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
Ubisoft’s CEO Breaks Silence, Says the Company Has ‘Multiple’ Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed Games Coming
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced that the studio is actively developing several new Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry titles, covering both single‑player and multiplayer experiences. The projects will be overseen by the Tencent‑backed Vantage Studios, which now serves as the hub for these flagship franchises. The announcement comes amid a sweeping corporate restructuring that includes autonomous creative houses, cost‑cutting measures, and up to 200 job cuts at Ubisoft’s Paris headquarters. Despite internal protests, Guillemot emphasized the focus on long‑term financial sustainability and delivering high‑quality games.
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×SURVIVOR: How to Contact the Customer Support Service
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×SURVIVOR offers several customer‑support channels, including an in‑game inquiry form that links directly to player data, a web‑based ticket system for users who cannot log in, and public developer contacts on X and YouTube for broader issues. For serious...
‘I Think the Franchise Is Dead’: Saints Row Design Director Says IP Owner ‘Ghosted’ His Prequel Pitch
Design director Chris Stockman, who led the original 2006 *Saints Row*, disclosed that he was asked to pitch a 1970s‑set pre‑quel but Embracer Group has not responded. The 2022 reboot of the franchise received lukewarm reception, scoring 61‑65 on Metacritic,...
Zelda at 40: How to Play All the Best Link Games on Switch 2
The Zelda franchise marks its 40th anniversary on February 21, 2026, underscoring four decades of influential game design. Nintendo’s Switch 2 now lets players access both classic and modern Zelda titles without legacy hardware or adapters. A Nintendo Switch Online Expansion...
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×SURVIVOR Team Composition Guide and Tips
The guide breaks down HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×SURVIVOR’s four core team roles—Attacker, Healer, Support, and Defender—and shows how balanced line‑ups outperform raw power. It highlights beginner, mid‑game, and trio compositions, emphasizing the fourth‑slot unlock as a strategic turning point. By matching characters...
Honeycomb Locations in Starsand Island
Honeycomb in Starsand Island can be harvested by felling Banyan or White Fig trees that host natural hives. Cutting Banyan trees requires an Impact Axe, while White Fig trees need a Machete crafted at Worktable II. Collecting six honeycombs unlocks the...
Ufotable Teases Tales of Series 30th Anniversary Collaboration Reveal on April 3
Animation studio ufotable released a teaser trailer announcing a collaboration with Bandai Namco’s Tales of series to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The reveal is scheduled for April 3, 2026. Tales of first launched on December 15, 1995 and has since spawned multiple games and...
Poll: Rate the Xbox Game Pass Games Lineup for February 2026
Microsoft added 22 games to Xbox Game Pass for February 2026, including 19 brand‑new titles and three expanded‑access games. Highlights feature the launch of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, High on Life 2, and major RPGs such as The Witcher 3 Complete Edition, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Final Fantasy III. Nine titles released day‑one,...
The Batman Adventures that Defined a Generation Are Now 87% Off and You Don't Even Need Your Bat-Steam Key Discount...
Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham Collection—Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knight—is on sale for just $7.79/£6.49, an 87% discount that expires on February 22, 2026. The three games, celebrated for their narrative tone, free‑flow combat and open‑world design, continue to shape modern superhero...
Xbox Series X
The forum thread captures early consumer reactions to Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, highlighting expectations around its naming, design flexibility, and performance claims of delivering four times the power of the Xbox One X. Participants reference official statements about vertical or horizontal...
AOC Q27G4ZD Expands Gaming Series with 280 Hz QD-OLED and up to 1000 Nits Peak Brightness
The episode reviews AOC's new Q27G4ZD gaming monitor, a 27‑inch QD‑OLED panel that sits between the brand's 240 Hz and 360 Hz models with a 280 Hz refresh rate and QHD (2560×1440) resolution. It highlights the third‑generation QD‑OLED technology delivering 0.03 ms response, up...
Microsoft and Nexon Put Faith in New Creative Leads With Wildly Different Backgrounds
Patrick Soderlund, founder of Embark Studios, has been appointed executive chairman of Nexon, while Asha Sharma, a former Azure AI lead, will replace Phil Spencer as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Soderlund’s track record includes successful multiplayer titles like The Finals...
All Crafting Benches And What They Do In Hytale
Hytale’s crafting system revolves around the Workbench, the first station players must build to access a suite of specialized tables. Each bench—Furnace, Armorer’s, Blacksmith’s, Tanning Rack, Farmer’s, Alchemist’s, and others—has tiered upgrades that demand increasingly rare metals, leathers, and magical...
Debating the New Pokémon Fire Red & Leaf Green
I'm torn on the new Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green announcement. Are you picking up the games?
Microsoft Set to Bulldoze Xbox Business This Year
Our industry has been steamrolled for a while, and make no mistake: This is not cosmetics. Microsoft will run through their Xbox business with a bulldozer this year. (For the sake of Xbox employees, I hope I am wrong.)
2XKO Launches Novel Pilot Program to Give Players In-Game Rewards for Attending and Winning Local and Online Tournaments
Riot Games has launched a pilot program that grants in‑game 2XKO credits, avatar outfits, and a future title to players who attend, repeatedly compete in, or win local and online tournaments. The test is running in select U.S. locations, partnering...
Sarah Bond's Candid 2021 Interview Reveals Personal Side
With Sarah Bond set to leave Xbox, I wanted to point people back to this interview I did with her in 2021. She went "off book," as she put it, taking a personal turn that I hadn't expected but...
Microsoft Gaming CEO Rejects Bad AI, Emphasizes Human Storytelling
In a new interview with Variety, new minted Microsoft gaming CEO Asha Sharma says she has "no tolerance for bad AI.” “AI has long been part of gaming and will continue to be, but great stories are created by humans.” https://t.co/ETLocbkujP
Embark Studios Pauses The Finals Esports Efforts Following Conduct Concerns
Embark Studios announced a temporary halt to its outbound esports activities for The Finals after community concerns about player conduct surfaced. The studio said it consulted external legal counsel and concluded its actions were appropriate, but chose to pause to...
FC Online Named an Official Event at Korea’s National Youth Sports Festival
FC Online has been chosen as the sole title for the esports medal event at Korea’s 55th National Youth Sports Festival, scheduled for May 23‑24 at Busan Esports Stadium. This marks the first time esports will award medals at the...
Krafton Introduces Terminus KIRA, Open-Source AI Agent Enhancing Game Development Workflows
Krafton unveiled Terminus KIRA, an open‑source AI agent designed to streamline game‑development workflows. Built as a desktop “virtual colleague,” KIRA repackages the internal KRIS system and adds self‑critique prompts to existing large language models. In Terminal‑Bench tests it achieved a 74.8%...
World of Warcraft Previews Midnight's Delves, With Improvements and a Special NPC Companion
Blizzard’s Midnight expansion arrives in ten days, introducing ten new Delves and a seasonal Nemesis Delve that expand the game’s narrative. Players will travel with the returning blood‑elf rogue Valeera Sanguinar, now an NPC companion offering all three support roles....
Where To Find Azure Kelp For A Portal In Hytale
Hytale’s early‑access players can craft Teleporters using Azure Kelp, a rare material found exclusively in the Azure Forest sub‑biome of Zone One. The kelp grows only in water at least two blocks deep and glows at night, making it easier...
FC 26 Fantasy FC Upgrades Tracker
The Fantasy FC promotion in FC 26 introduces live Ultimate Team cards that can earn upgrades based on real‑world performances of players and their clubs. Upgrade criteria include club points, goals, individual contributions, clean sheets and defensive actions over the next...
Ashes of Creation IP's New Owner Gets Restraining Order Compelling Return of Company Assets & Account Info From Steven Sharif
The current owner of the Ashes of Creation intellectual property, TFE Holdings, filed a countersuit that resulted in a judge granting a temporary restraining order against former Intrepid CEO Steven Sharif. The order bars Sharif from destroying any records and...
Xbox Shifts: New Leaders Asha Sharma, Matt Booty Take Helm
Anyone have some good expert commentary on the departure of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, with a new era starting for Asha Sharma and Matt Booty. What's it all mean? What were Phil and Sarah's accomplishments? What has the era...
Xbox Is Dead, AI Takes over Gaming
With today’s news I think it might be safe to say that Xbox is dead and or dying An AI corpo to manage video games? LOL it was a good run and I’m impressed Xbox lasted this long given M$’s history...
Spencer and Bond Out at Microsoft Gaming as AI Exec Sharma Takes Over
Microsoft Gaming announced a leadership overhaul as longtime Xbox chief Phil Spencer retired and COO Sarah Bond departed. Asha Sharma, former head of Microsoft’s CoreAI division and veteran of Instacart and Meta, was appointed CEO of the entire gaming portfolio,...
How to Play Co-Op with Your Friends in Super Battle Golf
Super Battle Golf offers a cooperative multiplayer mode that requires players to join together via Steam lobbies. Users must first add friends on Steam, then use the in‑game Invite option from the lobby screen to bring them into a match....
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Pre-Orders Are Now Open, Here's a Guide for the Prices and What's Included with Every Edition
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls pre‑orders have launched across PlayStation 5 and PC platforms. The physical and digital Standard Edition are priced at $60 and include the Infinity Gauntlet lobby equipment, Baby Groot pet, and a Cosmic Surfboard ride. The Digital Deluxe Edition...
Assassin's Creed's Canceled And Upcoming Games Get New Info From Trusted Insider
Ubisoft has confirmed the cancellation of Assassin’s Creed Singularity, a blockchain‑enabled trading card game that had been in development for several years. Insider Tom Henderson also revealed that three new Assassin’s Creed projects remain on schedule: the multiplayer‑focused Invictus, a remake...
Jagex Outlines Problems With Auras and How They're Resolving Them in RuneScape's Road to Restoration
Jagex announced that most Auras will be removed as part of RuneScape’s ongoing “Road to Restoration” overhaul. The devblog explains that Auras force one‑hour play sessions and add little strategic depth, prompting the shift of useful Aura effects onto existing...
The Best Ways To Earn Pesos Quickly In High On Life 2
High On Life 2 offers several low‑effort activities that instantly boost a player’s in‑game cash, or pesos. The simplest is pressing a red button in Circuit Arcadia for a guaranteed 500 pesos, while fishing, betting on Fight Club, completing story bounties, and...
The Road to EWC Begins at DreamHack Birmingham
ESL FACEIT Group unveiled the "Road to EWC" qualifiers at DreamHack Birmingham, scheduled for March 27‑29, with a combined $120,000 prize pool across Street Fighter 6, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Trackmania. The events use double‑elimination formats and cap...
New Xbox CEO Pledges Humility and Urgent Innovation
Read a first note from @asha_shar the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming: Dear team, Today I begin my role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. I feel two things at once: humility and urgency. Humility because this team has built something extraordinary over decades. Urgency because...
Spencer May Be Hiding Game Projects From Microsoft’s Earnings
One guess: we're about to find out how many game projects Spencer was shielding from Microsoft's quarterly math
Xbox’s New Boss Promises Not To Flood It With ‘Soulless AI Slop’
Phil Spencer retires after a 12‑year tenure, and Microsoft appoints Asha Sharma—formerly head of its Core AI Product division—as Xbox’s new CEO. In her inaugural memo, Sharma vows to keep “soulless AI slop” out of games while acknowledging AI’s role...
Xbox Embraces Cross-Device Gaming Future
“renewed commitment to Xbox starting with console.” "Gaming now lives across devices, not within the limits of any single piece of hardware" Did Copilot write this? https://t.co/9xhWEFi0TM https://t.co/HNsY9rUlOr
Celebrating Phil Spencer's 38-Year Microsoft Journey
Thanks to Phil Spencer for 38 years of great work, innovation, and partnership at Microsoft, from intern in 1988 to head of Xbox and then EVP.
God of War Leakers Pulled Off Their Signature Move and Found Files in Ragnarok that Could Be a Clue for...
Leakers examining God of War Ragnarok’s game files uncovered a cut scene featuring Atreus, Athena, a robed figure and a character named Mau. The dialogue references Egyptian terminology—Mau meaning cat and a "white snake" likely alluding to the god Apophis—hinting...
Phil Spencer’s Legacy Elevates Gaming Beyond Xbox Controversy
What I hope isn’t lost in today’s news about Xbox is Phil Spencer’s incredible career in gaming. Phil is a passionate competitor and a big gamer. You may not have always agreed with the calls, but this industry is better...
Xbox Chief Vows to Keep Games Art, Reject AI Slop
Microsoft's new Xbox chief says "games are and always will be art, crafted by humans" and that Xbox won't chase AI slop. "As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our...
![Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer Retires, Xbox President Sarah Bond Resigns [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Xbox-Changes_02-20-26.jpg)
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer Retires, Xbox President Sarah Bond Resigns [Update]
Microsoft Gaming announced that longtime CEO Phil Spencer will retire on February 23, and Xbox president Sarah Bond has resigned. Asha Sharma, formerly head of CoreAI and with experience at Instacart and Meta, will take over as CEO, while Matt Booty...
Spencer's Retirement Timed with Massive Halo PS5 Reveal
I don't think it's a coincidence that Spencer approached Nadella about retiring around the time Halo was announced for PS5. It's one of the biggest Xbox announcements ever and the one Spencer never promoted himself.
Matt Booty Named Xbox EVP and Chief Content Officer
Xbox’s Matt Booty Matt will become Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Asha, CEO Microsoft Gaming https://t.co/HI9rkd4LEH
Smash Vows to Defeat Former Team T1 After Dplus KIA’s 3–1 Win at 2026 LCK Cup
Dplus KIA defeated DN SOOPers 3‑1 in the lower‑bracket Round 2 of the 2026 LCK Cup, keeping their tournament run alive. AD carry Shin “Smash” Geum‑jae earned Player of the Match by excelling on Ezreal, Aphelios and Ashe. He explained the...
Phil Spencer Retires From Xbox And Sarah Bond Resigns As Microsoft’s AI Exec Takes Over
Microsoft announced that longtime Xbox chief Phil Spencer will retire after 38 years, stepping down this summer. Asha Sharma, previously head of Microsoft CoreAI, is named the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty promoted to chief content officer....
Seven Knights Re:BIRTH Update Adds Legendary Hero Radgrid, Real Time Arena PvP and New Events
Netmarble rolled out a major update for Seven Knights Re:BIRTH, adding two Legendary heroes—Radgrid, a Defense‑type Celestial Guardian, and Bai Long, an Attack‑type single‑target damage dealer. The patch also launches Real Time Arena, a PvP mode where players manually select skills...
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime Reveals Star-Studded Voice Cast
Bonte Avond unveiled a new trailer for its upcoming indie RPG, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime, at the Convergence Showcase, revealing a star‑studded voice cast whose combined social‑media following exceeds 78 million. The game is described as a comedy‑focused, fully voice‑acted adventure...
Quantum and Games: The Shift Developers Can’t Afford to Ignore
Quantum computing is poised to reshape game development by tackling the most complex design problems, not by running games in real time. Developers are already leveraging quantum algorithms for procedural generation, rule‑validation across massive worlds, and hard‑to‑find bug elimination, feeding...