Gaming News

The Blood of Dawnwalker Puts a Dark Twist on a Typical RPG Prologue

Finding a lost animal for a worried owner is Quest Design 101 for fantasy RPGs, and so it’s unsurprising to find that The Blood of Dawnwalker’s prologue features its own wandering farmyard resident. Tasked with finding a prized pig, protagonist Coen searches high and low (and beats up a castaway man) in his attempt to bring the sow back to her owner… who, when reunited with his muddy love, promptly asks if Coen would like to butcher the animal himself. This dark twist is perhaps the earliest indication that The Blood of Dawnwalker is absolutely a game created by the former director of The Witcher 3 and a studio staffed by numerous ex-CD Projekt Red talent. Even the smallest quests have grisly repercussions. During a recent trip to...

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The Blood of Dawnwalker Studio Uses AI, but There’s No AI Assets in the Game

The use of artificial intelligence in video game development has become a thorny and divisive topic over the past couple of years, and so naturally it was a topic of conversation during a recent press Q&A session with The Blood of Dawnwalker’s game director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. The former Witcher 3 director revealed that generative AI technology is used at the studio as part of the development process, used with the intention of preventing stress and overtime rather than creating final assets. Tomaszkiewicz revealed that generative AI voices were used during the early stages of The Blood of Dawnwalker's development, with the intention of testing and locking in the script before it was handed over to actors. “In our genre, when you...

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The Blood of Dawnwalker Has Romances, but With a Twist

The Blood of Dawnwalker is the new game from The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz’s Rebel Wolves studio, developed by a team made up of both ex-CD Projekt Red talent and other developers. While it has many interesting new ideas, it does look rather similar to The Witcher 3 in several ways, and so I had one significant question to ask when I recently visited the studio’s HQ in Poland: is there a Yen and Triss situation here? Fans of The Witcher 3 will know exactly what I’m talking about. As protagonist Geralt, your affections are torn between two women: Yennefer of Vengerberg, Geralt’s lover during the era of the original Witcher novels, and Triss Merigold, a sorceress with whom Geralt forms a relationship with across the first...

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The Blood of Dawnwalker Has a Release Date and a New Story Trailer

The Blood of Dawnwalker has finally set its release date: September 3, 2026. That’s across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. The single-player, open world vampire role-playing game is from Rebel Wolves, which was founded by former developers of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk at CD Projekt. Rebel Wolves describes The Blood of Dawnwalker as “the first chapter” in a “brand new role-playing saga.” It's set in 14th-century Europe, with a dark fantasy tone. The early September release date is comfortably ahead of GTA 6’s November launch, so it should have plenty of headroom to make an impression. Alongside the release date announcement, we also have a new story trailer. Here's the official blurb: The developers also showcased...

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Resident Evil Requiem Had a 'Phantom' Chapter That Capcom Cut

Capcom cut a whole chapter from Resident Evil Requiem that would have taken place shortly after the beginning of the game. According to Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi, Capcom excised a "phantom" Chapter 2 during development — similar to how the company also cut Resident Evil 7's second gameplay chapter. "I've mentioned in interviews before that there was a phantom Chapter 2 for Resident Evil 7 that was cut during development," Nakanishi told Japanese website Denfaminicogamer (via machine translation). "It was a scene where you move from the first annex to the main building, but actually, there was also a phantom Chapter 2 for Resident Evil: Requiem." Frustratingly, Nakanishi did not go into further detail on what this cut chapter...

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Resident Evil Requiem's New Mode Requires a Completed Save File to Access

The new mode coming to Resident Evil Requiem next month will require you have completed the main game in order to access it. So, if you're yet to finish Leon S. Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft's adventures in Raccoon City, now is the time to do so, according to Requiem's development team. "It's a mini-game, and it's based on the battles in the main game," director Koshi Nakanishi said in an interview with Japanese site Denfaminicogamer (via machine translation). "For those who have cleared the main story and are thinking, 'I still haven't had enough fun!', I think you'll be able to enjoy this and go 'Whoa!!', so sharpen your hatchet and wait." "This mini-game is content that is unlocked after clearing the main story," added producer...

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Phasmophobia Team Talks Character Update, Lore, Cosmetics, And Taking On The 'Cult of the Bendy Back'

I know. I can't believe it, either. Phasmophobia's long-teased, much-anticipated Player Character update is almost here. Cheerio, bendy backs. So long, limited rotation of slack, perma-stunned faces. From May 5, and for the first time ever, Phasmophobia players will be able to customize their ghosthunters in a "much-needed" update. "They'll match the new environments that we've been making — that's a huge thing. There'll be customization, so players will be able to pick what clothes they're wearing," Corey Dixon, art director at Kinetic Games, told IGN. "And there are some customizations for the characters themselves, like hair color, because they are people. They're not soulless anymore. We're not letting you change everything, but...

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Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Early Access Review

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era’s primary goal is to return to the form and function of the much applauded Heroes of Might and Magic 3. It picks up some tricks from later entries, sure, but you’ll largely do the same things today that old heads like myself did back in 1999 – and this revival makes a good case for why that era is considered the peak of the series. While its Early Access launch is definitely still under construction, Olden Era captures the essence of that one-of-a-kind turn-based strategy that has gone all but missing in the scene for decades. If you’re not familiar with Heroes of Might and Magic, the basic setup is this: you and your enemies each manage heroes and towns on a top-down map, taking turns sending your...

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Project Silent Whispers Takes Cinematic Adventure To The Next Level

Project Silent Whispers is giving romantic adventures a major upgrade. It’s a player-led romantic adventure in an urban city, integrating high-stakes survival narratives. It’s upgrading everything you think you know about the genre with a whole new level of immersion, bringing you into a spectacular world full of exceptional technical detail and the dreamiest guys. Amazing sci-fi elements like time loops give a welcome twist to the game, and there’s an inescapable sense of danger, bringing your survival skills into play. This is no visual novel, bursting to life with 3D characters and worlds. Project Silent Whispers is a cinematic romance powered by the Unreal Engine 5, delivering an urban adventure and high-stakes narrative...

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Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression Update 6.2.2 Makes Big Balance Changes, Adds Two New Biomes

Hot on the heels of promising action and communication after players had delivered “fair” and “painful” criticism, Arrowhead has released yet another patch for Helldivers 2, this time making significant balance changes and adding two new biomes. Helldivers 2 Machinery of Oppression update 6.2.2 (patch notes, courtesy of Steam, are below), goes live alongside the new Exo Experts Warbond, which comes with new exosuit designs well-suited for close combat and fire-based offense. Patch highlights include two new biomes, one new enemy variant, a major Exo Suit rebalance, an enemy rebalance, sidearm and stratagem rebalances, and — always fitting for Helldivers 2 — bug fixes. Of the big fixes, a few stand out: Enthusiastic Mirth emote sound...

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New Forza Horizon 6 Details Discussed in Developer Discord Q&A

Playground Games design director Torben Ellert has answered an assortment of questions about next month’s Forza Horizon 6 in a community-oriented Q&A hosted on the official Forza Discord server. The questions covered a broad range of topics, from the new touge battles to multiplayer elements. Touge battles are one-on-one events at five preset mountain passes around the map. In single-player mode each has a specific opponent who you’ll find parked near the start of the route. Touge battles are not linked to festival progression, and we’ll be able to race them at any time while in single player. There will also be an online championship, which will effectively be a constant supply of one-on-one battles, rotating around the five routes...

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The CyberPowerPC RTX 5070 Gaming PC Drops to Just $1399 and Now Includes a Free Copy of Pragmata

Despite the rising prices of graphics cards and DDR5 RAM, there are still good deals to be found on prebuilt gaming PCs. B&H Photo is offering one such excellent deal this week. The CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme Liquid gaming PC with RTX 5070 GPU is on sale for $1399 with free shipping. This is a well-equipped prebuilt that pairs the GPU with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and a generous amount of RAM and storage. I saw it on sale about a week ago, but it sold out within the day. As of this article, it's available for "special order" with an estimate shipping date of 1-2 weeks. For a limited time, get a digital download code for Capcom's recently released Pragmata on Steam while supplies last. This promotion ends on May 12. Full details and...

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Helldivers 2 Dev Promises Action and Communication After Players Deliver 'Fair' and 'Painful' Criticism During Reddit AMA

Arrowhead Game Studios said it has heard the "fair" but "painful to read" criticisms from the Helldivers 2 community and has made the promise to take action with more frequent communication in the future. Johan Pilestedt, who previously served as studio CEO before switching his role to chief creative officer in May 2024, got in touch with fans of the PlayStation shooter with a Reddit AMA during the weekend. He said his goal was to address the "hate, misinformation, and disappointment" within the growing r/HelldiversUnfiltered subreddit and then spent time replying to some of the most common complaints from the community. Although it's unclear if the Helldivers 2 AMA itself did anything to ease the tension, what was clear was that it...

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The LEGO Harry Potter: Hogwarts Castle and Grounds Is Discounted for the First Time This Year

Harry Potter fans, don't miss out on an opportunity to pick up a LEGO set that hasn't been discounted since last year. The LEGO Harry Potter: Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 has dropped in price to $136.99 with free shipping after a 20% off instant discount. With a total brick count of 2,660 pieces, you're paying 5 cents per brick, making it far and away the best value amongst the numerous Harry Potter castle builds, by far. Save 20% Off the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds This particular set was released back in September of 2023 and it's still the biggest Hogwarts Castle set outside of the garganutan 2018 6,020-piece predecessor. As its name implies, this set encompasses more than just the castle's central structures...

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Amazon's 2026 Gaming Week Sale Is Live: Here Are the Best Deals We've Found So Far

Amazon’s annual Gaming Week sale is live, running from April 27 to May 4, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag this year. There’s no obvious headline-grabber doing the heavy lifting, but dig around enough and you can find a handful of deals that are genuinely worth your time. Square Enix is doing a lot of legwork in the sale, with plenty of big highlights that can be rattled off fairly easily. Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined has dropped to just $49.99, alongside FF7 Rebirth for $29.99 on PS5, and even Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake for just $29.99. JRPG fans are sure eating well right now. Capcom’s Resident Evil lineup is the other clear highlight, with several now just $15.99 in the sale. That includes my personal favorite, Resident Evil 4, which...

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Resident Evil 2 Director Hideki Kamiya Confirms Leon S. Kennedy Is Named After 1994 Movie Leon: The Professional

After nearly 30 years of speculation, Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya has confirmed that, yes, Leon S. Kennedy is named after the Léon: The Professional movie. The Capcom alum and action game developer icon revealed the inspiration for one of the most recognizable horror protagonists of all time with a simple post on X/Twitter today. It follows decades of theories from fans who already believed Leon's name had originated from the 1994 film, but it's still confirmation, nonetheless. Kamiya recalled naming Leon when consulting with Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. After a few ideas were shot down, the director said (via Google Translate), "Well, why don't we just take it from that movie I watched the other day?" "And his...

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The $99 Steam Controller Seems Expensive, But It's Really Not

When I first heard that the Steam Controller was $99, I immediately recoiled. For what is ostensibly a core controller, it'd be a big price hike above its fellow $75 PS5's DualSense 5 or $70 Xbox Series X controller. But the more I sit down and think about all the tech that Valve managed to shove into this thing, the more it seems like a pretty decent deal. That mostly comes down to where it's competing. The world of PC controllers is full of ultra-premium "pro" controllers, that pack in some of the same features as the Steam Controller but at a much higher price. I mean, just look at the Asus ROG Raikiri II: It has the same TMR sticks, but with added RGB lighting, and it costs almost twice as much as Valve's controller. But where...

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Valve Says It's 'Hard at Work' on Steam Deck 2, but There's Still No Release Window

Valve has said it’s “hard at work” on Steam Deck 2, while continuing to work on getting the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame out the door. In November last year, when Valve announced its trio of new hardware devices, IGN asked Valve programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais about Steam Deck 2, and he told us that Valve was “making sure… that it's a worthwhile enough performance upgrade to make sense as a standalone product.” Now, five months later, with Valve confirming a release date and price for Steam Controller, we thought we’d ask Griffais for an update on Steam Deck 2. “We're hard at work on it,” he replied. “And obviously every step of the way, if you look at our hardware projects over the years, you can draw a straight...

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New GameStop Sale Includes 30% Off Pre-Owned Switch 2 and PS5 Games If You Follow These Steps

GameStop is currently holding a "Buy More, Save More" sale on a selection of pre-owned games, allowing you to save 10%, 20%, or 30% depending on the number of games you add to your cart. For 10% off, add two to three games from this selection to your cart. To inch that up to 20% off, add four to five. Or, if you want to hit the full 30% off, add six or more games from this sale. This sale features some exciting pre-owned picks – very recent games like Pokémon Pokopia, Crimson Desert, and Resident Evil Requiem were the very first to catch my eye. If you're hoping to scoop them up, there's actually a workaround you can do to get that 30% off without buying a whole cart's worth of expensive games. Here's how it works: On GameStop's...

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For the Steam Machine, Valve Is Waiting for the Price to Be Right

While the Steam Machine was initially supposed to come out at the beginning of 2026, the AI-fueled RAM crisis caused Valve to hit the brakes back in February. Even back then, Valve seemed to suggest that the delay was entirely due to supply constraints, and well, that hasn't changed. In an interview about the upcoming Steam Controller, Valve's Pierre-Louis Griffais told IGN that "in terms of Steam Machine, yeah, it's really just about the logistics of getting it into user's hands." It does seem, then, that supply constraints are the only thing holding the Steam Machine back from its release. From what Griffais told us, it seems like the mini gaming PC is feature complete. "If you've used the Steam Deck docked, the experience is...

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Resident Evil Requiem Sales Prompt Capcom to Raise Profit Forecast

The success of Resident Evil Requiem means Capcom is raising its earning forecast for the year. In a newly-released financial statement, the Resident Evil publisher said that Requiem's huge sales (now up to 7 million copies and climbing) had contributed to "net sales, operating profit, ordinary profit and net profit" that all "outperform our previously announced foreast." Capcom also said it had seen unexpected growth in sales of older titles, which had also contributed to its outsized sales performance. The past year has notably seen Capcom supporting Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6 with further content. The company now expects net sales of 195.3 billion yen (around $1.2 billion), up around 3% from its previous forecast...

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Arc Raiders Riven Tides Trailer Reveals Massive Beach-Themed Update With New Seaside Map and Turbine Enemy

Embark Studios has revealed a first look at the new Riven Tides map, the Arc Turbine enemy, and everything else included in what looks like the biggest Arc Raiders update yet. The studio behind the popular sci-fi extraction shooter published details about the new seaside content with a post on its website today. It's a breakdown for the Riven Tides update aimed to show players that the months-long wait for the new map will have been worth it when Raiders head topside to try it all out tomorrow, April 28. The April Arc Raiders update's pièce de resistance is no doubt the new location it pulls its name from: Riven Tides. As fans have guessed for months, this new map, the second post-launch location Embark has added since its October...

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Everything You Need to Know About Dead as Disco

Dead as Disco is a stylish action rhythm beat ’em up that blends martial arts combat with music-synchronised attacks, set in a neon-soaked world where rhythm and fighting go hand in hand. Developed by Brain Jar Games, Inc., the game has quickly caught attention thanks to its energetic combat, music-heavy presentation, and a well-received demo on Steam. Whether you’re curious about the demo, Early Access plans, or what makes Dead as Disco unique, here is everything you need to know. What Dead as Disco Is Dead as Disco is best described as a rhythm-linked action beat ’em up, where every punch, kick, and combo syncs with the soundtrack. The game puts players in the shoes of Charlie Disco, a fallen music icon trying to reclaim the...

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Crimson Desert Has Sold So Well Developer Pearl Abyss Has Reportedly Given Every Employee a $3,400 Bonus

Crimson Desert has sold so well that its developer, Pearl Abyss, has reportedly given every employee a $3,400 bonus. South Korean publication MTN said Pearl Abyss had awarded staff with a 5 million Won special bonus to celebrate Crimson Desert selling over 5 million copies. Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young reportedly said in an internal statement: "I express my deep respect and gratitude for the hard work of each and every one of you who created a product that the world is enthusiastic about, and I am paying a celebratory bonus for achieving 5 million sales to all employees who have silently fulfilled their roles in their respective positions. "Our journey does not end here. The potential we confirmed today will be the most powerful...

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There's a Whole Load of Square Enix RPGs on Sale at Amazon This Week

Amazon has kicked off its annual Gaming Week sale, and while the lineup is not exactly stacked, there are still a handful of genuinely worthwhile discounts if you know where to look. The biggest winner here is Square Enix, with a wave of RPGs dropping to some of their lowest-ever prices across PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox. That includes the Final Fantasy 7 remakes on either Switch 2 and PS5, alongside heavier, slower-burn RPGs like Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined and Octopath Traveler 0. That being said, FF7 isn't exactly short, either. Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined has dropped to just $49.99, while Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade can now be picked up on Switch 2 for just $29.99, alongside FF7 Rebirth for $29.99 on PS5. Rebirth hitting $30 is...

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PowerWash Simulator 2 Star Wars DLC Announced

The PowerWash Simulator series has announced its biggest collaboration yet: a Star Wars DLC for PowerWash Simulator 2. The PowerWash Simulator 2 - Star Wars Pack will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S this summer, and include six cleaning jobs set across the Star Wars galaxy. Players will take on the role of classic five labor droid P0-W2 for the DLC, and wield an exclusive power washer designed specifically for the pack. Some sort of story will also be included, set during the events of the original Star Wars trilogy. Is this canon? I really hope so. An initial trailer shows that players will be scrubbing down the Lars Homestead on Tatooine (but not the flaming corpses of Aunt Beru and Uncle Lars...

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Indie Video Games Round-Up – May 2026

We hope you’ve had your fill of treats and chocolate over the last month! Hopefully, you’re also soaking up the sunshine now that it’s finally decided to grace us with its presence. Of course, we aren’t actually suggesting you go outside – we’re doing our part by staying firmly indoors and glued to our screens. If you’re looking for something fascinating to play, we’ve curated an excellent list of indie games to feast your eyes on this month. Let’s dive in. Gambonanza – 1st May Our first pick this month is Gambonanza, a chess-inspired roguelike that lets you mess with the fundamental rules of the board. Thanks to “Gambits,” you can swap out your pieces and redefine your tactical options on the fly. Chess is the ultimate classic, so...

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Snake Actor David Hayter Doesn't Understand All Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Story Either

Have you ever sat through a Metal Gear cut-scene and not understood what the hell just happened? Turns out you're in good company — the ultimate company, in fact. In an interview on Fall Damage, David Hayter — the voice of Snake from the original Metal Gear Solid up to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, along with the series' numerous offshoots and spinoffs — revealed that, perhaps like most of us, he too has struggled to keep up with series creator Hideo Kojima's complex storylines. "Do I understand the story of Metal Gear Solid?" he said when asked (thanks, FRVR). "Uh, basically, I do. Do I understand all of it? Absolutely not. "I’d be like, ‘What does this mean?’" he joked. "And they’d say, ‘Just say it.'" That said, Hayter...

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Mass Effect Andromeda 'Done Dirty' by Publisher EA, Actor Says

One of the lead actors behind BioWare's Mass Effect Andromeda has spoken out about the game's disappointing critical and commercial response, and placed much of the blame on publisher EA. Andromeda launched back in 2017, and had the unenviable job of continuing the Mass Effect franchise following the climactic Mass Effect 3. Gone was Commander Shepard and the beloved Normandy crew, replaced by new customizable hero Ryder and a fresh cast of shipmates. And gone was the saga's sense of trilogy-closing urgency — reset to a more smaller-scale adventure, designed to place building blocks for later sequels. Response to Andromeda was mixed, with sky-high expectations from fans clearly not met. Reviews were also middling — not terrible, but...

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Karma Exorcist is a Chinese Mythology Metroidvania That Caught Me Off Guard

It wasn’t until I’d toppled the first few of Karma Exorcist’s brutal bosses that I finally got my hands on its game-changing grappling hook, but this stunning 2D Metroidvania actually got its hooks into me from the outset. At a recent BiliBili: First Look event in Shanghai, I was completely taken aback by Karma Exorcist’s stunning hand-drawn environments, sizeable cast of challenging enemies, and the expanding set of addictive abilities possessed by its stylish demon-slaying lead. Karma Exorcist has instantly gone to the top of the list of my most-wanted Metroidvanias, and with a bit more polish it just might have the goods to challenge the modern greats of the genre. In Karma Exorcist you play as a demon hunter who emerges from the...

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