As with the previous week, this current roundup covers a mix of great and not-so-great developments. Starting off with a cause for celebration: Subnautica 2 is set to enter Early Access in May 2026! It would be an understatement to say that the past 8 months have left Subnautica fans feeling all shades of complicated about the events surrounding the sequel’s development, but it’s safe to say all that’s left to do is to continue to wait patiently for the release. But for Warharmmer 40K: Darktide fans, the wait is over, because the game’s biggest update, Beyond the Hive, is now live.
And like Subnautica 2 and Darktide, another game that’s entering a new phase of its lifespan is MindsEye, whose developer has gone on to become its sole publisher. On the other end is My Hero Ultima, which will soon shut down its servers on May 17 after a respectable run of over 4 years. And for those looking for their next purchase, we’ve got recommendations for the 2026 Square Enix and PLAYISM Publisher Sales. Take a look at the rest of the roundup for a deeper dive into this week’s events.
Gaming News At A Glance
Subnautica 2 Surfaces From Delays and Heads for Early Access
MindsEye Studio Build a Rocket Boy Goes Solo
My Hero Ultra Impact Has Reached EoS After Going Plus Ultra for Almost 5 Years
Beyond the Hive Is Warhammer 40K: Darktide’s Biggest Update Since Launch
Our Recommendations for the 2026 Square Enix and PLAYISM Publisher Sales
Other News and Developments This Week
Review Roundup: March 15 to March 21
Myths, Legends, and...Hell
⚫︎ Crimson Moon
⚫︎ The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
⚫︎ Etrange Overlord
Saviors in Different Flavors
⚫︎ The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
⚫︎ Star Savior
Gaming News At A Glance: Subnautica 2 Early Access, My Hero Ultima Impact EoS, Square Enix and PLAYISM Publisher Sales
Subnautica 2 Surfaces From Delays and Heads for Early Access
After a wave of controversy that swelled following the removal of the directors and co-founders of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, publisher Krafton Inc. announced that Subnautica 2 will finally enter Early Access in May 2026. The release target was specified soon after a court order demanded the reinstatement of former CEO Ted Gill at the helm of the project.
Despite the latest ruling, the legal conflict that began in July 2025 will persist due to Krafton Inc.’s decision to explore other legal options. However, they also declared that they wish to "minimize disruption to the team and to the release plan." This signals a continued commitment to the Early Access release and beyond.
Mindseye Studio Build a Rocket Boy Goes Solo
MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy has cut ties with its publisher, IOI Partners, a division under IO Interactive, publisher of the acclaimed stealth franchise, Hitman. The agreement was reached seemingly after brewing suspicion and discontent stemming from Build a Rocket Boy. In the preceding weeks, CEO Mark Gerhard had decried that "corporate sabotage" was to blame for the tumultuous release and performance of MindsEye.
The separation has likewise dealt a lethal blow to the Hitman and Mindseye crossover that was announced in the previous year. However, it has been confirmed that Build a Rocket Boy will go on with "sole publishing responsibilities moving forward.".
My Hero Ultra Impact Has Reached EoS After Going Plus Ultra for Almost 5 Years
Another game adapted from the mega-popular shounen series My Hero Academia will be closing down its servers on May 17 at 10:59 PM ET / 7:59 PM PT / May 18 at 11:59 AM JST. The announcement was made on the official My Hero Ultra Impact (MHUI) Twitter (X) account, which thanked players for their enthusiasm and support for the game. To prepare players for the shutdown, the developers have launched a final update where players can experience limited-time events they missed. In addition, they are giving out 10 free pulls daily to all players.
The overall reception to the news was bittersweet, with some fans claiming that the writing was on the wall for MHUI’s, while others praised the game for lasting as long as it did. Microtransactions are no longer available to MHUI players, but they are highly encouraged to use up their remaining items, Hero Gems, and free pulls.
Beyond the Hive Is Warhammer 40K: Darktide’s Biggest Update Since Launch
Warhammer 40K: Darktide launched the Beyond the Hive update on March 17. Unlike Darktide’s usual mechanics, this update adds in an entirely new extraction shooter game mode. Players are thrown into the deserts of Atoma Prime, the capital of the Moebian Domain, where they have to hunt for and extract as many Tech-Remnants as possible within a given time limit. Though this game mode doesn’t include PvP, players will be rewarded with map expansions and missions with each successful run.
Our Recommendations for the 2026 Square Enix and PLAYISM Publisher Sales
For players who want to dip their toes into a new game but aren’t quite sure which title to spend their hard-earned money on, we at Game8 have compiled a list of our top recommendations for the Square Enix and PLAYISM Publisher Sales. For Square Enix, we recommended titles or remakes from beloved franchises such as BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles, DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake, and Octopath Traveler 0.
As for the PLAYISM sale, we recommended a 3D action title Homura Hime and Dyping Escape, a unique psychological horror typing game.
Other News and Developments This Week
⚫︎ Marathon Cryo Archive Map Teased as [REDACTED] on Selection Screen
⚫︎ Silent Hill and Slitterhead Creator Hiring Devs for New Large-Scale Project
⚫︎ ARC Raiders Re-records AI Voice Lines With Human Actors
⚫︎ Pokémon GO Spotlights Tinkatink Event for April 11 Community Day Celebration
⚫︎ Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Adds Red, Majima, and Arle in Free Update
⚫︎ Marathon Adds Limited-Time Duos Mode, Promises Tweaks for Overtuned Gunshot Audio
⚫︎ Elder Scrolls 6 Director Wants Fans to Pretend It Doesn’t Exist
⚫︎ The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 Teams Ramp Up Development as CDPR Nears 500 Devs
⚫︎ Deltarune Chapter 5 Enters Testing Period in April, Devs Move on to Next Chapter
Review Roundup: Mar 15th to 21st
Myths, Legends, and...Hell
This week’s review roundup has a clear medieval fantasy flair to it—perfect for players who enjoy wielding steel and immersing themselves in myths and legends. For those looking for a traditional gothic RPG experience, they need not look any further than Crimson Desert. The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince brings its audience a nostalgic hand-drawn storybook aesthetic with puzzle platformer gameplay. For something that may be a little cringe at first but hides a gem underneath all that, isometric shooter Etrange Overlord might just be your cup of tea.
Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert on is an ambitious, sprawling first-person open-world adventure by the creators of Black Desert Online. It takes place in medieval times and in a fictional continent called Pywel, where players take on the role of a Greymane warrior named Kliff, whose noble ambitions of rebuilding the Greymanes brings him to the throes of an unstable world.
The stories of Kliff and the people of Pywel aren’t told seamlessly, which may at times confuse its players. But the heart of Crimson Desert lies in its worldbuilding, presentation, attention to detail, and the payoff players get from hours spent progressing in the game.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a storybook-inspired action-adventure puzzle platformer that tells the story of a young prince blinded by a lonely wolf who gains the ability to transform into a princess. Originally intended for the PS Vita in 2018, the game has since been released for mobile devices, Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Even at first glance, the art style is undeniably distinctive and memorable, and that remains true for the rest of the game. It also goes beyond a promising premise to deliver a tale that can tug at players’ heartstrings. However, the gameplay doesn’t quite bring things home. With puzzles that lack depth, levels that are near indistinguishable from one another, and floaty physics, players may note that the game needed a bit more polish.
Etrange Overlord
Isometric shooter title Etrange Overlord follows the eponymous Etrange, a young woman who is living her second life in Hell after being sentenced to death. Now, she aspires to overthrow the tyrannical Overlord of Hell...in the most colorful and fun way possible.
A good sprinkling of humor signature to the developers (Nippon Ichi) and audiovisuals, plus a memorable narrative make Etrange Overlord another shooter gem to try out. Although it's bogged down by rather strange camerawork and a rather cringe beginning, it proves itself to be more than its first impressions.
Saviors in Different Flavors
Whether it's visiting the land of Britannia or the planet of Lavistar, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin and Star Savior, based on first impressions, are shaping up to have potential. In the field of action RPGs or turn-based gacha RPGs, these two games might just be next on your bucket list.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
Nearly five years after the anime ended, The Seven Deadly Sins returns with an open-world action-adventure game that follows the son of Meliodas and Elizabeth Liones, Tristan Liones, before he became one of the Four Knights of the Apocalypse. Players will return to Britannia to experience the story of a young boy, an ancient artifact, and a kingdom on the brink of destruction.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin’s boldly steps into the world of open-world gacha games with a loyal fanbase, a world ripe for exploration, and engaging, fast-paced combat. Based on our first impressions of the game, TSDS:O isn’t yet able to escape the looming shadow of juggernauts like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves, but it is nonetheless a well-made gift for fans of the IP.
Star Savior
Star Savior is a turn-based mobile gacha RPG where players take on the role of a Captain, who guides special individuals called Saviors who are tasked to protect the planet of Lavistar from the hostile entities that are the Voidborns. As the Captain, these Saviors are trained and made bonds with to further hone their skills, for the good of the world.
Our first impressions for the game have been quite good, with its engaging and entertaining gameplay loop, and deeper story. Progression options are a dime a dozen, allowing for more opportunities to create different types of strategies. Fun little tidbit also is that players who have played the developers' previous game, Counter:Side, will find themselves right at home within Star Savior.
