Gaming News — 2026-04-12#
Top Story#
Former Bethesda Softworks marketing lead Pete Hines has spoken out about his 2023 departure, claiming the legendary Fallout and Elder Scrolls publisher was getting “damaged and broken apart” following the Microsoft acquisition. His stark comments paint a picture of a working environment he felt was mistreated, stating that Bethesda is now part of something that is neither “authentic” nor “genuine”.
News & Reviews#
[Kojima’s Next Villain Sounds Unhinged] · IGN Kojima Productions is actively casting for its upcoming tactical espionage game, Physint, and they are searching for a German-accented villain described as “Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal but with flair”. The game, reportedly being developed under the codename “Shimmer,” seems to involve a bus hijacking narrative and will begin shooting motion capture with the cast in June 2026. This character breakdown sounds like peak Hideo Kojima madness, and we are absolutely here for the intense, confident psychosis it promises.
[Massive Avatar: Aang Movie Leak] · IGN Over three minutes of footage from the upcoming Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender animated movie has unexpectedly leaked online after a social media user claimed Nickelodeon “accidentally” emailed them the entire film. The leaked clips apparently reveal older versions of the Gaang reunited, alongside scenes featuring new cast members like Dave Bautista and Taika Waititi. If you want to go into the October 9, 2026, Paramount+ premiere completely blind, you might want to exercise extreme caution on social media right now.
[Invincible VS Beta Plagued by Rage Quits] · IGN The limited beta for Skybound Games’ tag-team fighting game Invincible VS is wrapping up, and players are begging the developers to implement a strict penalty system to punish rampant rage quitters. Fighting game veterans are apparently pummeling casual newcomers so badly that opponents are continually disconnecting from matches to avoid the beatdown. With the full game launching on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on April 30, 2026, fans are hoping Quarter Up will add an automated penalty system or even a Mortal Kombat-style “Quitality” to fix the issue.
[Nintendo’s Aggressive Switch 2 Push] · IGN Nintendo is aggressively attempting to convert the box office dominance of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie into hardware sales by launching a limited-time Switch 2 bundle that includes Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 for $500. While the $20 discount seems modest, securing hardware now could be a smart move to insulate your wallet against future costs, especially following Sony’s recent controversial PS5 price increases. Nintendo has also confirmed an upcoming pricing model shift where digital Switch 2 games will become cheaper, though physical editions will maintain their current premium pricing.
Free Games & Deals#
This weekend brings some stellar deals for gamers looking to expand their libraries on the cheap. You can grab the massive Resident Evil Generation Pack (featuring RE7, Village, and Requiem) for $89.99 on Amazon. Switch owners can also snag the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 double pack for $54.99 via Woot!, which includes a free 4K support update for the Switch 2. Additionally, Ubisoft’s open-world adventure Star Wars Outlaws has hit an incredible new low price of just $19.99.
Also Worth Knowing#
- [Smiling Friends Series Finale] (IGN): Creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack have abruptly chosen to end the hit animated series Smiling Friends tonight with a live broadcast on Adult Swim at 11pm ET, with the final episodes dropping on HBO Max the next day.
- [Sanderson Read-Alikes] (IGN): If you’re waiting on the next Brandon Sanderson Cosmere release, IGN highly recommends diving into Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer series, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, or Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings to scratch that epic fantasy itch.
- [Marathon DualSense Deal] (IGN): You can score the limited edition Marathon DualSense controller on Amazon right now for $74, saving you 13% off its normal retail price.
- [Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Handheld Boost] (IGN): Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is currently on sale for $44.99, and the legendary RPG is looking visually better than ever thanks to the recent Handheld Mode Boost feature on the Switch 2.