Live Service
Ongoing coverage on Live Service.
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Everything That Happened in Gaming While You Were Busy... | TAG
Phasmophobia 1.0 is on track for release this year with improved graphics and new content, despite developer Kinetic Games exploring other projects. Elden Ring is reportedly receiving a good port for the Nintendo Switch 2, maintaining stable performance and visuals. Nintendo detailed the satisfying destruction mechanics in Donkey Kong Bananza, while Natsume announced Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea, featuring survival elements like wild animals that can cause item loss.
Netmarble Is Confident Mongil: Star Dive Can Stand Alongside Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves
Netmarble CEO Ken Kim expressed strong confidence in their upcoming action RPG, Mongil: Star Dive, believing it can compete with established titles like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. The game, launching April 15, 2026, for PC and mobile, will focus on narrative-driven, single-player experiences with a three-character party combat system, rather than sprawling open worlds. Kim highlighted a more focused design, streamlined systems, and a more lenient gacha monetization approach compared to competitors.
Black Ops Royale is more of a Treyarch-flavored Warzone than it is Blackout 2, but it’s still pretty fun Call of Duty
The new Black Ops Royale mode for Call of Duty: Warzone is now available, offering a faster-paced experience than the original Blackout mode. Developed by Treyarch in collaboration with Raven Software, the mode introduces new movement mechanics like wall-jumping and a wingsuit, alongside a revamped looting system that replaces traditional loadouts with upgradeable ground loot. While initially launching in Quads only, the mode aims to revitalize Warzone's gameplay loop.
Crimson Desert Pre-Loads Begin on March 17th, Global Launch Timings Revealed
Crimson Desert's pre-load will begin on March 17th in Western regions and March 18th in Eastern regions, with a global launch set for March 19th at 3 PM PDT. Developed by Pearl Abyss, the single-player action-adventure game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The story follows mercenary Kliff as he navigates political intrigue and seeks to reunite his separated group.
Marvel Rivals producer on game balance: ‘If a character is no longer fun, then we’re not doing our job’
Marvel Rivals' executive producer Danny Koo discussed the game's balance philosophy, emphasizing that maintaining 'fun' is the primary goal. NetEase Games uses player data, feedback, and subjective observations like 'time to kill' to tune characters, aiming to keep players engaged without breaking the game's competitive integrity.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Review - New Song, Old Beat
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando is a competent but unremarkable co-operative shooter that offers a brief campaign and familiar gameplay mechanics. While it features solid gunplay, 80s synth vibes, and interesting zombie designs, its first-person perspective hinders its swarm technology, and the mission design and narrative are repetitive and threadbare. The game is best enjoyed with friends, as single-player with AI companions is a compromised experience.
Marathon's first patch improves ammo and meds, makes combat noisier, nerfs thermal scopes and UESC bots
Bungie has released the first patch for its live-service shooter Marathon, addressing player feedback with several balance changes. The update increases the spawn rate of Med Cabinets and Munitions Crates, boosts starting ammo, and reduces the effectiveness of thermal scopes. UESC bot health and HP have also been slightly nerfed, while navigation points are now more visible.
The Mode That Almost Killed Fortnite Is Free-to-Play from Next Month
Epic Games announced that Fortnite's original PvE mode, Save the World, will become free-to-play starting April 16, 2026. Previously a paid product, this mode involves building forts and fighting monsters, similar to tower defense games. Players who previously purchased Save the World will receive in-game rewards as compensation.
Palworld Updates Will Continue After 1.0, But Not Like No Man’s Sky, Says Publishing Head
Pocketpair's publishing head John Buckley stated that while Palworld will continue to receive updates after its 1.0 release, it will not follow the decade-long, massive update model of games like No Man's Sky. He cited engine limitations and the game's linear progression system as reasons why such extensive, long-term support is unlikely. Buckley also mentioned the possibility of a Palworld 2.0 in the future, but emphasized that the studio's current focus is on the 1.0 release.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2010 Nostalgia Wave Shows What Modern COD Lost
A viral tweet referencing Call of Duty: Black Ops from 2010 sparked a wave of nostalgia, highlighting perceived losses in modern Call of Duty game design. The article argues that the 2010 title excelled due to its focused weapon balance, tactical map design, and rewarding progression systems, contrasting it with current titles criticized for over-design and prioritizing engagement metrics over solid gameplay.
Pixel Gun 2 Launches Pre-registration for Android, iOS, and Steam - GameHaunt
Pixel Gun 2, the sequel to Pixel Gun 3D, is set to launch in early 2026 on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam, with pre-registration now open. Developed by Cubic Games Studio, the game will feature fully destructible voxel environments and unified progression across all platforms. This new installment introduces dynamic combat where the environment can be destroyed, offering a fresh tactical experience compared to other mobile shooters.
What Makes Crimson Desert a Strong Contender for Game of the Year
Crimson Desert is positioned as a strong contender for Game of the Year in 2026, aiming to make a significant cultural and critical impact as a new IP. The game emphasizes a traditional premium experience without microtransactions, focusing on cinematic action, large-scale battles, and emergent open-world gameplay inspired by titles like Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild. Its unique genre positioning as a single-player, open-world, action-heavy RPG with deep progression systems could attract a broad audience, differentiating it from other upcoming releases.
Marathon’s New Players Can Experience All Questlines Whenever They Join, Says Creative Director
Bungie's creative director Julia Nardin stated that their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, will feature an "additive experience" where all questlines and story content are evergreen. This approach aims to avoid the content vaulting issues seen with Destiny 2, allowing players to join at any time and still access all established narrative content, achievements, and collections. The game will incorporate worldbuilding through in-game lore found in item descriptions, text files, and audio logs, alongside faction contracts and new characters.
Ghost of Yotei's Free Legends PS5 Update Looks Generous in the Live Service Age
Sucker Punch is releasing a free multiplayer expansion called Ghost of Yotei Legends for Ghost of Yotei on March 10, 2026, for PlayStation 5. This expansion, developed alongside the main game, features new boss characters, classes, and replayable missions with unlockable cosmetics through gameplay, avoiding season passes or additional purchases.
EA Lays Off Staff Across All Battlefield Studios Following Record-Breaking Battlefield 6 Launch - IGN
Electronic Arts has laid off an unknown number of employees across its Battlefield studios, including Criterion, Dice, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios, as part of a "realignment." This follows the record-breaking launch of Battlefield 6 in 2025, which has since faced criticism for its live service support, monetization, and declining player counts. The company states these layoffs are unrelated to its pending acquisition by an investor group.
Marathon First Weekend Impressions – A Brutal Extraction Shooter That’s Hard to Put Down — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Marathon's first weekend impressions reveal a compelling extraction shooter experience with deep gameplay loops and strategic combat. Bungie's signature gunplay is effectively blended with the genre, offering exhilarating encounters and a sense of unpredictability. Despite its challenging nature and acquired taste for some, the game shows significant potential, especially with ongoing community-driven storytelling and the upcoming Cryo Archive map.
Sneaky trademark filing suggests id Software might be working on a long-awaited Quake sequel
A new trademark filing by ZeniMax Media, parent company of id Software, suggests a potential new Quake game is in development. While Quake Champions has seen little activity, the filing for the 'QUAKE' name could indicate a reboot or sequel for the influential first-person shooter franchise.
ARC Raiders Update: New Threats, Nerfs and What’s Next | Invision Game Community
Embark Studios' extraction shooter ARC Raiders has received several updates, including the Shrouded Sky seasonal content with new enemies and environmental hazards like hurricanes. The game has also seen controversial changes to blueprint farming rates and the integration of the Expedition system into core progression. Future updates like Flashpoint and Riven Tides are planned to introduce new maps and content.
GTA Online Players Cash In on Massive Salvage Yard Bonuses This Week
Rockstar Games is offering Grand Theft Auto Online players doubled income and scrapping speeds at Salvage Yards this week, turning the activity into a significant money-making opportunity. The update also includes premium robbery targets with unique vanity plates and a weekly challenge for completing Salvage Yard robberies. This focus on existing businesses with boosted payouts is part of Rockstar's strategy to maintain player engagement in the decade-old title.
Marvel Rivals Unveils New Game Content, Collaborations, and More at Marvel Rivals Assemble Fan Event - GameHaunt
NetEase Games and Marvel Games revealed the 2026 roadmap for Marvel Rivals at the Marvel Rivals Assemble event. The "Avengers: Doomsday" update is set for December 2026, with movie-themed events planned for April, June, August, and October. A new "Loki Mode" will pit one player controlling Loki against six heroes, and new skins for Psylocke and Captain America are launching March 6.
