Week in Gaming News: March 15-21, 2026
This might be the best week for gaming value in 2026 so far. Game Pass dropped a stacked Wave 2 lineup, PS Plus Extra's March catalog went live with two blockbusters, and the Steam Spring Sale launched with thousands of discounts. If you're a budget-conscious gamer, your backlog just got a lot longer. Here's what happened.
The Big Stories
Game Pass Wave 2: Disco Elysium, RE7, Like a Dragon, and More
Xbox revealed the second wave of March Game Pass additions on March 17, and it's one of the strongest lineups in recent memory. Combined with Wave 1 (which already included Cyberpunk 2077, Hollow Knight: Silksong's Premium expansion, and a day-one Planet of Lana II), March is shaping up to be a banner month for the service.
Here's the full Wave 2 schedule:
| Game | Date | Tiers | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| DreamWorks Gabby's Dollhouse: Ready to Party | March 17 | Ultimate, Premium, PC | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| South of Midnight | March 18 | Premium (expansion) | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
| The Alters | March 18 | Premium (expansion) | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
| Disco Elysium (The Final Cut) | March 19 | Ultimate, Premium, PC | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
| Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | March 24 | All tiers | Cloud, PC, Handheld, Xbox Series X|S |
| Absolum | March 25 | Ultimate, Premium, PC | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
| Nova Roma (Game Preview) | March 26 | Ultimate, PC | PC |
| The Long Dark | March 30 | Ultimate, Premium, PC | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Resident Evil 7: Biohazard | March 31 | Ultimate, Premium, PC | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | April 2 | Premium (expansion) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
The headliners tell the story. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is one of the most acclaimed RPGs of the past decade. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a 100+ hour JRPG that hit all tiers on March 24. Resident Evil 7 is the game that revived the survival horror franchise. And Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which just swept five awards at GDC 2026 including Game of the Year, is expanding from Ultimate/PC to the Premium tier on April 2.
Eight games left or are set to leave Game Pass in March: six departed on March 16 (including Enter the Gungeon and F1 23), with Peppa Pig World Adventures and Mad Streets following on March 31.
Why it matters: Disco Elysium, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and RE7 regularly sell for $30-60 each. Getting all three through Game Pass in a single month is an absurd amount of value. If you're on any Game Pass tier, this wave alone justifies the subscription.
PS Plus Extra and Premium March Catalog Goes Live
The PS Plus Extra/Premium additions became available on March 17, and multiple outlets called it one of the most stacked PS Plus lineups in years. Here's what dropped:
| Game | Tier | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 | Extra | PS5 |
| Persona 5 Royal | Extra | PS5/PS4 |
| EA Sports Madden NFL 26 | Extra | PS5 |
| Blasphemous 2 | Extra | PS5 |
| Metal Eden | Extra | PS5 |
| The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria | Extra | PS5 |
| Astroneer | Extra | PS5/PS4 |
| Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PSP Classic) | Premium | PS5/PS4 |
Space Marine 2 launched at $59.99 and was one of 2025's biggest action games. Persona 5 Royal is a 100+ hour JRPG that shows up on virtually every "best of all time" list. Getting both in the same month through PS Plus Extra is unusual.
Don't forget the Essential monthly games that have been available since March 3: PGA Tour 2K25, Monster Hunter Rise, Slime Rancher 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road. Those are claimable through April 6.
One thing to watch: Sony's CFO hinted at potential PS Plus price increases, though nothing official has been announced. If a hike is coming, locking in your subscription now might be the move.
Why it matters: Space Marine 2 and Persona 5 Royal together would cost you $120 at retail. PS Plus Extra subscribers got them both for $0 extra this week. March 2026 is genuinely competitive with Game Pass for pure value.
Steam Spring Sale 2026 Is Live Now
The Steam Spring Sale launched on March 19 at 10 AM PDT and runs through March 26. Thousands of PC games are discounted for a full week.
Valve's featured deals include:
- No Man's Sky
- Manor Lords
- Phasmophobia
- Dave the Diver
- Fallout: New Vegas
- Resident Evil 3 Remake
- Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
One caveat: if you're eyeing Steam Deck hardware, don't expect any hardware deals. The ongoing RAM supply crisis has created inventory shortages, and no hardware discounts are expected during this sale.
Why it matters: Between Game Pass Wave 2, PS Plus going live, and the Steam Spring Sale all landing in the same week, this is arguably the single best week for gaming deals in 2026 so far. PC gamers who don't subscribe to Game Pass still have a massive window to build their libraries at a discount.
Crimson Desert Launches to Mixed Reviews
Crimson Desert, the open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss (the studio behind Black Desert Online), launched on March 19 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It was one of the year's most anticipated games. The reception tells a complicated story.
Metacritic score: 78 (PC) based on 98 critic reviews. The combat system, open-world exploration, and visual fidelity drew widespread praise. Forbes gave it a 9.5/10. But critics also flagged clunky controls, thin narrative delivery (the story is largely conveyed through pause menu text), repetitive quest design, and launch-day technical issues.
Steam players were harsher. Nearly 5,000 negative reviews piled up in the first 12 hours, pushing the Steam rating to "Mixed."
Why it matters: At $59.99, Crimson Desert is a risky buy right now. The 78 Metacritic and Mixed Steam rating suggest this is a "wait for a sale or subscription addition" game for budget-conscious players. The combat might be worth it for the right person, but there's no rush.
Death Stranding 2 Arrives on PC
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach hit PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) on March 19, ending its run as a PS5 console exclusive. Kojima Productions partnered with Nixxes Software on the port.
The PC version comes with the features you'd expect: ultrawide support (21:9 and 32:9 in 4K), full mouse and keyboard customization, and DualSense controller integration with haptic feedback. It also includes a new "To the Wilder" mode with harder environments and deadlier enemies, which launched simultaneously on PS5.
Why it matters: If you've been waiting for the PC version instead of buying a PS5, this is your on-ramp. It's full price right now, but worth adding to your wishlist for a future Steam sale.
Switch 2 Gets Handheld Boost Mode for Backwards Compatible Games
Nintendo released firmware update 22.0.0 for the Switch 2 on March 17, and the headline feature is Handheld Mode Boost. It lets original Switch games run at TV Mode quality (up to 1080p) while playing in handheld mode, taking advantage of the Switch 2's larger 1080p screen.
How it works: flip the toggle in settings, and compatible Switch 1 games render as if they're docked. The tradeoff is that Joy-Con 2 controllers behave as Pro Controllers in this mode, which disables motion controls and touchscreen functionality.
The update also added the ability to save notes about friends on your Friend List and new GameChat features.
Why it matters: This is a free visual upgrade for your entire existing Switch library. No re-purchases, no "enhanced editions." Your old games just look better on the Switch 2's screen. That's how backwards compatibility should work.
Quick Hits
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South of Midnight is coming to PS5 and Switch 2 on March 31. The "Weaver's Edition" of the previously Xbox-exclusive action game expands to PlayStation and Nintendo platforms, just two weeks after hitting Game Pass.
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Arc Raiders is replacing AI voice acting with human actors. The team behind the upcoming extraction shooter confirmed they're swapping out AI-generated voice lines for real human performances.
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MLB The Show 26 launched March 17 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Sony's annual baseball sim is back across all major platforms.
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GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 wrapped up with 20,000 attendees and 700+ sessions. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept five awards including Game of the Year. Rob Pardo (former Blizzard CCO) announced his new studio, Bonfire Studios.
What to Watch Next Week
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth hits all Game Pass tiers on March 24. One of the highest-rated RPGs of 2024 becomes available to every Game Pass subscriber.
- Steam Spring Sale ends March 26 at 10 AM PDT. Last chance to grab discounted PC games before the sale closes.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launches March 26 alongside the new Meetup in Bellabel Park content.
- PAX East 2026 runs March 26-29 in Boston. Nintendo is bringing hands-on Switch 2 gameplay with Mario and Pokemon demos.
- Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection launches March 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
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News compiled March 20, 2026.