Charges filed with the NLRB accuse Xbox of bad faith bargaining. Following another round of mass layoffs and studio upheavals at Xbox, Communications Workers of America has filed unfair labor practice charges against Microsoft with the National Labor Relations Board. The CWA accuses Microsoft of bad faith bargaining, coercive actions, contract repudiation and failing to provide notice to employees, according to the charge on the NLRB site . The case was filed on July 15 in the United States, and CWA Canada is taking legal action against Microsoft as well, as reported by Game Developer . On July 6, Microsoft announced it would immediately cut 1,600 jobs across its Xbox division, with plans to lose another 1,600 employees over the coming fiscal year.

Plus, pretend you're moderating a forum like it's 2007 again. Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As ever, we've got some neat new games for you to dive into this weekend, as well as a peek at some of the goodies headed our way in the near future. In between playing and trying to figure out whether the Steam Machine that's now under my TV actually fits into my life at all, I've been dipping into a -inspired project. is a simulation game that tasks you with moderating a forum in the mid-2000s, with a Windows XP-style UI adeptly setting the scene. There's even a desktop music player called Winump and a screensaver that kicks in after a period of inactivity. You'll have to review users' posts to determine whether they comply with a set of ever-changing rules, all while dealing with distractions like pop-ups and NSM Messenger pings.

Former college softball star is now an America-loving Giants WAG, Norway fan won't row & Spurs announcer fired Stacey Dales provides much-needed logic to ESPN's Caitlin Clark coverage, dismantles race-baiter on set Sandy Alcantara home dominance gives edge to Miami Marlins for tonight's betting card WNBA player who battered Caitlin Clark elbows another Fever star in the face, but there's a catch Fever coach Stephanie White dodges question on GOP letter about Caitlin Clark's treatment in WNBA LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney says Team USA was'too naive,' explains Christian Pulisic's struggles Airplane passenger goes viral for streaming Argentina's miraculous World Cup comeback for the entire plane Vice admiral says he is surprised by Iran's sustained attacks in the region Why Graham Platner's withdrawal from Senate race could pour fuel on the progressive insurgence Charlie Kirk's mother weeps with Erika Kirk as surveillance video plays in courtroom Mamdani addresses top official's plan to meet with Iran Mamdani faces backlash over planned meeting with Iran's UN ambassador On this episode of Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich, we expose ESPN's broken, narrative-driven coverage of Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark as the fading network hypocritically sabotages the WNBA's most popular asset. The NTT IndyCar series produces some of the best racing anywhere on the planet, and for years, fans have been clamoring for a standalone video game based on the series. It's been in the works for some time, but on Thursday, IndyCar and racing sim juggernaut iRacing announced details, including when to expect the game to debut. And when that happens, you'll know where to find me: in the upstairs guest bedroom where my wife is cool with me setting up my racing sim. The NTT IndyCar Series is getting the standalone video game treatment for the first time in over twenty years when IndyCar Racing The Game rolls out next year.

The Fallout: New Vegas developer has not escaped Microsoft's Xbox layoffs unscathed. Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind the Pillars of Eternity series, and, is being reshuffled as part of Xbox's larger reset and mass layoffs across Microsoft's gaming business. Josh Sawyer, the director of and the Medieval adventure game, is reportedly leading development of the new game. Getting a new Fallout game out is particularly relevant given that, a multiplayer survival game from 2018, is technically the most recent release and Fallout has now been adapted into a successful streaming series on Amazon Prime Video. This change in studio direction is also being paired with layoffs.

The death of physical media is getting closer--and we may miss it when it's gone. When I was 16, I did something I'm embarrassed to admit: I waited in a long line to buy a video game called Assassin's Creed III . Over the past few days, though, that experience has become ever so slightly tinged with nostalgia. Last week, Sony announced that, starting in 2028, new PlayStation games will be available only as digital downloads rather than physical discs. Will kids ever get to embarrass themselves like this again?

Xbox and Nintendo have also been pushing consumers towards digital games. Sony has announced that PlayStation is going all digital, with physical game disc production being discontinued starting January 2028. After this date, you'll only be able to purchase new games digitally on the PlayStation Store and in retailers. Sony says its decision is a response to shifting trends in consumer preference, with digital sales significantly outweighing physical. Last year, physical game distribution accounted for just three percent of PlayStation's revenue, and the fact that the PS5 Pro launched in 2024 without a disc drive was a pretty good indication of Sony's future direction.

Flexion Robotics, a startup founded by ex-Nvidia engineers, has a clever way of training robots to do useful work. Humanoid robots might be able to run, dance, and occasionally kick people, but to become human, they're going to need to learn how to do all sorts of menial chores at work. Flexion Robotics, a Swiss startup founded by ex-Nvidia robotics researchers, thinks it has the solution. The company has developed a way to train robots to perform complex tasks that involve simple skills like opening doors, climbing stairs, and carrying boxes. The key is to teach the robots individual skills in simulation, then have a master AI algorithm determine how to use them.

Plus, the Steam Summer Sale is under way. Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. If you're looking for something new to play this weekend, we have several options for you to check out. We've also got news to bring you about upcoming games, including one with sword-wielding dinosaurs. Despite already having more games in my various libraries than I can ever conceivably play, I'm sure I'll at least pick up a few things from my wishlist.

Once, video games came with lots of physical goodies, such as guides, maps and manuals. Those days are mostly gone, but gamers have, up to now, usually been able to rely on one thing they could literally get their hands on - a disc. But when pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6 went live on Wednesday, developer Rockstar said customers who opted for the physical edition would get a box that just contained a code for a digital download instead. It's not the first time a physical edition has launched this way. But if the makers of one of the biggest franchises in entertainment history has decided to follow suit, does that mean the disc is dead?

There were plans for a sequel to'Talladega Nights' but maybe it's good it didn't pan out Two kangaroos throw punches like UFC fighters in Australian man's backyard in viral video'Forrest Gump' star Gary Sinise tells Tomi Lahren why Americans should cherish everyday freedoms Married Brazilian soccer president accused of World Cup affair & is she hooking up with her sugar daddy again? 'Dutton Ranch' renewed for season two after becoming the face of the'Yellowstone' universe on Paramount+ It's beyond time for someone to lay down some society-wide ground rules for handshakes Taylor Sheridan's secretive'Yellowstone' prequel '1944' is still in the works at Paramount, report says After questionable remarks from star Milly Alcock, new tracking shows'Supergirl' on track for $200M loss Couple set mood for Guns N' Roses by hooking up on a Ferris wheel & best friend's wife sends birthday suit pic Ali Larter defends Taylor Sheridan's writing of female characters, calling criticism a'false narrative' Unnamed gambler wins $10.3M jackpot on $5 bet at Las Vegas casino Trump touts his border policies: 'Zero illegal aliens' admitted in 13 months Speaker of the Iranian Parliament is like a'savvy two-year-old': retired Air Force general The Democratic Party has gone'off the edge,' Hugh Hewitt says The Democratic Party has gone'off the edge,' Hugh Hewitt says OutKick Culture The five best years in video game history ranked: Which gaming year was the greatest ever? 'Who Can Forget 2025?': Fox Nation remembers roller coaster year in politics, culture and more Fox Nation's'Who Can Forget 2025?' follows the year's most defining events, from President Donald Trump's executive orders to the Sydney Sweeney jeans controversy. The second half of 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated time periods for video gaming in quite some time. With the recent release of Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 in addition to the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Grand Theft Auto VI set to come out later this year, 2026 could be a banner year in the history of video games.