TECHMASH

Tag: #StrategyGames

  • Real Human Craftsmanship: Amplitude Reveals the Making of HUMANKIND 2’s Announcement Trailer

    Real Human Craftsmanship: Amplitude Reveals the Making of HUMANKIND 2’s Announcement Trailer

    Following the massive wave of player interest sparked by the announcement trailer for HUMANKIND™ 2, Paris-based developer Amplitude Studios has released an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the cinematic vision came together. The new making-of video offers gamers and media an intimate peek into the live-action production, physical props, and visual effects that brought thousands of years of human history to life.

    Experiencing History Through a Newborn’s Eyes

    Rather than observing civilisations from a distant aerial perspective, the reveal trailer takes an intimate, first-person point-of-view: seeing the world through the eyes of a newborn infant. Spanning 73 seconds and nine distinct historical eras—from prehistoric times to the modern age and beyond—viewers experience humanity’s journey through a rapid series of first breaths, first sights, and dramatic cultural encounters.

    “Our ambition was to condense the breadth of human history into 73 seconds without losing its emotional weight,” said Benjamin Le Breton, Creative Director at agency partner BETC. “Seeing the world through the eyes of a newborn allowed us to move across nine different eras and reminds us that while every generation inherits the legacy of those before it, each one also has the opportunity to redefine the future.”

    Practical Craftsmanship Meets Modern Visual Effects

    Filmed on location at the Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia, Bulgaria, the production relied heavily on genuine practical sets, custom-crafted period costumes, live actors, and real animals (including chickens, horses, and a snake) to ground the trailer in tangible reality.

    To bring the trailer to life, Amplitude Studios once again teamed up with creative agency BETC alongside visual effects house LiveFX. While the live-action footage captured authentic human emotion and tactile set detail, LiveFX integrated key CGI set pieces during post-production—such as dynamic weather, a roaring tornado, a nuclear blast, and futuristic space exploration scenes—to push the boundaries of scale.

    The release of the behind-the-scenes breakdown directly addresses player curiosity regarding the cinematic’s distinct visual style, proving that physical sets, expert prop-making, and high-end compositing remain at the heart of Amplitude’s creative storytelling.

    What’s Next for HUMANKIND™ 2?

    Building on the foundation of the original 4X historical turn-based strategy game, HUMANKIND™ 2 promises enhanced visual fidelity, a modernised UI, new progression mechanics, and deeper ways for players to reshape history as climate change and evolving cultures impact the world stage.

    HUMANKIND™ 2 is currently slated for release on PC in 2027, and players can already add the title to their Steam wishlist. For an even deeper dive into the making of the trailer, head over to the official HUMANKIND 2 page on the studio’s Amplifiers platform.

    Find out more here

    #Humankind2 #AmplitudeStudios #GamingNews #PCGaming #StrategyGames #4XGaming #BehindTheScenes #TechMash

  • Set Sail in Whiskerwood’s Massive New Nautical Update!

    Set Sail in Whiskerwood’s Massive New Nautical Update!

    The cat-and-mouse dynamic is taking to the high seas! Publisher Hooded Horse and developer Minakata Dynamics have officially unveiled the next major update for their popular city-builder, Whiskerwood.

    While players will still need to keep up with the Good™ and Just™ work of paying hefty taxes to their feline crown, the sandbox world is getting a whole lot bigger. The brand-new Nautical Update allows players to construct custom ships and set sail across the ocean surrounding their island colonies, opening up a world of new trade partners, rare resources, and naval quests!

    What’s New on the High Seas?

    The update expands Whiskerwood’s deep vertical city-building and intricate automation mechanics to the open water:

    • Build Your Fleet: Construct new dock structures to assemble and manage a fleet of ships. Assign crews of hardworking mice, ensure they’re stocked with supplies for the voyage, and dispatch them on specialised missions.
    • Explore & Trade: Chart a grid-based world map to discover remote trade outposts, meet new NPC factions, and unearth rich new resource nodes—including infinite supplies of Guano for top-tier fertiliser!
    • Naval Logistics & Combat: Ships aren’t just for exploration—they can ferry goods directly around your city’s coast to streamline complex supply chains. But watch out for danger: you’ll need to assign naval escorts to fend off pirate attacks or band together to raid pirate strongholds.
    • New Nautical Questline: The adventure kicks off after meeting a malcontent mouse living in a converted lifeboat, launching a fresh story arc filled with new gameplay unlocks and maritime challenges.

    Whether you’re looking to optimise your production lines, expand your mouselow hierarchy of needs, or build a formidable fleet to keep pirate bands at bay, this latest chapter in Whiskerwood’s Early Access journey delivers a wave of new strategic content.

    Whiskerwood is available on PC via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.

    Find out more here

    #Whiskerwood #HoodedHorse #MinakataDynamics #CityBuilder #IndieGames #PCGaming #GamingNews #StrategyGames #GamingUpdate #techmash

  • Claim Your Frontier: Final Open Playtest for Wild West Pioneers Drops Ahead of September Release!

    Claim Your Frontier: Final Open Playtest for Wild West Pioneers Drops Ahead of September Release!

    Saddle up, partner! If you have ever dreamed of taming the rugged frontier and building a sprawling settlement from scratch, your time has finally come.

    Developer EmpireCraft Studios and indie publisher Toplitz Productions have officially announced the launch of the final open playtest for their highly anticipated city builder, Wild West Pioneers. Head over to the Steam product page right now to grab your provisions, lead a trek of settlers into uncharted territory, and test your survival skills in the unforgiving American West.

    This playtest marks the last chance for players to explore the game’s mechanics and shape its development before it officially rides into PC Early Access on September 25, 2026.

    What to Expect on the Frontier

    Unlike traditional city builders, Wild West Pioneers weaves deep story elements and character-driven gameplay into core colony management. You play as the leader of a group of hopefuls venturing west—not just to chase gold rush dreams or escape debt, but on a personal journey to discover what happened to your missing father.

    Here is what gamers can look forward to:

    • Build and Expand Across the Map: Start with basic shelters, then raise Town Halls, lay down roads, and keep the local Saloon stocked. As your main town grows, dispatch scouts and wagon treks to establish secondary outposts, claim resource nodes, and build intricate trade networks.
    • Deep Production Chains: Manage complex supply lines ranging from basic timber and food to advanced tools and luxury goods to keep your settlers happy.
    • Fully Voice-Acted Storyline: Experience the personal journeys, fears, and hopes of your settlers, brought to life through fully voice-acted dialogue.
    • Appoint Leaders & Shape Towns: Assign sheriffs and mayors whose unique perks directly impact your settlement’s growth and stability.
    • Rich Sandbox & Dynamic Cycles: Watch a dynamic day/night cycle unfold as fully animated citizens carry out their daily routines across detailed, picturesque landscapes.

    How to Join the Playtest

    Joining the open playtest is simple:

    1. Head over to the official Wild West Pioneers Steam Page.
    2. Click the request access/playtest button.
    3. Dive into the frontier, build your town, and leave your feedback to help the dev team fine-tune the experience for launch!

    Don’t wait—the frontier won’t settle itself. Grab your boots, jump into the playtest today, and make sure to add Wild West Pioneers to your Steam wishlist before its Early Access launch on September 25!

    Find out more here

    #WildWestPioneers #CityBuilder #GamingNews #Steam #IndieGames #ToplitzProductions #EmpireCraftStudios #PCGaming #StrategyGames #techmash

  • Sink or Swim: How Fleet Hunters Reinvents Modern Naval Tactics for Gamers

    Sink or Swim: How Fleet Hunters Reinvents Modern Naval Tactics for Gamers

    If you grew up plotting coordinates on a plastic grid and yelling “You sank my battleship!”, prepare for a massive nostalgic upgrade. Indie developer and publisher Gnarly Labs has officially launched Fleet Hunters, a modern, adrenaline-fueled reimagining of classic hidden-fleet combat designed explicitly for today’s fast-paced gaming landscape.

    Instead of waiting through long, drawn-out turns, Fleet Hunters drops players into high-stakes naval duels engineered around short, intense tactical matches. Whether you are looking for a quick five-minute break or a deep competitive dive, this title brings sharp strategy back to the high seas.

    Here is why Fleet Hunters deserves a spot in your Steam library.

    Real-Time Duels vs. Classic Turn-Based Nostalgia

    The standout feature of Fleet Hunters is its bold dual-mode approach to naval warfare.

    • Real-Time Mode: For gamers who crave speed, Real-Time Mode removes turn limits entirely. Both fleets fire simultaneously. As soon as your cannons, rockets, or air strike cooldowns reset, you let them fly. It transforms traditional guesswork into a thrilling race to locate, lock onto, and sink enemy vessels before your own fleet goes down in flames.
    • Classic Mode: If you prefer calculated, methodical strategy, Classic Mode retains the beloved traditional turn-based flow. Take turns taking shots, chain consecutive hits into devastating streaks, and systematically wipe out your rival grid by grid.

    Tactical Depth: Every Hit Matters

    Fleet Hunters moves far beyond simple hit-or-miss mechanics. Ships aren’t just health bars on a grid; they feature dynamic sub-systems that directly impact gameplay.

    Featuring four distinct ship classes—Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, and Patrol Boats—each vessel comes loaded with unique armaments like heavy cannons, close-in guns, rockets, and carrier aircraft.

    Crucially, where you strike matters as much as whether you hit. Striking a specific section of an enemy ship can knock out its primary weapons, forcing them to rely on weaker secondary fire. This adds a crucial layer of tactical targeting: do you focus on completely sinking a massive carrier, or do you disable the main battery of an aggressive battleship first to neutralise the threat?

    Solo Play, Multiplayer, and Steam Deck Ready

    Whether you are a solo strategist or a competitive ladder climber, Fleet Hunters covers all bases:

    • Solo Operations: Train against smart AI opponents to refine your grid-reading and weapon management.
    • Versatile Multiplayer: Challenge friends locally over LAN, set up private online lobbies, or jump into global matchmaking to test your skills against the world.
    • Ranked Progression: Climb global and friends-only leaderboards, earn achievements, and prove your tactical dominance.
    • Sleek Retro Visuals: The game utilises a clean, readable top-down 3D art style that makes battle feedback—from damaged weapons to smoke trails—instant and effortless to track.

    Best of all for portable strategy fans, Fleet Hunters includes full Steam Deck support out of the box, alongside cross-platform support across Windows, macOS, and Linux/SteamOS.

    The Verdict

    Fleet Hunters proves that classic tabletop concepts can find brand-new life in the modern indie space. By pairing bite-sized match lengths with deep, localised damage mechanics and seamless real-time duelling, Gnarly Labs has delivered a slick, readable, and addictive strategy game that is easy to pick up, impossible to put down, and endlessly replayable.

    Fleet Hunters is available now on Steam. Find out more here

    #FleetHunters #GnarlyLabs #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamGames #PCGaming #StrategyGames #TechMash #NavalWarfare #IndieDev

  • Prep for Invasion: War Footing Brings High-Stakes Strategic Defence to Steam This October

    Prep for Invasion: War Footing Brings High-Stakes Strategic Defence to Steam This October

    Independent developer Strategist’s Den Games has officially announced that War Footing, its incoming turn-based strategic defence management game, will launch on Steam for Windows on October 15, 2026. Priced at an accessible $11.99 USD, the title strips away the traditional frontline tactical view and instead places players directly in the high-pressure seat of a nation’s Minister of Defence.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether wars are won on the battlefield or months prior in procurement offices and diplomatic summits, War Footing aims to give you a definitive—and challenging—answer.

    Lead From the Top, Not the Front

    In War Footing, victory isn’t about micro-managing individual tank squads or giving real-time attack orders. Instead, you are tasked with preparing an entire nation to survive an inevitable invasion by a hostile neighbour.

    Every turn in War Footing represents one week of preparation. Players must carefully balance a fragile wartime economy across four main priorities: Procurement & Capital Funds, Industrial Investment, Homefront Stability, and Diplomacy.

    When the invasion finally hits—typically around turn 68 of a 120-turn campaign—there are no magical emergency reinforcements. The army you built, trained, and positioned in the preceding weeks is the only force standing between your country and defeat.

    Key Features Breakdown

    • Procurement Under Pressure: Source gear from nine international supplier nations or invest in your domestic arms industry. You can buy equipment upfront or set up long-term production programs with interest rates over time.
    • Massive Arsenal Variety: Access over 180 equipment types, ranging from small arms and armoured fighting vehicles to heavy artillery, combat aircraft, and ground-based air defence systems.
    • Doctrinal Decisions: Adapt your military strategy with eight distinct doctrines. Choose wisely—adopting a new doctrine incurs a heavy 6-to-12-turn implementation delay, making pivot strategy a major commitment.
    • Political & Diplomatic Tightrope: Diplomatic ties control foreign aid and equipment pricing, while neglect on the home front can prove fatal. If domestic political stability reaches zero, a military coup ends your campaign immediately.
    • Fog of War & Operational Combat: Battles resolve sector-by-sector at the operational level based on equipment quality, unit readiness, doctrine fit, and initial deployment. With incomplete intelligence, you’ll have to deduce where the enemy’s main thrust will land without overextending your forces.
    • High Replayability: Featuring eight distinct scenarios with varying starting conditions, resource constraints, and threat levels, campaigns are designed to be tough, tense, and focused.

    Try the Demo Today

    For gamers who prefer depth, logistics, and macro-level strategy over fast-paced micro-management, War Footing is shaping up to be a standout indie strategy title this autumn.

    If you want a taste of the defence management chair before the full launch on October 15, a free playable demo is currently available on Steam.

    Find out more here

    #WarFooting #StrategistsDenGames #IndieGames #PCGaming #Steam #TurnBasedStrategy #StrategyGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Your Empire From the Ashes: Welcome to Afterworld, Dustlanders!

    Your Empire From the Ashes: Welcome to Afterworld, Dustlanders!

    The grand strategy masters are back, and they are taking us into the wasteland. Paradox Development Studio—the legendary developers behind iconic strategy titles like Crusader Kings, Hearts of Iron, and Stellaris—has unveiled its latest original IP: Afterworld.

    If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you fused the deep, unforgiving survival mechanics of a post-apocalyptic world with the massive scope of a grand strategy game, Afterworld is your answer.

    A Shattered World Waiting to Be Claimed

    Set in a collapsed, post-apocalyptic America, Afterworld places you in the worn boots of a leader striving to guide a tribe of “Dustlanders.” The world as we know it is gone, replaced by an unforgiving wilderness where every choice can mean the difference between thriving and fading into history.

    Your mission? Rebuild America by any means necessary.

    This isn’t just about managing a single bunker or a small squad; Afterworld scales up the post-apocalypse to a grand empire-building level. You will map out territories, contend with harsh environments, and turn scattered bands of survivors into a dominant nation.

    Key Features: What Makes Afterworld Stand Out?

    • Lead Your Tribe: Take charge of unique factions of survivors, each with their own cultural traits, ideologies, and survival strategies. Will you lead with compassion, or rule the wastes with an iron fist?
    • Rediscover Old Technologies: The secrets of the past are buried beneath dust and rust. Send out expeditions to salvage forgotten tech, restore power grids, and unlock advanced warfare and infrastructure capabilities.
    • Manage & Expand Settlements: Balance resource production, manage population growth, and protect your people from famine, disease, and environmental hazards.
    • Wage Wars of Conquest: Diplomacy is optional in the wastes. Expand your borders through tactical warfare, subjugate rival tribes, or forge fragile alliances to secure vital trade routes and territory.

    The Paradox Grand Strategy Formula, Evolved

    Paradox Development Studio is renowned for creating rich, emergent narratives driven by complex gameplay systems. Afterworld promises to bring that signature depth into a fresh genre space. Expect intricate political systems, deep economy management, and dynamic events where your decisions leave lasting scars on the map.

    Whether you choose to unify the wasteland as a beacon of restored civilisation or dominate it as a ruthless warlord, Afterworld gives you the sandbox to forge your Empire from the Ashes.

    Are You Ready to Survive the Wastes?

    Afterworld is shaping up to be a must-play for fans of 4X, strategy, and survival games alike. Gear up, Dustlanders—the battle for the future begins now.

    Find out more here

    #Afterworld #ParadoxInteractive #GrandStrategy #GamingNews #PCGaming #PostApocalyptic #StrategyGames #Dustlanders #TechMash

  • Sky-High Strategy: Build Your Ultimate Flying Fortress in ‘The Castle Away’ Demo Out Today!

    Sky-High Strategy: Build Your Ultimate Flying Fortress in ‘The Castle Away’ Demo Out Today!

    Gamers, get ready to take your strategy skills to the clouds! If you’ve ever wanted to command a hovering citadel, stack cannons sky-high, and unleash chaos on demonic hordes, The Castle Away is about to become your new gaming obsession.

    Following a series of successful public playtesting rounds in June, the passionate four-person indie team behind the game has taken player feedback to heart. They’ve spent the last couple of months tuning, tweaking, and polishing the gameplay mechanics—and today, they are officially releasing the public demo for everyone to jump into.

    Build, Adjust, and Overpower the Archdemon

    The Castle Away combines deep design mechanics with intense base-defence strategy. Players are tasked with designing and customising their very own flying fortresses from the ground up.

    The main goal? Experiment with crazy builds, maximise your defences, and craft an unstoppable flying leviathan capable of overpowering the dreaded Archdemon. Whether you prefer heavy artillery, tactical defence layouts, or high-synergy builds, the game rewards creative planning and experimentation.

    What to Expect in the Demo

    The developers have promised that today’s public demo packs a solid chunk of content. You’ll get hands-on experience with:

    • Core Base-Building Mechanics: Test out various module combinations to build your dream flying stronghold.
    • Combat & Strategy: Put your builds to the test against relentless enemy waves and tune your setup on the fly.
    • Refined Gameplay: Experience the polished balance and performance improvements built directly from June’s community playtest feedback.

    Best of all, the demo is carefully crafted to give you a satisfying taste of the mechanics without spoiling the full story and surprise content slated for the official launch later this year.

    Take to the Skies Today

    Indie gems built by tiny, dedicated teams often deliver the freshest takes on classic genres, and The Castle Away is shaping up to be a standout title for strategy and building enthusiasts alike.

    If you want to get ahead of the curve, refine your fortress design, and prepare for the ultimate fight against the Archdemon, head over to Steam today to download and play the demo!

    Find out more here

    #TheCastleAway #IndieGames #GamingNews #TechMash #SteamDemo #BaseBuilding #PCGaming #IndieDev #StrategyGames

  • From Stone Age to the Stars: Major ‘Agecraft’ Demo Update Drops for Ukrainian Games Festival 2026

    From Stone Age to the Stars: Major ‘Agecraft’ Demo Update Drops for Ukrainian Games Festival 2026

    Strategy fans and city-builder enthusiasts, take note: solo developer Denys Plevako (SnakyDevelop) has officially rolled out a major new update for the Agecraft demo on Steam. Released as part of the Ukrainian Games Festival 2026, this major overhaul gives players a deeper look into one of the most ambitious historical strategy games currently in development.

    In Agecraft, players take full control of a civilisation, guiding its growth from a fragile Stone Age settlement all the way into an advanced, futuristic empire.

    Rewrite History Across Eight Eras

    At its core, Agecraft is a real-time city-building strategy game that fuses deep population management, complex physical logistics, diplomacy, and tactical warfare. Over the course of a campaign, civilisations progress through eight distinct historical eras:

    1. Stone Age
    2. Bronze Age
    3. Antiquity
    4. Middle Ages
    5. Renaissance
    6. Industrial Age
    7. Modern Era
    8. Futuristic / Space Age

    What makes Agecraft unique is how these transitions work. Progressing to a new epoch isn’t just a simple stat upgrade—it completely disrupts your existing economy. Industries that were the backbone of your civilisation in the Middle Ages or Industrial Age eventually become obsolete, forcing players to rethink, rebuild, and re-engineer their production chains and infrastructure to stay ahead.

    Coinciding with the new demo update, a brand-new Bronze Age Trailer was also released, giving gamers a closer look at the intermediate production chains, architecture, and military units introduced in human history’s earliest metallic age.

    Granular Management & Physical Logistics

    If you love deep simulation mechanics like those in Anno, Banished, or The Settlers, Agecraft aims directly for that sweet spot:

    • Every Citizen Matters: You aren’t just managing abstract numbers. Citizens have homes, jobs, and personal needs—including food, water, warmth, healthcare, and clothing.
    • Realistic Logistics: Resources don’t magically teleport across your kingdom. Raw materials must be harvested, stored, and physically transported between workshops, farms, and warehouses via road networks. Warehouse placement and route efficiency directly dictate your empire’s success.
    • Diplomacy & Expansion: Engage with neighbouring states through trade deals, gift exchanges, alliance forging, or total military conquest.
    • Tactical Warfare: Expand on a macro strategic map, then issue commands in 3D battles. Remember: every villager drafted into your army is one less worker tending farms or manufacturing goods back home.

    Try the Updated Demo Now on Steam

    With a full PC release targeted for Q4 2026, the new demo update provides the perfect opportunity to experience the early ages of Agecraft firsthand.

    Head over to Steam to check out the updated demo during the Ukrainian Games Festival 2026 and see if you have what it takes to lead a tribe from wooden huts to high-tech metropolis dominance!

    Find out more here

    #Agecraft #IndieGame #PCGaming #CityBuilder #StrategyGames #UkrainianGamesFestival #SteamDemo #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Reclaim Your Own Hometown: Hit Zombie Strategy ‘Infection Free Zone’ Is Coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S!

    Reclaim Your Own Hometown: Hit Zombie Strategy ‘Infection Free Zone’ Is Coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S!

    If you’ve ever found yourself walking through your local high street, looking around, and wondering, “How would my neighbourhood hold up in a zombie apocalypse?”—you’re about to get your answer.

    The bestselling post-apocalyptic survival-strategy hit Infection Free Zone is officially making its jump to home consoles. Developer Jutsu Games (the creative minds behind 911 Operator and Rustler), alongside publisher Ultimate Games S.A., have confirmed that the game will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on August 27, 2026.

    Holding an impressive 80%+ positive rating on Steam across tens of thousands of player reviews, this isn’t just another generic zombie sandbox. Infection Free Zone brings a genuinely groundbreaking twist to the genre: you can play on a real map of your actual town or city.

    Survive the Apocalypse… Down Your Local High Street

    The core hook that made Infection Free Zone a viral PC phenomenon lies in its integration with OpenStreetMap. By fetching real-world map data, the game allows players to pick virtually any geographical location on Earth and turn it into a tactical, post-apocalyptic battleground.

    Your local supermarket? It’s now your primary food distribution centre. The local police station? The best place to scavenge for firearms. The neighbourhood hospital? Essential for setting up a medical bay.

    Whether you want to defend central London, fortify a quiet village in the Scottish Highlands, or see if your hometown can withstand thousands of rabid infected, the choice is entirely yours.

    Day and Night: A Deadly Tactical Loop

    In Infection Free Zone, humanity has been decimated by the fast-acting “Mad Virus.” Society has collapsed, power grids are down, and survivors must adapt to survive. The gameplay follows a tense day-and-night rhythm:

    • By Day (Build & Scavenge): The infected retreat indoors to avoid sunlight, giving you a temporary reprieve. You’ll send survivor squads out to scavenge nearby buildings for canned goods, medical kits, weapons, and construction supplies. Back at base, you’ll adapt real-world structures into functional shelters, power plants, farms, factories, and research centres.
    • By Night (Defend & Survive): When the sun goes down, the infected swarm out in terrifying waves. You must build sturdy walls, erect watchtowers, line up choke points, and position armed squads to keep the horde from overrunning your safe haven.

    It isn’t just the infected you need to worry about, either. As you expand, radio contact will connect you with other human factions—some willing to trade or join your colony, and others who will stop at nothing to take what’s yours.

    What to Expect on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

    Console gamers won’t be receiving a watered-down experience. The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S releases will launch with all current content from the PC version, with future game updates scheduled to roll out across consoles simultaneously over time.

    Key Features Include:

    • Real-World Global Maps: Select any town or city using real OpenStreetMap data.
    • Deep Settlement Management: Convert existing architecture into functional shelters, research facilities, and production hubs.
    • Dynamic Squad Management: Equip survivors with rifles, vehicles, and gear to defend or explore.
    • Tense Tactical Combat: Real-time strategy elements requiring smart wall placements, watchtower coverage, and night-time defence strategies.

    Release Date & Pricing

    Infection Free Zone officially launches digitally on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store on August 27, 2026, priced at $29.99 / €29.99 (or regional equivalent).

    Gear up, pick your stronghold, and prepare to defend your own backyard when the horde arrives on console later this month!

    Find out more here

    #InfectionFreeZone #PS5 #XboxSeriesX #XboxSeriesS #SurvivalGames #StrategyGames #GamingNews #JutsuGames #ZombieApocalypse #CityBuilder #ConsoleGaming #TechMash

  • Master the Grid: Tactical Roguelike ‘Deadlock Station’ Launches on Steam

    Master the Grid: Tactical Roguelike ‘Deadlock Station’ Launches on Steam

    Tactical strategy fans and roguelike enthusiasts have a reason to celebrate. Developer and publisher Luxorix Games has officially launched its highly anticipated tactical roguelike RPG, Deadlock Station, on Steam. Available now for $9.99 / £7.99 / €7.99, the title promises to deliver a deep, brain-bending strategy experience where brainpower far outweighs sheer brute force.

    Think Before You Move: Indirect Control & Environmental Combat

    In Deadlock Station, victory isn’t achieved by simply mashing attack buttons. Instead, the game puts heavy emphasis on preparation, positioning, and clever decision-making. Set against a sci-fi backdrop featuring hostile alien threats and mysterious factions, players are tasked with guiding a squad through dangerous, high-stakes encounters.

    The game utilises an indirect control system: while squad members act on their own, your job as commander is to manipulate the battlefield, manage tactical timing, and set up devastating synergies. Players can turn the environment into their ultimate weapon—constructing spike walls, placing landmines, manipulating interactive mechanisms, and luring extraterrestrial invaders into deadly choke points.

    Squad Management and Base Development

    Beyond the tactical battlefields, long-term survival hinges on solid preparation at your home base. Deadlock Station challenges players to:

    • Assemble a Custom Squad: Choose from a roster of distinct characters, each offering unique skills, upgrade paths, and equipment layouts.
    • Experiment with Builds: Combine sci-fi tech like energy shields, time-altering weaponry, and specialised modules to discover game-breaking build synergies.
    • Develop Your Station: Invest hard-earned resources into upgrading base facilities. Expanding your hub unlocks essential perks, new weapons, research implants, and fresh quests to aid future runs.

    Every run offers dynamic tactical challenges, making adaptability and precise execution the difference between pushing back the alien horde or watching your squad fall.

    Price and Availability

    Deadlock Station is available to download today on PC via Steam for $9.99 / £7.99 / €7.99.

    If you are looking for a fresh, punishingly satisfying tactical RPG that rewards strategy over button-mashing, Deadlock Station is well worth adding to your Steam library.

    Find out more here

    #DeadlockStation #LuxorixGames #IndieGames #TacticalRPG #Roguelike #PCGaming #SteamRelease #GamingNews #IndieDev #StrategyGames

  • Heavy Metal Meets Alien Swarms: Starni Games Reveals ‘STEEL CORE’

    Heavy Metal Meets Alien Swarms: Starni Games Reveals ‘STEEL CORE’

    Strategy fans, get your blueprints and mech-building tools ready. Developer Starni Games—the team behind the acclaimed Strategic Mind series—alongside publisher Palaye, has officially revealed STEEL CORE, a thrilling new tactical turn-based strategy game that blends deep mech customisation, base defence, and escalating roguelite survival.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot custom-built war machines while holding off terrifying waves of alien bugs on volatile alien planets, STEEL CORE is putting itself right at the top of your PC wishlist.

    The Setup: Capitalism, Xenofortresses, and Bug Extermination

    In STEEL CORE, you step into the boots of a mercenary squad leader contracted by Galactic Mining Industries. Your job? Protect valuable Xenoridium mining claims across hostile extraterrestrial worlds.

    The catch: the local xenofauna wants you dead, and the corporate suits at GMI definitely didn’t fund the defence budget properly. You’ll have to balance tight budgets, limited power grids, and brutal combat scenarios to keep the drills running and get paid.

    Key Gameplay Features

    1. Deep Mech Customisation (Piece-by-Piece Construction)

    Forget simple pre-set loadouts. In STEEL CORE, every mech is built from scratch—swapping chassis, arms, legs, shoulder mounts, internal cartridges, and micro-modules.

    • Four Weapon Slots: Bolt up to four weapons onto a single machine. Want a dual-flamethrower build to burn alien swarms at close range? A long-range sniper with Gauss cannons? Or a jetpack-equipped flanker that drops behind enemy lines? You build it, you see it, you play it.
    • Rarity & Stat Rolls: Parts come in different rarity grades with randomised stat rolls, meaning no two squads play identically.

    2. The Daily Loop: Build by Day, Fight by Night

    Missions run on an unforgiving schedule:

    • Build by Day: Allocate limited budget and resources. Construct walls, gates, and watchtowers for your mechs to fire from. Set up automated turrets, research upgrades, and manage your power grid to keep the mining rigs running.
    • Deploy at Dusk: Review enemy intelligence to see which direction the swarm is coming from and position your squad on a tactical grid.
    • Fight Through the Night: Engage in deep, grid-based turn-based combat. Work line-of-sight, arc grenades over obstacles, deploy toxic smoke, and use terrain to bottle-neck the alien horde until dawn.

    3. Escalating Roguelite Campaign

    Your contract will take you across diverse biome environments—from frozen ice basins and toxic acid pools to active lava lakes and overgrown alien jungles.

    • Resource Economics: Dead bugs yield Fibonite—a strange material that fuels the swarm’s evolution, which you can harvest to upgrade your own mechs and tech.
    • Persistent Research: While research carries over between deployments, each new planet brings deadlier enemy variants, unpredictable environmental hazards, and massive apex predators.

    Release Window & Platforms

    STEEL CORE is scheduled to launch on PC in Q1 2027. Strategy fans can head over to Steam right now to check out the announcement trailer and add the game to their wishlist.

    Find out more here

    #SteelCore #StarniGames #Palaye #IndieGames #PCGaming #MechGames #TacticalRPG #TurnBasedStrategy #StrategyGames #Gamers #GamingNews #Steamwishlist

  • Rule, Build, and Auto-Battle: Fantasy Strategy Game ‘Kingdoms Assemble’ Revealed with Open Playtest Tomorrow!

    Rule, Build, and Auto-Battle: Fantasy Strategy Game ‘Kingdoms Assemble’ Revealed with Open Playtest Tomorrow!

    Fantasy strategy fans, get your decks and tactical minds ready. Independent game developer FrontierCraft has officially unveiled its debut title, Kingdoms Assemble—an exciting new strategy game that blends deck-building kingdom management with asynchronous auto-battler combat.

    Alongside the announcement, FrontierCraft released a feature-packed announcement trailer showcasing how players will build, optimise, and expand their fantasy realms before testing their creations on the battlefield.

    Better yet, you won’t have to wait long to try it out for yourself. A free public playtest kicks off tomorrow, August 20, and runs through August 27 on Steam—and it’s open to everyone with no sign-ups or approvals required!

    Card-Based Kingdom Building Meets Auto-Battler Combat

    At its core, Kingdoms Assemble bridges two deeply satisfying genres: card-based strategy and asynchronous auto-battlers.

    Instead of controlling troops in real-time micro-management, players spend their turn acquiring, placing, and optimising cards that represent buildings, economic structures, defences, and military units. Every card placed influences your kingdom’s synergy, resource management, and combat readiness.

    Key features revealed include:

    • Deck-Driven Realm Management: Carefully construct your domain card-by-card. Balance resource generation, defensive fortifications, and army recruitment to build a self-sustaining empire.
    • Deep Synergies & Optimisation: Every placement matters. Combining specific structures and unit cards creates powerful bonuses, allowing for diverse playstyles and long-term strategic depth.
    • Asynchronous Auto-Battling: Once your kingdom is assembled, send your forces into asynchronous combat. You’ll test your domain’s strength against real player builds from around the world without needing to be online at the exact same time.

    How to Join the Public Playtest (Aug 20–27)

    If you want to be among the first to rule a realm, FrontierCraft is opening the gates to all players on PC:

    • Platform: Steam
    • Dates: August 20 – August 27
    • Access: Open Playtest (Instant access directly via the Steam store page—no key giveaways, beta sign-up forms, or developer approvals required).

    Simply head over to Steam starting August 20, hit the “Join the Kingdoms Assemble Playtest” button, download the client, and start building your empire.

    Whether you are a fan of strategy simulators, deck-builders, or competitive auto-battlers, Kingdoms Assemble looks to bring a fresh tactical twist to the tabletop-inspired digital genre. Head over to Steam to add it to your wishlist and jump into the playtest this week!

    Find out more here

    #KingdomsAssemble #FrontierCraft #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamPlaytest #AutoBattler #Deckbuilder #PCGaming #StrategyGames #TechMash