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
Co-Op Survival FPS Frostrail's First Bigger Playtest Is Happening Now
FakeFish and Shiro Unlimited have opened the first public playtest for Frostrail, a co‑op survival first‑person shooter set on a steam‑powered train traversing a post‑apocalyptic winter. The test runs on Steam from April 16 to 27 and includes a tutorial plus two new zones that teach train operation, scavenging, crafting, and combat against undead Revenants. Players can experience solo or multiplayer gameplay while maintaining the moving train. Frostrail is slated for an Early Access release later this year, with community feedback shaping its final design.
Valve's Proton 11 Beta Boosts Linux Gaming with Better Performance and Classic Game Support
Valve has launched Proton 11.0‑beta1, the latest iteration of its Windows‑to‑Linux compatibility layer. Built on Wine 11, the beta introduces the NTSync kernel driver to lower CPU overhead and smooth frame‑rate consistency. It also expands support for classic 1990s titles such as...
Mario Tennis Fever Wristband Now Available via My Nintendo
Nintendo has expanded its My Nintendo loyalty store with an embroidered Mario Tennis Fever wristband. The accessory, crafted from 84% cotton, 14% polyester and 3% elastique, measures 3 × 3 inches and is machine‑washable. It can be redeemed for 600 Platinum Points through...
Pokémon Timeless Adventure Merch Line Revealed for Japan
The Pokémon Company unveiled a new merchandise line called Pokémon Timeless Adventure, timed for the franchise’s 30th anniversary. The collection, featuring characters such as Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Meloetta, Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile, will debut at Pokémon Centers across Japan on April...
An Official GTA 6 Release Date Update Is Coming Soon
Rockstar’s long‑awaited Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for a November 2026 launch, but the game has already been delayed twice. Take‑Two Interactive will hold its next earnings call in May, a meeting many analysts view as the venue for confirming...
Wuthering Waves Gives Away Free Rewards and Resident Evil Collab Items for PS5
Wuthering Waves celebrates its second anniversary on April 30 with a major v3.3 update. Players receive 20 free pulls and a top‑up reset that doubles in‑game currency, while new licensed motorcycle liveries from Resident Evil, Pragmata, Kaiju No 8 and Haikyu...
Granblue Fantasy Relink: Endless Ragnarok Open Beta Starts Next Week
Cygames will launch a four‑day open beta for Granblue Fantasy Relink: Endless Ragnarok from April 24‑27, 2026 on Switch 2, PS4, PS5 and PC, featuring four quests, cross‑play and new combat mechanics. The beta serves as a network‑load test, while the...
Epic Games Store Users Have Until April 23 to Get Bonus Game Completely Free of Charge
Epic Games Store is giving away the early‑access title *Undead: Rise of the Betrayed King* for free until April 23, a game normally priced at $20. The offer runs alongside the weekly free game rotation, which will switch to *Doomblade* on...
Handheld Game Console Maker AYN Responds to RAMageddon with Price Hike, Storage Downgrade
Handheld maker AYN announced a two‑pronged response to soaring RAM and storage costs. The premium AYN Thor configuration, previously $449, now costs $549, while a new 16 GB/512 GB Thor model is priced at $469. Simultaneously, all Odin 3 units and every Thor...
Persona 5 Royal Joker LIMEPIE Series 1/8 Scale Figure Available to Pre-Order
APEX TOYS has announced a 1/8‑scale pre‑painted figure of Joker from Persona 5 Royal, part of its LIMEPIE series. The PVC/ABS statue measures roughly 23.5 cm tall, including a dedicated base, and faithfully reproduces Joker’s signature Phantom Thief costume. Priced at $38, the...
Bee Garden Codes for Roblox
A fresh batch of Bee Garden promo codes was released on April 17, 2026, adding the new codes “EASTER” and “DEVSAREBACK” that grant extra spins. Existing codes “beegarden” and “release” now provide double daily spins, a silver charm, and a...
ASTRONEER Updated to Ver. 1.39.5
Astroneer has rolled out version 1.39.5, a maintenance‑focused patch that resolves several persistent bugs in megastructures and the Dynamic Landing System (DLS). The update corrects hologram orientation for megastructures, removes the Mega‑Deconstructor from the Aeoluz creative catalog, and fixes DLS anchor...
Hela Title Changed to Hela: Of Mice & Magic; ‘In Tune with Nature’ Deep Dive Trailer
Scandinavian‑folklore‑inspired open‑world adventure Hela has been retitled Hela: of Mice & Magic by Knights Peak Games and developer Windup Games. A new deep‑dive trailer showcases vibrant nature, a magical froggy backpack, and a dynamic soundtrack composed by Frida Johansson and...
![Developer Feels ‘Shut Down And Silenced’ After BAFTA Awards Pulled Her Game Over Its Subject Matter [Update]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kotaku.com/app/uploads/2026/04/a699dc2e9cf8568ee63b55a7c92eedc9_original-1200x675.jpg)
Developer Feels ‘Shut Down And Silenced’ After BAFTA Awards Pulled Her Game Over Its Subject Matter [Update]
Silver Script Games founder Alyx Jones announced that BAFTA pulled the trailer for her autobiographical game *The Quiet Things* at the last minute, citing insufficient time to add audience warnings. The game explores Jones’s personal experiences with childhood trauma, mental...
It's Official: Pokopia Is No Longer the Highest-Rated Game of the Year
Pokémon Pokopia, previously the highest‑rated new game of 2026 with a 90 score, has been overtaken by OPUS: Prism Peak, which earned a 91 overall rating on OpenCritic. OPUS, a narrative‑driven adventure released on April 16, 2026, edged out Pokopia despite...
Xbox Mode Arrives in Windows 11 Release Preview
Microsoft’s Xbox mode is now rolling out to Windows 11 Release Preview, so not long until everyone gets it https://t.co/tqVkRwFRFr
Capcom’s Pragmata Debuts to Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews on Steam: ‘Most Fun I’ve Had in a AAA in Forever’
Capcom’s new IP Pragmata launched today and instantly earned an "overwhelmingly positive" Steam rating, with 96% of roughly 1,800 early reviews praising the title. Reviewers highlight the game’s hybrid hack‑and‑shoot mechanic and the emotional story of protagonists Hugh and Diana....
This Gorgeous Underwater City-Builder Just Got a Release Date. Here’s Why I’m Already Hooked
Life Below, a coral‑reef‑themed city‑builder from Kasedo Games and Megapop, is slated for a May 26 PC release on Steam. The game tasks players with restoring a devastated marine ecosystem, managing fish populations, and confronting real‑world threats like oil spills and...
PC Gaming Is Growing, but It Isn't because of Dota 2 and Fortnite
The 2026 Newzoo PC and Console Gaming Report predicts PC gaming will overtake consoles in revenue by 2028, driven largely by a booming long‑tail of titles. In 2025, 56% of PC revenue originated from games outside the top‑20, a sharp...
Torchlight Infinite's New Season Is the High-Speed ARPG's Most Popular Yet
Torchlight Infinite’s third season, titled Lunaria, launched to a record 26,618 concurrent players, the highest ever for the free‑to‑play title. The update introduces a high‑output farming loop centered on statue combos, new Creation Engine loot nodes, and a potion‑slinging hero,...
BLAST Rivals S1 Talent Revealed
BLAST announced the on‑air talent for its Rivals Season 1 event in Fort Worth, scheduled for April 29 through May 3. The nine‑person crew features arena host Mike “DarfMike” Winnick, desk host Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere, show host Iain Chambers, analysts Alex “Mauisnake” Ellenberg and Dustin...
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Previews the Mail System, Coming in Their Combat and Progression Update
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is rolling out a Combat and Progression update that introduces a new mail system. The system enables players to send items, gold, and developer rewards to other characters—even when recipients are offline—via kiosks in major...
Best Steam Deck Accessories 2026 - Our Top Gear for Any Gaming Handheld
The 2026 guide ranks the top Steam Deck accessories, from a sub‑$25 Jsaux 5‑in‑1 docking station to a budget‑friendly LG 24‑inch 144 Hz monitor. It highlights upgrades such as the TeamGroup MP44S NVMe SSD, Samsung Pro Plus microSD cards, and an Anker...
The Studio Behind Last Year’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remasters Hit With More Mass Layoffs As It...
Iron Galaxy, the Chicago studio known for high‑profile ports, announced a second wave of layoffs that could affect up to 90 employees. The cuts follow the positive‑reviewed release of the *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4* remaster, but come after a prior...
Slay The Spire 2 Is Getting a Card That Will Directly Heal You
Slay the Spire 2 receives its first major Early Access update, adding the series‑first unconditional healing card “Not Yet.” The new card reshapes deck‑building by providing reliable health restoration, while the patch also tweaks elite difficulty and overall balance based on...
Finally, a Game Where You Fight a Many-Legged Fish Train
The upcoming indie title Hieronymus, inspired by Dutch surrealist Hieronymus Bosch, centers its gameplay around battling a many‑legged fish train. The developers argue that the game’s entire experience is carried by its striking art direction, echoing past titles like Bungie’s...
Mini Review: Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege (PS5) - A Strong Action Platformer That Celebrates Classic Castlevania
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege, an indie title from Lillymo Games, revives the side‑scrolling spirit of the original Castlevania on PS5. The game delivers a 21‑stage campaign packed with inventive set‑pieces—carriage rides, gondola battles, and boat chases—while expanding the hero’s...
Twin Shot Deluxe Remaster Brings Back the Classic with Fresh Content and Nostalgic Vibes, Arriving on Multiple Platforms This Month
Nitrome Limited is releasing a full remaster of its arcade platform‑shooter Twin Shot Deluxe on Android, iOS, PC and Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2026. The game runs at 60 FPS, adds over 200 new levels across four worlds, and introduces...
Xbox's Recent Battery Issue Was A Reminder To 'Earn Every Hour' With Players, Says Boss
Xbox recently discovered that new controllers were shipped without AA batteries, prompting the company to send free rechargeable batteries to affected customers. CEO Asha Sharma praised her team for the swift resolution and used the incident to stress the need...
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Remake Arrives in September
Gungho and Falcom announced that the remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter will launch worldwide on September 17, 2026 for Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and PC. The reveal includes a fresh English voice‑actor roster for characters appearing for...
TN1R Tops the Board as Spirit Cruise Into Rio Semis over MOUZ
Spirit breezed past MOUZ 2‑0 in the IEM Rio quarter‑final, winning 13‑5 on Dust2 and 13‑8 on Mirage. The victory moves the team into a semifinal clash with Falcons. Belarusian tN1R posted a 1.86 rating, the highest on Spirit after...
A Four-Day Steam Freebie Turned Into $250,000 for an Indie Game
tinyBuild gave away *Graveyard Keeper* on Steam for four days, then earned about $250,000 as new players bought its DLC. The promotion lifted peak concurrent users from roughly 1,000 to over 46,000, dramatically increasing the game’s visibility. The surge also...
Final Fantasy 14 Reveals Release Date For Beastmaster Job
Square Enix announced that the long‑awaited Beastmaster job will debut in Final Fantasy 14 on April 28, 2026 as part of the 7.5 patch titled Trails to the Heavens. The limited‑job lets players capture, recruit, and summon three monsters to fight alongside them,...
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Director "Really Proud" The Gay Romance He Pushed for, Which Is Somehow Totally Different to "Woke"...
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been nominated for several Gayming Magazine awards for its optional gay romance between Henry and Hans. Creative director Daniel Vávra publicly praised the inclusion, emphasizing a non‑coercive, historically grounded approach while distancing it from what he...
Volleyball Legends Codes (April 2026) Free Spins
Roblox’s Volleyball Legends, formerly Haikyuu Legends, released three new free codes on April 17, 2026—UPDATE_65, SEASON_14, and EASTER_UPDATE—each granting five lucky style or ability spins. The spins increase players’ chances of unlocking powerful styles and abilities, giving a competitive edge without spending...
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Release Date Leaks
A leaked Ubisoft presentation reveals that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is set to launch on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Insider Gaming reports Ubisoft postponed the official announcement to next week, sparking speculation among fans. The game is a comprehensive rework with...
Rockstar Games Is Reportedly Opening a Whole New Office Just for Regional GTA 6 Marketing
Rockstar Games is establishing a new permanent office in Madrid dedicated to regional marketing for Grand Theft Auto VI. The role targets Portuguese‑language audiences in Portugal and Brazil, reflecting the franchise’s strong revenue in Spanish‑speaking markets. The office launch comes as...
Best Heroes Olden Era Skills and How to Reach Elite Class
GamesRadar+ guide outlines the optimal Heroes Olden Era skill set, emphasizing that elite class progression hinges on mastering five specific skills while the remaining three slots are best filled with versatile abilities like Morale, Luck, Attack, and Defense. The article...
Black Cat's New Pose Sparks Buzz in Marvel Rivals
The latest Marvel Rivals season update has finally arrived alongside the addition of Black Cat, but it's her character selection pose that has players talking. https://t.co/mUG6HQsXk7
Mid‑Price Games Like Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur Power PC Revenue Surge
Newzoo’s 2026 PC & Console Gaming Report shows that games priced between $30 and $50 are the fastest‑growing revenue tier, propelling PC revenue to a record 56% from titles ranked 21 and beyond. The shift challenges the long‑standing dominance of...
The First Major Update for Slay the Spire 2 Is Out Now
Mega Crit has rolled out the first major post‑launch update for Slay the Spire 2 after a turbulent opt‑in beta. The patch delivers extensive balance tweaks, a new Ironclad card, a Badges system, revamped leaderboards, shop‑price adjustments, fresh artwork and numerous...
Low-Poly Stealth Throwback Revives PS1 Metal Gear Solid Vibes for PS5
Spy Drops, an indie low‑poly stealth game that debuted on Steam and Switch, is arriving on PlayStation 5 on April 28. The title recreates the isometric, polygonal style of the 1998 Metal Gear Solid while adding modern lighting, particle effects, and a Dream Catcher mechanic....
Gears of War: E-Day Developer Is “Righting the Ship” For the Franchise, Says Former Designer
The Coalition is gearing up for Gears of War: E‑Day, a 2026‑window title that marks the franchise’s first release on PlayStation 5 and PC. Former lead designer Cliff Bleszinski praised the studio’s decision to bring back the Locust as the...
Death Stranding 2 Patch 1.4 Should Make It Look Better on Lower Settings
Kojima Productions and Nixxes have released Death Stranding 2 patch 1.4, delivering noticeable visual upgrades for players using medium or lower texture settings. The update expands sharpness control, corrects vignetting in AMD FSR and Intel XeSS frame‑generation, and fixes water rendering bugs...
Samson Dev Announces Console Release Window For 2026, Likely Including Xbox
Samson, a Steam title that debuted with mixed reviews, has unveiled its console plans. The developer confirmed a Fall 2026 launch window for console versions, likely on Xbox Series X and Series S. A detailed 2026 roadmap promises weekly improvements to address early...
Pragmata Is Now Available Worldwide for Consoles and PC
Capcom has released its sci‑fi action‑adventure Pragmata worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and the newly launched Nintendo Switch 2, with the Western Switch 2 version arriving a week before Asia and Japan. The game is priced at $59.99 for...
Properly Funny Chaotic Dungeon Crawler Lucky Tower Ultimate 1.0 Has Launched
Studio Seufz has taken Lucky Tower Ultimate out of Early Access with the 1.0 launch, delivering a full‑release experience that blends chaotic roguelite gameplay with slapstick comedy. The update introduces a multi‑stage end‑game quest, new locations, fresh music, additional achievements,...
Master LinkedIn’s New Ultra‑Casual Game ‘Patches’
The newest game to join the ultra-casual games lineup at @LinkedIn is "Patches". Here's how to play Patches, and some simple tactics to help solve every puzzle: https://t.co/Vw2wAUKY3h #games #puzzles #linkedin https://t.co/m6kdIccjKG
Exit 8 Is Cinema for the Livestreaming Era
Exit 8, a cult indie game, has been turned into a film that mirrors the game’s endless subway loop through long tracking shots, immersing viewers as if they were watching a livestreamed playthrough. Director Genki Kawamura—renowned for anime hits like *Your...
Xbox Game Pass’ Value Debate and Doki Doki Literature Club’s Policy Clash | Week in Views
Microsoft Gaming executives have publicly acknowledged that Xbox Game Pass has become "too expensive" following price hikes and a shift to a tiered model, prompting calls for a value reset. The added complexity, including bundles like Fortnite Crew, may alienate...