Major Gaming Events on July 13, 2022

The gaming industry saw several notable developments today as major players continued to push for innovation and expansion across various platforms.

Xbox's New Game Pass Titles Announced

Xbox made significant waves in the subscription service space with its latest lineup of additions to Game Pass. The company announced that "Deathloop" by Arkane Studios, a first-person action game featuring time loops, would be available on July 19th, as well as "Sea of Thieves," an adventure sandbox game from Rare, which will join the subscription service on August 2nd. These additions are expected to boost subscriber numbers and provide more value for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users.

Ubisoft's E3 Aftermath: New Details on Upcoming Titles

Following their showcase at E3 earlier this month, Ubisoft provided new details about upcoming titles that were hinted at during the event. The company unveiled more information regarding "Immortals Fenyx Rising," a Greek mythology-themed action-adventure game set to launch later in 2022. Additionally, Ubisoft revealed early development stages for an unnamed title currently codenamed "Project Q", which is said to be part of the Tom Clancy franchise and is expected to release sometime in late 2023.

Controversy Surrounding “Apex Legends” Update

A major update for EA's popular battle royale game "Apex Legends" was met with significant backlash from the community. The update, titled "Escape Protocol," introduced a new map and rebalanced several characters but also removed the ability to purchase items directly from the in-game store, instead requiring players to obtain them through loot boxes or other randomized means. This change has sparked discussions about player freedom and monetization practices within free-to-play games.

Outlook

The gaming industry continues to evolve with each day bringing new developments that impact both developers and gamers alike. With Xbox expanding its Game Pass offerings and Ubisoft teasing future titles, the landscape for long-term engagement looks promising. However, controversies surrounding game updates highlight ongoing issues around player experience and monetization strategies. As we move forward, these factors will likely shape how studios approach their products in the coming years.