A significant number of international game developers are boycotting the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. Citing concerns over aggressive US border policies, detainment risks, and political hostility, many industry professionals feel the personal risks now outweigh the event's benefits.
Ballistic Moon, the studio behind the recent Until Dawn remake, has been officially dissolved following UK government filings in February 2026. The closure comes after a series of layoffs and a mixed reception to the studio's sole released project.
Standing Stone Games has launched a generous promotion for Dungeons & Dragons Online, allowing players to redeem a code for a vast collection of free content. By using the code 'NATURAL20', gamers can permanently unlock dozens of quest packs, races, and classes until March 2026.
A retrospective explores how David Wise's iconic track from Donkey Kong Country 2 evolved from a technical marvel on the SNES into a viral internet phenomenon. The article details the unique coding methods used to overcome hardware limitations and the song's enduring emotional impact on listeners.
Hidden Path Entertainment has unexpectedly released the 'Aftermath' expansion for Defense Grid 2 on Steam, ending an eight-year content drought. The move signals the developer is still active despite recent project cancellations.
The upcoming sequel RUINER 2 shifts the franchise from a pure top-down shooter to a deeper Action RPG experience set in the dystopian city of Rengkok. Players can utilize a new "Shell" system to command multiple characters, creating complex combat synergies in both solo and co-op modes.
The hand-painted horror visual novel *Pink Noise* is now available in Early Access, offering players immediate access to its first episode. Set in a declining American town, the game features a branching narrative where player choices determine the fate of a group of teenagers haunted by a mysterious VHS tape.
Educators are finding that AI detection tools are inadvertently punishing good writers and creating a paradox where honest students adopt AI tools to avoid false accusations. Writing instructor Dadland Maye highlights how this surveillance culture forces students to "dumb down" their work. Instead of policing, experts suggest shifting focus to teaching responsible AI usage.
A new fast-paced roguelike titled Horns of Deliverance has been listed on Steam, featuring a unique mechanic where players must fight against their own brain implants. To survive the lethal chip, players must utilize psychoactive substances to maintain control while navigating procedurally generated levels.
Meta has introduced a controversial defense in its ongoing copyright lawsuit, arguing that distributing copyrighted books via BitTorrent constitutes fair use because it was a technical necessity for downloading AI training data. The company faces allegations from authors who claim direct copyright infringement occurred during the data acquisition process.
NetEase Inc. has announced it will cease financing Nagoshi Studio starting in May, citing the need for significant additional funding to complete the debut title, Gang of Dragon. The decision leaves the studio led by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi searching for new sponsors or facing independent operation.
Prediction market app Kalshi has refused to pay out an estimated $54 million to users who bet on the departure of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arguing the market terms did not include his death. The controversial decision has sparked a political outcry and calls for legislation to ban betting on geopolitical events.
Early impressions of Bungie's Marathon highlight a stunningly designed sci-fi universe that feels wasted on the extraction shooter genre. The author argues that the game's deep lore and artistic direction deserve a single-player experience, referencing Bungie's legacy of narrative excellence in the Halo series.
Artist Fern 'Antireal' Hook has been officially credited as a visual design consultant in Bungie's newly released shooter, Marathon. This follows a previous controversy where the artist alleged their work was used without permission during the game's beta phase.
Steven Sharif, the creator of the MMORPG Ashes of Creation, has successfully obtained a temporary restraining order against his former board of directors following a contentious legal battle. Sharif alleges the board attempted to unlawfully seize the game's IP and assets after he resigned in protest over mass layoffs.
