Techmash

Tag: #customers

  • Clock In, Lock Up: The ‘Shift at Midnight’ Expanded Demo is Here

    Clock In, Lock Up: The ‘Shift at Midnight’ Expanded Demo is Here

    The graveyard shift at a rural 90s gas station is already a vibe, but in Shift at Midnight, it’s a death sentence if you aren’t paying attention. Developed by Bun Muen and published by Kwalee, this co-op detective horror title has just dropped an expanded demo for Steam Next Fest (February 2026), and it is packed with more than just stale coffee and lottery tickets.

    Whether you’re a returning “employee” or a fresh recruit, the updated demo introduces significant systems that transform the game from a simple “spot the monster” simulator into a deep, tense management-horror hybrid.

    What’s New on the Menu?

    The update isn’t just a polish; it’s a full-scale expansion of your “job responsibilities.” Here are the biggest shifts in gameplay:

    • Expanded Jurisdiction: You are no longer tethered to the cash register. You’re now required to head out to the pumps to fill gas tanks and search vehicles. But be careful—the driver might be watching you as closely as you’re watching them.
    • The “Vitals” System: Management has finally implemented a Health System. If you make a mistake and let a doppelganger slip through, you’ll need to keep that red bar full to survive the ensuing chaos.
    • Inventory & Shop: You finally have pockets! A new Inventory System allows you to carry tools and items, while a randomised in-game shop at your computer terminal lets you buy upgrades to survive the later hours.
    • The Infestation: Reaching Night 3 now introduces a new hurdle: rats. While they might seem like a standard sanitation issue, they’re a sign that the store’s atmosphere is decaying alongside your sanity.
    • Save File Support: You no longer have to restart your entire shift from scratch. The new “Shift Memory” system lets you save your progress as you survive the night.

    Detective Work 101: Don’t Let Them Leave

    The core loop remains as addictive and stressful as ever. You and up to two friends must interrogate customers using a maximum of five questions. You’ll cross-reference their IDs with the computer database and look for “un-human” behaviours.

    Pro-Tip: If you suspect a customer is a doppelganger, you are authorized to “execute on-site.” Just make sure you’re right, and for heaven’s sake, clean up the blood before the next customer pulls up.

    If a creature manages to leave the store, the game shifts from a detective sim to a survival horror nightmare. You’ll need to barricade doors, set traps, and hide in the shadows until the sun comes up.

    Customization and Community

    To keep morale high (or at least pretend to), the update adds hats and store decorations. You can now customise your character and the gas station to your liking. Additionally, the game now features full localisation in 10 languages and support for Ultrawide monitors, making those creepy 90s aesthetics even more immersive.

    How to Play

    The expanded demo is available now on Steam for the duration of Next Fest. With the full game slated for a Q2 2026 release, this is the perfect time to grab a few friends, hop on proximity chat, and see if you have what it takes to survive until dawn.

    Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/LIZOx

    #Kwalee #BunMuen #ShiftatMidnight #SteamNextFest #gasstation #nightshift #customers #shop #games #gaming #gamers #gameplay #videogames

  • Customer Service Hell Meets Zombie Hordes: Why You Need to Clock Into Service With A Shotgun

    Customer Service Hell Meets Zombie Hordes: Why You Need to Clock Into Service With A Shotgun

    Forget your typical post-apocalyptic fare of scavenging and doom. Independent developer Nolyn Vansyckle, with publisher Silver Lining Interactive, has served up something uniquely chaotic: Service With A Shotgun (SWAS). This game isn’t just about surviving the zombie apocalypse; it’s about surviving the worst shift of your life—while the world ends outside.

    If you ever thought retail was hell, you haven’t seen anything yet.

    What is Service With A Shotgun?

    At its core, SWAS is a brilliant mash-up of genres that you didn’t know you needed: a Visual Novel crossed with a chaotic, wave-based First-Person Shooter (FPS).

    You are the last poor soul manning a beat-up roadside shop in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Your “Open” sign is still flickering, the shelves are half-empty, and yet, the customers keep coming.

    • Part 1: The Visual Novel: You’ll spend time behind the counter, dealing with a rotating, and often deranged, cast of regulars and desperate survivors. Dialogue choices, story development, and character interaction are key, drawing inspiration from narrative-heavy games like VA-11 Hall-A. You’re a bartender of sorts, but instead of mixing drinks, you’re serving up survival advice and dealing with bizarre, apocalyptic requests.
    • Part 2: The FPS: When the zombie hordes inevitably scratch at the door, the game shifts into a frantic, wave shooter. You’ll switch from talking fast to shooting straight. Your job is to defend the business (and your life) with a growing arsenal of weapons and slap-together defences.

    It’s a bizarre, tongue-in-cheek jab at capitalism—the idea that even when civilisation collapses, someone’s still gotta work retail.

    Chaotic Customers & Dark Comedy

    The heart of SWAS lies in its characters. As the last functional business in the area, your shop attracts all walks of (un)life. Expect to meet more than ten unique personalities, each with their own quirks, secrets, and insane demands.

    The visual novel sections are where the game’s dark humour and storytelling shine. The game expertly balances the frantic, high-stakes shooting with character-driven moments that are often absurd and unexpectedly heartfelt. Every shift escalates the chaos, bringing new challenges that are far more complicated than just stocking shelves.

    Survival in the Crossfire

    The action sequences are a welcome, frenetic break from the dialogue. Building defences before the next wave hits is vital, and the wave-based shooting keeps the tension high. It’s a true test of time management—juggling a needy customer with a horde of undead trying to break down the door.

    With five story-rich chapters, the madness constantly cranks up, ensuring that what starts as a simple shift quickly spirals out of control.

    Final Verdict? Clock In.

    Service With A Shotgun offers a fresh, hilarious, and genuinely challenging take on the zombie apocalypse genre. If you love deep, character-focused visual novels but miss the thrill of a good old-fashioned shooter, this game is a perfect blend. It proves that even when facing total annihilation, the real monster is always the customer.

    It’s a wild ride of bullets, banter, and barely contained panic. Get ready for the world’s worst shift!

    Service With A Shotgun on Steam – https://shorturl.at/5bHNJ

    #ServiceWithAShotgun #fps #games #gaming #gamers #shops #videogames #SilverLiningInteractive #NolynVansyckle #zombies #customers #endoftheworld #swas #pcgames #steam