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Xbox has seemingly rebranded itself to “XBOX” — yes, all caps.

New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the change on X/Twitter after a fan poll showed 64.8% preferred the stylized “XBOX” logo over the traditional version. The updated branding is already live on Xbox’s X account and Sharma’s LinkedIn profile, though platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook still use the classic name.

Since replacing Phil Spencer earlier this year, Sharma has overseen a wave of changes across Microsoft Gaming, including leadership reshuffles, the end of the “This is an Xbox” campaign, a cheaper Game Pass Ultimate tier, and refreshed branding updates like the new boot sequence and retro-inspired green logo.

Fan reactions to the all-caps makeover are mixed. Some see it as a nostalgic callback to the original Xbox era, while others aren’t convinced the rebrand will stick long-term. A few fans are already asking Microsoft to go even further by bringing back the console’s iconic rough-edged font from the early 2000s.

Original source :- https://x.com/i/status/2055409655011332480

Forza Horizon 6 is already off to a massive start. While Premium Edition owners currently have 4-day early access ahead of the standard launch on May 19, the game has already surpassed 1 million players.

The milestone was spotted through an in-game leaderboard for the mandatory “River Split Speed Trap” event, which showed over 1,191,886 players taking part. The screenshot was shared by Playdate Community member ‘Bad News’ Brenny on Discord.

On Steam alone, Forza Horizon 6 has already reached a peak of 178,009 concurrent players, with more than 120,000 still playing at the time of writing. That number is expected to climb even higher once the standard edition launches — especially since the game isn’t available on Game Pass yet.

It’s an impressive early showing for Playground Games and Microsoft, and a clear sign that Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be one of the biggest racing game launches in recent years.

Original Source :-

https://playday.one/2026/05/17/forza-horizon-6-already-has-over-1-million-players/

Ghost Of Yotei Legends Won't Receive More Major Updates

Sucker Punch appears to have released the final major update for Ghost of Yotei: Legends, disappointing fans who were hoping for long-term support for the multiplayer mode.

The free co-op experience launched on March 11, and according to a recent developer blog, The Raid was intended to be the last major content update for Legends. “The Raid update was our last major planned update for Legends. It finishes the story of the Yōtei Six in that mode,” the studio said. “We’ve loved to see players playing it, continue to play it, and enjoy it.”

The blog also revealed some behind-the-scenes details about the creation of The Raid. Developers described the original concept as “an escape room where people are trying to kill you,” blending puzzle-solving with intense combat encounters.

Lead Designer Darren Bridges also spoke about how rewarding it was to watch players experience the mode in real time. “You get a window into what they’re thinking as they’re playing,” Bridges explained. “You get to see all of it evolving as they’re playing. So as developers, that’s really fun to see.”

The news has surprised some fans, especially since Ghost of Tsushima: Legends continued receiving updates for roughly a year and a half after launch. It’s currently unclear whether Sucker Punch is ending support for Legends entirely or simply concluding the Yōtei Six storyline and raid content.

Original Source:-

https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/15/ghost-of-yotei-legends-raid-building-the-multiplayer-modes-endgame/

Konami has officially confirmed that Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel will shut down in Russia and Belarus on June 15, 2026. Players in both regions will lose access to the digital TCG, with Konami thanking fans for their support since the game’s launch in 2022.

The company did not provide an official reason for the closure, though many fans speculate it may be connected to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the growing number of gaming companies withdrawing services from the region. Konami also announced that Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links will end service in both countries on the same date.

Since its release, Master Duel has continued to evolve with new cards, game modes, and meta updates inspired by the physical Yu-Gi-Oh TCG. Recent additions included the powerful Kewl Tune deck, the Elfnote archetype, and major staple card changes through the new Challengers Collection packs.

The shutdown follows several major publishers and games leaving Russia and Belarus in recent years, including Sony, Ubisoft, Pokémon GO, and World of Tanks.

Original Source:-

https://x.com/i/status/2055215286752608304

Sony appears to be testing a new PlayStation 5 feature that could finally give players a glimpse into how popular games are on the platform. According to footage shared by YouTuber Mystic, a new PS5 widget displays player activity through two sections: “Trending Games” and a “Top 10 Games” list.

While the Trending tab tracks spikes in gameplay hours, the Top 10 section reportedly shows how many players certain titles attracted over the past week. If accurate, it would mark a major shift for PlayStation, which has traditionally kept player data far more private than platforms like Steam.

The leaked numbers include:

Fortnite – 14.6 million players

Grand Theft Auto V – 5.13 million

Minecraft – 4.97 million

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – 4.95 million

Apex Legends – 1.72 million

Marvel Rivals – 1.58 million

Battlefield 6 – 1.51 million

ARC Raiders – 972,000

Fans are already debating what these figures could mean for measuring a game’s success on PS5, though there are still plenty of unanswered questions. Sony hasn’t explained how the numbers are calculated, what counts as an active player, or how much playtime is needed to be included.

Because the feature is reportedly still in beta testing, there’s also no guarantee it will ever launch publicly — and the final version could look very different from what’s currently circulating online.

If Sony does move forward with public player counts, it would be one of the biggest transparency changes in PlayStation history, arriving nearly six years after the PS5 first launched.

Original source :-

https://youtu.be/Jp7IG85\_gKA?si=f4zNdSzlPnlc2HDe

Subnautica 2 has made a massive splash on Steam, reaching nearly 500,000 concurrent players within its first hour of release. At the time of writing, the survival sequel peaked at around 467,000 players on Valve’s platform, while developer Unknown Worlds confirmed the game sold over 1 million copies in its opening hour.

For an early access title launching midweek on PC and Xbox Series X|S, the numbers are huge — and they’re expected to climb even higher as more players jump in.

The original Subnautica became a fan-favorite thanks to its beautiful yet terrifying underwater world, blending exploration, survival, and mystery on an alien ocean planet. Its sequel expands on that formula with a larger world, co-op gameplay, and a deeper narrative experience.

The road to release wasn’t smooth, though. Development reportedly began around 2022, with the game initially targeting a 2025 launch before delays and major behind-the-scenes drama involving publisher Krafton. In 2025, Krafton removed key leadership figures from Unknown Worlds, sparking a legal dispute over allegations tied to delayed milestones and a reported $250 million bonus payout. Earlier this year, former CEO Ted Gill and other executives were reinstated, helping put the project back on track.

Even a major gameplay leak days before launch failed to slow the momentum. With an enormous player count already and more updates planned throughout early access, Subnautica 2 is shaping up to be one of the biggest survival game launches in recent years.

Original source:-

https://x.com/i/status/2054955143825682616

Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, says one of the franchise’s biggest challenges is attracting younger players. With the series dating back to the late 1980s, many newcomers may feel intimidated by the numbered titles or disconnected due to the long gaps between releases.

Speaking with Nintenderos, Hamaguchi explained that Square Enix wants to balance satisfying longtime fans while also expanding the series for a new generation.

“As the Final Fantasy 7 remake project nears completion, I want to meet the expectations of fans who want even more depth in this world and its characters,” Hamaguchi said. “At the same time, I’m very aware of the need to expand the potential of the Final Fantasy franchise for the next generation.”

Industry analyst Mat Piscatella previously revealed that around 70% of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth players were over the age of 30, highlighting the franchise’s aging audience.

Recent entries like Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy XVI, and the remake trilogy shifted toward real-time action combat in an effort to appeal to modern audiences, though commercial results have reportedly fallen short of expectations.

Earlier this year, Naoki Yoshida, better known as Yoshi-P, also admitted that the franchise’s increasingly long development cycles make it harder for younger generations to stay connected to the series. He even suggested it may eventually be time for a younger creative team to lead Final Fantasy XVII.

For now, however, Square Enix remains focused on finishing the third and final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.

Original source:-

https://www.nintenderos.com/2026/05/entrevista-naoki-hamaguchi-director-de-final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-nos-habla-de-la-version-de-switch-2-y-del-futuro-de-la-trilogia/

Not long after Nintendo was forced to cancel major events in 2023 and 2024 due to threats targeting employees and attendees, the company has once again become the target of bomb threats. On May 12, Kyoto police arrested a 27-year-old unemployed man from Japan for allegedly sending threatening letters aimed at Nintendo’s headquarters.

According to reports from KTV News, the suspect is accused of obstructing business operations after mailing envelopes containing messages such as “I’m going to blow you all up” and “My plans cannot be thwarted.” He also claimed to have planted multiple bombs inside Nintendo’s offices.

Nintendo alerted authorities on March 16, prompting police to search the premises, though no explosives or suspicious items were found. The suspect has reportedly admitted to the charges, and police are now investigating his motive.

The incident closely mirrors a 2024 case involving another 27-year-old man who threatened to bomb upcoming Nintendo events and harm employees. Those threats ultimately led Nintendo to cancel the Splatoon Koshien National Finals 2023 tournament and the planned Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo event.

Original source :- https://www.ktv.jp/news/articles/?id=27002

Neowiz has officially confirmed that the sequel to Lies of P is now in full-scale development. The update was revealed during the publisher’s latest Q1 2026 earnings report, where the highly anticipated follow-up was listed under the company’s future IP expansion plans.

According to the report, the sequel has successfully moved beyond the prototype stage and entered active production at Round8 Studio, the team behind the original game. Neowiz also confirmed that an internal vertical slice has already been completed, showing that the project’s core gameplay and direction are beginning to come together.

A sequel to Lies of P was first teased back in 2023 alongside concept art connected to the game’s Overture DLC. Since then, anticipation for a follow-up has steadily grown, especially after the original game became one of the most acclaimed Soulslike titles outside of FromSoftware’s catalog.

Released in September 2023, Lies of P earned strong praise for its dark reimagining of the Pinocchio story, challenging combat, and gothic world design. The game currently holds an 82 average score on OpenCritic with an 88% recommendation rate, while many fans now consider it one of the best non-FromSoftware Soulslikes ever made.

Despite confirming development progress, Neowiz has not shared any gameplay footage or story details yet. It remains unclear whether Pinocchio will return as the protagonist or if the sequel will explore another literary-inspired setting teased in the original game’s post-credits scene.

The earnings report also revealed several other projects currently in development, including titles from Zakazane Studio and WolfEye Studios. Zakazane’s debut project is reportedly a single-player RPG centered around a sheriff in a mining town, while WolfEye’s next game is said to be a first-person action RPG developed by former Arkane Studios veterans.

No release windows have been announced for any of the projects so far.

Embark Studios has confirmed that ARC Raiders will move to a bi-annual update schedule, meaning the extraction shooter will now receive only two major content updates each year. The first of these large-scale expansions, titled Frozen Trail, is set to launch this October and will introduce new locations, enemies, story content, lore expansions, and progression system improvements.

In a new developer blog, Embark explained that the goal is to focus on “larger, more impactful” updates that significantly change how the game is played, rather than delivering smaller content drops throughout the year. The studio also reassured players that regular live-service support will continue, including balance patches, bug fixes, store refreshes, anti-cheat improvements, and limited-time events.

While Embark believes the extra development time will improve the overall quality of updates, many fans aren’t convinced. Some players worry that long gaps between major content drops could hurt player retention in an increasingly competitive live-service market. Comparisons have already been made to games like Fortnite, which has maintained its popularity through constant gameplay changes and frequent seasonal updates.

Despite concerns, ARC Raiders still maintains a strong player base, though Steam player counts have dropped noticeably since launch. At its peak, the game attracted several hundred thousand concurrent players, but recent numbers have hovered closer to 100,000 or below.

Embark is still planning smaller updates between expansions. Next week, the game will add a new trader system featuring weekly rotating rare rewards, unlocked once players reach level 25.

Ubisoft has announced a real-world treasure hunt inspired by Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, with a massive $500,000 prize hidden somewhere in the Caribbean.

Dubbed “The Lost Treasure of Edward Kenway,” the reward includes specially minted solid gold coins worth $350,000 and a crystal skull with a red opal jewel valued at another $150,000 — inspired by the mysterious artifact from the game itself.

The event is tied to Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and is being organized alongside real-world puzzle company Unsolved Hunts. Players must solve 15 complex riddles to uncover the treasure, though Ubisoft says no prior Black Flag knowledge is required.

Entry packs start at £31, while premium editions with physical collectibles go up to £177. Full access to the hunt begins on November 9, and Ubisoft expects the mystery could take players anywhere from two to five years to fully solve.

While every clue can be solved remotely, the actual treasure is genuinely buried somewhere in the Caribbean — meaning the final winner may eventually need to grab a passport and go searching for real.

Meanwhile, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches July 9 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, alongside a $200 Collector’s Edition packed with exclusive collectibles.