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This retro-inspired handheld comes with Banjo-Kazooie and Battletoads built in

Pokemon Winds and Waves each have exclusive outfits for your main character, but all I can see is the hoverboard you seem to be carrying

"Hurry up with Palworld 1.0": An impatient fan spams Pocketpair's indie publishing arm with a "great pitch" begging for the survival game's full launch

Amazon Games is winding down King of Meat

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Call Of Duty Is Underperforming In 2025, Analyst Says, Citing Burnout, Creative Decisions, And AI Slop

"Xbox dropped the ball on the wrong year." According to one analyst, Call of Duty as a franchise is "underperforming" in 2025 due to a variety of factors. Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics said in an interview that some of the factors that he believes are contributing to Call of Duty's decline include "community burnout, questionable creative and business decisions by Activision/Microsoft, and strong competition." In terms of the competition, Elliott called out Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders, along with Fortnite, which recently had a popular Simpsons season and launched its positively received Chapter 7. "Xbox dropped the ball on the wrong year, as this year saw some of the most exciting shooter releases in years," Elliott told Eurogamer. "Attention is scarce." Elliott went on to say that players are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Call of Duty's "lack of innovation." Prior to Black Ops 7's release, Elliott said people would buy Black Ops 7 even if they complained about a lack of innovation because many people buy new Call of Duty games yearly as part of "autopilot" purchasing. Elliott also predicted that Black Ops 7 would outsell Battlefield 6, but he made this prediction prior to the release of both games. Elliott also pointed out that Call of Duty's turn toward more "Fortnite-like cosmetics" and "non-military character skins" like Beavis and Butthead and Nicki Minaj has "alienated a significant portion of the fanbase who prefer a more grounded military aesthetic." For what it's worth, Black Ops 7 does not feature the same kind of wacky and over-the-top skins that Black Ops 6 had, in part because Activision said it heard the concerns that Call of Duty had strayed from its identity. Warzone, however, still has all of those kinds of skins. For Black Ops 7 specifically, Elliott said the game's co-op campaign was a "major point of criticism," while the game's use of "AI slop" was a sore spot for some. "Player reception was [also] largely negative, with a mostly negative Steam user score and review bombing galore. Long-standing player frustrations, like the perceived impact of skill-based matchmaking--and the focus on heavy microtransactions (skins and bundles) over core gameplay quality, continue to drive players away from the franchise," he added. Additionally, Elliott said Black Ops 7 launching into Game Pass "cannibalized traditional full-price game sales" for Xbox and PC. He pointed to the reporting that said Black Ops 6 missed out on $300 million in potential sales due to the game being on Game Pass. "Our estimates have signaled time and time again that Game Pass cannibalizes game revenues--and Call of Duty is no different," he said. Beyond all of this, Elliott said the marketing for Black Ops 7 was "pretty abysmal and underwhelming," while the game's formal reveal event at Call of Duty Next was "messy and did little to excite the community." "This is again in stark contrast to the community-driven, focused marketing of Battlefield and Arc, whose development and marketing has been incredibly community-driven," he said. Battlefield 6 has sold more than 10 million copies, reportedly, but there is no sales data available yet for Black Ops 7. Any comparison would be incomplete and unfair, as Black Ops 7 is on Game Pass and is available on more platforms than Battlefield 6. No shooter has outsold Call of Duty in terms of full-year in the US since 2006, though Battlefield 6 has already eclipsed the first-month sales of Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 3. Latest in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 CoD Season 1 Battle Pass Adds New Guns, Operators, And Faster Unlocks In BO7 And Warzone See The New Black Ops 7 Maps For Call Of Duty Season 1 These Were The Top 15 Most Popular Games Last Week In The US

Microsoft reportedly ordered its Xbox division to boost profits to an unrealistic level

The last 12 months have been pretty depressing for anyone invested in the long-term future of Xbox and the general health of the games industry. Back in May, Microsoft laid off 3 percent of its global workforce, with the company’s gaming division being one of the big casualties, and a number of upcoming titles were subsequently canceled. It painted a picture of a brand in crisis, but according to a new report, Microsoft has been setting its gaming division unrealistic profit targets for several years. Sources told Bloomberg that in 2023, Microsoft implemented an "across-the-board goal" of 30 percent profit margins, which the report says Microsoft calls "accountability margins" internally. As Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reports, this target, which was set by Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood in fall 2023, is well above the recent industry average of 17-22 percent quoted by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Schreier adds that Xbox’s own average in the last six years is between 10 and 20 percent. S&P Global analyst Neil Barbour told Bloomberg that Microsoft’s 30 percent target is the kind of margin "usually reserved for a publisher that is really nailing it." This is despite its gaming division only landing at 12 percent in the first nine months of 2022, as quoted in the report. A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg that it views individual games and projects differently with regards to what constitutes success, adding that it sometimes has to making tough decisions, including ending development on games, so it can shift its resources toward the projects that are "more aligned with our direction and priorities." The new profit targets were introduced in the same year that Microsoft finally completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, landing it hugely popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Diablo. Back in 2020 it acquired ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda, which means that long-running series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout also now sit under the umbrella of Xbox’s gaming division. Since 2018, Microsoft has been putting all of its first-party releases on Game Pass from day one, but this model has contributed to games failing to hit their 30 percent profit margin targets, according to Bloomberg’s sources. Xbox does offer developers a credit it calls "member-weighted value," which takes into consideration factors such as the collective number of hours Game Pass subscribers have spent in a game, although this formula tends to benefit multiplayer titles the most. Going forward, Bloomberg’s sources said Microsoft is likely to favor funding games with cheap development costs and proven revenue-generators over riskier projects. Xbox has been successful in bringing some of its first-party games to other platforms, including its primary rival in Sony’s PS5, with major titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle making the jump in the last 12 months. In the wake of Microsoft raising the price of Xbox consoles in the US last month, the second time it has done so in 2025, it also slapped Game Pass Ultimate with a 50 percent subscription fee hike at the start of October. This week the company increased the cost of Xbox dev kits by $500.

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PlayStation's allegedly making "a new franchise within the God of War universe," according to former Sony Santa Monica dev

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! PlayStation subsidiary Sony Santa Monica is apparently making a sort of new franchise set within the same universe as God of War, but it's not exactly God of War, according to a former developer at the studio. The LinkedIn account of a former senior writer at Sony Santa Monica, posted on ResetEra and reported on by VGC, seems to no longer exist or be active. Screenshots of the profile, should they be real, claim the writer spent five years shaping "narrative vision and creative direction at Sony Santa Monica Studio for a new franchise within the God of War universe, developing characters, storylines, and original lore that expanded the acclaimed IP." It's both God of War and not God of War, then, confusingly. God of War fans will be "hearing about what we're doing probably late summer," Kratos actor Christopher Judge teases God of War Greek trilogy remake is official, but it's "still very early in development" A new God of War game just shadow dropped: see Kratos as a Spartan warrior in surprise 2D action game Sons of Sparta The claims match up with a recent Bloomberg report by Jason Schreier, which said Sony intended to support the wider God of War series with several "sequels and spinoffs, like its own smaller version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe." Schreier previously said on social media that whatever Sony Santa Monica is currently working on next is "not a new IP but it might feel like one," which lines up with this latest bit of news quite neatly too. Sony Santa Monica's last big release came in the form of God of War: Ragnarok, though the developer has been at the head of the action series since the very beginning. The studio also recently announced a remake collection of the original God of War trilogy, the ones set within Greek mythology that had main man Kratos taking on the entire pantheon of Greek deities. God of War first look reveals the Prime Video show's Kratos and Atreus, but it might not be enough to silence the doubters

Pokemon and Balatro-inspired roguelike with an unexpected horror twist doubled its Kickstarter goal in 20 minutes and is now 570% funded

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! As hype around Pokemon Winds and Waves grew to a fever pitch this week, one indie monster-taming roguelike absolutely smashed through its Kickstarter funding goal several times over. Wonderful Neoran Valley pulls familiar features from other games and combines it into one creature-collecting roguelike with a really unexpected horror twist, at least in its latest trailer embedded below. Developer Nara Studios says the "project was born from our love for the greatest and most impactful monster collectors and JRPGs, like Pokémon and Shin Megami Tensei, along with the roguelites that influenced us the most, such as Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Inscryption." The equally wonderful pitch for Wonderful Neoran Valley meant its Kickstarter campaign was an instant success, reaching fully-funded status within 10 minutes and doubling its first funding goal in just 20 minutes. After blending Wind Waker with Kiki's Delivery Service last year, indie dev reveals N64-inspired Zelda-like RPG 90 minutes with Pokemon Pokopia convinced me this could be the biggest cozy game since Animal Crossing Solo dev's Kickstarter proves there's a huge appetite for open-world RPGs inspired by early '00s classics like Gothic At the time of writing, almost 8,000 people have contributed well over $570,000 to the game's campaign - its initial funding goal was only $100,000, and the Kickstarter page is still taking pledges for the next 28 days. Needless to say, it's a monster success on the platform. With so many stretch goals already being passed, Wonderful Neoran Valley is now getting a Switch 2 port, a hard mode, a randomizer mode, and extra questlines and Neorans (collectible monsters) that wouldn't have been in the game otherwise. Should the Kickstarter receive at least one million dollars, Nara Studios promises to add voiceover, too. The page also promises over 70 creatures at launch, alongside a clairvoyant protagonist who can predict an enemy's moves in battle. Proving the universe has favorites, Pokemon Blue player accidentally catches a shiny legendary they couldn't even see: "Actually in disbelief"

Dev of acclaimed Persona-like says he "could find you 10 companies" that have pitched Bloodborne games, but it won't happen until FromSoftware thinks it's time

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Loads of companies have apparently pitched projects related to Bloodborne but none of them will see the light of day until FromSoftware gives the go-ahead, according to the developer behind acclaimed Persona-flavored RPG Demonschool. Bluepoint Games made a name for itself remaking beloved PlayStation classics, including Shadow of the Colossus and another FromSoftware joint in Demon's Souls, though the well-liked studio met its untimely end last month when Sony shut down the entire subsidiary just a year after purportedly cancelling its God of War live service game. A recent Bloomberg report then claimed one of Bluepoint Games' last pitches - in between its God of War cancelation and the studio's eventual closure - was a Bloodborne remake, which Sony was apparently on board for but was stopped in its tracks because original developer FromSoftware didn't want it to go forward for unspecified reasons. Dev claims Sony killed their Bloodborne ARPG, and is even more disappointed now Bluepoint remake hopes are crushed FromSoftware shot down a Bloodborne remake from now-dead studio Bluepoint in 2025: report Bluepoint reportedly pitched a Ghost of Tsushima spinoff and more Shadow of the Colossus before Sony shut it down Brandon Sheffeild, one of the lead developers of Demonschool, then chimed in on the news with additional insight on social media. "I could find you 10 companies that have pitched a Bloodborne sequel, spinoff, or remake, including my own," he writes of indie dev NecroSoft. "It's just not going to happen unless FromSoft decides they want to do it." This much at least confirms Sony is open to hearing ideas about the potential future of Bloodborne, but is also respecting FromSoftware's wishes and wants to keep being in the Elden Ring studio's good books. FromSoftware also seems preoccupied with other projects at the moment, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods, due out this year. "Are you serious?": Dev claims Sony lawyers killed their Bloodborne ARPG, and now they're extra devastated with hopes for a Bluepoint remake crushed by its closure

Pokemon Winds and Waves' best 'mon looks an awful lot like a different Fire-type pomeranian from a rival indie creature collector, and even the devs noticed

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Pokemon Winds and Waves' new starter creatures are taking the internet by storm, but undeniably the cutest 'mon of the trio looks an awful lot like a mascot from another monster-taming RPG, the acclaimed indie throwback Cassette Beasts, and even its devs have taken note. Pokemon Winds and Waves debuted its first trailer earlier this week, showing off a lush open world and three jolly starters to choose from: a sassy Grass-type chick called Browt, a squishy Water-type lizard called Gecqua, and a Fire-type pomeranian dog called Pombon. "The area below its throat glows faintly from the heat-generating organ within its lungs. This Pokémon is guileless and friendly," the game's official website explains of the doggy. As Pokemon Winds and Waves' Pombon quickly racks up fans, everyone hopes the fiery Pomeranian can avoid a starter curse Pokemon Winds and Waves trailer gives us our first glimpse at the new starter Pokemon All new Pokemon Winds and Waves starters Pombon is definitely adorable, but fans have noticed that the starter shares a bunch of similarities with Pombomb, the equally cute Fire-type pomeranian dog that's plastered all over promotional material for Cassette Beasts. pombomb cassette beasts...... pic.twitter.com/0F8vYsCOvoFebruary 27, 2026 pombomb cassette beasts...... pic.twitter.com/0F8vYsCOvoFebruary 27, 2026 pombomb cassette beasts...... pic.twitter.com/0F8vYsCOvoFebruary 27, 2026 "Ok so the concept of a fire pomeranian creature isn't oh super unique but it's still pretty funny how Cassette Beasts has one with almost the same concept and it's only TWO letters off in the name," one fans quips over on social media. "I love Pombon to death but never forget that Cassette Beasts did it first," another writes. pic.twitter.com/FuVRSvNfRAFebruary 27, 2026 pic.twitter.com/FuVRSvNfRAFebruary 27, 2026 pic.twitter.com/FuVRSvNfRAFebruary 27, 2026 Even the official Cassette Beasts Twitter account poked fun at the similarities between Pombon and Pombomb with the meme above. Now all that's left to do is let the fiery poms battle for supremacy. As Pokemon Winds and Waves' Pombon quickly racks up adoring fans, everyone hopes the fiery Pomeranian can avoid a major starter curse: "Please keep Pombon on 4 legs please I'm begging"

"I don't know what I was thinking": Stardew Valley creator went through hell 6 months before launch, and the game didn't come together until "the last moment"

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Stardew Valley, creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has shown off a bunch of early versions, saying the game never really came together until the last minute. Just over 10 years ago, Stardew Valley launched, and the Harvest Moon-like indie hit did pretty well all things considered, given that it's now sold over 50 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games ever made (that's better than any single Call of Duty or Pokemon release has ever done, for context). And its 10-year reign of cozy terror is only seeming to grow as it's still getting substantial updates this much time later, with 1.7 set to add two new marriage candidates with Clint and Sandy – although with the reaction to Clint being one of those, it may as well be one candidate. To celebrate the anniversary, Barone released a big video in which he did his own retrospective of the game's development and ensuing 10-year run. This included the original Sprout Valley prototype from 2012, which Barone tore into, with such polite criticism like "the pixel art basically looks like crap. Stardew Valley creator reveals 14-year-old footage of Sprout Valley, a technically "functioning game" Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe reveals "pretty cool" in-game farm map that was ultimately cut Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone still feels "like an amateur" even with nearly 50 million copies sold However, you'd be surprised by just how close Barone felt he was cutting things. The 2015 prototype was also shown from around 6 months ahead of the game's actual launch in 2016. "There are a ton of things that are just like, not finished yet" Barone explains, adding "This shows just how much Stardew Valley just kinda came together at the last moment." He starts the retrospective by noting that the farmhouse has a strange layout that shows a "nose"-like block of floor sticking out further than everywhere else where the door should be, saying "I don't know what I was thinking there." He continues "I did a ton of work in the last like six months. I think I was just at the point where I knew it was so close. I needed to finish the game." He adds, "and that's what gave me the drive and the motivation to make all these little changes in the last 6 months to prepare the game for release." Barone specifically cites the "goofy look" of the farmer that was eventually changed, so you were 6 months away from your characters looking way worse. Stardew Valley at 10: How a decade in the countryside has helped long-distance relationships thrive

Princess Zelda actor thought Twilight Princess' version of Hylian was "so beautiful" so she "started practicing that over coffee" and is now fluent

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Princess Zelda actor Patricia Summersett revealed that she is fluent in the Hylian alphabet featured in Twilight Princess. The Legend of Zelda turned 40 this year, with the anniversary of the original game's release hitting on February 21. However, despite the legacy of the franchise and how story heavy each entry can be, it wasn't until over 30 years in that the titular princess was fully voice acted, with Summerset taking up the role in 2017's Breath of the Wild before reprising it for Tears of the Kingdom and multiple spinoffs (well, she was voice acted in the Zelda CD-I games too, but we're sticking to canon.) Naturally, being the first to lend your voice to such an iconic character would be a lot of pressure, but Summerset nailed it, becoming a hit with fans with the series, and that may be down to how much prep she did for the role. The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?" The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess fans finally complete years-long mission to fully decompile the game Sorry, ZeLink shippers, Zelda actor still thinks the 40-year-old pairing is better left "ambiguous" Speaking to IGN, Summerset mentioned that she sees a lot of cosplay of Twilight Princess versions of the characters at conventions and casually mentions she writes notes in Twilight Princess Hylian to fans, as if knowing that is a regular occurrence. When pushed, Summerset explained, "It's something I did early on when I was recording [Breath of the Wild] and I was just starting to look through [series companion book] Hyrule Historia at the different versions of the languages from all the previous games." She explains that she didn't know what would be in Breath of the Wild, but that Twilight Princess Hylian was "so beautiful." Summerset adds, "I thought I could probably learn those characters, which is essentially just the alphabet, and started practicing that over coffee. So now I can kind of write fluently and use it all the time." So if Nintendo ever gets around to a Twilight Princess remake, they know who to call. The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?"

This retro-inspired handheld comes with Banjo-Kazooie and Battletoads built in

Who would've guessed we'd get to play the original Banjo-Kazooie on a handheld with just a D-pad in 2026. HyperMegaTech!'s latest release is a collaboration with Rare Ltd., the legendary game developer known for the Banjo-Kazooie franchise and, more recently, Sea of Thieves, called the Super Pocket Rare Edition. The vertical handheld features 14 classics from the British developer, including two Battletoads titles, Conker's Pocket Tales and many more. While most of the games were released on 8- or 16-bit consoles, Banjo-Kazooie will be the headliner since it was originally released on the Nintendo 64. It may sound weird to control Banjo and Kazooie with a D-pad, but HyperMegaTech! assured that the game has been enhanced and optimized specifically for the Super Pocket handheld. Since HyperMegaTech! and Evercade share Blaze Entertainment as a parent company, that means the Rare Edition handheld will be compatible with Evercade cartridges. Once you're done with the 14 included games, you can expand your Super Pocket's library with cartridges that feature collections from Taito, NeoGeo or Atari. HyperMegaTech! said the Rare Edition handheld will be available for $69.99 in June 2026, but has already opened preorders.

Catherine Lewis

As Pokemon Winds and Waves' Pombon quickly racks up adoring fans, everyone hopes the fiery Pomeranian can avoid a major starter curse: "Please keep Pombon on 4 legs please I'm begging"

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Pokemon Winds and Waves have been officially unveiled, and I'm sure many will agree when I say the adorable Fire-type starter, Pombon, might be the best part of Generation 10 so far. However, fans are already begging the devs at Game Freak for one thing – please, keep that little dog on four legs. Pombon is an adorable little guy. It's literally just a fluffy, fire-breathing Pomeranian puppy – what's not to love? Well, Pokemon fans have been burned many times before with their Fire-type starters (pun intended), which have an odd habit of frequently leaving their cute quadruped forms behind when they evolve and learning to stand on two legs, becoming a lot more anthropomorphic in the process. Not everyone is a huge fan of the slightly more humanoid designs, but they sure keep happening. Just look at Fennekin, Litten, and Tepig, for example – they're all super cuddly creatures to begin with, but upon reaching their final stages, the vibe is quite different. Litten stops being a house cat and turns into a burly, bipedal, wrestling feline. It's, uh, a lot. Needless to say, you can understand why folks are already making themselves heard about Pombon. Pokemon Winds and Waves trailer gives us our first glimpse at the new starter Pokemon Pokemon Winds and Waves Browt already has quite the fan following despite agreement that the grass starter is kinda ugly All new Pokemon Winds and Waves starters "Please keep Pombon on four legs please I'm begging," one fan writes on Twitter, reacting to the reveal. Meanwhile, another plans on taking matters into their own hands – literally: "Grabbing Pombon with both hands and forcing it to stay on four legs." One fan takes a slightly different approach: "Good boy, now staaaaay," they write, sharing an edit of the dog with its feet taped safely to the ground. good boy, now staaaaay... do not stand... pic.twitter.com/Ktreq7w25HFebruary 27, 2026 good boy, now staaaaay... do not stand... pic.twitter.com/Ktreq7w25HFebruary 27, 2026 good boy, now staaaaay... do not stand... pic.twitter.com/Ktreq7w25HFebruary 27, 2026 "GAME FREAK, KEEP POMBON ON ALL FOUR LEGS AND MY LIFE IS YOURS," another declares, while one responds to the official UK Pokemon news account directly, pleading: "Please keep Pombon on four legs please keep Pombon on four legs please keep Pombon on four legs." I will say, though, some folks have also pointed out that a bipedal Pombon evolution might not be the worst thing in the world. Why, you ask? I raise you Undertale's iconic Greater Dog – proof you can be a cute little pup and a tough, two-legged force of nature all at once. Pokemon Winds and Waves each have exclusive outfits for your main character, but all I can see is the hoverboard you seem to be carrying. 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Shuttered studio Bluepoint reportedly pitched a Bloodborne remake, but it got shot down by FromSoftware

Bloodborne fans may not be happy to hear that a remake was reportedly rejected, but that doesn't mean it's completely off the table. Bluepoint Games, Sony's closed-down studio behind many PlayStation remakes, pitched remaking the classic Gothic horror RPG in early 2025, but was blocked by the game's developer, FromSoftware, according to a Bloomberg report. As Bloomberg reported, Bluepoint pitched a Bloodborne remake after several years of working towards a live-service title in the God of War franchise that was ultimately canceled. Looking for the next project, a modern-day version of Bloodborne made a lot of sense, considering the title came out in 2015 and Bluepoint was responsible for the successful Demon's Souls remake in 2020. However, Bloomberg's sources said that FromSoftware was against it, but didn't offer a concrete reason why. With some digging, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier pointed to an interview from Kinda Funny Games with PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida, which aired last year. In the video, Yoshida mentioned that FromSoftware's president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, wanted to pursue a Bloodborne remake, but was too busy to do it himself and "doesn't want anyone else to touch it." After failing to get the Bloodborne remake greenlit, Bluepoint wasn't able to secure another project for more than a year, according to the Bloomberg report. Now that Bluepoint has been shut down, we're likely even further away from a remake. That's not to say a remake will never happen, but when it does, it'll have to get a stamp of approval and likely a lot of oversight from FromSoftware.

"We here at Blizzard feel very lucky and happy that we're not using generative AI": World of Warcraft Midnight composer says devs are making "what we think is cool"

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! As major publishers and giant tech companies attempt to shove generative AI into everything, World of Warcraft Midnight's composer counts himself lucky that Blizzard Entertainment seemingly isn't using the tech. World of Warcraft's lead composer Leo Kaliski says as much in an interview with Game Informer ahead of the long-running MMORPG's next expansion, Midnight, out now in early access and due to release for everyone on March 2, 2026. Generative AI and its use in game development has been a hot button topic these last few years, whether it's focused on Arc Raiders' text-to-voice dialogue or a highly controversial texture in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's launch, but Kaliski is thankful that AI-generated music is a bit easier to spot than other forms of the tech. Larian is using generative AI in development, but CEO Swen Vincke says Divinity won't launch with AI content Divinity publishing lead says "I'm not entirely sure we are the ideal target for the level of scorn" over AI stance Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets dragged into the Larian AI drama, while a Divinity lead tells fans "we have good QA" "I feel lucky that AI in music still feels quite a way off," he says. "Sometimes you look at AI photos, and if you don't look closely, you might not know it's AI. Music is not there yet. Usually, you hear it, and you instantly know something is not right about it, or the fidelity isn’t there. So in some ways, it's not as top of mind as it probably is for other artists." Either way, he continues to say that "we here at Blizzard feel very lucky and happy that we're not using generative AI" and the team is "just writing what we think is cool, and are happy to do that." Elsewhere in the industry, Square Enix laid off over 100 employees after pledging it would automate 70% of its debugging and quality assurance using AI. PUBG and Subnautica 2's publisher also announced it would transform into an "AI first" company late last year. "He was the first person the Light called": World of Warcraft Midnight turns to the MMO's mightiest hero to help us push back against the Void – Leeroy Jenkins

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch releases broken wide open by speedrunner who finishes them in under 3 hours and discovers the Legendary events are included

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Pokemon fans have been eating good lately. Not only did we get the reveal of Pokemon Winds and Waves yesterday, we also got to replay Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on a modern system thanks to the new Nintendo Switch re-releases. But despite only being a day old, one speedrunner stormed through the games and found that two super rare events made the cut. Before Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen dropped on the Switch, there was much speculation over whether Game Freak would include the events allowing people to catch three Legendary Pokemon: Deoxys, Ho-Oh, and Lugia. Players of the original GBA remakes might remember these Legendaries were only available in specific regions back in the day, and only to people who attended certain in-person events. In the decades since then, folks were only able to get the tickets to these in-game events by editing their save files with a computer program. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen get a surprise reveal for Nintendo Switch, and they'll be launching next week Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen re-releases will be compatible with Pokemon Home after all The Pokemon Day return of FireRed and LeafGreen has me reminiscing over the series' most lucrative XP farm The Pokemon Company didn't specify whether the Deoxys or Ho-Oh/Lugia events would return prior to the Switch re-releases, but we really didn't need the company to. One speedrunner finished the entire game in under 2 hours, 40 minutes, and found that the game automatically puts tickets to both the Deoxys and Ho-Oh/Lugia events in your inventory after you beat the Elite Four. This is the first time in decades that Pokemon trainers will be able to farm a shiny version of the Legendary Pokemon via a totally legit route, which is doubly exciting now since FireRed and LeafGreen's Switch versions support Pokemon Home, letting you take your shiny Deoxys, say, into future generations. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are on the Nintendo eShop right now for $20 each, while Pokemon Winds and Waves is due to launch exclusively on the Switch 2 next year. Pokemon Champions brings pocket 'mon PvP to Nintendo Switch in April 2026 according to a flashy new live-action trailer, which also confirms mobile version coming "later this year"

Pokemon Winds and Waves' "angry bird" Browt already has quite the fan following despite everyone agreeing the grass starter is kind of ugly

Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Every Thursday GTA 6 O'clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts. Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon. Every Thursday The Setup Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Every Saturday The Watchlist Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! The Pokemon Winds and Waves starters are driving tons of online discussion, as every new generation of starting Pokemon tend to do, but one in particular is already attracting quite the fan following despite everyone generally agreeing that it's kinda ugly (in a cute way). I'm of course referring to Pokemon Winds and Waves' grass type starter Browt, an unimpressed little bean chick that has green leaves sprouting out of its beak to form one glaring unibrow, hence the name. "This Pokémon runs about energetically while photosynthesizing using the leaves on its brow," the game's official website explains. "It's lively, but it can also be a bit clumsy." Fans and fan artists immediately took Browt under their wing, depicting the little chick in all sorts of situations that would explain why it looks like it just smelt something awful, as well as recreating famous memes using the little bird. Take a look below for some giggles. Pokemon Winds and Waves trailer gives us our first glimpse at the new starter Pokemon All new Pokemon Winds and Waves starters Pokemon Winds and Waves trailer impresses, but fans are ripping into new Pikachu characters Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu We really got the angry bird from r/pokemon BROWT GANG— @magdraws.bsky.social (@magdraws.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T12:56:37.225Z BROWT GANG welcome to the world, my scrungly son— @spiritcrowart.bsky.social (@spiritcrowart.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T12:56:37.402Z welcome to the world, my scrungly son 🚨⚠️BROWT FINAL EVOLUTION LEAKED⚠️🚨— @mainmandarin.bsky.social (@mainmandarin.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T12:56:37.346Z 🚨⚠️BROWT FINAL EVOLUTION LEAKED⚠️🚨 we have rowlet at home #pokemon #browt #pokemonwindandwaves— @errantsquam.heckingsne.cc (@errantsquam.heckingsne.cc.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T12:56:37.297Z we have rowlet at home #pokemon #browt #pokemonwindandwaves Something I find just as funny is that everyone generally agrees that Browt is sort of, kinda, just a tad ugly. People normally pick their favorites from the Pokedex based on whether they think a 'mon looks cool or cute or spooky, but this might be one of the rare occasions where a Pokemon gains a cult following because it's the opposite of all of those things. Folks simply like Browt's daft vibes and permanently disappointed face. We'll see if anything changes once we see the starter Pokemon's final evolution. Pokemon Winds and Waves is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2027. Pokemon Winds and Waves each have exclusive outfits for your main character, but all I can see is the hoverboard you seem to be carrying

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