Today’s Top Gaming News: April 30, 2025
Today, we cover an exhilarating new game release, a chainsaw-wielding protagonist making a splash, updates regarding the Nintendo Switch, and a game-changing respawn feature:
- The early launch of Borderlands 4 has “literally 0%” correlation with the release of GTA 6, according to the developers
- Recent updates from Nintendo reveal a significant Switch Update that introduces Virtual Game Sharing and more, albeit with one crucial caveat
- Even more layoffs in the gaming industry, with Respawn Entertainment losing team members who worked on Star Wars and Apex Legends
Let’s examine the exciting developments in the gaming industry today!
Nintendo Switch’s Virtual Game Cards Criticized as a “Downgrade” Amid Online Game Sharing Changes
Source: Eurogamer – April 30, 2025
Nintendo Switch enthusiasts have reported a significant change in the online game sharing feature following the console’s latest system update. The update eliminates the ability to play the same digital game online simultaneously across two systems. Before the update, a Switch designated as a primary console was capable of loading a digital game and playing online concurrently with the game’s owner logged in via a different Switch. This “loophole,” according to users, has now been discontinued because of the implementation of Nintendo’s new Virtual Game Cards system, which treats digital games similarly to physical cartridges.
However, users can continue to play a single copy of a digital game when offline. This feature is accessible through the newly introduced Online Licenses option, located in the user’s profile settings. This option allows a user to play a digital game even without a Virtual Game Card, provided that the game isn’t being played elsewhere or, crucially, is being played on a Switch that is set to offline mode.
Read the full article on Eurogamer →
Borderlands 4’s Early Launch Has “Literally 0%” Connection with GTA 6’s Release Date, Asserts Gearbox Boss
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun – April 30, 2025
Gearbox and Take-Two Interactive recently announced the accelerated release of Borderlands 4 from 23rd September to 12th September. This decision followed Bungie and Sony’s announcement to launch their Marathon reboot on 23rd September. If these moves were interpreted as a strategic play surrounding the yet-to-be-announced release date of GTA 6, with the assumption that Take-Two would avoid releasing GTA 6 and Borderlands 4 on the same day, Rock Paper Shotgun affirms that this is a misinterpretation. The source emphasizes that such speculation is unfounded and asserts that the early release of Borderlands 4 is solely attributed to “confidence”.
Read the full article at Rock Paper Shotgun →
Nintendo’s Major Switch Update Introduces Virtual Game Sharing with One Significant Limitation
Source: Kotaku – April 30, 2025
The Nintendo Switch has received a significant update in preparation for the upcoming release of the Switch 2 in June. The newly released Ver. 20.0.0 introduces features such as system transfers to the Switch 2, support for the new console’s GameShare feature, and the ability to share virtual game cards. Howeverusers have quickly identified a significant limitation to the latter feature: when utilizing virtual game cards, it is not possible to play a game online simultaneously on two different Switch consoles. This unexpected restriction could have significant implications for players. In other news, an engaging video of a stylish noir-punk side-scroller, reminiscent of “Celeste with Guns”, has been released.
Read the full article at Kotaku →
Intel Experiments with On-Chip Water Cooling, According to PC Gamer
Source: PC Gamer – April 30, 2025
PC Gamer perceives the AI boom more optimistically, not with a sense of impending doom, but instead with anticipation that many of the computing improvements in this industry could potentially benefit the PC gaming sphere. In-package liquid cooling is a recent trend that PC Gamer hopes will soon become a standard in the PC gaming market. This optimism follows the release of a YouTube video showcasing a DIY version of in-package liquid cooling. Intel has recently debuted a water cooler that rests atop the CPU package, circulating coolant to cool the chip (as reported by Tom’s Hardware).
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Eric Barone Enjoys Chess and Doesn’t Dismiss Elon Musk’s ‘Tech Tree’ Idea: ‘What About a Chess Roguelike with a Balatro Twist?’
Source: PC Gamer – April 30, 2025
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Wes Fenlon engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, discussing topics from Jojamart to his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier. Barone was asked about his personal gaming preferences and revealed a penchant for classic games. “PC Gamer has discovered that Barone has been enjoying chess lately, praising it as one of the fundamental games with deep strategy elements and robust game design,” says Fenlon. Interestingly, the rise of AI has somewhat marred his experience. Initially, PC Gamer shared Barone’s disappointment, but has since moved past it, adopting a more indifferent stance.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, Failbetter Games, and Astra Logical Confirmed as Partners for PC Gaming Show 2025
Source: PC Gamer – April 30, 2025
As the PC Gaming Show 2025 approaches, Ubisoft, Failbetter Games, Devolver Digital, and Astra Logical have been announced as some of the publishers and developers set to showcase their latest creations on Sunday, June 8. PC Gamer notes that these industry giants relish the opportunity to share news about the most thrilling upcoming PC games and hardware. The excitement lies in doing so alongside some of the most influential names in PC gaming today. The event is set to commence at 12:00 p.m. PDT, 3:00 p.m. EDT, 8:00 p.m. BST, 9:00 p.m. CEST, and 3:00 a.m. (on Monday, June 9) China Standard Time. The upcoming iteration of the PC Gaming Show will be broadcast on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, X, and Facebook, in addition to the PC Gamer website, its sister publication GamesRadar+, and Steam.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
‘Don’t Leave Trash on Arrakis’—Dune: Awakening’s Creative Director Urges Players to ‘Clean Up Your Old Bases’
Source: PC Gamer – April 30, 2025
Funcom’s Dune: Awakening is slated to launch on June 5. In anticipation of the release, the game has enabled select players to explore Arrakis through its beta version. PC Gamer’s Chris Livingstone logged 25 hours on this desert planet and was usually impressed by its offerings as a survival game. He expressed some reservations about the MMO aspects of the game.
One of the issues that Livingstone encountered was the prevalence of “ugly, boxy player-made bases” scattered across the map when he first began playing. This detracted from the game’s aesthetic appeal to such an extent that Livingstone felt compelled to travel across the map in search of a precise location to set up his own base. His efforts seemed futile when, upon his next login, he found his modest base sandwiched between two massive structures erected by other players, a mere 20 feet from his front door.
For more insight and comprehensive coverage, read the full article at PC Gamer →
Team Adjustments Lead to Layoffs at Respawn, Resulting in Cancellation of Two Preliminary Projects
Source: Game Informer – April 29, 2025
Respawn Entertainment, the acclaimed developer behind Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series, has declared layoffs following internal modifications to its development pipeline. In an official statement, Respawn Entertainment revealed it is implementing “adjustments” to its Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi teams. The latter is currently developing a sequel to the 2023 release, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The developer has discontinued the development of two preliminary “incubation projects.” These rearrangements have led to an undisclosed number of layoffs. Respawn has pledged to provide “meaningful support” to those impacted, including assisting in identifying new opportunities within its publishing partner, EA.
For more details, read the full article at Game Informer →
Marvel Rivals Season 2 Balance Update Enhances Strategist Heroes
Source: GameSpot – April 30, 2025
In Marvel Rivals, some of the most popular Strategist heroes are set to become even more lethal with the latest damage-dealing enhancements rolled out by developer NetEase. These adjustments aim to make these heroes a stronger force on the battlefield, particularly against popular backline-destroying heroes like Spider-Man. The balance update, going live today, will see Cloak & Dagger, Mantis, and Luna Snow dishing out more damage. Cloak & Dagger and Mantis will benefit from a direct damage increase to their attacks. Luna Snow, conversely, will experience less damage falloff at a distance. Lastly, Adam Warlock will have higher healing uptime if players can hit critical shots.
For more details, read the full article at GameSpot →
Nintendo Switch Update Closes Popular Game Sharing Loophole
Source: IGN – April 30, 2025
The recent Nintendo Switch system update has introduced new features, including Virtual Game Cards. This comes just ahead of the highly anticipated launch of Switch 2. Eurogamer reports that the update also eliminates a popular loophole that allowed users to play the same digital game online simultaneously across two systems.
Previously, Switch users could activate a game on their primary console and play it online when the game’s owner was logged in on another Switch. This method of game sharing has now been disabled with the introduction of the new Virtual Game Cards system.
Even with this change, users have reported that it is still possible to play a single copy of a digital game by going offline.
For more details, read the full article at IGN →
‘Steve’s Lava Chicken’ Song, Sung by Jack Black for a Minecraft Movie, Makes History on the Billboard 100 Charts
Source: IGN – April 30, 2025
According to IGN, the world of Minecraft continues to make waves in popular culture. Following its theatrical release, the Minecraft Movie has been making significant strides towards becoming the highest-grossing video game movie ever at the global box office. Adding to its list of accomplishments, the song “Steve’s Lava Chicken,” performed by renowned actor Jack Black, has now ascended to the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 Chart in the United States. Impressively, at a mere 34 seconds in length, the track — featuring catchy lyrics such as “la-la-la-lava ch-ch-ch-chicken” — has set a new record as the shortest song ever to achieve this feat.
For more information, the full article can be found at IGN →
Become a Tactical Forge Master in This Dark Fantasy Action-Adventure Game
Source: GameSpot – April 30, 2025
MercurySteam, often humorously referred to as the “authentic” metroidvania studio, has earned its reputation because of its unique role as the only developer to work on both the Castlevania and Metroid series officially. This point is further emphasized by the prominent displays of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and Metroid: Samus Returns at the entrance of its office in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid. Now, MercurySteam has announced a new game, Blades of Fire, which is seen as a spiritual successor to Severance: Blade of Darkness. The latter, a Conan-inspired dark fantasy third-person action game, was exclusively released on PC in 2001 by Rebel Act Studios, whose members, including studio co-founder and Blades of Fire director Enric Alvarez, later founded MercurySteam.
Read the full article at GameSpot →
Purchasing a House in Oblivion Remastered: A Guide
Source: GameSpot – April 30, 2025
For many players embarking on the journey of Oblivion Remastered, securing a personal abode emerges as an initial objective. A house in Cyrodiil not only provides a resting place for levelling up, but also a storage space for loot, significantly advancing character progression. Even though acquiring a castle in Oblivion Remastered is relatively straightforward, obtaining a house proves to be a more challenging and costly task. The process requires interaction with the right in-game characters. GameSpot offers a comprehensive guide detailing the steps on how to buy a house and the locations where this can be accomplished in Oblivion Remastered.
View the full article on GameSpot →
Engage in the Discussion
Among the current topics of discussion, two headlines have been particularly noteworthy: the claim by some Nintendo Switch users that Virtual Game Cards are a “downgrade” because of changes in online game sharing, and Gearbox’s statement that the early release of Borderlands 4 has “literally 0%” connection with the release date of GTA 6, Marathon, or any other factor aside from their own “confidence”. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!
