Video Game News Roundup – April 1, 2025
Welcome to our daily digest of the most recent video game news! Today’s highlights feature:
- Stardew’s Baldur’s Gate 3 mod has made a comeback online after Swen Vincke contested a DMCA claim made by Wizards of the Coast.
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to overlook the element of blending history with fun in its gameplay.
- In a defamation lawsuit, YouTuber Karl Jobst has been ordered to pay over $230,000 to Donkey Kong record holder, Billy Mitchell.
Stardew’s Baldur’s Gate 3 Mod Reinstated After Swen Vincke Challenges Wizards of the Coast DMCA
Source: PC Gamer – April 01, 2025
Contrary to popular belief, it appears that all that glitters can indeed stay. The infamous ‘Baldur’s Village’ mod for Stardew Valley, which was previously removed from the internet following a DMCA issued by Wizards of the Coast, has made a triumphant return on Nexus Mods. The mod was temporarily unavailable for a few days following its removal on March 29. However, public outcry over the takedown led to a swift reversal of the decision. For those unaware, ‘Baldur’s Village’ introduces all your favourite characters from Baldur’s Gate 3 into Stardew Valley.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Fun Twist on Learning History
Source: PC Gamer – April 01, 2025
Ubisoft’s latest release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, may not quite reach the heights of their famed “world’s most pathetic man” roast, but it still offers a thrilling gaming experience. This installment introduces a new, engaging way to take down enemies as a neck-slitting shinobi, leaving the series’ previous, frustrating building descent mechanics in the dust. Now, 300 games into the series, Ubisoft has finally mastered the art of a smooth and seamless building climb-down.
Shadows also presents players with a meticulously detailed recreation of 16th century Japan. In true Ubisoft style, key locations are marked with radiant floating orbs, guiding your exploration of this beautifully rendered historical setting.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
YouTuber Karl Jobst Ordered to Pay Over $230,000 to Donkey Kong Champion Billy Mitchell in Defamation Case
Source: PC Gamer – April 01, 2025
Australia’s court has mandated YouTuber Karl Jobst to remit more than AU$380,000 (approximately $237,000 / £183,000) in damages to renowned arcade gamer Billy Mitchell. This ruling is in response to defamatory remarks made by Jobst in a 2021 video. Jobst, a Queensland-based gaming YouTuber, specializes in speedrunning and competitive gaming. Mitchell’s record-breaking Donkey Kong scores, first challenged in 2017, led to his temporary removal from both the Twin Galaxies and Guinness World record books. This sparked a complex legal battle, culminating in the reinstatement of Mitchell’s records. Among the numerous lawsuits initiated by Mitchell was one against the late YouTuber Benjamin Smith, also known as Apollo Legend, who produced several videos alleging that Mitchell had cheated.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Jack Black Surprised by Negative Reaction to First Minecraft Movie Teaser
Source: PC Gamer – March 31, 2025
The response was overwhelmingly negative when the first teaser for the Minecraft movie was released in 2024. Admittedly, I may have been a bit harsh in my judgment of it, going as far as to voice my complaints officially. Though this reaction may seem extreme, I was far from alone in my sentiments. The teaser on YouTube currently has a staggering 1.8 million dislikes in contrast to 737,000 likes. This is a clear indication of the extent of the disapproval from viewers. Despite the trailer’s apparent lack of quality (which I maintain, despite its intended young audience), the intensity of the negative response took one person, in particular, by surprise: Minecraft movie star, Jack Black.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Eidos Montreal Announces Job Cuts: ‘We Lack the Capacity to Fully Reassign Them to Our Current Projects’
Source: PC Gamer – March 31, 2025
In less than a week following Crystal Dynamics’ decision to lay off 17 employees to “better align with current business needs,” Eidos Montreal has now announced that they will be letting go of “up to 75” employees. The company cites a lack of sufficient work as the reason behind this decision. “Today, we informed our studio staff that we are planning to let go of up to 75 valuable team members, as one of our key projects is nearing conclusion,” the studio shared in a public message. “This decision is not a reflection of their dedication or skills, but unfortunately, we currently lack the capacity to entirely reassign them to our other ongoing projects and services.”
Read the full article on PC Gamer →
Introducing Minecraft’s Happy Ghast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Latest Passive Mob
Source: PC Gamer – March 31, 2025
Minecraft is gearing up to introduce a new passive mob, the Happy Ghast, this year. This friendly ghoul is a departure from its fearsome counterparts we’ve spent countless hours avoiding in the Nether. Not only are these creatures harmless, not showering fireballs at you, but they can also become advantageous companions around your base. However, there’s a twist. Unlike the commonplace sheep and cows, you won’t encounter the Happy Ghast while wandering in the overworld. In fact, Happy Ghasts do not spawn naturally. Players will need to invest some effort if they want to have these joyful companions in their game world.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Nintendo Confirms The Switch 2 Direct Will Run for 60 Minutes
Source: IGN – April 01, 2025
Nintendo has confirmed that the upcoming Switch 2 Direct will run for approximately 60 minutes. This unusually lengthy duration suggests an extensive showcase, indicating that Nintendo has a lot to unveil. The event is scheduled to start on April 2, 2025, at 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST. Nintendo plans to use this opportunity to provide a more detailed look at the Switch 2. This follows the brief reveal of the console earlier this year, which gave audiences a sneak peek at the design of the Switch 2, showed hints of Mario Kart 9, and teased a potential ‘mouse’ mode for the new Joy-Con.
Read the full article at IGN →
Schedule I Patch 5 Elevates Viral Steam Hit to Version 0.3.3f14; First Content Update Expected This Weekend
Source: IGN – April 01, 2025
Schedule I, a breakout success on Steam, continues its post-launch journey with its latest update – Patch 5. This update elevates the drug-dealing simulation game to version 0.3.3f14. Among the several enhancements that Patch 5 brings to the table, the most intriguing for players is the announcement of Schedule I’s maiden content update, slated for a launch this weekend.
Currently, Schedule I is topping the sales charts on Steam, outpacing well-known titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals. This sudden surge in popularity is attributed to its viral spread across social media, Twitch, and YouTube. The game itself offers a gritty journey, allowing players to climb the ladder from a small-time drug peddler to a powerful kingpin in the grimy cityscape of Hyland Point.
Continue reading the full article at IGN →
Jason Momoa Confirms Significant Spoiler for the Upcoming Dune 3
Source: IGN – April 01, 2025
Jason Momoa, renowned actor, has recently revealed a major spoiler for the much-anticipated Dune 3, scheduled to commence filming later in 2025. Please take note, spoilers for Dune 3, also known as Dune: Messiah, are to follow. Momoa, in a conversation with TODAY’s Craig Melvin to promote A Minecraft Movie, announced his return in the third chapter of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune film series. In the 2021 release of Dune, Momoa portrayed Duncan Idaho, a swordmaster and mentor to Timothée Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides. Despite his character succumbing to death post the Harkonnen invasion of Arrakis and not featuring in Dune: Part Two, Momoa’s character makes a comeback in the Dune novels by Frank Herbert. Specifically, in the 1969’s Dune Messiah, Duncan Idaho reappears as a ghola (clone) and is gifted to Paul, who now holds the title of Emperor.
Click here to read the full article at IGN →
Everything You Need to Know About the Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Update
Source: PC Gamer – March 31, 2025
Minecraft has announced its Vibrant Visuals update, promising a comprehensive visual overhaul of the game. This update essentially integrates in-built Minecraft shaders into the Bedrock version, with plans to extend this feature to the Java edition in the future. Unlike the previously announced ‘Spring to Life’ update, Vibrant Visuals won’t introduce any new blocks or mobs. Instead, its design aims to enhance the game’s existing world, making it more lifelike. However, there’s some uncertainty regarding the update’s release date. While we know it’s upcoming, no specific timeframe has been provided, so it’s not yet time to mark your calendars. Test versions of the Vibrant Visuals update will soon be available for the Bedrock Edition, but again, no specific date has been given.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Monster Hunter Wilds Update: Artian Weapons Transmog and PC Performance Issues Addressed
Source: PC Gamer – March 31, 2025
Monster Hunter Wilds, despite being out for just over a month, continues to evolve under Capcom’s guidance. A roadmap for future updates has been released, detailing imminent changes such as the Title Update 1. This update introduces Mizutsune, a gathering hub, and arena quests, with more updates anticipated through May, leading up to a second major patch in the summer. In addition to these anticipated updates, a celebratory post from director Yuya Tokuda marks the game’s sale of over 10 million copies. This post provides new information including a much-awaited acknowledgement of the PC version’s performance issues, and hints at what players can expect in upcoming months.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Engage in the Discussion
Which update piqued your interest today? Is it the Stardew Valley Mod or the upcoming Nintendo Direct that has you more thrilled? We welcome you to share your insights and opinions in the comment section below!