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Ken Levine’s Judas Reemerges With Dev Log Highlighting New System That Lets Your Choices Decide the Story’s Villain

Ghost Story Games must have sensed that we were becoming antsy about Judas, the upcoming game from BioShock creator Ken Levine that’s touted an impressive-sounding “narrative LEGOs” approach. The studio has dropped the first of seemingly multiple Dev Logs today, with this one talking about the game’s complex, Shadow of Mordor-like “Villainy” system.

Levine has been alluding to the game’s Shadow of Mordor inspirations ever since he first teased Judas waaaaay back in 2017. At the time, he said that he wanted to do a more ambitious version of the game’s Nemesis system, which allowed players to form relationships with orcs they fought and developed them into characters with motivations, special abilities, and more. It’s a system that’s been praised industry-wide, but few if any games since have included a similar feature.

Originally, Levine talked about the concept of “radical recognition,” essentially the process of a game recognizing player accomplishments or failures or other activities as often as possible, and reacting to them. He elaborated more in an interview we did with him last year, explaining the game’s “Big Three” trio of main characters and their relevance to the plot and relationship to the player. Judas revolves around making choices to help or hinder these three characters, which in turn will change their relationship to the player.

Today’s Dev Log elaborates even further. As the blog explains, the Big Three’s ebbs and flows are part of a system Ghost Story is calling Villainy. While in most games, the story’s villain is set from the beginning, in Judas, player choice guides who the villain will be. Players can befriend and interact with all three members, but inevitably, one will end up being neglected or refused, and that character will become the villain. Once that happens, they gain new abilities and will begin to take action to subvert the player’s goals.

In Judas, you’re going to get to know these characters intimately. We want losing one of them to feel like losing a friend. We want to play with that dynamic, and we want that choice to be super hard. The Big 3 are all going to be competing for your favor and attention. They can bribe you, save you in battle, talk shit about the other characters, and share with you their darkest secrets. But eventually, you’ve got to decide who you trust and who you don’t.

Ghost Story says that the Villainy system marks a new development milestone for the team, which also incorporated the team’s biggest playtest yet. The blog also notes that the game will likely have over one hundred different speaking parts due to a big cast of characters. And while unfortunately, the studio isn’t ready just yet to lock in a release date, it did drop this new Judas official art by Drew Struzan:

Judas is planned for release on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation at an unknown later date.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

How Does Return to Silent Hill Connect to the Other Movies?

Christophe Gans’ Return to Silent Hill is hitting theaters in January 2026, just in time for the 20th anniversary of the original Silent Hill movie. This is good news, given that Silent Hill still ranks as one of the better video game movie adaptations to date. 2012’s Silent Hill: Revelation? Not so much.

Cineverse just released a short first teaser for Return to Silent Hill, offering a glimpse of the many horrors Jeremy Irvine’s James Sunderland will face as he navigates the town in search of his missing wife.

Given that so much time has passed since Gans last set foot in the moody town of Silent Hill, you might be wondering how this sequel is connected to its predecessors. Is it a direct continuation of Silent Hill and Silent Hill: Revelations? Which game is it adapting? Here’s everything you need to know before Return to Silent Hill hits theaters.

How Return to Silent Hill Connects to the Other Movies

2006’s Silent Hill stars Radha Mitchell as Rose Da Silva, a woman who brings her adopted daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) to the remote, abandoned town of Silent Hill in order to get to the bottom of Sharon’s recurring nightmares. Sean Bean also stars as Rose’s husband Christopher, who attempts to rescue his family even as they become trapped in a hellish other dimension.

Despite featuring a different director and writer in M.J. Bassett, 2012’s Silent Hill: Revelation serves as a direct sequel to the first movie. Adelaide Clemens stars as the adult Sharon, now assuming the identity of Heather Mason. When her father disappears in Silent Hill, Heather and her classmate Vincent (Kit Harington) return to the town to find him. Revelation also deals heavily with the religious cult known as the Order of Valtiel.

Return to Silent Hill is not a direct follow-up to either of those films. Instead, this film is telling a standalone story with a different set of characters. Return to Silent Hill stars Jeremy Irvine as James Sunderland, a widower who is stunned to receive a letter from his dead wife Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson), urging him to meet her in Silent Hill. James will descend deeper and deeper into the otherworldly dimensions of the town in order to find her. Silent Hill 2 Remake’s Evie Templeton will reprise her role as Laura, a young girl also caught in the web that is Silent Hill.

In short, it seems you don’t necessarily need to have seen the other Silent Hill movies in order to enjoy Return to Silent Hill. This sequel follows the approach of the games in that the spooky town itself, not the characters, provides most of the connective tissue. Most of the games aren’t directly intertwined by plot, but instead focus on different characters being drawn into the town and finding their personal demons manifesting into literal monsters. The series is not unlike Hellraiser in that regard, as the Hellraiser movies are mostly standalone horror stories linked together by the overarching mythology of Pinhead and the Cenobites.

“The script for a new Silent Hill movie that is totally independent from the two previous movies made and respects the way Silent Hill has evolved,” Gans said in 2022. “Silent Hill is a bit like Twilight Zone, the Fourth Dimension, a place where anything and everything can happen.”

Which Games Does Return to Silent Hill Adapt?

If the description of Return to Silent Hill’s plot sounds familiar, it should. This film happens to be a direct adaptation of the Silent Hill 2 game, which was originally released in 2001 and remade in 2024. Just like this film, Silent Hill 2 follows James Sunderland as he navigates the various dimensions of the town in search of his late wife.

Return to Silent Hill looks to be the most faithful adaptation of the game out of the three films to date, to the point that Gans went to the trouble of casting Templeton as Laura again. We assume the film will follow the core beats of the game, pitting James against terrifying monsters like Pyramid Head and culminating in a similarly tragic twist ending. Pyramid Head himself can be seen in the teaser, making him the one character confirmed to appear in all three films.

Neither of the previous Silent Hill movies could be considered more than loose adaptations of the source material. The first Silent Hill film may borrow liberally from the imagery and music of the series, along with a few basic plot points from 1999’s Silent Hill, but its plot and cast of characters are largely unique. Silent Hill: Revelation is sort of an adaptation of the Silent Hill 3 game, transforming Rose and Christopher Da Silva into Heather and Harry Mason. But, again, the less said about Revelation, the better.

Direct adaptation or not, it doesn’t appear that Return to Silent Hill will be a 1:1 copy of Silent Hill 2. Gans has hinted the film also draws inspiration from 2014’s P.T., the infamous demo that was meant to lead into Hideo Kojima’s canceled Silent Hills game. Does that mean the film will feature first-person sequences, a la 2005’s Doom? Or is the P.T. influence more in terms of the steadily mounting sense of dread and psychological horror? We’ll find out when Return to Silent Hill hits theaters in January 2026.

For more on Return to Silent Hill, find out why the teaser trailer has divided the Silent Hill fan community.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Sony Announces PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for September 2025

Sony has announced its PlayStation Plus monthly lineup of games for September 2025, which includes a Xbox-published title and a hugely popular farming sim.

Further solidifying the friendship between Xbox and PlayStation, next month’s list is headlined by Psychonauts 2, the platform-adventure from Tim Schafer’s Doublefine Studios, which is of course owned by Microsoft. This quirky sequel launched to positive reviews (and no, you don’t need to have played the first).

Next up is Stardew Valley, the charming life and farming simulation which really doesn’t need much introduction. If you don’t yet own a copy or three of this beloved indie game, now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about. Just don’t expect to do anything else for the next dozen hours, as it gets its hooks into you.

Finally this month, there’s Viewfinder. A mix of photo mode and first-person puzzle game, this well-received indie first launched in 2023 and boggled all our brains with its perspective-warping levels and extremely smart gameplay.

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games September 2025:

All three games will be available to claim from September 2 onwards. And, as ever, you have just a couple of days left to add August’s PlayStation Plus games to your library. Act now to nab Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2, before they leave the subscription service on September 1.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Whether Leon’s in the Game or Not, Resident Evil Requiem Is More Than Just a ‘Backwards Looking’ Nostalgia Fest, Capcom Says — and It Wasn’t Originally Planned as a 30th Anniversary Release at All

Regardless of what’s been said about the game to date, Resident Evil: Requiem’s director and producer want you to know that the title — scheduled for release in 2026, the series’ 30th anniversary year — has more going on than a simple focus on nostalgia.

It’s perhaps an odd thing to hear, as Capcom itself has highlighted how Resident Evil Requiem will return to the survival horror series’ roots back in Raccoon City, after several games set elsewhere. And it’ll be there, in the crumbling remnants of the series’ past, that Capcom has also promised players will find answers to lingering story threads and open questions from decades ago.

But despite all of this, and despite the huge ongoing speculation over Leon S. Kennedy’s potential presence in the game (something Capcom specifically declined to comment on to IGN), Capcom is keen for Requiem to be seen as more than just a look back into the franchise’s past. Speaking to IGN last week at Gamescom, in a question specifically about the current focus of fan debate, producer Masato Kumazawa made it clear that Requiem would end up being as much about the series’ future, as well as its origins.

“We love checking out the conversations that are happening,” Kumazawa said, “but this isn’t a game which is entirely focused on looking back. And we’re back in Raccoon City, but that’s not the only location in the game,” he revealed.

Indeed, while Requiem’s release has lined up with the Resident Evil series’ 30th anniversary next year, Kumazawa made clear that this was not the project’s initial plan — perhaps suggesting that fans expecting some kind of long-planned grand finale might need to adjust their expectations.

“It’s coming out in the 30th anniversary, but it wasn’t planned that way,” Kumazawa said. “It just ended up with the development was finished and the game is ready to release in 2026, which is the 30th anniversary.

“It wasn’t built in to be an anniversary title that is only backward facing,” he continued. “So there’s a lot more to the game than just the series’ legacy. We didn’t call it Resident Evil 9 after all. There’s a clue in the logo type, but ultimately the name is Resident Evil Requiem.”

When asked by IGN whether Capcom felt the need to cater to fans who want to see familiar things return, Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi said this was “tough to answer without getting into too much we’re not ready to talk about yet.”

“We know that people expect to be surprised or pleasantly surprised whenever they, like you say, they get the connections or they’re happy to see this or that they’re familiar with coming back,” Nakanishi said, without mentioning any character in particular.

“But I’m sure that people will be happy when they see how we’ve managed to blend a fresh approach and a fresh new character with also things that fans will recognize.”

For much more on the game, including the origins and fan theories surrounding its new ‘Big Mama’ monster, check out IGN’s full Resident Evil: Requiem interview.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

IGN Deals Is Giving Away A Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

In honor of the 34th anniversary of Mario Kart, which was released in Japan on August 27, 1991, IGN Deals is giving away a Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle to one lucky winner! (That’s not all: IGN Deals Twitter/X is ALSO giving away a Mario LEGO set; you can enter until Sept 1).

So… what’s the catch with this Switch 2 giveaway? We want to invite you to be part of our email Deals $quad. So by entering this giveaway, you will be opted into our IGN Deals’ newsletters for the latest and greatest deals sent straight to your inbox each day. Enter for the giveaway, but stick around for the killer curated deals. That’s it! See details on how to enter this sweepstakes below.

This sweepstakes is open to United States Residents only

  1. Make sure you are a registered IGN User and you are logged into your account.
  2. Hit Enter.
  3. Cross your fingers and tell a friend.

*By entering, you are subscribing to IGN Deals emails. Further, you are agreeing to the use of your personal information in accordance with the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

When is the giveaway?

The giveaway began 8/15/2025 at 12:00 PM PST and ends 10/1/2025 at 11:59 PM PST.

What we said in our review of the Switch 2:

Looking for more?

In case you missed it, IGN Deals is also giving away a Mario LEGO set right now! (Ends Sept 1, 2025.)

We built the Mario Kart LEGO set earlier this year, and it’s truly a build that everyone can love. Casual builders will appreciate its bright primary colors and its chunky parts, while experienced LEGO builders will appreciate the intricacy of the Kart’s construction.

How to Enter: Simply follow IGNDeals on X and reply to our announcement Tweet above with the hashtag “#mariokartanniversary” before September 1st, 2025. Giveaway terms and conditions here.

IGN Deals Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle Giveaway Terms & Conditions

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the IGN Deals Sweepstakes. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins 8/15/2025 at 12:00 PM PST and ends 10/1/2025 at 11:59 PM PST. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules (See Terms & Conditions). Sponsor: IGN Entertainment, Inc.

No Man’s Sky Voyagers Update Adds Corvette Ship Class, Multiplayer Crew, and Tech That Will Be Shared With Hello Games’ Light No Fire

No Man’s Sky is expanding once again, this time with the free Voyagers update. Interestingly, developer Hello Games said the tech introduced with this update will be shared with its next game, Light No Fire.

Voyagers adds a long list of features, which chief developer Sean Murray said Hello Games had worked on for some time now. Chief among them is the Corvette Ship Class and the possibility for a multiplayer crew.

But there’s much more to Voyagers, revealed in the list below:

  • Corvette Ship Class
  • Assemble Ships
  • Multiplayer Crew
  • Mission Radar
  • Autopilot in Space
  • Space walking
  • New missions
  • StarShip Interiors
  • New Spacesuit
  • Sky diving
  • Graphical Improvements
  • Varied Cockpits
  • New Expedition

Voyagers arrives just over nine years after No Man’s Sky’s troubled launch. Sentiment around the game is positive now, of course, following continued, eye-catching support from Hello Games.

Here’s Murray’s note on the Voyagers release:

I can’t believe it’s been just over nine years since No Man’s Sky first launched. No Man’s Sky VOYAGERS is what we’re super busy with right now and is one of our most ambitious updates. It launches today.

I’ve always loved Spaceships! Name a sci-fi film, book or game, and I want to talk to you about the spaceships in it! We know No Man’s Sky players feel the same – they spend countless hours searching the universe for their perfect ship. But what if you could design your own ship? If you could get out of your pilot’s seat mid-flight and walk around? If you could invite your friends on board as crew?

I guess that’s always been the ultimate fantasy for us. An infinite universe to explore with your ship and crew. Something we’ve always wanted to see brought together in one game.

Afterall perhaps the most important character in No Man’s Sky is your space ship. It’s your safe haven on hazardous planets, your companion exploring the stars. Your ship is your way of experiencing the universe, and when we change that, it really changes how the game feels.

We call them Corvettes, huge ships with hulls, wings, landing gear, cockpits, engine parts, thrusters and more – arranged to your own unique sci-fi design.

These ships have real interiors, med-bays, sleeping quarters, war rooms, radars, teleporters. It comes with you everywhere, which totally changes how you play. Decorating it with your friends gives you a space that you share together. Whether it’s a brightly coloured tiny explorer, or a colossal dark metallic war ship, it allows you to show off your own personality.

Adding bigger weapons to your Corvette increases your firepower. Add sleeping quarters and a mission radar, and you are ready to welcome a crew of friends on board. Add a mission radar and you are ready to adventure. A teleporter and you have an away team. Or just a window… and suddenly there are these special moments, watching as the universe flies by outside at warp speed.

Having multiple Corvettes flying over a planet together is incredible, especially when you pop the hatch and spacewalk or skydive from one ship to the other!

By design, Corvettes are encountered a little way into the game and veteran players will be able to unlock them reasonably swiftly. But we wanted to give all players a taste of what they can expect, so the accompanying “Corvette” expedition is specifically designed to get you to the workshop as quickly as possible and to take you on a journey which unlocks some of the parts you’re going to need to build out your sci-fi fantasy.

The team at Hello have been working on Voyagers for a long time. The technical challenges they have had to overcome to make any of this possible have been immense. Almost every part of the game has had to be reworked to accommodate these relative spaces. Having your multiplayer crew walking around, calmly editing your ship, as it travels at warp speeds towards a planet that is being generated as you approach. It’s pretty insane what’s going on behind the scenes to make that work.

Much of the technology we’re introducing with Voyagers is shared with our next game, Light No Fire, which is a truly open world, a shared Earth-sized planet, with real oceans to traverse, needing large boats and crews. We love that we get to share this technology with players early.

The most exciting thing about Voyagers for me is the possibilities it opens in the future for No Man’s Sky, and I can’t wait to see where the team takes it from here.

I can’t believe that in the past 12 months we released Worlds Part I, Worlds Part II, and Voyagers – all huge changes to this game we care about so much.

Many thanks for any support you continue to provide our little game. It really helps us continue to do what we do.

To celebrate our ninth anniversary, we’re also releasing our latest range of No Man’s Sky merchandise, including Gek and Traveller plushies with our friends at YouTooz, a new vinyl soundtrack with new tracks from the game and an exclusive tee, jacket and pin badge collection from Insert Coin.

Our journey continues.

Sean

It’s worth digging into the tiny detail on Light No Fire that Murray offers here. He described Light No Fire as a “truly open world, a shared Earth-sized planet, with real oceans to traverse, needing large boats and crews.” This is the tech we’re seeing in the No Man’s Sky Voyagers update, in spaceship form. There’s no release date yet for Light No Fire.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Atari Snaps Up 5 Dormant Ubisoft Franchises, Says It Will Re-Release Them On New Platforms

Atari has acquired five chiefly dormant franchises from developer/publisher Ubisoft: Child of Eden, Cold Fear, Grow Home, Grow Up, and I Am Alive.

Atari said it will “reintroduce iconic creations, bringing them to new platforms and renewed publishing frameworks.” They’ll all be re-released under Atari’s own publishing label and be available “on new platforms.”

“Millions of players have experienced these worlds over the years, and this will open the door for long-time players to revisit those memories while inviting new audiences to discover them for the first time,” said Deborah Papiernik, Ubisoft’s VP of new business.

“Atari has a rich gaming legacy and deep appreciation for these classic titles, we’re excited to see how they’ll evolve and connect with players in fresh, meaningful ways.”

This isn’t the first strategic partnership Ubisoft has struck this year, of course. Back in March, Ubisoft created a subsidiary company based on its Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six brands, with a €1.16 billion (approx. $1.25 billion) investment from Chinese megacorp Tencent.

The company has also partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for additional Assassin’s Creed Mirage content.

These agreements follow a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations in the run-up to Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ release, and there was enormous pressure on it to succeed after the company’s share price hit a historic low.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Yes, Another Clair Obscur Game Is Coming — ‘Expedition 33 is One of the Stories That We Want to Tell in This Franchise,’ Teases Director 

Good news, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans! Clair Obscur is not just the shortened name for developer Sandfall Interactive’s blockbuster RPG — it’s also the name for an entire franchise.

“Clair Obscur is the franchise name. Expedition 33 is one of the stories that we want to tell in this franchise,” director Guillaume Broche told MrMattyPlays (thanks TheGamer).

“Exactly what it will look like and what the concept will be is still too soon to announce, but what is sure is that this is not the end of the Clair Obscur franchise.”

And if that wasn’t quite obvious enough for you, he also specifically talked about his process for when he “writes sequels,” too, leaving us with little doubt that a follow-up game is on the way. Watch this space.

In IGN’s 9/10 review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we described it as a “modern RPG classic,” adding: “In so many ways, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reminded me of numerous classic and contemporary RPGs I love, but developer Sandfall truly understood why those games are special and made the pieces it borrowed its own.”

If that’s convinced you to give it a go, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before going into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

We already knew that Daredevil star Charlie Cox feels like a “total fraud” anytime someone gushes to him about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but now, it seems, the voice of Gustave is determined: “I wanna play the game.”

Sandfall recently published Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update 1.4.0, adding key features like a Battle Retry option alongside a host of quality-of-life changes, visual improvements, and bug fixes. However, the studio stopped short of detailing exactly what will be in the next Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update, simply telling fans that “there is more to come in the future.”

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Amid Backlash to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Locking Clans Behind DLC, Paradox Says It’s ‘Making Adjustments Ahead of Launch’

The backlash to Paradox’s decision to lock two clans behind DLC for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 appears to have prompted a rethink.

The furore began with the confirmation that Bloodlines 2 would feature four clans: Brujah; Tremere; Banu Haqim; and Ventrue. While this selection provides four different starting options for how you build your protagonist, it’s a more limited offering compared to the cult classic original Bloodlines, which featured seven clans.

Developer The Chinese Room has added a further two clans to Bloodlines 2 (Lasombra and Toreador), but these are currently only available as part of the Shadows and Silk add-on pack, which costs $21.99 as DLC, or included as part of the $89.99 Premium Edition. The standard edition costs $59.99.

This DLC is available from day one, which has created the impression that the “full” roster has been carved up, with only those paying extra getting the complete launch experience. As you’d expect, fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction.

Then, at gamescom 2025, a representative for publisher Paradox told IGN the decision was a “business” informed choice, prompting further outcry. But a post on Discord suggests a significant change may be coming ahead of launch.

As spotted on ResetEra, Paradox community developer DebbieElla addressed the game’s community with the following message:

“We are listening to your feedback about the Lasombra and Toreador clan access, and we’re making adjustments ahead of launch to reflect this.

“We will share more information about what this means as soon as possible.”

What this means is unknown for now, but the hope of course is that Paradox throws in the two clans for launch at no extra cost. Certainly, that would go some way to calming down the fanbase ahead of the game’s release on October 21. But what would that then mean for those who have already paid for the more expensive Premium Edition?

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has suffered a difficult development and a number of high-profile delays, but it is a crucial release for Paradox. The publisher will be keen to give it the best chance possible to succeed, and backtracking on its DLC plans may be the only viable option at this stage. While you wait to find out, check out IGN’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 hands-on preview.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Amid Battlefield 6’s Commitment to ‘Gritty Realism,’ Activision Makes Shock Call of Duty Change for Black Ops 7: ‘We Hear the Feedback’

It sounds like all change for Call of Duty with the release of Black Ops 7, amid pressure from Battlefield 6 and its commitment to “gritty realism.”

Call of Duty’s foray into goofy skins territory is not a new phenomena, although recent releases have certainly amped up the conversation around them. With the likes of Beavis and Butt-Head and American Dad hitting the game this year shortly after weed-obsessed bundles starring Seth Rogen, some fans have said they’ve had enough of what they call the ‘Fortnite-ification’ of their beloved Call of Duty, and have pleaded with publisher Activision to return to its mil-sim roots.

Enter Battlefield 6, a game EA is pitching as having a “gritty realism” aesthetic. Developer DICE has indicated it has no plans to release crossover skins that would break the aesthetic Battlefield 6 is going for, and promised the developers were listening to fan feedback.

In a recent interview with DBLTAP, Battlefield 6 design director Shashank Uchil doubled down on EA’s commitment to grounded realism, and even pointed to Call of Duty’s infamous Nicki Minaj skin as something Battlefield 6 doesn’t need.

“It has to be grounded,” he said. “That is what BF3 and BF4 was — it was all soldiers, on the ground. It’s going to be like this,” Uchil said, pointing at the key art featuring soldiers in soldier gear looking out over a wartorn New York City.

He added: “I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded.”

With Battlefield 6 set to go up against Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 later this year, Activision has now issued a community update that indicates it’s ready to make significant changes to the types of bundles it releases for the game.

But there’s perhaps even more significant news here: Activision confirmed that Operators, Operator Skins, and Weapons from Black Ops 6 will no longer carry forward into Black Ops 7.

This comes as a big surprise to players who had expected content they’d bought for Black Ops 6 to carry forward, as it has done with previous entries, and given Black Ops 7 directly follows last year’s Black Ops 6. Explaining the decision, Activision said Black Ops 7 “needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting.”

“That is why Black Ops 6 Operator and Weapon content will not carry forward to Black Ops 7. Double XP tokens and GobbleGums will still carry forward, because we recognize your time and progression are important.”

(This change applies only to Black Ops 7. Call of Duty: Warzone is not affected, and all your Black Ops 6 content stays usable there.)

What impact will this have on Black Ops 7? It means that at launch, at least, you won’t see all those goofy skins running around Multiplayer. It sounds like Multiplayer will look like Black Ops 7, at least at the start of things.

Where will Activision go from here? Its community post suggests it’s ready to tone down the goofiness for Black Ops 7’s entire lifecycle, although it’s worth pointing out we don’t have specifics here.

“We know there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the identity of Call of Duty,” Activision said. “Some of you have said we’ve drifted from what made Call of Duty unique in the first place: immersive, intense, visceral and in many ways grounded. That feedback hits home, and we take it seriously. We hear you.

“Throughout development, Treyarch and Raven’s north star has been to deliver a spiritual successor to Black Ops 2 while taking some big swings. You’ll see it across Black Ops 7’s Multiplayer, Zombies, Co-Op Campaign (including Endgame), and even Dead Ops Arcade 4.

“Over the years, we’ve had a variety of games and experiences that fans have enjoyed from the Modern Warfare series to the Black Ops series and beyond. Today, we wanted to share with you some of the ways we’re approaching things with Black Ops 7.”

Activision went on to say that Black Ops 7 bundles and items “will be crafted to fit the Black Ops identity.” “We hear the feedback,” the mega publisher added. “We need to deliver a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience.”

If Activision truly leaves goofy skins behind, then it’s leaving a lot of money on the table. The company wouldn’t release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Nicki Minaj skins if they didn’t make loads of money. Perhaps, with the release of Battlefield 6, Activision felt it had reached a tipping point, and it needed to take drastic action to respond.

Whatever the case, reaction is a mix of shock, excitement, and frustration. There’s shock that Activision actually canceled carry forward for Black Ops 7, excitement about getting back to Call of Duty’s roots, but for some a frustration that the time and in many cases money spent earning cosmetic items in recent months die with Black Ops 6.

There’s also a spot of scepticism from some within the Call of Duty community, who suspect Activision may hold the line for Black Ops 7’s first few months of life, but eventually retreat into goofy skin territory once again.

Activision ended its community update by promising more information on all aspects of Black Ops 7 soon. Battlefield 6 comes out October 10, with Black Ops 7 following in November. It’s going to be really interesting to see how this all shakes out.

We’ve got plenty more Black Ops 7 coverage coming out of gamescom 2025, including Treyarch shrugging off “lazy” accusations and the threat of Battlefield 6.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.