TECHMASH

Tag: #BitSummitPUNCH

  • Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    If your favourite part of a Soulslike is the sweat-inducing, palm-twitching tension of a brutal boss fight, Taiwanese indie developer PINIX has a treat for you. The studio has officially launched a free Steam demo for its upcoming hardcore action title, Die Deep, offering a pure, unadulterated dose of high-stakes combat.

    Billed by the devs as a “Boss Rush with a stage-like experience,” the game strips away the typical fluff. There is no sprawling map to get lost in, no obscure puzzles to solve, and absolutely no filler. The focus here is entirely on your ability to read an enemy, time your parries, and survive.

    What’s in the Demo?

    The free Steam demo gives players a solid 20 to 40 minutes of playtime (heavily dependent on how many times you face the “You Died” screen) and features:

    • Standard Chapter Level: A complete basic tutorial and a starter stage designed to get you up to speed with the game’s mechanics.
    • Boss Challenge Stage: The real meat of the experience. A high-difficulty, punishing encounter designed for combat purists who want to master a boss’s moveset and perfect their run.
    • Two Playable Characters: Test out two distinct fighters—a one-eyed warrior built for heavy shield parries, and an agile rogue built for high-speed dual-blade offence.

    Inspired by Hollow Knight and Silksong

    PINIX hasn’t hidden its inspirations. The team notes that the game’s rapid, demanding combat rhythm is heavily influenced by Hollow Knight—specifically the high-intensity, back-to-back challenges found in the legendary Colosseum of Fools and Godhome gauntlets.

    If you get greedy with your attacks or mistime a single dodge, the Abyss will reclaim you instantly. You play as a wandering soul who has forgotten its purpose, lured down into the deep by a primal desire to fight, purely to prove your heart is still beating.

    Heading to BitSummit PUNCH 2026

    Alongside the demo launch, PINIX has confirmed they will be returning to Kyoto, Japan, for the second consecutive year to showcase Die Deep at BitSummit PUNCH, Japan’s premier international indie game festival. If you happen to be attending the event, you’ll be able to test your skills at their booth and see how the game has evolved ahead of its planned Q4 2026 full release.

    For the rest of us looking to scratch that hardcore combat itch from the comfort of our desks, the free demo is available to download right now on PC and Mac via Steam.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3211560

    #PINIX #action #DieDeep #Soulslike #combat #pcgames #steam #bitsummitpunch #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #videogames #games #gaming #gamers

  • The End of the World is on the Line: Schrödinger’s Call Rings Up Nintendo Switch and PC This May

    The End of the World is on the Line: Schrödinger’s Call Rings Up Nintendo Switch and PC This May

    If you are a fan of beautifully illustrated, emotionally heavy narrative adventures like Spiritfarer or What Remains of Edith Finch, you will want to mark your calendar for May 28th, 2026.

    Publisher Shueisha Games, alongside indie developer Acrobatic Chirimenjako, has officially announced that their highly anticipated visual novel, Schrödinger’s Call, is launching digitally on both Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

    To sweeten the announcement, a brand-new Chapter 1 preview trailer has been dropped, offering a deeper look at the game’s hauntingly beautiful world.

    “When the world ends, who is the last person you want to speak to?”

    That is the central, heartbreaking question behind Schrödinger’s Call.

    The narrative unfolds in the final 21 nanoseconds before a rogue moon crashes into the Earth, ending all life. In this fleeting moment between existence and oblivion, a young girl named Mary awakens in a strange, unfamiliar room. She has absolutely no memory of who she is or how she got there.

    Guided by a mysterious, talking cat named Hamlet, Mary discovers she has a singular, crucial purpose: she is the world’s last listener.

    Using an old, antique telephone, Mary answers calls from strangers caught on the brink of death. As players guide Mary through these conversations, they will hear intimate stories of love, grief, solace, and the final regrets of a dying world—all while slowly piecing together the mystery of Mary’s own identity.

    Check out the features to expect:

    • A Storybook Aesthetic: Features a gorgeous, warm, hand-drawn art style that feels like flipping through a theatrical picture book.
    • Deep Emotional Stakes: A narrative that focuses heavily on the beauty and pain of human connection, making every dialogue choice feel heavy.
    • A Celebrated Pedigree: Developed by a passionate three-person team, the game already won the prestigious Grand Prize at the Shueisha Game Creators CAMP GAME BBQ Vol. 1.

    Play the Demo Now (and Try Chapter 3 Early!)

    You don’t actually have to wait until May 28th to get a taste of this emotional journey. A free Chapter 1 Demo is currently live on Steam, where it has already secured an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating from players. Best of all, any progress you make in the demo will seamlessly carry over to the full game at launch.

    For those lucky enough to be attending the BitSummit PUNCH indie game festival in Kyoto, Japan, later this month (May 22nd–24th), Shueisha Games will have a major presence. Visitors to booth 3F-A05 can play an exclusive, world-first build of Chapter 3 and witness a special live comedic stage performance by the game’s Japanese promotional voice actors, Kana Ichinose (Mary) and Rei Sakuma (Hamlet).

    How to Prepare for Launch

    Schrödinger’s Call will retail for $17.99 (regional UK pricing to be finalised) and will support English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese language options.

    The Nintendo Switch eShop page is officially live, so you can head over and wishlist it right now alongside the Steam store page.

    Are you ready to pick up the phone at the end of the world? Let us know in the comments below if you’ll be playing Schrödinger’s Call on Switch or PC this month!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/2090390

    #ShueishaGames #SchrodingersCall #NintendoSwitch #PC #Steam #BitSummitPUNCH #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #videogames #games #gaming #gamers