Latest Gaming News
Code Vein II Headlines January 2026 Releases
Code Vein II, a soulslike ARPG with anime aesthetics, launches on January 30 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Players act as Revenant Hunters draining enemy blood for skills in fast-paced combat. It caps a month featuring indies and big titles.
Packed January 2026 Game Calendar Unveiled
January 2026 features releases like Big Hops (indie froggy adventure), Philna Fantasy, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon on Jan 15, and Arknights: Endfield on Jan 22. Other highlights include BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW, Blightstone Early Access, and DLC for Dynasty Warriors and Cult of the Lamb.
PS5 Faces Potential Price Hike in 2026
Industry insiders warn of a PlayStation 5 price increase in 2026 due to ongoing RAM shortages impacting production costs. This follows previous hikes, bracing gamers for higher console prices.
PS Plus Essential January 2026 Free Games Announced
Sony revealed PS Plus Essential free games for January 2026, including Need for Speed Unbound, confirming earlier leaks. They replace the five-game December 2025 lineup and go live next week.
The selection has confused some fans.
Industry Predicts Shorter Game Development Cycles in 2026
2026 will see contracted 6-10 year dev cycles due to indie pressure, AI tools, and acceptance of shorter games over massive open worlds. This benefits developers and players amid AAA failures.
AI Tools Become Standard in Game Development
AI integration in AAA, AA, and indie games for project management, assets, coding, and QA is unavoidable in 2026, with Steam tags normalizing it. Tooling improvements boost Steam releases but heighten discoverability issues.
Buy Now Pay Later Monetization Rises in PC and Console Games
BNPL models will normalize in 2026 for premium games to reduce upfront costs amid price sensitivity and competition. This avoids full free-to-play shifts.
Microsoft Xbox Faces Challenges Entering 2026
Xbox enters 2026 with sluggish hardware sales, Steam Machines competition, underperforming first-party output, and likely Game Pass price hikes. Even Call of Duty loses momentum.
Remakes and Remasters Surge as Safe Strategy
Publishers will mine back catalogs with remakes and remasters in 2026 for low-risk, nostalgia-driven returns amid IP reliance. Slime Rancher 2 gets a retail release on Jan 14.
Games Industry Shares New Year 2026 Greetings
Publishers, developers, and creators have started sharing New Year 2026 cards and messages as 2026 begins in parts of the world. This marks the industry's fresh start.
CES 2026 Promises Gaming Excitement
CES 2026 is nearly here, with gamers anticipating announcements on hardware, tech, and innovations. Expect reveals impacting the gaming landscape.
Mobile Gaming Predicts D2C and AI Growth in 2026
Direct-to-consumer models and AI adoption will rise in mobile gaming, with D2C becoming central for studios and player loyalty. Pandemic-era investments face make-or-break year.