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Call of Duty says its anti-cheat for Black Ops 7 has ‘one of the strongest detection systems we have ever built,’ and this week’s beta will help put it to the test
Game Reviews

Call of Duty says its anti-cheat for Black Ops 7 has ‘one of the strongest detection systems we have ever built,’ and this week’s beta will help put it to the test

by admin September 29, 2025


Ahead of this weekend’s beta test for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Activision is reiterating its focus on anti-cheat to maintain the integrity of the game on PC.

Along with requiring Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to even launch the game on PC, Activision says its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system has evolved over the past year in Black Ops 6 to try and stay ahead of cheat-makers worldwide.

Image via Activision

“Over the last year, Team RICOCHET has trained advanced machine learning systems on millions of hours of gameplay,” Activision said in a new blog post. “These upgrades are smarter, faster, and more reliable than ever; built not just to catch cheaters, but to set the new standard for fair play and evolve with the game itself.”

With these changes, the company says RICOCHET now has “one of the strongest detection systems we have ever built, designed to separate natural aim from the precision patterns of an aimbot,” faster wall-hack detection, and a layered defense that “with constant and independent updates, makes it tougher for cheaters to adapt and easier for us to stay ahead.”

Call of Duty players have heard this all before in recent years as the hacking epidemic has grown with crossplay and free-to-play Warzone accounts, but the fact is anti-cheat is a never-ending battle against cheat providers who are always trying to stay one step ahead to make a quick buck by selling cheats. And Activision says it’s working to fight on that front, too.

“We’re striking cheat makers and sellers from every angle: in-game detections that stop them cold, and legal action that dismantles their operations,” Activision said. “And we’re not stopping there. Significant continued improvements to our systems are coming, including those that detect external hardware.”

The BO7 beta, which begins this Thursday, Oct. 2, is part of the process of ensuring that the anti-cheat systems are at work, Activision said, calling it “a critical test for the systems we have online under real player conditions” as players will inevitably try hacking in the beta test.

Image via Activision

“We are actively monitoring matches, gathering data across thousands of unique hardware setups, and removing cheaters in real time,” the company said. “The beta allows us to measure how our detection tools perform when faced with live attempts to cheat, and to fine-tune how quickly and effectively we strike back. Every report, every flag, and every removal during the beta feeds directly into stronger responses tomorrow.”

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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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Epic pulls controversial Peacemaker dance emote from Fortnite following big twist in the TV show's latest episode
Game Reviews

Epic pulls controversial Peacemaker dance emote from Fortnite following big twist in the TV show’s latest episode

by admin September 29, 2025


Epic has pulled a Peacemaker dance emote from battle royale Fortnite, after the latest episode of the TV show proves just how controversial that dance is.

Spoiler warning for Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 6

The Peaceful Hips emote was added to Fortnite earlier this month, which features John Cena’s character hip-thrusting and holding his arms in rigid 90 degree angles.

Now, though, it’s been removed, with refunds likely to be issued in the next few days. “We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote,” reads a social post from Fortnite. “Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.”

We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 28, 2025

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Why so controversial? Well it turns out, as revealed in the latest episode, Peacemaker has been living in an alternate dimension where Nazis won World War 2 and the American flag’s stars have been swapped for swastika.

And looking at the dance emote in retrospect, yeah, it’s pretty obviously imitating swastika.

Peacemaker’s dance emote from Fortnite has been disabled.

“As we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.” pic.twitter.com/hwHqOiid1o

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 28, 2025

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What’s most remarkable about this is that Warner Bros. agreed on the collaboration with Epic, but seemingly didn’t forewarn them of the emote’s true meaning. Perhaps they were worried about spoilers leaking ahead of the episode airing last week.

Peacemaker writer and director James Gunn posted earlier this month about Peacemaker’s inclusion in Fortnite, adding “check out his bundle, complete with Peacemaker’s best friend Eagly and a peace-spreading, hip-swaying emote or two ;)” – that winky face is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.


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Nobody wants nazi symbolism in their kid-friendly battle royale, but it’s not just the TV show’s viewers who have been duped by a big twist.

Could this impact any future collaborations between Epic and Warner Bros.? Eurogamer has contacted Epic to find out.

Leaks have suggested Sonic and Shadow will be headed to Fortnite in some form soon, though hopefully will prove less controversial.





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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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18 Years Later, Disney Announces A New Simpsons Movie
Game Reviews

18 Years Later, Disney Announces A New Simpsons Movie

by admin September 29, 2025


Disney’s 20th Century has announced that a new movie based on the long-running animated TV sitcom The Simpsons is in the works. The newly announced sequel will arrive in 2027, 20 years after the release of the first Simpsons flick.

On September 29, Disney and 20th Century announced on social media that a new Simpsons film was officially in development. No plot details were shared about the movie, but Disney did post a teaser poster for the upcoming sequel. The poster features Homer Simpson grabbing a pink doughnut covered in sprinkles shaped like the number 2, likely hinting that the movie will be titled The Simpsons Movie 2.  The tagline “Homer’s combing back for seconds” is included on the poster. So, good news, Homer is back. Shocking, I know, but there you go.

Woohoo! The Simpsons are coming to theaters with an all-new movie on July 23, 2027! pic.twitter.com/wVqxwn8rLc

— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) September 29, 2025

Created by Matt Groening and premiering in 1989, The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom on TV. While many have criticized the show’s quality since the late ’90, the series has remained extremely popular on TV and is considered an anchor of Fox’s Sunday block of animated TV shows. The original Simpsons movie premiered in July 2007 and was a huge box office hit, earning over $536 million at the global box office. That movie featured a story about a giant dome being put over the town of Springfield due to pollution. It also brought back old former writers, took years to make, and featured a more detailed art style.

We’ve heard rumors for years of a second Simpsons movie, including a proposed follow-up featuring the franchise’s alien characters Kang and Kodos. That movie didn’t move forward as the writing staff couldn’t stretch the plot out to a full-length movie. But now it seems the writers and producers behind the show have finally nailed the plot for the next flick. Now we just have to wait until 2027.





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FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet guide
Game Reviews

FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet guide

by admin September 29, 2025


Remix by Destructoid via EA Sports

|

Published: Sep 29, 2025 01:18 pm

The Ultimate Gauntlet is a fresh challenge for FC 26 Ultimate Team players, and there are plenty of rewards for us to earn.

This is the first Gauntlet we have had this year. There are many rewards spread across the different milestones. Let’s look at how you can earn them all, and what the best strategies are.

All FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet tasks and rewards

The rewards are spread across different milestones.

TasksHow to CompleteRewardsPlay 3Play 3 matches in the Ultimate Gauntlet.75+ Rare Gold Player PackWin 1Win 1 match in a round of Ultimate Gauntlet.78+ Rare Gold Player PackWin 2Win 2 matches in a round of Ultimate Gauntlet.Evo UnlockPerfect RoundWin all matches in a round of Ultimate Gauntlet.Mohamed Kudus Cornerstones and Evo UnlockWin 3Win 3 matches in the Ultimate Gauntlet.82+ 2 Rare Gold Player PackWin 5Win 5 matches in the Ultimate Gauntlet.Evo UnlockWin 6Win 6 matches in the Ultimate Gauntlet.84+ 2 Rare Gold Player Pack

Completing the full objective set also earns you an 85+ Rare Gold Player Pack. Unlike Live Events, you can complete a full set of Gauntlet irrespective of the match results. You’ll get one entry daily, and each round has three games. You can complete one round daily as well.

Irrespective of your results in a round, you’ll need to wait once you have played all three games. The primary objective is to win all three games on any given day, as it gets you the 84-rated Kudus Cornerstones item.

You can also win some valuable player packs by completing the other tasks. The rewards you get for completing the set have high chances of rewarding you with a walkout/promo card, so try to play as well, and make every chance count.

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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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Earth Must Die is a comedian-packed point-and-click in which you decide how much of a dick you want to be
Game Reviews

Earth Must Die is a comedian-packed point-and-click in which you decide how much of a dick you want to be

by admin September 29, 2025


Earth Must Die was one of the stand-out premieres in yesterday’s PC Gaming Show. The cartoon-styled space romp shone with crisp and vibrant visuals, and boasted a cast list that read like a who’s-who of British comedy.

Starring in it are Joel Fry (Game of Thrones, Dr Who, Our Flag Means Death), Ben Starr (Expedition 33, Final Fantasy 16), Martha Howe-Douglas (co-creator of Ghosts), Alex Horne (Taskmaster), Mike Wozniak (Man Down, Taskmaster, Three Bean Salad podcast), Don Warrington (Rising Damp!), Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Green Wing!), and Stevie Martin, Julie Nolke, Sophie Duker, Emma Fryer, Alasdair Beckett-King, Rosie Holt, Jon Blyth, Sam O’Leary, Tom Lawrinson, Sally Beaumont, David Montieth and Inel Tomlinson.

Yes, that’s Jon Blyth who once contributed to Eurogamer, which I’m sure is the accolade he shares and not his recent BAFTA-nominated performance in Thank Goodness You’re Here!

Earth Must Die looks great.Watch on YouTube

An eye-catching trailer and an eye-catching cast list, but details about the actual game were relatively scarce. What actually is Earth Must Die, then, and when is it coming out? Having talked to the game’s creator Dan Marshall today, I know some of the answers.

Earth Must Die, like many of Size Five’s games (that’s Marshall’s studio name), is a point-and-click adventure. And like many of Size Five’s games, it comes with a twist. “The idea is it’s a point-and-click adventure game but the lead character refuses to touch anything,” Marshall tells me. “He’s above it; because he’s from land-owning gentry, he won’t press buttons. So the game is a… conversation-’em-up. That’s not a real word is it?


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“But it’s not like Monkey Island where you can constantly replay conversations until you get the right stuff. Conversations play through, and you choose how much of a dick you’re going to be [I’ll come back to this point], and puzzle solving is more about manipulating other people into doing what you want to achieve rather than you actually doing it. So it’s more about ordering other people around to do things, rather than picking stuff up and having your own inventory.”

Indeed, Earth Must Die doesn’t have an inventory, so you can’t touch anything or pick anything up, or keep anything with you. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an adventure/point-and-click game having done that before.

To come back to the “choose how much of a dick you’re going to be” point earlier: Earth Must Die is also a game about a baddie. A proper baddie. Not a baddie who secretly wants to be good.

Says Marshall: “What they do in games quite often, or in Despicable Me or Star Wars or whatever, is they go ‘this time you’re going to play as one of the people in the Empire’, and they chicken out about a third of the way through and you defect to the Rebel side. And actually [the character is] a goodie because playing a baddie all the way through is slightly irksome.

“We’ve worked out ways of balancing [Valak’s] story so that he’s just a dick – he’s a fascist dictator bellend. I won’t mince my words! But he’s not the hero of the story. But you do get to play him and choose his dialogue options and all the rest of it, while the world crumbles around him.”

Valak is the lead, then, a Ming the Merciless-like character in charge of a vast alien empire who one day discovers Earth and an empire better organised than his. “So it’s basically: you’re this Ming the Merciless character with your 1950s wobbly sets, and then the Empire from Star Wars turns up and invades and takes over and rolls you into their much better empire. So that leaves you in the slightly awkward position of becoming the de facto Rebel leader for your [rebellion],” Marshall says.

I think it sounds great, and if Size Five’s last game Lair of the Clockwork God is anything to go by, there’s every chance it will be (I wish I’d been bold enough to give that game five stars; don’t tell Chris Tapsell I said that). But when is Earth Must Die coming out?

One of the upsides of holding back a reveal until the vocal parts have been recorded is the game’s nearly done. As in, there’s an outside chance Earth Must Die could even release this year, publisher No More Robots told me today. It’s a very tentative aim, so bear that in mind, but it could happen. And if it doesn’t, a 2026 release presumably won’t be far behind.

Incidentally, I was delighted to host Dan Marshall and writing and design partner Ben Ward (the Ben of ‘Ben and Dan’) on the interview podcast I ran a few years ago, and I don’t think any guests made me laugh harder.



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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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A photo of a book shows several iterations of the original PlayStation controller.
Game Reviews

Sony Celebrates 30 Years Of PlayStation With Cool Book

by admin September 29, 2025


PlayStation is turning 30 this year. That’s, uh, a lot of years. Well, what better way to sit around reminiscing about the past than to flip through a lovely coffee-table book chronicling the last three decades of PlayStation hardware? You’ll have to wait until spring of next year to do so, and it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but if you love the history of product and hardware development and appreciate a good photography book, Sony and publisher Read-Only Memory have something in store for you.

In a blog post celebrating the 30-year mark, Sony showed off some images of its gorgeous-looking photography book PlayStation: The First 30 Years. It comes in two hardcover editions at 400 pages each, and documents various prototype concepts of gamepads, consoles, logo design sketches, and more. The standard edition goes for $125, while a limited run of 1994 (the year the first PlayStation shipped in Japan) deluxe-edition copies encased in a foil-stamped box and featuring other goodies will also be produced.

Even if you think you’ve seen every conceivable prototype or concept for the PlayStation brand, there might still be some surprises in these pages for you yet. I mean, take a look at this thing!

© Image: Sony / Read-Only Memory

Now no one can tell me that the boomerang controller concept from the PS3 was the most uncomfortable-looking idea from Sony. And speaking of that thing, I sure hope there are more photos of it in these pages.



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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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CEO of EA, home to studios like Maxis and Bioware, claims company's values will "remain unchanged" following sale to Saudi government, investment firms
Game Reviews

CEO of EA, home to studios like Maxis and Bioware, claims company’s values will “remain unchanged” following sale to Saudi government, investment firms

by admin September 29, 2025


Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson has stated that the company’s values will remain unchanged following a $50bn buyout from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

In a statement posted to the Electronic Arts website and titled “Exciting News About Our Future”, Wilson attempted to reassure staff at EA that the future was bright for EA in the wake of the buyout.

He said: “This moment is a recognition of your creativity, your innovation, and your passion. You have built some of the world’s most iconic IP, created stories that have inspired global communities, and helped shape culture through interactive experiences. Everything we have achieved – and everything that lies ahead – is because of you.

Watch the Battlefield 6 multiplayer trailer here.Watch on YouTube

“We are entering a new era of opportunity. This is one of the largest and most significant investments ever made in the entertainment industry. Our new partners bring deep experience across sports, gaming, and entertainment. They are committed with conviction to EA – they believe in our people, our leadership, and the long-term vision we are now building together.

“Our mission at EA to – Inspire The World To Play – continues to guide everything we do. Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged. With continued rigor and operational excellence, we can amplify the creativity of our teams, accelerate innovation, and pursue transformative opportunities that position EA to lead the future of entertainment. Together, we’ll create experiences that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to inspire generations of players around the world.”

These values are of particular note. Among EA’s developers stand both Bioware and Maxis Studios, creators of Mass Effect and The Sims respectively. These series are not only popular, but quite outwardly LGBT-positive, featuring same-sex relationships. One of the new private owners – the Saudi Arabian government – continues to keep same-sex relationships illegal.

It’s worth noting that SNK, following its acquisition by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, attempted to reassure the world that its creative input would not be changed as a result. SNK’s next game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves would then feature Cristiano Ronaldo and Salvatore Ganacci – celebrities that featured heavily in Saudi Arabian events.

The statement from Andrew Wilson continues: “I am excited to continue as CEO, working alongside our leadership team to advance our strategy. United by our vision, we will deliver experiences that transcend platforms and empower players everywhere to create worlds, characters, and stories that are bold, interactive, and deeply connected.”



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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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Art shows different EA game franchises.
Game Reviews

EA Announces Unprecedented $55 Billion Sale To Saudi Arabia, Jared Kushner’s Private Equity Group, And Others

by admin September 29, 2025


Another one of the biggest game publishers in the world is being sold. On Monday, Electronic Arts announced a $55 billion deal to take the publisher behind massive franchises like Madden, The Sims, and Apex Legends private, selling to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and President Donald Trump nephew Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. 

The all-cash deal values the company at a 25 percent premium over its mid-august stock price and is set to be finalized by mid-2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Current CEO Andrew Wilson will remain the head of the publisher which will stay headquartered in California. Roughly $20 billion of the sale is debt-financed through JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The sale builds on Saudi Arabia’s existing 10 percent ownership of the company which was built up in recent years amid investments across the larger gaming industry. Those included the $4.9 billion purchase of Monopoly Go! mobile game maker Scopely in 2023 and the gobbling up of Pokémon Go and Niantic’s other gaming businesses earlier this year for $3.5 billion. The current $55 billion buyout of EA is not just the government-backed Public Investment Fund’s largest gaming acquisition to date, it’s also the largest sale ever to take an existing public company private.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” Wilson said in a press release. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

Founded back in 1982, EA’s gaming empire is vast with studios across the globe and franchises ranging from blockbusters like Battlefield and EA Sports FC (formally known as FIFA) to Mass Effect maker BioWare and smaller label signings this year’s critically-acclaimed GOTY-contender Split Fiction. It’s not yet clear how the deal will effect the size and scope of the roughly 15,000 person publisher, though this much money rarely changes hands without lots of people losing their jobs.

“EA has been challenged to innovate in the last decade,” Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter told Kotaku in an email over the weekend after news of the deal first leaked. “Several franchises have faded (Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Burnout, NFS), some failed (Anthem) and only a handful continue to produce. They suck at mobile and appear too focused on pleasing investors and not focused enough on pleasing gamers. I think the Saudis have the potential to jump start mobile and to try innovative moves like making Ultimate Team free. We’ll see if it works

Saudi Arabia’s funding partners include the private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter of which was founded by Kushner after Trump left office in 2021. Roughly half of its reported funding, approximately $2 billion, is also from Saudi Arabia. “Electronic Arts ​is ​an ​extraordinary ​company with a ​world-class ​management ​team and a bold vision ​for ​the ​future,” he said in a statement. “​I’ve admired their ​ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, ​and ​as ​someone ​who ​grew up playing their ​games ​- and now enjoys them with his ​kids–I couldn’t be ​more ​excited about ​what’s ​ahead.”

The deal arrives amid fresh criticism of people selling out to the Saudi Royal family despite its record of human rights abuses. Organizations backed by PIF held the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this summer and hosted talks with high-profile industry figures like Hideo Kojima and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, whose company is currently producing an Assassin’s Creed DLC set in Saudi Arabia. Outside the world of gaming, famous comedians like Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle were recently criticized for attending the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

“From the folks that brought you 9/11,” quipped WTF podcast host Marc Maron last week. “Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it! The same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a f***ing suitcase. But don’t let that stop the yucks, it’s gonna be a good time!”

The full press release is below:

Under the terms of the agreement, the Consortium will acquire 100% of EA, with PIF rolling over its existing 9.9% stake in the Company. EA stockholders will receive $210 per share in cash. The per share purchase price represents a 25% premium to EA’s unaffected share price of $168.32 at market close on September 25, 2025, the last fully unaffected trading day, and a premium to EA’s unaffected all-time high of $179.01 at market close on August 14, 2025.

PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners bring deep sector experience, committed capital, and global portfolios with networks across gaming, entertainment, and sports that offer unique possibilities for EA to blend physical and digital experiences, enhance fan engagement, and create new growth opportunities. The transaction represents the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history, with the Consortium partnering closely with EA to enable the Company to move faster and unlock new opportunities on a global stage.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” said Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

“PIF is uniquely positioned in the global gaming and esports sectors, building and supporting ecosystems that connect fans, developers, and IP creators,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF. “PIF has demonstrated a strong commitment to these sectors, and this partnership will help further drive EA’s long-term growth, while fueling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”

“This investment embodies Silver Lake’s mission to partner with exceptional management teams at the highest quality companies. EA is a special company: a global leader in interactive entertainment, anchored by its premier sports franchise, with accelerating revenue growth and strong and scaling free cash flow. We are honored to invest and partner with Andrew – an extraordinary CEO who has doubled revenue, nearly tripled EBITDA, and driven a fivefold increase in market cap during his tenure,” said Egon Durban, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Silver Lake. “The future for EA is bright, we are going to invest heavily to grow the business and we are excited to support Andrew and the EA team as the company accelerates innovation, expands its reach worldwide, and continues to deliver incredible experiences to players and fans across generations.”

“Electronic Arts ​is ​an ​extraordinary ​company with a ​world-class ​management ​team and a bold vision ​for ​the ​future. ​I’ve admired their ​ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, ​and ​as ​someone ​who ​grew up playing their ​games ​- and now enjoys them with his ​kids – I couldn’t be ​more ​excited about ​what’s ​ahead,” said Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners.

“The Board carefully evaluated this opportunity and concluded it delivers compelling value for stockholders and is in the best interests of all stakeholders,” said Luis A. Ubiñas, Lead Independent Director of EA’s Board of Directors. “We are pleased that this transaction delivers immediate and certain cash value to our stockholders while strengthening EA’s ability to continue building the communities and experiences that define the future of entertainment.”

Transaction Details

The transaction was approved by EA’s Board of Directors, is expected to close in Q1 FY27 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and approval by EA stockholders. Following the close of the transaction, EA’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.

The transaction will be funded by a combination of cash from each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners as well as roll-over of PIF’s existing stake in EA, constituting an equity investment of approximately $36 billion, and $20 billion of debt financing fully and solely committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., $18 billion of which is expected to be funded at close. Each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners plan to fund the equity component of the financing entirely from capital under their respective control.

Upon completion of the transaction, EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California and continue to be led by Andrew Wilson as CEO.

Update: 9/29/2025 8:58 a.m. ET: Added more information about EA, details of the deal, and a quote from an analyst. 





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Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy's Part Three will have some sort of fresh "gameplay experience", but it's a big secret for now
Game Reviews

Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy’s Part Three will have some sort of fresh “gameplay experience”, but it’s a big secret for now

by admin September 29, 2025


The Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy finale will have a new gameplay experience, director Naoki Hamaguchi has stated.

Speaking to German outlet NTower, Hamaguchi stated “development is going very well”, and while no specifics were provided, he did compare the gameplay of the third part back to the progression from Remake to Rebirth.

“As you’re very much aware, the first game in the series, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, was a more story driven linear gaming experience and then that evolved and changed into a more open world adventure for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second game,” Hamaguchi explained. “And that seems to be very well regarded. People seem to like that change a lot and they like the new gameplay direction. So, we’re very happy with that.”

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE – Release Date Announcement – Nintendo Switch 2Watch on YouTube

“But moving forward to the third game in the series,” he continued, “obviously I can’t say exactly what it is, but I don’t want to deliver just exactly the same style of gameplay experience as we had with Rebirth again. We’re going to evolve it and change it again to give another different and fresh take on the Final Fantasy 7 gameplay. Again, that will be revealed in the not too distant future. I can say we’re working on it and we’re trying to change that because we’ve actually got a build up and running in the development team right now where you can experience that new style of gameplay.”

So what exactly does he mean here?

While “gameplay experience” is a broad term, part three will likely still use the same battle system that’s been developed across Remake and Rebirth, though presumably with some twists for additional characters Cid and Vincent.

Hamaguchi really seems to be discussing structure here. Remake was a more linear affair, owing to the tight focus on a single location (the city of Midgar), while Rebirth was open world as Cloud and friends explore expansive environments in pursuit of Sephiroth – just as players moved to the world map in the original PS1 game.

It’s understandable Square Enix would need a change in structure for the trilogy finale. In part, the presumed inclusion of Cid’s Tiny Bronco to fly over the world would diminish the sense of exploration from Rebirth, but also re-using much of Rebirth’s world would feel like repetition.

I wonder, then, if the trilogy’s multiverse storyline might lend itself to a more unique structure. Square Enix has toyed with narrative changes from the original game with this remake trilogy and, as the scope has gradually (and confusingly) widened, perhaps a conventional linear or open world won’t be the best method to tie up its loose threads. I’d rather the development team went all-in on something new than a half-hearted midway approach in an attempt to appease a vast spectrum of fans.

Still, Hamaguchi added more will be announced “in the near future” and the game “really will be a fitting climax to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series”.

Of course, the other key question is what will the game’s subtitle be, following Remake and Rebirth. Speaking with JPGames.de, Hamaguchi explained “reunion” was the key word for Remake, while “bonds” was the key word for Rebirth (emphasising the relationships between characters).

“And in the same vein, we have got a new key word for the third game in the series,” he said. “Can’t tell you what it is yet. It’s very much there, though, and influencing and informing how the gameplay and the game experience is shaped, in exactly the same way as the first two games were by their key word.”

What are your best guesses for part three?

Until then, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is heading to Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S next year, plus the progression boosts will be retroactively added to the PS5 and PC versions.



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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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Borderlands 4 details first paid DLC plans as 2K continues to struggle with PC performance issues
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Borderlands 4 details first paid DLC plans as 2K continues to struggle with PC performance issues

by admin September 29, 2025


Gearbox revealed its first DLC vault hunter for Borderlands 4 during the Tokyo Game Show over the weekend. C4SH will be coming to the game in Q1 2026 alongside the game’s first story pack.

C4SH was revealed via a short cinematic teaser at the Borderlands 4 Tokyo Game Show panel, and is a former casino dealer robot who’ll use a degree of chance across all three of their skill trees. A full ability breakdown is set to take place in the near future, though there’s no date just yet.

The new character will arrive alongside a story pack called Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned. This pack will bring new main missions to complete, new gear, a new region on the map, a load of new cosmetics, and of course C4SH to tie it all together.

Here’s the C4SH teaser for Borderlands 4.Watch on YouTube

While the future of Borderlands 4 was shown off proudly in Japan, the game is still tackling technical hurdles in the present. While a recent patch has gone a ways in tackling performance issues, it has brought with it additional problems with Gearbox telling some on PC to clear their shader cache if things aren’t stable within 15-minutes of play time.

In addition, Borderlands 4’s Switch 2 version was delayed to an unspecified date for “additional development and polish time”. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford advised those on X unhappy with Borderlands 4 performance issues to refund the game in the days following its release.

Still, those able to get the game running well are having a good time with the sci-fi shooter. Eurogamer’s Borderlands 4 review states: “Borderlands 4 brings a more sensible script and a true open world to its pseudo-cel-shaded gun-show. But these moderate improvements are undermined by frustrating exploration and combat that takes too long to properly shine.”



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September 29, 2025 0 comments
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