Warhogy daily digest

Gaming News

A daily read on the games, updates, and industry moves worth knowing. Extraction shooters first, FPS updates next, and wider gaming news when it changes the conversation.

IssueIssue #14 - 21 August 2026 Stories5 stories

Daily summary

What matters today

Modern Warfare 4's beta is live, and Call of Duty NEXT just revealed its maps, modes, and weapons ahead of the October 23 launch.
Activision's Black Ops 2 patch added nothing but a Modern Warfare 4 pre-order button, and longtime players are not happy.
Mortal Shell II drops into a stacked week for anyone who wants a single-player soulslike.
Free to grab: Xbox Free Play Days through Sunday, and Cardpocalypse free-to-keep on Epic until August 27.
Epic Is Giving Away Cardpocalypse Free to Keep Until August 27

Story 01 Coming soon Call of Duty official

Call of Duty NEXT Reveals Modern Warfare 4 as the Beta Goes Live

Activision ran its Call of Duty: NEXT showcase on August 21 at 9:00 AM PT, giving the first full look at Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer maps, modes, weapons, and progression. The Modern Warfare 4 beta launched two hours later at 11:00 AM PT. Early access runs August 21 to 25 for pre-order holders on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC; a free open beta follows August 28 to September 1 and adds Nintendo Switch 2. Full launch is October 23.

Read full story Source: Call of Duty official (callofduty.com)

fpsshootersupdates

Story 02 FPS MP1st

Black Ops 2's First Patch in Years Adds Only a Modern Warfare 4 Pre-Order Button

Activision pushed Black Ops 2 update 1.08 on August 19 for PS4 and PS5, the 2012 shooter's first title update in years. Instead of fixes or content, it adds a single pre-order menu option for Modern Warfare 4, using Black Ops 2's lasting popularity to funnel players toward this year's release. Longtime players flagged the empty update as promo clutter dropped into a game they still play for its classic multiplayer.

Read full story Source: MP1st (mp1st.com)

fpsshootersindustry

Story 03 Just released GameSpot

Mortal Shell II Launches Into a Crowded Soulslike Week

Cold Symmetry's Mortal Shell II launched on August 20 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, published by Playstack. The sequel to the 2020 soulslike keeps the body-swapping Shell system, where players inhabit different corpses for distinct stats and abilities, and expands its combat and world design. It arrives the same week as The Sinking City 2 and a stacked slate of shooter betas all competing for player time.

Read full story Source: GameSpot (gamespot.com)

updatesindustry

Story 04 Free to try Xbox Wire

Xbox Free Play Days: Train Sim World 6, Icarus, and Lynked Free Through August 23

Xbox opened Free Play Days on August 20 with Train Sim World 6, Icarus: Console Edition, and Lynked: Banner of the Spark, free to play for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members. Icarus is a survival PvE game and Lynked is a co-op action roguelite, so squads get two multiplayer options to trial. The window closes Sunday, August 23 at 11:59 PM PT, and any progress carries over if you buy.

Read full story Source: Xbox Wire (news.xbox.com)

platformsupdates

Story 05 Free to try CQ Esports

Epic Is Giving Away Cardpocalypse Free to Keep Until August 27

The Epic Games Store made Cardpocalypse free to claim from August 20 at 8:00 AM PT through August 27 at the same time. Claim it once and it stays in your library forever. Cardpocalypse is a story-driven collectible card game from Irish studio Gambrinous, set in an embellished 1990s where banned trading-card mutants invade the real world. An Albion Online Epic Mage Bundle is free alongside it.

Read full story Source: CQ Esports (cq-esports.com)

platformsupdates

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Issue #14