Video games may be a popular entertainment medium around the world, with there being some 2.7 billion gamers globally according to December 2025 Statista data, but an analyst has contextualized this popularity a bit with new findings suggesting that video games are really popular in the country in which they are developed.

Rhys Elliott, the head of games market data firm Alinea Analytics, shared his findings in an X post on January 29. Discussing the concept of the "hometown hero," Elliott had surveyed his company's recent estimates and discovered that the hometown hero effect bears true within the games industry as well. Elliott cited some recent examples of games developed in a specific country that, although popular globally, were especially popular in the country that they were developed in.

Assassin's Creed is one example. Although the studio has global offices and the franchise is known worldwide, those games--including Shadows--are particularly popular in French markets, with the series consistently hitting the number-three spot in the "Land of the Franks." The same is true of Cyberpunk 2077, which also remains in the number-three spot on Steam's Polish charts--studio CD Projekt Red is Polish. One more: South Korean studio Shift Up's Stellar Blade, which is number three on the PlayStation 5 chart in South Korea.

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The Fallout TV show based on Bethesda's game franchise is proving popular, prompting some to wonder if another one of the company's franchises, The Elder Scrolls, could get its own show. That remains to be seen, but now former Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith has said an Elder Scrolls TV show probably would not work.

He told Press Box PR (via Insider Gaming) that there is "something very special and different" about Fallout that makes it good fodder for a TV show. On the other hand, The Elder Scrolls is a "standard kind of fantasy" story, and those have been done again and again and again on TV, he said.

"That's not as interesting, not in this day and age where you already have The Lord Of The Rings movies. We've got Game Of Thrones. You'd have to try to find something to lean into that would be special about it," Nesmith explained.

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As gaming support on Linux has continued to grow over the past few years several distributions specifically designed around gaming support have become increasingly popular. In order to better serve users going forward, many of them have joined a collective to help focus efforts on better future support and reduce duplicated, time-wasting work.

The Open Gaming Collective is being contributed to by some of the most prolific gaming Linux distributions around, including Bazzite, Nobara, PikaOS, Playtron, and more. The aim of the collective is to centralize efforts on core component development, such as updates for input managers (for better controller support), gaming-specific packages (such as Gamescope, which is widely used on SteamOS), and kernel improvements. "This means better hardware compatibility, fewer duplicated efforts, and a more unified Linux gaming experience for everyone," the announcement post concludes.

One such improvement includes widespread support for Secure Boot, which currently isn't supported on Bazzite, one of the best SteamOS alternatives. Secure Boot support has steadily become required for kernel-level anti-cheat software used in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Battlefield 6, and Highguard, and is a big reason why multiplayer games are still challenging on Linux. While this won't immediately solve the issue, resolving it across multiple Linux distributions at once should make it easier for you to choose one that suits you needs the most rather than being forced into one because of specific feature support.

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Originally announced almost two decades ago, Beyond Good and Evil 2 continues to be in active development. Ubisoft creative director Fawzi Mesmar confirmed that his team is "committed and focused on delivering a remarkable game" on LinkedIn.

Spotted by VGC, Mesmar gave the Beyond Good and Evil 2 update after Ubisoft announced more layoffs, studio closures, and the cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. The creative director noted his team and the long-gestating sequel (possibly a prequel) were "unaffected," while at the same time, adding that he was "saddened" by the recent news. This confirms a report last week that Beyond Good and Evil 2 was still in development following the Ubisoft purge.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 was officially revealed in 2008, while the original game was released in late 2003. Over the past decade, there have been continual confirmations that progress was being made on the game at Ubisoft, particularly after its re-unveiling in 2017. For example, there was talk of a beta for Beyond Good and Evil 2 coming before the end of 2019 at one point. Then, in 2020, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot claimed the game was "progressing well." However, in 2023, Beyond Good and Evil 2 creative director Emile Morel died at the age of 40.

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Code Vein 2 is a punishing soulslike adventure that sends you into a perilous world to fight challenging foes and tackle a time-bending story. But the most important part is that you look good doing it, right? That's where this game's deep and feature-packed character creation system comes into play, allowing you to create a playable character that really matches your preferences.

However, even if you spend multiple hours getting everything about your character exactly how you want it before beginning the game, there's a chance you'll eventually see something you wish you'd styled differently--or perhaps you're just the kind of person who likes to change things up sometimes. Luckily, there's one spot in Code Vein 2 that you can visit at any time to rework your character's appearance. 

Whether you're looking to swap hairstyles, give yourself some cool new makeup, or equip a whole new outfit, here's how to change your appearance in Code Vein 2.

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Skyrim's lead designer, Bruce Nesmith, has shared his thoughts on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, singling out a few locations that he thinks could serve each game well for a setting. He also talked about one part of older Elder Scrolls games that he would like to see return in a hypothetical The Elder Scrolls 9.

Nesmith was asked by Press Box PR where he thought the "most interesting" place would be to set The Elder Scrolls 6. He said he would take the game to the Elven lands and the Summerset Isles.

"I think that would be a break and a change from the more gritty and ordinary stuff that has been done with the Nords and Cyrodiil," he said (via Insider Gaming). "It would allow you to go back a little bit into the high fantasy and I've seen what the Elder Scrolls Online guys have done with that region. I think they did a bang up job and you could tell some really cool stories there and make it a little more elf-centric."

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A new GDC survey shows that game developers' ire toward the use of generative AI in game development is going up.

Every year, the organization behind GDC Festival of Gaming releases the State of the Game Industry Report, featuring insights from thousands of developers around the video game industry. For the 2026 State of the Game Industry Report, 2,300 were surveyed for the latest one and were asked about a variety of topics, including generative AI.

Overall, 36% of the game developers surveyed used generative AI (828 people), with "business professionals" and "upper management" using it more than your rank-and-file game developers. ChatGPT was the most commonly used external AI tool, and the technology was mostly used for "research and brainstorming."

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In a slowly growing show of support for the operating system, Nvidia has launched a beta version of GeForce Now for Linux users.

The app, which is available for users on Ubuntu 24.04 (and likely many other distributions of Linux such as Bazzite and Nobara) allows you to stream compatible games that you own on various storefronts, such as Steam. These games are rendered on Nvidia's servers, giving you access to better performance than you might have at home without minimal latency, with a monthly fee determining what hardware you have access to and for how long.

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After Switch owners complained about the superhero comedy Dispatch forcing censorship on the newly released Nintendo versions of the game, Nintendo released a statement denying that it was directly responsible for this decision.

The statement (per GoNintendo) reads: "Nintendo requires all games on its platforms to receive ratings from independent organizations and to meet our established content and platform guidelines. While we inform partners when their titles don’t meet our guidelines, Nintendo does not make changes to partner content. We also do not discuss specific content or the criteria used in making these determinations."

At the time of the Switch release, Dispatch developer AdHoc stated that it "worked with Nintendo to ensure the content within the title met the criteria to release on their platforms, but the core narrative and gameplay experience remain identical to the original release." But after Nintendo's statement, who to blame for covering Dispatch's naughty bits up is unclear.

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Billionaire GameStop chairman and CEO Ryan Cohen has revealed that he plans to buy a company to help transform GameStop from where it stands today at around an $11 billion market cap to a $100 billion-plus giant that would sell more than video games and collectibles.

Cohen told The Wall Street Journal that he's pursuing a publicly traded company for a buyout, and it would probably be a company in the consumer or retail space. Cohen has a history in those markets, as he co-founded Chewy before selling it to PetSmart and invested in Nordstrom and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Cohen said he plans to speak with companies soon, and said if a deal comes together, it would be "big." At the same time, Cohen said it could all fall apart and end up in disaster.

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Google has dropped a new experimental AI called Project Genie, which can create playable worlds that can be explored for around 60 seconds. This technology may not be able to create a fully playable game, but it can apparently emulate some of Nintendo's classic titles.

The Verge has shared its hands-on test with Project Genie, which allowed the outlet to create AI-generated worlds that resemble Super Mario 64, Metroid Prime, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, the knock-offs were described as extremely lacking compared to the original titles. The AI prompts can't deliver results as polished as Super Mario 64, an N64 game that came out 30 years ago.

Curiously, the report notes that Disney characters were blocked from Project Genie, as demonstrated when the outlet attempted to emulate Kingdom Hearts. It's unclear why Nintendo's characters weren't also blocked from the start. According to The Verge, Google finally restricted Nintendo's characters from Project Genie shortly before the outlet's article was published. GameSpot has reached out to both Nintendo and Google for comment.

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With the end of support for Windows 10 last October, the transition to Windows 11 hasn't been as smooth as Microsoft might have hoped, with performance issues, bugs, and unpopular features eroding users' trust in the dominant operating system. Sources cited by The Verge say Microsoft is working on improving the core experience, hoping to regain users' trust as more PC users than ever have defected to Linux.

Windows engineers have reportedly been set to tackle the operating system's most pressing issues over the coming months, after Windows 11 has seen persistent instances of disruptive bugs and performance issues.

"The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people," said Microsoft's president of Windows and devices, Pavan Davuluri, in a statement to The Verge. "This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows. Trust is earned over time and we are committed to building it back with the Windows community."

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This week, Gearbox Studios is starting small with its Borderlands 4 improvements by adding a photo mode. But that's just the first step in the new content roadmap that will take Borderlands 4 through the third quarter of 2026 and beyond.

Gearbox shared most of the details on Borderlands' official site. According to the developer, it has taken to heart fan requests for cross-save progression, more endgame content, and new activities. Gearbox is working on those features and the game's performance and stability issues, in addition to planning a new Raid Boss, a Takedown, and more.

In February, Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demon will launch with a new mission, new Legendary gear, and a themed Vault Card featuring 24 cosmetics and four rerollable pieces of gear that are unlocked through gameplay. It's also going to introduce a new tier of gear that goes beyond Legendary: Pearlescent gear. All players will be able to get Pearlescent gear in Borderlands 4, but some of the best pieces will be exclusive to Bounty Pack 2. Note that unlike the first Bounty Pack, Legend of the Stone Demon is a paid DLC.

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Last fall, Gearbox Studios abruptly postponed the Switch 2 port of Borderlands 4 10 days before it was set to launch. Now, Gearbox has laid out its content roadmap for Borderlands 4 in 2026, and the Switch 2 port is nowhere to be found.

As seen on Borderlands' official site, the 2026 roadmap extensively lays out the major scheduled updates and paid DLC coming to Borderlands 4 this year. In fact, it seems to cover every facet of the game except its Switch 2 port.

It's unclear what this means for Switch 2 owners who have been holding out on purchasing the game on another console. When the Switch 2 port was pushed back in September, Gearbox stated that it was "committed to ensuring we deliver the best possible experience to our fans, and the game needs additional development and polish time to do that. Our hope is to also better align this release with the addition of cross saves, which we are working on and recognize is very important. We will update you all on the new release timing once we've fully adjusted our plans."

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The Transformers UK Compendium Vol. 1

$65 | Releases March 10

Preorder at Amazon

Transformers wasn't just a hit on TV and in the toy aisles during the '80s; it was a massive success in comic books as well. Published by Marvel Comics, two distinct series were released over the years that continued the battles between the Autobots and the Decepticons: a Transformers series in the US and a unique UK version that has become a cult classic. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Transformers UK is getting a brand-new compendium edition, and you can preorder it now for $65 ahead of its release on March 10.

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Transformers: The Movie Optimus Prime

$60 | Releases March 1

Preorder at Target

Transformers: The Movie Megatron

$60 | Releases March 10

Preorder at Target

It was 40 years ago when the first Transformers movie hit the big screen, and to mark the occasion, Hasbro has announced new Optimus Prime and Megatron figures as part of its Studio Series line. Priced at $60 each, these figures capture the wear and tear from the final battle between the Autobot and Decepticon leaders, and they'll be out in March.

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The God of War television has a major new piece of casting. Amazon has confirmed via a press release that Mandy Patinkin, an actor whose career spans over 50 years across both stage and screen, will appear in the game as Odin.

Odin, the All-Father of Norse mythology, is an important figure in God of War: Ragnarok, serving as the game's main villain. According to the press release, Odin is "not the most physically imposing" figure, yet "he is the most powerful Aesir god, a patriarch who leads with an iron fist, and an unrivaled seeker of knowledge." The series will follow the plot of 2018's God of War and its 2022 sequel.

Patinkin has had many memorable roles, but his most widely recognized is Inigo Montoya from Rob Reiner's 1987 classic The Princess Bride, a travelling swordsman who is seeking the six-fingered man who killed his father. In more recent years, he played Saul Berenson across 96 episodes of the Showtime drama Homeland.

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Head's up: Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away. Luckily, if you're looking for a fun gift idea, Lego is offering a free bonus Lego set when you spend $80 or more in a single order at Lego's online store. You'll receive the 278-piece Penguins in Love set, which is usually $15. The display features an adorable scene of two brick-built penguins standing on ice, with hearts floating above their heads. It's a smaller set, but could make for a fun quick build to accompany one of the larger sets you bundle it with. Almost every Lego set available on the website counts toward the $80 threshold to unlock the free Penguins in Love set, including kits on sale and preorders for upcoming releases.

See all deals at Lego Store

If you're looking for some recommendations, Lego's Valentine's Day selection includes numerous botanical-themed sets such as the 254-piece Heart Ornament set that could be great for date night co-op build. Another notable pick is the 1,892-piece Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape set. It's currently on backorder for $140, but regardless of when it ships, you'll still receive the free Penguins in Love set.

As mentioned earlier, even sets that are on sale are eligible for Lego's limited-time deal. The 433-piece Christmas Table Decoration set was a hit during the Winter holidays last year, and grabbing it while it's marked down to just $28 (was $40) is a good way to plan for this year's holiday season. If you have younger builders at home, a handful of Peppa Pig Duplo sets are also discounted. The 20-piece Peppa Pig Garden and Tree House set is currently down to $14 (was $20).

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Comcept, the studio formed and once headed by storied former Capcom producer Keiji Inafune, has officially closed its doors. The news was first reported on Japanese website Gamebiz, which posted a reproduction of the official closure announcement, which was then translated by Gematsu.

Comcept was formed in 2010 by Keiji Inafune, who had left Capcom after enduring a string of high-profile cancellations, including Mega Man Legends 3. Comcept operated primarily as a planning company, working together with other developers to bring game ideas to market. The company was instrumental in the creation of a variety of titles, including Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, Soul Sacrifice, and ReCore. By far its most well-known title was Mighty No. 9, a crowdfunded attempt to modernize and revive the platforming conventions of the classic Mega Man games that wound up fraught with controversy and production issues, releasing to a mixed reception.

After the failure of a subsequent Kickstarter for the adventure game Red Ash, the cancellation of 3DS action title Kaio: King of Pirates, and the speedy end-of-service for its online mobile game Dragon & Colonies, Comcept was acquired by prominent Japanese game developer Level-5 and renamed Level-5 Comcept.

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Some new eye-opening data from Circana demonstrates the impacts of gaming hardware getting more expensive, as over half the households who bought gaming hardware recently made $100,000 or more a year.

More specifically, a post from Circana's Senior Director Mat Piscatella on Bluesky revealed that 53% of households who bought new video game hardware, like the Nintendo Switch 2 or PS5 Pro, in Q4 2025 made more than $100,000 annually. In Q1 2022, only 40% of buyers were above that threshold.

Conversely, poorer households are buying less gaming hardware, as those making under $50,000 a year were just 19% of the buyers in Q4 2025, but they were 31% of the consumer base in Q1 2022. Essentially, this data shows that majority of consumers buying new hardware are from a smaller, richer base.

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