The Alters update! Get your The Alters update! Fresh, hot and ready to download, it’s got some quality of life bits, some new features and base things like a “gamer’s den”, distressingly, a photo mode, and a number of other things. And now, for your pleasure, I will relay unto you in detail what these things are.
Management sim Esports Manager 2026, from developer Neurona Games and publishing platform indie.io, just released a new demo on Steam that gives an in-depth look at the systems that will be present in the final game.
As you could probably guess from the name, the game puts you in the role of a manager of an esports organization and challenges you to lead it to victory. The demo focuses on the three key systems that define the gameplay: talent acquisition, management of staff and players, and match simulation.
You can create your own organization from scratch or take control of a real esports organization, like EternalFire, Copenhagen Wolves, M80, and GamerLegion, and additional teams will be added when the game fully releases. And with the Transfer Module, you can scout, buy, and sell players, including real-life players like @neLendirekt, @BanKsEsports, @PiNGCasts, @bit1, and many more.
Each player has ratings in several different categories. Some define their technical gaming ability, like their skill with different weapon types or how clutch they are. Others define their personality, like leadership, amicability, and loyalty. And still others define their physical attributes, like eyesight, reaction time, and endurance.
You’ll be competing with other organizations for their services, negotiating contracts and building a roster that best aligns with your current goal. Timing and market conditions will affect these negotiations, so your strategy might need to change as circumstances do. And you’ll need to balance your income, expenses, and sponsorships to keep your organization from going bankrupt.
Once you’ve built your team, you can use the Talk Module to communicate directly with your players and staff members to manage their growth, morale, and relationships. You set training plans to improve players’ skills, but you also need to keep an eye on their well-being and how they’re feeling. You don’t want to overwork them or wear them down. You’ll also need to monitor how your players and staff members feel about each other and resolve any conflicts that might come up. It’s all part of the nitty gritty of running an organization; it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an esports team without the actual esports. Using the Simulation Module, you’ll take the team you’ve built into tournaments, where you can watch it perform in semi-3D simulated matches. Will all your hard work pay off in a tournament win? Or will it be clear you need to develop your team more? There’s no way to know until you actually see them in action. And with the Tactic Creator, you can design and test strategies that you can use during simulations.
These systems make up the core gameplay loop of Esports Manager 2026, and about 70% of the final systems are present in the demo. The demo doesn’t limit the real-life amount of time you can play it, but it is limited to one in-game month. That’s plenty of time to go through the full process of creating your manager profile, choosing a team, building your roster, communicating with players, signing up for a tournament, and going through simulated matches.
While most of the core gameplay is there, the developers have also made it clear that more is on the way. In particular, match simulations will be significantly expanded and more complex, with added options for tactical control and in-game events. And, of course, everything that’s present in the demo will be further balanced and polished between now and release.
Like the full game, the demo is meant to be replayed to test out new strategies and experience more of what it has to offer. And it should give you a pretty accurate idea of the scope of the final game. The demo is available to download on Steam now, and if you want to get the latest updates, you can follow Esports Manager 2026 on Twitter or Discord.
Earlier this week you may have seen what was framed as a leaked trailer for Shenmue 4. Admittedly, thanks to Dwitter compression and supposedly being a recording of a screen rather than direct capture, it looked convincing enough, as long as you don’t look too hard at it. There’s that pesky thing called “Ay Eye” going around these days though, so you should never trust something right off the bat these days. Now, as confirmed by Shenmue developer Ys Net, it turns out that that footage has nothing to do with them, and may even lead to legal action.
The countdown to a physical release begins.
Playtonic and PM Studios have today released a free Switch 2 demo for the throwback platforming remake Yooka-Replaylee, giving you a chance to try before you buy.
You’ll find the new demo on the Switch 2 eShop right now, and, you’ll be pleased to hear, all the data carries over to the full game — so there’s no time wasted if you choose to go all-in on the full release afterwards.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Even on a hopeful future Earth, a little extra vigilance is needed to help ensure unwanted elements are kept at bay. That’s why there’s the Defense Matrix, Overwatch 2’s comprehensive suite of player protection and integrity systems designed to safeguard the fairness and quality of every match.
The goal is simple: make Overwatch 2 as fun, fair, and welcoming as possible for everyone. From fresh gameplay updates to robust anti-cheat measures, we’re committed to fostering a community where everyone can thrive. Let’s look into a few of the biggest initiatives we’ve rolled out since the launch of Defense Matrix.
A much-requested update for those of you on console introduced native Mouse and Keyboard support, allowing you to join a new Competitive environment and test your skills on an even playing field. Anyone using Mouse and Keyboard on console will now join the Mouse and Keyboard Pool (formerly the PC Pool), while those sticking with controllers remain in the Controller Pool.
To ensure fairness, those using Mouse and Keyboard must switch to the appropriate pool, or their inputs will be disabled for gameplay. Additionally, aim assist is disabled in the Competitive Mouse and Keyboard Pool, even if a controller is used. These changes aim to maintain competitive integrity while giving you the freedom to choose your preferred peripherals.
For anyone on console sticking with controllers, aim assist remains available in Cross-Play matches with PC friends. Plus, coming up in Season 20, new settings will allow you to fine-tune aim assist strength, window size, ease-in, and smoothing to better suit different play styles and heroes.
Overwatch 2 has always been a game best enjoyed with friends, but Competitive Play hasn’t always made it easy to group up if your ranks were too far apart. Enter Wide Groups, a feature that allows you to queue for Competitive matches with your friends, no matter their rank.
Wide Groups are defined by the skill gap between the highest- and lowest-ranked players in the group. For example, groups with Diamond or lower players that are more than five Skill Divisions apart, or groups with Masters players more than three Skill Divisions apart, are considered Wide Groups. Any group with a Grand Master or Champion player is also classified as a Wide Group, regardless of the skill gap.
Additionally, a new Modifier will adjust skill progression for Wide Groups, ensuring lower-ranked players aren’t unfairly boosted by higher-ranked teammates. Solo players and Narrow Groups will remain unaffected, as they’ll only be matched with others in similar situations. This change aims to reduce the need for alternate accounts and make Competitive Play more accessible for friends of all skill levels.
Disruptive chat and gameplay behaviors have no place in Overwatch 2. That’s why we’ve implemented Real-Time Text Moderation, a system that hides potentially harmful messages from the lobby. Anyone can choose to view and report these messages if necessary. This technology (which is also deployed in World of Warcraft) aims to make Overwatch 2 a friendlier place to play.
Our machine-learning technology continues to improve, identifying and addressing harmful behaviour in both text and voice chat. Those who engage in disruptive behaviour can expect corrective actions, including silences, suspensions, and bans. Your reports play a crucial role in building a safer environment—if you witness disruptive conduct, please take a moment to report it through the in-game tools. Every report, no matter how small, helps us uphold our commitment to a welcoming community for all players. Any offensive behaviour is still subject to strict enforcement of Blizzard’s In-Game Code of Conduct.
Cheating undermines the competitive integrity of Overwatch 2, and we’re proud to announce that over 1 million accounts have been banned for cheating since the game’s launch. This includes players using aimbots, wallhacks, and other cheats, as well as those grouping with known cheaters. Our efforts to combat cheating are ongoing, with even more anti-cheat technologies in development to detect and block hacks more effectively.
The Overwatch team is steadfast in its mission to ensure that every match is as fair and as inclusive as possible. We’re here to help ensure that every match is determined by skill and teamwork, not unfair advantages.
Stay up to date on all of our Defense Matrix initiatives and more on the Overwatch 2 news site. Our work to safeguard fair and welcoming play is never finished; we’re constantly striving to enhance our technology, policies, and community tools in multiple ways. As we push each other and the game ever higher, we remain committed to keeping our community informed about the latest improvements—so stay sharp, remain respectful, and join us as we set new standards for competitive gaming together.
Blizzard Entertainment
Overwatch 2 – Season 19: Haunted Masquerade
Masks, Mythics, and mayhem descend as Season 19 gets spooky with a Haunted Masquerade!
Season 19 creeps in… ambitious and cloaked in mystery! The Haunted Masquerade event introduces a spooktacular mode where mystical masks grant buffs, twisting every battle into a spectral spectacle. Then Stadium transforms under the eerie moonlight, unveiling new Heroes, a cursed map, fresh features, and match-defining Gadgets forged in shadow. Across the season, the festive spirit of Halloween stretches wide as Mythic cosmetics rise from the crypt, and a treasure trove of twisted tricks & treats awaits those brave enough to claim them. Welcome to the Haunted Masquerade, ENTER IF YOU DARE
The post Protecting Play: The Defense Matrix of Overwatch 2 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Fortnite is thawing out the Infinity Blade, arguably the game’s most controversial weapon ever, for an appearance in the next season of its OG battle royale mode.
Beginning this Thursday, December 11, Fortnite OG will shift to Chapter 1 Season 7, and let players experience the game’s beloved retro season where all the snow turned up and we got to fly around in planes.
It was a brilliant season, though one that will go down in Fortnite history as one of the most divisive — as Epic Games also introduced the Mythic-quality Infinity Blade sword that was notoriously overpowered. Only one Infinity Blade spawned each match, and lobbies turned into an absolute mess over who nabbed the game-breaking item first.
I remember enjoying the brief disruption to the game’s meta, which was turned on its head and has never seen anything quite like it since (perhaps for good reason). Because, after significant outcry, the Infinity Blade was made unplayable and literally frozen into its pedestal after only a few days, never to be used again — until now.
Epic Games has not said when it intends to unvault the Infinity Blade, or for how long. It’s possible the weapon will be offered at full strength for a brief period, or it could have been rebalanced — for now, players have been left to speculate.
For now, at least, players can expect everything else the original Chapter 1 Season 7 featured to arrive later this week, including items such as balloons and the ability to redeploy your glider, negating fall damage, as well as the fan-favorite X-4 Stormwing planes. Fresh areas of the map include Polar Peak — home to the Ice King, the cheery Happy Hamlet and the Frosty Flights airbase.
Remixed outfits include the feline-tailed Lynx (later the love interest for swole cat Meowscles), onesie-wearing character Onesie, and Fortnite’s battle-scarred take on Father Christmas himself: Sergeant Winter. Is the game really giving up its opportunity to reskin The Ice King? For now, it seems so — though rumors have suggested we may be seeing more of him in the near future.
It is, as always, a busy time for Fortnite — which recently launched its big new Chapter 7 update for the game’s main Battle Royale and Zero Build modes. The game also recently played host to a major Kill Bill crossover, where players could watch Tarantino’s new animated sequence inserted into Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair. And just last night, we learned that Percy Jackson was also coming to the game.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
In an ideal world, none of us would have to be bound by the rope called copyright, we could produce all the media we want about our favourite things, like that Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisend and Cinderella ship I have now likely made many of you aware of. Alas, this is not the world we live in, and because of that fact the team by the upcoming mod Team Fortress 2 Classic is having to rename it after a bit of a prompting from the original game’s creators, Valve.
One of our favorite video game deals over Black Friday and Cyber Monday was on Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. If it’s one that slipped past you during the sales, Best Buy is here with a little bit of seasonal savings cheer, offering another opportunity to save on this game ahead of the holidays
As part of its Deal of the Day, Best Buy has dropped the price of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater to $39.99 for PS5 and Xbox Series X, knocking a whole $30 off its list price. While it got as low as $30 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, this is still a stellar offer to jump on.
Keep in mind it won’t be at that price for long, either. Offers from Best Buy’s Deal of the Day page only last through the rest of the day, so act quickly to save on it.
Our Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater review had plenty of praise for this remake. IGN’s Michael Higham said, “Between its old-school stealth-action gameplay and engaging spy-thriller story, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater largely succeeds as a faithful, visually impressive remake of the 2004 classic.”
It’s even a game we consider to be one of the best video game remakes of all time, noting “what was once a groundbreaking stealth game is now an enduring classic, thanks to its playful approach to Cold War espionage and its dramatic, cinematic story.” Personally, I’m a big fan as well, and had a blast playing it this year.
While this is an especially nice one-day-only treat from Best Buy today, there are still some other video game deals floating around that are worth a look right now. We’ve gathered up some of the best gaming deals still live after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but they’re going fast. Have a look to see if any that caught your eye are still on sale, and grab them before they’re gone.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
The modders behind Beyond Skyrim: Cyrodiil, the massive modding project aiming to add a post-Oblivion-crisis version of the Imperial province to the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim‘s map, have given a lengthy tour of the latest city they’ve whipped into shape. As teased the other week, that city is Anvil, and it’s certainly home to some quirky folks.
Just in case of confusion, what makes Beyond Skyrim different to both Bethesda’s Oblivion Remastered and recently delayed Oblivion remake mod Skyblivion is that it’ll be introducing a fresh cast of characters and stories to familiar locations from the fourth Elder Scrolls game. After all, by the time of Skyrim, Martin Septim and his contemporaries are long gone.
But it’s not who you think it is.
Although Capcom has remained tightlipped on the prospect of Leon Kennedy cropping up in the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, a good number of fans are adamant that the veteran character will indeed appear.
However, a new listing over on GameStop drops some new information regarding the Deluxe Edition of the game which, if accurate, seems to hint at a completely different playable character: Rosemary Winters (thanks, IGN).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
