news9.885 min read
Pixel 11 Pro Fold FCC filing hints Tensor G6 modem switch to MediaTek
9 hours ago•Source: Android Authority
News News
The latest news stories, summarized by AI
Featured News Stories
View original source
13.49 min•13 hours ago
God of War Laufey to Get a Disc Release Ahead of Sony’s 2028 Physical-Only Era
Kotaku reports God of War Laufey will be released on disc, hinting at a 2027 launch window and signaling that physical copies will persist before Sony ends discs in 2028. A San Diego Comic-Con panel is planned on July 24 with the developers and cast, but the exact release date remains unconfirmed. The broader questions include whether PS6 will support future discs and how Sony will handle physical libraries, while Microsoft is reportedly exploring digitizing Xbox disc licenses through Project Helix.
More Top Stories
2
MSG’s Secret Database Flagged LGBTQIA Celebrities, Leaks Reveal
Stereogum•17 hours ago
3
FF7 Rebirth's Glitched Chocobo Still Haunts Players Two Years On
Kotaku•18 hours ago
More News Stories
Retro Surf Game's Water Tech Stuns 2026 Fans
A 2002 Xbox surfing title, Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, is going viral in 2026 for its standout water and wave visuals at 60fps. Fans note that the look is achieved through manual artistic tweaks rather than cutting-edge realism, underscoring how retro games can feel impressive with smooth animation and stylish visuals even decades after release.
Google Messages tests a smarter multi-recipient sharing flow
Google Messages appears to be testing a smarter sharing flow that adds a 'Send to a group' option alongside 'Send separately' when sharing to multiple recipients. The feature can reuse an existing group chat if the selected contacts already form one, and it warns you to remove MMS numbers if you mix RCS and MMS. It seems to be a limited, server-side rollout, so it may not be visible to all users yet.
GameSpot Faces Fifth Round of Cuts Under Fandom
Fandom laid off GameSpot's entire commerce team (4 staffers and 5 freelancers) and the site's VP of games and entertainment, Chris Grant, marking the fifth round of layoffs since Fandom acquired GameSpot in 2022. One employee was on paid medical leave following a gunshot injury, and the shakeup continues a broader pattern of staffing cuts across Fandom's properties, including past moves at Giant Bomb.
Black Flag Resynced Launch Shadowed by Ubisoft Barcelona Layoffs
Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches to strong reception, but Ubisoft Barcelona is hit by layoffs as part of broader restructuring, with about 51 employees set to lose their jobs by the end of July; unions have called for protections and remote-work concessions, and the Barcelona launch event was scaled down, though the remake is expected to be a solid seller in a weak year for Ubisoft.
Wesker’s Voice Actor Ousted From Convention Amid Abuse Allegations
Craig Burnatowski, who voiced Albert Wesker in the Resident Evil 4 remake and returns as Zeno in Resident Evil Requiem, has been dropped from Fantasy & Magic Con after a former partner publicly alleged mental and emotional abuse and physical harm; the convention canceled his appearance and refunded autographs, with the group photo updated to a four-person lineup. Capcom hasn’t commented, and Burnatowski’s Wesker role is expected to appear in the upcoming Code Veronica remake.
Chrome for Android finally adds an iOS-style back button with a refreshed site controls menu
Chrome for Android is rolling out version 150 with a dedicated back button in the three-dot menu, plus a new Site controls option and a rename of "Add to Home screen" to "Install and create shortcut" in a phased rollout.
Google Photos on Android gets a sleeker bottom navigation bar
Google Photos for Android is rolling out a redesigned, more compact bottom bar that keeps Photos, Collections, and Create in a single pill with a separate round Search button; the layout is persistent across views and reduces screen real estate, following an iOS update earlier in 2026, with the rollout now broad on Android (noted on Pixel devices with version 7.82).
Leak doubles down on Samsung’s Fold lineup ahead of Unpacked
Leaked renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked on July 22 reveal a wider cover display and lighter body for the Fold 8, with Cream, Graphite, Lavender and Pistachio (exclusive) colors. The Fold 8 is tipped to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with 12GB RAM and 256GB–1TB storage. The Ultra sticks to a familiar design but with internal upgrades and a 200MP main camera plus a 10MP tele and 50MP ultrawide. Pricing remains uncertain as launch nears in London.
Sony-Bungie Settlement Adds Bungie Vet to Marathon Credits
Sony, Bungie, and former Bungie director Christopher Barrett have settled his $100 million lawsuit alleging termination to dodge roughly $80 million in sale bonuses from Bungie’s 2022 acquisition; Barrett’s name is being added to Marathon’s credits, a stipulation framed as vindication, while Bungie braces for further layoffs and Marathon development continues.
FFVII Ever Crisis to End This October as Remake Saga Reaches Its Close
Square Enix announced Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, the mobile gacha that expanded FFVII lore across the series, will shut down on October 6, 2026 due to production costs outpacing demand for character weapons and gear. The team will add a final content batch—re-running events and a concluding story chapter—before servers go dark. Ever Crisis launched in 2023 on mobile and PC and included new backstories and even alternate-universe storylines; this isn’t the first FFVII mobile title to close, as The First Soldier ended in 2023 after a 2021 launch.