Today's Gaming Pulse
Resident Evil Requiem launches free demo after 7 million copies sold
Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem, which has sold over 7 million copies since its release three months ago, is now offering a free demo on Steam, Epic, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2. The demo lets players experience early chapters with protagonist Grace Ashcroft, though progress cannot be transferred to the full game.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Goldenpeak takes majority stake in Ampere Analysis
Top Esports Events by Media Value in Q1 2026
The LCK Cup 2026 emerged as the highest‑valued esports event in Q1 2026, surpassing $20 million in media value. Counter‑Strike followed with four entries in the top‑10, while League of Legends secured three spots, including the LEC Versus and First Stand. Nine tournaments cleared the $10 million threshold, highlighting that audience size alone is less decisive than the geographic premium of viewers. The rankings underscore how regional leagues in high‑value markets can outpace global events in sponsor appeal.
League of Legends KeSPA Cup Air Date Announced: When to Watch
Disney+ has secured global live‑stream rights for the 2026 League of Legends KeSPA Cup, expanding its partnership with the Korea Esports Association beyond Asia‑only distribution. The tournament, traditionally an off‑season showcase for LCK teams, featured a ₩100 million (~$68,000) prize pool...
Which Order to Play Soulsborne Games After Elden Ring
The DualShockers guide outlines a six‑step play order for the Soulsborne catalog after finishing Elden Ring. It begins with Dark Souls: Remastered to ground newcomers in the series’ core lore, then moves to Dark Souls 3 for its acclaimed boss design...
Nongshim Head Coach Choi In-Kyu: "We Fell Behind in Late-Game Teamfight Focus"
Nongshim RedForce suffered its first defeat after a two‑game winning streak, falling 0‑2 to KT Rolster in a crucial LCK matchup on April 9, 2026. Both sets featured intense mid‑game skirmishes, but KT secured victory by maintaining superior focus in...
Valve Developer Improves The Linux Gaming Experience For Limited vRAM Hardware
Valve’s Linux graphics driver team, led by Natalie Vock, released kernel and KDE patches that dramatically improve gaming on PCs with limited video memory, such as 8 GB VRAM cards. The updates add DRM device‑memory cgroup support and new TTM allocation...
Konami’s eFootball Celebrates 1 Billion Downloads by Bringing Back a Limited-Time Take on PES Master League
Konami announced that its free‑to‑play title eFootball has surpassed 1 billion downloads across all platforms. To celebrate, the company launched a week‑long in‑game event called Master League Sprint, a nostalgic recreation of the classic Pro Evolution Soccer career mode. The mode...
Hello Games Launches Xeno Arena, a Pokémon‑style Multiplayer Mode in No Man's Sky
Hello Games released the Xeno Arena update for No Man's Sky, introducing a Pokémon‑inspired system where players can capture, train, breed and battle alien creatures. The feature adds holo‑arenas in space stations, daily challenges and leaderboards, positioning it as a...
Best Replica Team Codes in Pokémon Champions and How to Use Them
The Destructoid guide compiles several top replica team codes for the mobile title Pokémon Champions, listing each creator and the full Pokémon‑item lineup. It walks users through importing these codes via the Train section, emphasizing the need to own the...
No Man's Sky Adds Pokémon‑Style Xeno Arena, Turning Exploration Into Creature‑Battling Game
Hello Games rolled out the Xeno Arena update for No Man's Sky, introducing a Pokémon‑inspired system where players can capture, train and battle alien creatures. The feature adds holo‑arenas, elemental types and daily challenges, effectively creating a standalone multiplayer mode...
No Man's Sky Launches Xeno Arena, a Pokémon‑style Creature‑battle Mode
Hello Games released the Xeno Arena update for No Man's Sky, introducing a Pokémon‑inspired system where players can capture, train and battle alien creatures. The feature adds holo‑arenas, elemental types, rare legendary variants and a suite of multiplayer challenges, positioning...
High-Flying KT Takes Down Nongshim, Claims 1st Place with 3-Game Winning Streak
KT Rolster defeated Nongshim RedForce in a 3‑0 sweep during Round 1 of the 2026 LCK regular season, extending their winning streak to three games and seizing sole possession of first place. The team showcased early objective control, securing three dragon...
AFK Arena Celebrates Seventh Anniversary and over $1.5bn in Lifetime Earnings
Mobile idle RPG AFK Arena celebrated its seventh anniversary by crossing $1.5 billion in lifetime player spending, according to AppMagic. The game generated $469.8 million in its first year and peaked with $105.4 million in a single month in January 2020, while annual...
Exel Gaming Accelerator Reopens with up to $300,000 in Funding for Third Cohort
Exel Gaming Accelerator has reopened for its third cohort, offering up to $300,000 in combined cash and in‑kind support. Startups can receive up to $150,000 in cash plus $150,000 worth of services, weekly mentorship, and an AI‑focused curriculum. The program...
Where Mobile Scale Meets Mediation Power: Unity LevelPlay Now Available with PubMatic
PubMatic announced that its OpenWrap SDK now integrates Unity LevelPlay, joining Google AdMob/Manager and AppLovin MAX. The three mediation platforms together command roughly 90% of global gaming ad inventory, a segment projected to exceed $235 billion in U.S. spend by 2027....
Halo: Master Chief Collection Deploys 'Significant Ban Wave' In Latest Update
Halo Support announced a stealth server‑side update to Easy Anti‑Cheat that triggered a significant ban wave for Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Xbox and PC. The rollout required no client download, allowing the system to purge cheaters instantly. The...
Warner Bros. Announces Superman Experience: Defenders Unite
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and DC Studios unveiled Superman Experience: Defenders Unite, a live‑action gameplay attraction debuting on April 18, dubbed Superman Day. The attraction immerses participants in first‑person, 3D‑glasses‑enhanced scenarios set on real film‑grade sets, including the Kent farm,...
Critics’ Week: The Simple, Low Intensity Pleasures of NYT Games
Lewis Gordon praises NYT Games for delivering simple, low‑intensity puzzles that fit into a morning routine. The daily Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections challenges encourage brief, mindful play without the aggressive monetization of typical mobile titles. Gordon notes that the...
10 Hollow Knight Mechanics That Set It Apart From Most Metroidvanias
Hollow Knight has become a benchmark for Metroidvania design, distinguished by purposeful lighting, high‑stakes geo loss, and a deep charm system. The game’s overcharming mechanic, dynamic mapping, Dream Nail, and pogo verticality add layers of customization and exploration rarely seen...
Switch 2 Version of 007 First Light Delayed Until Summer
IO Interactive has announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light has been delayed to this summer. https://t.co/hnRgt67nJB
New Xbox Sale Has 6 Games with Busted Achievements, Including Agents of Mayhem
The latest Xbox sale features six titles with broken or discontinued achievement lists, including Deep Silver's *Agents of Mayhem*. The game’s “Contract Thriller” achievement, worth 20 G, became unobtainable after its online servers shut down in October 2021, preventing players from reaching the...
Elden Ring's Switch 2 Tarnished Edition Available To Pre-Order
Pre‑orders for Elden Ring's Switch 2 Tarnished Edition have opened on Amazon, though Nintendo’s site remains silent on a release date. Amazon lists a placeholder launch of December 31, 2026, indicating the port is still pending final approval. The edition bundles the base...
Garena Free City Expands Soft Launch to New Regions on Mobile with Its Immersive GTA-Like Crime Adventure
Garena Mobile Private Limited has extended the soft launch of its GTA‑style open‑world RPG, Garena Free City, to the Philippines on both Android and iOS. The title already surpassed one million downloads across early‑access markets in Thailand, Indonesia, and Argentina,...
Tiny Audio Add‑on Makes Portal Gaming Ultra‑comfortable
After adding this tiny audio accessory to my PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds, gaming on my Portal has never been comfier. https://t.co/260g4qw7QE
How to Get More VP Fast in Pokémon Champions
Victory Points (VP) are the primary currency in Pokémon Champions, required for most in‑game actions. The guide notes that completing all tutorials awards a one‑time 20,000 VP boost without spending money, while daily and weekly activities can add tens of...
Neill Blomkamp’s Blockchain Studio Gunzilla Games Hasn’t Paid some Staff ‘for Many Months’, Employees Allege
Gunzilla Games, the blockchain studio co‑founded by director Neill Blomkamp, is accused of withholding employee pay for several months. Animators and programmers say they have not been paid since October 2025, despite promises from CEO Vlad Korolev that the company was profitable and...
Backed by Stars, Built for Scale: ISGL Sets Out to Build India’s First Real Esports Pathway for 500 Million Gamers
The Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL) debuted in March 2026, introducing a franchise‑based esports competition across eight teams with a prize pool of roughly $60,000 (Rs 50 lakh). Backed by Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan, the league spans titles such...
Baldur's Gate 3's Second Act Should Get a Playable New Region This Year, Assuming This Custom Campaign Mod Doesn't Hit...
Custom‑campaign modder SquallyDaBeanz announced that the Baldur’s Gate 3 Act Two Expansion will likely ship in the latter half of 2026, after a series of scope‑expanding revisions. The update adds a new explorable region, additional NPCs, quests, and combat encounters, while...
Call of Duty: Vanguard Retires Multiplayer Feature but Saves Xbox Achievement
Sledgehammer Games announced that Call of Duty: Vanguard is retiring its Clans multiplayer feature, but the associated "Hello There" achievement will remain attainable. The update also activates cross‑play between PC and consoles, allowing broader matchmaking. The Hello There achievement, previously...
DRX 'Ucal': "The Atmosphere in Practice Is Great... Please Keep Watching Us"
Kiwoom DRX snapped a 0‑2 start in the 2026 LCK regular season by defeating Hanjin Brion 2‑1 at LoL PARK. Mid‑game adjustments, including a pivotal Aurora shutdown by teammate Rich, helped the team rally after early setbacks. The squad highlighted improved...
How to Equip Mega Stones in Pokémon Champions
Mega Evolutions returned to Pokémon in 2025 and remain central in the 2026 Pokémon Champions release. Players can equip individual Mega Stones through a simple menu sequence before battle, then trigger Mega Evolution with a single button press during combat....
Clover Games Files for Bankruptcy and Announces Service Termination
Clover Games, a South Korean mobile game developer, filed for bankruptcy on April 9, 2026, citing persistent capital depletion. The company will shut down all its titles, including “Lord of Heroes,” “HeavenHells,” and “Ayakashi Rise,” on May 9. CEO Yoon Sung‑guk personally...
'Random Dice: GO' Vs. 'Stop Attacking Me': First-Instance Ruling in Legal Dispute Leads to Conflicting Interpretations
South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court ruled that New Normal Soft must pay 111 % roughly $430,000 plus delay damages for unfair competition related to the mobile game “Stop Attacking Me.” The court found the game’s structure substantially identical to 111 %’s...
Hanwha Life Esports Brion Head Coach Kim Sang-Soo: "The Direction Is Good, but We Lack Precision"
Hanwha Life Esports Brion fell 1‑2 in a recent LCK match after surrendering a 9,000‑gold advantage in the second set. The team won the opening set but lost momentum, ultimately dropping the third set decisively. Head coach Kim Sang‑soo praised...
Guide: Invincible VS Open Beta: All Start Times, How to Play, and What's Included
The fighting game *Invincible VS* will launch on April 30, 2026, but players can test it during a three‑day open beta from April 9‑11, 2026. The beta runs continuously across all regions, with start and end times adjusted for each time zone. It is available...
Pokémon Champions Mystery Gift Codes April 2026
Pokémon Champions is offering two new mystery‑gift rewards in April 2026. The Machamp code CHAMP10N grants the Pokémon until May 8, 2026, while Dragonite plus 100 quick coins is awarded automatically to players who log in before the same deadline. Redeeming requires navigating...
Hello Games Launches Xeno Arena, a Pokémon‑style Multiplayer Mode for No Man’s Sky
Hello Games released the Xero Arena update for No Man’s Sky, introducing a Pokémon‑inspired creature‑collection and battle system that the studio calls an "entire multiplayer game all of its own." The feature adds holo‑arenas, elemental affinities, breeding, and daily challenges...
The James Bond IP Owner Has Opposed an Attempt to Trademark ’90s Parody Video Game Character James Pond
The owner of the James Bond franchise, Danjaq LLC, has formally opposed System 3’s attempt to register the "James Pond" trademark across video games, toys and apparel. System 3 argues the 1990‑originated James Pond series is a 35‑year‑old, distinct property with a...
How to Do Creature Battles in No Man’s Sky? Xeno Arena Mission Guide
The Xeno Arena update adds a creature‑battle system to No Man’s Sky, letting players pit tamed fauna against each other. After completing early quests, the Xeno Arena mission unlocks a tutorial fight against Oceanus at the Anomaly. Defeating Oceanus rewards a Retroviral...
Twitch Rivals 2XKO Results
Twitch Rivals staged a 2XKO Tag Team Throwdown on April 8, pairing professional League of Legends players with well‑known streamers and creators. The competition ran from 2 p.m. PDT and culminated in a best‑of‑three grand final where Team Diaphone (Illaoi & Ekko) edged out...
Rockfish Games Lands €8m Grant as Germany Boosts Game Industry Support
German federal authorities have expanded their video‑game fund to €125 million ($135 m) and awarded Rockfish Games the program’s biggest grant—€8 million ($8.6 m) over five years. The money will cover roughly 45% of the $21.6 million budget for the next Everspace title, allowing the...
DXRacer Expands Southeast Asia Presence Through MSL Thailand Deal
DXRacer has been named the official gaming chair partner of MSL Thailand, supplying its ergonomic seating to all teams in the country’s premier Mobile Legends: Bang Bang league. The deal underscores the growing emphasis on player comfort and physical performance...
PS5 Anime RPG NTE Gets 18th April Livestream, Free Rewards Expected
Perfect World will stream a pre‑launch showcase for its PS5 anime RPG NTE: Neverness to Everness on 18 April at 18:00 UTC via YouTube. The broadcast targets North America, Europe and Asia, aligning with prime viewing windows. Early registrants receive the free...
Pokopia’s Latest Update Stops Homeless Pokémon From Disappearing Into the Abyss
Nintendo released Pokopia version 1.0.3 on April 8, fixing a critical bug that caused Pokémon without habitats to vanish from towns and the Pokédex. The patch also resolves story‑progression glitches in the Bleak Beach and Sparkling Skylands chapters, eliminates a clock‑change...
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 1+2 Dual Collection "Revival Verse" Music Video
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 1+2 Dual Collection was announced for Nintendo Switch and the forthcoming Switch 2, with a launch date of July 9 2026. Developer INTI CREATES released a live‑action music video featuring the series’ Muse of Hope, Lola, performing the new theme...
How To Unlock Pocahontas In Disney Dreamlight Valley (Mysterious Algae Location)
Disney Dreamlight Valley players can unlock Pocahontas by completing the Whispers in the Wind quest. The chain begins with finding mysterious glowing algae on Dazzle Beach, which triggers a trip to Mystery Island. There, players dig two spots, solve a...
Best Strider 300 Loadout in Black Ops 7 for Deadly Quickscoping
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s Season 3 introduces the Strider 300, the franchise’s fastest‑firing bolt‑action sniper, aimed at quickscoping enthusiasts. Dot Esports outlines a loadout that leverages the Gunfighter Wildcard to equip eight performance‑boosting attachments, including the Redwell 2× optic, Quick Bolt fire mod,...
The 20 Best Games Like BOTW
The article curates a list of twenty titles that capture the exploratory spirit of *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*, ranging from ambitious newcomers like *Crimson Desert* to genre‑blending experiments such as *Palworld*. It highlights each game’s unique...
Destiny Rising Elemental Condensate Guide: How to Get Any Character for Free
Season 4 of Destiny: Rising adds Elemental Condensate, a currency that lets players unlock any released Lightbearer without spending real money. Two variants exist—Universal Condensate for any character and Mythic Condensate tied to specific heroes. Players can earn up to 15...
2XKO Announces Additional Character, Fuse and Content for 2026, but We're Not Sure if It's a Good or Not so...
Riot Games announced that its free‑to‑play fighting title 2XKO will deliver six new champions in 2026, up from the originally promised five, including three still undisclosed characters. The update also introduces a new Fuse mode in May, a duo‑partner matchmaking...
Hernand Interactive Map - Crimson Desert
GameRant released an interactive map for the Hernand region of Crimson Desert, the game’s opening area that houses the bulk of early story content. The map categorizes story quests, faction missions, locations, loot, encounters, and vendors, letting players pinpoint belltowers,...