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Debut

Sony Doesn’t Sound Too Concerned About Switch 2, Even After A Record-Breaking Debut

by admin June 16, 2025

Switch 2 is so hot right now. So much so that Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Hideaki Nishino was asked if the PlayStation team is worried about the system’s increased performance and third-party support, possibly leading to tougher competition for PS5. The answer boiled down to: Not really.

Nishino discussed the Switch 2 during a Sony business presentation, where he even touched on PS6 (but not in name) and cloud gaming. Switch 2 set a new record for fastest-selling system of all time, with Nintendo stating it sold 3.5 million consoles in four days. Nishino said successful launches like this can be a boon for everybody. He noted that “catalysts in the market are great for the industry as a whole, as they invigorate the excitement and demand more broadly,” per VGC.

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The PlayStation executive also conveyed confidence in the PS5 as a whole, especially when it comes to gaming on a TV. “PlayStation 5 is designed for an immersive gaming experience, and this includes the innovative DualSense controller features as well. We believe PS5-level performance is required to achieve a great experience on big screens. And in this way, we have provided a unique offering for players and creators in this current console generation.”

However, Sony is reportedly developing a PS5 portable system, possibly designed to compete with Switch 2 and Steam Deck. In the 2000s and 2010s, Sony battled in the handheld market space against Nintendo with the PSP and PS Vita.

Sony leadership didn’t just talk about Switch 2, though. Herman Hulst, who’s CEO of the studio business group at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said that the company remains committed to live-service games. Bungie’s Marathon is next up in that department for PlayStation, and it’s set to release September 23.

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June 16, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Stellar Blade PC debut welcomes record numbers for a PlayStation published single player release

by admin June 14, 2025

UPDATE 13/6/25: Stellar Blade really has got off to a stellar start on PC, and has now reached a concurrent player peak of 183,830 over on Steam.

The original story continues below.

ORIGINAL 12/6/25: The PlayStation published Stellar Blade made its way onto PC last night, and has got off to a very good start indeed.

According to SteamDB, Stellar Blade has already welcomed a peak player count of 99,980, less than 24 hours since its release on PC. This means it currently has the highest peak concurrent player count for a PlayStation published single player game on the platform.

To compare, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered has a peak player count of 66,436, while Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition has a peak of 56,557. Meanwhile, The Last of Us Part 1 has a peak of 36,496 and its sequel – The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered – has a peak of 30,690.

Stellar Blade PC features trailer. Watch on YouTube

As for what players are saying, right now Stellar Blade is sitting quite happily with an “overwhelmingly positive” Steam review average. “In a world full of unoptimised slop it really is great to see a game run so smoothly,” reads one such review.

So, yes, things are going well for Stellar Blade’s PC release. Back in February of this year, Shift Up stated in a financial report it expects the PC version to exceed console sales.

“In the AAA game market, PC devices have a higher market share than consoles, so we expect the performance of the PC version to exceed that of the console version,” the company said at the time. “We are particularly observing trends such as the significant expansion of the single-player action game market in the Asian gaming industry.”

Image credit: SteamDB/Eurogamer

Not sure if the game is for you? In Eurogamer’s original Stellar Blade review we noted it “has a fair bit of weirdness”, but ” its killer tunes and vibey, flow-state combat – plus a transformative hard mode – are enough to leave you entranced”.

If you are popping into Stellar Blade for the first time now that the game is available on PC, but need a little helping hand here or there, be sure to check out our guides. Here’s one on all Stellar Blade can locations to get you started.

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June 14, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Poker pro’s Kill Tony debut stuns crowd after $40K bet with Tony Hinchcliffe

by admin June 12, 2025

Poker star Doug Polk, one of the best heads-up players in the world, risked $40,000 against Tony Hinchcliffe for the chance to appear on Kill Tony.

Kill Tony is the internet’s most popular comedy podcast and has been a staple on YouTube for many years, with the show only recently putting special episodes on Netflix.

The show features amateur comedians performing one-minute sets in front of comedy legends such as Ari Shaffir, Joe Rogan, Tom Segura, and sometimes mainstream celebs like Tucker Carlson and Ric Flair.

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Typically, the amateurs only get to perform if their name is pulled out of a bucket, but poker pro Doug Polk had a different strategy in mind to appear on the podcast. It almost cost him a lot of money.

Tony Hinchcliffe beat Poker pro for $20K but loses double or nothing bet

According to Tony, he was at a bar drunk when he was informed that Doug Polk was in attendance and decided to compete against him.

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Polk risked $20,000 and in return, Tony offered him the chance to do a minute on Kill Tony. Well, despite being drunk, Tony was able to take round one after just 20 minutes.

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However, the overconfident Hinchcliffe wasn’t done there. Up $20K, he challenged the poker star to go double or nothing, meaning he could win $40K, but in return, Tony put two KT appearances on the line.

“So, I won $20,000 and we doubled the bet to $40,000 and any day now he’s going to be popping in on this show,” Tony recalled. “So yeah, he won that second game.”

On June 9, Polk made his Kill Tony debuted and absolutely crushed it and had the best set of the night according to Tony and the guests.

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“Obviously people who can play poker professionally are already living a lot of people’s dreams. The fact you’re chasing this rush and it is, as you can probably feel, a crazy adrenaline rush, same type of thing as when you’re in a big hand and you don’t f**king know what’s going on,” Hinchliffe commended him. “But you got it.”

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Polk still has one more Kill Tony appearance set to happen, but it’s not clear yet when that will be. However, given the success of his first set, there’s always a chance he returns for one of the show’s future Netflix specials, especially with the poker star chasing that aforementioned rush.

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June 12, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Conduit, Braza Group Debut Stablecoin FX for Payments in Brazil

by admin June 12, 2025

Conduit, a stablecoin-focused cross-border payments provider, said on Thursday it has teamed up with Brazil’s Braza Group for real-time foreign exchange (FX) swaps between the Brazilian real and major foreign currencies using stablecoins.

The service allows users to convert Brazilian real to U.S. dollars or euros and settle transactions in minutes with stablecoins —a sharp departure from the traditional FX infrastructure, where settlement can take up to three days, according to the press release.

Braza, which owns Brazil’s largest FX bank and processed $67 billion in transactions last year, launched its own real-pegged stablecoin BBRL on XRP Ledger earlier this year. Braza will mint BBRL tokens when a payment originates in Brazil.

Conduit then swaps the BBRL for dollar- or euro-pegged stablecoins and delivers the funds to the recipient’s bank or wallet abroad.

Stablecoins—cryptocurrencies whose values are typically pegged to fiat currencies—have emerged as one of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors. Their use in cross-border payments and remittances is expanding rapidly, particularly in developing markets where traditional banking channels can be costly or unreliable.

Global bank Citi recently projected the sector could grow from $250 billion to $1.6 trillion by 2030. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are also pushing forward stablecoin-specific regulation, encouraging businesses and financial institutions to explore ways to use stablecoins for payments.

“Creating seamless on-ramps between fiat and digital currencies, together with on-chain stablecoin FX swaps, has the potential to completely transform how cross border payments are made,” said Conduit CEO Kirill Gertman.

Conduit provides infrastructure that bridges blockchains and traditional financial rails. The Boston-based startup raised $36 million last month and reported $10 billion annualized transaction volume.

Read more: Conduit Raises $36M to Expand Stablecoin-Based Cross-Border Payments Beyond SWIFT

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June 12, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Gemini Exchange Files for IPO After Circle’s NYSE Debut

by admin June 6, 2025

Gemini Space Station, Inc., founded by the Winklevoss brothers, has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering (IPO) of its Class A common stock. This move comes after the recent debut of Circle’s IPO on the NYSE.

At this stage, Gemini hasn’t yet decided how many shares it will sell or what the price range will be. These details will be shared later, once the SEC completes its review of the filing. The IPO will only move forward if market conditions are right.

Gemini emphasized that this announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or buy shares. Any actual sale of securities will be carried out according to U.S. securities laws under the Securities Act of 1933, and in line with Rule 135, which governs how companies can communicate about their IPO filings.

Also Read: Circle IPO Goes Live! Check the Live Price of CRCL Here

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June 6, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Circle IPO Skyrockets Over 200% on NYSE Debut, Hits $100

by admin June 5, 2025

Circle Internet Group Inc. (CRCL), the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, made a blockbuster debut on the New York Stock Exchange today, with shares surging more than 206% by hitting $100 in early trading.

The $CRCL opened at $66 but quickly soared to $102.92, marking one of the most dramatic IPO day rallies for a fintech firm in recent years. The trading volume crossed 9.86 million shares by 12:50 PM EDT, reflecting intense investor interest.

The bullish sentiment by market participants has provided the 200% premium over its initial public offering price of $31.

At press time price has dropped down to $79.56, showing great volatility in the market.

According to data from the market dashboard:

Day’s Range: $66.60 – $103.75
Market Cap: $17B
52-Week Range: $66.60 – $103.75
Previous Close: $31.00

Circle’s listing comes at a pivotal moment for the crypto industry, as regulators and institutions increasingly embrace blockchain-based financial infrastructure. The IPO, long anticipated since Circle first filed to go public, was seen as a bellwether for the broader stablecoin market.

The rally positions Circle among the top-performing IPOs of 2025 and strengthens its foothold in traditional financial markets. Analysts say the surge signals strong market confidence in regulated digital finance and the growing role of USDC as a stable, compliant digital dollar alternative.

Also Read: Stablecoin Issuer Circle Goes Public on NYSE with CRCL Ticker

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June 5, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Circle Upsizes IPO to $1.05 Billion Ahead of NYSE Debut

by admin June 5, 2025

Stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group has once again increased the size of its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The USDC manager now plans to raise $1.05 billion by selling 34 million shares at $31 each, pricing above its previously marketed range.

According to a Bloomberg report, this latest move boosts Circle’s valuation to $6.9 billion, based on over 220 million outstanding shares noted in its June 2 SEC filing. The company has also granted underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 5.1 million shares, further signaling confidence in investor demand.

This will mark Circle’s third IPO attempt. It originally filed on April 1, but paused following global market jitters triggered by President Trump’s tariff announcements. A 2021 IPO attempt via a merger with an Irish holding company also fell through.

Previously, Circle was offering 32 million shares between $27–$28, up from an initial offer of 24 million at $24–$26. Under the older price range, Circle expected net proceeds of $319 million, earmarked for taxes, product development, expansion, and possible acquisitions.

Circle doesn’t plan to offer dividends yet, choosing instead to reinvest profits to grow its business. Meanwhile, BlackRock is reportedly planning to acquire at least 10% of Circle’s shares when it lists on the New York Stock Exchange on June 5.

Circle is making a bold move as crypto IPOs are gaining momentum, as eToro, BitGo and Kraken are also planning to go public this year.

Also Read: Circle IPO Is a Big Opportunity to Enter Crypto: Expert’s Advice

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June 5, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Stablecoin Giant Circle Raises $1.1B in IPO, Valued at $6.9B Ahead of NYSE Debut

by admin June 4, 2025

In brief

Circle and its shareholders sold 34 million shares, raising $1.1 billion in an upsized offering.
The deal values the firm at $6.9 billion on an outstanding share basis, and $8.1 billion fully diluted.
The listing comes as U.S. lawmakers advance stablecoin regulation.

Circle has priced its initial public offering at $31 per share, raising approximately $1.1 billion in an upsized deal that exceeded both initial size and guidance.

The offering values the stablecoin issuer at $6.9 billion based on outstanding shares, with a fully diluted valuation of $8.1 billion including options and warrants.

The company and selling shareholders sold a total of 34 million shares, up from 32 million as of Monday. Circle initially aimed to sell 24 million shares at $24 to $26.

A surge in demand pushed the range up to $27–$28 earlier this week, before pricing topped it late on Wednesday.

Shares will begin trading on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CRCL.

USDC, Circle’s flagship product, currently accounts for about 24.5% of the stablecoin market with $61.5 billion in circulation, according to CoinGecko data.

BlackRock, which manages the $53.3 billion reserve fund backing USDC, is expected to acquire 10% of IPO shares, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.

ARK Invest also expressed interest in purchasing up to $150 million worth of shares.

Circle reported $156 million in net income on $1.68 billion in revenue for 2024, a decline from $268 million in net income the prior year, according to its April S-1 filing.

The listing comes as Congress advances legislation to regulate stablecoins, with final passage expected sometime in August.

Circle, which received a New York BitLicense in 2015, is widely seen as one of the most compliance-forward players in the space.

This story is developing and will be updated once trading begins.

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June 4, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

MindsEye studio execs depart Build a Rocket Boy, one week before game’s debut

by admin June 3, 2025

The Chief Legal Officer and Chief Financial Officer at MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy have left the company, a week before the game’s release.

Writing on LinkedIn, former CLO Riley Graebner said he was “proud” of what the team has accomplished during his time there, stating that during his tenure the company had “doubled” in size, to “over 450 employees”. Graebner did not give a reason for this departure.

In addition, Build a Rocket Boy’s CFO Paul Bland has also left the company after two years.

The Death of Console Exclusives Is Inevitable and I Don’t Know How I Feel About It. Watch on YouTube

Over on the MindsEye Discord, many have expressed concern that two key members of the Build a Rocket Boy team are leaving so close to the game’s release. As a reminder, MindsEye is launching on 10th June, across PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

“It could be a sign of very troubling internal affairs, or [they] don’t want to deal with potential legal issues if MindsEye comes out broken,” one member has speculated.

“Trying to keep an open mind, but that’s sus indeed..,” another wrote. “People don’t bail right before they think they’re releasing a hit usually. If you were the CFO at Rockstar a week out from GTA6 launch, would you resign?”

Eurogamer has contacted Build a Rocket Boy for further comment on Graebner and Bland’s departures.

Image credit: LinkedIn/Eurogamer

Word of Graebner and Bland’s departures from Build a Rocket Boy come days after the studio’s co-CEO Mark Gerhard suggested the negative reaction to MindsEye so far had been paid for in a “concerted effort” against the studio ahead of its release.

In an exchange on the MindsEye Discord server, Gerhard was asked if he believes “all the people who reacted negatively were financed by someone”, to which he replied: “100 percent.”

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June 3, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

OpenSea Relaunches Trading Platform With Rewards Ahead of SEA Token Debut

by admin June 1, 2025

In brief

OpenSea’s OS2 trading platform is now fully live, enabling NFT and fungible token trading across 19 blockchains.
The platform’s new XP-based rewards program, Voyages, encourages on-chain activity ahead of the future SEA token launch.
The launch follows regulatory relief, with the SEC recently closing its probe into OpenSea.

OpenSea has ended the beta phase of its reengineered marketplace, dubbed OS2, bringing full token trading across 19 blockchains, a new on-chain rewards system called “Voyages,” and structural changes that hint at its upcoming token launch.

“OS2 is the foundation for the next generation of OpenSea,” CEO Devin Finzer told Decrypt. “We’ve rebuilt the platform from the ground up to become the best destination for everything on-chain, from NFTs to tokens, across chains and communities.”

The rollout replaces OpenSea’s original NFT marketplace experience, which had seen declining use amid broader NFT market stagnation and growing competition from prominent rivals like Blur and Magic Eden.

OpenSea has evolved.

Beta complete. Full token universe unlocked.

New rewards program live. Welcome to the new OpenSea — the best place to discover, own, and trade anything onchain. pic.twitter.com/ccycD0bgCA

— OpenSea (@opensea) May 29, 2025

OS2 combines cross-chain NFT and fungible token trading with real-time analytics, wallet tools, and liquidity aggregation from decentralized exchanges, per a statement shared with Decrypt. The 19 chains include prominent layer-1 networks like Ethereum, Avalanche, and Flow, along with an array of scaling networks like Base, Optimism, Arbitrum, and Soneium.

A major component of the launch is Voyages, a gamified system that rewards users with XP for completing actions like minting NFTs, swapping tokens, and holding assets.

While XP is already live, users widely expect it to play a role in the launch of the forthcoming SEA token, which will be issued by the OpenSea Foundation.

In an accompanying blog post, OpenSea CMO Adam Hollander noted that the Foundation “won’t release SEA until core utility is in place,” calling it “the TGE”— short for token generation event.

Early beta testers have already received digital artifacts known as “Treasures” to anchor their eligibility for future rewards. The team has also confirmed that historical platform activity and ongoing XP accumulation will influence eventual token allocations.

OS2 first launched in beta in February after a year-long rebuild that included team downsizing and a reimagining of OpenSea’s core model.

Initial XP rewards triggered backlash after incentivizing mass NFT listings, prompting the team to restrict rewards to more deliberate actions such as buying and holding.

The platform’s community infrastructure has also been overhauled. A streamlined Discord server now offers role-based channels for DeFi, gaming, digital art, and other on-chain interests.

The update arrives just months after OpenSea said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had closed its investigation into whether the platform violated federal securities laws. The SEC has ultimately ended nearly all of its lawsuits and investigations against crypto companies following the return of President Donald Trump to the White House.

“Classifying OpenSea and similar NFT marketplaces as securities exchanges or brokers would be regulatory overreach,” the company wrote in a letter to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, in the wake of the regulator’s decision to end its probe.

Edited by Andrew Hayward

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June 1, 2025 0 comments