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
Esports Hits 3.3 Billion Hours Watched in 2025, Driven by Counter‑Strike Surge
Esports Charts reports that global esports consumption reached 3.3 billion hours in 2025, up 1.5% from the prior year. The record is anchored by a 33% jump in Counter‑Strike viewership, expanding mobile esports share and the rise of co‑streaming.

Degster: "I'm More than Ready to Play; I'm Super Motivated"
Former CS2 AWPer Abdul “degster” Gasanov, a 24‑year‑old ex‑Spirit and Falcons player, announced he is in peak physical condition and ready to join a new organization despite a year away from tier‑1 competition. He highlighted his MVP performance at the...

Power and Vulnerability Are at Play in Pragmata
Capcom’s new action‑adventure Pragmata centers on Hugh, a grizzled software engineer, and Diana, a small AI girl who can hack hostile robots on a moon base. Their interdependence mirrors the classic Ico escort dynamic, but the game adds shooter mechanics,...

EFootball 2026 Big Time & Show Time Standout Guardians 25-26 Season’s Best Pack: Review, Best Progression Builds, and Skills
Konami’s eFootball 2026 releases the Big Time & Show Time Standout Guardians 25‑26 Season’s Best pack, spotlighting defensive stalwarts Gabriel Magalhães, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Achraf Hakimi. Magalhães delivers elite aerial duels and solid ground defending, while Donnarumma provides a tall, reach‑focused goalkeeper with...

Zenless Zone Zero Twitch Drops Event: Here’s How to Claim the Free Rewards
HoYoverse's urban action RPG Zenless Zone Zero released version 2.8 “Eridan Sunset” on May 6, 2026 and launched a Twitch Drops event that runs through May 27. Players who link their Zenless account to Twitch earn in‑game items by watching streams, with reward tiers...

Perchang World Launches as Apple Arcade Exclusive, Marking Comedian James Acaster’s First Games Role
Perchang World, a physics‑based puzzler from UK indie studio Perchang Games, launched today exclusively on Apple Arcade. The game features comedian James Acaster as its narrator, his first foray into video‑games. Players guide a small ball through hundreds of stages across...
PlayStation Users May Receive Share of $7.85 M Settlement
PlayStation users could get paid from a $7.85 million settlement. Here’s who qualifies: https://t.co/9UDmCqOJc1 #gaming #playstation #gamelife #money

IGDA Portugal Launches to Support Local Game Developers
The International Game Developers Association has officially launched IGDA Portugal, a new local chapter aimed at strengthening the country’s game development ecosystem. The chapter will focus on advocacy, networking, and knowledge‑sharing, with its first meetup scheduled for May 15 at Gaming...
All Desert Grave Locations in Far Far West
The Desert map in Far Far West hides ten unmarked graves that form the core of the “Release all souls on the Desert Map” quest. Each grave is anchored to a recognizable landmark such as pipes, palm trees, or a water tower,...
Pearl Abyss: Ego‑Driven Studios Miss Ideas From Anywhere
Crimson Desert's Pearl Abyss on responding to player feedback with patches and changes: "Other companies are too ego-driven a lot of the time to be able to accept others' ideas. It's almost Silicon Valley-esque. A good idea can come from...

Why Valve’s New Steam OS Update Completely Changes How You Use Your Deck
Valve has released a major SteamOS update that adds a Desktop Mode Switch, enhanced battery indicators, integrated chat, remote download management, and improved Steam Controller support. The new desktop toggle lets users shift from gaming to a full PC desktop...

Former Xbox 360 Exclusive Steins;Gate Is Getting A 'Re:Boot' For Series X|S
Steins;Gate, the 2009 Xbox 360‑only visual novel, is getting a full reboot titled Steins;Gate Re:Boot, slated for release in Japan on August 20, 2026. The new edition adds English language support and is expected to launch worldwide on the same day, bringing the...
Pearl Abyss Iterates Crimson Desert Live, Shuns Preset Roadmaps
My interview with Pearl Abyss on Crimson Desert: “Everything, patch-wise, content-wise, has been iterated in real time based on feedback. ... If you bake in a road map, you’re presuming. We are not baking in presumptions around what the players...

Terry Crews Teases Hidden References in His New 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7' Operator Skin (Exclusive)
Terry Crews joins Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the new Operator skin “The Replacer,” debuting today. In an exclusive Men’s Journal interview, Crews reveals hidden nods to his America’s Got Talent hosting and Expendables action roles. He describes how...

Freecash Returns to Google Play After Policy Review
Almedia’s Freecash app has been reinstated on Google Play after a policy compliance review. The app was pulled earlier this year amid accusations that it harvested sensitive health, religious and sexual‑orientation data and acted as a data broker—claims the company...

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Is Getting Its Own €155 Perfume
Warhorse Studios teamed with Prague‑based Kintsugi Perfumes to launch a limited‑edition fragrance tied to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The 50 ml "Kingdom Come Eau de Parfum" retails for €155.99 (approximately $183) and draws scent notes from in‑game ingredients like apples, honey, sage and...

Grab a Free 360Hz Alienware OLED Gaming Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse, Thanks to Fanatical
Fanatical is running a $1 mystery‑egg giveaway that can net winners a high‑end Alienware gaming bundle, including the AW2725DF 27‑inch 1440p 360 Hz QD‑OLED monitor, the Pro Wireless mouse, and the Pro Wireless 75% keyboard. The monitor retails for about $600,...

Dota 2 Patch 7.41c Is Awful News for Batrider and Puck, and Keeps Roshan Under Wraps
Valve’s Dota 2 7.41c patch rolls out 81 hero tweaks and several item adjustments, targeting high‑impact picks. Notable nerfs hit Batrider’s Firefly and Flaming Lasso, while Puck loses Dream Coil’s debuff‑piercing talent. Vision mechanics change as Roshan pits now block flying...

How to Win in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Tide Siege Mode: Best Team Comps and Survival Tips
Moonton launched Tide Siege, a new three‑player survival mode in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, available from May 2026 until June 8 2026. The mode offers a Standard version with 18 enemy waves and an Endless version that ranks players on a leaderboard. Only ten...

Xbox One Version of Mina the Hollower Seemingly Dropped After Release Date Reveal
Yacht Club Games announced that its upcoming title Mina the Hollower will debut on Xbox Series X|S on May 29, 2026. The company omitted any mention of previously planned Xbox One and PS4 versions, indicating those releases may have been cancelled. The...

If You Didn't Get a Chance to Play League of Legends' Demacia Rising Minigame, Now You Can
League of Legends’ Demacia Rising minigame, a turn‑based strategy and city‑builder starring Lux, suffered technical glitches at launch and was temporarily disabled. After weeks of instability, Riot made the full experience available through the official LoL Wiki, where it can...

Morrowind in Elden Ring Mod Is Now "Mostly Playable", Despite the Fact Its Creator's "Entire Existence Has Been Consumed with...
After a six‑month silence, modder InfernoPlus announced that their Morrowind‑for‑Elden Ring conversion is now “mostly playable.” The update showcases functional NPCs, a working crime system, alchemy, and a persuasion minigame, while still requiring extensive balancing and content polishing. Technical breakthroughs include...
Xbox Cancels Gaming Copilot, Announces Leadership Shake‑up to Accelerate Growth
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a sweeping leadership reshuffle and the termination of Gaming Copilot for consoles. The move follows a 33% plunge in hardware revenue and a 5% dip in content and services revenue, as the company pivots toward...

GameNative Unlocks up to 100 Fps Gameplay for PC Games on Android Devices by Adding Multi-Frame Generation — Vulkan Version...
GameNative’s latest Android update integrates Lossless Scaling’s multi‑frame generation, allowing certain PC titles to reach near‑100 fps on mobile hardware. The feature is activated per game through the app’s container settings and leverages the user’s Steam library for game downloads. While...

Former Xbox Exclusive Starfield Has Sold Well on PS5 in the EU and US
Bethesda’s Starfield, originally an Xbox exclusive, entered the PlayStation Store in April 2026 and quickly rose to the fourth‑highest digital seller in the EU and fifth in the US. While it didn’t claim the top spot, the sci‑fi RPG outperformed...

Ubisoft Took the Subsidies. Workers in Montreal and Halifax Took the Fall
Ubisoft trimmed its global workforce from 21,000 to 17,000 between 2022 and 2026 and abruptly shut its Halifax studio, laying off 71 employees just days after a 74% union‑support vote. The closure was justified as a lack of viable work,...

Nintendo Casually Announced a New Star Fox Game, and I Can't Wait
Nintendo surprised fans with a dedicated Direct that confirmed a new Star Fox game for the Switch 2. The showcase revealed a June 25, 2026 launch, featuring revamped Lylat Wars levels, aerial, ground and underwater combat, and a four‑versus‑four Battle Mode. The title leverages...

Former Xbox 360 Exclusive Steins;Gate Will Bring Its Remake to Xbox After All
Spike Chunsoft announced that the visual‑novel remake Steins;Gate Re:Boot will arrive on Xbox Series X|S in Japan on August 20, 2026. The title, originally a Japan‑only Xbox 360 exclusive, will debut with English text support for the first time on Microsoft’s console. While the Japanese...

Xbox Quietly Launches Another Free Casual Game with Achievements
Microsoft has added a new free-to-play casual title, Microsoft Jewel, to its Windows lineup, complete with a suite of 28 Xbox achievements. The match‑three puzzle game lets players earn points, fill jewel meters, and unlock a range of gamerscore rewards,...
Google DeepMind Takes Minority Stake in Eve Online Maker to Boost Game‑Based AI Research
Google DeepMind announced a minority‑equity investment in CCP Games, the creator of the massive multiplayer online game Eve Online. The partnership will let DeepMind train and evaluate AI agents in the game’s complex, persistent universe, a move that signals a...

From Kyoto with Love: How Japan Conquered the World One Game at a Time
Japanese video games have become the nation’s most potent soft‑power tool, outpacing even its semiconductor exports. Iconic franchises such as Pokémon, Mario and Zelda generate over $100 billion in global revenue, while the Nintendo Switch 2 sparked a 40 % surge in domestic...

Snowbreak: Containment Zone Servers Reopen This Week After Long Hiatus and Backlash in China
Seasun Games announced that Snowbreak: Containment Zone servers will reopen on May 8, 2026 after two months of indefinite maintenance triggered by a China Post collaboration controversy. The return includes the Winds of Warmth event, generous compensation packages, and restored access to...

The Nordics’ Biggest B2B Games Event Is Back
Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics returns to Helsinki on October 20‑21, gathering over 1,500 game‑industry professionals from 50 countries. The two‑day event features a multitrack agenda with 150+ speakers, including heavyweights like Supercell, King and EA Dice. Attendees can access dedicated AI and...

AFC Announces EAFC Deal for Asian Cup 2027
The Asian Football Confederation has signed a licensing deal with EA Sports FC, making the video‑game franchise the official product for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. The integration will appear in EA FC 27, slated for release in September,...
How to Unlock All C.O.D.E. Navigator Challenge Rewards in BO7 and Warzone
The C.O.D.E. Navigator Challenge runs from May 8 to May 21 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, offering eight limited‑time rewards such as the new Katana melee weapon and an animated Liftoff camo. Players must complete a series of objectives...
All Stranger than Heaven Voice Actors: English and Japanese Cast
RGG Studio’s upcoming action‑adventure *Stranger than Heaven* serves as a prequel to the *Yakuza* franchise, following half‑American, half‑Japanese protagonist Makoto as he builds the Tojo Clan. The game features an unprecedented blend of Japanese and American talent, including actor‑singer Yu...
![[Industry News] P3 Partners with Inlogic to Bring New Android-Powered Games to SPARQ OS In-Vehicle Infotainment Platform](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Inlogic-Games-Join-SPARQ-OS-Infotainment-Ecosystem.png)
[Industry News] P3 Partners with Inlogic to Bring New Android-Powered Games to SPARQ OS In-Vehicle Infotainment Platform
P3 digital services has partnered with Slovakia‑based Inlogic Games to embed more than 250 HTML5 titles into its Android Automotive‑powered SPARQ OS infotainment platform. Inlogic brings a portfolio of over 500 games, distributed in 150+ countries, and now offers its catalog...
Mixtape Has Teenagers Bond With the Help of an Eclectic Soundtrack
Mixtape is a three‑hour narrative video game that lets players skateboard through a nostalgic 1990s Northern California setting while a curated soundtrack of deep‑cut and classic tracks drives the story. Protagonist Stacey Rockford, an aspiring music supervisor, introduces each song...

Wuthering Waves X Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Collaboration Is Bringing Rebecca and Lucy as Free Characters, David Martinez Arrival Also Teased
Kuro Games confirmed a Wuthering Waves × Cyberpunk: Edgerunners crossover for Version 3.4, slated for June 2026. Playable Lucy and Rebecca will join the roster, with Rebecca offered free to all players. A new trailer showcases cyber‑punk‑themed missions, hacking‑style combat, and a cameo by...

Meet Companies Like Sony, Landfall, Raw Fury, Rovio and Sybo This May
Pocket Gamer Connects Summit Malmö will take place May 27‑28, gathering a wide range of game developers, publishers, and service providers. The event, hosted near Nordic Game, offers a dedicated business lounge and the MeetToMatch platform powered by Xsolla to...
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - EP8 Mini Album Is Now Available for Purchase Digitally
Square Enix released the Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – EP8 mini‑album as a digital‑only product, featuring six tracks that total 33 minutes. The collection pulls music from patches 7.41 through 7.5 and includes a Dawntrail rendition of Final Fantasy V’s iconic “The...

Star Fox Price Confirms It’s the Second Nintendo-Published Switch 2 Title Being Sold Cheaper Digitally in the US
Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 remake of Star Fox will sell for $49.99 digitally and $59.99 physically in the United States, making it the second first‑party title to carry a lower eShop price. The price differential mirrors the policy introduced...

‘We’re Remixing Her Library for a New Medium’: The Video Games Capturing the Happy-Sad Spirit of Tove Jansson’s Moomins
Norwegian indie studio Hyper Games released its second Tove Jansson adaptation, *Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth*, following 2024’s *Snufkin: Melody of Moomin Valley*. The game translates the Moomins’ happy‑sad tone into an isometric adventure where young Moomintroll confronts winter, loss, and mortality....
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure From Onion Games Is Now Steam Deck Verified
Onion Games announced that Moon: Remix RPG Adventure has received a Steam update that adds full Steam Deck support, earning Valve’s Steam Deck Verified badge. The 1997 PS1 cult classic, previously localized for Switch and later released on PS4 and...

D7VK 1.9 Brings 2D Upgrades for Classic Direct3D Games on Linux
D7VK 1.9 introduces a suite of 2D‑focused enhancements for classic Direct3D games on Linux, complementing its earlier 3D work. The update adds delayed image uploads, full surface dirty tracking, and unified D3D9 objects, delivering lower GPU usage, reduced memory footprint,...

Solo Leveling: ARISE Redeem Codes and How to Use Them (May 2026)
Solo Leveling: ARISE, the mobile action RPG based on the hit webtoon, has released a fresh batch of redeem codes as of May 7 2026. The active list includes nine codes such as SLCONGRATS2026 and OREARA2NDANNIV, each granting in‑game rewards. The guide...

Caravan SandWitch Takes You on a Heartfelt Sci-Fi Road Trip Adventure, Arriving Soon on Mobile
Caravan SandWitch, an indie narrative‑driven adventure from Studio Plane Toast, is set to debut on Android and iOS after a successful 2024 launch on PC and consoles. The mobile version retains its inclusive story, sci‑fi world inspired by Provence, and...
![Pragmata Sales Surpass One Million [Update: Two Million]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/Pragmata-sales.jpg)
Pragmata Sales Surpass One Million [Update: Two Million]
Capcom announced that its new IP Pragmata sold over one million copies worldwide within two days of launch, and an updated figure shows sales reaching two million in just sixteen days. The milestone was achieved across all platforms, with the...
Steins;Gate Re:Boot Launches August 20 for Xbox Series, PS5, Switch 2, PS4, Switch, and Steam in Japan
Mages announced that Steins;Gate Re:Boot will launch on August 20 in Japan across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, and Steam. The release adds console versions to a title previously confirmed only for PC, creating a simultaneous multi‑platform debut. Subtitle...

Dubai Esports & Games Festival Reveals New Dates with Expanded Fan Experiences
The Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF) has been rescheduled for May 22 through June 7, 2026, extending the event to a two‑week celebration. New immersive zones such as Neo Tokyo District, Battle Arena, and Velocity Garage join the flagship GameExpo, which runs June 5‑7,...