Gaming - Page 184

According to a new report, Rockstar has been meeting with top Roblox, Fortnite, and GTA V creators to discuss the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI or GTA 6. Citing multiple sources "with knowledge of these meetings," the report states that these talks are directly related to Rockstar, including enhanced modding tools to support user-generated content (UGC) in the game.

The report notes that these discussions have been open-ended. Still, it indicates that GTA 6's online functionality will build on the popular modding and RP (role-playing) scene of the current GTA Online sandbox, with expanded tools to create custom experiences in the game alongside potential revenue sharing and brand partnerships.

GTA V is still one of the most popular games on the streaming platform Twitch thanks to its robust online mode, so it makes sense that Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two would be looking at expanding or enhancing the community and user-driven side of the game - post-campaign and story.

Rainbow Six Siege players can finally put down their cups of speculation about a follow-up title to their beloved title, as Ubisoft has finally confirmed via a new teaser trailer Rainbow Six Siege X.

Ubisoft took to its social media platforms to share a quick teaser of the new title and described it as the "biggest transformation in the game's history." Unfortunately, not much else is known about Rainbow Six Siege X other than the title, as players are now speculating whether it's a completely new release in the franchise or an overhaul of the current game. The only other piece of information we have regarding the new title is that more will be revealed at R6 Siege X Showcase scheduled for March 13.

As for what is within the teaser trailer, Ubisoft has briefly showcased what appears to be, at the very least, a visual overhaul, along with some wall-running mechanics and several explosions that blow holes in walls. Ubisoft also teases in the description of the teaser trailer that Rainbow Six Siege X "introduces new ways to play, deepened tactical gameplay, and major upgrades all around!" Judging from those last three words in that aforementioned sentence, I'm leaning toward Rainbow Six Siege X being an "upgrade" of Rainbow Six Siege rather than a new release in the franchise.

Viktor Antonov, the Bulgarian artist who is known for his iconic work on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored has passed away at the age of 52.

Antonov's former colleagues have posted tributes online to the artist who began working in the video games industry with the title Redneck Rampage. Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw broke the news on his Instagram Story, which has since expired. Laidlaw wrote, "I didn't want to say much till I felt it was confirmed, but I learned today that Viktor Antonov, our visionary art lead on HL2, has died."

Antonov also consulted on titles such as DOOM (2016) and Fallout 4. Moreover, Antonov was featured in the recent documentary celebrating the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2 that was released this past November. As for what Antonov is mostly recognized for, the Bulgarian artist is credited with creating Combine and City 17's now iconic visual identities. Additionally, the artist is credited with the visual identity of Dishonored's Dunwall.

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, confirmed the launch for the title will be sometime in the Fall of 2025. The highly anticipated title will be heading to consoles first, but when is the PC release?

Rockstar Games has traditionally released its new titles on console first before eventually releasing a PC version approximately a year later. Rockstar is yet to announce anything regarding a PC version of GTA 6, but the platform was briefly mentioned by Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick who said during a recent earnings call that PC gaming is becoming a "much more important part of what used to be a console business," which has led to speculation of a simultaneous platform release.

Unfortunately, that won't happen, as it was confirmed by Zelnick that Rockstar is sticking to its traditional strategy of console first and then PC. But how long will it be before we see GTA 6 on PC? According to Corsair Gaming's financial VP, Ronald van Veen, who said during the company's latest financial results, GTA 6 will be released on PC sometime in early 2026.

Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said during a recent interview that he's no longer trying to get all gamers over to the Xbox platform.

Spencer recently appeared on the XboxEra podcast, where he discussed the recent industry-shifting moves of Xbox and how the company is now releasing its products on competing platforms. Spencer was asked about his thoughts about the split Xbox has when one of its games is purchased on a competing storefront, such as Steam or now PlayStation. Spencer was asked to talk about people suggesting that Sony is using the 30% they acquire when an Xbox game is purchased on its storefront to reduce Xbox's standing in the market.

The Microsoft Gaming CEO echoed similar statements he had made in the past, saying that game titles and franchises are what Xbox wants to deliver to gamers, regardless of the platform. "I would love to make all of the money for all of the games that we ship right, like obviously we make more on our own platform. It's one of the reasons that investing in our own platform is important." Adding, "But there are people, whether it's their libraries on a PlayStation or Nintendo, whether it's they like the controller better, they just like the games that are there."

Epic just released its Epic Games Store's '2024 Year in Review,' and there's a lot of data in there - including a new impressive milestone for the PC gaming platform. According to Epic, the storefront and PC gaming platform achieved 295 million users in 2024, which lines up with its user base increasing by 25 million year over year.

In addition, December 2024 saw the Epic Games Store on PC achieve a monthly active user figure of 74 million. However, digging deeper, it seems that first-party Epic Games like Fortnite and Rocket League are driving engagement and revenue with the Steam alternative.

The $1.09 billion spent by PC gamers on the platform throughout 2024 was 15% higher than in 2023. However, only $255 million was spent on third-party games - with the biggest third-party titles (regarding Epic Games Store revenue and engagement) being Grand Theft Auto 5, Honkai: Star Rail, FC24, Destiny 2, and Alan Wake II.

Valve has sent out an email to gamers that recently launched a newly released, as the company believes the title contains "malicious files".

The free-to-play game was called PirateFi and was released last Thursday, and in the days following the release Valve began sending out messages to affected users warning them about a potential threat to their machines. The message states the Steam account of the developer for this game "uploaded builds to Steam that contained suspected malware". Valve sent out an email to users that launched PirateFi and warned in the email that since the game contained malicious files, "it is likely these malicious files launched on your computer."

Valve adds the suspected malware has since been removed from Steam, and strongly recommends any users that launched the game to run a full-system scan using an anti-virus product. Additionally, Valve recommends users to inspect their system for any newly installed software, as this software could be fraudulent and part of the initial malicious files within PirateFi. Reports indicate the malicious file was "Trojan.Win32.Lazzzy.gen" and was linked to the theft of browser cookies, which enables the bad actor to gain access to various online accounts.

Star Wars Battlefront 2, released back in 2017, built an unfortunate legacy around its disgustingly greedy monetization practices. All in the name of 'pride and accomplishment' - this malpractice tainted a game that otherwise provided an incredibly authentic Star Wars experience. Fortunately for fans, the modding community has been quietly giving the game a new life.

Kyber V2 is a project that brings a 'new era of content and experiences' to the game. The content side of the mod, Battlefront+, adds a cast of 22 new heroes, including fan favorites Djin Djarin, Ahsoka Tano, Asajj Ventress, and Jango Fett - with custom voice lines, abilities, and skins to match.

You'll also find 30 new ground troopers, ranging from Gungan warriors to Clone sharpshooters and resistance smugglers to rebel pilots. All of which come equipped with their own custom abilities and playstyles. You'll also find 66 new blasters, over 90 new skins, new maps, weather and daytime map variants, and more.

Grand Theft Auto fans are currently reacting to the source code for a beloved Grand Theft Auto game leaking online, with rumors pointing to the source of the leak being Grove Street Games, formerly War Drum Studios.

Firstly, this is a developing story, and its details are somewhat murky. So, take the following with a healthy dose of skepticism. Reports indicate the source code for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has been leaked online, with a user posting a file of the source code onto the GTA forums. However, the timeline of events doesn't start there and actually dates back to April 23, 2020, when a user by the name @CJ_Apppearance posted a public service announcement about users obtaining a partial leak of the San Andreas source code.

Fast forward to January 5, 2025, NationalPepper posted screenshots of users bragging about having the source code archive and selling passwords to users who wanted access. At the time, it was known to be a scam as the archive holders would accept the money and never provide a password. The leak revealed early multiplayer elements, a ragdoll system, and skateboarding mechanics. On February 15, 2025, user AbhiDEV shared screenshots of the source code leak, showing a San Andreas model viewer, partial network code, a beta CJ, and ragdoll code.

Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are itching to know the official release date for the game, but what if the window was just narrowed down by the recent showcase of Borderlands 4 at Sony's State of Play?

Gearbox showcased a new trailer for Borderlands 4 at Sony's State of Play event, and besides the interesting gameplay, the developer revealed when the title will be available to games - September 23, 2025. Now, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of Borderlands 4 and the Grand Theft Auto franchise, has previously confirmed that Take-Two won't "stack up huge releases unnecessarily," which means Take-Two won't release two big titles, such as GTA 6 and Borderlands 4 close together, as it would potentially cannibalize sales.

Notably, this isn't a unique strategy by Take-Two and is common practice not only in the video game industry but also in movies and most other competitive industries. How does this relate to the release date of GTA 6? Well, we know GTA 6 is coming out in the Fall of 2025, which is from September to November. Combine that fact with Take-Two confirming 2K's Mafia: The Old Country is scheduled to release in the Summer of 2025, between June and August. Now, Borderlands 4 is scheduled for release in late September, ruling out that month for GTA 6. That leaves a window of two months for GTA 6.

A high-budget film project in Tampa, Florida, has been sparking discussions due to its seeming resemblance to GTA 6. The footage features an actor bearing a close resemblance to Jason, the game's co-protagonist. You can also spot a green McLaren, presumably for the 'simulated carjacking' featured in the mystery short film.

A Reddit user first posted the footage to the Tampa subreddit, where users immediately drew comparisons to the anticipated game franchise. The actor in question is dressed in a similar outfit to Jason in the GTA 6 leaks, bearing an assault rifle as he marches up a closed-off street.

In the same post, citizens posted photos of emails that claimed to relate to the project, with Tampa Police informing citizens that the streets would be closed for the filming of a short film that 'simulates a carjacking' and includes 'fake weapons for dramatization purposes.'

The entirety of the Xbox ecosystem has generated over $80 billion for Microsoft throughout the Xbox Series console generation.

Microsoft has made over $80.8 billion in revenue across the last five fiscal years since the Xbox Series was introduced. The number is based on indirect estimates gleaned from Microsoft's financials and includes the totality of the Xbox brand. Revenues made from game sales and subscriptions across all platforms are part of the grand sum, including things like Battle.net microtransactions, World of Warcraft and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, and of course game sales made on competing stores like the PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Steam.

Over the past five fiscal years, Xbox's wide-spanning platform generated $80.8 billion in total revenues. Microsoft splits Xbox revenue into two parts: Hardware, which includes Xbox console sales and accessories, and Content and Services, which is game sales, subscriptions, microtransactions, etc.

Xbox Series X/S console shipments may have hit nearly 36 million by the end of 2024, new analysis indicates.

Editor's Note: The data provided below is based on estimates, not confirmed values. The millions of units are also based on sell-in/shipments and not sell-through. Microsoft does not share hardware unit sales data (neither shipments nor sell-through). Only AMD and Sony have delivered confirmed values.

New analysis from Install Base number-cruncher JPB (aka Welfare on YouTube) could shed light on mythical Xbox Series console figures. According to the data provided, Microsoft may have shipped up to 35.9 million Xbox Series consoles from launch to present.

Ubisoft won't comment on unannounced games for FY26 as the company weighs its current options.

Ubisoft isn't in the best place right now. Sales and earnings are down, debts are coming due, and margins are being squeezed. Layoffs have been triggered and entire games and development teams have been shut down. Ubisoft's most recent games have underperformed, with Star Wars Outlaws' sales actually disappointing Ubisoft two times in a row.

Ubisoft's current position makes it vulnerable for hostile takeovers. To prevent such a takeover, Ubisoft's largest stakeholders signed a deal with Tencent to prevent the Chinese firm from buying up a ton of stake in Ubisoft. Now it's said that Ubisoft may team up with Tencent to buy out all remaining Ubisoft shares and give creative control to the Guillemot Family, of which Ubisoft's CEO Yves Guillemot is a member of.

Ubisoft says that Assassin's Creed Shadows pre-orders are showing early signs of success, tracking closely with Odyssey's thunderous performance.

Ubisoft has a lot riding on Assassin's Creed Shadows. The company isn't doing great right now and is exploring options to either sell parts of itself off or to go private. Shadows will determine how much cash Ubisoft has, in part, to pay back its debts and stay on course with its plans--all while navigating uncertain waters for the company's future.

It sounds like the feudal Japan-based Assassin's Creed is doing well, at least with initial digital pre-orders. In a recent Q4FY25 earnings call, Ubisoft management commented on AC Shadows pre-sales:

Nintendo fans eagerly await more news on the Nintendo Switch 2, but what if you could buy one right now on the black market?

A post in the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit has since gained a lot of traction posing this very idea, as a user has claimed to have gotten their hands on an early model and is willing to part ways with it, but for a hefty price. The user is the same person who posted CAD models of the Nintendo Switch 2 last year, which were, at the time, the first accurate look at the upcoming console. Now, that same user is willing to get go of the console, along with the dock and Joy-Con controllers, for a measly 290,000 RMG, or approximately $39,780 USD.

Screenshots of the conversation with the Xiahongshu forums user were posted on the subreddit, and according to the seller, the Switch 2 offering is aimed at accessory manufacturers that want to test their products on the new console. It should be noted there isn't any way to verify the user has obtained a Nintendo Switch 2 before its release, not to mention the legal risks that would follow if the console was actually sold and made it out to the public. The only piece of credible evidence is the user is the same person who leaked the CAD models of the Switch 2 last year, giving credence to the idea that they actually have access to at least one Switch 2.

NVIDIA's cloud gaming platform GeForce NOW is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, it's partnering with Warner Bros. Games to bring the critically acclaimed and fan-favorite Batman: Arkham series to the cloud. This includes the Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition, Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition, and Batman: Arkham Knight Premium.

These are all enhanced versions of the games, three titles widely regarded as classics in the PC gaming community. The Arkham trilogy follows the story of Batman taking on various DC Super-Villains. GeForce NOW Ultimate members will be able to experience these titles running in 4K at 120 FPS with G-SYNC support on everything from a PC to a laptop or a big-screen TV.

The Batman: Arkham trilogy games are classics, but this week, GeForce NOW is also getting something brand-new in the form of Sid Meier's Civilization VII, which will be playable via the cloud for those looking to run their very own empire. Plus, Legacy: Steel & Sorcery - a new PVPVE RPG from former World of Warcraft developers.

Sony has just wrapped up the PlayStation State of Play event, where the publisher showcased a selection of titles - some of which come out later this year, and others have dates to be announced.

Below, you will find a full list of all of the announcements at State of Play, a short description of each of the titles, a release date if it has one, and a trailer for the content. Which were your favorite unveiling?

The latest sequel in the Borderlands franchise has received a release date trailer, where it's revealed the title will become available on September 23, 2025.

During Wednesday's PlayStation State of Play, Sony announced that Day's Gone, the survival action thriller released in 2016, would receive a remastered release dropping April 25, 2025.

Early reactions to the project are lukewarm. A video posted by Cycu1 on YouTube provided a side-by-side graphics comparison of the two titles, comparing footage from the original's PC version with trailer footage of Days Gone Remastered (running on the PS5 Pro).

As you can see in the video, it isn't easy to differentiate the two. The textures, lighting, and shadows appear largely the same. The original PC version even outperforms PS5 Pro in some areas. It's important to preface that the PC footage runs on an NVIDIA RTX 4080, quite a step up from the hardware that powers the PS5. Despite this, it's somewhat concerning that a remaster of a 6-year-old title is still being outperformed by its original counterpart.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from acclaimed developer Machine Games (Wolfenstein) and Bethesda, is one of the best games of 2024 and the best looking. With Full Ray Tracing enabled on PC, you're presented with absolutely stunning environments to explore as one of cinema's most iconic characters. Running on a version of id Tech, it's also one of the best performing Full Ray Tracing or Path Tracing games currently available.

Next week, the game is set to get a massive update to its visuals thanks to a new patch that will add DLSS 4 support, including the new Transformer AI model for Super Resolution, DLAA, and Ray Reconstruction. These technologies have been game changers for titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2 and will undoubtedly level up the visuals in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, too.

"Using DLSS Ray Reconstruction, surface detail is improved, shadows are more precise, lighting is enhanced, and reflections more accurate," NVIDIA writes. "Even in darker scenes, temples, and forests, DLSS Ray Reconstruction adds an extra level of refinement to the image."