“We are always exploring ways to introduce Borderlands to new audiences,” said Zynga in its statement. “Zynga’s NaturalMotion studio is currently conducting a limited-time test for an untitled Borderlands mobile project, with Gearbox providing creative guidance on the franchise’s design, history, and lore. We hope that players enjoy this new Borderlands experience and look forward to their feedback.”

Speculation on a mobile version of Borderlands first started popping up thanks to an App Store listing for Borderlands Mobile. Available only on iPhone, the free-to-play shooter’s listing confirms that it is being developed by Zynga. Its description also noted that it features “devastating action gameplay that’s been fully optimized for mobile,” as well as a similar gameplay loop to the console and PC Borderlands games, where players take on missions to fight enemies in the hopes of getting brand new loot.

The lack of any fanfare in the release of Borderlands Mobile has also indicated that Zynga opted for a soft launch of the title, releasing it in limited territories on specific platforms to ensure early adopters could get plenty of time to test the game and offer feedback. Through this, the company can then make changes to the game before it is launched to a wider global audience.

This has also led to gameplay videos popping up on YouTube, showcasing just how Borderlands Mobile plays. As can be seen below in Techzamazing’s video, an introductory cutscene provides some quick context for players that might be new to the Borderlands franchise. It doesn’t take long for gameplay to begin, however, and Borderlands Mobile retains the franchise’s fast-paced FPS action.

Zynga working with Gearbox Entertainment to bring Borderlands to mobile platforms shouldn’t come as a big surprise, since the CEO of parent company Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, had spoken about using Zynga’s expertise to bring “core” IPs to mobile platforms back in 2022.

Following an acquisition valued at $12.7 billion, Zelnick noted that Zynga would work with other studios under the Take-Two banner to bring franchises like Red Dead, GTA, Borderlands, and NBA 2K, among others, to mobile platforms. This, he noted, would help with bringing the franchises to wider audiences that don’t otherwise exist on PC and consoles.

“We believe we have the best collection of console and PC intellectual property in the interactive entertainment business and it’s basically nearly entirely un-exploited from mobile and free-to-play around the world. Zynga’s best-in-class studios can help us develop that property,” he said.

“Their best-in-class free-to-play mobile publishing operations can bring that to consumers, delight those consumers and create recurrent consumer spending along the way. The list is endless and it’s early days. We’re just thrilled to have this opportunity to be able to work together and create what we’re certain will be of extraordinary value going forward.”

Popular leaker CentroLeaks slammed the release in a post on X, lamenting the poor Switch 2 performance (keep in mind that this is a Switch 1 game), a lack of popular Pokémon in a limited roster, not being able to automatically add friends over from your Switch list, and so on. “Tons” of competitive items are also missing and there’s no support for local wireless play. Others have since chimed in, with a 30fps lock on performance, along with tedious menus, standing out the most among all the other issues.

While there is hope from a section of the player base who expect additional Pokémon to make their way to the game, and potential fixes coming along, it’s still disheartening to see what could have been a serious contender for competitive Pokémon play get such a lukewarm response. Pokémon Pokopia, by comparison, has received a very encouraging response, one that now seems a little out of Pokémon Champions‘ reach.

https://x.com/CentroLeaks/status/2041751437047161194

This one’s free to play for those of you who haven’t kept up with it, and you can dive in on your Switch, Android, or iOS. It takes you to the Frontier, where you’re going to have to capture Pokémon and train them to take on opponents in battles that put a fresh but familiar spin on the formula to enable varied strategies for both newcomers and veterans alike.

If you’re on Pokémon Home, you’ll be pleased to know that you can bring over your Pokémon. While the trailer is somewhat light on the details, the battle-focused multiplayer title includes familiar abilities and mechanics, including Mega Evolutions. In fact, some, like Mega Meganium, Mega Emboar, and Mega Feraligatr from Pokémon Legends: Z-A even get “never-before-seen abilities.”

You can learn more here, but if you’ve ever wanted to prove your mettle as a trainer, Pokémon Champions is a sure-fire way to do that. It’s free to play and can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop. For those seeking a more traditional Pokémon experience, Pokémon Winds and Waves is launching in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2. Head here for more details.

If you think the best defense is a good offense, this one’s going to have you shredding your enemies with style – as long as you can time your parries and use its varied move set as effectively as possible. It gives off some serious Sekiro vibes, enabling a lot of moves that give it a distinct flavor.

It’s looking quite handy against a few enemies and bosses that will be debuting in Chapter 2. Players traverse across Liangzhou in the upcoming updae, which is touted as a “refreshing frontier landscape” with a lot of new things to explore, including some snow-capped landscapes. We’re going to be trying out the Heng Blade as soon as it drops on April 2, 2026, and hope to be sheathing it with a flourish after taking down formidable enemies with deft precision.

Where Winds Meet is available for PS5, iOS, Android, and PC. You can learn more the Hexi Expansion’s second chapter here, including new activities, quests, bosses, and much more.

Headlining chapter 2 will be the new zone, Liangzhou, which players can access on completion of the Hexi Campaign – Whitecrown Fortress quest. The area has been described as “a refreshing frontier landscape” thanks to its snow and a “city shaped like a jade cup”. The atmosphere of the area is also noted as being “entirely different” when compared to Jade Gate Pass.

On wrapping up pre-requisites, players can access the Lost Chapter: Ten Through the Pass to unlock Liangzhou. There are also new collectibles to find—Liangzhou poems—which can be used to gain rewards from the Gilt-Fin Collection, including things like Echo Jade, and Recipe – Snowy Stone Lantern, among other things.

The introduction of a new zone also brings with it a new chapter to the main story. Players can access the new chapter, dubbed Hexi Main Chapter – A Lonely Moon Over Chang’an, after having reached level 14 and completing Hexi Main Chapter: The Burlap Sack. The story will revolve around a young musician who, after being on a poignant journey, finds his home of Chang’an feels unfamiliar.

The update will also bring Chapter 3 of the main story, dubbed Paper Moon, which will revolve around a shared longing for Chang’an. Rewards include Accessory – Paper Moon and Inscription – Observe Freedom, among other things.

There are also plenty of side quests to take on, like volumes 4 and 5 of the Jianghu Legacy series, and Death of the Governor, which revolves around an old mansion “shrouded in wind and snow”, complete with a mysterious conspiracy surrounding it. A brand new World Boss will be roaming the realm of Liangzhou—the Moongazing Maiden—which rewards Helm – Swaying Jade Osmanthus, and Accessory – Verdant Sonata as rewards for the first time you beat it. Subsequent attempts through the Sword Forge Challenges in the Trial interface will offer even more rewards.

Two more world bosses—the Everdeer and the Pocketrupt Circus—will join the Moongazing Maiden in offering players intense challenges. Much like other world bosses, these two will also offer unique rewards on your first victory against them, along with cosmetic rewards on subsequent attempts. As for end-game content, hitting level 86 and having a group ready will allow you to take on Bloodstained Sands.

For players looking forward to expanding their wardrobe, the new Raging Tides sect can be joined at level 10 and gives you access to new appearance sets and decorations, among other things. A new martial art—Stonesplit – Strength—can be learned, giving players access to the Phalanxbane Blade and Snowparting Blade moves.

Those looking for non-combat challenges can partake in the Landlords mode of Wandering Paths—a new three-player card game. The only requirements are reaching level 32 and completing the Kaifeng Main Chapter: New Arrival in Kaifeng – Begin the Journey quest.

Where Winds Meet is a free-to-play game available on PC, PS5, Android and iOS. For more details, check out our thoughts on its Hexi expansion so far.

You get to bring your buddies along to New York, which needs all of its Agents to get out onto its streets stat. The city is under threat, if the first game is any indication, and it’s up to you and your allies to stop it.

Of course, you’re going to want to look your best as you embark on intense battles, and the game offers extensive customization options to make your character truly feel like an extension of you. A unique look also makes you easier to find in crowded battlefields, the likes of which are looking like an everyday thing in this one. The gunplay looks quite good as well, which can make combat feel quite immersive as you tear through enemy ranks with calculated precision.

The Division: Resurgence could be just what you need to scratch that itch until the monster that is The Division 3 finally makes its way into your hands. While the latter still doesn’t have a release window almost three years later, fans shouldn’t worry, even if executive producer Julian Gerighty is no longer at the helm.

“All players receive a free bundle of Gems and Sigils, so you can enjoy all content Blades has to offer,” reads the in-game message. “Thank you for playing, and we hope you have enjoyed your time in Blades.”

The Elder Scrolls: Blades was released in May 2020 on Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch. While free-to-play on the mobile platforms, the game had a $14.99 price tag on the Switch. It is worth noting that, in light of this announcement, The Elder Scrolls: Blades has been delisted from all platform stores.

In the same Reddit thread announcing the end of service, many commenters discussed its various issues, with most comments criticizing Bethesda’s monetization practices. “I never got into the game because of the monetization but it is a shame it will be unplayable,” wrote one. “I played it and it’s not terrible for a mobile game, but you pretty quickly hit a wall where you are stuck waiting for days long upgrades and the second it was like ‘real money will make this faster’ I stopped,” wrote another.

The Elder Scrolls: Blades was originally announced all the way back in 2018, where Bethesda described its various gameplay aspects, like combat, questing, dungeons, and a customizable town. The company had also mentioned that it would be a multiplayer experience, where players could invite friends to their towns. While the title is now shutting down, initial ambitions were larger, with the company having plans to bring it to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and even VR headsets.

The story of The Elder Scrolls: Blades is set between the events of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The title offered three main game modes: Abyss, Arena, and Town. Abyss revolved around players taking on an endless dungeon to see how far they could get. Arena, on the other hand, focused on PvP combat. And finally, the Town is where most of the in-game story is found, with players taking on quests and interacting with various characters.

In our 3 out of 10 review, we noted that the drawbacks of The Elder Scrolls: Blades largely stemmed from the fact that it was never meant to be a full-fledged new entry in the franchise. Despite this, however, we praised the Arena mode and the process of rebuilding the town. However, the negatives far outnumbered the positives, with issues ranging from combat lacking any real depth and dungeons being small and linear, to its grindy nature felt designed to force real-world money spending.

The trailer, clocking in at over a minute and a half in length, first gives us a glimpse at some fantastical-looking areas, which the trailer’s title implies will be Liangzhou. After the protagonist spends some time exploring the new area, we get thrown into what appears to be a boss fight. The encounter is an intense one, with the boss capable of summoning lightning strikes that players can deal with by either dodging or parrying.

Everstone Studio revealed the April 2nd release date for chapter 2 just last week. Its story picks up where the first chapter left off, with the player having experienced the complex political landscape in the Jade Gate Pass desert. While details about the upcoming chapter’s story haven’t yet been revealed, a previous trailer gave us a look at some of its new characters.

The Hexi expansion for Where Winds Meet was released earlier this month, and was made available to all players across PC, PS5, iOS and Android through a free update titled Home Afar. Along with giving players an entirely new region to explore, the expansion also brought gameplay additions, like new Mystic Skills, Taichi and Moonleap Morph. The former is a combat-oriented skill, while the latter aids the player in traversing the vast desert’s sands.

The Hexi expansion can be accessed by players quite simply, by completing the Qinghe Campaign – Still Shore quest and picking up the Hexi Main Chapter – By Lamplight quest. Doing so unlocks the entire new region, giving players plenty of new things to do, like finding appearance sets and other cosmetic items. Players who enjoy exploration can also set out to get their hands on Hexi poems, which can be used to open the Gilt-Fin Collection that includes recipes and enhancement items.

The first chapter of the expansion also brought with it a new World Boss—the Wandering Ark—which roams around in the sandstorms of Straying Steed Sands. Beating it for the first time offers rewards like the Withered Twig hair ornament, along with a host of other things, including Echo Jades, Medicinal Tales, and Inner Way Note: Custom Chests. More rewards are available through Sword Forge Challenges, accessible through the Trials interface.

We found the Hexi expansion to be a great addition to Where Winds Meet, referring to its first chapter as a solid start. The story also left us eagerly awaiting Chapter 2, as well as other future content, like the Heng Blade. Generally speaking, we recommended the expansion to anyone who already enjoyed the base game.

Following the first chapter’s foray into the sprawling desert of the Jade Gate Pass, you’re going to be thrust headfirst into a complex political landscape this time around, with interesting characters bookmarking a journey that pits you against some fearsome opponents. There’s a sycophant who seems to live on every word his emperor tells him, and a massive snake that’s looking quite nasty even though it only shows up for a couple of seconds.

Overall, it seems that Liangzhou could follow in the footsteps of the chapter that preceded it, which we found to be an enjoyable addition to an already solid title. The latest additions to the Hexi expansion continue to bring more sub-regions and bosses to the game, and are sure to help it sustain some astounding player counts that its managed since launching in 2025.

The trailer is below if this one has caught your eye, and you’re going to enjoy the glimpse of Liangzhou that it has to offer.

The expansion brings with it several new things, including new Mystic Skills like Tai Chi and Moonleap Morph. While the former is a combat-oriented skill, the latter revolves around traversal, allowing players to transform into a fish that can glide across the new area’s sands.

To access the expansion, players will have to complete Qinghe Campaign – Still Shore, after which they can start the quest Hexi Main Chapter – By Lamplight, and unlock the entire region in the process. There are plenty of things to find, including entire appearance sets, and other cosmetics like nameplates. Players can also collect Hexi poems, which will allow the opening of the Gilt-Fin Collection to claim enhancement items and recipes.

The Whitecrown Fortress campaign will also be opened up, which players can re-challenge to get their hands on the Iron Domination accessory. Players can also trade for the accessory through the Season Shop.

As for high-end content, the Wandering Ark is a new World Boss that can be found roaming in the great sandstorms of Straying Steed Sands in the Hexi region. Beating it for the first time rewards players with the Withered Twig hair ornament, 5 Inner Way Note: Custom Chests, 3 Medicinal Tales, and 20 Echo Jades, among other drops. Players can get more rewards by starting Sword Forge Challenges through the Trials interface to get their hands on the Wandering Ark avatar, the Trial: Anchor the Ark badge, and additional Echo Jade.

Other new content includes the new Bamboocut – Dust martial art path, which will give players access to the corresponding Umbrella Martial Art, Everspring Umbrella, and the Rope Dart Martial Art, Unfettered Rope Dart. A new Mystic Skill, Flute of the Tides, can be unlocked after completing Hexi Main Chapter: By Lamplight and hitting level 14.

Those interested in multiplayer campaigns can check out the new 10-player Hero’s Realm campaign dubbed Yama’s Seal. The level 81 version of the campaign is available right now, while the Supreme version, designed for level 86 players, will open up on March 20th.

Looking to the future, the studio has also confirmed that it will be kicking off a “Mid-Season Sprint” from March 13th to 19th. As long as players have completed Qinghe Main Chapter: A Horse Neighs in the Forest – Still Shore, they can try and complete their weekly quest to earn rewards like Saver and Bonus Talismans, Echo Jades, and more.

March 20th will see character development continue with new caps for Solo Mode Level, Character Level, and Gear Tier. A new Development System will also be introduced, with more details to be revealed at a later date. The same update will bring with it a new 5-player Sword Trial campaign for level 86 players, and phase 2 of the Taiping Mausoleum Path Trial.

For our thoughts on Where Winds Meet’s Hexi expansion, check out our hands-on impressions. The title is available on PC, PS5, iOS and Android.