April 2025 Gaming News Roundup: Zelda Switch 2 Drama, Xbox Sales & More

🎮 Today’s Hottest Gaming News (April 17, 2025): Zelda’s Cloud Save Drama, Xbox Mega Sale & More!

The gaming world never sleeps, and today’s headlines are packed with surprises, controversies, and hype-worthy updates. From Nintendo’s puzzling omission in its *Zelda* Switch 2 editions to Xbox’s spring sale bonanza, here’s your **deep dive into the trends shaping 2025’s gaming landscape**—with emojis, stats, and SEO-friendly flair! Let’s level up! 🚨

1. Zelda Switch 2 Editions Lack Cloud Saves: Fan Outrage Explained ☁️❌**

The *Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of the Kingdom* re-releases for the **Nintendo Switch 2** are making waves—but not for the right reasons. Both games **exclude cloud save functionality**, a standard feature in modern gaming. Fans are furious, especially since these titles demand 100+ hours of gameplay. Losing progress due to hardware issues could mean disaster 🛑.

**Why It Matters**:

- Nintendo’s history of restrictive save systems (e.g., *Animal Crossing: New Horizons*) is repeating.

- Switch 2’s backward compatibility is under scrutiny: Will other legacy games face similar limitations?

- Reddit threads speculate this is a ploy to push Nintendo’s paid **Switch Online+** subscriptions.

2. Xbox Spring Sale 2025: 1,000+ Games at Record Lows 🎉💰**

Microsoft’s **Xbox Spring Sale** is here, slashing prices on **1,000+ titles**, including AAA heavyweights like *Starfield* (60% off) and indie darlings like *Hades II* (45% off). This follows Xbox’s recent **40% YoY growth in Game Pass subscriptions**, proving discount strategies drive engagement.

**Top Picks**:

- *Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty* – $19.99 (67% off)

- *Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree* – $29.99 (50% off)

- *Palworld* – $14.99 (25% off)

**Pro Tip**: Pair discounts with Xbox’s upgraded **cloud streaming**, now boasting 4K/60fps support for 85% of its library.

3. Days Gone PS5 Remaster: 4K, 60 FPS & Ray Tracing Confirmed 🌆✨**

Bend Studio’s cult classic *Days Gone* is getting a **PS5 remaster** with jaw-dropping upgrades:

- **4K resolution** & **60 FPS performance mode**

- **Ray-traced lighting** for hyper-realistic zombie hordes 🧟♂️

- Reduced loading times (under 2 seconds vs. 30+ on PS4)

Fans hope this revamp revives interest in a *Days Gone 2*—though Sony’s 2022 cancellation of the sequel still stings.

4. Ubisoft’s Apex Legends Competitor: Leaks & Predictions 🔫💣**

Ubisoft is secretly developing a **“fast-paced hero shooter”** inspired by *Apex Legends*, per anonymous dev leaks. Codenamed *Project Nova*, it’s rumored to feature:

- **60-player battle royale maps**

- **Class-based abilities** (leaked: “Hacker,” “Tank,” “Medic”)

- Cross-progression across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

This marks Ubisoft’s bold shift into **live-service dominance** after *Hyper Scape*’s 2023 shutdown. Will they learn from past mistakes? 🧐

5. Assassin’s Creed Shadows Wins PlayStation Players’ Choice 🏆🗡️**

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* (feudal Japan setting) snagged March 2025’s **Players’ Choice Award** with 42% of votes, beating *MLB The Show 25* (28%) and *Hitman VR* (19%). Key stats:

- **4.8/5** average PS Store rating

- **1.2 million** copies sold in its first week

- Praised for its **dual protagonist system** (samurai + shinobi)

6. Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8: Final Update & Farewell 🧙♂️💔Larian Studios’ **Patch 8** for *Baldur’s Gate 3* drops April 25, adding:

- **12 new subclasses** (e.g., Oathbreaker Paladin, Wild Magic Sorcerer)

- **Epilogue expansions** for Astarion and Shadowheart 💔

- Bug fixes for 200+ quests

This “final major update” closes Larian’s 5-year journey, as they pivot to **two new RPGs**. Fans are already mourning!

7. The Division 2: Sixth Anniversary Update Teaser 🎂🔫Ubisoft’s *The Division 2* turns six on April 23, and a **massive update** is imminent. Leaked details include:

- **New NYC raid** (20-player endgame content)

- **Exotic weapon reworks** (e.g., *Eagle Bearer* buffs)

- **Season 12**: “Blackout” storyline

With **15 million active players**, *The Division 2* remains Ubisoft’s sleeper hit.

8. Pokémon GO’s Baby Pokémon Bonanza 🥚🐣**

Niantic’s latest *Pokémon GO* event (April 17–24) focuses on **baby Pokémon**:

- **1/2 hatch distance** for 2km eggs (featuring Togepi, Riolu)

- **Shiny Munchlax** debut (0.8% hatch rate)

- **Mega Kangaskhan Raids** (April 20–22)

Trainers report a **300% spike in incubator sales**—Niantic’s wallet wins again! 💸

9. Overwatch 2 Season 16: Perk Overhaul & Meta Shifts ⚖️🎯**

Blizzard’s *Overwatch 2* Season 16 reworks perks to combat power creep:

- **Hero-specific adjustments**: Tracer’s blink cooldown +1s, Zarya’s bubble health -15%

- **New “Ultimate Decay” mechanic**: Ult charge drops 2% per second if unused

- **Competitive rank reset** for all players

Early player feedback? “A brutal but necessary shakeup.” 😤

10. Oblivion Remaster Leaks: Nostalgia Meets Next-Gen 🌌🗡️Bethesda’s *Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* remaster leaked via a dev portfolio, showcasing:

- **Unreal Engine 5 graphics** (vs. 2006’s Gamebryo engine)

- **Revamped combat** (parry system, stamina tweaks)

- **4K texture packs** for all NPCs (yes, even the potato faces!)

A 2026 release is rumored, but Bethesda stays silent.