Today's Gaming Pulse
Capcom rolls out free demo for blockbuster Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem, which has sold over 7 million copies, now offers a free demo across major platforms. Players can try early chapters on Steam, Epic, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2, though progress cannot be transferred to the full game.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Goldenpeak takes majority stake in Ampere Analysis
Vitality Reach IEM Atlanta Playoffs Through Lower Bracket; BetBoom Secure Semi-Final Seed
Vitality clinched a spot in the IEM Atlanta playoffs with a decisive 2‑0 victory over B8 on Mirage and Dust2, highlighted by strong performances from ZywOo and flameZ. Meanwhile, BetBoom defeated paiN 2‑0, securing a direct seed in the tournament semi‑finals. Both matches showcased dominant map control and high individual ratings, underscoring the teams' momentum heading into the later stages of the event.
New Twitch Change Lets All Streamers Make Money Right Away, but There’s a Catch
Twitch is extending its Affiliate‑only monetization suite—including Channel Points, Bits, subscriptions, custom emotes and badges—to every streamer in the United States, with a worldwide rollout expected later in 2026. The tools become instantly usable, but creators who are not Affiliates...
Night Street Games Cuts Jobs After Last Flag Fails to "Achieve the Financial Success We Anticipated"
Night Street Games announced a staff reduction after its newly launched hero shooter Last Flag failed to meet projected revenue targets. Executive producer Jonathan Jelinek confirmed the cuts on LinkedIn but did not disclose the exact number of affected employees....
Netflix Is a Joke Presents: Gifted Is a Meme-Making Social Party Game
Netflix has launched "Netflix is a Joke Presents: Gifted," an 18+ social party game built around meme‑filled GIFs. The title debuted alongside the Netflix Is a Joke festival and is available via Netflix Cloud Gaming on TV and browsers, using...
Ken Levine Says Judas Took 10 Years because of Narrative Ambition, Not Graphics
Ken Levine told IGN that Ghost Story Games' upcoming title Judas required ten years because the team built a dynamic narrative system, not because of rendering limits. He also argued that chasing photorealism is costly and quickly ages, preferring a...
GreaterThan Group Raises $100M to Back Global Game Studios, Including Star Wars RPG
Simon Zhu, a former NetEase president, has launched GreaterThan Group, a holding company that has secured roughly $100 million in capital to invest in video‑game developers worldwide. The fund’s first marquee projects include Arcanaut Studios’ Star Wars: Fate of the Old...
Apple's Tool Crackdown Threatens Developer Freedom
Apple's crackdown on next-generation development tools is a threat to the freedom of all developers.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Has a 10 Hour Story Mode WITH Playable Segments
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, slated for an August 6, 2026 release, will include a 10‑hour single‑player Episode Mode that blends motion‑comic storytelling with playable battles. The mode features five distinct teams led by iconic heroes such as Captain America, Storm, Spider‑Man, Ghost...
Xbox's New Filters Aim to Make Sense of Disorganized Game Libraries
Microsoft has begun rolling out an Xbox Insider update that introduces library‑filtering tools, letting users separate owned games, shared titles, and Game Pass selections. The same update refreshes the console’s boot‑up animation and sound, and adds tiered Gamerscore badges to...
Embark Says the 'Pressure of a Monthly Cycle' Is Holding Arc Raiders Back, so It's Slowing Down: Major Updates Will...
Embark announced that Arc Raiders will abandon its monthly update rhythm in favor of major releases twice a year. The shift aims to deliver larger, more transformative content such as the upcoming Frozen Trail expansion, new progression systems, and fresh enemy...
The Thaumaturge, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and Enotria Join the PS Plus Game Catalog From May 19
Sony announced that three new titles—The Thaumaturge, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and Enotria: The Last Song—will join the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog on May 19, 2026. The games span turn‑based tactical combat, souls‑lite action, and action‑RPG exploration, broadening the service’s genre mix....
The Fortnite Overwatch Collab Drops Tomorrow, but Despite Hype Skins, some of Us Aren't Happy
Epic Games announced that the Fortnite × Overwatch crossover will launch on May 14, bringing four Overwatch‑themed skins, three emotes, weapons and map decorations to the Fortnite shop. The drop coincides with Overwatch’s tenth‑anniversary celebrations, which include limited‑time quests and a special SUV...
May's PS Plus Game Catalog Additions Include Red Dead Redemption 2 and Star Wars Outlaws
Sony announced the May 2024 PlayStation Plus catalog, adding Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws to the Extra and Premium tiers. The RDR2 entry is the PS4 version, still lacking a next‑gen performance patch, while Outlaws arrives...
Forza Horizon 6 Launch Times Revealed, Here's How to Play It Now
Microsoft's Forza Horizon 6 will launch for Premium Edition owners at 12:01 am local time on Friday, May 15, 2026, with the standard edition following on May 19. Because the rollout is based on regional time zones, players can gain a head start by...
Several Overwatch Heroes Are About to Hit Fortnite
Epic Games confirmed that four Overwatch heroes—Mercy, Tracer, Genji and a mech‑less D.Va—will arrive in Fortnite as part of a themed bundle on May 14. The bundle adds emotes, pickaxes, a glider and a Porsche Cayenne EV vehicle decorated with hero...
Protesters Mock ‘Raid’ EA HQ Over $20 B Saudi Takeover, 70,000 Sign Petition
A small group of gamers staged a mock MMO‑style raid at Electronic Arts’ Redwood City campus to protest the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s $20 billion leveraged buyout. They attempted to hand a petition signed by more than 70,000 opponents, but security...
![[Industry News] Bit Bot Expands Leadership with AAA Veterans, Appoints Halo’s Frank O’Connor as Creative Director](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Bit-Bot-Text-Black-1024x1024.png)
[Industry News] Bit Bot Expands Leadership with AAA Veterans, Appoints Halo’s Frank O’Connor as Creative Director
Bit Bot, an indie multimedia studio, announced a major leadership expansion by hiring former Halo franchise development director Frank O’Connor as Creative Director and veteran studio manager Brian Ullrich. The company also added a slate of high‑profile advisors from franchises...
Neowiz Hires AI Creator to Boost Art Pipeline for Lies of P Sequel
Neowiz, the South Korean publisher behind the Souls‑like hit Lies of P, announced it is hiring an “AI Creator” to embed generative‑AI tools into its art pipeline for the sequel. The move signals a shift toward AI‑augmented production even as...
Anbernic RG Rotate Now Available for $83 and up (Handheld Game Console with Flip-Out Display)
Anbernic has launched the RG Rotate handheld, a compact device with a flip‑out 3.5‑inch 720×720 screen, priced from $83 after a $5 launch discount. The console runs Android 12, is powered by a Unisoc Tiger T618 processor, 3 GB RAM, and offers 32 GB...
Crunchyroll Ani-May X Forza Horizon 6: Sign Up to Claim a Free Car Voucher
Crunchyroll is offering its Ani‑May members a free Forza Horizon 6 in‑game car voucher. To receive the code, users must sign up for a paid Crunchyroll subscription and claim the voucher between May 7 and May 31, 2026. The voucher can be redeemed...
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Says Clair Obscur’s Success Shows Appetite for More Action Gameplay
Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi says modern gamers are gravitating toward action‑heavy gameplay, even in traditionally turn‑based RPGs. He cites the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as proof that hybrid combat resonates with younger players who demand instant feedback. While...
Lies of P 2 Still at Early Stage, But the Potential Is Promising
Round8 Studio has moved the Lies of P sequel into full development after Neowiz approved the prototype in its latest financial report. The original title has sold over four million copies and its Overture expansion, while now stabilised, was deemed...
Silent Hill 2 Remake Surpasses 6 Million Players
Konami announced that Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 Remake has surpassed six million players worldwide as of April 24, counting physical and digital sales plus PlayStation Plus Extra streams. The remake, launched on PS5 and PC in October 2024 and on Xbox Series X/S in...
Tekken Legend Katsuhiro Harada Launches VS Studio with SNK
Katsuhiro Harada, the longtime Tekken producer, has departed Bandai Namco after more than three decades and founded VS Studio, a Tokyo‑based studio backed by SNK. The move pairs Harada’s fighting‑game pedigree with SNK’s historic franchises, setting up a fresh competitive...
Devil May Cry And Dead Rising Are Key Franchises To Grow For Capcom
Capcom’s most recent earnings report spotlights Devil May Cry, Dead Rising, Ace Attorney and other legacy series as core growth engines. The company plans to expand these brands through sequels, remakes, ports and new IP, with a rumored Dead Rising sequel hinted at by a...
'Faker' Lee Sang-Hyeok: "We Have a Good Chance Against Gen.G on Saturday"
T1 posted a clean 2‑0 win over Nongshim RedForce in the LCK regular season, extending its three‑game winning streak. Faker earned Player of the Match after a solo Akali kill on Viktor and praised the team's momentum and practice improvements....
Stardew Valley Might Let You Cheat On Your Spouse
Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe said he is open to adding a cheating option for married players, though it would bring "serious consequences" in‑game. At present, players can only gift other characters, which already irritates spouses. Barone expressed uncertainty about fan...
Grow Home and Grow Up From Atari Added to the GOG Preservation Program
GOG has added Grow Home and Grow Up to its Preservation Program, offering the titles DRM‑free on its storefront. Both games originated at Ubisoft and were acquired by Atari in 2025, now available as a bundled purchase. The move supports...
'SEGA May Special Sale' Now Underway, Featuring Two Point Museum and Like a Dragon: Gaiden
SEGA Publishing Korea launched a two‑week ‘May Special Sale’ on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop, running from May 13 to May 27, 2026. The promotion offers deep discounts on key SEGA and ATLUS titles, including a 30% cut on the Like...
Sensor Tower Data Shows Mobile Gaming Spend Hits $6.55 B, U.S. Leads with 30% Share
Sensor Tower reports global consumer spending on mobile games climbed to $6.55 billion in February 2026, driven by higher‑quality user acquisition and localized ad formats. The United States contributed 30% of revenue, while downloads topped 3.5 billion, highlighting a shift toward content‑centric...
Developers Reveal Which Universe Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Is Based In
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is slated for an August 6, 2026 launch, debuting with a 20‑fighter roster that includes fan‑favorite heroes such as Captain America, Iron Man, and Wolverine. Six additional characters remain undisclosed, and the game introduces an original figure called The...
Haunted Chocolatier Is Set To Be ‘Way Bigger than Stardew Valley,’ Somehow
Indie veteran Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, announced that his upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier will surpass Stardew Valley in scale, featuring more maps, monsters, and a deeper item system. Barone is allocating five days a week to the new project...
All FC 26 Liga F and Liga Portugal TOTS Players and Release Countdown
EA Sports announced that FC 26 will introduce Team of the Season (TOTS) cards for Spain's Liga F and Portugal's Liga Portugal on May 15. The promo will also bring La Liga TOTS, replacing the current Ligue 1 set, with the same release countdown across major...
Review: Nitro Gen Omega Still Feels Rough
DESTINYbit’s Nitro Gen Omega launches on PC as a post‑apocalyptic, anime‑styled RPG that blends mech combat with deep crew‑management. Players build a customizable airship‑mech, recruit and train mercenary pilots, and juggle resources like fuel, scrap and crew fatigue. The game’s...
NBA The Run Hits the Streets on June 9
NBA The Run, an arcade‑style basketball game from Play by Play Studios, arrives on June 9 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC at $30. Overseen by Mike Young, the original NBA Street artist, the title emphasizes fast‑paced 3v3 knockout matches rather than...
Blizzard Launches Overwatch 10th‑Anniversary Event with 21 Free Skins
Blizzard Entertainment has opened the Overwatch 10th‑anniversary celebration, running May 12‑June 1 and handing out 21 exclusive launch‑hero skins, 15 anniversary loot boxes and dozens of community‑crafted cosmetics. The free‑to‑play rewards aim to boost player activity and monetize the franchise after a...
Sega Cancels Long‑Teased 'Super Game' After Missed Deadline
NEW: The deadline for the release of Sega's "super game" was six weeks ago. Today, Sega said that the "super game" was no more. What was it? I've tracked five years of Super Game teases (including a now-deleted Super Game Q&A) Plus,...
NBA THE RUN Release Date and Edition Details Revealed
Play by Play Studios announced NBA THE RUN will launch on June 9, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game ships in two editions: a Standard version at $29.99 and a Deluxe version at $39.99, which adds three legacy NBA...
New Bodycam Revenge Shooter Feels Like Something You Shouldn’t Share Online
Better Than Dead, a new indie shooter released on Steam, puts players in a first‑person body‑cam perspective as a young woman fights back against a human‑trafficking ring. The game strips away typical HUD elements, offering hyper‑realistic gunplay where aiming is...
KingFish Is a Co-Op Roguelike Where One of You Gets to Play a City Builder While the Other Plays an...
KingFish is an upcoming co‑op roguelike that fuses city‑building with action combat. One player assumes the role of the King, gathering resources, battling foes, and responding to citizen requests, while the other controls the Fish, a living island that plans...
Marathon Player Goes Out Of Bounds To Grief Team Right After It Kills Raid Boss And Bungie’s Not Happy
Marathon’s Cryo Archive raid, a high‑stakes end‑game activity in Destiny 2, was disrupted when streamer NAPainter used an out‑of‑bounds clipping glitch to ambush a team that had just defeated the Compiler boss. The exploit allowed him to wait inside the loot...
Rhydon | Pokémon Guide
Rhydon is a Ground‑Rock Pokémon that evolves from Rhyhorn at level 42 and can further evolve into Rhyperior when holding a Protector and traded. It boasts solid bulk with 105 HP, 130 Attack and 120 Defense, but suffers from low Speed. The guide lists...
Rhyhorn | Pokémon Guide
Rhyhorn (National Pokédex #111) is a Ground‑Rock dual‑type Pokémon that evolves into Rhydon at level 42 and can later become Rhyperior when traded holding a Protector. It appears across every main‑line Pokémon generation, from the original Safari Zone in Red/Blue to...
I Didn't Think Lossless Scaling on Steam Deck Was a Controversial Issue, but It Turns Out I'm Wrong
The Steam Deck’s Lossless Scaling app, designed to boost frame generation, has sparked a heated debate on Reddit. While the tool enjoys a “very positive” rating on Steam, many users criticize its input lag, ghosting, and limited impact on performance....
Zenless Zone Zero Norma Release Date Speculation, Voice Actors, and Lore
Zenless Zone Zero is set to introduce Norma Hollowell in its upcoming 3.0 update, a blonde S‑rank fire‑stun agent from the External Strategy Department faction. The character’s debut was hinted by recent drip‑marketing posts and an official introduction alongside the...
‘Wanderstop’ Soundtrack to Get Vinyl Release
Wanderstop, the cozy tea‑shop simulation released in March 2025, is getting its first physical editions for Nintendo Switch ($49.99) and PlayStation 5 ($39.99) with stickers and a fold‑out poster, shipping August 28, 2026. The game’s lo‑fi soundtrack by C418 will also be issued...
Sega Scrubs $800 Million ‘Super Game’ Plan, Shifts to Core Franchises
Sega Sammy announced the cancellation of its $800 million Super Game project, citing weak free‑to‑play performance and a costly Rovio acquisition. The company will reassign more than 100 developers to premium, franchise‑driven titles, aiming to boost FY2027 consumer sales.
Chansey | Pokémon Guide
Chansey, the Normal‑type “Lucky” Pokémon, is a high‑HP healer prized for its Natural Cure and hidden Healer ability. It evolves from Happiny when holding an Oval Stone during the day and can further evolve into Blissey once friendship is maxed....
Zenless Zone Zero Velina Release Date, Voice Actors, and Lore
Zenless Zone Zero adds Velina, the franchise’s first wind‑type agent, on June 17 as part of the version 3.0 update. She arrives as an S‑Rank anomaly, leading the new External Strategy Department in the Roscaelifer region. Velina’s introduction brings a fresh...
Dead Space 4 Looks Unlikely as "Companies Are Looking for the Next Fortnite," Series Producer Says
Series producer Chuck Beaver says a new Dead Space entry is unlikely because EA’s sales expectations have risen dramatically. Despite a dedicated horror fan base, the original trilogy sold around five million copies, far below the seven‑million benchmark set by...