Activision officially announces Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, calling this the "first-ever consecutive release within the popular Black Ops series," making the repetition sound like innovation. It is set in the year 2035 where we find a "world in peril and on the brink of chaos," which seems like a stretch, but we'll roll with it. An Official Teaser features a cinematic introduction by one of our future robot overlords, and the Call of Duty Blog has the first details. Here's a bit:

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever. Developed as the next evolution of Black Ops, this is the first-ever consecutive release within the series, set more than 40 years after the events of Black Ops 6. The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare following the events of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. Wielding cutting-edge technology, David Mason and his team must fight back against a manipulative enemy who weaponizes fear above all else.

Focus Entertainment and Asobo Studio announce Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, a prequel installment in the Plague Tale series coming to Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. This is unveiled in a surprisingly rat-free Reveal Trailer showing a setting 15 years before the events in A Plague Tale: Requiem. Here's the blurb from the game's new Steam Listing:

Set 15 years before A Plague Tale: Requiem, play as Sophia, a fierce young plunderer, on the run but determined to uncover the secrets of her past. Dive into an original story blending combat, myth and fate with a brand new take in the universe of A Plague Tale.

Sophia’s journey leads to the Minotaur' Island, where she faces deadly trials, navigates treacherous trails, solves puzzles, all while fighting and staying one step ahead of the army chasing her. But the true challenge awaits, as the terrifying creature hidden behind the myth will soon resonate with her…

This Announce Trailer has the unexpected announcement from Obsidian of Grounded 2, the sequel to its Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-inspired adventure. And this chance to once again get small and engage in backyard battles is almost upon us, as the trailer says this is "coming July 29, 2025 to Game Preview. This post explains, and says the Windows edition will come to Early Access on Steam at the same time. This post is jammed with details, while the description has a more general overview:

When you've been shrunk to the size of an ant, what was once familiar is now a wild, uncharted frontier. Traverse sprawling manmade spaces overgrown with nature with buggies that can fight alongside with you, uncover hidden secrets, and fight to survive in a world much larger than the backyard. The playground may seem familiar, but beneath its bright colors and towering structures lie mysteries hidden in plain sight. Are you ready to uncover them?

A Teaser Trailer reveals Persona 4 Revival, the rumored remake of the 2008 PlayStation roleplaying sequel. There's not much else right now, but the description says it's coming to Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It may be nothing, but it also mentions "Xbox PC" which feels a little dirty. Here's word:

The chances of your screen turning into a portal to another world are low, but never zero…

Persona 4 Revival is officially announced for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5, and Steam!

Wishlist now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/persona-4-revival/9n40dk5n4ld4

Daedalic Entertainment, Undertow Games, and FakeFish announce Home & Harbor, a major expansion for Barotrauma coming to the sci-fi submarine sim next year. This will allow players to further immerse themselves in the game with the addition of a new faction as well as a new base-building feature. It's listed on Steam and a Teaser Trailer is here with an unusual Matrix-style look. Here's more on the chance to get in touch with your inner Andrew Ryan:

Expand your outpost by adding new modules. Manage your NPC inhabitants and build workshops to establish an industry. Improve your base of operations and gain access to new technologies via a dedicated research and unlock tree.

Express yourself, Barotrauma-style! Plenty of customization options will allow you to make that outpost your own. Will your outpost be an inviting and optimized habitat, or a run-down and shoddy dwelling?

Owlcat Games and Alcon Interactive announce The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a third-person action/RPG in the setting of The Expanse, the science fiction television series. This is "coming soon" to PC and consoles, and there are listings for the Windows edition on the Epic Games Store, GOG.com, and Steam. The developer and talks of the inspiration it's drawing from the Mass Effect series, calling this its "flagship project" (hopefully not in the Hellgate: London sense), offering founders packs and a pricy Collector's Edition. The Announcement Trailer provides a first cinematic look, and the description has more:

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a story-driven sci-fi Action RPG. You play as a Pinkwater Security mercenary whose brief shore leave on the asteroid Eros spirals out of control. Trapped in a deadly lockdown and drawn into a solar system-wide conspiracy far beyond your control, you’ll have to adapt, survive, taking command of the most advanced ship in the whole of the solar system. Gather a crew and find your own path through the web of lies to leave your mark on the solar system.

Today's promised showcase for The Outer Worlds 2 included an Official Story Trailer setting the stage for the science fiction RPG sequel. It also sets the date, saying our chance to return to its titular Outer Worlds arrives on October 29th.

The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning, first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!

As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.

Squanch Games announces HIGH ON LIFE 2, a first-person shooter coming to PC and consoles in Q1 of next year. This first-person shooter sequel will feature the talking guns and all the other wackiness that made the original so sqaunchy. The Official Trailer takes a frenetic look at gameplay, though the guns all play it mum, reminding us that Justin Roiland, who voiced the original, left the company after being hit with domestic violence charges. Here's the description of the clip:

COMING THIS WINTER: From Squanch Games comes High On Life 2 – WISHLIST TODAY! An intergalactic conspiracy threatens the fate of humanity! Team up with a wide cast of talking alien guns as you shoot, stab, and skate your way through the exotic locales to take down the bad guys and save your favorite species (humans)!

Blumhouse Games and EYES OUT announce SLEEP AWAKE, a psychedelic psychological horror game coming to PC in 2026. Dying in one's sleep is often viewed as a positive, but in this game people are mysteriously disappearing in their sleep, creating anxiety that fuels the game's seemingly contradictory title. As noted on the Blumhouse Website, this is a collaboration between Spec Ops: The Line game director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck. The Reveal Trailer is an eye-opening first look at the project, and the Steam Listing has more:

Submitted to perpetual insomnia, the denizens of the last known city on Earth are reaching a panic crisis of reckless experiments in an effort to avoid The HUSH, the inexplicable disappearance of those who sleep.

Playing as Katja, you must survive the devotees of various depraved death cults and desperately try to stay awake. Solve the puzzles of this mysterious world while avoiding the grasp of the death cults in an attempt to shatter the horrors of the past.

Led by Cory Davis (Spec Ops: The Line) and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), SLEEP AWAKE combines FMV sequences with psychedelic visuals, blurring boundaries between reality and imagination.

Metronomik and SHUEISHA GAMES also announce a sequel, saying NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 will swerve onto PC and consoles in 2026, offering a musical action follow-up that promises to turn things up to 11. A first look at what to expect is in the Announcement Trailer and there's more on Steam. Here's the overview:

Hit the road and jump on an epic world tour with rock stars Mayday and Zuke as they embark on a global journey to climb the international charts. This time around the band gets even bigger, with two new playable band members joining the crew to rock their way to stardom, each bringing their own unique musical styles and combat skills to the stage.

Rock out in an action-packed adventure that combines rhythm-based combat with an electrifying soundtrack, featuring all-new music from James Landino, Falk Au Yeong, Garrett Williamson, and Midas Klare (Inverted Silence), plus additional musical guest stars. Fight to the beat to deliver crushing power moves and collaborative link attacks in revitalised combat, with a greater focus on action, bigger worlds, and a huge roster of musical megabosses to defeat.

DON’T NOD announces Aphelion, a cinematic sci-fi adventure coming in 2026 to PC, Game Pass, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This takes a local approach to the Interstellar concept, centering on an astronaut stranded on a mission to explore a newly discovered planet in our own solar system that may serve as a replacement for Earth. Though finding a habitable planet outside the "goldilocks zone" is farfetched, this project boasts a partnership with the European Space Agency in order to ground "its depiction of space exploration in real scientific knowledge." Here's the Reveal Trailer which shows this will involve a lot of sliding around on your ass. Read on for more:

Set in a near-future where Earth is on the brink of collapse, Aphelion is an emotional journey to the edge of our Solar System to survey a planet that may be humanity’s last hope. As astronaut Ariane Montclair, crash landed on the newly discovered Persephone, players must brave harsh landscapes, master survival tools, and navigate reality-bending phenomena on a desperate mission to reunite with her wounded partner, Thomas Cross.

A powerful standalone single-player experience, Aphelion blends gripping exploration and traversal, environmental storytelling, and tense stealth gameplay.

Jaw Drop Games drops a new Gameplay Teaser Trailer for Deathground, the dinosaur survival/horror game it unveiled in 2020. Word is this shows off what to expect when this hits Early Access on Steam in Q3, revealing a scenario familiar to anyone who's seen any of the 48 Jurassic Park movies. This is explained in DevGround Episode 4, a new video titled "Laying Down the Lore." Here's more on how the AI will hunt you like a clever girl:

A dinosaur horror experience. Enter the Deathground with a team of up to 4 players for squad-based terror or attempt to survive alone in a solo session.

Featuring powerful and reactive dinosaurs that hunt you down, influence decision-making and drive a tailored experience. Players must navigate perilous environments and evade deadly threats to complete critical missions.

Experience dynamic gameplay driven by stealth, combat and teamwork. Players interact with a range of weapons and tools and maps contain proc-gen elements and varied objectives that create unique and engaging sessions with every playthrough.

City Connection and Clear River Games announce R-Type Delta: HD Boosted, an upcoming remastered edition of R-Type Delta, a horizontal shooter released for PlayStation in the late 20th century. An Official Trailer takes a look at gameplay and graphical updates. Its conclusion and description reveal this will arrive this year for PC via Steam as well as PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch:

Here's your look at gameplay and more from R-Type Delta: HD Boosted in this latest trailer for the upcoming game in the side-scrolling shoot-'em-up series. R-Type Delta: HD Boosted will be available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), and Xbox Series X/S in 2025.

Pokuch and META Publishing announce Blind Descent, a co-op open-word survival game set on Mars. The Reveal Trailer shows this is set in a mysterious world buried beneath the planet's surface, so it's far more Total Recall than The Martian. The Steam Listing is live, serving the following details with a side of potatoes:

A survival and exploration mission deep beneath the Martian surface. A team of up to four pioneers has been sent to uncover the fate of a missing crew within a vast, uncharted underground world. What was supposed to be a routine expedition has become a fight for human survival. As exploration begins, the subterranean world reveals itself as a living, reactive ecosystem. It is no longer just a mission, it’s a transformation, a challenge to integrate and thrive in a world where survival hinges on your ability to learn, adapt, and symbiotize.

New Tales and Emeteria announce Fading Echo, a platformer hoping to make waves with a mechanic that allows the player to flow like water, sure to please Bruce Lee fans. This is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and listings for the Windows version are up on the Epic Games Store and Steam. The Reveal Trailer shows us how this goes with the flow, and the announcement explains further:

In Fading Echo, you play as One, a young Legend who shifts between human and aquatic forms to explore, fight, and adapt across ever-changing realities. From gliding through pipes as a droplet to crashing down as a water bomb, movement becomes your greatest tool — and your sharpest weapon.

Time’s unraveling, and One’s running out of track. To save what’s left of her world, she’ll need to reboot the Ætheric flow, kick the heart of a broken bastion back to life, and crack open the secrets festering in her own bloodline. Reality is fracturing fast, and the truth might be tucked into a legacy she barely understands. Oh, and there’s a flying whale, sort of... we call it the Last Wonder. Just roll with it.

Echoing the title mentioned above, a Steam Listing is here for Echoes of the End, a fantasy action/adventure "coming soon" from Myrkur Games and Deep Silver. This says: "The world ended long ago. We're only living it its echoes." But it's in a magical fantasy setting that doesn't seem as postapocalyptic as that suggests. The developer offers an Official Announcement Trailer with a look along with a video called What is Myrkur Games with an autobiography of sorts. Here's the description:

Echoes of the End is a cinematic third-person action-adventure game. It blends a deeply personal, character-driven story with thrilling magic and sword-based combat, engaging traversal and thought-provoking puzzles. Inspired by Iceland, this epic adventure offers a mature, rich and immersive experience in a breathtaking and original fantasy world.

Step into the shoes of Ryn, a vestige wielding volatile yet powerful magic, as she battles to save her brother from a ruthless totalitarian empire. Partner with Abram Finlay - a scholar and explorer haunted by his past - to uncover a conspiracy that could reignite an ancient conflict and plunge Aema into chaos. Immerse yourself in a heartfelt tale of trust, redemption, and sacrifice in a world on the edge of war.

Steam now lists Adventure of Samsara, a metroidvania platformer coming to PC and consoles this year, bringing 2D pixel art graphics shown off in the Official Announcement Trailer. It is being developed by Brazilian studio Ilex Games, and publisher Atari explains the new title's imprecise relationship to the Atari 2600 game: "Adventure of Samsara is not a remake or a sequel, it is a completely new game that lives in the same imaginative landscape as the original Adventure 2600 game," said Ethan Stearns, VP of Games at Atari. "Adventure of Samsara is brimming with the elements of exploration, curiosity and hidden secrets that make adventure-style games so rewarding." Here's more:

With stunning, 2D pixel art, Adventure of Samsara combines classic gameplay, a deeply connected world, and a heady, twisting narrative of death, rebirth and memory. Developed by the Brazilian studio Ilex Games, players take control of the Solar Champion, a long-dead Plutonian resurrected by the primordial light of the Sun. Tasked with reactivating a mysterious interdimensional fortress, the Champion must restore balance to the multiverse.

• Ascend on Steam (Windows). "Ascend is an adventure puzzle game where a young woman must navigate to the top of a mystical mountain learning the secrets of both the past and the future to find the balance in all aspects of life."
• Discounty on Steam (Windows). "Manage your own discount supermarket! Get caught up in small-town drama, organize and plan your shop's layout, and strike lucrative trade deals as you expand your secretive aunt's business empire. Selling more frozen fries will surely heal this broken community...right?"
• Everdeep Aurora on Steam (Windows). "An ongoing apocalyptic meteor shower has forced the world’s population to settle underground. As Shell, a feline child who awakens to find her mother missing, drill downward from the surface layer through a tile-based underground and discover the Everdeep."
• He is Coming on Steam (Windows). "Deep in the forgotten corners of the world, a dark force stirs – the Demon King rises once more. Sharpen your wits, seek out powerful artifacts, and stand firm in the face of the apocalypse in this roguelite RPG auto battler."
• Hirogami on Steam (Windows). "Explore a beautiful origami world as Hiro, a fan-wielding master of the art of ‘folding’. Embark on a mystical journey to save your fragile home from deadly digital invaders. Take on animal forms to traverse the landscape, solve puzzles, overcome enemies, and save the realm."
• Mycopunk on Steam (Windows). "Join the New Atlas Hazard Crew, a squad of odd robots with unique gadgets, and rid the galaxy of a deadly fungal menace in this hyper-customisable mission-based co-op shooter."
• Possessor(s) on Steam (Windows). "Escape a sprawling, flooded city overrun with surreal interdimensional horror in this fast-paced action side scroller."
• Starlight Re-Volver on Steam (Windows, macOS). "In Starlight Re:Volver, play as magical Divers who possess a special power to access dreamworlds and retrieve their secrets and treasures. Connect with other Divers through thrilling team adventures, fishing, crafting, accessorizing, and exploring a vibrant anime-inspired city."
• Town to City on Steam (Windows). "Build an idyllic 19th century Mediterranean town and help it flourish into a prosperous city. Freely place and customise each element to create the perfect home for your growing population in this cozy city builder from the creators of Station to Station."

• Cloudheim - Join us for Open Beta.

• Anno 117: Pax Romana - Official Cinematic Date Release Trailer. November 13th.
• CONSTANCE - Official Release Date Trailer - btf Games & ByteRockers' Games. November 24th.
• Eat the Rich Trailer - Release Date Announcement. July 23rd.
• ENDLESS Legend 2 - Release Date Trailer Trailer - Turn-Based Fantasy Strategy. August 7th.
• Everdeep Aurora - Release Date Reveal @ Wholesome Direct 2025. July 10th.
• Mycopunk - Drop in July 10 - New Demo on Steam.
• Perfect Tides: Station to Station Release Date Trailer. January 22, 2026.

• Microsoft 'Xbox PC' branding surfaces in game dev publicity materials — Xbox App also sees big changes - Tom's Hardware.
• Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Teases Return of Halo in 2026 — and It’s Reportedly a Halo- Combat Evolved Remaster - IGN.

• Save 50% on Yield! Fall of Rome on Steam.

• Amazon Hires Doug Jung To Run Its Mass Effect Television Show - Game Rant.

Official patch.

• Yield! Fall of Rome - Multiplayer Mayhem and More Update.

• Unseen Diplomacy 2 - Developer Reveal.

• No, Geoff Keighley—Clair Obscur- Expedition 33 was not made by a team of 'under 30 developers,' and devs say repeating the myth is 'a dangerous path' - PC Gamer.

• Clockwork Revolution - Official Gameplay Trailer - Xbox Games Showcase 2025 (NSFW).
• Directive 8020 - Trust No-One Trailer.
• EVE Frontier - Official Vision Trailer - 'The Ancient Dark.'
• Fallout 76: Gone Fission Launch Trailer.
• Firefighting Simulator- Ignite – Coop Gameplay Reveal Trailer.
• Gourdlets Together - Announcement Trailer.
• Ground Zero - Announcement Trailer.
• Hela - Summer Showcase Trailer.
• Hirogami - New Gameplay & Demo Announcement Trailer.
• House Flipper 2 Scooby-Doo DLC - Official Announcement Trailer.
• LAN Party Adventures - Play the Demo Now on Steam.
• Let's Build a Dungeon - Official 'Just Build' Mode Trailer - Wholesome Direct 2025.
• Let's Build A Dungeon - Buddyland Trailer - Summer Game Fest.
• Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch - Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 Trailer.
• Mini Motorways - The Creative Mode Update.
• Morbid Metal - Gameplay Trailer - PC Gaming Show.
• The Rogue Prince of Persia.
• Starlight Re-Volver - DEMO OUT NOW - Next Fest 2025.
• System Shock 2- 25th Anniversary Remaster Official Multiplayer Trailer - FGS Live From Los Angeles.
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 - Launch Gameplay Trailer.
• Town to City - Wholesome Trailer.
• Woodo - Behind the scenes with Miriam-Teak Lee.

↑ Official trailers. ↓ Content creator videos.

• So I Tried Nightreign - Carbot. Thanks Ant.

• Summer Game Fest 2025- The Best, Worst, and Most WTF Moments - Rolling Stone.
• Summer Game Fest Doesn't Just Try Its Best, It Tries Too Hard - Gizmodo.
• Vancouver show hopes to bridge the worlds of symphony and video games - CBC.

• Xbox Games Showcase 2025: All the news, trailers, and reveals - Polygon.
• A.I.L.A - Console Announcement Trailer.
• Until Then - Nintendo Switch Release Date Trailer.

• The Xbox handheld is a new, more powerful Asus ROG Ally - Polygon.
• Apple Arcade welcomes nine new games - Apple. Thanks Ant.

• 7 Open-Source Windows Apps I Can't Live Without - How-To-Geek. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Aorus RTX 5090 package from Amazon was allegedly filled with macaroni, rice, and an old obsolete GPU — it's an impasta! - Tom's Hardware. Thanks Max.

• The Mystery of iPhone Crashes That Apple Denies Are Linked to Chinese Hacking - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Palantir Is Going on Defense - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).
• Wyze Says ‘Screw It’ and Shoves a Camera Into Its Latest Smart Bulb - Gizmodo. Thanks Reddit.

• Graphics Card: PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT Reaper 8 GB Review - TechPowerUp.

This has been a pretty hairy weekend here with all the reveals from all the game presentations. The post-E3 era is a bit fractured, if not Balkanised, so it's a scene. It's also hard to actually say when this flurry will be over. If ever. It may just be a steady stream into August and gamescom 2025.

The Gizmo watch yesterday was interesting. She found herself to a better tree to roost overnight. When she decided to take flight today, the camera operator lost her almost immediately. It's made several scans since then, but if she's within camera range, she's hidden at this point. But her flight today was strong and confident, a reassurance that she's ready for the wild.

Obituary: Bill Atkinson, Who Made Computers Easier to Use, Is Dead at 74 - The New York Times (free account required).

Hairy Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Stories

• Lilo & Stitch Beats Ballerina at Box Office, John Wick Film Opens to $25 Million - Variety.

Science

• NASA's Parker Solar Probe spots powerful magnetic explosion aimed at the sun's surface - Live Science.
• Scientists learn how mosquitoes outsmart human tricks and traps - Earth.com.

Media

• Official Season 3 Trailer - Star Trek- Strange New Worlds.

Follow-up

• Anti-vaccine quack hired by RFK Jr. has started work at the health department - Ars Technica.

The Funnies

• Unfinished Business – Toonhole.