Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 23, 2026) – Beastro is back on the menu, as Timberline Studio confirms the cozy culinary adventure will feature an updated playable demo during Steam Next Fest, which is available right now. For returning players, or those stepping into the kitchens of Palo Pori for the first time, its unique blend of cooking, farming and deckbuilding combat is a feast for the senses.

The Next Fest demo introduces players to several of the game’s Caretakers, each representing a different taste that shapes combat and character dynamics: 

• Oyshi, the Umami Caretaker, is a gentle, comforting soul with a natural affinity for animals and people alike. His name references the classic umami ingredients of mushrooms (“oyster,” “shiitake,”) and oishii, the Japanese word for delicious. 
• Kalan, the Bitter Caretaker, is a more…acquired taste. First encountered alone in the wilds, resistant to help and proud of his independence. Winning him over requires patience, but discovering his favorite dish becomes a real turning point, proving that even those most guarded can be won over by the right meal. 

The updated demo also includes a variety of new content, including brand-new NPCs breathing new life into Palo Pori, increased language support for both in-game content and external feedback with improved access to the town map alongside a heap more of quality-of-life features. The full list of upgrades can found here.

In Beastro, every meal players prepare becomes their cards in a flavorful deckbuilding system, powering theatrical puppet-style combat encounters, where strategy and seasoning matter just as much as timing. As Panko, the talented Caracal chef, players must keep the villagers and adventurers well fed, as ravenous monsters begin to destroy the spirits outside of your home.The only way to defeat them is by keeping bellies full.

Prepare to cook up a storm and support the heroes of Palo Pori when Beastro launches this spring on PS5, Steam, Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass. For more information, visit https://store.steampowered.com/app/2417470/Beastro/  

About Timberline Studio:   Timberline Studio is an independent game studio based in Los Angeles, CA and our homes. We build games that explore vibrant worlds with unexpected characters and stories. That desire stems from our diverse team, which brings varied perspectives, identities, and backgrounds into our creative process. We pride ourselves on building a team combining both experienced members of the industry and untapped talent who are seeking to find their place to shine and grow. Timberline is built on the mindset that we are here to make great games and better ourselves as a team and studio.  

Cosmic Competitive Puzzler Scramble Star Crossing Releases New Demo For Steam Next Fest

Constellate and crush the competition! Scramble Star Crossing tosses you into frantic 2-4 player battles to clear lines of stars and unleash powerful character abilities. A new demo releases February 18th as part of Steam Next Fest!

[February 23rd, 2026]: Scramble Star Crossing starts you off in the shoes of Alice, a novice Star Clearer with a spunky energy and endless enthusiasm. As she navigates the unexpected twists and turns of her first Star Clearer’s Competition, she encounters a colorful constellation of characters, each with their own stories and relationships, as well as their own special abilities. Help her find her place among the stars!

Scramble Star Crossing’s extra modes are where characters truly come to life: with up to fifteen playable characters, all with unique abilities which activate as they clear row after row. Team up with your friends in two-on-two battles or hold your own in free-for-all mode! Knock your rivals out of the sky in one-on-one versus. Hone your skills in solo modes such as Time Trial, Arcade, Zen, and countless others!

Scramble Star Crossing brings a sparklingnew demo to Steam Next Fest on February 18th, giving players a chance to paint themselves across the sky, and experience the game’s supernova of fast-paced action and reaction firsthand!

Watch the trailer for Scramble Star Crossing below.

Key features of Scramble Star Crossing include:

• 15+ Character Roster. Up to fifteen playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, mean that the action is always fresh, and there’s a way to play for everyone!
• Countless Game Modes. Both single-player and multiplayer have a wide variety of experiences, from team battles, free-for-alls, and one-on-one versus battles, with different rulesets and conditions to mix things up! Fly solo in Zen Mode, Arcade Mode, Marathon Mode, Clear the Crossing, Time Trial, and more!
• Stellar Storyline! Help Alice chase her dreams! Interact with the colorful cast of fellow Star Clearers as Alice works her way to the top in her first-ever Competition! Explore bitter rivalries, unexpected friendships, and shocking twists and turns, as she finds her own place among her childhood heroes!
• Gorgeous Cosmic Vibes. Colorful characters, vibrant backgrounds, and a fantastic original soundtrack pulls you fully out of this world!

Scramble Star Crossing is releasing a new demo on February 18th as part of Steam Next Fest.

About Dusk Sharp

Dusk Sharp is an indie game development collective based in New York City, focused on taking classic formulas in new directions. Scramble Star Crossing is their first major release, a competitive match-3 puzzle-game with a stellar twist. It has a new demo arriving February 18th, as part of Steam Next Fest.

About Scramble Star Crossing

The first major major release of Dusk Sharp studios, Scramble Star Crossing is a competitive match-3 puzzle-game with a stellar twist. It has a new demo arriving February 18th, as part of Steam Next Fest.

Kalypso Media and Kite Games Storm a Demo on the Shores of Steam

Bracknell, UK – February 23rd, 2025 – Publisher Kalypso Media and Developer Kite Games have today announced that Sudden Strike 5, their upcoming Real-Time Strategy WWII game and latest installment in the Sudden Strike series, will have a playable demo during the Steam Next Fest from today, February 23^rd, up until March 2^nd. This comes following a successful Closed Beta period last year and nearly a decade since the previous game, Sudden Strike 4, released in 2017.

Generals, prepare to fall in line and command the forces of two out of the three factions across two specially selected missions, “Attack on Monte Cassino” (Western Allies) and “Defence of Sevastopol” (Soviets) – the final game will also include the ability to play as the Axis forces. These two missions are just a taste of the full game, which will include a massive 25-missions across the three faction campaigns, ranging from icy tundra to the blistering heat of Northern Africa. At launch, the full game will feature 25 missions, multiplayer modes, along with additional balancing, and improvements not present in this demo.

Check out the demo for Sudden Strike 5 now, exclusively on Steam Next Fest until March 2^nd. The team at Kalypso will be showcasing the demo live at 4 pm BST on the Kalypso Media YouTube channel, and if you missed the AMA past week, highlights of the Q&A from Kite Games are available on Steam. 

The full game will launch later this year across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation®5, and will bring with it more than 300 unique units and even more tactical possibilities.

Sudden Stike 5 Features: 

• Command massive battles: Sudden Strike 5 delivers a truly immersive strategy experience 25 missions across huge, diverse maps and the highest unit counts ever seen in the series, setting the stage for large-scale tactical warfare. 
• Deploy a vast arsenal of WW2 units: Command over 300 authentic units – including more than 190 vehicles and 110 infantry units – such as the Sherman tank for the Western Allies, the Messerschmidt Bf 109 for the German troops, and the T-34 for the Soviet troops.  
• Shape your strategy in dynamic mission gameplay: Utilize unprecedented strategic freedom by choosing your own tactics, units, and objectives to complete the mission goals. Seize and defend key locations like Field HQs, Supply Depots, and Train Stations to gain critical advantages, while using recon, sabotage, alternative routing, and smart unit combinations to outmanoeuvre your enemies. 
• Adapt your tactics with customisable commanders: Choose the Commander that best fits your playstyle and tactics – whether offensive, defensive, or more tactical. Each brings unique skills that can turn the tide of battle, such as deploying smoke grenades to provide cover on the battlefield or boosting the accuracy of your artillery.  

• Take full control of the battlefield: Extended camera options let you zoom out for full strategic oversight or zoom in for a closer look at the frontline action, giving you better control over every aspect of the battlefield. 
• Challenge yourself and others: Test your strategy against real opponents or AI enemies across multiple difficulty levels, offering competitive PvP challenges.  

About the Kalypso Media Group GmbH 
Kalypso Media Group GmbH is an independent publisher, developer, and marketer of interactive entertainment software with over 200 employees at 10 locations across Germany, England, France, Japan, and the USA. The Kalypso Media Group includes Kasedo Games, the digital label of Kalypso Media Group, along with four development studios: Realmforge Studios (Dungeons series), Gaming Minds Studios in Gütersloh and Paderborn (Railway Empire, Port Royale, Tropico 7) and Claymore Game Studios (Commandos: Origins).  

Specializing in the development of strategy and simulation games for a global audience on multi-platforms, Kalypso Media Group’s IP portfolio includes full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, and Railway Empire, among others. Kalypso Media’s most recent releases are The Inquisitor, Commandos: Origins and Disciples: Domination. Recent releases from Kasedo Games include Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, Sweet Dreams Alex, and Rise of Industry 2, with upcoming titles such as Warhammer 40000: Mechanicus II and Life Below. Find out more at www.kalypsomedia.com. 

Kalypso Media Group offers a wide range of merch products and clothing in the newly opened Kalypso Media merch store. The products available include Kalypso Media’s best-known franchises, including Commandos, Railway Empire, Dungeons, and Tropico.

More at merch.kalypsomedia.com. 

Lesquin, February 23, 2026 – NACON is pleased to invite players and the press to its annual online conference, NACON Connect, which will take place on March 4, 2026, at 11:00 AM PST / 8:00 PM CET. This key event will highlight the publisher-developer’s future releases as well as the latest from its accessories department. The program will include game announcements, the broadcast of new videos and gameplay presentations for anticipated titles such as Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, The Mound, Edge of Memories, and Endurance Motorsport Series.

The conference will also be an opportunity to reveal new projects that will enrich NACON’s catalog in the coming months.

For a sneak peek, watch the event teaser now: 

The broadcast will be live on NACON’s official channels on March 4 at 8:00 PM CET / 11:00 AM PST.

Tune in to watch live:
YouTube: NACON | Twitch: NACON
 
Join us on NACON’s official channels on March 4 at 8PM CET / 11AM PST to follow the announcements and react live. #NACONCONNECT
  
Stay tuned! More information will be revealed very soon.
Find all NACON games and accessories on nacongaming.com

About NACON
A company within the BIGBEN group, NACON was created in 2019 to optimise its expertise and leverage synergies in the video game market. Comprising 16 development studios, AA game publishing, and the design and distribution of premium gaming peripherals, NACON brings 40 years of experience to benefit the world’s gaming community. This unified centre of excellence strengthens NACON’s position in the market and creates unique opportunities for innovation and competitive advantages. https://corporate.nacongaming.com

Build defenses around your diner, survive waves of monsters, and turn their remains into questionable cuisine in this narrative-driven management thriller

Bangkok, Thailand (February 23, 2026) | Today, Rising Tide Publishing and developer Hidden Chest Studios announced that Midwest 90: Rapid City, a story-rich restaurant management survival game, will debut a new demo as part of Steam Next Fest. Combining diner simulation, tactical base defense, and branching narrative decisions, Midwest 90: Rapid City challenges players to keep their doors open, their town alive, and their souls intact during a full-scale monster apocalypse.

In Midwest 90: Rapid City, players operate a small-town diner in Rapid City, where desperate times call for desperate measures. Monsters are both a threat and a resource, and by setting carefully crafted traps, diner owners can defeat eerie beasts, harvest their remains, and turn them into unique dishes to fuel their business while preparing for the next attack. Nothing is wasted in Midwest 90.

Each day brings tough decisions. Invest in research to unlock new monster recipes, upgrade kitchen equipment to handle demanding customers, or reinforce defenses to survive monster assaults. Dialogue and characters are rich, peculiar, and consequence-driven, with strategic planning and moral choices directly influencing the story’s direction and the fate of Rapid City.

Midwest 90: Rapid City Key Features:

• A restaurant sim with real steaks… err, stakes: Manage menus, research monster ingredients, upgrade equipment, and satisfy customers while surviving an unfolding apocalypse.
• (Tower) defend your diner: Set traps, reinforce structures, and prepare for unpredictable monster incursions that threaten your livelihood.
• Meaningful narrative choices: Decisions affect relationships, morale, and the long-term future of Rapid City.
• Haunting ‘90s-inspired aesthetic: An early Fallout-inspired perspective meets an eerie orange-and-red supernatural vibe.

Midwest 90: Rapid City is developed by Hidden Chest Studios, an independent Malaysian studio focused on immersive, system-driven storytelling experiences. The game will be published globally by Rising Tide Publishing, a Thailand-based publisher committed to helping Southeast Asia studios rise.

Players can wishlist and download the Steam Next Fest demo now on Steam.

About Hidden Chest Studios

Hidden Chest Studios is a Malaysian game developer dedicated to crafting thoughtful, system-driven experiences that balance creativity and technical design. The team is driven by a mission to build meaningful games while championing ethical employment practices and helping elevate the Malaysian games industry on a global stage.

About Rising Tide Publishing

Rising Tide Publishing is a Thailand-based indie game publisher founded to support niche studios across Southeast Asia. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all ships,” the company operates with a dev-first philosophy, fostering collaborative partnerships that help studios share momentum, visibility, and resources rather than compete in isolation.

Play the Steam Next Fest demo for Sunken Sky, a semi-open world Metroidvania featuring three playable heroes

Krępa Słupska, Poland (February 23, 2026) | Today, developer Codenightly announced that its upcoming anime-inspired Metroidvania, Sunken Sky, will participate in February’s Steam Next Fest with a playable demo. Beginning February 23 and running through March 2, players can explore the world of Sunken Sky, swapping between three distinct heroines, each with unique abilities used to uncover a vast semi-open world.

Set in a kingdom shaped by a long-standing conflict, Sunken Sky lets players step into the role of three unlikely heroes: a nameless girl eager to explore the world, a survivor driven by guilt, and a noble determined to prove their worth. Together, they must unveil their homeland’s history, overcome fearsome foes, and forge new connections in a lighthearted story centered on growth, hope, and discovery.

Blending Metroidvania and JRPG storytelling elements, Sunken Sky is designed to be accessible for newcomers while still offering meaningful challenges for genre veterans. Drawing inspiration from titles such as Ori and the Blind Forest and Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, the game establishes its own identity through hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations, with each frame showcasing a detailed world filled with hidden curiosities and treasures.

Sunken Sky Key Features

• Switch between three unlikely heroes: Take control of three distinct characters, each with unique abilities and personal motivations that shape how players explore the world. 
• Battle fearsome foes: Face a variety of enemies, from smaller creatures to challenging boss encounters that stand in the way. 
• Explore a vast interconnected world: Traverse a labyrinthine landscape spanning hazardous mountains, enchanted forests, and more. 
• Dive into playful minigames: Step away from the main adventure with side activities such as cooking challenges and aerial flight segments. 
• Discover a beautifully handcrafted world: Hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations bring a vibrant anime-inspired setting to life, filled with personality and detail. 
• Experience an accessible adventure: Designed to welcome newcomers while offering satisfying depth for genre veterans, supported by a lighthearted story of hope and discovery.

“We are thrilled to be part of Steam Next Fest and to introduce the world of Sunken Sky to new players,” said Marcin Szmacinski, programmer and game designer at Codenightly. “Our goal during development was to bring a world filled with personality to life while making the adventure welcoming for newcomers and still retaining everything fans love about the Metroidvania genre. We can’t wait for players to experience the demo and take their first steps into the journey ahead.”

Players can wishlist Sunken Sky and download the Steam Next Fest demo now on Steam, or learn more at sunkensky.com. The full game is planned to launch in Spring 2026.

About Sunken Sky

Sunken Sky is an original anime-inspired Metroidvania that follows three unlikely heroes as they uncover the past of their kingdom, face fearsome foes, and form new bonds along the way. Blending classic Metroidvania exploration with JRPG storytelling elements, the game is designed to welcome newcomers while offering meaningful depth for genre veterans.

Set across a vast interconnected world spanning hazardous mountains and enchanted forests, players can switch between three unique characters, each with distinct abilities used to explore beautifully handcrafted environments filled with hidden details and discovery.

About Codenightly

Codenightly is a Poland-based game development studio focused on creating character-driven experiences and immersive worlds. Made up of developers from across the globe, the team brings diverse perspectives together to craft engaging narratives and thoughtful gameplay.

The studio’s debut title, Sunken Sky, explores a new approach to the Metroidvania genre, combining accessibility for newcomers with depth for longtime fans of the genre. Drawing on the team’s varied creative backgrounds, the project reflects Codenightly’s commitment to building memorable adventures shaped by collaboration and storytelling.

Defy death, hoard power and slaughter gods

Madrid, Spain – 23 February 2026. Meridiem is pleased to announce that it will publish a physical edition of Dragon is Dead, a 2D dark fantasy hack-and-slash, roguelite action platformer that offers tons of customisation fun with different character skill trees and legendary equipment. Developed by Team Suneat and digitally published by PM Studios, the physical Guernian Edition of Dragon is Dead will be distributed by Meridiem across European specialist stores for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on July 14, 2026.

Meridiem is responsible for designing and manufacturing the physical Guernian Edition of Dragon is Dead for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, and will include a copy of the game, a special sleeve, character art cards and the Lore of Gernian document!

In this dark fantasy action roguelite, death is only the beginning. As an immortal Successor, slash through corrupted lands, master three distinct classes, and keep your legendary gear to return stronger after every fall. The Black Dawn awaits.

Play as an immortal Successor

You are a Successor, an immortal warrior empowered by the gods Lu, Ashuran, and Harnia. When you die, you revive with your gear, runes, and unlocks intact and head back out from Cliffshire to push further into corrupted zones.

Choose your Successor

You’ll start as the Spellblade and unlock additional Successors as you progress. Each has its own skill tree, weapons, and playstyle

Playable Classes

• Spellblade – Element-focused hybrid with close and mid-range attacks built around fire, frost, and lightning.
• Berserker – Heavy melee bruiser that trades its own HP and positioning for huge damage and armour. 
• Hunter – Mobile ranged fighter using thrown weapons, poison, and beast abilities to apply damage over time and control space.

2D Roguelite Hack-and-Slash Combat

Combat revolves around precise dodges, reading telegraphed attacks, and committing to aggressive combos. Areas are multi-layered 2D stages that reshuffle enemy layouts, hazards, and loot each run. When you fall, you lose gold and temporary bonuses, but your gear and runes stay with you and form the base of your next attempt.

Loot, runes, and artefacts

Hunt Elites and Bosses to claim Rune Stones, then craft them into Legendary and Mythic equipment. Runes and class skill trees interact to define your build, while artefacts you pick up mid-run stack into powerful synergies.

Uncover the Black Dawn

The dragon Guernian has fallen, and his Corruption twists the world. You must fight your way to the Citadel at the centre of the rift. But be warned: the history you know is a lie. Track down major bosses, piece together the fragments of the past, and discover what the Black Dawn is really doing with the Corruption.

Dragon is Dead – Guernian Edition will arrive physically for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on July 14, 2026.

About Meridiem

We are Meridiem, a video game publisher and distributor in love with its culture, which we protect and pass on in order to preserve it. We do this by fostering talent through investment in independent projects with potential, bringing back classic titles, promising indies and AAA games while continuing to support the physical format.

When we stop working on video games, we celebrate by playing video games. https://meridiem-games.com/  #PLAYTOREMEMBER.

About PM Studios 

PM Studios is a game developer and publisher dedicated to championing indie innovation and delivering bold, unforgettable gaming experiences to players around the world. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Las Vegas, with international operations in Seoul, Korea, PM Studios brings deep expertise in development, distribution, and publishing — with a growing slate of acclaimed titles and popular franchises across console, PC, and mobile.

At PM Studios, creativity comes without compromise. We empower creators, connect communities, and invite players everywhere to unleash their wonder. Come play. www.pm-studios.com 

About Team Suneat

Team Suneat is an indie game dev team made up of 4 industry veterans who have been working together for many years. A subsidiary of PM Studios, Team Suneat is bringing their action game expertise to Dragon is Dead – due to launch in 2024.

New trailer teases digitally scanned 6,000 ton ocean liner full of unspeakable terrors!

Pangyo, South Korea – February 23rd, 2026 – Indie developer Influsion Inc. have released a demo of their upcoming first-person survival horror game SENARA: The Sacrament for Steam Next Fest, running today through March 2nd. Set aboard a mysterious derelict cruise liner, players must survive and escape as the ship teeters on the edge of ruin. You can catch a glimpse of its unspeakable horrors in the new demo trailer below:

SENARA: The Sacrament puts players in the role of a new recruit of a religious organization with a massive 6,000-ton ship: the Senara. Upon setting sail you wake up to find the crew missing, while unspeakably horrors roam its steel corridors. Hidden cult rituals, forbidden truths, and survivors with their own agendas await you in the darkness. In a place where blind faith and salvation intertwine, you’ll be forced to make choices that go far beyond survival.

Hearkening back to classic survival horror design, SENARA: The Sacrament offers a massive escape room where you must solve puzzles and use limited resources to your advantage if you’re to get out alive. In order to get out of the Senara alive, you’ll have to ration your resources, make use of stealth, and make difficult decisions regarding when to fight or flee. Explore the complex, intertwined corridors of this structure based on a real ship, uncover hidden passages, and gather clues to find the key to your escape.

This unholy tale is open to interpretation with snippets of truth scattered across documents, objects, and conversations between characters. Depending on what you believe and how you interpret the clues, the story can unfold in entirely different directions. With multiple endings based on your choices, your decisions affect not only your escape but also the fate of the Senara and what truth comes to light.

Using LiDAR, photogrammetry, and Unity HDRP pipelines, SENARA: The Sacrament offers a scan of a real-life documentary-level accuracy 6,000-ton ship. This precise reality reconstruction naturally adds an ultra immersive, uncanny playspace for players to get lost in.

“With this demo we want players to get a sense of SENARA: The Sacrament‘s nightmarish nautical setting and core gameplay loop,” said No-Jin Kwak, Director at Influsion Inc. “This is a classic survival horror experience where players must manage limited resources, solve puzzles, and explore a non-linear map that they gradually uncover. We don’t see a lot of this style of game anymore, so we think fans of classic survival horror will latch onto its moody atmosphere and suspenseful game design.”

About Influsion Inc: 
Influsion Inc. first launched the Stormborne series on mobile, capturing a console-like feel. With mobile shifting towards casual and ad-driven content, we realized our strengths were not fully utilized. In this time, Influsion conducted R&D on digital twins for industrial and marine training, consistently earning recognition from educational and research institutions for its ability to create highly accurate virtual environments. This has led to a focus on becoming a leading studio in the global premium horror game market, specializing in creating high-quality and immersive horror experiences. Infusion is currently working on the single-player survival horror adventure SENARA: The Sacrament and the co-op survival horror game SAVE, currently available on Steam Early Access.

Deep tactical combat, brutal choices, and a dark fantasy built for true strategists

February 23rd, 2026 – Dark fantasy tactical RPG Annulus invites players to step onto the battlefield today as part of Steam Next Fest, with a new playable build available worldwide. Designed to revive the depth and discipline of classic turn-based tactics, the demo highlights Annulus’ focus on meaningful strategy and consequence-driven combat.

The demo challenges players to think several moves ahead, combining uncompromising battlefield strategy with a richly woven dark fantasy world. From positioning and terrain to long-term risk management, every decision leaves a lasting mark on the fight.

Strategy Returns to the Battlefield Itself

Unlike tactical games that lean heavily on stat optimization or rigid skill rotations, Annulus places decision-making directly on the battlefield. Elevation, terrain, dynamic weather, day – night cycles, and environmental interactions all influence mercenary performance. Each movement and ability choice can echo several turns into the future, transforming combat into a tense tactical duel defined by risk, foresight, and positioning.

Character Progression Beyond Linear Power Growth

Progression in Annulus avoids simple numerical escalation. As mercenaries evolve, their forms, skill mechanics, and combat roles can change dramatically. Certain core characters unlock heavily mutated, high-tier forms capable of reshaping an entire squad’s tactical identity. Rather than relying on a single optimal build, players are encouraged to continuously rethink team composition and battlefield approach.

A Dark Fantasy World That Shapes Gameplay

Annulus’ dark fantasy setting is not merely aesthetic. Narrative choices, world-map decisions, and exploration systems are tightly woven into combat and progression. Player decisions can alter story paths while triggering unique encounters, events, and resource outcomes, ensuring that narrative and mechanics reinforce one another at every step.

A Rare Level of Polish for a New Strategy Title

Developed in Unreal Engine, Annulus delivers high production values uncommon for a strategy title debuting at Steam Next Fest. Dynamic lighting and weather, original music, full voice acting, and refined presentation combine to create a cohesive and immersive tactical experience from the first encounter.

Reforging the Glory of Tactical RPGs

With this vision at its core, Annulus arrives at Steam Next Fest, blending darker fantasy, aggressive evolution systems, and deeply integrated tactical design to push turn-based strategy forward.

The playable build is available from today, February 23rd, inviting tacticians worldwide to put its ideas to the test.

ABOUT NIRVANA

Annulus is developed by NIRVANA, a passionate and experienced game development team dedicated to strategy and hardcore game design. The studio focuses on blending distinctive dark aesthetics with expansive world-building, supported by strong technical foundations that deeply integrate dynamic environments with tactical gameplay systems.

Focused on delivering top-tier game quality with genuine passion, the team continuously refines its work to bring high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide, balancing depth, challenge, and long-term enjoyment.

FEBRUARY 23rd, 2026 – Canadian indie studio Hatchery Games, composed of ex-Skylanders developers, just dropped the release date for Voidling Bound during The Mix Indie Fan Fest!

Voidling Bound is coming to Steam on June 9th, 2026. And will also be releasing on consoles at a later date: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, exact date TBA.

Described by players as a cross between Spore and Warframe, Voidling Bound allows you to evolve Voidlings through branching paths, shaping both their abilities and appearance. Discovers wild mutant genes and use them to craft unique Voidlings. Unleash powerful synergies through near-limitless build-making possibilities!

The newly revealed release date trailer features fresh gameplay footage, teases several bosses, as well as a first look at breeding and training features for your Voidling companions.

Demo Out Now + Steam Next Fest Participation

Any press, streamers, or content creators interested in covering Voidling Boundcan access the demo, now available on Steam. It’s officially taking part in Steam Next Fest from 23 February to 2 March, but will remain available after.

What’s new & improved in the updated demo?

• Your demo progress now carries over to the full game!
• New animated narrative introduction
• Full support for 9 languages
• Access to Gilick’s Cryo Branch
• Brand new enemy faction
• Maps available beyond the main quest line have been modified
• Significant performance optimizations
• Improved sounds, visual effects, and animations

*Steam review keys will likely be sent end of May 2026. But as mentioned earlier, the Steam demo progress will carry over, so you can already get started today!

Website: voidlingbound.com
​Steam Page: Voidling Bound Steam

About The Game

Become a Space Wrangler and take direct control of creatures called “Voidlings” in this action-packed sci-fi 3^rd-person shooter. Shape them through branching evolution paths and upgrade their abilities to overcome bubonic swarms, pestilent bosses, and reclaim lush planets overrun by corruption.

Defenseless against a devastating parasite threatening all life forms, humanity must team up with recently discovered Voidlings to unlock their full potential through the neural bond. Become bound as one, as the last line of defence in our fight for survival.

Key Features

• Action-Packed 3rd Person Shooter where you take complete control of your monster. Shoot, slash, slam, and blast your way through battles.
• Evolve across branching paths to customize your elemental alignment, appearance, playstyle, and abilities. Discover powerful mutated perks that change how each Voidling is played.
• Level up your Voidlings and assign attribute points to customize their playstyle: strength, vitality, essence, recuperation, or agility. The choice is yours.
• Cleanse vibrant handcrafted planets oozing with diverse enemies, each posing unique gameplay challenges.
• Discover new Voidlings by rescuing and hatching eggs from infested locations. Get lucky and hatch rare natures that empower your Voidlings.
• Breed to combine natures and attributes for even more power.
• Collect body parts, colors, and eye genes to customize your specimens.
• Craft unique Voidlings that combine the strength of all your discoveries. Unlock powerful synergies otherwise impossible to overcome ever-increasing challenges!

About the Studio

Voidling Bound is the first title from Hatchery Games, an indie studio based in Quebec City. Formed from a shared desire to revitalize the monster-catching genre, the team previously worked together on the Skylanders franchise before pooling their experience into Voidling Bound. The game aims to be a genre-defining monster tamer, where players can finally take full control of their creatures in third-person. Blending high-octane sci-fi nostalgia with a vibrant palette, Voidling Bound brings to life a universe of colorful yet deadly creatures.

Jonathan Rancourt

Jonathan is Co-Founder and Creative Director at Hatchery Games. His work can be seen on multiple high-profile titles such as Skylanders to Borderlands 3, with 13 years in the video game industry as an artist, team lead and project director. He’s at the helm of this project and in charge of the realization of the game.

Simon Grelier

Simon is Co-Founder and our Technical Director. After spending 8 years as a programmer for big companies such as Ubisoft and Beenox (Rainbow Six: Siege, Skylanders, Call of Duty), he decided to jump into this crazy adventure that is the indie world.

Frederick Gagnon

Frederick is Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Hatchery Games. He is handling the PR and Marketing for the game. With 17 years of experience as a game developer (Skylanders, Borderlands 3), lead and animation supervisor in VFX (Alien Covenant, Stranger Things: S3), Frederick is also in charge of rigging, audio and music direction.

Carl-Simon Picard

Carl-Simon is Co-Founder and our Narrative Director. With 13 years of experience as a team lead and animator in both video games (Skylanders, Amazing Spiderman) and VFX production (Alien Covenant, Stranger Things: S3, His Dark Material) Carl is in charge of our animation direction, as well as designing our narrative quest, and building Voidling Bound’s universe!