BriefPulse Games https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/ Releases, platform changes and studio news for people who make and play games. en 2026-09-17T06:52:15+00:00 Edition 2026-09-16https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/editions/2026-09-16https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/editions/2026-09-16Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:26:21 +0000The dated edition for 2026-09-16. Polyarc, Moss developer, shuts down after over a decade https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-polyarc-moss-developer-shuts-down https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-polyarc-moss-developer-shuts-down 2026-09-17T04:28:07+00:00 BriefPulse Games Polyarc, the developer of Moss and a Seattle-based VR specialist, has shut down after over a decade. The available evidence is limited to the closure itself. Washington's secretary of state pitches video games as 'soft power' to developers https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-washington-secretary-state-pitches-video https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-washington-secretary-state-pitches-video 2026-09-17T04:12:26+00:00 BriefPulse Games Washington secretary of state Steve Hobbs pitched developers on the notion of video games as 'soft power' during SLICE and PAX West 2026, per Game Developer. The evidence covers the pitch itself and no programme, funding or commitment that came with it. Saber's Tim Willits says Rideshare Stimulator's generative AI use has not damaged the studio's reputation https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-saber-tim-willits-rideshare-stimulator https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-saber-tim-willits-rideshare-stimulator 2026-09-17T04:12:18+00:00 BriefPulse Games Saber Interactive's chief creative officer has told Rock Paper Shotgun he does not believe the generative AI in Rideshare Stimulator harmed the studio's reputation, after a former writer revealed the game's AI use and the CEO apologised for attacking that writer. Skyblivion makers seek comms volunteers as release nears, still without full date https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-skyblivion-makers-seek-comms-volunteers https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-skyblivion-makers-seek-comms-volunteers 2026-09-17T04:12:09+00:00 BriefPulse Games The Skyblivion mod team says its release is "getting closer" and is recruiting volunteers for a final marketing push, but it has still not given a full release date. Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember gets an alpha demo and a March release window https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-long-wings-ember-gets-alpha https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-long-wings-ember-gets-alpha 2026-09-17T03:42:30+00:00 BriefPulse Games Koei Tecmo has put out an alpha demo for Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember and says the sequel will release in March next year. Platforms, price and a specific day are not in the material we have. Bulkhead screens prospective hires' social media for anti-crunch posts, CEO says https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-bulkhead-screens-prospective-hires-social https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-bulkhead-screens-prospective-hires-social 2026-09-17T03:42:24+00:00 BriefPulse Games The studio behind Wardogs checks job candidates' social media for public criticism of crunch and prefers not to hire those people, according to CEO Joe Brammer, who also said crunch "is going to happen at some point". Former Activision Blizzard employee sues over harassment and retaliation https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-former-activision-blizzard-employee-sues https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-former-activision-blizzard-employee-sues 2026-09-17T03:25:48+00:00 BriefPulse Games A woman who worked at Activision Blizzard for 14 years has sued the company, accusing 10 men of sexual misconduct and retaliation, according to a report. That report is brief: it carries no filing date, court or company response. Build A Rocket Boy appear to be making fresh redundancies as union says company has been 'slowly spiralling' https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-build-rocket-boy-appear-making https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-build-rocket-boy-appear-making 2026-09-17T03:25:34+00:00 BriefPulse Games RPS reports that MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy appear to be making fresh redundancies, based on a LinkedIn post from a principal talent acquisition partner saying he is helping 'wrap things up here in the HR department.' The report carries no company confirmation or date, and the IWGB Games Worker Union told RPS it cannot add further insight into the 'heartbreaking job losses.' Metroid Ravenous logo generator sparks a meme wave, and r/Metroid mods open a megathread https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-metroid-ravenous-logo-generator-sparks https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-metroid-ravenous-logo-generator-sparks 2026-09-17T02:37:39+00:00 BriefPulse Games A fan-made tool that renders any text in the Metroid Ravenous logo font has produced a run of memes on Reddit and Bluesky, prompting the Metroid subreddit's moderators to create a dedicated megathread. This is a culture item drawn from one report, so treat it as a read on audience appetite rather than a release update. Hearthstone's next expansion, Reign of the Black Empire, shown with a blood-rune Death Knight package https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-hearthstone-next-expansion-reign-black https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-hearthstone-next-expansion-reign-black 2026-09-17T02:37:20+00:00 BriefPulse Games Three Death Knight cards from the announced expansion Reign of the Black Empire have been revealed, all built on blood runes and life-leeching effects. No release window for the expansion was included in the reveal. Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition adds 50+ factions on 13th October — and the source says it breaks mods https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-total-war-shogun-complete-edition https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-total-war-shogun-complete-edition 2026-09-17T01:56:55+00:00 BriefPulse Games Creative Assembly is putting out a 64-bit Complete Edition of Total War: Shogun 2 on 13th October via Steam, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store and GOG. The framing from Rock Paper Shotgun is blunt: 50+ minor factions arrive in return for breaking your mods, while players who stick to the old version are offered legacy DLC free. Nintendo's Customer Appreciation Sale lands mostly on older games, at discounts around 30% https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-nintendo-customer-appreciation-sale-lands https://news.briefpulse.com/publications/games/stories/games-nintendo-customer-appreciation-sale-lands 2026-09-17T01:56:37+00:00 BriefPulse Games Nintendo's Customer Appreciation Sale, promoted as larger in scale than its usual eShop discounts, mostly cuts older games and caps out around 30%, according to a GameSpot critique. The account carries no date and breaks off mid-sentence while discussing tariffs, so the timing of the sale and any tariff link cannot be confirmed from this evidence.