Today's Gaming Pulse
Valve hikes Steam Deck OLED prices amid component cost surge
Valve announced a price increase for its Steam Deck OLED handheld, pushing the 512 GB model to $789 and the 1 TB version to $949. The company cited rising memory and storage component costs and broader supply‑chain challenges as the reason for the hike.
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By the numbers: Goldenpeak invests majority stake in Ampere Analysis
How to Get the Darkbringer Sword in Crimson Desert
The Darkbringer is a two‑handed sword found in Crimson Desert’s White Wastes Sanctuary, a mid‑to‑late‑game zone near Pailune. Players must travel north from Hernand or northwest from Demeniss, navigating Black Bear camps and stocking up on food. The weapon offers 22 attack, critical rate level three, attack speed level one, and five abyss‑gear slots, three of which are pre‑filled. Its standout feature is the Ator’s Orb abyss gear, which launches a golden orb on heavy attacks.
RAM Crisis Is Forcing Super-Popular Kids Console To Raise Prices Again
Nex Playground, the motion‑control console that captured the kids market, will increase its price by $50 on April 1, moving from $250 to $300. The hike marks the second adjustment in under two years and is directly linked to a global...
GAMR Rebalance Highlights Gaming Stock Rotation
The Amplify Video Game Leaders ETF (GAMR) executed a major rebalance in March, adjusting 22 holdings. The fund swapped the U.S.-listed NetEase for its Hong Kong‑listed counterpart and added Bilibili, both at 2.5% weights, while boosting exposure to EA, Unity,...
Marvel Rivals Dev Says Monthly Hero Release Schedule Isn’t Going Away: ‘It’s Not Going to Slow Down’
NetEase Games confirmed that Marvel Rivals will keep its one‑hero‑per‑month release cadence, adding roughly twelve new characters each year. The shooter already fields 48 heroes and aims to expand toward a 200‑300 character roster, relying exclusively on Marvel’s extensive IP...
Gaming Industry IP News: Copyright Enforcement Service Targets Minecraft-Like Game, Nintendo Continues to Combat Switch Emulators, Valve Secures Court Victory,...
Recent developments highlight the growing tension between AI-driven copyright enforcement and the gaming industry, as Tracer.AI’s automated claim briefly removed the Minecraft‑style indie title Allumeria. Nintendo intensified its anti‑emulation campaign, issuing DMCA notices to GitHub to shut down Yuzu and...
Zwift Removes Level‑100 Cap and Adds Outdoor Recommendation Feature in New Update
Zwift rolled out a major platform upgrade that removes the long‑standing Level 100 rider limit, launches an outdoor recommendation tool in the Companion app, and adds a Pas Normal Studios‑sponsored gravel race series. The changes aim to keep cyclists engaged as...
Jak And Daxter Fans, Prepare To Have Your Heart Broken
In 2019 Sanzaru Studios presented Sony with a pitch to remake the PS2 classic Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, but Sony declined the proposal. The series has not seen a new entry since 2009’s Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier, as Naughty Dog redirected...
10 Things You Should Never Say To A World Of Warcraft Fan
The article debunks ten common myths that new and veteran World of Warcraft fans often hear, ranging from faction rivalry to quest XP rewards. It explains how Blizzard’s design choices—such as easing faction friction and making flying mounts ubiquitous—have altered...
Dune: Awakening Adds New 'The Ruins of Tsimpo' Overland Area In Latest Minor Content Patch
Dune: Awakening has rolled out a minor content patch that introduces a new overland location called The Ruins of Tsimpo, along with five location‑specific Landsraad missions and UI tweaks to streamline house NPC redemption. The update also adjusts Landsraad end...
Proton Experimental Brings Fixes for Crimson Desert, Steam Overlay with EA Games, Death Stranding 2
Valve released a new Proton Experimental update that expands Linux compatibility for several high‑profile games. The patch restores Crimson Desert’s intro video, fixes Steam Overlay issues with many EA titles, and resolves performance problems in Death Stranding 2’s Linux build. Additional...
How to Unlock The Guilty Hardmode in Warframe Perita Rebellion
Digital Extremes’ Shadowgrapher update adds The Guilty, a hard‑mode variant of Perita Rebellion in Warframe. Players must have reached end‑game, own the Uriel Warframe, and finish the Old Peace quest before they can unlock it. Unlocking involves equipping Uriel, selecting...
More Reasons To Dump Windows For Gaming
Wine 11 introduces NTSYNC synchronization, delivering dramatic frame‑rate gains for Windows titles running on Linux, exemplified by Dirt 3’s jump from 110 FPS to over 860 FPS. The update also refines support for games that previously relied on the less efficient fsync layer....
Best Gaming Deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is offering deep discounts on gaming hardware and titles across Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC platforms. Switch 2 accessories like the ProCase carrying case are under $10, while the Samsung P9 Express 256 GB microSD card...
Riot Games Brings Back VALORANT’s PC Bang VAL Pieces Event
Riot Games has revived its PC Bang VAL Pieces promotion for VALORANT in South Korea, running roughly six weeks until April 28, 2026. The campaign awards 100 VAL Pieces for signing up, 10 pieces for every ten minutes of play at...
Best Players for FC 26 Top Scorer Evolution
EA Sports’ FIFA 26 introduces a Top Scorer Evolution for Ultimate Team, allowing players to boost a chosen card’s overall rating by one point and add significant stat upgrades. The evolution has two upgrade levels, each requiring two Squad Battles on...
SHUEISHA GAMES to Showcase ATMOSFAR and Schrödinger’s Call at PAX East
SHUEISHA GAMES will demo two upcoming PC titles, ATMOSFAR and Schrödinger’s Call, at PAX East in Boston starting March 26, 2026. ATMOSFAR is a cooperative exploration game for up to four players set on floating islands, slated for Steam Early Access...
RAVEN2 Adds Walthen Empire Region and Limited-Time Events
Netmarble has rolled out a major content update for its dark‑fantasy MMORPG RAVEN2, introducing the Walthen Empire region with four new zones and 14 hunting grounds. The patch also adds a new field boss, Vargas the Burning Hatred, and launches...
Redundant Tutorial Misleads Players in Crimson Desert Boss
no crimson desert holds your hand too much tbh. and sometimes in the wrong way. there’s a boss fight that starts with a tutorial for a move that you were already taught in the early game, but is pointless during...
Red Bull Wololo: Londinium Sells Out Ahead of Royal Albert Hall Grand Final
Red Bull Wololo: Londinium has sold out ahead of its April 1‑6 tournament, culminating in a grand final at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The eighth edition will feature Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires IV with a combined $250,000...
Warframe Is Live On Switch 2 With 'The Shadowgrapher' Update, Featuring New Missions And Playable Warframe
Warframe officially launched on Nintendo Switch 2, replacing the previous backward‑compatible version with a dedicated port that delivers smoother performance and higher frame rates. The same update, dubbed “The Shadowgrapher,” introduces a new playable Warframe called Follies, featuring high mobility, a...
Important Lessons From Running a Successful Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign
At GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, Playable Worlds’ vice‑president Niina Fujioka detailed how their Kickstarter campaign for the MMORPG *Stars Reach* exceeded its goal by over four times. The success stemmed from a story‑focused trailer, a modest funding target, and...
Forza Horizon 6 Confirmed to Be Playable on Steam Deck / SteamOS
Playground Games announced that Forza Horizon 6 will run on the Steam Deck and other SteamOS devices, confirming full Linux compatibility via Proton/Wine. The studio released a detailed PC spec sheet, highlighting support for high‑end rigs, handhelds, and cross‑save across all platforms....
6 Wild And Overdesigned Details Hidden In Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert, the newly launched open‑world RPG, hides a suite of quirky mechanics that most players overlook. NPCs will retrieve items they drop, sunlight can be reflected off a sword to cook meat, and players can sit on rocks or...
Trovo to End Livestreaming, Shift Focus to Gaming
Trovo is shutting down its livestreaming service on June 30, 2026. It will instead focus on its gaming business.
Developers Reflect on Dark Outlaw's Closure, No Sony Grudge
Blundell and JCbackfire talk about what Dark Outlaw Games was working on and how they're processing the sudden closure. The project was not live service and while they were enthusiastic about the game they don't hold a grudge against Sony. https://t.co/IQgT8TjoAK https://t.co/sb1tus9xS5
Wuthering Waves Sigrika Banner, Voice Actors, and Lore
Wuthering Waves introduced Sigrika, a limited five‑star character, on the “When the Runes Glitter” banner debuting in March 2026. She hails from Startorch Academy, belongs to the Roya Tribe, and wields the signature Solsworn Ciphers gauntlets. Players can obtain her via...
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Pisses Everyone Off With ‘Out of Touch’ Response To Putting 1,000 Game Makers Out Of Work
Epic Games announced a second round of layoffs, cutting roughly 1,000 Fortnite staff in March 2026. CEO Tim Sweeney posted a boastful message on X, claiming the departing talent would flood the job market with "once‑in‑a‑lifetime" resumes. The tone was...
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG, One of the Dual-Mode Gaming Monitor Pioneers, Has Hit Its Lowest-Ever Price
The Asus ROG Strix XG27UCG, a dual‑mode 27‑inch gaming monitor, has hit an all‑time low of $299 (≈£319), a steep drop from its launch price of $499 (≈£413). It offers a 4K/160 Hz panel that can switch to an esports‑focused 1080p/360 Hz...
Newly Revealed Nordic Game Speaker Line-Up to Include Planet of Lana Devs
Nordic Game 2026, held May 26‑29 in Malmö, unveiled a star‑studded speaker roster that includes Wishfully’s Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Eriksson, Raw Fury’s Juliette Auverny‑Bennetot, and DICE’s Anna Norrevik. The conference also launches its first AI Track, featuring talks on human‑led...
"Heavyweights Ruined the Industry... Now We Live on the Indies" Nordic Game Embraces Smaller Devs and Games with Soul
Nordic Game’s 2024 program, led by director Jacob Riis, pivots sharply toward indie developers, showcasing over 100 new indie titles and a People’s Choice Award. Riis argues that heavyweight studios have narrowed player choice, prompting a creative backlash that now fuels...
Silent Hill F Manga Will Run in Young Ace Up
Konami announced that Kadokawa’s Young Ace Up will serialize a manga adaptation of *Silent Hill f*. The series will be illustrated by Gokin Ame and written by Ryukishi07, who will create a new ending distinct from the game’s five conclusions....
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Director Wanted to Make Sure More Players Completed the Story
Hideo Kojima directed Death Stranding 2 to boost story completion, trimming elaborate world‑building after player feedback on the first title. Lead designer Hiraoki Yoshiike confirmed the team streamlined narrative cues so casual players could finish without getting lost, while still rewarding...
USA Esports Named ENC National Team Partner
USA Esports has been appointed the official partner for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) National Team program, tasked with building and fielding U.S. teams across 16 game titles for the inaugural tournament in Riyadh this November. CEO Jesse Bodney explained...
Elevate Your Mission in Directive 8020 with PlayStation 5 Pro Enhancements, Out May 12
Sony announced that Directive 8020 will launch on May 12 with enhancements for the PlayStation 5 Pro, leveraging PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, advanced ray tracing, and dynamic shadow rendering. The upgrades sharpen visual detail, improve lighting realism, and deliver smoother performance for its choice‑driven...
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Demo Launches
Nintendo has released a worldwide demo for the upcoming *Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream* on the Switch eShop, initially rolled out in Europe and Japan before appearing in North America. The "Welcome Version" offers a slice of the game's opening,...
Prototype Mod Brings Native 1080P Output to the Super Nintendo
A prototype modification called Super Switch HD gives the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System native 1080p HDMI output. Developed by Stanislav Parhomovich, the mod taps a dedicated digital video bus and performs internal upscaling, eliminating the need for external converters....
My Go-To PC Game Controller Is Getting Spring Sale Price Cuts - and so Is Its Cheaper Wired Version
Razer’s premium Wolverine V3 Pro controller is on sale, with discounts up to 35% in the US and a price cut from £190 to £130 in the UK (≈ $166). The wired Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition also sees steep reductions,...
Tekken 8 Developers Acknowledge that the Season 3 Patch Did Not Fully Meet Expectations, Emergency Patch Scheduled for Tomorrow
Bandai Namco admitted the Tekken 8 Season 3 patch fell short of community expectations, prompting an emergency update. Over 700 player submissions were logged in the first week, driving a rapid response via the Dev Feedback Portal. Version 3.00.01 will drop on March 25 PM PDT to...
How Much Have I Spent on League of Legends?
League of Legends remains free-to-play, but its expanding skin and gacha systems can lead to significant hidden spending. Riot removed the public spend‑tracker page in June 2024, leaving players without a quick way to see their total outlay. The company...
BuffBuff Introduces New HSR Top-Up Service Targeting Safer, Lower-Cost In-Game Purchases
BuffBuff has launched a dedicated Honkai: Star Rail top‑up service that promises instant delivery, lower prices and secure transactions. The platform bypasses Apple and Google platform fees, offering cost‑effective rates for Stellar Jades and Oneiric Shards. Users only need to...
MTS Expands MTS Oplata Carrier Billing for Gaming Services
Russian telecom giant MTS has broadened its MTS Oplata carrier‑billing platform to include five popular foreign games—Call of Duty Mobile, Standoff 2, Critical Ops, Top Eleven Be Football Manager, and AFK Journey. The expansion also adds additional top‑up options for Apex Legends and Mobile Legends on both mobile and...
Gerion's Reckoning Is Live in EverQuest II, Bringing New and Old Threats to Norrath
The GU‑131 update for EverQuest II, titled Gerion’s Reckoning, is now live, delivering level 135 content that continues the storyline from Rage of Cthurath. Players gain access to 20 new missions, nine Adventure Quests, ten collections, and fresh tradeskill opportunities. The patch...
Painted Kingdoms Combines Real-Time Strategy with Firefighting on Lavish Maps Made Entirely of Paper
Painted Kingdoms is an indie tower‑defense title that fuses real‑time strategy with firefighting on hand‑drawn paper maps. Players act as a magical general, painting settlements, forests, and waterways to defend against wave‑based enemies that can set the parchment ablaze. Each...
Co-Op Building Simulation Game Salvation Denied Announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Digital Vortex and Firevolt announced Salvation Denied, a cooperative building‑simulation game launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC via Steam this fall. The title supports one‑to‑four players and centers on physics‑driven construction, heavy machinery, and real‑time disasters. A PC playtest...
The New Pro Version Has Arrived, but the Original Belkin Charging Case Is Worth Your Time with This Record-Low Saving
Belkin’s original Charging Case for the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring a 10,000 mAh powerbank, has dropped to $59.49 on Amazon, a steep discount from its near‑$100 price. The newer Pro model retails for $99.99 and adds a detachable powerbank that doubles as...
Village in the Shade Coming West This Fall
NIS America announced that the rural‑life simulation *Village in the Shade* will launch in the West this fall on PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam. The Japanese release is scheduled for July 30, and pre‑orders for a $89.99 limited edition...
Epic Games Cuts 1,000 Jobs, Including 82 in Bellevue, as Fortnite Engagement Slumps
Epic Games is eliminating more than 1,000 positions, with 82 jobs lost at its Bellevue office, and targeting $500 million in cost savings after a sharp drop in Fortnite engagement. CEO Tim Sweeney said the cuts are needed to bring spending...
Top PS5 Deals You Should Grab Now
There are some fantastic PS5 games up for grabs right now, and these are the ones I'd recommend getting. https://t.co/zIX2nNd9Zb
This Slay The Spire 2 PvP Mod Lets You Battle Friends Mid-Run to See Who's Made the Better Deck
Slay the Spire 2 now has a community‑made PvP mod called SlayThePlayer that swaps traditional act bosses for head‑to‑head battles. Two players start on the same seed, run independent maps, and face off at each act, with a best‑of‑three format...
Pokemon: 7 Strongest Grass-Types in Kanto
The article spotlights the seven most powerful Kanto Grass‑type Pokémon, from Bulbasaur’s loyal partner Ash to the newly Mega‑evolved Victreebel. It highlights each Pokémon’s unique abilities, such as Parasect’s Spore, Vileplume’s Stun Spore, and Exeggutor’s Hypnosis, and notes their roles...