Have influencers turned gamers into sheep? Is Silksong really getting DLC this month? And how did the director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy find the time to beat his next game 40 times? It’s your Kotaku Checkpoint roundup for May 4, 2026, where we are celebrating Star Wars day by remembering our favorite moments from Andor. I would go back and rewatch the entire series again, but it would just end up ruining my hype for Mando and Starfighter. Maybe I’ll just revisit the Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO instead.
Fallout‘s co-creator talks about how content creators have changed gaming
Tim Cain was asked to talk about how social media, Twitch, and YouTube have changed the way games are designed in a recent video. He said some developers now craft moments with that live online audience reaction in mind, but also suggested the algorithm now has outsized influence over how gamers think and make up their minds about stuff.
“Now we’re in the 2020s and many gamers don’t even look to influencers for reviews,” he said (via VGC). “They look to influencers to be told how to think about the games. So, people don’t form opinions from the online video. They’re handed an opinion from the online channel they’re watching.”
Cain argued that opinions that used to be something like “this game has less combat and more puzzles and dialogues” get reduced to stuff like “this game is stupid and slow paced and made for casuals.” We have less time and there are more games than ever, so people look for quick takes rather than more complex analysis.
A positive side of this, he explained, is people being able to seek out the opinions of those they generally tend to agree to get a quick sense of how they might feel if they play a game. “But the negative to this is more and more people seem to be abdicating their own judgment to that of people they see online,” Cain added. “It’s like ‘I don’t want to think about it, you tell me what I should think about it.’”
Sony just raised the price of used PS5s
Refurbished versions of the console which can be purchased directly from the company online have bounced up in price $100 to keep pace with the recent price hikes for new units. The older consoles did not cost Sony more to manufacture but people who want to buy them will now have to pay a premium.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake part 3 director has already played it 40 times
The game has yet to be officially revealed but Square Enix’s Naoki Hamaguchi told Nintendo Life he’s already completed it a bunch of times. “We’re very excited about how the game is currently progressing,” he said in a recent interview. “I have already completed over 40 full playthroughs! I can’t wait for as many people as possible to experience the game for themselves, and myself and the team are working hard to ensure we can create an unforgettable gameplay experience.”
Sony shares a glimpse of Horizon Hunters Gathering modes in action
Machine Incursion, every decision with your team shapes how far you’ll make it. Another quick preview of one of our game modes in development 👀 pic.twitter.com/fmiCl0XMbW
— Horizon Hunters Gathering (@playhorizonhg) May 4, 2026
Remakes of Halo 2 and 3 are already rumored to be in development
That’s according to YouTuber Rebs Gaming, who recently claimed to have been sent proof that “the Halo 2 and Halo 3 remakes are definitely happening.” “Active development is underway,” he said. The first remake in the trilogy, Halo: Campaign Evolved, is expected out as early as this summer.
The beginning of The Mandalorian and Grogu is already out, sorta
You can watch a condensed, four-minute version of the film’s opening sequence on Disney+ today ahead of the movie’s May 22 release.
Netflix’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will come to theaters first
Directed by Barbie‘s Greta Gerwig, the adaptation of the sixth book in C.S. Lewis’ fantasy series will arrive in IMAX in February 2027, followed by a streaming release on Netflix that April. That’s a delay from it’s originally planned 2026 debut, but this year’s blockbuster movie calendar is already looking pretty full.
Fans hope for Silksong DLC news soon after developer posts an emoji
A fan asked on the Hollow Knight Discord if there would be news of Silksong‘s Sea of Sorrow DLC in May. Team Cherry’s Matthew Griffin posted a monocle emoji in response. The hype levels are now rising despite no real evidence that anything has changed. The DLC is currently slated for some time in 2026.
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