We talk a bit about a renowned Japanese video game developer and a few new game releases & TV show adaptations in this week’s gaming newsletter.

The Big Picture

Suppose you want a picture of a successful game developer auteur who has lived through almost all of the games industry’s highs and lows. In that case, you only need to look at Hideo Kojima and his illustrious contributions. 

Since 1986, the developer has made games for Konami for a very long while, starting out with the MSX’s Penguin Adventure to the Metal Gear series he is renowned for until the end of time. Throughout the game industry’s ever-changing market demands, his stealth titles and the cinematic-styled presentations they adhere to has captivated and inspired many critics, audiences, and even other game creators. After all, the man loves his movies to death ever since he played around with his friend’s Super 8 camera during his childhood.

While a few of his titles have made some compromises, he and his team’s vision of the game is usually untouched and is all the more memorable (or infamous) for it. Even after his not-so-gracious exit from Konami in 2015, he still found a way to get his vision across in the form of his last game, Death Stranding. 

There is never any middle ground when it comes to experiencing a Hideo Kojima-directed title. You will either love it or hate it, but you will never be bored by it. Few people and developers have reached the level and clout he has, and even fewer deserve all the success and consequences that come with it.

And the crazy part? He only became a successful video games developer only because he wanted to be in the film production business. It goes to show that with perseverance and finding the right business partners & associates, you can somehow end up fistbumping Hollywood luminaries and get them to cameo in your latest game.

Short Beats

Humble Games made a bunch of new game announcements. New indie titles include Monaco 2, Town of Zoz, Wild Blue, and Billie Bust Up.

Activision Blizzard’s annual gaming event BlizzCon is resuming in 2026, effectively skipping this year. 

EA and Hazelight Studio’s co-op game Split Fiction breaks sales milestone in just a couple of days since launch. 

Konami has shared new information about Silent Hill F. The upcoming horror game will be out for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5; no release window has been announced though. 

Kojima Production’s Death Stranding 2 has a release date: the sequel is coming out on 26 June. 

The HBO TV show adaptation of The Last Of Us will resume its second season this 13 April. The show stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, with actors Kaitlyn Dever and Isabella Merced coming on board the new season. 

Focus Entertainment has announced Warhammer 40K Space Marine III, with development on the title officially starting  this month. 

Mountaintop Studios, the makers of first-person shooter Spectre Divide, has closed down. The game will also be shut down.

Op-Eds

We wrote a feature on the most-anticipated games that were cancelled, in lieu of Monolith Productions and its Wonder Woman game shut down and cancelled.

Games Out This Week

Beyond The Ice Palace 2 is a 2D action sidescroller platformer that plays like a Castlevania game, right down to its movement and controls. As an undead king, you reclaim your throne by venturing to the titular Ice Palace and defeating all monsters, undead, and demons as well as giant bosses in retro fashion. The game is out for PC and Nintendo Switch.

Wanderstop is a cozy adventure game made by Davey Wreden, the maker behind creative titles such as The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide. You play a fallen warrior who trades her life of fighting with one that involves tea shops. 

WWE 2K25 is the next wrestling game entry from 2K Games and Visual Concepts. The new wrestling game features over 300 characters to play as, and modes such as Showcase, Universe, GM (General Manager), and The Island. The game is out now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. 

Recommended Viewing

Squaresoft/Square Enix Japanese role-playing game title Chrono Trigger is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week, so here’s a well-made retrospective of the classic title.

Core-A Gaming has published a video about how esports players should deal with salt in a fighting game. No, not literal salt, but the frustration you feel when losing games. This applies to all competitive games in the esport circuit, really.

Thailand game developer Bit Egg has shared a recent video about the joys of making indie games in Thailand, via a Play Nation 2025 presentation. 

"Why Thailand is the Best Place to be an Indie Developer"

Richmond Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Bit Egg shared his vision on why Thailand is among the best place to develop games at Play Nation 2025!#PlayNation #GameDev #Thailand pic.twitter.com/YiAGziKNSC

— Lost & Found Co.? WISHLIST ON STEAM!? (@_LostAndFoundCo) March 13, 2025