Brecht is back and it looks like Blender is getting GPU rendering (Cuda) and a new rendering engine :D http://code.blender.org/index.php/2011/04/modernizing-shading-and-rendering/ w00t!
Just letting this here, in case someone wants to modify the Kinife to commit with right click. http://gamefromscratch.com/post/2012/04/28/Setting-BMesh-tool-to-cut-on-right-click.aspx
Decent rundown of some new tools. http://gamefromscratch.com/post/2012/04/20/Blender-BMesh-in-action%E2%80%A6-what%E2%80%99s-so-special-about-ngons-anyways.aspx
GSOC proposals accepted: http://code.blender.org/index.php/2011/04/google-summer-of-code-2011-blender-summer-of-polish-2/ Hopefully they integrate some of the stuff that was done last summer during the feature freeze as well.
Going to have to slap on 2.57 soon and play with looptools, yay. A hard surface modeling DVD is being released that looks pretty good. http://www.blendercookie.com/2011/04/08/vehicle-series-complete-and-available-for-purchase/
Just when it seemed there weren't any useful updates for game art- Automatic retopology modifier: http://www.blendernation.com/2012/01/04/remesh-modifier-trunked/ Sounds like it dynamically retopologizes on the fly too, i.e. is animatable.
http://www.blendernation.com/2012/06/04/non-blender-3d-printing-in-steel-silver-ceramics-and-rubber-like-material/ New shapeways materials, also a new shop where you can sell your designs! Pretty interesting.