TECHMASH

Tag: #SteamEarlyAccess

  • Arcane Fantasy Beckons: ‘Utopia: Birth of the Heroes’ Lands on Steam Early Access This Month!

    Arcane Fantasy Beckons: ‘Utopia: Birth of the Heroes’ Lands on Steam Early Access This Month!

    Indie gaming fans, it’s time to expand your wishlists. Mana Core Game Studios has just dropped a major announcement regarding their highly anticipated debut title. The Monterrey-based studio has officially revealed that Utopia: Birth of the Heroes will launch on Steam Early Access on July 27!

    If you’ve already played through the gripping five-chapter demo currently available on Steam, you know exactly how captivating this world is. Starting later this month, you’ll finally be able to dive much deeper into this dark, beautifully crafted arcane fantasy realm.

    What is Utopia: Birth of the Heroes?

    Developed by a passionate two-brother team (Dante and Daniel Arjona), Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is a character-driven, choice-heavy visual novel. Set in a war-torn medieval fantasy realm, the narrative doesn’t follow your typical “good vs. evil” tropes. Instead, it revolves around three distinct protagonists—Frederick, Diomedes, and Eskil—each driven by their own conflicting, intense vision of what a “perfect society” should look like.

    The Early Access Deal: Diving into Early Access gives you immediate access to Chapters 0 through 17, which covers the entire first half of the game! That translates to roughly 8 to 10 hours of rich, narrative-driven gameplay. Even better? Everyone who jumps into Early Access will automatically receive the full game upon its official launch.

    Why You Should Keep an Eye on This One

    • Morally Grey Dilemmas: Your choices ripple across kingdoms. A heroic decision from one protagonist’s perspective might just be an absolute tragedy for another.
    • Massive Replayability: With branching paths, multiple perspectives, and numerous distinct endings, your choices genuinely dictate the fate of the world.
    • Stunning Atmosphere: The game features gorgeous hand-drawn artwork and an incredibly atmospheric, emotionally charged score composed by Peter Reid Jones.
    • Community-Driven Polish: Mana Core is using this Early Access period to actively collaborate with players, refining the narrative pacing, UI, and localisation before the 1.0 release.

    Alongside the release date announcement, the studio also unveiled a brand-new character spotlight trailer for Eskil Ilhamy, giving fans a closer look at the steady, calculated perspective of the game’s third playable hero.

    Mark Your Calendars!

    The journey to find out what you’d sacrifice for a perfect world begins in earnest on July 27. Head over to Steam right now to check out the 5-chapter demo and add Utopia: Birth of the Heroes to your wishlist!

    Find out more here

    #UtopiaBirthOfTheHeroes #ManaCoreGameStudios #VisualNovel #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #FantasyGaming #IndieDev

  • Make a Splash! Aquapark Tycoon Drops Highly Anticipated Early Access Release Trailer

    Make a Splash! Aquapark Tycoon Drops Highly Anticipated Early Access Release Trailer

    If the summer heat has you daydreaming about massive water slides, lazy rivers, and endless wave pools, indie developer Boxelware has the perfect digital antidote. The team has officially dropped the Early Access Release Trailer for Aquapark Tycoon, locking in a launch date that is just around the corner.

    Grab your virtual trunks: Aquapark Tycoon is officially making its splash onto Steam Early Access on July 22, 2026.

    Dive Into the Chaos (With Friends!)

    The brand-new trailer showcases exactly how far the game has come since its initial demos. While it retains that cosy, playful aesthetic tycoon fans love, the depth of the building tools looks incredibly robust.

    Here are the biggest highlights revealed in the trailer:

    • Unhinged Slide Editor: The absolute star of the show. You have full creative control to engineer towering, twisting water slides. Want a practical family ride? Easy. Want a vertical drop that sends your guests hurtling through the air at questionable speeds? Go right ahead.
    • Deep Pool Customisation: You aren’t just placing pre-baked assets. You can customise swimming pools by their exact shape, depth, temperature, and even water type.
    • Co-op Multiplayer: One of the biggest surprises in the trailer is the confirmation of online co-op. You can team up with friends to build a massive resort together—or just mess up each other’s carefully planned layouts.
    • Wellness & Saunas: It’s not all adrenaline. You can construct luxury saunas, setting custom infusion schedules and choosing essential oils to attract guests looking for a peaceful retreat.
    • Streamer-Ready Features: The game will launch with built-in Twitch integration, letting your live viewers pop into your park as guests. Watching your chat get swept down a chaotic waterslide is bound to be top-tier entertainment.

    Packed with Content at Launch

    Boxelware isn’t skimping on the Early Access content. When the gates open on July 22nd, players will have access to 45 different pools, slides, and saunas, alongside 18 unique shops for food and merchandise.

    If you like structure, the game includes 13 objective-driven scenarios to test your management mettle against seasonal changes and financial strain. Prefer to just build? The Free Play sandbox mode spans 8 different biomes and 4 themed worlds (Pirates, Fantasy, Tropics, and Antiquity) with zero financial restrictions.

    Watch the Trailer & Try the Demo

    The trailer perfectly captures the lighthearted chaos of running a park that may or may not meet standard safety regulations. If you want a taste of the action before the July 22nd release, a free demo is currently live on Steam.

    Check out the trailer, add it to your wishlist, and get ready to build the ultimate aquatic paradise.

    Are you ready to build the ultimate water park, or are you just going to launch your guests into orbit? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Gaming #AquaparkTycoon #TycoonGames #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #Boxelware #SimulationGames

  • Hack, Slash, and Survive: Phantom Tower Hits Steam Early Access This July!

    Hack, Slash, and Survive: Phantom Tower Hits Steam Early Access This July!

    The wait is almost over for action RPG fans. After four long years of passionate development, Horien Studio has officially announced that their highly anticipated title, Phantom Tower, is launching into Steam Early Access on July 13th, 2026.

    If you’ve been craving a fresh, adrenaline-pumping challenge that tests your reflexes and tactical thinking, this is the title to watch.

    What is Phantom Tower?

    Phantom Tower is a fast-paced, roguelike action RPG that masterfully blends fluid, high-stakes hack-and-slash combat with the eerie, unpredictable nature of deep dungeon crawling.

    Players will find themselves scaling a shifting, perilous tower where no two runs are ever the same. Every floor throws new enemy types, environmental hazards, and brutal bosses at you, demanding split-second decisions and absolute mastery over your arsenal.

    Key Features to Get Hyped For:

    • Dynamic Combat: Chain together devastating combos, parry lethal attacks, and animation-cancel your way through hordes of enemies.
    • Deep Dungeon Crawling: Explore procedural layouts filled with hidden secrets, lore fragments, and game-changing loot.
    • Roguelike Replayability: Die, learn, upgrade, and repeat. Build synergies with unique perks and weapons to craft your ultimate playstyle.
    • 4 Years of Polish: Developed with love and meticulous attention to detail by Horien Studio to ensure the combat feels incredibly tight and responsive.

    Try the Demo Right Now! Can’t wait until July 13th? You don’t have to. Horien Studio has released a free playable demo on Steam right now. It gives you a taste of the first few floors, the core combat mechanics, and a sneak peek at the build variety.

    Why Early Access?

    Horien Studio is taking the Early Access route to collaborate directly with the community. Over the next phase of development, player feedback from the Steam community will actively shape balancing, new weapon types, additional tower floors, and endgame content.

    Mark your calendars for July 13th, head over to Steam, and wishlist Phantom Tower today to support an indie gem four years in the making.

    Find out more here

    #PhantomTower #HorienStudio #IndieDev #ActionRPG #Roguelike #HackAndSlash #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash

  • The Nightlings Are Coming! Farever’s First Major Update Hits Steam Early Access on July 15

    The Nightlings Are Coming! Farever’s First Major Update Hits Steam Early Access on July 15

    Get ready, adventurers. If you thought the vast open world of Farever was already a beautiful, dangerous playground, things are about to get a whole lot darker.

    Shiro Games has just announced that the first major update for their hit online multiplayer action RPG is officially dropping on Wednesday, July 15. Titled ‘The Nightling Invasion,’ this massive content drop promises to push your survival and combat skills to their absolute limits on PC via Steam Early Access.

    Here is a breakdown of what you can expect when the shadows creep into Farever next week.

    Welcome to the Dark Side: What’s New?

    Shiro Games isn’t holding back for its first major milestone. ‘The Nightling Invasion’ is set to expand the game’s lore and mechanics significantly, giving both solo players and tight-knit guilds plenty of reasons to gear up.

    1. A Treacherous New Area to Explore

    Prepare to venture into a completely new, high-risk zone overrun by the mysterious Nightlings. Expect haunting vistas, unique environmental hazards, and a dense atmosphere where danger lurks behind every corner. Moving through this territory will require a mix of stealth, strategy, and brute force.

    2. All-New Gameplay Mechanics

    To survive the invasion, players will have access to freshly implemented mechanics designed to shake up the current meta. While Shiro Games is keeping some surprises close to its chest, players can look forward to new ways to interact with the environment, specialised combat tactics, and potentially new progression paths to help counter the darkness.

    3. Daunting Challenges & Boss Fights

    What’s an action RPG update without some epic loot and the terrifying bosses guarding it? ‘The Nightling Invasion’ introduces brutal new enemy variants and challenging public events that will force players to cooperate if they want to make it out alive.

    TechMash Verdict: Shiro Games has a stellar track record of listening to their community during Early Access phases. This first major update looks like a massive step forward in fleshing out Farever’s endgame content and keeping the world feeling alive, dynamic, and suitably punishing.

    How to Play

    Farever is currently available on PC via Steam Early Access. If you already own the game, the update will download automatically on Wednesday, July 15. If you haven’t jumped into this gorgeous fantasy world yet, now is the perfect time to grab your copy, rally your friends, and prepare for the storm.

    Are you ready to face the invasion, or will you let the darkness consume you? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #Farever #ShiroGames #SteamEarlyAccess #ActionRPG #PCGaming #TheNightlingInvasion #IndieGames #TechMash

  • Command Three, Survive Thousands: Luminas: Parasite Reign Hits Steam Early Access This July!

    Command Three, Survive Thousands: Luminas: Parasite Reign Hits Steam Early Access This July!

    The indie roguelite scene is about to get a massive dose of magical chaos. Athens-based developer SOTO Game Studio has officially announced that its highly anticipated debut title, Luminas: Parasite Reign, will launch into Steam Early Access on July 24th, 2026.

    If you’ve been craving a fresh spin on the “bullet heaven” horde-survivor genre, this voxel-art adventure is definitely one to add to your wishlist.

    When Vampire Survivors Meets Pokémon Strategy

    While the market has seen plenty of single-character auto-shooters recently, Luminas: Parasite Reign shakes up the formula by throwing party-based tactical squad building into the mix. Instead of controlling a solitary lone wolf, you’ll lead a team of up to three supernatural, magical creatures—known as Luminas—simultaneously.

    Your mission? Defend the vibrant, voxel world of Solaris Land from an onslaught of corrupting, monstrous parasites.

    Key Features Landing in Early Access:

    • Build Your Dream Team: Choose from 8 distinct Luminas at launch (including adorable powerhouses like Pyropeep the dragon and Shelly the turtle).
    • Synergy & Combos: With 64 unique elemental spells and over 90 items of treasure to equip, you can craft specific archetypes—from glass-cannon DPS squads to tanky, unkillable support builds. Certain Lumina pairs can even combine their abilities to unleash secret, devastating combo attacks.
    • Deep Meta-Progression: Each creature features its own dedicated skill tree, allowing you to fine-tune your playstyle between runs.
    • Control the Corruption: The Early Access launch features 3 distinct biomes and 8 unique bosses. Once you master the basics, you can jack up the “Corruption” levels to alter gameplay rules, expand enemy rosters, shift camera perspectives, and push your skills to the absolute limit.

    “We’re a small team of three friends working at an independent digital agency in Greece… Born from a mix of curiosity, late-night design talks, and a shared love for roguelites.” > — SOTO Game Studio

    Steam Deck Ready on Day One

    Great news for handheld gamers: SOTO Game Studio has confirmed that Luminas: Parasite Reign is already fully optimised for the Steam Deck. Handheld playtesters have reported a locked, buttery-smooth 90 FPS with perfectly scaled UI text.

    The developer notes that player feedback during the Early Access phase will actively shape the road map—directly influencing future modes, maps, new Luminas, and boss mechanics.

    Mark your calendars for July 24th, head over to Steam, and get Luminas: Parasite Reign wishlisted today!

    Find out more here

    #LuminasParasiteReign #SOTOGameStudio #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #Roguelite #BulletHeaven #HordeSurvivor #GamingNews #PCGaming #SteamDeck

  • From Peasants to Powerhouses: The Guild – Europa 1410 Reveals Its Brutal Medieval Production Chains

    From Peasants to Powerhouses: The Guild – Europa 1410 Reveals Its Brutal Medieval Production Chains

    Gold doesn’t just magically fall into a merchant’s coin purse in the Middle Ages—it is forged, smuggled, brewed, and bartered into existence.

    With The Guild – Europa 1410 fast approaching its Steam Early Access launch on July 16, 2026, developer Ashborne Games and publisher THQ Nordic have dropped a brand-new developer diary. This latest deep dive invites players straight into the grit and grind of the game’s workshops, mining pits, and marketplaces, showcasing a ruthless, interconnected medieval economy where a single bad trade can lead to absolute ruin, and a clever craft can buy you political salvation.

    If you’ve been looking for a strategy game where macroeconomics meets micro-management and backalley backstabbing, you’ll want to pay close attention to this one.

    Crafting Your Way Up the Social Ladder

    In The Guild – Europa 1410, your profession dictates your daily grind, but your ambition dictates your legacy. The developer diary highlights how raw materials are transformed through intricate multi-step production chains.

    Take the Smith profession, for example:

    1. Gather Raw Materials: Procure Iron and Silver Ingots from local mines or the volatile public marketplace.
    2. Craft Intermediate Goods: Forge the iron into sturdy fittings (essential building blocks for advanced items).
    3. The End Product: Combine those fittings with silver to craft a glistening, high-value Silver Chain.

    But here is where The Guild separates itself from standard city builders: items aren’t just for selling. While that Silver Chain can fetch a hefty sum at the market, you can choose to wear it yourself. Doing so gives you a tangible reputation boost with the Town Council or Church Authorities, proving that in Europa 1410, economic power translates directly into political influence.

    High Risks, Shadow Markets, and Volatile Economies

    It’s not all honest blacksmithing and peaceful baking, though. Different professions, like Alchemists, can craft seemingly innocent intermediate products that double as components for far more dangerous, less-than-legal end products. If you want to play a darker role in the Holy Roman Empire, the shadows are waiting.

    However, Ashborne Games warns that the line between a passive income stream and a devastating financial gamble is razor-thin:

    Market Oversupply: If you get greedy and flood the marketplace with too much of a single product, the simulation’s supply-and-demand mechanics will kick in, driving prices into the dirt and ruining your own profit margins.

    Vulnerable Supply Lines: Got a massive shipment of luxury goods heading to a neighboring quarter? You better make sure your transport carts are heavily guarded. Rogue players or AI bandits can ambush your caravans, wiping out your family’s investments in a single stroke.

    Whether you choose a life of virtue or one of crime, every link in the supply chain requires careful calculation.

    Secure Your Dynasty This July

    From establishing beehives for steady passive income to managing patrons at an Inn, The Guild – Europa 1410 promises a complex, living medieval world. If you want a taste of the mechanics before the official launch, a 14-turn playable demo featuring the city of Kuttenberg is currently live on Steam.

    Make sure to head over to Steam to wishlist the game ahead of its July 16, 2026, Early Access release. Will you build an empire that lasts for generations, or will the market swallow your dynasty whole?

    What profession are you planning to master first? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #TheGuildEuropa1410 #AshborneGames #THQNordic #StrategyGames #PCGaming #MedievalSim #GamingNews #SteamEarlyAccess #TechMash

  • Cats, Mechs, and Mayhem: Tech Titans Join Forces for ‘Cats in the Shell’

    Cats, Mechs, and Mayhem: Tech Titans Join Forces for ‘Cats in the Shell’

    When veterans from China’s biggest rival gaming giants—Tencent and NetEase—leave their corporate strongholds to team up, the industry takes notice. But no one quite predicted what their newly minted collective, Raven Studio, would build as their debut project.

    Alongside global publisher Infini Fun, Raven Studio has officially pulled back the curtain on Cats in the Shell, a frantic, highly strategic mech-building roguelike auto battler coming to PC via Steam Early Access in Q4 2026.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a towering, steel-clad instrument of absolute destruction as a whiskered feline, your highly specific dream is finally coming true.

    The Birth of Raven Studio

    Raven Studio isn’t just another indie outfit. Founded by a powerhouse collective of industry veterans pulling experience from Tencent, NetEase, and SNK, the studio was built with a specific mandate: break away from predictable, formulaic corporate production and prioritize pure, experimental gameplay.

    By partnering with Infini Fun, a global multi-platform publisher established in 2024, the developers have been given the runway to bring one of their wildest ideas to life.

    “Cats in the Shell’s detail-oriented, satisfying mech building and roguelike randomness will keep you on your toes. More than 1,000 modules provide near-infinite choices in exhilarating combat instances.” — Alex Dong, Director of Raven Studio

    Tactical Customisation Meets Feline Fury

    At its core, Cats in the Shell is all about build-crafting. The loop is a satisfying blend of deep mechanical tinkering and roguelike unpredictability.

    1. Six Mech Archetypes & Whiskered Helmsmen

    Players can choose from six distinct mech types, each serving as a blank metal canvas. However, a giant war machine is only as good as its pilot. You’ll recruit a variety of feline fighters, each sporting exclusive active abilities and unique strategic focuses that heavily alter how your machine behaves on the battlefield.

    2. Over 1,000 Component Modules

    As you progress through runs and navigate random in-game events, you will collect weapons, armor, and specialized component parts. With over 1,000 modules available, the sheer depth of theory-crafting is massive.

    3. Inventory Management & Synergy Slots

    You can allocate modules into five core slots. However, inventory space is strictly limited. The strategy lies in managing your tight inventory, arranging parts in a precise order, and unlocking hidden synergies that trigger explosive chain reactions.

    Automated Chaos and Global PvP

    Once your feline pilot is buckled in and your mech is armed to the teeth, it’s time to step onto the battlefield. Cats in the Shell splits its action across two main fronts:

    • The Story Campaign: Battle through four distinct futuristic biomes, adapting your loadout to handle environmental hazards and squaring off against towering, screen-filling bosses.
    • Asynchronous PvP: Want to test your build against the world? Take your machine into an asynchronous PvP gauntlet. You will fight AI-controlled versions of mechs meticulously assembled by actual players worldwide. The ultimate goal? Survived the gauntlet to secure 10 cumulative victories.

    Because it’s an auto battler, your job is done once the countdown hits zero. You get to sit back and watch your engineering masterclass—or catastrophic design flaws—play out in real-time automated clashes of steel, lasers, and flying fur.

    Launch Details & Public Playtest

    Cats in the Shell is slated to hit Steam Early Access in Q4 2026. Raven Studio is already aiming for a massive global audience right out of the gate, promising localization support for 11 languages, including English, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

    Can’t wait until Q4? You don’t have to. To celebrate the announcement, Raven Studio and Infini Fun have launched a seven-day public playtest right now on Steam. Head over to their store page, request access, and start building your ultimate mechanical kitty today.

    What do you think of this unexpected gaming crossover? Let us know your thoughts on Raven Studio’s debut in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #CatsInTheShell #RavenStudio #InfiniFun #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #MechGames #AutoBattler #Roguelike #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Earn XP Your Way: Wreckfest 2 Update #8 Introduces Player Progression

    Earn XP Your Way: Wreckfest 2 Update #8 Introduces Player Progression

    Bugbear Entertainment and THQ Nordic have dropped Update #8 for Wreckfest 2 in Early Access, and it’s a massive one. The headline feature? The highly anticipated debut of the game’s Player Progression System.

    If you’ve been waiting for a reason to consistently wreck your friends online or grind the tracks solo, this is the foundational milestone you’ve been waiting for.

    Reward the Madness: How Progression Works

    This first iteration marks the beginning of a living system that will continue to evolve throughout Early Access and beyond. Bugbear isn’t forcing you into a rigid gameplay box, either. The new progression mechanics track your playstyle using level-up badges built across three distinct pillars:

    • Racing: For the purists who want to nail the perfect line and cross the finish line first.
    • Crashing: For the demolition derby enthusiasts who live for the crunch of metal.
    • Pure Madness: For those chaotic moments, massive airtime, and drift sequences that make Wreckfest so special.

    Whether you choose to specialise heavily in one category or embrace total chaos across all three, the game rewards you for playing your way.

    Beyond Progression: What Else is in Update #8?

    While levelling up your playstyle is the star of the show, Update #8 brings a treasure trove of content and quality-of-life features:

    • The Ultimate Minimap: Finally! No more guessing where the next bend is. You can toggle it on/off and adjust the zoom right in the settings.
    • Two New American Muscle Machines: Get behind the wheel of the all-new Jackal (an 80s throwback) or jump into the returning fan-favourite 1960s American boat, the Bullet.
    • Random Waypoint Mode: Waypoint and suicide races get a chaotic upgrade. In this multiplayer-only mode, you’ll have no idea where the next waypoint will spawn, keeping even veteran drivers on their toes.
    • Shareable Paint Jobs: You can now share your custom liveries with other players. While it currently requires manual file exchange, it lays the groundwork for a seamless in-game community sharing system down the line.
    • Force Feedback & Physics Overhaul: Wheel users rejoice! Bugbear has increased the force feedback frequency, added high-frequency road detail, and improved damping to cut down on center jitter.

    The Verdict: Wreckfest 2 was already a masterclass in soft-body physics destruction, but Update #8 gives the game the structural backbone it needs. By rewarding players for pure madness just as much as pristine racing lines, Bugbear proves they know exactly what makes their community tick.

    Wreckfest 2 Update #8 is live now on PC via Steam Early Access.

    Find out more here

    #Wreckfest2 #THQNordic #BugbearEntertainment #RacingGames #DemolitionDerby #SteamEarlyAccess #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Into the Void Alone: SpaceCraft Launches Highly Anticipated Offline Solo Mode

    Into the Void Alone: SpaceCraft Launches Highly Anticipated Offline Solo Mode

    Interstellar pioneers, it is time to recalibrate your warp drives. If you have been itching to conquer the cosmos without the distraction of rival corporations or multiplayer chaos, your coordinates have just been locked.

    Shiro Games has officially rolled out one of the community’s most requested features for its hit space sandbox, SpaceCraft: a true, fully optimised Offline Solo Mode. Less than a month after its stellar debut in Steam Early Access, the French studio behind hits like Northgard and Wartales has proven they are listening closely to player feedback.

    The Universe is Yours, Literally

    Originally launched as an online-only, persistent multiplayer galaxy, SpaceCraft captivated sci-fi fans with its seamless blend of exploration, modular shipbuilding, and deep industrial automation. However, for those who prefer the quiet, atmospheric isolation of deep space, the requirement to always be online was a barrier.

    With this latest update, you can now experience humanity’s next frontier completely independently.

    “Players who want to experience SpaceCraft at their own pace can now explore the galaxy entirely offline,” said Nicolas Cannasse, CEO of Shiro Games. “The game’s progression, balancing, and core systems have been adapted to provide a smooth and rewarding solo experience while preserving the depth and freedom that define SpaceCraft.”

    What Changes in Solo Mode?

    Stepping into the void alone doesn’t mean you are getting a watered-down experience. Shiro Games has meticulously rebalanced the core mechanics to ensure that a single player can realistically manage a galactic empire.

    • Tailored Progression: Resource gathering, crafting timelines, and progression curves have been adjusted so the late-game loop feels satisfying rather than an endless, MMO-style grind.
    • Total Focus on Industry: With online-exclusive systems like global corporation rankings disabled, every piece of rare mineral you mine and every credit you earn goes directly into expanding your personal empire.
    • True Offline Play: No internet? No problem. You can now design your modular ships and map out trade routes from anywhere.

    From Humble Outpost to Interstellar Enterprise

    For the uninitiated, SpaceCraft is a dream come true for fans of deep engineering and logistics simulators. The gameplay lets you start with a modest planetary outpost and gradually build out massive automated manufacturing networks. You’ll draft complex logistics pipelines to ferry components across different planets, optimise supply lines, and engineer custom spacecraft block-by-block to fit your specific needs—whether that’s a heavily armoured cargo haulier or a nimble exploration vessel.

    The fact that Shiro Games has delivered such a massive architectural shift to the game so early in its Early Access journey bodes incredibly well for its future development.

    SpaceCraft is available right now on PC via Steam Early Access for £24.99 / $29.99 / €29,99. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to lose yourself in a massive, system-driven sci-fi sandbox entirely on your own terms, this is it.

    Are you planning to build your industrial space empire solo, or do you prefer the shared multiplayer universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #SpaceCraft #ShiroGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #SpaceSandbox #SciFiGaming #IndieGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Don’t Look Down: Free ‘The Nest’ Update Shadowdrops for Horror Climbing Roguelite White Knuckle

    Don’t Look Down: Free ‘The Nest’ Update Shadowdrops for Horror Climbing Roguelite White Knuckle

    If you suffer from a fear of heights—or a fear of things that go bump in the dark while you’re dangling 10,000 meters in the air—look away now. For the rest of the thrill-seeking stegophiles (that’s wall-climbing enthusiasts to you and me), it’s time to chalk up your hands.

    In a surprise move today, developer Dark Machine Games and indie horror heavyweights DreadXP shadowdropped The Nest Update, a massive, completely free content expansion for their first-person roguelite speed-climber, White Knuckle.

    To celebrate the surprise launch, a stellar new gameplay trailer has dropped, showcasing the deeply expanded (and deeply terrifying) nightmare awaiting players on Steam. Check out the trailer and get ready to sweat through your controller.

    What is White Knuckle?

    For the uninitiated, White Knuckle is a high-octane, lo-fi blend of Mirror’s Edge precision and intense physiological horror. Players are tasked with ascending through the gut-wrenching, industrial decay of SUB-STRUCTURE 17.

    Every move requires deliberate stamina management. You use momentum-based mechanics to swing hand-over-hand, hammer pitons into crumbling concrete, and manage a limited inventory—all while a malicious, angry sludge oozes up from the abyss below. If your grip fails or you carry too much weight, eternity awaits you at the bottom.

    Welcome to ‘The Nest’: What’s New?

    The Nest Update marks the arrival of the campaign’s fifth major region (out of seven planned for the game’s full 1.0 release). Described as a subterranean “alien jungle,” this update shifts the game’s horror into overdrive by introducing unpredictable environments and dangerous wildlife.

    Here is a breakdown of what you can expect when you load up the game today:

    • Dynamic Environments: The Nest features shifting layout mechanics. After surviving the starting zone, your path will randomly morph between the Infested Labs or the Hot Zone, before funnelling you into the terrifying Feeding Trough.
    • The Endless Mode: Think you’re a master climber? Beating The Nest region unlocks an entirely new Endless Mode to truly test your reflexes and endurance against global leaderboards.
    • Terrifying New Denizens: It’s not just the height you have to worry about anymore. The jungle is crawling with creepy new threats, including Spider Swarmers, packs of Grub Ants, and shambling, zombie-like Barnacle Zombies.
    • New Tools of the Trade: To help combat the horde, the update introduces The Handgun (a much-needed bit of firepower), new Signal Orchids to hang on to, and powerful new artefacts like The Rapier and The Barnacle Hook.

    Note to Climbers: White Knuckle is currently in Steam Early Access with a full 1.0 release slated for 2027. If you haven’t picked it up yet, the developers have warned that the game will see a price increase following the upcoming Steam sales, making today the perfect time to grab it at a discount!

    Watch the New Trailer

    The newly released trailer perfectly highlights the frantic balance between tight platforming and absolute panic. Watch as the developer expands White Knuckle in a wild, creature-filled direction that elevates the tension to a whole new level:

    White Knuckle: The Nest Update is live right now on Steam. Grab your gear, watch your stamina, and whatever you do… don’t look down.

    Find out more here

    #Gaming #IndieGames #HorrorGames #WhiteKnuckle #DreadXP #DarkMachineGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #Roguelite #Shadowdrop

  • Shiro Games Unveils ‘The Nightling Invasion’: First Major Update Preview For Fantasy ARPG Farever Is Live!

    Shiro Games Unveils ‘The Nightling Invasion’: First Major Update Preview For Fantasy ARPG Farever Is Live!

    The team at Shiro Games (the brilliant minds behind Northgard and Wartales) has just thrown open the gates to the first massive update for their open-world multiplayer action RPG, Farever.

    Currently making waves in Steam Early Access, the expansive fantasy realm of Siagarta is about to get a lot bigger—and a whole lot more dangerous. Titled The Nightling Invasion, this major milestone is officially available to preview today via an open beta phase, ahead of its full, free launch for all players at a later date.

    If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dive back into its gorgeous vistas or want to join the fray for the first time, here is everything you need to know about the invasion.

    Face the Forces of Niflel in Demonic Rifts

    The core of The Nightling Invasion introduces a dark new threat to the world. Mysterious portals known as Rifts are tearing through the landscapes of Siagarta, linking the realm to the wicked underworld of Niflel.

    Brave adventurers who choose to step through the veil will face escalating waves of demonic entities. This isn’t a solo suicide mission, either—the update introduces massive, replayable world events where up to 15 players can band together in a single instance to challenge minor, major, and primordial terrors.

    The Spoils of War: Overcoming these hellish encounters rewards players with Demonic Souls, a new currency that can be traded for exclusive high-tier loot, including unique mounts, powerful weapons, rare runes, and hidden treasures.

    Breach the Gates of Ramburg

    Looking for new lands to conquer? The update officially unlocks Ramburg, the imposing stronghold of the Crimson Rams faction.

    Players will be able to navigate the treacherous streets of the Lower City, fight past zealous monks, soldiers, and inquisitors, and traverse the rooftops to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the feared High Inquisitor Chakram. Ramburg also introduces:

    • Two Brand-New Dungeons: Tailor-made to test your class builds and co-op synergies.
    • A Towering Cathedral: A focal point for exploration and deep lore discovery.

    Increased Level Cap & Steam Summer Sale Discount

    To help players cope with the demonic spike in difficulty, Shiro Games is raising the character level cap to 25. Alongside the extra levels, you can expect a fresh influx of new quests, valuable armour sets, activities, and Steam achievements to hunt down.

    According to Quentin Lapeyre, Game Director at Shiro Games:

    “The Nightling Invasion major update introduces a new city, world events, dungeons, achievements and progression systems, but this is only the beginning. We have ambitious plans for Farever throughout 2026, and we can’t wait to share more with our community.”

    Got Your Eye On It?

    If you haven’t picked up Farever yet, timing is on your side. To celebrate the update preview, the game will be featured in the Steam Summer Sale with a 15% discount. It’s the perfect opportunity to grab a few codes for your co-op crew.

    The Nightling Invasion preview is live today on PC via Steam Early Access. Sharpen your blades, gather your allies, and step into the Rifts!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #Farever #ShiroGames #ARPG #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess #IndieGames #TheNightlingInvasion #CoOpGaming #MMORPG

  • Massive Mechs in a Dieselpunk Desert: SAND: Raiders of Sophie Drops Into Steam Early Access Today!

    Massive Mechs in a Dieselpunk Desert: SAND: Raiders of Sophie Drops Into Steam Early Access Today!

    The wait is officially over for fans of alternate history, giant walking war machines, and high-stakes extraction shooters. Publisher tinyBuild, alongside indie co-developers Hologryph and TowerHaus have officially launched their highly anticipated multiplayer FPS, SAND: Raiders of Sophie, into Steam Early Access today!

    If you are looking for a fresh take on the extraction genre that swaps out brutal learning curves for high-powered, customizable mech combat, this is a wasteland you’ll want to explore.

    Check out the official launch trailer on Steam and read on for everything you need to know about dominating the dunes.

    Welcome to Planet Sophie: An Alternate 1910

    Set in an alternate-history version of 1910, SAND: Raiders of Sophie transports players to a fallen, post-apocalyptic colony planet. Once a resource-rich jewel promised to space-faring pioneers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a mysterious ecological catastrophe has evaporated Sophie’s vast oceans.

    What remains is a sprawling, procedurally generated desert world filled with sunken ruins, abandoned cities, shipwrecks, and supernatural dangers. To survive the heat and rival scavengers, humanity relies on Tramplers—titanic, modular mechanical moving fortresses.

    Key Features: Forge, Fight, and Extract

    • Build Your Moving Fortress: The heart of SAND is the Trampler Editor. Players can design and customise their massive walking mechs from scratch to suit their exact playstyle. Whether you want a small, agile scout ship, a colossal walking tank armed to the teeth with mounted turrets and flak cannons, or a heavily armoured mobile base to store your treasure, the modular building system leaves it up to your creativity.
    • PvPvE Extraction Action: Deploy solo or squad up with friends to scour the desert for hidden riches, weapons, and priceless artefacts. But stay sharp—you aren’t alone. You will need to fend off rival players looking to board your ship, as well as the Upiors, mysterious and deadly supernatural entities haunting the ruins.
    • No More Offline Raids: Survival fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Unlike traditional survival games, where you risk losing everything while logged off, your Trampler extracts safely with you at the end of every session. Your hard-earned loot is yours to keep.
    • Choose Your Risk Level: * Voyage Mode: A lower-stress, open environment perfect for exploring, farming resources, and testing out experimental Trampler blueprints with friends at your own pace.
      • Storm Dive Mode: The ultimate high-stakes competitive mode. Face escalating dangers and an encroaching sandstorm that forces rival crews together for intense PvP combat, all for the chance to extract with top-tier legendary loot.

    Grab a Limited-Time Launch Discount

    To celebrate today’s Early Access launch, tinyBuild is offering a special 21% introductory discount for the first two weeks! You can jump into the cockpit right now on Steam for just $19.74 / £15.74 / 15,74€.

    The development teams at Hologryph and TowerHaus have emphasised that this is just the beginning of the journey, with plans to work hand-in-hand with the community to shape the roadmap all the way to the version 1.0 release.

    Are you going solo or gathering a crew to pilot your first Trampler? Let us know your ultimate mech build ideas in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #SAND #RaidersOfSophie #tinyBuild #Hologryph #TowerHaus #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess #Dieselpunk #MechFPS #ExtractionShooter #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

    Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

    Great news for roguelike fans and hack-and-slash enthusiasts! Montreal-based indie studio Paper Cult—the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed action game Bloodroots—has officially announced the Early Access release date for their highly anticipated title, Tears of Metal.

    Mark your calendars: the medieval co-op hack-and-slash roguelike is set to launch on July 22 on both Steam and the Microsoft Store.

    Lead Your Battalion to Victory

    In Tears of Metal, players are thrown into a gorgeous, war-torn landscape where they must carve through massive hordes of enemies to reclaim their island home. Following a mysterious “Dragon Stone Meteor” event that brought ruthless occupiers to their shores, you are tasked with leading a formidable Scottish battalion into the trenches.

    The game successfully blends intense, large-scale hack-and-slash combat with the unpredictable, high-stakes progression of a roguelike.

    What to Expect in Early Access

    Paper Cult isn’t holding back for this launch. The Early Access build is arriving with a substantial amount of content right out of the gate:

    • Three Full Acts: Each act introduces distinct environments, unique enemy types, elite encounters, and punishing boss fights.
    • Playable Heroes & Combinations: Choose between multiple unique heroes and combine your skills with over 100 different artefacts to create devastating, custom builds.
    • Persistent Upgrades: Between campaigns, return to your settlement to expand it, unlock new vendors, and permanently upgrade your soldiers so they grow stronger with every run.
    • Solo or Co-op Play: Team up with friends or take on the enemy hordes alone across more than 45 handcrafted environments.

    Xbox Game Pass & Launch Details

    For PC players using the Microsoft Store, there’s an extra treat: Tears of Metal will be available on PC Game Pass from day one. If you prefer console gaming, Paper Cult has confirmed that an Xbox Series X|S version is currently slated to land before the end of the year.

    Last Chance for the Demo: If you want a free taste of the combat before the official release, act fast! Paper Cult will be retiring the current Steam demo on July 6 to prepare for the massive Early Access launch.

    Official pricing details will be fully dynamic upon the storefronts going live on launch day, so keep your eyes peeled to your preferred platform.

    With over 400,000 wishlists already accumulated on Steam since its initial reveal, Tears of Metal is shaping up to be one of the biggest indie hits of the summer. Head over to Steam or the Microsoft Store to add it to your wishlist now!

    Are you ready to lead your battalion into the fray? Let us know if you’ll be playing solo or teaming up in co-op this July!

    Find out more here

    #TearsOfMetal #PaperCult #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGamePass #HackAndSlash #Roguelike #CoOpGaming #TechMash

  • Here Comes The Swarm Drops Massive Early Access Update: Meet the New Deity, Yangwu!

    Here Comes The Swarm Drops Massive Early Access Update: Meet the New Deity, Yangwu!

    Surviving the alien hordes in Ulora just got a serious strategic upgrade. Indie developer CableHook Games has officially rolled out its third major content update for the Steam Early Access hit, Here Comes The Swarm.

    Marking the successful completion of the team’s initial development roadmap, this latest drop is packed to the brim with meta-changing mechanics, massive quality-of-life improvements, and a brand-new deity designed to supercharge your resource management.

    If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dive back into this tense, tactical-pause survival RTS, this is it. Here is everything you need to know about the latest update.

    Bow Down to Yangwu: The Ultimate Economic Powerhouse

    The star of this update is undoubtedly Yangwu, an all-new deity tailored specifically for players who love optimising their economy and settlement layout. If your strategy relies on massive resource production and creating late-game synergies, Yangwu is about to become your go-to choice.

    Yangwu introduces an entire suite of economy-boosting blessings and mechanics:

    • The Yangwu Workshop: A brand-new buildable workshop that increases the production of nearby buildings by a whopping 30%.
    • Hand of Yangwu: Start your skirmish with Yangwu’s Bracelet, a powerful relic that earns Tribute from kills, chests, and shrines. Deposit this Tribute at your workshop to unlock massive global buffs.
    • Disconnected Efficiency: In a brilliant twist for base layout flexibility, Yangwu’s blessings allow production buildings not connected to your main Core to operate with an additional 30% effectiveness.
    • Resource Abundance: From spawning an extra Geyser near your Core to offering a 20% refund value on dead units and demolished buildings, Yangwu ensures your war chest stays full.

    New Essences & Tactical Overhauls

    Alongside Yangwu, CableHook Games has expanded the game’s roguelike customisation with a variety of new Essences. You can now experiment with boons like Compound Interest (which increases your production income based on stored resources) or Tent Subsidies to generate extra Blood Rubies from your dwellings.

    Furthermore, the mechanics for disconnected structures have been completely reworked across the board. Previously, any building cut off from your Core would shut down entirely. Now, they will continue to operate at a baseline of 40% efficiency—keeping your economy alive even when the Swarm breaches your perimeter.

    Quality-of-Life Upgrades: Better Intelligence, Smoother Battles

    You can’t fight what you can’t see, and this update gives players much better tools to anticipate incoming attacks. The minimap has received a major overhaul:

    • Wave Visibility: Enemy waves and their exact spawn ranges are now permanently visible on your minimap.
    • Early Warning System: Wave locations are now announced a full two minutes in advance across all difficulty settings, giving you ample time to position your armies and fortify your walls.
    • Clarity Timers: New countdown timers and tooltips display exactly how much preparation time you have left before the bugs arrive.

    The patch also brings extensive under-the-hood performance optimisations (specifically targeting rendering jitter and Ballista projectiles) alongside a long list of community-requested bug fixes, including fixes for unit pathfinding and clipping.

    What’s Next for Here Comes The Swarm?

    With the initial roadmap officially cleared, CableHook Games isn’t slowing down. The developers have already updated the in-game roadmap to tease what’s on the horizon—including three more major content updates and a highly anticipated, fully-fledged story campaign.

    Have you tried out Yangwu yet? Let us know your ultimate economy builds in the comments below!

    Here Comes The Swarm successfully blends the intense, nail-biting survival of They Are Billions with the tactical flexibility of a roguelike deckbuilder. If you haven’t played it yet, you can grab it right now on Steam Early Access—and yes, there’s currently a playable demo if you want to test your defences first!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #HereComesTheSwarm #CableHookGames #SurvivalRTS #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #RTSTactics #GamingUpdate #TechMash #Gaming