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
Skull and Bones Development Time Was “Bizarre”, Says Assassin’s Creed 3’s Former Creative Director
Ubisoft’s long‑awaited pirate game *Skull and Bones* finally launched in February 2024 after a 14‑year development saga that began as a *Assassin’s Creed* Black Flag expansion. Former *Assassin’s Creed 3* creative director Alex Hutchinson said the protracted timeline stemmed from Ubisoft Singapore’s inexperience with large‑scale naval combat and a talent pipeline treated more like a vacation. The studio’s reliance on senior staff from France and Canada for short‑term support hampered skill growth, leading to a product that received a lukewarm market response despite a $70 AAA price tag.
Esports to Make Its Medal Debut at Gay Games Valencia 2026
Esports will make its medal debut at the Gay Games Valencia 2026, featuring Overwatch and EA Sports FC 26 in both individual and team tournaments. The competitions run on July 3rd in an open format that does not separate participants by gender, guaranteeing...
Apple Could Monetize Default AI Like Safari Search
AI Tracking Transparency In November, Apple updated its App Store developer guidelines to require developers to obtain affirmative, opt-in consent from users before sending “personal data” to third-party AI services. A pertinent question is: if Apple is able to dissuade developers...
Cartwheel Claims AI Can Make 3D Animation Tasks as Much as 100x Faster
Cartwheel, a New York‑based AI animation platform, claims its technology can accelerate 3D animation workflows by up to 100 times. The startup was founded by former OpenAI researcher Andrew Carr and ex‑Google Creative Lab leader Jonathan Jarvis. Its tools are aimed at game...
Brotato Gets a DRM-Free Release on GOG
Brotato, the fast‑paced indie shooter, is now available DRM‑free on GOG, bundled with the Abyssal Terrors DLC and its soundtrack. The release includes a 20% discount through March 4 and supports native Linux and up to four‑player local co‑op. Development has...
PlayStation Plus Premium 12-Month Deal: Best Discount Right Now
Sony has launched a limited‑time Lunar New Year promotion that slashes the 12‑month PlayStation Plus Premium subscription by 37%, dropping the price to $99.99 (or £77.99 in the UK). The deal, available until February 26, grants access to the full Game...
The Outer Worlds 2 Vinyl Soundtrack Is Now Available to Pre-Order From Laced Records
Laced Records has opened pre‑orders for a limited‑edition vinyl soundtrack of *The Outer Worlds 2*, priced at $62. The set spans three 12‑inch LPs, offering 44 tracks that align with the game’s three major factions. Two versions are available: a colour‑marble...
Geekay Esports Returns to R6 Europe MENA League as a Partner Team
Saudi‑based Geekay Esports announced its return to the Rainbow Six Siege Europe MENA League as a BLAST affiliate for the 2026 season, after a dominant 2025 campaign in the Tier‑2 European circuit. The organization captured three Tier‑2 titles – Saudi eLeague...
Dubai Esports & Games Festival Returns on May 8th as the City Doubles Down on Its Gaming Ambitions
The Dubai Esports & Games Festival is set to return on May 8 2026, reinforcing the emirate’s ambition to become a global gaming hub. Organized under Dubai’s digital‑economy strategy, the event will host competitive tournaments, influencer appearances, and interactive fan zones that...
ZETA DIVISION Returns to Apex Legends with YukaF Signing
Japanese esports powerhouse ZETA DIVISION announced the revival of its Apex Legends roster for the 2026 season, entering the APAC North region’s Online Open on February 28. The new line‑up features former Fnatic star YukaF, alongside veterans Mike and satuki,...
Dplus KIA Extends Lucid’s Contract Days After LCK Playoffs Victory Against T1
Choi “Lucid” Yong‑hyeok has re‑signed with Dplus KIA, extending his contract through the 2027 season. The renewal follows Dplus KIA’s dramatic reverse sweep of T1 in the LCK Cup playoffs, where Lucid earned series MVP honors. Lucid, a main‑roster jungler...
“Sapkowski Is a Kleptomaniac with Mythology” - How Reigns: The Witcher Coaxes Out the Improv Chaos of Geralt's Universe
Nerial’s new title *Reigns: The Witcher* reimagines the franchise as a narrative card RPG where players, as Dandelion, swipe binary choices to shape Geralt’s fate. The game leans on a fan‑fiction‑style improv framework, sprinkling iconic Witcher moments with modern allusions....
Ed Boon Polls Fans on What Would Be the Best Way to Bring Back Killer Instinct
Ed Boon recently launched a social‑media poll asking fans how Killer Instinct should return, weighing a free‑to‑play model against a $70 premium price and debating Xbox exclusivity versus multi‑platform release. The franchise has seen no new content since the 2023 Anniversary...
A "Cowboy Coalition" Battle NCR Corporate Imperialism in This Freshly Released Fallout: New Vegas Quest Mod
Veteran modder Ashtonlp101 released "For A Few Brahmin More," a Fallout: New Vegas quest mod that pits NCR‑backed Brahmin barons against a grassroots Cowboy Coalition. The mod features two branching main questlines, six side quests, two player homes, and over...
PUBG Mobile Joins the Esports Nations Cup 2026 as Its 16th Competitive Title
PUBG Mobile has been confirmed as the 16th title for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, scheduled in Riyadh from November 2‑29. The mobile title’s competition runs November 3‑8, featuring 32 national teams in a four‑group round‑robin stage that narrows to a...
Roblox Outstrips TikTok as Fastest Growing Commerce Channel for Gen Z
Roblox has become the fastest‑growing commerce channel for Gen Z, posting a 54% year‑on‑year rise in order volume, far outpacing TikTok’s 10% increase. Gen Z shoppers placed an average of 20 purchases on Roblox in the past year, while TikTok...
Pieced Together Review – Poignant Narrative Game Gathers Bittersweet Fragments of a Friendship
Pieced Together is an indie narrative game that uses an interactive scrapbook to recount the 1990s friendship between Connie and Beth. Players place photos, notes, and stickers to shape the story, creating a personal collage of memories. Developed by a...
7 Reasons the Virtual Boy on Switch Online Works
Nintendo revived its notorious Virtual Boy by adding seven titles to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack on Feb 17 2026. The lineup includes the Japan‑only horror game *Mansion of Innsmouth*, a full‑featured *Wario Land* platformer, and other experimental titles like *Red Alarm* and...
Amazon Continues Its Games Cull, Dropping Driving Game From Forza Horizon Devs
Amazon Games has terminated its publishing agreement with Maverick Games, the UK studio founded by former Forza Horizon developers, leaving the open‑world driving title without a backer. Maverick will now seek a new publisher to bring its narrative‑driven driving experience...
Genshin Impact Fans on PS4 only Have Six Weeks to Find Another Platform as Support Winds Down with One Final...
HoYoverse announced that Genshin Impact will cease PS4 support on April 8, 2026, with Version Luna 5 serving as the final update before the platform is fully disabled. The update revisits Mondstadt and introduces the playable character Varka, giving PS4 players a symbolic...
Games Meets Music Returns After Breakthrough Debut, Connecting Developers with Major Music Industry Power Players
Games Meets Music returns for its second edition after a breakthrough inaugural event that generated tangible partnership and licensing deals. The 2026 conference expands its programme to target developers, publishers, and commercial leaders, featuring senior representatives from Ubisoft, Supercell, King,...
Styx Blades of Greed Publishers Nacon File for Insolvency, Will "Assess All Possible Solutions" To "Protect Employees and "Preserve Jobs"
Nacon, the French publisher behind titles such as Styx: Blades of Greed and RoboCop: Rogue City, has filed for judicial reorganisation insolvency after its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, failed to make a partial bond loan repayment. The filing aims to...
Dell, Lenovo to Launch Thin‑And‑Light Gaming Laptops Early 2024
Dell and Lenovo laptops with Nvidia CPUs 'could come in the first half of this year' — so get ready for some thin-and-light gaming powerhouses (hopefully) https://www.techradar.com/computing/cpu/dell-and-lenovo-laptops-with-nvidia-cpus-could-come-in-the-first-half-of-this-year-so-get-ready-for-some-thin-and-light-gaming-powerhouses-hopefully
Apply by March 1 for Visual Game & Media Design Master’s
Join our Visual Game & Media Design two-year master’s program at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen. Deadline March 1st! Visual Game & Media Design is a cross-disciplinary program open to all creative BA students. Read more about the program here: https://t.co/21gUvVDYX1...
All Current and Upcoming Banners in Arknights Endfield
Arknights: Endfield’s current banner, Hues of Passion, features the Cryo operator Yvonne and runs from February 24 to March 11, while the Graffiti Issue weapon banner spans the next two character cycles. Pulling on character banners yields Arsenal Tickets, which are required...
My First Course
"Atari 2600 Programming" was the first course I recorded, and it's still one of my favorites. ❤️
The Sims 4 Developer Hasn't Forgotten About Its Quality of Life Commitment, and Is Back with an Update on What...
Maxis has unveiled a new quality‑of‑life roadmap for The Sims 4, outlining updates through 2026. The first phase, running March to August, will boost Sims’ autonomy, refine infant‑caregiver interactions, and address black‑photo, crash, and freeze bugs. The second phase, September to...
Lutris v0.5.21 and v0.5.22 Arrive with Valve's Sniper Runtime Support and New Game Runners
Lutris released versions 0.5.21 and 0.5.22, adding support for Valve’s Sniper runtime (Steam Linux Runtime 3.0) and new game runners such as ShadPS4, Xenia and an AppImage‑based Dolphin‑emu. The updates also bring UI tweaks like collapsible sidebars, improved GPU detection, expanded...
D7VK Version 1.4 Brings Further Enhancements for Older Direct3D via Vulkan
D7VK version 1.4 has been released, extending its Direct3D 5‑7‑via‑Vulkan translation layer for Wine and Proton. The update introduces colour‑key transparency, fixing opaque artifacts in titles such as Arx Fatalis and Divine Divinity. It also consolidates legacy DDraw support, enabling games...
Ex Sanguis Is the Most Stylish XCOM-Style Roguelike I've Ever Played
Ex Sanguis is a turn‑based, XCOM‑style roguelike demo that dazzles with a stark white‑and‑red art direction reminiscent of Superhot. Players control Stillae units, spending action points to unleash stylized, blood‑splattering attacks on grid‑based maps. The demo highlights destructible environments, layered...
How to Practice Flying in Battlefield 6 Using Helicopters and Jets
Battlefield 6 pilots can accelerate skill growth by using private custom games or Portal servers, where they control the number of aircraft and eliminate enemy pressure. Adjusting aircraft sensitivity to 150‑200, lowering dead zones, and optionally enabling Helicopter Assist creates a...
Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem Ad Campaign Involves a Faux Lawsuit Against Nissin Foods (UPDATE)
Capcom is promoting the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem (Feb. 27 2026) with a tongue‑in‑cheek partnership with Nissin Foods. The campaign pretends Umbrella Corporation is suing Nissin over its Cup Noodles, framing the stunt as an IP infringement claim. A commercial featuring the...
Death Stranding 2 Was My Game of the Year for 2025, and It's Coming to PC with a Major Discount,...
Death Stranding 2, hailed as a personal Game of the Year on PS5, is set to arrive on PC next month. The title retains the franchise’s atmospheric storytelling while adding more combat‑focused gameplay, new vehicles, and upgrade systems. Fans can secure...
Pokemon Fan Designs Paradox Form of Ho-Oh
Fans have created a Paradox form of Ho‑Oh, dubbed Ho‑Old, featuring a dinosaur‑like design and Dragon typing. The artwork, posted by Reddit user ABZ_Designs, draws inspiration from the prehistoric bird Gastornis and includes a new signature move, Prism Flame. The...
Pepper Grinder Sails Onto Mobile with Vibrant Drilling Action-Adventure, Arriving Soon via Crunchyroll Games
Pepper Grinder, the Devolver Digital‑published 2D pirate adventure, is slated for mobile launch on Android and iOS on February 26, 2026 via Crunchyroll Games. The title blends classic platforming with a distinctive drilling mechanic, letting players collect jewels, stickers and upgrade gear...
OptiScaler Activates FSR 4 Under Vulkan Before AMD Itself Delivers
OptiScaler’s test build 0.9.0‑pre10 adds FSR 4 support to Vulkan games by routing the upscaler through a DirectX 12 bridge, effectively bypassing AMD’s official limitation to RDNA 4 GPUs and DX12 titles. The community‑driven implementation works in titles such as Doom: The Dark...
Genshin Impact Tier List
An updated Genshin Impact tier list released on February 24, 2026 ranks 4‑star and 5‑star characters by performance in the Spiral Abyss, Imaginarium Theater, and Stygian Onslaught. The list highlights Mavuika, Zibai, and a suite of Lunar‑reaction enablers such as Columbina and...
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin Gets an Animation Trailer Ahead of March Launch
Netmarble unveiled an official animation trailer for its upcoming free‑to‑play action RPG *The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin*. The game, based on the globally‑sold manga, will launch on PlayStation 5 and Steam on March 16, with a mobile rollout a week later on...
Undertale Piano Arrangement Album - Echoes Beneath Produced by Yoko Shimomura Is Now Available Digitally
Square Enix has launched the Undertale piano‑arrangement album *Echoes Beneath*, produced by veteran composer Yoko Shimomura, to mark the game’s 10th anniversary. The collection features 15 piano‑only tracks performed by Yui Morishita, Yuki Kishida and Ryota Kikuchi, and is available...
Chronicled Wish Banner Guide In Genshin Impact
HoYoverse introduced the Chronicled Wish banner in Genshin Impact version 6.4, running from February 25 to March 17, 2026. The new system combines character‑limited and weapon banners, letting players select either a 5‑star character or weapon before pulling. A 50% match chance...
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition "Switch 2 Vs. PS5 Vs. PS4" Graphics and Framerate Comparison
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition arrived digitally on Nintendo Switch 2, delivering the complete base game, six official expansions, and over 150 Creation Club items. The launch coincides with a side‑by‑side video that pits the Switch 2 version against PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in graphics...
Utawarerumono Zan 2 Is Now Available for PC Steam
Japanese developers DMM Games, Shiravune, and Aquaplus have released Utawarerumono Zan 2 on PC via Steam, marking the title's first English‑localized launch. The game is priced at $39.99 with a launch discount running through March 10, and offers bundles that include discounts...
2D Western Souls-Like Action RPG Tombwater Launches for PC on March 31
Tombwater, a 2D Western souls‑like action RPG from Moth Atlas and Midwest Games, is set to launch on March 31 for Windows PC via Steam. The release was pushed forward from an original November 2025 date to allow additional content...
Devastating Sims 4 Glitch Makes Player Lose Photos They Saved for 7.5 Generations
A Reddit user lost photos documenting 7.5 generations of their Sims 4 family due to a persistent glitch that blanks out picture frames and paintings. The issue surfaced while the player was building an eighth generation, erasing weeks of in‑game storytelling....
Honor of Kings India Launch Rumors Heat up Again as Fresh Hints Surface
Sources close to GamingonPhone indicate that Tencent’s mobile MOBA Honor of Kings is gearing up for an Indian launch after trademark filings were approved in late 2023 and early 2024. The title logged more than 50 million downloads and over $100 million...
Azur Promilia Opens Second Closed Beta Test in China for PC and Mobile
Manjuu Games has launched recruitment for the second Closed Beta Test of its fantasy RPG Azur Promilia in mainland China, covering PC, Android and iOS platforms. The "Constant Sequence Test" runs as a non‑paid, data‑wipe trial and will accept applications...
Loom Games Claims “Unicorn” Crown in Record Time for Turkish Startup
Los Angeles‑based Scopely agreed to acquire a majority stake in Istanbul‑born mobile‑game studio Loom Games, valuing the company at over $1 billion through a performance‑based structure. Loom, founded in August 2025, launched its first title “Pixel Flow” in September, attracting more than 10 million...
Donkey Kong Bananza Updated to Ver. 3.2.0
Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo’s mobile platformer, has been updated to version 3.2.0. The patch notes cite several issues addressed to improve the gameplay experience. Although the details are brief, the update likely targets stability, performance and minor bugs. It arrives as...
Kirby Air Riders Updated to Ver. 1.3.1
Kirby Air Riders received its latest patch, version 1.3.1, rolling out to Nintendo Switch users. The update introduces amiibo compatibility for three figures—Meta Knight, King Dedede and Chef Kawasaki—each granting a unique Star power in‑game. Nintendo provided detailed patch notes outlining the new...
Kirby Air Riders 1.3.1 Update Out Now, Patch Notes
Nintendo released Kirby Air Riders version 1.3.1, adding support for three new amiibo figures and a sweeping set of balance adjustments for riders, machines, and copy abilities. The patch also introduces extensive bug fixes, notably improving online communication stability and...