Know What's Happening in Gaming
Know What's Happening in Gaming
GTA 5 set to leave Xbox Game Pass on April 15, 2026
Grand Theft Auto 5 will be removed from Xbox Game Pass on April 15, 2026, ending its longest run on the service since April 2025. The title has been added and removed multiple times since 2020, underscoring the volatility of third‑party games on subscription platforms.
Arrowhead Games announced the Machinery of Oppression update for Helldivers 2, arriving on February 10, 2026. The patch introduces three new cyborg enemy classes—Agitators, Radicals, and the Vox Engine—who fight alongside the Automaton faction on the newly contested planet Cyberstan. Existing gameplay is reshaped by a “new type of meta‑gameplay” that ties player choices to tangible consequences. A recently added Bastion tank stratagem gives players a tool to counter the heavy‑armored threats.
Writer Michael Roberts replaces his smartphone with a Nintendo Game Boy Advance to combat doomscrolling, playing Pokémon FireRed, a 30‑year‑old remake. Within weeks he reports a three‑hour weekly reduction in screen time and finds the retro game’s low‑stakes, nostalgic design more...
Void War, an indie space‑strategy game likened to FTL meets Warhammer 40,000, was temporarily pulled from Steam after Games Workshop issued a DMCA takedown over shoulder‑pad artwork that resembled the publisher’s Space Marine design. The developers, Tundra Interactive, confirmed the claim’s...
Epic Games reaffirmed that the horror title Horses breaches its Inappropriate Content and Hateful or Abusive Content policies, resulting in an adult‑only (AO) rating that the Epic Store does not support. Santa Ragione contends Epic’s statements about the game’s content are...
The PlayStation Gameplay Chart for the week ending February 8 2026, compiled from over 2.9 million active accounts, places Fortnite at #1, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Roblox. Grand Theft Auto V, NBA 2K26 and EA SPORTS FC 26 round out the top five, showing...
HoYoverse announced Genshin Impact version Luna 5, arriving on February 25, featuring a nostalgic return to Mondstadt and the long‑awaited playable debut of Varka, a 5‑Star Anemo Claymore wielder. The update adds new events like Echoes of Memory, revamped Gliding and Combat...
Mesa 25.3.5 was released, delivering a series of bug fixes that target Intel and AMD drivers, as well as RDNA 3/4 graphics cards. The update resolves crashes in MPEG‑2 transcoding with Vulkan, a static‑linking regression, and shader integer I/O errors. Additional...
Vulkan‑based translation layer D7VK has released version 1.3, extending support to Direct3D 5 while retaining D3D6 and D3D7 compatibility. The update introduces optional FSAA emulation, refined logging prefixes, and several bug fixes that resolve rendering glitches and texture‑loading issues in classic...
People Playground’s Steam Workshop was compromised in early February 2026 when a malicious mod called “FPS++” acted as a worm, deleting user data and spamming workshop items. The malware erased configurations, maps, and stats while preserving playtime, leaving achievements unrecoverable....
Director Ryosuke Horii defended the casting of actor Teruyuki Kagawa as Goh Hamazaki in the upcoming Yakuza Kiwami 3 remake, despite 2022 sexual‑assault allegations against Kagawa. Horii said Kagawa’s “slimy” performance fit the character’s creepiness, and recasting would have been “safer”...
Valve has updated Steam Early Access listings to allow developers to display a planned full release date, mirroring the functionality of Coming Soon pages. The change aims to reduce confusion for potential buyers and give studios a clear way to...
![[Industry News] Yodo1 Unveils IPVerse to Eliminate High-Stakes Guesswork in Global Game Licensing](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/IPVerse-Logo.jpeg){kind=logo}
Yodo1 Games has launched IPVerse, a free data‑intelligence platform that consolidates global IP and licensing information for in‑game collaborations. The service draws from over 80,000 events, 20,000 brands and 15,000 games, offering AI‑driven matching, popularity indices and regional insights, including...
Arc Raiders continues its rotating map‑condition system, a core design choice affirmed by CEO Patrick Söderlund. The studio says the schedule creates tension, encourages players to move between maps, and will remain largely unchanged. While new conditions will be added,...
Ubisoft announced the cancellation of the long‑awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake as part of a sweeping restructuring that threatens up to 200 jobs at its Paris headquarters. Jordan Mechner, the original game’s creator, posted a blog...
Now that’s it’s been a few months, I’m curious if you bought an Xbox Ally how is it holding up?
Exodus, the upcoming sci‑fi RPG from Archetype Entertainment, is set to redefine side quests by making them intrinsically rewarding rather than obligatory. Narrative director Drew Karpyshyn emphasizes that quests will tie into the game’s themes and companion arcs, offering meaningful...
Team Spirit’s anchor Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia returned to the roster after a year away, citing a need to readjust to professional Counter‑Strike. He emphasized his increased influence on in‑game strategy and preparation, noting a shift toward a more balanced mix...
Nexon rolled out a major update for its looter‑shooter The First Descendant, introducing a new Chill‑attribute character named Dia. The patch adds Season 3 Episode 3’s story focusing on Dia’s hidden past, a fresh underwater dungeon with the Sarcophage boss, and two...
kt Rolster were eliminated from the 2026 LCK Cup after a 2‑0 loss to DN Supers in the Play‑In Round 1. The team blew a 10,000‑gold advantage in Game 1 and fell flat in Game 2, prompting a decisive upset. Head coach...
Blizzard Entertainment launched the World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary servers on February 6, 2026, adding the iconic Outland expansion to the existing Classic realms. The update introduces two new playable races—Blood Elves and Draenei—expands the level cap to...
Hideo Kojima announced he will not attend the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026 keynote he was slated to deliver. The cancellation was posted by Kojima Productions on X, with no explanation provided. The keynote, titled “Starting Over From Zero,” was...
Netmarble has launched Seven Knights Re:BIRTH on the Epic Games Store, extending the game from mobile to PC. The update adds two Legendary heroes, including the Four Lords champion Lu Bu, and introduces a Lu Bu Rate‑Up Summon event. Additional content features the...
Square Enix announced Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, a summer sequel to the acclaimed horror‑mystery visual novel Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. The new title shifts the setting from gloomy urban streets to Japan’s coastal regions, introducing a diving minigame...
Timberborn, the beaver‑themed city‑builder praised for its innovative mechanics, will exit Early Access on March 5, 2026 with its 1.0 launch. The full release bundles an expanded tutorial, modding improvements, Steam achievements, a new map type, UI refinements, visual upgrades, translation fixes...
ZOMBUTCHER is an upcoming indie title that fuses shop‑keeping simulation with stealth‑action horror, casting players as a zombie butcher who sells meat to humans by day and hunts them by night. Set in a grimy Louisiana town, the game features...
Safe In Our World, a mental‑health charity, has launched its sixth Fanatical charity bundle, offering 22 curated games for a minimum of £17.99. All proceeds from the bundle go directly to the charity, continuing a partnership that has already raised...
JSAUX unveiled the Double‑Decker Travel Supply Case for the Steam Deck, a charging‑friendly accessory that houses the console, power bank, charger, and cables in separate, protected layers. The case features silicone ventilation to dissipate heat, a fold‑over screen cover that...
HeavyGod, G2’s Russian rifler, emphasizes the honor of playing the anchor role, arguing any position can shine. He reflects on G2’s post‑BLAST London struggles, citing lack of stability, pressure handling, and team culture as key issues. The squad is now...
Voraxis is an indie deck‑builder where players act as a parasite drilling through a living planet. The game uses cards to dictate movement and tile‑eating actions, while gathering "anima" to upgrade the deck during a run. A free demo on...
Valve’s Steam Beta update addresses a lingering Linux issue where Proton games could appear as “Not valid on current platform” for users with extensive libraries. The fix targets both desktop Linux installations and the Steam Deck, ensuring the client correctly recognizes...
Team Cherry released a new patch for the 2017 metroidvania *Hollow Knight*, adding native 21:9 and 16:10 ultrawide resolution support and pausing the game while inventory menus are open. The update also switches to the Unity Input System for broader...
Hamster Corporation announced Console Archives, a new line of downloadable retro games for the Switch 2, debuting with Cool Boarders ($12) and Ninja Gaiden II ($8). The service mirrors Nintendo’s former Virtual Console but offers individual purchases rather than a subscription model....
The episode examines how soaring DRAM and NAND prices—driven by AI data‑center demand and global tariffs—are forcing Valve to delay and rethink pricing for its upcoming Steam Machine, now likely to cost $50‑$100 more than initially projected. It places this...
G2 Esports has extended jungler Rudy “SkewMond” Semaan’s contract through November 2028, outlasting mid‑lane star Caps’ current deal. Skewmond, who earned MVP honors in every playoff series and helped G2 win the 2025 LEC title, now has a four‑year commitment....
Aurora CS2 reshuffled its roster for 2026, benching Samet “jottAAA” Köklü and bringing in Caner “soulfly” Kesici. In an interview before the IEM Kraków quarter‑final, captain Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli said the change aims to restore the missing piece that held...
NetEase Games and Everstone Studio are rolling out Version 1.3 of the open‑world wuxia RPG *Where Winds Meet* on February 6, branded “Spring’s Bliss.” The update adds a culturally‑rich new sect, The Masked Troupe, alongside a Contortion Mystic Skill that lets characters...
Wireworks, an upcoming indie title, reimagines tower‑defense by letting players wire modular weapon blocks to create custom combat logic. A public demo released in late January showcases over 70 items, five unlockable difficulty levels, and a drag‑and‑drop interface that lets...
Zellah Games announced Skate Style, a next‑generation skateboarding title for PC that emphasizes community creativity. The game features physics‑based tricks, an advanced character editor, and full mod support, allowing players to craft custom animations and share replays. Real‑world locations like...
The Call of Duty League announced that its 2026 Championship will be held in Las Vegas from July 16‑19 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The four‑day event will feature the league’s 12 franchise teams competing for a $2 million...
Tomb of the Bloodletter, a horror‑themed roguelike, launched on Steam today as part of Steam Typing Fest. Developed by solo creator Ethan’s Secretions, the game replaces conventional combat with a typing system where players spell words to deal damage and...
Yogscast Games and Gamersky have released a Steam demo for *The Gate Must Stand*, a new title that fuses tower‑defense, roguelike and survivor‑style action. The game puts players directly on the battlefield, defending a single city gate against waves and...
Riot Games launched a major update to League of Legends’ ARAM: Arena mode on Feb 5, initially in South Korea. The overhaul adds over 40 new augments, a progression system, and an augment‑combination mechanic inspired by Teamfight Tactics. These changes broaden...
Remote Control is a forthcoming indie game that blends sci‑fi horror with a retro typing‑adventure interface. Players issue QWERTY commands to guide up to twelve human proxies through a derelict spaceship, where death is permanent and crew members may resist....
PlayStation Publishing and Guerrilla Games announced Horizon Hunters Gathering, a new cooperative action title set in the Horizon universe and slated for both PS5 and PC. The game adopts a softer, cartoony visual style and supports up to three players...
NVIDIA marked GeForce NOW's six‑year anniversary by unveiling a fresh slate of titles, including PUBG: BLINDSPOT, Delta Force, and several RTX 5080‑ready games. The cloud‑gaming platform also introduced a beta native Linux client, expanding its cross‑platform reach. New releases span Steam, Xbox Game...
GOG, now under new ownership, held a Reddit AMA outlining its future direction. The company confirmed it will continue experimenting with generative AI while emphasizing human oversight. It announced early‑stage efforts to bring Linux support and the Galaxy client to...
Poker Night at the Inventory, a 2010 Telltale spin‑off, is returning as a full‑scale remaster from Skunkape Games on March 5, 2026. The original title, which blended characters from Sam & Max, Homestar Runner, Penny Arcade, and Team Fortress 2, vanished from stores in...
Valve has postponed definitive pricing and launch dates for its Steam Machine gaming PC and Steam Frame VR headset, citing soaring RAM and storage costs driven by an AI‑fuelled memory shortage. The company still aims to release both products, along...
Epic Games is rolling out the second wave of its K‑pop Demon Hunters collaboration in Fortnite on February 6, featuring the long‑awaited Jinu Saja Boys skin with both human and demon variants. The trailer also hints that the Huntrx trio—Rumi, Mira,...
Latvian IGL Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis warned that the 2026 Counter‑Strike 2 calendar is “complete ass,” citing relentless travel, late‑night matches and overtime that leave players and staff burned out. He described Furia’s uneven start to the year, a confidence dip after...
