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A Big Shift For PlayStation Could Be Bad News For One Of Its Best Studios
In the same year that Sony launched the PlayStation 5, the console maker also began moving away from keeping its exclusive games on its own hardware. Horizon Zero Dawn, which had launched on the PlayStation 4 just three years prior, became the first big Sony-published game to launch on the PC, marking a shift in strategy as Sony attempted to find a larger audience in the same way that Microsoft had been doing for some time. It's a bet that led to one of Sony's most-notable acquisitions just a year later, with the company purchasing renowned porting studio Nixxes to support its PC efforts going forward. But just five years later, Sony is reportedly taking a step back from this strategy, which leaves one of the best studios in the industry in a precarious position.
Prior to its acquisition, Nixxes made a name for itself by supporting Square Enix-published titles, primarily working with studios such as Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics. Nixxes, which has been doing porting work since its founding in 2000, was behind the exceptionally well-optimized and feature-rich ports of Rise of the Tomb Raider, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and more. It had, in fact, been doing a lot of this work for a long time, but it was around this time that the studio gained a more well-known reputation for creating exceptional PC ports, something which you couldn't take for granted then like you generally can today.
It's this reputation that likely attracted Sony, which initially tasked Nixxes with assisting Guerrilla Games on patching Horizon Zero Dawn shortly after it launched on PC. It was a disappointing launch, with various performance issues and bugs showing how Guerrilla, and perhaps Sony by extension, underestimated the complexity of a port. Nixxes not only helped stabilize it, but clearly showcased how skilled it was at this exact type of work, which more than likely made it an easy choice for Sony to purchase it a year later.
Continue Reading at GameSpotRemember The Not-Kojima Vaporware Abandoned? It Just Might Be Back
Don't call it a comeback just yet, but it appears that developer Blue Box Game Studios' PS5-exclusive, first-person horror shooter Abandoned may not have been abandoned after all, according to a post on ResetEra.
Sleuths on the gaming forum ResetEra discovered on March 5 that Blue Box Game Studios' director, Hasan Kahraman, has a new game connected to his PlayStation account. The game is titled Abandoned: Gospels of Blood, suggesting that Kahraman may be attempting to resurrect a version of the once-maligned PS5 project. That's it, though. There's no trailer, no demo, no release date--nothing at all. So, to understand the significance of this insignificant update, we have to go back to 2021.
A Trip Down (Abandoned) Memory LaneBack in April 2021, developer Hasan Kahraman and his team at Blue Box Game Studios pulled back the curtain on Abandoned. Revealing it on the PlayStation Blog, the game was described as a "cinematic, first-person horror survival-shooter" with photorealistic graphics and a highly detailed, open-world environment. It looked creepy yet stunning, but it also kind of resembled a Silent Hill game. Or, at least, that was the theory after the project was unveiled, with netizens linking Abandoned to the iconic survival-horror series and assuming Kahraman was a stand-in for gaming auteur Hideo Kojima. (The two do share similar initials, after all, though Kojima has since denied being involved with Abandoned in any capacity.)
Continue Reading at GameSpotSteam Game Briefly Replaced By A Completely Different, Unannounced Project
Someone at Teyon apparently made a very big mistake today, as Steam players who purchased RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business found their game completely erased and replaced by a different title that wasn't formally announced.
A user on X who goes by Silent was the first to notice that Unfinished Business was swapped out for Hunter: The Reckoning, a project that appears to be based on a spin-off from the World of Darkness tabletop RPGs.
Title screen says Hunter: The Reckoning, but the actual games under that title are by another developer and are 2D text based, unlike whatever this is. Doesn't look very hunter-like either so I doubt this is their Hunting Simulator 3. (Screenshots by @jas0n_098) pic.twitter.com/sikon1Mfvc
— Edness (@EdnessTweets) March 6, 2026As noted in a later post from Edness, the build in question is dated May 20, 2025, and it appears to be very early in its development and far from finished. The Hunter: The Reckoning files were subsequently pulled from Steam and replaced with the originally intended update for Unfinished Business. It's unknown if Hunter: The Reckoning progressed beyond this build or if it will ever come out. There were three Hunter: The Reckoning video games released between 2002-2003, but none since.
Continue Reading at GameSpotHow To Find Fossils And Use Dowsing Machine In Pokemon Pokopia
Pokemon Pokopia is a cozy sim filled with Pokemon and adventure. One of the early items in the game will help you search buried treasure for rarer items, but it's not very clear how to use it. In this guide, we'll explain how to get the Dowsing Machine and find fossils in Pokemon Pokopia.
Table of Contents [hide]How to find FossilsFossils are found by searching Buried Treasure blocks. These are the blocks with the golden light shining out of it, and it requires the use of your Rock Smash ability. Of course, Buried Treasure blocks don't guarantee you'll find a fossil. It might be some other rare item like a Human Relic or CD.
It's also worth noting that these Buried Treasure blocks are random and will be reset each day at the daily reset time.
Continue Reading at GameSpotPokemon Pokopia Guides Hub
Pokemon Pokopia is all about building cozy habitats and restoring the world around you with the help of your Pokemon friends. There are a lot of different types of habitats to build, treasure to find, and different species of Pokemon to meet along the way.
There's no battling in this game, so even if you're a professional Pokemon Trainer, you might still need a little guidance with Pokemon Pokopia. Below, you can find a comprehensive hub of every guide we've done on Pokemon Pokopia, so hopefully we can help you on your new journey. This list includes a habitat dex, objective walkthroughs, a time travel guide, and more.
Table of Contents [hide]Getting started with Pokemon PokopiaHere are the guides you'll need when you're just getting started. This includes character creation tips and a guide on how to speed the game up with time travel.
Continue Reading at GameSpotWhere To Preorder Toxic Commando, John Carpenter's Official Video Game
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando
Preorder at Amazon (PS5) Preorder at AmazonGaming hardware evolves, and trends change, but if there's one constant in life, it's that slaying zombies will always be fun. Later this year, you can continue that fine tradition in John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, a squad-based first-person shooter set in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The game launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 12, and preorders are available now, including $40 physical PS5 or Xbox Series X editions. Preordering the game gets you a few pieces of bonus DLC.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Preorder Bonus
The preorder bonus for John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is the Leon's Secret Stash DLC. This unlocks a new skin for each of the game's playable characters and upgrades your arsenal with the ACW-20 primary weapon and the Wakizashi melee weapon. You'll also get the "First In Last Out" player profile and title.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando $40 | Releases March 12John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is available in a standard edition that gets you the full game, plus the Leon's Secret Stash DLC preorder bonus if you purchase ahead of launch. Physical PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are available to preorder for $40 at Amazon. Digital preorders are also available.
Preorder at Amazon (PS5) Preorder at AmazonSet in a world where a corporation has unwittingly unleashed the apocalypse on humanity, Toxic Commando leverages John Carpenter's signature filmmaking style to deliver a co-op shooter with '80s horror and over-the-top action vibes. Developed by Saber Interactive--a company that previously unleashed the undead in the well-received World War Z video game--up to four players can team up to take on the zombie hordes in large open-world maps.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Resident Evil Requiem PC Experience Will Get Even Better Eventually, Capcom Says
Capcom just released a patch for Resident Evil Requiem that includes a number of fixes, squashing bugs and improving performance on both console and PC. The patch was released alongside an announcement revealing Capcom has plans to implement improvements to DualSense controller support on PC, though there's no word yet on when exactly that will happen.
"A new patch is out now for Resident Evil Requiem, including fixes for some known issues," the publisher shared in a recent post on X. "We've also heard your feedback and are working on adding support for the DualSense wireless controller adaptive trigger and vibration functions for the PC version of the game. This will take some time, but we appreciate your patience."
There's no telling exactly how much time it will take for Capcom to improve the DualSense experience on PC. But in the meantime, PC players can improve their gameplay experience with some of the hilarious mods recently released for Resident Evil Requiem, including one that gives Leon a Burt Reynolds-esque moustache.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCall Of Duty: Black Ops 7 Is Free This Weekend
A free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is live now on all platforms, giving players a chance to try the newest Call of Duty game without paying anything for it.
The free trial includes 25 multiplayer maps and eight multiplayer modes, along with six Zombies maps and five modes. Check out the image below to see what you can play during the trial, which runs now through March 9 on all platforms.
Black Ops 7 is the newest entry in the series, and is the second Black Ops game in as many years, following Black Ops 6 in 2024. This year's new Call of Duty game is rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, with developer Infinity Ward supposedly leading development.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSuper Mario Galaxy Tickets Are Going On Sale Soon
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is less than a month away, but fans can get their tickets starting next week. Cinemark announced that tickets for the movie will go on sale on March 9, which coincides with the next Nintendo Direct about the film taking place on the same day. We'll get to see the final trailer for the movie, and if it's like any of the others, some sort of special message from Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination's Chris Meledandri.
Promotion and collabs have been heating up for the movie, including a brand-new Dippin' Dots ice cream flavor--which will be released in a special tin on Mario Day (March 10), and of course, the Yoshi popcorn bucket.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in theaters on April 1, featuring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black returning to their respective voices, while Oscar-winner Brie Larson joins up as the serene Rosalina along with Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. Another one of Mario's archnemesis was speculated to make an appearance after an accidental leak, but is still unconfirmed as of now.
Continue Reading at GameSpotArc Raiders Was Recording Private Discord DMs
There's a reasonable expectation for privacy that comes with using direct messages, but no should ever count on that. That's what some players may be discovering now that they've learned that Embark Studios' Arc Raiders was recording and storing their Discord DMs.
According to Insider Gaming, the issue was uncovered by computer engineer Timothy Meadows. He discovered that when Arc Raiders was linked to players' Discord accounts, it stored their private messages locally on their PCs as well as the Discord tokens needed to access them. If Embark had been intentionally spying on its players, that could have been enough to go through all of their private messages.
Embark has already acknowledged the issue and shared a hotfix to take care of it. On the game's Discord channel, Embark stated that "excessive user information" had been saved, and the company assured players that their personal info and messages weren't reviewed or stored outside of their own machines. Embark also disclosed that it will conduct an audit to make sure there are no similar incidents now or in the future.
Continue Reading at GameSpotXbox Hardware Business Could Die If Project Helix Doesn't Work Out, Analyst Says
According to one industry analyst, the Xbox hardware business at Microsoft could die off for good if the new console/PC system, Project Helix, doesn't work out.
Dr. Serkan Toto of the research group Kantan Games told GamesRadar, "This might be Microsoft's last attempt to make their hardware business work."
He went on to say no one in gaming realistically believes there will another Xbox "if this next machine fails."
Continue Reading at GameSpotCall Of Duty Leaks Turning Into "Viral Misinformation" Are Bad For Players, Activision Says
Activision has shed more light on Call of Duty leaks following the company reportedly taking legal action to get a prominent Call of Duty leak account to stop posting.
In a YouTube comment on a TDAWG video, Activision said it understands that "rumors are part of gaming culture," along with "healthy online speculation." But Activision said it draws a line "when leaks turn into viral misinformation." This "undermines our developers and also distorts player expectations of the games we're making," the developer said.
"When that happens, we're going to step in and set the record straight," Activision said.
Continue Reading at GameSpotAfter 5 Years, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Remake Gets An 11-Word Update
Five years after it was first announced, Saber Interactive's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake has finally gotten an update--albeit a very predictable one. In a new interview, Saber chief creative officer Tim Willits offered a terse summary on the project's current status.
"Yes, it is still in development. That's all I can say," Willits said to IGN.
First revealed in 2021, details on the remake of the BioWare classic have essentially been nonexistent for the last couple of years, but reports have surfaced since then of a turbulent development cycle. Back in 2025, it was claimed that developer Aspyr had been removed from the project and that the studio behind the upcoming Hellraiser: Revival, Mad Head Games, was handed the reins to the remake. The same report also claimed that a potential remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 had been put on hold.
Continue Reading at GameSpotNintendo Direct For Mario Galaxy Movie Coming Soon, As Yoshi Popcorn Bucket Revealed
Nintendo has announced the next Nintendo Direct, and it's coming up very soon. A Nintendo Direct dedicated to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be held on Monday, March 9 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET.
This event will include the final trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and, if it's like previous Directs for Nintendo movies, we may see and hear from Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination's Chris Meledandri.
The Nintendo Direct will not, however, feature any game information, Nintendo clarified to help set expectations.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Search For The One Piece Has Turned Into A Real-World Quest
What is the One Piece? That's the question that has been at the heart of the titular manga series for decades, and one that fans might finally get an answer to--if they don't mind getting a little wet. To celebrate the long-running manga reaching over 600 million sales worldwide, manga creator and author Eiichiro Oda has written the secret to One Piece on a piece of paper, sealed it inside a specially designed capsule, and left it at the bottom of the ocean.
Oda's stunt was assisted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, with the location of the capsule remaining undisclosed. Naturally, this has spurred speculation and investigation across the globe, with the Reddit community working to pinpoint where exactly one of the answers to the biggest secrets in manga is resting. What we do know is that the capsule is positioned 651 meters below sea level, so even if it is located, some serious equipment will be needed to retrieve the paper and not be crushed by the ocean depths.
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How Dream Islands Work In Pokemon Pokopia
Pokemon Pokopia's story tasks you with exploring and restoring map areas for Pokemon, but you can also take trips away to other islands. Pokopia's Dream Islands are useful locations to visit if you want to gather more resources, and all you need to do is find some dolls for Drifloon. In this guide, we'll explain how to meet Drifloon, find Pokemon dolls, and explore these Dream Islands.
Table of Contents [hide]How Dream Islands work in Pokemon PokopiaDream Islands work much like the ones you can visit in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The islands are randomized locations, and you can visit a fresh island every day. This lets you gather additional map resources, such as rope, fruit, sticks, and even some rare metals. You also want to make sure your personal inventory has plenty of room for scavenging.
You can only visit one island per day, but you can revisit that same island until the day resets. This means if you use the Eevee doll one day, you can only go back to this specific island. You'll have to wait until the next day to use a different doll such as Pikachu.
Continue Reading at GameSpot