Video Game Highlights April 2026: Pragmata Shines, Xbox Game Pass Drops Prices, Splatoon Raiders Launch Date

Key points

• •Capcom's new IP Pragmata launched to positive critical reception, with notable praise from Yoko Taro and a recent upgrade adding PS5 Pro support through PSSR2, improving performance. The game continues Capcom’s strong 2026 slate alongside Resident Evil Requiem and Monster Hunter Stories 3, signaling confidence in their new franchises.[Dualshockers]
• •11 Bit Studios is reviving This War of Mine with a full remake 12 years after the original release, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of its anti-war themes. Alongside the remake, the developer is working on a new Frostpunk title and two other unannounced projects, highlighting their continued presence in narrative-driven strategy gaming.[PC Gamer]
• •Blizzard announced indefinite ongoing updates for Diablo 4 due to persistent player discoveries over thousands of hours, coinciding with the well-received Lord of Hatred expansion. This showcases Blizzard’s commitment to long-term live service support for their blockbuster RPG.[GamesRadar+]
• •Microsoft changed Xbox Game Pass strategy by removing new Call of Duty titles from launch day inclusion, following the worst sales in recent series history for Black Ops 7. To balance this, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass received significant price cuts—from $29.99 to $22.99 and from $16.49 to $13.99 monthly respectively—aiming to retain and grow subscribers.[GameSpot][IGN]
• •Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s Season 3 Reloaded introduced 'Totenreich,' a new Norwegian Zombies map featuring a massive boss fight, expanding the multiplayer content and maintaining community engagement with fresh experiences set to release soon.[GameSpot]
• •NCSoft confirmed that Aion 2 will launch globally on Steam and Purple in 2026, expanding from its initial Korean and Taiwanese release. The sequel features localized servers and multiple translations, targeting a broad international MMORPG audience.[PCGamesN]
• •Nintendo officially announced Splatoon Raiders for Switch 2, scheduled for release on July 23, 2026, alongside new Deep Cut amiibo and accompanying marketing materials like box art and pricing. The game supports multiplayer modes and is a key launch title for Nintendo's next-gen console.[Nintendo Life]
• •Sony reversed a recent PS5 Digital Edition price increase, dropping the price from $600 back down to $399 just two weeks after the hike. This decisive rollback reflects competitive pressures and consumer sensitivity in the next-gen console market.[GamesRadar+]
• •Bethesda’s Starfield continues to perform strongly, topping US sales charts again following its PlayStation 5 release, which suggests sustained interest and robust sales momentum months after its initial launch.[Eurogamer]

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