In 2025, indie game developers thrived while traditional publishers faced turmoil, marking a significant power shift in the gaming industry. Despite challenges with AI and rising costs, indies excelled with high-quality titles, highlighting new industry dynamics.

A recommended loadout for Black Ops 7's Sokol 545 LMG emphasizes the Gunfighter wildcard for enhanced weapon control and mobility. Key attachments focus on precision, extended ammo, and recoil management.

HADES II wins NoobFeed’s Best Action Game of 2025 for its enhanced roguelike gameplay and engaging story. Supergiant Games leads a dynamic year for action titles, boosted by technological advances and a more engaged gaming community.

Arc Raiders triumphs as one of Steam's top 12 best-sellers of 2025 just two months post-launch, with impressive player retention and a Best Multiplayer award win. Embark celebrates by offering free tokens to players before January 13, while plans for 2026 remain ambitious yet undisclosed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Weapon Prestige Master grind is drawing criticism for offering a non-animated Calling Card as its reward. Players question the value of the tedious 30-weapon challenge, even considering the extended time commitment during Double XP weekends.

In 2025, Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders emerged as strong challengers to Call of Duty, providing fresh competition and innovation in the gaming landscape. This shift pressured Activision to reconsider its annual release strategy and focus on enhancing core gameplay mechanics to regain its competitive edge.

The Call of Duty BO7 Hardpoint competitive guide highlights the tactical use of Frag and Stun Grenades and recommends the Trophy System for optimal zone control. Primary weapons like the M15 Mod 0 and Dravec 45 top the meta, while the Jager 45 remains the sole viable secondary option amid strict competitive rules.

Unicorns of Love is opening up ownership to fans via a Crowdcube campaign, offering a stake of up to 11% in the esports team. This move comes after near LEC qualifications, aiming to strengthen community ties.

ARC Raiders, an extraction shooter by Embark Studios, has become a surprise hit since its 2025 launch, thriving amidst big titles like Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. CEO Patrick Södérlund highlights the challenging seven-year development process, ensuring ongoing updates and fresh content to maintain engagement.

Call of Duty continues to reign as a top gaming franchise, thriving on its diverse game modes and availability on Xbox Game Pass. Despite Battlefield 6's lead in player count, COD's varied offerings keep it popular.

Xbox is grappling with release timing for its 2026 games amid competition from GTA 6 and other high-profile titles. The company is considering traditional holiday launches versus unexpected shadow drops.

The Sturmwolf 45 SMG is set to debut in Black Ops 7 and Warzone as part of the Season 1 Reloaded update, resembling the UMP-45. Unlock details are pending, with potential in-game challenges or community events speculated for early January.

Black Ops 7 dominated sales in 2025 despite initial controversy, and looks to regain momentum in 2026 with new content like Season 2 and Fallout crossover cosmetics. However, open matchmaking in Warzone received mixed reviews, leading many players back to SBMM queues, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing gameplay preferences.

Treyarch denies altering SBMM in Black Ops 7 during the Christmas period, despite viral claims. The game features distinct matchmaking modes, with debates ongoing about their effectiveness.

Wuthering Waves is set to release version 3.1 in early February 2026, featuring new five-star characters Aemeath and Luuk Herssen. The update will also bring a new Fusion Rover element and a free Rover school uniform skin, enhancing player customization options.

PUBG Black Budget, an extraction shooter from PUBG Corporation, is in alpha but faces skepticism due to rough gameplay and potential cash-grab concerns. Despite promising elements like a strategic inventory system and mystery-filled maps, issues with movement, gunplay, and extraction mechanics leave its future viability uncertain.

The Ballista sniper rifle from Black Ops 2 will return in Black Ops 7 and Warzone, set to unlock after Season 1 Reloaded via an in-game event. Details on the unlock method will be revealed in early 2026, with expectations of community challenges similar to previous events.

COD Mobile can be played on a PC using emulators like GameLoop, BlueStacks, and more, with specific system requirements for optimal performance. Players benefit from a larger display and multitasking, though lag issues may arise from hardware limitations and internet connectivity, which can be mitigated with suggested tweaks.

Treyarch denies adjusting SBMM in Black Ops 7 for Christmas, refuting claims of a boost to protect new players. The design director insists no holiday-specific matchmaking tweaks were made.