We Finally Got to Play Battlefield 6 | Weekly Gaming News

This week, we recap the Indie World Showcase, our thoughts on the first weekend of the Battlefield 6 Open Beta, the studio behind Guitar Hero is back, and somehow we talk about Monster Hunter again.

Sources:

• Nintendo of America. Indie World Showcase 8.7.2025. YouTube. Published online August 7, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTv0HmKoUqw
• Wales M. Official Xbox handheld console ROG Ally gets a release date, courtesy of reliable leaker. Eurogamer.net. https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-branded-asus-gaming-handhelds-release-date-revealed-by-reliable-leaker. Published August 7, 2025.
• Phillips T. Retail leak reveals ROG Xbox Ally handheld release Date - IGN. IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/retail-leak-reveals-rog-xbox-ally-handheld-release-date. Published August 7, 2025.
• Chalk A. Embracer brings original Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane back from the dead for 'the next evolution in rhythm… PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/embracer-brings-original-guitar-hero-publisher-redoctane-back-from-the-dead-for-the-next-evolution-in-rhythm-gaming/. Published August 7, 2025.
• Chalk A. It looks like Microsoft's cuts got another one: Avalanche has stopped work on its 1970s 
• smuggling sim Contraband to… PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/it-looks-like-microsofts-cuts-got-another-one-avalanche-has-stopped-work-on-its-1970s-smuggling-sim-contraband-to-evaluate-the-projects-future/. Published August 7, 2025.
• Our three creative divisions - Avalanche Studios Group. https://avalanchestudios.com/divisions/
• Valentine R. Xbox stops development on contraband, four years after initial E3 announcement - IGN. IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-stops-development-on-contraband-four-years-after-initial-e3-announcement. Published August 7, 2025.
• Valentine R. Marathon will be out before March 2026, says Sony CFO—but 'this is not a commitment' PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/marathon-will-be-out-before-march-2026-says-sony-cfo-but-this-is-not-a-commitment/. Published August 7, 2025.
• Kerry B. Helldivers 2 “Bring The Boom” trailer teases Halo ODST crossover on Xbox. Pure Xbox. https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/08/helldivers-2-bring-the-boom-trailer-teases-halo-odst-crossover-on-xbox. Published August 12, 2025.
• Yin-Poole W. Battlefield 6 Devs working on “Substantial” increase in server capacity as open beta launches to huge concurrents and equally huge queues - IGN. IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/battlefield-6-devs-working-on-substantial-increase-in-server-capacity-as-open-beta-launches-to-huge-concurrents-and-equally-huge-queues. Published August 7, 2025.
• Saed S. The Battlefield 6 beta shoots up Steam’s most played charts even before it goes truly open. VG247. https://www.vg247.com/battlefield-6-beta-steam-charts-big-numbers. Published August 7, 2025.
• Bonthuys D. Battlefield 6 Beta eclipses Call of Duty Player record on Steam. GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-6-beta-eclipses-call-of-duty-player-record-on-steam/1100-6533822/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f. Published August 11, 2025.
• Williams H. Battlefield 6 Dev explains why only portal mode is getting a server browser. GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-6-dev-explains-why-only-portal-mode-is-getting-a-server-browser/1100-6533892/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f. Published August 13, 2025.