Death Stranding 2 Faces Early Leak on Steam, Sparking Pirate Activity

Death Stranding 2 is making waves on PC after a significant blunder on Steam’s part. One of the stars from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is gearing up to work on another game this year. And what do you get when you mix Monopoly with Star Wars in the Ubisoft blender? It’s time for the latest edition of Morning Checkpoint, your daily dose of gaming news, rumors, and culture. Today’s update is a quick one, hence the early drop.

I recently dug up my childhood copy of Pokémon Yellow and can’t wait to see if any of my old pals are still hanging out in there. If only there were a wild way to transfer them to the Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen.

According to a recent report, unencrypted game files were accidentally made available on Valve’s storefront ahead of the official launch. The game doesn’t utilize Denuvo, which is a win for performance but a setback for piracy in this instance. Sony is likely feeling a bit more at ease today after pulling its first-party titles from Steam.

Set to release on March 19, Hideo Kojima’s latest open-world walking-sim shooter is bringing a host of updated features and new content for the PC version, which will also roll out for PS5 owners. The standout addition is new live-action cutscenes that were omitted from the original release.

Ubisoft has just unveiled Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, launching on June 11. This game offers a fresh, team-based twist on the classic family board game from Hasbro, featuring cinematic moments, themed spaces, and dynamic elements to ensure that no two matches are alike. Players can team up with iconic Star Wars heroes and villains, each bringing unique abilities that can influence strategy and shift the game in your favor with every dice roll.

RPG Site reports that a spin-off titled Black Mages Legacy is back in production at EuroVisuals after the previous studio went under. This series will consist of 13 episodes, likely focusing on Vivi and his magical robot companions, with a tentative release date set for 2028. Will the rumored FF9 remaster or remake drop before then?

After burning through billions, the company formerly known as Facebook has discontinued Quest VR headset support for Horizon Worlds, its 3D social media platform, often likened to Roblox for performance reviews. This was a major highlight back in 2022 when Mark Zuckerberg showcased his VR presence in the game. Now, that vision has come to an end.

While he may not be playing them directly, a recent interview revealed that he will be portraying characters from those games. “I loved being part of Expedition 33; I was amazed by its success and the impact it’s had,” he shared. “It seems to have opened up new opportunities for my career. I’m set to work on another game this year, which will be much more involved for me, requiring a lot more effort.”

What do you think? The Witcher 4? Divinity? What are your top picks for his next gaming project?