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
Solve a Murder Mystery by Flying People Around on Your Giant Crane in the Disco Elysium and Chinese Folktale Inspired...
The Crane Rider's Tale, the next project from Butterfly Soup creator Brianna Lei, is a visual‑novel adventure that tasks players with solving a serial‑killer mystery while ferrying townsfolk on a giant crane. The game mixes Disco Elysium‑style dice rolls, Zero Escape puzzles, and point‑and‑click exploration, offering five distinct endings with shocking twists. Its aesthetic draws on medieval Chinese painting and woodblock prints, and it is currently funded through a Kickstarter campaign. Lei also weaves personal reflections on Chinese cultural constraints and LGBTQ representation into the narrative.
Commodore 64 Retro Lineup Expands with C64C Edition This Year
Commodore announced the Commodore 64C Ultimate, a slimline version of its retro C64 Ultimate, now open for pre‑order with shipments slated for late 2026. The new model is built using the original 1986 injection tooling that was recovered, restored, and...
How to Get the Crash Mat Blueprint in ARC Raiders
The Riven Tides update for ARC Raiders introduces the Crash Mat, a consumable that creates an airbag to nullify fall damage. Its blueprint appears randomly on the Riven Tides map, with a notable spawn in a beach container near Hotel Panorama Azzurro. Players...
Sony Rolls Out 30-Day Online DRM Check-In For PlayStation Digital Games
Sony announced a new digital‑rights‑management system that forces PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners to connect their consoles to the internet at least once every 30 days. The policy applies to games installed after the March firmware update and cannot...
FFXIV Free Trial Now Includes Shadowbringers Expansion
Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy XIV free trial now includes the Shadowbringers expansion, joining Heavensward and Stormblood. New players can create up to eight characters, reach level 80, and access all jobs and races from the three expansions....
‘This Is Beyond Frustrating’: ARC Raiders Players Are Angry with Nerfs in Riven Tides Update
The Riven Tides update for ARC Raiders added a new map and a suite of balance changes, most notably a three‑fold weight increase and a four‑fold power‑usage rise for the Photoelectric Cloak, and a 75% boost to durability loss on...
MindsEye's Controversial Blacklisted DLC Is a Desperate Publicity Stunt
Build a Rocket Boy released the free Blacklisted DLC for its flopped shooter MindsEye, promising in‑game proof of alleged sabotage. The DLC instead delivers a short, linear stealth mission that feels like a re‑skinned Hitman level, complete with technical hiccups...
CyberPowerPC Unveils $1,399 RTX 5070 Gaming PC with Free Pragmata
CyberPowerPC introduced the Liquid Gamer Supreme, a pre‑built gaming system priced at $1,399 that pairs an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU with a Ryzen 7 8700F CPU, 32 GB DDR5‑6000 RAM, and a 2 TB SSD, and includes a free copy of the game...
All The Evidence That GTA 6‘s Next Trailer Is Nearly Here
Rockstar Games fans are betting that the third Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer will drop in late May, based on Take‑Two Interactive’s April 23 announcement of a May 22 Q4 earnings call. Historically, Rockstar has timed major GTA 6 reveals within days of Take‑Two’s...
Windrose Updates Will Take Time, But Will Be "Big, Expansion-Like"
Windrose, an open‑world pirate game, entered early access on April 14 and quickly attracted strong Steam numbers. Developer Kraken Express announced that the next content wave will be a substantial expansion adding a new Ashlands biome, slated for release in at...
Garry’s Mod Successor S&box Releases To Mixed Steam Reviews And An Influx Of AI Slop
Facepunch released s&box, a Source 2‑based game‑creation platform billed as the spiritual successor to Garry’s Mod. Early Steam reviews are mixed, with players praising the concept but flagging unfinished features, server limitations, and performance glitches. The launch has also sparked a...
A Playable DOOM MCP App
Developer Chris Nager released a minimal Model Context Protocol (MCP) app that lets users launch the classic first‑person shooter DOOM directly inside AI chat clients such as ChatGPT and Claude, falling back to a standard web URL when inline rendering...
How to Get the Powered Descender Blueprint in ARC Raiders
The Riven Tides update for ARC Raiders introduces the Powered Descender, a utility that slows a player’s fall and averts fatal drops. The blueprint for this item is not fixed, but players have reported locating it most reliably at the...
Iicon Gathers Gaming CEOs, Ubisoft and Nintendo Leaders
NEW: A dispatch from iicon, the new event that kicked off today in Vegas from the organizers of E3 It's a meeting of captains of industry. At the EA CEO talk I went to this morning, for example, the heads of...
L.A. Noir 2 Uncertain, Future Plans Remain Vague
Will we ever get L.A. Noir 2? Zelnick at iicon: “You never know. The answer broadly is we’re looking at doing something in the future with all of our intellectual property, but nothing to announce.”
EA CEO: AI Is ‘Augmenting’ People's Jobs at EA, Not Really Displacing Them
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson told Fox Business at the iicon conference that roughly 85% of EA’s quality‑assurance (QA) tasks now run on machine‑learning or AI algorithms, yet the company is hiring more QA staff than ever. He emphasized that...
Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Gets Clive and Rikku, Appears in More Countries
Square Enix announced on April 28 that the mobile title Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is adding two new characters—Clive from Final Fantasy XVI and Rikku from Final Fantasy X—while expanding availability to seven additional countries. The update also launches a...
Akali's Unblockable Okizeme Setup Won't Be Patched by Evo Japan 2026 but Combat Designer Says There May Be Ways Around...
Akali’s new unblockable Okizeme setup in 2XKO will remain unpatched through Evo Japan 2026, though combat designer Yohosie hinted at undisclosed escape options. The same designer confirmed that Akali’s charged S2 grab on airborne opponents is slated for a future patch....
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Devs Host Reddit Q&A that Turns Bloodier than the Red Wedding
Warhorse Studios, the creator of the Kingdom Come series, sparked a firestorm after laying off a Czech translator in favor of generative AI and then hosting a Reddit AMA. The community responded with sharply critical questions, the most up‑voted receiving...
Witcher 3 Veterans Share Blood of the Dawnwalker Gameplay and Set Release
Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco unveiled a new gameplay demo for "The Blood of the Dawnwalker," an open‑world dark‑fantasy RPG slated for release on September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The trailer introduces protagonist Coen, a half‑vampire Dawnwalker, and showcases...
How to Solve the Disco Event Easter Egg in ARC Raiders Riven Tides
The Riven Tides update for ARC Raiders introduces a hidden Disco event tucked away in the basement of the Hotel Panorama Azzurro POI. Players must locate the dilapidated club, then repair a broken speaker and a wall switch using spare...
Zenless Zone Zero Phaethon Pyrois Agent Teased
HoYoVerse announced the Season 3 3.0 update for Zenless Zone Zero will add a new Phaethon Agent featuring the Belle and Wise avatar siblings fighting alongside the Etheric Other Pyrois. The teaser confirms the unit is an Ether‑type Attack agent with...
Ex-Witcher Devs' New RPG Blood of Dawnwalker Gets 2026 Release Date
Ex‑Witcher veterans at Rebel Wolves announced their new vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, slated for release on September 3, 2026 across PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game follows Coen, a half‑vampire Dawnwalker who can walk in daylight, navigating a...
'Safe Harbor' Quest Walkthrough in Arc Raiders
The "Safe Harbor" quest is the first single‑round mission in Arc Raiders’ Riven Tides update, set in the map’s bottom‑left sector. Players must locate a restaurant clue inside Hotel Panorama Azzurro, follow a sketch to a buried site, dig up...
The Blood of Dawnwalker Launches September 3 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Bandai Namco and Polish studio Rebel Wolves announced that their debut dark‑fantasy RPG *The Blood of Dawnwalker* will launch on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Pre‑orders are live, with a standard edition, a Day One edition, an Eclipse edition...
Monitor Passengers on a Train in New Beholder Spinoff Beholder: Conductor
Alawar Entertainment and Plug In Digital have released Beholder: Conductor, a mobile spinoff of the dystopian management simulation series Beholder. The game, originally launched on PC in April 2025, puts players in the role of a train conductor tasked with...
Marathon Update Just Made Cryo Archive Sponsored Kits a Weekly Freebie
Bungie’s Marathon update 1.0.6.2 now lets players claim a free Cryo Archive Sponsored Kit each week, turning a once‑only perk into a recurring benefit. The kit bundles roughly 5,000 credits of blue‑tier gear, including powerful heals and weapons, to smooth...
GameHub’s Desktop Beta Promises to Expand Mac Gaming
GameHub, the GameSir app that lets Android devices stream Windows PC games, has launched a macOS beta. The beta leverages a fork of the open‑source Winlator layer and tightly integrates with Steam and the Epic Games Store. In a recent...
Ex-Elder Scrolls Online Boss Opens Up About Microsoft Killing His Dream Game: ‘A Giant Successful Video Game On The Microsoft...
Microsoft scrapped Project Blackbird, an ambitious online sci‑fi loot‑shooter RPG from ZeniMax Online Studios, during its 2025 cost‑cutting wave following the $70 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. Former studio head Matt Firor, who helped design the game’s world and oversaw a new engine...
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta Is Now Available for Nintendo Switch
XSEED Games announced that Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is now available on Nintendo Switch, bringing the action‑RPG to the console with enhanced visuals and a choice between the original and a newly rearranged soundtrack. The title, originally released on PS Vita...
Clean up Rebel Scum in the Upcoming Star Wars DLC for PowerWash Simulator 2
Lucasfilm Games and FuturLab have announced a Star Wars‑themed DLC for PowerWash Simulator 2, slated for release this summer across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and the upcoming Switch 2. The pack will let players clean iconic locations such as Hoth, Tatooine, and...
Silent Whispers Is a Time Loop Otome Game
Archosaur and Vvanna have unveiled *Silent Whispers*, a new otome title that blends time‑loop mechanics with first‑person exploration. The game targets PC, Android, and iOS and will adopt a free‑to‑play model, though specific monetization details remain undisclosed. Players will navigate...
The Blood of Dawnwalker PC Specifications Revealed, RTX 5090 Required for Ultra 4K/60 FPS
Rebel Wolves announced that The Blood of Dawnwalker will launch on September 3, 2026 and disclosed its PC hardware requirements. The game mandates 16 GB RAM, a 60 GB SSD and a range of CPUs and GPUs depending on resolution and settings. Ultra 4K/60 FPS...
All Main Season Challenges and Rewards in Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred Season 13
Season 13 of Diablo 4 launches worldwide alongside the Lord of Hatred DLC, introducing a nine‑rank challenge ladder that drives players through both new story content and high‑level endgame zones. Each rank must be completed sequentially, unlocking progressively richer rewards such...
'We've Been a Little Bit Too Romantic:' Ustwo CEO Says Lowering Development Costs Is Now Paramount
Ustwo Games is abandoning its mobile‑first strategy to focus on PC and console releases after Netflix dropped Monument Valley 3, prompting a strategic pivot. The studio’s development budgets, previously £7‑£10 million ($9‑$13 million) over three‑to‑four‑year cycles, are deemed too high for sustainable profitability....
Dead By Daylight Studio ‘Emphatically Refutes’ Rumor That Layoffs Were Related To Union Activity
Behaviour Interactive announced layoffs affecting roughly 40 employees, about 3% of its global staff. The cuts targeted mobile and casual external development teams, but also included 8‑10 members of the flagship Dead by Daylight studio. The company issued a statement...
Cronos: The New Dawn Showcases the Mac’s MetalFX and Ray Tracing
Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober Team’s survival‑horror title, arrived on macOS via Steam, showcasing Apple’s MetalFX upscaling and hardware‑accelerated ray tracing. Testing on an M1 Max Mac Studio and an M4 Max MacBook Pro revealed 70‑75 fps at 1440p with MetalFX...
GreedFall Studio Confirms It's Shutting Down Following Nacon Financial Struggles
Spiders, the French studio behind GreedFall and Steelrising, announced its liquidation after Nacon, its parent company, filed for insolvency. The studio confirmed it will cease operations immediately, with the pending GreedFall DLC to be released by Nacon. No buyer emerged...
Guild Wars Reforged Launches This Summer for iOS and Android
ArenaNet announced that Guild Wars Reforged will debut on iOS and Android this summer as a free, ad‑supported client. Players can purchase standalone add‑ons—$6.99 for Prophecies, $9.99 for Eye of the North, and $5.99 for the Bonus Mission Pack—to unlock...
Naughty Dog Staff Split over TLU2's Controversial Death
Former Naughty Dog dev says there was division within the studio about The Last of Us Part 2's controversial death. https://t.co/h7HrW55R3O
12 Things To Know Before You Start Playing Saros
Housemarque’s roguelike shooter Saros launched on April 30, with a Digital Deluxe edition available early on PS5. The game blends fast‑paced combat with a narrative that unfolds through repeated deaths and returns to the Passage hub. Players benefit from exploring alternate...
Rockbeasts Lands Iggy Pop Cameo in New Episodic Rock‑manager Sim
Lichthund’s upcoming game Rockbeasts has secured legendary rocker Iggy Pop to voice a canine band member. The indie studio says the partnership turns the title into a multimedia project that fuses a full‑album soundtrack with a management‑RPG experience.
MEE6 Founders Keep Discord Moderation Platform Fully Founder‑owned and Profitable
MEE6’s co‑founders Brendan Rius and Anis Belkacem say the Discord moderation platform is entirely founder‑owned and generates profit without any outside capital. The profile underscores a high‑growth SaaS model that has avoided the typical venture‑backed path.
'This Doesn't Have RAM in It, and It's Not as Complicated to Start Getting Out the Door for Us' —...
Valve announced that the Steam Controller will launch on May 4, 2026 for $99, ahead of the delayed Steam Machine. The controller’s release is possible because it contains no RAM, allowing it to bypass the industry‑wide memory shortage. Valve’s hardware engineer...
What Do Marathon and The Lord of the Rings Have to Do with Each Other? PvPvE Gameplay, Apparently
Game director Joe Ziegler of Marathon explained that the title’s appeal hinges on mixing PvE’s predictable challenges with PvP’s unpredictable player actions, a balance he likens to the tension in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. He argues that the “golden...
Love and Deepspace May Have Competition with a New Sexy Escapade Game Offering More Handheld Hunks
Archosaur Games announced Project Silent Whispers, a free‑to‑play otome adventure launching on iOS, Android and PC. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the title showcases high‑end graphics, fast cars, bikes, and a time‑loop narrative. Players will choose among three suitors—Theron, Valen and...
Marathon’s Controversial WSTR Shotgun Receives Further Changes in Latest Update
Marathon’s April 28 patch (1.0.6.2) revises the controversial WSTR combat shotgun, boosting its base damage to 85 while lowering the critical multiplier to 1.05×. The update also adds a 75% damage bonus against AI enemies, making the weapon more viable for...
S&Box Game Engine – Gary’s Mod 2 Successor Launched
Facepunch Studios launched S&Box on Steam for $20, positioning it as the spiritual successor to Garry’s Mod and a full C# game engine built on Valve’s Source 2 technology. The platform combines a consumer portal with backend tools like the Hammer...
"We've Heard a Clear Frustration": Arc Raiders Update Adds a Beach Holiday Map While Patching the Gun Balance to Ensure...
Arc Raiders' Riven Tides update launches a beach‑themed map featuring a collapsing hotel, slide, tennis courts and a dockyard, while adding the defensive Arc Turbine enemy and new mobility tools. The patch also overhauls weapon durability, repairing 25% on upgrades...
Garry's Mod Devs Facepunch Will Be Taking Action to "Push Obviously AI-Created Slop Off" Sequel S&box's Main Page, Garry Newman...
Facepunch Studios released S&box, the open‑source successor to Garry’s Mod, on April 28 and immediately flagged a surge of low‑quality, AI‑generated user content. Founder Garry Newman said the studio will actively remove obvious AI‑created “slop” from the game’s main page...