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
Rewarded UA Unlocked
Rewarded user acquisition (RUA) is a mobile marketing strategy that grants players in‑game rewards for completing post‑install tasks such as tutorials or level milestones. By tying incentives to meaningful actions, RUA drives higher engagement, retention, and ultimately better return on ad spend (ROAS) compared with traditional install‑only campaigns. Publishers can leverage real‑time targeting, dynamic offers, and tiered reward paths to attract higher‑quality users and sustain long‑term play. Some platforms even subsidize reward costs, lowering the financial barrier for campaigns.
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...
Steam Next Fest Has the Perfect Game Demo for Disco Elysium Fans, but It's Not ZA/UM's Successor
Steam Next Fest in February 2026 will feature two demos that echo the narrative depth of Disco Elysium. ZA/UM’s new project, Zero Parades, offers an espionage‑driven world built by many of the original studio’s veterans. The second demo, Esoteric Ebb,...
Gigaverse Launches GIGABIT to Power Rewards with Fixed Model
Gigaverse introduced GIGABIT, a new in‑game currency that anchors its first‑generation ecosystem, Gigaverse 1.0. The token operates on a fixed 100 GIGABIT‑to‑$1 exchange rate, with a redemption value of 0.80 USDC, and allocates 0.15 USDC per transaction to a rewards pool. GIGABIT supports...
Lords Mobile Rings In Its Decade Of Battles With Anniversary Events And A Tokidoki Collab
Lords Mobile marks its 10th anniversary with a series of in‑game events and a limited‑time collaboration with the kawaii brand tokidoki. The partnership introduces three exclusive tokidoki characters and corresponding skins, available only until the end of February. Anniversary content...
Nintendo Announces 80-Minute Treehouse Stream Showcasing Mario Wonder Switch 2 and Pokémon Pokopia
Nintendo announced an 80‑minute Treehouse: Live stream for Tuesday, Feb 24, focusing on hands‑on gameplay of Super Mario Bros Wonder Switch 2 Edition and the new Pokémon Pokopia title. The Mario showcase highlights added multiplayer modes and Rosalina as a playable character, with a March 26 release,...
Clash Royale March 2026 Update Is Bringing Two New Heroes, New Trophy Road Arenas, Social Tab, and More
Supercell’s March 2026 Clash Royale update launches the game’s 10th‑anniversary celebrations with two new Heroes—Barbarian Barrel and Magic Archer—plus a brand‑new Album Event that rewards a free Magic Archer and exclusive cosmetics. Trophy Road expands to 14,000 trophies, adding four fresh arenas...
Gentle Mates Crowned RLCS Boston Major 2026 Champions After Beating Vitality 4-2
Gentle Mates captured the RLCS Boston Major 2026 title, defeating Team Vitality 4‑2 in the grand final at Boston’s Agganis Arena. The French squad walked away with $102,000 and 30 circuit points, propelling them to the top of the European...
Apex Legends Pro Effect Leaves Alliance to Join Aurora Gaming
Professional Apex Legends player Miron "Effect" Novikov has transferred from Alliance to Aurora Gaming. He will compete in ALGS Year 6 events alongside former world champion Hiarka and returning player ojrein. Effect spent four years with Alliance, winning the 2024 Esports...
Vita Student and NSE Team Up to Boost University Esports in the UK
Vita Student has become the headline sponsor of National Student Esports (NSE) and the British University Esports Championship, marking a strategic push into UK university gaming. The partnership will see Vita branding at major tournaments, live broadcasts, and finals, while...
Media: 3DMAX to Swap Bodyy for Misutaaa, NBK- to Join as Assistant Coach
French CS:GO franchise 3DMAX announced a major roster overhaul, swapping rifler Alexandre "bodyy" Pianaro for Kévin "misutaaa" Rabier and promoting former coach Damien "wasiNk" Dufour to head coach. Veteran Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt will join as the team's first assistant coach....
ByteBrew Launches AI-Powered Cross-Promotion Network to Scale App Portfolios
ByteBrew has introduced ByteBrew Ads, an AI‑powered cross‑promotion ad network that lets developers move high‑value users between apps in their portfolio. The service relies on Ctrl, the company’s proprietary AI engine trained on massive app data, to target users based...
NieR’s Yoko Taro to Write the New Neon Genesis Evangelion Anime
Studio Khara and CloverWorks announced a brand‑new Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, with acclaimed game writer Yoko Taro handling series composition and screenplay. The project, unveiled at the Evangelion 30th Anniversary festival, brings together veteran directors Kazuya Tsurumaki and Tōko...
Roblox Launches Global Parent Council to Strengthen Family Engagement and Online Safety Oversight
Roblox announced a Global Parent Council of 80 parents and caregivers spanning 32 countries, alongside a new Parent Champions programme. The council, representing expertise in psychology, education, digital well‑being, law enforcement and gaming, will meet quarterly to advise on safety...
Saudi Esports Federation Partners with ROC Esports and Team Stallion to Strengthen the Kingdom’s Esports Ambitions
The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) has signed memoranda of understanding with ROC Esports and Team Stallion to develop Saudi esports talent. The agreements will deliver joint training, specialised programs through the Saudi Esports Academy, and create clearer career pathways for...
Savvy Games Group Signs MoU with AUBH to Strengthen Student Training in Games and Interactive Entertainment
Savvy Games Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American University of Bahrain under its Savvy Academy talent‑development program. The MoU will enable Media and Design students to undertake internships, studio visits and hands‑on projects that mirror professional...
Windrose Has One of the Most Popular Steam Demos of Recent Times, Helping the Co-Op Pirate Game Rack up a...
Windrose, a co‑op pirate survival title, launched its Steam demo on Feb 17 and quickly attracted massive attention, peaking at over 22,000 concurrent players. The demo’s popularity propelled the game past one million wishlists, placing it among Steam’s top‑20 most‑wishlisted titles....
New Xbox Boss Teases Bringing Back Xbox 360 Blades Dashboard
Phil Spencer’s retirement paved the way for Asha Sharma to become Xbox’s new CEO, and she immediately sparked fan excitement by asking on X if the classic Xbox 360 blades dashboard should return. The tweet ignited a nostalgic frenzy, though...
NRG Brawk Manged Latest ASUS ROG Ambassador
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has named VALORANT 2025 Champions MVP Brock “brawk” Somerhalder as its newest brand ambassador, positioning him to promote the ROG Ace esports hardware line. The move follows ROG’s earlier partnership with CS2 star ZywOo and...
What It Might've Been Like to Fight Against Sheng Long in Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo’s hidden boss fight against Akuma sparked a fan myth that a second secret opponent, “Sheng Long,” existed. The rumor originated from a mistranslation and was amplified by April Fools jokes and fan‑made videos that depicted the character as...
"They've Ghosted Me": Saints Row Design Director Says He Believes the Series Is "Dead" After Pitching Prequel
Former Saints Row design director Chris Stockman says the franchise is effectively dead after Embracer Group failed to respond to his pre‑quel pitch. Stockman, now leading Bit Planet Games, proposed a 1970s‑set story that initially sparked online buzz, but Embracer,...
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake Directors Said It Is Coming Back Thanks to Fans
Directors Makoto Shibata and Hidehiko Nakajima confirmed that Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly will receive a full remake, largely in response to persistent fan demand. The game launches on March 12, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo...
DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos Gets Big Discount Ahead of Xbox Delisting
Outright Games announced that DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos will be removed from the Xbox digital store in March after its DC licensing agreement expired. The title is currently on a steep 90% discount, priced at $3.99 until February 25, prompting...
Heroic Games Launcher 2.20.0 Brings Numerous Important Bug Fixes
Heroic Games Launcher 2.20.0 has been released as a pure bug‑fix update, targeting UI glitches, offline support, and integration issues across Epic, GOG, and How Long To Beat services. The patch resolves dropdown scrolling, RTL layout, and text‑wrapping bugs while...
Call Of Duty: Zombies Could Get A Standalone Game
An insider from TheGhostOfHope reports that Activision and Microsoft are weighing a standalone Call of Duty: Zombies title, potentially launching alongside a traditional multiplayer release on the next‑gen Xbox. The idea emerged after the Xbox launch delay forced a rethink...
Kerbal Space Program Spiritual Successor Kitten Space Agency Now Has a Linux Version
Kitten Space Agency, a spiritual successor to Kerbal Space Program, has released an early‑stage Linux build for public testing. The trial version is available via a direct download link, though it remains rough and may require work‑arounds. Founder Dean Hall...
Chicago’s Midway International Airport Enhances CX with Opening of Gameway Video Gaming Lounge
Chicago Midway International Airport has opened Gameway, a premium video‑gaming lounge featuring high‑end PCs, Xbox and PlayStation stations, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, and a full beverage bar. The lounge is part of a broader $75 million concessions investment that has added roughly 30,000 sq ft...
Ubisoft CEO Touts “Disciplined Workforce Management” While Defending Giving His Son the Keys to Assassin's Creed
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced new Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry installments while outlining a €200 million cost‑reduction plan that includes selective restructuring and tighter workforce management. The company is reorganising into autonomous "creative houses" such as Vantage Studios, which will oversee...
PlayStation Gameplay Chart, Week Ending February 22nd, 2026
The PlayStation Gameplay Chart for the week ending February 22 2026, compiled from over 2.9 million active accounts, lists Fortnite as the most-played title followed by Roblox and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Free‑to‑play and cross‑platform games dominate the top ten, while EA...
Tencent Reportedly Shutter Open World Game Studio Which Had Drafted in Former Assassin’s Creed Director
Tencent has reportedly closed its TiMi Montreal studio, which was founded in 2021 to develop a AAA open‑world, service‑focused game for PC and consoles. The studio never shipped a title in its five‑year run, despite hiring former Assassin’s Creed creative...
Jobs Digest: Reshuffles at Xbox and Unity Plus Moves at Rovio, Hoyoverse, Google, Stillfront and More
Microsoft Gaming announced a top‑level reshuffle, with former CoreAI president Asha Sharma taking over as EVP and CEO and veteran Matt Booty becoming EVP and chief content officer. Unity added Bernard Kim to its board while co‑founder David Helgason and...
Mesa 25.3.6 Released as the Last Bug Fix for This Driver Series
Mesa 25.3.6 has been released as the final bug‑fix update for the 25 driver series, signaling the end of active maintenance for that branch. The patch addresses regressions in radeonsi, Venus, and ANV drivers, including a GL_FEEDBACK coordinate bug and...
Wine 11.3 Released with Vkd3d and Mono Upgrades
Wine 11.3 arrives with a suite of compatibility fixes aimed at improving Windows application and game performance on Linux. The release upgrades the bundled Mono engine to version 11.0.0 and vkd3d to 1.19, introducing new DirectSound FIR filtering and GPU...
Slots of the Week: Double the Shock Value
Blueprint Gaming’s Frankenstein’s Fortune and Playson’s Tornado Power: Hold and Win are new 5×3 and 3×4 slots that emphasize straightforward gameplay with fixed paylines and robust bonus features. Frankenstein’s Fortune uses a Collect mechanic and colored jars to trigger Cash...
![[Industry News] GameSkills Confirms First Expert Line-Up for 2026 European Studio Training Programme](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/5be85a38-c451-05f0-76b0-5e93081baf59.png)
[Industry News] GameSkills Confirms First Expert Line-Up for 2026 European Studio Training Programme
GameSkills, the Creative Europe MEDIA‑backed initiative, has announced the first lineup of experts for its 2026 European Studio Training Programme. The remote curriculum, running April‑November 2026, will feature specialists in AI, accessibility, sustainability, design, and market strategy, culminating in an in‑person summit...
Highguard Is Making Less Money On Steam Than A Single Monster Hunter Outfit
Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment's hero shooter released on January 26 2026, has plummeted to roughly 2,458th on Steam’s revenue‑based charts. Its earnings now trail legacy titles such as Call of Duty (2003), BioShock Infinite, and Red Dead Online, and it generates less revenue than...
Genshin Impact Varka Release Countdown: Exact Date and Time
MiHoYo’s Luna V update introduces Varka, a new 5‑star Anemo character, with a dedicated banner slated to go live once post‑maintenance ends on February 24. The countdown aligns with the studio’s standard rollout times—7 PM PT, 9 PM CT, 10 PM ET, 3 AM UTC, and 4 AM CET. Varka’s banner features...
Toaplan All-Timers Twin Cobra, Tiger-Heli Come to PS4 This Week
Two iconic Toaplan shooters, Twin Cobra (1988) and Tiger‑Heli (1985), arrive on PS4 on February 26 as part of M2’s retro compilation. The base package offers arcade‑accurate ports with quality‑of‑life upgrades such as customizable overlays and a Super Easy difficulty mode,...
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Hits No.2 on January 2026 Nintendo US Charts
Final Fantasy 7 Remake climbed to No. 2 on the US Nintendo charts for January 2026, trailing only Pokémon Legends: Z‑A. The title’s multi‑platform launch on Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation boosted its visibility after a modest December ranking. At a $39.99 price point, the...
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves X Street Fighter 6 Crossover Announced
SNK confirmed Round 3 of the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves × Street Fighter 6 crossover, slated for release on February 26. The update adds new DLC characters, including Nightmare Geese, and reintroduces the classic basketball bonus stage from Street Fighter III. Narrative elements...
Diablo 4 2.6.0 PTR: Everything You Need to Know About the Meta Shift
Blizzard announced the Diablo IV 2.6.0 public test realm will run from February 3‑10, introducing a new Killstreak system and extensive balance tweaks. The PTR serves as a preview for Season 12, which will bridge to the Lord of Hatred expansion slated for...
Dawn of War 4 Team Says It’s Not Worried About Total War: Warhammer 40K Competition
King Art Games told PC Gamer it isn’t anxious about Creative Assembly’s upcoming Total War: Warhammer 40K, likening the overlap to the internet’s “two cakes” meme. The studio says Dawn of War 4 will stick to tight, cover‑based squad combat while Total War...
Fable 4 Gameplay Showcase and Peter Molyneux Interview Offer New Insights
Peter Molyneux has officially endorsed Playground Games' upcoming Fable reboot, noting the new Albion looks cleaner than the original. The January gameplay showcase confirmed the return of classic humor and chicken‑kicking mechanics, while highlighting Unreal Engine 5’s high‑fidelity visuals. A release...
Pokemon's 30th Anniversary Now Has A Logo For Every Single Creature
To mark Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, The Pokémon Company unveiled a distinct logo for each of the 1,025 creatures in the franchise. Each design incorporates a stylized “3” colored by the Pokémon’s type and the creature emerging from a “0”. The...
Creative Updates Sound BlasterX G6 with USB-C but Keeps Core Specifications
Creative has refreshed its popular Sound BlasterX G6 external gaming DAC/amp by introducing a USB‑C version (model SBX‑G6UC) while retaining the original’s design and feature set. The update swaps the legacy micro‑USB connector for a modern USB‑C port, simplifying daily...
Roblox Creators View Film and TV Adaptations as a Promising Revenue Stream
Roblox creators are actively pursuing film and television adaptations of their original intellectual property, viewing entertainment deals as a lucrative new revenue channel. The platform’s user engagement is nearing that of major streaming services, with Q3 2025 user hours reaching...
Arc Raiders Cheaters Are Spawning Hatches Out Of Nowhere
Arc Raiders players are using a new cheat that instantly creates extraction hatches beneath downed characters, allowing them to escape with loot regardless of location. The hack, showcased in a TikTok video shared on Reddit, is being sold through real‑money...
Karmine Corp Beat Team Vitality and Clinch the the Final Top 4 Spot in LEC Versus Playoffs
Karmine Corp defeated Team Vitality in the Losers’ Bracket of the LEC Versus playoffs, securing the final top‑four slot for Barcelona. The series went 2‑1, with KC overturning a 0‑1 deficit and delivering a 20‑2 kill blowout in game three....
Best DRS-IAR Loadout in Battlefield 6
The article outlines the optimal Battlefield 6 DRS‑IAR loadout for Season 2, focusing on a Support class with Combat Medic training. It recommends a Lightened Suppressor, 20″ SDM‑R barrel, 6H64 Vertical underbarrel, Polymer Case ammo, a 36‑round magazine, and an OSA‑7 1.00x...
Baldur's Gate 3 Players Can Now Play As The X-Men
An enthusiastic modder has released "Mutant Powers Marvels X‑Men", a fan‑made conversion that lets players control iconic X‑Men such as Wolverine, Cyclops, and Storm within Baldur's Gate 3. The mod replaces superhero costumes with medieval‑styled outfits and incorporates dialogue snippets from...