TECHMASH

Category: Video Games

  • 500 ENEMIES, 30+ ALLIES, ENDLESS DEPTH — HORRORVALE: DEADLUXE EDITION IS THE RPG THAT KEEPS GIVING

    500 ENEMIES, 30+ ALLIES, ENDLESS DEPTH — HORRORVALE: DEADLUXE EDITION IS THE RPG THAT KEEPS GIVING

    BatWorks Software’s spooky turn-based adventure packs unmatched variety — and everyone’s already dead

    Don’t let the charming undead exterior fool you — HorrorVale: Deadluxe Edition hides one of the deepest, most generously designed turn-based combat systems in recent memory. With over 500 mechanically distinct enemies, brain-teasing puzzles, and 30+ recruitable party members ready to back you up, this isn’t just another spooky RPG — it’s a massive, living underworld where no two battles feel the same.

    Combat That Never Repeats

    Most RPGs recycle the same foes with slightly higher stats. HorrorVale? It built 500+ enemies from the ground up, each with their own art, behaviour, and mechanics to learn:

    • Every encounter teaches something new — you’ll never face a generic “stronger goblin” clone
    • It keeps you thinking — adapt to new tactics constantly; mastery means understanding patterns, not just levelling up
    • Hand-drawn style — every creature is uniquely illustrated, making the bestiary as fun to browse as it is to battle
    • Modern turn-based design — familiar at first glance, but layered with timing, positioning, and combo depth that unfolds across 25+ hours of main story and 60 hours of total content

    Puzzles That Make You Think — Without Breaking You

    The valley isn’t just monsters. It’s packed with fiendish, brain-bending puzzles woven into every area — riddles, environmental challenges, and logic tests that match the spooky tone without ever feeling unfair. Stuck? Your growing team of allies often holds the clue — or the ability — you need to push through.

    Your Friends Are Your Greatest Weapon

    Thankfully, you’re not facing this alone. 30+ playable characters — from ghosts and ghouls to talking trees and unlikely heroes — stand ready to join your party:

    • Each with unique abilities, personalities, and personal sidequests — 60 in total to deepen their stories
    • Shared XP system — experiment freely! Swap team members constantly without anyone falling behind
    • Build endless party combinations — synergise skills, cover weaknesses, and craft the perfect squad for every threat
    • A genuinely alive (and undead) world — the town of HorrorVale hums with weird, wonderful NPCs and side stories that make it feel like home

    Deadluxe Edition — Bigger, Better, Spookier

    Originally launched on PC in October 2024, the Deadluxe Edition arrived October 31 on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, bringing:

    • Revised hand-drawn artwork polished exclusively for consoles
    • Brand-new battles and quality-of-life improvements
    • 170-track original soundtrack — one of the most generous in the genre
    • The golden rule — don’t worry about who you meet along the way… everyone is already dead

    Ready to Move In?

    HorrorVale: Deadluxe Edition isn’t just about fighting monsters — it’s about joining a community. One where every battle sharpens your mind, every puzzle rewards your wits, and every new friend makes you stronger. With 500 foes to master, 30+ allies to befriend, and a sprawling underworld to uncover, the question isn’t whether you’ll survive — it’s how many stories you’ll collect before you’re done.

    Welcome to the valley. Make yourself at home.

    Available now on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox & Nintendo Switch

    Find out more here: Horror Vale Deadluxe Edition

    #HorrorVale #DeadluxeEdition #BatWorksSoftware #TurnBasedRPG #IndieRPG #SpookyGaming #HalloweenGaming #JRPGStyle #TechMash

  • THE RAFALE LEGEND RETURNS — LIONEL ARRIVES IN VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS!

    THE RAFALE LEGEND RETURNS — LIONEL ARRIVES IN VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS!

    SEGA & RGG Studio unveil the mysterious new fighter who just outmatched the game’s own hero

    A shadow has fallen over the fighting streets of Vilasapara. SEGA and RGG Studio have officially pulled back the curtain on Lionel Rafale, the formidable new arrival in Virtua Fighter Crossroads — and he’s already done something no one expected: he’s beaten the game’s protagonist, Cielo, in a straight street fight.

    Who Is Lionel Rafale?

    Described as a mysterious young martial artist who has appeared out of nowhere in the vibrant fighting city of Vilasapara, Lionel is far more than just another challenger:

    • He outclasses Cielo — the trailer shows him handily defeating the story’s lead in a street brawl, proving he’s already at the very top of the martial arts world
    • He carries a famous name — Lionel is the son of Lion Rafale, the Virtua Fighter series veteran known for his graceful and deadly Northern Praying Mantis style
    • “Les jeux sont faits” — his announcement trailer opens with the French phrase meaning “the die is cast,” hinting at a character who sees destiny in very different terms
    • His purpose is unknown — why has he come to Vilasapara? What does he want? And how does his father’s legacy shape his own path?

    A New Virtua Fighter for a New Era

    Virtua Fighter Crossroads is more than just another entry — it’s a bold reimagining from the team behind the Like a Dragon series:

    • Cinematic story mode — for the first time in the franchise’s history, Virtua Fighter delivers a rich, narrative-driven single-player experience
    • Vilasapara awaits — a bustling fictional city in Southeast Asia, where distinct districts, hidden quests, and interconnected stories draw you deeper into the world
    • Legendary combat — beneath the new story layers beats the heart of Virtua Fighter: precise, fluid, technical fighting that rewards skill above all
    • Coming 2027 — platforms yet to be confirmed

    The Legacy Continues

    Lionel’s arrival raises as many questions as it answers. Is he fighting to step out of his father’s shadow? To reclaim something lost? Or to prove that the Rafale name belongs to him now? Whatever the truth, one thing is certain — he’s already stronger than anyone anticipated.

    The fight for Vilasapara is just beginning. And Lionel Rafale is right at its centre.

    Find out more here: Virtua Fighter Crossroads

    #VirtuaFighterCrossroads #LionelRafale #SEGA #RGGStudio #VFCR #FightingGames #NewCharacter #2027Gaming #TechMash

  • ONE WHEELCHAIR, TWO FRIENDS — WHEEL MAKE IT IS THE CO-OP GAME THAT WILL TEST YOUR BOND!

    ONE WHEELCHAIR, TWO FRIENDS — WHEEL MAKE IT IS THE CO-OP GAME THAT WILL TEST YOUR BOND!

    New physics-based rage game: share control, master momentum, and try not to fall out mid-gauntlet

    Think your friendship is unbreakable? Wheel Make It is here to find out. The brand-new physics-based co-op challenge puts two players in control of a single wheelchair — one wheel each — and tasks you with navigating a gauntlet of tight corridors, moving platforms, deadly traps, and wildly chaotic environments. It’s simple, it’s silly, and it will absolutely push your coordination to breaking point.

    How It Plays

    The premise is beautifully brutal:

    • Co-op mode (1–2 players) — each person controls one wheel. Move in sync and you go forward. Fall out of sync and you spin, drift, tip over, or launch into the nearest wall
    • Solo mode — take full control of both wheels yourself if you want to prove you can do it alone
    • Physics rule everything — momentum, friction, and collisions dictate every move. Timing and balance are your only lifelines
    • Difficulty ramps up — early levels teach the basics; later stages throw shifting platforms, narrow ledges, and devious traps that demand near-telepathic communication

    Why It’s Pure Chaos

    “Go straight” becomes a negotiation. “Turn left” needs agreement. “Don’t crash” is a shared prayer. The game leans into the comedy of every misstep — sending you careening into obstacles, spinning helplessly, or tumbling off edges — with physics that make every failure feel hilarious rather than frustrating.

    • Leaderboards to track your fastest times
    • Character and wheelchair customisation to unlock
    • Full campaign designed for 45–90 minutes of co-op chaos
    • Available now on Steam

    Grab a Friend (Before They Grab You)

    Whether you’re laughing through the disasters or quietly plotting whose fault it was that you fell for the tenth time running, Wheel Make It is built around one truth: the best co-op games are the ones that leave you both shouting and smiling at the end.

    Gather your most patient partner — or your most chaotic one — and see if you can make it through in one piece.

    Play Wheel Make It on Steam

    #WheelMakeIt #CoOpGaming #PhysicsGame #RageGame #IndieGame #SteamRelease #FriendshipTest #TechMash

  • HERO MODE, THE ARCHIVES & NEW SKILLS — GUILD SAGA: VANISHED WORLDS SHOWCASES ITS LATEST GROWTH

    HERO MODE, THE ARCHIVES & NEW SKILLS — GUILD SAGA: VANISHED WORLDS SHOWCASES ITS LATEST GROWTH

    Ocelot Technologies shares packed October devlog — plus the Early Access RPG is 20% off right now

    Tactical RPG fans, take note. Ocelot Technologies has dropped its latest development update for Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds, the hand-drawn turn-based adventure steadily building a glowing reputation in Steam Early Access. The October devlog pulls back the curtain on three major incoming features — Hero Mode, the sprawling Archives dungeon, and fresh abilities across three skill schools — all arriving as the game edges toward its full Version 1.0 release in Q2 2027. And to celebrate, the game is currently 20% off for new players.

    Hero Mode — Every Decision Counts

    For players who crave genuine stakes, Hero Mode is the game’s boldest challenge yet. It takes the already demanding Tactician difficulty and layers on two defining rules:

    • Single save file only — no reloading to undo a bad call
    • Selected encounters reworked — enemies have new compositions and abilities, so even familiar fights feel fresh and deadlier

    The best part? Failure isn’t the end. If your party falls, you don’t lose your entire playthrough — you simply drop back to standard Tactician difficulty and carry on. It’s a design that offers the thrill of a high-stakes run without punishing you with a total restart, making it accessible to veterans and ambitious newcomers alike.

    The Archives — Secrets of the Elven Library

    Hidden within the world of Aarde lies the Archives, a vast dungeon set inside an ancient elven library. This isn’t just another combat gauntlet:

    • Puzzles and riddles test your knowledge of the game’s lore
    • Books and notes uncover deep worldbuilding and hidden backstory
    • Main story revelations — including critical clues about the chronomancer Thevyre and the dark forces gathering across the continent
    • Unique foes and multi-room encounters that reward careful exploration as much as tactical prowess

    New Skills, Fresh Tactics

    Three skill schools get powerful new options to experiment with:

    SchoolNew SkillEffect
    RogueWraithBecome invisible for 3 turns — perfect for repositioning, striking from shadows, or escaping a tight spot
    PyromancerChainfire BlastFireballs that ricochet between targets, turning grouped enemies into a chain of fiery destruction
    EngineerWildcard SurfacesUnpredictable terrain effects that randomly adopt the properties of other surfaces — chaos in the best possible way, opening wild tactical possibilities

    With over 200 skills planned across the full game and 10 distinct schools already in the works, builds will only grow more creative as development progresses.

    Grab It While It’s Discounted

    Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds launched in Early Access back in October 2024 and has since earned “Very Positive” reviews from over 319 players, praised for its deep tactical combat, rich storytelling, and hand-drawn charm. Right now you can join the adventure at 20% off — the promotion runs through 13 November 2026.

    The full Version 1.0 is targeted for Q2 2027, with regular major updates continuing in the meantime. Your feedback during Early Access directly shapes everything from balance to new features.

    Ready to Write Your Saga?

    From perilous island shores to ancient libraries and beyond, the world of Aarde is expanding — and every choice you make matters. Dive in at the discounted price, help shape the game’s future, and see why so many players are already calling this one of the most promising indie RPGs in development.

    Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds on Steam

    #GuildSaga #VanishedWorlds #OcelotTechnologies #TacticalRPG #TurnBasedRPG #IndieDev #SteamEarlyAccess #SaleAlert #TechMash

  • SAY ANYTHING — BOT COLONY REDUX LETS YOU TALK YOUR WAY THROUGH A SCI-FI WORLD!

    SAY ANYTHING — BOT COLONY REDUX LETS YOU TALK YOUR WAY THROUGH A SCI-FI WORLD!

    North Side Inc. launches revolutionary voice-controlled adventure on Steam Early Access — no dialogue trees, just your own words.

    Imagine playing a game where you never have to pick from a list of pre-written lines. Where you can ask, command, joke, or argue — and the characters actually listen and respond in real time. That future has arrived. North Side Inc. has officially launched Bot Colony Redux on Steam Early Access — a sci-fi adventure powered by a custom natural language engine that lets you speak or type to robots entirely in your own words.

    What Is Bot Colony Redux?

    Set on the tropical island of Agrihan, you step into an investigator role tracking down a spy amid a community of intelligent machines. But unlike every dialogue-heavy game you’ve played before, there are zero fixed conversation paths. No “Option A, B, or C” — you just say what you mean.

    • Speak or type freely — ask questions, give orders, crack jokes, or challenge characters however you like
    • Robots with real personalities — they interpret your words, respond with emotion and humour, and sometimes misunderstand you in delightfully chaotic ways
    • Investigate a mystery — hunt a spy, uncover secrets, build trust, and uncover what’s really happening on the island
    • Stealth & action — when talking fails, you’ll need to move quietly and think fast
    • 16 languages supported — English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian — and you can even mix languages in the same conversation

    How It Actually Works

    The magic comes from a proprietary natural language system that manages API calls to large language models, combining North Side’s own engine with modern speech-to-text and LLM capabilities. Every time you speak or type:

    1. Your words are transcribed and understood
    2. The AI characters interpret your intent — not just keywords, but the tone and meaning behind them
    3. They respond in voice or text, carry out your instructions, or push back if they disagree
    4. The world reacts — robots fetch items, unlock doors, lead the way… or decide they’d rather not

    This is experimental — and that’s the point. The team is refining how well the robots understand you, how consistent they stay, and how naturally conversations flow. Early Access lets them do that alongside players who want to help shape the experience.

    Free to Start, Evolving Fast

    • Free-to-play entry — dive in at no cost to explore the opening island and test the conversation system
    • Early Access launched Oct 30, 2026 — with ongoing updates planned to expand the story, refine the AI, and deepen the world
    • From the original Bot Colony creators — this is a modern rebuild of the studio’s pioneering 2014 conversational experiment, rebuilt with today’s far more capable language tech

    Why It Matters

    We’ve all seen dialogue trees get stale. Bot Colony Redux is one of the first mainstream attempts to replace them entirely with genuine, open-ended conversation. It’s ambitious, it’s experimental, and it could change how we interact with game worlds.

    The robots are waiting. What will you say to them?

    Play Bot Colony Redux on Steam:

    #BotColonyRedux #NorthSideInc #SteamEarlyAccess #AIgaming #VoiceControl #SciFiAdventure #IndieDev #ConversationalGaming #TechMash

  • NO MORE DOGBANE — FATEKEEPER UPDATE TURNS TREASURE HUNTING INTO REAL REWARD!

    NO MORE DOGBANE — FATEKEEPER UPDATE TURNS TREASURE HUNTING INTO REAL REWARD!

    Paraglacial & THQ Nordic deliver major feature update — better loot, sharper combat, controller support, and more languages

    Every relic hunter knows the pain: you sneak past sharp-eyed archers, crack open a chest you fought hard to reach… and find a single, sad sprig of Dogbane. Those days are officially over. Paraglacial and publisher THQ Nordic have just released a substantial new update for Fatekeeper, the atmospheric first-person action RPG currently carving a name for itself in Steam Early Access. And yes — loot is the first thing they’ve fixed.

    What’s Changing? Version 0.1.4 Breakdown

    This isn’t just a few bug fixes — it’s a comprehensive overhaul touching exploration, combat, accessibility, and feel:

    Loot That Actually Matters

    • Chest contents reworked across the board — containers now hold meaningful rewards instead of filler
    • New items added — clubs, magical amulets, and equipment upgrades to expand your build options
    • Alchemy Belt introduced — potions and ingredients no longer clog your main inventory slots, freeing up space for proper treasure
    • No more opening legendary caches to find nothing but herbs and regret

    Combat That Flows Better

    • Archers tamed — their once-supernatural accuracy has been rebalanced, and they now react more noticeably when disrupted
    • Spells amplified — Firespark range extended; Tremor and Elemental Fortress hit harder and stagger enemies more reliably
    • Traps improved — Fire Trap and Frost Trap are now genuinely viable tactical choices
    • Movement speed +15% — traverse the world faster and feel more responsive in combat
    • Weapon & camera polish — reduced sway, tighter attack camera motion, clearer hit feedback

    Play Your Way

    • Full controller support — gamepad-ready from day one, with refined input curves
    • Localisation expanded — German, French, Russian, Ukrainian, and Simplified Chinese join English; more coming
    • Boss health bars — optional toggle for those who want to track the fight
    • Engine & graphics updated — Unreal Engine refresh plus ongoing optimisation for lower-spec systems

    And One Familiar Face Returns

    The talking rat guide — a character who divided opinion in the Early Access debut — is back, with tweaks to tone and dialogue based on player feedback.

    Why This Matters

    Fatekeeper launched in Early Access to immediate success, surpassing 500,000 copies sold and earning Very Positive reviews. But the team at Paraglacial — a 13-person studio based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany — didn’t rest on those numbers. They listened, and this update is the direct result:

    “Every relic hunter knows the feeling: you fight your way past a pack of sharp-eyed archers, uncover a well-hidden treasure stash, open the lid… and find a single, rather pathetic Dogbane inside. Those days are over.”

    The full game is expected to take roughly 18 months from Early Access launch, growing from around 2 hours of current content to a 15+ hour adventure. Future updates will expand the map, add story chapters, and introduce new mechanics alongside continued polish and quality-of-life improvements.

    Ready to Hunt?

    Fatekeeper is available now on Steam in Early Access. The 0.1.4 update is live immediately — no extra purchase required. Grab it, crack open a chest, and see what real treasure looks like.

    Fatekeeper on Steam

    #Fatekeeper #Paraglacial #THQNordic #SteamUpdate #EarlyAccess #ActionRPG #IndieDev #LootImprovements #TechMash

  • SPEAK OF THE DEVIL — DEVIL CONNECTION GOES GLOBAL WITH ENGLISH & CHINESE SUPPORT PLUS 1ST ANNIVERSARY SALE!

    SPEAK OF THE DEVIL — DEVIL CONNECTION GOES GLOBAL WITH ENGLISH & CHINESE SUPPORT PLUS 1ST ANNIVERSARY SALE!

    PLAYISM & ChaoGames unlock the adventure for worldwide players — and there’s a brand-new scenario to celebrate

    Something delightful has been brewing in the shadows. Publisher PLAYISM and Japanese indie team ChaoGames, led by creator Bayachao, have officially unveiled a major milestone update for their charming, cheeky adventure Devil Connection: English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese language support are now live, opening the gates for players around the globe to join the fun. And to mark the game’s first anniversary on Steam, a celebratory sale is underway.

    What Is Devil Connection?

    Described as a “devilishly cheeky adventure game,” Devil Connection casts you as a summoner who forges pacts with a colourful cast of over 30 distinct, fully animated characters — each with their own lively expressions, unique personalities, and… playful reactions when you interact with them. It’s a whimsical journey through a fantastical, sometimes darkly gothic world, set to an enchanting original soundtrack that perfectly matches its magical atmosphere.

    Originally launching in Japanese on Steam back in October 2025, the game has already won over more than 30,000 players worldwide with its distinctive art style, endearing cast, and the kind of unapologetic, playful charm that only an indie passion project can deliver.

    What’s In the Update?

    This isn’t just a translation pass — it’s a full anniversary package:

    • English, Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese — all interface, subtitles, and text now localised
    • Brand-new anniversary scenario — extra story content added to mark the occasion, free for all owners
    • 10% off on Steam — first-anniversary sale running now through 6 November 2026
    • Note when switching languages — playthrough counts and ending collection status carry over, but text display quirks may occur when loading cross-language saves; starting a fresh playthrough is recommended for the smoothest experience

    Coming Soon to Even More Platforms

    The adventure doesn’t stop there. Devil Connection is set to spread further — Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android versions are scheduled to launch 21 January 2027, bringing the game to handheld and mobile players everywhere.

    Why It’s Worth Your Time

    Devil Connection stands out in a crowded field:

    • Hand-drawn art that bursts with personality and expressiveness
    • A lighthearted yet heartfelt story with depth beneath its mischievous exterior
    • 30+ summonable allies, each with their own quirks and interactions
    • A gorgeous original soundtrack that complements every scene
    • Pure, unfiltered indie creativity — the vision of Bayachao and ChaoGames, shaped directly by player feedback over its first year

    Ready to Make a Pact?

    The wait is over — summoners from London to Los Angeles, Beijing to beyond can now step into the world of Devil Connection. Grab it on Steam while the anniversary discount lasts, and keep an eye out for those early 2027 platform releases.

    Just remember: when you make a deal with a devil… they might just be the most delightful friend you ever make.

    Get Devil Connection on Steam

    #DevilConnection #PLAYISM #ChaoGames #Bayachao #IndieGame #AdventureGame #Localization #AnniversarySale #JapaneseIndie #SteamDeals #TechMash

  • DON’T OPEN THE CURTAINS — LOOK OUTSIDE BRINGS ITS COSMIC APARTMENT HORROR TO PLAYSTATION & NINTENDO SWITCH

    DON’T OPEN THE CURTAINS — LOOK OUTSIDE BRINGS ITS COSMIC APARTMENT HORROR TO PLAYSTATION & NINTENDO SWITCH

    Francis Coulombe & Devolver Digital’s acclaimed survival horror RPG haunts consoles just in time for Halloween

    Last year, solo developer Francis Coulombe and publisher Devolver Digital invited PC players into a place where the walls breathe, the windows never show what’s really out there, and the only rule is: don’t look outside. Now, the claustrophobic, critically adored survival horror RPG Look Outside is spreading the dread to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 — launching October 30, 2026, perfectly timed for Halloween.

    What Is Look Outside?

    You’re trapped inside a sprawling, decaying apartment complex that feels less like a building and more like a living, hungry thing. Every floor hides new tenants, terrible secrets, and things that should not exist — all rendered in haunting pixel art by Coulombe, whose previous work includes iconic sprite art for Katana Zero.

    It’s a turn-based RPG that blends resource management, careful exploration, and gut-twisting horror:

    • Scavenge to survive — food, medicine, and sanity are your only currency. Every ration spent is a gamble.
    • Watch the windows — something is out there. It watches. Sometimes it knocks. Looking back might be the last thing you do.
    • Unlock the building — four distinct floors, each warped in its own way, with hidden rooms, optional bosses, and multiple endings shaped by your choices.
    • Hold your sanity — the game tracks your mental state. Push too far, and your perception of reality begins to fray.

    The Console Edition Comes Fully Loaded

    Console players won’t just get the base game — they’re stepping in with everything released across the PC version’s first year and a half, including the massive 2.0 “Final Vision” update:

    • Dozens of new enemies, body-horror encounters, and grotesque optional bosses
    • Expanded narrative threads and multiple new endings
    • Hidden sub-areas across the building to uncover
    • Cursed Mode — a punishing remix where enemies, traps, and layouts shift to keep even veterans on edge
    • Quality-of-life improvements, balance refinements, and all patches up to Version 2.3

    The port has been handled by MP2 Games, ensuring the eerie atmosphere and tight controls translate perfectly to gamepad and handheld play.

    A Solo Vision That Captivated Thousands

    Look Outside originally shadow-dropped on Steam back in March 2025 with barely any advance notice — and quickly built a devoted audience, selling over 500,000 copies and earning praise for its uniquely suffocating tension. Every update since then has expanded the nightmare, and now that complete experience is coming to living rooms worldwide.

    Priced at $9.99 (€9.99) across all platforms, it’s an affordable, unforgettable dive into the unknown. There’s been no mention of an Xbox release at this stage.

    Ready to Lock Your Door?

    The curtains are drawn. The lights are flickering. And whatever is standing on the other side of the glass is waiting for you.

    Whether you’re returning to the building or brave enough to enter for the first time — remember one thing:

    Don. Look. Outside.

    Play Look Outside — available now on PlayStation Store & Nintendo eShop

    Find out more here: Look Outside

    #LookOutside #FrancisCoulombe #DevolverDigital #SurvivalHorror #IndieHorror #PixelArt #PS5 #NintendoSwitch #HalloweenGaming #TechMash

  • NO PAY-TO-WIN, NO FILLER — STEEL ACES ROLLS OUT: THE TANK GAME THAT PUTS SKILL FIRST

    NO PAY-TO-WIN, NO FILLER — STEEL ACES ROLLS OUT: THE TANK GAME THAT PUTS SKILL FIRST

    Armative Studios launches historically authentic free-to-play MMO — Steam release follows early next week

    Independent developer Armative Studios has officially launched Steel Aces — a free-to-play tank MMO built from the ground up around skill, authenticity, and fair play — on its proprietary platform today, with the Steam version arriving early next week. In a crowded genre, Steel Aces doesn’t just tweak the formula — it rewrites the rules entirely.

    What Makes Steel Aces Different?

    Steel Aces strips away the shortcuts that have come to define many tank games. There are no sudden artillery strikes from off-map aircraft, no premium ammunition that punches through armour regardless of aim, and no random-number generation deciding whether your shot penetrates. Instead, it delivers pure, direct, line-of-sight tank combat — where your positioning, knowledge, and aim determine the outcome.

    • Realistic ballistics — Shell performance follows actual physics. Penetration depends on armour thickness, angle, and real-world ballistics, not dice rolls. Aim matters — dispersion is physical, not arbitrary.
    • Component-based damage — No generic health bars. Shots damage specific systems: engine, turret, tracks, ammunition racks. Disable a tank’s mobility and it becomes a fixed gun; hit the ammo and the result is spectacular.
    • Line-of-sight only — No off-screen bombardment. What you see is what fights you. Every threat comes from something you can identify, flank, or outmanoeuvre.
    • Historically verified vehicles — Every one of the 1,800+ vehicles across 40+ nations is real: in-service models, verified prototypes, or blueprints. No imaginary “super-tanks” invented for balance or sales.
    • Two distinct eras — From the pioneering machines of WWI through the heavy armoured clashes of WWII to modern main battle tanks, spanning over a century of military history.

    How You Fight

    Steel Aces offers two core modes, so you can play how you want:

    ModeFormatFocus
    PvP15 vs 15Ranked matchmaking — balanced by rank, no unfair mismatches. Tactical battles across historically inspired maps.
    Co-op PvETeam vs AILearn mechanics, experiment with vehicles, and earn rewards alongside friends before facing human opponents.

    With 19 ranks of progression, the tech tree rewards dedication and mastery — not depth of wallet.

    Fair Play: The Studio’s Promise

    Armative Studios — a small independent team based in Munich with backgrounds in engineering, automotive design, and development — has built Steel Aces around a non-negotiable Fair Play Commitment:

    • No Pay-to-Win — No loot boxes, no gambling mechanics. Collector vehicles are balanced to match earnable equivalents.
    • No Premium Ammo — Every player has access to the same ammunition types. Advantage comes from choice of shell and shot placement, not purchase.
    • Transparent Monetisation — Support comes from optional cosmetic purchases, collector vehicles, and a Club House subscription that accelerates progression without unlocking exclusive power.
    • Esports-Ready — Balanced vehicles, skill-based matchmaking, and competitive integrity built in from day one.

    Launch Details

    • Proprietary platform: Available now — free download from the official site
    • Steam: Arriving early next week — wishlist now at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2560840/Steel_Aces/
    • Open Play Weekend progress — All progress earned during the September preview event carries over into full release

    “We’re incredibly excited to finally put Steel Aces in the hands of players… We’ve poured a huge amount of passion and hard work into this, and this launch marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we continue developing the game alongside our community.”

    — Michael Schmotz, CEO, Armative Studios

    Ready to Command?

    Steel Aces isn’t just another tank game. It’s the experience many players have been waiting for: authentic armour warfare where skill, tactics, and teamwork are the only things that matter. No shortcuts, no fine print — just steel, strategy, and survival on the battlefield.

    Find out more here: Steel Aces

    #SteelAces #ArmativeStudios #TankMMO #FreeToPlay #NoPayToWin #MilitaryGaming #TankSim #SteamRelease #IndieDev #TechMash

  • ALL ABOARD — PROJECT HAIL MARY SAILS WITH NEW TRAILER SHOWCASING HAIL MARY SHIP INTERIORS!

    ALL ABOARD — PROJECT HAIL MARY SAILS WITH NEW TRAILER SHOWCASING HAIL MARY SHIP INTERIORS!

    Grace and Rocky return in an immersive mixed-reality adventure — step inside the iconic vessel right now

    A brand-new adventure with Ryland Grace and everyone’s favourite Eridian, Rocky, is on the horizon — and we’ve got our first detailed look at where the magic happens. Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars has dropped a fresh short trailer pulling back the curtain on the Hail Mary spacecraft’s beautifully recreated interiors, giving fans a guided tour of the ship that will be their home among the stars.

    What Is Journey Among the Stars?

    Built by immersive entertainment specialists Maze Theory and expanding Andy Weir’s record-breaking sci-fi universe into interactive form, this mixed-reality experience drops you directly into the role of Ryland Grace for an original, untold chapter of the mission. You’ll work alongside Rocky — with James Ortiz reprising his role from the film — to keep the Hail Mary operational, solve life-or-death engineering challenges, and shepherd humanity’s last hope across the void.

    Step Inside the Hail Mary

    The newly released Ship Reveal Trailer offers a sweeping look at the ship’s key environments, from gleaming control panels and display terminals to the ship’s taumeoba farm — the biological heart of the mission. The footage traces the evolution of these spaces, showing early work-in-progress builds alongside the stunningly polished final interiors players will actually inhabit.

    This isn’t just a visual treat — it’s a glimpse into how you’ll interact with the world around you:

    • Diagnose system faults from the ship’s realistically recreated control stations
    • Improvise solutions using science and engineering to keep critical systems online
    • Manage the taumeoba farm — the ship’s unique biological life-support and energy source
    • Work alongside Rocky — your unlikely partner and closest ally — through every crisis
    • Mixed reality brings it home — the Hail Mary integrates with your own physical space, turning your room into deep space itself

    Launching This Autumn Across Major Platforms

    Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars is set to arrive in Autumn 2026, landing on:

    • Meta Quest 3 / Quest 3S
    • PICO
    • Android XR

    It’s been crafted from the ground up to feel authentic — a genuine extension of the story millions have fallen in love with, rather than a simple retelling. No word yet on an exact release date, but pre-orders are opening and the countdown is well and truly underway.

    The Mission Continues

    Whether you’re a diehard fan of the book, eagerly awaiting the film’s legacy, or just love the idea of strapping in and solving problems in deep space — this is shaping up to be one of the most immersive sci-fi experiences of the year. Grace and Rocky have work to do, and this time, you’re right there with them.

    The stars are waiting. Keep your engines firing — we’ll bring you launch details as soon as they land.

    Find out more here: Project Hail Mary Journey Among The Stars

    #ProjectHailMary #JourneyAmongTheStars #AndyWeir #MixedReality #VRGaming #SciFi #GraceAndRocky #MazeTheory #TechMash

  • SWAB THE DECKS — GOBLIN CLEANUP SAILS INTO BLACK BAY WITH MASSIVE UPDATE & DELUXE EDITION!

    SWAB THE DECKS — GOBLIN CLEANUP SAILS INTO BLACK BAY WITH MASSIVE UPDATE & DELUXE EDITION!

    Team17 & Crisalu Games launch first new dungeon since Early Access debut — plus a soundtrack-packed Deluxe Edition, available now on Steam

    Grab your mop and don your eye-patch — Goblin Cleanup is heading out to sea! Publisher Team17 and developer Crisalu Games have officially unveiled the game’s biggest milestone yet: the arrival of Black Bay, the first brand-new dungeon since the co-op cleaning hit launched into Early Access, alongside a freshly announced Deluxe Edition on Steam.

    What’s Black Bay All About?

    Black Bay brings two swashbuckling new levels to the game — and they’re every bit as chaotic as they sound. Renegades of the cove have just partied ha-arrrrd, leaving a trail of spilt grog, overturned crates, and general disorder in their wake. It’s your job — alone or with up to three fellow goblins — to scrub the decks, reset the traps, tidy the treasure, and get the dungeon shipshape before the next adventurers turn up.

    This isn’t just a fresh coat of paint, either. Black Bay delivers full pirate-themed chaos, complete with distinctive hazards, tasks, and atmosphere to master:

    • Skeletal perils and bear traps scattered across the shoreline
    • A haunted ghost ship to restore and prepare
    • A legendary kraken lurking in the depths
    • Voodoo relics and pirate cannons that can launch objects — or you — across the bay
    • Plundered loot to sort, chests to restock, and debris to clear

    Deluxe Edition — The Full Goblin Experience

    Alongside the free update, a Goblin Cleanup Deluxe Edition has arrived on Steam. This bundled release includes the full base game plus the official Goblin Cleanup — Dungeon Dark Lord soundtrack, so you can keep the dungeon-sweeping vibes going even when you’re not scrubbing floors. Perfect for anyone who’s fallen in love with the game’s mischievous musical charm.

    The base update — Black Bay and all its contents — is free for all existing owners, so every goblin can dive in without spending an extra penny.

    Reminder: The Early Access Journey Continues

    Goblin Cleanup launched in Early Access back in September 2025, where it’s earned an “Very Positive” rating from over 1,600 players. Crisalu Games has said they plan to keep expanding the game over roughly the next 24 months, with more tasks, creatures, traps, and even entirely new dungeon themes — including an Egyptian setting — still on the roadmap. Community feedback remains central to every step of development, making now a great time to join, play, and help shape the game’s future.

    The current release also includes special discounts and bundle options, so early birds can grab the game at its lowest price while supporting the team as development progresses.

    Ready to Scrub, Goblins?

    Whether you’re a seasoned dungeon janitor or yet to pick up your first Slimop, Black Bay is the perfect excuse to return — or dive in for the first time. The pirates have made a mess. It’s time you made it right.

    Play Goblin Cleanup on Steam

    #GoblinCleanup #Team17 #CrisaluGames #SteamUpdate #DeluxeEdition #IndieGame #CoOpGaming #EarlyAccess #PirateGame #TechMash

  • YOUR BRAIN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS — NEURON ACTIVATION IS HERE!

    YOUR BRAIN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS — NEURON ACTIVATION IS HERE!

    Digital fidgeting meets sharp design in solo-dev DR Studio’s satisfying new release

    Your brain craves that perfect, snappy hit of satisfaction — and Neuron Activation delivers exactly that. From solo developer DR Studio and publisher Pretty Soon, this self-described “digital fidget box” is out right now on Steam, and it’s every bit as gripping as it sounds.

    What Is Neuron Activation?

    You step into a sleek, futuristic control hub brimming with buttons, switches, sliders, and targets. Your job? Complete fast-paced overlapping tasks to keep The Board — the corporate entity watching your every move — happy. The Handler guides you, issuing orders that grow steadily stranger and more uncomfortable as you progress.

    It starts simple: push buttons, hit targets, chain actions together for higher scores. But beneath the tactile, instantly gratifying gameplay lies a quiet psychological undercurrent. Do you follow every instruction no matter what? Or do you start asking questions you’re not supposed to ask? Your choices shape how things unfold — and lead to multiple distinct endings.

    Why It Stands Out

    • 60+ handcrafted levels packed with speed tests, boss encounters, and varied challenge stages
    • Chain combo system — link tasks back-to-back to rack up multipliers and smash your personal best
    • Zen Mode included — all the satisfying clicking and sliding, zero timers, zero pressure, pure relaxation
    • Meaningful choices matter — decisions get uneasy. How far will you go just because you were told to?
    • Fully accessible — adjustable difficulty, save anytime, colour alternatives, custom audio levels, and no mandatory quick-time events
    • Built for your hardware — plays smoothly on modest setups, with full support for Windows, Linux, and Steam Deck via intuitive mouse-or-touch controls
    • Languages for everyone — English, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian

    A Debut Worth Noticing

    Neuron Activation is the kind of tight, polished indie that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go. It understands something many games miss: that simple, tactile feedback — a button pressed, a slider moved, a target hit — can be deeply compelling on its own. Then it layers in just enough mystery and narrative tension to keep you playing long after you meant to stop.

    From the clean, minimalist interface to the carefully balanced difficulty curve, every part of Neuron Activation feels purpose-built. It’s satisfying, it’s intriguing, and it’s here right now.

    Complete all tasks. Don’t ask questions. But if you do… well, that’s your call.

    Find out more here: Neuron Activation

    #NeuronActivation #SteamRelease #IndieGame #DRStudio #PrettySoon #IndieDev #PuzzleGame #CasualGaming #TechMash