The battlefield is about to erupt! World of Tanks: HEAT, a new standalone free-to-play tactical vehicle shooter, launches on May 26. Set in an alternate post-WWII era, HEAT delivers a faster, more dynamic take on armored warfare driven by team-based combat.
World of Tanks: HEAT will be available across PC (Wargaming Game Center and Steam), Steam Deck, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW, supporting full cross-platform play and progression.
HEAT is built from the ground up on a new proprietary engine developed in-house by Wargaming. This technology delivers modern visuals and immersive environments while enabling fast, responsive gameplay optimized for smooth performance across a wide range of hardware.
At launch, players can expect:
Eight Agents: Three battlefield roles — Defender, Assault, and Marksman. Each Agent commands a lethal two-vehicle roster, with each vehicle tailored to its role in combat.
Fifteen vehicles: Every vehicle supports a different playstyle and can be fully customized through modules and equipment. Whether holding the frontline or striking from a distance, there’s a tank that is ready for the job.
Eight maps: The battlefields span a wide range of biomes, settings, and visual styles, each designed to support multiple playstyles across game modes.
Four PvP modes: Hardpoint, Control, Kill Confirmed, and Conquest are available.
With launch just a week away, players can prepare now by joining the community and wishlisting the game ahead of release – https://wotheat.com.
Insta360 today announced the Mic Pro, a flagship wireless microphone system that transforms sound into something you can see and own. Designed for creators, filmmakers, podcasters, and event professionals who demand professional-grade results without professional-grade complexity, Mic Pro introduces two industry-first technologies: a customizable E-Ink display and a 3-microphone array.
Beyond professional production, Mic Pro is designed for a new generation of creators, enabling everyday storytelling with audio that is not only heard, but seen and personal. Your microphone is no longer just a tool. It carries your name, your logo, your identity, all the way through to the shot.
Together, these technologies address limitations that have plagued the wireless audio category for years.
Customizable E-Ink Display: An Industry First
Mic Pro is the first wireless microphone to feature a customizable E-Ink display on each transmitter.
Via the Insta360 app, users upload any graphic: station logos, channel art, talent names, or production identifiers. The screen displays it persistently, even when the unit is powered off. On a busy set with multiple transmitters, instant visual identification replaces guesswork.
The choice of E-Ink over OLED is functional as well as distinctive. E-Ink consumes power only during screen refresh, not while displaying a static image, which contributes meaningfully to battery life during extended production days.
Under direct sunlight, where OLED screens wash out and become unreadable, E-Ink remains sharp and high-contrast without glare. For outdoor productions, field recording, and live events, this is a reliability advantage that OLED-equipped competitors simply cannot match.
What Makes Insta360’s New Wireless Microphone Different?
Industry-First, High-Performance 3-Mic Array With Polar Patterns
Conventional wireless microphones rely on a single omnidirectional capsule. The pickup pattern is fixed, and users cannot adapt to different acoustic environments without switching hardware entirely.
Mic Pro integrates three microphones into each transmitter. Digital signal processing dynamically combines their input to emulate distinct polar patterns, selectable from the receiver or the Insta360 app. The result is a single device that adapts to the environment rather than the other way around, with the right pickup pattern ready for each shooting scenario. When mounted on a camera for video shoots, the cardioid configuration functions as a directional shotgun mic, giving run-and-gun filmmakers precise front-focused capture without additional hardware.
Omnidirectional mode opens up the pickup area for relaxed, ambient capture. Cardioid mode tightens the pickup to the front, ideal for vlogging, solo livestreams, ASMR, and voiceover. Figure-8 mode captures from both front and rear, built for interviews and two-person conversations.
AI noise cancellation is powered by an onboard NPU chip, designed to reduce background interference without compromising vocal quality. Unlike standard noise reduction that can flatten or dull a voice, the NPU processes sound with greater precision to preserve natural tone and clarity. Wind, crowd noise, and ambient interference are reduced while voices remain clear and lifelike.
32-Bit Float Recording: The End of Clipped Audio
At the core of Mic Pro’s audio is 32-bit float internal recording.
Unlike conventional 24-bit recording systems that clip when audio exceeds a set threshold, 32-bit float captures a dynamic range so wide that clipping is effectively eliminated. A whisper and a sudden shout can coexist in the same recording without either being lost.
In post-production, normalization replaces the stress of real-time gain management, saving takes that would otherwise be ruined by unexpected loud sounds during interviews, ceremonies, and live events.
32GB Built-In Storage: An Onboard Safety Net
Each transmitter records independently to 32GB of onboard memory, providing a continuous safety net against wireless interference or camera failure. Recordings auto-split every 30 minutes to prevent file size limitations from interrupting long takes.
Stereo internal recording, a feature unique to Mic Pro in this class, captures immersive ambient soundscapes and ASMR-quality audio directly to the transmitter at up to 32-bit float quality.
For additional control, Auto Gain Control offers two modes. Prevent Clipping (Auto) handles unpredictable high-dynamic environments, while Dynamic Mode suits controlled indoor recording where consistent output levels matter most.
Scalability Beyond Two Channels
Most compact wireless systems hard-cap at two transmitters per receiver. Mic Pro breaks that ceiling with two configurations designed for the most demanding multi-source audio scenarios.
4-to-1 mode connects four transmitters to a single receiver, feeding four isolated tracks without external mixers. Podcasters, panel moderators, and interviewers can scale to four guests while retaining individual track control in post.
2-to-4 mode distributes two transmitters across four receivers simultaneously, solving the audio distribution challenge in multi-camera productions. Weddings, corporate events, and broadcast setups that run several cameras can now share clean audio without complex routing or cable infrastructure.
Four-channel output is available when connecting to compatible Sony cameras via the Camera Adapter, enabling 48kHz 24-bit digital audio across all four tracks (adapter sold separately).
Direct Insta360 Camera Connection
Mic Pro pairs directly with Insta360 cameras, including X5, X4 Air, Ace Pro 2, andGO Ultra, via Bluetooth. This delivers 48kHz high-fidelity audio without a receiver, eliminating a piece of hardware from the kit entirely for creators already in the Insta360 ecosystem.
Dual-transmitter direct connection will be available with upcoming Insta360 camera releases.
All-Day Power With Fast Charging
Each transmitter delivers 10 hours of standalone battery life, extending to 30 hours with the included charging case.
A 5-minute fast charge provides up to one additional hour of recording time, enough to get back to action between setups. The receiver syncs its power state with the connected camera automatically, and both transmitter and receiver support auto power-off to conserve battery when not in use.
Timecode Sync and Broad Device Compatibility
Mic Pro supports timecode sync via a high-precision TCXO oscillator, maintaining less than one frame of drift across 24 hours and keeping audio locked to video across every device on a multi-camera production.
The system connects to DSLR and mirrorless cameras via 3.5mm audio cable, to smartphones via USB-C or Lightning adapters, and integrates natively with the Insta360 ecosystem via Bluetooth. It is compatible with virtually every camera, phone, and recorder in professional use today.
At a Glance
Industry-first customizable E-Ink display on each transmitter for visual identity and instant set recognition
3-microphone array with selectable polar patterns (omnidirectional, cardioid, figure-8), functioning as a shotgun mic when camera-mounted
NPU-powered AI noise cancellation preserving natural voice clarity
32-bit float internal recording: clipping is mathematically impossible
32GB onboard memory with stereo internal recording, unique in class
Scalable multi-channel audio: 4-to-1 and 2-to-4 configurations
Direct Bluetooth connection to Insta360 cameras including X5, X4 Air, Ace Pro 2, and GO Ultra
10-hour transmitter battery, 30 hours with charging case, 5-minute fast charge
Availability
The wireless microphone market has long forced a compromise: portability or capability, but rarely both. Mic Pro eliminates these friction points with high performance and its unique E-Ink display.
Insta360 Mic Pro is available now, with a new buyer’s guide from Insta360 that covers the differences across its audio range here. The 2 TX + 1 RX kit starts from US$329.99, with additional configurations available at the Insta360 Official Store and Amazon, as well as authorized distributors worldwide.
The wasteland is finally complete. After an extensive Early Access journey shaped by community feedback, The Dead Await officially launches into Version 1.0 today on Steam and the indie.io Store for $12.99 USD, with a launch discount of 35% available for a limited time
Developed by Shotx Studio and published by indie.io, The Dead Await blends open-world survival, caravan management, and strategic deck-building combat in a brutal zombie apocalypse where every decision can cost lives. Players lead a group of survivors across a collapsing world filled with abandoned cities, desperate factions, hidden bunkers, and relentless undead threats, scavenging for resources while trying to hold their fragile caravan together.
Survival in The Dead Await is about far more than fighting zombies. Every expedition becomes a risk-reward calculation as players balance hunger, dwindling supplies, sanity, injuries, and the constant threat of losing survivors permanently. Carefully constructed decks shape combat encounters and playstyles, allowing players to experiment with powerful builds, weapon combinations, perks, and tactical synergies while adapting to the dangers of the wasteland.
Version 1.0 dramatically expands the game with the arrival of Act III, introducing new settlements, underground facilities, elite enemies, random events, bosses, quests, and explorable regions across the world. From the dangerous streets of Hope to the mysterious depths of Hell-0 and Zone 99, the final act pushes players deeper into the apocalypse than ever before.
The 1.0 launch update also introduces major new progression systems designed to reward long-term survival. Players can now unlock character skins, complete Z-Tasks for permanent rewards, spend Z-Coins in the newly added Z-Shop, and store valuable gear inside the Vault Safe system shared across save files. Meanwhile, the new Arena mode in Last Haven challenges players to survive increasingly deadly encounters in exchange for rare rewards and bragging rights.
As survivors grow stronger, so does the world around them. The level cap has increased, allowing players to unlock powerful new builds, weapon mods, equipment, and expanded progression opportunities. New bosses, elite enemies, quests, recipes, loot drops, and faction rewards further expand the late-game experience and create even more ways for players to shape their journey through the apocalypse.
The wasteland has expanded, the final act has arrived, and survival just became even deadlier. The Dead Await Version 1.0 is available now on Steam and the indie.io Store.
Today, thatgamecompany celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of creating emotionally resonant interactive experiences that have redefined what video games can make players feel. Founded in 2006 with a simple but ambitious belief that games can be a genuine artistic medium for emotional connection, beauty, and shared humanity, the company has grown from a small experiential team from USC’s game design program into one of the most influential creative voices in interactive entertainment.
In its 20-year history, thatgamecompany has released a series of genre-defining games:
flOw (2007): A meditative, minimalist experience built around the psychology of flow state. It established the studio’s signature approach to emotionally intelligent, intentional and visually elegant game design.
Flower (2009): A wordless and poetic experience. It explored the contrast and harmony between urban bustle and nature’s serenity.
Journey (2012): A landmark title that served as an allegory of life, redefining what multiplayer storytelling could feel like through anonymous companionship and emotional connection rather than competition. It became one of the most celebrated games of its generation, earning numerous Game of the Year honors.
Sky: Children of the Light (2019): A living social world built on compassion, connection and shared wonder. Sky has brought together millions of players across cultures and generations, and it continues to grow through the creativity, feedback and passion of its community.\
A Message from Jenova Chen, CEO & Creative Director for thatgamecompany
“Twenty years ago, thatgamecompany started from a mission that our earliest players put into words for us: show the world that video games can be art, and that they can create a genuine, positive impact on people’s lives. That message, arriving in emails and letters from players who felt unseen by the medium, became the north star we have followed ever since.
From those first few letters to now hundreds of millions of players, our story has really been one of gradually expanding the boundaries of what a video game can be and who it can reach. Each of our games built on the previous one, using the medium as an artistic canvas to prove that a video game could move you to tears, that it could stand alongside any art form ever made, and ultimately that it could bring people of all ages and culture together.
And yet, even today, there is still debate about what video games are and what potential they hold. That is why our work continues, to evangelize games as an art form for people of all generations in every corner of the world.
Looking back, I feel incredibly proud of what our team and our players have built together over these past two decades. But what moves me most is where it all began: a few letters from players who simply wanted games to mean more, and the millions who have since shared that same belief in their own ways.
As we look ahead, we believe the next 20 years will further broaden the definition of what interactive experiences can be: a powerful artistic medium for healing, for connection, for reminding us of our shared humanity.
We are only at the beginning of what is possible.”
thatgamecompany’s Legacy
Over its two decades, thatgamecompany has broadened the cultural perception of what video games can be and what they can make people feel. Through its four acclaimed titles, the studio has created emotionally resonant interactive experiences that have connected with players around the world while influencing conversations around games as an artistic and meaningful cultural form.
The studio’s work has received numerous honors from organizations including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Game Developers Choice Awards, and has been featured in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Looking Ahead
As thatgamecompany enters its third decade, the studio remains committed to its original mission of creating meaningful, heartfelt experiences that bring people closer together through play. While new projects are already in development behind the scenes, the studio will continue to invest in the future of Sky: Children of the Light, expanding its world through new experiences, storytelling and community-driven initiatives that deepen the connection between players both in and outside the game.
Twenty years. Four games. Hundreds of millions of players. And, a lot more to come soon.
Today, Ubisoft revealed Rainbow Six Siege Year 11 Season 2 content at the Salt Lake City Major. Reaffirming the game’s competitive identity, Operation System Override is a high-stakes season focused on skill, mastery, and fair competition. Built around player feedback and the fundamentals that define Siege, Season 2 delivers a more rewarding and fair Ranked experience, a brand-new competitive map rooted in Rainbow Six legacy, Calypso Casino, and a Dokkaebi Operator remaster designed to sharpen tactical decision-making.
At the heart of Operation System Override is Ranked 3.0, the most significant overhaul of Siege’s competitive mode since its creation. Designed to deliver fair matches, clear progression and rewards that respect players’ time, Ranked 3.0 transforms the experience from the ground up. Placement matches return with faster rank adjustments, while progression is now fully transparent – there is no hidden Matchmaking Rank (MMR), and ranks accurately represent true player skill. Matchmaking has been streamlined so players now compete against opponents of the same visual rank, ensuring greater clarity and consistency in every match. Updated squad rules further reinforce balance and competitiveness across all skill levels. The reward system has also been reworked to better recognize layer engagement, with seasonal cosmetics, Competitive Coins, and Alpha Packs earned primarily through matches played.
Season 2 also introduces Calypso Casino, the first new competitive Siege map since Year 8. Inspired by the iconic map from Rainbow Six Vegas and reimagined for today’s competitive standards, Calypso Casino blends nostalgic identity with modern level design. Launching directly into Ranked 3.0, the map is designed to be read, mastered, and played at the highest level: with a new crane for rooftop access, a basement spawn for scaling up the casino façade, and an expanded drone vent network to navigate, verticality opens entirely new routes, strategies, and counterplay options. Calypso Casino will also join the esports pool in Season 3, reinforcing its place in Siege’s long-term competitive ecosystem.
In addition to these updates, Dokkaebi gets a full Operator Remaster that redefines her as a high-pressure intel-denial attacker. Her ability now delivers a more focused, personal, and targeted approach. Paired with her new primary weapon, a XK23 assault rifle, also available to Sens and Rauora Operators, this modernization strengthens Dokkaebi’s aggressive identity while keeping her impact intentional and tactical.
Operation System Override continues to reinforce Siege’s core experience with additional balancing updates and modernized maps (Emerald Plains, Kanal, Outback). Native mouse and keyboard support will be introduced on consoles mid-season, supported by clear matchmaking rules to preserve competitive integrity. This addition strengthens Rainbow Six Siege’s ongoing efforts against cheating and complements Mousetrap, the existing detection tool for unauthorized mouse and keyboard usage on consoles.
Finally, with competition at the forefront, deeper esports integration delivers detailed Tier 1 team and player statistics directly within the esports tab. Along with more balancing updates, returning in-game events, and Ranked map rotations that will give players more reasons to jump in, play more often, and stay engaged.
With this new season, Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Sige reaffirms what defines it: a demanding, elite competitive experience that rewards mastery, teamwork, and consistency. As the team continues to listen closely to players and community feedback, Season 2 marks another step in strengthening trust and ensures Siege remains the standard for tactical shooters.
For more information on Rainbow Six Siege, visit RainbowSixSiege.com and follow @Rainbow6game on X, Instagram, and YouTube channel for the latest updates.
Games Done Quick today announces the full schedule for its upcoming flagship gaming speedrunning marathon, Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ).
Returning July 5-11, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Hilton Minneapolis Downtown, SGDQ 2026 will benefit Doctors Without Borders and feature talented speedrunners as they take on zany challenges and race through games. Viewers can tune in live on Twitch and YouTube.
Super Mario 64 – GDQ’s first-ever 120 Star TAS (tool assisted) run.
Total Nuclear Annihilation – Runner Ryan McSquid will be doing a Total Nuclear Annihilation pinball run, all while explaining his advanced techniques.
NES Tetris Tournament Finals – The finals hit the mainstage! Online qualifiers will be live on GDQ Hotfix in June, with a last chance qualifier for attendees on-site.
Balatro – Runner adef will attempt to reach a score in Balatro so high it breaks the game.
Gordon & Daxter – A one-of-a-kind hybrid run where Half-Life 1 movement is imported into Jak & Daxter.
All donations raised during the week-long broadcast will go directly to Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders, which provides medical assistance to those affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, and disasters globally. Last year’s SGDQ raised a total of $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders. Viewers will be able to donate to the charity via gamesdonequick.com.
A new destination awaits you. Earlier this week, publisher gamigo and developer Tableflip launched FATE: Reawakened’s newest DLC, ‘Prometheus’! Inspired by Greek mythology, the brand new chapter of the FATE series brings a swath of fresh content: new pets, two new dungeons, new monsters, and a whole new town to explore. The Prometheus DLC is available now on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch!
Another adventure is on the horizon as players learn of a mysterious woman who’s appeared at the Temple of Fate. Named Alethe, she’s an oracle who tells of a calamity that has fallen upon the once prosperous city of Prometheus. Erebos, the Titan of Darkness, has thrown the world into chaos by stealing the Golden Flame — a revered gift from the Gods that granted the city’s denizens with knowledge, protection, and everlasting prosperity. Now FATE calls upon the player once again, beckoning them forward to reclaim the Golden Flame and save Prometheus from being cast into eternal shadow.
Western-themed cowboy co-op gunslinger Far Far West from developer Evil Raptor and Fireshine Games has crossed the 1 million milestone in less than two weeks after it’s launch on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3124540/Far_Far_West/).
Today’s news comes shortly after Far Far West’s first major update since launch. Notable changes include:
A major progression overhaul, reducing the grind needed to Prestige by half
Weapon XP yield has been increased across both main and secondary arms
Jokers now spawn individually for players to discourage hoarding
You can now carry pigs and chickens in the lobby (long, long overdue)
Numerous bug fixes, balance updates and QoL enhancements
In Far Far West, you’re the baddest bounty hunter in the West. Faced with undead nightmares like vicious skeletons, giant vultures and even ghost trains, you’ll need more than a fast trigger finger to survive. Form a crew of fellow robot cowboy bounty hunters, load up on ammo, learn some explosive spells and push your luck as you hunt down the deadliest contracts in the weird west.
Each successful contract earns you loot to spend on upgrading your arsenal, whether it be powerful gear, fresh abilities or a new look for your trusty steed. Every outing is a gamble on what terrors you will face, but the opportunity for better rewards is a constant temptation.
Evil Raptor will build on Far Far West’s foundation throughout its time in Early Access while adding new features and content informed by community feedback, so be sure to lasso updates through the months to come by following official channels on X, Bluesky, YouTube channel and Discord.
Today, Disney+ and Hulu announced that Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits Music Festival will stream live across both platforms for the first time, giving audiences around the world access to some of the year’s biggest live music moments in real time.
Now in Hulu’s sixth year of offering subscribers exclusive front-row access from the comfort of their home, the addition of the Disney+ global livestream further enhances Hulu’s historic run of streaming these Live Nation festivals by offering globally shared live events that can be watched simultaneously across continents.
“Music festivals are among the most electric, can’t-miss moments in culture, and now Disney+ and Hulu subscribers around the world can experience the excitement,” said Lauren Tempest, Head of Content Planning & Partnerships, DTC at The Walt Disney Company. “As we continue to extend our live offerings, we remain committed to bringing fans the biggest, most iconic moments right as they happen, and are thrilled to bring that vision to life with Live Nation.”
These festivals join Disney+ and Hulu’s expanding slate of live programming, making the services daily destinations for fans to stream the can’t-miss live content they love – from cultural moments to news and sports – as music fandom becomes increasingly global. The 2025 Live Nation Living for Live Global Study* reported that 73% of fans say that they are listening to more international artists than they used to, while 85% agree that live music now transcends borders and languages.
“Music festivals used to be experiences reserved for the people who could physically be there,” said Kevin Chernett, EVP, Head of Global Media Partnerships at Live Nation. “Now they’re becoming global live moments that fans want to experience together in real time, no matter where they are in the world. Expanding this partnership with Disney+ and Hulu allows these festivals to reach music fans at an entirely different scale.”
In addition to livestreaming the performances, Disney+ and Hulu will also bring back the Live Set, an on-site content studio at each festival. Featuring an updated design, the studio will be programmed with artist interviews and behind-the-scenes content throughout each weekend.
This year, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival takes place June 11 – 14, Lollapalooza July 30 – August 2, and Austin City Limits Music Festival will be October 2 – 4. Additional details about the livestreams will be available ahead of each festival.
*Source: Live Nation Living for Live Global Study 2025. Findings based on a sample of 42,000 respondents 18–54 across 15 countries.
Bringing Massive-Scale Modern Warfare Simulation to a New Generation of Strategy Players
MicroProse is proud to announce the signing of Battlespace Command, a large-scale real-time strategy and warfare simulation game depicting the full spectrum of modern combat across land, air, and sea.
Alongside the announcement, a new trailer has been released, offering a first look at the game’s vast battlefields, combined arms warfare, and deeply simulated modern battlespace.
Battlespace Command places players in command of modern military operations on an unprecedented scale. Infantry squads, armored assaults, helicopters, drones, electronic warfare systems, strategic bombers, naval forces, cruise missiles, and ballistic weapons all operate together in a unified real-time simulation where positioning, coordination, and information dominance determine victory.
Built around massive maps generated from real-world geographic data, Battlespace Command aims to deliver a grounded and authentic portrayal of modern warfare while remaining accessible and engaging as a real-time strategy experience.
Unlike traditional RTS games built around compressed battlefields and abstracted mechanics, Battlespace Command simulates every unit directly on the battlefield. Artillery batteries fire from their real positions, aircraft conduct long-range strike missions across hundreds of kilometers, and radar coverage, communication links, and electronic warfare all play critical roles in combat operations.
