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
Mewgenics' 'Waste Time' Ability Is Actually Overpowered
Mewgenics’ seemingly useless "Waste Time" ability actually costs only one mana and does nothing, yet it unlocks powerful synergies for several classes. By ending turns with precise mana levels, it triggers numeric passives, boosts spells like Crescendo and Resonance, and fuels damage‑spiking combos for mages, monks, and necromancers. Players have reported single‑turn bursts of hundreds of damage when pairing Waste Time with the right equipment and abilities. The discovery underscores how the game’s design hides high‑impact strategies behind odd‑looking powers.
Clash Royale Merge Tactics Season 7 Update: New Structure, Party Mode, Dagger Duchess, Equipment Modifiers, and More
Clash Royale’s Merge Tactics mode launches Season 7 on 23 February, extending each season to six‑seven weeks and running through 13 April 2026. The update adds Party mode for two‑player queues, introduces the Dagger Duchess ruler with equipment‑based abilities, and brings Equipment modifiers to...
Animal Crossing Watches Capsule Toys Appear in Japan
Takara Tomy announced a new Animal Crossing: New Horizons watch capsule toy set, rolling out in Japanese gashapon machines this week. Each pull costs 400 yen (≈$2.60) and yields one of five digital watches themed after iconic NPCs. The watches feature...
Ohio School District Sues Microsoft, Roblox over Video Game Harm to Students
The Champion Local School District in Ohio filed a 185‑page lawsuit against Microsoft (including its Mojang subsidiary) and Roblox, alleging that their games such as Minecraft and Roblox are engineered to create addiction and mental‑health issues among students. The district...
Diablo Immortal Getting New WoW Midnight Crossover, New and Returning Events, Queue Improvements, and More
Blizzard’s next Diablo Immortal patch introduces a World of Warcraft crossover, letting players complete a quest in Silvermoon City to earn the Harbinger of Darkness cosmetic. A new Avarice the Gold‑cursed goblin event spawns treasure goblins that drop legendary gear,...
Full WWE 2K26 Roster Revealed, Features over 400 Superstars
2K announced WWE 2K26 for Nintendo Switch 2 launching March 6, 2026, revealing a roster exceeding 400 Superstars. The game adds four new match types, expanded creation tools, and revamped MyGM, MyRISE, and Universe modes. A new Ringside Pass replaces traditional DLC, offering 100...
Umamusume Gets New Beyond Dreams Career Scenario
Cygames announced the "Beyond Dreams" career scenario for Umamusume: Pretty Derby, debuting on the Japanese server on February 24, 2026 as part of the game’s fifth anniversary. The new mode centers on training a horse‑girl for the Breeders’ Cup and...
Inside Blizzard Entertainment’s Lofty Goal to Wow the Gaming World Again
Blizzard Entertainment marked its 35th anniversary with a series of Showcase announcements, rebranding Overwatch 2 back to Overwatch and unveiling a year‑long narrative arc. World of Warcraft received a long‑awaited in‑game housing system, while Diablo II got its first update in 25...
MLB The Show 26 "Storylines: The Negro Leagues Season 4" Video Feature
MLB The Show 26 will launch on Nintendo Switch on March 17, 2026, and its latest trailer highlights the return of the award‑winning Storylines mode with Negro Leagues Season 4, featuring legends such as Roy Campanella and Mamie Johnson. The game...
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege Heads to Switch April 20th, 2026
Indie studio Lillymo Games announced its upcoming title Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege, slated for a Nintendo Switch launch on April 20, 2026. The action‑RPG blends 21 stages of single‑player narrative with optional two‑player co‑op, set in a grim 1698 Holy Roman...
EDGE Review Scores for Issue #421
EDGE magazine released its issue 421 review roundup on 23 February 2026, highlighting twelve Nintendo Switch titles. Scores range from a low of 4 to a high of 8, with six games receiving a 7 and three earning an 8. The publication bolds...
GameSquare Acquires TubeBuddy Assets
The episode details GameSquare Holdings' acquisition of TubeBuddy's assets from Ben Labs, exchanging 5 million shares of its new Series A2 Preferred Stock. TubeBuddy is an AI‑driven platform that helps creators and brands optimize YouTube performance through SEO, analytics, and workflow...
Forza Horizon 6 Dev Explains Campaign Progression & How You Can 'Deliver Food As A Side Hustle'
Playground Games revealed that Forza Horizon 6 will reintroduce a seven‑step Festival Wristband system, requiring players to earn each wristband before accessing higher‑tier cars, with hypercars unlocked only after the Purple Wristband. The game also adds a Discover Japan mechanic that...
King of Meat Cancelled
Glowmade and Amazon Games announced the multiplayer action title King of Meat in August 2025, promising vibrant combat and user‑generated dungeons. The game launched on several platforms but struggled to attract a sustainable player base. Development of a Nintendo Switch...
The Dune Spice Wars Dev Just Put Out a Demo for Its New Online Space Crafting Game, and Yes, It...
Shiro Games, known for Northgard and Evoland, has launched a public demo of SpaceCraft, an online interplanetary crafting game that features seamless travel between space and planetary surfaces. The demo drops players into the Solar Alpha system where they can...
HP Omen Max 16 Gaming Laptop You Either Love It or Hate It
HP’s Omen Max 16 launches with three GPU options—RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090—and two CPU choices, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX or AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. Priced from $2,099, the Intel‑based RTX 5080 configuration garners the most praise for its OLED 2.5K 240 Hz display and effective Tempest...
FFXI and FFXIV Square Enix Account Security Question and Answer Removed
Square Enix announced that the security question and answer tied to Square Enix Accounts for Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV will be retired on February 24, 2026. Players will not need to remember or re‑enter this credential, and...
Best CS2 Settings for Low-End PCs: Boost FPS and Optimize Performance
The article outlines a step‑by‑step guide for squeezing maximum FPS out of Counter‑Strike 2 on low‑end PCs. It recommends lowering resolution, switching to fullscreen, and setting every graphics option to low while disabling ambient occlusion and HDR. Additional tweaks include turning...
World of Warships: Legends Sets Final Steam Beta, Wargaming Publisher Sale Offers Discounts & Free Stuff
World of Warships: Legends will hold its final closed beta on Steam from March 12‑16, featuring full cross‑play and live‑server matchmaking. Players who participated in earlier tests receive automatic invitations, while new applicants can request access via the Steam page. Simultaneously,...
Team Vitality Reaffirms Commitment to Sim Racing
Team Vitality announced it will exit the RENNSPORT R1 series and shift its sim‑racing focus to the upcoming ERL VCO championship while building a dedicated division. The French esports group retained R8G Esports as manager and added three drivers—Kaj de Bruin,...
BC.Game Out of Parken Challenger Championship Season 1 After Losses to ECSTATIC and Illwill
BC.Game’s run at the inaugural Parken Challenger Championship Season 1 ended abruptly in the double‑elimination playoffs after back‑to‑back losses to ECSTATIC and illwill. Despite entering as the second‑highest seeded team, the squad managed only a single notable group‑stage victory over 9INE...
With Steam Decks Selling Out and Game Pass' Future Uncertain, How Will the Next Generation Play Games at All?
Rising RAM prices, driven by AI‑related demand, are inflating component costs for PCs, consoles and handhelds. The shortage has left Steam Decks repeatedly out of stock and forced manufacturers like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo to contemplate price hikes. A recent...
Com2uS’s New Destiny Child Idle RPG Is Expected to Release Globally This Year on Mobile with Rich Narrative and Visuals
Com2uS announced a partnership with SHIFTUP to revive the Destiny Child franchise as an idle RPG, targeting a global mobile launch in 2026. Development is handled by Com2uS’s TikiTaka Studio, known for high‑quality visuals in titles like Soul Strike and Arcana Tactics....
2.5 FFVII Ever Crisis Anniversary Features Tifa and Sephiroth Costumes
Square Enix announced a 2.5 anniversary event for Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis starting February 28, 2026, featuring new costumes and weapons for Tifa Lockhart and Sephiroth. The celebration includes a Weapon Showdown PvP mode, daily login rewards such as free draws, five‑star weapons,...
Guide: Resident Evil Requiem Release Date, Release Times & Install Size On Xbox Series X|S
Capcom’s ninth main‑line title, Resident Evil Requiem, launches on Xbox Series X|S on Friday, February 27, 2026, at midnight local time. The game’s install footprint is 68.5 GB, with pre‑load beginning a few days prior. Requiem is a current‑gen‑only release, unavailable on Xbox...
Summer Game Fest Shares 2026 Play Days and Game Business Live Details
Summer Game Fest announced its 2026 in‑person schedule, with the invite‑only Play Days running June 6‑8 and a live kickoff show on June 5 at 2 PT, streamed globally. The event will feature hands‑on demos for media and creators, while public tickets will go...
Marathon Cheaters Will Be Permanently Banned by Bungie
Bungie announced that any player caught cheating in the upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will receive an immediate, permanent ban. The policy is outlined in a detailed blog post that also reveals the game’s technical anti‑cheat stack, including BattlEye and a...
NSE Names Vita Student as Headline Partner
National Student Esports (NSE) has named student‑accommodation provider Vita Student its headline partner for 2026. The partnership will back the British University Esports Championship and enable NSE to deliver more content, competitive events and enhanced player experiences throughout the academic...
“It’s a Step Too Far”: Rocket League Community Reacts to Teased Boost Timer Update
Epic Games announced Rocket League Season 22 for March 11, 2026, and the teaser trailer displayed a potential boost‑timer UI that counts down pad respawns. The visual cue shows a pad shifting from white to gold with a ‘3, 2,...
Nidorino | Pokémon Guide
Nidorino is the male‑line mid‑evolution of the classic Nido family, evolving from Nidoran♂ at level 16 and into Nidoking with a Moon Stone. The Pokémon is available in a wide range of locations, from Safari Zones in the original games to...
GTA 6 Price Leak Sparks Fan Backlash as Premium Pricing Rumors Ignite Outrage
Leaked retailer listings show a potential Xbox Series X edition of Grand Theft Auto 6 priced around $125 (£92), sparking immediate fan outrage. Take‑Two has already confirmed a November 19, 2026 launch date, intensifying speculation about a premium pricing strategy. The leak also included...
Marathon Targets Another Arc Raiders Weakness, Boldly Stating that Cheaters Will Be "Permabanned" With "No Second Chances"
Bungie announced that its upcoming shooter Marathon will enforce a zero‑tolerance anti‑cheat policy, permanently banning repeat offenders. The game introduces dedicated servers, a server‑side fog‑of‑war system, and upgraded BattleEye with kernel‑mode components to block wall hacks and loot‑scanning cheats. First‑time...
Ubisoft Places Assassin's Creed Veterans at Tencent-Backed Vantage Studios
Ubisoft announces Jean Guesdon and two other Assassin's Creed veterans will oversee the franchise within Tencent-backed Vantage Studios. He had previously worked on an unannounced voxel-based Minecraft competitor before briefly leaving Ubisoft in 2023. https://t.co/sCpFaKXE5P
Brendan Greene to Headline GamesBeat Crossfire Event 2026 in SF, Joined by a Lineup of Industry Leaders; Larry Hryb (Major...
GamesBeat Crossfire 2026, scheduled for March 10 in San Francisco during GDC week, will feature PUBG creator Brendan Greene as the headline speaker and Xbox veteran Larry Hryb as the official emcee. The invite‑only, debate‑centric event promises live, unscripted discussions...
Games Journalism’s Challenges in 2026: The BIG Show with Christopher Dring and Kaare Eriksen
Video game journalism entered 2026 under severe pressure, with widespread layoffs, shrinking freelance budgets, and shifting audience habits eroding traditional business models. At GamesBeat’s Hollywood & Games event, Alexander Lee interviewed Christopher Dring and Kaare Eriksen, who highlighted the sector’s...
Ubisoft Appoints New Assassin’s Creed Brand Leadership Team
Ubisoft’s Vantage Studios has installed a new three‑person leadership team to steer the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Martin Schelling will oversee overall brand strategy, Jean Guesdo will direct creative content, and Francois de Billy will champion production excellence. All three bring...
Xenoblade Chronicles X: DE Is a Great Game, but the Switch 2 Edition Isn't for Everyone
Nintendo unveiled Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition, promising 1080p handheld resolution and up to 60 fps, with docked mode supporting near‑4K visuals. Reviewers praise the core game but criticize handheld AI upscaling, which creates artifacting and “crunchy” textures. The upgrade...
Phaser PixUI: Open-Source UI Library for Pixel Art Games
Phaser PixUI is a new open‑source UI library built specifically for pixel‑art games using the Phaser 4 engine. It provides a set of crisp, integer‑scaled components—buttons, progress bars, text areas, and layout helpers—written in TypeScript with full type definitions. The library...
Video: Watch 40 Minutes of WWE 2K26 Gameplay Showcasing Its New Features
WWE 2K26 is set to launch on March 13, with early access starting March 6 for premium edition owners. A 40‑minute hands‑on preview released by VGC showcases a new shared stamina‑reversal meter, the first season of the Ringside Pass featuring AAA...
Clash of Clans Unleash the Duke Community Event for March 2026: Details, How to Progress, Rewards and More
Supercell has launched the "Unleash the Duke" community event in Clash of Clans, running from February 24 to March 1, 2026. Players worldwide must complete daily global objectives to open dungeon doors, each revealing four hidden rewards but only one can be...
GOG Agrees with Ultrakill Publisher Boss that "the Future of Preservation Is Decided by Players Who Give a S**t"
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry praised GOG’s game‑preservation and modding focus but warned that its future depends on player engagement. GOG responded, echoing his sentiment and urging the community to buy DRM‑free titles, vote on the Dreamlist, and join GOG...
SNK Reveals 'Soy Sauce for Geese' Orchestra for Nightmare Geese's Release in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
SNK announced an orchestral rendition of the classic "Soy Sauce for Geese" theme to accompany the February 26 release of Nightmare Geese in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. The update also marks the debut of Kim Jae Hoon, the...
"Bad News for Xbox": Analysts React to the Leadership Shakeup at Microsoft's Games Division
Microsoft Gaming announced its most significant leadership overhaul in a decade, with longtime Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring and Xbox president Sarah Bond exiting. Core AI product president Asha Sharma will now lead the division, while Matt Booty steps up...
One of March’s PlayStation Plus ‘Free’ Essential Monthly Games Has Been Leaked
A Dealabs insider leaked that PGA Tour 2K25 will be the headline title for PlayStation Plus Essential in March, ahead of Sony's official announcement. The golf simulation launched in February 2025 and holds an 80 Metacritic score on PS5. The title will be...
IEM Cologne Major to Use No BO1s in Stage 3
ESL announced that Stage 3 of the IEM Cologne Major will feature only best‑of‑three (BO3) matches, removing best‑of‑one (BO1) games entirely. To accommodate the longer format, the stage has been extended by one day, running from June 11‑15, with extra tickets made...
Arknights: Endfield Makes $46m in First Month on Mobile
Arknights: Endfield earned $46 million in its first month on mobile, with iOS accounting for $28.3 million and Google Play $17.7 million. Japan and China drove 39% and 28% of global spend respectively, while the U.S. contributed about 10%. Player spending peaked on...
Nioh 3 Blacksmith Guide: How to Get the Materials Needed to Upgrade Your Gear
Nioh 3 introduces a Blacksmith in the Eternal Rift who lets players upgrade gear through Disassemble, Soul Match, Reforge and Remodel functions. Materials such as Wood, Ingot, Tamahagane and rare Material Essence are obtained by breaking down unwanted equipment, while Soul...
Rainbow Six Mobile Launches Globally Today After Navigating Hiatus and Extended Development
Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Mobile officially launched worldwide on February 23, 2026 after an extended soft‑launch and a seven‑month development hiatus. The global version ships with seven maps—including two mobile‑exclusive locations—and a roster of more than 20 operators, up from 16...
How a Surge in Memory Prices Will Affect the Game Industry
A rapid AI‑driven memory boom has pushed DRAM prices up nearly 100% in 2025 and an additional 60% in early 2026, while NAND storage rose 70% in the same period. The surge squeezes console hardware margins, prompting platform holders to...
New Xbox CEO Aims to Revive Gaming Division
Inside Microsoft’s big Xbox leadership shake-up. Microsoft has a new gaming CEO who wants to bring Xbox back from the brink. I've been speaking to Xbox employees about how it all went down. Gift link for emergency Notepad issue this...