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
Zaccaria Pinball Gets a Chernbylite Glow Up
Zaccaria Pinball, a digital platform that recreates classic arcade tables as pinball, has released a new DLC based on the 2021 survival‑horror game Chernobylite. The pack includes four distinct tables—Retro, Solid State, Remake, and Deluxe—each designed to emulate a different era of pinball design. Alongside the Chernobylite set, Zaccaria added an EM+ four‑pack and a Hot Wheels Deluxe table, pushing its catalog past the low‑hundreds mark. The releases showcase the platform’s strategy of leveraging niche IPs and era‑specific mechanics to broaden its library and revenue streams.
Where Winds Meet Hexi Expansion Chapter 2: Liangzhou Launches on April 2
NetEase Games and Everstone Studio are releasing Chapter 2: Liangzhou of the Hexi expansion for *Where Winds Meet* on April 2. The update transports players from desert sands to snow‑capped mountains, adding a new storyline, the Raging Tides sect, and the highly...
Gaussian Splats Become Fully Streamable, Advancing 3D Tech
Gaussian Splats now fully streamable The coolest evolution in 3D tech for a while https://t.co/u7Zl20NADW
Where to Find the Echo of Aln'sharan in WoW Midnight
World of Warcraft: Midnight introduces the Echo of Aln'sharan, a dragon‑type mount unlocked by collecting 500 Mysterious Skyshards. Players must first finish the main campaign through the Zul'Aman segment, then follow a short side‑quest chain in Haranar involving Kuri’s tasks...
Why AI-Generated Games Lack Depth and How to Add It
The article explains why AI‑generated games often feel shallow and offers a step‑by‑step guide to add depth through meaningful choices, skill progression, reactive environments, and narrative hints. It emphasizes iterating on the core loop, testing on Astrocade, and layering mechanics...
Where to Farm Petrified Root in WoW Midnight
World of Warcraft: Midnight players are scrambling for Petrified Root, a high‑demand crafting reagent required in roughly 60 recipes across several professions. The item can drop from delves, heroics, Mythic 0 dungeons, prey caches, the Artisan’s Consortium payout, or be bought...
Hardcore Team Grinding Late Night on Progress and 5050
Friday night 8pm. @moxon is editing Progress. @Aleborda21 & @aniascigalska are perfecting 5050. Our team is hardcore. https://t.co/4TPG20n56L
When Are Solos Coming to Warzone Black Ops Royale?
Call of Duty: Warzone's Black Ops Royale launched without a solo playlist, prompting strong community demand for a single‑player option. Raven Software responded on X, confirming that solo matches will appear as a private‑match mode next week to gather balance...
Riot Games Confirms that Voice Chat Is Coming to League of Legends
Riot Games officially confirmed that native voice chat will be added to League of Legends, following a high‑profile datamine that revealed internal development. The company cites advances in moderation technology and its Honor system as reasons it can now address...
Jynxzi Reveals Lineup of Streamers Competing in His CS2 Tournament
Popular Twitch personality Jynxzi announced a 4v4 Counter‑Strike 2 tournament featuring more than 20 well‑known streamers, slated for March 15. The lineup mixes mainstream creators such as xQc and Adin Ross with CS2‑focused personalities like OhnePixel and Spoit. Critics argue...
Slay the Spire 2 Sells 3 Million Copies in First Week, Over 25 Million Runs Recorded
Mega Crit Games’ Slay the Spire 2 sold three million copies within its first week of early‑access launch, making it the biggest rogue‑lite debut on Steam by peak concurrent players. Community manager Demi reported over 25 million runs completed, a figure that likely...
How to Get a Monstie with Best Genes in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection lets players customize monsties using a 3×3 gene grid, where each filled slot adds active or passive skills. Players can transfer genes via the Rite of Channeling and aim for Bingo patterns—three identical genes...
Sea Of Thieves Brings PvP Improvements And Monthly New Festival In Season 19
Sea of Thieves' Season 19, titled "Fights and Festivals," launches on March 19, introducing major PvP updates and a new monthly festival. In the Hourglass mode, the map now contracts over time, ships receive extra supplies at start, and players...
Asetek Racing Launches Initium Bundle for US Sim Racers
Asetek Racing, the Danish sim‑racing hardware maker, launched its Initium Racing Bundle I in the United States. Priced at $599, the bundle packs a 5.5 Nm direct‑drive wheelbase, a custom steering wheel, and a glass‑fiber reinforced pedal set. The package also includes...
Once Human Announces Details for Console Closed Beta Later This Month
Once Human is launching a closed console beta for its upcoming title, running from March 26 at 7 p.m. PT through April 8 midnight PT. Players with PlayStation 5 (or Pro) or Xbox Series X|S can apply via a Discord‑linked Google form or Xbox Insider,...
Pokopia Fans Are Making Other Pokémon Games’ Iconic Landmarks
Pokopia players are recreating iconic landmarks from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series on their islands. The fan‑made Pelipper post office and Sharpedo Bluff reflect the post‑apocalyptic, human‑less world shared by both games. This trend highlights a growing community desire to...
Microsoft Confirms Copilot AI Is Coming to Xbox, Mere Weeks After New CEO Said Gaming Division Would Avoid ‘Soulless Slop’
Microsoft announced that its Gaming Copilot AI will be integrated into current‑generation Xbox Series X|S consoles, with rollout slated for later this year and broader availability in 2026. The feature lets players ask real‑time questions about gameplay, subscriptions and other...
The FBI Is Looking Into Steam Games Loaded with Malware—And One Is Still up on the Store
The FBI’s Seattle Division has opened an investigation into multiple Steam games that contain malicious code, targeting users between May 2024 and January 2026. Games such as BlockBlasters, PirateFi, Tokenova and others have been identified, with several removed from the platform after...
Roblox Rolls Out AI-Powered Real-Time Rephrasing Of Profanity Within Chat
Roblox has launched an AI‑powered feature that rephrases profanity in real‑time chat, turning blocked words into respectful equivalents while preserving the original intent. The system operates across all languages supported by Roblox’s translation tools and is limited to age‑checked users...
Sci-Fi Shooter 'Marathon' Comes to Life in Hilarious Marketing Prank (Video)
Bungie celebrated the launch of its new sci‑fi extraction shooter Marathon with a staged marketing prank. The studio teamed up with hidden‑camera creator Michael Krivicka to stage a fake technology showroom where visitors believed they had fired a futuristic arm...
Black Desert Online Continues 10th Anniversary and Tweaks War of the Roses for More Strategy, Tighter Map
Pearl Abyss updated Black Desert Online’s War of the Roses mode to prioritize strategy over sheer numbers, adding a third‑legion recruitment system for leaders and trimming Sanctums from ten to seven. The map redesign concentrates conflict toward the center, while...
FUT Secure Statement Win over MOUZ to Reach EPL Semi-Final
FUT pulled off a surprise 2‑1 victory over MOUZ in the ESL Pro League Season 23 quarter‑final, edging Dust 2 13‑11, dropping Overpass 10‑13 and clinching Mirage 13‑11. The young roster, which started the year ranked No. 50 in the VRS, has vaulted...
3 Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Anime Crossovers Teased
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will roll out three anime crossovers within the next two months. The first, based on Shangri‑La Frontier, launches on March 19, 2026, while a Fairy Tail crossover is slated for May 2026. A third, still undisclosed,...
Parents Need Direct Control Over Roblox AI Content
Roblox should allow parents to block AI-centric experiences from populating their children's Roblox accounts. It shouldn't come down to whether Roblox considers the chatbot interaction "extended" or "brief." I don't want either. https://www.crossplay.news/p/new-ai-updates-in-roblox
AI Threatens Gaming Creativity, Says Industry Insider
i’m quoted in this important piece that spells out how AI is holding back gaming. i talk about how it would impact the creativity of the medium. thanks so much helen 🫰🏻
Elder Scrolls Online Team Talks Dragonknight PTS Changes and Answers Community Questions on the Rework Process
The Elder Scrolls Online released its first class refresh with update 49, overhauling the Dragonknight’s abilities. Developers explained that skill swaps were guided by class identity, niche relevance, and mechanical depth, leading to the removal of legacy tools like Eruption. Public...
Spirit Suffers Its Worst BO3 Series Defeat Yet
Quick search but this looks like the last time Spirit lost a bo3 series this badly.. https://t.co/cCjhm2mFX7
Vitality's Widening Gap Evident Even without Participation
Somehow, someway, it feels like the gap between Vitality and the rest of the field is growing and they aren't even playing at this event
Donkey Kong Bananza Devs Say the Elephant Transformation's Destruction "Probably Went Too Far," Say It Was a Coincidence Super Mario...
At GDC 2026 Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza team revealed that the game’s elephant transformation was intentionally over‑the‑top, with programmer Tatsuya Kurihara admitting it may have "gone too far" in its destructiveness. Producer Kenta Motokura clarified that the parallel elephant power‑up in Super Mario Bros. Wonder was...
Bethesda Buzz Spikes as Starfield PS5 Content Nears
lots of people have been visiting Bethesda recently. It’s nearly time for new Starfield content and Starfield on PS5
Xbox Series S/X to Get Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot
Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot is coming to Xbox Series S/X consoles later this year. The Gaming Copilot can reply with suggestions about what to do next in a game, or offer tips and strategies. Do you want Copilot on Xbox though?...
Windows 11 Insiders Get Support for >1,000 Hz Monitor Refresh Rate
Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106, adding native support for monitor refresh rates exceeding 1,000 Hz. The update marks the first time the OS handles four‑digit refresh rates, aligning software with emerging ultra‑high‑refresh displays. Philips and AOC have already...
AI Boom Threatens Gaming Jobs, Industry Faces Reality
Everyone is looking for work as AI proliferates. A sobering look at the state of gaming from @jasonschreier https://t.co/ihXWMQ5psR
Tomaszin on Roster Changes: "We're Approaching the Game Differently"
BESTIA’s run at the Roman Imperium Cup VI ended in the group stage after an overtime loss to Gaimin Gladiators, despite a dominant 13‑4 win over Famalicão and a 13‑7 victory over OlyBet. The Argentine squad finished tied with Liquid for second...
Nintendo Remains Tight-Lipped on Donkey Kong Bananza's Timeline Placement, Pauline Inconsistencies and the Return of THAT Character
Nintendo’s GDC 2026 Donkey Kong Bananza panel offered development insights but left key narrative questions unanswered. Producer Kenta Motokura and programmer Tatsuya Kurihara declined to confirm the game’s placement in the series timeline, including whether it serves as a prequel to Mario Odyssey....
Latest Slay The Spire 2 Update Stops You Having over a Billion HP, While Tweaking the Deckbuilder's Mod Support
Mega Crit released a new early‑access patch for Slay The Spire 2 that caps HP at 999,999,999 for players, enemies and pets, adds fresh portrait art for three cards, and overhauls the mod file structure. The update also resolves a series...
Arc Raiders Dev Embark Studios Re-Recorded Lines After AI Voice Controversy
Embark Studios announced that Arc Raiders has removed several AI‑generated voice lines and replaced them with recordings from professional actors. Studio head Patrick Söderlund described AI as a production aid for testing dialogue, not a substitute for talent. The company...
Starfield Is a Game People Were "Just Not Ready" For and It'll Still Come Good at some Point, Reckons Fallout...
Composer Inon Zur praised Todd Howard’s vision, saying Starfield will become legendary over time despite its mixed launch reception. Zur argues players weren’t ready for the game’s ambitious scope, and he credits Howard’s steadfast direction. The article notes the Shattered...
Sonic Rumble Reborn as Sonic Rumble Party with a Special Smurfs Collab
Sega is relaunching its fast‑paced multiplayer title as Sonic Rumble Party, adding a high‑profile Smurfs crossover that runs from March 16 to April 15, 2026. The event will feature Smurfs‑themed skins, new stages, and a fresh Party Rumble mode with...
Video: How Well Does WWE 2K26 Run on Switch 2? Watch Our Comparison Video
WWE 2K26 launched today across all major platforms, including a day‑and‑date release for Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 version retains most of the visual fidelity seen on Xbox Series X, delivering a solid performance despite the console’s lower power. Minor visual compromises, such as...
Horror Video Game Exit 8 Drops Its UK Trailer
The UK trailer for the horror film adaptation of the indie game Exit 8 has just been released, showcasing director Genki Kawamura’s vision and starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Nana Komatsu. The film follows a man trapped in an endless subway corridor, echoing...
Razer Flexes AI Desktop Companion and Other New Products at GDC
At the Game Developers Conference 2026, Razer showcased a suite of AI‑powered products, headlined by an AI desktop companion designed to streamline gaming workflows. The company also introduced AI‑enhanced peripherals, including a smart mouse and headset, that promise real‑time performance...
The Key to a Great Video Game Performance? Team Trust.
At GDC Festival of Games 2026, video‑game actors Debra Wilson and Jane Perry and performance directors Tom Keegan and Damien Goodwin emphasized that trust is the cornerstone of a great in‑game performance. They explained that performance directors act as a bridge, marking...
FUT Shows Grit, Keeps Moving Forward
Good grit from FUT. Glad to see them put up a fight. Regardless of result its nice to see them continuing to take steps.
Inside Baseball Hits 26’s Community-Driven Strategy Keeping Players Coming Back Every Day
Ares Interactive’s soft‑launch of "Baseball Hits 26" shows strong daily engagement, with 51% of players logging in seven days a week. The studio attributes this retention to a community‑first approach, sharing updates via Discord and actively soliciting player feedback. The...
![JL: "I Should Theoretically Be Back [to Playing] in the Summer if Everything Works Out"](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://img-cdn.hltv.org/gallerypicture/n71bVXXF0LeH6AXDMWgWXv.jpg?auto=compress&ixlib=java-2.1.0&m=%2Fm.png&mw=107&mx=20&my=474&q=75&w=800&s=7f2b942ec983c1571d6fef885b16d21b)
JL: "I Should Theoretically Be Back [to Playing] in the Summer if Everything Works Out"
Justinas “jL” Lekavicius returned to competitive CS2 as a stand‑in for Liquid at the Roman Imperium Cup VI after a nine‑month hiatus, filling in for Guy “NertZ” Iluz who missed the event due to travel problems. Earlier in the week, jL...
Proton Experimental Brings Fixes for REDLauncher, HELLDIVERS 2, Atelier Yumia, KILLER INN and More
Valve released the March 13 Proton Experimental update, delivering a series of targeted fixes for high‑profile Linux titles. The patch disables Xalia for Final Fantasy VII/VIII, resolves graphical glitches in Duck Game, and eliminates long exit times for REDLauncher used by...
What’s New In King Legacy Update 10?
King Legacy’s long‑awaited Update 10 launched on March 13, 2026, delivering a wave of fresh content including two new legendary fruits, the first mythical fruit, revamped existing fruits, and a suite of new and reworked weapons. The update also adds...
Soulfly on First Arena Win: "I Didn't Know that I Would Have so Much Emotion"
Aurora clinched a 2‑1 quarter‑final victory over Legacy at the ESL Pro League, guaranteeing at least a top‑four finish. The win marked Caner “soulfly” Kesici’s first arena triumph, a moment he described as unexpectedly emotional. He highlighted the chaotic TeamSpeak...
Jujutsu Shenanigans Codes March 2026
Jujutsu Shenanigans, a Roblox game inspired by the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, has released a new promotional code that unlocks the Nep achievement and the Woven Insight emote. The title continues to draw hundreds of thousands of daily active players despite...