Call of Duty
Modern Warfare 4's open beta starts August 28 — here's what changes after early access
Modern Warfare 4 moves into its public open beta on August 28, with no preorder required and Nintendo Switch 2 joining the supported platforms.
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News
The day’s games and tech news as it lands: launches, updates, outages, deals and the stories behind them, newest first. Page 12 of 14.
Fortnite
Fortnite Override lets players rewrite Battle Royale rules mid-match
Fortnite Override turns rule changes into a live Battle Royale mechanic, with server-wide consoles, squad-only rewards and new ways to manipulate loot.
Minecraft
Minecraft Snapshot 10 rolls back Drowned changes and speeds up structure searches
Minecraft Java 26.3 Snapshot 10 reverses recent Drowned experiments, improves structure searches and adds several smaller interface and gameplay fixes.
Microsoft / Windows
Windows 11's August update can crash some games on PCs with RGB-related drivers
Microsoft says KB5121003 can make some games hang, close or restart PCs when certain RGB-related drivers are present, and the investigation is still open.
VR / AR Gaming
Into the Radius 2 hits PS VR2 on September 24
Into the Radius 2 launches on PS VR2 September 24 with a full solo campaign, native 90FPS and PS VR2 features; two-player co-op is planned for Q4.
OpenAI / ChatGPT
OpenAI says GPT-5.6 Terra cut Kiro task costs by roughly 82%
OpenAI says GPT-5.6 Terra completed successful Terminal-Bench 2.1 tasks in Kiro at roughly 82% lower cost after joint optimization work with AWS.
Gaming Deals / Free Games
Cardpocalypse is free on Epic Games Store through August 27
Cardpocalypse is free to claim on the Epic Games Store through August 27, alongside an Albion Online add-on bundle rather than another paid base game.
Indie Games
Stray Dog: nobody cares turns a sword-wielding hound into a Soulslike hero
Parry Frames Studio has revealed Stray Dog: nobody cares, a single-player dark-fantasy action RPG where a hound carries a sword and fights to rescue its captured knight.
Game Development
Gears of War: E-Day gets a custom Gibson guitar collection
Xbox and Gibson have built four custom Gears of War: E-Day guitars, tying character artwork and sweepstakes prizes to instruments also used in the game’s score.
Call of Duty
Modern Warfare 4’s first beta patch tunes footsteps and lethality
Infinity Ward’s first Modern Warfare 4 beta patch lowers footstep volume, starts reducing weapon lethality and expands the test with Cachette and Inflation.
Google / Android
Google adds new study tools across Search and Gemini
Google is expanding study features across Search and Gemini with interactive explanations, quizzes, document-based study help and deeper research tools.
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.71 adds four cars and three events
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.71 brings four cars, three new World Circuits events and a Whistler Scapes curation to the game.
OpenAI / ChatGPT
ChatGPT for Mac can now read and send Apple Messages
ChatGPT’s macOS app can now search Apple Messages, prepare replies and send them after approval, if users grant the required local permissions.
RPGs
Code Vein II’s Mask of Idris DLC launches September 9
Code Vein II’s Mask of Idris expansion launches September 9 with a separate Forsaken World story, new partners, weapons and Formae.
Indie Games
Tails of Iron 2's free Blood and Brine expansion is out
The free post-game expansion adds Hardshell Brook, 11 quests, 10 bosses, fishing and a pile of crossover armour for returning rat warriors.
World of Warcraft
WoW Midnight Season 2 is live with Venomous Abyss and new Mythic+
World of Warcraft: Midnight Season 2 is live, switching on Venomous Abyss, a fresh Mythic+ pool, PvP progression and new Delve and Prey rewards.
League of Legends
Riot will end active 2XKO development in December
2XKO will stop active development at the end of 2026, but Riot says its online servers and offline play will continue.
Apple
Apple overhauls EU App Store terms for October
Apple’s EU app rules move to one business framework on October 1, replacing the per-install Core Technology Fee with a transaction commission.
Minecraft
Minecraft Dungeons II reveals the Sift
Mojang’s new Minecraft Dungeons II gameplay trailer introduces the Sift, a second dimension reached through mysterious rifts in the Overworld.
Call of Duty
Modern Warfare 4 early-access beta is live
Pre-order players can enter Modern Warfare 4’s first beta weekend now, with the all-player open beta following on August 28.