BGE2 Survives the Axe: Creative Director Fawzi Mesmar Assures Fans

 

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

JADE’S STILL HUNTING—19 YEARS STRONG! While the news out of Ubisoft this week has been a "bloodnight" of cancellations and studio closures, Beyond Good & Evil 2 has once again beaten the odds. Creative Director Fawzi Mesmar took to LinkedIn on January 30 to offer a rare beacon of hope amidst the company’s restructuring.

Mesmar’s Vow: "Committed & Focused"

Following the news that Ubisoft’s stock had cratered to a 15-year low, Mesmar broke his silence to confirm that the Montpellier team remains "unaffected" by the recent wave of cuts.

• The Quote: "Myself, my team, and our project Beyond Good and Evil 2 are unaffected by the recent changes... We remain committed and focused on delivering a remarkable game for our players to enjoy."

• The Sentiment: Mesmar also expressed deep sadness for his colleagues in other divisions (like the Halifax and Stockholm teams) who weren't as lucky.

Welcome to "Creative House 4"

As part of the reorganization, Ubisoft has split its 23 surviving franchises into five specialized "Creative Houses." BGE2 has been officially slotted into House 4, which is dedicated to "immersive fantasy worlds and narrative-driven universes." * The Strategy: Ubisoft confirmed that Beyond Good & Evil 2 remains a "priority" as they pivot their entire business model toward massive Open-World Adventures and Games as a Service (GaaS).

• The Investment: Rumors suggest Ubisoft has already sunk over $500 million into this project. At this point, it may be a "sunk cost" they are determined to turn into a win.

Hiring & Multiplayer Clues

Despite the layoffs elsewhere, Ubisoft Montpellier has been discreetly staffing up. Recent job listings from late 2025 and early 2026 point toward a heavy focus on:

• Multiplayer Infrastructure: Openings for Network Programmers and Technical Sound Designers specifically mention "co-op gameplay" in a "captivating space opera universe."

• Voyager Engine: The game is still utilizing the proprietary Voyager engine, designed to handle the seamless transition from planetary surfaces to deep space.

 

Ubisoft Reset: The Survivors vs. The Axed

Status	Project	Creative House
SURVIVOR	Beyond Good & Evil 2	House 4 (Fantasy/Narrative)
SURVIVOR	Assassin's Creed (Shadows/Hexe)	House 1 (The Titans)
SURVIVOR	Far Cry & Rainbow Six	House 2 (Shooters/Co-op)
CANCELED	PoP: Sands of Time Remake	N/A
CANCELED	5 Unannounced Projects	N/A

My Take: Schrödinger’s Prequel

Fawzi Mesmar is a veteran (formerly of DICE and King), and his leadership since late 2024 has brought more transparency than we’ve seen in a decade. However, with the game now officially in its 19th year of "development" (since the 2007 pre-production), the pressure to show actual gameplay in 2026 is at an all-time high.

Is BGE2 the ultimate survivor, or is it just too expensive to cancel? Drop your theories in the comments—I’m still holding out for a 2026 trailer that finally gives us a release window!

Share the survival news with your fellow space pirates, and stay locked for the next transmission from System 3.

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Helldivers 2: The 20 Million Unit Sales Breakdown (2026)

 

 

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

 

FOR DEMOCRACY—AND A $700M GROSS! Helldivers 2 isn't just a game; it's a financial stratagem. Since its release in early 2024, and following the massive Xbox deployment in August 2025, the game has generated over $700 million in gross revenue from unit sales alone.

The Platform Breakdown: PC is the Super Earth Capital

While Xbox players are vocal, the data shows that the PC community is the backbone of the war effort, making up roughly 65% of all copies sold.

Platform	Units Sold (Est.)	% of Total	The Vibe
Steam / PC	13.1 Million	~65%	Massive crossover with Left 4 Dead 2 vets.
PlayStation 5	5.6 Million	~28%	Steady long-tail growth since Feb '24.
**Xbox Series X	S**	1.6 Million	~8%
TOTAL	20.3 Million	100%	$700M+ Gross Revenue

The Xbox Surge: ODST Magic is Real

Don't let that 8% fool you. The Xbox launch on August 26, 2025, was an absolute tactical nuke. In its first six days, the Xbox version moved 926,000 units—actually outpacing the PS5's first-week sales (633K) from the previous year.

• The Halo Factor: The Halo 3: ODST Legendary Warbond (featuring the "Helljumper" armor) was the perfect bait for the Xbox military-sci-fi crowd.

• US Dominance: The United States remains the largest market (40%), but China has secured a surprising 10% share of the Steam player base.

What’s Next: Siege Breakers & The 2nd Anniversary

We aren't just celebrating sales. Arrowhead is dropping the Siege Breakers Premium Warbond on February 3, 2026, just days before the game's second anniversary.

• New Toys: Expect the LAS-16 Trident (six-beam laser shotgun) and the CQC-20 Breaching Hammer (explosive melee!).

• Stealth Buffs: The latest patch made suppressed weapons actually viable, cutting detection ranges by 50%—perfect for the "stealth meta" fans.

• Anniversary Rumors: Word on the Discord is that a major "Anniversary Update" on February 5 might finally tease the return of the Cyborgs from the original game.

My Take: A "Forever Game" Indeed

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani said he wanted a "forever game," and with 3.6 million monthly active users as of December 2025, he’s got it. The Xbox port proved there is a massive hunger for Super Earth’s brand of chaos on every screen.

Are you part of the 13M on PC, or are you one of the 1.6M Xbox recruits who joined for the ODST gear? Let me know in the comments—and tell me if you're ready to trade your rifle for that explosive hammer next week!

Share the victory, and stay locked for the Siege Breakers drop.

Stay questing @TheDailyQuest0 !

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Borderlands 4 January 29 Update: Photo Mode & Major Reworks!

 

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

SNAP THAT VAULT HUNTER FLEX! The January 29 Major Update is live, and while the headliner is the brand-new Photo Mode, Gearbox also dropped some game-changing balance tweaks for our favorite Vault Hunters.

Photo Mode: Solo Pause vs. Multiplayer Chaos

The new Photo Mode is accessible via the Pause Menu at any time during gameplay (excluding cutscenes).

• Single-Player: The world fully pauses, allowing you to dial in the perfect shot. You can even "unpause" while in the mode to let a single frame of an explosion settle, then freeze it again.

• Multiplayer: The action does NOT pause. You’ll need to find a safe spot or have your squad protect you while you’re lining up that cinematic team shot.

• Pro Toggle: You can now hide players, NPCs, summons, and damage numbers to get a clean look at the landscape of Kairos.

Vault Hunter Reworks: Harlowe & Amon Buffs

This update wasn't just about looks. Gearbox delivered a significant rework to two of the main classes:

• Harlowe the Gravitar: Her Zero-Point Action Skill now includes the benefits of the "Inertia" augment by default. Killing an enemy in Stasis now resets the duration and searches for new targets automatically.

• Amon the Forgeknight: His Forge Axe and Forged Hammer detonation damage has been boosted by a massive ~72%. Plus, he now gains +5% Overshield whenever he deals "Feat" damage.

• Loot Buff: Ultimate Vault Hunter (UVH) levels now increase dedicated loot drop levels. The higher your level, the better your chances of snagging that specific Legendary you’ve been farming.

   

The 2026 Roadmap: Pearlescent Rarity Incoming!

Gearbox didn't stop at the patch; they also revealed the official 2026 Roadmap. Here is what’s on the horizon for Kairos:

• February 2026: Bounty Pack 2: Legend of the Stone Demon launches. This is the first piece of paid DLC and introduces Pearlescent Rarity gear—weapons even more powerful than Legendaries.

• March 2026: Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned. This expansion brings back Ellie in a dark, cosmic-horror-themed region and introduces the fifth Vault Hunter, C4SH (a casino dealer bot).

• Q2 2026: Level cap increases, cross-platform saves, and the "most difficult endgame Takedown" yet.

Snapshot of the Jan 29 Update

Feature	Update Status	Note
Photo Mode	LIVE	Not available in split-screen co-op.
Legendary Drops	BUFFED	Permanent increase to base drop rates.
Dedicated Drops	BUFFED	UVH levels now scale drop chances.
New Rarity	TEASED	Pearlescent gear arrives in Feb DLC.

My Take: The 90% player drop since the 300K launch peak is a bit scary, but this roadmap is stacked. Adding a fifth Vault Hunter and a new rarity tier in Q1 is exactly the kind of "loot-lure" needed to bring the community back from the burnout.

Are you ready to spend 2 hours in Photo Mode, or are you just here for the Pearlescent hype? Drop your first Kairos screenshot in the comments!

Share this with your squad so they know to pose during the next raid.

Stay questing @TheDailyQuest0 ! 

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Fortnite x Honkai: Star Rail: Kafka and Blade Join the Hunt!

 

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

TRAILBLAZING TO THE ISLAND?! Epic Games just posted a cryptic teaser on X that has the gacha and Battle Royale communities colliding. The image features two legendary weapons crossed under a cosmic, star-filled sky: Kafka’s sleek red katana and Blade’s jagged, shattered black sword.

 

The caption? A direct nod to the Astral Express: "Who's ready to trailblaze their way to Fortnite?"

Decoding the Teaser

While the post didn't explicitly name the characters, any Star Rail fan recognized those weapons instantly.

 

• Kafka’s Katana: The distinctive red hilt and guard are unmistakable. In Star Rail, Kafka is a Nihility queen known for her "Spirit Whisper" ability.

• Blade’s Sword: The black, cracked "shattered" look of the blade is his signature "Unreachable Side" aesthetic.

• The Timing: This teaser lands just one week before the Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 Livestream (scheduled for February 6). Expect the full trailer and skin reveals to headline that broadcast.

Leaks & Predictions: What’s in the Bundle?

Reliable dataminers like ShiinaBR and iFireMonkey are already digging through the Chapter 7 files. Here is the projected loot:

• Playable Skins: Kafka and Blade are the headline acts. Rumors suggest Kafka will have a built-in "Spirit Whisper" emote that temporarily mind-controls nearby NPCs (or just looks cool in the lobby).

• Mythic Weapons: We might see the return of the "Melee Meta." Leaks point to a Nihility Katana that applies a Damage-over-Time (DoT) effect to enemies, and a Destruction Greatsword that deals more damage the lower your health is—classic Blade mechanics.

• Backblings: Expect "Light Cones" to appear as holographic backblings that change based on your elimination count.

Why This Matters: The HoYo-Epic Bridge

This is a historic moment. Despite years of rumors regarding Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail has officially broken the ice as the first HoYoverse IP to enter the Fortnite multiverse.

• The Epic Store Connection: Both Star Rail and Genshin are hosted on the Epic Games Store, so the legal groundwork for this crossover has been in place for years.

• The Future: If this collab succeeds (and with Kafka's popularity, it will), it paves the way for a Genshin Impact x Fortnite crossover later in 2026.

Trailblazer Survival Guide

Feature	Release Date	Expected Price
Kafka & Blade Bundle	February 2026	2,800 - 3,500 V-Bucks
Star Rail 4.0 Stream	Feb 6, 2026	Free to Watch
"Trailblaze" Quests	Launch Day	Free Rewards (Emotes/Sprays)

Are you pulling for Kafka in Fortnite, or are you holding out for a potential Trailblazer (Bat) skin? Drop your favorite Star Rail team comp in the comments—let’s see who’s ready to warp!

Share this with your Fireteam and your fellow Trailblazers, and stay locked for the Feb 6 stream.

Stay questing! @TheDailyQuest0

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Marathon's Rook vs. ARC Raiders: The Free Loadout Cold War

 

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

Bungie just dropped a massive Runner Shells ViDoc, and the star of the show isn't the heavy-hitting Destroyer—it’s the Rook. Designed as Marathon’s version of a "Free Loadout," the Rook is a zero-risk, high-reward scavenger class. But unlike ARC Raiders, Bungie is baking in two specific "punishments" that have the ARC community begging Embark for a copy-paste.

The Rook Blueprint: High Stealth, Low Priority

The Rook is essentially a ghost in the machine. It comes with a built-in NPC Cloak that makes AI enemies ignore you, but it’s balanced by two heavy-duty social and mechanical restrictions:

• The Late Spawn: Rooks don't drop at the start of the match. They enter mid-game, meaning the "Prime Loot" is likely already gone or being guarded by geared-up trios.

• The Enforced Solo: You cannot squad up as a Rook. It is a strictly Solo-only entry into Trio lobbies.

• Morality Test: Senior designer Mike Humbolt calls the Rook a "morality test." Since they are easily identifiable by their silhouette, players have to decide: do you adopt the "little brother" Rook into your squad, or do you blast them for their scraps?

 

The ARC Raiders Salt: "Freebies are Too Strong"

In ARC Raiders, the Free Loadout (featuring the infamous Stitcher and Kettle) is a different beast. Currently, these "rats" can spawn right at the start of a match, often in full squads, with zero cooldown.

• The Problem: Geared-up players are losing legendary kits to "zero-risk" squads who can rush high-tier loot zones just as fast as anyone else.

• Watkins' Response: Embark Design Lead Virgil Watkins recently acknowledged the frustration, admitting that even he uses free loadouts to "skip the menus." While they don't want to segment the player base (i.e., making "High-Value only" queues), Watkins hinted that changes to free loadout slots and weight limits are on the table.

Marathon Rook vs. ARC Raiders Free Loadout

Feature	Marathon: Rook	ARC Raiders: Freebie
Risk	Zero (Free Shell)	Zero (Random Gear)
Spawn Time	Late Entry (Mid-Match)	Full Start (Immediate)
Team Size	Solo Only	Full Squads Allowed
Ability	NPC Cloak (Stealth)	Standard Abilities
Cool-down	Reported "None"	None

 

My Take: The Late Spawn is the Fix

The ARC Raiders community is right on this one—the "Late Spawn" is the silver bullet. If free loadouts dropped in 10 minutes after the raid started, they would be true scavengers picking over the remains of the Buried City rather than "rats" waiting at the extract with a high-DPS Stitcher.

Will Embark follow Bungie’s lead and lock free loadouts to solo-only? Or is the "zero-risk" squad chaos part of the ARC charm? Drop your extract stories in the comments—I want to hear about the worst rat-attack you’ve survived!

Share this with your squad (unless they're ratting), and stay locked for more Marathon coverage.

Stay questing!

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Highguard Twitch Crash 382K to 2.5K

  

Hey, Daily Quest readers.

HERO SHOOTER HYPE TO HELL—IN 72 HOURS! Highguard exploded at the TGA 2025 finale and shadow-dropped on January 26, 2026. It peaked at a massive 382,943 viewers on Twitch as the internet rushed to see what the Apex/Titanfall veterans at Wildlight had cooked up.

 

Fast forward to today, and the "Highguard Hangover" is real. Viewership has cratered to a peak of roughly 2,500 to 6,000 viewers—a 99% drop—while the Steam player base has shed 90% of its launch-day crowd. 

The Nosedive by the Numbers

The initial surge was driven by curiosity and massive streamer sponsorship, but the retention is currently at "emergency" levels.

Metric	Launch Peak (Jan 26)	Current (Jan 29)	Drop %
Twitch Viewers	382,943	~2,500 - 6,300	-98.3%
Steam Players	97,249	~8,000 - 12,000	-88%
Steam Rating	Mostly Positive (Early)	Mostly Negative	37% Positive

Why the "Mostly Negative" Reviews?

The "Overwhelmingly Negative" tags that flashed on Day 2 have settled into a "Mostly Negative" (37%) score. The player rants boil down to three main pain points:

• The "Latvia" Map Issue: Steam reviewers are calling the maps "the size of Latvia" but only populated by 3v3 teams. This leads to 10-minute stretches of "running simulator" with zero engagement.

• Technical Meltdown: Even on RTX 5080 rigs, players report struggling to hit 90 FPS. Severe input lag and "Secure Boot/TPM 2.0" errors blocked thousands of PC players at the gate.

• The Identity Crisis: Critics say the game feels like "everything and nothing"—part R6 Siege base defense, part Overwatch hero shooter, and part mounts/looting. As one Redditor put it: "It’s 2 or 3 really good ideas mashed together in UE5 with an MCU-at-home vibe."

 

The 2026 Roadmap: Can Episode 2 Save It?

Unlike Concord, Highguard is Free-to-Play, which means it can survive a "zombie" period if the content is good. Wildlight has committed to a massive 7-Episode roadmap for 2026.

• Episode 2 (February 2026):

  • New Warden: A fresh hero to shift the 3v3 meta.

  • New Map: Likely a tighter arena to address the "empty map" complaints.

  • Ranked Mode: The missing piece for the hardcore sweat community.

  • New Mount: Rumored to be a high-mobility flyer or a combat-ready beast.

• March 2026 (Part 2): Introduces the Raid Tool and new bases.

 

My Take: The F2P Advantage

Comparing this to Concord is easy because of the hero-shooter fatigue, but Highguard being free means the barrier to return is zero. If Episode 2 tightens the TTK and fixes the "empty map" pacing, the 11K core players could easily snowball back up. Wildlight’s Chad Grenier says they are in it for the "long haul"—let's see if the servers can hold until February.

Is Highguard a "Concord Killer" or just the next resident of the Hero Shooter graveyard? Let me know in the comments if you’re still riding your spirit horse or if you’ve already uninstalled!

Share this with your 3v3 squad, and stay locked for the Episode 2 patch notes.

Stay questing!

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