introduction of biomes such as Burnt Forest, Pine Forest, Desert, Snow, and Wasteland is not inherently problematic, the accompanying challenges have become a point of contention. Players feel overwhelmed by the need to craft specific items to navigate these new environmental hazards, detracting from the core gameplay they enjoy.

This crafting requirement is seen as cumbersome, as it diverts attention from exploration and combat. Moreover, the addition of five new storm types has further complicated gameplay, hampering visibility and combat efficiency. While Patch 2.1, released on July 15, sought to address these issues by reducing the storms’ length and frequency, many fans remain unsatisfied. Calls for a rollback to earlier versions, back to when the game enjoyed widespread acclaim, continue to echo within the community.

Ready or Not has reached an impressive milestone, selling one million copies across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S shortly after its much-anticipated console launch on July 15. Since its original release on PC in December 2022, it has maintained a strong player base, attracting thousands of gamers daily on Steam. Following its successful debut, the development team at Void Interactive released two expansions that helped keep the community engaged. The game made its console debut with some in-game content censored, which led to mixed reactions from players.

Nevertheless, the tactical shooter appears to be thriving after its transition to consoles. According to Void Interactive CEO Julio Rodriguez, the game achieved one million sales in approximately 3.6 days on consoles, a remarkable feat compared to the 36 days it took for the PC version to reach the same goal. Rodriguez expressed immense pride in his team’s achievement, calling it a “huge moment” for them. He also confirmed that the developers are addressing existing issues to enhance player experience, providing some relief to the Irish studio amid the challenges related to the PC version.

Despite facing review-bombing on Steam, Ready or Not enjoys a resurgence across both console and PC platforms. The game’s concurrent player count increased significantly following the Los Suenos Stories update accompanying the console launch, peaking at over 31,000 players—its highest figure since release. However, the game’s Steam page currently features “Mostly Negative” reviews. The latest update introduced not only controversial content changes but also fresh gameplay and story elements, including two new missions, four weapons, and various in-game enhancements.

While content updates have revitalized player interest, Void Interactive continues to face the challenge of improving community sentiment amidst ongoing negative feedback.

Players of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone have recently found themselves facing bans for AFK (away from keyboard) farming in the game’s Plunder mode. Activision, the developer, has taken a hardline approach against cheaters and bots over the last few months, resulting in a significant number of bans. While some players argue that AFKing in Plunder is harmless, Activision appears to have a different viewpoint.

Gaining experience points (XP) in Call of Duty can be challenging, especially in highly competitive ranked modes. As a result, players are constantly seeking quicker ways to level up. Plunder, an alternative game mode, offers a way to earn XP with minimal effort, leading to some players exploiting it by playing AFK.

Reports from Call of Duty news sources, like TheGhostOfHope, indicate that several players have been banned for this practice, with many sharing screenshots of permaban notifications due to “boosting.” Matches in Black Ops 6 and Warzone’s Plunder mode last up to 30 minutes and grant XP regardless of player involvement. This simple structure allows players to farm experience by entering matches and stepping away for a while.

However, this method is now under scrutiny, as Activision categorizes it as boosting, leading to permabans. The surge in bans aligns with a broader initiative by Activision against cheating and behavior that disrupts the gaming experience. Since the launch of Black Ops 6 in October 2024, over 228,000 accounts have been banned.

While many players might welcome the reduction of cheaters in competitive modes, some actions taken by Activision have sparked debate. For instance, prominent streamers like LastChanceFPS criticize the severity of treating non-contributors the same as hackers in Plunder matches. AFKing is not the sole focus of Activision’s crackdown; earlier in 2025, a player was handed a staggering 67-year ban for violating chat policies, effectively rendering them permanently banned.

It remains uncertain whether Activision will alter its stance on bans in light of player feedback, but for now, gamers should be cautious of their actions in the game.

Infinity Nikki has recently introduced a new redemption code, offering global players a variety of rewards. Users can redeem this code for 10 Resonite Crystals, 100 Diamonds, 28,888 Blings, 200 Shiny Bubbles, and 200 Threads of Purity.

Following a significant setback in Version 1.5, the developer, Infold, has been on a mission to rebuild the community’s trust. By delaying Version 1.6, Infold ensured that players received a stable experience devoid of game-breaking bugs.

The subsequent Version 1.7 brought a darker, more mature narrative featuring the poignant story of Sith and Alesiya. Despite these improvements, some players are still dissatisfied, as the game underwent an unusual retcon to its Prologue, and the co-op area in the Sea of Stars remains largely barren.

Consequently, a segment of the Infinity Nikki community continues to abstain from the game, pledging to return only once Infold rectifies the issues stemming from Version 1.5. On a brighter note, players are getting a glimpse of the upcoming Home feature through a preview shared by the developers.

For those actively engaged in collecting Diamonds, the recently issued promotional code could prove beneficial. While the amount of Diamonds offered is modest, it’s a small boon for players.

The code, valid from July 18, 2025, to July 18, 2026, allows users to claim their rewards conveniently. Looking ahead, Version 1.8 is set to introduce an ambitious new zone inspired by the Linlang Empire, along with double banners for featured 5-Star characters.

Although the housing feature has been postponed until Version 1.9, players appreciate the delay to ensure quality content. Celebrating a milestone of one million followers, Infold appears committed to advancing the narrative and gameplay of Infinity Nikki.

If they can move past the controversial aspects of Version 1.5, a robust redemption story may not be far off, as the quality of storytelling seems to be on the rise once again.