#multiplayer-balance

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Games
fromKotaku
13 hours ago

Cyberpunk, League Of Legends Games Suggest TCGs Are Having A Moment

PAX East 2026 featured a shift from video games to trading card games, particularly a TCG based on Cyberpunk 2077.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 day ago

Only Cowards Complain About The Knife Being OP In Marathon

The knife is considered overpowered in combat, prompting developers to consider adjustments in upcoming patches.
#nhl
fromRMNB
1 week ago
Washington Capitals

Cole Hutson on his newfound Fortnite battles with Ryan Leonard: 'He's the bait guy, and I kill everyone'

Cole Hutson's NHL contract signing reunited him with Ryan Leonard, enhancing their bond and easing Hutson's transition into the league.
Washington Capitals
fromRMNB
1 week ago

Cole Hutson on his newfound Fortnite battles with Ryan Leonard: 'He's the bait guy, and I kill everyone'

Cole Hutson's NHL contract signing reunited him with Ryan Leonard, enhancing their bond and easing Hutson's transition into the league.
Gadgets
fromWIRED
6 years ago

The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player

A good controller significantly enhances gaming experience, with various options available for different platforms and features.
Data science
fromMedium
1 day ago

Context matters... A lot

Large language models excel at tasks but struggle with context, leading to potentially misleading answers despite their capabilities.
fromEngadget
1 day ago

Look Outside's April 1 update that let you kiss enemies is now a permanent 'smooch mode'

"If you started a game on April 1st and kissed the wounded neighbor, that save file is now permanently in smooch mode!" Coulombe posted on social media.
NYC LGBT
fromBoard Game Quest
1 day ago

Propolis Review

Propolis is a worker-placement, engine-building, area-control, tableau-building game where players take actions like placing and fortifying Worker Beeples to gather resources.
Board games
NYC startup
fromInfoQ
2 days ago

Directing a Swarm of Agents for Fun and Profit

Netflix pioneered enterprise cloud usage, transitioning from credit card instances to formal AWS licensing.
DC food
fromGameSpot
3 days ago

All CoD: Black Ops 7 And Warzone Season 3 Weapons And How To Unlock Them

Season 3 of Black Ops 7 and Warzone introduces six new free DLC weapons and additional content on April 2.
Bootstrapping
fromEntrepreneur
3 days ago

I Stopped Fixing Problems and Built a Team That Solves Them Using a Three-Question Rule

Shifting from solving to questioning fosters team ownership and accelerates growth.
UX design
fromMedium
3 days ago

Designers finally have a say in the product they design.

AI empowers designers by restoring their decision-making authority in the design process.
Careers
fromEntrepreneur
4 days ago

Your Team Doesn't Need a 'Work Family' - It Needs This System That Holds Up When It Counts

Teams struggle with clarity, not effort; accountability erodes when support blurs lines between family and business.
fromBleacher Nation
4 days ago

Can I Add Multiple Picks from the Same Game to My DFS Entry? - Bleacher Nation

Stacking refers to the practice of loading your lineup with multiple players from the same game or the same team. It is a widely used strategy, and most major DFS platforms allow it.
Chicago Cubs
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Football Manager gamer helps team win in real life

Kendrick suggested a formation change to 4-4-2, inspired by his online team and football manager Sean Dyche, leading to a 3-2 victory for KPR.
Liverpool FC
Education
fromFast Company
5 days ago

The anti-boredom tech tool kit for meetings and classes

Engaging participants in meetings or teaching can be challenging, but tools like Padlet can enhance collaboration and participation.
fromwww.bbc.com
9 hours ago

Power-washing, pool-cleaning and mowing: Why millions are playing games about mundane jobs

"We want to make the Graham Norton of video games," says Kirsty Rigden, the chief executive of Brighton-based FuturLab, which makes PowerWash Simulator. Aspiring to emulate a talkshow host who has a reputation for being affable rather than for setting pulses racing is perhaps an unusual ambition for a gaming studio.
Games
Video games
fromKotaku
15 hours ago

Peak Devs Call Out Entitled Gamers Who Want Endless Free Updates

Endless support for games is not guaranteed; updates are considered a bonus, not a right.
Artificial intelligence
fromFortune
6 days ago

The rise of 'social offloading' - when AI replaces your boss's empathy` | Fortune

Relying on AI for interpersonal communication can hinder the development of essential human skills like emotional intelligence and relationship building.
Board games
fromEntrepreneur
3 days ago

He's LinkedIn's First Puzzlemaster. Here's How His Games Benefit Their Business - and Your Brain.

LinkedIn has appointed Thomas Snyder as its first principal puzzlemaster to enhance user engagement through daily puzzles.
Running
fromKotaku
1 week ago

Bungie Knows Marathon's Brutal Raid Is A Problem For Casuals

Cryo Archive requires preparation, teamwork, and communication, but Bungie aims to make it more accessible for casual players.
#marathon
Video games
fromKotaku
3 days ago

Marathon Cracks Down On Cool Exploits To Make Things Fair

Bungie has removed the slide-canceling exploit in Marathon to maintain balanced gameplay and has updated the Outpost loot area.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Marathon Just Became Helldivers 2 With Cryo Race To Kill Bots

Marathon's Cryo Archive map unlock requires players to collectively kill 500 million UESC security forces through an ARG, with current progress at 315 million kills suggesting the event will take another week to complete.
fromVG247
1 month ago
Video games

Marathon may actually have a shot as Server Slam hits it big on Steam

Video games
fromKotaku
3 days ago

Marathon Cracks Down On Cool Exploits To Make Things Fair

Bungie has removed the slide-canceling exploit in Marathon to maintain balanced gameplay and has updated the Outpost loot area.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Marathon Just Became Helldivers 2 With Cryo Race To Kill Bots

Marathon's Cryo Archive map unlock requires players to collectively kill 500 million UESC security forces through an ARG, with current progress at 315 million kills suggesting the event will take another week to complete.
fromVG247
1 month ago
Video games

Marathon may actually have a shot as Server Slam hits it big on Steam

fromVG247
2 days ago

The Petit Planet beta is coming back with new updates, but you still need to hope for an invite

Petit Planet is the studio's take on Animal Crossing, though with a few interesting ideas of its own. The game's most recent test took place all the way back in November, but its next big test isn't far off.
Games
Video games
fromKotaku
2 days ago

Stormgate Adding Offline Mode After Server Provider Ditches It For AI

Stormgate will lose online multiplayer access due to server provider acquisition, prompting a shift to develop an offline mode.
fromThe Atlantic
2 days ago

Today's Atlantic Trivia: Video Games

Nintendo was founded in 1889, the same year the Eiffel Tower opened in Paris, starting as a manufacturer of Japanese playing cards.
Games
Video games
fromGamesBeat
3 days ago

Inside Clix Gaming's creator-powered business strategy

Cody 'Clix' Conrod is launching Clix Gaming, a brand and business centered on his success as a top Fortnite player.
Games
fromFuncheap
2 days ago

AI-Powered Mystery Match Night "Someone in the Crowd" (SF)

An AI-powered matchmaking event focuses on creating real connections through intentional pairings and engaging activities.
Board games
fromBoard Game Quest
2 weeks ago

Top 10 Solo Board Games for Every Kind of Gamer

Solo gaming is rapidly evolving, with many games now including solo modes or automata, enhancing the tabletop gaming experience.
Games
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Why is gaming becoming so expensive? The answer is found in AI

PlayStation 5 prices have risen significantly due to increased demand for computing power driven by AI, alongside global economic disruptions.
Video games
fromBusiness Matters
4 days ago

Rainbow Six Siege Operator Meta: The Top Picks Defining Play at the Start of 2026

Rainbow Six Siege X introduces new systems and modes, enhancing gameplay and providing players with essential knowledge on top operators for competitive play.
Chicago Cubs
fromBleacher Nation
3 weeks ago

What Does "Flex" Mean in a DFS Pick'em Contest Entry? - Bleacher Nation

Flex Play on PrizePicks allows payouts for missing one or two picks with lower multipliers, while Power Play requires all picks correct for higher multipliers up to 37.5x.
fromThe Verge
4 days ago

150 million users later, Roblox competitor Rec Room is shutting down

"We never quite figured out how to make Rec Room a sustainably profitable business, and our costs always ended up overwhelming the revenue we brought in."
Video games
Games
fromEngadget
4 days ago

BOXROOM lets you build a cozy game room for your Steam library

Customize a virtual space to showcase your game library with personalized furniture and game displays.
fromBoard Game Quest
2 weeks ago

Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week - 3/16/26

A beautifully crafted, engine-builder board game where cute creatures & unique factions shape a glowing fantasy underground world.
Board games
Games
fromKotaku
5 days ago

Crimson Desert 1.01 Patch Fixes Cow Herding, Other Quality Of Life Updates

Crimson Desert's version 1.01.00 update introduces significant quality-of-life improvements, including new mounts, reduced stamina consumption, and enhanced controls.
#live-service-games
Video games
fromKotaku
6 days ago

PUBG: Blindspot Is Shutting Down After Only Two Months

Concord's failure sets a benchmark for live-service game failures, overshadowing the brief existence of PUBG: Blindspot.
Video games
fromThe Verge
2 weeks ago

Remedy's live-service shooter Firebreak is getting its final major update

Remedy is ending new content for FBC: Firebreak but will maintain server operations indefinitely, implementing cost-reduction measures like a Friend's Pass and price cut to sustain the player base.
Video games
fromKotaku
6 days ago

PUBG: Blindspot Is Shutting Down After Only Two Months

Concord's failure sets a benchmark for live-service game failures, overshadowing the brief existence of PUBG: Blindspot.
Video games
fromThe Verge
2 weeks ago

Remedy's live-service shooter Firebreak is getting its final major update

Remedy is ending new content for FBC: Firebreak but will maintain server operations indefinitely, implementing cost-reduction measures like a Friend's Pass and price cut to sustain the player base.
Video games
fromEngadget
6 days ago

Beat-based dungeon crawlers, card-battling soccer sims and other new indie games worth checking out

Albatross Interactive is developing Terminal War, a 4v4 shooter inspired by the canceled Factions mode from The Last of Us.
fromKotaku
1 week ago

I Can't Stop Playing This Terrible Game, So Maybe It's Good?

Timber Rush is about numbers going up in the crudest way imaginable, a clicker game that barely even features clicking, in which you move your woodcutter side to side as increasing numbers of increasingly silly logs fly around the screen.
Games
#splitgate
Video games
fromEngadget
1 week ago

Splitgate's 1047 Games is starting work on a Titanfall-style movement shooter

1047 Games is developing a new movement shooter inspired by Titanfall and Black Ops 3 while continuing to support Splitgate: Arena Reloaded.
Video games
fromEngadget
1 week ago

Splitgate's 1047 Games is starting work on a Titanfall-style movement shooter

1047 Games is developing a new movement shooter inspired by Titanfall and Black Ops 3 while continuing to support Splitgate: Arena Reloaded.
#counter-strike-2
Games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Counter-Strike Just Upended 25 Years Of Shooter Muscle Memory

Counter-Strike 2 eliminates lossless ammo reloads, forcing players to discard unused magazine ammunition when reloading, increasing tactical decision-making and skill requirements.
Games
fromArs Technica
2 weeks ago

Counter-Strike 2's new reload system could upend the entire game

Valve overhauled Counter-Strike 2's reload mechanic to discard remaining ammo instead of retaining it, requiring players to use full magazines and disrupting decades of established gameplay habits.
Games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Counter-Strike Just Upended 25 Years Of Shooter Muscle Memory

Counter-Strike 2 eliminates lossless ammo reloads, forcing players to discard unused magazine ammunition when reloading, increasing tactical decision-making and skill requirements.
Games
fromArs Technica
2 weeks ago

Counter-Strike 2's new reload system could upend the entire game

Valve overhauled Counter-Strike 2's reload mechanic to discard remaining ammo instead of retaining it, requiring players to use full magazines and disrupting decades of established gameplay habits.
fromEngadget
1 week ago

EA is nuking Battlefield Hardline on consoles

EA will delist the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Battlefield Hardline from digital storefronts on May 22, and shut down the online services on June 22.
Video games
Games
from48 hills
2 weeks ago

Is AI gaming ready for primetime? - 48 hills

Google demonstrated live AI-generated NPC dialogue at GDC 2026, with over 60 AI-related talks and events showcasing the gaming industry's focus on artificial intelligence integration.
Video games
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

In the killer world of online gaming, there are no hits any more just survivors

Highguard's rapid failure demonstrates that modern online games face extreme pressure to deliver immediate returns, leaving no room for player learning curves or developer iteration.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

16 Short Stories Prove Marathon Is One Of 2026's Best Games

Marathon's high-stakes, cutthroat design creates unforgettable moments of triumph and defeat, with players forming unexpected truces and memorable encounters that extend the game's impact beyond gameplay.
#crowdfunding
Video games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Marathon Testing Duos Mode Right Away After Fans Begged For It

Marathon is testing a limited-time duos mode following player requests, with plans to make it permanent if the two-week trial succeeds.
Science
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

What Can Gaming Do for Our Intelligence?

Effective intelligence — attention, working memory, decision-making, and learning speed — is trainable through experience and interventions such as gaming, leveraging neuroplasticity.
Marketing
fromThe Drum
2 months ago

How brands can align their interests with the interests of gamers

Brands can increase engagement and reach diverse audiences by integrating ads into interactive gaming experiences and aligning brand goals with player interests.
Marketing tech
fromThe Drum
2 months ago

The in-game advertising landscape: It isn't child's play

In-game advertising integrates branded placements into game environments to reach a large, mature gaming audience, but requires data-driven strategy for effectiveness.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 weeks ago

Jeff Kaplan: Stop Complaining About Games You Won't Play

Jeff Kaplan advises people complaining about games they haven't played to stop, as developers ignore such feedback and it accomplishes nothing.
fromThe Drum
1 month ago

How has personalization improved digital sports marketing?

Personalization is a tried-and-tested way to boost engagement while gathering valuable information about existing audiences - and is proving to be a key driver for the sports industry, says Rawnet's Harry Daniel. For brands looking to score with digital marketing, personalization is a winning long-term business strategy. Personalizing the user experience (UX) via websites and apps keeps fans engaged and enhances brand loyalty. It can help brands to grow, by extending their reach to new users and unleashing untouched opportunities for victory.
Online marketing
Video games
fromKotaku
3 weeks ago

I Miss When Multiplayer Games Weren't Changing All The Time - Kotaku

A patch increasing gunshot volume in Marathon created a more aggressive multiplayer environment, prompting nostalgia for older games that remained static after release rather than undergoing constant balance changes.
UX design
fromMedium
2 months ago

Usability heuristics and competition in games

High usability and meeting cross-domain interaction expectations are critical for games to compete for players' time and sustain positive experiences.
Gadgets
fromWIRED
1 month ago

I Love This Dart Counter for Local and Online Matches

Auto-scoring light ring with four HD cameras and DartCounter app delivers accurate scoring, statistics, practice modes, and online multiplayer to improve and enjoy darts.
Video games
fromWIRED
3 weeks ago

Gamers' Worst Nightmares About AI Are Coming True

Xbox faces internal challenges amid industry-wide pressures from AI adoption, memory shortages, and rising hardware costs, though the console is not shutting down.
#extraction-shooter
Video games
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Marathon is a stylishly merciless video game built for cut-throat times

Marathon is an extraction shooter from Bungie featuring visually striking alien environments and brutal gameplay mechanics, arriving after delays and controversies to prove itself as Sony's major investment.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 month ago

Marathon Is A Thrilling Shooter With A Big Onboarding Problem

Marathon is a brutally difficult multiplayer extraction shooter requiring careful resource management, communication, and map knowledge rather than aggressive combat tactics.
Video games
fromKotaku
3 weeks ago

Ghost Of Yotei's New Free Online Mode Is So Good I'd Pay Money For It

Ghost of Yotei: Legends is a new multiplayer mode featuring up to four-player co-op with the game's exceptional combat system, magical elements, and progression through story and survival missions.
fromKotaku
4 weeks ago

Marathon Players Smuggled Powerful Loot From The Beta Into Game

In Marathon, if you drop a piece of gear for a teammate and you all extract successfully, you get that gear back. This is intended to make it hard to trade gear with other players permanently, which could likely be used by some to sell rare loot. It also encourages players to share guns with squadmates to ensure everyone gets out alive.
Video games
Video games
fromKotaku
1 month ago

An Incredible Last-Minute Escape In Marathon Convinced Me It's Something Special

A final beta match demonstrated the game's potential through intense, high-stakes gameplay where teamwork and resource management created memorable moments despite uncertain long-term player retention.
fromKotaku
1 month ago

Highguard Dev Says The Shooter Is Too Sweaty For Casual Fans

3v3 duos is always the sweatiest version of anything like battle royale, objective modes, wingman, you know it, I name it. It requires such a high intensity of communication with your team, and team play, that it doesn't leave much room for casualness. I think that was the biggest thing that turned a lot of players off Highguard.
Video games
Video games
fromGame Informer
1 month ago

Arkheron Preview - A Promising Battle Royale (No, Seriously) - Game Informer

Arkheron is an isometric PvP battle royale where 15 three-player teams compete in a fantasy tower, blending shooter action with Hades-style loot and rotating Eternals.
#co-op-games
#highguard
fromKotaku
2 months ago

Deadlock Is Secretly Growing Into An S-Tier MOBA Shooter

A thriving fan art community is always a sign of an entrenched playerbase. , Valve's secretive MOBA hero shooter, is currently teeming with creations all over social media that span the big three categories: horny, cute, and funny. In a way, these are perfect descriptors for the overall vibe of the latest six heroes to join the roster, which, alongside a plethora of additions and visual tweaks introduced in last week's big update, have led to a newfound momentum worth paying attention to.
Video games
Video games
fromGameSpot
2 months ago

Satisfactory Multiplayer: The Basics For Peer-to-Peer And Dedicated Server Hosting

Satisfactory supports peer-to-peer, self-hosted, and rented servers; peer-to-peer is easiest, rented servers cost monthly, and self-hosted offers always-on access but requires complex setup.
fromGameSpot
2 months ago

Best MOBA Games Worth Playing Right Now

Dragon Ball has its own take on the MOBA genre with Gekishin Squadra. The name sure is a mouthful, but this is one of the most welcoming experiences for newer MOBA players, even if you aren't too familiar with the Dragon Ball universe. But if you are an existing fan of the late Akira Toriyama's masterful manga and anime series, you'll be pleased with the wide selection of characters and abilities.
Video games
Video games
fromwww.gamespot.com
2 months ago

Arc Raiders Now Features "Aggression-Based Matchmaking," Dev Confirms

Arc Raiders now uses aggression-based matchmaking that groups players by PvP or PvE tendencies in addition to skill and party size.
Video games
fromGameSpot
1 month ago

The Best Co-Op Games For Four Player Game Nights

Four-player co-op offers an ideal balance for multiplayer sessions, delivering diverse cooperative experiences that reward communication, coordination, and teamwork across varied game styles.
Video games
fromArs Technica
1 month ago

No humans allowed: This new space-based MMO is designed exclusively for AI agents

Autonomous AI agents in SpaceMolt operate independently, share strategy publicly, and the developer relies on AI to generate and patch the game's code while humans merely observe.
Video games
fromEngadget
2 months ago

Ball x Pit's first update brings an endless mode and much more to the chaos

Ball x Pit's major free update adds two characters, eight special balls, passives, endless mode, and language support, expanding gameplay and customization.
Video games
fromKotaku
1 month ago

Overwatch Put Its Crown Back On While You Weren't Watching

Blizzard refocused Overwatch 2 with Perks, Stadium mode, and a seasonal linear story, transforming it from a stalled sequel into a sustainable live-service evolution.
Video games
fromKotaku
2 months ago

Highguard Review: A Hero Shooter With Too Many Ideas, No Identity

A free-to-play 3v3 fantasy-sci‑fi PVP hero shooter with base-defense raiding mechanics is bland, unfocused, and struggling to retain players.
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