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
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Review in Progress
Blizzard’s Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred expansion arrives next week on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and PC. An early review build reveals a story‑focused campaign that outshines the previous Vessel of Hatred expansion, with stronger narrative, cinematic set‑pieces and a new volcanic region called Skovos. The update also adds two new playable classes—Paladin and Warlock—alongside fresh customization, a War Plans end‑game mechanic, and even a fishing mini‑game. Technical hiccups persist, including occasional 30 fps cut‑scene hitching and the lack of a photo mode or replayable cinematics.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Review
Blizzard Entertainment launched the "Lord of Hatred" expansion for Diablo 4 on April 28, 2026, priced at $39.99. The add‑on introduces two new classes, a fresh campaign set on the Skovos Isles, and a major systems overhaul that reshapes skill trees and loot...
AI Vector Vision Revives Vectors to Improve Game Graphics
AI Vector Vision is bringing back vector graphics for better image quality in games -- and it claims it can fix DLSS 5's look. https://t.co/coVi2MfPoJ

New Xbox 2-for-1 Sale Now Live on over 150 Games
Microsoft’s Xbox Discover New Worlds promotion launches a Buy One, Get One Free sale across more than 150 titles on the Microsoft Store. The roster spans major Ubisoft franchises—Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Tom Clancy—as well as indie favorites like Valheim and...

Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity Codes (April 2026)
Bubble Gum Simulator Infinity, a Roblox title, lists 50 active promotional codes as of April 21, 2026. The codes grant free elixirs, dice, crates, and seasonal items that accelerate in‑game progression. Players redeem them through a simple menu entry without any purchase...
Immersive DCS Flight: F‑14 Walkman Meets Nevada Tower
Sudden urge to fire up #DCSWorld and put the original soundtrack through the @HBSimulations F-14 Walkman while buzzing the tower on Nevada map... #avgeek

‘I Don’t Think by Any Means We Nailed It’: Arc Raiders Design Director Says ‘Significant Changes’ Are Coming to the...
Arc Raiders, Nexon's third‑person extraction shooter, sold over 14 million copies in its first three months, surpassing expectations. However, design director Virgil Watkins admits the game's skill tree is unbalanced, with certain abilities favoring PvP or PvE playstyles. He confirmed that...

Survive the Apocalypse Codes (April 2026)
Roblox’s survival‑style title Survive the Apocalypse has one active promotional code, “twomonths,” which grants players 25 Emeralds as of April 21, 2026. Emeralds serve as the in‑game currency for unlocking and upgrading character classes, directly affecting a player’s ability to...

Xbox Achievements Revealed for Firewatch-Inspired Adventure Will: Follow The Light
TomorrowHead Studios announced that Will: Follow The Light, a Firewatch‑inspired narrative adventure, will launch on Xbox and PC on May 7, 2026. The game, delayed from an original 2025 release, features 34 Xbox achievements totaling 1,000 Gamerscore, with 11 hidden...

Roblox Is Finally Cracking Down on Illicit Games as Security Continues to Tighten
Roblox announced a crackdown on so‑called “condo” games—user‑generated titles that feature sexual themes and violate the platform’s content policy. The move follows a recent $10 million settlement with Nevada over child‑safety concerns and comes as the company doubles down on age‑verification...

"An Excellent Controller and a Great Value": I Wish More Hall-Effect Xbox Controllers Had This Price Tag — Another GameSir...
GameSir’s Kaleid wired Xbox controller, equipped with Hall‑Effect sticks, triggers and RGB lighting, now sells for $39.99 after a 20% Amazon discount, down from its $49.99 MSRP. The controller offers microswitch inputs, two remappable rear buttons, a hair‑trigger mode and...
Zyphon Returns to Sashi Active Roster
Denmark’s Rasmus “Zyphon” Nordfoss rejoined Sashi’s active roster after a two‑month bench stint. Zyphon, the team’s second‑highest rated player in 2026 with a 1.02 rating, replaces Emil “Mol011” Sall Würtz, who posted a 0.86 rating and has been demoted to...

Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser Unveils Cast of His Sprawling ‘Absurdaverse’ Video Game-TV Series Franchise; First Animated Shorts to Premiere...
Rockstar co‑founder Dan Houser announced the first voice cast for his new “Absurdaverse” franchise, a comedy‑satire universe that will span an untitled animated series and a AAA open‑world video game. The initial lineup—Rachel Dratch, Dan Soder, Ari Matti, Annie Lederman,...

"This Is Not a Sustainable Business Model" – Why Google Cloud's Jack Buser Thinks AI Can Save the Games Industry
Jack Buser, Google Cloud’s global director for games, warns that the industry’s business model is unsustainable, with operating profits dropping about 7% each year since 2021 despite revenue growth. Development costs have surged roughly 90% since 2017, forcing layoffs and...

AOC Just Dropped a New 32-Inch, 4K OLED Gaming Monitor for an Amazing Price
AOC has launched the Agon Pro AG326UZD2, a 32‑inch 4K OLED gaming monitor featuring 4th‑gen QD‑OLED technology and a $1,080 price tag. The panel upgrades to a 165 Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits peak brightness and DisplayHDR 500 certification, improving both speed and...

Dewgong | Pokémon Guide
Dewgong is the final evolution of Seel, reaching its form at level 34 and classified as a dual Water‑Ice type. It appears in the Seafoam Islands and several other locations across all main‑line Pokémon generations, though it is unobtainable in Sword...

Grimer | Pokémon Guide
The PocketTactics guide provides a comprehensive look at Grimer, the classic Poison‑type Pokémon, and its Alolan Dark‑Poison variant. It details evolution to Muk at level 38, lists every in‑game location from Generation 1 through Generation 9, and breaks down base stats, type match‑ups,...

The Makers of Playdate, the Console-with-a-Crank, Will No Longer Accept Games Created with Generative AI
Panic Inc., the maker of the Playdate handheld console, announced that any new games using generative AI for art, audio, music, text, or dialogue will be rejected from its Catalog store. The ban excludes custom‑written functions such as enemy AI,...

Xbox PC Project Might Have Solved How To Fix Hundreds Of 'Broken' Windows Games
A community‑driven GitHub project has built a bridge that converts legacy XBL2.0 authentication tokens into the modern XBL3.0 format for Xbox PC games. The fix restores online services—such as achievements, leaderboards, and friend lists—for titles originally released on the Windows 8...

Below the Crown Is a Dungeon-Crawling Chess Roguelite
Misfits Attic released Below the Crown, a chess‑inspired roguelite, on Steam today. The game reimagines classic chess pieces as wizards, each with upgradeable skills and procedural dungeons. Players navigate tile‑based boards, face new bosses, and collect power‑ups in a permadeath...
All Hero Perks in Overwatch: All Major and Minor Perks, Listed
Overwatch Season 15 adds a Perks system that lets every hero select two upgrades during a match—one Minor and one Major—after two level‑ups. Each perk is hero‑specific, ranging from damage boosts and survivability tweaks to utility enhancements. The new mechanics create...
How to Fish in Runescape: Dragonwilds
RuneScape: Dragonwilds introduces fishing as a low‑barrier activity that requires players to craft a coarse net before they can cast a line. After crafting the net, players complete the Shrimp Catcher quest with the Wise Old Man, which unlocks the...
April 2026 GameDev Assets Giveaways #2
Epic Games is running its bi‑monthly Fab marketplace giveaway, offering three Unreal Engine assets—Modern Bridges, Deep Water Station, and a Bodycam VHS Effect—from April 21 to May 5, with permanent ownership after “purchase.” The giveaway highlights the growing trend of free, high‑quality...

The Pokémon Champions Meta Is Getting Dominated by Incineroar
In the two weeks since Pokémon Champions launched on April 8, Incineroar has become the game’s most‑used monster, appearing on more than half of all competitive teams. Data from Kotaku, TheGamer and Limitless TCG shows the fire‑dark starter topping usage charts...

And Roger Brings an Interactive Novel Experience that Might Leave You Thinking Twice, Arriving on Mobile This June 18
Kodansha announced that its acclaimed interactive novel "and Roger" will launch on Android, iOS, and Switch 2 on June 18, 2026. Developed by indie studio TearyHand Studio, the title originally debuted in June 2025 and will receive an update alongside the mobile release. The...

Sega and Rovio Expand Angry Birds Licensing with WildBrain
Sega and Rovio have tapped WildBrain CPLG to manage Angry Birds licensing across Europe, the Middle East and South Korea, expanding the franchise’s merchandise portfolio. The new agreement adds toys, apparel, publishing, FMCG, homeware and gifting to the existing Sonic‑related work WildBrain...
ESA’s Iicon Event Offers Full Agenda on the Business and Tech Intersections with Gaming
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced the agenda for its inaugural iicon (Interactive Innovation Conference) taking place in Las Vegas from April 27‑29. The three‑day event will explore the convergence of gaming with business strategy, emerging technologies, and monetization models....

Dragon Ball and One Piece Company Toei Announces Toei Games Expansion
Toei Company, famed for One Piece and Dragon Ball, announced the creation of Toei Games, an in‑house video‑game publishing division. The new unit will focus on developing original intellectual property rather than leveraging existing anime franchises. Toei Games plans a PC launch on...

PGC Summit Malmö Mid Term Prices End This Week
Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) Summit Malmö × MeetToMatch, powered by Xsolla, will run May 27‑28 during Nordic Game week. Mid‑term ticket pricing of €68 (about $75) ends this Thursday, April 27. The two‑day program is designed to bring developers, publishers, investors and service providers...

Games and Numbers (April 7 - April 21, 2026)
Between April 7 and April 21, 2026, several high‑profile game launches posted impressive sales milestones. Hazelight Studios’ trio of titles topped 50 million copies, while Mortal Kombat 1 crossed 8 million and Crimson Desert sold 5 million in just 27 days, half on Steam. Capcom’s Pragmata moved...
Gamers Slam Nvidia as AI Chip Focus Triggers GPU Shortage and Cancelled RTX 50 Super
Nvidia’s aggressive shift toward AI data‑center chips, which now generate 91.5% of its revenue, has ignited a wave of criticism from gamers who fear a shortage of GeForce GPUs. The cancellation of the RTX 50 Super and delay of the...

Explore How 2026 Growth Engines Impact Games at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona
Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona, scheduled for June 15‑16, will focus on the 2026 growth engines reshaping game development, monetisation, and player acquisition. Industry leaders will dissect how artificial intelligence and direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) strategies are moving from hype to practical implementation....

Kick Will Bring Cozy Soccer Gameplay to Steam
Kick is an upcoming indie soccer title that lets players control "The Kid" in a 2D side‑scrolling world, dribbling and performing tricks while navigating streets, beaches, parks and underpasses. Developed solo by Peter Soerensen of nospacelost, the game emphasizes nostalgic...

Resolution Games Launches Spatial Ops on Apple Vision Pro
Resolution Games announced the launch of Spatial Ops: Campaign Edition, a first‑person action shooter, on Apple’s Vision Pro mixed‑reality headset. This release marks the studio’s sixth Vision Pro title and one of the platform’s earliest shooter experiences. The game is...

Fable Creator Says His New Game Is 'Most Significant Event' In His Entire 40-Year Career
Peter Molyneux, the veteran behind Fable and Black & White, is releasing his new title Masters of Albion on PC on April 22, entering early access for at least a year. He describes the game as a bold reimagining of...

Union Workers Take Legal Action Against Build A Rocket Boy over Alleged Privacy Violations
Unionized Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) employees have filed legal action alleging that the studio installed the Teramind surveillance suite on work devices without consent, tracking keystrokes, screen activity and microphone audio. The IWGB Game Workers Union says the software...

Sanrio Launches In-House Publishing Label Sanrio Games with $62.9m Investment
Sanrio has created an in‑house publishing arm, Sanrio Games, committing roughly $62.9 million to develop and market ten new titles over the next three years. The first release, Sanrio Party Land, is slated for autumn 2026 on Nintendo Switch and the upcoming...

Fortnite’s New AI NPCs Can Talk Back to You in Real Time
Epic Games has unveiled an experimental "Conversations" system that lets creators embed AI‑driven NPCs into Fortnite maps. Powered by Google’s Gemini language model and ElevenLabs voice synthesis, the characters can hold unscripted, spoken dialogues and react to player actions in...
![MotoGP 26 Announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch [Update: Deep Dive]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/MotoGP-26.jpg)
MotoGP 26 Announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch [Update: Deep Dive]
MotoGP 26 was announced for both Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Switch, with a launch date of April 29, 2026. The game brings the premier motorcycle racing franchise to Nintendo’s next‑gen console for the first time. New features include Dynamic Rider Ratings that...
Artesnaut Launches as a Free-to-Play Game for PC via Steam in 2026
Japanese studio R.N. Studio announced Artesnaut will debut on PC as a free‑to‑play title via Steam in 2026. The text‑based idle RPG, originally released on iOS in 2019 and Android in 2024, will retain cross‑save compatibility with its mobile versions...
Team Liquid, Shikenso Extend Partnership for Five Years
Team Liquid has renewed its five‑year partnership with AI‑driven sponsorship analytics firm Shikensow, keeping the platform in place to track and measure sponsor exposure across streams, broadcasts, and social media. The agreement, whose financial terms were not disclosed, underscores Team...
CS2 Pro Handed 10-Year Ban After On-Stage Punch in Shocking Ruling
MAUschine has been handed a minimum 10‑year ban from DACH CS Masters after punching rival Fabian “Spidergum” Salomon on stage following a Counter‑Strike 2 final. The sanction, announced by tournament organizers, also includes a referral to the Esports Integrity Commission for...
Fnatic and FUT Become First Teams to Lock VCT EMEA Stage 1 2026 Playoff Spots
Fnatic and FUT Esports have become the first two teams to mathematically clinch playoff spots in the Valorant Champions Tour EMEA Stage 1 2026, remaining unbeaten through the group phase. Fnatic topped Group Omega with a 3‑0 record, 94 rounds won to 67...
G2 HEL Set to Return with a Revamped Roster
G2 HEL is set to re‑enter the 2026 women’s League of Legends season after a December pause, unveiling a rebuilt roster anchored by coach Adam “Emtest” Emtestam, jungler Marta “Shiina” Garrido, and mid‑lane veteran Maya “Caltys” Henckel. The new line‑up adds...
LA’s Liquid/Guild Esports Project Hits 100,000 Viewers in Mainstream Breakthrough
Team Liquid’s Liquid Guild captured the World of Warcraft Race to World First for the fourth straight time, drawing over 100,000 live viewers on its side and a peak of 170,000 concurrent viewers for the rival Echo. The month‑long event...

Bethesda Doesn’t Have ‘the Engineering Know-How’ to Remaster Fallout New Vegas, Former Obsidian CCO Says
Former Obsidian chief creative officer Chris Avellone says Bethesda lacks the engineering expertise and source code needed to remaster Fallout: New Vegas. He explained that Obsidian’s studio head declined to deliver the final source‑code milestone, leaving Bethesda with only fragmented assets....

The Division Resurgence Safes Guide: All Safe Locations and Codes to Open Them
Ubisoft’s Division Resurgence guide reveals the exact locations and fixed numeric codes for eight hidden safes across New York City’s shared world. Each safe contains specific loot—ranging from crafting components and consumables to high‑end gear and weapon crates—unlockable once players...

Best Gaming Laptops (2026): Razer, Asus, Dell, and More
The 2026 gaming‑laptop roundup highlights a clear split between ultra‑premium machines like the Razer Blade 16, which can be equipped with Nvidia’s RTX 5090, and more affordable options such as the Acer Nitro V 16 AI priced around $600. Mid‑range contenders—including the Lenovo Legion 7i...

"Protect and Elevate the Xbox Brand": Microsoft Hires for Major New Comms Role, Pointing to a Potential Shift in PR...
Microsoft announced a new Senior Manager, Xbox Brand & Reputation role, the first senior communications hire since Asha Sharma became CEO. The position will oversee global strategic comms, PR counsel, influencer relations, and agency management for Xbox. Its responsibilities span...

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Squirrel With a Gun and More Are Now on PlayStation Plus
Sony expanded its PlayStation Plus Game Catalog in April, adding titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, the indie platformer Squirrel With a Gun, and the roguelike deck‑builder Monster Train. The additions are available to Extra ($15/month) and Premium ($18/month)...