Singapore, October 26 2026– Garena today announced The Art of Free Fire, the first official art book for Free Fire, the globally popular mobile battle royale game. Written by Matthew Pellett and published by Titan Books, the book will be released on July 6, 2027, as Free Fire celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Over the past decade, Free Fire’s visual identity has evolved alongside its global community. Inspired by diverse cultures, contemporary trends, and fashion from around the world, the game has given players countless ways to express themselves, bringing these influences together in a visual style that is distinctly Free Fire.
The Art of Free Fire invites fans to look back on the game’s visual journey and discover the creative work behind the experiences they know and love. The book showcases some of Free Fire’s most iconic designs and offers a closer look at the creative process behind bringing them to life. From maps and environments to characters, pets, outfits, weapons, and gameplay concepts, it celebrates the imagination and craftsmanship that have shaped the world of Free Fire.
About the Author: Matthew Pellett is a gaming consultant and former magazine editor with over 15 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, PR, and marketing. He previously served as editor of Official PlayStation Magazine and GamesMaster, with additional credits across publications including EDGE, PC Gamer, and Official Xbox Magazine.
Stay tuned to the official Free Fire website and Facebook page for exciting updates.
Titan Books is a division of Titan Publishing Group and a leading world publisher of media entertainment fiction, non-fiction, and lifestyle publishing, as well as a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling publisher of original genre fiction.
Titan Books’ acclaimed entertainment and culture non-fiction publishing includes a wide range of some of today’s most exciting franchises and studios, including Netflix, Alcon Entertainment, Marvel, Star Trek, Godzilla, Death Stranding, and many more. The diverse publishing programme includes critically acclaimed retrospectives of beloved film and television classics, exciting Making of companions to blockbuster media and gaming properties, and a wide range of in-universe guides and cookbooks to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in their favourite worlds. The division’s original and licensed fiction includes some of today’s biggest names in genre and includes numerous bestsellers and award-winning titles.
About Garena
Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, is the most downloaded mobile game in its genre for seven consecutive years, according to Sensor Tower App Performance Insights. The title has also ranked as the world’s most downloaded mobile game across multiple years since 2019.
Garena is run by passionate gamers and has a unique understanding of what gamers want. It exclusively licenses and publishes hit titles from global partners – such as Arena of Valor and Call of Duty: Mobile – in selected markets globally. Garena champions social and entertainment experiences through games, enabling its communities to engage and interact. Garena is also a leading esports organiser and hosts some of the world’s biggest esports events.
Garena is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a global technology company. In addition to Garena, Sea’s other core businesses include its e-commerce arm, Shopee, and digital financial services arm, Monee. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.
Walk the path of the witch in this magically cozy crafting adventure
LONDON (Oct. 26, 2026) – Climb aboard your very own chicken-legged hut and begin your quest to learn the wicked ways of the witch in REKA. After earning a Very Positive review score on Steam during its time in early access, the cozy, base-building adventure from developer Emberstorm Entertainment and publisher Fireshine Games (Denshattack!, Core Keeper) is ready to put you under its spell on PC for $19.99: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1737870/REKA/
REKA’s full release brings the emotional conclusion to Reka’s story as she completes her apprenticeship under Baba Jaga and must take up the mantle as her own legendary witch. House-building has also gotten a major upgrade, with plenty of new furniture and decorations to fill your cozy hut. And on the outside, players can now really flex their creative muscles with even more materials that allow for greater customization. Brand new quests, environmental features and animals round out the new content available in 1.0.
Featuring writing from Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite), begin your tutelage in the mystic arts as Reka, a young witch of your own creation, exploring a vast world of natural and supernatural wonder. The legendary witch Baba Jaga will guide you on your journey to becoming one with the magical arts as you get to know the wildlife, forage for materials, take on quests from locals and customize your ambling cottage to roam the land.
The path will only be shown to worthy witches who thoroughly explore the autumnal forests, gather ingredients and master the powers of nature and spirit. Customize your walking cottage inside and out to your heart’s desire and set out into the unknown to meet villagers, hear their stories, and decide whether you will use your magic to help or hinder them. What kind of witch you want to be is up to you.
Even when the final mystery of REKA is revealed, your journey isn’t over. Continue gathering ingredients, decorating your cottage and taming the exotic creatures to be your loyal companions.
There’s always another secret to discover hidden amongst the trees.
REKA is the debut title of Berlin-based indie game studio Emberstorm Entertainment. Founded in 2020, the team’s goal is to make unique and immersive games with a focus on atmosphere and artistic craftsmanship.
About Fireshine Games
Fireshine Games is a global publisher of video games based in London, England, with a focus on finding fun and bringing innovative indie gems to players around the world. Originally established in 2014, Fireshine Games has built a portfolio of acclaimed and award-winning digital titles, including Denshattack!, Duskfade, Far Far West, Core Keeper, Shadows of Doubt, Len’s Island and Popucom. Fireshine Games is part of the EG7 group of companies. For more information on Fireshine Games and its titles, visit the official website at fireshinegames.co.uk.
KYIV, UKRAINE —October 19, 2026 – GSC Game World is happy to announce that Update 2.1 for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is now live on PC and consoles, bringing two major fan-requested features.
Look Further
You can now manually adjust the A-Life NPC visualisation distance to suit your preferences and hardware. Whether you’re playing on PC or console, you can choose how far away A-Life NPCs appear within the Zone.
To find the new options, head to Settings — Game — Visualisation and select one of the available presets.
The recommendation is sticking with the default preset for the best balance of performance, stability, and immersion. Increasing the visualisation range may affect performance and stability, while the Dynamic preset automatically adjusts the range to match your PC or console’s capabilities.
Behind-the-scenes improvements and balance adjustments were made to make long-distance firefights feel more natural. Depending on your selected preset, you’ll now hear gunfights breaking out much farther away, with weapon ballistics adjusted accordingly.
Note that A-Life NPCs and quest/scripted NPCs are separate entities in the Zone. To maintain game stability, the increased visualisation range primarily applies to A-Life NPCs. The available presets may also vary depending on your platform.
Fast Travel with Squad Leaders
As you explore the Zone, keep an eye out for friendly or neutral stalkers. With Update 2.1, you can now spot squad leaders marked on your compass and ask them to guide you to nearby destinations along their route. Talk to them to see where they can take you.
Keep in mind that this service won’t come cheap, and your guide won’t carry your backpack for you, so make sure you’re not overloaded. Only nearby, previously explored locations are available, so don’t expect a stalker from Zalissya to take you all the way to Prypiat.
On top of that, you can expect a variety of bug fixes and visual tweaks.
This update is a special one. While GSC always listens to the feedback, this time, it’s fair to say that the update is almost entirely community-driven. Player feedback is gathered across social media, forums, and reviews, so the community is encouraged to continue sharing their thoughts.
The war in Ukraine continues. GSC Game World continues to support our country in every possible way. If you’d like to help, consider donating via the official fund of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
About GSC Game World Founded in 1995, GSC Game World is a Ukrainian video game developer known for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks series. The studio is dedicated to delivering exceptional gaming experiences with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl being the most well-known now. The studio has just released S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope — the first story expansion for the base game.
London, UK – October 26, 2026 – What if the most terrifying thing in our world is not monsters or magic, but other people? Survive the course of one fateful night as an accused “witch” on the run for her life in Hunter’s Moon, a first-person historical narrative folk horror, available today exclusively on PlayStation 5.
Inspired by the true history of 17th-century English witch hunts, embody Lillith Thorne, an accused woman who must flee through a rural village and its surrounding forests and moors in search of safety.
Use stealth and cunning to evade capture by the Witchfinder General, while eavesdropping on villagers to gain knowledge and aid to help survive the night. Discover the secrets of a dysfunctional village on the brink in an immersive-theatre-inspired folk horror grounded in historical realism, elevated by hand-crafted stylised art, and told through the voices of over 100 fully voice-acted characters.
Can you survive the full night of the Hunter’s Moon?
“We wanted to present this history in a way that felt authentic and reflected what might have happened in villages during these witch trials,” writer-director Alicia Contestabile said. “The hunters are just men. And the truth is that those who accused others, put them on trial, and sent them to their deaths were also just people. They just deeply, deeply believed that witchcraft was real.”
From writer-director Alicia Contestabile, producer of The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, and developed by new independent studio Twin Swans, featuring artists and developers whose credits include The Stanley Parable, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Signalis, and with an original score composed by Resina, Hunter’s Moon asks you to consider: what if our own fears and beliefs are the true sources of horror?
Hunter’s Moon is available today exclusively on PlayStation 5. For more information, visit PlayStation Store.
ABOUT TWIN SWANS
Twin Swans is a boutique interactive storytelling studio built from a diverse remote team focused on creating well-crafted experiences with a healthy work-life balance.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
The hardcore shooter finds its largest audience on Xbox
Gaijin Entertainment announces that Active Matter has surpassed 500,000 copies sold worldwide across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The figure combines sales on Steam and Gaijin.Net with console versions of the game, with Xbox currently representing the largest share of Active Matter players.
Released in September, Active Matter is a PvE, PvPvE and PvP hardcore shooter that combines realistic modern military combat with supernatural threats, anomalous environments and high-stakes raids where players have to decide how much gear they are willing to risk to lose. Players can venture into quantum-unstable zones solo or as part of a team, fighting hostile operatives, terrifying creatures and the environment itself while searching for valuable loot.
“Half a million copies is a very strong result for a hardcore game like ours,” said Anton Yudintsev, co-founder of Gaijin Entertainment. “What is especially encouraging is that sales have remained remarkably steady since launch, without the sharp opening-week spike that is typical for many premium games. This kind of long-tail performance is much more characteristic of hardcore titles, which tend to grow through word of mouth and a committed community. It shows us that there is a substantial audience looking for this kind of experience, and Active Matter is only at the beginning of its journey. We are looking forward to expanding the game with new content and features over the coming years.”
The next major step in that journey arrives later this year, when Active Matter will receive its first major post-release content update. It will introduce new maps, weapons, monsters and bosses, giving players new threats to face. The update will also bring visual improvements, further enhancing the atmosphere of the Active Matter world.
About Gaijin Entertainment Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder, Crossout, Enlisted, CRSED: F.O.A.D. and Star Conflict as well as other PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as Gamescom Award and many more. Official website: http://gaijinent.com/
The partnership brings playable game experiences to Steam Next Fest, helping Acclaim turn player interest in TALAKA into higher engagement and fuel discovery.
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — October 26, 2026 — Legendary games publisher Acclaim, Inc. and Ludeo are turning game discovery into on the spot gameplay delivery. Teaming up for Steam Next Fest – October Edition, the independent games publisher and playable media platform are bringing TALAKA, the fast-paced roguelite from Brazilian developer Potato Kid, directly to players through instantly playable gameplay moments. With a single click, players can jump into the action, experience TALAKA’s combat firsthand, and discover what makes the game special, all without downloading or installing anything.
Ludeo’s innovative streaming technology lets players jump directly into real playable moments through a link and play PC games without having a demo, a full game, and a powerful PC or GPU. For publishers and studios, it shortens the path from discovery to the store page, helping turn gamers’ interest into store visits and potential sales.
Don’t just watch TALAKA. Play it.
To celebrate Steam Next Fest, Acclaim and Ludeo are inviting players to experience TALAKA firsthand through a collection of instantly playable moments, offering a direct look at the game’s fast-paced combat, vibrant world, and roguelite action.
No downloads. No installations. Just jump in and play.
“Acclaim has a great portfolio of games, and TALAKA is another standout title that deserves to be discovered, played, and loved by gamers. That’s exactly what Ludeo is built to do. By turning game content into playable experiences, we help publishers engage audiences in a new way and bring more potential players to their games — and closer to a purchase. We’re excited to kick off our partnership with Acclaim at Steam Next Fest.”– Asaf Gazit, CEO of Ludeo.
Ludeo’s data show that players who tried a Ludeo were 5x more likely to visit a game’s store page than those who didn’t. Among players who spent more than four minutes playing, the likelihood was 8x higher.
“At Acclaim, we believe discovering a great game should be just as exciting as playing it. TALAKA is exactly the kind of experience that deserves to be put directly into players’ hands, and our partnership with Ludeo gives us another way to make that happen. We’re not interested in simply asking players to watch another trailer and hope they’re convinced. We want them to jump in, experience the gameplay, and discover firsthand what makes these independent games special. Steam Next Fest is the perfect opportunity to bridge that gap between curiosity and engagement, and TALAKA is just the beginning of what we see as a much larger opportunity across Acclaim’s growing portfolio.”– Marc Anthony Rodriguez, Director of Publishing & Strategic Partnerships, Acclaim
The TALAKA activation marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between Acclaim and Ludeo, with both companies looking to bring more instantly playable experiences to players across Acclaim’s expanding portfolio of independent games.
As Acclaim continues to champion bold, creative experiences from independent developers around the world, the mission remains simple: break down the barriers between discovering a game & falling in love with it.
The next great game shouldn’t just catch your eye. It should be one click away from your hands.
Discover with Ludeo. Play Acclaim. Wishlist TALAKA. Today.
About Ludeo
Ludeo is a playable media platform transforming how people discover and experience PC games by turning gameplay into instantly playable, shareable experiences. With Ludeo, players can jump directly into moments from real PC games with a single click, with no download or installation required. Built at the game-engine level, Ludeo lets game studios and creators transform videos, streams, and clips into playable content that can be shared anywhere a link can go. Ludeo works with more than 300 game studios, helping developers turn passive audiences into players and giving gamers a new way to discover, experience, and share the games they love. Learn more atLudeo.com.
About Acclaim:
Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.
A legendary name. A new generation. We’re just getting started.
Sydney, Australia – October 26, 2026: Clear your throat, grab a microphone, and maybe apologise to your neighbours in advance: Let’s Sing 2027 has revealed its international tracklist!
Whether you’re ready to belt out Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With A Smile, show off your best dance moves to Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, or get a little emotional with Coldplay’s feelslikeimfallinginlove, there’s a song for every mood (and every level of singing talent).
And that’s just the warm-up! From pop anthems and timeless favourites to tracks you’ll definitely claim you only know because they’re everywhere on TikTok, Let’s Sing 2027 has plenty of reasons to turn your living room into a concert stage.
Check out the international tracklist below and start planning your karaoke night!
Developed by Voxler and published by THQ Nordic, Let’s Sing 2027 launches on November 3, 2026, for Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, and PlayStation®5.
About Let’s Sing 2027
Grab the mic, or your smartphone, and get ready to shine! Let’s Sing 2027 transforms any occasion into a musical celebration with a brand-new playlist of chart-toppers and classics from around the world! Sing solo for high scores or team up with friends and family for unforgettable duets and group performances.
Step into Soundtown in an all-new Party mode: a lively musical adventure where you’ll face off against DJ Hush and bring the beat back to the city. With improved visuals, fresh avatars, and customisable rewards, every performance feels like a moment in the spotlight.
Some of the included songs:
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Drake – God’s Plan
Ariana Grande – we can’t be friends (wait for your love)
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Ed Sheeran – Azizam
… And many more!
About THQ Nordic Founded in 2011, THQ Nordic is a global video game publisher and developer. Based in Vienna (Austria), and with subsidiaries all around the globe, THQ Nordic brands include Darksiders, MX vs. ATV, Destroy All Humans, Wreckfest, Titan Quest, Biomutant, Gothic, ELEX, Kingdoms of Amalur and many more. THQ Nordic is meant to represent a core approach of doing much more than “owning” a highly competitive portfolio of IPs. It revolves around cherishing them, and aligning them with the very best development resources to expand upon them with the level of experience that communities and established fan bases expect and deserve.
About Voxler Voxler is a video game studio founded in 2005 that specialises in music-based games. Since the beginning, we’ve focused our energy on creating high-quality experiences built on the latest technological advancements.
There has been quite a trend in creating sim games where players take on the role of a simple barista, bartender, or in this case a baker, and listening to the woes of the various customers that come in and frequent the shop. Many of these sims have grown to be quite successful, receiving sequels and spin-offs over the years while others have stagnated a bit. The latest game to delve into the genre of food management sims is Yangyang Mobile with High Times, a game that places players in the shoes of a baker at a donut shop all about affecting the feelings of those who walk through their doors. Sporting colorful designs all around and a high quality voice cast, is this visual novel/dating game wrapped up in a sugary treat worth your time or was it left in the deep fryer too long?
Story
Players take on the role of their own custom created character as they head to work one day at the Hotbox in the town of San Mazo. The Hotbox serves mood enhancer-laced donuts that are all the rage lately and completely legal, capable of altering the emotions of those who eat them in various ways, such as making them happy, concentrated, relaxed, or even passionate. Right before heading to work one day a mysterious woman speaks to the player asking if they have any regrets of their past, pulling up six silhouettes in various shapes that players can select one of, though this doesn’t appear to have any real impact on the story. Then, as soon as this mystery woman appears, she is gone and players are on their bus ride to work at the Hotbox only to find out that their boss and owner of the store has taken and sold nearly every ingredient to help pay for his grand vacation with the help of some unsavory connections.
This leaves the player in charge of running the store and building it back up all while making sure that they can keep the place afloat with only a basic donut mold, vanilla frosting, and a jar of sprinkles gifted to the player by their longtime friend once they see the situation they’ve found themselves in. From then on players will routinely meet with various customers and do their best to meet their requests, some as simple as filling out an exact order or taking and specifically designing a donut to fit their personal request, or even doing the opposite in some cases as players can choose to go rogue sometimes. It is up to the player on how they wish to progress the story as long as they try to stay afloat, as there is a bankruptcy ending should players run out of money, though the threat of that is rather low after a few hours into the game unless the player really goes out of control with their spending.
What makes High Times so interesting is the fact that it dials practically every character up to the max and leaves them there all while leaving practically no subject off-the-table. Players will see various customers come in and while there are six that have romantic storylines tied to them including longer arcs than standard customers, every other customer also has their own unique story arc and seeing them through to the end not only involves taking and making specific donuts sometimes but also purchasing various flavors, toppings, and other tools to continue along their story arc. These characters are also all over the place and that is a good thing because players never really know what is going to come out of their mouth depending on who walks through the door next.
Sure, the stoner and his ex-girlfriend that hang out and order together are a bit predictable but throw an unexpected donut into the mix and players can change up their mood quite a bit. Similarly, a very enthusiastically dressed up chicken-girl can go on and on about her love for the chickens raised in San Mazo until she’s literally jumping on the counter and yelling “Viva la Chicken!” if she gets too excited even though it is clear she is hiding something, especially if players happen to get her feeling a bit too sentimental or nostalgic with a donut. Now not all of these changes can happen at every point, in fact it is entirely possible to give someone a donut only for them to complain that it isn’t what they ordered and simply leave the store, this encourages players to make sure to save at the end of every day as the game does support nearly a hundred save spots so it is possible to make a fresh one almost every day before saving over earlier days.
As for the six romanceable characters, there is quite an eclectic bunch here for players to choose from and while it is a shame that a couple of the female customers that are clearly more interesting aren’t an option, the amount of female customer and male customers players can interact and “flirt” with through odd dialogue choices and donut creation is quite extensive. The key part of High Times’ romance element is though that literally every single romance option is one of the player’s exes in one way or another, be it a childhood friend they dated while young, a high school fling they wish they could forget, someone they ghosted after a relationship, or even someone they kicked out of their apartment for being a disaster and burning the stage of the Hotbox down once.
These romance options are quite interesting and it is enjoyable to see how far they progress, especially since the game offers quite a few endings for each character and, should players want to, it is possible to rewind back into a romance arc once they have reached its conclusion if they want to do something different or pursue another character instead. This is especially helpful since the story arcs for some characters are incredibly long, this is a visual novel after all, and many can last well over ten hours to try and see all of the content they have to offer for a single character, let alone the others and that is only if players manage to get their preferred character to show up as a customer more often, but more on that later.
One thing that is a bit unfortunate is the main character himself. Perhaps it is because they have to play the “straight-man” to all of the insanity that walks in through the door of the Hotbox but they tend to be a real downer most of the time, with many dialogue options being nothing that someone might actually want to select when talking to a character, let alone a romance option. They also have a tendency to randomly drop Italian phrases at the end of their dialogue for the strangest of reasons or even calling other characters Italian names, something that doesn’t really fit the setting nor the character, if anything it makes them feel a bit insufferable amongst such a bright cast of characters.
Gameplay
In many ways High Times is more visual novel than it is an actual donut shop management game. Players will often deal with three or four customers a day that, initially at least, seem to be set in a specific order in how they are introduced and then they will listen to each customer as they either complain about their day, complain about something else or reminisce about some of their history with the player character, or even just go on and on about their plans for the rest of the day, often trying to drop hints as for what donut the player might need to make for them.
That being said, most of the times the orders are laid out plain and simple, with a customer ordering something that will help them focus, which chocolate frosting is a perfect fit for, or a heavy donut that will help them relax, which means laying on some mocha frosting and plenty of different toppings and as mentioned earlier, while some customers can have their orders twisted around to fit the narrative the player is trying to work with, such as maneuvering the mood of a character in an alternate way, others are quite strict and will straight up ignore being served anything they didn’t order. Thankfully, every ingredient players can use are shown what type of effects they might have, such as chocolate being bitter and vanilla being sweet, nuts being crunchy, etc. so players will rarely get confused as to what they are making. In fact a recipe book will automatically update with specific donut design orders customers can order as players purchase more toppings, tools, and frosting.
Shopping in the game can be done everyday past closing and, most likely for simplicity’s sake, everything obtainable costs $20 a piece, whether it is a topping, tool, frosting, or even interior design for the Hotbox. While all the creative tools to help craft different flavors and unique donuts, including those required to continue story arcs for characters are helpful, the actual interior design is a bit simplistic but does work to help swing the game a bit in the player’s favor by having certain items that draw some characters in while driving others out. This means that players trying to get close to their neon-haired ex may want to purchase a bunch of decorations that will increase her appearance rate over other customers, especially once they start to appear in any random order. Similarly if players want to talk more with their cheerleader ex, players can do the same thing, or if they want to avoid their former college fling then putting in decorations that will drive him off can decrease his appearance rate, though as mentioned all of these elements cost $20 a pop and while it is rare to worry about money after the first few weeks, overspending can be dangerous.
As for the actual donut creation process, it may start out fairly simple but can grow a bit more complex as players make their way through the days and unlock additional toppings and tools to work with. Donuts come in a variety of shapes and while players may only have access to a ring cutter at first, they’ll soon obtain a whole cutter, and a long-john style cutter. Then it’s tossed into the deep fryer until ready and then popped out where players can select what type of icing best fits the customer’s order or their own choice if given the option, with each ingredient costing a bit of money including extra smotherings of icing, piping bag icing for decorations, toppings, and more. Some characters will request various donuts that have half and half icing between two different flavors or flavor profiles or ask for a certain recipe but substitute an item for another to keep players on their toes.
One thing that is a bit annoying when it comes to donut making is the fact that it is a bit imprecise on a controller. While slathering on icing is easy and players can zoom in on the tray for better accuracy, piping the icing in a design is incredibly difficult and customers will complain and hold back on giving a tip if the design piping is too off from the proper design. While this isn’t an issue for some more elaborate straight line pieces, those with wavy lines or my dreaded cinnabon style are a pain. There was also the occasional issue where toppings were not being registered correctly despite placing one in every proper location, with a customer occasionally complaining that we went too light on the toppings because one may have been a bit out of alignment. This is a small complaint but worth noting nonetheless, especially since sometimes creating donuts can become rather annoying at times should players sit and play for too long at once.
Outside of talking to and listening to the complaints from the various customers, designing the donuts they request or the player figures that they need is the only major gameplay element outside of selecting who to pursue among the various dating candidates. There are a few other minor elements such as alternative versions of current social media that update at the end of every day that often include text messages from exes or a mysterious number that we won’t spoil the meaning of here and a FaceBook equivalent with various pictures from characters, complaints about their life or talking about other things that the player never sees, or background worldbuilding such as discussing the origins of the mood enhancers in the donuts and various other things.
Audio & Visuals
There is no denying that High Times has style, and plenty of it. Everything from their character designs to the few environments that players see, along with the donuts that players craft are incredibly colorful and full of life. The live2D style character portraits for the customers are gorgeous looking and nicely detailed with plenty of different expressions to fit the moods they might be in and it is nice to note that there are also quite a few colorful looking CGs for every romance route which is a real nice touch.
The voice work for the game is surprisingly exceptional. While some of the customers have a bit more generic voice work when it comes to the regular customers, all of the main romance options and many of the most bombastic regular customers have some top notch voice work and the game sports quite a list of talented voice actors among the roster and some that will instantly be recognizable, especially in a few cases. The background music is fairly simplistic throughout the game but there are a couple of tracks here and there that stand out, though these tend to rotate around the rockstar ex.
Overall
Making a game all about creating donuts that basically contain mind-altering drugs is an incredibly strange concept, especially tying it together with a visual novel design and six romantic options to pursue, but Yangyang Mobile has done an exceptional job here with High Times. Not only is the writing for the customers and their bombastic personalities the best highlight of the game, but it also means players never quite know what type of situation is walking through that door. It is a bit unfortunate that the main character themselves is something of a downer and the donut crafting is a bit repetitive after awhile, but thankfully the game’s strong charm and ever growing amount of tools to make use of helps alleviate some of these issues, making this colorful indie game a successful trip, mood enhancers and all.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Milestone Celebration Includes New Characters Marian: Queen, Hongryeon: Goddeath, and Free SSR Unit Rapunzel: Sanctuary, Alongside a Stellar Blade Music Collaboration, Times Square Takeover, and In-Person Fan Events
PALO ALTO, CA – October 24, 2026 – Level Infinite and developer SHIFT UP today revealed the 4th Anniversary Update content for acclaimed sci-fi gun-girl action RPG, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, launching worldwide on October 29. Revealed during today’s official livestream, the massive update marks a pivotal moment in NIKKE’s ongoing narrative and introduces new playable characters, major story chapters, new costumes, a special Stellar Blade music collaboration, Spanish language support, in-game rewards, real world fan celebrations and more.
Watch the NIKKE 4th Anniversary Main Battle Trailer HERE.
Watch the NIKKE 4th Anniversary Maria-N Story Trailer HERE.
Goddess of Victory: NIKKE 4th Anniversary Update features:
New Playable Characters & Upgraded Pilgrims
Marian: Queen: Marian competes with the Space Queen for the ultimate prize so she can fulfill her destiny – building a world of mutual love where her cherished companions will no longer perish.
Scarlet: Goddeath: An upgraded, Eden-enhanced form of Hongryeon equipped with a reinforced body and a dark-matter-infused sword forged from her and Jang-hwa’s shattered blades, capable of cutting through Lilith’s body.
Rapunzel: Sanctuary (FREE SSR): Modeled after a Pope motif, this upgraded, high-mobility support form utilizes Red Shoes’ technology to swiftly move across the battlefield. Players can claim up to four copies for free via anniversary events.
Expanded Main Story & Special Narrative Events
Main Chapters 49–50: The defensive campaign ahead of the Ark’s surface advance escalates into the full-scale 3rd Surface Recapture War, where all forces clash to determine the fate of humanity. This chapter marks the conclusion of the Underground Ark plotline but a brand-new story chapter will be revealed…
“MARIA-n” Story Event: Explore a sprawling research facility as Marian awakens in unfamiliar surroundings and takes her first steps across the surface to uncover deeply hidden secrets.
NIKKE x Stellar Blade Soundtrack: Experience TRACING THE STARS x Stellar Blade, featuring a 22-track music collaboration (including 4 free tracks), custom note skins, minigame backgrounds, and a special character addition.
Four New Costumes:
Gacha Costumes:
Marian: Queen – Last Affection: With this wedding dress skin, Marian has attained happiness with her one true love.
Snow White: Heavy Arms – Lacrimosa
Battle Pass Costumes: Neon_Vision and Nayuta_Vision.
“Fading Affection” Minigame: A branching, choice-driven text-based visual novel adventure that invites players to revisit scattered memory fragments and unlock the untold conclusions of her past.
A Celebration of In-Game Rewards: Commanders can earn up to 259 free recruitment attempts throughout the event, alongside 4th Anniversary Nikke Selection Boxes (choose between Rapunzel: Sanctuary, Chime, Rapunzel: Pure Grace, or Snow White: Innocent Days).
The 4th Anniversary extends beyond the game with two major real-world events to kick off the celebration:
Times Square Billboard (New York City): On October 29, NIKKE will light up One Times Square (1475 Broadway & 42nd St.) for the entire day, giving fans the chance to see Marian take over one of the world’s most iconic digital landmarks and fans are invited to take photos with her in the heart of NYC.
Animate Los Angeles In-Store Event: NIKKE is partnering once again with Animate LA for a dedicated anniversary experience featuring 3D illusion wall art, NIKKE-themed store decorations, exclusive merchandise, and special community activities taking place on October 31 through November 14.
Reflecting NIKKE’s growth around the globe, it was also revealed that full Spanish text localization will launch alongside the 4th Anniversary update, making the game more accessible to Spanish-speaking Commanders worldwide.
“We are thrilled to celebrate four years of NIKKE with you, our amazing fans, and can’t wait for you to experience all the new content in this highly anticipated 4th Anniversary Update,” states Yoo Hyongseok, VP of Shift Up and Game Director of NIKKE. “Furthermore, we are excited to welcome more Spanish-speaking players from the LATAM region with the addition of the much requested Spanish language support launching with the 4th Anniversary Update, and we will continue to do our best to deliver exciting content for all our players going forward.”
For more details on the 4th Anniversary celebrations, patch notes, and community events, please visit the official website or follow GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Discord.
Downloaded over 45 million times since launch, GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE is available globally for PC, iOS, and Android mobile devices. GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE continues to deliver regular updates and content expansions that keep players immersed in the game’s evolving narrative. Download the game on the iOS App Store, Google Play, and Windows PC.
About Level Infinite Level Infinite is Tencent’s global games brand, dedicated to delivering engaging and original gaming experiences to a worldwide audience, whenever and wherever they choose to play. The brand also provides a wide range of services and resources to a network of developers and partner studios around the world to help them unlock the potential of their games. Level Infinite is both publisher of breakout hit games like PUBG MOBILE, Honor of Kings and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and a collaborative partner in games such as Dune: Awakening from Funcom, Warhammer 40K: Darktide and many more.
T-60 Wearable Helmet: Perfect for cosplay and Halloween costumes, this detailed replica of the franchises’ iconic Power Armor designed for the US military, features meticulous accurate detailing and articulation.
Fallout Power Fist Replica: This 1:1 scale replica, features spot-on sound effects and game-accurate details capturing the series’ quintessential melee weapon in all its glory.
Also available as part of Great War Week, check out the Security Keycard Replicas from Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, the Fallout Nuka-World Desktop Switchable Billboard Series 3, Vault Living Banner. Tabletop gaming fans can increase their intelligence with the Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, and Fallout: Factions Battle for Nuka World and Battle for Boston Starter Sets. Additionally, many fan-favorite items are available for discounts until Friday. Oct. 30.
Debuting in 1997, the Fallout series has spanned four mainline entries and several spinoffs such as Fallout 76 and Fallout Shelter. The franchise also expanded with its critically acclaimed series on Prime Video, which earned three wins and nine nominations at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Items from the Fallout Great War Week Collection are available now on the Official Bethesda Gear Store. Follow the Official Bethesda Gear Store on X for the latest updates.
About DPI Merch
Empowered by their passion for high-quality gaming merchandise, DPI Merchandising LLC specializes in creating products for video game enthusiasts. Their team works with gaming industry titans, including Bethesda, BioWare, CD Projekt Red, and SEGA.
Follow DPI Merchandising LLC on X and Instagram for the latest updates.
