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Marathon Steve and the Hidden Depths of Onboarding in Gaming
10 days ago•Source: Aftermath
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2.765 min•16 days ago
Kojima's OD to Include Fear-Buffer System for Scared Players
At the Xbox Showcase, Hideo Kojima revealed OD (Overdose) will feature a new, unseen system intended to help players push through the game’s intense horror. The collaboration with Xbox and Jordan Peele remains secretive on plot details, but the title is described as a distinct, terrifying experience with a P.T.-like atmosphere teased in a new screenshot.
4.155 min•17 days ago
Konami Takes Legal Action to Trace Metal Gear Solid 2 Source Code Leak
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Blizzard Expands Legal Battle Against Private WoW Server Project Ascension
Blizzard Entertainment filed a California lawsuit against the developers of Project Ascension, accusing copyright infringement and DMCA violations for operating a private World of Warcraft server, distributing pirated Blizzard software, and monetizing via Donation Points. The company says Ascension uses sanctioned Russian hosts and aims to profit from Blizzard’s IP without permission, and it seeks to uncover additional participants while noting the broader crackdown that has shuttered other private servers like Turtle WoW.
One Piece: Grand Gourmet serves up a fresh startup on Switch 2 and more this October
Bandai Namco and Kairosoft unveiled One Piece: Grand Gourmet, a restaurant-management sim where players join the Straw Hat Crew to run a Baratie location, releasing October 23 on Switch 2, Switch, PC (Steam), iOS, and Android.
June 18 Livestream to Unveil Persona 4 Revival, Confirming 2027 Release
Atlus announced a June 18 live stream to share details about Persona 4 Revival, with P-Studio Director Kazuhisa Wada in attendance. The broadcast will stream on Atlus West YouTube and Steam at 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET (8:00 AM JST on June 19), and it confirms Persona 4 Revival will release on February 18, 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Steam, offering a modernized Inaba experience while also mentioning ongoing Persona 6 development.
Tupac cameo in Stranger Than Heaven roils fans over digital resurrection
At Summer Game Fest, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio announced Tupac Shakur would appear in its new Yakuza-inspired game Stranger Than Heaven, introduced by Snoop Dogg. The move has sparked backlash, with critics calling it digital necromancy and arguing it treats a deceased artist as IP. The controversy adds to ongoing criticism of the studio over past controversies, including handling of a voice actor’s misconduct and other remakes, fueling debate about reviving deceased celebrities in games.
Jason Voorhees Joins Dead by Daylight in New Trailer
Jason Voorhees is joining Dead by Daylight, debuting June 16, 2026 after a trailer revealed during the game’s 10th anniversary stream; details on his in‑game abilities are still unconfirmed, but the crossover is part of the Jason Universe expansion, with relatedFriday the 13th media like the Crystal Lake series also slated for 2026.
Warhammer 40,000 Crossover: Tacticus Welcomes Dawn of War IV Heroes at Skulls 2026
Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus adds a Dawn of War IV crossover during Warhammer Skulls 2026, introducing Lion El’Jonson as a new Guild Raid boss and Dawn of War IV champions Blood Ravens Scout Master, Captain Cyrus, and Necron Chronomancer Thothmek as playable characters; players build a warband, engage in new battles, and face advancing Necron threats and organic invaders.
Skulls 2026: Warhammer's 10th video game festival returns with cross‑platform reveals
The Warhammer Skulls video games festival is back for its 10th edition, promising a major showcase of new reveals across a wide array of platforms (Steam, Xbox, Windows, GOG, GeForce Now, Epic Store, Apple App Store, PlayStation, and more) with a featured video and broad cross‑platform partnerships.
Subnautica 2 Heads Toward a $250 Million Payday After Court Win
Subnautica 2 launched in Early Access with strong initial sales, while a Delaware court ruling and ongoing negotiations keep a $250 million earnout tied to Krafton’s acquisition of Unknown Worlds alive, including a founder’s rehiring and an extended payout deadline; the bonus—intended to be shared with up to ~100 staff—appears likely to be paid despite initial efforts to avoid it.
Mixtape Leans into 90s Nostalgia, Then Exposes Gaming’s Cultural Blind Spots
Beethoven & Dinosaur’s Mixtape is a three-hour interactive homage to late-’80s/’90s adolescence that uses minigames and storytelling to evoke strong emotions, but it’s ultimately limited by a white suburban perspective and underscores the need for more diverse voices in gaming.
Civ VII’s Bold Overreach Backfires as Fans Rally for a Civ VIII Reset
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick publicly accepts responsibility for Civ VII’s disappointing launch, calling the push to “envelope-push” features a bridge too far and promising ongoing fixes. The piece argues the deeper issues aren’t solved by patches alone: Civ VII doubled down on a heavy city-building meta and unfamiliar systems, while diplomacy faltered and online hardcore fans were catered to at the expense of casual players. The author suggests Civ VIII must take bold swings again—rethinking design while preserving what fans love about Civilization rather than chasing a vocal minority.