Vishal Kamal has been covering video games for 7 years, writing about everything from hardware deals and new releases to esports and the business
side of the industry. He runs TheBadGamer, focused on gaming news worth your time.
The University of Silicon Valley is offering the 'Max Achievement Scholarship' to students who can prove their exceptional gaming skills in various titles like Final Fantasy XIV, Old School Runescape, and Minecraft. This unique program rewards up to $15,000 annually for achieving specific, rare in-game milestones, valuing the disciplined practice and strategic problem-solving these feats entail. Eligible students can receive up to $5,000 per term for "Legendary" tier achievements.
Final Fantasy Resonance, set to release on October 22 across multiple platforms, surprisingly lacks a physical edition for Xbox Series X|S. The game, featuring HD-2D graphics and a new battle system inspired by Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, offers preorders with bonuses including the Magitek Airship Passkey. Deluxe Editions, priced at $59.99, include the Magitek & Grimoire Deluxe Pack with exclusive items.
The highly anticipated GTA 4 remaster has left fans and one notable figure puzzled over its conspicuous absence: Roman Bellic's actor, Pavel Dilya, expresses his bewilderment. Despite rumors and leaks, there's been no official word from Rockstar Games. Fans are left wondering if the remaster is still in development or if it has been silently shelved.
Blizzard's upcoming Diablo 4 patch pledges to significantly increase Mythic item drops, aiming to enhance player progression but potentially disrupting the game's balance. This move follows community feedback on the rarity of high-end gear. Players can expect a substantial shift in how they acquire and utilize Mythic items.
Paramount Primal, a new genre label, announces a reboot of the horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, with producers J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules at the helm. The project is the first for the label and has the backing of the Wes Craven estate. The reboot aims to bring the terrifying world of Freddy Krueger to a new generation of fans.
Get ready to decipher truth from lies in False Echo, a cryptographic narrative adventure set on a WWII submarine, inspired by Papers, Please. Operate the intricate Obscura machine and navigate the ECHO system to classify messages, with multiple endings hanging in the balance of your choices. Developer Retromagine challenges players to find the truth the Oppressian Empire will tolerate.
Sony's decision to end physical disc sales for new PS5 games from January 2028 has sparked intense backlash, with a UK retailer association calling it a "triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice." A petition against the move has surpassed 300,000 signatures, and some players are cancelling their PS Plus subscriptions in protest. The move is seen as a lucrative shift for Sony, despite concerns over consumer freedom and game preservation.
The classic 1981 Donkey Kong arcade cabinet is reportedly getting a Lego treatment, set to release in August for $200. This 1,367-piece set features a movable joystick, functional buttons, and a plastic brick screen recreating iconic game elements. Though more showpiece than fully playable, it's a nostalgic addition to Lego's retro gaming collection, albeit smaller and less interactive than its Pac-Man counterpart.
A leaked internal Nvidia tool, Modular Diagnostic Software (MODS), reveals that RTX 50-series GPUs have functional hotspot temperature sensors, despite being disabled at the driver level. This discovery, showcased by Brazilian modder Paulo Gomes, aids in diagnosing thermal issues like the one found in a Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti, where a hotspot temperature of 107°C was hidden behind a reported 68°C average. The tool's availability in certain repair channels and Discord servers highlights the importance of proper cooler installation and thermal paste application for optimal performance.
Steam users can now check compatibility of games with Steam Machine and SteamOS directly on store pages, though not all titles have a rating yet. Games like Black Myth: Wukong are listed as "unknown" due to intense GPU/CPU demands. Compatibility checks vary, with some games verified on Steam Machine but not Steam Deck.
