Gray Zone Warfare Rogue Ops Preview | Gaming News #70
Gray Zone Warfare Rogue Ops opens October 19 for Supporter Edition owners only, three days before everyone else, as paid early access reaches extraction wipes.
Gaming News · Issue #70 · 16 October 2026
TL;DR
- Gray Zone Warfare Rogue Ops opens October 19 for Supporter Edition owners only, three days before everyone else, as paid early access reaches extraction wipes.
- Activision's QA testers just voted to authorise a strike on the same day Modern Warfare 4's campaign unlocks.
- Stranded Deep and The Alters are free to play this weekend, and Squad's PS5 alpha opens to anyone who signs up.
- Sega pulled Shogun 2's Complete Edition two days after launch over bugs and AI art.
🎯 Extraction shooters
Gray Zone Warfare Lets Supporter Edition Owners Into Rogue Ops Three Days Early, on October 19
MADFINGER Games posted on October 15 that Supporter Edition owners of Gray Zone Warfare get the 0.5 Rogue Ops build from October 19, three days before the October 22 launch for everyone. Progress made in the preview carries into the full release. Base, Tactical, and Elite owners can upgrade by paying the price difference. Switching to the preview branch is one-way, so there is no going back to 0.4.7.5.
Player impact: Supporter squads get three days to learn the new zones, crafting, and Hideout before the rest of the server arrives. Everyone else starts the soft wipe already behind on the new economy.
Sources: Gray Zone Warfare on Steam
Active Matter Puts Fewer Players in Solo-Only Raids on Its Three Smallest Maps
Active Matter update 0.4.0.196, posted October 15, cuts the maximum player count in Shegolskoe, Factory, and Ozernoe open raids when matchmaking is set to solo only. The developers say solo players will less often get pinched from several directions at once, including right after spawning in. The same patch lets the weapon flashlight and laser sight be bound to separate keys again.
Player impact: Solo players on the small maps should see fewer spawn fights and third parties. If you quit solo queue because every raid felt like a three-way brawl at spawn, this is the patch to test it again.
Sources: Active Matter on Steam
Delta Force Lets Squads Play as the Boss in Operations, and Other Players Can Hunt Her
Delta Force's October 15 update adds Polaris Patrol, a mini-mode in Operations (the game's extraction mode) running from October 16 to January 26, 2027 UTC. One squad plays as Haavk security director Desmoulins or her Adjutant, with new abilities, and friendly Haavk AI stays neutral toward them. Other operators earn Performance Points for killing that squad and can loot limited red-quality collectibles from Desmoulins' room.
Player impact: This turns a raid boss into a player who thinks, flanks, and runs. Squads chasing red-tier loot now have a human target worth hunting, and the boss squad has a reason to fight smart rather than camp.
Sources: Delta Force on Steam
🔫 FPS
The Finals Season 12 Rebuilds Destruction and Lands October 20
Embark Studios showed Season 12 of The Finals, called PRIME TIME, at the Galaxies Autumn Showcase on October 15. It arrives October 20 with what Embark calls the biggest destruction upgrade since launch: buildings collapse more gradually, suspended structures swing, and debris piles stay on the map. Monaco, Seoul, and Skyway Stadium get arena reworks, the HUD gets redone, and a new Light playstyle called Infiltrator is coming.
Player impact: Slower collapses and lasting debris change how cashouts get defended and how fast a team can drop a floor. Expect the Monaco and Seoul routes you know to break on day one.
Sources: Bleeding Cool · Gamer Social Club
Activision Says a New Call of Duty Sub-Series Is Coming, and Blames Bad Reviews on a 'CoD Tax'
Activision CMO Tyler Bahl told The Game Business on October 15 that a future Call of Duty will be a new sub-franchise, with the groundwork already laid. CharlieIntel's sources say that is the 2027 game. In the same interview Bahl called weak review scores a 'Call of Duty tax' and admitted Black Ops 7 missed what fans wanted. Modern Warfare 4's campaign early access opens today for digital pre-orders, ahead of an October 23 launch.
Player impact: After years of Black Ops and Modern Warfare trading turns, 2027 could break the rotation. For now, the real test is whether Modern Warfare 4 wins back the players Black Ops 7 lost.
Marvel Rivals Lifts Two Days of Mod Bans but Names the Files That Still Trip Anti-Cheat
NetEase said on October 15 it has lifted the Marvel Rivals suspensions handed out over the previous two days for client mods. It warned that mods remain against the rules and named two files that trigger anti-cheat: pystubber.asi and MarvelRivalsUnmountBlocker.asi. Mods that change sightlines, remove recoil or screen shake, alter footstep audio, or enlarge enemy models will still be punished.
Player impact: If you run cosmetic mods, you got a free pass this time and may not get another. Delete those two files before your next match, because the warning is the last one.
Sources: FandomWire
🔜 Coming soon
Squad Is Coming to PS5 and Xbox in 2027, and a PS5 Alpha Opens to Anyone Who Signs Up
Offworld Industries and publisher Secret Mode announced at the October 15 Galaxies showcase that Squad, the 50v50 combined-arms tactical shooter, comes to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027. A PS5 technical alpha runs from October 16 to 25 and is open to anyone who signs up. Console crossplay is confirmed; crossplay with PC has not been. Steam players can claim a free Recon Team Pack until October 25.
Player impact: Console players get a free week to find out if 50-player squads and voice comms work on a controller. PC veterans should watch the crossplay answer before the 2027 launch.
Rockstar Drops the GTA 6 Launch Trailer, With a Justice Score and No Xbox Footage
Rockstar released the official launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI on October 15, ahead of its November 19 launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. French duo Justice scores the game, and a soundtrack album with a lead single featuring Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard is up for pre-order. Pure Xbox notes the trailer was captured on PS5 and Xbox does not appear in it.
Player impact: Five weeks out, this is the last big look before launch. The PS5-only footage suggests Sony holds the marketing deal, so expect PlayStation to get the bonus content and ads.
🆕 Just released
Sega Pulls Shogun 2's Complete Edition Two Days After Launch Over Bugs and AI Art
Sega said on October 15 it is pulling Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition from sale two days after its October 13 launch, saying the experience 'is not where it needs to be.' Players had flagged bugs, poor performance, and AI-upscaled unit art with mangled hands, and Steam reviews sat at 19 percent positive. Sega is working with platform holders to put the original 2011 version back on sale. Existing owners keep access.
Player impact: If you bought it, you keep it, but there is no fix date and Sega has said nothing about refunds. Anyone who wants Shogun 2 should wait for the original listing to return.
Sources: VGC
No Such Place Opens Early Access at Mixed, and Its Devs Admit the UI Got in the Way
CritTeam's top-down PvE extraction shooter No Such Place entered Steam Early Access on October 13 at $17.99, and its user reviews sit at Mixed with 189 of 305 positive. In an October 15 Q&A, the developers said they focused too much on realistic menus over usability. They promise a reworked mission menu, crafting stations that reach into containers, softer stamina penalties, and smarter enemies in coming updates.
Player impact: The co-op extraction loop has fans, but the menus and stamina drain are pushing people away. If those bothered you in the demo, wait for the next major update before you buy.
Sources: No Such Place on Steam · Steam store
Control Resonant Sells a Million in Three Weeks, Remedy's Fastest Ever
Remedy said on October 15 that Control Resonant has passed one million units sold three weeks after its September 24 digital launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and Epic. The physical edition arrives October 15. Remedy says it is the fastest any of its games has reached the mark.
Player impact: A strong launch means Remedy can keep patching and adding to the game. If you were waiting for physical, it is out now.
Sources: Gematsu · Push Square
🆓 Free to try
Stranded Deep, The Alters, and NBA 2K27 Are Free to Play This Weekend
Stranded Deep is free to play on Steam until October 19 at 10am PT, and 60 percent off ($7.99) until October 22. On Xbox, Free Play Days run October 15 to 18: The Alters is a 3-hour trial for every Xbox player, while NBA 2K27 (from October 16, 12pm PT), Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21, Soccer Story, and Ravenswatch need Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential. All of these are play windows, so nothing here is yours to keep.
Player impact: Free weekend picks: Stranded Deep on PC for survival co-op, or The Alters on Xbox with no subscription needed. Both windows close Sunday, so install today.
Sources: Xbox Wire · Steam · Game Rant
🖥️ Hardware
The $1,299 ROG Xbox Ally X20 Is Out, and Reviewers Say the OLED Can't Justify the Price
Asus and Microsoft's ROG Xbox Ally X20 handheld went on sale October 15 for $1,299.99, about $300 more than the ROG Xbox Ally X. It keeps the same processor, RAM, storage, and battery, and adds a larger 120Hz OLED screen, TMR sticks built to resist drift, and better grips. Scores range from Dexerto's 5 out of 5 to 3.5 out of 5 from PCMag UK and Tom's Guide, and battery life is still a common complaint.
Player impact: Ally X owners get the same frame rates, so skip it unless the screen matters most to you. New buyers should weigh the extra $300 against the OLED and drift-resistant sticks.
Sources: Pure Xbox · GodisaGeek
📦 Other
Activision's QA Testers Vote to Authorise a Strike as Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Opens
Activision's quality assurance union (CWA Locals 6215, 7250, and 9400) voted overwhelmingly on October 15 to let CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. call a strike. The unit organised about 600 testers in March 2024 and has gone more than two years without a first contract, with wages, AI guardrails, contractors, and disability accommodations still open. Activision says it has made progress and offered to meet again on October 21 and 22. No strike has started.
Player impact: The people who test Call of Duty patches could walk out in launch week, since Modern Warfare 4 lands October 23. A strike would hit the post-launch fix pipeline first, so watch the October 21 talks.
Funcom Cuts Staff and Changes CEO to Focus on Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles
Funcom confirmed new layoffs on October 14 and said it will narrow its work to Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles. It did not say how many staff are affected. CEO Rui Casais leaves at the end of 2026, and chief product officer Scott Junior takes over. Casais said the studio 'cannot sustain the size and structure of the past.'
Player impact: Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles players keep their games, though a smaller team usually means slower updates. Anything else Funcom had planned looks shelved.
Sources: Massively OP · GamesRadar+
Read the full issue on the site →
15 stories in this issue. Same digest goes out in the Warhogy Discord — reply to this email if there is a story I missed.
