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
Hybrid Live‑Service Shooters Redefine Multiplayer Battlefield
Arc Raiders and Marathon are pioneering hybrid live‑service shooters that fuse PvP and PvE, while Battlefield 6’s roadmap clarifies upcoming map and ranked‑play updates. The shift reflects a broader industry move away from pure battle‑royale formulas toward more story‑driven, progression‑heavy multiplayer experiences.
Fans Question Nintendo's Delay on Sonic Battle 2
I don’t understand what’s holding Nintendo back from releasing Sonic Battle 2 for the GameCube NSO
A Minor Fallout: New Vegas Quest Got Its Own Ending Slide because the Team Was Transfixed by the Choice Where...
Design director Josh Sawyer explained that Obsidian’s post‑game ending slides are chosen more for entertainment than narrative weight, with the creative director making the final call. A relatively minor Fallout: New Vegas quest, “Flags of Our Foul‑Ups,” earned its own...
FFXIV Outlined A New 'Evolved Mode' Job Overhaul During A FanFest Devlopment Panel -- Here's What You Need To Know
Square Enix unveiled "Evolved Mode" at the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival, a sweeping overhaul that replaces static hotbars with a dynamic, combo‑driven action system. The new mode will debut alongside the Evercold expansion, introducing distinct Main‑Tank and Off‑Tank roles and...
Echoes of Ancient Japan: Exploring the Art and Symbolism of Shogun’s Land
Habanero’s Shogun’s Land slot is examined as a visual essay that repurposes Edo‑era painting, ukiyo‑e prints, and Shinto iconography for modern casino entertainment. The game’s art direction uses a restrained palette of ink black, vermilion, gold and pale pink, echoing...
Rediscovering Forza Horizon 3’s Open‑World Brilliance
For our From the Backlog series, I'm revisiting the brilliant open world of Forza Horizon 3. https://t.co/4FiNOhJwJO
A Controversial Boss That Led To Slay The Spire 2’s Latest Round Of Review Bombing Wasn’t Even The Game’s Strongest
Mega Crit’s latest v0.104.0 beta for Slay the Spire 2 introduced a reworked Doormaker boss that, contrary to player complaints, now has the highest win rate among Act 3 bosses. The change sparked a second wave of review‑bombing on Steam, pushing the...
Mandatory Internet Connection Is Back on Consoles as New PlayStation DRM Disables Your License After 30 Days
Sony has rolled out a new digital rights management system that requires PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days. Failure to do so deactivates the game license, preventing the title...
FC 26 Kayode vs Shaw Showdown SBC: Who Should You Pick
EA Sports FC 26’s latest Squad Building Challenge pits Michael Kayode against Luke Shaw, offering two similarly priced cards but different squad requirements. Kayode’s SBC demands an 85‑86 overall squad, while Shaw’s requires an 88‑rated lineup. The article recommends Shaw for its...
FFXIV Director Naoki Yoshida Speaks More About Fan Festival Announcements, Evercold And Game's Future At FanFest Conference
Final Fantasy XIV’s Fan Fest in Anaheim unveiled the 8.0 expansion Evercold, featuring a new weekly‑content model and the overhauled Evolved Mode for job actions. Director Naoki Yoshida detailed technical plans for the Switch 2 version, confirming mouse support and stable 30 fps performance....
Even Korea’s Prime Minister Is Praising Crimson Desert: ‘It Has Opened a New Chapter in K-Content’
Pearl Abyss’s open‑world RPG Crimson Desert moved over five million units in less than a month, despite a turbulent launch that spiked Steam refunds. Korean Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok publicly lauded the title, calling it a new chapter for K‑content...
After Losing Its Creative Director, It Looks Like Assassin's Creed Hexe Has Lost Its Game Director Now Too
Ubisoft’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed Hexe has lost its game director, Benoit Richer, who announced on LinkedIn that he is joining the newly formed indie studio Servo Games. This follows the earlier departure of creative director Clint Hocking, leaving the project...
How to Get Rapier of a Thousand Cuts in Windrose
The Rapier of a Thousand Cuts, one of Windrose’s most powerful swords, is no longer a guaranteed drop in the early‑access build. Players must hunt Traveler’s Camps across the islands, opening two treasure chests per camp, with the second chest...
Desktop Agents Install as Easily as Game Cheats
Installing desktop agents is a walk in the park for those of us that (used to) install aimbots and autoclickers on our Windows PCs to cheat at Call of Duty and Battlefield
Shopping Malls in China Are Being Turned Into Real-Life Battle Royale Arenas
Shopping malls across China are being transformed into real‑life battle‑royale arenas using augmented‑reality headsets. Events run during off‑hours in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao, accommodating 40‑60 players for roughly 90 minutes. Participants navigate the mall’s corridors as virtual...
Xbox Rebrands, Prioritizes Daily Active Players, Flexible Pricing
Xbox announced a return to its original brand name and a four‑pillar strategy that puts daily active players at the core, promises more flexible pricing for consoles and Game Pass, and signals a fresh look at exclusivity and AI. The...
BCG Masters Championship 2 to Be Held in Vila Nova De Gaia
The BC Game Masters Championship returns for its second edition, moving from Bucharest to the SAW Esports Arena in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. Scheduled for May 21‑24, the tier‑2 LAN will feature sixteen open slots, drawing teams from across...
Xbox's Quirky Double Fine Delivers Back‑to‑back Oddball Hits
Xbox’s weirdest studio is on a roll. Double Fine’s Kiln is goofy and delightful, and Keeper last year was also wonderfully strange https://t.co/jTexUBGFUw
The Next Xbox Could Be Waiting on the Memory Market
Microsoft’s next‑generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, is being delayed as its CEO Asha Sharma cites volatile DRAM and NAND flash markets as a key constraint. A surge in AI‑driven demand has pushed memory prices higher, affecting both the console’s bill...
![A Surprise DRM Issue For Digital PlayStation Games Has Fans Worried [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kotaku.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-from-Modded-Hardwares-video-on-supposed-PlayStation-DRM-1200x675.jpeg)
A Surprise DRM Issue For Digital PlayStation Games Has Fans Worried [Update]
Reports surfaced that Sony's latest PlayStation 4 and 5 firmware adds a 30‑day validation timer to newly purchased digital games. Modders and preservation groups demonstrated that the timer appears in the UI and may render games unplayable after expiration, especially if the...
20 Years Ago, Sega Overhauled the Greatest Racing Game Series Ever for the PSP
Sega and Sumo Digital released *OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast* for the PSP, essentially an upgraded version of *OutRun 2* with enhanced graphics, new game modes, and the series’ largest Ferrari roster. The disc also bundled the original *OutRun 2 SP*, offering two distinct experiences on...
Why Dinosaur Arcade Games Hook Players
Dinosaur arcade games thrive by turning seconds of play into clear, rewarding outcomes that fit fragmented mobile attention spans. Their core loop—quick runs, visible collectibles, and incremental upgrades—creates a tangible sense of progress after each session. Layered reward structures, from...
Game Development Barriers Are Dropping—What Will You Build?
The barrier to making your own game is falling further everyday. What will you create tomorrow?
Battlefield Movie Reportedly in the Works with Christopher McQuarrie and Michael B. Jordan
Hollywood is eyeing EA's blockbuster shooter franchise as the next big video‑game movie, with producer‑director Christopher McQuarrie pitching a Battlefield feature film. Oscar‑winner Michael B. Jordan is reportedly in talks to both star and produce. The timing aligns with Battlefield 6’s record‑breaking launch—7 million copies...
Double the Storage of the Xbox Ally with Our Favorite Budget microSD Card with 245MB/S Read Speeds, That's Now on...
SanDisk’s 512 GB Extreme microSD UHS‑I card is now selling for $109.99 on Amazon, a 41% discount from its $184.99 list price. The card’s 245 MB/s read and 170 MB/s write speeds enable it to double the Xbox Ally’s internal 512 GB storage, effectively...
Lineage Classic's First Level 50 Player: 'BJ K'
Lineage Classic’s first player to hit the level‑50 cap, known as ‘K’, achieved the milestone on the Dethroju server at 8:20 PM on April 25, 2026. The feat triggered a server‑wide “Death Knight Level 50 Achievement Special Push” that distributes consumable pouches, vitality‑potion...
Guide: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In May 2026
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass lineup expands in May 2026 with nine new titles across its Ultimate, Premium, and PC tiers. The slate includes legacy releases like Final Fantasy V, new entries such as Forza Horizon 6, and highly anticipated sequels like Subnautica 2....
Action RPG The Awakener: Battle Tendency Launches on May 5 for PC
Taner Games announced that its musou‑style action RPG The Awakener: Battle Tendency will launch on May 5 for PC on Steam, featuring local two‑player co‑op. The title combines hack‑and‑slash combat with a loot‑driven, affix‑based build system and promises 20‑50 hours of...
Mortal Kombat 1 Tournament Placer Xandderr13 Releases New Tier List
Mortal Kombat 1 veteran competitor Xandderr13 has published a new tier list, the first major update since the December 2025 hotfix. He identifies ten characters—Havik, Johnny Cage, Cyrax, Homelander, T‑1000, Geras, Reiko, General Shao, Nitara and Smoke—as clear tier‑one options. The bulk of the...
Pragmata Tops 1 Million Copies Sold, Showcasing Power of Concise New IP
Pragmata, a brand‑new IP, has sold more than 1 million copies since launch, highlighting how a focused, filler‑free experience can capture player interest quickly. Analysts point to its streamlined design and narrative depth as key drivers of the sales surge.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake Is Finally Announced - Here's What's Been Changed
Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a ground‑up remake of the 2013 pirate‑themed title. The overhaul includes rebuilt graphics, a completely redesigned combat system, and more player‑controlled parkour. New narrative content adds Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, and three recruitable crew members,...
.45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND Launches “Around Summer”
Sukeban Games, the studio behind the cult hit VA‑11 Hall‑A, announced its next title, .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND, will launch on PC via Steam “around summer.” The game blends cyberpunk aesthetics with a new “Active Time Action” combat system, promising tight positioning and...
D+ Kia, Crushes DNS 2-0... Rising Momentum with 3 Consecutive Wins
D+ Kia defeated DN Supers 2‑0 in Round 1 of the 2026 LCK, marking its fifth win of the season and extending its streak to three straight victories. The team built a substantial early gold lead, expanding the gap to roughly 10,000 by...
Vampire Crawlers, Peter Molyneux's Return and Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out
Engadget’s roundup spotlights a wave of indie releases that thrive on modest hardware, from Playdate’s upcoming Season 3 to PC‑friendly titles like Vampire Crawlers. The turn‑based roguelite reimagines Vampire Survivors and launches across Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Switch at $10, while Peter Molyneux’s Masters of Albion...
$74.99 Gets You 500+ Games—Game Pass Ultimate Stays Undefeated
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is offering a three‑month digital code for $74.99, down from the regular $89.99 price—a roughly 17% discount. The codes are stackable, allowing customers to purchase up to three and secure nine months of service at the...
Mythmon: Mythic Monsters Launches This Summer
Kodansha and MachHabaneroGames announced Mythmon: Mythic Monsters, a hack‑and‑slash strategy title slated for a summer 2026 release on PC via Steam. The single‑player 3D simulation lets players train over 30 “Manima” creatures, each defined by distinct Behaviors and Traits. Battles hinge on...
HYKE: Northern Light(s) ‘A Witch’s Chill Time’ Update Announced
Akatsuki Games, Aniplex and Blast Edge Games announced "A Witch’s Chill Time," a new free update for the pixel‑art action‑RPG HYGE: Northern Light(s). The expansion drops on April 30 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC, with an Apple Arcade release slated later...
Yeongjongdo's Conquering Hero 'Keria': "My Heart Was Pounding During That Grueling Long Game"
T1 secured a 2‑0 victory over Hanwha Life Esports in the first round of the 2026 LCK at Incheon’s Inspire Arena. The opening set lasted over 48 minutes, marking the longest game of the season, before T1 rallied to win...
‘Saros’ Shows Off the PS5’s DualSense Tricks
Housemarque’s upcoming sci‑fi roguelike Saros, arriving on April 30 for PlayStation 5, is built to exploit the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The game extends the tactile innovations first seen in Returnal, delivering custom vibrations for everything from on‑screen typing...
Wanderburg Launches in Early Access This Summer
Wanderburg, a minimalist roguelike action game about moving fortresses, will launch in Early Access on Steam for PC this summer. Developed by indie studio Randwerk and published by Sidekick Publishing, the title blends medieval siege warfare with modular, build‑your‑own gameplay....
LG UltraGear 720Hz Monitor Called Overkill by Top Gaming Editors
The $994 LG UltraGear 27GX790B, capable of 720Hz at 720p, is being labeled excessive by industry veterans. Reviewers argue that unless gamers have top‑tier GPUs and a competitive focus, the visual trade‑off isn’t worth the premium.
Servers for Three Xbox Games Will Close in June 2026
Three Xbox titles—Pinball FX, Rec Room, and Battlefield Hardline—will have their online servers shut down in June 2026. Pinball FX loses season support on Xbox One on June 1, while Rec Room’s servers also close that day, ending new account creation. Battlefield Hardline’s multiplayer ends June 22, accompanied by...
Parken Challenger Championship Announce Circuit Expansion
Parken Challenger Championship announced an expansion of its open LAN circuit to eight additional events, increasing the field from 18 to 24 teams. Twenty teams will compete in the open group stage while four high‑seeded squads receive direct entry into...
2D Metroidvania Platformer Moonbrella Announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC
Australian indie studio Jett Williams announced Moonbrella, a 2D physics‑based Metroidvania that replaces the traditional jump button with an upgradeable umbrella mechanic. The title will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, though...
STARDUST: Wish of Witch Launches May 28
Kniv Studio announced that its turn‑based single‑player pixel strategy RPG STARDUST: Wish of Witch will launch on PC via Steam on May 28 at 5:00 p.m. PT (8:00 p.m. ET). The game offers full‑sprite animation, cinematic 2D set pieces, and a hybrid combat system that blends...
Eternal Return: Yangju Wales and Daegu Guardians Take 1st and 2nd Place
South Korea’s Yangju Wales captured first place at the opening day of the Eternal Return tournament during Esports Championships Asia 2026, scoring 111 points. Daegu Guardians followed closely with 109.5 points, and their player “Curry” earned MVP honors after delivering...
Fans Miss These Little Things From the 3DS Tomodachi Life in Living the Dream
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream arrives 13 years after the beloved 3DS life‑sim, promising deeper customization but stripping away several fan‑favorite mechanics. Notably, the iconic Concert Hall is gone, replaced by a limited Lingo system, and romance locations have been...
RED Canids Bench Roster
Brazilian CS:GO organization RED Canids has benched its entire roster after failing to qualify for the Cologne Major. The move follows a mixed 2025 season that included a StarLadder Budapest Major Stage 1 appearance but no major titles. Early 2026 signings...
Reliability Online and On-Site: Unturned Server Hosting and Industrial Fire-Resistive Cable Systems Explained
Reliability is the common thread linking Unturned game server hosting and industrial fire‑resistive cable systems. Dedicated hosting delivers lower latency, stable uptime, and granular control over maps, player limits, and mods, while proper hardware specs prevent bottlenecks as communities grow....
Revisiting “Genocide of One” 15 Years Later
I picked up the newly released edition of “Genocide of One” by Kazuaki Takano. Hard to believe it was first published 15 years ago. I actually wrote a blurb for it back then. https://t.co/A1EaGMeGgI