Fortnite Frenzy, Steam Malware Scandal, and Slay the Spire 2's Debut – The Week in Review
Epic Games announces a wave of new Fortnite collaborations, including with Super Meat Boy 3D, while the FBI investigates games spreading malware on Steam. Meanwhile, Slay the Spire 2 breaks sales records, and the industry debates the role of AI.
Fortnite and Epic Games Store: The Era of Mega-Collaborations
Epic Games is entering a new phase of promotions, linking game sales on its store with exclusive Fortnite cosmetics. Following announcements for collaborations with Resident Evil Requiem and Crimson Desert, the next in line is Super Meat Boy 3D. While details are still unknown, the teaser suggests purchasing the upcoming platformer might unlock a skin or accessory in the battle royale. This is part of an ambitious plan by EGS General Manager Steve Allison, who in January promised as many as 100 such deals annually. It's a massive ramp-up, considering such offers were previously rare.
Security on Steam: The FBI Steps In
A serious shadow falls over Valve's platform. The FBI has launched an investigation into malware spread via fake games on Steam. The bureau's bulletin names titles such as BlockBlasters, Chemia, Dashverse / DashFPS, Lampy, Lunara, PirateFi, and Tokenova. Users who downloaded these games between May 2024 and January 2026 are asked to contact the FBI. The case potentially involves a single "threat actor," and investigators emphasize that while the percentage of infected games is small, the scale of the problem warranted federal intervention.
Success and Controversy: Slay the Spire 2 and the AI Debate
Indie gaming celebrates a major win. Slay the Spire 2, the sequel to the cult deckbuilder, has sold 3 million copies in just one week since entering Early Access. The developers are already working on patching an exploit allowing for billions of damage points. Simultaneously, a heated debate about artificial intelligence has erupted in the industry. Jeff Kaplan, a Blizzard veteran, called the current state of AI in games a "hot mess," while Garry Newman (creator of Garry's Mod) compared over-relying on it in coding to watching too much pornography. Studio Embark took it a step further – in the game Arc Raiders, it has started replacing AI-generated voice lines with recordings from real actors, admitting that "a real professional actor is just better."
Other Key Industry News
- Donkey Kong Bananza began life as a prototype featuring a Goomba with giant fists, building on destruction mechanics from Super Mario Odyssey.
- The writer of The Simpsons: Hit & Run says "never say never" regarding a potential remake of the classic game.
- Bethesda has teased that we can expect new information about Starfield "next week".
- Silent Hill and Gravity Rush creator Keiichi Toyama is recruiting for a "new large-scale project".
- The game Pokémon Pokopia will receive its first patch fixing progress-halting bugs.
It was a week of extremes – from major sales successes and bold marketing plans, to serious security threats and the industry's internal reckoning with the technology of tomorrow.
