Bandai Namco has officially confirmed Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, ending months of speculation that started when the project was first teased as “Age 1000” earlier this year. The reveal headlined Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 in Los Angeles, where the publisher also dropped news on Sparking Zero, FighterZ, Xenoverse 2 and Gekishin Squadra.

The next Xenoverse is scheduled to launch in 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, almost a full decade after Xenoverse 2 hit shelves in October 2016.

What Bandai Namco Revealed About Xenoverse 3

The announcement trailer runs nearly four minutes and sets the new game in an entirely fresh corner of the Dragon Ball universe. The story jumps to Age 1000, a timeline where West City has grown into a sprawling hub that serves as the central setting for the adventure.

Players are recruited into the ranks of the Great Saiyan Squad, fighting alongside both familiar and original allies. Bulma appears in the trailer with English voice acting, and a brief shot around the 30-second mark shows what looks like Piccolo’s cape from behind, hinting at returning faces beyond the new cast.

As with previous Xenoverse titles, character creation sits at the heart of the experience. The trailer leans into this with several stand-ins for custom characters, signalling the series will keep its trademark “make your own Saiyan” hook.

Akira Toriyama’s Final Contributions Are In The Game

Despite Akira Toriyama’s passing in 2024, Xenoverse 3 features original work from the Dragon Ball creator, including never-before-seen characters and key world-building elements. His name appears prominently early in the trailer.

Development on the project reportedly began in the late 2010s, with more than half a decade invested in building out the new world. That long runway explains how Toriyama was able to contribute so heavily before his death, and it puts Xenoverse 3 in rare company as one of the last games carrying his direct creative input.

How The Reveal Played Out Before The Confirmation

The road to this announcement was bumpy. The project first surfaced publicly in January as a mysterious “Age 1000” tease, leaving fans to guess what it actually was. A chunk of the community speculated it could be a successor to Dragon Ball Online, the 2010 MMORPG that never officially launched in the West.

That theory was dented in February when Bandai Namco’s Southeast Asian YouTube channel briefly published material that effectively leaked the game as a Xenoverse sequel. Battle Hour 2026 has now closed the loop with the full trailer and a confirmed 2027 release window.

Everything Else Bandai Namco Showed At Battle Hour 2026

Xenoverse 3 was the headline, but the two-day event packed in updates across the rest of the Dragon Ball games lineup. Here is how the other reveals stack up.

Xenoverse 2 Wraps Up With Future Saga Chapter 4

Xenoverse 2 is heading toward its endgame. Future Saga Chapter 4 was officially revealed as the final DLC for the title, launching in Summer 2026. The chapter is being framed as a climactic farewell to a story that has run for nearly a decade, with the trailer ending on the line “this summer, the last patrol begins.”

Goku SS4 Daima Lands In FighterZ Next Week

Dragon Ball FighterZ gets its next Daima DLC fighter on 22 April, with Goku in his Super Saiyan 4 Daima form joining the roster.

His kit revolves around Wild Dash, a versatile move that branches into four follow-ups.

• Double Combination: a pressure strike that stays safe even when blocked
• Raging Strike: launches opponents upward and feeds into Super Dash combos
• Power Swing: a command throw that breaks guard but whiffs on crouching opponents
• Quick Move: an invincible advance designed to shut down counter attempts

Sparking Zero Adds GT Fighters And A Solo Mode

The Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC for Sparking Zero brings Vegeta (GT) and Trunks (GT) into a Budokai Tenkaichi game for the first time, alongside a new costume and Super Attack for Goku (Z – End) tied to a fan-favourite moment. The update also introduces Limit Breaker Journey, a solo mode where players grind EXP through battles and events to power up unlocked characters outside of the main story.

Gekishin Squadra Gets A Crossover And A World Championship

The free-to-play Gekishin Squadra is leaning into both fan service and competition. A crossover with Xenoverse 2 will add new hero skins and emotes, with full details still to come. The bigger news is the game’s first offline World Championship, which will fly top players from different servers to Japan to crown a World No. 1. A Half-Year Anniversary campaign with new heroes, emotes and reward events is already live.

Where Xenoverse 3 Sits In The Wider Dragon Ball Pipeline

With Xenoverse 2 officially winding down, Sparking Zero still rolling out DLC and Gekishin Squadra building a competitive scene, Xenoverse 3 inherits the mantle as Bandai Namco’s next big console-scale Dragon Ball project. The 2027 window gives the publisher room to keep monetising the existing slate through 2026 before pivoting attention to the new title.

Wishlists are open now on PlayStation, Xbox and Steam, and Bandai Namco is expected to drip more details through the back half of 2026 as the marketing cycle builds toward launch.

The post Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Confirmed for 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Playground Games has pulled back the curtain on the full Forza Horizon 6 map, and it’s a sprawling slice of Japan that stretches from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo City all the way up to the snowy peaks of the Japanese Alps.

This is Horizon Japan! From the iconic downtown streets of Tokyo City all the way to the snowy Japanese Alps, #ForzaHorizon6 introduces our most dense and vertical map yet.

Which roads are you most excited to cruise and drift with your friends? pic.twitter.com/78GmkqzsWt

— Forza Horizon (@ForzaHorizon) April 8, 2026

The map was shared on the official Forza Horizon X (formerly Twitter) account, giving players their first proper look at the terrain they’ll be tearing through when the game launches on 19 May 2026.

What The Full Map Looks Like

The revealed image shows the map in its Summer Season variant, covering a massive spread of environments. Tokyo City dominates the eastern portion as the largest urban area ever featured in a Forza Horizon game, reportedly five times bigger than Forza Horizon 5’s Guanajuato. Beyond the city, the map fans out into coastal roads, rural countryside, and mountainous terrain capped with snow in the Alps region.

Playground Games described it as their “most dense and vertical map yet,” which lines up with what we can see. The verticality is a big deal here, as Japan’s geography naturally lends itself to elevation changes, tight mountain passes, and layered city streets that previous Horizon maps haven’t really explored to this degree.

Seasonal Changes Will Reshape The Map

One detail worth paying attention to is that the map is specifically labelled “Summer Season.” This strongly suggests that the terrain, road conditions, and points of interest will shift as the seasons rotate, much like the system in Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Horizon 5. Playground Games has confirmed that seasonal changes will “truly inform the world,” affecting how spring, summer, autumn, and winter alter the tone, activity, and sound of the environment.

In practical terms, that means the Alpine roads blanketed in snow during summer could look and drive very differently come winter, and areas like Tokyo’s cherry blossom-lined streets will likely transform during the Sakura season. How exactly points of interest and available routes change with each rotation is something players will have to discover at launch.

Mount Fuji Is Visible But Not Driveable

For anyone hoping to send a Nissan Skyline up the slopes of Mount Fuji, you’re out of luck. While the iconic volcano has appeared prominently in promotional material and trailers, it has been confirmed that Mount Fuji will not be an explorable part of the map. It’ll serve as a backdrop rather than a destination, which may disappoint some fans but isn’t entirely surprising given the scale challenges involved.

Tokyo City As The Centrepiece

Tokyo City is clearly the flagship area of the map. The urban zone includes multiple distinct districts, each with their own identity, from the neon-lit downtown core featuring landmarks like Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower, through to the suburbs, docklands, and industrial zones. Art director Don Arceta has described the city as “one of our most detailed and layered environments to date,” and it’s designed to reward exploration with shortcuts, hidden routes, and varied driving experiences across different density levels.

Outside the city, the map transitions into coastal stretches, lowland countryside, and the Alpine region. The contrast between tight urban drifting and open mountain touge runs is exactly the kind of variety that Japan’s geography makes possible, and it looks like Playground Games has leaned into that hard.

Launch Details And Early Access

Forza Horizon 6 launches on 19 May 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam. Premium Edition owners get four days of early access starting 15 May. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play the Standard Edition from day one at no extra cost, with the option to purchase the Premium Upgrade for early access. A PlayStation 5 version is confirmed for later in 2026, though no specific date has been announced.

The game ships with over 550 cars, a heavy emphasis on JDM classics, and new features like Touge Battles and cooperative building through the upgraded CoLab toolset. With the map now out in the open, expect Playground Games to ramp up the reveals as we get closer to launch.

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Valve has rolled out a significant visual refresh to the Steam store homepage, and it is available right now if you opt into the Steam Client Beta. Rather than pulling an April Fools’ prank, the company quietly pushed out a redesign that genuinely improves how the storefront looks and functions, with higher resolution artwork, new discovery features, and a wider layout for modern displays.

The update follows on from the game page improvements Valve made a few months back, continuing a broader effort to modernise how players browse and discover titles on the platform. It applies to the desktop client, Steam Deck, and Big Picture mode.

What The Steam Store Refresh Actually Changes

The core goal here is cohesion. Over the years, Valve has bolted on new sections and discovery tools piecemeal, and the store homepage had started to feel a bit disjointed. This refresh pulls everything into a more consistent visual language while still letting each section do its own thing.

Overall Design Refresh

The Featured and Recommended section has seen the most notable upgrade. It now shows more detailed reasoning for why a game is being surfaced to you, alongside a user review roundup.

Hover over a game’s cover art and a micro-trailer plays automatically, giving you a quick look at the gameplay without clicking through. Valve has also added a sneak peek of adjacent games in the carousel, so you can see what is coming next without scrolling.

For anyone with motion sensitivity, the micro-trailer hovers and animated marketing assets can be switched off entirely in Store Settings.

Disabling Microtrailers

New Sections And Discovery Improvements

Two new sections have been added to the homepage. The first is a Your Wishlist section, which highlights discounted games from your personal wishlist. The second is DLC for Your Games, surfacing discounted DLC for titles already in your library. Both are practical additions that save you from having to dig through sale pages manually.

New Sections

The Discovery Queue has also been reworked. It now opens as a transparent overlay on the main page rather than pulling you into a separate view, which makes browsing through it noticeably quicker.

Updated Discovery Queue

The Discounts and Events section uses larger game artwork, and hover states across the store now display a short game description with improved contrast and legibility.

Discounts & Events

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Higher Resolution Art And A Wider Layout

One of the less flashy but genuinely appreciated changes is the move to higher resolution game art throughout the store. If you are running a higher resolution monitor, the homepage is now wider and more responsive, making better use of your display’s real estate. The difference is subtle at a glance but quite noticeable when compared side by side with the old layout, particularly on 4K screens where the previous design left a lot of empty space.

Infinite scroll has also been refreshed to bring it in line visually and functionally with the rest of the redesigned sections.

How To Try The New Steam Store Homepage

The redesign is currently in beta, so you will need to opt in through the Steam client to see it. Open your Steam settings, select the Interface tab, and under Client Beta Participation, choose Steam Beta Update from the dropdown. Steam will restart and download the beta client automatically. If you want to switch back later, follow the same steps and select No Beta instead.

Valve has not confirmed when the refresh will roll out to all users. That timeline will depend on feedback and data from the beta period, and the company is actively encouraging testers to share their thoughts through their feedback channels.

The post Steam Store Gets a Visual Refresh With Better Game Discovery and Micro Trailers appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

If you’ve ever wondered why a game costs wildly different amounts depending on where you live, Valve Corporation has finally stepped in with a fix, or at least a better system to handle it.

A new Steam update introduces improved regional pricing tools for developers, aiming to make game prices fairer across 35 currencies and multiple regions. While the changes are aimed at developers behind the scenes, they could have a noticeable impact on what players actually pay.

Steam Updates Regional Pricing Tools Across 35 Currencies

At its core, the update refreshes Steam’s pricing conversion data to better reflect current global market conditions. That might sound minor, but it addresses a long-running issue where prices in some regions didn’t align with local economies.

Steam already supports 35 currencies and 4 regional groupings, but many developers rely on its built-in tools to set prices rather than manually adjusting every region. Valve says the updated data is designed to help studios land on prices that better match local expectations.

Importantly, nothing changes automatically. Existing game prices stay exactly the same unless developers choose to update them.

Three New Ways Developers Can Set Prices

Alongside the updated data, Valve has introduced three different pricing conversion methods, giving developers more flexibility depending on how they want to approach global pricing.

Image Credit: Valve

Exchange Rate Conversion

This is the most straightforward option. It converts a USD price directly into other currencies using current exchange rates.

It’s simple and predictable, but it doesn’t account for differences in income or cost of living between countries.

Purchasing Power Conversion

This method looks at what people in a specific country can realistically afford, using public data about average purchasing power.

In practice, this can lead to lower prices in regions where incomes are lower, making games more accessible.

Multi-Variable Conversion

This is the most complex option, combining exchange rates, local purchasing power, and the cost of similar entertainment in each region.

Valve says this is closest to how its previous system worked, but now it’s more transparent and adjustable.

Developers can also mix these methods or ignore them entirely and set prices manually, depending on their strategy.

Why This Update Was Needed

The changes come after months of complaints from players in countries like Poland and Argentina, where games were sometimes priced 20 to 30 percent higher than their US equivalents after conversion.

That gap wasn’t just a rounding error, it became a consistent frustration for players who felt they were overpaying compared to other regions.

Some developers had already started fixing things themselves. Studios like Embark and Nihon Falcom manually adjusted prices across multiple regions, but that approach wasn’t scalable across thousands of games.

Valve’s update is essentially a system-level fix, giving developers better tools so they don’t have to guess or manually correct prices one by one.

What Players Should Expect Next

Even though the new tools are live now, players shouldn’t expect instant price changes.

Developers still need to actively update their pricing for the new system to take effect. That means any improvements will likely roll out gradually over the coming weeks or months as studios revisit their pricing.

There’s also a catch. If a developer increases a game’s price in any region, it triggers a 30-day cooldown before that game can go on sale again, which could delay when changes are applied.

Valve has confirmed it will also be updating prices for its own games as part of this rollout.

What This Means For Future Game Pricing

For players, this update could lead to more consistent and fair pricing globally, especially in regions that have historically paid more than expected.

For developers, it removes a lot of guesswork and replaces it with clearer data and flexible tools.

The bigger picture is that pricing on Steam is becoming more dynamic and data-driven. As market conditions change, so will the recommendations behind the scenes, which means game prices might become more fluid over time rather than staying fixed for years.

The post Steam Pricing Update Adds New Regional Tools, Could Change Game Prices Worldwide appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Crimson Desert has officially crossed a major launch milestone, with more than 2 million copies sold worldwide within just 24 hours of release. While that’s a huge commercial win for Pearl Abyss, the conversation around the game isn’t entirely celebratory, with the developers already acknowledging player feedback and committing to rapid improvements.

The open-world action title launched globally on March 19 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and quickly drew massive attention from both players and critics.

Crimson Desert Reaches 2 Million Sales In One Day

Pearl Abyss confirmed the 2 million sales figure through the game’s official social channels shortly after launch. In its statement, the studio thanked players for their support and highlighted how quickly the community has engaged with the world of Pywel.

We are incredibly humbled to share that #CrimsonDesert has sold through 2 million copies worldwide. Thank you so much to our fans, community, and everyone who has joined us in Pywel. We will listen closely to the wide range of feedback shared by the community and work to make… pic.twitter.com/AivMESKWpu

— Crimson Desert (@CrimsonDesert_) March 20, 2026

“We are incredibly humbled to share that Crimson Desert has sold through 2 million copies worldwide,” the developer said. “We will listen closely to the wide range of feedback shared by the community and work to make improvements quickly.”

This figure places Crimson Desert among the stronger day-one launches in recent years, especially for a brand new IP with a long development cycle reportedly spanning around seven years.

Strong Player Numbers On Steam But Mixed Reception

Alongside its sales success, Crimson Desert also posted impressive player activity on Steam, reaching nearly 250,000 concurrent players shortly after launch.

However, that momentum has been paired with a “mixed” user review rating on the platform. A significant portion of player feedback has focused on gameplay feel, particularly around controls, which some players describe as clunky or overly complicated.

Performance has also been a recurring concern. Reports from players highlight issues such as blurry visuals on PlayStation 5, with similar complaints appearing from PC users. Some players have even begun troubleshooting these problems collectively, trying to identify causes and workarounds.

Pearl Abyss Moves Quickly With Early Updates

Pearl Abyss has already begun responding to these concerns. Shortly after launch, the studio rolled out Update 1.00.02, which introduces a new tutorial quest tied to Abyss Gears and includes balance adjustments for early-game encounters like the Reed Devil boss.

These early changes suggest the team is prioritising onboarding improvements and smoothing out difficulty spikes, likely in response to early player feedback about the game’s systems.

The developer’s public messaging reinforces that approach, with a clear focus on acting quickly to improve the overall experience.

A Massive Project With High Stakes

Crimson Desert isn’t just another release for Pearl Abyss. Reports indicate the game took around seven years to develop, with estimated costs reaching 200 billion won, roughly NZD $220 million.

That level of investment puts significant pressure on the game’s long-term performance. Following early review scores, Pearl Abyss reportedly saw its stock price drop sharply, with further declines noted after launch.

The strong sales figure may help stabilise confidence, but much will depend on how effectively the studio addresses player concerns in the coming weeks.

What Crimson Desert Offers At Launch

Set in the fantasy continent of Pywel, Crimson Desert follows Kliff Macduff, a mercenary leader trying to reunite his fractured Greymanes faction while navigating political conflict and supernatural threats.

The game blends open-world exploration with a wide range of mechanics, including large-scale combat, traversal systems like dragon riding, and even mech-style gameplay elements. Progression is tied to learning abilities dynamically by observing other characters, adding a unique layer to character development.

All of this is powered by Pearl Abyss’s BlackSpace Engine, which has been a key part of the game’s visual identity and ambition.

Early Success, But The Real Test Comes Next

Selling 2 million copies in a day puts Crimson Desert in a strong position right out of the gate. But with mixed player feedback already shaping the conversation, the real challenge now is maintaining momentum.

Pearl Abyss has made it clear that updates and improvements are coming quickly. Whether those changes can turn early criticism into long-term support will likely define how successful Crimson Desert becomes over time.

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Nvidia has responded directly to the growing DLSS 5 backlash, with CEO Jensen Huang pushing back strongly on criticism and insisting the concerns are misplaced. Speaking during a press Q&A at GTC 2026, Huang said gamers and critics questioning the technology are “completely wrong”, while stressing that developers still control how games look, not Nvidia’s AI.

Following the announcement of DLSS 5, some gamers expressed concerns that the technology causes games to appear worse, look homogeneous, or force a specific aesthetic defined by #Nvidia.

At a Q&A Panel at #NvidiaGTC, #JensenHuang fired back. 🔥#gaming #dlss5 pic.twitter.com/Tjr60BCcmQ

— PCMag (@PCMag) March 17, 2026

The response follows widespread debate over DLSS 5’s early demos, particularly around its AI-driven visual changes and whether they compromise artistic intent.

Jensen Huang Pushes Back At DLSS 5 Criticism

During the Q&A, Huang was asked about claims that DLSS 5 creates worse or more homogenised visuals. In response, he dismissed the criticism outright.

“Well, first of all, they’re completely wrong,” Huang said when addressing concerns raised by media and players, according to reporting from Tom’s Hardware.

He explained that DLSS 5 integrates generative AI directly into core rendering elements like geometry and textures, rather than applying superficial effects. This, he argued, allows the technology to enhance visuals without overriding a game’s original design.

Huang also emphasised a key point behind Nvidia’s positioning. “We created the technology, we didn’t create the art,” he said, reinforcing that developers remain responsible for the final look of their games.

Neural Rendering Works At The Geometry Level

A major source of confusion around DLSS 5 has been comparisons to AI filters or post-processing tools.

Huang pushed back on that characterisation, explaining that DLSS 5 operates at a deeper level. “It’s not post-processing at the frame level, it’s generative control at the geometry level,” he said during the session, as reported by multiple outlets covering the event.

According to Nvidia, this approach, described as “neural rendering”, allows the system to understand 3D environments, motion, and materials, then enhance them using AI while staying grounded in the game’s original data.

Huang added that developers can fine-tune how the generative AI behaves, meaning the final result can match a specific artistic style rather than forcing a uniform look.

Backlash Focuses On Visual Changes And “Uncanny” Results

Despite Nvidia’s explanation, the early reception to DLSS 5 has been mixed to negative in some corners of the gaming community.

Criticism has largely centred on how the technology alters visuals, especially character faces. Some examples circulating online, including comparisons involving Resident Evil Requiem characters like Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy, have been cited as looking overly smooth or unnatural, according to Tom’s Hardware.

Others have compared DLSS 5’s output to AI face filters seen on social media, while some critics argue it risks making games look more homogenised or reflective of Nvidia’s own visual preferences, rather than a developer’s intent.

Hands-on impressions have echoed similar concerns, with some noting that the current implementation can feel excessive, producing hyper-realistic results that fall into the “uncanny valley”.

Community Reactions Range From Skepticism To Support

Beyond media coverage, community reactions have been equally divided, with strong opinions emerging across forums and comment sections.

Some players have questioned Huang’s dismissal of criticism, arguing that visual preference is subjective and cannot simply be labelled as “wrong”. One commenter wrote that “no one is completely wrong or even slightly wrong at all… everyone is entitled to their view and opinion” .

Others pushed back on Nvidia’s messaging more directly, with some interpreting the response as dismissive or out of touch. Comments described the stance as “arrogant” or criticised the company for telling players how they should feel about what they are seeing .

There are also concerns around how DLSS 5 was presented. Some users argue that the early demos gave the impression of “generic gen AI” visuals, suggesting Nvidia failed to communicate the technology clearly or showcase its full potential .

At the same time, not all reactions have been negative. Some community members have urged patience, pointing out that the technology is still in an experimental stage and could improve significantly before release .

Others see long-term potential, comparing DLSS 5’s current reception to earlier versions of DLSS or even ray tracing, both of which faced criticism before becoming more widely accepted.

Nvidia Says The Current Version Is Still An Early Preview

Part of Nvidia’s defence rests on the current state of the technology.

The company has confirmed that DLSS 5 shown at GTC is an early preview, with the model still being optimised ahead of its planned release in late 2026, according to its own FAQ cited by PCMag.

That means the visuals drawing criticism now may not reflect the final implementation seen in shipped games.

Huang also pointed to Nvidia’s past experience with ray tracing, noting that it faced heavy scepticism when first introduced with RTX 20-series GPUs in 2018 before becoming widely adopted.

“Everybody said ray tracing was FUBAR,” Huang recalled, arguing that the technology eventually proved its value as it matured.

Developers Retain Full Creative Control

A central theme in Nvidia’s response is that DLSS 5 does not dictate how games should look.

Huang repeatedly stressed that developers have direct control over how the technology is used. He suggested studios can experiment freely, whether aiming for photorealism or more stylised visuals, with the AI acting as a tool rather than a decision-maker.

He also described DLSS 5 as “content-control generative AI”, highlighting that it is conditioned by the original game data rather than generating visuals independently.

DLSS 5 Debate Likely To Continue Until Release

With DLSS 5 still months away from release, the conversation around it is far from settled.

Nvidia is positioning neural rendering as a major step forward in graphics technology, potentially on par with the introduction of ray tracing. However, early reactions show clear concern about how far AI should influence the artistic side of game development.

As more demos and final implementations appear closer to launch, the industry will get a clearer picture of whether DLSS 5 enhances games in a meaningful way or reinforces the concerns currently driving the backlash.

The post Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Responds ‘They Are Wrong’ To DLSS 5 AI Slop Backlash appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NVIDIA DLSS 5 was meant to be a breakthrough moment for game graphics, but instead, it’s quickly turning into one of the most divisive tech reveals in recent memory. While NVIDIA is pitching it as a leap toward photorealism, a growing number of developers and players are saying the opposite, arguing the visuals look artificial, uncanny, and in some cases, outright worse than the original games.

NVIDIA Promises A New Era Of Photorealism

Announced at GTC 2026, DLSS 5 introduces what NVIDIA calls a real-time neural rendering model. Instead of just upscaling resolution or generating extra frames like previous versions, this new system actively alters the image by adding AI-generated lighting, materials, and detail.

According to NVIDIA, DLSS 5 analyses a frame’s colour and motion vectors, then reconstructs it with “photoreal” lighting and materials while staying anchored to the original 3D scene.

CEO Jensen Huang described it as “the GPT moment for graphics”, positioning it as a fundamental shift in how games are rendered.

The company also emphasised that developers retain control, with tools for intensity, colour grading, and masking to preserve each game’s artistic style. DLSS 5 is set to launch in late 2026 and is already planned for major titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Starfield, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Hogwarts Legacy.

The Problem Players Are Seeing In DLSS 5

Despite the ambitious pitch, early footage has sparked immediate backlash. Instead of enhancing realism, many viewers say DLSS 5 makes characters look like they’ve been run through a generic AI filter.

In side-by-side comparisons shown by NVIDIA, character faces appear noticeably altered.

Features such as skin tone, facial structure, and even expressions shift in ways that weren’t present in the original game assets. Some viewers compared the effect to social media beauty filters, with exaggerated smoothness, sharper features, and a slightly “off” look that sits firmly in the uncanny valley.

One widely shared comparison contrasts Death Stranding 2’s original character model with a DLSS 5-enhanced version, highlighting just how dramatically faces can change.

Death Stranding 2 Nvidia DLSS 5 pic.twitter.com/6r4m3wEMDI

— TheGameVerse (@TheGameVerse) March 17, 2026

Just look at how good Death Stranding 2 already looks. It doesn’t need this. DLSS 5 comes in and straight up butchers the character, replacing it with something that looks like generic AI output.

Others pointed out inconsistencies like unnatural eye movement and overly processed textures, which resemble the wave of low-quality generative AI images often referred to online as “AI slop”.

This looks horrifically bad, nobody wants an AI slop filter on top of their games

— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) March 16, 2026

This has led to a core criticism that DLSS 5 isn’t just enhancing visuals, it’s effectively replacing them with an AI interpretation.

Developers Are Publicly Pushing Back

The criticism isn’t just coming from players. Several developers and industry figures have openly voiced concerns about what DLSS 5 represents.

Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, didn’t hold back, calling the tech “AI dogshit” and warning that future generations might grow up thinking this kind of output looks normal. He also urged the industry to “push back harder” against it.

Arman Nouri, a senior environment artist at Epic Games, echoed similar concerns, saying it was depressing to think AI-generated visuals could become the standard for younger players.

Agree with this so much, watching my daughter grow up where AI slop is the norm and her not knowing quality of quantity really bums me out. Makes me appreciate my childhood a lot more.

— Arman Nouri (@armanguy) March 17, 2026

Michael Douse, publishing director at Larian Studios, took a more sarcastic approach, joking that Resident Evil Requiem felt “unplayable” without DLSS 5’s promised photoreal enhancements, clearly poking fun at NVIDIA’s marketing claims.

Playing some Resident Evil Requiem this morning. The game is great but I just wish it infused pixels with photoreal lighting and materials, bridging the gap between rendering and reality alas unplayable for now

— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) March 17, 2026

Even lighter reactions, like memes and jokes from across the industry, highlight the same underlying issue, that something about DLSS 5’s output just doesn’t look right.

Art Direction Versus AI Interpretation

One of the biggest sticking points is how DLSS 5 interacts with a game’s original art direction.

Modern AAA games already spend years refining character models, lighting, and materials to achieve a specific visual identity. Critics argue that layering generative AI on top risks flattening that identity into something more generic.

In examples like Resident Evil Requiem, characters reportedly end up looking like entirely different people once DLSS 5 is applied. That raises questions about whether the technology respects artistic intent, or overrides it.

NVIDIA maintains that developers can fine-tune the effect, but early reactions suggest that even with control options, the underlying AI transformation may still introduce unwanted changes.

DLSS 5 Still Has Industry Support Despite The Backlash

It’s worth noting that not everyone is against DLSS 5. Major studios including Bethesda, CAPCOM, Ubisoft, and others are already onboard, with plans to integrate the technology into upcoming releases.

From a technical perspective, the idea of bridging the gap between real-time rendering and film-quality visuals is something the industry has been chasing for decades. DLSS 5 attempts to solve that problem not through raw hardware power, but through AI reconstruction.

There’s also a practical angle. Real-time rendering budgets are extremely limited compared to film production, where a single frame can take hours to render. DLSS 5 aims to simulate that level of detail instantly, which, in theory, could unlock new possibilities for game visuals.

The Bigger Question Around AI In Game Graphics

The strong reaction to DLSS 5 highlights a broader tension in gaming right now. AI tools are becoming more powerful, but not everyone agrees they should be used to reinterpret finished artwork.

For some players and developers, the appeal of games comes from handcrafted detail and intentional design choices. If AI starts modifying those elements in real time, even slightly, it raises concerns about authenticity and consistency.

At the same time, NVIDIA is unlikely to back away from this direction. DLSS has already become a standard feature across hundreds of games, and DLSS 5 represents the next step in that evolution, whether players like it or not.

The real test will come when DLSS 5 launches later this year and players can experience it firsthand. Right now, based on early footage and reactions, the technology might be aiming for realism, but for many, it’s landing somewhere much stranger.

The post NVIDIA DLSS 5 AI Slop Backlash Grows As Gamers Slam New Visuals appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Pearl Abyss has released the official launch trailer for Crimson Desert, giving players one last look at the open-world RPG before its global release later this week.

The new trailer showcases the scale of the game’s war-torn world, Pywel, while teasing story elements, combat encounters, and several traversal systems players will be able to use once the game launches on 19 March 2026. The footage also arrives as anticipation builds around the title, which has already surpassed three million wishlists across major gaming platforms.

Launch Trailer Shows Off Pywel And Its Massive Battles

The launch trailer offers a quick tour through the continent of Pywel, the setting for Crimson Desert’s story. Players step into the role of Kliff, the leader of the Greymanes mercenaries, who becomes separated from his unit after an ambush by the rival Black Bears faction.

According to details highlighted in the trailer, this conflict forms part of the game’s central narrative, with Kliff trying to reunite with his allies while preventing a looming catastrophe threatening the continent.

Much of the footage focuses on large-scale combat encounters.

The trailer features battles against towering bosses, including a lightning-charged mechanical construct and a creature known as White Horn.

These encounters emphasise the game’s fast-paced combat system, combining swordplay, environmental interactions, and character-specific fighting styles.

Traversal Systems Include Dragons, Trains, And Jetpacks

Beyond combat, the trailer highlights the variety of movement and exploration mechanics players will have access to across the open world.

Characters can explore Pywel on foot or while mounted, including riding and commanding wyverns during aerial combat sequences.

The footage also reveals a mix of traversal tools, such as using a gravity-based device to grapple onto moving trains, as well as jetpack-assisted flight through the skies.

Exploration isn’t limited to combat scenarios either. Players can also take part in activities like rock climbing, gliding across landscapes, fishing, and cooking while travelling through the game’s expansive environment.

Release Date, Platforms, And Pre-Load Details

Crimson Desert launches globally on 19 March 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store. The game is also scheduled to release on Apple Mac.

Pearl Abyss has confirmed that players will be able to begin pre-downloading the game starting 17 March at 23:00 CET via major digital storefronts. The developer has also shared global launch times, with the game unlocking simultaneously worldwide.

For players in New Zealand, Crimson Desert becomes available at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, 20 March due to time zone differences.

PC And Console Performance Features Confirmed

Alongside the trailer, Pearl Abyss shared additional technical details about the game’s performance options across different platforms.

On PC, Crimson Desert will support multiple upscaling technologies, including DLSS 4.0 and FSR 4.0, both featuring ray reconstruction and regeneration tools designed to improve visual performance.

Console versions on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will use FSR 3, while the PlayStation 5 Pro version will also support Sony’s PSSR upscaling technology. Mac users will have access to MetalFX upscaling, along with frame generation and denoiser integration.

Pearl Abyss also confirmed that players will need an internet connection during the initial setup to install a mandatory day-one patch. After that process is complete, the game can be played entirely offline, although the developer recommends staying connected to receive future performance updates.

Denuvo DRM Quietly Added Ahead Of Launch

Shortly before the trailer debuted, players noticed that the game’s Steam page had been updated to confirm the use of Denuvo DRM.

The anti-piracy software was reportedly added to the Steam listing on 12 March, according to the game’s SteamDB history. The decision has sparked mixed reactions within the PC gaming community, with some players expressing concerns that the software can negatively affect system performance.

Others have raised privacy concerns about Denuvo’s kernel-level access. Similar debates have surrounded the software in previous high-profile releases, with some studios later choosing to remove it after launch.

Despite the controversy, Crimson Desert remains one of the most anticipated RPG releases of the year. With millions of wishlists and a large global audience waiting for launch day, the coming weeks will reveal whether the excitement around the game outweighs the ongoing DRM debate.

The post Crimson Desert Launch Trailer Shows New Gameplay Ahead Of March 19 Release appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 is rolling out alongside Resident Evil Requiem, and if you are playing on PC with an RTX card, this is one of the biggest visual and performance upgrades of 2026 so far. The new survival horror entry launches with DLSS 4 support, path tracing, and Multi Frame Generation, while other major titles like Crimson Desert and John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando are also jumping on board.

Here is what DLSS 4.5 actually brings to Resident Evil Requiem, how it benefits older RTX cards, and where the full 6x frame generation fits in.

Resident Evil Requiem On PC Gets Path Tracing And DLSS 4

The game follows Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy as they investigate a series of strange deaths connected to the 1998 Raccoon City incident. On GeForce RTX systems, players can enable full path-traced lighting, which dramatically improves how light and shadow behave in dark corridors, neon-lit streets, and reflective interiors.

Path tracing renders multiple shadows from different light sources and simulates complex reflections and refractions, particularly noticeable through glass and wet surfaces. In a horror game where atmosphere depends on subtle lighting shifts, this makes a real difference to immersion.

DLSS Ray Reconstruction further enhances these effects by cleaning up noise from ray-traced scenes, resulting in sharper, more stable visuals.

DLSS 4.5 And Multi Frame Generation Explained

The biggest headline feature is Multi Frame Generation that can multiply frame rates by up to six times. However, the full 6x mode is exclusive to the GeForce RTX 50 Series at launch.

RTX 20, 30, and 40 series cards still receive the improved DLSS Super Resolution and image stability upgrades, meaning older RTX owners are not left behind. GTX cards remain unsupported, as DLSS relies on dedicated AI tensor cores.

The advantage here is twofold. Players can push higher resolutions like 4K while maintaining strong frame rates, and those using ultra-high refresh rate monitors above 240Hz can better saturate their display’s refresh potential without sacrificing responsiveness.

Crimson Desert Launches With DLSS 4 Support

The post Resident Evil Requiem Launches With NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, Up To 6x Frame Generation Also Coming To Crimson Desert And Toxic Commando appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

With Resident Evil Requiem just days away from release, Capcom has issued a direct message to fans asking them not to share pre-release leaks or spoilers, as footage from early physical copies begins circulating online.

A message to the Resident Evil community pic.twitter.com/kACITMlHqj

— Resident Evil (@RE_Games) February 20, 2026

The publisher posted a statement across the official Resident Evil social channels, addressing what it describes as an effort to protect players’ day-one experience. The message comes after gameplay and story details, including late-game content, started appearing online ahead of the game’s February 27 launch.

Capcom Asks Fans Not To Share Resident Evil Requiem Leaks

In its statement, Capcom wrote:

“Please don’t post or share pre-release leaks and spoilers for Resident Evil Requiem.

We really want everyone to enjoy the game’s story and experience as much as possible. Our legal department will continue to issue takedowns and deletion notices for leaks in order to preserve your day-one experience.

It’s not long now until the game is out, so we look forward to seeing all your reactions after release!”

The message was signed off simply as “Your Capcom team.”

According to reporting from GameSpot, physical copies of Resident Evil Requiem were obtained early by some members of the public this week. As a result, gameplay footage, story beats, and even details surrounding the finale have begun spreading across platforms like Reddit and YouTube.

Footage And Story Spoilers Already Circulating

While leaks are nothing new for major releases, this situation appears to have escalated quickly. Capcom’s initial takedown efforts felt like trying to patch a major leak with tape, as new clips continued to surface.

GameSpot reported that story details and the ending are now appearing in comments sections and video platforms, prompting advice for fans to mute key terms or avoid social media entirely if they want to remain spoiler-free.

This is not the first time Resident Evil Requiem has experienced leaks. Following its announcement last year, there were earlier slip-ups, including the accidental reveal of Leon Kennedy as a returning playable character before it was officially confirmed. However, full gameplay footage and late-game spoilers present a much bigger problem so close to launch.

Launch Date And Platforms Confirmed

Resident Evil Requiem launches on 27 February for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X and Series S.

The ninth mainline entry in the long-running survival horror series arrives during Resident Evil’s 30th anniversary year, marking the first new mainline game since 2021’s Resident Evil Village.

Hands-on previews earlier this year have been positive and described the game as blending classic Resident Evil elements with new surprises, with varying modes of play and shifting pacing. That makes the current wave of leaks particularly frustrating for fans eager to experience those moments first-hand.

With just a week to go, Capcom’s message is clear. The studio is actively issuing takedowns, but it is also asking the community to help preserve the experience for everyone else. At this point, staying spoiler-free may require some digital self-discipline until release day arrives.

The post Resident Evil Requiem Leaks Spark Official Plea From Capcom Ahead Of Launch appeared first on Shane the Gamer.