TECHMASH

Tag: #XCom

  • Squad Up Across the Stars — M.O.A.B. Update Delivers Full Co-Op for Warped Universe

    Squad Up Across the Stars — M.O.A.B. Update Delivers Full Co-Op for Warped Universe

    The biggest build has arrived — and you don’t have to face the galaxy alone anymore.

    Warped Games has officially unleashed M.O.A.B. — short for “Mother of All Builds” — a landmark free update that transforms Warped Universe, its free-to-play sci-fi PvE looter shooter, by enabling full 4?player co?op across every single game mode. Whether you’re duking it out on planetary surfaces, soaring through the void, or commanding from the tactical table, your squad flies with you.

    Three Styles, One Squad — All Co?Op, All Free

    What makes M.O.A.B. truly unique is that it doesn’t just tack co?op onto one part of the game — it rewires the entire experience so that ground combat, space flight, and turn?based tactics all support up to four players simultaneously:

    ModeInspirationWhat You Do Together
    Third?Person Ground CombatHelldiversSquad up, deploy tactics, and tear through enemy lines in real?time
    Space Flight & CombatEverspace co?opPilot side?by?side through asteroid fields, dogfight enemy fleets, and defend your ship as a team
    Turn?Based TacticsXCOMPlan, position, and execute coordinated strikes with clear initiative order — now with friends at your side

    “Not many space games let you fly missions next to your friends,” the team notes. And turn?based play now includes a shared initiative bar so everyone always knows whose move it is.

    Built Together — Years in the Making

    When Warped Universe launched into Early Access back in May 2026, squad co?op was the single most requested feature. Delivering it meant rebuilding movement systems, animations, networked gameplay, and AI behaviour from the ground up — a massive engineering undertaking:

    “I jumped out of my chair in excitement the moment we as a team logged in to a mission together and flew side by side. It’s been years of waiting for this moment, and it was such an unreal feeling to be able to battle together.”

    — Adam Straney, Co?Founder, Warped Games

    Lobbies, Loot, and Levelled Threats

    • Public & Private Lobbies — join open squads or invite only your crew; built?in voice and text chat keeps you coordinated
    • Shared Rewards — rare Residium and loot are distributed across the team; everyone takes something home
    • Scaling Difficulty — enemies grow deadlier the larger your squad, so balance never breaks
    • Smarter Foes — updated AI now takes cover, flanks, and attacks in unison — exactly like a coordinated enemy squad should
    • No Paywall — everything in the M.O.A.B. update is 100% free; Warped Universe remains entirely free?to?play with no pay?to?win mechanics

    More Than a Game — a Shared Galaxy

    The update also deepens what makes Warped Universe special: every mission you complete powers planetary facilities that benefit every player in the community. Whether you run solo or with a full squad, your progress contributes to unlocking new worlds and permanent buffs for everyone.

    Warped Universe — M.O.A.B. Update is live now, free on Steam

    #WarpedUniverse #MOABUpdate #WarpedGames #CoOpGaming #LooterShooter #SciFiGaming #FreeToPlay #Helldivers #Techmash #Everspace #XCOM #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess #SquadGoals

  • Ghost Justice Debuts First Gameplay Trailer Following Hit Gamescom Demo

    Ghost Justice Debuts First Gameplay Trailer Following Hit Gamescom Demo

    Tactical strategy fans have a thrilling new title to keep on their radar. Following a standout deployment at Gamescom in Cologne, developer Centurion Developments has officially released the first gameplay trailer for Ghost Justice—a tactical turn-based strategy game coming to Steam.

    The debut gameplay trailer offers gamers their first deep look into the mechanics powering this high-stakes combat title. Watch the official gameplay trailer below to see the action unfold:

    Command from the Shadows: What is Ghost Justice?

    Set amidst a brutal, fictional narco conflict where local authorities have fallen and ruthless drug cartels dominate entire territories, Ghost Justice puts players in command of an elite task force. Drawing heavy inspiration from real-world anti-cartel operations, players must restore order across diverse environments ranging from dense, suffocating jungle territories to remote settlements and claustrophobic urban districts.

    While the hands-on demo at Gamescom gave players control over a single tactical operation, the new gameplay trailer pulls back the curtain on the broader strategic loop, including:

    • Base Management & Intel: Review intelligence, select high-priority targets, and carefully prepare equipment before sending your squad into the field.
    • Multi-Squad Coordination: Unlike standard turn-based tactics games that lock you into a single fireteam, Ghost Justice allows commanders to control multiple tactical teams simultaneously. Flank enemies from multiple directions, set up synchronised ambushes, and execute multi-angle breaches.
    • Stealth-First Combat: Direct firefights can quickly turn deadly. Utilising spotters, snipers, and silent infiltrations allows players to track hostiles and eliminate high-value targets before enemy forces realise you are even there.
    • Task Force Customisation: Recruit specialised operatives, tailor their gear to specific mission profiles, and manage critical resources as operations escalate in difficulty.

    Victory at Gamescom

    The reveal of the new gameplay trailer comes directly on the heels of a massive reception at Gamescom. Outfitted with fourteen playable hands-on stations, Centurion Developments saw non-stop player engagement throughout the five-day event, leading to a sharp surge in Steam wishlists.

    “We arrived in Cologne feeling a little nervous because we did not know how players would react. But we left proud and excited,” said Róbert Servický, CEO and Lead Designer at Centurion Developments. “The demo appealed not only to fans of tactical strategy games such as XCOM, but also to players who usually prefer completely different genres. Now we know that Ghost Justice is heading in the right direction.”

    Release Window & Platform

    Ghost Justice is currently scheduled to launch on PC via Steam in Q1 2027. Strategy enthusiasts looking to lead their own elite task force can head over to Steam to add the game to their wishlist today.

    Find out more here

    #GhostJustice #CenturionDevelopments #TurnBased #techmash #TacticalStrategy #PCGaming #Steam #Gamescom #IndieGame #GamingNews #XCOM

  • The Magical Fight for Freedom: Diving into Slaves of Magic

    The Magical Fight for Freedom: Diving into Slaves of Magic

    Are you ready to lead a resistance in a world where otherworldly magic has brought humanity to its knees? Developed by the small but ambitious team at Amethyst Dreamers, Slaves of Magic is a thrilling new entry in the turn-based tactical strategy genre, casting a medieval fantasy spell over the beloved XCOM formula.

    This is more than just a fight; it’s a campaign for the very soul of humanity.

    The Dark Fantasy Setting

    The world of Slaves of Magic begins in defeat. Invaders from another dimension—wielding powerful elemental sorcery and masquerading as old gods—have arrived, crushing the known kingdoms and enslaving most of the population.

    You are tasked with leading the remaining free survivors, forming a secretive Shadow Council and spearheading the resistance against these false deities. The stakes are as high as they come: failure means humanity becomes nothing more than… well, slaves of magic. This is a dark, challenging fantasy world where your operatives will face permadeath, and every victory feels hard-won.

    Dual-Layered Gameplay: Strategy Meets Tactics

    What truly makes Slaves of Magic an exciting addition to the genre is its two-part core loop, a structure that will feel comfortably familiar to XCOM veterans while introducing unique fantasy-driven twists:

    1. The Strategic Campaign: Building the Resistance

    Between missions, you manage the resistance across the continent. This layer is all about macro-decisions:

    • Base Management: Build and manage safehouse bases in different regions. Each region offers unique resources, equipment, and cultural skills, forcing you to think carefully about where to expand and what to prioritise.
    • Research & Development: Research is vital to turn the invaders’ own power against them. You’ll unlock new weapons, armours, and—crucially—learn how to wield the magic of your oppressors.
    • A Reactive Enemy AI: The invaders aren’t static. A dynamic campaign AI assesses the threat your resistance poses and adjusts its monthly operations and goals accordingly. Do too well, and they may dig in with better-equipped forces; lay low, and they might focus on long-term gains elsewhere, giving you a crucial window to breathe.

    2. The Tactical Combat: Sabotage and Survival

    When it’s time to strike, you take a squad of 6-8 operatives into turn-based, grid-based missions focused on sabotage and disruption—not set-piece battles.

    • Classless Customisation: Forget rigid classes! Characters have a customizable mix of attributes (like “sword-wielding” or “barbarian”) and skills. You’re free to mix and match equipment and abilities to create a uniquely versatile squad.
    • Advanced Deployment: Your biggest asset is a stolen teleporter, allowing you to deploy your squad precisely around mission objectives, giving you a head start and emphasising initial positioning and team synergy.
    • Melee Focus: Unlike the often-ranged combat of its inspirations, Slaves of Magic puts a greater emphasis on melee combat and positioning, with a flanking system where facing matters.

    High Replayability

    Amethyst Dreamers has designed the game with a laser focus on replayability. With multiple invading factions, varying enemy rosters, and a campaign AI that constantly changes its priorities, no two runs will play out the same. Furthermore, you simply won’t be able to unlock everything in a single playthrough, encouraging experimentation with different regional base setups and skill combinations in subsequent campaigns.

    Who Should Play Slaves of Magic?

    If you are a fan of:

    • Turn-based tactics that require deep strategic thinking (like XCOM, Phoenix Point, or Jagged Alliance).
    • Dark fantasy settings with a powerful sense of leading a desperate resistance.
    • Deep customisation and building unique character loadouts.

    …then Slaves of Magic is a game you should certainly check out. It’s a testament to what a small team can achieve, delivering a dense, challenging, and highly replayable tactical experience where every decision truly shapes the fate of a broken world.

    Have you already started your resistance against the False Gods? What’s your favourite tactical combination, or which region are you using for your main base? Let me know in the comments!

    Slaves of Magic – https://www.indiedb.com/games/slaves-of-magic

    #SlavesofMagic #AmethystDreamers #magic #medieval #fantasy #turnbasedgame #strategy #XCom #Steam #combat #rpg #gametrailer #games #gamers #gaming #videogames