Gaming Buzz

Star Wars: Zero Company Announced EA has unveiled Star Wars: Zero Company, a single-player, turn-based strategy game developed by Bit Reactor, known for their work on XCOM and Civilization. The game is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a first look scheduled at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 19.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 2 Released Don’t Nod Montréal has released the second part of their narrative adventure game, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, on April 15. The game follows four teenage girls in 1995 and their reunion 27 years later, confronting a long-buried secret. It’s available on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Final Major Patch Released Larian Studios has rolled out Patch 8, the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3. This update introduces a new subclass for each main class, cross-platform play support, and a photo mode. A special livestream is planned to showcase the update’s content.

Xbox Game Pass – New Additions: Far Cry 4 (Available April 30), Anno 1800 (Available May 1), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (Available May 1), Dredge (Available May 6).

Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones Year 2 Roadmap: Ubisoft has revealed the second-year roadmap for Skull and Bones, introducing new features such as item ascension, World Tiers, and a new PvP mode.

Forever Skies Release: The post-apocalyptic survival game Forever Skies launched on PS5 today, April 14, 2025, offering solo and co-op play with a customizable high-tech airship, generating buzz among survival game fans.

NYT Strands #407: The New York Times released Strands puzzle #407 today, themed around “April Showers,” with gaming-related hints sparking discussions among puzzle enthusiasts on gaming platforms.

Lunar Remastered Collection Available: The Lunar Remastered Collection, featuring enhanced versions of Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete, launched today on Xbox, PS5, and PC, delighting retro RPG fans with updated graphics and quality-of-life improvements.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Release: The 2.5D action-RPG Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, blending Metroidvania and Soulslike elements, became available today on Xbox, PS5, and PC, attracting attention for its challenging gameplay and unique narrative.

Video Game Consoles Excluded from U.S. Tech Tariff Exemptions – The U.S. government has excluded video game consoles from recent tech tariff exemptions, classifying them as toys rather than technology. This decision impacts companies like Nintendo and Sony, with potential price adjustments and release delays.

Sony Raises PS5 Digital Edition Prices – Sony has announced price increases for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, citing economic instability and fluctuating exchange rates. The standard PS5 and PS5 Pro prices remain unchanged.

Garena Free Fire Max Redeem Codes: New redeem codes for Garena Free Fire Max have been released today, offering players access to the latest in-game loot, generating excitement among mobile gamers.

Bungie Announces Marathon Release Date and Alpha Test: Bungie has revealed that its upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon, will launch on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, featuring full cross-play and cross-save support. Set in the year 2850 on the abandoned colony Tau Ceti IV, players assume the roles of Runners—biosynthetic beings with unique abilities—competing in squads or solo to loot resources and survive against rival teams and AI enemies.

Ubisoft and Tencent Partnership: Ubisoft and Tencent have formed a standalone subsidiary dedicated to major franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Tencent has invested €1.16 billion into the new group, holding a 25% stake. Ubisoft reported impressive sales figures for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which sold over 3 million copies, marking the second-highest day-one sales revenue in franchise history.

Donkey Kong Bananza Launching July 17: Nintendo has announced Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D platformer set to release on July 17, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The game features sandbox-like levels, destructible environments, and a quest to recover stolen banana-shaped diamonds.

NYT Strands #406: The New York Times launched Strands puzzle #406 today, themed around gaming terms, with players actively sharing hints and solutions on social platforms.

Zenless Zone Zero on Xbox: Zenless Zone Zero is confirmed for Xbox, marking a notable expansion for the game, with fans buzzing about its cross-platform potential.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road on Switch 2 and Xbox: Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, exciting soccer and RPG fans with its multi-platform debut.

WWE 2K25 Update News: The game, out since March 7, 2025, received Update 1.07 on April 9, 2025, adding new content and fixes, keeping it in the spotlight today.

Elon Musk Streams Gaming Session from Private Jet: Elon Musk recently livestreamed himself playing video games aboard his private jet, attracting 16.7 million views. The 44-minute session, broadcast on X, offered a rare glimpse into Musk’s relaxation routine and served as a test for SpaceX’s airborne Starlink service.

Boxing Meets Gaming in Fatal Fury Crossover Promo: In anticipation of the April 26 boxing match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, a promotional film titled Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has been released. The film creatively blends the fighters’ decades-long rivalry with the nostalgic gaming world of SNK’s classic Fatal Fury series, featuring appearances by YouTube personalities KSI and IShowSpeed.

Minecraft Expands Its Cultural Impact with Blockbuster Movie: Minecraft continues its cultural dominance with the release of A Minecraft Movie, which has grossed hundreds of millions globally. The film capitalizes on the game’s deep fanbase and online meme culture, featuring stars like Jack Black and Jason Momoa. The movie maintains Minecraft’s core identity, defined by its pixelated world and limitless creative potential.

NYT Strands Puzzle #404: The New York Times released a new Strands puzzle themed “Buzzing in,” with “GAMESHOWS” as the spangram, featuring words like Jeopardy, Password, and Lingo, engaging puzzle enthusiasts.

Nintendo Switch Online SEGA Genesis Update: Nintendo announced new SEGA Genesis games for Nintendo Switch Online in April 2025, revealed via an official trailer, exciting retro gaming fans.

PlayStation Plus Spring Sale Highlights: PlayStation’s ongoing Spring Sale, noted on April 11, features must-play PS5 games starting at $4, with 15 deals highlighted for bargain hunters.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows PS5 Pro Optimization: Ubisoft showcased Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5 Pro, featuring outstanding ray-traced global illumination and a new PSSR implementation, generating buzz among tech-savvy gamers.

Street Fighter 6 Update: Capcom has teased the upcoming release of Elena as a new playable character in Street Fighter 6. Fans are eagerly awaiting more details on her gameplay mechanics and release date.

Karch Gaming Institute Established at UT Austin: The University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication has launched the Karch Gaming Institute, dedicated to preparing students for careers in the video game industry. Funded by Matt Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the institute aims to shape the next generation of creative leaders in gaming.

Netflix’s Devil May Cry Animated Series Renewed for Season 2: Netflix has announced the renewal of its Devil May Cry animated series for a second season. Produced by Studio Mir, known for adaptations like DOTA: Dragon’s Blood and X-Men ’97, the series continues to expand Netflix’s portfolio of video game-based content.

SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed Announced for 2025: A sequel to the popular platform racing game SpeedRunners has been announced, titled SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed. Set for release in 2025, the game promises enhanced mechanics and new features to elevate the competitive racing experience.