BioWare Closes, Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.5, Xbox Layoffs

Oct 17, 2026 — Oct 24, 2026

Electronic Arts closes BioWare and cancels its next Mass Effect project, while CD Projekt Red releases Cyberpunk 2077’s free Patch 2.5 Rock Paper ShotgunXbox Wire. Reports of further Xbox layoffs, Liquid Swords’ bankruptcy and a November deadline for Arkane Lyon to find a buyer bring studio stability into focus EurogamerGamesIndustry.bizIGN.

EA Closes BioWare and Cancels Its Next Mass Effect

EA is shutting down RPG veteran Bioware "to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth"Mass Effect 5 trailer leaks following BioWare shutdownRock Paper ShotgunThe Verge

Electronic Arts closes BioWare after more than 30 years and ends early development on its next Mass Effect game, while cutting roughly 400 roles across the company, including about 50 at BioWare Rock Paper ShotgunEurogamerRock Paper ShotgunPush Square. An internal trailer for the canceled project surfaces, with reports describing an emphasis on player choice and planned features including environmental hacking The VergeIGNEurogamerRock Paper Shotgun+2.

Liquid Swords Files for Bankruptcy as Arkane Lyon Seeks a Buyer

Liquid Swords CEO confirms studio closure following bankruptcy proceedingsSamson Developer Issues Statement As Studio Is Forced To CloseGamesIndustry.bizPure Xbox

Samson developer Liquid Swords files for bankruptcy after employees reportedly go unpaid for two months GamesIndustry.biz. Founder Christofer Sundberg says Samson performs better on consoles than on PC, but the sales are not enough to save the studio; Liquid Swords is discussing continued support for the game Pure XboxPush Square.

Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, reportedly has until November 13 to find a buyer or risk closure, while its 217 employees continue work on Marvel’s Blade IGNGematsu.

Xbox Layoff Reports Coincide With New Hardware and Game Pass Plans

Xbox reportedly planning three more rounds of layoffs, with the first wave coming as early as this monthReport: Xbox To Release Next-Gen Handheld In 2027 & Expensive Helix Console In 2028EurogamerPure Xbox

Xbox faces reports of three more layoff rounds in October, November and January 2027, following 1,868 job cuts, with 3,200 planned overall EurogamerPush Square. Separate reports place a next-generation Xbox handheld in the 2027 holiday season and the Project Helix console in 2028, while Microsoft considers letting Game Pass subscribers choose features such as console games, cloud gaming and multiplayer à la carte Pure XboxVGCPure XboxRock Paper Shotgun.

Microsoft also begins testing prepaid Xbox Cloud Playtime blocks with Insiders, priced at $3.99 for 10 hours and an introductory $11.99 for 50 hours Xbox WirePure XboxGamesIndustry.bizEurogamer.

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.5 Adds Edgerunners 2 Content and Console Mods

Cyberpunk 2077 Edgerunners update brings improved modding, better HDR, new content and moreCyberpunk 2077's Edgerunners 2 update adds two new quests, handgun dual wielding and the ability to pimp your mantis bladesGamingOnLinuxRock Paper Shotgun

CD Projekt Red’s free Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.5 is live, bringing Edgerunners 2-inspired content, technical upgrades and new combat options, including dual-wielding and a story quest GamingOnLinuxXbox WireEurogamer. The update adds cross-platform mod support to console versions on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox; the PS5 version has 52 user-created mods available at launch Rock Paper ShotgunThe VergePush Square.

Capcom Data Breach Affects 11.77 Million Capcom ID Accounts

Capcom affected by data breach, over 11.7m Capcom ID accounts compromisedCapcom Data Breach Results In Unauthorised Access To More Than 11.7 Million 'CAPCOM ID' AccountsGamesIndustry.bizNintendo Life

Capcom says a third party accessed information associated with approximately 11.77 million Capcom ID accounts, including email addresses and IP addresses from recent logins GamesIndustry.bizNintendo Life. Additional details—including birth dates, gender, country or region, and nicknames—were exposed in 43 cases; credit card information was not compromised, and around 200 passwords were changed Nintendo LifeAutomaton WestIGNVGC.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Launches Worldwide

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is Live Worldwide — Play Now!Review: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (Switch 2) - Best-In-Class Bombast That Doesn't Shortchange Nintendo GamersXbox WireNintendo Life

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is now live worldwide, with multiplayer opening after staged early access to the campaign and DMZ Xbox WirePush Square. A review also covers the Nintendo Switch 2 edition Nintendo Life.

PEGI Raises Ratings for Games With Paid Random Items

European age-ratings body PEGI begins raising age-limit of loot box games, like EA Sports FC, to 16PEGI Starts Upping Age Ratings on Digital-Only Titles With “Paid Random Items” Like Overwatch and League of LegendsEurogamerThis Week in Video Games

PEGI is rolling out a PEGI 16 “Paid random items” classification for digital-only games with paid loot boxes and other random purchases, including existing games previously rated PEGI 3, PEGI 7 or PEGI 12 EurogamerThis Week in Video GamesRock Paper Shotgun. Overwatch, League of Legends and EA Sports FC are among the named examples affected by the ratings change This Week in Video GamesEurogamer.

End of the weekly overview · 7 stories from 14 outlets