This week in nerd news: EA shut down BioWare and cancelled the next Mass Effect, Marvel slipped an Avengers: Doomsday preview into the World Series, and three card games had big moments: Riftbound Radiance launched, Magic revealed all seven signed Star Trek cards, and Pokémon Delta Reign prereleases began. Here are the five stories that mattered from October 19 to 25, 2026, and where to read more.
Week of October 19 to 25, 2026 · Published October 25, 2026 · Sources linked in each story
1. EA shuts down BioWare and cancels the next Mass Effect
On October 21, EA closed BioWare, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and ended early development on the next Mass Effect game. It’s part of a round of cuts of about 3% of EA’s workforce, two months after EA went private in a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s investment fund. BioWare was founded in 1995 and bought by EA in 2007. Its last game was Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2024.
Why it matters: One of gaming’s most famous RPG studios is gone, and Mass Effect has no game in development. EA says it will focus on its biggest series, like Battlefield, Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi. (Sources: PC Gamer, Dexerto)
2. Marvel shows Avengers: Doomsday during the World Series
During Game 1 of the World Series on October 23, Marvel aired a roughly one-minute preview of Avengers: Doomsday. It opens with the Fantastic Four at Ebbets Field on their home world, Earth-828, with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards stretching to throw the first pitch, and MLB stars like Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman in the dugout. It also gives quick looks at Thor, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, Scott Lang, Shuri and the X-Men, and ends on Robert Downey Jr.’s masked Doctor Doom. Marvel called it a preview, not a full trailer.
Why it matters: Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, and the marketing is starting. Read up with our Doctor Doom powers explained, the most powerful MCU characters ranked and our Avengers: Doomsday release guide. (Sources: ComicBook.com, Fantasy Land News)
3. Riftbound Radiance is out, and prices are already falling
Riftbound’s fifth set, Radiance, launched on October 23. Its rarest card, the Packed Amphitheater Ultimate, shows up in about 1 of every 4,000 packs, according to Riot, and has been selling for about $550. A booster display sells for about $128 on TCGplayer. Prices for the set’s Alt Art cards are dropping fast: Seraphine’s Alt Art went from about $44 on October 19 to about $7 by the 24th.
Why it matters: New-set prices usually keep dropping for a few weeks after release, so if you want a specific card, waiting tends to pay. See the Radiance chase cards, the Radiance pull rates and our new ranking of every Riftbound set by value.
4. Magic reveals all seven signed Star Trek cards
Wizards of the Coast started Star Trek previews with a debut stream on October 20, and all seven signed headliner cards are now known: Kirk (William Shatner), Picard (Patrick Stewart), Spock (Ethan Peck), Data (Brent Spiner), Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). There are about 250 copies of each, and they only come in Collector Boosters. The full card gallery arrives October 30, prereleases run November 6 to 12, and the set releases November 13, though the Commander decks arrive late in North America.
Why it matters: These are some of the rarest Magic cards ever printed, and Star Trek is already the most-read Magic set on NerdSnack. Before you buy, check our MTG Star Trek what-to-buy guide, the best Star Trek cards revealed so far and the Star Trek chase cards.
5. Pokémon Delta Reign prereleases begin
Pokémon Delta Reign prereleases started October 24 and run through November 1 at Play! Pokémon stores, ahead of the November 6 release. You play with a Build & Battle Box, which costs $21.99 at the event but sells for about $53 online. Preorder prices are high: about $238 for a booster box and about $106 for an Elite Trainer Box, more than double its $49.99 retail price.
Why it matters: If you want early packs, your local prerelease is the cheapest way in. Our Delta Reign prerelease guide covers what to bring, and our Delta Reign pull rates show your odds of a Mega Rayquaza ex.
Also this week
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launched October 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. It’s the first modern Call of Duty to skip PS4 and Xbox One. (Source: VGC)
- Disney Lorcana: Hyperia City launched October 23. The Iconic Mickey Mouse is the chase card. See our Hyperia City chase cards.
- Dragon Ball Fusion World: Brightness of Hope is out in English. See our Brightness of Hope chase cards.
Coming up next week
- October 30: One Piece EB-05 Heroines Edition Vol. 2 releases in English, and Wizards shows the full MTG Star Trek card gallery.
- November 6: Pokémon Delta Reign releases, and MTG Star Trek prereleases begin.
Next step: Get the bite-sized version of every story on X at @HelloNerdsnack, and check back next weekend for the next five.
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