Atari Has Acquired Retro Emulation Studio Implicit Conversions, Which Specialises in PS1 Ports
Atari announced the acquisition of Implicit Conversions, a Delaware‑based studio that built the Syrup Engine for emulating 8‑, 16‑ and 32‑bit games, including PlayStation titles. The move adds 32‑bit, especially PS1, expertise to Atari’s retro portfolio, which already includes Digital Eclipse’s 8‑/16‑bit focus and Nightdive’s polygonal remasters. Implicit Conversions has already collaborated with Digital Eclipse on Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection and the Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. The deal follows Atari’s 2023 $20 million purchase of Digital Eclipse, further consolidating its retro‑gaming capabilities.
‘No Old, Stay Gold’: Sega Launches Sega Universe, a Project Designed to Revive Its Older IP Beyond Games
Sega has launched Sega Universe, a transmedia initiative aimed at reviving its classic franchises beyond video games. The first phase spotlights nine legacy titles celebrating major anniversaries in 2026, promising nostalgic yet new entertainment across film, music, fashion and more....
Xbox Confirms It’s ‘Reevaluating’ Exclusivity as It Shares Future Mission Statement
Microsoft’s newly appointed gaming chief, Asha Sharma, unveiled an Xbox mission that pivots around daily active players as the primary growth metric. The company will rebrand the Microsoft Gaming division back to Xbox and focus on four pillars: hardware, content,...
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Tops the Japanese Charts, Outselling the Rest of the Top 10 Seven Times Over
Nintendo’s new Switch 2 title Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream debuted at #1 on Japan’s physical software chart, moving 565,405 copies between April 16 and April 19. The game outsold the second‑place PS5 entry Pragmata by more than fifteen‑fold, which sold just 36,470...
Annapurna Announces Switch 2 Ports of Five Games, with Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Out Today
Annapurna Interactive announced Switch 2 ports for five of its back‑catalogue titles, with Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes launching today. Both games arrive on the Switch 2 eShop at $12.99 and $24.99 respectively and include free upgrades for existing Switch owners,...
The Revamped Spectrum Gets a Special White Version Today, Inspired by a Clive Sinclair Legend
Retro Games Ltd has introduced a limited‑edition white version of its modernized ZX Spectrum, a homage to the legendary computer’s mythic white case given to Clive Sinclair after reaching one million units sold. The hardware mirrors the November 2024 Spectrum release,...
‘Their Favourite Games Were Already Built with AI’: Google Exec Says Almost Every Big Studio Uses AI, but Not All...
Google Cloud’s games director Jack Buser says roughly nine‑in‑ten major studios are already using AI tools such as Gemini and Nano Banana Pro, though many keep the practice quiet to avoid backlash. He highlighted Capcom as a user of Google’s AI for...
All Six Neo Geo Metal Slug Games Are Half Price to Mark the Series’ 30th Anniversary
Hamster Corporation is offering a 50% discount on its ACA Neo Geo digital re‑releases of all six Metal Slug titles to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary. The promotion runs until May 6, pricing each game at $3.99 instead of $7.99 across Switch, PS4,...
Miyamoto Says He Was Surprised Mario Galaxy Movie Reviews Were Even Harsher than the First
Nintendo veteran Shigeru Miyamoto expressed surprise that the sequel *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* received harsher critical reviews than the original. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 43% critic score versus 59% for the first film, while audience approval stays strong at 89% compared with 95%...
Vampire Survivors’ Developer Is Working on over 15 Projects, Including IP Collaborations
Poncle, the studio behind the breakout hit Vampire Survivors, reports it is juggling over 15 projects ranging from DLC and spin‑offs to original IPs. The company just launched a deck‑builder spin‑off, Vampire Crawlers, and announced a Warhammer 40k‑themed Survivors title built...
Miyamoto Says He Wants Peach’s Origin Story in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to Remain Canon in Future Games
Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Princess Peach’s newly revealed origin—being Rosalina’s sister—in *The Super Mario Galaxy* movie will be treated as official canon in future Nintendo games. The comment came during a group interview marking the film’s Japanese release on April...
‘I Don’t Think by Any Means We Nailed It’: Arc Raiders Design Director Says ‘Significant Changes’ Are Coming to the...
Arc Raiders, Nexon's third‑person extraction shooter, sold over 14 million copies in its first three months, surpassing expectations. However, design director Virgil Watkins admits the game's skill tree is unbalanced, with certain abilities favoring PvP or PvE playstyles. He confirmed that...
Bethesda Doesn’t Have ‘the Engineering Know-How’ to Remaster Fallout New Vegas, Former Obsidian CCO Says
Former Obsidian chief creative officer Chris Avellone says Bethesda lacks the engineering expertise and source code needed to remaster Fallout: New Vegas. He explained that Obsidian’s studio head declined to deliver the final source‑code milestone, leaving Bethesda with only fragmented assets....
PlayStation Has Started Telling UK and Ireland Players to Verify Their Age by June to Keep Certain Features
Sony announced that PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland must verify their age by June 2026 to retain access to communication tools such as messaging, voice chat, and party functions. A dashboard alert and QR code let players complete...
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Stays Top of the Charts as the Super Mario Film Series Passes $2 Billion Globally
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie topped the U.S. box office for a third consecutive weekend, pulling in $35 million and bringing its worldwide total to $747.4 million. Combined with the first Super Mario Bros Movie’s $1.36 billion, the franchise now exceeds $2 billion in global receipts, ranking it as the...
Capcom Says Pragmata Is Off to ‘a Strong Start’ with 1 Million Sold in Its First Two Days
Capcom announced that its new sci‑fi action‑adventure Pragmata sold over one million copies within its first two days of release. The title, a brand‑new IP developed largely by younger Capcom staff, earned an 86 Metacritic score and a 97% positive...
Ghost of Yotei Star Erika Ishii Says She’d ‘Jump’ at the Chance to Play Atsu Again
Erika Ishii, the voice behind Atsu in Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei, has been nominated for Performer in a Leading Role at the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards. The nomination places her alongside notable actors such as Troy Baker and Aaron Paul. Ishii told...
SNK Is Releasing a Modern NeoGeo AES Console with ‘Unrivaled Authenticity’ and £70 Game Cartridges
SNK and Plaion are reviving the 1990 NeoGeo AES with a modern NeoGeo AES+ console slated for a November 12 launch. The standard and 35th Anniversary editions will retail for $249.99 (≈£179.99/€199.99) and include HDMI, 1080p output, and on‑screen BIOS...
Hades 2 Arrives on Consoles with a New Update Making It Easier to Romance Popular Character
Hades 2 launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Game Pass, following its Nintendo Switch 2 debut in September 2025. A new patch eases the romance path with Icarus, a previously hard‑to‑court NPC, by introducing unlimited early‑game Bath Salts gifts. The update...
PS5 Sales Reached Year Highs as Consumers Raced to Beat Sony’s Price Increases
PlayStation 5 hardware sales in the United States peaked in early April 2026, just before Sony’s announced price hikes. Sony lifted the base PS5 price by $100 and the new PS5 Pro by $150, pushing the Pro’s retail tag to $900. Circana...
Amazon Luna Has Stopped Offering Individual Games and Subscriptions From Third-Party Stores
Amazon Luna announced it will no longer sell individual games or third‑party subscriptions through its cloud platform, ending support for EA, Ubisoft and GOG storefronts. The change takes effect on April 10, and users can continue streaming previously linked titles only...
Of the 500+ AI Tools Tested by a Leading Game Dev Tech Provider, only ‘Half a Dozen’ Help ‘in the...
Keywords Studios evaluated over 500 AI tools for game development and found only about six that genuinely enhance production pipelines. The firm’s head of transformation, Jon Gibson, says most tools are built for flashy demos rather than solving concrete studio...
Konami’s eFootball Celebrates 1 Billion Downloads by Bringing Back a Limited-Time Take on PES Master League
Konami announced that its free‑to‑play title eFootball has surpassed 1 billion downloads across all platforms. To celebrate, the company launched a week‑long in‑game event called Master League Sprint, a nostalgic recreation of the classic Pro Evolution Soccer career mode. The mode...
Neill Blomkamp’s Blockchain Studio Gunzilla Games Hasn’t Paid some Staff ‘for Many Months’, Employees Allege
Gunzilla Games, the blockchain studio co‑founded by director Neill Blomkamp, is accused of withholding employee pay for several months. Animators and programmers say they have not been paid since October 2025, despite promises from CEO Vlad Korolev that the company was profitable and...
The James Bond IP Owner Has Opposed an Attempt to Trademark ’90s Parody Video Game Character James Pond
The owner of the James Bond franchise, Danjaq LLC, has formally opposed System 3’s attempt to register the "James Pond" trademark across video games, toys and apparel. System 3 argues the 1990‑originated James Pond series is a 35‑year‑old, distinct property with a...
The Switch 2 Version of 007 First Light Has Been Delayed Until This Summer
IO Interactive announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light will not arrive with the rest of the titles on May 27, 2026, but will be pushed to later summer. The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC releases remain on schedule...
Guilty Gear Creator Says It’s ‘Very Dangerous’ for Developers to Specialise in One Area Instead of Trying New Skills
Veteran game creator Daisuke Ishiwatari cautioned that prolonged overspecialization threatens developers’ adaptability and future employability. He highlighted Arc System Works’ new top‑down RPG Damon and Baby, where staff handle entire characters to diversify skills. Ishiwatari’s warning echoes similar concerns from...
Nintendo Is Taking $20 Off Switch 2 in the US if It’s Bought with Super Mario Galaxy 1+2
Nintendo is offering a $20 discount on the Switch 2 when purchased with Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 from April 12 to May 9. The promotion applies at major U.S. retailers—including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart—and covers both physical and digital versions of the game. Galaxy 1+2,...
Xbox Has Revealed 18 Game Pass Titles for April, Including Hades 2, Kiln and Vampire Crawlers
Microsoft announced 18 new games for Xbox Game Pass in April, launching on console, PC and cloud streaming. Highlights include the highly anticipated Hades II, indie titles Kiln and Vampire Crawlers, and a mix of RPGs, simulators and shooters. The titles...
Papers, Please Creator Lucas Pope Says He No Longer Reveals What He’s Working on in Case It’s Stolen or ‘Slurped...
Lucas Pope, the indie auteur behind Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, announced he will no longer publicize in‑progress ideas out of fear they could be harvested by AI or competitors. He remains committed to solo development, handling...
Alone in the Dark’s Creator Is Crowdfunding a New Mega Drive / Genesis Game with a Unique Controller
Survival‑horror pioneer Frédérick Raynal is crowdfunding a remake of his 1988 brick‑breaker PopCorn for the Sega Mega Drive, now titled PopCorn: Duel. The Kickstarter aims to fund both the game and a bespoke “PopCorn Spinner” controller, a first for the console. The project...
Amazon Prime’s 12 ‘Free’ Games for April Include XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack
Amazon Prime members can claim twelve free PC games for April 2026 through the Prime Gaming (now Luna) program, with titles ranging from XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack to Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties. The games are delivered as redeemable codes...
GOG’s Optimised Ports of the Original PC Resident Evil Trilogy Are Now on Steam Too
Capcom has released the original PC ports of Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 on Steam, following GOG's 2024 re‑releases. Each title is priced at $9.99 (about $10.00 UK equivalent) and is discounted 50 % until April 15, allowing the trilogy...
Switch 2 Price Is ‘Going to Have to Go up’ Eventually, Former Nintendo Sales Lead Says
Former Nintendo sales chief predicts the upcoming Switch 2 will eventually see a price increase, mirroring Sony and Microsoft’s recent hikes. While the current Switch retails at $299 USD, analysts expect the new model to launch around $350 USD. Nintendo may...
After Asking the Japanese Public to Help It Find Its First Ever Claw Machine Game, Taito Instead Found Its Second
Taito launched a nationwide crowdsourced hunt for the Crown 602, Japan’s first domestically produced crane game from 1965, offering a ¥100,000 ($630) reward. After receiving more than 4,400 tips, the company still hasn’t located the elusive unit, leaving the prize unclaimed....
Neverwinter, Star Trek Online and Champions Online Veterans Have Rejoined Cryptic Studios
Cryptic Studios has re‑hired several of its most seasoned leaders, including former CEO Jack Emmert, who returned in January 2026 to steer the company again. Landon Falls rejoined as executive producer for the flagship MMO Neverwinter, while Julia Sprenz returned to design...
Blaze Announces Evercade Nexus Handheld, Including Enhanced Versions of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie
Blaze Entertainment unveiled the Evercade Nexus, a premium handheld retro console slated for October 2026 with pre‑orders beginning April 1. The device upgrades to a 5.89‑inch IPS screen, adds twin analog sticks, wireless headphone support, and a new EverSync local‑multiplayer feature, while...
Boxroom Is a Home Designer Game that Turns Your Actual Steam Library Into Physical Game Boxes
Boxroom is a home‑decorator simulation that transforms a player’s Steam library into tangible‑looking game boxes. Using Steam metadata, the game creates virtual boxes with cover art and in‑game screenshots, letting users arrange them on shelves, walls, and furniture. Players can...
Disney May Be Interested in Acquiring Epic Games at some Point, It’s Claimed
Disney has invested $1.5 billion for an equity stake in Epic Games and is reportedly weighing a full acquisition, though senior executives are split on the idea. The move would extend Disney’s work on a persistent "games and entertainment universe" inside...
WWE 2K26 Makes Widespread Changes to Its Ringside Pass and Stamina Systems Following Player Criticism
2K Sports rolled out version 1.07 for WWE 2K26, revamping the Ringside Pass battle‑pass and the stamina system after player criticism. All four Premium‑tier DLC wrestlers now unlock at Tier 1 of Season 2, and new players receive enough RXP to cover the first...
John and Brenda Romero Say the Industry Feels ‘Crashier’ than the North American Game Crash of 1983 Did
John and Brenda Romero say today’s games industry feels more “crashier” than the 1983 North American video‑game crash. They cite widespread layoffs, even after hits like Battlefield 6, and note Romero Games’ staff drop from 110 to nine after Microsoft pulled...
Konami Increases Its Starting Salary in Japan by Nearly 30%, Increases Base Pay for the Fifth Year in a Row
Konami announced a 29% boost to its entry‑level salary in Japan, raising the monthly base for new college graduates to ¥310,000 (about $2,200) from ¥240,000 ($1,730) a year ago. All employees also receive a ¥5,000 ($36) monthly increase, marking the...
Sources: Nintendo Is Planning a New Star Fox and a Major Zelda Remake This Year, but No 3D Mario
Nintendo insiders reveal that a classic‑style Star Fox game will launch on Switch 2 in summer 2026, while a major remake of the N64 classic *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* is slated for the holiday season. A new 3D Mario title,...
A Switch 2 Version of Devil May Cry 5 Has Been Rated
A Taiwanese rating board has listed "Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition" as a Switch 2 product, indicating a possible port. Capcom has not yet confirmed any official plans to bring the franchise to Nintendo hardware, although earlier titles were Switch...
Two Classic Japanese Horror Series Crossover as Fatal Frame 2 Remake Gets Free Silent Hill F DLC Today
Japanese horror franchises Fatal Frame 2 Remake and Silent Hill F have teamed up for a free crossover DLC. The DLC adds the navy‑sailor school uniform worn by Silent Hill F’s protagonist Hinako Shimizu, plus the iconic Fox Mask, to Fatal Frame 2’s protagonists Mio and Mayu....
Like a Dragon Studio Reveals that Stranger Than Heaven Will Take Place over Five Eras
Like a Dragon studio announced that its upcoming title Stranger Than Heaven will unfold across five distinct eras, each offering its own visual style and gameplay twists. The game will launch on Xbox Game Pass, giving subscribers immediate access. A...
Three Weeks After Being Accidentally Uploaded to Steam, the New Hunter: The Reckoning Game Is Now Official
Polish studio Teyon officially unveiled Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, slated for a 2027 release. The title reimagines the World of Darkness tabletop franchise as a first‑person RPG set in modern New York, featuring investigation, romance options, and branching narratives....
Square Enix Was Metacritic’s No. 1 Ranked Publisher Last Year, Thanks to 9 ‘Good’ Games
Metacritic named Square Enix the top game publisher for 2025, the first time the Japanese studio has claimed the spot. The ranking is based on a points system that weighs average Metascore, proportion of good reviews, low‑score avoidance, and number of...
April’s Main PlayStation Plus ‘Free’ Essential Monthly Game Has Been Leaked
A PlayStation Plus Essential leak reveals that the April free game will be the 2023 reboot *Lords of the Fallen*. The action‑RPG launched in October 2023 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, earning Metacritic scores between 70 and 77. It sold one million...
Netflix’s Live-Action Assassin’s Creed Series Has Started Filming as Cast Is Officially Announced
Netflix has begun filming its live‑action Assassin’s Creed series, confirmed by Ubisoft. The show will be set in Ancient Rome during 64 AD and features a diverse cast led by Toby Wallace and Lola Petticrew. Produced by Emmy‑nominated creators Roberto Patino...