We are excited to share that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, and cloud. In this sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, join Senua once again in a battle for survival through Viking Iceland, where Ninja Theory pushes the boundaries of technology to create a gaming experience of cinematic immersion, beautifully realised visuals, and encapsulating sound.

More information and additional behind-the-scenes content for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can be found below:

• For a first look into the game, check out the launch trailer, which is now available and features a recorded studio version of “Animal Soul” from Norwegian artist Aurora. 

• Ninja Theory revealed the accessibility features players can expect in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. This includes features across audio, input, graphics, interface, subtitles, and captions. For more details on the specific features available in-game, please see the post via Twitter.
• Xbox shared an all-new Xbox podcast, “Senua’s Saga: Hellbade II on Location at Iceland,” which gives viewers a look at the locations in Iceland that inspired the game, and how Ninja Theory were able to bring 10^th century Iceland to life.
• Xbox On shared their video story, “The Method,” which features exclusive access to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Ninja Theory and Senua voice actor Melina Juergens.
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II took over Xbox Wire with four in–depth features exploring the craft behind Senua’s next journey.

For the full blog post, please see Xbox Wire, and for the latest information on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and Ninja Theory, stay tuned to @NinjaTheory on Twitter/X.

Free-to-Play Arena FPS with Crossplay Capability Kicks off Preseason with Five Factions Inspired by Ubisoft Franchises   

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA— May 22, 2024 — Today, Ubisoft released the much-anticipated XDefiant, a free-to-play, fast-paced arcade shooter developed by Ubisoft San Francisco* and featuring factions inspired from some of Ubisoft’s beloved franchises. Players can download and play XDefiant for free from their PC via Ubisoft Connect, PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. To download XDefiant, go to playxdefiant.com/download_pco .  

After a series of betas and open tests, everyone can now enjoy all the preseason content XDefiant has to offer, including:  

• 14 maps inspired from other Ubisoft titles. 
• Five Ubisoft franchise-inspired factions (one faction to be earned or purchased)  
• 24 weapons 
• 44 attachments 
• Five devices  

Players can experience playing as one of five Ubisoft franchise-inspired factions: The Cleaners (The Division), Libertad (Far Cry 6), Echelon (Splinter Cell), DedSec (Watch Dogs 2) and Phantoms (Ghost Recon Phantoms). Each faction includes three characters, but only one will be unlocked from each faction. The others are unlockable through completing in-game missions.   

Players can battle it out in matches from two game modes: Arena and Linear.  

• There are three Arena-style matches available:
  • In Domination, teams fight to control three fixed zones. 
  • In Occupy, teams fight to control one zone that periodically moves around the map. 
  • In HotShot, players fight to get the most Kos. Points are granted or denied when players collect tags from fallen foes or allies. The player currently holding the most tags becomes the HotShot and is granted a host of speed buffs but is marked on the map for all to see.  
     
• There are two Linear matches available, casting players in attacking or defending roles.
  • Zone Control has the attacking team working to secure five zones in a progression across the map, while defenders must fight to stop them.  
  • In Escort, the attacking team must bring a package to its final destination across the map, while the defenders attempt to stymie their progress and push the package back.

After preseason, XDefiant will have seasonal content, featuring one new faction, three new maps, three new weapons, and much more each season.  

For more information on XDefiant or for future updates, please visit www.playxdefiant.com.  

For more information about other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.  

*Associate studios are Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Pune, Ubisoft Mumbai, Ubisoft Odesa, Ubisoft Osaka, Ubisoft Saguenay, Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Toronto, Ubisoft Winnipeg, and Sydney team.

About XDefiant 

Led by Ubisoft San Francisco, XDefiant is a competitive fast-paced arena FPS, where players will face off in 6v6 Player-vs-Player (PvP) matches in unranked and ranked modes. Players can play as factions inspired from other Ubisoft titles and can customize their characters with a variety of weapons, attachments, abilities and ultras. Maps on XDefiant are also inspired by maps from other Ubisoft titles. Adapting your squad and teamwork tactics can be all the difference when competing in the various modes on XDefiant.  

About Ubisoft 

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.74 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.   

© 2024 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. XDefiant, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.    

10 Magical Experiences Available to Wishlist Today

SYDNEY (May 22, 2024) – SQUARE ENIX announced today that the beloved KINGDOM HEARTS series is coming to Steam on June 14, 2024 (ANZ)*. Steam users can join Sora, Donald Duck and Goofy for the first time to play through two sensational KINGDOM HEARTS collections along with the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC), altogether delivering hundreds of hours of content across 10 magical experiences that make up the “Dark Seeker Saga.”

Watch the KINGDOM HEARTS Steam Announcement Trailer, featuring the newly re-recorded single “Simple And Clean” from Hikaru Utada below:

New to the Steam release of this title, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX will feature textural updates to its graphics. Users who purchase KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC) will also receive the new platform exclusive Keyblade “Dead of Night.”

“By bringing the KINGDOM HEARTS series to Steam, we’re excited to welcome in new fans to the series by making it more accessible than ever before.  On behalf of the entire KINGDOM HEARTS team, I’d like to share our excitement for so many new players to discover and enjoy the action, magic, and friendship of KINGDOM HEARTS through Steam. Of course, we’re also excited for longtime fans to reexperience these classics in a new way.” – Ichiro Hazama, KINGDOM HEARTS Series Producer
 
A full list of KINGDOM HEARTS titles coming to Steam is as follows:

• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
  • KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories
  • KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX
  • KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD remastered cinematics)
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep FINAL MIX
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded (HD cutscene compilation)

• KINGDOM HEARTS 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
  • KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD
  • KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover (movie)
  • KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –

• KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC)

• KINGDOM HEARTS INTEGRUM MASTERPIECE (includes all of the above compilations)

The beloved KINGDOM HEARTS franchise was first released in 2002 by SQUARE ENIX, and led by legendary game director Tetsuya Nomura, thus launching the longstanding collaboration between SQUARE ENIX and Disney. Since then, over 36 million copies have shipped worldwide. Steam users, who have eagerly awaited the arrival of the series on the platform will now be able to join Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy, and many other Disney characters on adventures through the “Dark Seeker Saga,” spanning from the original KINGDOM HEARTS to the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC).
 
These KINGDOM HEARTS titles will be available for Steam on June 14 (ANZ), 2024. For more information, visit: https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_US/home. Wishlist now on Steam.
 
* Games will be available on Thursday, June 13 at 9am PDT / 5pm BST (Friday, June 14 at 2am AEST / 4am NZST)

About the KINGDOM HEARTS Series

KINGDOM HEARTS is a series of role-playing games created through the collaboration of Disney and Square Enix. Since the first KINGDOM HEARTS was released in March 2002 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the series has expanded with several additional entries. The series has shipped over 36 million units worldwide. Since the launch of KINGDOM HEARTS III in 2019, the critically acclaimed RPG has shipped more than five million units globally, both physically and digitally, making it the fastest selling game in the history of the series. KINGDOM HEARTS IV, the next mainline entry in the series, is currently in development for console devices, and the back catalog of KINGDOM HEARTS titles will launch on Steam on June 13, 2024.
 
About Square Enix, Inc. 

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX and TAITO branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY™, which has sold over 185 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. 
 
More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com 

© Disney. © Disney/Pixar. Developed by SQUARE ENIX. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Come, Tarnished… Miquella the Kind and His Followers Await in the Realm of Shadow when ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree launches on June 21

• ELDEN RING™ Shadow of the Erdtree, the long-awaited expansion to the critically acclaimed action RPG ELDEN RING™, reveals more of the story in a new CGI trailer. Watch the trailer and find out what’s at stake:

A new CGI trailer from Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. and FromSoftware, Inc. reveals more of what players will uncover in the Realm of Shadow when ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree releases globally on June 21. Venture deeper into the lore in the expansion and bear witness.

Will you choose to follow Miquella? Find out when the ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree expansion launches on June 21.

Shadow of the Erdtree is the DLC expansion to ELDEN RING –the world created by FromSoftware, Inc. director Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin, author of the fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire” – which released to broad critical acclaim, having won numerous prestigious awards around the world, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022, Golden Joystick Award 2022, 26th D.I.C.E. Awards, and the 2023 Game Developers Choice Awards, and many other distinctions.

In ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree players step into the Realm of Shadow to explore a new adventure full of mysteries and danger, to confront threatening bosses with new weapons and armor. Follow in the footsteps of Miquella and unravel the dark side of the ELDEN RING story. ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree will be available for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam®.

Pre-orders are now available for all platforms, including special bundles that include the base game, which is required to play the expansion. Be sure to stay up to date with the latest information by following ELDEN RING social media channels or by checking out the Official Website.

For more information about titles from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok or join the conversation on X.

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About Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S.

Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.

Bandai Namco Europe is producing intellectual property for a global audience and is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, PARK BEYOND™, and the upcoming UNKNOWN 9™ Awakening – developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment based in Montreal, QC.

Bandai Namco Europe serves as the Headquarters of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. for mainland Europe, which is known for creating and publishing many of the Toy & Entertainment industry’s top franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TAMAGOTCHI™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, DARK SOULS™ and the recently released ELDEN RING™.

For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu.

©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. / ©2024 FromSoftware, Inc.  Press Release © 2024 Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Steam publisher sale featuring discounts up to 80% across all tinyBuild titles is live until 27 May

SEATTLE – 21 May, 2024 – Publisher tinyBuild proudly hosts its very own showcase, “tinyBuild Connect,” revealing new titles and spotlighting new updates to upcoming and previously released games. 

To kick off the festivities, tinyBuild debuted one of its biggest Steam publisher sales to date, offering discounts of up to 80% across its legendary portfolio until Monday, 27 May.

Since its inception more than a decade ago, tinyBuild has become one of the largest developers and publishers in the indie/AA space. The company has been recognized for its stellar catalog, including successful franchises like Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, and more. 

tinyBuild Connect featured 14 games in an all-star lineup consisting of both announced and new reveals:

• Everything works only if you watch it closely in The King is Watching, the roguelite kingdom builder with a Steam demo launching today 
• Drill Core, where corporate greed meets strategic planet-mining, started it’s first free playtest on Steam, which players can join for free
• Pilot your tramplers across a perilous desert planet in SAND, a new extraction FPS that debuted gameplay footage alongside the announcement of a beta test this summer
• Horror multiplayer extraction shooter Level Zero: Extraction dropped a cryptic teaser that hints at a big announcement coming soon
• Become a sharp-eyed quack shot, gunning down enemies in Rust-like survival shooter DUCKSIDE’s new open playtest on 6 June
• Wreak havoc on medieval battlefields with modern guns in Kingmakers’ first look into its destructible environment mechanics
• Open-world RPG sandbox adventure Streets of Rogue 2 provides a sneak peek of the major news it will announce later this summer 
• RAWMEN: Food Fighter Arena takes over Epic Games Store with free-to-play food melees on Tuesday, 23 July
• Award-winning propaganda simulator Not for Broadcast gets camera-ready with a time-bending mystery with the new The Timeloop DLC
• Fast-paced adventure RPG Astor: Blade of Monolith takes the fight to PC and consoles on Thursday, 30 May
• The third installment on the beloved railway sim manager franchise Train Valley World chugs onto PC on Thursday, 8 August
• Post-apocalyptic cozy survival/base builder I Am Future introduces the Solar Energy Update, bringing new gameplay systems and improvements to all future-dwellers!
• Dark fantasy hack-n-slash RPG VOIN slashes through demons in a new, updated Steam demo
• Fighting management simulator Punch Club 2: Fast Forward gets knockout-ready with new Iron Fist DLC, introducing a new storyline to PC and consoles soon

For more information, visit tinyBuild’s official website and follow @tinyBuild on X (formerly Twitter).

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.

For more information, visit: https://www.tinybuild.com/

Digital Tribe and Scherzo Games announce that the genre-creating twin-stick thrower Cyberpulse is now available on Steam for $14.99, with a release discount of -15%. Jump into insane physics-based action that combines the adrenaline of twin-stick shooters, the frenzied speed of shmups, and even the dynamic exploration of metroidvanias. Rather than shooting bullets you get to control cyberkinetic forces to slam and hurlthe viruses into molten firewalls. Cyberpulse features a polished single-player campaign that you can also play local two player co-op. It also has afour player versus mode which allows you to customize dozens of settings and create a unique multiplayer experience for every game.

ABOUT CYBERPULSE

Cyberpulse mixes twin-stick shooters, shmups and even metroidvanias with its own unique twist to the genres. Rather than shooting bullets, you control cyberkinetic forces to fling, yank, and blast viruses into molten firewalls. Cyberpulse features over 50 levels in a non-linear campaign, with a diverse cast of enemies, bosses, and collectible secrets that reward exploration. Each level is hand-crafted with just enough randomness to stay fresh as you chase that next high score.

Inspired by classics like Geometry Wars and Towerfall Ascension, Cyberpulse includes local two player co-op and four player competitive multiplayer modes. Have a friend join you to tackle devious level gimmicks and titanic bosses, or take them down one of over one hundred versus arenas. Then, keep your multiplayer experience fresh with dozens of customizable settings, whether you want a crazy party game or a competitive arena brawler!

KEY FEATURES

• A blend of genres: twin-stick shooters, shmups, arena battlers, and even metroidvanias contribute their mechanics creating a unique gameplay experience
• Innovative game physics: rather than shooting bullets, you control cyberkinetic forces to hurl your enemies into molten firewalls
• 50+ hand-crafted levels in a non-linear campaign full of collective secrets to reward exploration 
• Local two player co-op: coordinate your movements and try not to toss your teammate into a firewall (or throw them around just for the laughs)
• Four player versus: dunk your friends in 100+ exhilarating versus arenas
• Customizable multiplayer experience: tweak dozens of settings to create exactly the kind of gameplay experience you want, from a crazy party game to a competitive arena brawler
• A modern take on retro classics with amazing vector-like graphics and an original synthwave soundtrack

ABOUT DIGITAL TRIBE

Digital Tribe Games is an experienced video game accelerator and publisher that seeks to partner with creative, bold, hardworking, and innovative indie artists to bring compelling content and experiences to market.

ABOUT SCHERZO GAMES

Cyberpulse is the passion project and debut game of Gabriel Gardner, who found inspiration for the game from a class project while studying computer science at UC Berkeley. Following his childhood dream of creating his own game, he decided to build a unique experience that drew inspiration from games he loved playing with family and friends while he was growing up. Cyberpulse, his first game, is the result of years of work and the realization of that dream.

The epic medieval sandbox game has been wishlisted by over 560K players on Steam since its viral announcement in March

SEATTLE – May 21, 2024 – Publisher tinyBuild and developer Redemption Road Games have unveiled a new gameplay trailer for Kingmakers, the epic medieval sandbox game that’s been wishlisted by over 560K players since its reveal in March. Witness massive battles featuring hundreds of soldiers and horses, and prepare to demolish your enemies’ destructible defenses with new anachronistic vehicles like motorcycles and tanks.

Kingmakers throws you back in time to the age of all-out medieval warfare. As an elite task force operative, you’ll have to save the future in an epic action-strategy sandbox featuring thousands of soldiers fighting at the same time. Build your kingdom, grab your gun(s), and lead your armies into massive, real-time simulated battles — solo or in co-op for up to four players.

Key Pillars:

• Change History & Save the Future: You’re the last hope in a dying world. Travel back 500 years to medieval England to change the course of a bloody war and, if you’re lucky, stave off the apocalypse.
• Groundbreaking Medieval Simulation: Each battle runs as a fully real-time simulation with thousands of soldiers fighting simultaneously. Next-gen multi-threaded AI controls the decision-making and loyalty of every unit on the battlefield, combined with a unique procedural animation system for an unprecedented degree of character and combat fidelity.
• Brings Guns (and a Lot More) to a Sword Fight: Use assault rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, armored SUVs, bikes, attack helos, air strikes and more to make sure the history-altering goes smoothly. Put your sharpshooting skills to the test and wreak absolute havoc on the battlefield.
• Command Your Troops in Battle: Seamlessly swap between combat and issuing orders at any time for endless strategic possibilities. Allocate legions of archers, swordsmen, spearmen, and cavalry, build fortifications, and plan your next move before diving right back into the fray.
• Conquer Solo or Team Up in Co-op: Up to three friends can lead their own armies alongside yours in online co-op. Work together to break down the enemy castle’s defenses or guard allied strongholds against hordes of opponents. Prepare for an epic medieval multiplayer experience like no other!

Kingmakers will launch into Steam Early Access later this year. Join the community by wishlisting the game now, and follow along on Twitter to stay up to date with all the latest announcements.

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. The company’s dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. https://www.tinybuild.com

About Redemption Road Games

Redemption Road Games is an independent development studio with offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles. The team has released several successful indie titles, including Road Redemption and Defy Gravity, as well as other projects for PC and consoles. The team’s focus on fun, realistic simulation and action-packed gameplay is evident in Kingmakers, their most ambitious title to date, launching in 2024 and published by tinyBuild.

Soar through the skies, build epic bases and hunt the competition with a quack-out-loud new trailer debuted at tinyBuild Connect

SEATTLE – May 21, 2024 – Publisher tinyBuild and developer tinyBuild Riga today announced at tinyBuild Connect that DUCKSIDE, the upcoming persistent-world survi-fowl game, will host a new open beta test on Steam starting June 6, 2024. A brand-new gameplay trailer has also been revealed, showcasing DUCKSIDE’s action-packed combination of PvP, PvE, crafting, base-building – and hat-wearing, weapon-wielding ducks!

Following a highly successful beta period earlier this year which had over 150,000 players sign up to join the flock, fans can now register to be notified via Discord when the new beta begins on June 6 on Steam. This beta will bring with it new buildings, map locations, blueprints and more timely changes based on community feed-quack.

DUCKSIDE delivers a fresh take on the persistent-world survival genre popularized by games like DayZ and Rust. Featuring a duck-billed blend of PvP, PvE, extensive crafting and base-building systems, DUCKSIDE is set to be the next beak-out hit from tinyBuild!

Key Features:

• Take to the skies with sophisticated flight mechanics, gliding and diving over mountains, locating secret treasures, and raining down feathered fury from a bird’s-eye view.
• Scour for resources by beaking away at stones, wood, and various natural resources. Construct valuable tools and forge the most impenetrable of nests for storage, safety and survival, but beware – nowhere is truly safe.
• Watch out for rogue humans on the hunt as you explore DUCKSIDE’s massive, 50-player environment – or attack them first to secure epic loot.
• Survive on your own or squad up with your best anatidae (the scientific name for water birds, tell your mom you learned something today) to form a frightening flock forcing feathered foes to think twice before striking.

For more information, visit tinyBuild’s official website, and follow @PlayDUCKSIDE and @tinyBuild on Twitter/X for the latest news and announcements.

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and Eastern Europe.

Explore, battle, loot and extract with giant mechs across a massive open world Sign up on Steam today to experience the first playtest when it drops this summer!

SEATTLE – May 21, 2024 – Calling all scavengers! Publisher tinyBuild and indie developers Hologryph and TowerHaus have debuted the first gameplay trailer for the open-world PvPvE extraction shooter SAND at today’s tinyBuild Connect showcase. Get your first look at the gigantic diesel-punk mechs, action, looting and surprises that await in SAND’s vast desert world.

More details on SAND’s upcoming first playtest will be shared soon, and players can sign up now on Steam to be notified when it begins later this summer!

SAND is set in an alternate-history universe, where the Austro-Hungarian Empire leads space colonization in the 19th century, humanity travels the stars, and the fallen planet of Sophie lays in ruins after an ecological disaster evaporated the world’s oceans. Now only the bravest and most reckless treasure hunters, working alone or in teams, scavenge and battle across Sophie’s deadly deserts, abandoned settlements and beyond in search of hidden riches.

Operate your own massive walking Trampler mech to explore, loot valuables, take down hostile enemies, and escape with your fortune and life. SAND’s combination of high-stakes PvPvE combat and emergent extraction gameplay will keep you on your toes, delivering a thrilling experience that’s accessible but challenging and rewarding as you play.

Key Features:

• Master the Tramplers: Traverse and fight across a huge, hostile world with Tramplers, gigantic walking mechs that act as your main base for exploration, assaulting enemies and guarding loot. Customize your Trampler, upgrading its power, armor, weapons and more. Team up with other players to create and command the ultimate moving fortress!
• Intense PvPvE Combat: You’re not alone on this dangerous world! Other smugglers and creatures also roam the wastes. Engage in action-packed firefights on foot and on your Trampler with a range of powerful weaponry. SAND’s gunplay and combat mechanics are easy to pick up but challenging and rewarding to master for thrillingly immersive battles.
• Loot, Survive & Thrive: Sophie’s civilizations may have fallen, but their riches remain for those who can find them! Track down and extract valuable items and resources to make your fortune, but watch out for other players hunting to take what’s yours.
• Emergent Extraction Gameplay: No two games of SAND are ever the same. Your adventures and experiences will change based on the loot you find, other players’ actions and in-game world events. Adapt your strategies on the fly with the tools you have at hand and be ready for memorable surprises at every turn.
• Explore a Vast, Dynamic Open World: Venture across a massive, ever-changing, semi-procedurally generated world transformed into desert by ecological disaster. Discover loot, secrets, and mysterious anomalies scattered throughout this once-prosperous land.
• Made Proudly in Ukraine: Created by a team of Ukrainian devs in the heart of Lviv, SAND’s look, feel and story are a celebration of Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage and people, with an alt-history, diesel-punk world based on the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Players can wishlist SAND and sign up for the game’s upcoming first playtest now on Steam. For more information, visit the game’s website, and follow along with the latest updates on Twitter.

About TowerHaus

TowerHaus is a game development and outsourcing studio based in Kyiv, Ukraine. It was founded in 2013 as Velcro Games and rebranded on August 3, 2023. They are co-developers of SAND and worked next to Hologryph on Secret Neighbor.

About Hologryph

Hologryph is a studio based in Lviv, Ukraine. They have worked closely with tinyBuild to expand on and develop the publisher’s flagship franchises. With successful titles released in the Party Hard and Hello Neighbor series, their most recent game was the asymmetric multiplayer hit Secret Neighbor.

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. The company’s dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. https://www.tinybuild.com

Embrace the Chill: Toplitz Productions and SpaceRocket Games’ Latest Title Plunges Players into a World of Ice and Ruin!

Oberhaching, Germany, May 21 2024 – Developer SpaceRocket Games and publisher Toplitz Productions announce Permafrost, an exciting new addition to the survival game genre and one with a chilling narrative; Permafrost thrusts players into a bleak, open-world urban landscape where survival is not just a choice—it’s a necessity.

In the wake of the cataclysmic ‘shattering’, an apocalyptic moon phase phenomenon, humanity finds itself teetering on the brink of extinction as the world succumbs to an eternal deep freeze. The game reveals the collapse of existing political and economic structures and the deadly winter cold that has resulted in the deaths of billions of people.

As a survivor, adaptability is key. Brave the bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures which will have an effect on character capabilities, hunt elusive prey, and repurpose salvaged machinery to craft the tools needed for survival. But beware, for in this frozen wasteland, danger lurks at every turn—from hostile factions vying for control to the ever-present threat of natural predators.

Players of Permafrost have the opportunity to prevent the further extinction of humanity by building a shelter and establishing peace for the scattered communities that survive.

They will have the freedom to forge their own path, whether it’s banding together to rebuild society or carving out a place for themselves in the unforgiving wilderness. Construct intricate shelters from scrap, cultivate crops to stave off hunger, and harness the power of technology to fend off threats both human and environmental. Navigating the frozen remnants of civilization with vehicles and on foot plays a huge part in exploration and discovery as players strive for survival.

It’s not just the brutal elements that are a threat, in Permafrost players will use deadly combat to defend against threats using primitive weapons or firearms, whether facing hostile enemies or natural predators in this relentless battle for survival.  

“At Toplitz Productions, we are increasing our presence in the survival genre with both, crossover titles like Medieval Dynasty and Sengoku Dynasty as well as hardcore titles like Serum. Teaming up with the skilled developers at SpaceRocket Games is the next step in this journey. Together we are  thrilled to unveil „Permafrost“ – our newest venture in the survival segment – a title that combines a modern post-apocalyptic setting with intricate resource management and deep survival mechanics, promising players an immersive and dynamic gaming experience.” said Matthias Wuensche, CEO of Toplitz Productions.

Permafrost will provide both single player and co-op play for up to 4 players and is scheduled to launch on Steam early access in 2025 on PC.

An eternal winter is coming.

Features: 

• Survival in a Harsh Environment: Adapt to the perpetual winter by scavenging for resources, hunting rare animals, and crafting essential tools for survival amidst the unforgiving elements. Adapt to the conditions and learn to adapt to ensure survival.
• Manage resources: In the harsh environment resources are scarce and managing them is critical. Wood is not the only resource to build with and use for warmth, batteries of the time before the Permafrost are also amongst the most valuable things one can find.
• Base Building and Crafting: Construct shelters, cultivate areas to grow food, and develop technology with upcycled materials to thrive in the icy expanse, utilizing blueprints and engineering skills to create essential structures and equipment to make destroyed buildings accessible and useful.
• Preserve life: Maintain your character’s capabilities and vitality to avoid hypothermia, manage your equipment and resources to cope with the demanding climate.
• Dog Companion: A rescued dog serves as a canine early warning and faithful companion, utilizing its keen sense of smell and awareness when roaming the wilderness. Your canine companion also helps carry items.
• Dynamic Decision Making: Navigate moral dilemmas as you decide between rebuilding society or seizing power, shaping the fate of humanity amidst the frozen wasteland. Forge alliances or stay isolated, defending what you have built.
• Exploration and Discovery: Uncover the secrets of the ‘shattering’ as you explore the frozen remnants of civilization by land and sea, seeking out valuable resources and unraveling the mysteries of the past. Traverse the harsh open world landscape by vehicle or on foot.
• Cold Zones: Explore cold zones that will test your resolve and skill for additional resources and other valuable loot, scout and restore buildings and even create new living space for you and others.
• Deadly Combat: Defend against threats using primitive weapons or firearms, whether facing hostile enemies or natural predators in this relentless battle for survival. Use your sense of surroundings to sneak up on them or to safely avoid the fight.
• Multiplayer Co-op: Go alone or join forces with friends in online co-op to scavenge, craft, build and survive a brutal world utilizing resources to forge an existence in a sub zero climate.

More information on Permafrost can be found on the games official Steam page here as well as its regular dev diary updates on X here

About Toplitz Productions

The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.

About SpaceRocket Games

SpaceRocket games was founded in 2023. However, the seeds of what would become the flagship project, Permafrost, were sown a bit earlier. Initially, in December 2022, a dedicated trio began to mold the prototype in a somewhat informal setting. Fast forward to the present, and our team has expanded to 15 members. This diverse group consists of talented game designers, programmers, and graphic artists. Our ranks include both individuals just making their debut in the game development world and seasoned veterans who’ve contributed to numerous projects.