Gaming News — Week of 2026-04-11 to 2026-04-17#

Story of the Week#

Microsoft is seemingly preparing for a massive shakeup to its Game Pass strategy, driven by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s internal memo stating the service has “become too expensive” for players. Rumors suggest Xbox leadership is not only exploring a cheaper subscription tier exclusively for first-party titles, but is also considering pulling day-one releases for behemoths like this year’s Call of Duty to offset costs. This potential overhaul represents a seismic shift for the industry’s most prominent subscription service as Microsoft scrambles to find a sustainable path forward following recent price hikes.

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.

Gaming News — 2026-05-03#

Top Story#

Sony is preparing to pay out $7.85 million in refunds to PlayStation gamers following preliminary approval of an antitrust class-action lawsuit. If you bought digital versions of games via the PlayStation Store between April 2019 and December 2023 that were previously available as retail vouchers, you may be automatically eligible to receive PSN store credit.

News & Reviews#

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Confirms Savage Hulk and Shuri Black Panther Arc System Works has officially added some heavyweight brawlers to the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls roster, revealing Savage Hulk and Shuri’s Black Panther will be playable. The 2D superhero fighter hits PC and PlayStation 5 on August 6, 2026, but eagle-eyed fans pausing the new trailer have already spotted a hidden tease suggesting the bloodthirsty symbiote Carnage is next in line.