Game developers' platform preference is tilting toward PlayStation 5 and Nintendo's next hardware, according to the latest State of the Game Industry Survey. In VGC's report on the GDC survey showing PS5 and Switch 2 outpacing Xbox in developer interest, more than twice as many developers said they'd rather build for PS5 and "Switch 2" than for Xbox—an eye-catching split that's less about console wars and more about where teams believe the audience (and opportunity) will be. At the same time, the survey reinforces the point anyone browsing Steam charts already feels in their bones: PC remains the dominant platform for active development, especially for studios chasing flexibility, scalable settings, and easier update pipelines.
The Game Developer Conference 2026 dates are set for 09-13 March 2026, and that timing could amplify these preferences into real announcements. GDC isn't just a meet-and-greet; it's where middleware evolves, production lessons get shared, and publisher priorities leak into the wider conversation through talks and hallway chatter. If you're tracking where the next wave of projects is headed, this year's GDC should be a useful barometer for how studios plan around cross-platform launches, feature parity, and storefront economics.
Crimson Desert's features trailer introduces Kliff, the Greymanes, and a closer look at how combat and exploration will work in Pywel. In PlayStation's "Features Overview" trailer highlighting Kliff and the open world of Pywel on PS5, the video leans into the game's mechanical identity: not just flashy attacks, but the rhythm of encounters, the tools you'll lean on, and the kinds of scenarios that shape moment-to-moment decision-making. It also frames the adventure around five distinct regions, which is a smart move for discoverability and expectations—players immediately start imagining biome variety, traversal differences, and how enemy types might evolve across the map.
Crimson Desert's release date is locked for 19 March 2026 across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and even Mac, with anticipation now part of the official narrative. IGN's write-up confirming the March 2026 launch window and noting the developer's "strong anticipation" message makes it clear what this trailer is really doing: converting curiosity into confidence. When a game goes wide on platforms at launch, the pressure shifts from "does it look cool?" to "does it run well everywhere, and does it respect the player's time?" Watch for details like control responsiveness, camera behavior in crowded fights, and how the game handles difficulty spikes across open-world zones.
Final Fantasy VII's Steam listing is set to change as Square Enix confirms a "new version" is coming, while the current release gets renamed. As explained in PC Gamer's coverage of Square Enix announcing a new Steam version with no details yet, the existing Steam release will be rebranded as Final Fantasy 7 (2013 Edition), and owners of that version will receive the new one for free. The big twist is what Square Enix didn't say: there's no clear explanation of what's being updated, and no confirmed release date yet. That uncertainty makes this announcement more consequential than it looks, because "new version" can range from minor compatibility fixes to deeper quality-of-life improvements—or even changes that affect mods, saves, or rendering behavior.
How to prepare for the new Final Fantasy VII Steam version is straightforward even without a date: keep your install tidy, back up saves, and watch your library for the automatic entitlement. When the updated version drops, Steam typically handles ownership automatically, but it's wise to preserve local files—especially if you've customized anything—before a major re-listing changes executable behavior or directory structures. Practically, that means: make sure Steam Cloud is enabled (if supported), copy your save folder somewhere safe, and avoid last-minute experimental mods until you see how the new version behaves. If you're revisiting the original's iconic tone, the classic Final Fantasy VII original trailer on YouTube is a quick reminder of why these characters stuck—so.
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