TECHMASH

Category: Gaming News

  • Build Your Dream Spooky Kingdom — Fangtopia Emerges Worldwide Today

    Build Your Dream Spooky Kingdom — Fangtopia Emerges Worldwide Today

    All treats, no tricks. Absolutely Games and publisher Secret Mode have officially unleashed Fangtopia — the cosy, scare?free tile?laying puzzle paradise — across PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2 right now, just in time for Halloween.

    What Is Fangtopia?

    It’s a relaxing kingdom builder where vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and yetis are your friends, not your foes. You’re the architect of a gentle, spooky?themed world — placing hexagonal tiles to craft misty mountains, dark forests, winding railways, and cosy villages — then inviting friendly monsters to make themselves at home.

    How You Play

    • Match tiles, grow your world — Connect matching terrain to score points and expand your kingdom
    • Unlock landmarks — Hit score milestones to reveal haunted manors, ancient crypts, and glowing lighthouses, each with special objectives
    • Welcome your residents — Complete portal goals to discover monsters, then place their habitats in perfect spots
    • Three ways to play
      • Fangtopia Mode — Quick, relaxing sessions perfect for unwinding
      • Ghoulish Mode — Deeper, richer builds with more tile variety
      • Island Mode — Chain archipelagos and lay track for the legendary Ghost Train

    Why It Feels So Good

    • 100% scare?free — No jump scares, no combat, no danger
    • No time pressure — Build at your own pace, save whenever you like
    • ASMR Audio Mode — Gentle, immersive soundscapes for pure relaxation
    • Global & friends leaderboards — Compete for the highest score or just build for beauty
    • Stunning hand?drawn art — Every tile feels like a storybook illustration

    Where to Play — Out Now

    PlatformStorePrice
    PCSteam, Epic Games Store, Stove£11.69 (~$13.04) — 10% launch discount through Nov 9
    PlayStation 5PlayStation Store£9.99 / $12.99
    Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo eShop£9.99 / $12.99
    • 18 languages supported — English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese?Brazilian, Russian, Simplified & Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Dutch, Finnish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Ukrainian
    • Full controller support — Play with pad or mouse & keyboard
    • Early reviews glowing — 100% Positive from 18 launch players

    About the Team

    • Developer: Absolutely Games — a fresh studio making its debut with this warm, accessible puzzler
    • Publisher: Secret Mode — known for championing thoughtful, beautifully crafted indie experiences
    • PS5 & Switch 2 versions supported by UK Government funding

    “Fangtopia is the Halloween game for everyone — whether you love spooky vibes or just want something peaceful to build. Every monster is friendly, every build is yours, and the only thing haunting you is how satisfying it is.”

    — Secret Mode

    Find out more about Fangtopia

    #Fangtopia #AbsolutelyGames #SecretMode #CozyGaming #PuzzleGame #KingdomBuilder #HalloweenGaming #IndieDev #NintendoSwitch2 #PS5 #Techmash

    Published on Techmash — Your monsterrific paradise awaits

  • Who’s Riding With You? — Going My Way? Demo Overhauled for Steam Scream V Fest

    Who’s Riding With You? — Going My Way? Demo Overhauled for Steam Scream V Fest

    All aboard — and watch your fellow passengers closely. Siberian Koala and publisher Spaghetti Cat have rolled into Steam Scream V Fest with a completely refreshed demo for their eerie psychological horror, Going My Way? — free to play right now through November 2.

    The World Never Sleeps — And Neither Do the Things Pretending To Be Human

    A sleeplessness pandemic has swallowed the world. Laws have frayed. Reality warps with every exhausted blink. As a nameless conductor driving Train No. 667 through an endless, blizzard?shrouded night, your duty is simple: keep order, serve tea, and spot the Wanderers — inhuman things wearing people’s faces, hiding in plain sight, waiting to feed.

    And you’re trapped in a time loop. Nine days to reach the City. Nine days to uncover the truth — or vanish into the snow forever.

    How You Investigate

    • Tea is your most powerful tool — Mint loosens tongues, sleeping pills dull suspicion, and milk can strip a Wanderer’s disguise. Choose your additives carefully; supplies are scarce
    • Watch everything — mannerisms, odd replies, things that don’t add up. The wrong passenger could be your last
    • Learn from every loop — repeat journeys reveal new clues, new choices, and new endings
    • The horror isn’t just outside — exhaustion distorts your own perception. Trust your eyes… but not too much

    What’s New in the Updated Demo

    This isn’t just a refresh — it’s a full overhaul:

    UpdateWhat It Means
    New character: The RiddlerA mysterious passenger boards with puzzles that might hold the key to surviving the loop
    New soundtrackFresh tracks deepen the atmosphere of dread and isolation
    Reworked onboardingMechanics explained more clearly — no more guessing how the tea system works
    Camera focusAnomalies and scares now framed to hit harder when they strike
    Blur toggleTurn the disorienting blur effect on or off — your comfort, your call
    Performance polishSmoother framerates, fixed audio levels, and general tuning throughout
    Special guest revealYakob from acclaimed horror No, I’m Not a Human will appear in the full release — crossing over from one nightmare into another

    The demo covers three full in?game days, core mechanics, branching dialogue, and a bonus level — with 91% Positive reviews from early players already.

    Play Now — Free, Through Nov 2

    • Grab the demo directly from the [Going My Way? Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/4720060/Going_my_way_Demo/) — one click, no waitlist
    • Available now through November 2, 2026
    • Windows 10+ — 16GB RAM recommended, GTX 1060 or better
    • Languages: Russian, Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese (English interface coming with full release)
    • Full game release — planned for 2026

    Find out more about Going My Way

    #GoingMyWay #SiberianKoala #SpaghettiCat #SteamScreamFest #PsychologicalHorror #IndieHorror #TrainHorror #TimeLoop #FreeDemo #PCGaming #Techmash

    Published on Techmash — Don’t fall asleep

  • Storm Castle Doom — MARVEL Cosmic Invasion’s Next DLC Launches Nov 10

    Storm Castle Doom — MARVEL Cosmic Invasion’s Next DLC Launches Nov 10

    Doctor Doom’s most dangerous creation is nearing completion — and the galaxy doesn’t have long to stop it. Tribute Games and Dotemu have unveiled MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doom, the premium second DLC for their beloved retro?style tag?team beat?’em?up, arriving November 10 across all major platforms.

    The Story — Doom’s Doomsday Device

    Deep within the walls of his impenetrable stronghold, Victor Von Doom is building something that could spell the end of everything. Your mission? Storm the fortress, dismantle his invention, and save the cosmos before the switch is flipped.

    This isn’t just another level — it’s an all?new high?stakes game mode packed with traps, elite guards, and the kind of ruthless ingenuity only Doom can devise.

    Two Legends Join the Fight

    The trailer also confirms two fan?favourites are joining the playable roster:

    Doctor Doom

    • Tech?armoured genius wielding both advanced weaponry and arcane arts
    • Distinctive playstyle blending ranged attacks, occult skills, and calculated brutality
    • The universe’s greatest threat… now fighting alongside — or against — it

    The Invisible Woman (Susan Storm)

    • Light?bending powers and impenetrable force fields
    • Never?before?seen abilities focused on protection, deflection, and stealth
    • Brings defensive mastery that changes how teams combine and survive

    About the Game — 1.5 Million Strong and Counting

    1.5+ players have already joined the fight in MARVEL Cosmic Invasion — the star?spanning, pixel?art tag?team brawler from the teams behind TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

    • Cosmic Swap System — pick two heroes, switch mid-combo instantly
    • 4?player co?op — local or online, drop?in/drop?out
    • 15+ base roster heroes — Spider?Man, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Nova, and more
    • Stunning retro pixel art — honouring Marvel’s classic comic?book eras

    Platforms & Release

    PlatformAvailability
    Steam (PC)Nov 10, 2026
    Nintendo Switch 1 & 2Nov 10, 2026
    PlayStation 4 & 5Nov 10, 2026
    Xbox Series X|SNov 10, 2026

    Base game required — The Siege of Castle Doom is premium DLC.

    Ready to Lay Siege?

    Watch the new gameplay trailer now to see Doom and Sue Storm in action, then wishlist on your platform of choice. The clock is ticking — and so is Doom.

    Find out more on MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doom

    #MARVELCosmicInvasion #TheSiegeOfCastleDoom #DoctorDoom #InvisibleWoman #TributeGames #Dotemu #BeatEmUp #Techmash #CoOpGaming #PixelArt #MarvelGames

    Published on Techmash — Excelsior!

  • Sort Letters, Face Fiends — The Mailroom: Hell’s Cosiest Job Is Out Now on Steam

    Sort Letters, Face Fiends — The Mailroom: Hell’s Cosiest Job Is Out Now on Steam

    Ever stared at your inbox and thought, “This is literally Hell”? Well, Crowfriend and publisher Vendetta have made it official — and somehow, it’s weirdly comforting. Their cozy?horror?job simulator The Mailroom is live right now on PC via Steam, with a free demo ready to try before you clock in.

    Welcome to the Office from Below

    You don’t know how you got there. You don’t know why you’re still there. But you do know one thing: punch the clock, sort the mail, don’t get fired.

    Your new workplace? A little regional branch of Hell tucked away in Modesto, California. It looks like a tired basement office — flickering lights, creaky floors, pneumatic tubes running everywhere — but the envelopes carry infernal addresses, the supervisors are never seen, and every shift gets a little stranger than the last.

    What You Actually Do

    • Sort mail — Inspect every letter, spot clues, and send it to exactly the right floor. One slip and someone upstairs will notice
    • Handle unusual specimens — Dissect amphibians for materials… or just pet them. No judgment here
    • Keep the machines breathing — Maintain blood?powered boilers and occult equipment. Let them fail and it’s not just a performance review you’ll fear
    • Uncover the truth — Why are you here? What lies beneath the sorting room? Search the office, piece together clues, and find a way out — or accept that this is your life forever

    The “Cosy” in Cozy?Horror

    It’s terrifying, yes — but at your own pace. No twitch?reflex jumps, no running for your life. Just you, your desk, a looming sense of dread, and a warm cup of something that definitely isn’t coffee. The days unfold slowly, new mechanics arrive gently, and the mystery deepens one shift at a time.

    How to Start Your Shift

    WhatWhere
    Full Game[The Mailroom on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3965430/The_Mailroom/) — Out Now
    Free DemoSame page, click “Download Demo” — try before you commit to eternity
    PlatformPC — Steam
    LanguagesEnglish, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and more
    Controller SupportFull Xbox / PlayStation controller support

    The Boss Says…

    “Hell’s dead?end job isn’t about fire and brimstone — it’s about overtime, ambiguous instructions, and wondering if anyone will notice you took an extra five minutes on break. That’s the real horror.”

    — Crowfriend & Vendetta

    Find out more on The Mailroom here

    #TheMailroom #Crowfriend #Vendetta #CozyHorror #IndieDev #WorkplaceSim #SteamRelease #DemoAvailable #HellIsAnOffice #PCGaming #Techmash

    Published on Techmash — Don’t forget to clock out

  • Light Reveals the Path — AYASA: Shadows of Silence Steps Into the Dark on PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

    Light Reveals the Path — AYASA: Shadows of Silence Steps Into the Dark on PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

    From the silence of the PC to the living room — Aya Games has officially launched AYASA: Shadows of Silence on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, bringing its haunting, wordless journey of light and shadow to console players everywhere.

    Originally released on PC via Steam back on November 28, 2025, this atmospheric horror puzzle-platformer has already captivated players with its unique premise: in the Inverted World, darkness isn’t just the backdrop — it’s the puzzle itself.

    What Is AYASA: Shadows of Silence?

    You play as Ayasa, a lone traveller crossing six surreal, crumbling realms — each representing a human emotion: Faith, Hope, Love, Greed, Indifference, and Betrayal. There is no dialogue. No exposition. The story unfolds entirely through imagery, movement, and a stirring original score.

    The Core Rule — Light Is Your Only Map

    • Shine light, reveal the world — Paths, platforms, and secrets vanish in the dark. Hold your light steady and the invisible becomes passable
    • Observe, deduce, survive — Puzzles demand patience as much as cleverness. Watch patterns, track shadows, and find the rhythm of each zone
    • Stealth over strength — You cannot fight. You must slip past what lurks in the dark, using shadow as your shield and silence as your weapon
    • Your choices shape the ending — Every decision matters. Two distinct conclusions await: Balance or Tyranny. Which path will you take?

    Launch Details — Available Now

    Table

    PlatformRelease StatusPrice
    PlayStation 5Out Now$19.99
    **Xbox Series XS**Out Now$19.99
    PC (Steam)Released Nov 28, 2025$24.99

    “AYASA was always meant to speak without words. We wanted players to feel the story rather than read it. Today, players on PS5 and Xbox can finally step into the Inverted World and find their own light in the darkness.”

    — Edgar Janoyan, Founder & CEO, Aya Games

    Why It Stands Out

    In a genre often defined by jump scares and combat, AYASA takes a quieter, more haunting approach:

    • Tim Burton-esque visual style — dreamlike, unsettling, and beautifully hand-crafted
    • Soundtrack as storytelling — music carries the emotion when words fall away
    • Accessible yet deep — easy to pick up, with puzzles that grow genuinely clever across the six realms
    • 24 interface languages — welcoming players worldwide on PC, with console localisation tuned for clarity

    Ready to Step Into the Dark?

    The Inverted World is waiting. Whether you’re returning to see it in crisp console fidelity or discovering it for the first time, Ayasa’s journey is yours to walk.

    • PlayStation Store — search AYASA: Shadows of Silence
    • Xbox Store — available now
    • Steam — includes Digital Artbook & Soundtrack bundles

    Find out more on AYASA: Shadows Of Silence here

    #AYASA #ShadowsOfSilence #AyaGames #PS5 #XboxSeriesX #PuzzlePlatformer #AtmosphericHorror #IndieGame #Techmash #LightAndShadow #ConsoleLaunch

    Published on Techmash — Where light meets shadow

  • New Boss, New Builds, New Languages — Tombwater V1.1 Rides Into Town

    New Boss, New Builds, New Languages — Tombwater V1.1 Rides Into Town

    The cursed Wild West just got even more dangerous — and a whole lot more accessible. Midwest Games, alongside solo indie studio Moth Atlas (developers Max Mraz and Jake Wagner), has officially unleashed Update V1.1 for Tombwater, their acclaimed 2D top-down Soulslike action-RPG.

    And it’s not just a patch — it’s the biggest refresh since launch, packed with everything from a fearsome new boss to long-requested class respec and full localisation support.

    What’s New in V1.1

    Face the Lantern Keeper — Brand?New Boss

    Deep within the North Cemetery’s Coffin Workshop awaits the Lantern Keeper, a terrifying new guardian with a fiery, icy secret. To reach its arena, you’ll need to use your Spectral Shot to light ten candles scattered across the building — solve the puzzle, and the fight begins.

    Beat it, and you claim the Ghostlamp Blade — a legendary weapon that stacks Burn and Frost simultaneously on your foes, turning every strike into a dual?element nightmare.

    Respect Your Build — Class Respec Is Here

    You spoke, they listened. You can now reassign your character class at any point. Head to the saloon in Vauxhall Mining Camp, find Drinks Johnson, share a whisky, and pick from all seven available classes — plus rebalance your HP, MP, and stamina however you like.

    Changed your mind? You can keep your current class too. Just note: your starting exclusive gear stays with your original choice.

    Speak Your Language — Full Localisation

    No longer English?only. V1.1 adds full interface and subtitle support for:

    • Spanish
    • Simplified Chinese
    • Japanese
    • Korean
    • German
    • Brazilian Portuguese

    Tombwater now welcomes players worldwide — right in time for Steam Scream Fest.

    Polish, Performance & Fixes

    • General balance and tuning across all encounters
    • Quality?of?life tweaks to map navigation and quest tracking
    • Stability and performance improvements throughout
    • Bug fixes reported by the community

    About Tombwater — Very Positive & Still Growing

    Launched March 31, 2026, Tombwater has earned Very Positive ratings from nearly 300 players, praised for blending punishing Soulslike combat with Metroidvania exploration, rich Western horror atmosphere, and stunning pixel art.

    “One of my favourite Soulslikes, if not one of my favourite games, period.” — Cog Connected (89/100)

    • 20+ bosses to overcome
    • 50+ weapons, 40+ spells, 40+ charms to mix and match
    • Apothecary crafting system for tonics, explosives, and survival gear
    • An interconnected, darkly beautiful world to explore

    Grab It Now — 40% Off Through Nov 2

    To celebrate the update and Steam Scream Fest, Tombwater is discounted 40% on Steam — now just £9.99 / $12.00 — with bundles also reduced. Offer runs through Monday 2 November.

    Wishlist and play Tombwater on Steam

    Find out more on Tombwater here

    #Tombwater #MothAtlas #MidwestGames #Soulslike #IndieDev #PixelArt #WesternHorror #Lovecraftian #SteamScreamFest #UpdateNowLive

    Published on Techmash — Ride or Die

  • A Missing Wife, A Dying World — PENANCE Demo Haunts Steam Just in Time for Scream V Fest

    A Missing Wife, A Dying World — PENANCE Demo Haunts Steam Just in Time for Scream V Fest

    The wait is over. Furistic Studio and publisher Kitsundie Tales have officially unleashed the playable demo for PENANCE, their brooding psychological survival horror — and it lands right now, free for all, as part of Steam Scream V Fest.

    This isn’t just another horror game. It’s a search for truth in a place built on lies — and every night, the darkness gets hungry.

    What Is PENANCE?

    You play as Calen, a former ranger living in what was meant to be humanity’s salvation: a carefully designed sanctuary built to save us from ourselves. But the dream rotted from the inside out. Your wife Sienna has vanished, leaving nothing but a cryptic note behind. Now you must survive long enough to find her — and uncover the terrible secret at the heart of the world you call home.

    Key Mechanics

    • Day/Night Cycle — Scavenge, craft, and explore by daylight. When the sun sets, retreat, barricade, and survive. The creatures that emerge in the dark are not just dangerous — they know where to look
    • Psychological Survival — It’s not just your body at risk. Isolation, uncertainty, and the haunting question of what really happened to Sienna weigh on you as heavily as hunger or exhaustion
    • A Mystery That Deepens — Every clue uncovers a new layer of deception. The further you go, the clearer it becomes: your wife didn’t just disappear. She fled something

    Demo Details — Play Now, Speak Up

    • Live right now — October 26, 2026, throughout Steam Scream V Fest (Oct 26 – Nov 2)
    • Extended availability — The demo will remain up until February 2027’s Steam Next Fest, giving everyone plenty of time to experience it
    • Your voice shapes the game — Feedback forms are built into the demo menu, and the team is active on their official Discord. Every report and suggestion will guide polish, balance, and immersion before launch
    • Full release planned — February 2027 on Steam

    How to Play

    1. Head to PENANCE on Steam
    2. Download the demo — no sign?up or waitlist required
    3. Step into Calen’s boots. Search for Sienna. Survive the night
    4. Share your thoughts — the team is listening

    “Your penance awaits.”

    — Kitsundie Tales & Furistic Studio

    Find out more on PENANCE here

    #PENANCE #FuristicStudio #KitsundieTales #SteamScreamV #HorrorDemo #PsychologicalHorror #SurvivalHorror #IndieHorror #Steam #GamingNews #Techmash

    Published on Techmash — Where the shadows wait

  • Powered by Flesh, Driven by Fear — Magnavis Surfaces as Digital Vortex’s Next Deep-Sea Horror

    Powered by Flesh, Driven by Fear — Magnavis Surfaces as Digital Vortex’s Next Deep-Sea Horror

    Digital Vortex Entertainment is no stranger to the terrors of the deep. Fresh from unveiling DREADMOOR — their flooded-world fishing adventure launching into Early Access November 9 — the publisher is diving even further below the waves with its next announcement: Magnavis, a grotesque co-op submarine horror survival game from Istanbul-based indie studio Vorles Games.

    And this isn’t any ordinary sub. This one breathes.

    A Vessel Made of Living Things

    In the sunken depths of the Red Seas, humanity clings to survival in isolated underwater stations. You and your crew are employees of Hydra Corp, dispatched into the abyss aboard a submarine unlike any built before:

    Powered by preserved whale organs. Pulsing, biological machinery. No clean steel engines — just throbbing, living systems that demand constant care, feeding, and repair.

    It’s gross. It’s brilliant. And if it fails, you die.

    How You Survive — Together or Alone

    Magnavis is built for 1–4 players, with every role vital and every moment tense:

    Run the Vessel

    • Steer from the helm, monitor the periscope, balance the engine core, and keep oxygen flowing
    • Weld catastrophic leaks before pressure crushes the hull
    • Repair failing systems — the submarine fights back as hard as the monsters outside

    Silence Is Your Shield

    • Proximity chat means your voice carries only as far as your crew — drift apart and you’re deaf to each other
    • Noise draws attention. Light draws eyes. Speak too loud, and something will listen

    Face What Lurks Below

    • Procedurally generated caves and stations — no two dives are the same
    • Creatures that hunt by sound and light, actively tracking your every move
    • Bioengineered weapons to fight back — or flee, if you’re smart enough

    Play Your Way

    • Full single-player support — brave the abyss solo
    • “Silent Crew” mode — simplifies complex puzzles so solo players can focus purely on survival
    • “Comms Critical” — for teams wanting maximum coordination pressure

    A demo is already live on Steam — try it before you commit to the deep.

    Why Digital Vortex? — The Depths Call Twice

    It’s no accident this follows DREADMOOR. Digital Vortex says they’re fascinated by what the water hides — and they’re building a whole publishing identity around it:

    “We believe in games that don’t just take place in the dark — they make you feel it. Whether fishing a drowned world or crewing a sub that breathes, the ocean holds our most primal fears. Magnavis is our deepest yet.”

    • DREADMOOR — launches Early Access 9 November 2026 (flooded surface world, fishing & survival)
    • Magnavis — coming to Early Access via Steam, release date TBA (the abyss itself, crewed horror)
    • Both from Digital Vortex Entertainment — both prove the water is never empty

    What Lies Beneath

    You can wishlist Magnavis right now on Steam, download the demo, and join the community on Discord. The full Early Access release is targeted for roughly 6–8 months after launch, shaped closely by player feedback.

    The submarine is ready. The organs are beating. But something in the dark is listening.

    Find out more on Magnavis here

    #Magnavis #DigitalVortexEntertainment #VorlesGames #Techmash #CoOpHorror #SubmarineHorror #DeepSeaTerror #SurvivalHorror #IndieHorror #SteamDemo #Dreadmoor #RedSeas

    Published on Techmash — Where the dark finds you

  • Design Every Room, Build Your Dream City — Empluna Demo 0.1.3 Overhauled With Your Feedback

    Design Every Room, Build Your Dream City — Empluna Demo 0.1.3 Overhauled With Your Feedback

    You told them what wasn’t working — and they listened. BigCodersPlanet has unleashed Version 0.1.3 of the Empluna demo, a sweeping refresh shaped directly by every suggestion, critique, and wish from players who tried the low?poly sandbox city builder during Steam Next Fest back in June.

    The result? A smoother, smarter, more satisfying building experience — live right now on Steam, free for everyone to try.

    What Is Empluna?

    Most city builders hand you pre?fab buildings and say “place it here.” Empluna does things differently: you design everything. From the layout of every room in a family home to the floor plan of your industrial complexes, you decide how your city looks, works, and grows.

    • Design buildings from the inside out — rooms, corridors, and layouts are entirely yours to create
    • Shape the land — procedurally generated terrain you can sculpt, rivers you can guide, coastlines you can expand
    • Welcome diverse residents — craftspeople, families, researchers, artists, tourists — each with their own needs
    • Automate & trade — build production chains, manage resources, import and export goods across your network
    • Relax, low?poly style — clean, charming visuals and a pace that lets you build at your speed

    The Big Fixes — You Asked, They Delivered

    The June demo showed huge promise — but players were vocal about what needed work. Here’s how 0.1.3 answers those calls:

    Road Building — Completely Rebuilt

    • Terrain now reshapes itself around your roads automatically
    • Junctions snap and connect cleanly — no more fiddling with misaligned endpoints
    • Live preview shows exactly what will be placed before you commit

    Undo & Redo — Finally Here

    • Ctrl+Z now works for terrain, objects, roads, walls — nearly everything
    • No more “every mistake is permanent” anxiety. Build boldly, tweak freely

    Interface — Remade From Scratch

    • Redesigned main menu with live terrain preview
    • Clearer build menu with collapsible categories
    • Brand?new unified icon set
    • Movable, maximisable windows
    • Consistent tooltips throughout

    A Prettier, More Alive World

    • Natural erosion?shaped terrain and improved ridgelines
    • Procedural rivers and better coastlines
    • Brighter nights in developed areas — building after dark is no longer guesswork
    • Smoother horizon blending and distance fog

    Plus…

    • Building plots can now be rotated — layouts adapt automatically
    • Conveyor belts lift vertically with Shift+drag
    • Spline magnetism means road ends find each other
    • Steam Achievements and Steam Cloud support ready
    • Bug fixes across trading, display scaling, and audio

    How to Play

    1. Visit Empluna on Steam
    2. Download the Demo — no access request needed
    3. Start building — and keep sharing your thoughts
    4. Full release coming soon — wishlist to stay updated

    The Devs Speak

    “Your feedback during Steam Next Fest was invaluable. You told us road building was frustrating, that mistakes couldn’t be undone, and that the interface was cluttered. We’ve rebuilt all three — and kept going. This demo is stronger because you played it.”

    — BigCodersPlanet

    Find out more on Empluna here

    #Empluna #BigCodersPlanet #CityBuilder #IndieDev #Techmash #SteamDemo #SteamNextFest #SandboxBuilding #Automation #DesignYourCity #PCGaming

  • The Zone Listens — S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Update 2.1 Is Live Across PC & Consoles

    The Zone Listens — S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Update 2.1 Is Live Across PC & Consoles

    GSC Game World has officially unleashed Update 2.1 — “The Zone Lookout” for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and it delivers exactly what the community has been calling for. Two of the most requested features are now in the game, alongside a full suite of fixes, polish, and performance boosts across every platform.

    Two Big Wins You Asked For

    See Further — A?Life Visualisation Distance

    For the first time, you can adjust how far out you see the Zone’s living, breathing population. The new settings panel gives you control over A?Life NPC visualisation range — pick from presets including a Dynamic option that automatically scales to what your system can handle. Binoculars have also been updated so you can actually make use of those extended distances. Now you’ll spot factions skirmishing, mutants patrolling, and stalkers trekking across the landscape — and hear distant firefights unfold in real time.

    Quest?critical NPCs remain visible regardless of your setting to keep your story on track.

    Fast Travel — Via Squad Leaders

    No more endless marching back across the Exclusion Zone. Join up with wandering friendly or neutral stalker squads, and their leaders will get you moving — fast travel is now available through them. It’s lore?friendly, it keeps immersion intact, and it saves you hours of trudging through familiar territory.

    Everything Else in 2.1

    Beyond the headline features, this update is packed with improvements:

    • Combat & AI — Enemies make smarter use of cover, react better to melee, and won’t spawn in overwhelming numbers at Rostok or the Duga. Ballistics tuned for long?range engagements.
    • Anomalies & Audio — Improved rendering and interaction at distance; sharper visuals for the CNPP arch?anomaly. Distant combat sounds scale naturally with your view distance.
    • Quests & Stability — Dozens of quest?blockers fixed across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S; corrected cutscene hazards; geometry and frame?rate optimisations in key areas including the CNPP, Perimeter Dam, and more.
    • Handheld & Cloud — Controller and DLC activation fixes for SteamOS, handheld PCs, and GeForce NOW.

    Availability

    • Now live — PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5
    • Consoles may list this build as 1.025 — it’s the same as Update 2.1
    • All improvements are free for all owners

    The Zone has never felt bigger — or more alive. See further, travel smarter, and dive back in. GSC Game World says your feedback has shaped every part of this release — so keep the reports coming.

    Find out more on STALKER 2 Heart Of Chornobyl here

    #STALKER2 #HeartOfChornobyl #GSCGameWorld #Techmash #TheZoneLookout #GamingUpdate #PCGaming #XboxSeriesX #PS5 #ZoneLife #PostApocalyptic

  • Hear the Mystery — Sublustrum Playtest Extended, Dive Into Sound & Memory Until November 9

    Hear the Mystery — Sublustrum Playtest Extended, Dive Into Sound & Memory Until November 9

    Good news for anyone who loves atmospheric puzzles and haunting stories: HypeTrain Digital and Brickworks Games have extended the open playtest for Sublustrum, their evocative first-person psychological narrative adventure. Originally set to close October 25, the playtest will now run through November 9, 2026 — giving you extra time to explore the mystery, shape the game, and experience where sound itself becomes a clue.

    What Is Sublustrum?

    A full reimagining of the cult classic 2008 title, Sublustrum casts you into a world of disappearance, fragmented memory, and uncanny science — where you arrive at your brother’s home to find him gone and his work unravelling into something strange and surreal.

    It’s not just what you see that matters — it’s what you hear. Every creak, hum, and resonance could hold the answer. The game’s signature mechanic weaves audio directly into puzzles: listen closely, distinguish layers of sound, and let what you hear guide you through environments that shift, reveal, and transform.

    In the playtest, you’ll experience Chapter One — exploring the opening locations, picking up the trail of your missing sibling, and facing the first puzzles that reward careful observation and even more careful listening.

    Why the Extension?

    The response so far has been outstanding, with players eager to dig into the world and share their thoughts. The team also wanted to align with the Point and Click Steam Showcase running November 2–9, so even more curious players can join in.

    Feedback already rolling in has already shaped improvements — from movement responsiveness to clearer hints — proving your voice truly helps build the final game.

    How to Join

    It’s simple and free:

    • Head to Sublustrum’s Steam page
    • Hit “Request Access” — approval is instant
    • Download the build and play Chapter One whenever suits you before November 9

    Mark Your Calendar

    • Playtest now available through: November 9, 2026
    • Steam Point and Click Showcase: November 2–9, 2026
    • Full release: Planned for Q1 2027

    Don’t let this chance slip away — step into a world where every sound tells a story, every memory holds a piece of the puzzle, and nothing is quite as it seems. The clock is ticking, the house is waiting — and your brother’s trail is still warm.

    Find out more on Sublustrum here

    #Sublustrum #HypeTrainDigital #BrickworksGames #Techmash #PsychologicalHorror #IndieAdventure #SteamPlaytest #SoundDesign #MysteryGame #PointAndClick #GamingNews

  • Sushi Strategy — You Can’t Control the Cat, But You Can Guide It to the Car in Cat Eats Sushi

    Sushi Strategy — You Can’t Control the Cat, But You Can Guide It to the Car in Cat Eats Sushi

    Imagine the scene: a fluffy, food-obsessed feline, a pile of fresh nigiri, and a car waiting at the end of a winding path. Your mission? Get that cat from point A to point B — but here’s the twist: you never actually touch the cat.

    In Cat Eats Sushi, the cat moves on its own, driven by one thing and one thing only: its stomach. It’ll pad forward whenever something delicious is within reach — and that’s where you come in. You don’t steer; you lure. Place sushi pieces strategically along the ground, and the curious kitty will follow the trail straight to your goal: the waiting car. It’s less “herding cats” and more “feeding cats — with a plan.”

    How It Plays

    The rules are simple, but mastering them is where the fun kicks in:

    • No direct control — You can’t click, drag, or nudge the cat. It follows its nose and its nose alone.
    • Place sushi, build paths — Drop sushi where you want the cat to go. It will move toward the nearest piece, eat it, then look for the next one.
    • Reach the car — Lay out a clever, safe trail that leads from the cat’s starting spot all the way to the vehicle without running out of treats — or letting the cat wander off.
    • Think ahead — Sushi is limited. Each level gives you a fixed number of pieces, so you’ll need to plan every placement carefully. One misstep and your cat could head down the wrong path — or stop entirely.
    • Levels that grow with you — Early stages are gentle introductions to the luring mechanic. Later on, you’ll face branching paths, obstacles, tighter budgets of sushi, and terrain that changes how — and where — you can guide your hungry companion.

    It’s a puzzle game about influence, not control. You’re the architect of the path, the designer of the dinner trail, the sushi-placing genius behind every successful journey. And watching your plan click into place as the cat trots obediently from one treat to the next? Pure satisfaction.

    Why Cat Eats Sushi Works

    There’s something wonderfully refreshing about this approach. Most puzzle games hand you full command — move this, rotate that, click here. Cat Eats Sushi flips the script: your partner is independent, driven by simple instincts, and utterly adorable. Success feels like you’ve truly understood how to guide someone rather than just ordering them around.

    Plus, let’s be honest: watching a cat happily follow a trail of sushi is just about the most wholesome thing in gaming. The art style leans into warmth and charm, the purrs and happy munching sounds are endlessly soothing, and every level wraps up with that perfect moment when your feline friend hops into the car — mission complete.

    Ready to Roll?

    Whether you’re here for cute cats, clever puzzles, or just a game that respects your brain without stressing you out, Cat Eats Sushi delivers. It’s quick to pick up, tough to put down, and proves once again that the shortest distance between two points — is a trail of good food.

    Grab your virtual chopsticks, map out your perfect path, and show that cat exactly where the good stuff is. The car’s waiting — and so is your new best friend.

    Find out more on Cat Eats Sushi here

    #CatEatsSushi #IndiePuzzle #CatsOfGaming #SushiStrategy #BrainTeaser #GamingCharm #PuzzleGame #FelineFun #Techmash