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
Hexenzirkel Character Nicole Heading to Genshin Impact
HoYoVerse has teased Nicole Reeyn, a Hexenzirkel member also known as N, as the next playable character in Genshin Impact. The voiceless angel‑mage is expected to launch as a five‑star Pyro unit, likely wielding a Catalyst, in the upcoming Luna VII (version 6.7) update alongside Alice. This marks the first time a Hexenzirkel figure becomes playable, expanding the game’s lore. In parallel, HoYoVerse announced Honkai: Star Rail 4.2, featuring new five‑star banners and anniversary freebies.
Arc System Works Outlines Issues to Potentially Be Resolved in Future Updates After the Massive Guilty Gear Strive Version 2.00...
Arc System Works released the version 2.00 patch for Guilty Gear Strive, delivering a sweeping balance overhaul and introducing the new DLC fighter Jam Kuradoberi. The update removed the Wild Assault mechanic and adjusted every character’s toolkit. Post‑release, the studio identified four lingering...
PowerWash Simulator's Free FF7 and Tomb Raider DLC Is Getting Delisted Soon
FuturLab announced that the Final Fantasy 7 and Tomb Raider DLC packs for PowerWash Simulator will be delisted on May 19, 2026. The add‑ons are free and will remain playable for anyone who has already claimed them on Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Xbox....
Should You Form An Alliance With Gortash Or Orin In BG3?
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Act 3 presents a pivotal choice: ally with the ruthless Gortash or side with Orin. Aligning with Gortash eliminates one major antagonist and grants safe passage through the city, but it costs Karlach approval and locks several side quests....
All FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet 15 Rewards and Tasks
EA Sports FC 26 has launched Ultimate Gauntlet 15 as part of the Trophy Titans promotion. The mode features ten distinct tasks, of which players must complete any nine to unlock the full reward set. Rewards range from multiple Rare Gold player packs...
Retro RPG The Concrete Sutra #1 Announced
Indie developer yeo, known for Friends of Ringo Ishikawa and Fading Afternoon, unveiled The Concrete Sutra #1, an episodic action JRPG starring a post‑apocalyptic biker gang. The game targets Windows PC via Steam with a planned launch in March 2027. It...
New Sonic and Friends X Sanrio Merchandise Arrives in May
Sega announced a new line of Sonic and Friends × Sanrio merchandise launching in Japanese arcades on May 22, 2026. The collection includes six chibi Sonic characters dressed in iconic Sanrio mascot hats, offered as sub‑three‑inch acrylic standees and slightly larger button‑badge pins. The...
GTA 6 Ransom Negotiations Fail: Hacker Threatens Leak, Rockstar Downplays Impact
ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen authentication tokens that gave it access to Rockstar Games' Snowflake cloud environment and demanded a ransom. After negotiations stalled, the group warned it would publish the stolen data after an April 14 deadline. Rockstar acknowledged...
Retro Handheld Maker Anbernic's Latest Device Has a Swiveling Display
Anbernic unveiled the RG Rotate, a retro‑gaming handheld with a square 1:1 display that swivels on a proprietary ultra‑thin alloy hinge, reminiscent of the classic T‑Mobile Sidekick. The device runs Android, sports an aluminum alloy frame, and will be offered...
Overwatch Season 2 Reign of Talon Patch Notes
Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 launches Season 2, titled “Reign of Talon,” introducing the DPS hero Sierra and a three‑week Grand Mesa event that ties into her backstory. The update also reworks the Antarctica map, adds new Mythic skins for Soldier 76 and Genji, and...
Overwatch Landing on Switch 2 with Better Visuals, and a ‘Better, Crisper’ Experience
Overwatch is set to launch fully on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Season 2: Summit, bringing upgraded visuals and a stable 60 fps experience in both docked and handheld modes. The upgrade leverages the new hardware to deliver crisper graphics while introducing the new...
Capcom Strikes Gold with New IP? 'Pragmata' Earns Critical Acclaim (Metacritic: 85)
Capcom’s new sci‑fi shooter Resident Evil – Pragmata has earned strong critical praise, posting Metacritic scores of 85 on PS5 and Xbox, 88 on PC, and a standout 90 on the Nintendo Switch 2. Reviewers highlighted the game’s polished art direction, immersive combat...
RuneScape's Aura Overhaul Is Here, Along With a New Monthly Marketplace Drop
Jagex has launched the long‑awaited Aura Overhaul as part of the Road to Restoration. Most auras have been removed and their bonuses migrated into skill‑based unlocks such as Farming’s Greenfingers or Hunter’s tracking boost. The change aims to simplify progression...
Warhammer Classics Announced, 20+ Re-Releases From 90s Onward
SNEG and Games Workshop have launched Warhammer Classics, a Steam‑based program that re‑releases more than 20 classic Warhammer video games from the 1990s onward. Seven titles make their Steam debut while twelve return, each patched for modern hardware and original...
Phaser vs Kaplay vs Excalibur: Which 2D Web Game Framework Wins?
Developer JSLegendDev rebuilt a Sonic‑themed infinite runner in three popular npm 2D game frameworks—Phaser, Kaplay, and Excalibur—to compare performance, stability, and developer experience. Phaser emerged as the clear winner, especially on Safari, and uniquely supports headless mode for server‑side multiplayer....
All Bite by Night Emotes
The Bite by Night event introduces a fresh roster of in‑game emotes for both killers and survivors, including four new killer moves and nineteen survivor dances. Two planned emotes—Final Arc and Mesmerizer—were removed before launch. Players can unlock these cosmetics...
Government Pledges £28.5m for UK Games Fund to Boost Industry
The UK government announced a £30 million (≈$37.5 million) Games Growth Package, allocating £28.5 million (≈$35.6 million) to the UK Games Fund. The fund is divided into three tracks—Entry (£20 k/~$25 k), Emergent (£100 k/~$125 k), and Expansion (£250 k/~$312 k)—to support studios at different stages. Additionally, £1.5 million (≈$1.9 million) will...
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commandos Gets a Public Test Build for Insane Difficulty Setting Feedback
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is rolling out its first major content update via a Public Test Server (PTS), giving players early access to the upcoming Insane difficulty. The PTS runs a separate Steam client, and all characters are unlocked at...
Epic Games Store Struggles with Retention as Steam Breaks User Records
Epic Games launched its store in 2018, using free games and exclusives to attract tens of millions of users, but retention remains weak as many revert to Steam after promotions end. Steam recently set a record with over 42 million concurrent...
Godot 4.7 Dev3 and Dev4 Released
Godot released its 4.7 Dev3 and Dev4 snapshots on April 13, 2026, adding a suite of UI, 3D editing, and platform enhancements. Dev3 introduces transform offset for Control nodes, a PopupMenu search bar, vertex snapping, class‑name scene view, a MeshLibrary...
MicroProse's Next Game Is Flight Simulator Legendary Pilots
MicroProse, revived in 2018 by entrepreneur David Lagettie, announced Legendary Pilots, an indie flight‑sim/management hybrid launching on Steam April 21, 2026. Developed by two‑person studio Berkbox, the game mixes regional airline management with accessible flight mechanics. Its pixel‑art and stylized 3D graphics...
Dosa Divas: The Kotaku Review
Outerloop Games' latest title, Dosa Divas, is a turn‑based RPG that mixes elemental combat with cooking mechanics. The game’s vibrant art, strong writing about family and corporate food culture, and solid battle system earn praise, but its cooking minigames feel...
Bunny Garden Producer: Making Games with “Very Restrained Expression Wouldn’t Make Anyone Happy”
Bunny Garden 2, the sequel from qureate, is slated for release on April 16 for Windows PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch 2. Producer Yujiro Usuda told Famitsu that balancing sexual content with marketability forces developers to walk a tight line, as overly...
The Last of Us Online’s Cancellation Was a Good Decision, Says Xbox Founding Member
Microsoft Game Studios co‑founder Laura Fryer defended the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, calling it a prudent move that avoided the sunk‑cost trap. She highlighted the seven‑year development stretch and the lack of early planning for a live‑service...
Fruit Ninja-Fame Halfbrick Studio Launches Jetpack Joyride Racing on Mobile
Halfbrick Studios finally released Jetpack Joyride Racing on Android after several delays, turning the iconic endless‑runner franchise into a fast‑paced multiplayer racer. The game supports real‑time races for up to six players, offers a Party Mode for friends, and features...
Microsoft Will Reveal Metro 2039 at Xbox First Look on April 16
Microsoft announced its inaugural Xbox First Look digital broadcast, scheduled for April 16, to unveil Metro 2039. The event will feature developer 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver, offering a world‑premiere look at the next entry in the acclaimed post‑apocalyptic shooter...
Sara Veal's Framework for a More Sustainable and Supportive Games Industry
Sara Veal, chair of GamesAid and founder of Huhbub, outlined a people‑first framework for a sustainable games industry during Games London’s Ensemble 2026 showcase. She stresses that genuine wellbeing initiatives must be built on direct developer feedback, with leadership modelling...
Xbox Tries To Shut Down Rumors Of A GTA 6-Fueled Fable Delay
Xbox publicly dismissed speculation that its flagship RPG Fable will be pushed to 2027, confirming an autumn 2026 release window. The rumor stemmed from concerns that a late‑2026 launch could clash with Rockstar’s highly anticipated GTA 6 in November, potentially cannibalizing sales....
Is SchoolGirl House the Next Game From Royal Match Maker Dream Games? (Probably Not)
Dream Games, the creator of the hit match‑3 title Royal Match, now has an unexpected early‑access listing on Google Play for a game called SchoolGirl House: Runaway Game. The app is riddled with ads, rough graphics and AI‑generated screenshots, suggesting...
007 First Light Spoiler-Heavy Footage Leaked by Indonesian Ratings Board
The Indonesian Game Rating System accidentally released a spoiler‑heavy video of IO Interactive’s upcoming James Bond title *007 First Light*, revealing the game’s ending and key plot beats. The leak also exposed footage from Bandai Namco’s *Echoes of Aincrad* and...
Tundra Esports Brings in V-Tune as Stand-In for PGL Wallachia Season 8
Tundra Esports will compete in the group stage of PGL Wallachia Season 8 with Alik “V‑Tune” Vorobey standing in for Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko, who is delayed by visa processing. The Romanian tournament runs April 18‑26 and offers a $1 million prize pool. Tundra...
Riot Games Apologises to Karmine Corp and Kyeahoo After Broadcast Chat Incident
Riot Games publicly apologized after an offensive observer‑chat message referencing Karmine Corp’s player Kyeahoo was mistakenly aired during the LEC match between Karmine Corp and Team Heretics on April 12, 2026. The slip‑up sparked immediate backlash from fans and on‑air...
GTA-Maker Rockstar Games Hacked Again but Downplays Impact
Rockstar Games suffered a second breach in three years after the teenage hacking group ShinyHunters accessed limited non‑material data on a third‑party cloud platform. The company told the BBC the incident has no impact on its players or operations, contrasting...
GTA-Maker Rockstar Games Hacked Again but Downplays Impact
Rockstar Games suffered a second cyber‑breach in three years after hackers infiltrated servers hosted by a third‑party cloud provider. The group, calling itself ShinyHunters, demanded a ransom and warned they would publish the stolen material online. Rockstar told the BBC...
Pragmata’s Combat May Be Its Biggest Surprise Yet
Pragmata introduces a dual‑character combat system that pairs the armoured spacefarer Hugh’s firepower with Diana’s grid‑based hacking. The game discards traditional freeze‑frame mechanics, forcing players to lock, hack, expose weak points, and fire in real time. Hacking nodes act as...
NODWIN Gaming Partners with Runestone to Boost Esports Integrity
NODWIN Gaming has teamed up with Prague‑based Runestone to embed real‑time match data tracking, integrity monitoring, and fan‑facing analytics into its esports events, starting with the Counter‑Strike 2 Clutch Series. The partnership targets Tier 2 competitions, where limited resources often leave tournaments...
Brecon Esports Club Wins Back-to-Back Welsh Esports Titles
Brecon‑based S.E.A. Dragons clinched the Welsh Esports League Club of the Season award for a second consecutive campaign, finishing first overall in WEL #10. The club entered five of the six game titles and secured top‑three finishes in every division,...
I Hated AI Until I Saw What It Could Do to My Favorite Retro Games
AI‑generated texture packs are breathing new life into retro titles, turning 1990s graphics into 4K‑ready visuals. Projects like RE:Enhance and the Resident Evil HD Remaster 4K mod combine neural upscaling with human curation to deliver crisp assets on modern displays....
Pragmata: All the Ways the Shelter Expands Gameplay and Story
Pragmata, Sony’s PS5 third‑person hacking shooter set on a lunar base, centers gameplay around the Shelter—a multifunctional hub where players upgrade Hugh’s suit, unlock weapons, and fast‑travel across the Cradle. The Firmware Updater enhances health and firepower, while the Unit...
Boomer Mispronunciation of Nintendo Still Drives Kids Crazy
memory jog: the mom in the flower shirt pronounces the system "intendo" (without the "N") and that was a total thing in the 80's with the older boomers. it used to drive me **crazy** as a kid that they refused...
15 Years of TinyBuild: Lessons From Hello Neighbor
Our interview story with Alex Nichiporchik on 15 years at TinyBuild, maker of Hello Neighbor. https://t.co/1hZS54uICe
FUT Esports Crush Astralis to Win PGL Bucharest 2026 Title
FUT Esports captured the PGL Bucharest 2026 Counter‑Strike 2 title, beating Astralis 3‑1 in the grand final and pocketing $200,000 from a $1.25 million prize pool. The Turkish squad opened strong on Mirage, rebounded after a single map loss on Nuke, then...
Brendan Greene Shares Vision Beyond Single-Game Development
Enjoyed my conversation on The BIG Show with PUBG and Prologue: Go Way Back creator Brendan Greene. He's got a big plan and vision for things that are about more than doing just one more game. https://t.co/dZ8LtrYOWf
New Xbox Chief Calls Game Pass Too Pricey
scoop: Xbox Game Pass "has become too expensive," says Microsoft’s new Xbox chief in an internal memo. Asha Sharma wants a "better value equation" for Xbox players. All the details here 👇https://t.co/9WBXgl9r1T
Epic Grenade Toss Clears Eight Enemies in Asylum
Push into central staircases in the insane asylum. Nailed an insane grenade toss into the room, like 8 guys nuked by it. https://t.co/fWfnWzdD3m
Dominated Six Oppon
This weekend, got behind a team of 6 and smoked em with my smg lol. https://t.co/hISFIRbCPg
Venture Funding for Game Studios Has Basically Died
Gamecraft is back. @mitchlasky and I each brought 3 reflections and 3 predictions for our Season 4 premiere. my biggest reflection on the past year? venture financing for game studios is effectively dead. https://t.co/PBKrU1hRqV
Lenovo Legion Go 2 Joins Surge in Overpriced PC Hardware
Prices for PC hardware continue to skyrocket, and now Lenovo's Legion Go 2 handheld is placed higher up on the list of overpriced devices. https://t.co/Wc2tAxsbOK
Determined to Finish Pragmata Before Remap Radio
All I've played for the past week has been Pragmata. All I want to do right now is finish the last few sections of Pragmata. All I'm going to do before Remap Radio is try to pull that off. Capcom...
Pragmata Blends Hacking and Combat Into Spectacular Space Action
Hacking and combat combine beautifully in Pragmata, making for a satisfying and spectacular space action game https://t.co/BJfk924Ct8