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Final Fantasy VII Intergrade is officially available on Xbox Series X|S for $40.

No PlayStation exclusivity — time to dive into Midgar on Xbox!



The latest Battlefield 6 patch (Jan 20) fixes the BF Pro Bonus Path progression bug.
Affected players will receive all missed rewards via in-game mail shortly.

EA has not yet commented on whether future passes will be adjusted to prevent a repeat.

via: charlieINTEL



PRE-ORDER PERK ALERT!

IO Interactive is offering a FREE Deluxe Edition upgrade with every Standard Edition pre-order!

🕐 Get 24-hour early access before official release + Deluxe content.

🔄 Supports Xbox Play Anywhere (buy once, play on Xbox & PC).



According to Insider Gaming sources: Russia is reportedly backing a homegrown competitor to Call of Duty with state funding of ~10 billion rubles (~$128M).

🎯 Goal: Counter Western portrayals of Russians as “the enemy” in shooters like COD, and promote national narrative.

🎮 Incentives are being offered to Russian studios to develop a high-budget “patriotic” military shooter.


IGN Poland claims to have known for years about a 3rd expansion for The Witcher 3

🗺️ Adds a new map — a desert environment, likely Zerrikania.
📅 Targets a May release.
⏳ Bridges the story gap between TW3 and TW4.
📏 Massive scale, comparable to Blood and Wine.
🎮 Current-gen consoles only (PS5, Xbox Series X|S). 👨‍💻 Developed by Fool’s Theory (also remaking The Witcher 1).

Multiple Polish sources & analysts have reportedly confirmed — now awaiting official announcement.

According to PlayStationSize, Nioh 3 will be ~75GB on PlayStation.

🗓️ Mark your calendars — the brutal action continues on February 6, 2026.



The ROG Ally X has unofficially outrun the PS5 in Bloodborne! 🩸

Using the ShadPS4 emulator, Digital Foundry saw 50-70 fps at 720p on the handheld — beating PS5’s locked 30fps.

(Note: Required 35W power + emulation, not native play.)



NEWS: Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch a FREE, ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming in late 2026!

📺 Stream your owned digital games or select titles — no Game Pass needed — after watching ~2 minutes of pre-roll ads per session.

Rumors are swirling! According to leaker NateTheHate, Ubisoft is targeting a March 2026 release for the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake.

🔎 However, he cautions that no date is final and it could still change at any time.



Clair Obscur Director Explains Intentional Ease of Final Boss

Director Guillaume Broche has addressed player feedback regarding the game’s final boss difficulty, confirming it was a deliberate design choice.

🎮 Design Philosophy: Inspired by Final Fantasy X. The intent was for players who deeply engage with side content and character building to become powerful enough to make the final boss less challenging.

🎯 Player Choice: The goal was not to reduce difficulty, but to offer freedom: players could either focus on the main story for a direct path to the ending, or engage fully with exploration to experience the impact on challenge level.



Stellar Blade 2 Location Scouting Trip Concludes, Potential China Setting Revealed

The development team at SHIFT UP has completed its on-site research for the sequel’s environments.

Scouting Complete: The team’s “location scouting trip” for Stellar Blade 2 has officially ended.

🇨🇳 New Setting: They revealed one of the scouted locations, which appears to be in China. This suggests the sequel may expand its post-apocalyptic world to new regions.

Pre-production and world-building are underway. 🌏



Valve Updates Steam’s AI Disclosure Policy

The platform has clarified new rules for developers using artificial intelligence tools:

🤖 AI for Code/Development: No disclosure required if AI assists with programming or general development tasks.

🎨 AI for Game Content: Disclosure is mandatory if AI is used to generate final in-game art, audio, music, or story content. A warning must be placed on the store page.

The policy focuses on transparency for AI-generated creative assets used in the final product.



Official statement: Rockstar Confirms Edinburgh Office Reopened, GTA VI Development Unaffected After Boiler Explosion

🔥 Incident: A boiler explosion caused a fire at dawn. Firefighters quickly contained it.

🏢 Status: The office has reopened and is operating at full capacity.

👥 Personnel: No employees were injured. Damage was minor.

🎮 Development: Work on Grand Theft Auto VI is “completely unaffected.”

Operations have resumed normally. ✅



Chinese Modders Merge PS5, Xbox Series S & Switch 2 into “Nintendo PXBOX 5”

A team from the XN7 YouTube channel has created a functional, all-in-one “console war-ender” device.

🔧 The Build: A single chassis housing a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

How It Works: A single button switches between platforms in seconds. They share a power supply and custom aluminum cooling system, but only one runs at a time to manage heat/power.

📊Runs stably, with PS5 temps around 60°C. HDMI output switches b/w devices in under 2 seconds.

The Name: Dubbed the “Nintendo PXBOX 5.”

A unique engineering feat that literally combines the competition. 🔥



GRAPHICS SHOCK! Crimson Desert isn’t using Unreal Engine 5 — it’s running on Pearl Abyss’s own BlackSpace Engine!

🏆 Digital Foundry calls it “the most visually stunning game” they saw at CES, praising details that “surpass major industry engines.”

Image credit: Microsoft Xbox



UNEARTHED! Concept art for the upcoming Fable reboot has surfaced online, reportedly from a former developer’s personal files.

Offers a fascinating (though unofficial) peek into the art direction of Playground Games’ highly anticipated return to Albion.

More Images▶️ Concept art Fable Images


Embark CEO: ARC Raiders Will Not Feature PvP Leaderboards

Embark CEO: “Shooting players isn’t the ethos.” Combat is to “build tension.”

📊 No Leaderboards
🎯 Design Ethos
⚔️ Combat’s Role

Game’s emphasis on survival and cooperation over pure PvP

via GamesBeat



GTA VI is “Content Ready,” Making Nov 2026 Launch More Certain

According to reliable insider Tom Henderson, Grand Theft Auto VI has reached a critical internal milestone that strongly supports its target release date.

Current Status: The game is now “content ready.”

This means all core missions, story, and gameplay elements are in place.

📅 Why It Matters: For comparison, Red Dead Redemption 2 was not content complete just four months before launch, with mocap work ongoing eight weeks prior.

🚂 Outlook: Being at this stage in early 2026 makes the November 2026 release window “more guaranteed than ever before.”

This suggests Rockstar is precisely where it wants to be in the final year of polish. The train is on track. 🚂


Micron Forecasts: RAM Supply Crisis to Persist Until 2028

The memory chip manufacturer has provided a sobering long-term outlook for the global market.

📅 Timeline: The company predicts that the current RAM shortage and high prices will continue through 2028.

🎯 Impact: This prolonged constraint is expected to affect the production, cost, and timing of a wide range of electronics, including PCs, consoles, smartphones, and servers.

The industry faces several more years of supply chain challenges. ⚙️


Rumor: The Division: Definitive Edition May Be Imminent

A leaked promotional image from Japan suggests an enhanced version of the original game could be announced soon.

🖼️ Source: A promotional image that surfaced in Japan includes the phrase “Definitive Edition.”

🎯 Likely Content: This typically indicates a re-release with all major DLC included and potential visual/performance upgrades for modern platforms.

An official announcement from Ubisoft may follow shortly.


Larian Studios CEO Details Cautious, Limited AI Policy for Divinity Series

In response to player feedback, the studio has clarified its stance on generative AI use:

🖼️ Creative Assets: Has stopped using AI for concept art. Any final creative assets will not use AI

⚙️ Development Tools: Will continue using AI internally to “improve the speed of experience and trial” (e.g., prototyping, testing).

📊 Data Governance: All AI use will be based on the company’s own data.



Layoffs Reported at Warner Bros. Games’ San Francisco Studio

A new wave of job cuts has impacted the publisher’s mobile-focused division.

📍 Studio: The Warner Bros. Games studio in San Francisco, which specializes in mobile titles.

👥 Impact: The layoffs affected several employees, including directors on the team.

These cuts are part of broader ongoing restructuring within the gaming and media industry.



Report: Ninja Theory’s Next Title is Hellblade 3

According to journalist Jez Corden on the XBOX TWO podcast, the studio behind Senua’s Saga is moving forward with a third mainline entry.

🎮 The Next Project: Development has shifted to “Hellblade 3” (final title TBC).

It will be set in the same world but aims to be “more interactive” and have “broader appeal” than its predecessors.

🚫 Project MARA Status: The experimental “Project MARA” is not currently in active development. Corden stated it “was just an idea and not a game


🎮 Major Xbox Franchises Heading to PS5 in 2026

🗓️ Confirmed Releases:

Avowed – Feb 17
Towerborne – Feb 26
South of Midnight – Spring 2026
Halo: Campaign Evolved – 2026
Call of Duty 2026 – Oct/Nov 2026
Forza Horizon 6 – 2026/27


🔍 Rumored Parts:

Starfield
Gears of War: E-Day
Fable

This lineup highlights Microsoft’s continued multi-platform strategy.


Phil Spencer on Xbox Developer_Direct: “I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store for 2026.”

Core purpose:

🎯 Focus: “Giving players direct communication with the developers and creators” of upcoming games.

The showcase is scheduled for later this month (January 2026).


Report: Sony Strategizing 2026 Releases Around GTA VI, Wolverine Possibly Slated for Fall

According to a new report from journalist Jason Schreier, Sony is carefully planning its 2026 release slate with Grand Theft Auto VI as the central pillar.

🗓️ Potential Wolverine Window: Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine is speculated for a September or October 2026 release. This would position it weeks before GTA VI (Nov 19), avoiding a direct launch clash.

🎯 Sony’s Strategy: Schreier reports that Sony is planning “their entire release catalogue around GTA6”.

🤝 Platform Priority: This is based on the understanding that Rockstar considers PlayStation the game’s “main platform” for development and marketing.



Report: Crimson Desert Map to Surpass Red Dead Redemption 2 in Size

According to new information, the upcoming open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss will feature a playable area larger than the expansive map of Red Dead Redemption 2.


🏹 Towerborne Launches Fully on February 26, 2026

The side-scrolling action game is leaving early access for its complete release.

🗓️ Release Date: February 26, 2026
💰 Price: $25 (not free-to-play)
🎮 Story-driven with replayable co-op content.
🖥️ Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC
🎫 Day-One Access: Xbox Game Pass.
♻️ Cross-Buy: Supports Xbox Play Anywhere.


GTA VI Development Update (As per Journalist Jason Schreier)

Status: Content not finished. Devs polishing/finalizing missions.

Date: Nov 2026 target, but not certain. Fiscal buffer until Mar 2027.

Priority: Rockstar’s most important project. Will delay over rushing.

Platform: Primarily dev’d on PS5. Sony banking on it for console sales.

Pressure: Take-Two relying on it commercially.



Japanese Developers Name GTA VI Their Most Anticipated Game of 2026

A Famitsu magazine survey of 171 Japanese game developers revealed that the majority are most excited for Rockstar’s upcoming title this year.

🎮 Top Pick: Grand Theft Auto VI was the most-cited answer.

Developer Insight: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi stated he looks forward to it for “inspiration from the quality and ingenuity of the game’s world-building.”

Domestic Excitement: Other developers highlighted anticipation for major Japanese titles like Pragmata and Resident Evil Requiem.



🎮 New PlayStation Hyperpop Collection

Sony is launching a vibrant new lineup of DualSense controllers and PS5 console covers inspired by neon hyperpop aesthetics.

🎨Techno Red, Remix Green, and Rhythm Blue.
🗓️ Launch: March 12, 2026.
🛒 Pre-orders: Go live January 16, 2026
.

Image credits: PlayStation



Microsoft Clarifies: “Office” Not Renamed to “Microsoft 365 Copilot”

Product Name: Microsoft Office remains the name for the core suite of apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

🤖 Copilot’s Role: Microsoft 365 Copilot is the AI-powered assistant feature integrated.

Source: https://theverge.com/tech/856149/microsoft-365-office-rebrand-copilot


Splitgate 2 Devs Respond to Player Count Discussion

The team behind the relaunched arena shooter addressed recent Steam chart data with a focus on experience

Steam Charts don’t measure fun… They don’t show the full picture… the gameplay’s the best it’s ever been.”


Report: Fortnite Chapter 8 Rumored to Launch 9 Days After GTA VI

According to leaks circulating online:

🗓️ Grand Theft Auto VI: November 19, 2026

🗓️ Fortnite Chapter 8: November 28, 2026



Reports Suggest Xbox Secures Strategic RAM Advantage Over PlayStation

According to a report from TECK SK:

🎮 Xbox: Reportedly secured a “massive RAM acquisition” ahead of expected market volatility, giving it a potential strategic advantage for future hardware production.

PlayStation: Allegedly “was unable to afford a large order” of RAM under the same conditions.

If accurate, this could impact the production cost, availability, or timing of the companies’ next-generation consoles.



Fallout Franchise Sees Massive Player Surge on Steam

The series has more than doubled its player base recently, driven by renewed interest:

📈 Record High: Fallout 4 peaked at 44,273 concurrent players, making it the most-played game in the franchise on Steam.

📈 Franchise-Wide Boost: Fallout 76 and Fallout: New Vegas also saw significant daily player increases.

🎯 Successful Revival: This surge confirms the series is successfully attracting a substantial new audience.



Samsung Unveils Two Groundbreaking Gaming Monitors: Odyssey 3D & Odyssey G6

🕶️ Odyssey 3D: A glasses-free 3D gaming monitor. It uses eye-tracking to create a depth effect where images appear to “fly” toward you.
Specs: 6K resolution, 165Hz refresh rate.


Odyssey G6: Billed as the world’s fastest gaming monitor, breaking the 1000Hz barrier. Specs: Capable of up to 1040Hz refresh rate at HD (1080p) resolution.

Sony Expands PlayStation Store January Sale Lineup

More games have been added to the ongoing January sale on the PlayStation Store.

Check your regional storefront for new discounted titles. 🏷️



📊 Take-Two Interactive Q3 2026 Earnings Call

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (early morning).

🎮 Context: Publisher of Grand Theft Auto VI; call may provide updates on the franchise.

👀 Status: A key event for investors and fans awaiting news.

RUMOR: Microsoft May Plan Major Layoffs in Early 2026

Reports suggest the company could reduce its global workforce by 5% to 10%, potentially affecting 11,000 to 22,000 employees.

The cuts, speculated for Q1 2026, may also impact the Xbox division.



Sony Patents AI “Ghost Player” to Help Beat Tough Game Sections

A new PlayStation technology aims to end gaming’s frustrating “skill walls”:

👻 AI Ghost Guide: An on-screen “ghost” shows you how to solve puzzles and defeat bosses by learning from pro players.

🤖 Smart Assistance: The AI can even take control during critical moments to help you advance.

🧠 Adaptive Learning: The system analyzes top player strategies to create personalized guidance.



RUMOR: Assassin’s Creed Hexe Targeting Late 2026 as a Linear Game

According to new rumors, the witch-trial themed installment (Assassin’s Creed Hexe) is now expected in the second half of 2026.

It is reported to be a linear experience rather than an open-world title


Arc Raiders Confirms “Playstyle-Based” Matchmaking System

In an interview with GamesBeat, Embark Studios President Patrick Söderlund detailed a unique approach:

🔫 Aggressive Players who frequently engage in PvP will be matched together.

🎯 Objective-Focused Players who prioritize PvE and missions will be matched together.

The system is designed to categorize players by their dominant in-game behavior and create more cohesive session experiences.

This addresses long-standing community debates about balancing PvP and PvE preferences in shared-world shooters.

XBOX Gearing Up for a Big Week of Announcements

📅 Xbox Game Pass January 2026 Lineup – New games to be revealed

🎬 Xbox Developer_Direct 2026 – Expected official announcement with date and lineup


Report: PS6’s Fate & Price Tied to Volatile RAM Market

According to sources from Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), Sony’s next-gen console plans are highly sensitive to memory pricing:

🔧 Chip Production Locked: Deal with TSMC to start processor production in 2027 is set.

💰 RAM is the Wild Card: The final RAM amount and console price are not yet decided, awaiting clarity on future memory costs.

Delay Possible: If RAM prices rise significantly, a postponement of the PS6 remains a real option.



Former Rockstar Developer Speculates on GTA 7

A 14-year veteran of the studio shared expectations for the next entry:

🔁 Predicted Return: The series will likely revisit a familiar U.S. city cycle – New York (Liberty City), Los Angeles (Los Santos), or Las Vegas (Las Venturas).

💬 Blunt Assessment: “We are stuck in a cycle of only about 5 American cities.



Black Ops 7 Hits Historic Low for Concurrent Players in Call of Duty Series

The latest entry is reportedly being outperformed in player count by older, unrelated titles like:

🎭 VRChat

🔪 Dead by Daylight



Benoît Richer, director of Batman: Arkham Origins and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, has officially updated his LinkedIn to confirm he is leading the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Hexe.

🎬 Proven Experience: Richer also served as lead designer on Far Cry and Rainbow Six titles.

Game Setting: Hexe is set in 16th-century Germany during the witch trials.

👤 Protagonist: Features the series’ first solo female lead, with reported supernatural abilities (spells, animal control).

🖤 Tone: Promised to be the “most terrifying and darkest” experience in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.



2025 Marks Xbox’s Worst Year for Console Sales in UK History

According to journalist Chris Dring:

📊 Sales Decline: Xbox Series X|S sales fell by nearly 40% in 2025 vs. 2024.
🇬🇧 Market Impact: This is the largest annual drop for the brand in the British market.


🔄 Strategic Shift: Analysts link the downturn to Microsoft’s pivot toward services & multi-platform releases, reducing focus on dedicated hardware.

A defining and challenging year for Xbox in the UK. 🎮



🎮 Former Rockstar Director Reveals Why GTA IV Remaster Never Happened

Obie Fermie states a true remaster would have been astronomically expensive, potentially exceeding $100 million.

Reasons:
🎨 Extremely powerful original graphics that are costly to recreate at modrn stand.


🎬 Complex cinematic scenes requiring massive rework.

💰 Budget would likely surpass even GTA V’s development costs for a proper remake, not just “light cosmetic improvements.”

Happy New Year 2026 from the GamesNerdz Team!

As the clock resets, we wish you a year filled with legendary loot, flawless victories, and countless epic gaming moments. May your connection be strong, your frames be high, and your passion for play never fade.

Game on & cheers🎮