Pre-release Pokémon card prices are out of control. Fortnite is promising to shake things up after a popular streamer unloads his frustrations. And we might get an OLED PlayStation Portal later this year. I can’t wait to see how much it costs in the modern tariff economy. It’s another edition of Morning Checkpoint, Kotaku‘s daily roundup of gaming news, rumors, and culture. Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly predicts this will be a “coasting” year for Nintendo. Honestly, it’s felt like that for a while now, even with the launch of the Switch 2. New 3D Mario or bust.
Pokémon Ascended Heroes already has a card going for a ridiculous amount
Official reveals for Mega Gengar ex SIR and Mega Charizard Y ex from Ascended Heroes! #PokemonTCG pic.twitter.com/HABPIY6MtH
— Pokemon Deals, Restocks & News (@PokemonTCGIntel) November 20, 2025
The set’s arrival was hit an unexpected snag this week when big parts of it were delayed. But that hasn’t stopped some cards in the set from already fetching wild amounts on reseller sites. The new Mega Gengar ex is already going for $1,300 on eBay. You’d be a fool to pay that much for it now, but that doesn’t mean somebody won’t. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex is also going for a lot and already sold to at least one person for $900. Remember when Pokémon trading cards were just about having fun?
Say hello to John Dragon Ball
John Dragon Ball’s Official Unofficial Backstory! #keepit1000 #team1000 https://t.co/MTOTnMFhlE pic.twitter.com/RBf1vp0QLr
— John Dragon Ball (@JohnDragon_Ball) January 27, 2026
A bunch of new Dragon Ball stuff was revealed for the series’ anniversary last weekend. In addition to new DLC and anime, there was also a tease for an entirely new game called Dragon Ball Project: Age 1000. Many fans think it’s Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, but whatever it is the main character is already making an impression. TheGamer notes that he’s taken on a life of his own as “John Dragon Ball” for his ability to steal other people’s powers and because of how generic he is. Naturally, that means he’s probably secretly the strongest fighter in the entire galaxy.
Fortnite teases a bigger shakeup for season 2
Hey folks!
So, we need to talk 🙂 Seeing some of the responses from @SypherPK’s video (thank you for sharing your constructive feedback!), thought I’d jump in to join the conversation.
Totally hear the comments that the community is eager for new content. There was always a…
— Ted Timmins (@JustTeddii) January 30, 2026
Design director Ted Timmins, who previously worked on Call of Duty: Warzone, took to X to address recent fan burnout with the recent sameness of Fortnite, prompted by a recent video from Twitch streamer SypherPK. “Totally hear the comments that the community is eager for new content,” the director wrote. “There was always a risk that by simplifying the game, focusing on Battle Royale and taking a ‘back to basics’ approach to create a ‘reset’ moment for Season 1 – that it may start to feel a little *too* similar to chapters past.”
He continued, “The good news is we have a fun update in February to spice things up (I hear rumors that Self-Revives and Shockwaves might be making a glorious return…), and then a full Season 2 update in March.” He said stability fixes are also an ongoing priority.
Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke will start weighing his words ‘more carefully’
I really need to learn to weigh my words more carefully. I genuinely was trying to make a constructive argument but phrased it poorly. It’s been bugging me so let me try again:
My point wasn’t that I have an issue with criticism. My point was that it doesn’t need to be…
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) January 29, 2026
The Larian Studios CEO has been facing tough criticisms over his comments on AI last month and recently shared his thoughts on game reviews, suggesting that critics should have Metacritic scores just like games (he later deleted that part). “I really need to learn to weigh my words more carefully,” he recently wrote on X. “I genuinely was trying to make a constructive argument but phrased it poorly. It’s been bugging me so let me try again. My point wasn’t that I have an issue with criticism. My point was that it doesn’t need to be hurtful. In my honest opinion that creates alienation between people who have the same hobby and essentially all want the same thing: better games. Constructive criticism really has higher impact.”
Tim Sweeney takes another swipe at Steam’s ‘junk fees’
A store can charge a fee for selling a product.
What the court found is: after you’ve bought a game, the store can’t force all in-game commerce between you and the developer to go through them with 30% junk fees.
It’s like a car dealership demanding 30% of gas purchases.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) January 30, 2026
Speaking of CEOs that need to log off, the Epic Games boss got another dig in at Valve’s competing storefront this week, suggesting it’s using monopoly powers to squeeze game developers with no other option but to acquiesce. “A store can charge a fee for selling a product,” he wrote. “What the court found is: after you’ve bought a game, the store can’t force all in-game commerce between you and the developer to go through them with 30 percent junk fees. It’s like a car dealership demanding 30 percent of gas purchases.” Better than defending Elon Musk’s revenge porn bot!
The PlayStation Portal might get an OLED edition
It would make sense given how surprisingly popular the $200 PS5 accessory is. The rumor comes from online leaker KeplerL2 who claimed the new model would come later this year. It certainly sounds in line with Sony’s recent strategy of fleecing its most hardcore fans for all the discretionary consumer spending at their disposal, but as long as it’s not $300 I can’t say I won’t want one.
