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
Loot Box Crackdown? South Korea Eyes Revenue Penalties for Probability Disclosure Breaches
South Korea is set to amend the Game Industry Promotion Act, allowing regulators to impose an administrative surcharge of up to 3% of revenue or KRW 1 billion on games that fail to disclose or misrepresent loot‑box probabilities. The proposal follows a 2025 punitive‑damages rule that triples damages for similar violations, reflecting concerns that current fines are insufficient relative to the profits from probability‑based monetisation. Lawmakers argue the new penalty will close the gap between economic gains and enforcement. The Ministry of Culture cautions about potential overlap with existing Fair Trade sanctions, while industry groups warn the revenue definition is vague.
First‑Party Studio Drives Early Hardware Collaboration with Microsoft
the most interesting part of this: "Our studio system is fully built around being first-party. We're not built to just be a publisher," Matt Booty explained. "It is core to our partnership with the Microsoft platform, being involved in early hardware...
Sandbox Survival Last Oasis To Run Stress Test Just Before Launching Its Next Big Content Update
Last Oasis will wipe all servers for a stress test from February 27 through the weekend, then launch Season 6 Chapter 1 on March 6. The update pivots toward game‑wide events, new PvP balance tweaks, and broader functional improvements. A fresh ModPack is also...
New Xbox CEO Defers Commentary, Cites Need to Understand Decisions
New Xbox CEO's second interview after the shakeup (Variety had the 1st). Nothing about layoffs, exclusivity, hardware plans, or why Bond left and nobody thanked her. Sharma says she still needs to learn why decisions were made before commenting on them? https://t.co/SjQr6dGwYO
PUBG Mobile Pro Laga (PMPL) Indonesia 2026 Spring Returns the Series with a Path to Global Glory
The PUBG Mobile Pro Laga (PMPL) Indonesia 2026 Spring season kicks off in February, featuring 24 elite teams battling for regional supremacy. The competition runs from 27 February to 29 March, culminating in an offline Grand Final at Surabaya's Grand City Convention...
From Our Conversations with Xbox Leadership: A Firm Stand Against AI‑generated Junk — "We're Committed to Art Made by People"
Microsoft announced that longtime Xbox leader Phil Spencer is stepping down, with Asha Sharma—formerly head of Microsoft CoreAI—taking the helm. Sharma publicly pledged that Xbox will not tolerate AI‑generated junk, emphasizing human‑crafted art as the core of its games. She...
Discord Delays Age Verification Measures as It Admits What It Got 'Wrong'
Discord announced it will postpone the global rollout of its "teen‑by‑default" age verification system until the second half of 2026, after user backlash and privacy concerns. The company will still enforce verification in jurisdictions with legal mandates such as Australia,...
Twitch Reportedly Requires Persona ID Verification for Affiliates Payout
Twitch announced that new affiliates must complete identity verification through Persona before receiving their first payout. Streamers are required to upload a government‑issued photo ID and a selfie, with no alternative verification option currently available. The move follows reports that...
Exclusive: Talking to New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty — "This Team Has Brought It Back Before,...
Microsoft announced Asha Sharma as Xbox's new CEO on February 23, 2026, alongside Chief Commercial Officer Matt Booty. Sharma pledged a "return to Xbox," emphasizing renewed focus on the console platform and the long‑standing fan community. She also signaled a...
Dual Screen Laptops Stopped Being a Gimmick
ASUS unveiled the 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, the first dual‑screen gaming laptop designed for practical use rather than a novelty. It features two 16‑inch 3K OLED panels with 120 Hz refresh, an RTX 5090 GPU running at 135 W, and a five‑mode hinge...
Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent Announced, Bringing Dungeon Crawler To PC and Consoles In Spring 2026
Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, a tactical RPG adaptation of the long‑running Descent tabletop series, was announced for a spring 2026 launch on PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. The game combines real‑time combat, exploration and a wholly original storyline...
ARC Raiders - Worth Your Salt Quest Bugged in New Shrouded Sky Update
The new "Worth Your Salt" quest introduced in ARC Raiders' Shrouded Sky update is currently uncompletable for most players. The quest requires charging a battery and placing it in a vessel, but only the first of over 20 players can...
Shiro Games Offers First-Ever Playable Demo of Sci-Fi Sim and Builder, SpaceCraft
Shiro Games unveiled the first playable demo of its sci‑fi simulation builder SpaceCraft during Steam Next Fest. The demo lets players launch into the Solar Alpha system, gather resources, and experience seamless travel from orbit to planetary surfaces. It also...
DraculaN Season 5 Reaches Playoffs
The Digital Crusade DraculaN Season 5 group stage wrapped up, sending eight teams into a double‑elimination playoff bracket. North America’s 100 Thieves topped Group B and can jump from VRS #132 to #101 with a win over ENCE, while Nexus earned a quarter‑final...
Beyblade X Xone Brings Fourth Generation Beyblade Action to Mobile with a New Story, Coming Soon via Crunchyroll Games
Crunchyroll announced Beyblade X Xone, a mobile adaptation of the fourth‑generation BEYBLADE X franchise developed by FURYU. The isometric action title introduces a brand‑new storyline, original characters, and the X‑celerator Rail tournament. Players can customize their Beyblades with over 100 million...
Nafany's TDK Win ECL Season 51 Europe Cup 1
TDK captured the ESL Challenger League Season 51 Europe Cup 1 title, beating Alliance 2‑1 in the grand final and pocketing a $12,000 prize. The victory secures a spot at the Season 51 Europe Finals and adds 149 VRS points, propelling the squad...
Sega Deals: Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, Metaphor ReFantazio, and More for Cheap
Sega’s Lunar New Year sale, running through March 1, slashes prices on hundreds of titles across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Switch 2. Discounts climb as high as 70 % off, spotlighting games like Metaphor: ReFantazio at $34.99 and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds at...
WWE 2K26 Roster Revealed
2K Games unveiled the full WWE 2K26 roster, featuring over 300 wrestlers spanning current superstars, all‑time legends, and a debut Lucha Libre AAA contingent. The list includes marquee names such as Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch, and The Rock, while also adding...
Trash Pokémon Deserve Love, Too
The article celebrates the “trash” Pokémon—Grimer, Muk, Trubbish, Garbodor, Koffing and Weezing—highlighting their origins as sludge‑based creatures born from human waste. It contrasts these inanimate‑object Pokémon with the series’ animal, plant and mineral categories, noting their unique Pokédex lore. The...
As Its New Owners Take Over, EVO Announces More In-Person FGC Tournaments, Including A Stop In Saudi Arabia
Evolution Championship Series (Evo) has announced a major expansion under its new owners, Qiddiya Entertainment, adding tournaments in Saudi Arabia, China, Morocco, Brazil and Mexico while keeping legacy events in Vegas, Japan, France and Singapore unchanged. The rollout includes a...
Soapy Tales Now Available on Switch
Indie title Soapy Tales has launched on Nintendo Switch, debuting with a first‑person, pastel‑styled adventure that mixes relaxing chores and time‑space management. Players assume the role of an amnesiac ghost tasked with balancing good and bad deeds to earn redemption...
Overwatch "Picture of Success Story Time with Taj Atwal as Domina" Video
Blizzard is rolling out ten new Overwatch heroes throughout 2024, with the first five debuting in Season 1. The latest lore video, “Picture of Success,” features voice actor Taj Atwal as Domina and deepens the Vishkar power struggle narrative. Each hero...
The Sims FreePlay Livin’ Large Town Expansion Update: New Levels, More Sims, and Landgraab Ventures Explained
The Sims FreePlay launches the Livin’ Large Town Expansion, raising the level cap from 65 to 75 and unlocking seven new Sim characters, bringing the total to 53. The update introduces Landgraab Ventures, a permanent store‑upgrade system offering 100 upgrade...
Crunchyroll Opens Pre-Registration for Two New Titles Pepper Grinder and Beyblade X: Xone
Crunchyroll has opened pre‑registration for two new mobile games, Pepper Grinder and Beyblade X: Xone. Pepper Grinder, a 2D action‑platformer developed by indie studio Ahr Ech, launches on February 26, 2026, while Beyblade X: Xone, an action‑fighting adaptation of the...
Preview Some of the Changes, New Content, Extra Boss Challenges, and More in The Backwoods, Fallout 76's Next Update
Bethesda’s Fallout 76 “The Backwoods” update launches on March 3, kicking off Season 24. The patch reworks public events, adds post‑event challenges and new legendary bosses such as Bigfoot, Deathclaw and the Wendigo Colossus. Players can earn high‑tier loot like the four‑star Thrill...
New Invincible Vs Character to Be Revealed Tomorrow During IGN Fan Fest, Mortal Kombat 2 Movie Trailer to Also Be...
The IGN Fan Fest will unveil a new character for the upcoming fighting game Invincible Vs, which is slated for an April 30, 2026 release. The game currently lists 13 fighters and promises an 18‑character base roster, with additional DLC planned. Speculation...
NumTrail Is a New Number Maze Puzzle Game, Out on Android
SUCCESS Corporation has launched NumTrail, a new number‑maze puzzle game for Android. The title blends Sudoku‑style number placement with path‑finding, requiring players to move exactly the amount shown on each tile to reach a goal. At launch the game offers...
List of All Nintendo Switch 2 Games with a Game-Key Card Release
Nintendo Switch 2 introduces game‑key cards, a hybrid physical‑digital format that requires a download before offline play. The article provides a comprehensive list of titles released on these cards, ranging from major franchises like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth...
FINAL FANTASY VII Is Now Out with a Limited-Time Discount, Alongside Classic FINAL FANTASY Deals
GOG announced the launch of Final Fantasy VII on its DRM‑free platform, offering a limited‑time 60% discount. The promotion extends to four other iconic titles—Final Fantasy III and IV 3D remakes, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, and Final Fantasy IX—also at...
Discord Is Delaying Its Controversial Age Verification Methods Due to Backlash: ‘We’ve Made Mistakes’
Discord announced a global age‑verification rollout featuring facial scans and ID uploads, but user backlash forced a delay. CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted the company failed to explain the process clearly, especially after a 2024 breach that exposed 1.5 TB of verification...
Where To Find All Of Dr. Gurgula's Hidden Transmissions In High On Life 2
High On Life 2 hides three Dr. Gurgula transmissions across its campaign. The first appears in the Wyoming “Rescue Your Dad From The Cult” mission, accessed via a vent after the mini‑boss. The second is found in the Pinkline Harbor “Kill Scientist...
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Ex-Radical Entertainment, Hothead Games Devs Form New Studio
Veteran developers from the defunct Radical Entertainment and Hothead Games have launched New Radical Games, with Ian Wilkinson as CEO and Tim Bennison as COO. Wilkinson, a co‑founder of Radical, sold the studio to Vivendi and later joined Hothead, while Bennison...
This Long-Awaited Sequel to a Classic Split Screen Survival RPG Will Be DRM-Free on GOG when It Launches Later This...
Outward 2, the long‑awaited sequel to Nine Dots Studio’s split‑screen RPG, will launch DRM‑free on GOG this summer as part of the platform’s Preservation Program. The announcement arrives amid a broader resurgence of split‑screen gaming, highlighted by titles like Split Fiction...
Discord Delay Global Rollout of Age Verification to Improve Transparency and Add More Options
Discord has postponed its global age‑verification rollout after admitting its initial communication was unclear. The delay applies only to regions without existing legal mandates, while the UK, Australia and soon Brazil will continue enforcing checks. The company outlined five prerequisites—more...
Are Destiny 2 Servers Down? Destiny 2 Server Status and How to Check It
The Destructoid guide walks players through confirming whether Destiny 2’s servers are offline or if the issue lies on their end. It highlights Bungie’s official status pages, social channels, and error code CAT as primary signals of scheduled maintenance or pending patches....
Best Abilities For Berserker Hirdman In Norse: Oath Of Blood
The article outlines the optimal ability choices for the Berserker Hirdman in Norse: Oath Of Blood, highlighting the two distinct Bear and Wolf ability trees. It recommends the Bloodletting skill at Oathsworn rank to offset the unit’s low health, and...
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift Has a Promising Premise That’s Let Down by the Execution
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift tries to merge zombie survival, vehicular combat, and roguelite progression, but the experience is hampered by clunky instant‑death mechanics, shallow customization, and repetitive track design. The premise of weaponized cars battling undead is intriguing, yet the game...
ZakuzakuSlash, a Fast-Paced Auto-Battler RPG that Rewards Smart Deck Building, Arrives on Mobile in March 2026
Japanese studio nekosuko announced ZakuzakuSlash, a fast‑paced auto‑battler RPG slated for a March 20, 2026 release on iOS and Android. The game blends rapid auto‑battles with spinning skill slots, allowing players to craft decks from main effects and random sub‑effects. Dungeon exploration...
Twitch Introduces Separate Streaming And Chatting Suspensions Under New Enforcement Framework
Twitch is overhauling its suspension system by introducing two distinct penalties—streaming suspensions and chat suspensions—linked directly to the type of policy breach. A streaming suspension blocks live broadcasts and disables the channel’s chat while still allowing the user to watch...
Cyprus Unites 300+ Game Studios in New Developer Group
Cyprus, with more than 300 game companies, has formed its own game developers group. https://t.co/cRBeAylwCk
Silent Hill Fans Beg Konami for a Silent Hill Port, GOG Backs Them Up
The 27‑year‑old original Silent Hill remains locked to PlayStation hardware, with no official PC port or remaster. GOG.com has highlighted the title on its Dreamlist, where it currently holds 116,577 votes, and is urging fans to vote, share stories, and...
Supercell Unveils New Rewards for Brawl Stars Championship
Supercell announced a new tiered reward system for the Brawl Stars Championship 2026, featuring Chaos Drops, Legendary Drops and exclusive LAN titles. Players earn Chaos Drops every third win in the Championship Challenge and through each round of the Monthly...
New 30‑Minute Podcast Explores Games Writing
I've wanted to bring back Worth Reading in some form for years. I'm really excited to have settled on this format. 30 minutes. An interesting conversation about a piece of interesting games writing. That's it. That's the pitch. That's the...
Apex Legends Finally Nerfs It's Most Overpowered Character, but My Guy Fuse Is Still Completely Useless
Respawn released a hotfix that removes the “Fortified” buff from Octane’s stim and reduces its speed boost after player complaints about his overpowered performance. At the same time, Fuse’s Season 28 rework remains problematic, with his new ultimate dealing little to...
Monster Hunter Wilds Release Date Speculation, Beta, and Gameplay
Monster Hunter Outlanders, the next mobile entry from TiMi Studios, aims to deliver a full‑fat mainline experience on iOS and Android. A closed beta ran from late November to early December 2025, showcasing polished gameplay but no official launch date has...
D7VK 1.4 Released With More Improvements For Old Direct3D On Vulkan Under Linux
D7VK 1.4 has been released, extending the open‑source layer that translates Direct3D 5‑7 calls to Vulkan on Linux. The update introduces depth write‑back support, color‑key transparency, and a consolidated legacy DDraw interoperability path. Compatibility for older Direct3D 5 and 6 titles has been...
New Retro-Styled MMO Hits a New Steam High because Players Are… Attending a Poetry Event?
Project: Gorgon, a retro‑styled indie MMORPG, recorded a peak of over 4,000 concurrent players during an in‑game poetry slam. The event attracted roughly 350 participants in a virtual pub, far exceeding the game’s previous all‑time high of about 700 players....
Don't Fancy Trying Marathon This Weekend? Lucky You, as There's Now the Chance to Have a Go at Horizon Hunters...
Guerrilla Games announced a Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest from February 27 to March 1, accessible through PlayStation’s beta program and Steam. Participants will test three characters, a single map, and two co‑op modes—Machine Excursion and Cauldron Descent—within a limited three‑hour daily window....
Death Stranding 2 System Requirements Are Here, and You'll Need an RTX 4080 to Play at 4K
Death Stranding 2’s system requirements have been published, outlining four performance tiers from 1080p @ 30 fps up to 4K @ 60 fps. The minimum tier runs on a GTX 1060 or RX 5500 XT with 16 GB RAM and a 150 GB SSD, while the very‑high tier demands an RTX 4080 or...
New Version of Original Final Fantasy VII for PC Now Available
Square Enix launched an updated PC version of the original Final Fantasy VII on Steam and GOG for $11.99. Existing Steam owners receive the upgrade at no extra cost, while the older 2013 Edition remains accessible but is no longer purchasable....