Pokémon & Nintendo

Get your Pokéballs ready, because the upcoming mobile game Pokémon Champions is officially launching on Android and iOS on June 17. In hardware news, the Nintendo Switch 2 is looking like a beast for large-scale RPGs, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth getting a launch trailer and the director confirming Part 3 will thrive on the new system. Digital Foundry notes that the Switch 2 version of FF7 Rebirth performs even better than the demo, while Rayman Legends: Retold is reportedly hitting 60FPS with ray-tracing on the console, claiming parity with the Xbox Series S. Switch fans also have a lot to look forward to, as insider NatetheHate claims the next Nintendo Direct is dropping next week (the second week of June). Finally, the N64 Nintendo Classics service is adding Donkey Kong 64, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven R has been rated for Switch, and Tetris The Grand Master 4 -ABSOLUTE EYE- is on the way. Over in the Pokémon community, fans are showing off some incredible creativity, including custom Giratina V binders, Gurren Lagann x Heracross art, and new physical Pokémon polybags.

Fortnite

Fortnite is closing out the current season with a bang! One dedicated player managed to hit an impressive Level 300 just before the season wraps up this week. The community is also deep-diving into the lore, with a new theory connecting the Dark Voyager to the Cube King via matching pink cube flames. In wholesome news, a player snagged a Victory Royale on their birthday despite their phone overheating, while others are voting on their all-time favorite Battle Royale island.

Call of Duty

The Call of Duty ecosystem is shifting in a major way. A recent analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence reveals that the franchise's withdrawal from last-gen consoles means it is selling into its smallest install base since 2017. Over on the community side, players are fiercely debating the absolute worst 6v6 maps from the last seven years (2019-2026). Nostalgia is also running high, with fans reminiscing about classic, creative perks and expressing a strong preference for the classic Call of Duty 4 multiplayer models over modern Operators.

Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders players are sharing the love for Embark Studios' newest adventure. One player posted a heartfelt thank you to the community, reflecting on the magic of random encounters with strangers. Another player took an "Arc Raiders Pilgrimage" to see the game's inspirations in real life, giving massive praise to the developers for their meticulous world-building and the thoughtful design of the Speranza home base.

Indie Games

The indie scene is buzzing with fresh demos and announcements! A solo dev just dropped a free demo for Factory Town 2, while the GMTK Game Jam entry Laser Guy is making the jump to a full release after five years. If you need something chill, check out the demo for "walk", a game featuring 40+ WarioWare-style mini-games based on daily strolls. For something weirder, Battle Nap lets you play a dad fighting in a dream warzone after falling asleep on a floatie. We also saw a touching devlog from a creator who finally hit their first wishlists after four months of grinding, and a Zelda-inspired Battle Royale that pivoted to a PvE online co-op RPG. Keep an eye out for the Steam Next Fest trailer for Vanisha!

Steam & PC

On the PC front, the new Steam Controller hardware apparently fits perfectly inside the SCUF Universal Case, which is a huge win for keeping your gear safe. Steam users are diving into the weird world of region-blocking, specifically questioning why a specific Octopath Traveler II key package is blocked in 14 specific countries. Finally, the community is begging Valve for a "select all" button to fix the tedious UI for ticking multiple checkboxes in the platform's menus.