Daily Gaming Digest — April 1, 2026

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Pokémon & Nintendo

Pokémon Pokopia is a certified system-seller. Nintendo Switch 2 has officially become the highest-selling console of 2026 in the UK, with March sales jumping a staggering 154% month-on-month following the release of Pokémon Pokopia. Nintendo now accounts for over 50% of all consoles sold in the UK this year — an absolutely dominant showing that proves Pokémon still moves hardware like nothing else in the industry.

A special "Copycat Challenge" event launches today in Pokémon Pokopia. Arriving right on April 1st (no, it's not a prank), this limited-time event gives trainers a fresh reason to dive back in. Details are still emerging from the community, so keep your eyes peeled for full reward breakdowns.

Pokémon HOME is going down for maintenance on April 2 to add Pokémon Legends: Z-A support. If you've been waiting to transfer your Z-A catches into HOME, the wait is almost over. Make sure any pending transfers are wrapped up before the maintenance window hits.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a behind-the-scenes deep dive. "Secrets of the Zonai" offers a fascinating look at the making of the beloved game, and it's a must-read for anyone who spent hundreds of hours in Hyrule. If you loved the Ultrahand system, prepare to learn just how wild the development process was.

Super Meat Boy 3D launches today on Switch 2! The brutally difficult platformer makes the leap into three dimensions, and early impressions suggest it's every bit as punishing as fans hoped. This could be one of the first must-own indie titles on the new hardware.

TMNT: Splintered Fate Gold Edition is coming to Switch 2. The acclaimed roguelike action game is getting the deluxe treatment with a Gold Edition for Nintendo's new console. Cowabunga, indeed.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie gets its first review — and it's rough. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw slapped it with a 1-star review, but the community is largely shrugging it off given his track record with the franchise. The first film made a billion dollars despite similar critical skepticism, so don't read too much into this one just yet.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has been delisted from the Switch eShop. Another licensing casualty bites the dust — if you didn't grab it already, it's gone for good digitally. A reminder to always snag sports tie-in games before the clock runs out.

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Fortnite

Wailing Woods is burning again, and the nostalgia is hitting hard. Long-time players are losing their minds as the classic location goes up in flames once more, with heavy speculation that this is teeing up a Season 8 callback. If this is the live event buildup we think it is, we could be in for something truly special.

The Infinity Gauntlet returns to Fortnite this Saturday for the first time in seven years. That's right — the legendary Thanos LTM weapon hasn't been usable since 2019, and it's finally making a comeback. If you missed it the first time around, do NOT sleep on this one.

The community is buzzing about Lizzik earning Icon Series status. Another content creator joins Fortnite's prestigious Icon Series lineup, cementing the game's commitment to celebrating its community figures with dedicated skins and cosmetics.

Players are campaigning hard for the return of Key Chests. The beloved loot mechanic has a dedicated fanbase lobbying Epic Games for its comeback, and honestly, they make a compelling case — Key Chests added a layer of risk-reward that the current loot pool could really use.

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Call of Duty

Xbox and Fanta are teaming up for Xbox's 25th anniversary — and Call of Duty is along for the ride. Special Fanta cans and bottles will feature QR codes that unlock Black Ops 7 and Warzone rewards. Start checking your local store shelves if you want in on the promo.

The eternal Search and Destroy debate rages on: Modern Warfare vs. Black Ops. The community is split down the middle, though Black Ops 3 six-man SnD sessions seem to hold a special place in everyone's heart. It's the kind of argument that never gets old.

Players are revisiting classic COD campaigns on Veteran and Realism difficulty. Cold War and Black Ops 6 are next on the challenge run list for dedicated campaign fans, proving that COD's single-player experiences still have serious replay value years later.

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Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders just dropped a major update, and the community is fired up. Players who managed to get online today are reporting significant improvements, while those stuck at work are watching from the sidelines with serious FOMO. The extraction shooter continues to build momentum.

The new "Close Scrutiny" map condition is no joke — players are calling it the true endgame. Veterans who've faced down the Matriarch and Queen are saying this new condition brings a level of hostility they've never experienced before. If you're looking for a real challenge, this is it.

Embark Studios catches flak for non-stackable inventory items. The community is baffled that certain items can't be stacked, eating up precious inventory space. A stack size of three would go a long way — here's hoping Embark is listening.

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Indie Games

StarDrift Delivery is out now on Steam! This fast-paced arcade roguelite inspired by Crazy Taxi comes from a solo developer after 10 months of work. If the words "Crazy Taxi roguelite" don't immediately grab you, I don't know what will.

Lucky Tower Ultimate launches April 16 after five years of development. The indie studio's long-awaited title finally has a release date, and the community has been following its journey closely. Mark your calendars.

A fairytale survival game is turning heads with its first playable demo. Set after the collapse of a fantasy world, this narrative survival title has you managing resources in a crumbling shelter environment. Solo-developed and dripping with atmosphere — exactly the kind of thing the indie scene does best.

Remove Virus hits 100+ wishlists, and every single one matters. It's a small milestone in the grand scheme of things, but for a solo developer pouring their heart into a project, it's everything. Go add it to your wishlist and make someone's day.

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Steam & PC

Steam Beta now tracks playtime for non-Steam games! This has been one of the most requested quality-of-life features for years, and it's finally here in the beta branch. If you've ever wanted to know exactly how many hours you've sunk into emulators or launchers added to Steam, your time has come.

TIL: Steam screenshots can detect and tag users who appear in them. This clever feature appears to work at least in Valve titles, automatically identifying friends in your screenshots. It's been around for a while, but most players had no idea it existed.

Steam's "Request a Purchase" feature is raising eyebrows. Spotted in the mobile app's push notification settings, this appears to let users request game purchases — potentially a great feature for family accounts and younger players. Details are still sparse, so stay tuned.

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Gaming Roundup

Marathon is winning over skeptics, and the extraction shooter genre is having a moment. Between Arc Raiders and Marathon both gaining traction, extraction shooters are experiencing a genuine surge in 2026. Players who bounced off earlier titles in the genre are finding these newer entries more approachable and rewarding.

"The Day I Became a Bird" drops a release date trailer for PC. This charming title is generating curiosity with its unique premise, and the trailer is worth a watch if you're into offbeat indie experiences.

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That's your daily dose — now get out there and play something. See you tomorrow!