All articles tagged with #game launch
Microsoft's Xbox network is experiencing a major global outage that is preventing sign-ins, disrupting game launches, and affecting access across four services (Account & Profile, Games & Gaming, Store & Subscriptions, Apps & Mobile); engineers are investigating and posting updates on the Xbox status page, with Downdetector data showing most complaints center on launching games.
SpongeBob Patty Pursuit 2, a highly anticipated sequel to a popular Apple Arcade game, will be released on December 4, offering new gameplay on various Apple devices as part of the subscription service, which costs $6.99/month with a free trial and is included in Apple One plans.
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon conducted a closed technical test from October 22-29 with around 80,000 players across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, focusing on gameplay feel and player retention. Sony confirmed the participation numbers and reiterated the game's planned launch within the fiscal year ending March 2026, with Bungie preparing a detailed update soon.
Escape From Tarkov's COO Nikita Buyanov is unconcerned about potential review bombing as the game prepares to launch on Steam with its 1.0 update, emphasizing the platform's importance for reaching new players and the game's ongoing development, despite some community frustrations over platform switching and early access issues.
Arc Raiders has set a new Steam record for concurrent players just hours after its launch, peaking at 264,673 players, surpassing its previous beta peak and becoming one of the most popular extraction shooters outside of Tarkov, with positive reviews and strong sales momentum.
Arc Raiders, a new extraction shooter from Embark Studios, has quickly become a top game on Steam with over 216,000 concurrent players, despite initial server issues. The developers clarified that the game does not use generative AI for content creation, instead employing machine learning for specific tasks like drone locomotion, and using AI mainly for voice lines. The game has received positive reviews but faces some player calls for more PVE options and less emphasis on paid cosmetics.
Arc Raiders, a new extraction shooter on PS5, is generating excitement but is currently experiencing server and connection issues upon launch, though early feedback is positive and stability is expected to improve.
Arc Raiders experienced massive server overloads and connection errors shortly after launch, with over 130,000 players attempting to access the game simultaneously, leading to widespread online service disruptions.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has achieved the biggest physical game launch in the US in over two years, since Tears of the Kingdom, despite not matching the series' previous sales peaks, and has had a modest launch in Europe and Japan.
MindsEye's founder Leslie Benzies accused internal and external saboteurs of causing the game's poor reception, amid allegations of mismanagement, crunch culture, and staff discontent, with the studio facing internal criticism and distancing from the project.
Arc Raiders' successful open beta has significantly impacted Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, as it has attracted millions of players and become a top seller on Steam, complicating Marathon's release and potential success due to its earlier launch and overlapping genre.
Arc Raiders' recent open server slam attracted nearly 190,000 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing previous tests and boosting its sales ranking, indicating strong anticipation for its October 30 launch across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Arc Raiders' weekend playtest has quickly attracted nearly 100,000 concurrent players within two hours, indicating strong interest ahead of its full release on October 30th. The game is being tested across multiple platforms, and its popularity is being compared to recent open betas of other major titles, suggesting it could be a significant release in the extraction shooter genre.
Battlefield 6 launched with massive player interest, causing full servers and long queues, prompting EA to implement a queue system to manage the surge and ensure a smoother login experience for players.
Hades 2, the highly anticipated sequel by Supergiant, is set to launch on September 25 at 9 AM PDT across Switch 2, Switch 1, Steam, and Epic Games Store, with specific times for various regions. The game has been in early access for over a year, receiving significant updates, and will initially be a Switch exclusive at launch, with a physical edition available on November 20. The game costs $30 and marks Supergiant's first sequel after successful titles like Bastion and Transistor.