Gaming is heading into the final week of July with a mixture of rumors, announcements, and controversies. Hardware insiders claim new devices and controllers are on the horizon, nostalgic franchises are being revived, and some publishers are cleaning up messes both technical and ethical.
Below is a rundown of the most interesting stories from the past 24 hours, along with context on what they could mean for the industry as a whole.
Nintendo Switch 2: Imminent Direct & Rumored Features
A major Nintendo Direct presentation is heavily rumored for late July, with widespread speculation that it will include the first official details about the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Expected: 2025 hardware launch
- Fan hopes: Backwards compatibility, OLED model, and tie-ins with Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Buzz: Classic franchises like Animal Crossing and Metroid Prime 4 returning for the new system
Battlefield 6: New Era, No Last-Gen Support
The next entry in the Battlefield series is going all-in on current-generation consoles and PC, leaving behind PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and even the upcoming Switch 2.
- Campaign trailer: Dynamic environmental destruction returns
- Multiplayer reveal: July 31
- Launch date: October 10
Xbox’s Multi-Platform Gamble
Xbox’s decision to put big exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 onto PlayStation 5 is starting to pay off, according to analysts.
- Most gamers stay in their chosen ecosystem
- Cross-platform launches drive sales and engagement
- Expect even more cross-platform ports in the future
Brutal Legend: Honoring Ozzy Osbourne
Brutal Legend, the cult classic starring Jack Black and the late Ozzy Osbourne, was made available free for a limited time as a tribute to the rock icon.
- Free period expired
- Game’s profile raised, reminding players of its unique blend of action, music, and heavy metal lore
itch.io Removes Adult Games After Payment Processor Pressure
In a sweeping move, itch.io has de-indexed and removed thousands of adult games and books, even blocking downloads for those already purchased.
- Change prompted by payment processors after advocacy group pressure
- Developers and players caught off-guard, sparking debate about the future of indie adult content in gaming
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – Strong Debut, Mixed Reviews
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers quickly became the most popular non-FromSoftware Soulslike on Steam, reaching over 114,000 concurrent players at launch.
- Praise: Atmosphere and weapon variety
- Criticism: Inconsistent performance and visuals
- Player advice: Many recommend waiting for a patch
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Hits 10 Million
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring has crossed 10 million copies sold.
- One of the highest attach rates for DLC in recent memory
- Comparisons to The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 DLC
- Cements Elden Ring’s dominance in the action-RPG space
Gearbox Apologizes for Risk of Rain 2 AI Art
The team behind Risk of Rain 2, now under Gearbox, admitted to unintentionally including AI-generated art in a recent update.
- Called it a “mistake”
- Pledged to review internal practices
- Tongue-in-cheek comment about “sending the designer to the Void Fields as punishment”
- Reignited debate about AI in creative industries
New PS5 Controller Rumored
A major PlayStation insider claims a new PS5 controller is in development.
- Focus: Better battery life and improved haptic feedback
- Expected debut: 2026
- Status: Not officially confirmed by Sony
Starfield on PS5? Gamescom Hype Rises
With Gamescom 2025 approaching, rumors swirl about a PlayStation 5 port of Starfield.
- Would be a major cross-platform moment if true
- No official confirmation yet, but anticipation is building
Outer Worlds 2 Price Drop
Microsoft lowered the price of The Outer Worlds 2 from $79.99 to $69.99 ahead of its October 2025 release.
- Pre-orders: Refunded the difference
- Reflects a growing sensitivity to pricing among AAA publishers
Black Ops 7 Gets “M” ESRB Rating
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been officially rated M for Mature.
- References to drug use, graphic violence, and weed-themed weapon customizations
- Features cross-progression with Black Ops 6
- Co-developed by Treyarch and Raven
More Highlights
- Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift: New trailer, launches September 10. Customisable karts and classic characters.
- Frostpunk 2: Announced for consoles.
- Terminator 2D: NO FATE: Delayed to October 31 for additional polish.
- Lollipop Chainsaw: Returns with a new game and anime adaptation.
- Grounded 2: Launches Early Access on July 29. Larger world and more features.
- Back to the Dawn: Major update with optimizations and fixes.
- Manticore Games: Announced Out of Time, a multiplayer roguelike with timeline-bending gameplay.
Final Thoughts
The pace of gaming news and rumors shows no sign of slowing as summer draws to a close. With major reveals on the horizon and new controversies breaking almost daily, July 2025 is proving to be a dynamic—and dramatic—month for gamers.