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
All Evo Japan 2026 Game Announcements and DLC Reveals
Evo Japan 2026 unveiled a slate of fighting‑game updates, headlined by Melty Blood: Twi‑Lumina, an upgraded 2021 title set for a 2027 multi‑platform launch. The event also introduced World Heroes Perfect on Steam at a limited‑time $14.99 price, plus new DLC characters for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and Tekken 8. Each announcement detailed release windows, platform coverage, and added features such as rollback netcode and new story routes. The next Evo gathering will shift to Las Vegas in late June 2026.
Tennis Manager 26 Is Smashing Its Way to Mobile and PC on May 12, 2026 with Pre-Registration Now Live
Tennis Manager 26 is set to launch on May 12, 2026 for PC, Mac, and mobile, marking the series' first simultaneous cross‑platform release. The game introduces a My Player mode that lets users embody a rising tennis star, while retaining...
Voice Chat Added, AI Communicates in Native Languages
Added voice messages now, and AI players also send them, and you can hear your enemy radio (in their language), and your own radio in English so you know what's going on Some things I still need to do are add...
Short News: Week 18
Acend announced the departure of Bulgarian AWPer Slaven “AwaykeN” Lyubenov, who was replaced last month by Deyvid “h4rn” Benchev. AwaykeN posted a farewell on X, saying he’s looking for a new team as an AWPer. Meanwhile, M80 climbed to 24th...
Littlelands Demo Now Available
Apogee Entertainment and HyperMegaPixel have released a free PC demo of their cozy farming‑adventure life‑simulation game Littlelands on Steam. The two‑hour demo lets players create a custom avatar, explore six distinct areas, interact with twenty NPCs, and battle seven enemy...
Project Blackbird Cancelled as MMO Market Saturation Deepens, Says ZeniMax Founder
ZeniMax Online Studios founder Matt Firor announced the cancellation of Project Blackbird, ending a 300‑person effort and underscoring a broader MMO market squeeze. Firor linked the decision to historic publisher skepticism, current saturation, and a wave of industry layoffs reminiscent...
Dark Cone: Maze Horror Game Built with Phaser
Dark Cone is a free, browser‑based survival horror game built with the Phaser framework by indie developer Faraz The Web Guy. Released on itch.io as a game‑jam prototype, it challenges players to navigate a maze while managing a flashlight that...
Lee Jae-Ho: "I Have a Strong Desire to Put On a Good Performance"
Lee Jae‑ho edged Lee Jae‑dong 3‑2 in the Google Play ASL Season 21 quarter‑finals in Seoul, securing a spot in the semifinals. He took the first two sets, weathered a comeback, and clinched the final set with a Valkyrie‑Terran bio push....
How Playrix Turned Township Into a $45M/Month Engine: A Two & a Half Gamers Episode with GameRefinery
Playrix has turned its 2013 mobile title Township into a $45 million‑per‑month revenue engine. In a Two & a Half Gamers podcast, GameRefinery chief analyst Erno Kiiski dissects the game’s evolution across several eras, emphasizing the hybrid tycoon‑front‑end and match‑3 core. The...
This Viral Fighting Game Makes You Bark Into Your Microphone to Win
Bow‑wow Battle is a viral 1v1 indie fighting game where players bark into a microphone to out‑bark opponents. The title offers seven canine characters, an eight‑stage story mode, and a simple mechanic that measures volume and bark count. No traditional...
Fan-Favorite CoD Scorestreak Is Still “Useless” In Black Ops 7
The EMP scorestreak in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is being labeled useless by the player base, even after applying its available overclocks. Reddit and other forums cite its inability to disrupt enemy field upgrades and note that a Stim...
ASETEK INITIUM Racing Wheel Review: Sim Racing Excellence
ASETEK, a former liquid‑cooler maker, has launched the INITIUM Racing Bundle, a beginner‑level direct‑drive wheel priced at $599.99 and expandable to a sub‑$1,000 full rig. The wheelbase delivers 5.5 Nm of torque, boostable to 8 Nm, and includes a clutch pedal kit,...
Xbox Game Pass Highlights — 3 Fantastic Games to Play in May 2026
Xbox Game Pass highlights for May 2026 showcase three distinct titles—Contrast, Fallout 3, and Fe—each available on Premium and Ultimate tiers. Contrast is a short, visually striking platformer that can be completed in about three hours and boasts a 27% achievement completion...
Dungeon Clawler Brings a Fun Twist to Deckbuilding with Arcade Claw Mechanics, Now Live on Multiple Platforms
Stray Fawn Studio has released Dungeon Clawler, a roguelike deck‑builder that uses arcade claw‑machine mechanics to collect items and build decks. The full Version 1.0 launch adds a Daily Challenge mode, new characters, bosses, and expands the roster to 26 heroes....
"It Meant We Got the Design Right": Resident Evil Requiem's Producer on the DLSS5 Grace Ashcroft Debacle
Nvidia unveiled DLSS 5, an AI‑driven upscaling system, but its first major showcase in Resident Evil Requiem distorted the character Grace Ashcroft, prompting a wave of criticism. Capcom’s producer Masato Kumzawa framed the backlash as proof that the original design resonated...
Details of Peni Parker's Moveset for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Revealed
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls added Peni Parker as the latest playable fighter, unveiled at Evo Japan 2026. The character belongs to the Amazing Guardians team and features a unique drone‑summoning mechanic triggered by the “Unique” button. Peni can cling to...
Indie Dev Says Steam’s Blocking Their Game for IP Infringement, Even Though It’s Their Own IP
Japanese indie studio Daikichi reports that Steam has blocked the demo of its upcoming game Wired Tokyo 2007, claiming it infringes third‑party intellectual property. The disputed content is a reference to the studio’s own 2023 dinosaur‑themed card game Dinostone, which...
Modern Warfare 4 Could Release on Last-Gen Consoles After Reportedly Being Tested on PS4
A new leak indicates Infinity Ward is play‑testing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on PlayStation 4, contradicting earlier reports that the 2026 title would be exclusive to current‑gen consoles. The game, set partly in Korea, is also expected to roll back...
Karrigan to Debut for Falcons vs K27 as PGL Astana Opening Match-Ups Revealed
PGL Astana 2026 will launch on May 9 with a $1.6 million LAN prize pool. The opening slate pits the Falcons, now led by veteran IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen, against K27, a squad bolstered by short‑term loan star Petr “fame” Bolyshev. With powerhouses...
Resident Evil Requiem Producer Says DLSS 5 Anger ‘Shows We Got Grace’s Original Design Right’
Nvidia unveiled DLSS 5, an AI‑driven rendering upgrade that adds photoreal lighting and material changes to supported games. The reveal sparked backlash from players who felt the technology overwrote original art direction, especially in Resident Evil Requiem’s protagonist Grace. Capcom’s producer...
Rockstar Games Faces Employee Burnout as GTA 6 Deadline Tightens
Rockstar Games employees say the push to meet a November 19 release for Grand Theft Auto VI has led to unpaid overtime, 3 AM workdays and mounting burnout. The revelations revive debate over crunch in the gaming sector and put pressure on parent...
Clash of Clans “Clash vs Skeleton” Event for May 2026: Details, How to Progress, Rewards and More
Supercell launched the Clash vs Skeleton event in Clash of Clans, running May 4‑18, 2026. Players pick Team Jade or Team Amethyst, earn stars from attacks, and donate them to unlock tiles on a shared map. The community battle culminates in...
‘Grand Theft Auto’ Maker Take-Two Plots Its Next Move in a Consolidating Gaming Industry
Take‑Two Interactive remains one of the few independent game publishers as rivals consolidate, and CEO Strauss Zelnick says the firm will focus on organic growth for the next couple of years before considering any acquisition. The company’s recent Zynga purchase...
It May Have Taken Almost Three Years, but Diablo 4 Finally Feels Finished to Me
Three years after launch, Blizzard’s Lord of Hatred expansion finally gives Diablo 4 a cohesive end‑game and narrative closure. The update adds two new classes, a revamped skill system with passive modifiers, and the Horadric Cube for deep gear crafting. Continuous...
‘It’s Not About the Storyline’: Dragon Quest 9 Director Says the Hardest Thing Isn’t to Make Players Cry, but Surprised
Former Dragon Quest co‑director Jin Fujisawa explains that series creator Yuji Horii taught him to value player experience over narrative. Horii’s mantra—surprise and gameplay matter more than making players cry—shifted Fujisawa’s design outlook after two decades at Square Enix. He...
Crimson Desert's Hearths Have A Ton Of Free Food If You Look Properly
Crimson Desert treats food as a health mechanic, requiring players to gather ingredients and cook meals. When a character dies, they respawn at a Hearth, which not only offers basic supplies but also hides a chest containing up to 12...
Where to Find Wandering Trader in Far Far West and What She Does
The Wandering Trader is an NPC that appears on Normal‑difficulty and higher missions in the Far Far West map. She can be located via the Chad Joker item, which marks her on the map and provides a 20% discount, or by tossing...
Rust Mobile Eyes China Launch This July 2026 Across PC and Mobile
Facepunch Studios’ Rust Mobile is slated for a July 2026 launch in China, with a later global rollout still unannounced. The action‑survival game will support cross‑platform play across PC, Android, iOS, HarmonyOS and tablets, aiming to deliver the full Rust experience...
Xbox Game Pass Added 13 Title Updates This Week that You Might Have Missed
Xbox Game Pass delivered a busy week of title updates on May 4, 2026, spanning major releases such as Diablo IV, Dead by Daylight, and Age of Empires IV. The patches introduced new DLC‑linked features, balance tweaks, quality‑of‑life improvements, and cosmetic additions across both...
Kakao Games Hosts PUBG Offline Event 'Campus Chicken Drop VOL.2'
Kakao Games is launching the second edition of its offline PUBG event, "Campus Chicken Drop VOL.2," at Seoul University (May 19‑20) and Yonsei University (May 28‑29). The festival‑season activation targets Gen Z gamers with experiential booths, mission‑based challenges, and tangible rewards such as Kakao...
Borderlands 4's Randy Pitchford Is Getting Roasted For A Strange AI Selfie
Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford posted an AI‑generated selfie on social media, prompting a wave of criticism from Borderlands 4 fans. The image, filled with studio merch, was meant as a playful experiment but raised concerns about the studio’s stance on generative...
Best Ways to Board Ships in Windrose
Windrose requires players to unlock the Ketch and construct a Wharf and Shipwright's Workshop before they can board enemy vessels. Crafting the initial Boarding Party Gear—7 copper ingots, 7 rough hides, and 7 coarse fabric—equips the ship for boarding actions....
Wargaming Launches PC Version of 'World of Warships: Legends'
Wargaming has released the PC version of its naval‑combat MMO World of Warships: Legends on Steam and the Xbox PC platform. The launch adds cross‑progression, letting players sync accounts between consoles and PC, and grants exclusive perks to Xbox Game...
Speed Is Its Priority: KTC 24N1 400-Hz Gaming Monitor Reviewed
The KTC H25N1 is a 24.1‑inch gaming monitor that pushes a 400 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms GTG response thanks to aggressive overdrive. Built around a TN panel, it offers lightning‑fast pixel transitions and flicker‑free operation, but sacrifices contrast and viewing‑angle...
Roblox Blames Age-Verification Rollout for Lowered Growth. Stock Tumbles 22%
Roblox announced that mandatory age‑verification for chat, introduced in January, has slowed user growth and forced the company to cut its full‑year 2026 bookings forecast by about $900 million. Daily active users rose 35% year‑over‑year to 132 million but fell short of...
N64's Powerful 2D Potential Overlooked for 3D
One of the real bummers of the N64 software library is that despite being extraordinarily capable as a 2D system, almost all of the effort went into 3D games. Makes sense, that was the shiny new selling point, but...
Wemade Connect Opens Pre-Registration for New Subculture Title 'Make Drama: MAD'
Wemade Connect, a subsidiary of Wemade Max, has opened pre‑registration for its upcoming mobile subculture RPG, “Make Drama: MAD,” developed by Fluffy Duck. The title, illustrated by renowned artist Snowball, blends real‑time combat with deep character‑interaction mechanics and will launch...
Stepper Retro to Participate in PlayX4 2026 and BitSummit 2026 Simultaneously
Team Tetrapod’s supernatural mystery adventure "Stepper Retro" will be showcased at both PlayX4 2026 in South Korea and BitSummit 2026 in Japan, running parallel demos and crowdfunding drives. The demo, featuring Japanese voice‑overs for Act 1, launches on Steam on May 7, while the...
Innovation Thrives by Remixing Existing Tech, Not Chasing New
We tend to think innovation means chasing the newest technology. At Nintendo, Gunpei Yokoi saw something different. Instead of competing at the frontier, he combined older, reliable tech in new ways. The Game Boy was outdated on paper, but it focused on...
Hanwha Life Esports Takes Sole Possession of First Place After Handing KT Rolster Their First Loss
Hanwha Life Esports seized sole first place in Week 5 of the 2026 LCK regular season, improving to a 9‑2 record after defeating the previously unbeaten KT Rolster. The loss snapped KT Rolster’s eight‑game winning streak, dropping them to second behind Hanwha Life....
Dungeons & Damper Is a New Indigenous-Led D&D Experience Set for Vivid 2026
Dungeons & Damper: Inside the D20, an Indigenous‑led Dungeons & Dragons experience, will debut at Vivid 2026 in Sydney. Created by Wonnarua sisters Maddison and George Coles with Studio Gilay and Brooke Collard, the game blends fantasy mechanics with First Nations storytelling and environmental themes. Development involved extensive consultation...
Steam Week in Review: Another Online Shooter Winds Down Weeks After Launch, as Robot Cowboys Take Over
Steam’s weekly data shows the indie cooperative shooter Far Far West, from eight‑person French studio Evil Raptor, vaulted to the third‑highest revenue title on Steam with about 47,300 concurrent players. By contrast, the 5v5 shooter Last Flag has slipped to a mere 35 players,...
Riot Games Opens Pre-Registration for Wild Rift 'Kai'Sa's Pit Stop' Pop-Up Store
Riot Games announced today that pre‑registration is open for the first standalone Wild Rift pop‑up store, “Kai'Sa's Pit Stop,” in Seoul’s Knotted Lotte World Mall. The ten‑day event runs May 8‑17 and celebrates a new Porsche partnership featuring the exclusive “Prestige...
Marvel Once Caused a Problem for Capcom by Insisting 'Juggernaut Can't Jump'
Marvel’s early 1990s licensing partnership with Capcom imposed strict character behavior rules, famously prohibiting Juggernaut from jumping while developing X‑Men: Children of the Atom. Capcom localisation lead Takuya Shiraiwa negotiated the change, arguing that vertical movement was essential for a...
Capcom’s First Game Localization Operation Was Tom Shiraiwa as a One-Man Show
Tom “Tom” Shiraiwa was Capcom’s first and only localization employee in the early 1990s, handling everything from Japanese‑to‑English text translation to exporting arcade boards and gathering U.S. feedback. At a time when the term “localization” didn’t exist, he became the...
OnePlus Launches Strix G15 Gamepad to Turn Ace 6 Ultra Into a Handheld Console
OnePlus introduced the Strix G15 gamepad in China, a metal‑framed accessory that docks the Ace 6 Ultra tablet and delivers sub‑50 ms Bluetooth latency. Priced at 599 yuan (about $84), the controller aims to capture a fast‑growing mobile‑gaming accessories market.
Roblox Rolls Out Age‑Based Accounts and Mandatory Facial Scans for Indonesian Kids
Roblox announced a global rollout of age‑based account tiers and expanded parental controls, while in Indonesia it will require facial scans to verify users under 16. The changes impact roughly 45 million Indonesian users, including 23 million children, and follow new local...
Jobs Digest: Big Moves at Jam City, Scopely, Niantic, Netflix, Activision, Supercell and More
The mobile gaming sector saw a wave of senior hires and departures this week. Jam City’s co‑founder Joshua Yguado exits after 16 years, with Kabam chief Chul‑min Sim assuming the CEO role while retaining his Kabam duties. Scopely bolstered its...
Every Pokemon Game in Pre-Production and Full Production Explained
The next mainline titles, Pokemon Winds and Waves, have been officially announced for a late‑2027 launch, extending the interval since Scarlet and Violet to roughly five years. A recent leak from Centro Leaks lists four games in full production—including a...
Call of Duty 2026 Reportedly Coming to a Surprising Platform
Activision and Infinity Ward are reportedly testing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on PlayStation 4, indicating a 2026 launch that could span both last‑generation and current consoles. Leaks suggest the game will revisit the Korean peninsula, continue the Modern Warfare 3 storyline,...