Decopunk narrative RPG blends character storytelling with tactical vehicular combat in a city transformed by anti-gravity technology

Issaquah, WA, USA – March 31st, 2026 – Seismic Squirrel today announced that Aether & Iron, a narrative RPG focused on character-driven storytelling that’s fully voiced with over 200 characters is now available on PC via Steam for $24.99 / €24.50 / £20.99 with a launch discount of 20%! 

Set in an alternate 1930s New York transformed into a vertical city by the discovery of “aether”, a key component to newfound anti-gravitational technology, Aether & Iron follows Gia, a smuggler navigating crime syndicates, political conspiracies, and fragile alliances. Players are able to recruit a crew of unique and resourceful companions, and together you make choices that will determine whether the city finds hope or falls to corruption. The game is fully voiced and features writing talent with credits on Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate, with an original score composed by two-time Grammy Award winner Christopher Tin and Grammy nominee Alex Williamson, best known for their work on the Civilization series. 

“Aether & Iron has been years in the making for our team,” said Tyler Whitney, Narrative Director at Seismic Squirrel. “We’ve poured a huge amount of care into its world, characters and choice-driven systems so we’re incredibly excited for players to finally step into this alternate New York and see how their story unfolds.” 

Gameplay blends narrative driven roleplaying with tactical, turn-based vehicular combat that reflects the risks of life in the city’s underworld. Players customize a fleet of aether powered vehicles and recruit a diverse cast of companions, each bringing unique talents and personal stories that influence both combat encounters and narrative paths.  

As a seemingly simple smuggling job escalates into a conspiracy threatening the entire city, players develop their Hustle, Smarts and Brass – core abilities that shape combat effectiveness, dialogue options and high-stakes decisions. Even the most carefully considered choices carry uncertainty, where success or failure can come down to a single dice roll. Over time, those decisions determine whether New York’s citizens find hope or remain trapped in corruption and violence. 

Key Features 

• Save Your City: Thoroughly researched and inspired by real life counterparts from 1930s New York City, explore its backstreets, dive into its seedy underbelly, marvel at stunning architecture, and peel back the city’s many layers of power and greed. 
• Turn-Based Vehicular Combat: Assemble a wide range of incredible aether-powered vehicles and unlock new tactical options to try out in an interesting twist on strategic, turn-based vehicular battles. 
• Muster Your Crew: Recruit unique and resourceful companions to watch your back, and follow their stories. Each is armed with a range of talents that can make all the difference in a jam. 
• Dive into An Underground Life: Navigate secret paths, dodge enemies, hide contraband, and stay ahead of the big bosses out to get you. 
• Your Choices Matter: Your decisions will shape the unfolding history of New York and the lives of its citizens, determining whether they will be able to find hope in a corrupt world of manipulation and violence. 
• Grow your Talents: Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. But no matter how good you are, you’re always a dice roll away from success or failure. 
• Drive in Style: Upgrade your aether-powered rides to suit your playstyle. Enhance your cars with every trick in the smuggler’s toolkit – hidden compartments, smoke dispensers, and, of course, flamethrowers. 
• Hand-drawn Art: Inspired by 1930’s detective comics and the art deco period, Aether & Iron brings a unique visual identity to gameplay. 
• Full English Language Voice Acting: Experience an alt-history 1930s New York directly through the voices of its inhabitants. Learn their stories; sometimes funny, sometimes philosophical, usually tragic.

Aether & Iron is available now on Steam and Steam Deck on March 31, 2026, featuring full English voice acting and text localization support for English, Spanish (Spain & Latin America), French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese – Players can purchase Aether & Iron and try the demo today on Steam!

About Seismic Squirrel
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics. 

Jagex’s open-world survival crafting game launches a new region filled with new gameplay, malevolent forces, and a new tier of materials to craft powerful weapons and armour alongside dedicated servers.

Tuesday, 31st March 2026, Cambridge, UK – Jagex: The RuneScape Company has today launched Dowdun Reach, the latest free major content update to RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Currently in Steam Early Access, the survival crafting game sees solo players or teams of up to four explore the previously undiscovered RuneScape continent of Ashenfall. Dowdun Reach expands the adventure with new gameplay and the introduction of a brand-new region where, at its heart, sits a foreboding, cursed fortress ruled by the Black Knight Titan and his malevolent forces.

Check out the Dowdun Reach gameplay trailer 

The release of Dowdun Reach coincides with all skill level caps rising to 99, ensuring players can continue to grind XP and maximise gains as they explore the fortress’s maze-like structures. In addition to the new region, a brand-new tier of gear and upgrades made of Mithril makes its debut in the update, with rich veins of the metal found throughout the fortress waiting to be mined. Players can craft up to eight different Mithril-based weapons, including a Greataxe and Greatsword, while the hides from the lesser blue dragons found roaming Dowdun Reach can be made into a new set of dragonhide armour. For the more magically inclined, the iconic mystic robes make their RuneScape: Dragonwilds debut.

Today’s update also sees the launch of dedicated servers for RuneScape: Dragonwilds through preferred supplier, Shockbyte. For players taking advantage of this new opportunity, they’ll see support for an increased player count from four to six, enabling them to adventure across Ashenfall with even more friends! 

April marks Dragonwilds’ one-year anniversary since it launched into Early Access; to celebrate the milestone, a further update will see the much-anticipated Fishing Skill land in the game, together with new quests, skill spells, decorations, and – of course – fish to catch and cook.

The release of Dowdun Reach follows the successful launch of Dragonwilds’ first major update, Fellhollow, in December 2025. Smaller updates, such as February’s Beyond the Grave, included additional quests and activities for brave explorers to discover, continuing the game’s momentum through Early Access. Future major updates for 2026 include Umbral Sands in late Q2, and Scorned Wilderness, scheduled for late Q3, with additional monthly content throughout the year.

About Jagex

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Jagex: The RuneScape Company, is a leader in creating deep and engaging forever games that empower communities across PC and mobile. Our MMORPG franchise, RuneScape, is played around the world and has welcomed over 300 million player accounts.

As RuneScape enters its 25th year in 2026, we are accelerating our strategy to expand RuneScape into a broader ecosystem of forever games and connected experiences, grounded in a renewed commitment to integrity and fair play. This includes the reduction of monetisation mechanics, as well as the launch of RuneScape: Dragonwilds into Steam Early Access in 2025, representing a major step in building a multi-genre future for the RuneScape universe. Jagex: The RuneScape Company remains focused on building enduring worlds, empowering player-led innovation, and laying the foundations for the boldest era in RuneScape’s history.

For more information, visit www.jagex.com. 

Today, Xbox announced the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will air at 3am AEST on Monday June 8, immediately followed by a deep dive into the return of one of Xbox’s most legendary franchises: the Gears of War: E-DayDirect.

Showcase will include first gameplay looks and significant news updates about upcoming titles from studios within the Xbox family, as well as from partners around the globe. The Gears of War: E-DayDirect will take viewers into the start of Emergence Day, offering new details and gameplay straight from the team behind the Gears franchise, The Coalition Studio.

In celebration of Xbox’s 25th anniversary, FanFest is also back at Showcase, with a look at the last 25 years of Xbox – and what’s coming next.

Airtime for the Xbox Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-DayDirect double feature, which will be available in over 40 languages as well as American Sign Language, British Sign Language and English Audio Descriptions on June 8 at 3:00 am AEST.

The double feature will be available on the Xbox YouTube channel, Xbox Twitch channel, Xbox ASL Twitch channel, and the Xbox Facebook channel, among other outlets. For more information, please check out today’s Xbox Wire post – and mark your calendars for Monday June 8. 

As we roll down the Road to WrestleMania 42, we’re excited to share several WWE 2K26 updates.

With WrestleMania fast approaching, we reminisce about the Superstars, Legends, and iconic moments of the past that established WrestleMania as the “Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment.”

To help players relive some of those legendary matches, and create WrestleMania moments of their own in WWE 2K26, we’re offering the following opportunity to catch up as Ringside Pass Season 2 launches on April 15: 

• Starting today, all current and future players will be granted enough RXP for Ringside Pass Season 1 to unlock 20 tiers. Please allow 24 hours for this RXP to be added to your Ringside Pass Season 1 progress after logging in;
• All players who have installed, linked a 2K account, and played the game prior to April 15, 2026, at 4:59 PM AEDT will also receive enough RXP for Ringside Pass Season 2 to unlock 20 tiers when Season 2 launches;
• Required RXP per tier will be reduced from 800 to 625 RXP for Season 2, and required RXP per tier will not increase for future Seasons. The values of consumable RXP Boosts will also be increased;

Starting with Season 2, all four DLC characters in future Ringside Pass Premium Seasons will be available in Tier 1, and automatically available to unlock in the Ringside Pass Menu for Premium Pass players when those respective Seasons launch.

Alongside these updates, Patch 1.07 is now live for WWE 2K26, bringing gameplay improvements, balance adjustments, and new content across all platforms. This update includes a wide range of improvements and fixes across the game, including: 

• Adjustments to the Stamina Meter:
  • Adjusted Stamina costs to increase more gradually over the duration of a match so players are less likely to become Winded early on;
  • Reversals now cost less stamina when you are fighting more than one opponent;
• An increased damage threshold to avoid instant DQ as a result of attacking a Referee;
• The addition of several new moves, including Chelsea Green’s Cradle Flatliner and Blake Monroe’s Glamour Shot Finisher;
• Enhancements to The Island, including the ability to Prestige directly from the Training menu, and a limited-time 2x VC event for PvP matches (March 30–April 15);
• Updates across the Creation Suite, Universe, MyFACTION, MyRISE, and The Island, along with many more improvements, are detailed in the full patch notes available here.

We appreciate the passion, time, and feedback you continue to share with us. We hope you enjoy these changes and take the opportunity to catch up on the home stretch to “The Grandest Stage of Them All!”

The Show Never Stops.

IllFonic celebrates a standout showing at PAX East with overwhelming fan turnout, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title win

Lakewood, CO – March 30, 2026 – Halloween, the upcoming asymmetrical stealth horror game developed and published IllFonic, co-published Gun Interactive, alongside partners Compass International Pictures and Further Front, had a major impact this past weekend at PAX East, drawing thousands of attendees to experience its first-ever playable demo, attend a highly anticipated panel, and take part in a successful GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title attempt for the “Largest gathering of people dressed as Michael Myers (Halloween franchise).”

Throughout the weekend, eager fans–inspired by the terrifying character from master horror filmmaker John Carpenter’s 1978 film–lined up to get hands-on with the show-exclusive demo, which offered an intense 1v4 multiplayer experience set in the shadowy streets of Haddonfield Heights. Players stepped into the roles of either the relentless Michael Myers or desperate Civilians, navigating a tense, stealth-driven game of survival that faithfully captures the atmosphere of the 1978 classic. 

On Saturday, March 28, IllFonic hosted a packed panel exploring how developers and original creators collaborate to build authentic interactive worlds. The discussion featured Ryan Freimann of Compass International Pictures, alongside IllFonic’s Jared Gerritzen and Jordan Mathewson, with legendary filmmaker John Carpenter joining virtually. The panel offered fans rare insight into the creative process behind adapting one of horror’s most iconic films into an interactive experience.

Later that afternoon, IllFonic, Trancas International Films, and fans made horror history. In front of the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, 254 attendees dressed as Michael Myers gathered to officially break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest assembly of the iconic slasher. Donning the signature mask, blue jumpsuit, and prop knife, participants united in a chilling tribute that transformed the streets of Boston into a sea of “Shapes,” marking one of the event’s most memorable moments.

Halloween launches September 8, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. 

​​To dig deeper into IllFonic and its titles, visit IllFonic’s official website and follow Halloween’s official socials on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, and join the official Discord to get the latest news as development continues.

© 2025 Compass International Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Halloween and Michael Myers are trademarks of Compass. Game software excluding Compass International Pictures, Inc. elements: ©2025 IllFonic, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Developed by IllFonic, Inc. IllFonic® and the IllFonic Logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of IllFonic, Inc. throughout the world. © 2025 Gun Media Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gun Media™ and the Gun Media™ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Gun Media Holdings, Inc. throughout the world.

About IllFonic

Founded in 2007, IllFonic is an independent video game developer with studios in Lakewood, Colorado and Tacoma, Washington. Our staff is composed of video game, music, and technology veterans redefining how games are made and marketed. Titles and collaborations include Halloween, Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Arcadegeddon, Friday the 13th: The Game, Dead Alliance, Star Citizen, Evolve, Armored Warfare, and Nexuiz.

For more information visit www.illfonic.com 

About Gun Interactive

Gun can best be described as a concept design studio and publisher, with an unrelenting vision and authentic approach to crafting some of the most popular horror experiences gaming has seen to date. 

Founded in 2010, Gun has grown into a diverse team of people from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. As a creative house, we’re responsible for over $200M+ in revenue and 20M players across our compact, but impressive portfolio.

For more information visit: www.guninteractive.com 

About Compass International Pictures

Compass International Pictures, Inc. (a subsidiary of Trancas International Films, Inc.), is the iconic Producer of the original 1978 classic, “John Carpenter’s Halloween,” which continues to this day managing the rights to this classic film and the original slasher, Michael Myers.

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

About Further Front

Further Front pushes the boundaries in the world of licensing, merchandise, digital and live entertainment, bringing years of experience in numerous entertainment fields to consult on, produce, and deliver compelling and immersive experiences around the world.

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

About John Carpenter

John Carpenter is an influential filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and composer whose work has shaped modern horror and genre cinema for decades. A graduate of the USC School of Cinema, he first gained attention with Dark Star before breaking through with Halloween in 1978, which became the most profitable independent film of its time and launched a landmark franchise.

His directing credits include genre classics such as The Fog, The Thing, Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China, They Live, Christine, Prince of Darkness, In The Mouth Of Madness, Vampires, and Escape from L.A., as well as Starman, which earned Jeff Bridges an Academy Award nomination. For television, he directed “Elvis” and “John Carpenter Presents Body Bags,” and received a CableACE Award for writing El Diablo. More than five decades in, for the first time in his career he will release his first original graphic novel with CATHEDRAL in August 2026. Also to further cement his talents as a composer and musical artist known for soundtracking his own projects, the release will be accompanied by CATHEDRAL the album. Details forthcoming. Carpenter is also an accomplished composer, releasing his debut non-soundtrack album Lost Themes in 2014 to international acclaim. Born in Carthage, New York, and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, he lives in Hollywood with his wife and producing partner, Sandy King.

[Oregon, USA– March 30, 2026 ] –  A peaceful escape awaits among sunlit vineyards.  Pangea Game Studios, in partnership with indie publishing platform indie.io, has released the Cozy Builder demo on Steam for House & Home Fest, giving players their first hands-on look at the upcoming cozy sandbox builder.

Cozy Builder is a relaxing sandbox building experience where players design and restore charming homes across a tranquil vineyard valley. While it shares the creative freedom of cozy builders like Tiny Glade and Townscaper, Cozy Builder introduces a unique modular puzzle-building system, inviting players to craft their dream château while rebuilding a countryside shaped by quiet disaster.

Set in the aftermath of an earthquake, Cozy Builder places players in a once-thriving valley now left in disrepair. As the only builder capable of restoring its intricate architectural style, players will rebuild homes piece by piece, bringing warmth, beauty, and life back to the region while earning the gratitude of its townsfolk.

The newly released demo offers a robust vertical slice of the full experience, introducing players to Cozy Builder’s core systems. Through a guided tutorial and a series of builder-focused objectives, players will engage with the game’s signature modular construction system—assembling architectural elements like dormers, arches, and gabled roofs as part of satisfying 3D building puzzles. The demo offers guided content, but remains open-ended—allowing players to continue building, decorating, and experimenting long after objectives are complete. 

Beyond construction, players can fully immerse themselves in the valley they restore. Cozy Builder allows players to live inside their creations, decorating both interiors and exteriors with detailed furniture, greenery, and handcrafted elements. From ivy-covered cottages to elegant greenhouse sanctuaries filled with rare plants, every space becomes a personal reflection of the player’s style.

The vineyard setting adds another layer of cozy immersion. Players can harvest grapes, forage for ingredients, and craft artisanal goods like wine and preserves—connecting their creative efforts to the land itself. With no combat, fail states, or time pressure, the experience is designed as a calming retreat where creativity and exploration take center stage.

Players can begin restoring the valley today by downloading the Cozy Builder demo on Steam. 

Explore, decorate and revitalize a neighborhood of abandoned homes at your own pace today on PC and Mac!

SEATTLE – March 30, 2026 – Publisher tinyBuild and developer Come On Studio are chilled to announce that Hozy, the calm and cozy home renovation game, is available now on PC and Mac via Steam for $14.99 with a 10% discount at launch! One of the Top 10 most played titles during Steam Next Fest, with over 500,000 wishlists, see why so many players are itching to snuggle up in Hozy’s soothing atmosphere and find delight in even the smallest of details!

Free of the pressures that typically come with home renovation, Hozy is designed to help you enter a relaxing, satisfying flow as you explore nine unique locations, each telling a part of the residents’ personal stories. Unlock your inner designer and play at your own pace with no timers, no scores and no wrong choices. With a carefully curated selection of furniture and deeply satisfying tools at your disposal, enjoy tactile item interactions and decorate to your heart’s content!

Key Features

• The Hozy Flow: Hozy is all about slowing down. There are no timers, scores, or penalties, and absolutely no stress. Just you, your tools, and the simple joy of making spaces beautiful again. Whether you’re wiping windows, placing a sofa, or choosing the perfect paint or wallpaper, it’s all about that satisfying flow! 
• Coziness In Every Detail: Wrap yourself in a cozy atmosphere where every small action and detail matters. Open a window to let the wind play with floating dust and bring nature’s sounds closer. Light candles, arrange books on shelves, paint a portrait on the wall, or switch on a projector. Everything you touch and every choice you make delivers a sense of satisfaction and a gentle “aha!” moment. 
• Unleash Your Inner Designer: Utilize a designer-curated collection of furniture and décor, carefully tuned to complement one another. Rotate, move and place items freely while matching wall colors and flooring from a palette of harmonized tones. Use the array of tools at your disposal to create spaces worthy of an interior-design magazine!

Room by room, space by space, bring life and a sense of community back to this faded and forgotten small town! Get cozy with Hozy today on Steam!

For more information, follow Hozy on X/Twitter, TikTok, and Discord. For the latest news from across tinyBuild’s catalog, follow along on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord.

About Come On Studio

A small, passionate team of graphic, visual and web design professionals, working on their first game: Hozy.

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 the Hello Neighbor series, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, DUCKSIDE, The King is Watching 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

Munich, March 30, 2026 – Following the launch of Ludwig II – Virtual: Neuschwanstein, by VR-Dynamix, on Steam and Meta VR, last week, the title debuted today on Google PlayStore. This virtual experience marks the start of a new series of digital experiences centred around Ludwig II of Bavaria, the legendary “Fairy Tale King”.

Ludwig II – Virtual: Neuschwanstein marks the beginning of a planned series of digital experiences exploring the king’s ideas, visions, and architectural ambitions. The project brings visitors closer than ever to the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle: from its striking exterior grounds to selected, meticulously reconstructed interior spaces and engaging knowledge-based scenes.

A special highlight is digital access to spaces that were never realized, left unfinished, or remain inaccessible today. Rooms that were never completed due to Ludwig’s early death are brought to life virtually for the first time, offering a glimpse of Neuschwanstein as it might have been. It also shows some technological innovations of this era – including remarkably forward-looking ideas that fascinated the king, such as early airship concepts.

The title offers immersive experience: you move through the rooms, stand in the Throne Hall, and gaze out over the Alpine landscape – almost as if you were there in person. The application is designed as a self-contained virtual experience and invites exploration without time pressure. It can serve as meaningful preparation for – or reflection on – a real visit to the Neuschwanstein Castle, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025, or be enjoyed independently from anywhere in the world.