Games

On April 2nd, Wizards of the Coast released new playtest materials on D&D Beyond, called Unearthed Arcana. This allows D&D players to preview upcoming content and provide feedback that helps shape the game. Unearthed Arcana often gives us a sneak peek at future updates – like when we tested horror-themed classes before the official Season of Horror. This time, the new playtest focuses on villainous character options, suggesting that D&D is exploring darker themes.

After the massive success of the 2015 film adaptation of The Martian, Andy Weir released Project Hail Mary four years later. And honestly, it feels very familiar. Both books rely on the same winning formula: a lone scientist using their wits to survive in a truly impossible situation. That’s a formula that works incredibly well on screen – it’s really about the character, grounded in believable science. But what struck me is how many other sci-fi novels out there could deliver the same kind of thrilling experience. There’s a whole shelf of stories just waiting to be adapted, stories audiences would absolutely flock to see, given the chance.

PlayStation has been facing a constant stream of challenges recently, from the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions in the supply of computer chips, to trade tariffs, rising prices, the rise of artificial intelligence, and now the war in Iran. It feels like one difficulty follows another.

OtherSide Entertainment announced on Steam that their game, Thick as Thieves, is shifting its focus. Originally planned as a player-versus-player-versus-environment (PvPvE) game, the developers discovered they enjoyed creating a solo and co-op experience more as the game and its world, Kilcairn, developed. Because of this, they’ve decided to change the game’s direction to prioritize those modes.

Episode 5, titled “Give Us a Moment,” features the return of Mark’s father, Nolan/Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). He’s back to confront his family after his past betrayal, claiming to have changed and now wanting to protect Earth from the Viltrumite Empire. Nolan asks Mark and his half-brother Oliver (Christian Convery) to join him in a fight against the Viltrumites, and they both hesitantly agree.

DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys has been a major hit, and the popular crew of animal criminals recently returned in The Bad Guys 2 (2025). Now, Netflix has expanded the universe with the spinoff series The Bad Guys: The Series. Season 2 of the show premiered on April 2nd, with all ten episodes available to stream. The series is a prequel, showing Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha as they first attempt – often unsuccessfully – to become notorious bad guys.

Poison Ivy, facing opposition from Gotham’s police commissioner Vandal Savage, decided to run for mayor to gain an advantage. Surprisingly, she won! Now in charge of Gotham, Ivy’s victory came at a cost: her relationship with Harley Quinn. This breakup upset many fans, and DC Comics has now explained what caused it – and unfortunately, the reason seems rather flimsy.

Dark Horse Comics has given fans a first look at a larger, special hardcover edition of Marvel’s Mightiest Monsters. This book, written by comic historians John Lind and Chris Ryall, explores the history of Marvel’s monster characters. The 416-page collection will showcase stories featuring iconic monsters like Fin Fang Foom, Groot, and Monsteroso, alongside work from legendary creators including Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber, Steve Ditko, and Stan Lee – and that’s only a small part of what’s inside.

Game director Joe Ziegler mentioned that upcoming changes are planned for the next two patches. He didn’t specify exactly what would be adjusted, but indicated the first set of changes should arrive in the next patch, and another set about a week later.

Here’s a look at the three free games PlayStation Plus Essential members will receive in April 2026. They’ll be available to download and play from April 7th until May 4th.