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
TOBIZ: "Hopefully, Alkaren Will Return, but We Just Have to Get the Best Out of the Situation"
Heroic exited PGL Cluj‑Napoca with a 1‑3 record, only beating 3DMAX before losing to FaZe, B8 and G2. The team has been without its primary AWPer, Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbay, who remains sidelined by visa complications. Coach Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo explained that stand‑in Simon “yxngstxr” has been forced into the AWPer role, disrupting practice routines and in‑game chemistry. Heroic will keep the interim lineup for the upcoming DraculaN event while hoping Alkaren’s visa is resolved before the Pro League season begins.
Elite Dangerous Teases New Co-Op Gameplay Mode, System Overhaul In Dev Video
The Elite Dangerous developer log reveals a major new co‑op gameplay mode called Operations, slated for an April release this year. Operations will let squads tackle missions on foot and in space with varying difficulty and tactical challenges. A broader...
Extreme Weather Alert: ARC Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Release Date
Embark Studios announced that the Shrouded Sky update for ARC Raiders will go live on February 24, 2026. The patch adds a new weather‑driven map condition, an additional ARC threat, a player‑focused project, and a raider deck for cosmetics and...
Pokémon Go's Battle League Quirks Are Getting Fixed in 2026
Niantic is overhauling Pokémon Go’s Go Battle League (GBL) core battle system to eliminate long‑standing PvP inconsistencies. The redesign moves damage resolution to the end of each turn, standardizes Pokémon swaps, and anchors actions to a fixed timeline, reducing the impact...
Meat Grinder, an Adventure Sim with Horror Elements, Coming to Nintendo Switch 2
Ultimate Games and Panic Panda announced that their dark adventure‑simulation title Meat Grinder will debut on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. The game mixes open‑world exploration with a hot‑dog shop management sim, set in the fog‑shrouded city of Grimshore. Players juggle daily...
Digital Extremes Delays Warframe's Global Android Release Due to Serious Login Bug
Digital Extremes has postponed the global Android launch of Warframe due to an infinite login loop affecting devices such as Google Pixel phones and certain tablets. The Canadian Android version remains live to help the team gather data and resolve...
Sources: Tencent Secretly Funded Struggling Shooter Highguard
The episode investigates how Chinese tech giant Tencent covertly acted as the primary financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment, the studio behind the controversial 2026 free‑to‑play shooter Highguard. It outlines the secrecy surrounding the funding, the turmoil of Highguard’s launch, and...
The Pokemon Pinball Machine Is Finally Real
Stern Pinball and The Pokémon Company have launched the first official Pokémon pinball machine, available in Pro ($6,999), Premium ($9,699) and Limited Edition ($12,999, 750 units). The game features four habitats, an animated Poké Ball, voice‑overs and an app‑linked collection system....
Hyper Scape, the Long-Forgotten Ubisoft Battle Royale, Is Being Revived by Fans
Ubisoft's 2020 battle‑royale Hyper Scape failed to gain traction after a lukewarm launch, receiving mid‑60s Metacritic scores and dwindling player counts. A dedicated fan, known as Fiirce, has initiated a revival effort, releasing an early alpha that restores single‑player functionality and...
Today’s Android App Deals and Freebies: Undead Slayer, Alien Food Invasion, Muse Dash, More
9to5Toys released its February 17 2026 Android deals roundup, highlighting steep price cuts on popular games such as Undead Slayer, Alien Food Invasion, and Muse Dash, many now free or under $1. The list also bundles hardware discounts, including a pre‑order deal on...
Courtyard Launches Zodiac-Themed Pokémon Card Pack for Lunar New Year | Exclusive
Courtyard.io announced a Zodiac‑themed Pokémon card pack for Lunar New Year 2026, marking the game’s 30th anniversary. The limited set features twelve cards, each representing a Chinese zodiac animal, with prices starting at $99. Buyers receive a digital preview and...
Elsa's Broken Kit in Marvel Rivals Is Just a Symptom of a Larger Powercreep Problem
Elsa Bloodstone debuted in Marvel Rivals season 6.5 and quickly drew criticism for her seemingly broken kit, which combines a shotgun with rifle‑like accuracy and ultra‑short cooldowns. The controversy highlights a broader power‑creep issue as recent heroes like Gambit, Rogue, and...
Saudi Government Changes the Name of Esports World Cup Foundation
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers officially renamed the Esports World Cup Foundation to the Esports Foundation, reflecting its oversight of both the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup. The change was approved during a cabinet meeting that also...
Armatus Limited-Time Demo for PC Launches February 23
Counterplay Games and publisher Fictions announced a limited‑time demo for their roguelite third‑person shooter Armatus, debuting on PC via Steam on February 23 as part of Steam Next Fest 2026. The demo runs through March 2, giving players a taste of the...
I'm Not Convinced Open Earbuds Work for Gaming, Despite Asus' Best Efforts
Asus has launched the ROG Cetra Open earbuds, an open‑ear design that connects via a 2.4 GHz low‑latency link for gaming while retaining Bluetooth for everyday use. The reviewer finds the build solid and comfortable, but notes a bulky charging case...
Magic: The Gathering's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Set Brings Iconic Characters And A Homage To Video Games
Wizards of the Coast announced the Magic: The Gathering "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universes Beyond" set, slated for a March 6, 2026 release with a February 27 pre‑release weekend. The Standard set spans the franchise’s comic, cartoon, and movie history and includes special Borderless Signature...
Ezri Dax Returns to Star Trek Online to Face a Lovecraftian Threat
Star Trek Online will launch the "Corruption" event on March 10, celebrating its 16th anniversary. The storyline puts DS9’s Ezri Dax, voiced by Nicole de Boer, at the forefront of a battle against the newly introduced Chimerans, a Lovecraftian‑style alien...
In Dune: Awakening, Collect a Free Rifle Skin, Help the Community, and More Detailed in Latest Newsletter
Funcom’s Dune: Awakening newsletter highlights the latest patch, the first community challenge “Raiders of the Lost Station,” and free cosmetic rewards. The challenge, tied to Chapter 3 and the Raiders of the Broken Lands DLC, saw players quickly meet three milestones...
Xbox Sale Features over 35 Games with Easy Achievements and Gamerscore
Xbox’s weekly storefront promotion features more than 35 titles priced low and designed for quick completion, each offering easy-to‑earn achievements and a solid Gamerscore return. Most games can be finished in under eight hours, with discounts ranging from 40 % to...
What Is the Ascendant Challenge This Week in Destiny 2?
Destiny 2’s weekly Ascendant Challenge for Feb 17‑24 is the Cimmerian Garrison, accessed through the Chamber of Starlight Lost Sector. Players must consume Petra Venj’s Tincture of Queensfoil to reveal a portal that leads to the Ascendant Plane, where Abyssal Champions pursue...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger 3rd DLC - Anti-ParadoX Will Add X-Antibody Royal Knights in March 2026
Bandai Namco announced the third and final DLC for Digimon Story: Time Stranger, titled Anti‑ParadoX, slated for release in March 2026. The pack adds five X‑Antibody Mega Digivolutions—Omnimon/Omegamon, Gallantmon/Dukemon, UlforceVeedramon, Magnamon, and Jesmon—alongside a new story episode featuring Asuna Shiroki...
What Is the Grandmaster Vanguard Alert Weapon This Week in Destiny 2?
Destiny 2’s Grandmaster Vanguard Alert for Feb 17‑24 challenges fireteams with a 50‑power cap and no self‑revive, demanding precise coordination. This week’s featured weapon is Horror’s Least, an Arc pulse rifle, available as a guaranteed masterworked Tier 5 drop on first completion with...
Npl on S1zzi: "He Has the X-Factor; if We Want to Become Tier-One in the Future, We Need It"
B8 suffered an early exit at the PGL Cluj‑Napoca tournament, losing to Aurora, The MongolZ and FURIA. Team captain Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi blamed the loss on repeated strategic errors and a reluctance to adapt during the event. He highlighted new AWPer...
Medabots Survivors Is Arriving to Mobile This Month, Bringing a Fresh Survival Action Twist to the Beloved Series
Imagineer Co., Ltd. announced Medabots Survivors, a new survivor‑action mobile game set to launch on February 25, 2026 for Android and iOS. The title expands the long‑running Medabots JRPG franchise with a wave‑based survival format, offering more than 60 distinct...
Avowed's Anniversary Update Is a Great Excuse to Return to Eora, but the PS5 Version Should Have Been Better
Obsidian released Avowed on PS5 bundled with the 2.00 Anniversary Update, introducing New Game Plus, photo mode, additional races, character presets, and extensive difficulty sliders. The console version mirrors Xbox's three display modes—performance, quality, and balanced—with frame‑rate unlocks, but still exhibits...
Opinion: I Can’t Wait for Gaming Consoles to Die (but Not How You Think)
Daniel Rubino argues that the real problem isn’t Xbox or PlayStation hardware but the artificial technical split between consoles and PCs. Developers must maintain separate codebases, certification processes, and patch pipelines, which inflates costs and delays releases, especially for indie...
Lots of Toys Revealed for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Pre-Orders Open
Jakks Pacific unveiled a comprehensive toy line for the upcoming *Super Mario Galaxy* movie, featuring figures, playsets, plush and accessories. Retail exclusives include a 5‑inch Bowser Jr. figure at Walmart and a 5‑inch 4‑pack at Target, alongside glow‑in‑the‑dark Luma yoyos and...
Eve Online's New In-Game Chatbot "Is Not Generative AI," But I'd Still Rather Ask Randomers for Advice
CCP introduced Aura Guidance, an in‑game chatbot for Eve Online that answers rookie questions using a pre‑determined knowledge base rather than generative AI. The tool was built from analysis of over 5.8 million player support queries and is optional for users....
Patience Is the Real Key to Overcoming Nioh 3’s Hamamatsu Hill Enemy Base
To access Nioh 3’s Hamamatsu Hill enemy base, players must first complete the “Fated Land” side quest and then receive the Mountain Temple Key from Ii Naotora during the “Ii’s Memento” quest. Once unlocked, the base houses only five enemies, culminating in...
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim 1.2 Update Out Now on Nintendo Switch 2, Patch Notes – 60 Hz Mode, Frame...
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim received a 1.2 patch for Nintendo Switch 2, introducing a new 60 Hz mode that lets players toggle between visual fidelity and performance. A 30 Hz visual mode locks frame rate for smoother gameplay, while performance tweaks reduce FPS...
FirstLook 1.0 Launches with New Player Relationship-Tracking Features
FirstLook 1.0 launched after extensive playtests with studios like Krafton, Skybound and Bad Robot Games. The platform, now used by Remedy Entertainment, System Era, Dreamhaven, Avalanche Studios, Build A Rocket Boy, 11 Bit Studios and New Tales, adds creator campaign management...
Pokémon TCG Pocket Mega Medicham Ex Drop Event Resurfaces a Big Fan Pet Peeve
Pokémon TCG Pocket’s latest Drop Event centers on the Mega Medicham ex promo, offering five exclusive cards to players who complete battles. Rewards are delivered as single‑card booster packs that must be opened one at a time from the gifts screen....
Reanimal Ending Explained
Reanimal’s climax pits a nightmarish sheep creature against a group of children, culminating in the girl being swallowed, ritualistically reanimated, and dropped into a well. A secret ending unlocks when players locate all five coffins, revealing rabbit‑masked children comforting the...
Star Trek Online Releases Corruption Seasonal Update on the MMO’s 16th Anniversary
Cryptic Studios released the Corruption seasonal update for Star Trek Online on its 16th anniversary, coinciding with the franchise’s 60th anniversary. The update launches on PC today, with a console rollout slated for March 10. Corruption adds new missions, story...
Monster Hunter Wilds Least-Hunted Monster Rompopolo Stars in HR 100 Event Quest
Capcom announced a limited‑time Monster Hunter Wilds event featuring Rompopolo, the game’s least‑hunted monster, available only to players at HR 100 or higher. The “Just What the Doctor Ordered” quest runs from February 27 to March 18, 2026, and pits hunters against a...
How to Train Your Dragon Codes February 2026
Roblox’s official How to Train Your Dragon game has released a fresh batch of redemption codes for February 2026. The new codes provide ingredients, Snoggletog coins, trait rerolls, and a rare egg, and can be claimed by players at level...
BioWare Continues Mass Effect 5 Development With New Senior Hire
BioWare has posted a senior‑level opening, confirming that Mass Effect 5 has moved beyond pre‑production. The studio is re‑uniting original trilogy talent, including Dusty Everman and Parrish Ley, and has chosen Unreal Engine 5 over the troubled Frostbite platform. With Dragon Age...
VALORANT VCT 2026 Season Capsule: Skins, Price, and Release Date
Riot Games announced the VALORANT VCT 2026 Season Capsule, dropping on Feb 19 at 1 pm CT and staying in the store until Masters Santiago concludes on Mar 15. The limited‑time bundle includes a VCT Sigil melee skin, four regional playercards, and a VCT‑themed Flex...
Wuthering Waves Luuk Herssen Release Date, Voice Actors, and Lore
Luuk Herssen, a five‑star spectro DPS physician, joins Wuthering Waves on February 26 during the second half of version 3.1. He appears alongside a Galbrena rerun and is obtainable from the weapon banner with his signature gauntlets, Daybreaker's Spine. The character’s...
Night Raises $70M to Expand Gaming Business
News: Night, a leading talent representative for creators like @KaiCenat, has raised $70 million to expand its business in gaming (and other areas).
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Update Finally Adds a Jump Mechanic
Ubisoft’s 1.1.8 update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally adds a manual jump button, ending a year‑long omission that limited player agency. The new “Advanced Parkour” toggle lets players control jumps and dismounts, while a limited‑time parkour creation challenge encourages community‑generated content....
Muppet Treasure Island's PC Game Was Almost the Turning Point for Muppet Video Games
The Muppet video game catalog has been a series of missed opportunities, with early titles like *Muppet Treasure Island* (1996) offering faithful movie tie‑ins but lacking engaging mechanics. Subsequent releases—*Muppet RaceMania* (2000) and a string of mini‑game collections—showed occasional sparks...
Thermaltake Launches 49-Inch Dual QHD 32:9 Monitor With USB-C 90 W
Thermaltake unveiled the TGM‑V49CDQ, a 49‑inch super‑ultrawide 32:9 gaming monitor featuring a Dual QHD 5120×1440 VA panel. The display delivers a 240 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms GTG response, and supports both G‑Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium for tear‑free gameplay. Connectivity is...
Plant Brainrot Simulator Codes February 2026
Pocket Tactics released a fresh batch of Plant Brainrot Simulator codes on February 17, 2026, delivering a range of rewards from 500‑crystal vouchers to 5,000‑crystal packs, specialty fruits, potions, and even a tomato seed. The guide details step‑by‑step redemption via...
Game Pass Hit The Rogue Prince of Persia Is Getting Three Free Updates
Evil Empire announced a three‑part free update roadmap for The Rogue Prince of Persia, spanning February to May 2026 across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, Switch and Game Pass streaming. The first micro‑update dropped on February 16, adding a...
TheMainManSWE Releases His Final Tier List for Tekken 8 Season 2
TheMainManSWE released his final Tekken 8 Season 2 tier list, ranking all 40 fighters across six tiers. Top tier features Bryan, Anna, Nina, Asuka, Law, Claudio and Clive, while Devil Jin falls to the bottom after recent nerfs. The list highlights high‑tier...
NZXT Launches Small Desktop Case and Power Supply for Prebuilt PC Gaming Rigs
NZXT unveiled two new compact components—the H2 Flow Mini‑ITX case and the C850 SFX 850‑watt power supply—aimed at its pre‑built gaming rigs. Both products promise high‑performance builds in a smaller footprint, matching the capabilities of larger tower systems. The case...
EFootball 2026 Show Time Worldwide Selection Contract: Best Player to Choose and Tier List
Konami’s eFootball 2026 introduces the Show Time Worldwide Selection contract, letting players hand‑pick one of three elite cards—Neymar Jr., Semih Kılıçsoy, or Lee Kang‑in—rather than relying on random packs. Each card features a unique Showtime skill and playstyle, with detailed progression guides provided...
Hands-On With Screamer, An Anime-Inspired Narrative Racer
Milestone’s upcoming title Screamer, launching March 26, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, mixes anime‑inspired storytelling with arcade‑style racing. Players control a trio of racers seeking vengeance in a futuristic tournament, with auto‑translator implants adding a sci‑fi twist....
How to Deal With The Scary Shawarma Kiosk The Anomaly Clown
The Scary Shawarma Kiosk Clown is a new, random‑spawn anomaly in the Roblox horror title Scary Shawarma Kiosk The Anomaly. It appears wearing a clown costume, brandishing a knife, and emits a creepy laugh that triggers a shutter‑close warning. Players must repeatedly press...