Pokémon & Nintendo — new reveals, game updates, Nintendo Direct news, Switch content, Pokémon announcements

• The eternal dominance of Nintendo franchises is a hot topic today, sparking a fascinating discussion on why heavyweights like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon remain cultural juggernauts while other 2000s online giants like Webkinz faded into niche nostalgia.
• The Nintendo Switch 2 is proving its technical muscle! A new tech review shows Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth running with a boosted FPS on the Switch 2 over its initial demo, while Rayman Legends: Retold is reportedly bringing 60FPS ray-tracing to the console, claiming parity with the Xbox Series S.
• Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be an absolute dream remake according to a glowing new IGN preview, leaving fans eager to get their hands on the classic flight combat overhaul.
• It’s almost time to hit the tracks again! Mario Kart World is celebrating nearly a year since its Switch 2 launch by hosting a massive new in-game Global Online Challenge.
• Remaster news is rolling in: Dynasty WARRIORS 3: Complete Edition Remastered received an overview trailer and a release date, though it was announced the original Switch version is being cancelled to focus on the new hardware.

Fortnite — season updates, collabs, new skins, map changes, competitive scene

• The hype for the next chapter is real! A new promotional freeze-frame has players buzzing with excitement for the upcoming Fortnite season, seemingly titled "Shattered."
• The competitive grind never stops, with one dedicated player proudly sharing they finally hit the coveted Unreal rank for the very first time after pushing past the Elite tier with just two days to spare in the current season.
• The Mandalorian collaboration continues to inspire creativity in the locker, with players showing off their custom "Mandalorian fits" featuring earthy tones, sleek blue accents, and perfect touches of gold.

Call of Duty — Warzone/Black Ops updates, new seasons, weapons, competitive

• Attention boots-on-the-ground fans: a new playlist mode has been added specifically for "old school players" who dislike the high-mobility movement mechanics of modern titles. The community is urging classic fans to jump in and show developers the data!
• In a hilarious blast from the past, a keen-eyed player discovered a cheeky Easter egg in Call of Duty: Black Ops where designers secretly squeezed a pair of booty cheeks into the background scenery of a statue.

Arc Raiders — beta news, updates, community highlights, Embark Studios announcements

• A major controversy is brewing among the Arc Raiders community as multiple players report that the game's Denuvo Anti-Cheat is unexpectedly accessing their webcams during gameplay sessions.
• The gameplay experience is facing some hiccups too, with players frustrated by "boring" map conditions and the limited pool of just two options.
• On the exploit front, players are already finding workarounds, with "free kit" users triggering an exploit to turn their augments into tactical smoke during matches.

Indie Games — notable releases, hidden gems, devlogs, Steam Next Fest picks

• Solo developer Henry from Ironbridge Games just unveiled AIRLOCK, a post-apocalyptic survival game built in Unreal 5.7 that lets players plan their undertakings in a harsh world—a passion project 15 years in the making following studio redundancies.
• It's launch week for several exciting titles! Rumble Rush, a chaotic multiplayer party game, officially launches tomorrow, while Wink Out (a 1v1 physics-based fighter inspired by Super Smash Bros.) and the tactical roguelite Goddess of Strategy have both dropped new demos on Steam.
• In a heartwarming community milestone, one indie developer celebrated hitting exactly 10,000 Steam wishlists on their birthday by baking an incredible custom cake!

Steam & PC — top charts, big sales, Steam Deck compatibility, major PC releases

• New Steam hardware reservations are officially rolling out, with users in Scandinavia confirming their orders have been executed and processed successfully.
• If you're looking to expand your library, the puzzle game Winexy is currently free to keep permanently on the Steam store.
• PC players are experiencing some frustrating UI bugs today, with reports that the "create new collection" button has gone missing and the showcase manager is struggling to display game search results properly.

Gaming Roundup — other notable news, trailers, industry moves

• The highly anticipated dark action-RPG No Rest for the Wicked has officially revealed its 1.0 launch month, with a release on the Nintendo Switch 2 to be determined at a later date.
• Calling all film buffs and cosplayers: a Zelda-inspired comedic-drama short film titled Chuck & Fern releases on Shortverse on June 12, exploring an existential crisis within a fantasy video game world.