Bethesda Game Studios’ space explorer game “Starfield” will be available on PlayStation 5 beginning April 7.
The new platform debut for “Starfield” marks the latest Microsoft-owned game to make it to Sony’s competitor gaming console after previously being kept as an Xbox and PC exclusive, like “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.”
Along with the PS5 launch, “Starfield” will get its biggest free update since the game debuted in September 2023, called “Free Lanes,” as well as the new Terran Armada story DLC, which will go live across all platforms.
Per PlayStation, adaptive triggers on the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller will allow players to change weapons in “Starfireld,” keep tabs on their health and ship integrity, instantly access the map and hand scanners, and jump between first and third-person POVs using the touchpad. Additionally, in-game audio logs and non-local ship intercoms will pour through the DualSense controller speaker, providing players with an immersive experience.
“Starfield” has also been visually enhanced for the PlayStation 5 Pro, with a Visual mode that runs 4K resolution at 30 fps and a Performance mode that features improved visuals at 60 fps.
Watch the announcement trailer for “Starfield’s” debut on PS5 in the video below.
See more gaming news from this week in the roundup below.
MONETIZATION
Discord has launched a series of updates aiming to help developers drive incremental revenue, build connections with players, and acquire new users.
Discord Social Commerce (which lets developers sell in-game items to players) is now open by invitation to additional partners and allows friends to gift items even if they don’t play the game.
Developers can now claim their official game profile on Discord and verify their official community server, allowing them to customize how their game appears across the platform.
Additionally, Discord is evolving its advertising offering with the introduction of its latest Quests format, Instant Play Quests. Instant Play Quests offer players a new way to instantly try games directly on the platform while removing the purchase, download, and installation barriers.
AWARDS
42 games across 17 categories have been nominated for the 22nd BAFTA Games Awards, taking place on April 17.
Nominees with the highest amount of nods include “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” “Dispatch,” and “Ghost of Yōtei,” receiving 12, nine, and eight nominations, respectively. “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” received seven nominations, while “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” received six and “Arc Raiders” five.
Nominations in the Game Beyond Entertainment category include “And Roger,” “The Alters,” “Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector,” “Consume Me,” “Despelote,” and “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heard of Chornobyl.”
Tara Saunders, chair of BAFTA’s Games Committee, said, “Today’s nominations recognise 42 outstanding games that highlight the very best of the global games industry. This year’s nominations reflect an industry reshaping itself – with a vibrant mix of established studios standing alongside a wide range of independent studios, and a number of development teams earning nominations for the first time. The exceptional craft, artistry and innovation behind these titles shines through. A nomination is an extraordinary achievement, and I extend my warmest congratulations to every nominee for their innovation, hard work and resilience.”
The Games Awards are supported by BAFTA’s official partners: EE, Epic Games, PlayStation and AGM.
EXECUTIVE SHUFFLES
The French video game publisher, Ubisoft, has announced new leadership hires, aiming to support the rollout of its Creative Houses-led operating model.
Julien Bares will join the company as General Manager of Creative Houses 3 and 5, while Thomas Andrén has been appointed General Manager of the Creative Network.
Creative Houses 3 focuses on high-intensity live experiences, while Creative House 5 is dedicated to casual and mobile play. The Creative Network aims to bring together a network of expert studios providing best-in-class production and cross-functional creative expertise.
Under the new structure, teams will be organized into five distinct Creative Houses aligned around brands that share similar player experiences and genres, each operating with clear ownership of its brands and responsibility for their development and long-term growth. Bares and Andrén will use their expertise to lead teams as they transition into this new operating model.
“I am very pleased to see Julien and Thomas stepping into these strategic roles. They both bring proven experience in game development and a shared passion for our industry,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO of Ubisoft. “Their vision and their ability to bring together top talent will be key to creating compelling experiences that delight players, while contributing to Ubisoft’s transformation and growth.”
PARTNERSHIPS
IOI Partners and Build A Rocket Boy have announced the conclusion of their publishing collaboration for action-adventure game “MindsEye,” effective March 16.
IOI Partners’ involvement with “MindsEye” has ceased, except for essential transitional functions required to transfer publisher-of-record status to Build A Rocket Boy, who will assume sole publishing responsibilities going forward.
Due to the separation, the Hitman mission announced in June 2025, planned as a crossover event within “MindsEye,” will no longer be released. In a statement, IOI Partners and Build A Rocket Boy said they “recognize the anticipation this collaboration generated among the community and express their appreciation for the support shown by the players.”
EVENTS
Action-packed esports showcase BlizzCon is returning to the global stage on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The event will see the debut of an all-new tournament and the return of world championships with a total prize pool upwards of $1.2 million.
The Blizzard Classic Cup, a new, cross-title team competition celebrating those that have helped define Blizzard Esports, will make its BlizzCon debut this year. Spanning “Heroes of the Storm,” “StarCraft: Remastered,” “StarCraft II” and “Warcraft III: Reforged,” players will compete for the $100,000 prize pool under captains Nick “Tasteless” Plott and Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski.
In addition to the new Classic Cup, BlizzCon will see the return of some of the biggest stages in competitive gaming, like World of Warcraft: The Arena World Championship and Mythic Dungeon International. To celebrate 10 years of Overwatch esports, the Overwatch World Cup will return with 30 teams, and those competing in Hearthstone Masters Tour will compete live for a $500,000 prize pool.
NEW RELEASES
Nexon America is marking 18 years of its long-running MMORPG “Mabinogi” with a slate of in-game events, rewards and newly released player data highlighting the title’s enduring global community.
The anniversary celebration, which launched Thursday, will run for three weeks and feature limited-time events, exclusive items and community-driven activities. The main event, “A Gift of Mysterious Magic,” runs through April 9 and introduces a new story questline centered on the character Leath, alongside mini-games, daily and weekly challenges and milestone-based rewards.
To commemorate the milestone, Nexon shared cumulative player statistics spanning nearly two decades. The data reveals more than 13 million total rebirths across all players, over 15 million items sold in the Auction House and more than 900,000 player titles earned. The game now features 600 unique pet types, with one player owning as many as 393 pets.
Additional insights highlight player preferences, with humans ranking as the most popular race, followed by elves and giants. Among the most crafted in-game items are “Paper Crane,” “Mysterious Herb Powder” and “Average Firewood,” while the most trained skills include “Counterattack,” “Production Mastery” and “Defense.”
First released in North America in 2008, “Mabinogi” has maintained a dedicated player base, with community stories ranging from a player reaching a cumulative level of 1 million to couples who met in-game and later married.
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South Korean video game developer Pearl Abyss has announced the global launch of its open-world action-adventure game, “Crimson Desert.”
“Crimson Desert” will be available worldwide starting March 19 at 3 p.m. PT, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Apple Mac, Epic Games Store, and ROG Xbox Ally.
Powered by the studio’s proprietary BlackSpace Engine, the game delivers an open world with detailed environments, including the “sprawling wilderness, bustling cities, ancient ruins, and diverse cultures” to “create a living world.”
Players can implement chain combos using swords, axes, spears, ranged weapons, and hand-to-hand combat, kicks, and grapples, and level up their characters through exploration and boss encounters. Traversal plays a crucial role in exploration, with mechanics such as climbing, gliding, and other movement systems enabling players to navigate the game effectively.
“Crimson Desert” features voice acting in English, Korean, and Chinese, along with subtitles available in 14 languages.
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