TECHMASH

Tag: #videogames

  • Break In, Get Quiet, and Survive: LAG KILLS Opens Round 2 of Public Playtesting on Steam

    Break In, Get Quiet, and Survive: LAG KILLS Opens Round 2 of Public Playtesting on Steam

    We’ve all been there: you’re in the middle of a high-stakes ranked match, your latency spikes, your character freezes, and you are instantly eliminated. It’s enough to make any gamer want to tear their hair out. But what if that exact brand of unhinged, post-game rage was bottled up, turned into a highly adaptive AI, and set loose inside a dark house to hunt you down?

    That is the brilliantly terrifying premise behind LAG KILLS, the upcoming indie survival horror game from solo developer Lee Burton at DERANGED GAMES and publisher Zemore Indie Games.

    If you missed out on the initial wave of terror earlier this month, you’re in luck. The team has officially launched Round 2 of its public playtesting on Steam, and the “Request Access” button is live right now.

    The Premise: The Ultimate Worst-Case Scenario

    In LAG KILLS, you aren’t a heavily armed action hero or a paranormal investigator equipped with high-tech ghost-hunting gear. You play as someone driven to absolute desperation following a severe car accident. Drowning in your family’s mounting medical bills, you resort to the ultimate last option: breaking into a house with an old friend to steal enough valuables to clear your debt.

    There’s just one massive problem. The house isn’t empty.

    The homeowner is awake, highly agitated from a profoundly bad, lag-filled gaming session, and he is out for absolute blood. You have just stepped into the wrong house at the worst possible moment, and you are now his prey.

    [ Your Goal ] 
Loot valuables -> Manage what you can carry -> Stay quiet -> Find a way out.

[ The Threat ] 
An enraged, hyper-aware gamer hunting you through the dark in real-time.

    A Survival Horror Built on Pure Pressure

    What makes LAG KILLS stand out in the crowded survival horror landscape is its heavy reliance on tension, player mistake exploitation, and unpredictable emergent gameplay.

    Key Features to Expect in the Playtest:

    • High-Stakes Looting: You must navigate the house, deciding which items are valuable enough to risk carrying. But remember: the more you hoard, the longer you stay exposed.
    • Adaptive AI Threat: The homeowner isn’t following a simple, pre-programmed patrol route. He has a keen sense of hearing, listens for your mistakes, and adapts dynamically to your behaviour.
    • Unpredictable Runs: Thanks to randomised encounters and shifting AI behaviours, no two playthroughs feel the same. A hiding spot that saved you in your last run might leave you completely trapped in the next.
    • Priorities: Yes, you can pet the resident cat… assuming you manage to survive long enough to find it.

    Note on Multiplayer: While the full 2026 release of LAG KILLS will feature an optional online co-op mode to let you panic through the halls with a friend, multiplayer is currently disabled for the public playtest. This round is entirely focused on balancing the raw tension of the core single-player experience.

    How to Join Round 2 of the Playtest

    The dev team at DERANGED GAMES is moving fast, refining the atmosphere, tension, and replayability based on the community’s initial reactions. Round 2 is your chance to jump in, test your stealth skills, and directly influence the final game.

    Game DetailInformation
    DeveloperDERANGED GAMES
    PublisherZemore Indie Games
    Playtest PlatformSteam (PC)
    How to JoinClick “Request Access” on the Steam Page
    FeedbackCompletely anonymous in-game form
    Full Release Target2026

    Access requests are being approved over the weekend, so head over to the LAG KILLS Steam Page right now to secure your spot. You can also follow the game’s development and chat with the team by joining their official Discord, or checking them out on X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky.

    Are you sneaky enough to rob an angry gamer and live to tell the tale, or are you bound to face a brutal ‘Game Over’? Drop your playtest thoughts in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3667380

    #LAGKILLS #survival #horror #DERANGEDGAMES #ZemoreIndieGames #publicplaytesting #Steam #techmash #n5dave #games #gaming #gamers #gamingnews #videogames

  • ARK: Survival Ascended Drops Premium ‘Fantastic Tames Season 1’ Pack alongside Free Spider TLC

    ARK: Survival Ascended Drops Premium ‘Fantastic Tames Season 1’ Pack alongside Free Spider TLC

    Survivors, get ready to expand your stables. Studio Wildcard has officially launched Fantastic Tames Season 1, a brand-new premium creature pack for ARK: Survival Ascended.

    The pack is available right now across PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for £8.39 / $9.99.

    Rather than just dropping a single dinosaur, this premium pack introduces three highly unique, mythical anomalies that defy nature to give your tribe game-changing tactical abilities. Here is everything you need to know about what’s available today and what’s coming later this year.

    Meet the Burrowbuck (Available Today!)

    Bounding into the game first is the Burrowbuck, a swift, rabbit-like creature designed entirely around guerrilla warfare, map control, and brilliant misdirection.

    If you are a solo player or part of a small tribe looking to stay off the radar, this is your new best friend. Key abilities include:

    • Underground Dens: Carve out hidden, bunker-like underground sanctuaries to hide your base or gear.
    • Gateway Tunnels: Open temporary portals for rapid, long-distance travel to quickly reposition or escape a bad fight.
    • Dust Clouds & Hazards: Kick up blinding dust clouds to disorient pursuers and leave behind concealed hazards for anyone foolish enough to follow.

    The Rest of Season 1 (Coming Later in 2026)

    Purchasing the Season 1 pack also guarantees you access to two massive frontline and stealth tames dropping later this year:

    • Cerberax (Q3 2026): A monstrous, three-headed frontline beast built for coordinated multi-rider combat. Up to three passengers can control individual heads, chaining together elemental attacks (fire, electricity, and corrupting force) into massive combo attacks.
    • Enigmasaur (Q4 2026): The ultimate master of disguise. This shadow-veiled creature can observe nearby animals, steal their forms, and instantly mimic their exact appearance and unique abilities.

    Free Bonus: The Araneo TLC Update Is Live!

    Even if you aren’t picking up the premium pack today, everyone gets a massive upgrade. Voted into development by the community during the Extra Life charity livestream, the classic Araneo spider has received a complete overhaul.

    No longer just a minor nuisance skittering on the cave floors, the Araneo is now the ARK’s premier ambush predator:

    • Wall & Ceiling Climbing: Fully revamped animations allowing spiders to scale walls, ceilings, and naturally spawn clinging to high ground.
    • Web-Line Descents: Drop vertically from shadows onto unsuspecting prey.
    • Web Ziplines & Grappling: Create traversable web paths across terrain or use web tethers to pull smaller targets into your jaws (or pull yourself toward larger ones).
    • The ‘Webbed’ Buff: Ranged attacks can toggle between damage or Torpor focus, applying a stacking debuff that cripples enemy movement, slows attack speeds, and stops sprinting/jumping entirely at maximum stacks.

    TechMash Verdict: ARK: Survival Ascended continues to make great use of Unreal Engine 5’s tech, and adding entirely unique gameplay mechanics like underground tunneling and multi-passenger elemental combat breathes fresh air into the meta.

    Fantastic Tames Season 1 and the free Araneo TLC patch are live right now. Grab your gear, update your client, and go claim the high ground!

    Find out more here – http://playark.com

    #StudioWildcard #FantasticTames #ARKSurvivalAscended #PC #Steam #PlayStation #Xbox #playark #techmash #n5dave #games #gaming #gamers #videogames #gamingnews

  • Back to the Boroughs: The Division 2 Drops Hype ‘Battle for Brooklyn’ Celebration Teaser

    Back to the Boroughs: The Division 2 Drops Hype ‘Battle for Brooklyn’ Celebration Teaser

    Agents, lock and load. It is time to secure your gear and head back to where the collapse originally began—well, almost.

    Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft have just unleashed a surprise “Battle for Brooklyn” Celebration Teaser Trailer for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. Marking exactly one year since the game’s highly anticipated Brooklyn DLC expansion dropped in May 2025, this anniversary event promises to breathe some chaotic new life into the tactical looter-shooter.

    Whether you’re a hardened veteran who has been farming exotics for years or an agent looking for a reason to reactivate, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming celebration running from May 21 through June 4.

    What’s Packed into the Celebration Event?

    The new teaser trailer gives a fast-paced look at a city still very much on the edge, teasing fresh endgame challenges and plenty of tactical loot. Far from just a simple retrospective, the celebration brings tangible changes and rewards to the map.

    Here is the breakdown of what is dropping over the two-week event:

    1. The Brooklyn Celebration Event Pass

    Running for the duration of the event, a brand-new, Brooklyn-inspired Event Pass will be active. All agents can progress through the pass naturally by simply playing the game and earning Season XP.

    • The Loot: You’ll be able to unlock exclusive cosmetics, including outfits inspired by notorious New York bosses and factions like the LMB Boss, Danvers, the Cleaners Boss, and the infamous Rat Queen.
    • Premium Track: If you have 1,000 Premium Credits burning a hole in your stash, you can opt into the premium track for extra cosmetic rewards.

    2. A Deadly New Threat: The Phoenix Hunter

    Think Brooklyn is safe just because you cleared the mini-campaign last year? Think again. The teaser confirms that starting May 26, strange audio anomalies and new enemy activity have been detected beneath the city streets. Agents who dare to investigate will come face-to-face with a terrifying new Stalker: the Phoenix Hunter. Defeating this threat at the climax mission will reward players with the brand-new Whiplash Exotic Pistol, complete with a unique custom skin.

    3. The “Corrosive Shell” Global Event

    Starting May 26, things are going to get highly volatile. A new Global Event called Corrosive Shell will take over, fundamentally changing how you engage hostile factions:

    • Enemy factions will be protected by a purple aura called a Corrosive Shell, which deflects standard bullet damage.
    • To shatter the shell, you must hit them with Status Effects (Bleed, Burn, Blind, Ensnare, or environmental hazards).
    • Breaking the shell triggers a corrosive explosion. If you land the finishing blow on a corroded enemy, you will trigger Corrosive Momentum, granting a massive buff: +50% Weapon Damage, +25% RPM, +25% Status Effect speed, and +50% Reload Speed for 10 seconds.

    A Perfect Excuse to Re-Enter the Dark Zone

    When the Battle for Brooklyn expansion originally launched, it brought a lot of nostalgic charm but faced a somewhat mixed reception on Steam due to punishing solo balancing. This anniversary celebration looks like Massive’s way of refining the experience, offering powerful gameplay-loop modifiers like Corrosive Momentum to give players an absolute power trip.

    Alongside the in-game event, Ubisoft is also running a Twitch Drops campaign from May 21 to May 28, meaning you can score extra vanity items just by watching your favourite Division 2 streamers take on the new content.

    TechMash Verdict: With The Division 3 confirmed to be somewhere on the horizon, updates like this prove Massive Entertainment isn’t letting D.C. or New York fall anytime soon. Grab your squad, stack your Status Effect builds, and go hunt that Phoenix.

    The Division 2: Battle for Brooklyn Celebration event is live right now across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility).

    Are you ready to face the Phoenix Hunter, or has your Agent permanently retired from the field? Let us know your builds for the Corrosive Shell event in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/the-division/the-division-2

    #TomClancy #TheDivision #MassiveEntertainment #Ubisoft #PC #PlayStation #Xbox #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #gamers #videogames #games #gaming

  • On-The-Go JRPG Greatness: Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition Hits Nintendo Switch 2

    On-The-Go JRPG Greatness: Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition Hits Nintendo Switch 2

    Bandai Namco’s acclaimed action-RPG is finally making the leap to Nintendo hardware. Launching on May 22, 2026, Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition is officially arriving on the Nintendo Switch 2.

    When Tales of Arise originally debuted on home consoles, its gorgeous Unreal Engine 4 visuals, expansive environments, and hyper-fast combat made it an instant classic—but it was also a game that the original Switch simply couldn’t handle without major compromises. Now, thanks to the beefier hardware of the Switch 2, UK gamers can finally experience this massive 100-hour adventure flawlessly on the go.

    Here is everything you need to know about the definitive portable version.

    The Ultimate Package: What’s Included?

    Unlike the staggered releases on other platforms, Switch 2 players are getting the complete, definitive package right out of the gate for £44.99.

    • The Base Game: Follow the journey of Alphen, a Dahnan slave who can feel no pain, and Shionne, a cursed Renan noblewoman who inflicts pain on anyone she touches. Together, they lead a rebellion to liberate Dahna from 300 years of tyranny.
    • Beyond the Dawn Expansion: A massive story DLC set one year after the events of the main game. It follows the core cast as they cross paths with Nazamil, a young girl caught between two worlds, while dealing with the political and social aftermath of the game’s finale.
    • Bonus Content: All previously released cosmetic DLCs and bonus items are packaged straight into the game.

    Performance: How Does it Hold Up on Switch 2?

    Porting a massive current-gen JRPG to a handheld hybrid is no small feat, but the Switch 2 proves it has the muscle. Early hands-on reports confirm that Tales of Arise runs beautifully on the new hardware.

    Bandai Namco targeted a rock-solid 30fps for this release, and it delivers. Whether you’re exploring the sweeping fields of Dahna or triggering a screen-filling, flashy team-attack super move, the framerate holds up admirably in both docked and handheld modes.

    While docked players won’t see the high-framerate thresholds found on platforms like the PS5, the game’s heavily stylised, painterly “Atmospheric Shader” anime aesthetic translates beautifully to the Switch 2 screen. It looks incredibly sharp, vibrant, and clean, making it a pristine showcase for the handheld’s display.

    A Quick Buyer’s Note: If you are planning to pick up the physical version at retail, keep in mind that the boxed release is a game-key card code rather than a traditional cartridge. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and some free storage space ready for launch day!

    Is It Worth It?

    If you love action-RPGs and missed out on its initial release, Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition is a must-buy for your Switch 2 library. The real-time, combo-heavy combat remains some of the best the genre has to offer, and the dynamic between the main cast is incredibly endearing.

    While the latter half of the story can get a bit exposition-heavy, and late-game enemies turn into a bit of a “damage sponge” grind, the sheer value of having this massive, gorgeous epic available to play anywhere you want is impossible to deny.

    Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition lands on the UK eShop and retail shelves on Friday, May 22, 2026. Are you ready to wield the Blazing Sword again?

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/740130

    #TalesofArise #BandaiNamcoEntertainment #rpg #Dahna #Rena #Dahnan #techmash #n5dave #videogames #gamingnews #games #gaming #gamers

  • Dead by Cyberpunk? Why New Sci-Fi Horror ‘CODE EXIT’ is Your Next Co-Op Obsession

    Dead by Cyberpunk? Why New Sci-Fi Horror ‘CODE EXIT’ is Your Next Co-Op Obsession

    Move over, Lethal Company and Phasmophobia—there’s a new mechanical nightmare on the horizon, and it’s looking to turn your co-op game nights into absolute, adrenaline-fueled chaos.

    Phase 8 Studio and LINE Games have just dropped the demo for CODE EXIT, an upcoming 1–4 player sci-fi co-op survival horror game. If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if Dead by Daylight had a baby with Cyberpunk 2077 and an angry supercomputer, this is it.

    Here is everything you need to know about your next co-op obsession.

    Welcome to Pantheon: The Ultimate Smart-City Nightmare

    In CODE EXIT, players step into the boots of Hermes operatives sent into Pantheon, a futuristic city that used to be a shining marvel of automated tech. The problem? The city’s integrated artificial intelligence, Minerva, has gone completely rogue.

    Minerva has locked down the entire metropolis, plunged it into darkness, and turned the automated infrastructure into a meat grinder. Your squad’s mission is simple on paper, but brutal in practice: descend into the pitch-black facilities, restore critical systems, recover data, and get the hell out alive.

    “In CODE EXIT, escape is not guaranteed. It has to be earned.”

    She’s Learning: The Adaptive Pursuer

    What makes CODE EXIT genuinely terrifying isn’t just the dark corridors or the mechanical screeches echoing through the vents—it’s Minerva herself.

    The rogue AI controls an unstoppable, lethal pursuer that stalks your team through the facility. The hook? It adapts and learns from your behaviour. If your team relies too heavily on a specific hiding spot, a single escape path, or loud, panic-induced sprinting, Minerva adjusts her tactics. Every mission becomes a high-stakes chess match where getting careless means a swift, brutal end.

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (Or Ruins Friendships)

    The game is heavily built around 4-player co-op coordination. To get doors open and bypass security networks, you’ll have to solve tactical puzzles under extreme pressure.

    Do you split up to knock out objectives faster, or stick together to maximise your firepower and security? When the alarms start blaring and the facility turns against you, communication is going to break down, panic will set in, and that’s exactly when CODE EXIT is at its absolute best.

    Can Your Rig Run It?

    Before you drop into Pantheon, you’ll want to make sure your PC can handle the dark, atmospheric corridors. Thankfully, the tech specs aren’t too demanding:

    Hardware ComponentMinimum RequirementsRecommended Specs
    OSWindows 10Windows 10
    ProcessorIntel Core i5-8400 / Ryzen 5 2600Intel Core i5-12400 / Ryzen 5 5600
    Memory12 GB RAM16 GB RAM
    Graphics CardGTX 1660 Super (6GB)RTX 3060
    DirectXVersion 12Version 12
    Storage5 GB available space5 GB available space

    Play the Demo Right Now!

    While the full game isn’t slated for its full launch until 2027, you don’t have to wait to taste the terror. The official CODE EXIT Demo is live right now on the Epic Games Store and Steam.

    If you love tactical puzzles, sci-fi horror, and screaming at your friends in the dark, go wishlist it and download the demo today.

    Are you brave enough to take on AI Minerva, or will your squad fold under the pressure? Let us know your thoughts on the trailer in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://epic.gm/code-exit-demo

    #Phase8Studio #LINEGames #CODEEXIT #scifi #coop #survival #horror #techmash #n5dave #videogames #gamingnews #games #gaming #gamers

  • Nostalgia Alert: Retro Beat ’Em Up ‘Kings Do Not Fall’ Smashes Onto the Epic Games Store

    Nostalgia Alert: Retro Beat ’Em Up ‘Kings Do Not Fall’ Smashes Onto the Epic Games Store

    If you spent your childhood pocket money feeding arcade cabinets and mastering the art of the side-scrolling side-kick, listen up. Tokyo-based developer HyperDevbox has officially launched its heavily nostalgic, 90s-inspired brawler, Kings Do Not Fall, on the Epic Games Store.

    Following its successful debut on Steam earlier this spring, PC players who prefer the Epic ecosystem can now jump into the fray. To celebrate the launch, the game is available for a modest $7.99, but early adopters can grab a limited-time 20% release discount to sweeten the deal.

    A Tribute to the Golden Age of Arcade Gaming

    Kings Do Not Fall isn’t just trying to look retro; it has actual 90s arcade DNA baked right into its code.

    The game is spearheaded by industry veteran Carlo Perconti (CEO of HyperDevbox), who worked as a programmer on legendary retro titles like Legend and Iron Commando for the Super Nintendo, Burning Road on the original PlayStation, and Soulfighter on the Dreamcast. More than three decades after his first beat ’em up, Perconti has returned to his roots to deliver a love letter to the genre.

    Take a look at what the game has to offer in the trailer below:

    “When the kingdom needs a legend, you don’t fall… you rise.”

    Fight, Smash, and Break Through the Horde

    In Kings Do Not Fall, you step into the heavy armour of King Alden (voiced by Ameen Taher), the last ruler of Solara. Your kingdom has been absolutely decimated, and you stand as the solitary line of defence against the encroaching, monstrous armies of Umbra.

    As you fight your way through six handcrafted levels, the stakes get progressively higher. It’s a classic fantasy setup that serves as the perfect excuse to do what we do best: beat down hordes of goblins, orcs, and the restless dead.

    Key Features:

    • Supercharged Old-School Action: Classic side-scrolling combat polished for the modern era. Expect fluid combo moves, smash attacks, varying weapon pick-ups, and screen-clearing Super-Attacks.
    • Authentic Retro Aesthetic: Beautifully crafted arcade-inspired graphics, complete with an optional CRT filter mode so you can crank up that authentic 90s cathode-ray tube fury.
    • The In-Between Shop: Spend the gold coins you collect during your journey between stages to buy and sell items, allowing you to tweak your survival strategy before the next wave.
    • Epic Store Features: Full integration with Epic Games Store achievements and a competitive Top 30 Leaderboard to see who the ultimate brawler truly is.

    Grab It While It’s Hot

    If you love the pixelated grit of classic brawlers but want the modern polish of tight, responsive controls, Kings Do Not Fall is well worth a look—especially at a budget-friendly price point under eight bucks.

    Head over to the Epic Games Store today to claim your 20% launch discount, or check it out over on Steam if you missed it the first time around.

    Are you ready to defend Solara? Let us know in the comments below if you’ll be picking this one up!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/4231970

    #HyperDevbox #KingsDoNotFall #retrostyle #beatemup #arcadegaming #Steam #techmash #n5dave #videogames #games #gaming #gamingnews #gamers

  • Neverwinter Chills to the Bone: Module 33 ‘Biting Cold’ is Officially Live!

    Neverwinter Chills to the Bone: Module 33 ‘Biting Cold’ is Officially Live!

    Grab your thickest cloaks and sharpen your blades, adventurers—the Sword Coast is about to get a whole lot frostier.

    Arc Games and Cryptic Studios have officially launched Biting Cold, the landmark 33rd module for their long-running, free-to-play Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG, Neverwinter. Available right now across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, this massive update takes players far north of Icewind Dale into uncharted, treacherous frozen territories.

    If you thought you knew the cold of the Forgotten Realms, think again. Here is everything you need to know about what’s waiting for you in the snow.

    Welcome to the Reghed Edge

    The centrepiece of Module 33 is an all-new Adventure Zone: The Reghed Edge. Situated where the massive Reghed Glacier meets the unforgiving Sea of Moving Ice, an unseasonably long warm season has begun to thaw the ancient ice.

    But this isn’t a peaceful spring. The melting glaciers are exposing buried ruins pulsing with ominous blue light, and local villages are being plagued by madness-inducing nightmares, bizarre visions, and sudden disappearances.

    Key Features of the New Map:

    • The Frostwood: A dense, snow-draped forest teeming with deadly primal beasts.
    • The Shattered Chasm: A vast, plunging gorge where the secrets of the ancient ice are slowly being revealed.
    • Six New Heroic Encounters: Spread across three distinct arenas, you’ll team up with fellow players to unfreeze Guardian Spirits, take down the Stormcaller, and blow the frozen armour straight off rampaging Yetis.

    Survive the Encroaching Frost

    Exploring the Reghed Edge isn’t just about fighting monsters; it’s about fighting the elements. Cryptic Studios has introduced a punishing new zone mechanic called the Encroaching Frost.

    The map is under constant threat from a deadly, shifting blizzard. While you can seek shelter to stay warm, brave adventurers who deliberately choose to enter the storm and withstand its debilitating frostbite will reap massive rewards. Complete quests, conquer Heroic Encounters, and you’ll trigger the storm faster, paving the way to defeat the Stormbound Reaver and open high-tier reward chests.

    New Dungeon: Jotunskar

    For the PvE endgame crowd, Biting Cold introduces Jotunskar, a brutal stronghold carved from stone and scarred by ancient conflict.

    Players will slide down slippery icy descents into a dark abyss where Frost Giants have succumbed to sinister whispers and mobilised under a mysterious new authority. You’ll need to watch your footing—avoiding the catastrophic Death Pit at all costs—as you fight your way through three punishing new boss encounters.

    To ensure everyone can experience the narrative while still offering a brutal challenge for veterans, Jotunskar features three difficulty tiers:

    • Normal Mode: Accessible to all players and available in Random Queues.
    • Advanced Mode: A stepping stone for mid-level players looking to push their limits (excluded from Random Queues at launch).
    • Master Mode: A relentless, highly strategic gauntlet for top-tier coordinated parties.

    The Ice Breaker Battle Pass & Wormungandr

    With a new module comes a brand-new progression track. The Ice Breaker Battle Pass allows players to unlock plenty of free rewards just by playing the game.

    For those who opt into the Premium Reward Track, the ultimate prize is a terrifyingly cute new companion: Wormungandr. Described as a fragment of an ancient doom packed into a small, coiled, helm-clad serpent, this mini world-serpent slithers alongside you, ever-hungry and heralding prophecy.

    How to Play

    Neverwinter: Biting Cold is live right now. The game remains completely free-to-play, and console players note: you do not need an Xbox Game Pass Core/Live Gold or PlayStation Plus subscription to jump in and download the update.

    Bundle up, update your clients, and we’ll see you on the glacier!

    Are you ready to face the Frost Giants in Jotunskar, or will you be freezing to death in the Encroaching Frost? Let us know your thoughts on Module 33 in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/109600

    #ArcGames #CrypticStudios #BitingCold #freetoplay #DungeonsandDragons #MMORPG #Neverwinter #gamingnews #games #videogames #gamers #gaming

  • Shout Your Way to the Hole: Q-Games Reveals ‘Yodelee Golf’, A Cosy Co-Op Game Where Your Voice Alters Reality

    Shout Your Way to the Hole: Q-Games Reveals ‘Yodelee Golf’, A Cosy Co-Op Game Where Your Voice Alters Reality

    Kyoto-based indie veterans Q-Games—the creative minds behind The Tomorrow Children and the legendary PixelJunk franchise—have officially pulled back the curtain on their next project. And in true Q-Games fashion, it is delightfully unconventional.

    Get ready for Yodelee Golf, an open-world, cosy co-op adventure that promises the wildest round of golf you’ve ever played. The twist? It actually features very little actual golfing.

    Instead, it’s a beautifully surreal, physics-driven multiplayer playground where you and your friends chase a single, unpredictable golf ball across a massive, vibrant world.

    A Cosy Game with Very Little Golf

    Forget neat fairways, strict country club dress codes, and polite golf claps. Yodelee Golf takes the sport and throws it right out of a clubhouse window.

    Up to four players can team up in either online or local split-screen co-op to navigate a massive, low-poly open world. To transport your lone golf ball across this sprawling terrain, you’ll be ditching the traditional golf cart for a much more chaotic fleet of vehicles and hazards:

    • Extreme Transports: Zip up mountains on motorbikes, drift across lakes in speedboats, and cruise through the skies in gondolas.
    • Surreal Environments: Explore secret mountain caves, dodge mysterious monsters, and manoeuvre around giant rubber duckies.
    • Pure Chaos: With a physics-driven engine, every swing, bounce, and collision can trigger hilarious, unexpected chain reactions.

    Your Voice Literally Changes the World

    The standout feature of Yodelee Golf is its incredibly innovative voice-to-3D-text gameplay system.

    The game features ray-traced proximity chat, meaning your voice naturally echoes through valleys and caves. But Q-Games takes it a step further: everything you say into your microphone is transcribed in real time into giant, physical 3D letters that drop directly into the game world.

    These floating words aren’t just cosmetic—they disrupt play and physically affect the environment. If you scream at the ball to “GET IN THE HOLE!”, those physical letters might just block a friend’s shot, create a ramp, or shove the ball closer to its target. It gives a whole new meaning to “talking a big game.”

    Key Features At A Glance

    Cosy Open-World Adventure / Casual SportsDetails
    Player Count1–4 players (Online and Local/Split-Screen Co-op)
    GenreCozy Open-World Adventure / Casual Sports
    PlatformsPC via Steam (Other platforms TBA)
    Key MechanicsReal-time voice-to-3D-text transcription, dynamic eco system, vehicle driving

    When Can We Play It?

    While Q-Games hasn’t locked down an official worldwide release date just yet, the game is officially available to wishlist on Steam right now.

    If you happen to be in Japan this month, you can actually be among the first in the world to try it. Q-Games will be debuting the first-ever playable public demo at BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto from May 22–24, 2026. Visitors to the booth can take part in a mini putt-putt challenge to win exclusive prizes, and top influencers will be streaming live gameplay from the BitSummit stage on Saturday, May 23rd.

    Yodelee Golf looks like the perfect blend of cosy exploration and laugh-out-loud multiplayer madness. Dust off your vocal cords, grab your friends, and get ready to climb a mountain just to shout “Yo-delee-oh!”

    What do you think of Yodelee Golf’s crazy voice mechanic? Is this going to be your next co-op obsession? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/4562880

    #QGames #PixelJunk #YodeleeGolf #Steam #openworld #golf #golfball #techmash #n5dave #videogames #gamingnews #games #gaming #gamers

  • Outward 2 Locks In Summer Early Access Launch Date (And Yes, There’s A ‘Potato Mode’)

    Outward 2 Locks In Summer Early Access Launch Date (And Yes, There’s A ‘Potato Mode’)

    Pack your bags, check your water skins, and prepare to lose your backpack all over again. Nine Dots Studio has officially announced that Outward 2, the highly anticipated sequel to their cult-classic survival RPG, will launch into Steam Early Access, Epic Games Store, and GOG on July 7th.

    For fans of the original 2019 sleeper hit, this is the news we’ve been waiting for. Nine Dots is doubling down on its signature “anti-power-fantasy” philosophy, meaning you can expect another brutal, unyielding, and deeply rewarding adventure through the world of Aurai. You aren’t a chosen saviour or a legendary hero; you’re just an average Joe trying not to freeze to death or get eaten by a hyena.

    Check out the official release date announcement trailer below, which features a very specific type of hardware showcase:

    The “Spud-tastic” Specs Trailer

    In a brilliant nod to PC gamers everywhere, Nine Dots revealed the launch date via a hilarious “Potato PC” gameplay trailer. While the video showcases Aurai looking absolutely gorgeous on Ultra settings, it shifts gears to show the game running on lower-end hardware.

    The developer has explicitly included a “Potato Mode” in the graphics settings, ensuring that whether you have a top-of-the-line battle station or a trusty, ageing rig, you’ll be able to jump into the adventure.

    What’s New in Outward 2?

    Nine Dots Studio hasn’t just given the game a fresh coat of paint. CEO and Creative Director Guillaume Boucher-Vidal noted that the team focused heavily on four core pillars of improvement for the sequel:

    • Better Character Creation & Progression: Moving far past the minimal options of the first game, players can now choose from 11 backgrounds and 3 distinct starting scenarios that shape their meagre beginnings. A new “Exercise System” also allows passive skills to spark and grow naturally based on your playstyle.
    • A More Alive World: Set roughly 50 years after the events of the original game, the world spans four distinct regions of Aurai. At the Early Access launch, three of these regions will be fully explorable.
    • Smoother, Dynamic Combat: Combat feels more responsive, introducing brand-new features like Ritual Spellcasting (e.g., throwing a fire stone into the air to create a localised ring of death).
    • Better Storytelling: More engaging, well-delivered narratives with distinct faction questlines. Early Access will launch with roughly the first third of these questlines available, with more chapters dropping via updates.

    Note on Co-op: Just like the first game, Outward 2 will fully feature both online and split-screen co-op, allowing you and a friend to share the burden of survival, split the loot, and cover each other’s weaknesses.

    Want to Play Early? Closed Beta Starts Next Week!

    If July 7th feels too far away, you might not have to wait that long. Nine Dots is hosting a Closed Beta starting Tuesday, May 26th (running until June 8th).

    The beta will give players a first look at a brand-new, ghost-infested region of Aurai called La Rescapée. If you participated in the January playtest, you’re automatically in. If not, you can head over to the Official Nine Dots Studio Website or Steam to sign up for a chance to grab a key.

    The Road to 1.0

    Nine Dots estimates that Outward 2 will spend about 12 to 18 months in Early Access to fine-tune balance, polish mechanics, and finish the remaining story content and regions alongside community feedback.

    Outward 2 hits PC via Steam, Epic, and GOG on July 7th. Get your wishlists ready!

    Find out more here – https://ninedotsstudio.com/playtest-registration/

    #NineDotsStudio #adventure #RPG,#Outward2 #EarlyAccess #MisterPotato #Techguy #techmash #n5dave #games #gaming #gamers #gamingnews #videogames

  • Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    If your favourite part of a Soulslike is the sweat-inducing, palm-twitching tension of a brutal boss fight, Taiwanese indie developer PINIX has a treat for you. The studio has officially launched a free Steam demo for its upcoming hardcore action title, Die Deep, offering a pure, unadulterated dose of high-stakes combat.

    Billed by the devs as a “Boss Rush with a stage-like experience,” the game strips away the typical fluff. There is no sprawling map to get lost in, no obscure puzzles to solve, and absolutely no filler. The focus here is entirely on your ability to read an enemy, time your parries, and survive.

    What’s in the Demo?

    The free Steam demo gives players a solid 20 to 40 minutes of playtime (heavily dependent on how many times you face the “You Died” screen) and features:

    • Standard Chapter Level: A complete basic tutorial and a starter stage designed to get you up to speed with the game’s mechanics.
    • Boss Challenge Stage: The real meat of the experience. A high-difficulty, punishing encounter designed for combat purists who want to master a boss’s moveset and perfect their run.
    • Two Playable Characters: Test out two distinct fighters—a one-eyed warrior built for heavy shield parries, and an agile rogue built for high-speed dual-blade offence.

    Inspired by Hollow Knight and Silksong

    PINIX hasn’t hidden its inspirations. The team notes that the game’s rapid, demanding combat rhythm is heavily influenced by Hollow Knight—specifically the high-intensity, back-to-back challenges found in the legendary Colosseum of Fools and Godhome gauntlets.

    If you get greedy with your attacks or mistime a single dodge, the Abyss will reclaim you instantly. You play as a wandering soul who has forgotten its purpose, lured down into the deep by a primal desire to fight, purely to prove your heart is still beating.

    Heading to BitSummit PUNCH 2026

    Alongside the demo launch, PINIX has confirmed they will be returning to Kyoto, Japan, for the second consecutive year to showcase Die Deep at BitSummit PUNCH, Japan’s premier international indie game festival. If you happen to be attending the event, you’ll be able to test your skills at their booth and see how the game has evolved ahead of its planned Q4 2026 full release.

    For the rest of us looking to scratch that hardcore combat itch from the comfort of our desks, the free demo is available to download right now on PC and Mac via Steam.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3211560

    #PINIX #action #DieDeep #Soulslike #combat #pcgames #steam #bitsummitpunch #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #videogames #games #gaming #gamers

  • Kusan: City of Wolves coming to PC and Consoles July 30th

    Kusan: City of Wolves coming to PC and Consoles July 30th

    If you’ve been itching for a high-octane top-down shooter caked in neon, synth, and absolute brutality, lock your calendar for July 30, 2026.

    Publisher PQube and Korean indie developer CIRCLEfromDOT have officially announced that Kusan: City of Wolves is launching digitally for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch. For collectors who prefer their carnage tangible, physical boxed editions will also be hitting store shelves for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

    The Plot: A City-Grade Atomic Threat

    Set in the rain-soaked, neon-noir underworld of Kusan, players step into the combat boots of Jin, a former soldier turned veteran gun-for-hire. Jin’s latest job has just elevated from high-risk to catastrophic: he must protect Haru, a young girl who has been fitted with a city-grade atomic weapon.

    To save her and stop a conspiracy that threatens to reduce the entire metropolis to ash, Jin will have to cut a bloody swath through the city’s most ruthless, corrupt factions and criminal enterprises.

    [The Premise] -> Jin (Ex-Soldier) must protect Haru (Girl with an atomic weapon) 
              -> Fight through the corrupt neon-noir underworld of Kusan
              -> Launching July 30, 2026

    Gameplay: Hotline Miami Meets Cyberpunk Martial Arts

    At first glance, Kusan: City of Wolves wears its Hotline Miami inspirations proudly on its sleeve—complete with an anthropomorphic flair (featuring a panther-man protagonist with a robotic fist) and a blistering top-down perspective. However, Kusan differentiates itself by stepping up the mechanical depth.

    Rather than relying purely on scavenged weapons and one-hit-kill luck, Kusan gives players an incredibly versatile toolkit designed for aggressive, stylish performance.

    Key Combat Features:

    • The Quantum Blade & Prosthetic Fist: Dash through tightly designed arenas and slice through foes with lightning-fast sword strikes, or turn them into paste with your heavy-hitting mechanical arm.
    • Precision Gunplay: Chain gunfire seamlessly into your melee combos. Every bullet counts in this universe, and precision is rewarded over blind spraying.
    • Parries and Split-Second Dodges: Deflection and high-speed movement are core to survival. Time your parries perfectly to turn an enemy’s aggression against them.
    • 54 Hand-Crafted Stages: The game features 54 intense stages across multiple story chapters, each filled with skill-based challenges and environmental puzzles.

    A Sizzling Graphic Novel Presentation

    What truly makes Kusan: City of Wolves stand out is its aesthetic. The story is told through beautifully illustrated comic book cutscenes that boast heavy hip-hop energy and raw graphic novel grit.

    Better yet, these cutscenes don’t break the pacing. They transition seamlessly back into the top-down gameplay, keeping your adrenaline pumping as the electronic soundtrack pushes you from one arena to the next.

    Are you ready for the challenge? Perfectionists and high-score chasers can look forward to mastering the game’s ranking system, aiming for those elusive, flawless S-Ranks on every single stage.

    Play the Demo Today

    Can’t wait until July 30? You don’t have to go into the underworld completely blind. A free playable demo is currently available right now on PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, allowing you to test your reflexes and sharpen your blade ahead of the mid-summer launch.

    Kusan: City of Wolves drops on July 30, 2026. Keep your eyes on TechMash for our full review closer to launch!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/1714510

    #CIRCLEfromDOT #PQube #KusanCityofWolves #PC #PlayStation #Xbox #NintendoSwitch #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #games #videogames #gamers

  • Face the Ultimate Survival Dilemma: Targem Games Announces ‘Underchoice’ Launching June 1st

    Face the Ultimate Survival Dilemma: Targem Games Announces ‘Underchoice’ Launching June 1st

    If you love the tense, claustrophobic anxiety of managing a post-apocalyptic shelter, you are going to want to clear your schedule for the start of next month. Publisher Targem Games and developer TG Indie have officially confirmed that their upcoming tactical survival simulator, Underchoice, is launching on Steam on June 1.

    Set inside a completely sealed underground bunker, Underchoice shifts the focus of the survival genre. While you will still be counting your rations, it’s the heavy ethical dilemmas that will truly determine whether your community survives the chaos outside.

    Check out what to expect when you take on the role of the Overseer.

    Life in the Bunker: The Core Gameplay

    In Underchoice, the outside world is entirely uninhabitable. The bunker is the last line of defence for humanity, and as its caretaker, you hold the ultimate power over who lives and who dies.

    The game blends strategy, resource management, and choice-based RPG mechanics to create a high-stakes psychological thriller. Here is a breakdown of what you will be dealing with on a daily basis:

    • Knocking at the Door: The heart of the game revolves around the wandering souls who find your bunker. Every time someone knocks, you face a choice. Do you let a stranger in and risk your limited security, or do you turn them away and live with the guilt? A new arrival could be a vital asset—or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
    • Resource Management: You’ll be managing strictly limited supplies of food, medications, and tools. Every time you open the door or attempt to solve an internal crisis, you risk draining the very things keeping your current inhabitants alive.
    • Crisis Resolution: It’s not just about the outside world. You will have to navigate technical failures within the bunker, internal power struggles, and unexpected threats that require immediate, definitive choices.

    “There’s nothing but chaos outside, and each knock on the door may mean salvation or destruction.”

    Every Choice Shapes Your Ending

    What sets Underchoice apart is its commitment to consequence. This isn’t a simulator where you can simply optimise your way to a perfect win. Every decision you make branches the narrative, leading to completely unique storylines and multiple alternate endings.

    Will you build a ruthless, utilitarian society that survives at all costs? Or will you risk everything to keep a shred of humanity alive in the dark?

    When Can You Play?

    Underchoice officially drops on June 1 for PC via Steam. If you want to make sure you don’t miss the launch, you can head over to the Steam store right now to add it to your wishlist.

    Are you ready to step into the shoes of the Overseer, or will the pressure of the bunker break you? Let us know your survival strategy in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3740010

    #TargemGames #Underchoice #survivalsimulator #undergroundshelter #Steam #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #games #gaming #gamers #videogames