TECHMASH

Tag: #indiedev

  • DESTROY EVERYTHING — PETAFAB: BOT INVASION UNLEASHES FULLY DESTRUCTIBLE FPS CHAOS

    DESTROY EVERYTHING — PETAFAB: BOT INVASION UNLEASHES FULLY DESTRUCTIBLE FPS CHAOS

    Tear it all down. Veteran solo developer Sebastian Aaltonen has launched PETAFAB: Bot Invasion on Steam today — a blistering first-person shooter where every wall, pillar, and barrier is your weapon, your cover, and your casualty.

    THE FACTORY THAT WENT ROGUE

    PETAFAB was meant to be the world’s largest robot-manufacturing complex — a sprawling facility the size of an entire city, building bots in their thousands. Then the AI went silent. Then it turned hostile. Now you’re one of three operatives sent in to blow the whole place apart.

    Your mission: infiltrate, eliminate the swarms, topple the giant bosses, and leave nothing standing. Collateral damage isn’t just allowed — it’s the entire point.

    WHERE EVERYTHING FALLS APART

    What sets PETAFAB apart isn’t just the speed of combat — it’s the scale of destruction. Powered by a purpose-built custom engine using SDF (Signed Distance Field) ray tracing and mesh shaders, every inch of the environment is fully destructible. Blow a hole through a wall to flank enemies. Bring down ceilings to crush them. Raze corridors to cut off swarms. The battlefield reshapes permanently around you.

    The engine delivers blistering performance:

    • Native 4K at 240 FPS on RTX 4080
    • 90 FPS on Steam Deck OLED
    • Optimised for Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or newer — Intel Macs not supported)
    • Supports 8000Hz high-frequency mice for competitive responsiveness

    HORDES, BOSSES, AND PURE FIREPOWER

    Gameplay is lean, relentless, and rewarding:

    • Massive bot swarms — face hundreds of enemies at once with intelligent crowd simulation
    • Colossal boss encounters — take down towering machines, each kill unlocking the next map
    • Arsenal of heavy firepower — designed for maximum impact and satisfying feedback
    • Steam Achievements, Leaderboards & Cloud Saves included
    • Full controller support for Xbox, DualShock, and DualSense

    The soundtrack comes courtesy of Ari Pulkkinen (Resogun, Nex Machina), whose signature high-energy score drives the action forward.

    MADE BY A LEGEND

    Sebastian Aaltonen brings 30 years of industry experience to this solo project, having previously contributed to acclaimed titles at Frozenbyte, RedLynx, Ubisoft, and Unity, and spoken at GDC and SIGGRAPH. This isn’t just another indie shooter — it’s a master craftsman building exactly what he wants to play.

    OUT NOW — PRICING & SPECS

    PETAFAB: Bot Invasion is available right now on Steam:

    • £8.19 / $9.99 / €9.69
    • Windows 10 64-bit; macOS 26+ (Apple Silicon only)
    • Just 1 GB of storage required
    • Note: Not compatible with Nvidia GTX 10-series, Intel integrated GPUs, or Intel Macs — check full system requirements before purchasing

    Early reviews are 100% positive, praising the satisfying destruction, fluid performance, and no-nonsense design.

    Find out more here: PETAFAB Bot Invasion

    #PETAFAB #BotInvasion #FPS #DestructibleEnvironments #IndieDev #SebastianAaltonen #SteamLaunch #PCGaming #AppleSilicon #SciFiShooter #AriPulkkinen #GamingNews #Techmash

  • EINSTEIN TAKES COMMAND — GEAR UP EINSTEIN! MARCHES INTO STEAM EARLY ACCESS TODAY

    EINSTEIN TAKES COMMAND — GEAR UP EINSTEIN! MARCHES INTO STEAM EARLY ACCESS TODAY

    Genius, royalty, and conquerors are reporting for duty. No Deadlines Studio proudly launches Gear Up Einstein! into Steam Early Access today, a wildly creative strategic roguelite auto-battler where history’s greatest figures become your soldiers — and the timeline itself is the battlefield.

    HISTORY’S ICONS, RECRUITED FOR DUTY

    Albert Einstein boosts squad power with genius-level intellect. Cleopatra commands allies through diplomatic mastery. Queen Elizabeth I brings regal leadership and tactical precision. Ragnar unleashes unbridled Viking fury. Genghis Khan storms the front lines — these are just some of the legends you’ll assemble into a squad, then equip with absurd, powerful, and unexpected gear combinations to battle across eras.

    From Ancient Egypt to the Italian Renaissance, from antiquity to a dystopian New York and beyond, every run sends your team through shifting battlefields where history is coming apart at the seams.

    PLAN, POSITION, PREPARE — THEN WATCH THE CHAOS

    This is a game of preparation:

    • Recruit your squad between battles, choosing from an expanding roster of historical figures, each with unique perks and abilities
    • Equip and synergise — stack gear, craft powerful combos, and discover item interactions that turn ordinary units into unstoppable forces
    • Position carefully — once combat begins, the battle unfolds automatically; your setup is all that matters
    • Adapt and evolve — branching choices, crossroads events, and the unpredictable “Divergence” system ensure no two runs play the same way

    Play solo, locally with friends, or online for up to 3 players — with full crossplay between Steam and Itch.io so no one gets left behind.

    LAUNCH DETAILS — JOIN THE FIGHT

    Gear Up Einstein! goes live today at:

    • 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET

    Pricing:

    • £11.59 / $14.79 / €13.59
    • 15% off for the first two weeks — the perfect time to enlist

    Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux via Steam.

    THE ROAD AHEAD IN EARLY ACCESS

    This is just the beginning. No Deadlines Studio — a tight-knit team based in Montreal — plans to expand the game throughout Early Access with:

    • More historical figures to recruit
    • Additional eras and biomes to battle through
    • Fresh equipment sets and synergies
    • Refinements shaped directly by player feedback

    Whether you’re here to see Einstein wield experimental tech, Cleopatra lead the charge, or history itself get rewritten in the most entertaining way possible — there’s never been a better moment to enlist.

    Find out more here: Gear Up Einstein

    #GearUpEinstein #NoDeadlinesStudio #Roguelite #AutoBattler #IndieDev #SteamEarlyAccess #StrategyGame #CoopGaming #HistoryBattles #PCGaming #IndieGame #Techmash

  • TIMING, TACTICS, AND TALES — SOULSTREAM SAGA BRINGS A REVAMPED DEMO TO ENDIX EXPO

    TIMING, TACTICS, AND TALES — SOULSTREAM SAGA BRINGS A REVAMPED DEMO TO ENDIX EXPO

    Independent studio After1mage 1nteractive is stepping into the spotlight at Endix Expo, the free, fully digital multiplayer gaming convention running 6–8 November 2026, with a freshly updated prologue demo for their old-school JRPG SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 — and it’s bigger, sharper, and more accessible than ever.

    A CENTURY OF CONFLICT, ONE BLADE TO UNITE THEM

    SoulStream Saga weaves a rich, dual-era fantasy tale rooted in the scars of war:

    • A century ago, Astarius Valcrest — a mage who rejected division — forged a weapon blending magic and alchemy to bridge the rift between warring factions
    • Today, the fragile peace he built is cracking. Princess Victoria Lockewell faces a king descending into madness, and her desperate attempt to save him threatens to unravel everything

    This is no mere nostalgia trip — it’s a mature, thematically bold adventure exploring legacy, redemption, and the cost of unity, crafted by a tight-knit three-person indie team.

    ATB COMBAT WHERE EVERY SECOND COUNTS

    The game’s heart is its Shared Active Time Battle (ATB) system — a modern evolution of classic turn-based design:

    • Interrupts matter — disrupt enemy casts at the right moment to turn the tide, or protect your own with the new Barrier status effect, stacking up to two levels to block disruption
    • Elemental stance-shifting — adapt Astarius’s affinities on the fly to exploit weaknesses
    • Adaptive foes — enemies heal, buff, and assist one another, keeping every encounter unpredictable
    • v1.6.0 update — clearer combat readability, fresh equipment, and refined status effects all go live during the expo

    SIX NEW LANGUAGES, ONE UNIVERSAL STORY

    The demo now speaks to a far wider audience, adding Italian, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, and Russian alongside English — a major milestone making the prologue playable worldwide. Players can grab it for free right now on Steam, with an exclusive new trailer premiered during Endix showcasing these enhancements and more.

    MORE THAN A DEMO — A GLIMPSE OF SOMETHING BIGGER

    What you play is just the opening act. The full game promises:

    • 7 recruitable party members, 3 active in combat at once
    • 40+ hours of branching narrative and exploration
    • Unique skill trees, minigames, fishing, treasure hunting, and a fully playable in-world trading card game
    • A striking hand-drawn pixel-art world scored by an original soundtrack

    Release date and pricing are still to be confirmed, but the team is treating every feedback loop as a chance to refine the journey ahead.

    STEP INTO THE BOOTH

    Endix Expo itself is no ordinary stream — it’s a playable digital convention where visitors explore immersive halls, meet developers, and watch trailers together in real time. Find SoulStream Saga in Rooftop Hall A, say hello to the team, and experience the update firsthand.

    The prologue demo is free to download now via Steam. Whether you’re a lifelong JRPG fan or new to the genre, there’s never been a better moment to see what this ambitious indie has in store.

    Find out more here: Soul Stream Saga

    #SoulStreamSaga #After1mageInteractive #EndixExpo #JRPG #IndieDev #PixelArt #ATBCombat #SteamDemo #IndieGame #TurnBasedRPG #GamingNews #PCGaming #Techmash

  • SONG FROM THE ABYSS — SELECTA PLAY REUNITES WITH ANIMA PROJECT FOR NEW CHAPTER IN THE FANTASY SAGA

    SONG FROM THE ABYSS — SELECTA PLAY REUNITES WITH ANIMA PROJECT FOR NEW CHAPTER IN THE FANTASY SAGA

    The Anima saga rises again. Following the warm reception of Anima: Gate of Memories I&II Remaster, Spanish publisher Selecta Play has officially announced it will partner once more with indie studio Anima Project to bring Anima: Song from the Abyss to players worldwide — a brand-new third-person action-RPG continuing the beloved Anima: Beyond Fantasy universe.

    A PARTNERSHIP REFORGED

    Selecta Play first joined forces with the three-person team at Anima Project to deliver physical editions of Gate of Memories I&II Remaster, a labour of love that rebuilt the cult-favourite duology from the ground up after the studio faced financial setbacks. Now, that alliance has deepened — Selecta Play will publish Song from the Abyss digitally and physically, releasing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam) with a planned 2027 launch window.

    TWO HEROES, ONE FATE — THE STORY SO FAR

    Song from the Abyss casts players in dual roles, echoing the saga’s signature dual-perspective storytelling:

    • Soren — the last knight aboard an imperial zeppelin carrying a relic from a forgotten civilisation. When the crew vanishes and the ship crashes, he unwittingly breaks an ancient seal
    • Noein — a powerful, enigmatic entity freed by Soren. She offers guidance through the shifting depths of the Abyss — but only if he helps her uncover the truth behind the song that silenced her people and imprisoned her

    Together they will traverse a perilous realm born of memory and myth, where every choice echoes through the dark.

    COMBINE, CONQUER, SURVIVE

    Building on the series’ fast, fluid hack-and-slash combat, the game blends traditional tabletop RPG depth with dynamic real-time action:

    • Seamless character switching between Soren and Noein to chain combos and counter enemy strengths
    • Deep RPG progression — upgrade abilities, unlock gear, and shape how each character evolves
    • A world to explore — uncover the Abyss’s hidden corners, piece together the lost civilisation’s legacy, and confront the meaning of the song itself
    • Indie X recognition — already named among the Top 50 nominees in the Indie X showcase, signalling strong early promise

    PHYSICAL EDITIONS PLANNED — MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

    Just as with the Gate of Memories remaster, Selecta Play is preparing premium physical releases for consoles, giving collectors a tangible way to own the next chapter in the saga. Pricing, pre-order dates, and specific edition details will be revealed in the coming months.

    For Anima Project — a tight-knit trio rebuilding after hardship — this is more than a sequel. It’s proof that support from players and partners can turn resilience into renewal. For fans, it’s the return of a fantasy world that feels both grand and deeply personal.

    Find out more here: Anima Song From The Abyss

    #AnimaSongFromTheAbyss #AnimaProject #SelectaPlay #Techmash #AnimaBeyondFantasy #ActionRPG #IndieDev #FantasyRPG #PCGaming #PS5 #Xbox #IndieGame

  • DOUBLE LIFE, DEADLIER SKILLS — BLACKWOOD UNLEASHES THE CONTRACTS UPDATE TODAY

    DOUBLE LIFE, DEADLIER SKILLS — BLACKWOOD UNLEASHES THE CONTRACTS UPDATE TODAY

    By day, Anton Blackwood runs a quiet DVD store in 2012 New York. By night, he is a rising force in the city’s criminal underworld. Now, publisher IZilla Games and independent studio AttritoM7 Productions are expanding that story with the Contracts Update, a substantial free content drop that lands today, breathing fresh life into Act 1 and addressing player feedback since the game’s September launch.

    THREE NEW WAYS TO BUILD YOUR EMPIRE

    The heart of the update is three brand-new side missions — contracts that sit between the main story beats, giving players more control over how Anton grows his reputation:

    • Survival — Wave Defence: Hold your ground against escalating waves of enemies in a high-stakes test of endurance and tactical shooting.
    • Drift Challenge: Take to the streets and prove your wheelman credentials with precision driving and manoeuvres.
    • Sniper Contract: Step back, line up your shot, and eliminate targets with calculated precision from afar.

    More side missions are already planned ahead of Act 2’s release, so this is just the beginning.

    NEW FIREPOWER — THE MP5 ARRIVES

    Your arsenal gets a major upgrade: the iconic MP5 submachine gun is now available to purchase via the in-game Dark Web, complete with multiple customisation options and attachments to tailor it to your playstyle. Compact, hard-hitting, and versatile, it’s the perfect tool for close-quarters chaos.

    COMBAT REBUILT FROM THE GROUND UP

    Melee combat has been fully revamped and refined — one of the most requested changes from the community. Expect weightier, more responsive strikes, fresh animations, and fluid takedowns that feel satisfyingly lethal. Movement, dives, and camera polish have also been tightened for smoother, more cinematic action.

    Elsewhere, the update brings:

    • A revamped tutorial with clearer guidance and in-game tips
    • New soundtrack additions across both day-to-day life and night operations
    • Improved enemy armour systems and balance tweaks
    • A raft of bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements shaped directly by player feedback

    THE ROAD AHEAD — ACTS 2 & 3 COMING IN 2027

    Launched 16 September 2026, BLACKWOOD is being delivered as a complete experience with all future chapters free for owners:

    • Act 1 — available now
    • Act 2 — March 2027
    • Act 3 — September 2027

    The Contracts Update proves AttritoM7 isn’t just delivering on the big-picture roadmap — they’re listening, refining, and expanding the world now.

    AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW

    The Contracts Update is live on Steam at no extra cost. BLACKWOOD is currently discounted 20% until 20 November, with Supporter Edition and bundle options also live. Whether you’re returning to the streets or stepping into Anton’s dual life for the first time, there’s never been a better moment to get involved.

    Find out more here: BLACKWOOD

    #BLACKWOOD #ContractsUpdate #IZillaGames #Techmash #AttritoM7Productions #ActionGames #GamingNews #SteamUpdates #IndieDev #ThirdPersonShooter #Gaming2026

  • MEMORY, BLADE, AND BULLET — SOLE SALVATION UNVEILED: DUAL-WIELDING ACTION ROGUELITE DEBUTS AT ENDIX EXPO

    MEMORY, BLADE, AND BULLET — SOLE SALVATION UNVEILED: DUAL-WIELDING ACTION ROGUELITE DEBUTS AT ENDIX EXPO

    Wield a sword in one hand and a firearm in the other — not as a swap, but as one seamless, devastating dance of death. Meteora Games and publisher Infini Fun have officially lifted the lid on Sole Salvation, a striking new 3D action roguelite hack-and-slash, revealed today alongside a brand-new trailer at ENDIX Expo — the free digital gaming showcase running 6–8 November on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

    Two Weapons, One Unbroken Flow

    Where most games force you to choose between close-quarters brutality and long-range precision, Sole Salvation demands you master both at once. In one hand, a blade; in the other, a gun. Chain melee strikes directly into blasts, weave bullets between sword swings, and adapt instantly as enemies close in or scatter — no pausing, no switching, no breaking momentum.

    • Seamless hybrid combat — every weapon has its own distinct moveset and combo system, and abilities you collect enhance both ranged and melee attacks together.
    • Builds that evolve with you — gather memory fragments across runs to craft devastating synergies between your loadout and powers.
    • Death is not the end — fall, and you return to the fractured reality of your past. Keep what truly matters; lose only the faintest echoes. Grow stronger with every cycle, edging closer to the truth.

    A World Unmade by Cosmic Law

    You are Valeriano, one of the few to remain whole after an ancient, hidden organisation enacted the “Sole Salvation” — a global ritual that tore reality apart. In a single, terrible moment, heads lifted from bodies and drifted skyward, transfixed by a blinding pillar of light. Civilisation fractured. Reality warped. And the things that remain hunt you.

    Traverse the haunted, corrupted streets of your hometown — now twisted by cosmic forces — and piece together what happened. Reclaim your lost memories, search for those you love, and confront the horror that lies beneath the surface. Every run pulls you deeper into the mystery; every death brings you closer to the redemption you seek.

    Debut at ENDIX Expo — Demo Available Now

    The game is making its first public appearance at ENDIX Expo, running 6–8 November across Steam and Epic Games Store — free for all to visit and explore.

    • New trailer premiering — see combat, world, and story in action for the first time.
    • Play the free demo — available right now on Steam. Includes one full biome, 3 melee and 3 ranged weapons, and an unlockable Arena Mode for score-chasing.
    • Meet the creators — visit the Sole Salvation booth on the Expo’s 2nd floor. Developer Meteora will be live:
      • 6 Nov: 08:00–11:00 GMT
      • 7–8 Nov: 11:00–13:00 GMT
    • Major demo update coming later this month — with new content and refinements based on early feedback.
    • Full release planned for Steam Early Access — Q2 2027.

    A Solo Journey, Shared With You

    Sole Salvation is the debut project from Meteora Games, an independent studio founded by a single developer based in Italy — a solitary creative journey mirrored in Valeriano’s lonely struggle through a broken world. Published alongside Infini Fun, the team is building something deeply personal: a story of memory, loss, and unravelling the terrifying truth of a catastrophe that swallowed everything.

    The demo is live now — step into Valeriano’s shoes, blade and gun in hand, and begin your path to redemption.

    Find out more here: Sole Salvation

    #SoleSalvation #MeteoraGames #InfiniFun #ENDIXExpo #ActionRoguelite #HackAndSlash #IndieDev #DualWielding #Lovecraftian #MemoryAndRedemption #Techmash

  • HOVERBIKES, HIT-AND-RUN, AND HIGH-OCTANE CHAOS — AIRFRAME ULTRA LAUNCHES TODAY FROM THE CREATORS OF RAIN WORLD

    HOVERBIKES, HIT-AND-RUN, AND HIGH-OCTANE CHAOS — AIRFRAME ULTRA LAUNCHES TODAY FROM THE CREATORS OF RAIN WORLD

    They made the quiet, haunting survival masterpiece Rain World — now VIDEOCULT, alongside publisher Akupara Games, has unleashed something entirely different. Airframe Ultra is available right now on PC via Steam and GOG, bringing neon-soaked, high-speed hoverbike combat racing to players everywhere.

    From Silence to Speed

    VIDEOCULT built their reputation on Rain World — a meditative, atmospheric survival adventure celebrated for its deep ecosystems and deliberate, thoughtful pacing. After years crafting a world of quiet peril, the team has pivoted 180 degrees: Airframe Ultra is pure, unapologetic adrenaline — a throwback to the ferocious, unpolished fun of classic combat racers like Jet Moto and Twisted Metal, reimagined for today.

    “We spent basically 12 years making a mopey pixel platformer,” VIDEOCULT’s team said of their shift in direction. “This time we want to do the opposite — stupid fun”. The result is a game stripped of complexity but brimming with chaos: no convoluted progression systems, no endless stats to grind — just bikes, bats, and blazing tracks.

    Race, Crash, Fight, Repeat

    Set in the rain-slicked, neon-drenched streets of Megacity West, Airframe Ultra drops players into an underground racing circuit where gutterborn pilots fight not for championship points, but for infamy. Here’s what you can expect:

    • Blazing-fast hoverbike racing — skim above the asphalt, drift through tight corners, and leave smoke and sparks in your wake.
    • Combat is half the game — swing baseball bats, toss explosives, pour gasoline on the track and light it ablaze. Get knocked off your bike? Keep fighting on foot — and if you’re quick, steal your opponent’s ride right out from under them.
    • Play your way — jump into online multiplayer or huddle up on the couch with split-screen support for up to four players. The devs added local play late in development, not just for nostalgia, but to recapture that electric energy of shouting alongside friends as you crash and burn.
    • No philosophy, no pretension — just explosions, close calls, and pure, unfiltered fun.

    Available Now — Jump In Today

    Airframe Ultra is live immediately on Steam and GOG for PC. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or diving solo into the fray, Megacity West is waiting — and the race never slows down.

    For more details, wishlist links, and future updates, head to the official Akupara Games store pages or follow the studio on social media.

    Find out more here: Airframe Ultra

    #AirframeUltra #VIDEOCULT #AkuparaGames #RainWorld #IndieGame #RacingGame #PCGaming #Steam #GOG #Multiplayer #SplitScreen #NeonChaos #IndieDev #Techmash

  • MEMORISE NOTHING — ESCAPE: THE CABIN LOCKS ITS DOORS WITH PROCEDURAL HORROR PUZZLES

    MEMORISE NOTHING — ESCAPE: THE CABIN LOCKS ITS DOORS WITH PROCEDURAL HORROR PUZZLES

    You wake. The air smells of pine and damp earth. The doors are barred. The windows won’t open. And someone — or something — is watching from the dark.

    Independent studio Deceptive Games Ltd, creators of The Initiate series and Silent Descent, has today released ESCAPE: The Cabin — a first-person horror escape-room adventure where the nightmare rearranges itself every time you play. Out now on Steam for US$11.99, with a 30% launch discount available for a limited time, this is one cabin you cannot conquer by memory alone.

    THE CABIN NEVER PLAYS THE SAME TWICE

    Most escape rooms give you a fixed set of puzzles to solve. This one changes the locks.

    Over 70 puzzles and mechanisms fill the cabin — codes to crack, safes to open, machinery to repair, hidden pathways to uncover — and every playthrough reshuffles the deck:

    • Clues shift — where you found a symbol last run means nothing this time
    • Items relocate — the key, the note, the tool — all move to new hiding spots
    • Solutions reconfigure — the answer you memorised is useless; the logic remains, but the numbers, patterns, and sequences are procedurally fresh

    As Gavin Powell, Managing Director and Game Director at Deceptive Games, puts it: “Randomise the puzzles, the clues and the solutions, and suddenly every run is a new escape room.”

    PICK UP, INSPECT, DISMANTLE — FULL INTERACTION

    This isn’t just clicking hotspots. You examine objects from every angle, turn them over, combine seemingly unrelated items, and sometimes take things apart to find what’s hidden inside. A rusted pocket watch, a faded photograph, a locked box — everyday objects often hold the most vital secrets.

    The deeper you go, the stranger it becomes. What appears to be a simple prison unfolds into something far more disturbing — and beneath the cabin’s floorboards, behind its walls, lie answers to questions you haven’t yet dared to ask.

    WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE — AND WHY?

    Escape is only half the story. The cabin holds a dark secret: who chose you, why you were taken, and what connects you to the captor watching from the shadows. As you unlock rooms and uncover fragments of the truth, the mystery deepens — and the stakes rise. You aren’t just fighting to leave; you’re fighting to understand what you’ve become entangled in.

    PRICING, PLATFORMS, AND DEMO

    DetailInfo
    Release Date5 November 2026
    PlatformPC — Steam
    Standard PriceUS$11.99
    Launch Discount30% off — limited time
    Free DemoAvailable now on Steam
    System RequirementsWindows 10+, Core i5-4690 / Ryzen 3 1200, GTX 680, 8 GB RAM, 5 GB storage

    REPLAYABILITY AS SURVIVAL

    The cabin will never stop rearranging itself. That means no walkthrough can ever fully spoil it. No guide can tell you exactly where to look. Every run demands fresh observation, sharp deduction, and the courage to explore paths you haven’t seen before. It’s an escape room that respects your intelligence — and refuses to let you coast on past success.

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    ESCAPE: The Cabin takes the tension of the best escape rooms and wraps it in the slow-burn dread of psychological horror. It doesn’t just want you to solve puzzles — it wants you to feel trapped, uncertain, and increasingly desperate to uncover the truth. And because it changes every time, the cabin will remain a place worth returning to long after your first escape.

    The doors are locked. The clues are scattered. And nothing is where you left it.

    Find out more here: ESCAPE The Cabin

    #ESCAPETheCabin #DeceptiveGames #HorrorGame #Techmash #EscapeRoom #PuzzleGame #ProceduralGeneration #Replayable #IndieDev #Steam #PCGaming #FirstPersonHorror

  • MORE THAN A CITY — BUILD A KINGDOM: COUNTY OF FORTUNE ENTERS EARLY ACCESS

    MORE THAN A CITY — BUILD A KINGDOM: COUNTY OF FORTUNE ENTERS EARLY ACCESS

    Why build a single city when you can shape an entire realm?

    Publisher Aquila Interactive and developer Nepos Games have today officially launched County of Fortune into Steam Early Access, inviting players to step into the boots of a medieval lokator — a noble steward tasked with founding, connecting, and governing a sprawling network of settlements across a living, breathing landscape. A free demo is also available now, letting anyone test their governance skills before committing.

    NOT A CITY. A COUNTY. A LIVING WORLD

    Most city-builders ask you to manage walls and districts. County of Fortune asks you to manage relationships.

    You won’t just found one settlement — you’ll build many, each specialised to thrive in its unique environment: fertile valleys become farm hubs; rocky highlands yield quarries; coasts become fishing villages. No two regions are the same, and neither is your strategy.

    • Specialise and connect — A village of bakers needs grain. A quarry needs roads. A market town needs everything. Build trade routes along rivers and highways to keep resources flowing and your economy growing.
    • Appoint mayors — Put trusted leaders in charge of each settlement. Their traits and priorities shape how your communities evolve — for better or worse.
    • Navigate noble politics — Rival houses, shifting alliances, and competing claims mean your decisions ripple beyond trade. Balance ambition with loyalty to keep your county united.
    • Cultural evolution — Different peoples bring different traditions. Guide how they coexist, blend, or stand apart as generations pass.

    TRY BEFORE YOU RULE — FREE DEMO AVAILABLE

    The full Early Access experience is out now, but you can dip your toes in at no cost: the permanent free demo is live on Steam, featuring refined mechanics, rebalanced cultures, and the ability to move settlements — all shaped by feedback from the community. Progress carries over if you decide to upgrade to the full game, so nothing you build is wasted.

    ROADMAP — SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY IT

    County of Fortune is expected to remain in Early Access for 6–9 months, with the full release arriving in 2027. Nepos Games has laid out a clear path:

    • Gather player feedback to refine balance, UI, and performance
    • Add new biomes, events, and political systems
    • Expand cultural mechanics and diplomatic depth
    • Polish visuals and quality-of-life features

    The game is already fully playable — what you see now is a solid foundation, not a skeleton. Every update will build on that base with input from the players actually ruling these lands.

    WHY IT STANDS APART

    What makes County of Fortune feel different is its scale and humanity. It isn’t about cramming as many houses as possible into a grid. It’s about spacing, connection, and character. A remote logging camp changes the fortunes of the market town downriver. A mayor with a grudge can disrupt trade across your borders. A sudden shift in weather can test every link in your supply chain.

    It captures the quiet drama of governance: the joy of a thriving market, the headache of a blocked trade route, the pride of watching a handful of hamlets grow into a tapestry of towns and cities.

    RELEASE DETAILS

    DetailInfo
    Early Access LaunchOut now — 5 November 2026
    PlatformPC — Steam
    Free DemoPermanent, progress carries over
    Expected Early Access Duration6–9 months
    GenreMedieval County-Builder / Strategy / Simulation
    LanguagesFull details listed on Steam store page

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    County of Fortune fills a fascinating space between intimate village sims and grand empire builders. It’s about the middle ground — the county — where local needs meet regional ambitions, and where every road, every appointment, and every trade agreement weaves the fabric of a kingdom.

    The landscape is empty. The people are waiting. Your fortune is what you make of it.

    Found your first village. Build your roads. Let prosperity spread.

    Find out more here: County Of Fortune

    #CountyOfFortune #AquilaInteractive #NeposGames #CityBuilder #MedievalGames #StrategyGame #Simulation #IndieDev #Steam #EarlyAccess #PCGaming #Techmash

  • 5,158 GAMES, ONE MESS — MY CAT SCATTERED GAMES LAUNCHES NOVEMBER 11 ON STEAM

    5,158 GAMES, ONE MESS — MY CAT SCATTERED GAMES LAUNCHES NOVEMBER 11 ON STEAM

    Your cat has done the unthinkable. Every game. Every console. Every shelf. All scattered across your video game supermarket — and the culprit? Trapped inside the claw machine.

    Indie developer ODIUS and publisher Loopr Partners have today announced MY CAT SCATTERED GAMES: Tidy Videogame Supermarket, a delightfully cosy organising simulator where the only way to free your mischievous feline is to put every last thing back where it belongs. Arriving Wednesday, 11 November 2026 on Steam, you can tackle the chaos solo or team up with up to three friends in online co-op.

    THE FELINE CATASTROPHE

    It began as just another day running your game store. Then your cat decided to turn the place into a total disaster zone. Now, 5,158 games and consoles lie strewn across every aisle — discs, cartridges, boxes, and hardware piled high. And the troublemaker responsible? Locked inside the claw machine, waiting for you to crack the code and set them free.

    This isn’t just a tidy-up — it’s a rescue mission.

    SORT, SHELVE, SUCCEED — HOW IT PLAYS

    The premise is simple but deeply satisfying:

    • Pick up every item — inspect boxes, identify platforms, and match titles to their correct sections
    • Group and arrange — each shelf holds up to three different games and ten copies of each. Organise by platform, collection, or however makes sense to you
    • Unlock helpful abilities — fill shelves correctly and you’ll gain tools to speed up the work: highlight matching items, carry more at once, and spot where things belong
    • Discover gaming history — every cover is a loving parody packed with references spanning decades of gaming. Half the fun is recognising what inspired them
    • Crack the code — the store is split into three zones, each hiding a digit in a locked safe. Find all three, enter the combination into the claw machine, and rescue your cat

    SOLO OR SQUAD — CO-OP CLEANUP

    Tidying thousands of games is a big job — so you don’t have to do it alone. The game supports full online co-op for up to four players, letting you and friends split the work: one person handles consoles, another sorts by platform, someone else fills the shelves. Whether you’re racing to finish or just chatting while you tidy, the mess becomes a shared mission.

    NO TIMERS, NO STRESS — JUST PURE COZY

    Here’s the best part: there’s no rush. No countdown clock. No game over. No angry customers demanding refunds. Take an hour or take a month — the store waits. Save anytime, step away whenever you like, and return to a space that’s slowly transforming from chaos into something beautiful. It’s a digital declutter designed to calm rather than pressure.

    LAUNCH DETAILS

    DetailInfo
    Release DateWednesday, 11 November 2026
    PlatformPC — Steam
    Players1 solo + up to 3 co-op
    LanguagesEnglish, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Polish, Portuguese (BR/PT), Turkish, Japanese — 13 total
    Storage3 GB required
    Controller SupportFull — Xbox, PlayStation, and keyboard/mouse
    DemoAvailable now on Steam

    System Requirements:

    • Minimum: Windows 10, Intel Core i7-4790K / Ryzen 5 1500X, GTX 980 Ti / RX 6500XT, 8 GB RAM
    • Recommended: Windows 11, Core i7-8700 / Ryzen 5 3600, GTX 1080 / RX 5700 XT, 16 GB RAM

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    MY CAT SCATTERED GAMES isn’t just about cleaning up — it’s about restoration. It’s the quiet thrill of seeing a disordered space come together, the joy of spotting a familiar joke on a parody cover, and the gentle satisfaction of finishing a job well done. And at the end? You get your cat back.

    The mess is enormous. The solution is simple. The reward is purr-fect.

    The shelves are empty. The games are everywhere. Time to get to work.

    Find out more here: My Cat Scattered Games

    #MyCatScatteredGames #TidyVideogameSupermarket #ODIUS #LooprPartners #CozyGaming #SimulationGame #IndieDev #CoOpGaming #Steam #OrganizingSim #Techmash

  • MASK UP, LOCK AND LOAD — PAYDAY: ACES HIGH HITS VR TODAY

    MASK UP, LOCK AND LOAD — PAYDAY: ACES HIGH HITS VR TODAY

    The mask goes on. The job is on. And the score is yours.

    Fast Travel Games — the Stockholm studio founded by veterans of Battlefield, Mirror’s Edge, and Angry Birds — together with franchise holder Starbreeze Entertainment, has today officially launched PAYDAY: Aces High, the fully VR-optimised entry into the world’s most famous heisting franchise. Out now across Meta Quest, SteamVR, and Steam Frame for $24.99 USD, with a 10% loyalty discount for existing PAYDAY owners on Steam, this is heisting rebuilt from the ground up for virtual reality.

    THE SETUP — FRAMED AND FIGHTING BACK

    The story drops you into the shoes of The Aces — an elite crew of four distinct heisters — after ruthless business titan Warren Jupiter frames you and tosses you behind bars. Your mission? Hit him where it hurts: his banks, his museums, his most prized assets — even his “untouchable” penthouse. It’s personal. It’s high-stakes. And every job is a chance to dismantle his empire one vault at a time.

    FOUR ACES, ONE CREW — PLAY YOUR WAY

    No two heisters are the same. Build your loadout around one of four signature roles, or blend them to match your style:

    • Ace of Hearts — The Mastermind — The planner. Every angle, every fallback, every escape route mapped out before the first alarm sounds.
    • Ace of Clubs — The Ghost — The phantom. Silent entry, clean extraction, nobody knows you were ever there.
    • Ace of Diamonds — The Technician — The gadgeteer. Grappling hooks, sentry guns, black-market tech that tears defences apart.
    • Ace of Spades — The Enforcer — The hammer. Heavy weapons, heavy armour, heavy noise — when stealth fails, you don’t run, you bring the fight.

    Mix and match weapons, gadgets, and skills to craft your perfect heister. Unlock new gear with cash and reputation earned on every successful run.

    HEISTING IN VR — IMMERSION YOU CAN FEEL

    This isn’t a flat-screen port. Every mechanic has been built for presence:

    • True first-person VR combat — aim down sights, reload, and clear rooms physically
    • Full-body interaction — pick locks, hoist loot bags, rappel through windows, and plant charges with your own hands
    • Cross-platform co-op — up to four players together across Meta Quest, SteamVR, and Steam Frame
    • Solo play supported — with AI companions if your crew can’t make the drop
    • Steam Achievements, leaderboards, and progression — everything carries over between sessions

    PLATFORMS, PRICING, AND LOYALTY

    PlatformAvailabilityPrice
    Meta Quest 3 / 3SOut now$24.99 USD
    SteamVR (PC VR headsets)Out now$24.99 USD
    Steam FrameOut now$24.99 USD

    Loyalty Discount: If you already own PAYDAY 2 or PAYDAY 3 on Steam, you get 10% off the SteamVR and Steam Frame versions automatically at checkout.

    System Requirements (Steam):

    • Windows 10, Intel Core i5-7500 / Ryzen 5 1600
    • 12 GB RAM, GTX 1060 / RX 580 (6GB VRAM)
    • 10 GB storage, broadband internet
    • Supports Valve Index, Meta Quest via Link, Oculus Rift S, and all OpenXR headsets

    THE ROAD AHEAD — FREE HEISTS FOR EVERYONE

    Fast Travel Games has made a promise: every new heist released will be 100% free to all owners, no extra purchase required. The roadmap already includes:

    • December 2026 — Brand-new heist, free for all players
    • November 2026 — First Community Challenges with exclusive rewards
    • Ongoing additions: new weapons, gadgets, skills, and game modes

    EARLY RECEPTION

    Early reviews are calling it “VR’s definitive co-op heist experience” — UploadVR describes it as “Lootin’ & Scootin’ In VR’s Best New Co-Op Shooter”, while Shacknews praises its “Great gunplay, cool VR features, meaningful progression”. Player feedback notes solid stealth and combat mechanics, with constructive input already shaping post-launch improvements.

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    PAYDAY: Aces High isn’t just another heist game — it’s the closest you’ll ever get to actually pulling one off. From the moment you pull that mask down to the second you sprint for the getaway van with bags full, it delivers the tension, teamwork, and thrill the franchise is famous for — with the immersion only VR can provide.

    The crew is assembling. The contracts are signed. The vault is open.

    What’s your next move?

    Find out more here: PAYDAY Aces High

    #PAYDAYAcesHigh #PAYDAY #FastTravelGames #Starbreeze #VRGaming #SteamVR #MetaQuest #CoOpGaming #HeistGame #PCVR #IndieDev #Techmash

  • RULE THE ARENA — DOMINUS GLADIATUS ENTERS THE ARENA, OUT NOW ON PC & ALL CONSOLES

    RULE THE ARENA — DOMINUS GLADIATUS ENTERS THE ARENA, OUT NOW ON PC & ALL CONSOLES

    The crowd roars. The sand is stained. And the fate of champions rests in your hands.

    Brain Seal Ltd — the studio behind Story of a Gladiator and the beloved Dark Quest series — together with publisher PlayWay S.A., has today unleashed Dominus Gladiatus, a brutal, deeply immersive gladiator management simulator where you don’t just fight — you build, train, and rule. Available right now across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, this is your invitation to become the master of the Ludus.

    HISTORY REMEMBERS THE GLADIATORS. YOU REMEMBER THE SCHOOL.

    Every victory in the Colosseum began somewhere quiet: a training yard, a forge, a dormitory where exhausted fighters slept before dawn. As a Dominus — the owner and head of a gladiator school — you are the architect of legends. You’ll choose your house from among six competing Domini, each with their own strengths, rivalries, and hunger for glory. Five other schools stand in your way — all run by ambitious masters who want the championship just as badly.

    Your road to victory runs through every corner of your Ludus:

    • Scout and recruit — Search the markets for raw, untested talent. Some are desperate; some are dangerous. All can become heroes — if you shape them right.
    • Train and specialise — Forge recruits into distinct fighting styles. Equip them with armour, shields, and weapons that define how they stand, strike, and survive.
    • Care and recover — A gladiator is not a machine. Morale, fatigue, and injury are as real as any blade. Push too hard and you’ll lose your best fighters. Rest well, and they’ll return stronger.
    • Expand and improve — Upgrade barracks, training grounds, the infirmary, and the forge. A world-class arena needs a world-class school behind it.

    BATTLE — TACTICS, NOT JUST STRENGTH

    When your fighters step into the sand, combat unfolds as a tactical auto-battler — every duel decided by the choices you made beforehand. Formations, skill loadouts, equipment, and positioning all matter. Study your rivals, spot their weaknesses, and send your gladiators in with a plan.

    Fights range from deadly one-on-one duels to chaotic team clashes where coordination wins the day. And the crowd watches: favour can shift momentum, unlock bonuses, and fill your coffers — or turn against you if you don’t give them a show.

    Crucially: permadeath applies. A fallen gladiator does not return. Every loss stings — and every replacement must be found, trained, and trusted all over again.

    PRICE, PLATFORMS, AND LANGUAGES

    Dominus Gladiatus launches worldwide today:

    PlatformStatus
    PC (Steam)Out now — free demo available
    PlayStation 5Out now
    Xbox Series XSOut now
    Nintendo SwitchOut now

    Price: £16.79 / $19.99 USD / €19.99. Languages: Fully localised in 16 languages. Introductory discount: 20% off on Steam until 19 November 2026

    FROM STORYTELLING TO STRATEGY

    For Brain Seal Ltd, this is something of a homecoming. Having already explored the arena in Story of a Gladiator, the studio now pulls back the curtain to show the whole machine — the business, the training, the politics, and the heartbreak behind every bout. It’s a game that honours the tension between compassion and cruelty: you must care for your fighters to keep them effective, yet you must also send them to die.

    FINAL THOUGHTS

    Dominus Gladiatus isn’t just about managing numbers. It’s about managing people — their hopes, their health, and their lives. It’s about building a legacy one victory at a time, mourning the fallen, and raising up the next generation. Deep, strategic, and unflinchingly honest about the cost of glory, this is a management sim with teeth.

    The gates are open. Your first recruit waits. What kind of Dominus will you be?

    Find out more here: Dominus Gladiatus

    #DominusGladiatus #BrainSealLtd #PlayWay #GladiatorSim #ManagementGame #StrategyGame #HistoricalGaming #IndieDev #PCGaming #Steam #PS5 #Xbox #Nintendo #Techmash