Game Developer Behind Critically Acclaimed “Baldur’s Gate 3” to Open New Office in Warsaw

WARSAW, Poland — May 20, 2024 — Larian Studios, the independent game developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3, the critically acclaimed RPG and winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards, is about to set up base in one of the greatest RPG development hubs in the world with the launch of a new studio in Warsaw, Poland.

As the team ramps up development on its next games, Larian is excited to boost its existing 24-hour development cycle with the addition of this seventh studio. Larian Studios Warsaw will be joining a global team of sister studios in Quebec, Dublin, Guildford, Barcelona, Ghent, and Kuala Lumpur.

“The decision to open a permanent studio in Warsaw shows how serious we are about encouraging creativity, collaboration, and innovation in the heart of Poland’s lively gaming scene,” said Ula Jach, Head of Studio. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with the abundant talent and expertise of the region, especially considering Poland’s strong reputation as a hub for RPG and gaming enthusiasts.”

Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, said, “Visiting the Game Industry Conference last year confirmed what I’d been thinking for a while – there’s a lot of talent here and a lot of devs who think like us. On top of that, many of them want to work on RPGs, so it’s a match made in heaven.

“Our plan for the Polish studio is very simple. Build a team that can work on our two – very ambitious – new RPGs and enjoy the fruits of their labor. We’re a very bottom-up company, so I’m eager to see what new things they’ll bring us. I think it’ll work really well.”

More information on Larian Studios Warsaw, including job listings, can be found on the studio’s website. Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

More information on Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on the official website. You can stay up to date with the latest Larian Studios news via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and the official Discord server.

About Larian Studios

Larian Studios is an independent RPG developer founded in 1996 in Ghent, Belgium. Over 400 people work between worldwide studios in Ghent, Quebec, Dublin, Guildford, Malaysia, Barcelona and Warsaw. Larian is best known for the Divinity universe, which they introduced to the world with Divine Divinity in 2002, and Baldur’s Gate 3.

In 2014, Larian launched Divinity: Original Sin, a classic CRPG that won over 150 awards and nominations. The company released its critically acclaimed sequel Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Sept. 14, 2017, followed by the Definitive Edition in August 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to a 93 Metacritic rating. The Nintendo Switch version released in September 2019 featuring cross-save progression between Nintendo Switch and Steam. Divinity: Original Sin 2 won a BAFTA for Best Multiplayer Game. On Aug. 3, 2023, Larian Studios released Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC. On Sept. 6, 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 was released on PS5. On Dec. 7, 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 released for Xbox Series X|S. Baldur’s Gate 3 has won over 200 Game of the Year Awards, including the five major trophies from the BAFTA Game Awards, Golden Joysticks, Game Developers Choice, DICE, and The Game Awards.

Check out the speedster Mercurial and the electrifying Weathervane!

BRISBANE, Australia / HAMBURG, Germany, May 21, 2024 – Developer Spitfire Interactive and Publisher Daedalic Entertainment posted two new trailers for their upcoming turn-based superhero tactics game Capes, which is coming to PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on May 29th, 2024.

MEET MERCURIAL

Mercurial is a versatile hero who combines immense speed with raw power. Even before getting her powers, Mercurial let her fists do the talking. From street fighting to professional combat sports, she’s been an active presence on the local scene. However, once she realized that her reflexes and speed had become inhuman, she knew she had just two options: join the Capes or get captured by The Company – the group that declared superpowers illegal.

Mercurial’s speed allows her to cover huge distances, land some hefty punches, confuse or even disarm enemies and get out of danger, all within the blink of an eye.

MEET WEATHERVANE

Weathervane was a keen football player with a quick temper and big dreams. He’s been training hard and blowing through the competition, but that all changes when he accidentally unleashes his powers and gets captured by The Company for nefarious experiments. Luckily, the Capes save his life. He joins them to fight the good fight…and to get revenge.

Weathervane’s Lightning Scourge shocks multiple enemies at once, while his wind abilities allow him to push and pull fuel barrels right to where he wants them – with explosive results!

ABOUT CAPES

At its core, Capes is an action focused turn-based superhero strategy game. Level up your heroes and combine their powers to access devastating team-up attacks in strategically challenging missions. Play across the dark and gritty campaign to reveal the truth behind the horrific Enhancement Program created by the supervillain Operator Alpha, and complete side-missions to improve your heroes and learn more about their past.

KING CITY EDITION

Those who want to save the city with flair should consider the Capes: King City Edition, which launches simultaneously. The King City Edition includes the full game and the Supporters Pack, filled to the brim with extra content including alternate hero appearances, an art book featuring more than 50 pages of the art behind Capes, and more.

About Daedalic Entertainment

Daedalic Entertainment is a renowned publisher that has supported indie developers for over 17 years, bringing their titles to every major gaming platform. The line-up of games includes a diverse variety of unique titles, focusing on four distinct areas: storytelling, strategy, co-op games, and wholesome games. With an international team of around 45 employees, Daedalic is currently working with various development studios to create a new line-up of innovative games across consoles and PCs to market. Recent hits include New Cycle, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Potion Tycoon, Deponia, Shadow Tactics, Inkulinati, Hidden Deep, Fling to the Finish! and more.

Please look out for upcoming games like Reveil, Capes, Woodo, Magin: The Rat Project Stories, Edge of Sanity, Wild Woods, and many more. Since April 2022, Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house Nacon.

For further reference please visit: https://press.daedalic.com/. Follow Daedalic Entertainment on Steam, so you don’t miss out on future releases: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/daedalic/  

About Spitfire Interactive

Spitfire Interactive is an Australian development studio founded by former team members of Defiant Development, who made the critically acclaimed Hand of Fate (2015), a roguelike deckbuilder with third-person brawler combat. The team includes writer Morgan Jaffit, who earned his cape working on Freedom Force (2002) and Teen Titans (2006).

In collaboration with iconic Korean chicken restaurant Gami Chicken, PlayStation Australia is celebrating the launch of its latest title Stellar Blade™ with a limited edition burger – the Stellar Blade™ Chicken Burger. 

Available from today until June 16th, you can head to participating Gami Chicken restaurants in Sydney or Melbourne to taste the Stellar Blade-inspired burger. Enjoy a golden crispy chicken fillet, topped with coleslaw and rich Gami cheese sauce on a slightly toasted blue bun. Take a look at the drool-worthy burger here.

The Stellar Blade™ Burger will be available for $12 Dine-In and Takeaway, and $13.50 through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Every order of the Stellar Blade burger gives diners a chance to win one of five PlayStation®5 prize packs. 

Stellar Blade is an all-new story-driven action adventure on PlayStation®5. Ravaged by strange, powerful creatures, Earth has been abandoned, and what is left of the decimated human race has fled to a Colony in outer space. After travelling from the Colony, 7th Airborne Squad member EVE arrives on the desolate remains of our planet with a clear-cut mission: to save humankind by reclaiming Earth.

After fuelling up in-store, join EVE to reclaim Earth from humankind in Stellar Blade™, now available on PlayStation®5 via PlayStation Store and at select retailers.

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

Three Brand New Maps – a VIP Island Resort, a Graveyard and a Circus – Set the Stage for More Foam Party Battles

SYDNEY (May 20, 2024) – SQUARE ENIX® has launched FUTURE FUNK, the fourth season of FOAMSTARS™. FUTURE FUNK gives players three vibrant new maps to foam, slide and party their way through. This season’s Extreme Party events bring an all-Coiff Guy melee in the Pitchside Homerun Party!  where the goal is to knock opponents into the water, while the One-Shot Chill Party supercharges your FOAMSTAR with a one-shot defeat ability. And Happy FriYAY Party returns, giving players a chance to try out next season’s new FOAMSTAR.

Watch the FUTURE FUNK Trailer

FUTURE FUNK highlights include:

• Season 4 brings a new map for each game mode:
  • Smash the Star: Battle in the luxurious VIP resort Manami An, a floating island out at sea that features a sprawling Zen Garden.
  • Happy Bath Survival: The Ghoulish Glide Graveyard brings players to a terrifying theme park with sneaky paths and a giant coffin in the centre of the stage.
  • Rubber Duck Party: The grand marquee of a Bath Vegas circus troupe, Sing Swing Circus will see FOAMSTARS fighting for control of the duck with the aid of launch poppers for quick shortcuts and a bridge to hold their ground.
• Extreme Party: Knock other players off a brand-new map in the Coiff Guy Pitchside Homerun Party! And don’t miss the One-Shot Chill Party, a 2-vs-2 battle where you can foam up an opponent with a single shot.
• New Free Skins: Take on limited-time challenges to unlock 8 new skins inspired by hololive’s virtual streamers.
• Free Weekly Items: Check out the FOAMSTARS shop every Friday for free items. This month don’t miss out on a new Mel T dance, two new foam guns with Jet Justice’s Green Poison and Soa’s Green Checked, a new Slideboard and more!
• Happy FriYAY Party: A limited-time party event to try-out next season’s new FOAMSTAR. 
• Ranked Party: Two limited-time seasonal events, the solo player-based Ranked Party Lonestar and team-based Ranked Party Tribe-Vibe.

For more information, including local seasonal event timings, please visit the FOAMSTARS blog and social channels. 

FOAMSTARS is available to purchase via the PlayStation® Store and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. An internet connection is required to play FOAMSTARS.

PS Plus is an ongoing subscription with a recurring fee. Age restrictions and terms apply. 

For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit the official website and follow FOAMSTARS social media channels.

About FOAMSTARS

FOAMSTARS is a vibrant, over-the-top shooter, that is accessible to players of all skill levels. It combines the fun of partying with the thrill of combat where players blast through matches using foam to attack, build and defend. Taking control of a quirky and colorful ensemble of athletes, players are dropped into the eccentric city of Bath Vegas to compete in FOAMSMASH. Created as a casual yet competitive experience for everyone, FOAMSTARS features a combination of PvP and PvE modes for up to eight players, either as four vs. four, solo, or co-op as a Squad with three teammates.

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 

© SQUARE ENIX. “PlayStation”, “PS5”, and “PS4” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Get your boost of nostalgia: TAITO Milestones 3 hits the Nintendo eShop in Winter 2024!

Berlin, Germany – May 18th, 2024 – We won’t slow down just yet – the ININ x TAITO partnership continues to heat up! ININ, in collaboration with TAITO, is thrilled to announce the third instalment in the TAITO Milestones series, made exclusively for the Nintendo Switch!

TAITO Milestones 3 is set to release in Winter 2024, so retro gaming fans all around the world can get hype for over seven classic TAITO games from the late 1980s and early 90s! With the cooperation of HAMSTER Corporation – the iconic gaming company from Japan that has dedicated efforts to porting arcade games to modern consoles in the “Arcade Archives”, reliving the memory of the golden age of arcade gaming.

But wait, there’s more! ININ’s newest announcement trailer features brand new original music straight from the legends of TAITO!

So grab a friend and enjoy the original “Bubble Bobble” title, or play as a thief-turned-hero in “Rastan Saga”! TAITO Milestones 3 revives timeless arcade classics for nostalgic fans and newcomers alike.

Read on to see the first batch of games to be included in TAITO Milestones 3!

Bubble Bobble (1986)

Experience a blast from the past in the original 2 player, co-op arcade version of Bubble Bobble! Use Bubby and Bobby’s bubble-blowing powers to travel through 100 floors of monsters to rescue their girlfriends!

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987)

Play as Bubby and Bobby in their human forms! Instead of blowing bubbles, rule with rainbows as you climb to your goal! Battle monsters and the ultimate arch enemy, Boss of Shadow, in order to save the inhabitants of Rainbow Islands who have been captured by your arch enemy!

Rastan Saga (1987)

In this platform action game, follow the journey of Rastan the Thief, in a tale set before he became king, as he sets off on the Princess’ orders to protect the kingdom of Ceim. Battle enemies along the way and defeat the monstrous dragon with various items, and weapons like a fire sword, a hammer, or an axe!

Cadash (1989)

Princess Sarasa, symbol of peace for the prosperous and naturally bountiful Deezar, has been kidnapped. Choose between a fighter, mage, priest or ninja to defeat monsters, gather riches and strengthen your equipment to defeat the evil Baarogue in this classic 2 player co-op action RPG!

Champion Wrestler (1989)

Go to war in the ring in 8 rounds in order to become the champion.

Use technical moves such as aerial techniques and submission holds to ringside brawls and the use of deadly weapons! The action never lets up! Play together in tag-team matches or against each other 1v1, either way, this couch co-op promises lots of wrestling action.

Runark (1990)

This iconic beat-em-up features up to 4 player couch co-op! Play as a squad of rangers that must save the animals from evil poachers. Destroy bad guys by any means possible; use hand to hand combat or weapons like knives and rocket launchers! SHBROOM!

Thunder Fox (1990)

A run and gun action game released for arcades in 1990! Play as the Thunder Fox anti-terrorism team to bring down a terrorist organization. Drive tanks, pilot autogyros and ride marine jets and defeat enemies on your way to the terrorist base!

MORE TITLES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

What? Sad that you don’t see your favorite TAITO arcade classic? Well, it’s not over yet! Stay tuned for more titles to be announced in TAITO Milestones 3 later this summer!

About ININ

ININ, a subsidiary of United Games Entertainment GmbH, is a rising publishing label of high-quality retro, arcade, and indie games. With a passion for feel-good games, ININ brings classic titles back to life and creates future gaming gems. Known for titles like “Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World,” “Cotton Reboot,” and “CrossCode,” ININ is the Western publishing partner for iconic TAITO series such as “Bubble Bobble” and the legendary “Space Invaders.” In collaboration with partner label Strictly Limited Games, ININ offers limited and collector’s editions to die-hard gamers. As ININ continues to impact the gaming world, stay tuned for frequent announcements of new (or old but returning) games.

Visit www.iningames.com for more information.  

About TAITO Corporation

TAITO Corporation (TAITO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, TAITO operates core businesses such as game arcade operations, manufacturing coin-operated game machines, and mobile phone content services. A seminal part of gaming history, TAITO caused a worldwide sensation with its arcade legend, SPACE INVADERS, and developed such fan favorites as PUZZLE BOBBLE (BUST-A-MOVE) and ARKANOID. Today, TAITO continues to thrill game lovers of all generations by offering both classic and new family-oriented titles on the latest gaming platforms. TAITO delivers a wide range of entertainment experiences with the goal of providing consumers with fresh surprises and new discoveries. More information on TAITO can be found on the Internet at https://www.taito.co.jp/en

Journey beyond the steam to a desert land of mystery and intrigue!

TOKYO – May 17th, 2024 – Last night at Anime Central, MangaGamer announced their acquisition of HuneX’s sequel to Steam Prison, Steam Prison – Beyond the Steam. MangaGamer will be providing the English localization for the simultaneous international release on PC and Nintendo Switch. The PC version will be available on MangaGamer and Steam later this year.

MangaGamer also announced new USB physical editions of Umineko When They Cry for $49.95 and Higurashi When They Cry Hou+ for $49.95 to be released on July 4th. Pre-orders for both are available now on MangaGamer.

Promotional Website: Webpage

This third entry to the world of Steam Prison presents two new tales for our heroine, Cyrus. A New Theory, presents a new, alternative take on the original tale where Sachsen is the one to meet Cyrus instead of Ines, leading to her involvement with the HOUNDS and a new romantic ending with fan-favorite Sachsen.

The Cainabel Story follows the Grand Ending of the original Steam Prison as Cyrus and her party of handsome men journey to the new desert kingdom of Cainabel, where Cyrus meets with either the younger king, Jevite – a friendly, capable young man who burns hot like the sun as he investigates the former king’s passing, or the older king, Jereme – a stoic beacon for his people, as introspective as the moon while he tries to secure his kingdom’s future.

Key Features:

• Dramatic Storyline: The world of Steam Prison can be seen as a dark dystopia, but there’s always light to be found within their unreasonable world and the hard choices its people are forced to make.
• New Characters and New Endings: With both the Cainabel Story and A New Theory, Beyond the Steam adds three new romanceable characters, three different main scenarios, and over a dozen different endings for over 20 hours of brand new content.
• Unlockable Bonus Episodes: Beyond the Steam also includes new, unlockable bonus episodes for each of the original game’s romanceable characters.
• Brand-New Minigame: Enjoy Petit Prison, a fully-voiced spot-the-difference mini-game featuring cute, chibi renditions of the characters.
• Marriage?!: Fans will finally have the chance to see Cyrus get married to their love interests in the game!

What will Cyrus learn from the handsome kings of Cainabel? Can she truly help guide them and their nation toward a better future? And what about her own future? Surely the mysteries and strange experiences of Cainable will light her way…

For more information on Steam Prison – Beyond the Steam, as well as other titles from MangaGamer, be sure to join their discussion on Discord or follow MangaGamer on Twitter and Facebook. You can also check out their blog for comments from the staff and other featured articles!

ABOUT MANGAGAMER.COM
MangaGamer.com is the world’s biggest publisher of English translated Visual Novels. Since its launch in July 2008, it has offered services where fans can download and enjoy popular Visual Novels such as 07th Expansion’s Higurashi When They Cry series,Alicesoft’s infamous Rance series, and Novectacle’s critically acclaimed The House in Fata Morgana right from their home. Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Discord!

Reach horrific heights with the fantasy kidnapping simulator’s new gameplay mode

El Paso, TX – May 17, 2024 – Frosty Pop and Strange Scaffold are excited to announce that Life Eater’s much-anticipated Endless Mode is available now.

The new endless mode gives players an arena to determine how long they can evade capture while delaying the end of the world. Collect score points called ZEAL by building an airtight procedure around your sacrifices, investigate the lives of countless procedurally generated kidnapping targets, and survive as long as possible in your personal gauntlet of nightmares.

Life Eater is a horror fantasy kidnapping simulator where you play as a druid living in suburbia. You serve a dark entity by abducting and sacrificing specific but vaguely described humans every year to stop the apocalypse. Use a unique video editing-inspired interface to discover the intimate lives of your victims, one schedule block at a time. When the time is right, abduct them before authorities find out.

“We’re so excited to expand the playtime of Life Eater with a uniquely dark and intriguing systemic experience,” says Strange Scaffold founder Xalavier Nelson Jr. “You really just terrorize an entire city of people over the span of decades, now, and I can only hope that I don’t come to regret writing that sentence in a press release.”

Endless mode is available as a free downloadable update. You can purchase Life Eater on Steam for PC for $14.99. 

About Strange Scaffold

Strange Scaffold is the development label of Xalavier Nelson Jr., known for his work as a leading developer on El Paso, Elsewhere, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs, Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, Sunshine Shuffle, and dozens of other critically acclaimed projects. For more information on Strange Scaffold, visit https://strangescaffold.com

About Frosty Pop

Frosty Pop has developed over 30 playful original video games for Netflix Games, Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, Steam, the App Store, and Google Play. The studio was founded in 2014 by Faisal Sethi in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has been fully remote and distributed since its inception. Visit Frosty Pop for more information.

Explore, loot, fish, build and more in open world pirate adventure on the high seas!

Tønsberg, Norway, 17th May, 2024 – Solo developer Jardar Solli announced today that open world pirate RPG Seablip is now available in Early Access on Steam for PC and Mac for $14.99 / £12.79 / €14.79. Start exploring, building, looting, fishing and more today in this anticipated 8-bit pirate adventure! Slated for full launch in 2025, Seablip also boasts a swashbuckling soundtrack by acclaimed musician and composer Christian Balvig, now available here.

Drawing inspiration from titles such as Faster Than Light and Sid Meier’s Pirates!, Seablip offers the freedom to explore, build and even fish as you sail the high seas and defeat enemies! Upgrade your ship with extra cannons and inventory space, hire a new crew to aid you in your adventures and gather resources from a range of sources – chopping trees, mining minerals and watering crops as you make use of the tools at your disposal. Engage in a plethora of minigames and activities as you progress, building bases and making use of your trusty fishing rod. Find gold from treasure or earn it by selling your wares, or even take bounties found around the world and enhance your pirate reputation as you get paid.

Following successful funding of the game through Kickstarter and a well received demo released during the Steam Next Fest, solo developer Jardar Solli looks to release Seablip into early access this year, while he perfects the many mechanics present in the title and adds new features to what is already a highly ambitious RPG. 

Embark on your pirate adventure and discover an ominous mystery in Seablip, out now in Early Access!

About Jardar Solli

Following 5 years (more than 10,000 hours) of development on Seablip, including a successful Kickstarter campaign that launched in 2020, self taught coder and solo developer Jardar Solli is edging closer to living his dream in releasing his first title. Seablip will launch on Early Access in 2024, aiming for a full launch in 2025.

About Christian Balvig (Composer)

The 32 year old Dane, Christian Balvig, is known for his work as composer and arranger for an array of bands and ensembles, including Copenhagen Phil, The Royal Danish Orchestra, Det Norske Blåsensemble, Mew, Lowly, Efterklang, Dreamers Circus and When Saints Go Machine just to name a few. His own records “Music For Humans”, “Associated with Water” and “Night Poem” have been critically acclaimed internationally. Christian works seamlessly across different genres and mediums, and has also worked as producer, film scorer and composer on several occasions. Other documentary movies he has scored include “A Word For Human” (composer) by Mauricio Ananda-Gonzales and “Cry Wolf” (composer). Additionally, Christian has organised the Soundvenue Crossover x The Royal Danish Orchestra with artists such as Brimheim, CHINAH and Eee Gee. Christian also organized several of Copenhagen Phil’s “60 minutes” with artists such as Lowly, Blaue Blume, Emma Sehested Høeg and When Saints Go Machine, to name a few. 

Christian has played concerts and festivals all over the world including in Japan, India, Vietnam, Gambia, USA and most of Europe, as pianist and keyboardist.

Nordic Game, NG24 Spring takes place from May 21 to May 24 in Malmö, Sweden. All confirmed speakers can be found here.

Johan Pilestad, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios and Creative Director of Helldivers 2 has now been confirmed as a new speaker. For the past 15 years he has been leading the vision of Arrowhead while the company created its unique style of social and challenging co-op games like Magicka, Gauntlet, Helldivers and Helldivers 2.

Dubbed “Helldivers 2 – You won’t believe this actually happened!”, Johan’s talk takes place in the main theatre of the NG24 Spring venue on Thursday 23 May 2pm CEST.

The nominees for the Nordic Game Awards have also been announced and can be found here.

Secure your pass today at nordicgame.com/registration.

The Nordic Game brochure can be downloaded here. Contact Nordic Game here for some great opportunities on exhibitor, sponsor, group and partner packages for the next event and beyond.

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About the Nordic Game conference

Nordic Game is the leading games conference in Europe. Gathering thousands of industry professionals in the spring and autumn each year, Nordic Game is the one and only “home turf” meeting place for the highly successful game developers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Additional development time confirmed for Chinese-inspired ink-style action roguelite

Guangzhou, China – 17th May 2024. Publisher 663 Games and developer Leap Studio have today announced a new Early Access Roadmap and release window for the highly anticipated action roquelite Realm of Ink. Following recent closed playtests and community feedback, 663 Games and Leap Studio have made the decision to extend the current development milestone and move the Early Access launch to Q3 2024. This new date will allow the team to implement additional content and enhancements, which will, in turn, deliver a deeper gameplay experience. 

‘We made a commitment to our community and fans that their first taste of the Early Access launch of Realm of Ink would be a beautiful experience’ said Dai, CEO of Leap Studio. ‘While the version we were working on was content-rich and stable, we knew that we wanted to offer more and make good on this commitment. By moving the Early Access release window to Q3, we can ensure that all the great content we promised will be implemented and most importantly offer a deep and thrilling gameplay experience.’

With the Early Access launch moving to Q3, fans can still get some hands-on time with Realm of Ink, as an updated version of the playable demo is going live on Steam today. Building on the already robust gameplay content, the Steam demo now offers new areas, bosses and much more for players to immerse themselves in. The updated demo can be downloaded from Steam today, and fans can still add the game to their Wishlists. 

More details on the exact release date for the Realm of Ink Early Access version will be announced soon. In the meantime, check out this brand-new gameplay trailer with never-before-seen footage and new content information! 

Watch the new gameplay trailer below

About Realm of Ink

During the hunt for a cunning Fox demon, the heroine and expert swordswoman Red,  discovers that she is a fictional character in the short story collection Realm of Ink. Only by unlocking the dark secrets of the Book Spirit will Red discover the truth of her existence and defy her fate.

The story unfolds in a virtual realm called “Realm of Ink” where inhabitants unknowingly exist as mere fabrications within a fictional world. Controlled by the mysterious Book Spirit, they obediently follow predetermined fates, oblivious to their cyclical lives.

• In the Realm of Ink, the puppets awaken – Begin your journey as the swordswoman Red, gradually unlocking additional characters as you progress. Utilizing the Fox Demons’ immortal power, traverse treacherous ‘Story Relics’ and confront four bosses with unique backgrounds to escape from the ever-changing Realm of Ink. By surmounting the various challenges and obstacles ahead, you will redefine your ‘destiny’ through the constant cycle of rebirth, wielding your sword with resilience.
• Exquisite Ink-style Art – From the verdant Buddhist forests, the frigid enchanted Monkey Kingdom, and the gentle yet terrifying waterland to the ancient and reverent ruins of Mausoleum, the four major levels each have a guardian, and their mysterious pasts await your exploration. Wielding a sword, venture alone through the dim world and overcome formidable foes. Explore and conquer over 20 creatures with distinctive Chinese characteristics, including the Fox Demon, Peony Fairy, and Mirror Sprite. Each of them comes with a unique backstory. 
• Fierce battles with infinite creativity – Embark on thrilling battles and explore diverse combinations to craft your unique combat style. Choose from 3 playable characters: Unparalleled Swordswoman Red, Nightmare Hunter Wang Ding, and Fox Judge Ning Ye; and equip yourself with 9 powerful weapons, including the Scarlet Sword and the Shadow Twin Blades. Further enhance your abilities with over 20 distinctive Ink Gems such as the Tiger Ink, Venom Ink and Curse Ink and discover a vast array of over 120 Artefacts including the Shadow Kite, the Lamp of Seven Stars and the Doom Gauge.
• Various combinations and builds – Ink Gems have assorted appearances, and they will reinforce one another. Use them to explore diverse builds of martial arts schools and master powerful skills of Yin and Yang to defeat enemies with a single strike.
• Discover rare magical treasures – Hundreds of rare magical treasures trigger various unique effects and provide distinctive attribute bonuses, empowering your martial arts schools and allowing you to effortlessly defeat all enemies! You can also engage in long-term character development outside of combat and unlock new combinations of moves and combat styles. With a dual-cycle system inside and outside combat, you’ll have a fresh experience every time!
• A journey into the unknown, composed of distinctive stages – Explore a variety of battle stages and routes where you can collect Ink Relics, fortune and magical treasure as well as duels with bosses. In this exhilarating journey into the unknown, you will enter various stages and encounter a diverse cast of NPCs, making the entire journey full of surprises!  
• Fight alongside your intimate Ink Pets – Mysterious in origin and adorable in appearance, the Ink Pets will be your companions. As the Ink Gems level up, your Ink Pets will also undergo a transformation, becoming more powerful to fight alongside you!

Realm of Ink will be released for PC via Steam Early Access in Q3 2024. Console versions will release later. Fans can download the PC demo and wishlist the game on Steam now.

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About 663 Games 

663 Games is a newly established publishing label committed to premium and indie game publishing on PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. The company, headquartered in China, was founded by a team of passionate gamers and industry veterans. The team had a proven track record of achieving global success with several titles previously, offering extensive experience and resources for worldwide publishing, along with unique advantages for a strong presence in the Chinese market. The team empathises with the financial challenges that independent developers and small teams often encounter, and 663 Games is dedicated to providing them with funding support to help bring their creative visions to life. As a new, ambitious and trustworthy global publisher, 663 Games collaborates closely with developers to ensure commercial success.