California Bill Pushing to Keep Games Playable After Server Shutdowns "Doesn't Reflect How Games Actually Work", ESA Assert
A California bill, AB 1921, would require game publishers to either provide an offline version of a title or issue full refunds when online servers are shut down. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) opposes the measure, arguing it misrepresents modern game architecture and could drain development resources. Advocacy group Stop Killing Games backs the legislation, framing it as a consumer‑friendly end‑of‑life framework. The bill is still moving through the state legislature, with a hearing slated for this week.
Discord Nitro Now Includes a ‘Starter Edition’ of Xbox Game Pass with More than 50 Games
Discord has partnered with Xbox to bundle a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass into its paid Nitro membership. Subscribers gain access to more than 50 PC and console titles plus up to 10 hours of cloud streaming each month....
Hot Five: Supercell to Acquire Metacore, Kohort Raises $7m in Series A, and CCP Rebrands to Fenris Creations
Supercell is completing a full acquisition of Metacore, taking over the Merge Mansion studio and signaling potential job cuts for 160 staff. Mobile analytics startup Kohort secured $7 million Series A to develop AI‑driven user‑acquisition agents. Unity opened beta for its Unity...
"Fire Fairy Reboot and New Local Hunting Grounds Incoming": Lineage M 9th Anniversary Update Preview
NCSoft announced the 9th‑anniversary update for Lineage M, spotlighting a full reboot of the Fairy class under a “Magma” theme. The Fire Fairy will gain higher‑tier fire spells, ranged attribute enhancements, and a rapier‑wielding magic‑swordsman aesthetic. Additional content includes a new...
Next Stellar Blade to Be Self-Published by Shift Up, Development Progressing Smoothly
Shift Up announced that its upcoming *Stellar Blade* sequel will be self‑published, a shift disclosed in its Q1 2026 earnings. Development of the sequel is on schedule and meeting quality targets, with the studio adopting a first‑party service model for marketing...
Lies of P Dev Is Hiring an "AI Creator" Who Can "Combine the Creativity of Artists with the Productivity of...
Round8, the studio behind the soulslike *Lies of P*, posted a job for an “AI Creator” on Neowiz’s career site. The role focuses on leveraging generative AI tools such as Stable Diffusion and Midjourney to speed up concept art, texturing,...
Newest Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Patch Fixes One Major Bug but Mostly Just Outlines Issues to Fix in...
SNK released version 2.0.2 for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, fixing a single exploit that let players exit block stun with a REV guard. The patch removes the defensive loophole but introduces no other balance changes. SNK also published a list...
Discord Launches Nitro Rewards, Giving Subscribers Access to the Base Tier of Xbox Game Pass for No Extra Cost
Discord unveiled Nitro Rewards, a new perk that grants Nitro subscribers free access to the base tier of Xbox Game Pass and rotating discounts on gaming hardware. The benefit applies to both Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) and Nitro Premium ($9.99/month) plans,...
Learn Phaser by Building Real Games: Tutorials, Fundamentals, and Complete Projects
Scott Westover’s YouTube channel delivers practical Phaser tutorials that guide developers from introductory concepts to fully shippable games. The curriculum is organized into clear playlists—Start Here, Phaser Fundamentals, Build Complete Games, and a dedicated Phaser Editor series—catering to beginners, engine...
Discord Launches Nitro Rewards with Xbox Game Pass and Gaming Hardware Perks
Discord has unveiled Nitro Rewards, a new tier of benefits that extends its Nitro subscription beyond chat features to include gaming perks. Subscribers now receive an Xbox Game Pass starter edition with access to over 50 games, cloud gaming hours,...
Discord’s New Nitro Rewards Program Sweetens the Pot for Both Players and Advertisers
Discord launched Nitro Rewards, expanding its premium Nitro subscription with new perks such as a starter Xbox Game Pass and discounts on gaming peripherals. The program also boosts Discord's advertising engine by giving Nitro members 20% more Orbs and 250...
Shift Up Says Stellar Blade 2 News Is on the Way This Year, and It Could Be a Day-One PC...
Shift Up's latest earnings report confirms Stellar Blade 2 news will arrive before the end of 2024 and hints at a day‑one PC launch as the studio moves to self‑publish, ending its Sony exclusivity. The sequel, originally promised before 2027, is...
Why the Founder of Kongregate Believes that Roblox Is Its Successor
Jim Greer, co‑founder of Kongregate and now Senior Director of Game Solutions at Roblox, says the platform is the modern successor to Flash‑based game portals. Roblox is leveraging its massive creator community to attract older gamers, with 26% of verified...
Shift Up Says It Will Publish Stellar Blade 2 Instead of Sony, Wants to ‘Reach a Broad Global Audience From...
Shift Up announced it will self‑publish the upcoming Stellar Blade 2, moving away from Sony Interactive Entertainment, which handled the first game’s PlayStation 5 exclusive launch in April 2024 and its PC port in June 2025. The studio says the sequel will follow a...
This Week in PC Games: Subnautica 2 Early Access, a Battlestar Galactica Roguelite, and Directive 8020 Disproving the Old Saying...
Rock Paper Shotgun’s weekly roundup highlights a busy May 11‑15 slate of PC releases, most notably Subnautica 2 entering early access after a year‑long legal saga. The week also sees the launch of the Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes roguelite and Supermassive...
Playtika Leaves Social Casino Behind to Focus on Casual Hits Like Disney Solitaire
Playtika announced that its transformation into a casual‑first mobile publisher is essentially complete, with casual games now accounting for 76% of its revenue mix. The company posted Q1 FY26 revenue of $744.7 million, a 5.5% year‑over‑year increase, and direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) revenue...
Forza Horizon 6's PC Version Leaks Early, Allegedly Rumbling Out of the Garage via a Steam Upload Mishap
A purported unencrypted Steam build of Forza Horizon 6’s PC version leaked online about ten days before its scheduled May 19 launch. Reddit users posted videos and files that appear to be the genuine game, suggesting a backend upload error allowed pirates...
Frontgrid Supplies ParadropVR Pods to The National Naval Aviation Museum
Frontgrid, a specialist in adventure‑leisure VR attractions, will supply two ParadropVR Pods to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida, slated to open in summer 2026. The motion‑based pods will host a new "Mountain Ops" mission that drops guests into...
‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ Fans Believe ‘Trailer 3’ and Pre-Orders Will Go Live This Week
Fans of Rockstar’s upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI are buzzing that pre‑orders could go live on May 12, 2026, alongside the long‑awaited third trailer. The game, delayed multiple times, is now scheduled for a November 19, 2026 release after a shift from an...
Forza Horizon 6 Leaked Days Ahead of Launch, Unencrypted 155GB Build Accidentally Hits Steam
Forza Horizon 6 is slated for a May 19 launch, but a 155 GB bundle of unencrypted files was mistakenly uploaded to Steam, giving pirates early access. The leak was spotted on social‑media forums, and while Microsoft has not confirmed it, the files...
"His Voice and Delivery Was Human": Darkest Dungeon Developers Will "Never, Ever" Use genAI to Replace Narrator Wayne June
Red Hook Studios announced it will never use generative AI to recreate the voice of the late Darkest Dungeon narrator Wayne June, despite June's own pre‑death email granting permission. Creative director Chris Bourassa emphasized the human quality of June's performance...
‘Mixtape’ Ignites Debate over Video Game Length
Indie studio Beethoven & Dinosaur released *Mixtape*, a 90s‑inspired coming‑of‑age title that can be finished in roughly three hours. The game earned an 85% Metacritic rating, but player feedback is split, with some calling it more a cinematic experience than...
Devsisters Reports Q1 Loss of ₩17.4 Billion, Announces Company-Wide Voluntary Retirement Program
South Korean mobile game maker Devsisters reported a Q1 2026 revenue of $45 million, a 34% year‑over‑year decline, and posted an operating loss of $13.4 million. The loss was driven by weaker performance of the CookieRun: Kingdom 5th‑anniversary update and higher investment...
What if Gul'dan Never Returned to Azeroth? All Eyes on WoW Classic+
World of Warcraft fans are buzzing about a potential "Classic+" mode after Blizzard hosted several high‑profile Classic creators at its campus. The visit, coupled with a recent crackdown on private Classic servers and player surveys, has intensified speculation that Blizzard...
Shift Up to Self-Publish Next Stellar Blade Title
Shift Up reported Q1 2026 revenue of about $36.4 million, up 12% year‑over‑year but down 26.6% quarter‑over‑quarter, with operating profit of $16.6 million and net profit of $29.1 million, helped by foreign‑exchange gains. Operating expenses rose to $19.9 million, driven largely by a 65% YoY...
The Latest Crimson Desert Patch Lets You Ride a Special Lion to a Claw Machine Which Spits Out Chairs and...
Pearl Abyss rolled out Crimson Desert patch 1.06.00, adding 12 new special mounts such as lions, iguanas and camels. A claw machine at the Laughing Marionette now dispenses chairs, a special hat and abyss gear. The update also introduces an...
KC vs G2 Headlines LEC Spring Playoffs as Vitality Pick MKOI
The LEC Spring playoffs bracket is set, with first‑seed Team Vitality opting to face MKOI in the upper‑bracket semifinals. MKOI earned the matchup after a 2‑1 regular‑season win over G2, positioning them as a viable, if less consistent, challenger. Meanwhile,...
Crazy Action Game Killer Bean Confirmed for Launch on June 8
Killer Bean, an over‑the‑top open‑world action title, will enter Early Access on June 8, 2026, priced at $14.99. The Steam announcement confirms a single‑player campaign, multiple game modes, and procedurally generated islands across four biomes. While a native Linux build is...
![[Industry News] Diva Agency Appoints New Head of Production](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Lorna-Probert-COL_Credit-Diva.jpg)
[Industry News] Diva Agency Appoints New Head of Production
Diva Agency has appointed Lorna Probert, former head of Aardman Games, as its new Head of Production. Probert brings more than 25 years of experience in games, interactive and immersive production, including two BAFTAs and oversight of 200+ titles. Her role will...
Grand Games Raises $70M Series B to Scale Hybrid Casual Gaming
Grand Games, the Istanbul‑based mobile gaming startup, closed a $70 million Series B round, bringing its total funding to $103 million and pushing its valuation close to unicorn status after a six‑fold increase in the past year. The round was led by Balderton’s...
Get some Great Bullet Heaven Survivor-Likes in the Heavenly Bullets Humble Bundle
The Heavenly Bullets Humble Bundle offers ten bullet‑hell and survivor‑like games for £8.85 (about $11.25), a fraction of the cost if bought separately. All titles boast ProtonDB Platinum ratings, indicating strong Linux compatibility, and many are Steam Deck ready. The...
Lickitung | Pokémon Guide
Lickitung (National Pokédex #108) is a Normal‑type Pokémon known for its high HP and sole Fighting‑type weakness. It evolves into Lickilicky only after learning the move Rollout, a requirement that varies by game version. The guide lists its catch rate...
Esports World Cup 2026 VALORANT Pacific Qualifier: Schedule, Results, Teams, and Format
Riot Games’ Esports World Cup 2026 VALORANT Pacific Qualifier kicks off May 11 and runs through May 31, offering a two‑stage, double‑elimination path to the world championship in Riyadh. Stage 1 pits the bottom four finishers from VCT Pacific Stage 1 against each other,...
EFootball 2026 9th Anniversary Celebration Campaign: What to Expect and the Rewards We Can Get
Konami’s eFootball 2026 Mobile will mark its 9th anniversary on May 14, 2026, launching the v5.4.1 update that introduces a Show‑Time Selection Contract tied to a national‑team voting event. The company confirmed the contract reward, while community leaks hint at possible Epic pack...
SteamOS 3.7.24 Released Along with a Stable Steam Client Update with More Steam Controller Fixes
Valve rolled out SteamOS 3.7.24, a stable Linux‑based OS update that curtails audio drop‑outs on resume and patches security flaws tied to the recent Dirty Frag and Copy Fail vulnerabilities. In parallel, the Steam client received a stable update that adds several Steam...
Nintendo Renaming My Nintendo Store to Nintendo Store in Multiple Regions
Nintendo announced that its My Nintendo Store will be renamed Nintendo Store, taking effect on May 27, 2026. The rebrand initially covers Japan, Australia and New Zealand, with other territories expected to follow. No official rationale was provided, but the move...
Aurora Send PARIVISION to 1-2 Bracket in Astana
Aurora secured a 2‑0 victory over PARIVISION at the PGL Astana Major, advancing to the 1‑2 bracket and moving within one match of the playoffs. The team dominated Anubis 13‑7 and edged Dust2 16‑14, thanks to clutch performances on both...
Where to Get the Rule-Breaker’s Attire in FFXIV
Square Enix’s patch 7.5 for Final Fantasy XIV adds the Rule‑breaker’s Attire, a high‑visibility glamour set obtainable only through PvP. Players must level the Series 11 Malmstone to 25, which requires 108,000 PvP experience points. The fastest path is the repeatable Crystalline Conflict mode, while...
Best Quad Cylinder Builds in Far Far West for Solo and Nightmare Runs
The Quad Cylinder remains Far Far West’s most versatile starter weapon, offering high accuracy and fire‑rate scalability that keep it competitive in solo Nightmare runs. Five distinct builds—weakspot crit, lightning elemental, sustain lifesteal, mobility dodge, and endless DPS—tailor the gun to different...
10/10 Video Game Masterpieces You Can Buy For Less Than A Starbucks Coffee
The article spotlights ten video games that cost less than a typical Starbucks coffee, ranging from $1.99 to $4.99. Titles span genres—including rogue‑like bullet‑heaven, psychological horror, puzzle boxes, classic FPS, and casual social fishing—demonstrating that high‑quality experiences need not be...
Xbox’s Nostalgic Green Logo Signals a Return to Its Roots
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has quickly shifted the brand’s direction by cutting Game Pass prices, eliminating the Copilot AI assistant, and unveiling a new green logo—the eighth in the console’s 25‑year history. The badge drops the Microsoft Gaming label, returning...
Crimson Desert Patch 1.06.00 Is Now Available Bringing in the Extraction Feature, Special Mounts, and More
Pearl Abyss has launched Crimson Desert version 1.06.00 worldwide, adding an Extraction system, a suite of special mounts, a Display Sheath toggle, Night Tone Mode, and numerous quality‑of‑life tweaks. The update is live on PlayStation 5, PC (Steam) and macOS, with...
MIRESI: Invisible Future Reveals a Dramatic New Trailer and Interactive Chronicle Page Ahead of 2026 Launch
Smilegate released a fresh trailer for MIRESI: Invisible Future, a collectible RPG that blends time‑travel storytelling with anime‑inspired graphics. The video showcases chaotic battles, emotional moments, and key characters such as Ende, Itsuka, and Tieria. Alongside the trailer, the studio...
Diablo 4 Season 13 Nerfs One Class Too Hard
Diablo 4’s Season 13 overhaul introduced the Lord of Hatred skill‑tree revamp and a new Talisman system, propelling traditionally weaker classes like Rogue, Barbarian and Sorcerer to the top of the meta. The Paladin, which dominated Season 11 thanks to the Castle Legendary Paragon Node,...
The Best RPGs For Strength Builds
Taylor Rioux’s May 10, 2026 article lists eight role‑playing games that excel at strength‑focused builds, from classic CRPGs like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous to newer titles such as Esoteric Ebb. Each game is highlighted for unique mechanics—Power Stance in Dark Souls 2,...
How to Get Jiuyuan’s Signature Arc Reality Refuge in Neverness to Everness
Jiuyuan’s Signature Arc – Reality Refuge can be unlocked by completing the “Let’s Watch a Movie” Anomaly Commission tied to the Swallowtail anomaly. The guide walks players through accessing the Anomaly Commission menu, locating the Swallowtail, and defeating it to...
Nintendo Switch eShop Latest Sales: Lowest Prices Ever for Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, More
Nintendo’s North American Switch eShop launched a sweeping sale on May 10, 2026, featuring the lowest‑ever prices for titles such as Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. More than 70 games received discounts ranging from modest cuts to deep...
10 Little-Known PS2 JRPGs From Big Developers
The article spotlights ten obscure PlayStation 2 JRPGs released by well‑known developers, from Flight‑Plan’s dark tactical Eternal Poison to Capcom’s mature Breath of Fire V. Each title pushed genre conventions—introducing monster‑capture mechanics, early open‑world design, roguelike death loops, or experimental combat systems. Although...
How to Get Hathor’s Signature Arc Raging Flames in Neverness to Everness
The article provides a step‑by‑step guide for unlocking Hathor’s Signature Arc, Raging Flames in the mobile RPG Neverness to Everness. Players must acquire a 4‑wheel vehicle, set the in‑game clock to 11 PM, and defeat the Headless Rider boss during a...
Nintendo Pre-Order Updates – May 10, 2026 – Star Fox, The Legend of Heroes, More
Nintendo’s May 10 pre‑order roundup reveals a robust pipeline for both the upcoming Switch 2 and the current Switch platform, with more than 40 titles slated from May through late 2026. Flagship releases include Star Fox, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metal Gear Solid:...