Sword & Shield Simulator is now available on PC in Early Access as of August 11. This game lets players take on the role of a medieval blacksmith who not only forges weapons and armor but also scours battlefields for resources. Sword & Shield Simulator is also set to come to PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S later.

The simulator is being developed by Polish studio Wildlands Interactive, which is also a co-publisher of the game alongside Ultimate Games S.A.

Gather Loot on the Battlefields and Forge Weapons!

Sword & Shield Simulator is a relaxing medieval blacksmithing simulator with exploration and adventure elements. Players take on the role of a blacksmith who collects scrap on battlefields and then uses the salvaged resources to forge swords, shields, and other kinds of weapons and armor in their smithy.

The title offers advanced blacksmithing mechanics using key tools, including an anvil, furnace, grindstone, chisel, and flux. Notably, in this simulator, a sword, for example, is forged modularly from individual parts (blade, hilt, guard, and so on), while shields are assembled piece by piece.

Players will find the resources needed to craft weapons and armor mainly on battlefields. Gameplay also includes mechanics tied to things like felling trees, hunting, and mining. The developers have prepared mini-games for this too, covering lockpicking, crossbow shooting, and cart repair, among others.

Steam Store Page – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2052650/Sword__Shield_Simulator/

Managing the smithy and trading items play an important role here. In Sword & Shield Simulator, progression is built on an experience and skill system. The game world spans several large regions in total, with additional locations, and there’s no shortage of residents’ stories, intrigue, and secrets of the kingdom.

Sword & Shield Simulator in Early Access

The game will be developed in Early Access for up to around six months. At launch, Sword & Shield Simulator offers 3 regions (Danburg, Bloodlands, and Grainmill), along with more than 140 story missions and many additional tasks.

In the coming months, the game will also gain the larger Talstein region with additional missions, new blacksmithing and resource elements, and expanded options for the materials system, mines, and hunting. The developers will also take the player community’s feedback into account as they develop the game in Early Access.

Sword & Shield Simulator – Key Features:

• Become a medieval blacksmith
• Forge new swords and armor
• Gather loot on the battlefields
• Complete story missions and side quests
• Expand and upgrade your smithy

Sword & Shield Simulator launched on PC (Steam Early Access) on August 11, 2026. The simulator is also set to come to PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S later.

Invite friends to rake in cash from alien territory to assemble an underground empire

SHENZHEN, China- Aug. 13, 2026 –DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction, a twisted mining co-op adventure blending exploration, extraction, and aliens from developer Soda Game Studio and publisher Infini Fun, launches on PC via Steam on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, for $9.99 with a 30% launch discount

When an alien ship crashed beneath a city, most saw it as a disaster. The DIG Raiders instead saw opportunity. Claiming the land incurred massive debt, so the only way to climb out of the money hole is to dig deep for hidden treasures and untold riches. Grab a pickaxe, call some friends, plant a thermite charge or two, and get digging!

Complete over-the-top comedic tasks while searching for alien gems across nine dynamic levels, including a bank vault, the mysterious Backrooms, and a futuristic space station. Suit up in one of seven quirky animal costumes, offering distinct advantages to the character’s status, including movement speed, health, damage, and more.

Repair the broken alien monolith to prevent bankruptcy in PvE mode, or extract hard-earned loot in chaotic 4v4 multiplayer. Brandish bizarre biotech weaponry against aliens disguised as crocodile men, mummies, or even razor-shooting robots. Keep plans hidden with proximity voice chat, then celebrate alongside dancing aliens whenever the opposing team fails its objectives.

Spend extracted wealth on the fallen marketplace to turn it into a thriving business utopia, employing aliens to do the dirty work. Repay a seemingly impossible bill through both extraction rewards and skillful management. Make it out alive both physically and financially to become true DIG Raiders with a trusted posse.

“As avid gamers, our team is dedicated to crafting an unexpected world full of surprises,” said Jeff Wu, CEO and Director, Soda Game Studio. “DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction packs friends into a quirky sci-fi world filled with eccentric aliens and unexpected mining discoveries on Friday, Sept. 11.”

DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction will be available for $9.99 with a 30% launch discount for two weeks on PC via Steam, including language support for English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Italian, Danish, Indonesian, Turkish, Polish, Thai, Dutch, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. 

For more information, follow Infini Fun on X, join the community on Discord, and search #DigRaiders on social media.

About Infini Fun

Infini Fun is a dynamic new publisher, established in 2024, with a global focus. It specializes in publishing multi-platform games for PC and consoles, and providing developers with essential funding and technical support. Its services extend to platform porting, localization QA, and design consulting, covering every aspect of game development.

With a team boasting over 15 years of publishing experience, they meticulously handle each project, embarking on every exciting journey with developers, and striving to become the bridge between developers and players.

About Soda Game Studio

Soda Game Studio is an independent game development company founded by Tencent and ByteDance veterans Jeff Wu and Wilson Niu. Its team aims to leverage their deep-rooted gaming industry expertise to push boundaries through the radical embrace of new frontiers. The studio is currently working on DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction, a multiplayer extraction digging game, currently in development.

Open up shop today and join in on the nostalgic chill vibes!

SEATTLE – Aug. 13, 2026 – Indie game publisher tinyBuild and developer Mandragora are excited to announce that ReStory, the critically acclaimed chill electronics repair simulator based in Y2K-era Japan, has hit a major milestone of 300,000 copies sold in one week post launch! ReStory currently has Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam and hit a peak of over 19,000 concurrent players over the weekend. The team is hard at work creating new story content and adding more retro devices for players to repair in future updates.

From the developers of I Am Future, ReStory, the relaxing, narrative-driven shop management sim, is all about caring for and preserving classic gear and tech. Set in the bustling streets of mid-2000s Tokyo, ReStory puts players behind the counter of a quaint electronics repair shop. Here you’ll use your trusty toolset to take apart, clean and fix handhelds, phones, cameras, music players, home appliances and other nostalgic devices inspired by iconic game consoles, including officially licensed Atari systems.

The devices aren’t the only thing in need of a helping hand! Your interactions with each customer can change their lives forever. Whether you help a lovestruck student confess to his crush or uncover hidden secrets on a former gangster’s phone, your choices impact each customer’s branching storyline.

Treat yourself to ReStory on Steam today and save 10% until August 20. Immerse yourself in mid-2000s Tokyo and open your quaint electronics repair shop for business today!

For more information and to stay up to date with the latest game news, follow ReStory on Twitter and TikTok.

Cleared for Liftoff on PC, PS5, and Xbox

Chuhai Labs and Balor Games today announced that Wild Blue Skies, a modern reimagining of classic on-rails action games, is now available on PC (Steam / Steam Deck), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for $14.99 USD. Channeling the spirit of classic N64 and PS1 flight shooters, Wild Blue Skies combines nostalgic arcade gameplay with highly stylized anime-inspired aesthetics. The game will continue its flight later this year with a Nintendo Switch release planned for Fall 2026.

Watch the new Wild Blue Skies Launch Trailer: 

Join Bowie Stray and the Blue Bombers as they soar through the skies on a mission to save the world in Wild Blue Skies. In this fast-paced arcade flight combat adventure, players will fly over oceans, deserts, and caves as they battle Grimclaw’s forces to restore peace. With its compelling gameplay, branching paths and thrilling missions, every flight is an adventure!

Key Features:

• An evolution of classic on-rails shooter gameplay: Relive the genre’s golden age through fast-paced action, enhanced by modernized graphics and refined pacing built for today’s players.
• Explore a vast, vibrant world: Experience breathtaking visuals and stunning scenery that serves as your team’s battlefield.
• Take to the skies with an unforgettable squadron: Soar through an action packed campaign alongside Bowie Stray, Roe, Thorne, and Chuck of the Blue Bombers, who provide sharp and authentic camaraderie throughout every mission.
• Chase perfection with a rewarding scoring system: Push your skills to the limit with a simple yet deep scoring system that challenges players to earn ribbons and medals on every run.
• Dominate intense dogfights and epic boss battles: Master aerial encounters with tight, responsive controls that reward skill and precision.
• Discover secrets lurking at every turn: Uncover hidden missions and encounters as you soar through the skies towards an epic confrontation against the fearsome Grimclaw.

For the latest updates, visit the Chuhai Labs official website.

HAO discusses the team’s approach to cheating and illegal teaming, server performance, class balance, Brandrgarde solo mode, and trading

Mistfall Hunter Game Director HAO recently responded to some of the biggest topics players have been discussing, from cheating and teaming to server performance, class balance, Brandrgarde solo mode and trading. 

Cheating and Illegal Teaming

On cheating, HAO said the team’s position is clear: behavior that hurts the fairness of the game needs to be dealt with continuously and firmly.

At the same time, bans aren’t based on a single factor. The team looks at client-side detection, server data, behavior patterns and player reports before taking action. The goal is to catch real violations without creating false bans, and confirmed cases will be penalized.

Malicious teaming is a little more complicated. A short gameplay clip doesn’t always make it easy to tell the difference between normal team play, temporary cooperation and intentional multi-team collusion. The team looks at things like repeated matchmaking patterns, unusual cooperation, damage and elimination data, item transfers and movement routes before making a decision.

The team also plans to keep improving its reporting tools and report categories, with updates on ban lists and detection rules shared through official channels.

Server Lag and Optimization

HAO apologized to players who have been affected by lag or performance issues and said the team is actively working on the problem.

The technical team is looking at server logs during peak hours, match data, matchmaking-node information and player feedback to understand whether certain conditions are causing spikes or instability.

For now, the priority is fixing issues that directly affect match stability. Longer term, the team will continue working on client performance, resource loading and network synchronization.

More details on individual fixes and timing will be shared through official updates.

Class Balance

HAO also talked about the ongoing discussion around Blackarrow and Withered Knight.

The team doesn’t decide whether a class is too strong based on win rate or raw numbers alone. It also looks at different gear stages, team compositions, specific match situations and, importantly, whether other classes and builds still have meaningful ways to counter it.

HAO said being strong doesn’t automatically make a class a problem. The team considers adjustments when something becomes so strong that it feels unreasonable — particularly when other players can no longer understand it, play around it or find a counter

Blackarrow and Withered Knight have already received adjustments in previous maintenance updates. The team will continue watching the data and community feedback following those changes.

Brandrgarde Solo Mode

The team also shared more about the previously announced solo mode for Brandrgarde, which is planned for the middle of Season One for both Normal and Cataclysm difficulties.

HAO said the team has received a lot of feedback asking for solo mode since launch. Not everyone has a regular trio to play with, and some players don’t want to deal with the communication involved in random matchmaking. Others simply want to test their own routes, builds and decision-making.

But adding solo mode isn’t as simple as removing teammates. The team needs to look at combat density, resource distribution, extraction pressure and map objectives to make sure the experience works for solo players.

That means solo mode needs broader tuning rather than just a new entry option. Exact timing and rules will be shared in future official updates.

Trading System

On trading, HAO said the team is being careful about making promises right now. The rules need to be considered alongside the overall game economy, strategies for dealing with farming operations and platform requirements.

For now, the team is working around three basic principles. First, trading should be useful for normal players, helping them deal with unused items, understand item values and reduce information costs.

Second, it shouldn’t make farming operations or abnormal transactions worse. HAO noted that this could ultimately hurt regular players through unstable prices and reduced rewards.

Third, the team needs to consider the game’s long-term economic cycle rather than designing the system only around short-term convenience.

The team is looking at areas including how clear the trading process is, search and filtering, price information, identifying abnormal transactions and dispute feedback.

Specific rules, restrictions and timing will be shared once the team has completed its internal review.

Recent Official Updates

For additional context, recent official Mistfall Hunter updates and announcements include:

• Latest Fair Play Enforcement Actions
  Fair Play Penalty Announcement
• Latest Gameplay and Issue Fixes
  August 12 Live Update
• Intermittent Server Lag, Chat Channel Violations, Cheating and Illegal Teaming
  August 7 Server Online Update Notice
• Brandrgarde Solo Mode — Normal and Cataclysm Difficulties
  Official Brandrgarde Solo Mode Update
• Class Balance and Bug Fixes
  Official Class Balance and Bug Fix Update
• Cheating and Illegal Teaming
  Fair Play Penalty Announcement
• Class Ability and Console-Related Issues
  Known Issues Announcement

Class Adjustments and Various Bug Fixes
Includes updates addressing tutorial prompt localization, Sorcerer skill visual-effect and damage-range inconsistencies, item-splitting issues, console/controller issues, level-related problems, crashes, incorrect text descriptions, and animation and audio issues.
Launch Rewards & July 30 Update

Step into the explosive fury of war today across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

Wakefield, UK – August 13, 2026 – team17 and Expression Games are excited to announce that Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is OUT NOW, August 13 – releasing on PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Watch the Launch Trailer now for a taste of the action:

Featuring intense jungle warfare and set in real-world locations, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam recreates one of history’s fiercest battlegrounds with unrivalled authenticity. 

In its full global launch today, players can expect:

• 6 distinct large-scale maps inspired by real-world locations with dramatic terrain
• Immersive 50 vs 50 battles where strategy, squad cooperation and teamwork take precedence over individual heroics
• Destructive historically accurate weapons, vehicles and tactical options including; new US aerial units and resourceful NVA forces
• Dynamic gameplay experience where both sides can hunt the enemy through Vietnam’s complex river network with heavily armed patrol boats.

Players will be able to purchase two different editions, experiencing the battlefield in either Standard or Deluxe. See below for a breakdown of what is included in each edition:

Standard Edition $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99

• Base Game

Deluxe Edition $59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99

• Base Game
• 2026 Field Supplies (delivered throughout 2026); NVA Boat Crew Uniform, ANZAC & NVA Uniform Pack, Green Berets & Navy SEALs Uniform Pack

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is available to play now on PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Follow the official Hell Let Loose: Vietnam social channels and website to stay in the loop with all the latest news and announcements.

About team17 Digital

Founded in 1990, team17 Digital is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of everplay group plc, team17 Digital has an extensive portfolio comprised of over 140 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. team17 Digital’s portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Date Everything!, Goblin Cleanup, Greak: Memories of Azur, and Overcooked! franchise.

About Expression Games

Expression is a UK-based game developer for console and PC, founded in 2022. The company employs over 110 people and leads development on the Hell Let Loose franchise, as well as providing co-development services for partners. Expression was recognised in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as a GamesIndustry.biz Best Places to Work.

After a slight delay, Ledgerbound, the comedy tactical RPG from OmniMegaSuperCorp, is out now on Steam! Follow Rayna on her quest to defeat a world-ending evil and deny the most important insurance claim of her career. Have a closer look at what you can expect in this shiny new launch trailer:

That’s right! Ledgerbound has it all: comedy narrative from the writer of Helldivers 2, Fire Emblem–like tactical combat, and an (HR approved) dating sim, all fully voiced by an all-star cast including Matthew Mercer, Ben Starr, Stephanie Kerbis, Travis Willingham, Erin Yvette, Jeff Leach, and many more! All for the low, low price of $29.99 / 30.49€ (and a 10% launch discount!)

About Ledgerbound:

Life as an insurance adjuster was fantastic: working overtime, exceeding quotas, denying claims, and maximising Shareholder value. But when world-shattering tragedy strikes, it’s your turn to step onto the battlefield as a company-sponsored Hero. With a quest to fulfill, goals to hit, and a peculiar party of characters to fight alongside and “get to know” (wink wink), overtime is looking likely.

Features:

• Pencil Pusher: Explore the bureaucratic realm of Eldarra, where corporate culture reigns supreme.
• Compelling coworkers: Form a D&D style party of allies, and deepen relationships over time.
• Workplace romance: Grow even closer to your party via the HR-approved dating simulator.
• Turn-based combat: Conquer all who stand in your way with a Rock Paper Scissors battle mechanic.
• Quarterly bonus: Trade in a company vouchers for stat-boosting corporate swag

About OmniMegaSuperCorp:
OmniMegaSuperCorp is an independent game development studio that specializes in blending compelling narratives with stellar gameplay. Established in 2023, OmniMegaSuperCorp features a fully remote team dedicated to delivering well-crafted stories with undeniable freshness. In June 2025, the studio announced its debut title, Ledgerbound, a tactical RPG out now on Steam. Learn more about the team at: https://omnimegasupercorp.com/

August 13th, 2026, Blowing Rock, North Carolina

The brains behind IndieGameBusiness® unveil Blue Ridge Games, a new indie game publishing label built by industry veterans, for indie developers. 

For over 8 years, IndieGameBusiness® has helped developers and publishers navigate the business of making games, building one of the largest and most connected communities in the indie space. This vantage point has shown us what separates games that thrive from games that get lost in the noise. With Blue Ridge Games, we’re putting this network and experience directly into powering a publishing label built to help great games and great teams succeed. Our mission is to empower indie developers to shine in their craft and build the worlds they envision.

“Indie developers make incredible games, but so many of them get lost simply because no one taught them the business side of games. That’s the gap we’ve spent years closing through IndieGameBusiness®. With Blue Ridge Games, we’re not just continuing to teach that, we are stepping into publishing directly with a veteran team that has been part of the industry for decades.  We’re excited to use that experience to support developers who deserve a real shot.” – Jay Powell, CEO, Blue Ridge Games

Blue Ridge Games is thrilled to announce the first title in their portfolio: MAFATE, by French developer Blue Ramen Studios. 

MAFATE is a contemplative exploration and adventure game inspired by a real-life hike through the Mafate Cirque, located on Réunion Island. This remote area, accessible only on foot, deeply impacted the development team and became the starting point of the project.

Players explore peaceful and immersive natural landscapes through an experience that is centered around walking, contemplation, and discovery. The journey is also enriched by narrative elements and puzzles that punctuate the progression without disrupting the calm pace of exploration.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Blue Ridge Games and to have MAFATE supported by such an experienced and passionate team. Their expertise, guidance, and understanding of what makes the project special give us tremendous confidence in what we can achieve together. For Blue Ramen Studios, this partnership represents an important step forward, and we’re truly excited to bring MAFATE to players around the world with BRG by our side.” – Loïc Manglou, CEO, Blue Ramen Studios

MAFATE aims to convey a simple emotion: the feeling of a journey through nature, blending observation, reflection, and wonder in the face of breathtaking landscapes.

About Blue Ridge Games

Blue Ridge Games is a new publishing label from the brains behind IndieGameBusiness®. The team spent years in the trenches with indie developers, helping thousands navigate the business side of making and launching games. That hands-on experience now powers a publishing label built to help great games and teams succeed.

About Blue Ramen Studios

Blue Ramen is an independent studio that promotes a calm, thoughtful, and deeply human approach to video games. We create gaming experiences that combine immediate enjoyment with narrative depth.

Driven by an ethical vision of game development, Blue Ramen builds worlds where players are encouraged to slow down, reflect, feel, and observe environments far from noise and overstimulation.

Knights Peak, a division of MY.GAMES, is teaming up with Microids to proudly announce the Harmony Edition of Windup Games’ Hela: of Mice & Magic, which will be available through chosen retailers in key regions including EU and US. The game will be released in physical stores exclusively as the feature-packed Harmony Edition, which includes numerous extras. Hela: of Mice & Magic – Harmony Edition will be released physically-only in the fourth quarter of 2026 for Nintendo Switch™ 2, XBOX Series X, and PlayStation®5 and digital only on XBOX Series S and PC. 

Hela: of Mice & Magic – Harmony Edition is a meticulously crafted collector’s version that invites players to immerse themselves even deeper into its enchanting world. It includes the game on a physical disc for XBOX Series X and PlayStation®5, accompanied by a digital download of its beautiful soundtrack, composed by Frida Johansson and Henrik Oja, capturing the heart and soul of the adventure. Additionally, it features a 48-page softcover art book, filled with never-before-seen concept art, sketches, and inspirational photos that offer a glimpse into the creative journey behind the game. The Harmony Edition is rounded out with an extra slipcase, a reversible poster showcasing the game’s intricate map and a set of exclusive stickers, perfect for fans to personalize their space and keep the magic of Hela: of Mice & Magic close at hand.

In Hela: of Mice & Magic, players take on the role of a small but agile mouse, helping a kind, wary witch care for the land she has protected for generations. Explore alone or together across various environments like forests, meadows, wetlands, and burrows. The witch provides the player with a backpack infused with magic, enabling them to explore further, reach higher, and interact with the world in new, and sometimes relaxing ways.

Hela: of Mice & Magic will be released digitally and physically in a special edition in the fourth quarter of 2026 for Nintendo Switch™ 2, XBOX Series X, and PlayStation®5 and digital only on XBOX Series S and PC.

About Microids

Microids is a French video game publisher founded in 1985, which has established itself as a key international player in the industry. By collaborating with renowned studios and creators, Microids offers immersive experiences based on popular licenses, allowing players to experience brand-new adventures alongside iconic characters.

About WINDUP GAMES

Windup Games is a video game development studio based in Umeå, in northern Sweden. We create games and jobs that inspire playfulness, give comfort, and allow people to thrive. We’re building a multiplayer 3D adventure game, with the intent to provide millions of people with something both joyful and meaningful. We’d like your help to make it awesome!

About KNIGHTS PEAK INTERACTIVE 

Knights Peak Interactive, a division of MY.GAMES, is a game publisher partnering with diverse developers worldwide. Committed to equality, it supports both emerging and established studios in reaching new heights in global markets and brand development. Knights Peak views games as portals to immersive stories, offering players a multitude of adventures in a welcoming environment. For details, visit: https://www.knightspeak.com.