Spring continues, and so does the gaming industry, so as usual, there’s plenty to discuss and pore over this week when it comes to gaming news.
Whether it’s new Star Wars game announcements, more information about the Oblivion remake that everyone has admitted exists except for Bethesda, or new Switch 2 details, the industry hasn’t been quiet this week.
As always, then, grab something warm and comforting and let’s take a look at the week that was. Here’s what’s been happening in the world of gaming this week!
The PS5’s price has gone up again
This week, Sony raised the price of the PS5 in certain areas, including Europe and Australia. Depending on where you are, that price rise might apply to both models or just to one.
In Europe, for instance, only the digital version of the PS5 is more expensive, but in Australia, you’ll be paying more for both versions of the console, unfortunately.
As a sweetener, the standalone disc drive accessory for the PS5 has had its price lowered in those regions, so even if you do pay more for the digital console, the disc drive won’t set you back quite as much.
Star Wars is getting a tactical turn-based strategy game
Bit Reactor, a studio made up of folks who worked on games like XCOM and Civilization, announced its new game Star Wars: Zero Company this week.
Technically, Zero Company was actually announced a few years ago, but it didn’t have a name or any real identity at that point. Now, we know what the game will look and play like.
Later this week, Zero Company got a gameplay reveal in which it was revealed that yes, it is very much a tactical Star Wars game, believe it or not.
April’s second Xbox Game Pass batch revealed
Xbox announced the games you can expect to land on Xbox Game Pass as part of April’s second wave this week, and there are plenty of great games to check out.
Along with the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Towerborne, you can also check out games like Crime Scene Cleaner, horror fishing sim Dredge, and open-world FPS Far Cry 4 this month.
All of this is, of course, alongside the Bethesda-published and Virtuos-developed Oblivion remaster that’s expected to shadowdrop sometime in the coming days. Speaking of which…
That Oblivion remake really is happening
This week, we got even more proof that the much-talked-about Oblivion remake is going ahead, this time in the form of a number of images that were initially available via developer Virtuos’ website.
Of course, the images have since been removed, but they show several scenes from the original game remade in a new, much more modern visual style, as well as artwork that’s pretty conclusive evidence.
The game is expected to arrive on April 22nd, which is also when Bethesda has confirmed it will be revealing the project, so if you’re a Game Pass subscriber, it looks like you’re in for a treat.
Nvidia announces two new graphics cards
Two more cards in Nvidia’s RTX 50 range were announced this week, and they’re both aimed at the entry-level market, offering less power than their compatriots but at a much more attractive price.
The RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti come in three models: the 5060, an 8GB Ti, and an upgraded 16GB Ti variant. The former won’t launch until May, but the latter two are available now, starting at just £349.
If you’re a PC gaming enthusiast, you may scoff at the cards’ relatively modest specs, but for a certain kind of gamer, they’ll represent an excellent upgrade.
Dune: Awakening has been delayed at the last minute
Survival game Dune: Awakening, which was due to launch in May, has been delayed at the last minute to allow developer Funcom to implement some changes.
The game, which was originally due to come out on May 21st, will now be launching on June 10th, with a “head start” available to certain players on June 5th.
This change, Funcom says, will allow the studio “the time needed to make improvements that will lead to a better gameplay experience from day one”.
A new Frostpunk game is coming in 2027
Frostpunk studio 11 bit revealed this week that a new game in the series is in development, and it’s set to arrive sometime in 2027, apparently.
As part of its annual financial report, 11 bit studio head Przemys?aw Marsza? said that the studio’s desire to capitalise on “near-term, financially attractive opportunities” underlies the decision to create a new Frostpunk game.
It isn’t clear whether the game will be a new mainline entry – essentially Frostpunk 3 – or whether it’ll be some kind of spinoff with a completely different gameplay style.
New Mario Kart World details revealed
Nintendo announced new information about Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World this week during a Nintendo Direct, and it’s shaping up to be a very solid game for the system.
The game will feature a number of new characters, courses, and items, and it’ll also offer the first free-roaming gameplay mode in the series, allowing you to explore its expansive world.
Of course, there will also be plenty of opportunities to race against your friends, take on Grand Prix challenges, and do everything else you’d expect to find as part of a Mario Kart game.
Switch 2 pre-orders to reopen next week in the US
US Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed earlier this month owing to tariffs introduced by President Trump, but Nintendo announced this week that pre-orders are back on.
The company says you’ll be able to pre-order a Switch 2 in the US starting from April 24th, and that the price of the console won’t be changing, although some of the accessories will become more expensive.
It’s good news that the pricing of the console and its games won’t budge, because those figures have been subject to no small degree of controversy among gamers in recent weeks.
