2026 has been an excellent year for indie games so far, leaving major studios like Ubisoft and Capcom in the dust when it comes to being beaten out by smaller releases. Before the release of massive games like the Assassin's Creed 4: ****** Flagremake, there are more than a few spiritual successors on the horizon to look forward to in the meantime. View the full article
World of Warcraft private servers are slowly dwindling in numbers as Blizzard continues to pressure them with cease-and-desist letters. Stormforge is the latest case and will shut down on May 14, with new account creation already disabled. This was confirmed by Stormforge operators last night in a post on the server's website, which claimed that Blizzard sent them a cease-and-desist letter, prompting a discussion and the eventual decision to shut the whole thing down. "We have agreed to cease all operations, development, and distribution of content related to World of Warcraft," Stormforge operators said, adding that the private server will be going offline on May 14 but is to remain playable up to that point. New accounts cannot be created nor will any updates be released. The website and the Stormforge Discord server are also going to be shut down, and, though this is all unfortunate news, the team has kindly asked everyone not to hop on the hate train or conduct any activity that would potentially harm Stormforge or its community in these last few weeks it has left. "Let’s keep the atmosphere positive and make these last moments something we can all remember in a good way." Image via Blizzard Blizzard seems to have given the team a bit of a grace ******* to "transition" its community away from the private server, with operators saying they had a "positive discussion" with the company prior to making the decision to take Stormforge offline. Either way, yet another private server, one that apparently had hundreds of thousands of players, is no longer going to be available for those seeking alternative ways to play Blizzard's biggest MMO. Stormforge offered free-to-play World of Warcraft clients for three versions: The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and Mists of Pandaria. Two out of these are currently available through WoW Classic servers, though the Mists of Pandaria one will most likely progress to Warlords of Draenor Classic at some point, rendering it unplayable. TBC currently only has an anniversary server running, whereas Wrath of the Lich King Classic is no longer available since it progressed to the mentioned MoP. Though piracy in essence and a system that offered paid services to its players, Stormforge allowed folks to return to their desired stage in WoW's decades-long lifespan, enjoying those aspects of the game they adored the most. While World of Warcraft Classic and its many modes and servers are a gateway to exactly that, Blizzard's strange way of handling things hasn't helped in the slightest. In an effort to keep player populations as united as possible, folks don't have too many options to choose from when it comes to older WoW experiences, forcing them into the wide open arms of private servers. At any rate, World of Warcraft would probably also curb a lot of private server needs if it ditched the subscription model entirely, though I know that's almost impossible at this point. Private servers' free offers are very enticing for those who do not have the dosh to pay every month on top of buying the latest expansion every time. I find it saddening every time I see private servers go down, as those were my own first exposure to World of Warcraft as a less-than-well-off kid back in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It transformed my perspectives on Warcraft as a world, which stands to this day as one of my favorite settings of all time. I can still remember watching my brother play Wrath of the Lich King and standing next to the man himself, who I could only watch from a bird's-eye perspective in Warcraft 3 up to that point. There are kids going through the same, and it'd be a crying shame to deny them the ability to experience one of the greatest fantasy worlds of all time from up close. But that's just me. The post Yet another World of Warcraft private server taken out as Blizzard cracks down on Classic competitors appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
The CB Distributor Evolution has arrived in FC 26 to shore up your backline, and you can upgrade up to two items for free. The evolution offers some useful upgrades that can help you to improve the card with stat boosts, playstyles, and more. Table of contentsFC 26 CB Distributor Evolution requirementsFC 26 CB Distributor Evolution upgradesBest players to use in CB Distributor EvolutionFC 26 CB Distributor Evolution requirements Here are the requirements of CB Distributor Evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 88PlayStyle: Max 10Not Rarity: World Tour Silver StarsPosition: CBFC 26 CB Distributor Evolution upgrades The evolution has three upgrade levels, each with specific conditions to meet. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +1Pace: +2|89Curve: +10|92Interceptions: +5|90Def. Aware: +5|91 Level 2 upgrades Heading Acc.: +4|89Stand Tackle: +5|91Vision: +10|92PlayStyles: Pinged Pass, Long Ball Pass|8 Level 3 upgrades Long Passing: +12|93Short Passing: +12|93Slide Tackle: +5|90Weak Foot: +1PlayStyles: Anticipate|8 Level 1 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player. Level 2 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player. Level 3 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player.Best players to use in CB Distributor Evolution Here are some of my recommendations for this evolution. Ronald Araujo ShowdownCampbell Trophy Titans Baby IconNesta Trophy Titans Baby IconStarfelt RTTFLucas Beraldo **********Timber ShowdownMatheus Dias FC FantasyBarzagli Ultimate Birthday HeroBombito Winter Wildcards This is a perfect chain evolution as you’ll be able to put the upgraded card immediately into another upgrade. However, the upgrades on offer could have been more impactful since we are in the middle of April, and the TOTS celebration has already begun. The post Best players for FC 26 CB Distributor Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
As the long wait for The Elder Scrolls 6continues, the temptation to check out some alternatives becomes more attractive with every passing day. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find games that truly scratch the Elder Scrolls itch, especially for those fond of the weirdness that once defined the series. View the full article
The past few weeks have seen some major upsets for fans of Grand Theft Auto 6, with PC players particularly having a bad time when it comes to the supposed release date of Rockstar's delayed PC port for the game. While it hasn't been a secret that PC would get a delayed release for some time now, a recent leak has been terrible news for PC fans hoping for a shorter wait this time around. View the full article
A key to surviving your adventures in Windrose is stamina, as it decides how many actions you can perform. You can only perform a finite number of actions at a given time, and your stamina will determine how long you can keep going. Every action, be it in offense or defense, requires stamina to work. There are different ways of increasing your stamina, and this guide will list all the known methods. Best ways to improve your stamina in Windrose There are four major ways to increase your stamina in Windrose. The easiest, but the lengthiest, method is to complete as many quests and activities as possible. When you complete a task, you'll gain XP or experience points. Getting this XP will help you to increase your character level. Screenshot by Destructoid When you level up, you can invest the stat points in Endurance to increase your stamina. That said, this isn't the only way to raise your stamina in Windrose. Food items can provide stamina buffs. You can always check a specific recipe before making it at a cooking station. When you find new ingredients, you'll discover unique recipes. Look for recipes that will provide temporary buffs to your Endurance stat. Screenshot by Destructoid Talent points are obtained when you level up your characters. They don't directly increase your stamina, but they can make your character much more energy efficient. For example, being Agile will result in your Dash and jump actions consuming 15% less Stamina.Certain gear sets offer you extra stamina on the base pool. However, you'll need to equip the full set, which is a relatively end-game activity. You can also look for rings that will reduce the stamina consumed during specific actions. Ultimately, you can't have unlimited stamina, and you'll always need to spend it carefully. Running out of stamina right when the enemy is about to attack can be dangerous. Hence, always allow your stamina to recharge before you jump in to attack. The post How to get more stamina in Windrose appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss has said it’s taking the time to make sure it properly tests and polishes the game’s next major patch, which is due out next week. Pearl Abyss’ remarkable update release cadence had seen major patches release each weekend after Crimson Desert’s launch last month. But the next update is taking a little longer, and will be a heftier download than previous patches. The patch will include several features mentioned in last week’s developer update announcement, including the addition of a keyboard/mouse and controller preset, difficulty settings, and category tabs for your inventory, and more. It will be a ******* download because it also improves the distant scenery quality. Here’s Pearl Abyss’ statement in full: Hey Greymanes, We’re currently preparing our next update which will include several features mentioned in last week's Dev Update notice, including the addition of a keyboard/mouse and controller preset, difficulty settings, category tabs for your inventory, and more. We want to take our time with testing and polishing things before we roll the patch out, which we expect to do sometime next week. Also, due to the distant scenery quality improvements we are adding in, this patch size will be larger than our previous ones. We hope you're looking forward to this update, and thanks for your patience and support! The addition of difficulty settings is worth digging into. Here’s the note from Pearl Abyss' original announcement: "A difficulty settings feature will be added so that everyone — from new Greymanes to the more advanced — can enjoy the adventure at the level that suits them best. You’ll be able to choose from easy, normal, and hard difficulty." As IGN had reported, some players had called for a hard mode because they felt updates had made the game too easy. But we're also getting an easy mode, which will be good news for those who prefer a more easy-going experience (Crimson Desert can be brutal in places, particularly with some of the bosses). It will be interesting to see how the game changes with each setting. Features and changes Pearl Abyss has announced as coming soon but are yet to launch or weren't mentioned in today's statement include boss rematches and enemy territory recapture. When Pearl Abyss dropped the first update that included some of these improvements, it added in changes it hadn’t announced, so perhaps next week’s patch will include some surprises of its own. Sentiment around Crimson Desert has improved significantly since launch, with Steam user reviews rising from ‘mixed’ to ‘very positive’ as those updates have taken effect. Sales and player numbers are impressive, too. Crimson Desert is now up to 5 million copies sold — an impressive milestone it achieved less than a month after launch — and it remains one of the most-played games on Steam. The natural next question is whether Pearl Abyss will expand the game with DLC, or even an expansion. Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young recently said there are no solid plans for any DLC, and cast doubt on the possibility of official mod support, but a Nintendo Switch 2 version is apparently being explored. We’ve got plenty more on Crimson Desert, including praise from the director of The Witcher 3, a hidden food consequence system that a modder has restored, and an impressive character creator mod. We recommend you take a look at our guide to Things to Do First in Crimson Desert, plus Things Crimson Desert Doesn’t Tell You (we’ve got 28 and counting!). We’ve also got a guide to the Best Early Weapons we recommend picking up, the Best Skills to Get First (including a handy explainer of the skills system), and 34 Essential Tips and Tricks to help you succeed in Pywel. Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at *****@*****.tld. View the full article
The storage pricing situation is so bad right now that in some cases using an older expansion card designed for a gaming console can be a better option than purchasing a new SSD. A Reddit user recently shared an experiment with Xbox expansion cards, adapting the seemingly proprietary format for... Read Entire Article View the full article
Players have already been enjoying multiple playthroughs of Resident Evil Requiem, with many making fun new Easter egg discoveries and others finding optimized routes and strategies, but a number of fans are eagerly awaiting more gameplay updates to the survival horror title. Capcom has already confirmed that a story DLC and mini-game are on the way, and one player may have found evidence of the popular Mercenaries Mode as the next big addition coming up to Resident Evil Requiem. View the full article
TheFar Cryfranchise isn't necessarily in its finest form at the moment, and the newest update has fans concerned that it won't be turning around any time soon. While the chaotic open-world games have made an undeniable mark on the gaming landscape, with Far Cry 3's Vaas becoming something of an eternal icon, they've increasingly struggled to replicate that magic. View the full article
Slay the Spire 2 is being review bombed again, leading to the game's Steam score rating dropping all the way down to "Mixed." Slay the Spire 2 is the long-awaited sequel to one of the most beloved and popular deck building roguelites of all time, and it enjoyed an "Overwhelmingly Positive" review rating on Steam early on. Most new updates have brought with them a negative sentiment from the players, however. View the full article
Steam has removed Pickmos, a game accused of copying Pokemon and Palworld. The removed survival video game is scheduled for full release in 2027, but its future remains uncertain due to numerous controversies surrounding its development. The first doubts arose over the name itself, which was originally Pickmon, leading to accusations that it was a clone of the Pokemon series. However, the name change to the current Pickmos did not put an end to allegations that the game bore too close a resemblance to other titles, going beyond mere inspiration. View the full article
Despite releasing nearly a decade ago at this point, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still the pinnacle of gaming when it comes to an authentic and immersive cowboy experience, with little in the way of direct competition. While few games can match Red Dead Redemption's realism, that doesn't mean there aren't several games out there to scratch your Western-themed gaming itch. View the full article
The fantasy genre of anime has much to thank tabletop RPGs for. You may have noticed how several anime draw upon tropes typically found in Eurocentric fantasy, and there's one culprit: D&D. The 1970s saw a cult following for the classic TTRPG, with the most influential result being Records of Lodoss War. What started as a transcript of a D&D actual play soon became a franchise phenomenon, spawning novels, OVAs, and even its own RPG. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Why Wyldwood is my top Kickstarter board game to watch in 2026 Hit Kickstarter board game Dice Throne comes to PC - but some fans can't stomach the price This adorable new needlework board game is surprisingly sharp View the full article
The developer of upcoming indie adventure The Quiet Things says the last-minute decision to remove their trailer from the BAFTA Games Awards showcase "was devastating," and left her in tears. Silver Script Games founder Alyx Jones explains that she was "so hopeful that this tiny indie game might actually be seen by a huge audience," but was told on her way to the nominees' party that it had been pulled from the show "due to its content." BAFTA says it "made the decision in relation to our event only and with the wellbeing of all guests as our priority." Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: The new Slay the Spire 2 roadmap has no dates: "Exacting deadlines produce sloppy, uninspired work" '90s style Command and Conquer spiritual successor DORF smashes its Kickstarter to raise $300,000 Graveyard Keeper's mammoth success proves that giving games away for free on Steam works View the full article
A new Slay the Spire 2 roadmap gives us a fresh look at the high-priority updates that Mega Crit is working on, but studio co-founder Casey Yano is eager to avoid making any promises of specific timeframes. It's been a little over a month since the roguelike deckbuilder sequel exploded onto the scene, immediately becoming an overnight sensation in the manner deserved of a follow-up to a game that helped build the very foundations of the genre. On the cards are alternate acts, a new character, and experimental game modes, but when they'll arrive remains a deliberate mystery for now. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: The BAFTA Games Awards pulls indie game's trailer at the last minute, citing "the wellbeing of all guests" '90s style Command and Conquer spiritual successor DORF smashes its Kickstarter to raise $300,000 Graveyard Keeper's mammoth success proves that giving games away for free on Steam works View the full article
For over two decades, EVE Online has been famous for two things: the astonishing player-driven stories it generates, and the cutthroat universe that acts as a foundation for those stories. PvP is as fundamental a part of EVE's universe as hydrogen is in our own, and whether you're the head of one of its megacorps or a newbie just starting out, buying into the game has been to accept the possibility that someone in the great beyond might make it their personal mission to ruin your day... Read more.View the full article
If you’re looking for something new to play entirely for free, you can check out a Steam freebie with 9/10 reviews right now; no strings attached, no subscriptions needed. While it’s well-known that Epic Games gives out free games every week for its users, Steam is also a superb platform for free titles, too, and there are thousands of options. From games to shorter demos, you can likely find something that pleases you, even if it is a hidden gem among a ton of other free games on Steam. View the full article
Prominent leaker MEGAsizeGPU recently claimed that a long-rumored version of Nvidia's RTX 5050 with increased memory capacity has been delayed and might never see release. Meanwhile, the still-popular RTX 3060, originally expected to have returned to the market by now, could instead fill the gap in the release schedule in June. Read Entire Article View the full article
Private World of Warcraft server group Stormforge is the latest such project to face imminent shutdown as Blizzard continues to take action against fan-run ways to play its MMORPG. Seemingly buoyed by its successful court case against Turtle WoW, Activision Blizzard is turning its attention towards other unofficial alternatives to WoW Classic. The developers of Stormforge confirm that the project will be brought fully to a close within the next month, following conversations with the World of Warcraft legal team. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: New World of Warcraft Midnight class tuning update reduces the dramatic gap between healers Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW case World of Warcraft gets a perfect recreation of Counter-Strike's most iconic map, and it's even got Goose View the full article
Owlcat Games shares trailers for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy introducing Haymar Devos and Rogue Trader introducing Eogunn Februs. View the full article
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2026 has been an excellent year for indie games so far, leaving major studios like Ubisoft and Capcom in the dust when it comes to being beaten out by smaller releases. Before the release of massive games like the Assassin's Creed 4: ****** Flagremake, there are more than a few spiritual successors on the horizon to look forward to in the meantime. View the full article