 |
| (Image Source: Drop The Spotlight/NYC Mayor’s Office Of Media And Entertainment) |
From eSports competitions and indie game demos to drone soccer and retro arcade classics, the 2nd Annual NYC Video Game Festival (NYCVGF), hosted by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), brought together 2,000 New Yorkers last May 9, 2026 for a full day celebrating the city’s rapidly growing gaming and digital entertainment community.
MOME Commissioner Rafael Espinal and NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels were on site to celebrate the NYC gaming community, along with Gerard “HipHopGamer” Williams from HOT97 FM radio, for an event that included the Minecraft Education Battle Of The Boroughs eSports Finals (BOTB), presented in partnership with NYC Public Schools. The 2025 defending champions in the Elementary division, team Hyper Pigmentation from Brooklyn’s PS 889, took first place once again while Manhattan’s NEST+ and Staten Island’s Tottenville won for Middle and High School. The NYC Collegiate eSports Circuit Finals (NYCCEC), produced with Video Game Amateurs (VGA), saw The City College of NY (CCNY) win the League of LegendsⓇ competition, and Pace University win the ValorantⓇ competition. For the first time this year, the collegiate finalists shared in a $10,000 prize pool thanks to Red Bull™ and proceeds from festival ticket sales. These student competitions showcase efforts by the City of NY to engage students from kindergarten through college with opportunities to enter the digital games industry. Through hands-on experiences, students are introduced to careers in video game design, coding, city planning, and related fields. Since its inception, the BOTB competition has engaged over 15,000 NYC Public School students, and 2026 set a new participation record, with 3,395 students from schools across all five boroughs, up from 1,200 in the first year in 2021. This year also saw a 44% increase in the number of high school submissions, and a total of 178 schools that have never competed before. These incredible achievements reflect the dedication and enthusiasm of educators, students, and school communities, who continue to make BOTB an unforgettable celebration of creativity, learning, and innovation. The NYCVGF featured a screening of Polygon’s new documentary about the Battle of the Boroughs which can be viewed below.
“New York City is one of the fastest-growing hubs for gaming jobs in the country, and this administration is committed to making sure that growth reaches every borough. The students competing here today are building real skills — in coding, design, and collaboration — and we intend to make sure they have every opportunity to turn those skills into careers right here at home,” said NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “This year’s NYC Video Game Festival was a truly epic celebration of our city’s digital games industry, with a focus on the future of its workforce; the students of all the eSports competitions. This event wasn’t just about playing games, it was about building a pipeline into one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and making sure New Yorkers are first in line for those opportunities. Congratulations to all the winners and participants of the event,” said Commissioner Rafael Espinal of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “I’m completely blown away, I saw a level of greatness in New York City that is not promoted and marketed every day and this changes now. BROOKLYN STUDENTS won the elementary championship in Minecraft, but NEW YORK CITY won the hearts of the community. We need to invest even more into this industry to show that gaming can be a path for a better society,” said Gerard “HipHopGamer” Williams. “Congratulations to this year’s winners of an incredible competition. These students are inspiring not only New York City, but cities and school systems around the world to empower young people to shape the future. We're thrilled to see educators across all five boroughs using Minecraft Education to build skills, engage students, and spark such creative thinking,” said Minecraft Education Co-Lead and Director Justin Edwards.
* * * *
SNK Corporation Establishes New Game Development Studio Led By Industry Veteran Katsuhiro Harada
 |
| (Image Source: THE MAGIC RAIN/YouTube/SNK CORPORATION) |
SNK CORPORATION recently announced the establishment of VS Studio SNK Co. Ltd., a newly founded game development studio led by industry veteran Katsuhiro Harada. VS Studio SNK was established on May 1, 2026 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In conjunction with this establishment, SNK will support the launch of the new studio and plans to make it a consolidated subsidiary. The new studio and SNK will collaborate on game software development to further strengthen their combined creative capabilities.
Harada commented, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our new game development studio, VS Studio. VS Studio's philosophy is "beyond tradition, crafted to perfection". We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate. From a free, open, and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games. We established this studio to bring this vision to life. The "VS" in VS Studio holds various meanings. It represents our roots in "Video game Soft (VS Development Division)", the spirit of "Versus" challenging tradition, and many other meanings symbolizing innovation and challenge, such as "Visionary Standard", "Volition Shift", and "Vanguard Spirit". Having been involved in game development for many years, I've constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best. VS Studio is one answer to that question. By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide. VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio.” SNK Developer Yasuyuki Oda shared, “I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group. We’ve long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together, and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio.”
After graduating from Waseda University, Katsuhiro Harada joined Namco (at the time). For 31 years, he was involved in the development and production of numerous games, including arcade, home console, and VR titles. Furthermore, he focused on global marketing and community activities beyond the scope of game development, supporting fighting game tournaments and fan events around the world for many years since the 1990s. He has contributed to the formation and development of the foundation of today's eSports culture.
* * * *
NBA THE RUN Tips Off June 9, 2026 On PS5, Xbox, And Steam
 |
| (Image Source: Play By Play Studios) |
Play By Play Studios, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are thrilled to share that NBA THE RUN, the 3v3 streetball game featuring NBA stars, is launching on June 9, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Players were able to get a fresh look at the fast-paced, over-the-top hoops action through a beta playtest on Steam held last May 16 featuring new players — including an original street legend named Spin Cycle — plus Knockout Solos, a game mode where each player controls their whole team of 3.
NBA THE RUN is launching with two editions – the Standard Edition will be available for $29.99 while the Deluxe Edition will be available for $39.99, and includes three additional unlocked playable characters (Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors ‘09 Rookie Variant, Luka Dončić Dallas Mavericks ‘18 Rookie Variant, and Kevin Durant Seattle Supersonics ‘07 Rookie Variant), plus 1000 CRED, the in-game currency that players can use to purchase items in the shop, including alternate jerseys, dunk animations, taunts, badges, banners, and more. At the heart of NBA THE RUN is the Run The World Tournament, a four-round Knockout tournament where teams of 3 will go head to head on iconic streetball courts around the world. Each tournament ends with a championship game at one of four specially designated finals courts, where you’ll square off for the Run the World trophy and the ultimate bragging rights. There are three game modes coming at launch, including:
• Knockout Squads — Play on a squad of 3. You control 1 player on the squad, fill out your team with friends / other players and take on the competition.
• Knockout Solos — Build your own team of 3. You control your team and go head to head against other players and their teams of 3.
• Knockout Friends — Your own Private Tournament. Play alone against the AI, crew up w/ friends against the AI, or go head to head against anyone you want to invite (up to 48 players at launch).
At launch, players will take to the courts as one of 30+ NBA stars, along with 5 fictional streetball legends, each with different playstyles, and each uniquely handcrafted and stylized. Gameplay is fast, fluid and responsive, powered by true rollback netcode, ensuring every crossover, dive for loose ball and alley-oop syncs simultaneously for every player in a seamless online experience. NBA THE RUN is the first game from Play By Play Studios, a small independent studio made up of veteran developers who have worked on some of the industry’s biggest franchises and have a passion for sports and video games. The game is being built with care and craftsmanship by a team united in their vision to pay homage to the golden age of sports games, made for today’s players. For more information, visit the game’s official web site at nbatherun.com. Follow the team for updates on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, and join the game’s community on Discord. Subscribe on YouTube to watch 4K trailers, short videos and be amongst the first to learn about incoming game content.
* * * *
Phygital Basketball Is Back: 3-On-3 Freestyle Confirmed As Official Game Title For Games Of The Future 2026
 |
| (Image Source: Inven Global/Phygital International) |
Games Of The Future (GOTF) has announced that 3-On-3 Freestyle, developed and published by Joycity, will be featured as the official game title for Phygital Basketball at GOTF 2026, taking place this summer in Astana. 3-On-3 Freestyle brings its signature street-style energy and fast-paced gameplay to the world’s leading phygital sports event, where digital competition and real-world athletic performance come together. The Phygital Basketball competition will take place on July 29-August 3, 2026, bringing together the best Phygital Basketball athletes and streetball talent from around the world to compete for a US$400,000 prize pool and global prestige. Matches will be staged at the Athletics Sports Complex “Qazaqstan” in Astana, an IAAF-certified 7,000-seat international arena which is set to provide a world-class stage for the high-stakes competition.
One of the most popular disciplines in the tournament, Phygital Basketball, begins on the digital side, where teams compete in the video game 3-On-3 Freestyle, Joycity’s globally recognized street basketball game known for its fast-paced gameplay, stylized characters, and competitive depth. Scores then carry into the physical stage with 2-on-2 basketball on the court determining the final result. And with just over three months to go until GOTF 2026, the Phygital Basketball line-up is taking shape as Team Apex (South Africa), Dangerous (Montenegro) and Pepesqueros A (Guatemala) have all secured direct qualification alongside established teams from GOTF Abu Dhabi 2025 including third-place finishers PBC Astana and reigning champions LIGA PRO TEAM. The final spots will be decided at Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana where clubs from Argentina, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey and beyond will compete on June 10–13, 2026 at the Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace. With the competition taking shape both on and off the court, this announcement reinforces the Games of the Future’s ambition to partner with the world’s leading game publishers and sports organizations to build a new category of international competition. Phygital International Publisher Relations and IP Licensing Lead William Al-Badeesh said, "By featuring leading titles such as 3-On-3 Freestyle, Games Of The Future continues to establish itself as the global platform for phygital sport, uniting athletics, gaming, and entertainment. Phygital competition is redefining what it means to be an athlete, and partnering with publishers who share that vision and bring titles with genuine global followings is how we are building the future of sport."
3-On-3 Freestyle has built a global community of players who embrace the speed, creativity, and culture of street basketball, making it a natural fit for the hybrid phygital competition format. The title was previously featured at GOTF 2025 in Abu Dhabi where the Phygital Basketball competition attracted strong engagement from teams and fans worldwide with the Games as a whole generating nearly 849 million views across digital streaming platforms, traditional TV broadcasters, community streamers and social media. 3-On-3 Freestyle Executive Producer Kyeong Tae-Kim stated, "We are dedicated to giving our full support to this tournament, ensuring '3on3 FreeStyle' provides a premier sports experience for phygital athletes and fans worldwide." GOTF 2026 is expected to bring together more than 900 participants from over 50 countries with over 100,000 fans expected to attend. Full team line-ups and rosters plus broadcast details will be confirmed in the coming weeks. For the latest news on Games Of The Future 2026, visit the tournament's official website at gofuture.games. Fans can also relive the action from previous editions via Phygital+, Phygital International’s dedicated Direct-to-Consumer platform, accessible thru tv.gofuture.games.
* * * *
Team17 Partners With FirstLook As Exclusive Playtesting Platform
 |
| (Image Source: NextBigGames/Team17) |
FirstLook, the player relationship platform built for the games industry, recently announced a new partnership with Team17 which will see the publisher adopt FirstLook as its exclusive playtesting platform across its portfolio of titles. Founded in 1990, Team17 has grown into one of the most respected publishers in the industry with a catalogue spanning globally recognized titles including Worms, Overcooked, The Escapists, Dredge, Golf With Your Friends, and Hell Let Loose. Through this partnership, FirstLook will support Team17’s playtesting and player feedback programs across its portfolio, enabling the publisher to gather structured player insight, refine gameplay experiences, and make more informed decisions throughout development and beyond launch.
The partnership will extend to upcoming titles including Hell Let Loose: Vietnam which recently opened PC playtest signups following its reveal at the Galaxies Showcase as well as further upcoming titles. FirstLook will support these playtesting efforts as development continues. As studios increasingly look to build closer, more direct relationships with their players, many still rely on fragmented tools and disconnected feedback channels. By adopting a more unified approach to playtesting and player insight, Team17 will be able to better understand what players want from its games, and continue improving the player experience throughout the lifecycle. Pragma CEO Eden Chen commented, “Team17 has built a reputation for creating games with strong, lasting communities, and that comes from really understanding their players. We’re excited to support a team that takes that approach seriously. Across the industry, we’re seeing more studios putting an emphasis on listening to players earlier and more consistently, and using that insight to guide how games are developed and supported long-term. Team17 is a shining example of how to do it right.”
Team17 Senior Brand Marketing Manager Phil Boylan added, “We've got a wide portfolio and a lot of passionate player communities, and keeping up with what those players actually want is something we take very seriously. FirstLook lets us do that in one place, across lots of titles, instead of cobbling things together. With Hell Let Loose: Vietnam on the way, having a proper playtesting setup from the start is exactly what the team needs. We're glad to have a partner that gets how games are actually built.” Team17 is the latest in FirstLook’s ever-expanding list of studio and publisher partners. The company continues to support over 200+ studios from indie to AAA, providing tools to manage playtests, gather feedback, and build stronger relationships between developers and players before, during and after launch.
* * * *
Piko Interactive Announces The Return Of Blender Bros. For Game Boy Advance
 |
| (Image Source: Games Asylum/Piko Interactive) |
Piko Interactive is proud to announce the official re-release of Blender Bros. for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, bringing the beloved cult-classic handheld title back to fans and collectors in brand-new physical editions. Originally released during the Game Boy Advance era, Blender Bros. became known for its unique gameplay mix of platforming, racing, exploration, and multiplayer features. The game follows Blender, leader of the Cosmo Keepers, as he battles the anti-human Zooligans in a galaxy where Humans and Animalmen coexist under increasing tension.
Players can glide through stages using Blender’s oversized ears, evolve robotic Mini Bros. companions, tackle platforming challenges, defeat large-scale bosses, and race through explosive stages where collecting keys is the only way to save entire worlds from destruction. The new re-release will be available in multiple editions designed for both retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors. The Standard Edition includes a physical Game Boy Advance cartridge, a full-color box, a printed instruction manual, and a traditional gray cartridge shell while the Special Edition comes with an exclusive foil collector’s box, a translucent colored Game Boy Advance cartridge, a printed instruction manual, and a bonus collectible poster. In addition to the game release, Piko Interactive will also launch the official Blender Bros Original Soundtrack on special colored double-sided vinyl, marking the first-ever vinyl release of the game’s music. Piko Interactive also confirmed that the Game Boy Advance re-release is only the beginning for the Blender Bros. franchise. Future plans currently in development include bringing Blender Bros. to modern gaming platforms, releasing the official manga in English for the first time, and producing collectible toy figures based on characters from the series. These upcoming projects are part of a broader effort to reintroduce Blender Bros. to longtime fans while expanding the franchise to a new generation of players and collectors worldwide.
In a statement, Piko Interactive said, “We’re excited to help preserve and re-introduce Blender Bros. to both longtime fans and a new generation of retro gamers. The Game Boy Advance has one of the strongest collector communities in gaming today, and Blender Bros. remains one of the platform’s most unique hidden gems.” Pre-orders are now open through Piko Interactive’s online store at pikointeractive.com and participating retail partners.
