Riot Games are going to let their top League Of Legends and Valorant esports teams receive sponsorship from gambling companies, in a bid to snaffle up some of the billion dollar unofficial sports betting scene that surrounds both games.
In case you wondered, yes, all the Kojima-related Easter eggs sprinkled through Death Stranding 2: On The Beach were indeed created by game creator and director Hideo Kojima himself.
In a Japanese-language interview with GameSpark, Kojima revealed that even when he begged his staff to include little jokes and secrets for players to find, his team would “pretend not to know” what he wanted.
“All of that stuff was added by me,” Kojima said, as translated by Automaton.
“Even if I said to the staff, ‘Please put them in!’ they would just say, Huh? and pretend not to know,” he added.
Kojima even suggested a location in the game where fans could go to see an example of something he added. “If you look up at the sky at night in a hot spring, you can see a very beautiful sky,” Kojima said. “If you zoom in there, various things will appear, so please play around with it.”
What you find may not be to everyone’s taste, however — “it might cause certain people to cringe hard,” Kojima admitted.
We recently learned that Kojima changed the game halfway through because playtesting results were “too good,” and he doesn’t want his work to be “mainstream.”
IGN’s Death Stranding 2 review returned a 9/10. We said: “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a triumphant sequel that emphatically delivers on the promise of its original.”
Don’t forget, Hideo Kojima is also working on a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, and we recently learned that a Death Stranding anime is in the works, too. He’s also working on a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project called Physint, and called the upcoming Xbox-published OD “a game I have always wanted to make.”
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.
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It’s here. No, not the end of the world as we know it, but Helldivers 2‘s long-awaited review bomb cape.
Arrowhead had been teasing adding said cape, dubbed “Pillars of Freedom”, to the game as an inside joke since that whole PSN controversy last year, when HD2 got so many negative reviews from folks angry at account linking being made mandatory that its Steam graph’s red lines were long enough inspire amateur fashion designers. The developers and Sony have since restored access to the game in a bunch of countries the PSN change rendered it unpurchasable in, paving the way for this gear gag.
“The response far exceeded our expectations”.
Nintendo has today held its 85th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, during which president Shuntaro Furukawa apologised for not being able to meet initial demand for the Switch 2.
As highlighted by @NStyles on X, a shareholder asked whether there was a specific reason for the shortage of consoles and whether Nintendo had failed to predict the overwhelming response from consumers at launch.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Amazing Seasun
Mecha Break – July 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
A free-to-play multiplayer mech game that allows players to choose from diverse mechs, customize appearances, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain. Get ready for the ultimate showdown — blitz, brawl, blaze!
ININ Games
Irem Collection Volume 3 – July 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Inin is back with Volume 3 of the Irem Collection, delivering a trio of fantastical shoot ’em ups! This time, it´s magic, machines, and mayhem: Mr. Heli (Battle Chopper), Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed.
Mad Mimic
No Heroes Here 2 – July 1
Xbox Play Anywhere
A group of non-adventurers is the last hope in defending the castle in this chaotic co-op tower defense game with roguelike features. With up to 4 players, your party must organize the castle, work as a team to craft ammo, and shoot at enemies to protect your kingdom!
FreeMind S.A.
Arena Renovation – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Take on the role of a one-man renovation team tasked with restoring various sports facilities to their former glory. Many of them have been destroyed because of time or lack of care. Don’t let them go into complete oblivion – roll up your sleeves and breathe new life into them!
Eastasiasoft Limited
Dead of Darkness – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
A 2D survival horror action-adventure presented in a mix of old-school pixel art and HD character illustrations. In 1985 England, private investigator Miles Windham follows a lead on the mysterious death of his daughter to Velvet Island. But once he arrives on the island, he soon realizes that the residents are behaving strangely and soon Miles finds himself in a struggle for his own survival.
Afil Games
Mystic Pathways: Crystal Quest – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Mystic Pathways: Crystal Quest is the sparkling sequel that takes puzzles to a new level of strategic cuteness. Your job? Rotate pieces, build paths, and guide these tiny glowing creatures through mystical forests, portal-filled swamps, and glittering caves. All while trying to keep your sanity with trails that only get more challenging at every step.
Synnergy Circle Games
Mystic Thief – Elemental Conquest – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Play as Zevi, a mysterious, hooded wizard with the rare ability to steal magical staffs and harness the spells of others. Dive into the depths of the ever-shifting Elemental Dungeon, a perilous maze known only to wizards, teeming with ancient treasures, elemental foes, and forbidden sorcery.
NETKDOS, SL
Rally Arcade Classics – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Rev up your engines, it’s almost time to race back to the past with Rally Arcade Classics! Including 44 iconic cars from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, and 48 thrilling tracks to rev up their engines to the max while drifting every close turn, you will never run out of challenges to take upon.
Tilting Point
SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off Extra Krusty Edition – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
The Xbox “Extra Krusty Edition” of SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off is here! It includes all the fun of the original with none of the grind! Access tons of free decorative items, costumes, kitchen gear and more, experience unlimited play and unleash four, Xbox power-ups to help you show off your skill behind the grill!
QUByte Interactive
Music Drive: Chase the Beat – July 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Music is the most valuable asset in the world, and hard drives filled with unreleased tracks have been stolen by a gang that wants to monopolize the charts. It’s up to you to recover them! You play as Tina & Tunner — she’s the best getaway driver in the hood; he’s a sharpshooter with perfect aim. Together, this couple uses their unique talents in high-octane missions, combining action and rhythm in a race against time to save the art that moves the world: music.
EpiXR Games
Aery: Titans of the Future – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Soar through a breathtaking futuristic world in Aery – Titans of the Future, where nature and technology blend in a mesmerizing landscape. As a graceful bird, you’ll glide effortlessly through high-tech cities, towering robots, and vast mechanical structures, uncovering the mysteries hidden within this advanced world.
Ratalaika Games S.L.
All The Words She Wrote – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Takaoka Mayo is a 24-year-old woman without any life plans, but she does have a passion: namely, Princess Luluna from the popular light novel series, Elf Forest. Mayo is content to admire her favorite fictional character from afar, until she receives an incredible opportunity. Elf Forest’s mysterious writer is looking for a housekeeper! The reclusive woman is named Komikado Hijiri, and soon Mayo finds herself living under Hijiri’s roof.
Happy Player
Beat of Life – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Follow the beat to navigate your character in Beat of Life. Stay focused to help her organs function well. Bad habits can harm her health, so respond quickly. Life is fragile; one missed beat may lead to illness or death. Master the rhythm and ensure she lives a healthy, complete life.
Milkstone Studios
Farm Together 2 – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Farm Together 2 improves over the original game in every way, offering a better polished experience and becoming the best way to enjoy your own farm! Start from scratch, with a small plot, and end with a huge area that extends further than the eye can see!
Gray Boss Game Studio
Frozen Axe – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
The North Capital was destroyed by an ancient God. The age of peace, conquered through decades of hard work, was wiped out in just one night. If you don’t stand and fight now, the north will degrade to its bloody and savagery state of constant fear, where no one is safe and fear rules above every single soul.
QubicGames S.A.
Golf Guys – July 4
Xbox Play Anywhere
Grab your golf club, check the wind direction, aim, choose the force of impact on the ball and hit it! Hurry up because no one is going to wait for you! This game is all about speed, precision and decision-making. Compete in tournament mode on random maps with different rules. Score as many points as possible by hitting the ball in the center of the target, be first in a race to hit the ball into the hole before others do, or find the best way to beat everyone in a mini-golf with various obstacles!
Omegga Interactive
Hexa Road – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Connect the roads and build a thriving city in this engaging puzzle game. With 40 challenging levels, a dynamic soundtrack, and sleek low-poly visuals, each puzzle you solve brings streets to life, sparking new homes and bustling traffic. Dive into a satisfying and strategic experience as you piece together the perfect path to grow your urban world.
KEMCO
Novel Rogue – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
In the mystical Ancient Library, a young apprentice named Wright trains under Yuisil, the Witch of Portals. As part of his magical studies, he delves into the stories of four enchanted books, each offering a unique realm to explore. From reclaiming a fallen kingdom to unraveling the mysteries of the underworld, your choices shape the destinies of captivating characters and their intertwining tales.
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 30 to July 4 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Magic: The Gathering has had plenty of Secret Lair crossovers this year, from SpongeBob to Deadpool, and one more is speeding onto the scene next month. Sonic the Hedgehog is getting three individual Secret Lair drops, and we’ve got the exclusive first look at one that’s all about artifacts.
Flip through the gallery below to see all 7 cards in the Turbo Gear Secret Lair drop:
Unlike the recent Final Fantasy crossover, which is an entire draftable Magic set alongside four pre-constructed Commander decks, this Sonic crossover follows the blueprint of similar tie-ins by being limited to three Secret Lair drops. Secret Lair is what Magic calls its series of timed releases that contain just a handful of specific cards with special art, and they are all sold direct by Wizards of the Coast rather than in randomized packs.
In this case, the Turbo Gear drop has six exisiting Magic cards redone with new Sonic-themed art and names, as well as one token card. That includes a few fitting staples of Magic’s most popular format, Commander, like Swiftfoot Boots and Lighting Greaves – because of course Sonic’s shoes deserve their own cards. Also of note, a legendary vehicle called the Weatherlight is here as Tornado, Sonic’s Biplane, and thanks to a recent rules change, you could actually have that be your Commander if you are so inclined.
WOTC says this drop is designed to complement the cards in another one of the drops that focuses on Sonic’s characters themselves. While we don’t have those to reveal, an example given in Turbo Gear’s store description is equipping The Reaver Cleaver, reimagined here as Knuckles’s Gloves, to Knuckles himself. This idea goes hand-in-hand with other crossover drops, like 2023’s Tomb Raider, where the reprinted cards are meant to fit nicely with the new Legendary creatures, almost like a little “build your own Commander deck” starter kit.
The Turbo Gear Secret Lair drop (as well as the other two) will go on sale on July 14 at 9am PT on the official Secret Lair website, and will cost $29.99 for the non-foil version or $39.99 for foil. You better get there on time, too, because they will only be available in a limited quantity – and if other recent crossovers are any indication, they will likely sell out fast.
Tom Marks is IGN’s Executive Reviews Editor. He loves card games, puzzles, platformers, puzzle-platformers, and lots more.
You’d think there’d be more video games that are explicitly about clearing away corpses, given how many corpses players produce. Getting rid of bodies is a routine problem for developers, with a variety of crafty or cursory solutions. Horror projects such as Resident Evil sometimes resort to accelerated decomposition, with felled zombies dissolving to maggots in seconds, but in most shooters, it’s a question of despawning the victims when you look away. Stealth sims mandate a certain level of respectfulness, albeit by accident: stray cadavers must be carefully interred in random dumpsters or closets before they trigger an alarm.
As with a lot of things in games, there are technological concerns here that form a curious warping of practicalities in the world beyond the vidbox. Dead bodies in games absorb computing resources that are needed for the next enemies along. Bodies of actual flesh and bone are a weight, if not a burden upon the dead person’s loved ones. The memory has to be freed up, so that it can be used for something else.
Details of a developer-only Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 playtest have been accidentally released to all fans on the Call of Duty app. This included details of unannounced multiplayer modes, such as a 20v20 wingsuit option. Whoops.
“An internal, developer-only Black Ops 7 playtest was set to begin this weekend,” explained CharlieIntel on X/Twitter. “[Activision or developers Treyarch/Raven Software] accidentally pushed the message of the day to everyone on Xbox on the Call of Duty app, instead.”
CharlieIntel also attached previously unannounced details about multiplayer modes, Skirmish and Overload.
Skirmish’s description detailed in a screenshot said: “Two teams of 20 fight to compete objectives across a large map. Capture points of interest, destroy payloads, and transmit valuable data to score. Use your wingsuit to flank and reach objectives before your enemy. The first team to reach the score limit wins.”
There’s also Overload, which is described as “two teams of six players each fight to control a neutral EMP device that must be delivered to the enemy HQ for score. Reach the score limit and claim victory by delivering multiple EMP devices.”
An internal, developer only Black Ops 7 play test was set to begin this weekend. They accidentally pushed the message of the day to everyone on Xbox on the Call of Duty app, instead.
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2025
Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — which was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 earlier this month — is the first ever consecutive release within the Black Ops sub-series. Matt Cox, General Manager of Call of Duty, insisted that “as a team, our vision from the start was to create a back-to-back series experience for our players that embraced the uniqueness of the Black Ops sub-franchise.”
Black Ops 7 is set to star Milo Ventimiglia, Kiernan Shipka, and Michael Rooker, with Ventimiglia portraying David Mason, Shipka as new character Emma Kagen, and Rooker reprising his Black Ops 2 role of Mike Harper.
Earlier this month, Activision pulled controversial adverts placed inside Black Ops 6 and Warzone loadouts, insisting they were a “feature test” published “in error.” It’s worth remembering that Black Ops 6 is a premium, $70 game, and this year’s Black Ops 7 is expected to jump to $80 after Microsoft said that gamers will see Xbox charging $79.99 for new, first-party games around the holiday season.
And don’t forget, Beavis and Butt-Head are now in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
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.
Congrats, Andrew! You’re almost certainly not reading this, but regardless, it’s only polite for me to offer you a big well done, Mr Wilson. After all, you, EA’s CEO, were paid $30.5 million (around £22 million) in the financial year just gone, nearly $5 million (around £3.6 million) than you were the one before that.
Meanwhile, the company’s full-time workers only took home $117,000 (around £85k) on average, down from $149,000 (around £108k) in 2024, and the lowest since 2022, which saw EA employees earn $116,000 (around £84.5k) according to the average EA used. In order to illustrate just how huge the gulf between the cash given to Wilson per year and the median pay of the people under him who actually do the work, Game File‘s Stephen Totilo has made a hugely stretched graph that’s well worth checking out if you want a good laugh followed by a big sigh.
There used to be – and might still be – a tradition at the UK’s Reading music festival where you’d be lying in your sleeping bag at night and you’d suddenly hear a low rumbling in the distance, which would then become indecipherable shouting, which you’d soon realise was rows of campers shouting the word ‘bollocks’ from their tents in a sort of Mexican wave, getting louder and closer as you waited in fizzy anticipation for your turn to shout. You’d then listen to the whole thing play out in reverse as the bollocktide receded into the pleasant autumn twilight.
I thought about this as I read multiple headlines referring to the Windows blue screen of death as ‘iconic’ this morning. Extreme annoyance elevated to the status of folk legend. Mythologising a shared experience of catastrophe. The whole world shouting ‘bollocks’ together.
