An awful lot of talk out of the Switch 2 Direct has focused on the console’s new Game Key Cards, whether they are a good thing for the industry and if anyone will actually buy the damn things. Now, in a new interview with VideoGamer, the Creative Director on Assassin’s Creed III and Far Cry 4, Alex Hutchinson, has shared his two-pence on the fresh-faced physical option — spoilers, he’s not all that keen.
The dev drew the comparison between the Switch 2 Game Key Cards and the similar approach taken by the Xbox One back in 2013, saying that Nintendo is going to “get away with it,” while fans were quick to criticise Microsoft. “It just shows you the power of nostalgia in our business that the way they will beat up Microsoft versus Nintendo is just not the same, especially in Europe,” Hutchinson stated, “It’s like, ‘oh, Nintendo’s doing it, alright we’re not gonna say much’”.
What in the name of jumping jellybeans is happening to The Maw? Our grizzled regular column summarising all the latest game news is going through some sort of midlife crisis and doesn’t know what it wants to be. I can hear it grinding its molars, squelching its many news bladders, and unfurling its long, insipid tendrils. The usual Mawkeeper, Edwin, is away today, so it’s up to me to soothe the beast and tell you all the new games being released on PC this week, as well as a hint for some anticipated strategy game news from Paradox Interactive.
As if impressive Steam concurrent player numbers and Bethesda’s own announcement of 4 million players wasn’t enough to cement it as a hit, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is now the third best-selling game of 2025 in the U.S. after just one week on sale.
Oblivion Remastered, which shadow-dropped on April 22, has a peak concurrent player count of 216,784 on Steam. While impressive, that figure doesn’t tell the whole story, given Oblivion Remastered also launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, as well as straight into Game Pass.
Now we have a new milestone: after just one week on sale, Oblivion Remastered became the third best-selling game in the U.S. of 2025 so far by dollar sales. That’s according to Circana’s Mat Piscatella, who took to social media to say Oblivion Remastered trails only Monster Hunter: Wilds and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows at the top of the 2025 sales chart.
It’s worth pointing out that Circana’s sales charts do not include players via subscription services. So, we know that Oblivion Remastered is a sales hit despite also being available on Microsoft’s Game Pass.
With this success, it seems inevitable that more remasters of Bethesda games will follow, with most suggesting either Fallout 3 (it was leaked back in 2023) or Fallout: New Vegas are next.
If either game is indeed next, what should players expect? Bruce Nesmith, one of Fallout 3’s designers, has pointed to Fallout 3’s “not good” gun combat, which he expects Bethesda would improve significantly for a remaster.
Speaking to VideoGamer, Nesmith said Fallout 3 Remastered would have shooting more in-line with that of Fallout 4. “What did you see in Fallout 4? That will tell you what they felt was necessary to change from Fallout 3,” Nesmith said.
“I know in Fallout 4 there was a lot of work done on the gun combat, because Fallout 3 is the first time they ever tried to do a shooter-style game. And, well, I think the work that was done was amazing.”
Oblivion Remastered, developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, has a long list of visual and feature improvements. It runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as you’d expect, but other changes are more meaningful. Everything from the leveling systems to character creation, and combat animations to in-game menus have been improved. Meanwhile, there’s lots of new dialogue, a proper third-person view, and new lip sync technology. The changes are going down well with fans, some of whom believe Oblivion Remastered would be more accurately described as a remake. Bethesda, however, has explained why it went down the remaster route.
Nesmith said Fallout 3 Remastered would probably include improvements and changes along similar lines to Oblivion Remastered.
“[Fallout 3 combat] didn’t hold up to shooters at the time,” he said. “Also, it’s an RPG shooter, it’s not a run-and-gun shooter. But a lot of work was done on that for Fallout 4. So I anticipate seeing a lot of that work go into it, assuming they’re doing the same thing.”
It’s a busy time for Bethesda, which is working on The Elder Scrolls VI and, maybe, more Starfield. Throw in remasters and ongoing work on Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV show, which is heading to New Vegas for Season 2, and fans are in for a treat in the coming years.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
I have an unhealthy habit of throwing money at several solo tabletop RPG projects a year, whether or not I actually plan on playing them: tables and lists corresponding to dice rolls are one of my favourite ways to consume microfiction, and I get a real buzz out of TTRPGs as discrete creative writing artefacts, if not necessarily functioning games. Naturally, I’m all over Spindlejack – a print and play solo game set in the Citizen Sleeper universe that you can download for free here on itch.io.
I once got in a heated debate with Graham over whether the chest-high walls in the Gears Of War series could accurately be called ‘massive’. The Gears men are massive, I argued. So it stands to reason that any wall that could provide adequate bullet cover to a massive man must itself be a massive wall. No, said Graham. They’re famously normal size walls, hence why the massive men have to squat down like they’ve just had a bowling ball lobbed at their kidneys. Well, we can finally examine the true scale of these walls – in 4K no less – with Gears Of War: Reloaded. A “faithfully remastered” version of the 2006 large man action game, coming to Steam on August 26th this year.
I couldn’t find a trailer so enjoy this extremely old one and just imagine it looks nicer. Bit nicer. Little bit nicer. That’s it, now you’re thinking like a customer!
Over the past year, Xbox has been publishing more first-party IP on other platforms, and in the latest update it’s now announced this mission is set to continue with Gears of War: Reloaded.
Not only is this remaster of the first game coming to Xbox and PC platforms, but it will also be getting an official release on the PlayStation 5 for the first time ever this August. This news has been shared after ongoing rumours – including one about Xbox potentially bringing the Halo series to other platforms in the future.
With the Switch 2 just around the corner, some companies are already considering certain re-releases and updates to their existing eShop titles. It seems FDG Entertainment, the publisher behind Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom on the Switch, is another one.
In a post on social media yesterday, it put the call out to “Switch 2 players” asking if they would like to see an update to the 2018 2D platformer supporting 120fps. In the game’s current state on Switch, it already runs at a “smooth 60fps”, but this could be doubled!
We’re now past 5th May (at least in some parts of the world) and you know what that means – there’s now less than a month to go until the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, with the new system set to make its worldwide debut on 5th June.
Since Nintendo announced the release date of the new hardware during its Direct broadcast in April, it’s detailed the new games on the way as well as the features and tech this new hardware is packing. It has also opened pre-orders for the device around the globe.
Move over, Gears of War — Ecco the Dolphin is finally getting a remaster. And not only the first game, but the sequel, Tides of Time, is also getting the remaster treatment.
Oh, and to top things off, a “new, third game” is also in the works, series creator Ed Annunziata has revealed. And where was this all announced? At the bottom of an Xbox Wire blog celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
We are excited to bring Wildgate Community Preview to Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S consoles! The playtest will begin on May 9 at 9:00 AM PDT (17:00 BST) and Xbox Insiders are able to sign up to participate. Space is still available, so join now to secure your spot! Join other prospectors in epic spaceship battles and leave with the Artifact, bragging rights, or at least a few stories.
Key Features:
Epic Spaceship Battles: Blast rivals with hi-tech cannons and gadgets, lure them into deadly traps, or even mess with their ship… as long as they don’t sabotage yours first. When your perfect plan goes out the airlock, there’s only one option… wing it!
New Adventures, Every Match: Stay one step ahead as you and your crew navigate the Reach — a vast, procedurally-generated map that changes with every game. Just be sure to beat other Prospectors to the punch, or risk flying away empty-handed.
Unique Prospectors: Choose from a variety of daring Prospectors, each with their own abilities and tools. Whether you’re a brave pilot or a clever trickster, there’s no wrong way to commit space crimes!
Explore the Reach: The Reach is a dangerous, unpredictable place, filled with deadly hazards and treasure beyond your wildest dreams. Navigate through cosmic storms, battle space vermin, and plunder alien outposts for lost caches of loot.
Outgun or Outrun: The Artifact is the most valuable object in the known universe. Be the first to find it, snatch it, and pass through the exit point, or destroy the ships of every other crew and be the last crew standing.
Playtest Times:
Start: Friday, May 9 9:00 AM PDT (17:00 BST) End: Monday May 12 5:00 PM PDT (May 13 01:00 BST)
How to Participate:
Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
Navigate to Previews > Wildgate Community Preview
Select Join
Wait for the registration to complete to secure your spot for the Community Preview!
NOTE: Wildgate Community Preview begins on May 9 at 9 AM PDT. Joining now secures your spot for the playtest. Return to the Xbox Insider Hub on May 9 and select Show in Store to begin installing the game. You’ll also receive an Xbox Insider notification when the playtest begins. NOTE: Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served. NOTE: This playtest is only available on Xbox Series X|S consoles.
