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
Roblox Pays $36 Million to Settle Child‑Safety Lawsuits with Three States
Roblox has agreed to pay $35.78 million to settle child‑safety lawsuits filed by West Virginia, Alabama and Nevada. The deal forces the gaming platform to roll out mandatory age verification, restrict chat for minors and fund safety initiatives, marking a watershed moment for government‑driven tech compliance in the online gaming space.
Take‑Two Interactive Pushes Q4 Earnings to May 21, Stoking GTA 6 Speculation
Take‑Two Interactive said its fourth‑quarter financial results will be released on Thursday, May 21, a week later than its usual schedule. The shift has ignited fan theories that a GTA 6 update may be timed to the call, while analysts note the...

Bloodlines 2 Dev Will at Least Try and Make the Vampire RPG Worth Playing
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, widely panned after its 2023 launch, is receiving its first expansion, "Loose Cannon," on 27 April 2026. The DLC puts players in the role of Seattle lawman Benny Muldoon, introducing first‑person gunplay and melee weapons. A simultaneous...

Where To Find Every Relic In Vampire Crawlers
The Gamer published a complete relic guide for Vampire Crawlers, detailing the 15 relics and their in‑game locations. Relics are scattered across areas such as Mad Forest, Furious Forest, Library West Wing, Teeny Bridge, Dairy Plant, and the final Cappella...

Southeast Asia’s Gaming Boom Is Bigger than You Think — and Brands Are Still Getting It Wrong
Southeast Asia’s gaming ecosystem now tops 290 million players and is projected to hit 330 million by 2028, generating roughly US$6.6 billion in 2025. Mobile titles account for about 70% of revenue, but discovery is driven by creators, with over half of gamers...

Xbox Announces 15 New Day-One Titles Coming to Game Pass
Xbox unveiled 15 day‑one titles for Game Pass at the IGN × ID@Xbox showcase, adding titles such as Aphelion, Beastro, and Mistfall Hunter across a range of genres. The releases are scheduled throughout 2026, with the first wave arriving in May. Microsoft...

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Bundles First Game Remaster in Japan, But Not the West
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter will launch globally on September 17, but Japanese pre‑orders receive a free download code for a remastered version of the original Trails in the Sky FC. Western buyers will not get the same bonus,...

Xbox Game Pass Starter Bundles Discord Nitro and 50+ Games
Xbox Game Pass "Starter Edition" will come bundled with a Discord Nitro subscription, include 50+ games, and other perks. via @discordpreviews
GPT‑5.5 and Codex Finally Deliver a Functional F‑Zero Game
I've been doing the F-Zero test each time a new model comes out and GPT 5.5 and Codex is the only combo that built a working game so far. Even made a bunch of other bots to race against. What a...

Every Ocean Event And What You Should Do In It In Tides Of Tomorrow
Tides of Tomorrow’s ocean events let players explore islands without losing HP, turning each encounter into a resource‑gathering opportunity. Boat fights require boarding sinking vessels, collecting scrap and the premium currency ozen before the timer expires. Joining the factions of...
Nintendo Sued Over Trump‑Era Tariff Refunds and Switch Price Hikes
Nintendo of America is confronting a proposed class‑action lawsuit in Washington state, accusing the company of retaining government tariff refunds while it raised Switch prices by $5‑$10 during the 2025‑26 Trump‑era tariffs. Plaintiffs seek restitution for buyers who paid inflated...
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins BAFTA’s Top Game Award, Sparking Sales Surge and Industry Debate
At the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned Best Game, prompting a 92,000‑copy sales jump and underscoring the ceremony’s role in shaping cultural perception. The win also fed a broader conversation about funding, AI, and the artistic value...

Best Players for FC 26 Attacker Round Out Evolution
EA Sports’ FC 26 introduces the Attacker Round Out Evolution as part of the Season 7 premium pass. The evolution can be applied up to 20 times to eligible attackers (overall ≤ 89, not a centre‑back) and progresses through five upgrade tiers that...

Ingrid's Full Theme Song Revealed for Street Fighter 6 Featuring Vocals From Japanese Idol
Capcom has unveiled Ingrid’s full battle theme for Street Fighter 6, titled “Cosmic Scale Pretty,” featuring vocals by Japanese idol Suzuki Mob. The track accompanies the character’s return as the final Season 3 addition, slated for release on May 28, 2026. Ingrid’s theme joins a...
Late Game Reviews Drive More Readers and Traffic
you all will be seeing less and less "embargo date" reviews from me. why? because i actually get WAY more readers and traffic when i review games late. all my most read articles are reviews i've done a month or...

All Stats in Vampire Crawlers and How They Work
Vampire Crawlers introduces a comprehensive stat system that mirrors the mechanics of its predecessor, Vampire Survivors, while adding card‑deck nuances. Each stat—such as Max Health, Hand size, Luck, and Greed—scales per rank, directly influencing survivability, damage output, and resource acquisition....

Former PlayStation Head Isn't Sure How Sony Can Recoup Those Big Budgets without First-Party Games Coming to PC
Former PlayStation Worldwide Studios chief Shuhei Yoshida told a podcast that Sony has not officially altered its long‑standing policy of keeping first‑party triple‑A titles off PC. He noted that the soaring development budgets—exemplified by the reported $300 million cost of Marvel’s...

Learn Bond’s Rules of Spycraft with the Latest Trailer for 007 First Light
IO Interactive unveiled the "Rules of Spycraft" trailer for its upcoming James Bond title 007 First Light, highlighting eavesdropping, bluffing, stealth, and a new Focus mechanic that slows time for precision combat. The trailer also showcases a robust Q‑Branch gadget...

Shapez 2 Leaves the Factory Floor Today as It Launches Into 1.0
Shapez 2 has officially left early access, debuting its 1.0 version after nearly two years of development. The full release adds a new Manufacture Mode that lets players rebuild Vortex Platforms through shape trading, addressing a major community request. Additional updates...

Free Steam Horror Game Is Perfect for Paranormal Activity Fans
Indie horror hidden‑object game 8AM is available for free on Steam until April 27, 2026. The 2024 title, normally $3.99, has earned a “very positive” rating from over 100 user reviews. Players monitor a family’s midnight activities through security cameras, blending...

Will GTA 6 Have GTA Online? Here's Everything We Know so Far
Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for a November 19, 2026 release, but Rockstar has not confirmed whether it will include a new online component. A recent leak shows GTA Online still pulling about $1.3 million per day, underscoring its profitability. Analysts see two likely...
Ubisoft Announces $200 Collector's Edition for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
Ubisoft confirmed a $200 Collector's Edition for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, set to launch on July 9, 2026. The edition bundles a detailed Edward Kenway statue, diary notebook, cloth map and brooch, while the remake itself is rebuilt on...
Xbox Names Asha Sharma CEO, Slashes Game Pass Price and Rethinks Exclusivity and AI
Microsoft appointed Asha Sharma as Xbox chief executive and immediately cut Game Pass Ultimate to $22.99 a month, down from $29.99. In a joint memo with content chief Matt Booty, Sharma announced a reevaluation of exclusivity windows and generative‑AI use,...

Xbox's New Vision Expands Strategy, Prioritization Remains Key
New vision for Xbox laid out by Asha Sharma feels like a better messaged version of what Phil Spencer and the team already had been doing. It's very much an "all of the above" approach. Where the rubber meets the...
Sony's 2011 Breach Exposed 77 Million PlayStation Accounts
#ThrowbackThursday. April 17, 2011. Sony began to notice its users about an attack that later disclosed to have compromised around 77 million of its PlayStation accounts. (CBS) https://t.co/iqjhF3SGSx

How to Get Special Abilities of Weapons in Windrose
Windrose players can unlock weapon special abilities by ascending Rare or Epic‑tier gear. Ascension requires an upgraded Weaponsmith, which is unlocked by crafting an Anvil and Bellows, and the consumption of Tumbaga Ingots for each weapon. Epic weapons may offer...

Stunning Kola Map in DCSWorld Earns Medals
Recovering back to base for tea and medals. Kola map in #DCSWorld looking stunning. #avgeek https://t.co/DQXktVwTLG

Xbox Pivots to Daily Active Players, Rethinks Exclusivity
Xbox has announced its new strategy. "The model that got us here won’t be the one that takes us forward." Changes will include: - Reevalution of exclusivity, windows and AI. - Microsoft Gaming back to Xbox - New north star: Daily active players. https://t.co/SvRHO55HZ2

Overwatch Is Making Good On A Decade-Old Promise
Blizzard’s Overwatch reboot is now in its second season, finally delivering a continuous narrative that moves the franchise forward. The storyline pivots around Vendetta’s takeover of the Talon organization, marking the first major plot development in a decade. Lore is...

F/A‑18 Harpoons Sink Russian
Back in the saddle with #DCSWorld and a 3 x ship F/A18 Harpoon strike against a Russian Surface Action Group off Kola. #avgeek https://t.co/zV2VMudNi3
Orbitals Merges Anime Aesthetics with Childlike Wonder
Orbitals Doesn’t Just Capture the Anime Look, But Its Childlike Wonder A... https://t.co/G6Tp7nKXBB @Shapefarm @Kepler_Interact

‘We Are Xbox’: New Leadership Further Pledges to Bring Brand Back to Its Previous Glory
Xbox announced a full rebrand, reverting from Microsoft Gaming to the original Xbox name under CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty. The leadership unveiled a ten‑point manifesto that stresses affordability, openness, and creator empowerment while positioning daily...

HLTV Prospects: April 2026
HLTV released its April 2026 Prospects ranking, promoting Lithuanian rookie Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius to the top spot after a standout showing at PGL Bucharest, while veteran Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov entered the top ten and Swedish talent Liam “MaiL09” Tügel posted a...

Xbox Confirms It’s ‘Reevaluating’ Exclusivity as It Shares Future Mission Statement
Microsoft’s newly appointed gaming chief, Asha Sharma, unveiled an Xbox mission that pivots around daily active players as the primary growth metric. The company will rebrand the Microsoft Gaming division back to Xbox and focus on four pillars: hardware, content,...

New Xbox CEO Is ‘Reevaluating’ Exclusive Games
Xbox’s newly appointed chief executive, Asha Sharma, told staff she and CCO Matt Booty are reevaluating the company’s exclusivity policy and AI initiatives. The memo follows a two‑year period in which flagship titles such as Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon...

All Reveals and Xbox Game Pass Announcements From the ID@Xbox April 2026 Showcase
Microsoft’s ID@Xbox April 2026 Showcase unveiled 22 indie titles, many slated for Xbox Game Pass launch later this year. Highlights include the PvPvE extraction RPG Mistfall Hunter (July), narrative sci‑fi adventure Aphelion (April 28), and the deck‑building sequel Echo Generation 2 (May 27). Several...
Microsoft Unveils New Xbox Strategy Blueprint
"We Are Xbox": read the memo defining Microsoft’s gaming future. Microsoft’s new Xbox leader starts to talk strategy for the company’s gaming business 👇 https://t.co/69IhB4NQQG

Samson Is Coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in September After “So-So” PC Launch
Liquid Swords founder Christofer Sundberg announced that the open‑world action game Samson will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in September, two months ahead of GTA 6. The PC version suffered a buggy debut, but weekly patches are improving stability...
Xbox's New Chief Plans to Rethink Exclusives and Release Windows
Microsoft’s new Xbox chief is "reevaluating" exclusive games and release windowing. Asha Sharma has a new strategy for her return of Xbox. Full details 👇 https://t.co/fE1GLkCsVi

Well-Reviewed Steam PC Game Nocturnal Is Free Right Now
Steam is offering the indie action side‑scroller Nocturnal completely free to PC users until April 26, 2026. The game, originally priced at $16.99, has earned a Metacritic score of 81 and a very positive Steam rating from over 420 reviewers. Developed...

How to Heal and Restore Health in Vampire Crawlers
Vampire Crawlers challenges players with permanent HP loss on each misstep, making timely healing essential for progression. The Guiding Light relic, unlocked at the Inlaid Library, reveals all light source locations, allowing players to target floor chickens that restore 10...

Xbox Game Pass Will Get the Funky Screenbound Where You Play Two Games at Once
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass is set to add "Screenbound," a title that lets players control a 3D avatar and a retro‑style 2D counterpart at the same time. The game’s premise centers on a reality‑splitting adventure where actions mirror across both...

Yoshi And The Mysterious Book Lets You Rename Classic Mario Critters, But Nintendo Is Adamant It’s Not Canon
Nintendo unveiled Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, a Switch 2 title launching May 21, 2026. The game pivots from traditional Yoshi platforming to a leisurely creature‑cataloguing adventure where Yoshi records whimsical critters without death penalties. A standout feature lets players rename familiar...

MotoGP 26 Deep Dive Trailer Reveals Crazy New Additions
Milestone and MotoGP Sports Entertainment unveiled MotoGP 26, slated for April 29 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The deep‑dive trailer highlights Dynamic Rider Ratings that update with real‑world results and a rider‑based handling system that simulates body weight...

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Pre-Orders - the Best Deals and Bonuses
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book launches on May 21 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, with pre‑order options ranging from $59.99 for the digital edition to $69.99 for the physical copy in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the game costs...
Skillz Secures $420M Court Victory, CEO Interview Included
Our story on Skillz' $420 million victory in court now includes an exclusive interview with Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise and a statement from Papaya Gaming. https://t.co/AVy6jicCYb

Canada Federal Government Concerned About Children's Safety in Roblox
The Canadian Public Safety Canada (PSC) brief obtained by The Logic warns that Roblox’s social‑media‑like environment is being exploited by violent extremists, white‑nationalist groups, and child‑predators to recruit minors. The report cites the platform’s user‑generated content and lax moderation as...

Yomitori Is a Mind-Reading Battle Game, Now Out on Mobile
Japanese indie studio maropiyo has released Yomitori, a free mobile puzzle‑battle game on Google Play. The title pits two birds on a 5×5 grid where players simultaneously choose moves and optional skills to out‑collect three acorns. With three special actions—Reverse,...
Microsoft Revives Xbox Org, Drops Microsoft Gaming Division
scoop: Microsoft is bringing Xbox back and scrapping Microsoft Gaming. During an internal all-hands today, Microsoft's new Xbox CEO announced the return of the Xbox org and lots more. Full details 👇 https://t.co/3YouKgHh7i

Invincible VS Story Trailer Released Showcasing the Game's Original Plot
Skybound Games and Quarter Up unveiled the story trailer for Invincible VS, a 3v3 fighting game that introduces an original narrative distinct from the comic and TV series. The plot unfolds amid the Viltrumite invasion of Earth, before Omni‑Man’s redemption,...