Gaming - Page 6

Forza Horizon 6 developers have mocked Nintendo's legal stance on Pokémon by including a direct reference to the franchise in the recently released game, seemingly poking fun at the company's long-running and extremely active legal team.

The move, discovered by fans and reported by Insider Gaming, sees a subtle but clear nod to Pokémon in an otherwise unrelated environment, likely as a joke about Nintendo's long history of aggressively policing its intellectual property by filing lawsuits against any party that it believes has infringed on its IP, regardless of the alleged severity.

While Forza Horizon 6's developers haven't commented directly, the in-game reference has already sparked viral reactions online. As for the specific reference, in the above video, we can see a player driving around Forza Horizon 6, and on the radio, we can hear instructions to "grab your camera, and snap 'em all," followed by, "It's like that Japanese collecting game where we were not allowed to name for legal reasons. Exactly." It remains to be seen if Nintendo will set its legal team on Playground Games for the tongue-in-cheek comment.

Microsoft has broken new ground on Steam as Forza Horizon 6 becomes the most popular racing game ever on the platform.

Forza Horizon 6 shows signs of being gaming's latest big hit as the racing sim achieves hundreds of thousands of players on Steam on launch day. New data from SteamDB shows that FH6 managed to hit over 273K players in the last 24 hours, setting a new all-time peak player count not only for Forza Horizon games, but racing games as a genre on Steam itself.

Other details indicate that Forza Horizon 6 may have already made over $140 million in revenue from its premium version alone, dwarfing our own analysis of the game's early advanced access sales on Steam. This could show that consumers are now more price tolerant for higher-end experiences, and that Microsoft's penchant towards FOMO-oriented early access is also working out quite well, as Forza Horizon 6's $120 premium edition is roughly equivalent of two full-priced games from the previous console generation.

Forza Horizon 6 is Playground Games' latest entry into the Horizon series that takes place in Japan. Despite supporting both Windows and SteamOS, the game initially had broken Linux support during the game's advanced access period, causing crashes in-game. Luckily, GamingOnLinux reports that Valve has pushed a Proton hotfix that at least partially rectifies the issue and makes the game playable again on Linux operating systems.

When Forza Horizon 6 first entered advanced access, the game reportedly needed "horrible" workarounds to run on Linux at all on AMD GPUs. Some of these workarounds included changing the sampler heap to 2047, mitigation for bugs causing bad aliasing between image descriptors and buffer descriptors on RDNA 3 and 4, and more. Even with workarounds applied, at least one user reported crashing issues on an RDNA 4 GPU. The situation is even worse for NVIDIA gamers who need to wait for a new NVIDIA driver to fix the game's playability issues, and there's no timeline on when NVIDIA will provide this driver update.

There are not enough user reports to confirm how well Valve's latest hotfix is working with Forza Horizon 6; however, GamingOnLinux tested the hotfix on the Steam Deck and a Ryzen 7 5800X/RX 6800-based machine and found the game runs stably after multiple hours of gameplay without crashing. There are still performance-related stuttering problems in-game that are not Linux-related, but at the very least, the game appears to be playable now on Linux through Proton.

Fortnite has officially returned to the App Store, but Epic and Apple are still far from friendly.

After missing out on billions of dollars in revenue, the most popular live service game in the world is now natively available on Apple devices. Epic Games today announced that Fortnite has returned to the App Store for iOS and Mac, further challenging Apple's conduct around digital fees attached to in-game purchases.

Epic Games' blog have chronicled the legal battles against Apple and Google in a series of tit-for-tat posts, detailing the ongoing progress throughout the company's legal battles. One example from today's news: "Fortnite is returning to the App Store now because we are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand," Epic writes.

Warner Bros. Games and TT Games are gearing up for the release of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a bold new Batman story that takes players across an open-world Gotham City. All of which has been spray-painted with that lovely LEGO charm.

LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight officially launches on May 22, but for those who pre-purchased the game, they gain access three days before release, meaning LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight will be making its way into players' hands in only a matter of hours. However, it appears Legacy of the Dark Knight is suffering from a leak, as images and some gameplay have begun popping up on various social media platforms, with some claiming the title has already been cracked.

According to a report from GameGPU, a user named DenuvOwO published a method to bypass the Denuvo Hypervisor system, which Legacy of the Dark Knight uses to prevent piracy. The method was published on the popular piracy resource CrackWatch, and according to the details, users can run an unlicensed copy of Legacy of the Dark Knight without purchasing an official key.

Valve veteran Chet Faliszek has called out Krafton CEO Changhan Kim's reliance on ChatGPT for legal strategy during the Subnautica 2 contract dispute, and now that the title has done gangbusters in terms of players, many, including Faliszek, are wondering if Krafton will have to pay out that $250 million bonus.

As the sequel breaks records on Steam with over 467,582 concurrent players, the burning question remains: will Kim finally have to pay the $250 million bonus he tried to avoid? Faliszek, now with Stray Bombay, says the situation is a real-time case study in what happens when a major studio tries to circumvent contractual obligations.

"Half a million people are playing it right now," he said in a YouTube video, noting that the game's success has made the legal fallout unavoidable.

Nintendo has announced a goofy experimental new smartphone app Pictonico that turns photo-taking into a game, and a gallery into a canvas for wacky minigames.

Nintendo is embracing its unpredictable energy with Pictonico, a new mobile app that allows users to take and transform digital photos in a gamified way. The experiences are kind of like little social microgames, not unlike WarioWare infused with the zany spirit of the Game Boy Camera from the 1990s, while adding a new level of personal fun when players play with their friends.

Pictonico will be free but it will also have microtransactions, and the free version is predictably limited--quite restricted, actually. The selling point here is the minigames, which Nintendo sells in two "volumes"--Volume 1 is $7.99, and Volume 2 is $5.99. Unfortunately, Pictonico's free version only has three minigames.

Xbox is preparing for more change in the next few years than it has seen in its entire 25-year history, according to a senior Microsoft executive.

Guy Richards, director of ID@Xbox, revealed during the Digital Dragons Conference 2026 that the company is entering an era of unprecedented transformation. "We believe there's going to be more change happening in the next couple of years than the 25 years that got us here," he said. This includes a return to the iconic green branding, the revival of the FanFest event, and ongoing overhauls to Xbox services such as Game Pass, Copilot AI, and other features within the Xbox ecosystem.

Under new CEO Asha Sharma, Microsoft is shifting how it operates, bringing in leaders from its CoreAI division and rethinking long-standing strategies. The company has already made significant moves to change Xbox, such as rebranding to XBOX, reducing Game Pass pricing, and potentially returning to exclusive titles. With Project Helix on the horizon, the changes could shape the next generation of Xbox hardware and software.

Valve has updated Steam, adding 17 new genre tags for games to better organize the different types of experiences. This includes a brand-new genre tag for the popular Vampire Survivors and similar action-packed roguelite experiences called 'Bullet Heaven.' Valve's description of this new genre says it's the opposite of Bullet Hell, with gameplay and mechanics focused on "upgrades while automatically attacking hordes of enemies."

The new Bullet Heaven genre and style tag is now live, with the official store page for the tab showcasing Vampire Survivors and all the games inspired by its unique take on gaming. This includes Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, Megabonk, BALL x PIT, and many more.

Valve giving this new style of game a name is important because, up until now, most gamers have been referring to these titles as Vampire Survivors clones or Survivors-like games in much the same way we referred to FPS games as DOOM clones in the 1990s or, more recently, hard-as-nails third-person action-RPGs with a focus on combat as Souls-likes. Whether or not Bullet Heaven catches on remains to be seen, but here is a look at the full list of new Steam game tags and genres with links to their store pages.

In a new collaboration between ASUS and AK Studio, a Taiwanese modding team, the ROG Xbox Ally X is getting a one-off Cyberpunk 2077 rebrand. ASUS calls it a one-of-a-kind professional mod, not a new retail model, featuring a vibrant colorway and details throughout the chassis that Cyberpunk chooms will instantly recognize.

For starters, this is a case mod for the ROG Xbox Ally X, not an entirely new console. The handheld is wrapped in signature Cyberpunk yellow, with decals throughout, including matching typography and weathered accents inspired by Keanu Reeves' Johnny Silverhand and the game's grimy Night City setting. It's safe to say this isn't just a simple skin.

ASUS says this handheld is one of a kind, which means it won't be a retail product. At best, one of these may be given away as a prize in a competition. There are only three of these bad boys in existence right now, so while not strictly one-of-a-kind, it's still impossibly rare according to the folks over at ASUS.

Lords of the Fallen 2 is no longer locked to the Epic Games Store, and is now free to launch on any PC storefront, including Steam.

New filings from CI Games spotted by Polish publication Bankier show that the company has now freed its latest game from an exclusivity deal with Epic Games. It's been revealed that Epic and CI Games have terminated their multi-year rights deal that originally made Lords of the Fallen 2 exclusive to the Epic Games Store.

In the filing, the Polish game developer notes that it has been "released from its obligations under the binding agreement," and that the termination was "conditional in nature."

Following an underwhelming launch, Bungie is now prioritizing content that adds more game types to Marathon, including some mysterious PVE modes.

Bungie has announced it's currently experimenting with two new PVE-oriented modes, and both will be available when season 2 drops on June 2. The exact features of these Nightfall modes haven't been revealed so far, but Bungie says one of the modes will have a "light touch" of PVP. The developer wants to create mood-based playlists and something like a PVE mode could help take the edge off of competitive play, not unlike strikes versus the crucible in Destiny.

"In Season 2, we will be experimenting with two modes, one at the beginning of the season and one towards the middle/latter half of the season. The experimental mode at the beginning of the season will focus more on PVE, but with a light touch of PVP. The second experimental mode will be a PVE-only mode that's focused on crews being tasked with completing objectives together and making some progress across matches," Bungie wrote in a major Marathon season 2 update post.

Many years ago, Gearbox did the unthinkable: At the eleventh hour of the game's release, they decided to completely remake the game in a new art style. Now it's been revealed how much this cost Take-Two, especially at a time when the group didn't have that much capital to spend.

Old-school gamers may remember Borderlands 1's original art style--a more realistic, gritty visual representation that felt more in line with the popular shooters of the era, but one that lacks the timeless look and feel of cel-shaded graphics. In the end, Gearbox bravely made the decision to scrap this original style and go with the comically iconic visuals the series is known for, but it wouldn't have happened without the approval of Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.

In a recent interview with David Senra, games mogul Strauss Zelnick briefly discussed an interesting piece of yesteryear gaming lore regarding the Borderlands art swap. According to Zelnick, the overhaul ended up costing $50 million in developer costs and tacked on a full year of development for the game. It was ultimately the right move--the Borderlands series has now sold-in more than 100 million units, and that may not have happened if the game didn't have its bombastic style.

Xbox's new CEO Asha Sharma wants to know what changes should be made, and now gamers have a more direct line to share their input with the company.

Microsoft seeks to transform the Xbox brand in a new kind of modern revitalization of gaming. The company has made big moves like pulling Call of Duty from Game Pass subscriptions, as well as small moves like changing the name to a retro all-caps moniker. It wants to keep morphing and molding around what gamers actually want, and that's the main motivation behind the new Xbox Player Voice program.

The feedback program is basically a stylized forum where gamers can sign up, make posts, and share feedback. Other users can also upvote specific topics to increase visibility, not unlike Reddit. The top requests are making more exclusive Xbox games, making online multiplayer free on Xbox, to allow disc-based games on Project Helix, and to ensure more games come to the backwards compatibility program.

Sony will no longer release its singleplayer first-party games on PC as the group revalues its portfolio.

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Sony's PlayStation games division held a meeting today that discussed first-party games on PC. At the town hall, PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst reportedly said that all narrative-driven singleplayer games from first-party studios will be exclusive to PlayStation consoles and will no longer come to PC.

This implies that Sony has attached new value to its first-party games as the portfolio relates to its PlayStation ecosystem, which is an important consideration as the company gears up for its next-gen PS6 console. The move also comes at a time when Sony's PS5 shipments reach an all-time generational low. Both the PS5 and PS6 generations will undoubtedly be bridged with backwards compatibility, and locking software to the platform adds more value while bringing back a more fierce platform rivalry in the process.

Sony is increasing the price of its baseline PS Plus subscription by $1 as the company aims for more digital profits.

The games industry is being squeezed right now on the supply and creation side, with SG&A increasing alongside tough-to-procure video games components. While most companies have already trimmed as much fat as comfortably possible, they're still being pressured to deliver continued profits. Companies like Sony have navigated global volatility with record gaming profits, and now PlayStation's digital frontier is being monetized even further.

Starting May 20, Sony is increasing the price of its PS Plus Essential subscription from $9.99 to $10.99, and its 3-month Essential tier is also increasing by $3, from $24.99 to $27.99. The move has been quite unpopular as PS Plus is required for basic features like online play and cloud game save backups, and fans aren't happy about the announcement following the recent PlayStation 5 console price hike.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has called Grand Theft Auto 5 the most valuable entertainment IP ever created, crediting its success to the frequent updates and social nature of GTA Online.

Speaking with podcaster David Senra, Zelnick revealed the title has generated "a lot" in revenue, with over 225 million copies sold since 2013. Zelnick emphasized that the game's longevity is due to its evolving multiplayer mode, which keeps players connected and engaged. "You can actually talk and connect and play together," he said, highlighting how online games are inherently social experiences.

He even used his mother's online bridge game as a relatable example of how digital spaces can foster real-world connections. The comments come ahead of GTA 6's November 2026 release, which is already generating sky-high expectations. While Zelnick and Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser have both praised the franchise's "freedom" and genre-blending, the CEO's focus on social engagement adds a new layer to the conversation about what makes GTA stick with players for years.

Sony's recent annual earnings report shows that physical media is still going strong at PlayStation, although the numbers are indeed decreasing year over year.

Sony's FY25 results highlight the games industry's long-running trend of digital-first earnings. Sony's games division earns most of its money from digital thanks to the potent combination of microtransactions and full game sales. Despite digital's dominance, the group is still shipping tens of millions of game discs every year.

Last year, Sony recorded that there were 69.9 million PlayStation game discs shipped throughout FY25. That's a reduction of 2.9 million from FY24 (down nearly -4%), but still representative of strong demand for physical media.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has once again confirmed the release date for Grand Theft Auto 6, amid ongoing concerns about the game's development timeline and if fans will have to endure yet another delay announcement from Rockstar Games.

In a recent interview, Zelnick explained that GTA 6 is approximately 18 months behind its original internal target, but still on schedule for a late 2026 release. This reaffirms the company's continued confidence in the launch window, even as rumors of delays, speculative pre-order dates, and intense price estimations bubble online.

The confirmation comes as Take-Two continues to manage expectations around Rockstar's flagship title. Zelnick's remarks align with previous statements that the company is prioritizing quality over speed, ensuring that the game meets the high standards Rockstar has set for its open-world experiences.

GTA 6 pre-orders are live in Italy, but the timing and availability have raised many questions as to whether it's a genuine early leak, or simply an opportunistic retailer looking to take advantage of hype surrounding the latest GTA rumor.

Recently, rumors began flying that Rockstar was preparing to open pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto 6, and since the developer and the publisher, Take-Two Interactive have not dismissed the rumors, hype began to build. Now, Italian retailer ShowGame is listing GTA 6 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X at €69.99, the same price as what would be considered a typical AAA game. However, the ShowGame listing states GTA 6 pre-orders are currently sold out.

The listing, first spotted by a Reddit user, shows the game as available for pre-order, with shipping options limited to Italy, another red flag in my book. The price aligns with early rumors and speculation, but the sudden appearance of a pre-order page amid some of the hottest pre-orders rumors for GTA 6, and that pre-order page only being locked to Italy, causes intense speculation.