Mojang announced that Ice Caves will debut in Minecraft, introducing a rare underground extension of cold biomes with glowing ice crystals and varied terrain. The update adds a new hostile mob, the Frozen Zombie, which can freeze players and hurl damaging ice balls. Ice balls serve dual purposes: they can be used as weapons, applied as knockback, or crafted into potions that freeze opponents. The caves also offer decorative ice crystals that double as light sources, expanding [...]

Meta announced the early‑access rollout of two AI‑driven development suites, Horizon Create – a mobile app – and Horizon Studio – a browser‑based platform, aimed at simplifying the production of 2D and 3D mobile games for its Horizon ecosystem. Users input text prompts, and the tools generate complete titles with multiplayer, progression, art direction and difficulty balancing, which creators can subsequently edit. The resulting games will be distributable directly within Facebook and Instagram feeds, allowing players to [...]

Halo Studios is being reduced to a skeleton crew of roughly 20 employees after a restructuring that placed the franchise under Activision’s ownership and created a new development team. The cutbacks affected more than 200 staff members, many of whom were laid off. The move follows a period of declining reception for recent Halo titles, with critics citing launch problems, missing features, and unsatisfying remakes such as Halo: Campaign Evolved, which relied heavily on outsourced contract work. [...]

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that while the original 1997 RPG’s storyline is deeply woven into the Remake trilogy, new players can still enjoy the series without prior knowledge. Hamaguchi noted that understanding the original enhances the experience, yet the modern graphics and narrative design allow newcomers to jump in and find the story compelling. He emphasized that the choice depends on player preference, with no definitive “must‑play” order.

At Minecraft Live 2026, Mojang unveiled a slate of new content, including the launch of Minecraft Dungeons 2 on September 29, featuring a larger world, expanded combat, and the Sift dimension. The Sift will also debut in Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions in 2027, marking the first new dimension in over 14 years. Additional announcements included the Ice Caves biome with Frozen Zombies, the release of Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2, and the upcoming Minecraft Hotel and [...]

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told the Sources Podcast that the recent “streamlining” of Xbox is “great to see,” despite layoffs that have cut roughly 1,600 jobs in July and another 1,600 slated before year‑end. He praised the brand’s intellectual property and its capacity to produce “great games,” while emphasizing the need for a sustainable business model that expands gaming access across PCs and consoles. Nadella highlighted Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s plan to return the division to growth in [...]

Yoko Taro, the director of Nier: Automata, has long been known for his unconventional, philosophically driven games. After the first Nier’s mixed reception, Taro approached Automata without external directives, crafting a title that blended accessible action with his signature esoteric storytelling. The result was a commercial success, selling over 10 million copies and earning acclaim as one of the best RPGs. Taro’s comments reveal his self‑aware humor and frustration with industry shifts, such as the decline of physical media. [...]