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
Forza Horizon 6 Gives Would-Be Racers Another Gorgeous Open World to Explore
Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19, delivering a stunning open‑world recreation of Japan that includes landmarks like Tokyo Tower and Shibuya Crossing. The preview build on Xbox Series X offers only the prologue, but lets players roam most of the map, from cherry‑blossom streets to snow‑capped mountain passes. Visual fidelity is high, though the demo runs locked at 30 fps quality mode, and the game expands accessibility tools such as autosteering. Full release will arrive on Xbox Series X/S, PC, Steam, and Xbox Cloud, with a later PS5 launch.
UK Games Sector Loses 1,537 Jobs as 14-Year Growth Streak Ends
The UK video‑games industry shed a net 1,537 development jobs between April 2024 and September 2025, marking a 4.5% annualised decline and ending a 14‑year growth streak. Medium‑sized studios (16‑40 staff) bore the brunt, losing 21.6% of their workforce, while very large...
Fortnite's Toy Story Skins Set for Item Shop Release with Next Major Update, Leaks Claim
Fortnite is set to add a Toy Story‑themed cosmetic lineup, featuring Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Emperor Zurg and an Alien sidekick, to the Item Shop as early as April 9, 2026. Leakers HYPEX and ShiinaBR say the bundle will include skins, emotes, a harvesting...
Forza Horizon 6 ‘Prologue’ Gameplay
Xbox Game Studios and Playground Games released a six‑minute prologue for the Japan‑set open‑world racer Forza Horizon 6. The video highlights a 2024 Nissan GT‑R Nismo beside a bullet train, a snow‑ready Polaris RZR Pro 4, a 1995 Porsche 911 GT2 on...
The Real Reason Xbox’s Project Helix PC Console Hybrid Has Gamers Worried
Microsoft’s Xbox Project Helix is a forthcoming hybrid console that blends traditional console ease with PC‑level flexibility, offering access to both Xbox and PC game stores. The device incorporates FidelityFX Super Resolution, advanced ray tracing, and an AI‑driven Copilot assistant...
Tickets Now Live for Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics on October 20th to 21st
Pocket Gamer Connects rebrands as Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics and will run October 20‑21, 2026 in Helsinki, aligning with Finnish Games Week. Tickets are now on sale, with Super Early Bird discounts saving up to €425 (≈$460). The two‑day event expects over...
New Capcom Sale Features Almost Every Fighting Game You Can Think of, Including Street Fighter 6 DLC Passes
GamersGate is running a limited‑time Capcom sale that slashes prices on virtually every fighting title the publisher has released for PC. Street Fighter 6 is now $20, with Year 1 DLC passes 35% off and Year 2 passes 20% off, while the Capcom...
Open Sea For Brainrots Codes April 2026
Open Sea For Brainrots, a Roblox‑based ocean‑running game, has just released two new promotional codes: DEVIL and RELEASE. The DEVIL code grants a divine Lerulerulerule, while RELEASE awards a mythic Frulli Frula. Players can redeem the codes via the in‑game...
Pokémon Champions Is Running Gen 1 Giveaway
Pokémon Champions, a free‑to‑start battle simulator on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, is distributing a level‑50 Machamp through its Mystery Gift system. Players enter the code CHAMP10N to claim the Fighting‑type Pokémon, which features the No Guard ability and four high‑damage...
Just when You Thought Everything Had Been Simulated that Needed to Be – Hello Mom Life Simulator
Mom Life Simulator, a new niche title on Steam, debuted on April 27 with a launch‑day discount. The game tasks players with juggling childcare, household chores, and personal well‑being, positioning itself as the latest entry in the expanding "simulator" genre that...
Why Lossless Scaling Is a Game-Changer for Retro Emulation on Steam Deck & Handhelds
Lossless Scaling is an AI‑driven upscaling and frame‑generation tool that enhances visual fidelity and smoothness for games and emulators. It operates across Windows and Linux‑based handhelds such as the Steam Deck and Legion Go via plugins, delivering pixel‑perfect integer scaling...
JW Makes First MVP-Event Playoffs in Five Years as EYEBALLERS Take Down FOKUS
Veteran Swedish player Jesper "JW" Wecksell guided his own organization, Eyeballers, to a 2‑1 victory over Fokus at PGL Bucharest, securing the team’s first MVP‑event playoff appearance in over five years. The win follows a default over FaZe and strong...
Xbox Gets Two Betas in April 2026 Including One for a New Game Pass Title
Xbox is running two beta tests in April 2026, a closed beta for the upcoming Game Pass title The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and an open beta for the free‑to‑play fighter Invincible VS. The closed beta is limited to players who pre‑ordered the Miller’s...
PUBG Update 41.1 Adds Xeno Point Mode & Crossovers – Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Patch
PUBG’s 41.1 patch launches Xeno Point, a co‑op PvE roguelite mode set on a corrupted Miramar map, and adds high‑profile crossovers with Stellar Blade’s EVE and K‑pop group aespa. The update also introduces destructible terrain on Erangel, a Level 3 Jammer...
Xbox Game Pass April Wave Adds Award-Winning Hades 2 and Swaps Out Legacy Titles
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass adds the award‑winning Hades 2 on April 14, alongside a slate of new indie and strategy games, while retiring several older titles. The move sharpens the service’s value proposition against competing subscription platforms.
PlayStation Launches "The Playerbase" To Scan Fans Into Gran Turismo 7
Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiled The Playerbase, a program that will scan the likeness of a chosen PlayStation fan into Gran Turismo 7. The limited‑time initiative, announced by VP Isabelle Tomatis, will later roll out to additional PlayStation Studios titles.
Maysalward Launches Golden Agers Workshop for 65+ Gamers
Jordanian game studio Maysalward has unveiled the Golden Agers workshop, a full‑day program aimed at adults 65 and older. The initiative teaches seniors how to use digital devices, play memory‑ and movement‑focused games, and record personal stories and cultural heritage....
Crimson Desert Fans Hate Playing As Oongka
Crimson Desert lets players switch among three protagonists—Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka—but Oongka remains unpopular. He unlocks late, after roughly 50 hours of play, and his slow, heavy attacks lack traversal abilities. A mandatory early boss fight forces players to use...
Guilty Gear Creator Says It’s ‘Very Dangerous’ for Developers to Specialise in One Area Instead of Trying New Skills
Veteran game creator Daisuke Ishiwatari cautioned that prolonged overspecialization threatens developers’ adaptability and future employability. He highlighted Arc System Works’ new top‑down RPG Damon and Baby, where staff handle entire characters to diversify skills. Ishiwatari’s warning echoes similar concerns from...
Ilkka Paananen to Be Awarded BAFTA Fellowship
Supercell co‑founder and CEO Ilkka Paananen will receive the BAFTA Fellowship at the BAFTA Games Awards on April 17. The honor places him alongside industry legends such as Hideo Kojima, Shigeru Miyamoto and Gabe Newell. Paananen’s 25‑year career includes building Supercell into a mobile‑gaming powerhouse...
All Sarter Lineups in Pokémon Champions
Pokémon Champions launched on Nintendo Switch, offering players ten distinct starter lineups each paired with five free supporting Pokémon. After completing the tutorial, users select one starter—Pikachu, Charizard, Tyranitar, and others—without any cost. The guide highlights that Pikachu provides the...
New Matchmaking Platform Sail.game Launches to Combat "Discovery Fatigue" Between Developers and Publishers
Industry veterans Vladimír Geršl and Guillaume Jamet have launched Sail.game, a curated matchmaking platform that connects game developers with publishers. In early access the service logged over 13,000 interactions and onboarded more than 200 verified publishers. Developers pay a €99...
![[Industry News] Collective of Industry Creatives Form New Independent Outsourcing Studio](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/1OH1_Logo_PRESS_RELEASE_small.jpg){kind=logo}
[Industry News] Collective of Industry Creatives Form New Independent Outsourcing Studio
Veteran digital creator Russ Tyler launches 1oh1Designs, a fully remote independent studio offering co-development and art outsourcing for games, film, TV, and advertising. The studio draws on a decade of experience across digital marketing, web, AR/VR, UI systems, and game...
Shuten Order Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Switch Physical Releases Delayed by One Week in North America
Spike Chunsoft announced that the physical releases of Shuten Order for Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch in North America will be delayed by one week, now shipping on April 30, 2026. The postponement is attributed to ongoing global shipping...
Aether & Iron Original Soundtrack Is Now Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Steam, and More
Seismic Squirrel announced that the Aether & Iron original soundtrack is now streaming worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Amazon Music and Steam, with a purchase option also on Steam. The 15‑track score was composed by two‑time Grammy winner...
Lioncrest Manor Picture Puzzle Solution in Crimson Desert
The Lioncrest Manor puzzle in Crimson Desert is located northwest of Hernand Castle and can be accessed by climbing through a back‑door window after bypassing front guards. Inside the east room on the second floor, players encounter a 3×3 rotating‑tile...
How to Fast Travel to Camp in Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert introduces a camp fast‑travel point that becomes usable after players start Chapter 4. The process begins by using the Focus Light ability to burn vines near the cabin, exposing an incomplete nexus. Players must then complete Leon Roberts’ quarry...
Sim Racing = Gaming
Arnout reflects on why sim racing, though often dismissed as merely a game, serves as a serious hobby, a technical challenge, and a viable niche business. He describes how virtual reality transforms the experience from a static rig to an...
Fuga: Melodies of Steel to Release for iOS and Android Phones in Summer 2026
CyberConnect2 announced that its turn‑based RPG Fuga: Melodies of Steel will arrive on iOS and Android in the summer of 2026, with pricing still to be determined. The mobile version will ship with touchscreen‑optimized controls and will bundle all content from the Deluxe Edition plus...
Guilty Gear Strive Full Version 2.00 Patch Notes
Arc System Works released the complete Version 2.00 patch notes for Guilty Gear Strive, unveiling a major roster update, UI overhaul, and core gameplay changes. The update adds Jam Kuradoberi as a playable character and introduces the DLC stage “Cradled by the Four...
'CDPR Deserves a Lot of Credit': Tech Experts Praise Cyberpunk 2077's Anticipated PS5 Pro Mode
CD Projekt RED is releasing a free PS5 Pro update for Cyberpunk 2077 on April 8, introducing three visual modes: Ray Tracing Pro, Ray Tracing, and Performance. Ray Tracing Pro targets 30 fps on 60 Hz and 40 fps on 120 Hz displays, while the standard Ray Tracing mode...
Invincible VS Official Beginner's Guide Released Ahead of This Week's Open Beta Test with the Help of a Lot of...
Skybound Games released an official beginner's guide video for the upcoming fighting game Invincible VS ahead of its open beta. The beta runs April 9–11 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, featuring 18 characters, 14 destructible stages, and a 3v3 tag system....
Chill Halo Stream: Clear Your Mind with Gaming
I need to clear my mind so I'm gonna play Halo and stream. Come through if you need a spot to chill 🙃 https://youtube.com/live/UamxZmjmJ8g?feature=share https://www.twitch.tv/goldenboyftw
PLTK Faces Sale After 90% Decline, 4x EBITDA
$PLTK is a prominent gaming company that may be up for sale. A strategic review has finally been announced after five difficult years since the IPO. The stock is down about 90% over this period. The company trades at around 4x EV/ 2026E...
The Best UR Abilities In Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, Ranked
The article presents a comprehensive tier‑list of Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy’s ultra‑rare (UR) abilities, ranking them from S+ down to B based on practicality, ease of use, and impact on a character’s kit. New UR options introduced with the Iroha...
Japanese Game Deals Always Rely on Formal Contracts
“Small contracts” from Japanese game companies? Japanese game industry consultant here. In my 15 years around the block, I never witnessed “handshakes”or “small contracts” seal a deal. No matter if JapanJapan or JapanWestern studios, big or small, mobile or console.
Seeking EU Animgraph 2 Server IPs After Reddit Find
I saw the IP on reddit for the animgraph2 beta server but it has some map addon are there any IPs for EU animgraph 2 servers floating around?
Bulgarian FA Takes First Formal Steps Into Video Gaming and Esports
The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has entered a strategic partnership with Esports Bulgaria, marking its inaugural foray into video gaming and esports. The agreement will launch official virtual football tournaments and educational programmes that blend real and digital football experiences....
VR Now Affordable: Full Console for $300
VR hasn't been a luxury since Quest came out. I'm still amazed at how many people don't understand that a full VR console is available for $300, making it hundreds of dollars less than anything else.
Showcasing My N64 Collection and Inviting Yours
Here's a good portion of my Nintendo 64 collection. I keep a few of the more rare pieces locked up in a safe box. What type of things do you guys collect? Post some pics in the replies https://t.co/ps0MkKtKS3
Valve Brings Native Steam Link App to Apple's Vision Pro
Valve announced a native Steam Link app for Apple’s Vision Pro mixed‑reality headset, enabling users to stream traditional PC or Mac Steam games wirelessly. The app supports up to 4K resolution and lets users adjust the display curve in panoramic mode....
Handheld Shake Makes Game Renders Appear Real Footage
Subtle hand held camera shake will convince people a 3d game render is real life footage. No generative ai required. https://t.co/RmUJmxgzts
Gandhi Blocks My Trade Pact in Civ 6
Me when I'm playing Civ 6 and Ghandi refuses my mutual trade pact request https://t.co/yMHCE116WU
The Widening of Steam Continues with Another UI Beta, This Time for the Mod Hotspot Workshop
Valve is testing a wide‑format UI for the Steam Workshop, expanding preview images and streamlining navigation. The opt‑in beta adds faster filter updates, a quick‑view overlay, and improved responsiveness for mobile, Steam Deck, and Big Picture. Users can enable the beta...
VibeJam Games Leap Forward in Visual Clarity
One thing I'm starting to notice is the visual style of the #vibejam games this year is way better Last year the model's still had a real hard time understanding visually what they were building, they were essentially blind A one year...
How to Use Cruise Mode in Starfield? Free Lanes Encounters and More
Bethesda released the Free Lanes update for Starfield, introducing a real‑time Cruise Mode that lets players pilot their ships across space instead of instant jumps. Players activate Cruise Mode on their ship with L1/LB, expand the view, and accelerate using...
The Week In Games: Pokémon Champions And Starfield’s Second Chance
Kotaku’s weekly roundup highlights Bethesda’s Starfield debut on PlayStation 5, accompanied by a free cross‑platform update and the new Terran Armada expansion that adds a robot‑army faction. Nintendo launches Pokémon Champions, a free‑to‑play hub consolidating online battling across Switch and Switch 2....
SteelSeries Unveils Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 for Elite Performance
SteelSeries introduced the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2, its latest lightweight gaming mouse, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The mouse weighs 68 g, features a 4K (4000 Hz) polling rate, 1.2 ms click response, TrueMove 26K sensor, and up to 200 hours of battery life. It incorporates AquaBarrier technology...
All The Lost Outpost Event Rewards in Black Ops 7 and Warzone
Activision has launched the Lost Outpost live event in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, replacing traditional task‑based challenges with a beacon‑collection system. Players earn beacons from eliminations in Zombies, Multiplayer, Endgame or Warzone supply caches, then trade them...
I Want to Live in Nippets' Charming, Silly Hidden Objects World
Nippets, a hand‑drawn hidden object game from indie studio Blink Industries, launched today on Steam. Players use a virtual hand to locate and manipulate objects within richly illustrated scenes that feel like living dioramas. The game features a fridge‑styled menu...