GTA VI Buzz and Subnautica 2 Release Lead June 2026 Gaming News Summary

Video GamesTuesday, May 12, 2026

50 articles analyzed by AI / 331 total

Key points

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•Pearl Abyss is accelerating development on the open-world MMO DokeV following Crimson Desert’s launch, targeting a new game release every two to three years to sustain rapid growth. Their Q1 operating revenue jumped 419.8% year-over-year to $220.6 million, driven by Crimson Desert’s March 19 debut, underscoring the studio's strong commercial momentum.[GamesRadar+][GamesIndustry.biz]
•GTA VI is positioned as a billion-dollar blockbuster with expectations to set new sales records and significantly influence the gaming industry. The high budget and hype surrounding this release underscore Rockstar Games' investment in an expansive, industry-shaping title.[IGN][IGN]
•Nintendo confirmed a Legend of Zelda Amiibo featuring Tears of the Kingdom characters, releasing on September 17 at $34.99, coinciding with anticipation for a Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time later in 2026. Additionally, Nintendo announced 'Choose Your Game' bundles for Switch 2 launching in early June at $499.99 to offset recent price hikes and attract consumers.[IGN][Siliconera][IGN][Nintendo Life][Eurogamer]
•MercurySteam, developer of Metroid Dread, announced layoffs impacting staff just two days before the latest game’s release, reflecting industry challenges despite ongoing project progress. The layoffs occurred amid a difficult situation for the studio, raising concerns about historic games' development stability.[Destructoid][Nintendo Life]
•Subnautica 2’s global release is slated for May 14, 2026, with Nightingale providing preload details to eager fans. However, gameplay footage recently leaked just days after similar leaks for Forza Horizon 6 and LEGO Batman, highlighting ongoing struggles with controlling pre-release information for high-profile games.[IGN][Destructoid][IGN][Pure Xbox][IGN]
•NBA The Run launches June 9, 2026, on Xbox Series X and Series S, reviving the NBA Street vibe for contemporary players. This release taps into the nostalgic street basketball market, offering a fresh but familiar experience in sports gaming.[Pure Xbox]
•A new investment group spearheaded by a former NetEase executive has raised $100 million to fund ambitious projects including Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic and a shooter led by Black Ops designer David Vonderhaar. This injection of capital signals strong industry confidence in major franchises and veteran developers.[PC Gamer][GamesRadar+]
•Sequel to the acclaimed Soulslike Lies of P has progressed to the vertical slice development stage under Neowiz, who is also creating another Soulslike and a narrative RPG. This confirms ongoing investment in challenging, story-driven games within the Soulslike subgenre.[Eurogamer][Polygon]
•Katsuhiro Harada, veteran Tekken director, has founded a new studio backed by SNK, marking a significant comeback following his Bandai Namco departure. This collaboration aims to combine Harada's fighting game legacy with SNK’s heritage, promising new developments in the fighting game genre.[Push Square][Eurogamer][GamesIndustry.biz]

Relevant articles

Hot off Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss wants to "accelerate development" on open-world Pokemon-like MMO DokeV as it aims to release a new game "every two to three years"

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Pearl Abyss plans to accelerate development on its open-world Pokemon-like MMO DokeV following the launch of Crimson Desert. The studio aims to release a new game every two to three years, indicating an aggressive growth strategy for upcoming titles.

GamesRadar+ · 5/12/2026, 4:55:29 PM

GTA VI: The Billion-Dollar Masterpiece That Could Crash the Industry

9/10

GTA VI is anticipated to be a billion-dollar game, with expectations of massive sales that could significantly impact the gaming industry. The game's high budget and hype position it as a potential record-breaking blockbuster.

IGN · 5/12/2026, 2:30:00 PM

Nintendo Confirms The Legend of Zelda Amiibo Due Later This Year, Featuring Tears of the Kingdom Character

9/10

Nintendo confirmed a new Legend of Zelda Amiibo featuring characters from Tears of the Kingdom, launching on September 17 for $34.99. This release coincides with speculation about a Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time expected later this year.

IGN · 5/12/2026, 9:51:32 AM

Metroid, Castlevania dev hit with layoffs just 2 days before its latest game launches

8/10

MercurySteam, the developer behind Metroid Dread, announced layoffs just two days before releasing their latest game. This sudden workforce reduction highlights challenges faced despite the upcoming launch.

Destructoid · 5/12/2026, 8:38:06 PM

Subnautica 2 Gameplay Appears to Have Leaked, Just Days After Forza Horizon 6 and LEGO Batman

8/10

Gameplay footage of Subnautica 2 leaked online shortly after similar leaks for Forza Horizon 6 and LEGO Batman. These leaks underscore escalating issues with pre-release content security for major upcoming titles.

IGN · 5/12/2026, 4:48:19 PM

'NBA The Run' Brings Its NBA Street Vibes To Xbox This June

8/10

NBA The Run, inspired by NBA Street, will launch on Xbox Series X and Series S on June 9, 2026. The game aims to capture the classic street basketball vibe for the new generation of Xbox players.

Pure Xbox · 5/12/2026, 6:57:00 PM

Subnautica 2 release countdown: Exact date and time

8/10

Unknown Worlds Entertainment announced the exact global release date of Subnautica 2, confirming fans can dive into the new underwater adventure starting May 14, 2026.

Destructoid · 5/12/2026, 6:31:11 PM

Former NetEase exec's new investment group is funding Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic because 'everyone wins' if you 'give the best creator the opportunity to work on a dream project'

8/10

A new investment group led by a former NetEase executive has raised $100 million to fund the development of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic and a shooter project from Black Ops designer David Vonderhaar, signaling major financial backing for high-profile games.

PC Gamer · 5/12/2026, 5:43:35 PM

As the Lies of P sequel enters full-scale development, developer Neowiz says it's working on another Soulslike and a narrative RPG

8/10

Neowiz revealed that the sequel to their acclaimed Soulslike game Lies of P has entered the vertical slice development phase. Additionally, the studio is working on another Soulslike title and a narrative-driven RPG.

Eurogamer · 5/12/2026, 4:33:57 PM

Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada is back, but this time at his own studio backed by old fighting game rival SNK

8/10

Veteran Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada has founded a new game studio backed by SNK, marking his return to the industry after leaving Bandai Namco. This partnership aims to leverage Harada's longstanding fighting game expertise.

Eurogamer · 5/12/2026, 3:00:01 PM