Daily Archives: April 28, 2025

Business, Games, Gaming, Mobile, News

Overwatch & Starcraft Mobile games reportedly in the road for development

Blizzard Entertainment’s latest strategic decision has sent waves through the gaming industry: the company has chosen Nexon, the developers behind The Finals, to publish the mobile versions of Overwatch and a new StarCraft game. This partnership could redefine Blizzard’s presence in the mobile gaming market, signaling a significant expansion effort.

Blizzard has been actively engaging with major Korean game companies since late 2024 according to local South Korea press, offering content development rights for StarCraft and regional service rights for Overwatch Mobile in Korea and Japan. Ultimately, Nexon secured the deal, placing them at the forefront of bringing these legendary franchises to mobile platforms. This move aligns with Blizzard’s restructuring efforts and desire to establish a stronger foothold in mobile gaming, an area where they’ve previously had mixed success.

The mobile adaptation of Overwatch, internally referred to as Overwatch 3, is expected to bridge the gap between console and mobile players.

While specific gameplay mechanics remain undisclosed, reports indicate that Blizzard is designing the experience to suit mobile audiences, potentially incorporating elements from popular mobile shooters and MOBAs. Blizzard aims to maintain Overwatch’s signature fast-paced, hero-based combat while ensuring accessibility and engaging progression systems.

Meanwhile, the StarCraft franchise, which has seen minimal updates since 2016, is set for a revival. Details regarding its gameplay and format remain uncertain, but speculation suggests it could be an open-world shooter. This aligns with Blizzard’s previous job listings for an unannounced project, hinting at a fresh approach for the franchise.

Whether Blizzard opts for a traditional RTS or takes an entirely new direction, the new StarCraft game has the potential to reinvigorate the brand for a modern audience.

Nexon’s involvement in Blizzard’s mobile expansion is a key factor in the project’s potential success. Known for free-to-play models like Combat Arms and MapleStory, Nexon has extensive experience in publishing large-scale multiplayer games.

Their expertise in maintaining live-service titles and adapting PC franchises to mobile could ensure that Overwatch Mobile and StarCraft find their place among successful mobile games.

With Blizzard’s ongoing development efforts, the gaming community eagerly awaits further announcements regarding gameplay details, monetization strategies, release dates, and global availability.

If executed properly, these mobile adaptations could introduce Overwatch and StarCraft to a broader audience, solidifying Blizzard’s presence in the mobile gaming market while breathing new life into its beloved franchises.

Games, Gaming, News, Nintendo

CD Projekt Red is going full throttle with a surprising expectation of Cyberpunk 2077 Nintendo Switch 2 version

When Cyberpunk 2077 first launched in 2020, it was met with both excitement and controversy. While the game’s ambitious open-world design and gripping narrative were praised, its performance on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One left much to be desired. Players encountered severe frame rate drops, texture pop-ins, and long loading times, making the experience frustrating for many. Fast forward to 2025, and CD Projekt Red is now claiming that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 will be superior to its PS4 and Xbox One counterparts.

Why is the Switch 2 Version Better?

According to Tim Green, an engineer at CD Projekt Red, the Switch 2 hardware has allowed the developers to create a version of Cyberpunk 2077 that surpasses the previous-generation console editions. Here’s why:

1. Improved Resolution and Performance

  • The Switch 2 version will run at 1080p in both quality and performance modes when docked, and at 720p in performance mode when played in handheld mode.
  • Unlike the PS4 version, which struggled to maintain 30 FPS, the Switch 2 edition benefits from Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), ensuring smoother gameplay.

2. Faster Storage and Load Times

  • One of the biggest issues with Cyberpunk 2077 on PS4 and Xbox One was the slow storage speeds, leading to long loading times and texture pop-ins.
  • The Switch 2 features UFS 3.1 storage, which operates at 2,100 MB/s, compared to the 100 MB/s speed of the PS4’s hard drive. This means faster asset streaming, reducing popping issues and ensuring a more seamless experience.

3. More Memory for a Smoother Experience

  • The PS4 had only 5 GB of usable RAM, which severely limited Cyberpunk 2077’s ability to render complex environments.
  • The Switch 2 boasts 12 GB of RAM, with at least 10 GB available for games, allowing for better texture loading and fewer graphical compromises.

We are currently targeting 1080p resolution in TV quality mode, TV performance mode, and handheld quality mode—and targeting 720p performance in handheld performance mode.

Switch 2 docked play offers more power, Green added, “but [the game] still utilizes Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) when players take it on the go.

Cyberpunk 2077 has seen a tremendous amount of ongoing love as we’ve continued to improve the game. In bringing the Ultimate Edition to Nintendo Switch 2 we were able to build on top of that already solid base.

Development still had challenges, of course, as any development process does, but we’ve been careful in picking tradeoffs to not compromise the game’s vision.

We haven’t had to fight with fitting into memory.

And the speed of the data storage has helped alleviate some of those early streaming problems. This has allowed us to focus our attention on improving other things, and we’re very happy with the result.

-Tim Green, CD Projekt Red engineer in an inteview with Game File

CD Projekt Red’s Optimism

Despite the challenges of porting such a demanding game to a hybrid console, CD Projekt Red remains confident in the Switch 2 version. Green acknowledged that the development process was not without difficulties, but the team was able to make smart sacrifices without compromising the core vision of the game.

With the Ultimate Edition of Cyberpunk 2077 launching alongside the Switch 2, players will get to experience both the base game and the Phantom Liberty expansion in one package. Given the improvements in resolution, performance, storage speed, and memory, this version might just be the redemption Cyberpunk 2077 needed on consoles.