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.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Goldenpeak invests majority stake in Ampere Analysis
Rain on Adjusting to Calling: "Freezetime Would Start and I Wouldn't Remember that I Was the IGL"
Håvard “rain” Nygaard has taken over as in‑game leader for 100 Thieves, guiding the newly formed roster to a win over Ninjas in Pyjamas and a second‑place finish at DraculaN Season 5, propelling the squad into the top‑40 of the VRS. In the HLTV interview, rain admits he initially struggled to remember his IGL duties during freezetime and cites mid‑round decision‑making as his biggest tactical hurdle, a habit formed during his years at FaZe. He emphasized the need for a strong coaching staff to support his vision and praised teammate William “sirah” Kjærsgaard for his vocal, rotation‑calling presence. Rain also highlighted device’s effort to regain form with staff assistance.
Raw Fury’s Blue Prince Launches on Nintendo Switch 2
Indie publisher Raw Fury announced that its critically acclaimed puzzle‑mystery Blue Prince has launched on Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console. The title, originally released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mac, now supports handheld play, extending its audience to Nintendo’s growing...
Nintendo, Blumhouse Games and Double Fine Join PAX East 2026
PAX East 2026 announced its full exhibitor roster, featuring Nintendo, Blumhouse Games and Double Fine Productions among more than 300 companies. The convention runs March 26‑29 at Boston’s Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. The floor will host publishers, developers, hardware brands...
One of the Legend of Grimrock Designers Is Making a Spaceship Puzzler Inspired by System Shock
Antti Tiihonen, co‑founder of Almost Human and Grimrock designer, has released a limited‑access Steam playtest for *Reconfigure*, a puzzle‑RPG‑FPS hybrid set aboard an accelerating starship. The game blends block‑placement mechanics, magnetic cubes for circuitry, and light first‑person combat against guardbots. Early...
KRAFTON Cuts 271 Jobs in January 2026 as RisingWings Hit by 40% Attrition Rate Amid Voluntary Resignation Program
Krafton announced that 271 employees left the group in January 2026 through a voluntary resignation program tied to its new “AI First” initiative. The program, which offered up to 36 months of salary as a severance package, will cost roughly KRW 40 billion...
Lost Ark Server Merges Coming in May, and Paradise Season 3 Changes This Month
Lost Ark announced server merges for North America and Europe slated for May, requiring players to pause Powerpasses during the transition. The March update will launch Paradise Season 3, which removes the 1580 Hell Keys as the new Rimeria Powerpass pushes...
"We Now Have a Clear Vision for How Sumo Fits Into the New World" - Inside the Slimmed-Down Sumo Group
Sumo Group, now owned by Tencent, has shed roughly 15% of its workforce, closed its Timbre Games studio and sold several subsidiaries to concentrate exclusively on co‑development and work‑for‑hire services for external IP. The co‑CEOs, Gary Dunn and Andy Stewart,...
‘A Serenity Soon to Be Disturbed’: Bandai Namco Will Reveal ‘a New RPG’ This Week
Bandai Namco announced it will unveil an unnamed new role‑playing game on Friday, March 5, at 3 p.m. PST. A teaser clip shows an anime‑style character wielding a sword and shield, accompanied by the tagline “A serenity soon to be disturbed.” This marks...
Nioh 3 Guide – All 81 Bosses And How To Beat Them
The new Nioh 3 guide catalogs every one of the 81 bosses, detailing their era, location, and basic combat tactics. It distinguishes mandatory main bosses from optional, secret, and master foes that appear throughout the game’s open world. The guide notes...
Metaphor: ReFantazio Orchestra Concert World Tour Kicks Off This Fall
Atlus announced the Metaphor: ReFantazio Orchestra Concert world tour, launching October 9, 2026 in Dallas and covering eight cities across North America, Asia, and Europe. The performances will feature a 45‑piece orchestra, choir, and vocal soloists delivering reimagined scores by...
Today’s Best Android Game and App Deals: Skul Hero Slayer, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, Defenchick, More
9to5Toys’ afternoon roundup spotlights a wave of Android game and app discounts, featuring titles like Skul: The Hero Slayer, Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, and Defenchick. The same list bundles aggressive pre‑order incentives for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series, with...
This Blumhouse-Published Cozy Horror Mashup Could Launch Before Emberville, and I'm Ready to Get Spooked
Blumhouse Games is set to publish Grave Seasons, a cozy farming simulator with a horror twist, slated for a summer 2026 release following a Nintendo indie showcase. The title has already amassed roughly 400,000 Steam wishlists, indicating strong pre‑launch interest....
Resident Evil Requiem Guide – All Files, Antique Coins, Pouch, and Mr. Raccoon Locations
The Resident Evil Requiem guide catalogs every File, Antique Coin, Pouch, and Mr. Raccoon collectible across the game’s sprawling maps. Over 200 items are spread among Wrenwood, Rhodes Hill, Raccoon City, and the ARK, many of which are missable without...
The Division Resurgence Release Date Arrives in 28 Days, as Ubisoft Locks in Launch Rewards
Ubisoft announced that The Division Resurgence will launch on March 31, 2026 for both iOS and Android, marking the franchise's first full‑scale mobile entry. The game continues the post‑Dollar Flu storyline in a recreated New York City, offering shared open‑world looter‑shooter gameplay with...
BIG Announces Female CS2 Initiative Project Breach
German esports org BIG unveiled Project Breach, a female‑only Counter‑Strike 2 initiative developed with digital health firm GreenMedical. The move follows the abrupt suspension of the ESL Impact women’s circuit, which left a void in the CS2 ecosystem. BIG highlighted its...
All Black Ice Pack Skins in Rainbow Six Siege Operation Silent Hunt and How to Get Them
Operation Silent Hunt has launched for Rainbow Six Siege, introducing the Black Ice Pack cosmetic line. The packs are exclusive to Year 11 Season 1’s battle pass and require players to reach Tier 2 for the first pack and Tier 100 for the second, with the...
2026 PUBG Global Series Circuit 1: Teams, Format, Schedule, and More
Krafton has unveiled the 2026 PUBG Global Series Circuit 1, a three‑week offline tournament in Seoul featuring 24 teams from global partners and regional qualifiers. The circuit comprises Series 1, Series 2, and a Series Final, with a combined prize pool of $500,000,...
AI Generates Full Playable Games From Text Prompts
🚨 Absolute madness. You can now turn a single text prompt into a fully playable video game 🤯 → Worlds that take shape → Mechanics that interact → Gameplay that actually works → Single AND multiplayer All generated in seconds and running entirely in your browser...
Patapon's Gorgeous Spiritual Successor Marches Onto PS5, PS4 in July
Ratatan, the rhythm‑strategy spiritual successor to Patapon, is set for a July 16, 2026 launch on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The title is built by the original Patapon team and originated from a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, spending several years in...
Aurora Awards Europe - Nominations Now Open!
The Aurora Awards Europe is now accepting nominations for women working across the European games industry, with submissions due by May 14. Winners will be revealed live at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026, a two‑day conference that gathers over 1,000 global...
Sailor Piece Sword Guide
Pocket Tactics’ Sailor Piece sword guide outlines the game’s 14 unique blades, from starter katanas to high‑end weapons like the Shadow Monarch and Ragna Sword. It explains how swords serve as the primary combat tool, detailing acquisition routes through NPCs,...
Liquid Survive in EPL with Labored Win over SemperFi
Team Liquid kept their ESL Pro League Season 23 campaign alive by edging SemperFi 2‑1, taking Dust2 and Inferno but dropping Mirage. EliGE delivered the standout performance with a 1.40 rating, while the rest of the roster showed patchy output. The...
Major Schism on Unity Asset Store
Unity announced that all assets from publishers located in the Greater China region will be removed from the global Unity Asset Store on March 31, 2026. The purge affects more than 3,000 items, leaving existing licenses intact but ending future updates and...
Nordic Networking? Come Meet PGC Summit Malmö 2026 This May 27th and 28th
The PG Connects Summit Malmö × MeetToMatch, powered by Xsolla, will run on May 27‑28, 2026 alongside Nordic Game 2026. Hosted in the MeetToMatch Publisher Lounge at the Comfort Hotel, the two‑day event offers pre‑arranged, high‑value B2B meetings for developers, publishers, investors...
UK Consultation on Kids’ Online Lives: What the Video Games Industry Needs to Know
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched a 62‑question consultation titled “Growing up in the online world” to gather evidence on child safety across the internet, with a particular focus on gaming platforms. It probes legal age...
A Few Words (Mostly About Uncharted 2) with Lifetime Achievement Winner Evan Wells | Interview
Evan Wells, a longtime Naughty Dog veteran, received the lifetime achievement award at the recent DICE Summit. He joined the studio in 1998, contributed as lead designer on Crash Bandicoot: Warped, and rose to co‑president in 2005 before becoming sole...
Legacy Advance to Stage 2 After Beating PARIVISION in arT's Debut Event
Legacy defeated PARIVISION 2‑0 (Inferno 13‑11, Dust2 13‑10) to qualify for ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2 with a perfect 3‑0 record. The Russian squad showed resilience in tight maps, overcoming PARIVISION’s late‑round lapses. The win also reinforces the league’s growing...
Capcom Reveals Plans to Align Street Fighter Game Marketing Initiatives with the Upcoming Movie's Release
Capcom disclosed during its Q3 FY2025 earnings call that future Street Fighter 6 updates will be coordinated with the live‑action Street Fighter film releasing October 2026. The company plans to introduce new characters and themed content—potentially drawing from the movie’s roster such...
Twitch Rivals Chooses to Celebrate Women’s Day with a Cooking Game
Twitch Rivals announced an International Women’s Day tournament on March 8 featuring the cooperative cooking game Overcooked 2. The event was marketed as a tribute to women creators, but critics argue the kitchen theme reinforces sexist stereotypes. Social media erupted with accusations...
Wild Train Game Denshattack Will Brighten Up Your Summer on PS5
Denshattack, an arcade‑style train game from developer Undercoders, is set for a PlayStation 5 launch on 17 June 2026. Publisher Fireshine Games announced the release alongside a new high‑octane trailer that showcases the game’s fast‑paced, trick‑based gameplay. The title blends modern PS5 performance...
2XKO Prize Pool and Rewards Revealed for Evo Japan 2026
The Evolution Championship Series will host the 2XKO tournament at Evo Japan 2026, offering a $60,000 prize pool with the top eight players sharing the winnings. A $5,000 duo bounty rewards the highest‑placing pair, while every competitor who completes their...
Clair Obscur Writer Shares Production Advice that Could Improve Your Game's Story
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s writer Jennifer Svedberg‑Yen explained at DICE 2026 that effective storytelling hinges on matching information delivery to each team member’s preferred style. She highlighted how the art director needed only concise keywords, while environment artists required detailed suggestions. By framing...
Witcher 3 REDkit Modding Whizz Expands Kaer Morhen to Match Its Witcher 1 Equivalent, with References Galore
The REDkit modding community has delivered Kaer Morhen Extended Edition, a fan‑made overhaul that expands the iconic fortress to mirror its Witcher 1 layout. The mod adds a second floor, a basement with a lab, crypt and secret room, and populates the...
Analyst Claims New Xbox Console Is ‘Already Dead’ as Microsoft Backs Game Pass
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter warned that Microsoft’s aggressive push toward Game Pass could render the next Xbox console “already dead.” He argues the company’s focus on high‑priced subscription tiers, especially a rumored $30 Ultimate plan, undermines traditional hardware sales. While...
Blue Prince Comes to Switch 2 Today as Nintendo Indie World Presentation Highlights 18 Games
Nintendo announced that the acclaimed puzzle‑adventure Blue Prince arrives on Switch 2 today, following its successful launch on PS5, Xbox and PC earlier this year. The Indie World presentation introduced 18 indie titles, with several games such as Minishoot Adventures and...
Killing Floor Dev Tripwire Interactive Lays Off 23 Employees
The UK's Insomnia Gaming Festival, scheduled for 30 April‑3 May 2026, has been cancelled. Organisers say reduced investment from major technology and hardware brands left insufficient sponsorship and exhibitor presence. The event, to be run by a consortium that includes Modern Wolf,...
Moonlighter 2 Is Also Coming to Switch 2 for Its 1.0 Launch Later This Year Alongside PC, PS5, and Xbox...
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault will launch on Switch 2 alongside PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S at its 1.0 release later this year. The title is currently in Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, with day‑one Game Pass availability on Xbox....
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Releases This Month
Capcom announced the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection will launch on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on March 27. The anthology bundles all seven version variations of the three DS titles, adapting dual‑screen gameplay for a single screen. Preservation upgrades include a high‑resolution smoothing...
Supercell and King Alumni Antihero Raise $4.5m to Launch Extraction Shooter Misfitz
Antihero Studios, founded by former Supercell and King veterans, secured $4.5 million in pre‑seed funding from a16z, Laton and Sisu. The studio’s first title, Misfitz, is an extraction‑shooter that mixes Brawl Stars‑style gameplay with collaborative‑versus‑betrayal mechanics. Over 70,000 players have already...
Not A Shark Company Aims to Deliver Low-Overhead Marketing and Comms for Game Companies
Not A Shark Company (NASC), a Paris‑based fractional agency for video‑game studios, announced a strategic expansion to meet rising demand for low‑overhead, high‑impact marketing and communications. The firm’s model connects studios with veteran triple‑A consultants, offering full publishing capabilities while...
Rare 1999 Pokemon Card Sells for over $40,000
A first‑edition Shadowless Base Set Charizard from 1999 sold for $40,180 at auction, achieving a 9‑out‑of‑10 mint grade. The card’s lack of drop‑shadow text marks it as a “holy grail” among collectors, distinguishing it from later Unlimited versions. The auction...
Capcom Yank Resident Evil 4 Remake's Enigma DRM, Which Had Reportedly Impacted the Horror Flick's Performance
Capcom has quietly removed the Enigma DRM from the Resident Evil 4 Remake, ending a month‑long experiment that began on February 3 after the game originally launched with Denuvo protection. Independent testing by Digital Foundry showed the Enigma layer could sap up...
New 3D Graphics Course Updates: Algorithms, Optimizations, and Rendering
I've added some updates to our 3D Graphics course, including: • Pineda-style algorithm • Fill rules (top-left) • Optimizations (just a few adds per pixel) • Fixed-point rasterization • Subpixel rendering • Mouse camera control • Discussion on EGA & VGA modes • OBJ quads
Bizarre Lineage Personality Tier List
Roblox’s Bizarre Lineage introduces a tiered system for Stand personalities, which significantly affect player builds. The guide ranks personalities from S‑tier (Transcendent, Elegant) offering universal buffs, down to D‑tier (Cowardly) with limited value. Acquiring top‑tier personalities demands large amounts of...
FISSURE Cancels Three Events
FISSURE announced the cancellation of three upcoming tournaments – an April event in Shenzhen, China, and two July events slated for 2026 and 2027. The Chinese tournament conflicted with the IEM Rio kickoff, while the July dates fell during the...
Excellent Helicopter Combat Game Cleared Hot Is Getting a "Native Steam Deck Build"
Cleared Hot, the retro‑style helicopter combat title, is rolling out its Chapter 1B update on March 17, featuring a native Steam Deck build that unlocks the platform’s 90 fps potential. The patch brings a suite of performance upgrades—including Unity 6.3, ECS‑based navigation, depth‑priming, and expanded...
Star Citizen Game Dev Discloses Breach Affecting User Data
Cloud Imperium Games disclosed a security breach on January 21, 2026 that exposed basic account information of an undisclosed number of Star Citizen users. The compromised data included usernames, email addresses, dates of birth and names, but no passwords, financial...
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 51: It’s Not Easy Being Green
The author retrofits a 1999‑era Linux gaming PC with an old GeForce2 MX 400 and Nvidia’s 1.0‑4191 proprietary driver from 2002. Using the RPM‑packaged driver instead of newer installers restores stable OpenGL support and eliminates crashes in titles such as Quake 2 and...
Short News: Week 9
The Urban Riga Open #3, a Counter‑Strike: Global Offensive LAN, will launch on March 23 with a $10,000 prize pool and has confirmed three of its participating squads: M80, 3DMAX, and FOKUS. The event showcases a diverse roster of European...
Short Creepy Stories Nightmare Next Door Walkthrough
Droid Gamers published a detailed walkthrough for the Roblox horror title Short Creepy Stories – Nightmare Next Door, outlining step‑by‑step actions from the afternoon study session to the evening chase. The guide explains how to interact with the noisy neighbor Punk, the...