Call of Duty shows off Kill Block for Modern Warfare 4
Modern Warfare 4’s Kill Block mode brings shifting maps, expanded gunfights and more than 500 possible layouts when it launches Oct. 23.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” has pulled the curtain back on “Kill Block,” a new multiplayer battleground experience built around maps that change before every match.
The first look debuted at Fanatics Fest, according to the game announcement. The mode launches Oct. 23 and is set inside the West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility, a classified-style training site designed around modular combat spaces.
According to the official logline, Kill Block is an off-the-books facility where multiplayer battlegrounds are reconfigured between rounds. That means players will have to rethink sightlines, routes and combat zones instead of memorizing one fixed layout.
The mode also expands gunfight play, including 3v3 and 10v10 options. The announcement says most map sections are new, while some draw from locations across “Modern Warfare” history. More than 500 configurations are possible.
New release: D-topia
Mariumittu Games and Annapurna Interactive have released “D-topia,” a narrative sci-fi adventure about life after artificial intelligence has built a utopian society.
Players take the role of a resident maintenance worker called a Facilitator, who handles problems inside the D-topia residential facility. The official synopsis says players solve logic-based puzzles, keep the facility running and meet residents with their own stories and struggles.
The game also includes branching paths tied to player choices. Hiroco Shiino, founder of the studio, said in a statement that “D-topia” looks at a future that may be closer than it appears and asks players to consider happiness, struggle and personal agency.
“D-topia” is available now on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
The Sims 4 update adds autosaves
“The Sims 4” will get its next Base Game Update on July 21, bringing several quality-of-life changes.
- AutoSave and Save Reminders will create save points during gameplay, while players can still choose manual saves.
- Memory Boost is coming to all platforms, with a goal of smoother play, better frame rates and improved responsiveness.
- New fixes will target top-reported bugs, though the release notes say fewer individual bug fixes were handled because of work on new features.
A separate Quality of Life update is planned for September, with a focus on improving Sim autonomy.
Saber hires Steve Allison
Saber Interactive has named Steve Allison as chief business officer. The company said Allison has more than 30 years of games industry experience, including leadership roles at Accolade, Atari, Midway and Telltale.
Most recently, Allison was a vice president at Epic Games, where he worked on the launch of the Epic Games Store and Epic’s third-party publishing. At Saber, he will oversee publishing, marketing and other revenue opportunities, reporting to CEO Matthew Karch.
In a statement, Allison pointed to Saber’s upcoming slate, naming “Space Marine 3,” “Jurassic Park,” “Turok,” “Hellraiser,” the coming “John Wick” game and unannounced projects.
More games on deck
ByteRockers’ Games announced a partnership with Elysium Games to publish “Neo Berlin 2087,” a cyberpunk detective thriller with first- and third-person views, player dialogue choices and tactical playstyle options.
The deal was revealed at Berlin’s Zeiss-Großplanetarium during an event mixing science and interactive entertainment. The event also featured “Exovia” projected onto the planetarium dome, with ByteRockers CEO Maik appearing in a working astronaut suit.
ByteRockers also announced “Rosaby Roots,” a plant shop simulator from Spaceflower, and “Lavender Fields,” an atmospheric horror project from Alchemical Works joining the publisher’s portfolio.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.