Workers at Grand Theft Auto VI developer Rockstar Games have submitted a request for their union, the IWGB Game Workers Union, to be voluntarily recognized, according to a press release. The request follows Rockstar firing more than 30 staffers last year in a move accused of being “union busting.”

According to the release, IWGB members have been “actively” organizing since 2019 and “claim they now represent a significant proportion of the workforce across each of the studio’s sites in Edinburgh, Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds and London.” As the union has grown, “Rockstar has already made improvements to workers’ conditions including unprecedented average pay rises and financial incentives for crunch for the first time ever.” The union wants to improve pay transparency, strengthen “flexible working arrangements,” and address crunch, which is something Rockstar has come under scrutiny for in the past.

“We have received a request from a union seeking to discuss voluntary recognition,” Alan Lewis, Take-Two’s head of communications, says in a statement to The Verge. “We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will arrange to meet.”

A final hearing in an employment tribunal over last year’s firings is scheduled to start in September — shortly before the planned launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19th. Rockstar announced a $79.99 starting price for the game and opened preorders last week.

The push from Rockstar workers is part of a bigger movement by game developers to unionize. Double Fine staffers filed a petition to unionize in May, and workers at the Activision studio Raven Software secured their first union contract last year.

Update, June 30th: Added a statement from Take-Two.

After Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian passed on the opportunity to make a sequel, brand owner Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast went looking for someone else to do it. And, as it turns out, the company already works with some of the leads behind Baldur’s Gate 2.

James Ohlen and Kevin Martens were the two co-lead designers on that game, and they also happen to be leads at Archetype Entertainment, developer of the upcoming Mass Effect-like Exodus, which Wizards of the Coast is publishing. Naturally, the publisher turned to one of them to see about making Baldur’s Gate 4.

“The day [Chris Cox, Hasbro CEO] knew [Larian] weren’t going to do it, he called me. ‘Hey James, what do you think about doing Baldur’s Gate 4?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t, I would fail, and here’s why I would fail,'” James Ohlen told PC Gamer.

Image credit: Larian Studios

The massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3 was both a blessing and a curse for developer Larian. But while everyone expected the studio to make the obvious move and start working on a sequel, the team instead decided to move on to something new rather than keep doing the same thing.

The legacy of what Larian boss Swen Vincke and his team created, however, was enough to scare off anyone willing to follow that up. This is partly what made Ohlen turn it down.

“I wouldn’t want to compete against that,” he went on. “Doing Exodus is hard enough, but having to compete against Baldur’s Gate 3? That would be insanity.”

Technology and engine tools were among the other reasons that pushed Ohlen to pass. Replicating that pipeline would’ve taken “at least half a decade of horror”, and Ohlen even asked if they could license the engine from Larian. Even then, it would’ve been a major challenge.

“Swen’s always going to be the master of building those kinds of things,” Ohlen added. “It’s really hard to take him off that throne, just because of everything – the tools, institutional knowledge, team.”

So who would actually be up to the task? According to the veteran designer, it has to be a team unburdened by that baggage, willing to do their own take. “That was me back in Baldur’s Gate. I was like ‘Everyone else sucks and we’re going to crush it.’ It was us against all the other game studios, we’re going to outdo them,” he recalled.

“And because none of us had built games before, we were all like, ‘We’re going to do everything different.’ And sometimes you need that.”

We recently got treated to an extended demo of Exodus, which offered a deeper look at gameplay, and early details of the sci-fi adventure’s morality system. Fittingly, many on the team are former BioWare developers who are attempting to do something fresh with the classic Mass Effect formula.

The price of LG’s UltraGear 27GX700A-B 1440p gaming monitor that came out last August has dropped to nearly its best price yet. You can grab it at Amazon for $484.99 or at LG for $499.99 (originally $599.99). That’s a great deal considering this is one of LG’s Primary RGB Tandem panels built with fourth-generation WOLED tech that delivers higher brightness and punchier contrast than its predecessors, rivaling QD-OLED.

This model could satisfy gamers with PCs built to deliver smooth 1440p gameplay. It features a 280Hz refresh rate, twin HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4 jack, a near-instant .03-millisecond response time, not to mention a thin design. The monitor also has some USB-A ports for connecting accessories, plus a headphone jack for private listening.

The 27GX700A-B supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and is Nvidia G-Sync-compatible, meaning it supports variable refresh rates and can keep the image running smoothly even with variations in frame rate. We haven’t tested this model, but reviews site Rtings does say it has “distracting VRR flicker,” though that likely depends on the game.

While costs have risen in recent months on computer components like RAM and storage, it’s been delightful to watch prices go in the opposite direction for OLED gaming monitors. Some people may prefer to spend less on fast, feature-packed IPS and VA panels, but it’s nice that there are more opportunities to get cutting-edge panel tech for your gaming PC or console.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered was one of 2025’s biggest hits after a sudden shadow drop, especially in the United States, which is encouraging news if you (like me) are still waiting for Fallout 3 and New Vegas refreshes. Before that happens, though, there’s a Switch 2 port of the massive Cyrodiil-set RPG in the works, and it now has a release date.

First revealed in early February during a Nintendo Direct, Oblivion Remastered for Switch 2 promised a fully featured version that instantly sounded more ambitious than the Skyrim and Fallout 4 ports due to the involvement of Unreal Engine 5. It must be noted that, after a couple of major patches, developer Virtuos appears to have given up on fixing the game’s deeper performance issues, so the existence of such a translation to far less powerful hardware is intriguing to say the least.

Watch on YouTube

As revealed by the Adoring Fan-centric trailer above, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered will conquer Switch 2 on 11th August, and pre-orders are currently open via the Nintendo eShop at £49.99 (Standard version) and £59.99 (Deluxe edition). As a reminder, the Deluxe edition has unique new quests with extra armour sets and weapons on top of the base game and its original expansion packs.

Even better, it’s been confirmed the physical release will have the full game on a cartridge. No code in a box – like the Skyrim and Fallout 4 conversions – this time around, and no game-key card. Maybe it was online complaints that pushed Xbox and Bethesda to finally deliver on that front, or maybe it was the plan all along for some unknown reason.

Here’s how it looks on Switch 2.

Surprisingly, the press release also confirms the resolution and performance targets for what should be one of the most demanding Switch 2 ports so far: 900p at 30 frames per second on handheld and 1080p at 30 FPS docked. DLSS upscaling support is confirmed, too. After May’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle port, I’m more optimistic about this one’s chances even if the newly shared screenshots look quite soft.

Another (small) shock is that Oblivion Remastered may be the most complete Bethesda Switch 2 port so far when it comes to control options, with motion controls, touch screen support, and mouse mode all confirmed. That’s a good sign, even if I remain worried about the presentation and performance. That won’t prevent me from rolling a new character though.

Microsoft is set to announce a wave of layoffs for its Xbox studios and employees next week. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the layoffs will lead to studio closures or spinoffs, potential mergers of studios, and canceled games.

I understand Microsoft is currently weighing closing at least five studios, including the developers behind Marvel’s Blade. Sources tell me Microsoft wants to cancel Blade as part of a wave of cost cuts and job losses that are planned for the company’s Xbox gaming division.

Developed by France-based Arkane Studios, best-known for the Dishonored series, Blade was originally supposed to debut later this year according to sources familiar with the game’s development. I’m told the internal ship date for the game slipped to late 2027, and it’s also running over budget.

While Microsoft is weighing canceling Blade, it’s also exploring options to sell Arkane Studios. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Microsoft is trying to spin off Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory, too. GamesBeat reported this week that Microsoft is actively looking for a buyer for Undead Labs, the developers behind State of Decay. If buyers are found for these studios, then they’ll avoid being closed, but sources stress these talks could take months in some cases.

Compulsion Games, the developers behind South of Midnight, is already convinced that closure is imminent and has started telling employees to look for jobs elsewhere. Ninja Theory employees were informed earlier this month that Microsoft wants to close the UK-based studio or spin it off.

Beyond the potential studio closures, Microsoft is preparing for a wave of layoffs at Xbox that will drastically reshape its gaming division. These layoffs are due to start on July 6th, according to sources, and will hit most parts of Xbox. Rumors have suggested there could be at least 1,000 job losses, and if Microsoft goes ahead with five studio closures, then that’s at least 500 employees impacted before the wider cuts.

The upcoming layoffs are part of a “reset” for the Xbox division under new CEO Asha Sharma, who hinted about “making hard choices” last month. Sharma has repeatedly warned that the Xbox business isn’t healthy, but also claimed that her “mandate is not 30 percent accountability margins… it’s to be the number one gaming and entertainment company, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

I know we’re all thinking about GTA 6 right now, but chances are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – releasing on 23rd October – will be massive, too. Regardless, Xbox and Activision are planning ahead in an attempt to avoid Black Ops 7’s stumbles, and it seems the publisher and platform holder are putting effort into telling the casual crowd this year’s CoD release won’t be on Game Pass.

At least that’s the idea we’re getting from a targeted ad spotted by a ResetEra user who claimed to come across it while browsing Facebook. It comes from Call of Duty’s official account, so this isn’t the usual leak or post-breaking containment ahead of time.

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 – Official Reveal TrailerWatch on YouTube

It’s worth noting, in case you’re out of the loop, that we’ve known for a while Modern Warfare 4 isn’t coming to Xbox (or PC) Game Pass, at least not at launch. It’s one of Xbox’s many seismic shifts since CEO Asha Sharma took over earlier this year. Though the math apparently worked out when Black Ops 6 – the first CoD released under the Xbox umbrella – launched in 2024 and dominated both the subscription service and premium sales, that’s ending now as Xbox seeks to make more money the old-fashioned way.

But of course, a large chunk of Modern Warfare 4’s potential buyers aren’t as chronically online and informed as us, so the appearance of such ads on Facebook and other social platforms is a logical move. Still, it’s shocking to see Xbox officially embrace a “not on Game Pass” messaging after years of pushing exactly the opposite. It’s yet another sign things are radically changing at the heart of Microsoft’s gaming efforts.

Though Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s core multiplayer experience has yet to be fully unveiled, we know an expanded and more immersive DMZ extraction mode has a large presence. Campaign early access is also returning for those who pre-order digital copies on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is topping the PlayStation Store charts across nearly every regional version of Sony’s digital store. Since pre-orders went live on 25th June, the game has shot to the top of the various PS Stores worldwide.

This was first noticed by ResetEra user Red Kong XIX, who shared screenshots of multiple regional versions of the store that include the US, UK, Japan, and several major European countries. Across all of them, GTA 6 can be seen at the top. The £90 ($100) Ultimate Edition appears to be the version of choice; seeing as it occupies the number one spot in every instance, though it’s worth noting that the ranking is based on revenue (hence why Fortnite is a mainstay at the top of the charts, for example).

Eurogamer has viewed several regional PlayStation stores and found the same to be true across the board, except in countries like Kuwait, Taiwan and others where the game appears to be banned. There’s sadly no way to generate a similar list on Xbox, but one could only assume it’s leading the pack there, too. That said, it’s been suggested that GTA 6 has been selling “8 times as many copies on PS5 as Xbox”, a claim Microsoft denies.

Image credit: Rockstar

Although GTA 6 is available to pre-order at retail, the physical version comes with a simple code in the box, and does not include a disc. This likely pushed millions to opt for the digital version, since both options are the same price and offer no re-sale value.

According to industry experts we spoke to, there are many reasons behind Rockstar’s decision not to ship a physical disc. Benefits include preventing leaks, ensuring no second-hand sales, and essentially having full control of the narrative.

Earlier today, it was reported that workers at Rockstar Games are attempting to get the company to recognise their union before the release of GTA 6 this November. Rockstar was accused of union-busting after it fired dozens of developers last year after being involved in union talks, though Rockstar claims they were fired for gross misconduct.

GTA 6 arrives 19th November on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Grand Theft Auto 6 has finally locked its 19th November release date and pre-orders are now open. It should be cause for celebration, but with the lack of a proper physical release and after the firing of employees last year (a move considered to be “union-busting” by former and current staff), Rockstar Games is getting as much bad attention as it is good. Now, the workers union coming together at the studio is taking its efforts a step further.

In late May, we learned Rockstar Games workers were officially launching a union – fittingly called Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) – as “a subsidiary of the wider Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB)” as the latter prepared to take Rockstar to court. The ongoing legal battle heated up again this month when a tribunal ruled against the developer’s request to remove blacklisting claims from the process.

GTA 6 (Grand Theft Auto 6) – Official Trailer 2Watch on YouTube

Today, The Guardian is adding fuel to the fire with new developments. As it stands, it’s reported current employees at Rockstar Games “are working with the IWGB Game Workers Union to try to secure unionisation” before GTA 6’s November release. The piece adds that pre-orders might have already pushed the game past $3bn (£2.27bn), putting the game well on its way to achieve its expected financial performance. “Rockstar bosses can easily afford to sit around the table with the people whose hard work created these games, and give them a meaningful voice in their workplace,” said Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB.

The move to properly establish a union could make Rockstar the second UK game developer with a recognised union after ZA/UM (Zero Parades) achieved that goal in late 2025. “We hope Rockstar voluntarily recognises the union; we are inviting Rockstar to meet us and make it a celebration of people who make the games possible,” said Jordan Garland, an ex-employee who was let go after working at Rockstar for 11 years.

The Guardian’s report also adds that a strike could happen “to ensure the union is recognised” if the voluntary route is ignored by the leadership. Shanti Easton-Steel, production coordinator at Rockstar North, added: “Whilst it’s painful that our dismissed colleagues are not here to share this milestone moment, the best way we can honour their contribution now is by succeeding in the fight they helped us to start, and making them proud to have been a part of it.”

Koei Tecmo, the Japanese publisher behind many popular action game series, is apparently working on a brand new project. Koei Tecmo publishes and develops Nioh, Dynasty Warriors, Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive and others.

The publisher’s next project is codenamed ‘Fuji’, and it was recently named among the projects selected by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of its IP360 Initiative (via Automaton). The programme, which launched in March, was created to help grow Japan’s cultural exports – including video games.

Part of the initiative’s aim is to also encourage the development of new intellectual properties. Fuji is one such project, which Koei Tecmo plans to expand beyond games to include other forms of media.

Keo Tecmo’s own description of the new IP sadly doesn’t reveal much, but given that it’s named after Japan’s mount Fuji, it’s likely going to be set in Japan. Indeed, from what the developer shared about the project, it sounds like an action game with “oriental-style aesthetics”, which admittedly goes for most of the company’s franchises.

“Leveraging Koei Tecmo Games’ expertise in oriental-themed visuals and action games, the company will develop a completely new IP game title, aiming for a worldwide hit and broad IP expansion starting from the game,” reads the project’s machine-translated description.

In recent years, Koei Tecmo has developed and published multiple games based on new IPs, all of which more or less fit the above description. Rise of the Ronin, Wild Hearts, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty to name a few. Wo Long is the only one of the three to receive a sequel, with Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember having been announced earlier this month at the Xbox Showcase.

As part of the same initiative, other major Japanese companies like Konami, Sega, Square Enix, and Arc System Works will all be receiving grants.

After a short wait, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is almost here. Its summer release date might feel strange looking at other recent entries in the series, but we all know the latter part of 2026 is abnormally busy. Plus… a pirate game is a perfect fit for early July, when you think about it.

The game’s nearby launch also means we’re getting the final details on the specific features it’s packing as well as the visual and performance targets on consoles. In this case, Ubisoft is once again partnering with PlayStation for the marketing push, and it appears PS5 Pro will be offering the sharpest visuals and highest performance if you’re not on PC.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Official PS5 Pro Immersion TrailerWatch on YouTube

Getting the obvious out of the way first, it’s been confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will support up to 60 frames per second, HDR for deeper colours, Dolby Atmos for more immersive audio, and DualSense haptic feedback, which is – if you ask me – one of PS5’s most underrated features. One would expect Xbox consoles to also support HDR, but we only know for sure Dolby Atmos is in for Microsoft’s hardware.

The PS5 console specifications when it comes to graphical modes and performance targets surprise with confirmation of an upscaled 2160p (4K) output across all modes on both the standard PS5 and the Pro. Of course, with the usual Performance (60 FPS), Balanced (40 FPS), and Fidelity (30 FPS) modes all listed, we have to assume the internal resolution the game’s rendered at will be lower the higher the framerate is.

Image credit: Ubisoft

Ray tracing usage – as shown off in the trailer above – will be following in Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ footsteps, as Black Flag Resynced has also been built with the latest version of Ubisoft’s Anvil engine. That means limited coverage in its standard version (applied to the Performance mode) and extended use in the Balanced and Fidelity modes. This time around, however, Ubisoft has made sure the ‘basic’ ray tracing support focuses on global illumination, which was the most transformative use of the tech in Shadows. The ‘extras’ are reflections in this game, which are usually considered subtler additions to the makeover.

Unsurprisingly, PS5 Pro won’t sacrifice visual features to achieve 60 FPS across all modes. One has to imagine the main difference that may or may not push players to choose the Fidelity and Balanced modes over Performance will be higher internal resolution targets that should result in sharper outputs. That said, Sony’s PSSR upscaling – which has seen improvements in recent times – is handling the jump to 2160p, so you have the wonder if there’ll be a difference at all.

Image credit: Ubisoft

As a final note, there’s also mention of the strand-based hair system which already showed up in Shadows’ Balanced and Fidelity modes. It’s unclear which modes on base PS5 will get it (I’d personally bet on the same ones), but PS5 Pro is also getting it for Edward Kenway regardless of which option you choose. It’s also noted that Fidelity mode will also apply the tech to nearby NPCs, “while cinematics use strand-based hair for all characters regardless of mode”.

It won’t be long before we get our hands on the long-awaited remaster for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Last month, Eurogamer’s Dom Peppiatt went hands-on with it and pointed out that, while it felt a bit rough around the edges, they were “charmed by Ubisoft’s clear understanding of what makes this one of the most enduring entries in the Assassin’s Creed oeuvre”.