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Every morning
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Tuesday recap
Bethesda veteran Pete Hines exits after Microsoft reshuffle
Pete Hines, Bethesda’s longtime vice‑president of marketing and public relations, left the studio in 2023 following Microsoft’s 2020 acquisition. He said he stayed to protect the studio’s efficient development culture but grew powerless as Microsoft restructured the Xbox hierarchy, ultimately departing after the Starfield launch.
Also developing:
By the numbers: PlayVS acquires LeagueSpot
G2 Esports announced that star rifler Nemanja “huNter‑” Kovač will miss IEM Rio after sustaining a cracked foot bone and severe ligament strain. Lithuanian stand‑in Vilius “tAk” Keserauskas, who posted a 1.11 rating on the G2 Ares academy squad, will fill the roster spot. In‑game leadership shifts to Álvaro “SunPayus” García with support from veteran Guy “NertZ” Iluz. The change comes after G2’s recent Stake Ranked Episode 1 win and a roster swap that added Israeli rifler NertZ, leaving the team short‑handed ahead of the BLAST Rivals event on April 27.
Cygames announced that the Community Fan Total goals for the global "Umamusume" Smart Falcon All Together: Top Umadol Project have been reduced, allowing every player to receive the exclusive Support Card and two ticket rewards on April 9, 2026. The...
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, developed by Owlcat Games, is shaping up as a third‑person cover shooter that fuses Mass Effect‑style tactical abilities with deep narrative choices. Set parallel to the TV series’ first two seasons, the game will feature six...
Microsoft announced a 2026 overhaul of the Xbox achievements system, the first major update in years. The test rollout for Xbox Insiders introduces highlighted completed games, a filter for finished titles, the ability to hide games from a profile, and...
Valve announced a Steam Link app for Apple Vision Pro, now in TestFlight beta. The app streams 2D Steam titles from a local Mac or PC to the headset, offering up to 4K resolution and a curved panoramic view. By...
Izacky Games released a fresh batch of promotional codes for the Roblox title Cursed Tower Defense, offering players a range of in‑game rewards such as Easter crates, cash, and premium crates. The list includes codes like EasterEvent, 1000actives, and UPDATE,...
Roblox’s Cursed Tower Defense has released a fresh batch of promotional codes, offering players in‑game cash, coins, and crates. The list includes EasterEvent for five Easter crates, 1000actives for 20 k cash, and several others that reward up to 10 k cash...
Season 82 of Clash Royale, launched in April 2026, is celebrating the game’s 10th anniversary with the Balloon Festival. Supercell follows a predictable cadence, and the next major update—Season 83—is slated for the first week of May, specifically May 4, 2026. The update...
Capybara Games released *Find Your Words*, a short adventure that lets players explore a vibrant summer‑camp setting while communicating without speech. The title is available as a free download on Steam for PC, with an optional $5.99 supporter edition that...
ESL has released the full English-language broadcast roster for the IEM Rio tournament, which will take place April 13‑19 and feature a $1 million prize pool. The lineup mixes veteran analysts like Freya Spiers and Jacob “Pimp” Winneche with newcomers, notably Martin...
Developer Frank of Happy Coder built Corner Cutter, a browser‑based racing game using Phaser and TypeScript. The game models the optimal racing line with a physics‑based tether system, turning tire grip into a rope that players swing around pylon anchors....
Chris Pratt, the voice of Mario in the new Super Mario Galaxy film, confirmed a long‑rumored glitch in the original 1985 Super Mario Bros. on the NES. The level‑3 exploit lets players repeatedly kick a Koopa shell on a staircase, creating an...
PUBG Studios and Shift Up have teamed up to introduce Eve, the protagonist of Stellar Blade, as the third Contender skin in PUBG Battlegrounds’ Update 41.1. The new skin bundle includes a Nano Suit, War Dress, Comfort Force outfits and interchangeable hair options,...
Annulus, a dark‑fantasy tactical RPG from Nirvana Game, has debuted on Android as a free‑to‑play title, joining its existing Steam release. Players assume the role of a mercenary captain on the war‑torn continent of Novisess, recruiting and training units across...
The PGL Bucharest 2026 playoffs are now set, with quarter‑final matchups featuring pre‑tournament favorites PARIVISION versus The MongolZ, FUT against B8, Astralis versus EYEBALLERS, and MIBR taking on 3DMAX. Both FUT and Astralis entered the bracket unbeaten after five rounds...
Blizzard Entertainment unveiled Sierra, the next Damage‑role hero for Overwatch, in an animated trailer that showcases her full‑auto energy rifle and tethered drone DoROTHy. The trailer, set on Watchpoint: Grand Mesa, demonstrates her ability to fire a targeting dart that...
Best Buy is offering a free Super Mario Bros. 40th‑anniversary collectible game case, a $20‑valued accessory, to customers who buy any two eligible Mario titles for Nintendo Switch or Switch 2. The promotion launched on April 8 and adds the case automatically at checkout once the...
The author switched from Windows 11 to the Arch‑based CachyOS after growing frustrated with AI‑heavy updates and performance slowdowns. Recent advances in Proton and tools like ProtonUp‑QT now let Linux run most Windows games with little hassle, making the platform a...
"I’m there for joyful experience, not frustration. My son likes to gloat a little—nay, a lot. In the spirit of validation, I say as enthusiastically as possible: 'Yes, honey, thank you so much. It wouldn’t have been a lot of...
I've never seen Steam trend lines so dire for a game I keep wanting to take lunch breaks to go play https://t.co/rjgsebXWNG
Rhythm games have shifted from mainstream console hits like Guitar Hero to a vibrant indie‑driven renaissance. Small studios such as Beat Hazard, Crypt of the Necrodancer, and the upcoming People Of Note are fusing rhythm mechanics with RPG, shooter and...
it’s really nice to see this focus on improving the Xbox dashboard again. Feels like it’s been a while since we had some major changes like this
Xbox achievements are getting a visual refresh ✨ the new notifications will match your custom color and have updated icons + animations. You’ll also be able to hide achievements from your Xbox profile later this month https://t.co/7t4iXqGdW7 https://t.co/bL0ECIexGp
The Esports Foundation announced a 16‑game lineup for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup, a nation‑based competition slated for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2‑29. The tournament mirrors the Olympic model by pitting countries against each other rather than club teams. This...
Well, here’s a new game that an old high school classmate made. I rather enjoyed playing it… https://t.co/MKqsQm4qaR
The Steam Machine is now on the horizon, and clues in the Steam Client suggest a performance estimator could be coming as well. https://t.co/GfdB1PXH9I
PARIVISION clinched the final PGL Bucharest 2026 playoff spot with a 2‑0 win over Wildcard. The victory hinged on a marathon 54‑round Mirage map—the third‑longest LAN match in CS2 history—followed by a tight 13‑11 Dust2. The North American roster, now...
Glad to do an interview with Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Supercell, about this well-deserved BAFTA award. https://t.co/1Vs6WFDYDj
Krafton has launched Xeno Point, a new four‑player co‑op PvE mode for PUBG: Battlegrounds that pits squads against waves of alien robots and boss encounters. The mode features three difficulty levels—normal, hard and impossible—and uses a difficulty‑amplifier system to unlock...
Pokemon Champions launches as a free‑to‑play competitive battling simulator that excels at onboarding casual players, streamlining team‑building mechanics that were once labor‑intensive in the mainline titles. The game offers a modest roster of roughly 200 Pokémon and removes the grind...
Intel released a new driver update that adds explicit gaming support for its Arc Pro B70 and B65 GPUs, which are built on the G31 silicon originally intended for gaming. The driver leverages optimisations from the Arc B580’s Xe2 architecture, but the G31’s...
Pokémon Champions, the new live‑service spin on the franchise, has rolled out balance tweaks that reduce the severity of Sleep and Paralysis status effects. Sleep now lasts only one to two turns, while Paralysis’s immobilization chance drops from 1‑in‑4 to...
Metavision released a fresh batch of Superstar Baseball codes for the Roblox title, offering free spins, lucky spins, and in‑game coins. The list includes DEADEYE, SKYBOUND, SOFTBALL, 90KLIKES, BLIGHT, TUTORIAL, and SUPERSTAR, each delivering specific rewards. Players redeem codes via...
Roblox Jailbreak has four active promotional codes as of April 8, 2026, offering cash rewards of 10,000 or 20,000 and two exclusive tire‑sticker cosmetics. Players redeem codes by interacting with any in‑game ATM and confirming the entry. The article also lists expired...
Road to Vostok, a single‑player survival shooter inspired by Escape From Tarkov, has entered Steam Early Access at $14.99 with a 25% launch discount. Developed by Finnish indie Antti Leinonen, the game features a realistic day‑night cycle, weather, and seasonal...
Logitech’s G Pro X2 Superstrike introduces true analogue switches, aiming to shave milliseconds off click registration for low‑time‑to‑kill shooters. Razer counters with the Viper V4 Pro, a lighter 49‑g mouse featuring a 50,000‑dpi Focus Pro sensor, up to 180 hours of battery life and a more premium...
Gunnar Optiks has teamed up with CD Projekt Red to launch the Cyberpunk Dex glasses, a $125 accessory inspired by the Night City fixer Dexter DeShawn from Cyberpunk 2077. The limited‑edition frames blend blue‑light filtering technology with the game’s iconic aesthetic,...
GamesBeat has released the shortlist for its inaugural BOSS Mode Awards, naming 30 women leaders across three categories: Woman of the Year, Rising Star, and Lifetime Achievement. The nominees represent a cross‑section of senior talent from EA, Riot Games, Netflix,...
Swedish studio Landfall has launched Evil Landfall, a publishing offshoot that will provide project‑based funding and advisory support to indie developers. Led by CEO Kirsten‑Lee Naidoo, the label can invest up to $1 million per year in a handful of games that...
Skillz announced the acquisition of Beamable, aiming to transform its competitive‑gaming platform into a full‑service business operating system for game studios. The deal will combine Skillz's tournament infrastructure with Beamable's live‑ops and backend tools, enabling developers to focus on gameplay...
Wales Interactive announced that its cooperative first‑person shooter Hazard Levels will enter Early Access on PC via Steam on April 30, 2026, with a full‑release slated for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC in Q4 2026. The game blends survival‑horror and physics‑driven gameplay,...
Sony announced PlayerBase, a new initiative that lets PlayStation fans embed their likenesses into upcoming PS5 games. The first title to feature this program is Gran Turismo 7, where a selected fan will appear as an in‑game character and collaborate on...
Riot Games will overhaul the Valorant Champions Tour in 2027, replacing its franchise league with an open tournament structure. Teams will start in open qualifiers, progress to regional events, then to international Masters and Champions stages. The new model introduces...
Hazelight Studios announced that its three games have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, with *It Takes Two* contributing 30 million units. The milestone underscores the studio’s success in the cooperative‑gaming niche since its 2018 debut with *A Way Out*. Hazelight’s consumer‑friendly...
Grateful to be back for another season of @gamecraftpod with @mitchlasky. Mitch has a unique ability to see the present clearly. I walk away smarter every episode. We started this to explain the business of games. I remain stunned by both...
The global mobile gaming market is projected to top $140 billion in 2026, with more than 3 billion players averaging $90 in annual spend. Emerging technologies—cloud streaming, AR/VR, and AI—are redefining gameplay, social features, and monetization models. Leading firms such as Tekrevol,...
IO Interactive announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light is delayed indefinitely, while the game stays on track for its May 27, 2026 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The company offered no specific reason, citing a desire...
Riot Games previewed League of Legends patch 26.08 with a proposed buff to Viego’s Q damage (raising it to 30) and increased missing‑HP scaling on his ultimate. The community reacted strongly, calling the changes “insane,” which led lead designer Matt...
Pokémon Champions launched on April 7 as a free‑to‑play live‑service battle platform, but its day‑one roster is limited to just 186 Pokémon. The game also offers a truncated selection of held items, omitting staples like Life Orb, Assault Vest, and Choice...
The Whispers of the Wind update adds Pocahontas to Disney Dreamlight Valley, but she isn’t unlocked with Dreamlight currency. Players receive a letter from Moana, collect glowing algae on Dazzle Beach, and follow a multi‑step quest involving petal winds, buried...
