Tarsier Studios has pushed out the first post-release patch for adventure game Reanimal, and it handles softlock issues, technical bugs and more.
Called the version 1.5 patch, console gamers will see the download appear as Reanimal update 1.005 (complete version 1.005.00), and this title update has been tested on the game’s development branch.
Sony has launched the latest PlayStation Store sale, and this one is called the "Dealmania" promotion.
For the complete patch notes and what got fixed today, read on.
Reanimal Update 1.005 Released on February 27
Stability
– Fixed problems with 13th/14th generation Intel processors that lead to crashes through overheating
– Implemented a workaround to prevent crashes on certain AMD hardware and driver combinations.
Connectivity
Network Connectivity
– Changed the way that the game sends packets between EOS and game clients to lower ping rates and reduce desync problems.
Game Softlocks
Opera House (Tank Section) Fixed an issue where blocking volumes were not correctly disabled when reloading from a checkpoint after dying, preventing further progression.
Online – Tank to Final Sheep Beast Transition
Fixed an issue where transitioning from the tank scene to the final Sheep Beast scene could result in a black screen.
Note: This is a partial fix. In very rare cases, the issue may still occur.
Forest Village
Fixed an issue where certain level triggers could be bypassed, potentially leaving players in a locked progression state.
Bunker Puzzle
Fixed a softlock that could occur if players solved the bunker puzzle, exited the area, and then died — causing them to respawn without a way to progress.
Barn (Single Player)
Fixed an issue where the player could occasionally lose movement control after entering the barn for the first time.
Orphanage (Stacked Beds Room)
Fixed a progression issue where players could become stuck after defeating all spider kids due to the area not unlocking properly.
There is a known issue for the PC version regarding AMD CPU’s, though teh developer did admit they won’t be able to do anything about it.
Tarsier noted, “On certain AMD cpu’s the precompilation of shaders takes a very long time. We’ve seen this on AMD Ryzen 5 3400G processor. This is unfortunately a hardware issue that we can’t do anything about.”
If we get a new patch for the game, we’ll let our readers know.
Hello Games is back again with a new set of fixes to No Man’s Sky’s Remnant content drop. For the patch released today, February 27, this brings the game to No Man’s Sky update version 6.24/6.024 (complete version 6.024.000).
For the complete list of fixes that touch on technical issues and even gameplay bug fixes, read on.
I hate to be the doom-and-gloom guy, but things aren't looking too good for the future of gaming as prices continue to rise, and it's due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is something more and more game developers are relying on to speed up game creation, and also to save on manpower costs.
Helmet and Equipment
Fixed an issue with fishbowl helmet transparency.
Fixed some clipping issues with the Diving and Ruin Chest Armour.
Fixed an issue that caused some helmets to appear overly bright.
Technical Fixes
Fixed an issue which caused refiners to be emptied after reloading a save.
Fixed an issue that caused runaway mould to be removed from some planets.
Platform-Specific
Performance optimisations for Xbox platforms.
Memory optimisations for Xbox One and Xbox Series.
Memory optimisations for PS5.
Memory optimisations for Switch 2.
Fixed a rare crash when playing in multiplayer.
Don’t be surprised to see more fixes rolled out in the coming days and weeks until we get to the next content drop in the following months.
A new minor update has been released for Nioh 3 on February 27, and this continues Team Ninja’s post-release support of the action game.
Called the version 1.03.04 patch, which is what players will see on the title screen after applying the game update, PS5 gamers will see this download as Nioh 3 update 1.030.040.
I hate to be the doom-and-gloom guy, but things aren't looking too good for the future of gaming as prices continue to rise, and it's due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is something more and more game developers are relying on to speed up game creation, and also to save on manpower costs.
Read on for the latest round of fixes.
Nioh 3 Receives New Update Fixes Martial Art Deflect Bug
Bug fixes
Fixed a bug that caused the hit timing of the Martial Art Deflect to be shorter for the Samurai weapons dual swords and cestuses than for other weapons.
Fixed a bug that prevented the maximum Level Enhancement upon acquiring Soul Cores from updating, which would sometimes prevent the player from acquiring trophies/achievements.
Made other minor fixes.
That’s about it. It’s not as big as the last update released earlier this week that made the first boss fight a lot easier.
I hate to be the doom-and-gloom guy, but things aren’t looking too good for the future of gaming as prices continue to rise, and it’s due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is something more and more game developers are relying on to speed up game creation, and also to save on manpower costs.
While AI might aid developers in releasing games faster, it is affecting game development negatively, and it’s not just on the creative side. Confused? Allow us to explain.
The Rise of AI is Killing Gaming, Not Just Creatively, But Also in Affordability
Over the last year, I’ve been looking at building a new PC. I can tell you from experience that the hobby can be rather expensive. Granted, I have always aimed for the higher end of specs, going for the top-of-the-line CPUs and the latest GPUs. It’s only expensive because I choose that route, and even then, I exercise caution when picking out components, making sure I get the best build possible, at the best (lowest) possible price. That usually involves waiting for deals to happen or understanding what kind of performance I’m paying for with X component and what that equates to in dollar terms, to help me make a “good” decision.
Warner Bros Discovery went through major changes after its purchase by Netflix in December.
On the other hand, building a gaming PC is also pretty cheap if you aren’t aiming for the latest and greatest. Well, correction: it WAS pretty cheap up until the last few years, when AI really started to take off in the market.
NVIDIA first rolled out its DLSS tech with its RTX 2000 series cards in 2018. It was pretty limited back then, but it eventually ramped up in support when the RTX 3000 cards dropped, along with the newer DLSS revision.
At this point in history, the company was still pretty big on catering to gamers and pushing the envelope of technology to get better visuals and performance. It was right around the release of the RTX 4000, though, where prices were really starting to rear their ugly head, with the cost of performance being one of the worst we’ve seen. While the RTX 4090 offered that generational leap you’d hope for, going down the line, 4080, 4070, 4060, etc., the jump from the previous gen model wasn’t exactly significant to each counterpart, especially when you factored in the price of those cards. But it was with the RTX 4000 series cards that we saw Nvidia begin its big shift towards an AI-focused company.
Of course, this was in part due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2023), which led to widespread shortages of goods worldwide. Electronics, though, specifically PC components, saw a massive surge in demand due to the isolation and such.
Coincidentally, cryptocurrency was becoming more “mainstream,” though it had already been surging in popularity in the years before. But the price of entry was still a relatively “low” one, especially for miners. That would lead to a worldwide shortage of GPUs, as both everyday consumers and companies would set up GPU farms to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. As with the rule of supply and demand, the more demand there is, the less supply there will be, which means prices go up, and oh boy, did they go up.
It wasn’t just scalpers; even official GPU partners marked up the cost of their GPUs, with some local retailers, such as Microcenter, going above MSRP on multiple GPU lines. The moment a GPU listing went online, a scalper would instantly scoop it up, then turn around and mark the price up by nearly double. Things were looking pretty grim for the GPU market.
Yet, people still paid those prices, which might have led to Nvidia releasing their most expensive consumer GPUs yet, the RTX 5000 series cards. At this point, despite how expensive those cards are and the disappointment over the VRAM, it seems like people have “acclimated” to the prices. That, or they really did do a paper launch to drive up demand and price-gouge everyday consumers, to the point that finding a card at its MSRP is somehow considered to be a “deal.”
Mind, Nvidia wasn’t the only one to position their products beyond the realm of reasonable pricing. We’ve seen this happen with both AMD and Intel, and although they both offer cheaper lines of GPUs, price-wise, they’re still high up there, to the point that spending a few extra hundred dollars on a Nvidia GPU doesn’t look at all that bad. It all comes back to how much you’re getting for that price, making what should be an easy decision a rather complex one.
If you’ve been part of any PC-building community, you’ve likely noticed a growing sentiment around the hobby, which hasn’t been all that positive. AI is the big talk of the moment, with components getting even pricier while offering even less gains. “AI Tax,” as many would call it, is turning the hobby into an accessible DIY (do-it-yourself) adventure into a gated, luxury experience.
It’s getting to the point where it’s no longer about how much performance you want, but more so about how much you’re willing to shell out just to stay relevant enough. What used to be considered budget pricing has crept into the mid- to high-range, all because of the growing demand for AI.
It didn’t take long for the internet to start asking questions.
That’s just for the PC side of things, too. Console gamers aren’t sheltered from rising prices, as this generation of consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series) has, for the first time in console history, seen prices increase rather than fall. Where, at what many consider to be the middle point of the generation, instead of becoming even more affordable, they have become more expensive. For once, being an early adopter actually saved some buyers money on hardware.
With things going at the rate, they are, it could mean a few things. The first and obvious, next-gen consoles are going to be very expensive. The thought of seeing another console priced over $600 was laughable a few years ago, yet that’s become a reality with today’s consoles. If gamers are expecting even more powerful consoles when next-gen arrives, the likelihood of them staying below that sweet spot of $500 are pretty slim.
The second, longer console generations. I’ll be honest, I barely feel like we’ve gotten our money’s worth out of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and we are what, 5 years, coming up on 6, since they were released? Part of that is that we are still releasing games on last-gen (PS4 and Xbox One) platforms, but that right there should be enough to tell you where things are heading. We already had last-gen cycle extended, you can sure bet the PS5 and Xbox Series are going to be well supported into the PS6 and next Xbox generation.
Today, fewer games remain fully exclusive to a single platform.
That might sound like a win on paper, and sure, it can be. Who doesn’t want to get more out of their aging hardware? The machines we have today are very capable of delivering “next-gen” experiences. But at the same time, as demand for better visuals and performance continues to grow, the need for better hardware becomes increasingly apparent. With everyone so focused on AI, the innovation that we look forward to in every generation is no longer dictated by hardware, but by AI itself.
I’m not sure how that will look in terms of scalability, especially in the long term. However, I can’t imagine it will be good when developers use AI as a crutch to brute-force optimization rather than actually optimizing. I mean, it’s already happening, and all you have to do is look at Borderlands 4’s launch, a game that launched in such a poor state of optimization across even the highest of builds, with the studio’s head telling people to use the AI-powered tools their GPUs support.
Now, in some fairness, this isn’t to say that games ran flawlessly before the introduction of AI. We’ve always had poorly optimized games, but now there’s even more reason to continue that practice, given the belief that some tool will magically fix it.
Either way, even if the next-gen consoles were AI-heavy, I’m not expecting them to be cheap in any way. I remember when (still is) that was a big talking point for AI: making things easier, faster, and more affordable to produce. It could be true, for the business, but as for us consumers, we don’t see those savings. Nope, we see a worse product delivered at a higher cost. What is becoming of this industry?
The sad part of this whole thing is that consumer businesses are starting to move past their consumer fan base in the PC market.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
There’s More Money Selling to AI-Powered Datacenters Than There Is From Gamers
Now I know what a lot of you are thinking, “Let’s all vote with our wallets, stop buying, that’ll show them!” Normally, I would agree with you all and be right there, even though chances are, a lot of us are going to stop spending so much on the hobby pretty soon anyway. The problem is, we, as gamers, are sadly no longer the market for the actual manufacturers that help build our PCs. Sure, we can stick it to the big three (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) and some PC component makers. While they bring in a ton of revenue for chipmaker partners, the reality is that companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Intel are moving beyond everyday consumers.
You don’t need to take my word for it either, as Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, reminded us of that in their 2025 third-quarter earnings call when discussing how the company has evolved: “We have evolved over the past twenty-five years from a gaming GPU company to now an AI data center infrastructure company.” He continues, “Compute demand keeps accelerating and compounding across training and inference — each growing exponentially. We’ve entered the virtuous cycle of AI. The AI ecosystem is scaling fast — with more new foundation model makers, more AI startups, across more industries, and in more countries. AI is going everywhere, doing everything, all at once.”
Gamers are no longer the big focus for a company like Nvidia. A lot of PC gamers have already felt that too, with high-priced cards that offer little to no real price-to-performance boost over last-generation GPUs. The RTX 5000 series cards are outrageously expensive, and unless you go for the higher-end models, they often perform even worse than last-gen cards, and sometimes even worse than RTX 3000 series cards. For the price they’re asking for some of these cards, you’d expect them to be far outpacing the older ones. Their VRAM count has been very disappointing for this generation of cards, too.
While the RTX 2000, RTX 3000, and RTX 4000 lines of GPUs have AI features, I think many of us can agree that it was the RTX 5000 series that NVIDIA really started to show that they’re ready to “leave” gamers behind, with many of the buzzwords thrown around the series centered on AI. Go back and rewatch the RTX 5000 series reveal, and count how many times they say AI. It’s a lot, and looking back at it, from a gamer perspective, and seeing where we are now, it makes a lot of sense why they said it so many times.
But the point is, voting with our wallets in this case is probably futile, especially since the market is already doing that for us. Look at the price of DDR5 RAM. We went from being able to get 32GB (2x16GB) for $100-$200 to prices now being $300-$500 and more. Think about that: RAM costs almost as much as buying a gaming console. It’s not like the everyday consumer is rushing out to purchase RAM at these prices either. It’s targeting those in the field of AI, with a bulk of the RAM likely bought by big businesses. It’s 2021 again, but instead of GPUs, it’s RAM, and instead of Crypto and COVID-19, it’s datacenters and their push for AI. These are being bought not as a single item for a single gaming PC, but in bulk to power hundreds, maybe even thousands, of machines.
If you needed any proof of how outrageous the pricing has gotten, here are two RAM kits I bought earlier last year at Microcenter, and what they cost today.
That’s a 394.67% price increase (off the current MSRP before discount) for this stick of RAM. Now, let’s look at the next one, which was pricier at the time of purchase.
A whopping 470.20% price increase in less than a year. This stick alone costs just as much as a PS5 Pro. Disgusting. I cannot imagine anyone willing to pay these prices, but I know they’re out there. It does make owning a console and paying that price easier to swallow, but come on, do we really need to keep repeating this cycle of acceptance?
DDR4 prices are also increasing, but in all fairness, this is partly due to the common trend of last-gen RAM winding down production: as supply runs low and demand remains high, prices begin to rise. We saw it was DDR3 when everything started moving to DDR4, and now we’re seeing it with DDR4 as everything shifts to DDR5. But with the growing demand for RAM, some companies are now pushing their end-of-life plans, like Samsung, which recently extended its support for DDR4. If they haven’t already, DDR4 prices are about to go up, too.
One of the inevitable things in life include: death, taxes, and cheaters in multiplayer games.
Every component that goes into a PC is seeing a price increase, with perhaps the exception of a few things like PSU and Motherboards. The latter has seen a price reduction, though considering the cost of RAM and other components, those savings quickly disappear.
These aren’t prices advertised to us; they’re prices advertised for the mega corporations that don’t care how much they have to spend. It’ll all (at least some of it) fall under a tax write-off anyway, but seeing these prices really shows the shift: we’re no longer the target market.
If you needed a real eye-opener, just look at the recent CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2026 panel featuring NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.
Very AI-heavy, with a focus on data centers and on selling products built specifically for them. AMD announced a new CPU, the 9850X3D, but not at the show itself. A consumer product, skipping out on a consumer showcase, so that they could bring up top names in the AI space. Nothing screams consumer-friendly more than bringing in the White House director of science and technology policy to discuss how they’re going to bring the tech to other big companies and ensure they benefit from it through regulations made for them. If you think that’s ridiculous, AMD then invites members of the health system to discuss their endless fight against male baldness.
Ah, yes, this is exactly the kind of content I was expecting from a consumer electronics show. Sure, you might say, “You’re missing the bigger picture here!” Really? Did we watch the same show? You know, the one where even some of these tech giants were fumbling to explain what AI is even doing for us, resorting to throwing around the same buzzwords that mean nothing, and elaborating on the benefits of AI by regurgitating things that even make people question it? The same show where you can even see AMD’s CEO cut off one of these health experts as they begin to trail off with the excitement about AI immortality?
AMD even joked with another AI company, where they came to the AMD office and filmed without permission. Obviously, they had it, but let’s take a jab at the biggest issue in the community around AI: stealing and creating slop and calling it your own. But that’s OK with AMD, and therefore, the industry should be OK with it too.
Surely, I’m being punked here? Tell me that Ashton Kutcher is going to pop behind the curtain with his big dumbass smile, to say we’re all getting punked? No? Well fuck.
On the bright side, people in the PC space don’t forget. If the AI bubble ever pops and things return to a consumer-focused space, the few companies that are packing it in now to focus on selling to these big companies likely won’t be welcomed back with open arms. Micron’s announcement of its exit from the consumer business to focus on data centers won’t be something many consumers will forget.
“The AI-driven growth in the data center has led to a surge in demand for memory and storage. Micron has made the difficult decision to exit the Crucial consumer business in order to improve supply and support for our larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments,” said Sumit Sadana, EVP and Chief Business Officer at Micron Technology.
Abandoning your customers is undoubtedly a great way to build and maintain a good public image.
Since the launch of PS5 Pro in November 2024, Sony has been working to improve visual quality and resolution in games optimized for its most powerful console.
But the Investors Are Telling Us AI Is the Future!
Just a few days ago, Google announced Project Genie, its newest AI-driven tool that lets users build and explore 3D worlds with just text prompts, all in real time.
This news sent a shockwave through the industry, especially among investors, who saw a large sell-off in gaming stocks from the likes of CD Projekt Red, Take-Two, Unity, Roblox, and many others.
I don’t want to dwell on this, but I do want to point out that the dips in stocks probably shouldn’t be much of a concern for many. From the public view, it looks like investors are swaying away from gaming studios and heading to more AI-focused companies. I don’t buy that. At least, in the sense that the dips are an indicator of lost faith, and they are running elsewhere. The likelihood of those stockholders already being invested in AI is already pretty high, and even higher than they were long-term holders.
So, the sell-off is probably more so knowing that the dip was going to happen, and what a better buying opportunity it’s going to be for these same investors, after they’ve sold off a percentage of their stocks for high gains, and can now buy back in, at a lower cost, and make even more gains. Plus, this doesn’t even include the ongoing market trends that are affecting nearly every facet of the stock market. It’s just that many of us are looking at gaming-specific news, not realizing what else is going on in the stock market.
Investors are being bearish right now, protecting their own assets. In the world of investing, cash is king, and it’s the only asset worth protecting. I’m positive we’re going to see a massive bounce back in these stocks, s too. Sell high, then wait long enough for the floor to settle down to re-invest again. It’s a gamble, but it’s what investors do. Personally, I feel that whenever we (as in gaming websites) write about it, it’s just doom and gloom without actually understanding how it works. We tend to mix financial strategies with existential crises and see dips as the end for the sake of clicks (I am aware of the irony here).
As much as I hope AI doesn’t become integral in the workflow of these massive gaming giants, we all do have to remember that they are the ones who have the most to gain from it. But the realization is that the industry runs on talent and creativity, and these massive giants wouldn’t be there without all those talented people. If investors actually believe that AI is going to replace those very people, just because they saw some AI-generated GTA slop, then maybe they are as big as idiots everyone is claiming them to be.
Ubisoft has a lot on its plate right now, as CEO Yves Guillemot recently revealed what the teams at Vantage Studios are currently working on.
I don’t buy that, though. It’s easy for us to think that, but it’s their job to make money, and selling is them playing it safe and smart, especially if there’s potential for even more money when you buy back in later.
Look at Take Two, for example. Its stock price is still insanely high, but over the last year, it has reached all-time highs and experienced big dips. Websites that write about Take-Two stock dips should feel like déjà vu because they wrote about it the other three big times it has happened, and you know what happens a few weeks later? It’s back up. I’m not saying Take-Two and these other companies will always rebound. I’m just pointing out that gaming sites have written so much about the dips that it’s starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf. Treating market volatility like the end provides easy engagement. Market corrections are a thing, and everything can’t remain at a high forever.
The Biggest Lie
So why the big push for AI? Well, according to many of its supporters, AI is supposed to make things better across the board. Companies are supposed to have better workflows, be more efficient, have faster development cycles, and ultimately lower costs. By reducing overhead, we’re led to believe things will be better for both consumers and employees.
In an ideal world, sure, this would probably be the case for many fields, with everyone, including consumers, benefiting from the innovation AI brings. But over time, we’ve seen the push in AI continue to grow, leading to mass layoffs, price increases, and a noticeable shift in priorities away from the end user. AI isn’t making things cheaper, at least for us, because everything is getting pushed further up the price ladder. What AI is doing is producing record profits for these big AI-supporting companies, while leaving everyone else, including their employees, to foot the bill to get them there.
If AI is so great, so revolutionary in the way we do work, to the point that it can cut it to a fraction of the time, then why are prices being driven up, hardware getting more expensive, and workers still being underpaid while forced into crunch? Everyone knows the answer, and this facade isn’t fooling anyone. This was always about making money, and never about giving consumers any real benefits. I’m not saying that AI doesn’t have a place in gaming. I do think it does, but like so many other potentially good things out there, the first thing that comes to mind is exploitation.
It was never about making things better for us, consumers and workers, but rather about maximizing profit margins. Just remember, a few years ago, before AI was starting to explode, and game prices were increasing, it was all about how expensive things had become to make. Now it’s cheaper for some of these companies, yet none of that savings is ever passed down to consumers.
With talk of $100 games being a possible reality and hardware costs rising, I have a feeling we haven’t seen the worst of it. 2026 is going to be a very interesting year for the market, and something tells me it’s going to force more and more gamers to decide whether this hobby is still worth investing in, or if it’s finally time to hang up that controller.
I don’t like to be the doom-and-gloom guy, like, at all. We’ve heard this tale far too many times, and perhaps it’s been a long warning in the industry, with talks of “this being the last generation” happening every generation. I firmly believe gaming will continue to exist. It’s not going anywhere, but given the trajectory of where things are heading, there needs to be a significant change for it to remain affordable for the masses.
Gaming isn’t going to die, but I’m expecting it to be very different in the next decade.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
Warner Bros Discovery went through major changes after its purchase by Netflix in December.
For details on the patch, read on.
Dying Light 2’s Update on February 26 Is a Minor Patch
Per Techland:
Quarantine Zone Broadcast: Week 3 begins! The final week of the Outbreak is underway – and command is pushing an extra escalation as we move to containment’s endgame.
First, a status report on Week 2. Early figures indicate the city is fighting back. 4 regions have been cleared – strong work.
Ongoing relief measures remain in effect:
– 25% discount in all shops
– 50% discount on ammo from Jai
– Outbreak Biters and Virals continue to drop weapons in loot
– 50% XP bonus remains active
New directive for all runners: a citywide stamina boost has been authorized for the week.
– 2x Stamina Regeneration
– 2x reduced Stamina Consumption on Power Attack
Finally, new outbreak fronts have opened. Fresh infection activity is confirmed in Quarry End, Garrison, and East Borough. Stay mobile, stay supplied, and don’t assume cleared means safe.
If there are any gameplay changes rolled out with the update, we’ll add it into the article.
Is Cory Barlog preparing the sequel to God of War: Ragnarok? For now, the only thing known is that Sony Santa Monica’s mysterious new project is expected to release in 2027.
For the complete changelog, read on.
God of War: Sons of Sparta Receives First Update as Ver. 1.005
Save System
Fixed spamming the save command at campfires which is one of the known causes of a loss of save data
Implemented save system stability measures to help reduce the occurrence of save loss or rollback
⚠️PLEASE NOTE⚠️
If your save slots are empty, DO NOT start a new game. This will override the save data that may still exist.
Instead, please restart the application. To restart, you need to close it by hovering on the app icon and pressing the Options button, then choosing Close Game. Then re-enter the application normally.
Ally Behavior
Fixed Deimos occasionally not acting during boss fights
Fixed Deimos sprite not being present during certain Lexicon cinematics
Sony is clearly far from finished with the God of War franchise, with several projects currently in the works, ranging from a TV show for Prime Video to a heavily rumored 2D metroidvania that would return to Greece, drawing inspiration from games like Blasphemous.
Wildlight Entertainment has released Highguard’s latest update on February 26, and this brings a new game mode, as well as a smattering of weapon balance changes.
Console gamers will see today’s patch as Highguard update 2.001.001, and there are even quality-of-life improvements applied to items and the general game too.
Today, fewer games remain fully exclusive to a single platform.
Read on for the complete patch notes.
Highguard Weapon Balance Changes Applied via Update 2.001.001
New Mode – Raid Rush!
In Raid Rush, 2 teams of 5 players will take turns attacking and defending their bases with no pesky looting phase in between.
Instead, select your base and use Trader Flynn to upgrade your weapons and equipment in a round based format. After each round, you’ll switch sides between attacking and defending. Your base walls and generators will be repaired, and you’ll be rewarded some Vesper to spend at the Trader, who will have different offers after every round. And don’t worry about buying armor – everyone has the same armor, and it will escalate in rarity as the rounds progress.
Dev Note: 3v3 Raids has been disabled while Raid Rush is active. 5v5 and Ranked 3v3 are still available.
Quality of Life
Comeback Kill – Grab a kill after going on a death streak of 3 or more and get rewarded 2 Vesper per death, on top of the 3 for the kill. You’re back in the game!
Reviver Amulet – bonus revive speed reduced from 50% to 15%. Dev Note: We feel like the speed of a Reviver Amulet revive was creating too much safety for mid-combat revives.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
Weapon Balance Updates
Vanguard – Reducing accuracy and controllability – it’s too dominant across long ranges
Dynasty – Buffing damage to provide a better tradeoff for the challenging recoil. It now takes one fewer bullet to kill against blue, purple, and gold shields
Corsair – Reducing the delay before the recoil pattern resets, so that the Corsair can be fired more quickly without sacrificing accuracy
Longhorn – Increased fire rate to make the Longhorn more versatile, making it more viable at medium and close ranges.
Longhorn (Repeater) – Hipfire accuracy buffed to satisfy the end game power spike feeling
Viper – Reducing controllability when using the 2x Optic in order to balance out its long range power
Bug Fixes
Fixed some wall geo you could walk through at Belltower in Kingdom
Fixed Firing Range Base Select being too short
It seems that even with the mass layoffs, it hasn’t impacted Highguard’s post-release content roll out or game balance changes.
Gearbox Software has not just released the latest DLC pack for Borderlands 4 today, but the developers also pushed out a new game update available for everyone.
The game’s Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demo is available now for purchase, but even if you have no intention of doing that, you’ll still be prompted to download Borderlands 4 update 1.040 (complete version 1.040.000), which applies gameplay-related changes and improvements.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
For info on the new content as well as the various gameplay changes made, read on.
Borderlands 4 Bounty Pack 2 Released With New Game Update Ver. 1.040
Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demon*
Added support for Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demon
Added support for the Bounty Pack 2 Vault Card!
Playing Borderlands 4 with a Vault Card active gives you more loot and XP via Daily and Weekly challenges, and it can be leveled up at your own pace (no time limits or expiring rewards here). You can activate it via the Vault Card screen in your ECHO menu. Vault Card progression works just like leveling up: it’s all driven by how much XP you’re gaining. By exploring Kairos, killing enemies, and completing quests, you’ll fill up your Vault Card progression in addition to your regular XP!
This includes 4 new pieces of rerollable gear and 24 new cosmetics to earn!
Re-Rollable Vault Card gear includes:
Daedalus Assault Rifle: Mercredi
Torgue Shotgun: ARC-TAN
Torgue Grenade: Countermeasure
Ripper Sniper Rifle: Tank Buster
NEW Legendary Gear has been added:
Maliwan SMG: Broken Wings
Vladof Assault Rifle: Bubbles
Tediore Shield: Hopscotch
Jakobs Shotgun: Doeshot
Order Pistol: Roulette
Tediore Assault Rifle: Laser Disker (returning from Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!)
Vladof SMG: Mercurious
Torgue Assault Rifle: Fleabag
Ripper Shotgun: Hair Trigger
Jakobs Pistol: Shalashaska
Shalashaska is available for everyone through the new Ordonite Processor Activity.
It's been a long time since we last heard from Bend Studio, the team behind Days Gone and the classic Syphon Filter.
Pearlescent Gear
New Rarity: Pearlescent!
Pearlescents are new unique weapons that are incredibly rare.
Pearlescent gear introduces a new weapon behavior: Ordonite Infusion, which overrides elements for optimal damage to an enemy’s Health type. All Pearlescent gear will have an Ordonite Infusion elemental type in addition to any baseline elemental types, which will be used automatically if it’s most effective against your current target.
Dev Note: It’s been a long time coming, and we’re looking forward to seeing how players use this special gear. We also wanted to let you know some different cases that might not be obvious with how Ordonite Infusion works:
With Maliwan multi-element gear, Ordonite Infusion applies based off of the active element.
Ordonite Infusion applies to initial Underbarrel damage, but does not persist for beams or subsequent projectiles.
Ordonite Infusion will not change Vex the Siren’s Phase Covenant Trait, which gives her abilities elemental attunement to her weapon, or trigger any related passives to the Ordonite Infusion’s element.
Acquire Pearlescent gear through the Ordonite Processor Activity
New Activity: Ordonite Processor!
Once activated with Eridium, the Ordonite Processor World Activity will spawn multiple waves of enemies, some of which will drop Ordonite. Recycling this Ordonite in the processor will attract Ordonite-corrupted enemies that have a chance to drop the new Pearlescent gear!
You can find an Ordonite Processor in a set location within the Fadefields, Carcadia Burn, and Terminus Range.
This activity can be repeated as many times as you’d like!
New Pearlescent Gear:
Tediore Shotgun: Eigenburst
Maliwan Sniper Rifle: Conflux
Torgue Pistol: Hand Cannon (requires ownership of Bounty Pack 2*)
Skill points will now stay right where you put them when you level up during a co-op session
We know it kills the flow of a fight to have to redo your skill tree when you’re not expecting it. We’ve updated how skill points are remembered to keep up the momentum.
Badass Phalanx targets are now properly showing up for their Contracts near the Drill Site in the Fadefields
Phalanx enemies have been spotted and are now appearing for Bounty Contracts at Smackwater in Carcadia Burn
During “Casting Call” in Carcadia Burn, NPCs will no longer be unreachable when Harlowe the Gravitar uses the Zero-Point Action Skill and throws them. We need them for the next objective!
The map tracker for your activities and collectibles now shows the right thing during The War on Mercenary Day
Nighttime in the Terminus Range is now a bit more peaceful with lower ambient volume
Eidos-Montréal is a studio that has participated in the development of major games like the Tomb Raider saga, but lately has been relegated to a support studio for other projects.
Vault Cards & Rewards:
Friends joining a match can now properly buy and use their Vault Card gear
[EGS Only] DLC outfits and skins will now stay available even after restarting the game on the Epic Game Store
Vault Card challenges that ask you to “Kill enemies” will now count your progress correctly while playing in a group
Defeating Order enemies now properly counts toward your “Kill Order” Vault Card progress when playing in a group
Adjusted some text and icons for better readability on Vault Cards
Gear & Combat
Asher’s Rise Maliwan Sniper Rifle: We adjusted the critical hit and status effect chances to better match expected combat balance
The Slow Burn Augment wasn’t applying proper effects on enemies in the first place, and it was causing more problems with interactions on enemies in Bounty Pack 2.
You can now swap into your DLC gear even while you are sitting in a vehicle
Harlowe the Gravitar’s energy effects now look smooth and steady for everyone in the session when using the CHROMA Accelerator and Q-Ball Capstone together
Updated the Commander Class Mod to award the correct amount of points in Vex’s Infusion passive skill
Updated the Viking Class Mod to award the correct amount of points in Amon’s Reactive Armor passive skill
Splitscreen
The “Activated” banner and purchase prompts on the Vault Card menu now show up in the correct spot during splitscreen play
The main player can now successfully stop a travel countdown while playing in splitscreen
Field of View settings now update for both players when playing together on one screen
User Interface and Experience
Added a “Clear Notification Pips” button in the Settings menu under “General” in Basic Gameplay to let players clear notification icons (pips), so you won’t have to search through the menus to find them
The Ultimate Vault Hunter Level selection menu no longer overlaps with other text in the settings menu
You can now use your mouse cursor to grab the scroll bar in the Customization Menu
Photo Mode settings now correctly reset when the mode ends automatically
Improvements to stability and optimization
Dev Note: We are continuing to investigate and will make further improvements to stability and performance.
With a patch this big and with a new content drop, don’t be surprised if Gearbox releases a new update to resolve any issues that surface from this patch.
While Sony has announced that Bungie's extraction shooter, Marathon, will be released in March, not a lot of info about the game has come to light -- especially when it comes to the game's ranked mode.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
Warner Bros Targets 2027–2028 for Hogwarts Legacy 2
In 2026, the company will release titles such as LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight and Game of Thrones: Dragonfire, a mobile strategy game. However, its most important projects are scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Executives David Zaslav and JB Perrette explained the future roadmap of the gaming division in an interview with Variety, shedding more light on the situation. When will Hogwarts Legacy 2 arrive?
According to Warner’s executives, the sequel to Hogwarts Legacy will take advantage of the upcoming Harry Potter series on HBO Max to shine even more in 2027 — at the earliest.
Eidos-Montréal is a studio that has participated in the development of major games like the Tomb Raider saga, but lately has been relegated to a support studio for other projects.
“The real fruits will start coming in in ’27-’28 when we return to some of our biggest franchises,” JB Perrette said. He didn’t specify any titles but it’s likely he was referencing the push for the studio to release a Hogwarts Legacy.
2025 was a reset year for Warner Bros Games, while 2026 will serve as a transition period to strengthen major projects. This means there will not be many big launches or major announcements this year, but things should become more exciting starting in 2027.
They also admitted that the company previously had too many development studios and was distracted by handling too many intellectual properties.
Alongside Hogwarts Legacy 2, new installments of Injustice, Mortal Kombat, or even another Batman: Arkham game cannot be ruled out.
Warner Bros Games is one of several major publishers currently facing difficulties, similar to companies like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. However, the company hopes to recover starting next year by focusing on its strongest franchises.
Today, fewer games remain fully exclusive to a single platform.
PC players will see the game updated to Alan Wake Remastered version 1.33 once applied, and the complete patch notes are available below.
Alan Wake Remastered on PC Receives Visual Boost on February 26
GAMEPLAY
Added a command to skip the intro. (Shoutout to every speedrunner, and anyone on their 67th run of the game just looking to get into the gameplay quicker.)
The sprint camera no longer activates when pressing the shift button when Alan is next to a wall or exhausted. This could sometimes cause Alan to not be able to move.
The camera behaves the way it should when Alan is on top of a moving object.
When loading from a checkpoint, the camera left/right side now resets properly.
Vegetation moves the way vegetation is expected to when it’s windy or when Alan walks into some trees or bushes. Even above 30 FPS.
Swapping between weapons takes a regular amount of time now, and not any longer than necessary.
VISUALS
Added HDR.
Added a new, optional camera style mode. You can use this if you want the game to look a bit more modern. If you prefer to keep a look as close to the original as possible, don’t touch this.
Unlocked the framerate from 200 FPS to 240 FPS.
Improved DLSS and fixed grass transparency. Grass is now more pleasing to look at.
Updated SDR to 10bit – it used to be 8bit. This reduces visible colour banding.
Improved FOV scaling. (The math was off. Whoops.)
Improved the way lens flare works. It now fades in/out much more smoothly.
Improved the DX12 rendering path – this lowers the risk of crashes and glitches.
Fixed polygonal rendering errors and visible depth buffer issues. This has greatly reduced the amount of visual glitches.
The videos you could play on in-game TVs used to be affected by display brightness settings. Not anymore – fixed it!
Fixed the enemies’ dark shield burning effect flare. It looks the way it’s supposed to now.
In Ultrawide, fixed the enemies’ visual distortion effect looking weaker so that it displays properly.
In Ultrawide, fixed cutscenes having both pillarbox and letterbox. You can now enjoy cutscenes in native 21:9!
In Ultrawide and 4:3, fixed FOV and lens flares not scaling properly.
Fixed DPI awareness where you had to set your display to 100% scaling to not crop the image. You don’t need to do that anymore.
UI
Added a setting to scale the gameplay UI. It was quite tiny by default – you can now make it bigger.
Fixed multiple issues related to mouse input
Fixed it so that custom settings no longer leave multiple settings undefined. You are once again able to customise your settings, and the game will actually remember what you told it.
No word yet on whether the console versions will receive the same treatment, but if they do, we’ll let our readers know.
It's been close to five years since our last mainline entry of the Resident Evil franchise was released with Village back in 2021.
While the patch does fix a few nagging bugs, there is a major issue that unfortunately hasn’t been resolved with today’s update.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Updated to Ver. 1019.076 on February 26
Update: Ubisoft has released an official changelog regarding today’s patch and states, “We have deployed hotfix 1.1.9 for #AssassinsCreedShadows to address Naoe’s Kunai dealing minimum damage when upgraded for players who have the Claws of Awaji DLC installed. We have also addressed crashing issues when checking downloaded content.”
For now, Ubisoft has not acknowledged today’s title update, but we do know some of the fixes implemented thanks to the community.
Sadly, one thing we can confirm that isn’t particularly good news is that the Attack on Titan collaboration items are still missing. Yep, that means Ubisoft has now let this problem persist for months now.
One fix from this title ipdate is the issue with the Kunai not removing the intended health segments (via That-Cpp-Girl).
For now, that’s the only fix we know of, but if Ubisoft releases the changelog, or if we spot more confirmed fixes, we’ll update the article with the info.
If you haven’t logged into the game recently, the latest major update released last week introduced the following new features:
Saber Interactive has pushed out the latest Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 content drop, and it’s for version 12.0, which the developers call as the Techmarine Update.
Those on consoles, you’ll see this download appear as Space Marine 2 update 1.012 (complete version 1.012.000), and this is a hefty file across all platforms.
It didn’t take long for the internet to start asking questions.
For the complete details on what got added today, read on.
Space Marine 2 Techmarine Update Ver. 12.0/1.012 New Content
NEW FEATURES
New Class: Techmarine
We are introducing a new playable class: the Techmarine! This mighty technician specialises in crowd control and area defense, handling multiple combat tasks simultaneously. This is primarily possible with his Servo-Gun ability. When activated, it locks onto enemies in a line of sight and automatically fires at them while the Techmarine continues fighting in melee or range. Furthermore, the Servo-Gun allows executing Gun Strikes without interrupting other actions.
Changes from PTS:
Fixed “Furious Gun Strike” prestige perk not activating properly.
“Revive Surge” prestige perk has been replaced with “Indomitable”: “You become Invulnerable to Damage while activating Tarantula Sentry Gun”
“Chained Headshots” prestige perk now correctly increases headshot damage.
“Volatile Sentry” prestige perk damage boost increased from 40% to 1000%.
“Replenishing Salvo” perk cooldown reduced from 90 to 75.
Fixed “Lethal Perimeter” perk, it now correctly reduces the energy per shot for all types of Servo-Guns.
“Arc Cleave” perk damage bonus decreased from 25% to 20%.
“Explosive Enfilade” perk now works with Sanctified Wrath equipment.
“Augmented Tarantula” perk’s damage boost increased from 25% to 30%.
“Augmented Tarantula” perk now correctly increases the turret’s ammo.
“Methodical Destruction” perk now correctly debuffs enemies.
“Designated target” perk now correctly debuffs enemies.
“Omnissian Axe Deflection” perk duration increased from 5 to 10 seconds.
“Explosives Adept” perk damage increased from 20% to 35%.
“Lethal Perimeter” perk using 50% less energy per shot instead of 20%.
Servo-gun damage now correctly scales with difficulty.
Precision Servo-gun damage reduced by 10%.
Bolter Servo-gun cooldown reduced by 20%.
New Weapon: Omnissian Axe
With the Techmarine class, you will also get the chance to try out its signature weapon, the Omnissian Axe! This weapon is capable of dealing massive damage to both a single target with its standard attacks and to surrounding enemies with its finishing heavy attacks. And as a starting heavy attack, you can perform a powerful charge attack that can hit all enemies in its path.
Changes from PTS:
Improved responsiveness of Omnissian Rush attacks.
Sweeping Whirl damage increased by 100%.
The third light attack in the combo now correctly breaks the enemy’s guard.
“Armour Siphon” perk now activates properly.
Fixed the amount of HP which taken when using the “Iron Surge” perk.
“Executioner” perk duration increased to 5 seconds.
Added an energy explosion effect for “Explosive Strike” perk.
“Mighty Blast” perk second explosion deals correct damage.
“Expose” perk is now correctly applied.
“Cleaving Strike” perk no longer triggers environmental hazards explosions.
Sony has launched the latest PlayStation Store sale, and this one is called the "Dealmania" promotion.
New PvE Content: Tarantula Sentry Gun
Techmarines can also locate and activate Sentry Turrets in PvE missions. These Tarantula-type emplacements offer automatic suppressive fire support against nearby enemies. Sentry Turrets have limited ammo and would go into standby mode after running out of it, but a Tech Marine can re-awaken them to restore their supplies.
Changes from PTS:
Fixed double HP and damage scaling by difficulties.
Increased spawn rate of turrets by ~50%.
Added more potential spawn areas for turrets.
Increased range of turret outline for better visibility.
New PvE Map: Disruption
Space Marine forces have been deployed to the Hive City of Avarax. Their initial mission is to reinforce the overwhelmed Cadian defenses against a massive Tyranid swarm. Subsequently, they will join a Dreadnought to eliminate Thousand Sons forces that have penetrated the city’s lower levels.
New PvE Equipment: Restorative Stimms
The Restorative Stimms, a new PvE healing Equipment, has been added, encouraging aggressive playstyles. Upon use, it restores an initial small amount of health, then a large amount of Contested Health over a period of time.
New Customisation Feature: Shared Heads for PvE / PvP Characters
Added an option to pick any face for PvE and PvP characters in Armour Customisation. Class restrictions no longer apply (i.e you can equip Assault’s head on the Heavy)
New Tech Feature: Siege Host Migration
Supported Host Migration for Siege Mode: If a server crash occurs, the game will continue on a new server from the last saved state.
New Feature: VO Selector
Added an option to pick and customise voices for PvE and PvP characters. You’ll find the Voice Selector in the “Edit Armour” menu of the Armouring Hall.
New Battlefield Conditions
21 new Battlefield Conditions have been added to expand the variety of daily and weekly Stratagems.
Custom Stratagems Mode for PvE
Players can now create private matches with any combination of Battlefield Conditions. This allows players to customize their games, set their own Stratagems or simply enjoy some light-hearted carnage (note that all rewards will be disabled in Custom Stratagems mode).
Carcharodons Chapter Pack (Unlike the other Cosmetic Packs, the Carcharodons Cosmetic Pack does not add a new Heraldry page to unlock the cosmetic items. Instead, the armour pieces will be automatically unlocked and added to your armour sets once you purchase the pack.)
Not included in any Season Pass:
3 Custom Heads + VO for PvE Characters. (Space Wolves / Blood Angels / Black Templars)
Space Marine 2 Techmarine Update Balance Changes and Gameplay Adjustments
GAMEPLAY AND BALANCING TWEAKS
PvE Perks
Tactical
Balanced Distribution: Both negative and positive effects are increased from 10% to 15%.
Kraken Penetrator Rounds: All bolter weapons now deal 50% more damage with body shots.
Changes from PTS:
Kraken Penetrator Rounds now correctly apply to bolter rounds only.
Sniper
Efficient Readiness: Now the effect lasts 5 seconds after deactivation.
Ambush: Now forces stagger to the enemies.
Vantage Point: Added an indication when ready.
Assault
Squad Cohesion: Effect is increased from 10% to 15%.
Hammer of Wrath: Is now a Prestige Perk replacing “Commendation”.
Commendation: Removed.
Strong Strike: New perk, taking the original place of “Hammer of Wrath”: “Hitting an enemy with an attack after a Jump Pack Dash restores Jump Pack Ability Charge by 1. Cooldown 10 seconds.”
Winged Fury: Now works with all stances of Power Sword.
It's been close to five years since our last mainline entry of the Resident Evil franchise was released with Village back in 2021.
PvP
Fixed restoring armour by hitting an enemy for Power Axe.
Fixed issue with 3rd attack in Power Sword combo dealing too much damage.
Blindness effect from Shock Grenade is decreased from 2 sec to 1,5 sec.
Rewards
Siege Mode: Rebalanced rewards for waves completion first 5 waves grant less XP, while later waves grant more XP.
Stratagems: Hard difficulty Stratagems no longer grant XP.
Gameplay QoL
Contested health no longer fades away during grab animations
Rebalanced melee attacks that have multiple attacks: Now they restore contested health with each strike instead of just the first one.
Slightly adjusted hitboxes of a few melee attacks so they would connect more easily against large enemies.
Fixed an issue where Bolt Sniper Rifle and Las Fusil would miss their targets at extremely long range. Aim Assist at such distances has also been slightly increased.
Improved properties of bullet magnetism for Chaos enemy NPC: Chaos Spawns , Rubric Marines, Tzaangors, Terminators. Making them slightly easier to headshot at medium and long ranges.
Changes from PTS:
Jump Pack dash can be used to cancel any player melee animation.
Improved controls responsiveness after using Jump Pack Dash attacks.
Space Marine 2 Techmarine Update for General Gameplay
Customization
Added and updated a few Champion parts to the Custom Armour Set pieces:
Added Ultramarine Champion Tabard to Tactical
Added Imperial Fist Champion Tabard to Tactical
Added robes to Dark Angels Champion Bulwark’s chest
Added Dark Angels Champion shoulder pads to Heavy
Updated White Scars Champion chest on Tactical to include belt accessories
Added Black Templars Champion shoulder pads to Heavy
Added Blood Angels Champion shoulder pads and backpack to Bulwark
Added the option to switch and apply Heroic Weapons skins to other weapons (not applicable to special weapons i.e combi-weapon).
Lots of minor customisation fixes for both Loyalists and Chaos.
Changes from PTS:
Added 4 more shared customisation slots.
Added missing unlock conditions for Power Axe skins in PvP.
One of the inevitable things in life include: death, taxes, and cheaters in multiplayer games.
LEVELS
Lots of minor fixes with level geometry.
ENEMIES
Lots of minor fixes with animations.
General Fixes
Fixed: The plasma weapon perk “Fast venting” reduced the cooling by ~7.5% instead of 15% as announced in the tooltip.
Fixed a bug with the Heroic Heavy Bolt Pistol not interrupting enemy reinforcements with body shots.
Fixed a bug with the Controller Aim Assist strength depending on camera FOV.
Lots of minor bug fixes.
Lots of minor localisation bug fixes.
Lots of minor UI and sound fixes.
TECH
Crash fixes and general stability improvements.
Memory optimisations.
Minor performance improvements.
Minor loading times optimization.
General connectivity improvements.
With a patch with these many gameplay-related changes and new content, don’t be surprised if a hotfix is released by Saber to squash any new bugs that manage to crawl out.
Since the launch of PS5 Pro in November 2024, Sony has been working to improve visual quality and resolution in games optimized for its most powerful console.
While Embark Studios just released the Shrouded Sky content update for ARC Raiders yesterday, that came with a handful of bugs that significantly impacted the gameplay experience.
Today, the developers released ARC Raiders update 1.000.025 on February 26 for all platforms, and this is a hotfix that addresses client crashes and more.
Sony has launched the latest PlayStation Store sale, and this one is called the "Dealmania" promotion.
For the complete patch notes, read on, raiders.
ARC Raiders Crouch Bug Addressed in Hotfix Ver. 1.000.025
Per the official ARC Raiders Discord, Embark has outlined today’s fixes as:
Fixed different instances of client and server crashes.
Fixed several server performance issues.
Fixed certain instances where crouch was skipping the recovery time after a dodge roll which will also affect Il Toro.
Fixed some Patchwork customization items displaying before they should, it may take some time for it to take effect (note that the image of the Patchwork outfit for the second Expedition also incorrectly displayed a bandolier, which will be brought back for the third Expedition).
That’s about it. There are no gameplay-related changes to PvP or any of the sort that some might be hoping for.
Heads up, dungeon hunters! Blizzard Entertainment has released the latest Diablo 2 Resurrected update and this is exclusive to PlayStation platforms.
For now, the patch is only out on PS4 as Diablo 2 Resurrected update 1.36, but it should be released soon-ish on PS5 as update 1.036. This is a minor patch that addresses a specific issue that stemmed from patch 3.1.1 released last week.
Sony has launched the latest PlayStation Store sale, and this one is called the "Dealmania" promotion.
Read on to know what Blizzard had to say about today’s D2R update.
Diablo 2 Resurrected UI Issue Fixed via Update 1.36
The message from Blizzard reads, “There is a UI issue introduced with Patch 3.1.1 which affects players on PlayStation. With the Season 13 Ladder beginning shortly, we want to avoid introducing any potential further issues by implementing a fix and keep the patch as is.”
Today, Blizzard’s Community Manager noted, “This issue has since been fixed for the PS4, we are looking to update for PS5 in the near future and will post here when the fix has been released.”
Aside from the UI issue, there is a bug affecting consoles of the game freezing/stuttering when Deckard Cain identifies items.
Platform:
PS5 (Native Version)
PS4 Version running on PS5 (Backward Compatibility)
Mode:
Offline (Single Player)
Game Version:
3.0 (Reign of the Warlock update)
Issue Summary:
Since the 3.0 update, the game consistently freezes for approximately 0.2–0.3 seconds when Deckard Cain identifies multiple items. This did not occur prior to the expansion update.
The freeze also occurs periodically during gameplay (e.g., entering portals, teleporting shortly after area transitions), but is most consistently reproducible during Cain identification.
Reproduction Steps:
Load any offline character (migrated or non-migrated).
Kill enemies and pick up multiple unidentified items.
Open a town portal.
Speak to Deckard Cain and identify all items.
Observe a consistent 0.2–0.3 second freeze during identification.
Additional Notes:
Occurs on both migrated (ROTW) and non-migrated characters.
Occurs on both PS5 native and PS4 backwards compatibility builds.
Performance mode (only an option on PS5 build) slightly improves overall smoothness but does not remove the freeze.
Issue did not exist prior to 3.0 update.
Makes Hardcore mode unsafe due to periodic stalls during gameplay.
This is something multiple players have experienced as well, and chances are, we’ll be getting a patch for this soon. Once Blizzard releases the patch, we’ll let our readers know.
It didn’t take long for the internet to start asking questions. After her Xbox gamertag became public, many players began to look at Asha Sharma’s gaming history and wonder how much experience she really had as a gamer.
Some even said her profile did not match what they expected from the CEO of Xbox, especially following the recent leadership change that saw Phil Spencer step down and Sharma take over.
Heads up, Xbox gamers! Microsoft has rolled out a new Xbox system update on February 18, and this applies more than your standard stability upgrade.
Asha Sharma Responds to Criticism Over Xbox Account and AI Use
In response to the discussion, Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft’s gaming division, addressed the criticism directly.
She explained that the account shown publicly a few days ago is shared with members of her family, and that not all the games listed in its history were played by her. In a post on X, Sharma said she was not faking her gaming experience.
Sharma’s first Xbox achievement, “Your Journey Begins” in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, was unlocked on January 15 of this year. Since then, the account has recorded activity in 30 titles, with nearly all achievements completed in Ball x Pit.
Sharma stated that her goal is not to be the “best gamer,” but to better understand the gaming world in order to lead Xbox effectively. “My focus is to make Xbox the best place to play, return to our roots, ship great things, and become stronger for the future,” she said.
In addition, many have accused the new CEO of lacking experience in the video game industry. Sharma joined Microsoft in 2024, where she initially led the company’s CoreAI division before being promoted to CEO of Xbox. Previously, she worked at Home Depot, Meta, and Instacart.
In her message, Sharma also said that she personally replies to users on social media and does not use AI to write her responses. Regarding concerns about her gaming experience, she explained that she is more focused on improving the Xbox ecosystem than on playing plenty of video games.
While Xbox might be pushing for more of its first-party games to appear on competing platforms, that doesn't mean the division will stop pushing for consoles altogether.
Sony has launched the latest PlayStation Store sale, and this one is called the “Dealmania” promotion.
This new sale includes a mix of AAA titles and indie games, and there are over 4,500 items in total. For the complete list, read on as well as our noteworthy titles recommendations.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
PlayStation Store “Dealmania” Sale Kicks Off on February 25 and Ends on March 11
Note: Due to the length of the list, we have enabled a collapsible table for the games. To see the games in each list, click on the black arrow and/or the letters (A – E, F – J, K – O, P – T, U – Z).
One of the inevitable things in life include: death, taxes, and cheaters in multiplayer games.
Noteworthy Games From PSN’s Dealmania Sale
A Plague Tale Bundle -65% $27.99 – Two games for a solid price. These are narrative-driven titles that won a few awards. Don’t get if you’re squeamish with rats.
Absolum -20% $19.99 – Stylish beat-’em-up with roguelike elements. Made by Guard Crush (Streets of Rage 4)
Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) -30% $13.99 – Old school sports games. Includes Hardball!, Hardball II, Hoops Shut Up and Jam!, Winter Challenge, and Summer Challenge.
Age of Wonders 4 -50% $24.99 – Turn-based strategy by Triumph that’s still getting a lot of support to this day
AEW: Fight Forever -60% $15.99 – First wrestling game based on the AEW brand by Yuke’s
Alien: Rogue Incursion VR Deluxe -75% $12.49 – Highly recommended if you’re an Alien franchise fan or just a fan of horror VR games in general.
Alone in the Dark – Digital Deluxe Edition -50% $24.99 – The latest reboot of the granddaddy of survival horror. Stars David Harbour. Reviewed OK, but failed to meet sales expectations. Combat and movement kind of janky, but serviceable enough for horror junkies.
Amnesia: The Bunker -60% $9.99 – Latest Amnesia game, and got good reviews. This one lets you fight off more than previous Amnesia games.
Assassin’s Creed Mythology pack -80% $31.99 – Bundle that includes Origins, Oddysey and Valhalla. The modern AC trilogy that focuses on mythological, RPG-style gameplay.
Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla + Watch Dogs®: Legion Bundle -80% $21.99 – Includes the best-selling game in the AC franchise, and the last game in the Watch Dogs series, where you can recruit and play as literally anyone in a near-future London.
Atomic Heart – Gold Edition (PS4 & PS5) -70% $29.99 – Includes the DLCs. It’s like BioShock but with less polish and less interesting story. One more DLC on the way, and there is a sequel in development.
Atomfall Deluxe Edition PS4™ & PS5™ -60% $31.99 – Surprise action game by Rebellion that sold a ton. This isn’t AAA, so temper expectations.
Baby Steps -35% $12.99 – Quirky physics simulator game that has you a learning how to walk but you’re not a baby. Reviewed fairly well, but failed to generate buzz.
Back 4 Blood: Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 -90% $8.99 – Co-op zombie game. Support has ended but servers are still up. Sequel said to be in development. It’s fun and at that price, get your friends to pick it up for co-op
Batman: Arkham Collection -75% $14.99 – Trilogy of the best superhero series of all-time. Well worth the money, unless you care more for frame rates than gameplay.
Batman™: Arkham VR -75% $4.99 – If you want to be Batman! Made by Rocksteady. VR required and don’t expect a full-fledged experience. Added here since it’s a good price, and it’s worth the entry fee for the novelty.
Battlefield™ 6 Phantom Edition -25% $74.99 – The latest Battlefield game. Solid multiplayer and getting a ton of support. If you want to an awesome FPS shooter, pick this up.
Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle -75% $9.99 – PlatinumGames’ excellent action games. If you dig Japanese-style action games, give this a go.
Biomutant PS4 & PS5 -75% $9.99 – Action RPG by Experiment 101 that was a surprise hit. You play as a squirrel or something which features your usual third-person stuff.
Blasphemous 2 -67% $9.89 – Side-scrolling Metroidvania game that’s still getting a good amount of support.
BLEACH Rebirth of Souls Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 -40% $50.99 – Latest Bleach fighting game. If you’re a fan of the IP, this should be an easy pick up
Bloodborne™ -50% $9.99 – Possibly FromSoftware’s best work? We are never getting a remaster/remake until for the PS6 at the very least, so get this now.
Borderlands Legendary Collection -80% $9.99 – Includes Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Borderlands 3 Next Level Bundle PS4™ & PS5™ -90% $6.99 – Got a few updates when the movie came out. Solid looter shooter that you can play with friends that do not need to rely on seasonal content.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake -60% $7.99 – Jose Fares’ first game, and this one remade. Reviewed well, but I am not sure on technical performance
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 4 -67% $19.79 – Not as bad as some people remember. Not sure on the player base given its age.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Standard Edition -67% $19.79 – Not sure how the player base is, should be enough to find a match fast, but Black Ops 7 is the newer COD game.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition -25% $74.99 – It’s the annual CoD. The campaign is short, the zombies mode is complicated, and the multiplayer is sweaty. You already know if you want this.
Call of Duty®: Ghosts Gold Edition -67% $19.79 – Possibly has the worst maps in COD multiplayer history
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2 Campaign Remastered -50% $9.99 – Does not include multiplayer. It’s a remaster of the game most known for the No Russian level.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® -67% $19.79 – Not sure on the online multiplayer, but the campaign is solid since it’s a retelling of the original.
Call of Duty®: Vanguard – Standard Edition -60% $23.99 – Sledgehammer’s WW2 era shooter, Don’t think there’s a lot of players in this in MP.
Cat Quest III -50% $9.99 – Cat-centric RPG, and this is the third entry!
Company of Heroes 3: Premium Edition -60% $31.99 – RTS by Relic. Set in the Italian and North America theaters of WW2. Got mixed reviews, but if you like war-themed RTS’, this should do.
Crysis 3 Remastered -75% $7.49 – We are getting a fourth game (or maybe not), so if you jumped at the two games, get this one for maximum Crysis.
Cult of the Lamb -60% $9.99 – Who knew building a cult could be this much fun? Part sim game, part action. Loads of charm and deeper gameplay than its graphics suggest.
Daymare: 1998 -75% $8.74 – Budget Resident Evil. Third-person survival horror game by Invader. Not sure how well this plays, but given the studio is still around and its user reviews aren’t bad, might be worth a shot.
Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition -64% $25.19 – One of the only few games Embracer released that seems actually to have made a profit. All DLCs are out, and the game is complete.
Dead Space Digital Deluxe Edition -80% $15.99 – One of the best remakes ever. It’s a travesty that we still haven’t gotten confirmation of a remake of Dead Space 2. This improves the original in every way, and I can’t stress enough how awesome this game is. The vibe and atmosphere Motive has made when you walk corridors and see shadows? Yeah, awesome creepy stuff.
DEATHLOOP Deluxe Edition -80% $15.99 – One of Arkane’s finest works and implements time travel without being annoying.
DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH Digital Deluxe Edition -20% $63.99 – This is Kojima’s highly-rated sequel to the first Death Stranding game, and features that off-beat Kojima themes and cinematic action.
Deep Rock Galactic – Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 -70% $11.69 – Cooperative first-person shooter. It’s like Helldivers 2, and it’s still getting supported.
Destroy All Humans! – Jumbo Pack -75% $19.99 – This bundle includes the remakes of both the first and second games, plus every single DLC skin and pack released.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided -85% $4.49 – The latest Deux Ex game. Reviewed well, but didn’t sell well. Very competent third-person action game, but it’s still YMMV.
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition -75% $9.99 – The latest DMC game, and this reviewed well. You get to play as Nero, Dante and V.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed -20% $31.99 – Re-release of Warren Spector’s Mickey Mouse game. Original was reviewed well, but haven’t played this one. Looks good though.
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition -75% $9.99 – Reboot to the original DMC and stars a new younger Dante
DOOM + DOOM II -60% $3.99 – First two DOOM games with enhanced graphics, improved gameplay and other new features. Still getting patched every now and then.
DOOM -80% $3.99 – The reignition of the DOOM franchise. Reviewed very, very well and have spawned sequels leading up to The Dark Ages which was released last year. Perfect price point to try the franchise
DOOM Eternal Standard Edition -80% $7.99 – The sequel to the 2016 DOOM reboot. Reviewed well.
Dragon Age™: Inquisition Deluxe Edition -60% $7.99 – The last Dragon Age game before Veilguard sunk the franchise.
Dragon Age™: The Veilguard Deluxe Edition -60% $35.99 – Latest Dragon Age game. The reviews were solid, though might alienate non-franchise fans.
DRAGON BALL FighterZ PS4 & PS5 -84% $9.59 – Super low price for Arc System Works’ DBZ game. If you ever wanted to play Dragon Ball’s anime as a fighter, this is it. Insane combos.
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 -70% $5.99 – Lots of people dig this, and I think it’s still getting supported even after all this time.
DRAGON BALL Z : KAKAROT – MASTER EDITION -35% $64.99 – Dragon Ball but as an RPG! Still getting occasional support and expansions. If you’re tired of the fighting games based on the franchise, this might be a good title to consider.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Deluxe Edition -50% $39.99 – Capcom’s latest entry in the franchise, and reviewed very well. Might not be for everyone, so I suggest YouTubing it first.
Dying Light: The Beast Deluxe Edition -25% $52.49 – Standalone entry starring Kyle Crane. Reviewed very well, and getting post-release support alongside DL2.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Digital Extras Edition PS5 -70% $20.99 – Zombie game from Techland and getting a ton of support. You can be sure this won’t get abandoned anytime soon, as Techland is known for supporting their games for years
Dying Light Collection -70% $25.64 – Houses Dying Light and Dying Light 2 and the DLCs. Dozens of hours of zombie-slaying at a discounted price.
EA SPORTS™ College Football 26 Deluxe Edition -75% $24.99 – Latest NCAA football sim that reviewed well. It’s not like you have a choice either.
EA SPORTS™ MVP Bundle (Madden NFL 26 Deluxe Edition & College Football 26 Deluxe Edition) -70% $44.99 – Super good deal for football fans, and again, you don’t really have a choice, so why not get it discounted?
Fallout 4 -60% $7.99 – The last mainline Fallout game by Bethesda. Gameplay should still hold up and this offers dozens of hours of single-player RPG goodness.
Fallout 76 -75% $9.99 – Still getting a ton of support from Bethesda, and about to get a huge content drop soon.
FAR CRY ANTHOLOGY BUNDLE -67% $49.49 – Houses Far Cry 3, FC4, FC5, FC6.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster -60% $9.99 – Have not played the remaster, but did finish and like the original when it was released. More lighthearted protagonist and the combat system wasn’t bad either.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach -50% $19.99 – Ninth installment of the franchise. Released in 2021, support has essentially ended. It’s FNAF. You know what to expect.
Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT -58% $29.39 – Sucker Punch’s finest work to date. Amazing story, engrossing world, and stays faithful to the culture too. Loved my time with this since the combat was cinematic and fun, and added to the whole samurai film vibe.
Ghostrunner 2 Deluxe Edition -80% $9.99 – Sequel to the first-person slasher set in a cyberpunk wasteland. This edition includes several cosmetic skin packs for your sword and hands.
Grand Theft Auto V (PS4™ & PS5™) -67%$19.79 – Another iconic entry in the GTA series. If you’re one of the two people that still do not own this, then this is your chance.
Grounded PS4® & PS5® -50% $19.99 – One of Obsidian’s smaller projects, Grounded is a survival-action where you’ve been shrunk in size and must battle various bugs and insects. This game surprisingly still gets regular updates from the devs.
Guacamelee! 2 Complete -75% $5.74 – Metroidvania platform where you play as a luchador. This received a ton of good reviews back then. If you want an alternative to Silksong’s maddening difficulty
HELLDIVERS™ 2 Super Citizen Edition -20% $47.99 – Still getting massive support, and there’s a lot of people playing online, so regardless if you have a squad or not, worth a pick up. Just be prepared to be overwhelmed and die a lot. Very satisfying to call in stratagems on huge enemies and see them get decimated.
Hell is Us – Deluxe Edition -40% $47.99 – Souls-like that’s different. No maps, no quest markers. YT it first to see if it’s something you won’t get annoyed by.
Hell Let Loose -66% $16.99 – Era shooter that’s getting a ton of support up to this day.
HITMAN World of Assassination -60% $27.99 – Includes the campaigns of Hitman 1, 2 and 3. Whole lot of bald person killing people.
Horizon Forbidden West™ -40% $29.99 – Sequel to Aloy’s first adventure, but some deem this a tad too long.
Hogwarts Legacy: Digital Deluxe Edition -85% $11.99 – This is a fun open world game based on the Harry Potter universe. I’ve said this before, but saying it again: your body count here would make Lucious Malfoy blush.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 -20% $47.99 – Construction and management sim based on the movie franchise. Gets steady support.
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix – Houses six KH games: KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX, • KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories, • KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics), • KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX, • KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep Final MIX, • KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics)
LEGO® Star Wars™:The Skywalker Saga Deluxe Edition PS4 & PS5 -80% $13.99 – Perfect game to play with kids. Star Wars meets LEGO = fun
Lies of P: Overture Bundle -35% $58.49 – Possibly one of the most beloved Souls-like games not made by FromSoftware. Have not played this but friends have nothing but good stuff to say about it. It includes the base game and the Overture DLC.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth -70% $20.99 – Includes Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
LIMBO -90% $1.24 – Puzzle platformer with horror elements. Easily worth the price.
Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition Complete Edition -50% $14.99 – Perfect game to play with friends/guests over. Underrated story, and you can take turns when someone’s life dies.
Mafia: The Old Country Deluxe Edition -20% $47.99 – Latest Mafia game. Smaller in scope, but the addition of the Free Ride mode lets you explore the countryside at your own pace.
Metaphor: ReFantazio -50% $34.99 – Stellar RPG and won a ton of awards in 2024.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ – Game of the Year Edition -75% $4.99 – Not sure how the gameplay holds up but this is the game that introduced the Nemesis system. Monolith is gone now, but the games were awesome.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ Definitive Edition -90% $5.99 – Sequel to Mordor. I preferred the first game but this is still a solid action game
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate PS4 & PS5 -90% $5.99 – If you were let down by MK1, give this one a go. Most consider this the better one, right?
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection PS4 & PS5 -25% $37.49 – Houses the klassic Mortal Kombat games, and the bugs are getting patched out.
Mortal Kombat™ 1: Definitive Edition -70% $20.99 – Lowest I’ve seen this on PSN, so if you’re on the fence, this is the right time. Including loads of characters with all major expansions.
NBA 2K26 SLAM Edition -70% $23.99 – Latest NBA basketball sim. Your only choice for a pro ball game on consoles and PC.
NHL® 26 Deluxe Edition PS5 -60% $39.99 – For hockey fans, this is your only choice.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Deluxe Edition -35% $58.49 – Latest Gaiden game. Reviewed well. Published by Microsoft, which makes it a bit weird. Solid action game for those tired of Souls games.
The Outlast Trials -70% $11.99 – Horror but with a multiplayer slant. Still gets a ton of support via seasonal content. Outlast’s gameplay is more of you hiding than fighting back.
Persona 4 Golden -50% $9.99 – Classic RPG. A steal at this price.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy -67% $9.89 – First three games of the series. Solve mysteries and engage in courtroom battles with a not-so-serious vibe.
Psychonauts 2 -80% $11.99 – Sequel to Double Fine’s platformer released back in 2005.
Red Dead Redemption (PS4 & PS5) & Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) Bundle -60% $39.99 – Bundle with the two games of the legendary cowboy western from Rockstar Games.
Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition -80% $19.99 – Arguably Rockstar’s best open-world game to date. Loads of Easter eggs, fantastic story, and just packed with stuff. Highly recommend this even if you don’t like westerns. This is the lowest it’ll ever get on PSN, so if you’re on the fence about that, here’s your answer.
The Last of Us Part II Digital Deluxe Edition -40% $29.99 – Winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards and one of the most emotional games ever made. It is undeniably divisive for fans, but also an ambitious piece of work.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series -75% $12.49 – The complete collection of the series that put Telltale on the map. It features incredibly emotional storytelling, and while the later seasons are good, Season 1 remains the absolute peak of the franchise. A must-play for any fan of narrative-driven games.
Undisputed – Championship Edition -50% $39.99 – One of the few boxing games on current-gen platforms.
UFC® 5 Deluxe Edition -85% $11.99 – The only new MMA game on consoles, and thankfully, this one gets loads of support with free fighter updates.
Unknown 9: Awakening PS4 & PS5 -50% $9.99 – Bandai Namco’s action game that failed to turn heads when it was released. Not sure how it plays, but worth noting it’s on sale.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – 1-Year Anniversary Edition -65% $34.99 – Probably Saber’s most ambitious work to date. Campaign, multi are loads of fun, and you can co-op this all the way through. How can smashing bugs with a pal NOT be fun, right?
Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™ -85% $5.99 – Sequel to the high-octane first-person shooter where you lead the resistance against a Nazi-occupied America. Amazing game, and a direct sequel to this one is rumored to be in development.
WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition -40% $59.99 – Fun wrestling game, though you’ll need to purchase the DLCs for the other wrestlers added, which is par for the course for the franchise. DLCs are also on sale now as separate packs or Season Pass.
This might not be the best sale of the year, and we’re hoping the next one has more base games significantly discounted.
This does not mean the game is coming to Nintendo’s console. Most likely, it is a non-commercial prototype. Grubb suggests that the purpose of this version may be more technical than commercial.
He believes Sony will not release Gran Turismo 7 on Switch 2. The game is one of PlayStation’s most important franchises, and it may also not fit well with Nintendo’s core audience. That raises the question: if Sony does not plan to launch it on Switch 2, why create a version that runs on the system?
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway.
The idea is that Polyphony Digital may be testing how the game performs on hardware similar to a portable console. If Gran Turismo 7 runs well on Switch 2, especially in handheld mode, Sony could use that data to help develop its next portable device.
In other words, this prototype may serve as a test for the future portable PlayStation console. It could help Sony improve performance and understand what is possible on handheld consoles.
It is also worth noting that Polyphony Digital has previously said that Gran Turismo games run internally on different platforms for testing. A Reddit user even mentioned that there is a PC version of Gran Turismo 6 with full VR support kept for internal use.
It is almost certain that this Switch 2 version of Gran Turismo 7 is only a prototype created to support future hardware development. However, there is still a small possibility that the racing game could be released on other platforms one day.
Since the launch of PS5 Pro in November 2024, Sony has been working to improve visual quality and resolution in games optimized for its most powerful console.
Work on the next installment of the Wolfenstein series appears to be well underway. This we know thanks to reports from outlets such as Windows Central and Kotaku, which revealed that a new entry in the MachineGames series is already in the works.
Earlier this month, Studio Director Jerk Gustafsson also added weight to these rumors. While he didn’t explicitly confirm it as their next release, he noted that the studio’s intention has always been to return to the iconic franchise.
Is Cory Barlog preparing the sequel to God of War: Ragnarok? For now, the only thing known is that Sony Santa Monica’s mysterious new project is expected to release in 2027.
Adding fuel to the fire, we have come across casting details that further corroborate that the studio is already hard at work on the title. Moreover, this casting call reveals the very first plot details surrounding an entirely new character.
First Details for Wolfenstein 3’s Story
According to a casting call we’ve recently uncovered, the project’s codename (or at least the casting codename) is ‘Valkyrie.’ Attached to it are two people who previously worked on several MachineGames titles, being Performance Director Tom Keegan and Casting Director Emily Schweber. Keegan is fresh off directing the performances in the studio’s last game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, while Schweber helped shape the cast of the previous Wolfenstein entries.
The casting calls for the role of a character named Sofiya, which might or might not be a reference to the character Zofia Blazkowicz, mother of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, the protagonist of the franchise.
This new character is described as a Ukrainian orphan between the ages of 8 and 11 who, alongside her adopted dog Ralph, is said to form a bond with William and accompany him on his travels. So, in case there was any doubt, it’s safe to assume the beloved Nazi-stomping protagonist is returning.
The description also gives us a glimpse into Sofiya’s background, noting that, ‘While initially suspicious and traumatized by war, she blooms under the care of the resistance (possibly referring to the Kreisau Circle) as a strong-willed survivor.’ It might be a bit of a long shot, but given the heavy emphasis placed on her role, we could be gearing up for a The Last of Us-esque dynamic where B.J. takes on a protector role. Especially since we know B.J. is becoming a father in this timeline, taking a young orphan under his wing feels like a natural progression for his character.
It's been a long time since we last heard from Bend Studio, the team behind Days Gone and the classic Syphon Filter.
Lastly, the casting call notes that performance capture is scheduled to kick off in April, with additional shooting dates planned for later in 2026 and extending into 2027.
With this timeline in mind, it appears that MachineGames is well into the full production phase. We can reasonably assume the studio shifted its primary focus to ‘Valkyrie’ following the release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at the end of 2024, giving them a solid year and change of full development time so far, excluding the pre-production phase. Because of this, it is safe to say we still have some time to wait before we finally see the title in action.
On a related note, Wolfenstein is also expected to get a TV series Adaptation for Prime Video. According to reports, Bethesda plans to coordinate the release around the same time as the third game, allowing for synergy similar to what Sony has been doing with its franchises.
BioShock 4 has become one of those games that feels like it might never see the light of day, only to suddenly show a faint pulse just when we’ve stopped looking.
Mojang has released the latest Minecraft update on all platforms, and this is a minor patch that handles bugs.
Called Bedrock edition 26.2, console gamers will see this as Minecraft update 3.32/1.042 (complete version 1.042.000), and this should be a small download across all platforms.
It’s been close to five years since our last mainline entry of the Resident Evil franchise was released with Village back in 2021. Not only did that game continue Resident Evil 7’s first-person point-of-view, but it also continued — and concluded — Ethan Winters’ story.
All of that changes with Resident Evil Requiem (or Resident Evil 9 if you want to stick to something more conventional). This time, we’re thrust into not only franchise newcomer Grace Ashcroft’s shoes, but also that of franchise pretty boy superhero, Leon S. Kennedy.
It's almost time, Resident Evil fans! The latest mainline entry for the franchise is almost upon us with Resident Evil Requiem.
With how successful RE Village and RE7 have been utilizing a first-person gameplay, some might be wondering whether this is the new series standard or whether we’re going back to the franchise’s traditional third-person perspective. The answer? Why not both?
Two-fer-One
In Resident Evil Requiem, there are a lot of dualities in place. Not only does the game feature two protagonists in Grace and Leon, but players can even choose from two perspectives. At the start, gamers will be asked whether they want to play the game in a dynamic perspective that automatically places Grace’s POV into first-person (for a scarier horror experience), and Leon’s into third-person (so it’s easier to mow down enemies and shoot).
You can choose which perspective you want for each character, but it feels like each character was tailor-made for their default one. You’ll; notice some technical hiccups here and there if you play as Grace in third-person and whatnot.
I personally chose the default camera for each, since this was what Capcom thought was the optimal experience, and I wanted to experience the game as the developers intended.
Aside from the camera, each character plays a lot differently, even if their default control mechanics are the same. Grace focuses more on stealth, avoiding confrontation if you can, and just trying to survive. Leon on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Requiem is very generous in giving Leon ammo, weapons and everything you need to kick ass.
It’s not just that too, the duality also bleeds into the story as well. Without going into spoilers and using Leon as an example, the character is still the badass we all know and love, but at the same time, there’s a vulnerable side to the character we’re seeing for the first time since he is sick, and is one of the game’s main storylines.
Both characters’ tales interweave, and it’s done well enough that it doesn’t feel jarring to jump from one point of view and gameplay style to another. I give massive props to Capcom for that, as each chapter jump to the character is done with a crescendo (of sorts) that will want you to know what happens next.
Choosing Sides
While each character has their own scenario that plays differently from one another, it’s evident that Leon’s parts are head and shoulders above Grace’s when it comes to pacing, action, and overall gaming experience.
For Grace’s chapters in the game, it’s clear Capcom wanted to bring back the same level of horror as in RE7 and RE Village. While there are nerve-wracking moments, it doesn’t have the same level of dread, and the “slow” parts become more of an annoyance than anything else.
Leon’s part of the game, though, is top-notch. It’s a clear evolution from Resident Evil 4, but some survival-horror fans might criticize how it emphasizes action a lot more this time around. I doubt you’ll feel any kind of dread or horror playing as Leon, since you’re armed to the teeth and Mr. Kennedy can kick a ton of ass.
Since the launch of PS5 Pro in November 2024, Sony has been working to improve visual quality and resolution in games optimized for its most powerful console.
If you’re OK with that, there’s a lot of fun to be had. Leon has a full armory at his disposal, and he also has a hatchet that he can use to slice enemies and pull off some gruesome finishing moves.
Even when it comes to the game’s narrative, Leon’s bit is a lot more interesting and well, a lot less annoying. We won’t go into spoilers, but there is something that happens mid-way with Grace that might make some players scratch their heads.
There are many unanswered questions that will make you want to keep playing until the very end.
Evolution
Resident Evil Requiem feels like a natural evolution of the series, and this applies to not only the controls, survival horror aspect, but even the enemies.
This time around, the zombies we’re so used to mowing down in droves are a bit more menacing. They actually have a little bit of personality this time around, which is a nice twist on your usual braindead horde. Some zombies/enemies have specific traits and abilities, which means your encounters are now more varied.
That’s not even counting the bosses you’ll meet along the way. Chances are, you’ve met the grotesque lady stalking Grace, but that’s just the start. Capcom’s designers went above and beyond to deliver something scary but not over-the-top.
The announcement of Bluepoint Studios’ closure has shocked the gaming world.
Even when it comes to gore, Capcom has delivered the goriest Resident Evil game to date. When you see Leon or Grace get bitten, killed in various ways, it’s a sight to see. Of course, it’s not just one way, as Leon’s finishers are very satisfying to pull off, and bumps that gore factor to 10.
However, this doesn’t apply to everything and to what might be the most important part: Grace. If you’re a Resident Evil fan, chances are high that you know Leon, right? Grace Ashcroft is the new character introduced in Requiem, and there are a lot of holes within the character itself.
Even with the initial trailer, Grace is presented as an FBI agent, yet she doesn’t act like one — ever. You can’t tell me that the FBI recruits agents without training them for basic survival/combat? Not to mention, sending someone so green on the field without backup? We allow it for the story, but even at the onset, it does sound a bit inane.
Verdict
There’s a lot to be said about Resident Evil Requiem, but most of my complaints are centered around the story, and might not even be an issue for some. That said, there is no way we are spoiling the game’s story in any shape, way or form, so it’s best to experience it yourself.
Thankfully, Resident Evil Requiem’s gameplay, atmosphere, audio-visual work are all fantastic, which makes the game very easy to recommend to not only horror fans, but even action fans too.
Capcom has delivered the first big AAA title of 2026 and what feels like an evolution of the franchise.
Pros
Two stories happening parallel to each other make for one very compelling tale
Gunplay, character design and overall feel stay true to the Resident Evil experience
Monster and boss design are topnotch
Verdict
8.5/10
Capcom's ninth mainline entry of the franchise delivers once again. While not everything sticks, it does push the series and genre forward. Requiem is a no-brainer pick up for Resident Evil fans, and even casual horror fans will find something to like with Capcom's latest AAA experience.
Cons
Grace's sections are a bit slow and plodding compared to Leon's
Some story sections might make you scratch your head
Ray tracing mode on PS5 Pro, despite being 60 frames-per-second, has a lot of shimmering, and comes off more distracting
Grace has no character development throughout the entire game