Title: Hades 2 Coming To PS5 And Xbox Next Month Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:34:17 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/hades-2-coming-to-ps5-and-xbox-next-month-2000682249 The popular roguelike action game starring sexy gods is finally coming to more platforms, and to Game Pass

Title: Some People Are So Desperate To Hate Marathon They’ve Embraced A Fake Conspiracy About Paid Reddit Posts Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:05:45 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/marathon-content-farm-discord-reddit-posts-bungie-fake-2000682208 Some folks on the internet have fallen for a very obviously fake story about Sony and Bungie paying people to promote Marathon on Reddit

Title: New Star Wars XCOM-Like Game Includes A Surprising Feature Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:56:07 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/new-star-wars-xcom-like-game-includes-a-surprising-feature-2000682220 You'll be walking around levels in third-person between combat in EA's upcoming Star Wars: Zero Company

Title: Pokémon Center Employee Stabbed To Death In Tokyo Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:48:13 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/pokemon-center-employee-stabbed-tokyo-crime-2000682211 A male attacker wielding two knives killed the female staffer, then himself

Title: Saros Director Dodges Question On Whether The PS5 Game Will Ever Come To PC Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:24:54 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/saros-steam-pc-port-ps5-exclusive-2000682221 Sony has yet to confirm a reported shift in its strategy around exclusives

Title: Stalker 2’s first expansion officially revealed, and it's taking us to the power plant where it all began Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:30:00 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/stalker-2-cost-of-hope-expansion-reveal One of the biggest reveals out of today’s Xbox Partner Preview showcase has been the new Stalker 2 expansion. The developer did tease some sort of announcement ahead of the event, but I don’t think an expansion was on many of our bingo cards. Read more

Title: Crimson Desert's first patch aims at fixing controls, but it mostly affects mouse and keyboard Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:47:46 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/crimson-desert-patch-1-00-03-first-mouse-keyboard-ui-fixes Crimson Desert has been out for a few days now, and as positive as its been received by many players, the game suffers from several fundamental issues that anyone who’s played it has called out. Read more

Title: All the hype has already made Crimson Desert one of the biggest launches on Steam this year Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:49:30 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/crimson-desert-steam-launch-numbers Crimson Desert, the open-world action RPG off-shoot from Korean MMO Black Desert Online, has officially launched, nearly six years after it was initially revealed. The game has been building up a lot of momentum over the years, which recently coalesced to turn it into one of 2026’s most anticipated titles. Read more

Title: Crimson Desert Review: Story Buried in the Sandbox Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/crimson-desert-review Crimson Desert is a champion bodybuilder of a video game. Its gigantic world bulges with incredible scale, with shining graphical fidelity and a muscular combat system which excels at pulling poses with an undeniably impressive wealth of options. Read more

Title: Heartopia goes to the movies with its next event Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:53:56 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/heartopia-dreamlight-cinematics-festival-details Heartopia’s next in-game event has been announced, and it’s one you may not have seen coming. Developer XD Games revealed Dreamlight Cinematics Festival, an upcoming limited-time event that celebrates cinema and movie-making. Read more

Title: Vaunted Is A Tactical RPG Where You Can’t Trust Your Own Team Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vaunted-is-a-tactical-rpg-where-you-cant-trust-your-own-team/1100-6539006/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Today's Xbox Partner Preview was focused purely on third-party studios, and one of the brand-new games in the spotlight was Vaunted from Lost Lake Games. A tactical-RPG that challenges players to seize the ultimate score, Vaunted also blends elements of third-person shooters into its gameplay to create a high-stakes experience.Taking place in a galaxy where chaos reigns supreme--thanks to the fall of the last galactic empire hundreds of years ago--Mercenaries and treasure hunters battle each other to claim priceless imperial relics buried in far-flung ruins. Vaunted will give players control of three scrappy frenemies--Dyse, Gendril, and Kyvaath--and pit them against ruthless rivals, monstrous aliens, and giant robots as they embark on expeditions across the galaxy. One of the twists on the typical turn-based formula is that Vaunted has no initiative-based order. Players will control who goes when, alternating with enemies as a skirmish unfolds, and they can use incoming fire and precision aiming when they launch a counterattack. Squad options include skill trees, randomized upgrades, loadout choices, and diverse build options, and the story is told from each of the main characters' perspectives. This, in turn, creates an unreliable narrator experience, as each hero tells their own version of events, and players will shape what really happened on the battlefield.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Release Window Revealed Alongside Closed Beta Next Month Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-expanse-osiris-reborn-release-window-revealed-alongside-closed-beta-next-month/1100-6539023/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f A new Mass Effect game is likely still many years away, but The Expanse: Osiris Reborn looks like the spiritual successor we've been waiting for. During the Xbox Partner Preview, a new trailer for the upcoming third-person action-RPG was shown off, and developer Owlcat Games also revealed that a closed beta for the game will go live on April 22 for PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.Anyone who purchases the Collector's Edition or Miller's Pack will gain access to the beta, and when the full game launches in Spring 2027, it'll be coming to Xbox Game Pass as a day-one launch title. The closed beta will allow players to explore a remote space station belonging to Pinkwater Security. Following the catastrophic events on the planet Eros--that fans of the books and TV series will be very familiar with--players will get to explore this new environment, interact with characters, sample a few of the dialogue choices, and get to grips with the combat gameplay in this early slice of the game.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Here's This Week's Free Game From The Epic Games Store On Mobile Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:56:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-games-epic-games-store-mobile/1100-6530257/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f For the last couple of years, the Epic Games Store has given away free games every week through its PC storefront. With the company having launched its own mobile store, it has also started a second free games program on iOS and Android devices, kicking things off with a curated library of titles and weekly freebies. The app also features mobile versions of Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe.To access these games you will need to create a free Epic account and install the free Epic Games Store mobile app and log in with your account, but once you do, you can start claiming your free games every Thursday through it. One other thing to note is that Android users can access the app via Android-based emulation devices like Retroid Pocket, as they aren't limited to just smartphone and tablets. Download the Epic Games Store Mobile app For now, only iOS users in the European Union can install the app, but the app is available worldwide to Android device users and they have a wider selection of games to choose from in comparison. Like its PC counterpart, you'll have one week to grab each game that's offered. Here's a closer look at what you can grab this week, and what the current mobile games library has to offer. You can also explore what the free PC games are this week on the Epic Games Store.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: How Long To Beat Life Is Strange: Reunion Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:47:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-long-to-beat-life-is-strange-reunion/1100-6538891/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Life is Strange: Reunion is designed to be the final chapter in the story of Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, which started way back in the series' very first game in 2015. Outfitted once more with the ability to rewind time, the duo has to work together to stop a devastating event from happening at Caledon University. The game provides the emotional climax for the two protagonists while also introducing some cool new ideas to the franchise--but just how many hours will it take to experience it all? We'll fill you in below.How long is Life is Strange: Reunion?How long it takes you to complete Life is Strange: Reunion will depend partially on how much time you spend engaging with its many optional world interactions, chatting up various characters, and tracking down collectibles. But an average playthrough will take 10-12 hours, which is pretty much in line with previous games in the franchise.The choice-based nature of Life is Strange: Reunion begs for replays, though, so those willing to see it through multiple times will be rewarded with new story beats and reveals, including multiple endings. You'll even get unique scenarios based on what options you choose regarding your decisions in previous Life is Strange titles, such as who you romanced or whether or not you let certain antagonists off the hook. Perhaps most notable of these asks you to confirm Chloe's fate from the first game in the series, with entirely separate endings (and achievements) tied to this initial choice.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Xbox Partner Preview March 2026: All The Big Announcements Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:43:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/xbox-partner-preview-march-2026-all-the-big-announcements/2900-7639/ The new Xbox Partner Preview livestream has wrapped up, and like the previous showcases, the spotlight was on third-party studios. Sega, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games were big highlights of the broadcast with new looks at games like Stranger Than Heaven, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, but the 30-minute livestream also had plenty of new games to show off.In case you've missed it, we've gathered all the news below, so scroll down to have a closer look at everything that was revealed. Hunter: The Reckoning - DeathwishKicking off the Xbox Partner Preview was Hunter: The Reckong - Deathwish, a new first-person action game set in the World of Darkness. It's headed to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud in Summer 2027, and it follows a team of hunters on a mission to take down a dangerous vampire posing as a law enforcement officer. Wuthering WavesIn case you haven't had your fill of anime-inspired free-to-play games like Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, you can also look forward to Wuthering Waves on Xbox Series X|S in July 2026. While the title might make it sound like an adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, it's actually an open-world action-RPG where you work to recover your past memories. The Expanse: Osiris RebornBrand-new gameplay for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn dropped during the showcase, showing off more of the third-person action-RPG. We also got news that a beta for the game will launch on April 22, and a release date window of Spring 2027. Another Xbox Play Anywhere title for PC and console, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will also have a day-one Xbox Game Pass launch. Grave SeasonsLaunching on August 14 for PC and console as an Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere title, Grave Seasons is a farming sim with a dark twist. Developer Perfect Garbage also announced that a demo for the game is on the way. Serious Sam: ShatterverseAnd now for some serious news--Serious Sam news, that is! A brand-new Serious Sam game was unveiled, and it features five Sams from across the Shatterverse. Each member of the team has a unique ability and an arsenal of weapons to draw from in their quest to take down the series' god-like antagonist, Mental. Serious Sam: Shatterverse is out later this year for PC and console. Stranger Than HeavenYakuza developer RGG Studio has been teasing something big for its brand-new IP, Stranger Than Heaven, and the new trailer for the game revealed that the game's story takes place across five different time periods and five unique cities. The studio also announced that more details will be shared in another Xbox Presents broadcast on May 6. Super Meat Boy 3DEveryone's favorite sack of meat is back in Super Meat Boy 3D, and you won't have to wait too long to play it. The challenging platformer launches on March 31 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, and it'll also be available through Xbox Game Pass. Forever AgoAn upcoming narrative-adventure that follows the protagonist Alfred as he revisits locations from his past, Forever Ago is billed as a single-player roadtrip with emotional highs and lows. It'll land on PC and console in Fall 2026 and it'll be available through Xbox Game Pass. Ascend to ZeroA new action-packed roguelite game, Ascend to Zero is an adventure where you can use time itself as a weapon. Players can freeze enemies in place for a few crucial seconds, and the game features striking cyberpunk and pixel-art inspired graphics. It'll be available as an Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Game Pass title when it hits PC and console on July 13. DispatchOne of our favorite games of 2025, AdHoc Studio's hit superhero workplace game Dispatch is officially landing on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud in Summer 2026. This will naturally include the full series of episodes that explores how a former superhero is forced to take a desk job as a dispatcher for a team of reformed supervillains-turned-superheroes. It'll also be an Xbox Play Anywhere title. Alien DeathstormFollowing the release of Atomfall last year, Rebellion's next game is shaping up to be another atmospheric first-person adventure. Alien Deathstorm got its world premiere during the Xbox Partner Preview, revealing an intense fight for survival as players face off against violent weather conditions and terrifying alien creatures while navigating a storm-blasted off-world colony. Alien Deathstorm will launch for PC and console, and it'll be available through Xbox Game Pass as a day-one launch title. Frog SqwadA co-hop-erative game where you and your froggy pals explore the sewers and secure food for the Swamp King, Frog Sqwad launches in June 2026 for PC and console. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available with Xbox Game Pass. Bluey’s Happy SnapsStop the presses, because a new Bluey shooter game is on the way--but with a camera, not a gun, you weirdos. Bluey and Bingo embark on a new adventure to discover brand-new locations, snap pictures of Australian wildlife, and record their exploits in a scrapbook. Bluey’s Happy Snaps launches in Q3 2026 for PC and console, and it'll be available with Xbox Game Pass. Stalker 2: Cost of Hope DLCIt's time to return to the Chornobyl Anomalous Zone, as a new expansion is on the way for Stalker 2. Developer GSC Game World teased a conflict between the Duty and Freedom factions in the reveal trailer, and a mix of new and iconic locations to explore in this massive add-on for the game. The DLC will launch in Summer 2026."Massive Nonlinear" Stalker 2 Expansion Announced, Coming This Summer Moosa: Dirty FateSet in feudal Korea, the world premiere trailer for Moosa: Dirty Fate teased a powerful force unleashing havoc on the land and forcing people to adopt extreme methods to survive. Featuring a gorgeous painterly art direction, players will have to track down this mystical threat and face off against it in this third-person action game. Moosa: Dirty Fate will launch in 2027 for PC and console as an Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Game Pass title. The Eternal Life of GoldmanThe Eternal Life of Goldman looks like a fascinating platformer, and the new trailer for the game showed off more of its magical, hand-drawn world inspired by fairy tales and myths. It's still on track to launch in 2026--including a day-one launch through Xbox Game Pass--and you can try out a demo for it right now. VauntedA tactical-RPG that mixes in dynamic gameplay elements, Vaunted is the story of an expedition gone hilariously wrong and retold via three extremely unreliable narrators. It'll be launching on PC later in 2026. Hades IIHades 2 is finally making the leap to new platforms, as the critically acclaimed roguelike hits Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud on April 14. Another Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Game Pass launch, the sequel to Hades sees players dive into the Underworld to battle the forces of Chronos, the Titan of time. Artificial DetectiveThe Xbox Partner Preview ended with the world premiere of Artificial Detective. Featuring post-apocalyptic themes and plenty of styles, the game puts players in the mechanical boots of a robot detective who has to solve the greatest mystery--what happened to humanity? Only a single human child remains, and this third-person adventure will see the pair attempt to solve the case. Artificial Detective launches in 2027 for PC and console, and it will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title.

Title: How to solve the Mudridge Cabin strongbox puzzle in Crimson Desert Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:26:55 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/crimson-desert-strongbox-puzzle-mudridge-cabin-how-to-solve/ The Mudridge Cabin strongbox puzzle in Crimson Desert will probably look familiar to you because it's a classic type of puzzle found in the real world, where you must slide tiles around a grid to create a complete picture. In this version, there are eight tiles in a nine-square grid, but the top three are already in the right place, so there are only five tiles you need to move around.

Title: This Switch game is blowing up because Nintendo didn't censor it Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:25:33 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-tomodachi-life-living-the-dream-demo-mii-tiktok/ The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream demo went live for Switch owners on Wednesday, and though it only offers a sliver of the surreal life sim, clips and screenshots of the game are already blowing up on social media. Given Nintendo's reputation as a strict, family-friendly brand, you'd think that the Japanese publisher would enforce all sorts of rules for what people can and cannot put into the game. Instead, fans have been delighted to discover that Tomodachi Life kinda lets them do whatever they want — and the game is all the better for it.

Title: How to unlock bag upgrades in Pokémon Pokopia Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:14:23 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-pokopia-bag-inventory-space-upgrade-unlock-how-to/ Bag upgrades are one of the most important features in Pokémon Pokopia, because as you build new habitats and help your new Pokémon friends, you need to carry more materials. From food to a personal stock of small logs, stones, and leaves, the number of items in your bag constantly increases.

Title: Magic's new Jace comic could have major implications for Reality Fracture Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:02:57 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/magic-the-gathering-untold-stories-jace-reality-fracture/ Magic: The Gathering is diving back into one of its most complicated characters with a new comic focused on Jace Beleren. The series explores his fractured memories — and it couldn’t come at a more interesting time to tee up the next major multiversal war.

Title: 'Gate to the Otherworld' quest walkthrough in Crimson Desert Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:47:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/crimson-desert-scholastone-institute-puzzle-gate-otherworld-how-to-solve-quest/ The Scholastone Institute puzzle in Crimson Desert is part of the "Gate to the Otherworld" quest, and it's all about pushing the right buttons. You will come across it during "Forbidden Knowledge" in Chapter 4, when you visit the Scholastone Institute in southwest Hernand.

Title: Smooth Moves: 90 Frames-Per-Second Virtual Reality Arrives on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-virtual-reality-update/ It’s a double feature on GFN Thursday. This week, GeForce NOW offers smoother sights in virtual reality (VR) and a sprawling new land to conquer. Streaming at 90 frames per second (fps) comes to supported VR headsets. And Crimson Desert, which recently surpassed 3 million wishlist additions on Steam, debuts in the cloud with GeForce RTX 5080‑class power. Catch it as part of four new games on GeForce NOW VR, but Make It 90 FPS Power levels rising … to 90 fps. VR in the cloud is getting a smoothness upgrade. GeForce NOW is boosting support for Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest devices and Pico devices to stream at up to 90 fps for Ultimate members, bringing crisper motion and more responsive gameplay straight from the cloud. The app update is starting to roll out to members starting today. Members can transform the space around them into a personal gaming theater with GeForce NOW, playing favorite PC titles on a massive virtual screen. With support for up to 90 fps for Ultimate members, gameplay feels smoother, movement more natural and action more comfortable. All premium members can continue to enhance their experiences with NVIDIA RTX and DLSS technologies in supported titles. Just fire up GeForce NOW on supported VR platforms, step into a virtual big screen and let the cloud handle the heavy lifting. From chill sessions in a virtual theater to high‑octane firefights, 90 fps helps keep every moment looking sharp and feeling responsive. A Storm Brews Into the cloud with “Crimson Desert.” Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert, a stunning, open‑world action adventure set in a war‑torn fantasy land, pairs large‑scale exploration with cinematic storytelling and hard‑hitting, combo‑focused combat. One moment is a quiet ride across windswept plains, the next is a chaotic clash against towering foes with mystical power effects lighting up the battlefield. Follow Kliff, a mercenary whose close‑knit group is destroyed in a sudden ambush. The journey centers on exploring a massive, detailed world, taking on story missions, riding mounts, finding supplies and facing dangerous enemies as Kliff works to bring his scattered companions back together. GeForce NOW brings 5080-class power to the game across supported devices, delivering high settings, smooth action and lush visuals without the need to worry about system specs. Members can jump into its cinematic battles and sweeping landscapes on the device of their choice, from low‑spec laptops to compatible TVs and mobile devices. Joining the Family It’s time to make an offer no tank can refuse. World of Tanks is rolling out the red carpet for Battle Pass Special: Mafia from March 19-29, welcoming the respectable family from the fine city of Lost Heaven and bringing their signature mix of loyalty, ambition and firepower to the battlefield. Recruit iconic characters from 2K’s original Mafia game, unlock stylish 2D looks like Little Italy and Lost Heaven Noir, and command the Italian Predatore tank to make sure every deal ends with a bang. Respect is earned — and it’s best earned playing on GeForce NOW, where the action hits fast and smooth — powered by the cloud. In addition, members can look for the following: Everwind (New release on Steam, March 17, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Retro Rewind – Video Store Simulator (New release on Steam, March 17) Crimson Desert (New release on Steam, March 19, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Fallout 3 (Steam) Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Motor Sport, Icarus and Ark Survival Ascended — currently available to all GeForce NOW members — will no longer be available on the free tier starting Wednesday, April 1, as the basic rig type does not meet the game’s updated minimum system requirements. Premium members can continue to play these games uninterrupted. For some icing on the cake, the GeForce NOW Reddit community is running a giveaway for a VR headset. Find details on how to enter. Plus, check out GeForce NOW creator Airie Summer’s gaming giveaway on X much love to nvidia for the community giveaways ♡@logitechg pro grade performance gears https://t.co/lRpSTKhQHJ @nvidiagfn entries open @ channel during the following times xoxomarch 12, 19, & 26 from 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m. ethttps://t.co/q67SOJNpbO #nvidiapartner pic.twitter.com/uQ6L1rcVcj — airie (@airiesummer) March 12, 2026 . 

Title: GeForce NOW Raises the Game at the Game Developers Conference Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:00:53 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-gdc-2026/ GeForce NOW is bringing the game to the Game Developers Conference (GDC), running this week in San Francisco. While developers build the future of gaming, GeForce NOW is delivering it to gamers. The latest updates bring smoother performance, easier game discovery and a fresh lineup of blockbuster titles to the cloud. Game discoverability gets a boost with new in‑app labels for connected accounts for Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+. It’ll be easier than ever to see titles already available through linked subscriptions, so members can seamlessly jump into games they already own. Virtual reality gets a smooth upgrade — supported devices now stream at 90 frames per second (fps), up from 60 fps, delivering more responsive and immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. Account linking is also leveling up. Following Gaijin single sign-on announced at CES in January, GOG account linking and game library syncing are coming soon. The GeForce NOW library continues to grow with new releases joining the cloud at launch: CONTROL Resonant and Samson: A Tyndalston Story. Plus, select Xbox titles will join the Install-to-Play library. In addition, there’s a lineup of five new games to catch this week, including Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, on top of the latest update for Fortnite. Gaming Is Buzzing GeForce NOW is rolling into GDC with an easier way to keep track of titles, as well as performance upgrades and a growing lineup of major titles ready to stream at launch. Keeping track of which game lives on which service can be tricky. In‑App labels — coming soon to GeForce NOW for connected subscriptions — will help make it simple for members to know exactly what games they can play on GeForce NOW. Once a member connects their Xbox Game Pass Account or Ubisoft+ account, clear labels will appear directly on the game art inside the GeForce NOW app — eliminating guesswork and making it easy to see exactly what’s available to play from their game subscription services. Set it and forget it. Account linking is expanding too. On top of Gaijin single sign-on, GeForce NOW is adding GOG account linking and game library syncing in the coming months.               Smooth moves. Virtual reality is also getting an upgrade. Starting Thursday, March 19, VR devices that GeForce NOW supports, including Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest and Pico devices, will stream at 90 fps for Ultimate members, an increase from 60 fps. The higher frame rate enhances smoothness, responsiveness and realism across every session — whether gamers are chasing enemies through neon-lit streets or exploring far‑flung alien worlds. GeForce NOW’s Install‑to‑Play library is also expanding with select Xbox titles, including Brutal Legend from Double Fine Productions and Contrast from Compulsion Games. These additions bring more flexibility for members to download and install their owned games alongside streaming favorites. That’s just the start. Highly anticipated games are headed to the cloud at launch: Bending reality. CONTROL Resonant — Remedy’s upcoming action‑adventure role-playing game (RPG) that blends supernatural powers with a warped Manhattan facing a reality-bending cosmic threat. Unravel a family story steeped in myths. Samson: A Tyndalston Story — the game from Liquid Swords is a gritty action brawler, set in the city of Tyndalston, launching on PC. Free to Save the World Chaos in the cloud. Fortnite’s original adventure is back in the spotlight — and soon, it’ll free to play. Fortnite first launched in 2017 as a story-driven co‑op experience, and on Thursday, April 16, the “Save the World” update will officially be free to play for all players. Pre-registration begins on Thursday, March 12. Join forces against hordes of husks, solo or with the squad, in a player vs. environment action-packed story, complete with gathering, crafting and collecting. Pick a favored playstyle with four distinct classes to choose from, over 150 heroes and weapons to upgrade, and loadout customization options to hone builds even further. With hundreds of updates since its original launch and over 100 hours of content, squads can build, grind gear and engineer elaborate homebase defenses to keep the Storm King at bay. “Save the World” isn’t available on mobile devices, including tablets. On GeForce NOW, Fortnite “Save the World” streams straight from the cloud — no waiting around for updates or patches. Low‑latency streaming keeps building, shooting and trap placement feeling snappy across supported devices. Stay in the action with GeForce NOW. Gear Up for Glory The cloud makes it easy to suit up in style. From chaotic infantry clashes to roaring jet dogfights, every match is an unpredictable explosion of strategy and mayhem in EA’s Battlefield 6.  This week, GeForce NOW Ultimate members can drop into the action with serious style — a new reward, the Advancing Gloom Soldier Skin, gives soldiers a sleek, battle-hardened look fit for the frontlines. Members can claim it in their GeForce NOW account portals, redeem it at EA.com/redeem, then show up ready in true Ultimate fashion. It’s available through Sunday, April 12, or while supplies last. Being a GeForce NOW member pays off. Whether streaming on the go or maxing out graphics in the cloud, members get exclusive rewards to keep and flaunt. Start the Games Twin monsters, one cloud. Twin Rathalos, born in a twist of fate, set the stage for the third entry in the Monster Hunter Stories RPG series, launching on GeForce NOW. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is an RPG series set in the Monster Hunter world, where players can become a Rider, and raise and bond with their favorite monsters. Play it instantly on GeForce NOW and take the adventure anywhere, on any device. In addition, members can look for the following: Warcraft I: Remastered (New release on Ubisoft, March 11) Warcraft II: Remastered (New release on Ubisoft, March 11) 1348 Ex Voto (New release on Steam, March 12, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando (New release on Steam, March 12, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (New release on Steam, March 12, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) This week’s additional GeForce RTX 5080-ready game, on top of the addition of John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, 1348 Ex Voto and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection: Greedfall: The Dying World 1.0 (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: NVIDIA Virtualizes Game Development With RTX PRO Server Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:30:07 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/gdc-2026-virtual-game-development/ Game development teams are working across larger worlds, more complex pipelines and more distributed teams than ever. At the same time, many studios still rely on fixed, desk-bound GPU hardware for critical production work. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week in San Francisco, NVIDIA is showcasing a new approach to bring together disparate workflows using virtualized game development on NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers, powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs and NVIDIA vGPU software. With the RTX PRO Server, studios can centralize and virtualize core workflows across creative, engineering, AI research and quality assurance (QA) — all on shared GPU infrastructure in the data center.  This enables teams to maintain the responsiveness and visual fidelity they expect from workstation-class systems while improving infrastructure utilization, scalability, data security and operational consistency across teams and locations. Simplifying Complex Workflows As game development studios scale, hardware can often sit underutilized in one location while other teams wait to access it for production work. QA capacity is hard to expand quickly. Over time, workstation hardware, drivers and tools diverge, making bugs harder to reproduce. AI workloads are often isolated on separate infrastructure, creating more operational overhead.  The NVIDIA RTX PRO Server helps studios move from workstation-by-workstation scaling to centralized GPU infrastructure. Studios can pool resources, allocate performance by workload and support parallel development, testing and AI workflows without expanding physical workstation sprawl. Centralized GPU infrastructure enables studios to run AI training, simulation and game automation workloads overnight, then dynamically reallocate the same resources to interactive development during the day, improving overall utilization and reducing idle capacity. The NVIDIA RTX PRO Server supports virtualized workflows for 3D graphics and AI across the game development lifecycle for: Artists: Providing virtual RTX workstations for traditional 3D and generative AI content-creation workflows. Developers: Powering consistent, high-performance engineering environments for coding and 3D development. AI researchers: Offering large-memory GPU profiles for fine-tuning, inference and AI agents. QA teams: Enabling scalable game validation and performance testing using the same NVIDIA Blackwell architecture used by GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. This allows studios to support multiple teams — including across sites and contractors — on one common GPU platform, improving collaboration and reducing debugging issues that can arise from disparate hardware. Supporting AI and Engineering on Shared Infrastructure AI is becoming a core part of everyday game development, spanning coding, content creation, testing and live operations. As these workflows expand, studios need infrastructure that can support AI alongside traditional graphics workloads without introducing separate, siloed systems. With the RTX PRO Server, studios can support coding agents, internal model experimentation and AI-assisted production workflows without spinning up a separate AI stack for every team. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPU features a massive 96GB memory buffer, enabling developers to run multiple demanding applications simultaneously while supporting AI inference on larger models directly alongside real-time graphics workflows. NVIDIA Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) technology partitions a single GPU into isolated instances with dedicated memory, compute and cache resources. Combined with NVIDIA vGPU software, MIG can help studios securely allocate GPU capacity across users and workloads. In combined MIG and vGPU configurations, a single RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPU can support up to 48 concurrent users, maximizing utilization while maintaining performance isolation. Enterprise-Ready Deployment for Game Studios NVIDIA RTX PRO Servers are designed for enterprise-grade data-center operations. Studios can deploy virtual workstations on RTX PRO Servers via NVIDIA vGPU on supported hypervisor and remote workstation platforms. That means RTX PRO Servers can fit into studios’ existing infrastructure and IT practices, rather than requiring one-off deployments. Major game publishers already use NVIDIA vGPU technology to scale centralized development infrastructure and improve efficiency at studio scale. ​Learn more about the NVIDIA RTX PRO Server. See these workflows live by joining NVIDIA’s booth 1426 at GDC or attending NVIDIA GTC, running March 16-19 in San Jose, California.  See notice regarding software product information.

Title: March Into the Cloud With 15 New Games Coming to GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:00:30 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-march-2026-games-list/ March is in full bloom, and that means a fresh wave of games heading to the cloud. 15 new titles are joining the GeForce NOW library this month. Leading the March lineup is Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert, an open‑world action‑adventure set in a war‑torn fantasy land, alongside plenty of other games to explore. Whether looking to shake off the winter blues or jump into some bracket‑worthy gaming action, there’s something for everyone in the cloud. March into the cloud and see what’s new — and keep an eye on GFN Thursdays all month for more updates. This week kicks off the month with eight new games. March Gaming Madness In LORT we trust. LORT dials chaos up to 11 and snaps the knob clean off. Big Distraction’s off‑the‑rails adventure hurls players into a world where every corner hides a bad idea waiting to become a great story, powered by wild weapons, weirder characters and “Did that just happen?” moments. Catch every glorious disaster in full fidelity and play it on GeForce NOW, available this week. Here’s are this week’s eight new additions: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, March 3, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered (New release on Steam, available March 3) Esoteric Ebb (New release on Steam, available March 3) The Legend of Khiimori (New release on Steam, available March 3, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Slay the Spire 2 (New release on Steam, available March 5) Docked (New release on Steam, available March 5) Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) LORT (Steam) And look forward to the games coming throughout the rest of the month: John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando (New release on Steam, March 12, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Everwind (New release on Steam, March 17) Crimson Desert (New release on Steam, March 19) Screamer (New release on Steam, March 23) Nova Roma (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, March 26) Legacy of Kain: Ascendance (New release on Steam, March 31) Subliminal (New release on Steam, March 31) February in the Books In addition to the 24 games announced last month, 18 more joined the GeForce NOW library: Anno: Mutationem (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Blizzard Arcade Collection (Ubisoft Connect) Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle (Steam) Capcom Fighting Collection (Steam) Diablo (Ubisoft Connect) Diablo + Hellfire Expansion  (Ubisoft Connect) Diablo II: Resurrected (Ubisoft Connect) Galactic Civilizations 3 (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) KILLER INN (Steam) Mega Man 11 (Steam) MotoGP22 (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) Spellcasters Chronicles (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) STALCRAFT: X (Epic Games Store) Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (Steam) Torment: Tides of Numenera (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) TCG Card Shop Simulator (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Trine Enchanted Edition (Epic Games Store) Trine 2: Complete Story (Epic Games Store) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below, then see what Blue Thunder Gaming thinks of GeForce NOW.  

Title: The Nightmare Returns in the Cloud: GeForce NOW Unleashes Capcom’s ‘Resident Evil Requiem’ Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:48 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-resident-evil-requiem/ GeForce NOW’s anniversary celebration reaches a chilling crescendo as Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem creeps into the cloud — and the horrors look better than ever on a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. To mark the occasion, a special launch bundle rises from the shadows, pairing the game with a yearlong Ultimate membership for a limited time. It’s not a celebration party without treats. GeForce NOW is also offering members a new reward to use in Delta Force. Suit up and grab it alongside 11 new games joining the cloud this week. The Nightmare Returns in the Cloud A new era of survival horror arrives with Resident Evil Requiem, the latest and most immersive entry yet in the iconic Resident Evil series. Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill gamers to their core. Requiem for the dead. Nightmare for the living. With GeForce RTX 5080-class power in the cloud, experience Requiem with lifelike lighting, full path tracing, ray‑traced reflections and cinematic realism at up to 5K resolution with high dynamic range, plus NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation for maximum performance. The Ultimate membership keeps every encounter smooth and immersive when streaming from powerful GPUs in the cloud. To celebrate GeForce NOW’s sixth anniversary, a special launch offer emerges from the fog: For a limited time, Resident Evil Requiem is included with the purchase of a 12‑month Ultimate membership. It’s the perfect way to return to the city of disaster and despair, now more haunting and beautiful than ever. Priority Package GeForce NOW marks six epic years in the cloud, and the party lands on the Delta Force frontline with a new reward drop. What a drop. Being a GeForce NOW member is rewarding. All members can get an edge in the Delta Force extraction and warfare game modes with a reward bundle packed with standard gear tickets, premium weapon XP tokens and armament vouchers to fine-tune loadouts and push every op further. Performance and Ultimate members gain even more battlefield muscle with an early unlock of the PP‑19 Bizon, a weapon that brings close-quarters stopping power to every mission. This special sixth-anniversary reward is available through Thursday, March 26, while supplies last. Redeem now and deploy. Ready, Set, Stream This week, members can look for the following: TCG Card Shop Simulator (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass, Feb. 24) Blizzard Arcade Collection (New release on Ubisoft Connect, Feb. 25) Diablo II: Resurrected (New release on Ubisoft Connect, Feb. 25) Spellcasters Chronicles (New release on Steam, Feb. 26, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Resident Evil Requiem (New release on Steam, Feb. 27, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Anno: Mutationem (Xbox, available on Game Pass) ARC Raiders (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) DEVOUR (Steam) Galactic Civilizations 3 (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) MotoGP22 (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) Torque Drift 2 (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. What's your bragging rights? Share the latest achievement you got in a game. — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) February 23, 2026

Title: How Super Meat Boy 3D captures the series’ identity, out March 31 Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:15:53 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/26/how-super-meat-boy-3d-captures-the-series-identity-out-may-31/ When Super Meat Boy first released, it quickly became a landmark for indie games. It wasn’t just a great platformer, but a figurehead for indie gaming, defined by lightning-fast gameplay and brutal difficulty. So, when we began working on Super Meat Boy 3D, our biggest goal was simple: it had to feel like Meat Boy. We worked on the prototype for a few months to test out our main ingredients, and what was firstly more of a feeling we wished to translate, became much more concrete when we started working with Tommy of Team Meat. Translating such a precise 2D platformer into a fully navigable 3D space meant rethinking many parts of the game while protecting the core identity of the series. Play Video Finding the right camera One of the main challenges was that Meat Boy moves so quickly that a dynamic camera just couldn’t keep up. We tested three different camera systems during prototyping. While a traditional third-person camera that players could freely control technically worked, it never quite felt right. Eventually we landed on a controlled camera angle that stays consistent relative to the level. It’s not completely static but designed to prioritize clarity and readability. That decision shaped the entire design process. Instead of placing a camera into finished levels, we built levels around the camera angle so players can always clearly see the character’s movement and the path ahead, to ensure the gameplay remains readable at a high speed. Translating 2D precision into 3D After we tried recreating the feel of the original purely from our experience of playing Super Meat Boy, our collaboration with Tommy Refenes from Team Meat gave us a deeper understanding of exactly how a lot of the original systems worked. In some cases, we even used similar values from the original game, like wall-jump distances or how jumping behaves when touching a wall versus standing on the ground. Having those reference points helped us capture the familiar feel of Meat Boy’s movement. Of course, with the added difficulty of depth perception, the 2D game cannot just be moved into 3D one to one. Players need to feel completely in control of their movement even with an extra dimension. To help maintain clarity, we introduced several structural decisions, such as eight-directional stick movement to keep movement predictable, 45-degree angles in level design to help players anticipate their trajectory, and visual helpers, like a ground circle indicator and a line connecting the character to the ground to help judge distance. Even with these systems, movement tuning took a long time. We spent roughly a year refining the feel, and small tweaks continued almost until release, especially given the valuable input we received from players of our demo. Designing new mechanics Some mechanics translated easily. The vertical wall slide, for example, already existed in the original game, so we could closely replicate it. Wall running on the other hand had to be designed from scratch. Making it feel smooth requires a lot of value-tweaking and subtle assists so that it feels fast and satisfying rather than too frustrating. Many of those adjustments are invisible to players, but they help ensure the mechanic feels fair even at high speed. Balancing freedom and precision The essential core loop of Super Meat Boy – fail, learn, retry – is only possible to get right by balancing player freedom with systems that help them maintain control, but in 3D, movement can naturally feel slightly floatier because of the added spatial depth. Movement and level design evolved together throughout development. The layout of each level directly affects how the character feels to control, so we constantly iterated between the two. ​​ In the end, we found that the core ideas of Meat Boy’s movement translate surprisingly well into 3D if the focus remains on the fundamentals: jumping, walls, and speed. The key was in the camera angles and the subsequent level design. We usually started by choosing the camera angle first, then building the level to support it. The most important rule was that the character must always remain visible and readable. Preserving the series’ personality The series is not only known for its tight platformer gameplay, but also its dark humor, exaggerated violence, and chaotic energy. One classic feature is the blood trail that Meat Boy leaves behind. It doesn’t only add the trademark gore-factor, but it also helps players see where they’ve already been and which routes they’ve tried. In 3D, that feature became even more important, but implementing it was technically challenging. Spawning huge numbers of decals wasn’t practical, so we developed a vertex painting system that lets blood dynamically stain the environment, letting players paint the entire level red if they try often enough. The move to 3D also gave us more room for hidden jokes and visual gags. With extra space in the world, we could tuck funny details or secrets into the background, some of which players might never even notice. Lessons from our previous games As with Hell Pie and the Ben and Ed series, we’ve always loved creating games with tight mechanics, weird humor, and a strong indie spirit. Our previous projects taught us many important lessons about development, but what stuck with us the most was that focus matters. Very early on in development, we nailed down what really mattered for Super Meat Boy 3D: the core movement, the camera direction, and keeping the scope controlled. Honoring an indie icon Working on Super Meat Boy 3D alongside Tommy Refenes has been both an honor and an exciting challenge. Our mission from the start was: Take everything players love about Meat Boy and prove it can work in three instead of just two dimensions. We hope you’ll be able to feel this the moment you make your first jump! Super Meat Boy 3D launches on PlayStation 5 on March 31.

Title: Saros hands-on report: intense sci-fi action in a beautiful, deadly alien world Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:29 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/26/saros-hands-on-report-intense-sci-fi-action-in-a-beautiful-deadly-alien-world/ There’s an accepted understanding that the Housemarque name brings with it an expectation of exceptional action. Great gunplay. A superbly tuned gameplay intensity by way of ultra-refined and overlapping mechanics and systems. And in just over a month, PS5 players can experience that pedigree first hand again with the Finnish studio’s latest, as a rescue crew tries to discover the fate of a human colony gone dark at the far reaches of the cosmos. Saros is sci-fi action with a cosmic horror twist. Housemarque has shared a taste of what’s to come before in a scene-setting story trailer, and outlined the gameplay systems that’ll power your survival on the alien planet of Carcosa. We’ll play Enforcer Arjun, his combat prowess making him the perfect choice to scout out the terrain for the rescue crew. And we know on Carcosa, death is not the end. Arjun resurrects every time he falls, returning to the rescue crew’s home base to start his expedition anew. That resurrection is a common theme during our hands-on with a three hour slice of the game proper, which incorporates the game’s first two levels – the cliffside Shattered Rise and the claustrophobic Ancient Depths – and the brutal bosses that lie at their end. To go alongside that session, we chatted to creative director Gregory Louden and art director Simone Silvestri to dig deeper into the systems at play. Turning threats into opportunities Saros’ core mechanics are extensive yet easy to memorise, tied as they are to different resistances of DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers, as well as L1 and R1 bumper taps and holds. Soltari’s human-crafted tech covers your collectable handheld weapons such as Hand Cannons, Rifles and Shotguns. You’ll scavenge these as you explore, and while there are multiple variants, each with its own unique perk, they all have two fire types. Primary fire is mapped to a pull of R2, with an alt-fire mode unique to each weapon chosen through pulling L2 halfway down (a satisfying resistance in the adaptive trigger signifying activation), with a trigger of R2 to unleash. A menu pop-up when collecting weapons will detail their power level and perks. An early favorite is a Hand Cannon that boasts ricochet bullets, letting you bounce shots off the environment to strike out-of-sight enemies.  The same tech covers a directional Dash on L1 (which negates most damage while performed), and a bubble-like Shield, the deployment of which is dependent on two things: R1 being held and there being enough power left to sustain it. Sustaining your Shield’s Power level (note the deliberate capitalization) brings us to the risk/reward symbiosis between Soltari tech and alien Carcosan weaponry which partially defines Saros’ playstyle. An early encounter with an alien artifact imbues Arjun’s arm with the ability to store and fire out Carocosan energy. This Power Weapon, as it’s named, is activated with a full pull of L2, and with the right aim, its blast can take down one or more smaller foes. But it requires energy. Energy that your Shield can pool by absorbing blue-colored enemy projectiles. And Housemarque’s beautiful bullet ballet is in full force in Saros, with hypnotic, deadly patterns firing your way with gusto. It means on Carcosa, charging towards danger is sometimes a smarter strategy than weaving out of its way. “We wanted to make projectiles opportunities,” explains Louden, describing it as a shift away from the “obstacle course” of the studio’s previous title Returnal to something more akin to “a playground”. It’s a term that perfectly captures the flow state that results as you play: always moving, always interacting. Continually switching between projectile dodges and absorption, using melee to burst enemy shields, a blast of the Power Weapon to down enemy groups… every fight is a constant juggle of split-second decisions to how best to counter threats and turn the tide to your advantage. Very intense, very fun.  Each level’s conclusion boasts an epic boss clash. In true Housemarque fashion these contain multiple phases that’ll test your reaction times and aim. Embrace the eclipse as greater risk brings greater rewards You’ll become familiar with a multi-armed device discovered in every area of Carcosa that when interacted with, initiates an eclipse that’s biome-specific. Outside the first activation to showcase what results when an eclipse washes over the world, these world-changing events will be an optional choice while exploring the planet, and provided you find the device, can be triggered at any time. There’s an arresting visual shift to a level’s visual design as the corruption takes hold (which extends to the audioscape – worth sticking on a headset for!), and enemies now fire out additional projectile types – sickly yellow versions which if you’re struck by, lowers your max health ceiling. Increased risk? Certainly. But with it comes increased rewards, making it worth rolling the dice for a more dangerous world. Lucenite, Carcosa’s collectable currency dropped by downed enemies and which are key to unlocking permanent upgrades to better survive its dangers, increase in value during eclipses. And while activating your Power Weapon cleanses you of corruption, once the eclipse is called you will have the ability to find  corrupted versions of weaponry and artifacts, which have unique properties and perks active for the duration of an eclipse. And while undiscovered during our own hands-on, Housemarque alludes to tools also unique to an eclipse world-state that will aid your exploration. One ability that’s not tied to the eclipse, but will deepen your fight-first approach to combat is parrying, allowing you to knock back certain high-powered projectiles to their originator. This is unlocked through Arjun’s Armor Matrix, an upgrade tree tinkered with back at the rescue crew’s base camp. It’s worth straying off the path In Saros, a level’s layout will alter every time you return to it. “We have handcrafted levels, handcrafted art, handcrafted design, handcrafted combat encounters, and then we kind of connect them in a procedural matter,” says Silvestri. And each configuration is meticulously crafted by the studio. “We play our game a lot, and we keep playtesting to ensure that we have a really great flow across the experience.” Every level has a golden path, a direct line to your main objective (tap down on D-Pad to scan the world and you’ll see a literal gold flag icon pinpointing your key objective’s general location). But levels are also pocketed with side paths. At the end of most lies rewards, though puzzles that require fast reflexes or having the right tool stand between you and your claim. A horror ensemble Sometimes you’ll stumble upon the remnants of colony camps with logs that’ll help you piece together what happened to those you’re here to rescue. The colony’s fate, and the nature of Carcosa, is a mystery you need to solve, but not alone. While Returnal excelled with solitary dread and a slow burn story, Saros proves group dynamics are as perfect a canvas to explore the horror genre and give an urgent propulsion to the story from its opening moments. “We immediately knew we wanted more viewpoints,” says Louden of the importance of this not being a solo excursion. Crew relationships and individual motivations are fleshed out gradually as you return to the Passage, or as members radio in as you explore. But even from the off, you realise that companionship brings an increasing edge of uneasiness, not comfort. Be it from the crew, individually grappling with the sheer complexity of the operation and growing uneasy of Arjun due to his experiences, or the unsettling stoicism of Primary, the huge black box of a Soltari AI that when not unlocking upgrades on Arjun’s Armor Matrix, speaks on behalf of the company and its profit-focused operations on the planet. “It creates this pressure cooker of an experience, with multiple perspectives.”   Saros launches April 30 on PS5. Find out more about the game’s enemy design, how to create a beautiful bullet ballet pattern, and much more, in an extended interview with Housemarque on PlayStation Podcast, dropping this Friday.

Title: Elevate your mission in Directive 8020 with PlayStation 5 Pro enhancements, out May 12 Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:20 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/25/elevate-your-mission-in-directive-8020-with-playstation-5-pro-enhancements-out-may-12/ Hi everyone, I’m excited to share how we’ve enhanced Directive 8020 for PlayStation 5 Pro, and how these upgrades help deepen the tension, clarity, and emotional impact at the heart of the game. Play Video From the very beginning, Directive 8020 was built around cinematic storytelling, player choice, and atmosphere you can feel onboard the deadly mission to Tau Ceti f. Hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey, the crew of the Cassiopeia must outwit their pursuers to make it home alive. Sharper visuals powered by PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution  One of the most noticeable enhancements comes from PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), Sony’s AI-driven upscaling technology. PSSR intelligently enhances image detail and clarity frame by frame, allowing environments, character models, and subtle environmental storytelling to appear crisp and well-defined. The metallic corridors of the Cassiopeia, the frost forming across a freezing medical lab, the distortion in a reflective visor, all of these details benefit from the added sharpness. Discover cinematic fidelity with PlayStation 5 Pro Directive 8020 is a cinematic narrative experience at its core. With the additional rendering power available, we’re able to present scenes with enhanced visual fidelity that supports the emotional weight of each moment. Character performances, subtle facial animations, and environmental detail all contribute to immersion. When you’re trying to decide who to trust, especially when two identical faces are staring back at you, those visual nuances matter. Face your fears with advanced ray tracing Lighting is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in horror. With advanced ray tracing, light behaves more realistically, bouncing naturally through corridors, reflecting off metallic surfaces, and casting shadows that feel grounded in physical space. Emergency strobes flare against bulkheads. Firelight flickers dynamically across a character’s face. Ice refracts light in a way that feels cold and unforgiving. Realistic lighting heightens tension in every corridor. You’re never quite sure what’s hiding just beyond the glow. Dynamic shadows reveal, and conceal, the threat Shadows aren’t just visual dressing in Directive 8020. They’re part of the language of fear. Dynamic shadow detail adds depth and movement to scenes, making environments feel less static and more unpredictable. A shifting silhouette might be nothing… or it might be an alien hunter watching. The added richness in shadow rendering enhances atmosphere in subtle but powerful ways, reinforcing the unease that runs through the entire experience. Smooth performance where every decision counts Performance isn’t just about numbers on a spec sheet, it’s about emotional timing. Directive 8020 is built around split-second decisions that permanently shape your story. When Anders is freezing in a failing medical lab and Mitchel is trapped in an inferno elsewhere on the ship, you don’t have time to deliberate forever. Your instinct takes over. Or when you’re faced with two identical versions of the same crew member, both claiming to be real, who do you trust? Smooth, consistent performance ensures those moments land exactly as intended. Inputs feel immediate. Camera movement remains fluid. Cinematic transitions hold their impact. The tension builds naturally, without technical friction pulling you out of it. In a choice-driven narrative game, responsiveness is part of storytelling. Designed with PlayStation 5 in mind Beyond visual enhancements, Directive 8020 was designed to make full use of PlayStation 5 features, particularly the DualSense controller. Especially due to the Supermassive legacy from Until Dawn in those tense “Don’t Move” moments from the PlayStation 3. We wanted interactions to feel instinctive in Directive 8020: You’ll instinctively reach for your flashlight in a pitch-black corridor. You’ll scan a room before entering a hatch. You’ll grab the wedge tool at the last possible second. All without taking your eyes off the danger around you. Haptic feedback puts the fear in your hands during choices and while using tools. The DualSense’s audio output crackles as a way for distant characters to communicate to you from across the vast ship through the messenger tool. Our goal was simple: make the controller your tool for survival and fully immerse you in the world, to keep you on the edge of your seat. Step aboard We’re incredibly proud of how Directive 8020 plays and feels on PlayStation 5 Pro. The enhancements refine the cinematic presentation, elevate lighting and shadow detail, and ensure smooth performance in the moments that matter most. If you’re ready to confront what’s waiting in the dark abyss of space, you can pre-order now on PlayStation 5 before Directive 8020 launches May 12. We can’t wait for you to board the Cassiopeia and face the choices that define your story.

Title: The Spring Sale comes to PlayStation Store March 25 Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/24/the-spring-sale-comes-to-playstation-store-march-25/ PlayStation Store’s Spring Sale begins tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25. For a limited time* you can enjoy deep discounts of up to 75% on a vast range of games that include iconic blockbusters, acclaimed classics, and more. *PlayStation Store Spring Sale promotion runs from Wednesday, March 25 at 00:00 AM PDT/BST/JST and finishes Wednesday April 22 at 11:59 PM PDT/BST/JST**. Each title may have different sale periods. Please refer to the information in the title details page.  **The promotion’s start and finish time may differ in certain regions. Game selection may differ by region.

Title: Virtual Hunter brings the pursuit to PS VR2 on May 27 Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:46:28 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/03/24/virtual-hunter-brings-the-pursuit-to-ps-vr2-on-may-27/ I’m Jesse Passoja from Korpi Games, lead designer on Virtual Hunter. Virtual reality is a lightning rod for all the things that make simulation games like ours click with the genre’s audience: Slower-paced, highly immersive experiences with a great range of freedom. However, the hunting genre was almost completely missing from VR when we started working on Virtual Hunter. Play Video We put all of our passion and knowledge from the past decades into the design to deliver the best game in the genre, and I’m honored to be able to give the PlayStation community some insight into what to expect when Virtual Hunter launches for PlayStation VR2 on May 27. I’ll also include some insight from Jaakko Asikainen, CTO over at VRKiwi, with whom we have the pleasure of working with as we deliver the game for this community. The PS VR2 version has been requested for years and, with his team, we gathered feedback from players so we could make the best use of things like the adaptive triggers, foveated rendering, and headset haptics while delivering the best port we can. Building the hunt from the ground up We focused on delivering a hunting experience in VR that players have wanted and more with Virtual Hunter. From realistic hunting mechanics and true-to-life weapon ballistics all the way to the massive open-world with day/night cycle and dynamic weather filled with animals meticulously designed to mimic their real-life counterparts. Core to the impact of these different systems intersecting and complementing each other is total player freedom in how they want to approach a hunt. Do you want to climb on a stand early in the morning and scan the tree line as you go? Or do you want to take a relaxing hike to the top of the mountain you spotted on the horizon? It is all up to the player and, since there’s a fresh spawn of animals, each hunt will be different. You’ll never know when the trophy of a lifetime shows up. That freedom extends to accessibility as well. Players can approach at their own pace with three different difficulty options, which affect animal senses and rewards. They’re easier to approach in Casual mode, and in Realistic, they are highly aware of their surroundings but yield higher monetary rewards. We also have a feature that gives you space to reflect and admire the progress you make on your many hunts: the trophy lodge. With our best-in-the-genre trophy mount system, players can freely place their favorite trophies around the lodge. There are several mount types available, varying from full body mounts to hanging ceiling mounts for pheasants, and players can add, change, and move them however they want.  Outside the lodge, you can find a shooting range and a 3D archery course where you can master your shooting skills. The trophy lodge brings a narrative layer unique to each player, serving as a blank canvas for players to paint their virtual hunting story, one trophy at a time. PS VR2 takes it to the next level Virtual Hunter includes specific settings that are crucial to players shaping their VR experience. There’s a dedicated seated mode, a variety of settings for weapon handling, and more. Further, coming to PS VR2 gives us a selection of options we didn’t have in the original version of Virtual Hunter that we’re excited to take advantage of. “PS VR2’s specific features are always exciting to work with. They’re fairly easy to implement but with great payoffs for players,” says Asikainen. “For example, we use the headset haptics to simulate branches and leaves going by your head while in the brush.” ”The main show, however, is the adaptive triggers, and we aimed for ultimate realism with them,” he continues. “It helps when there are lots of hunters and other hobbyists in the fan base who can give us feedback on things like the resistances we applied to the triggers for the different guns.” The bows in the game are draw-and-release, so they are very straightforward when pulling the triggers. The revolver, however, has a realistic double-action where a partial pull cocks the weapon and pulling further fires it. “All in all, the adaptive trigger feature is a must-have for any developer trying to do some kind of weapon simulation,” Asikainen concludes.  A trophy worth the wait Virtual Hunter is a technical and design feat that was challenging to accomplish with a small team and limited resources. It took a lot of time, research, and mistakes to succeed and we’re very proud of what we’ve accomplished. When the PS VR2 community gets their hands on Virtual Hunter, we want them to feel the thrill when they spot the first animal and successfully harvest it. It’s not always about the trophy, but the experience of the hunt as well. There is a lot to explore, new skills to master, and personal goals to achieve. Patience is a skill in immersive simulation experiences, and getting your first trophy is a feeling that will make it all worth it. We’re always open to hearing about our players’ experiences, so don’t hesitate to reach out with feedback or questions. Happy hunting! Virtual Hunter launches May 27 for PS VR2.

Title: Dying Light: The Beast's new Restored Land update lets you turn the game into a gritty walking sim Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:10:11 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dying-light-the-beasts-new-restored-land-update-lets-you-turn-the-game-into-a-gritty-walking-sim I quite like a bit of permanency in games. Well, like might be too positive, I'm more intrigued by it and the friction it provides. It's interesting that if you're silly enough to kill an NPC in Dark Souls, for example, that's it, no take backsies. So despite honestly not caring all that much for zombie games, I'm still a bit interested in Dying Light: The Beast and its new Restored Land update which introduces a mode where if you kill a zombie once, it truly is gone for good. Read more

Title: Vaunted's tactical combat looks fine, but I'm most interested in the consequences of rewriting history when one of its dodgy mercenaries bites the bullet Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vaunteds-tactical-combat-looks-fine-but-im-most-interested-in-the-consequences-of-rewriting-history-when-one-of-its-dodgy-mercenaries-bites-the-bullet We've all been there. You and two other morally dubious alien treasure hunters have an expedition go wrong, and find yourselves having to tactically blast through some baddies in order to secure some relics in timely fashion. Well, at least that's situation the three protagonists of Vaunted, a newly announced tactical RPG, find themselves in. Read more

Title: STALKER 2: Cost of Hope is a "massive nonlinear expansion" that includes the Chornobyl power plant visit the base game never made time for Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:30:05 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/stalker-2-cost-of-hope-expansion-announced STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is getting its first proper expansion this year, titled Cost of Hope, and it looks stuffed to its icky mutant gills with classic STALKER series beats that the base game – while a powerfully engrossing survival FPS – missed out on. The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant returns as an explorable, doubtless horrible addition to the game’s open world, and the story concerns the conflict between the rival Freedom and Duty factions that’s been simmering since the original STALKER. Read more

Title: For better or worse, Max and Chloe are together again in Life is Strange: Reunion, which is out right now Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:12:44 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/for-better-or-worse-max-and-chloe-are-together-again-in-life-is-strange-reunion-which-is-out-right-now A new Life is Strange game doesn't always feel particularly odd given its sort of steady turn into a franchise. The last one was only in 2024 with Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, bringing back the original game's Max Caulfield. This wasn't necessarily a welcome return for all, and ended up being somewhat of a mixed bag. And now we come to now with a potentially odd entry, Life is Strange: Reunion, which is out today. As the subtitle suggests, and where the oddness comes in, Reunion reunites Max with the surprising return of Chloe Price. Big spoilers ahead for Double Exposure, by the way! Read more

Title: Saros director won't say whether it's coming to PC, following report Sony plan to stop porting over their big singleplayer guns Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:42:40 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/saros-director-wont-say-whether-its-coming-to-pc-following-report-sony-plan-to-stop-porting-over-their-big-singleplayer-guns I dunno if you heard earlier this month, but PlayStation are reportedly breaking up with us PC folks, at least when it comes to the PS5's biggest singleplayer hitters. Asked where Returnal devs Housemarque's new game Saros - due out next month - fits into that, its director has opted to remain tight-lipped. Read more