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Sam's News — gaming — Week 2026-W30

TL;DR

  • EU approves Saudi PIF's $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts.
  • God of War Laufey confirmed for PS5, February 16, 2027, with a direct sequel already in development.
  • Final Fantasy XIV reveals Evercold expansion, adding Bastion job class and an FF7 Remake-based raid series.
  • Tomb Raider: Catalyst delayed again, frustrating physical-collector fans.
  • Bethesda confirms Elder Scrolls 6 unaffected by company layoffs.
  • Ubisoft projects $399 million in Q2 bookings, driven by Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta to add low-SBMM playlists after community feedback.

Biggest stories

EA acquisition clears EU regulatory hurdle

EU regulators approved Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to acquire Electronic Arts for $55 billion, clearing a major hurdle for one of gaming's largest-ever buyouts. Sources: 2026-07-26

God of War Laufey release date locked in, sequel already planned

PlayStation confirmed God of War Laufey for PS5 on February 16, 2027, and revealed a new Kratos-led game already in development, directly connected to Laufey's story. Reported first on 07-25 and reconfirmed with more outlets on 07-26. Sources: 2026-07-25, 2026-07-26

Physical media debate: Tomb Raider delays, SEGA and Rockstar weigh in

Tomb Raider: Catalyst was delayed again (reported both days), disappointing collectors who want disc releases. SEGA clarified its stance on physical distribution, and Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser said companies should offer discs if consumers demand them — together framing a broader industry tension over disc support. Sources: 2026-07-25, 2026-07-26

Studio/publisher updates: Bethesda, Ubisoft, Final Fantasy XIV

Bethesda confirmed The Elder Scrolls 6 is unaffected by recent layoffs. Ubisoft forecast $399 million in Q2 bookings on the strength of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. Square Enix unveiled FFXIV's Evercold expansion, adding the Bastion job and an FF7 Remake-linked raid series. Sources: 2026-07-25

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta adjusts matchmaking

Activision said the upcoming beta will include reduced skill-based matchmaking playlists, responding to community feedback on prior titles. Sources: 2026-07-26

  • Physical media tension recurs: Tomb Raider's delays, SEGA's clarification, and Rockstar's Dan Houser comments all surfaced within a day of each other, reflecting ongoing industry debate over disc support versus digital-only releases.
  • Consolidation continues: EA's $55 billion Saudi PIF acquisition clearing EU review is the period's biggest financial story, alongside Ubisoft's bookings guidance — signaling active M&A and revenue-forecasting activity across major publishers.
  • Modding community active: Multiple mods reported (GTA multiverse travel, Baldur's Gate 3 third-person camera) alongside GTA 6 developers blocking AI-generated videos, showing friction between fan-made content, AI tools, and rights enforcement.
  • Sequel/expansion pipeline building: God of War, Final Fantasy XIV, and Call of Duty all announced concrete next-installment details, indicating publishers are locking in 2027 roadmaps now.