Video Game News Digest – April 11, 2025
Welcome to our daily digest of the most recent video game news! The highlights for today are as follows:
- The developer of a controversial game involving non-consensual sex scenes has withdrawn it from Steam following its ban in the UK, Canada, and Australia, stating, ‘We don’t intend to fight the whole world.’
- Ubisoft’s response to The Crew lawsuit reiterates a familiar argument: Gamers do not technically own the games they purchase.
- The release date for GTA 6 may be on the horizon.
Here are the details of today’s top stories in the gaming world.
Controversial ‘Non-Consensual Sex’ Game No Mercy Withdrawn from Steam Following Bans in UK, Canada, and Australia
Source: PC Gamer, April 10, 2025
This week, Valve discontinued the sales of the adult-themed game, No Mercy, on Steam in the UK. This action followed a complaint lodged by UK Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, who demanded the removal of the game, labeling its content as “deeply worrying”. The game, as described on its Steam page, featured elements of “incest,” “blackmail,” and “unavoidable non-consensual sex”. It even invited players to embody “every woman’s worst nightmare” and to “never take ‘no’ for an answer”. The game was subsequently removed from sales in Canada and Australia. In response to the international backlash, the game’s developer announced on Thursday that they had decided to withdraw No Mercy from Steam entirely, despite their defense of the game’s content as harmless.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Ubisoft Asserts Gamers Don’t Own Their Games in The Crew Lawsuit Defense
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
In 2024, Ubisoft discontinued The Crew, a decision that caused significant uproar among its player base. In response to this, Ubisoft vowed not to repeat this action with its sequels, The Crew 2, and The Crew Motorfest. However, the company has stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing. In fact, Ubisoft, while responding to a class-action lawsuit filed over the game’s shutdown, argued that players were aware, or should have been aware, that they were merely purchasing “limited licenses” to play the game, not buying the game outright.
Their defense, filed in February and available for review on Polygon, lists several reasons why the lawsuit should be dismissed. Ubisoft’s claims include the expiration of relevant statutes of limitation, the lack of “cognizable injury” suffered, the absence of evidence that consumers wouldn’t have bought the game regardless, and, as already noted, that players were fully informed through “explicit warnings on The Crew’s packaging” that they were obtaining only a limited license to play the game.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Potential Release Date for GTA 6 Begins to Emerge
Source: GameSpot – April 11, 2025
The release date for GTA 6 seems to be taking shape. The recent leak of Mafia: The Old Country’s release date in early August 2025, coupled with the announced release of Borderlands 4 on September 23, 2025, has led to speculation about the potential release date of GTA 6. Interestingly, the developers of these three games are subsidiaries of the same parent company, Take-Two, which is known for strategically spacing out its game releases. In this section, we’ll summarize what we currently know about GTA 6’s release date and explore how the release dates of Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4 may impact the GTA 6 timeline.
GTA 6 is officially slated for a Fall 2025 release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This release window has been repeatedly confirmed by Take-Two, most recently in February 2025.
Read the full article at GameSpot →
‘Hyper Light Drifter’ Creator Develops a Novel Metroid-Style Game with Anime Aesthetics
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
While Hyper Light Breaker, a promising yet challenging roguelike game, is in development, Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, has another project on its plate; Possessor(s). This classic metroidvania, action-adventure game aims to stand out in an ever-growing genre. Alx Preston, the founder of the studio, has a clear preference for the genre’s Japanese name over the somewhat clumsy English one. One can hardly fault him for that and it would be interesting to see if this trend catches on. I had the opportunity to experience live, unscripted gameplay of Possessor(s)’ early stages as well as converse with narrative director Tyler Hutchinson and writer Laura Michet about the project. Exploration and level design remain vital factors in such games. For instance, Hollow Knight’s map remains one of my favorites in the genre. Conversely, Metroid Dread’s handholdy yet obscure design was a letdown.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Will CloverPit Face Greater Challenges Than Balatro in Conveying its Non-gambling Nature?
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
Remember when Balatro was under scrutiny by rating boards and YouTube for its potential gambling implications? Well, CloverPit, a self-proclaimed “rogue-lite slot machine nightmare,” may face even greater challenges. This unique game merges a demonic slot machine with Balatro-like upgrades and progression, all set within a grim prison cell. The gameplay involves spinning the reels, inserting coins, purchasing strange upgrades, and repeating the process. Interestingly, the money you’re playing with isn’t technically yours – it’s borrowed from an ominous ATM in the corner. Clearing your debt between rounds is crucial, or you’ll face dire consequences. The free CloverPit demo provides a compelling experience for fans of slot machines, magic, and gritty graphics.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Steam Users Prefer Non-Competitive Games Over Console Players, Increasing Interest in PvE, Industry Report Reveals
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
The typical image of a gamer often involves virtual conquest, such as in shooter games or Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs), where the objective, once colloquially referred to as “pwning,” is central. Yet, PC gamers, particularly Steam users, appear to have different preferences. A recent industry analysis revealed that these players are more inclined towards non-competitive games, a trend that continues to grow. In their 2025 report on gaming industry trends, the market research company Newzoo utilized raw telemetry data from over 1 million players to compare gaming trends across different platforms. Based on the games that each player spent at least two hours playing, Newzoo found that a significant 58% of the games played by Steam users in 2024 were non-competitive player-versus-environment (PvE) games. This compares to 42% of games played on PlayStation and 41% on Xbox.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Path Of Exile 2 Patch Notes: Monster Nerfs Introduced Following Unpopular Update
Source: GameSpot – April 11, 2025
Path of Exile 2 has implemented the much-anticipated balance changes in response to a recent update that was poorly received by the community. This unpopular update led to a significant drop in the game’s Steam reviews, pushing it into the dreaded “mostly negative” category. The developers have swiftly addressed the issues highlighted by the players, and you can check out the latest patch notes below. The primary focus of the recent patch, which is now live, includes several nerfs to fast-paced monsters to alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed by players. These changes are individually tailored based on monster behaviors. Some monsters have had their disruptive abilities removed, others have been adjusted to walk instead of running until the player moves beyond a certain distance, and in some instances, the monster count in an area has been reduced.
Read the full article at GameSpot →
Examining the Top 5 Historically Inaccurate Moments in the Assassin’s Creed Series
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
With the impending release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, concerns regarding the series’ historical accuracy have been brought to the forefront. To those familiar with the franchise, this seems a tad puzzling. The series, akin to an episode of Doctor Who, has never claimed to be a paragon of historical accuracy. The charm lies in its blend of real-world elements and creative liberties. Ubisoft uses history as a springboard for its richly detailed open worlds, rather than a constraining set of rules. This approach has given birth to some of the most memorable and thrilling scenes in Assassin’s Creed, born from a dash of enthusiastic revisionism.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
‘Lost Ember’ Developer Unveils Next Game, Boasting Impressively Realistic Snow
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
It’s often the subtle details that capture your attention during a game trailer. In the case of the reveal trailer for ‘Ikuma: The Frozen Compass’, the impressively realistic depiction of snow steals the show. “The snow in this game is remarkably good,” noted PC Gamer’s Tyler Wilde, a comment that piqued my curiosity. The snow is indeed masterfully rendered. ‘Ikuma’ narrates the coming-of-age story of a cabin boy named Sam and his sled dog Ellie, who find themselves stranded on an uncharted Arctic island in 1864.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
New Pre-Order Date for First Batch of Switch 2 My Nintendo Store in the U.S. and Canada, Priority Requirements Announced
Source: IGN – April 11, 2025
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly presented the May 8th date as new information, although this date has been in place since April 2nd. We regret the error. The headline and body of the article have been updated to provide a comprehensive summary of the details rather than offer it as new information. It should be noted that there is still no update on retail pre-orders. We appreciate our readers for pointing out the error.
Read the full article at IGN →
‘Schedule 1’ Unveils First Content Update Featuring New Features and a Pawn Shop
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
The popular drug-sim game ‘Schedule 1’ launched its first content update this past Thursday. This update introduces several new features and a plethora of new decorations. However, the standout addition is undoubtedly the new pawn shop. This feature allows players to sell many items to Mick, the dedicated shop clerk. To engage with Mick, players must navigate to the front of the warehouse, located adjacent to the motel. A conversation with the clerk opens up two options: negotiate a deal or sell Mick your unused equipment.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Barotrauma Developer Announces New Co-op Survival Game Set in a Dieselpunk World
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
Fakefish, the developer behind the acclaimed Barotrauma, pulled back the curtain on its next co-op survival game during today’s Triple-I Initiative. Leaving behind the ocean’s depths featured in Barotrauma, Fakefish introduces players to a new metallic beast: a train. This isn’t just any survival game, it’s a dieselpunk FPS in a game called Frostrail. In this game, players will “endure a desolate post-apocalyptic world with arctic temperatures, unspeakable horrors, and one life-sustaining locomotive powered by the impressive Eden Engine,” according to the developers.
As visible in the reveal trailer, players find themselves navigating a frosty world aboard a steam-powered locomotive, scavenging for resources in desolate, ruined towns along their route.
For more details, check out the full article at PC Gamer →
New Trailer Released for Deep Rock Galactic’s Roguelite Spinoff; Closed Alpha Testing to Begin Soon
Source: PC Gamer – April 10, 2025
The roguelite shooter, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, was showcased at the latest Triple-I event, debuting a new gameplay trailer. The developers also announced that a closed alpha test for the game on Steam is set to begin soon. First announced in 2023, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core is a cooperative shooter game designed for 1-4 players. It is set within highly destructible caves teeming with various alien life forms. Although similar to its predecessor, the original Deep Rock Galactic, Rogue Core introduces a roguelite structure. Players will start each mission with a basic loadout and can earn upgrades, equipment, and new abilities as they progress through each multi-stage run.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Engage in the Discussion
Which of today’s news stories sparked your interest? Are you more intrigued by the Schedule 1 updates or the GTA 6 release date? We invite you to share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comment section below!
