TECHMASH

Tag: #GamerNews

  • Kill the Dealer: Bloodthief Dev Announces Grimdark Blackjack Roguelike ‘Blackout Jack’

    Kill the Dealer: Bloodthief Dev Announces Grimdark Blackjack Roguelike ‘Blackout Jack’

    If you spent 2025 pulling off high-speed, hyper-violent vampire parkour in the overwhelmingly positive boomer-slasher Bloodthief, solo developer Blargis is about to hand you a completely different kind of deck. But don’t expect a relaxing night at the casino.

    Blargis has officially pulled back the curtain on Blackout Jack, an upcoming story-driven, grimdark blackjack roguelike heading to PC via Steam. And if you’re eager to try your luck, you won’t have to wait long: the game’s first Steam playtest is officially launching on July 15.

    The House Always Wins… Until You Kill the Dealer

    Blackout Jack twists the familiar, high-stakes math of classic blackjack into a tense, tactical struggle for survival. Set in the rain-slicked, crooked alleys of a seedy medieval city, this isn’t just a game about beating the house—it’s a game where the house wants to take your literal mortality.

    The core loop places you at a table against a sinister, death-dealing dealer. Your ultimate, secret objective? Murder him. To do that, you’ll need to survive card rounds by building insane combos and powerful deck synergies. You aren’t just hitting or standing; you’ll be manipulating the odds using:

    • Card-altering elixirs and boons to bend the rules.
    • Life-paid chips and multipliers to maximise your damage.
    • Strange relics were purchased from the local hostess using blood gems.

    “I wanted to create an experience that blended a strong sense of mystery and narrative with the kind of gameplay where numbers keep going up and every run feels like it can spiral into something bigger.” — Developer Blargis

    Explore a City Built on Secrets

    What makes Blackout Jack particularly intriguing is that the game doesn’t end at the edge of the card table. When you step away from the dealer, you’ll be able to roam the grim midnight streets of the city.

    The urban underbelly is populated by unscrupulous characters, shady denizens, and fellow conspirators. By exploring, you can uncover hidden tools like lockpicks and poisons, pick up cryptic lore, and buy vital items to stack the deck in your favour for your next run.

    Naturally, death is a heavy feature in this grimdark world. But in true roguelike fashion, a gruesome game over isn’t the end. While death resets the night, you keep essential knowledge. Every failed run brings you one step closer to decoding the dark conspiracy binding the city together and permanently forcing the dealer to cash out.

    Join the Playtest on July 15

    If you love the psychological tension of Inscryption mixed with the addictive, rule-breaking card math of Balatro, Blackout Jack looks like it’s going to be a must-play.

    Head over to the official Blackout Jack Steam Page right now to hit that wishlist button, and keep your eyes peeled for the playtest drop on July 15!

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #BlackoutJack #GamerNews #Roguelike #Deckbuilder #SteamGames #PCGaming #Grimdark #Bloodthief #Blargis

  • Grand Illusions & Deadly Deals: Magicians: The Devil’s Deal Revealed for 2027!

    Grand Illusions & Deadly Deals: Magicians: The Devil’s Deal Revealed for 2027!

    Fresh from the Xbox Games Showcase, a mesmerising new nightmare is brewing in the gaming world. Publisher Focus Entertainment and the veteran Australian indie developer Uppercut Games have officially pulled back the curtain on their latest collaboration: Magicians: The Devil’s Deal.

    Set to materialise in 2027, this dark, narrative-driven first-person shooter is skipping the rabbit-and-hat tricks for something far more sinister. It will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and will be available Day One on Xbox Game Pass.

    Step Into Theatreland: Hell’s Victorian Stage

    In Magicians: The Devil’s Deal, players will step into the polished shoes of Jacob Menteuro, a brilliant stage illusionist whose talent once bordered on the supernatural. Key word: once.

    After being brutally betrayed by his bitter rivals—a cabal known simply as “The Masters”—Jacob is cast down into the depths of Hell. But this isn’t your typical lake of fire. Jacob finds himself trapped in Theatreland, a twisted, shifting, and nightmarish reflection of 19th-century Victorian London where performance dictates power, and deception is the only way to survive.

    Faced with eternal torment, Jacob receives a lifeline from the ultimate audience member: the Devil himself. Striking a treacherous pact, Jacob’s theatrical illusions are transformed into terrifying, genuine supernatural abilities. Armed with hellish magic and fueled by pure rage, he sets out across Theatreland’s shifting realms to hunt down the Masters, steal their powers, and claim his bloody revenge.

    When Illusions Become Lethal Weapons

    As a narrative-driven FPS, Magicians: The Devil’s Deal promises to flip traditional shooter mechanics on their head by turning classic stagecraft into instruments of death:

    • Weaponised Spectacle: Throw playing cards that slice through enemies like razor-sharp projectiles.
    • Crowd Control: Conjure heavy chains to ensnare crowds of relentless fanatics and nightmarish demonic performers.
    • Bending the Rules: Manipulate gravity and distort the environment to turn the arena into your personal stage.

    Every realm you explore is ruled by a different Master, demanding that you adapt your approach, combine abilities, and master increasingly chaotic, high-stakes confrontations. But remember—in a world built on temptation, every ounce of power Jacob claims drags him just a little bit deeper into the darkness.

    What to Expect in 2027

    Brought to life by Uppercut Games (the talented industry veterans behind atmospheric titles like Submerged and City of Brass), this original IP marks an exciting new partnership with Focus Entertainment. With its blend of gripping narrative, fast-paced combat, and a starkly beautiful, gothic-horror aesthetic, it’s already shaping up to be one of 2027’s most distinct action titles.

    TechMash Verdict: If you’ve ever wanted to play a gothic, spell-slinging Bioshock meets Prestige in the heart of a hellish Victorian London, this is absolutely one to keep on your radar.

    Watch the official reveal trailer now, lock in your calendars for 2027, and get ready to play the ultimate trickster.

    Source

    #MagiciansTheDevilsDeal #FocusEntertainment #UppercutGames #GamePass #GamerNews