Monument Valley Boss Says It Was ‘Too Romantic’ About Giving Staff ‘Long-Term Job Security’, Thinks Contractors Are the Future
Ustwo Games, the studio behind Monument Valley, is rethinking its staffing model as development budgets of $9‑13 million and 3‑4‑year cycles strain small studios. CEO María Sayans noted the team has shrunk from about 40 to under 30 full‑time staff, labeling long‑term job security “too romantic.” She says future growth will rely on contractors and co‑development partners to keep cash reserves stable. The shift coincides with Ustwo’s strategic move from mobile to a PC‑first focus, reflecting broader industry pressures in the UK games sector.
“Burnout Is Essentially Design Failure”: The Mobile Mavens Weigh in on Player Burnout
Mobile‑game leaders warn that player burnout is a design failure, not an unavoidable side‑effect of live‑ops. Experts from Burny Games, Arcanix, data.ai and others stress that long‑term retention and sustainable monetisation depend on balanced content pacing, clear communication, and fair...
Stillfront’s Net Revenue Declines 14% to $143.9m, but Big Farm: Homestead Drives Organic Growth
Swedish games group Stillfront posted a 14% drop in first‑quarter net revenue to $143.9 million, driven by lower daily active users and weaker performance of legacy titles. Daily active users fell below 7 million and monthly players slipped to 35.5 million. Direct‑to‑consumer bookings...
‘Player Experience over Everything Else:’ Paul Sams on the Importance of the Developer-Business Firewall | GamesBeat Engage Recap
At GamesBeat Engage in Austin, Certain Affinity COO Paul Sams argued that a "firewall" separating game developers from business pressures is essential for creating great player experiences. He recalled Blizzard’s early years, when founder Allen Adham tasked him with shielding...
MenaRD Beats Daigo in Long-Awaited Evo Legends Live FT10 Exhibition
MenaRD defeated Daigo Umehara 10‑4 in a first‑to‑10 Street Fighter 6 exhibition at Evo Legends Live in Kawasaki, Japan. The event also featured GO1 vs Laggia in Fatal Fury with a $1.5 million prize and a Tekken 8 showdown where Chikurin beat Arslan Ash...
Thick As Thieves Priced at $4.99, Launch to Serve as ‘Introductory Campaign’
Stealth‑action heist game Thick As Thieves will launch on PC via Steam on May 20 for $4.99 (≈€5.44/≈£6.34). The release is framed as an introductory campaign, delivering at least four hours of gameplay, 16 missions across two dynamic, replayable maps, and...
Apple Loses Bid to Pause App Store Fee Changes as Case Heads to Supreme Court
Apple’s attempt to pause its new App Store fee reforms was rejected by the Ninth Circuit, reinstating the requirement that developers may link to external payment options without Apple taking a commission. The court found Apple had not shown irreparable...
Warren Spector's Newly Solo-Friendly Stealth Game Thick as Thieves Will Launch as a Four-Hour "Introductory Campaign" That only Costs a...
Otherside Entertainment announced that its alternate‑1900s stealth title Thick as Thieves will launch on May 20 as a four‑hour introductory campaign featuring 16 missions across two maps. The game has been re‑engineered from its original PvPvE concept to a single‑player...
Yummy Tteokbokki ASMR Lets You Enjoy Interactive Cooking and Hilarious Mukbang Reactions, Now Live on Mobile
Devdepot has launched Yummy Tteokbokki ASMR, a casual mobile game that blends interactive cooking, Mukbang humor, and augmented‑reality features. The title is now available on both Android and iOS, with a launch promotion offering up to ten‑fold login rewards throughout May....
Phonopolis Launches May 20
Amanita Design announced that its long‑awaited 3D puzzle adventure *Phonopolis* will launch on May 20 for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. The game puts players in the shoes of Felix, a garbage collector who must thwart an...
BetBoom CEO: Cologne Roster Open Question "Until All Players Receive Their Visas"
BetBoom’s roster for the IEM Cologne Major remains unsettled as the team awaits visa approvals for its CIS players. AWPer Aleksandr “zorte” Zagodyrenko has taken over the role from Artem “ArtFr0st” Kharitonov, while both Daniil “d1Ledez” Kustov and VP loanee...
How Nuuvem Became Latin America’s Largest Digital Gaming Platform
Nuuvem, founded in 2011, has grown into Latin America’s largest digital gaming platform, now serving roughly 30 million gamers across the region. The Brazilian‑origin company commands about 70 % of Brazil’s digital game‑sales market and posted roughly $150 million in revenue for 2023,...
Kemonomichi Legends Live Results
The Kemonomichi edition of Evo Japan 2026 featured a historic first‑to‑10 Street Fighter 6 duel between legends Daigo (Reject|Daigo) and WBG|MenaRD, with Daigo emerging victorious 10‑6. The same broadcast also delivered a first‑to‑7 Tekken 8 clash where Japan’s 2024 Evo champion THY|Chikurin defeated...
No More Room in Hell 2 Launches This Summer for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Cooperative horror shooter No More Room in Hell 2 is exiting Early Access to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC this summer, with Green Man Gaming handling console publishing. The game debuted in Early Access on October 22 2024 and will offer a...
Coding Simulator 2 Codes April 2026
Coding Simulator 2, a popular Roblox title, has released two new promotional codes that grant free diamonds, cash potions, and various luck boosts. Players can redeem the codes by joining the RoDark community group and using an in‑game verification NPC. The...
Coding Simulator 2 Codes April 2026
Roblox's Coding Simulator 2 released new promotional codes in April 2026, including "500kvisits" and "1000diamonds", granting players free diamonds, cash potions, and luck boosts. The article outlines redemption steps via the in‑game shop and highlights the community Discord for updates....
Ludus Surpasses 10m Downloads as New Divisions System Drives Competitive Play
Top App Games announced its free‑to‑play PvP autobattler Ludus has exceeded 10 million downloads globally. The title posted a 74.6% year‑over‑year revenue jump, generating roughly $3 million in March 2025 monthly revenue. A new seasonal “Divisions” feature replaced the old Leagues system, introducing...
Nekopara Sekai Connect Beginners Guide and Tips
Nekopara Sekai Connect, developed by Good Smile Company, blends a story‑driven adventure with café‑simulation and semi‑auto combat. Players manage a catgirl‑run café, collect and upgrade Nekos, and progress through a narrative that unlocks new characters and game modes. The guide...
European Studios Increased Freelance Spending 63% in 2025 as Hiring Shifts Toward Contract Work
European game studios boosted freelance spending by 63% in 2025, outpacing the 55% global rise. Contractor headcount grew 24% in Europe and 21% worldwide, while one‑to‑three‑month contracts rose 33‑44%, reflecting a shift to modular production. Average monthly freelance earnings climbed...
Forget GTA 6, Take-Two's CEO Just Gave Us a Hint of an L.A. Noire Sequel
Take‑Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that a sequel to the 2011 detective hit L.A. Noire remains a possibility, even as the company’s spotlight stays on Rockstar’s upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI. Zelnick said the studio’s legacy IPs are constantly evaluated, but...
Emulation Arrived on the App Store Two Years Ago – 60m Downloads Later, What’s Changed?
Two years after Apple opened the App Store to emulators, the niche has exploded, generating roughly 60 million downloads across iPhone and iPad. Delta leads with over 26 million installs, while PPSSPP, Manic Emu, RetroArch and Gamma each sit in the low‑single‑digit‑million range....
Roguelite Game Walking Dead: Aftermath Revealed by Ares Interactive and AMC
Ares Interactive and AMC Global Media have unveiled The Walking Dead: Aftermath, a free‑to‑play roguelite set in the TV series universe. Developed by Swift Games, the studio behind Heroes vs Hordes, the title will debut on the App Store and...
HAEGIN’s Last Hunter K: Seoul Invites You to Fight for Survival in a Ruined ARPG City, Now Live on Mobile...
South Korean developer HAEGIN has launched Last Hunter K: Seoul, an action RPG for Android and iOS, now live in 13 regions including the U.S. and Canada. The game features real‑time ARPG combat, five weapon classes, deep character customization, and...
MindsEye's Mission About Build a Rocket Boy's Alleged "Saboteurs" Is a Rather Meh Hitman Impression that Saw Me Waste 30...
Build a Rocket Boy’s new MindsEye mission "Blacklisted" attempts a Hitman‑style crossover but ends up feeling like a linear GTA‑type level. The mission features a leather‑clad assassin, Julia Black, and a stealth warehouse segment that suffers from overly aggressive NPC...
Digiphile Launches the Landfall X Aggro Crab Showcase Game Collection to Support Make-A-Wish
Digiphile, the community‑curated game and graphic‑novel platform founded by former Humble Bundle staff, has launched the two‑week Landfall x Aggro Crab Showcase. The bundle offers eight indie titles, including the 2025 Golden Joystick Best Multiplayer winner Peak, for $12. A $5 charity tier...
Domino Dreams Free Coins – April 2026
Domino Dreams, a free‑to‑play mobile puzzle game from the Dice Dreams creators, relies on in‑game coins as the primary energy for level progression. Players can earn coins organically by completing levels, avoiding costly mistakes, inviting friends, spinning a reward wheel,...
How To Use Email Salting To Reroll In Neverness To Everness
Perfect World’s new gacha title Neverness To Everness has sparked interest in reroll strategies. Players can bypass the need for multiple email accounts by using Gmail’s “email salting” feature, which treats variations like “+1” or inserted dots as separate addresses....
Housemarque to Host Session at Nordic Game 2026
Finnish developer Housemarque will speak at Nordic Game 2026, presenting a session titled “Lessons from Carcosa: Art & Design Direction for Saros.” The talk features brand director Mikael Haveri, associate design director Mitja Roskaric, and art director Simone Silvestri, who...
Neverness to Everness Zero Build Guide: Kit, Best Arcs, Console, Teams and More
Zero is the S‑rank Cosmos Solid character in Neverness to Everness, serving as a dedicated on‑field DPS with a rapid Esper Cycle that speeds elemental reactions. His kit includes a basic attack that reduces Break, an AoE Esper Cannon skill,...
Xbox Sends Out $5 Call Of Duty 'Campaign' Bonus, But It's Not What It Seems
Xbox recently mailed $5 Microsoft gift cards to players who engaged with a Black Ops 7 promotion, but the wording sparked confusion. The bonus isn’t tied to the game’s single‑player story; it rewards the purchase of the BlackCell battle‑pass, a premium...
Call of Duty Movie Director Previously Called Video Games “Pathetic” And “Weak”
A 2013 Esquire interview resurfaced in which Peter Berg, now attached to direct the upcoming Call of Duty film, dismissed video games as “pathetic” and “weak.” The CoD movie, scheduled for a June 2028 release, will be scripted by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan...
Namco’s Japan-Only 1994 Arcade Game Cyber Commando Is Getting a Home Release for the First Time
Namco’s 1994 arcade exclusive Cyber Commando is finally arriving on home consoles, thanks to Hamster Corporation’s Arcade Archives 2 line. The title, a polygonal tank shooter sequel to Cyber Sled, will launch on April 30 for Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox...
Xbox Golden Week Sale 2026 Is Now Live with 400+ Deals
Microsoft launched the Xbox Golden Week Sale 2026 on the Microsoft Store, featuring more than 400 discounted titles across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and backward‑compatible Xbox 360 games. Discounts range from modest 10% cuts to deep markdowns of...
Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn Edition Showcases Alphen in a New Character Trailer
Bandai Namco unveiled a new character trailer spotlighting Alphen for the upcoming Switch 2 version of Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition. The enhanced edition will arrive on May 22 and will run at 1080p in both docked and handheld...
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility Issues Being Investigated by Microsoft
Microsoft is investigating a newly reported problem where a small number of Xbox Series X|S owners cannot launch certain Xbox 360 games, receiving a “Can’t Connect to Xbox Live” error. The issue was first acknowledged on April 22, 2026, and Xbox vice‑president Jason...
Trepang2 Is Now Live On Game Pass, Here's How It Looks On Xbox Series X|S
Trepang2, a single‑player FPS with supernatural combat, has launched on Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate, Premium and PC subscribers. The game runs at a solid 60 FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S, as demonstrated by Fuzion Xbox Testing footage. It...
Viral Game Makes You Battle Your Steam Backlog in a Gladiator Arena
Indie developer launches "The Backlog Battler," an arcade hack‑and‑slash where players fight personified Steam backlog titles. Unplayed games become boss enemies, with damage scaling to the purchase price, while titles played for up to two hours join as allies. The...
The Blood of Dawnwalker Requires $2.5k Graphics Card to Play at 4k
The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire‑themed RPG from the Witcher 3 studio, will launch on September 3, 2026 with a 4K‑at‑60 fps recommendation that calls for an NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics card. The RTX 5090 alone costs roughly $2,500, and when paired with a 16 GB RAM...
What Is Marvel Rivals Boosting Explained
Marvel Rivals boosting is a paid service that lets players accelerate rank, level, or reward progression by partnering with high‑skill boosters. Providers such as Eloboss offer solo (account‑sharing) and duo (co‑play) options, with the latter preserving account control and adding...
Neverness to Everness NTE Tier List April 2026
Pocket Tactics released the first official tier list for the live‑service gacha game Neverness to Everness (NTE). The list ranks city‑runners from S‑tier—Jiuyuan and Nanally—to D‑, reflecting community consensus and personal testing. S‑tier characters excel in burst damage and are...
How to Use Loot Filter in Diablo 4
Blizzard introduced a free loot‑filter system for Diablo 4 as part of the Lord of Hatred expansion, arriving two years after the game’s launch. The filter lives in the Gameplay options and lets players create up to 25 custom rules, with...
Molodoy: "I Can only Try to Help FalleN Win More Tournaments in His Last Year"
Danil “molodoy” Golubenko of FURIA told BLAST Rivals 2026 media day that the team is reshaping its approach after veteran captain Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo announced he will retire at year‑end. Molodoy says he is shifting from an individual‑focused style to a...
New Theory Says PS4 and PS5 30-Day Digital Game Timers Are Temporary to Stop Piracy, Become Permanent After 14 Days
Sony's recent system update adds a 30‑day licence timer to new PS4 and PS5 digital game purchases, requiring online verification. Users reported the timer disappearing after about 14‑16 days, after which the licence becomes permanent and no further checks are...
Blades of Fire 2.0 Showcases Transmutation and Photo Mode in New Videos
505 Games and MercurySteam have rolled out the second episode of a weekly Blades of Fire 2.0 feature showcase, highlighting the new Transmutation system. The update, arriving on Steam on May 14, also brings DLSS 4, New Game Plus, a Titanium challenge level, additional...
![Stavn: "The Plan After Kicking cadiaN [in HEROIC] Was for Me to Go Into IGLing or AWPing"](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://img-cdn.hltv.org/gallerypicture/tKLq9lLyd1Ehxn1M5bGYiE.jpg?auto=compress&ixlib=java-2.1.0&m=%2Fm.png&mw=107&mx=20&my=473&q=75&w=800&s=8934569352ee1dc55288a41de7d53fe6)
Stavn: "The Plan After Kicking cadiaN [in HEROIC] Was for Me to Go Into IGLing or AWPing"
Martin “stavn” Lund returned to the CS:GO stage this month, signing with Ninjas in Pyjamas and taking on the team’s primary AWP role. After a turbulent exit from Heroic and a brief flirtation with Astralis, the 24‑year‑old Danish rifler made...
All Factions in Tortuga and Their Stock in Windrose
Windrose’s Tortuga hub hosts four reputation‑based vendors—Smugglers of Port Royal, Brethren of the Coast, People of Tortuga, and Rogue Buccaneers—each unlocking unique crafting recipes, ship designs, merchant contracts, and weapon blueprints as players raise faction reputation. Reputation is earned by...
All Neverness to Everness Voice Actors: English and Japanese Cast
Neverness to Everness released a comprehensive bilingual voice‑actor roster, pairing prominent English dub talent with well‑known Japanese seiyuu. The list covers all main playable characters, including dual leads Esper Zero, Adler, Skia, and Hathor, and notes double‑casting for Mint and...
Edge of Memories Soundtrack Preview Album Released on Spotify and Apple Music Featuring Five Tracks
Nacon and Midgar Studio have launched the "Edge of Memories Original Game Soundtrack – Discovery Edition," a five‑track preview album now streaming worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and other services. The EP showcases compositions by Cédric Menendez, Mariam Abounnasr and...
Beyond the Screen: How AI, VR and Gamification Are Defining the Next Generation of Play
The gaming sector is moving from single‑purchase AAA titles to persistent live‑service ecosystems, driven by rising development costs and AI‑powered production tools. Generative AI enables smaller studios to create larger worlds faster, while also raising IP and labor concerns that...
Where to Buy the Fierce Tyrant Set in FFXIV
Square Enix has re‑added the coveted Fierce Tyrant glamour set to Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail update, making it available to all players. The set, originally a reward for completing 25 levels of the now‑defunct PvP Series 5 Malmstones, can be purchased from the Wolves’ Den Pier...