Today’s Gaming News Roundup
Imagine diving into the intense warfare of Call of Duty: Black Ops, only to find that cheaters have infiltrated the battlefield. It’s like finding a surprise enemy right in your spawn point. As a Black Ops veteran, I’ve seen my fair share of questionable tactics, but the rise in cheating is next-level frustrating.
You know the thrill of pulling off a perfect headshot, only to have it soured by someone using hacks. How do you think this is affecting the game’s balance? Let’s look at what’s being done to keep our matches fair.
Cheaters Have Come for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta, as Activision Said They Would
The beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has gone live, and unsurprisingly, cheaters are already causing havoc. Activision launched the beta on October 2nd, expecting the usual influx of players eager to test the game. But, with great anticipation comes the inevitable herd of cheaters looking to exploit vulnerabilities. The developer has identified thousands of reports of unfair play within the first 24 hours alone, highlighting the immediate challenge they face in maintaining a fair gaming environment.
This isn’t new territory for the Call of Duty series. Cheating has plagued past betas, prompting Activision to continuously enhance its anti-cheat measures. For Black Ops 7, they’ve implemented updated security protocols aimed at quickly identifying and banning offenders.
Black Ops 7 returns to Call of Duty’s three-lane map design, and that’s a good thing
Treyarch is taking a nostalgic approach with Black Ops 7’s map design. They’ve announced a return to the popular three-lane map structure. This choice is an homage to fan-favorites like Nuketown and Firing Range.
The aim is to enhance player engagement and gameplay. This design shift means smoother navigation and clearer sightlines in multiplayer matches. For competitive scenes, it might reset the map meta, impacting strategies.
Black Ops 7 Beta Early Access Is Live Extra Early; Open Beta Start Times Confirmed
Available on PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, the beta kicked off an hour earlier than planned. If you preordered, have Game Pass Ultimate, snagged a code through Xfinity, or watched Call of Duty: Next on Twitch for an hour, you’re all set to look in.
This early access runs from October 2 to October 5.
Welcome To The Enshittification Of Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft is hiking the price of the Xbox Game Pass, and long-time subscribers aren’t thrilled. Starting on January 1, 2024, the monthly cost for the Game Pass Ultimate will jump to $17.99, while the PC Game Pass will see a smaller increase to $10.99. This comes after the company’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, hinting at a bid to fund its growing portfolio of studios. For gamers, this price bump raises concerns about value.
Game Pass has been popular for its extensive library, but with rising costs, players are questioning if future offerings will justify the expense. While some understand the business angle, many fear this could start a trend of even more frequent price hikes. What’s your take on Microsoft’s move?
Vampire Survivors-like Megabonk makes megabucks, selling a million copies in 2 weeks, and currently has more daily players than Borderlands 4 on Steam: ‘I’ll be eating spaghetti with EXTRA sauce tonight’
“Skateboarding skeleton with shades hits a milestone.” That’s right. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater fans have something to celebrate. The indie hit “Skate or Die 2: Resurrection” just sold a million copies.
Released only six months ago, on April 1, 2023, this quirky game combines classic skateboarding mechanics with a humorous undead twist. Players navigate as shades-wearing skeletons through post-apocalyptic half-pipes and grind rails. The game’s success isn’t just about nostalgia.
Hotel Barcelona Review, Check Out Any Time You’d Like
Prepare to look into the twisted world of “Hotel Barcelona,” a 2D action roguelike that hits the shelves on September 26, 2025. Developed by White Owls and published by CULT Games, this game is a much-anticipated collaboration between Deadly Premonition’s Swery and the legendary Suda51. Players step into the shoes of Justine, a US Marshal possessed by the murderous spirit, Dr. Carnival, on a mission to avenge her father’s death and take down a powerful witch. Though its premise promises surreal humor and style, the game’s outdated graphics and lackluster combat seem to echo from the mid-2000s.
Critics are questioning the execution of this imaginative title, but the intriguing storyline and iconic creators make “Hotel Barcelona” an adventure worth exploring, particularly for those drawn to the quirky charm of its developers’ previous works. Featuring characters like the shy Justine and the ruthless Carnival, the game offers time-limited escapades through four-stage levels, each with its own random weather effect and time of day twist.
Original report: Game Informer
Why does Helldivers 2 have such a bloated install size on PC? Old hard drives, says dev
Helldivers 2 has hit some tech snags, especially following the challenging Into the Unjust update. Fans have noticed performance issues, but Arrowhead is on it. They’ve promised a patch to smooth things over. Meanwhile, they’re releasing a series of tech blog posts to look into the game’s mechanics.
The first post doesn’t tackle frame rates but highlights the game’s massive 150GB install size. This has been a persistent issue, weighing on players’ storage without easy solutions. Arrowhead’s openness to discussing these engineering headaches is a good sign for future transparency.
Nearly a third of all gaming PCs are still running Windows 10, even as Microsoft prepare to kill it
Microsoft recently faced some heat with several awkward situations. Game Pass changes didn’t sit well with the fans. The first Xbox-branded handheld comes with a hefty $1,000 price tag.
Additionally, they’re ending official support for Windows 10 by halting security updates this month.
Full story via Rock Paper Shotgun
Can we fix the cheating issues in Blac Ops?
So, after all the cheaters in Black Ops, what’s your gut reaction? Are we just used to this by now? Is there a future where cheating is completely eliminated? Let me know in the comments!
