First Fresh Start Server ZERO to Grand Launch on September 15 (UTC+0) with Exclusive Rewards and Growth Support Events
LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, has opened pre-registration for ZERO, the fresh start server for its dark fantasy MMORPG RAVEN2. Pre-registration is now available through a dedicated website ahead of ZERO’s grand opening on September 15 (UTC+0).
Players who complete pre-registration through the dedicated website will receive the [ZERO] Special Starter Package, which includes Heroic Holy Garment (1) Summon Scroll, Heroic Familiar (1) Summon Scroll, Elite Spec. C Member’s Accessory Selection Chest, +2 Dazzling Relic Chest (4 Types), 200 Spec. C Enhancement Stone Chests, and 5 million Gold.
ZERO is the first fresh start server introduced since the launch of RAVEN2. Designed to ease the burden of character progression, monetization pressure, PK (Player Killing), and competitive stress compared to existing servers, ZERO offers a more accessible environment for both new and returning players. The server will introduce the Farming Crystal system, which allows players to earn Crystals through gameplay and experience significantly increased equipment drop rates and EXP gains.
Exclusive ZERO events will also be available following the server opening. Players can receive up to 550 Summon Scrolls, guaranteed Legendary Holy Garment and Familiar, and weekly Heroic Holy Garment or Familiar rewards for the first month after launch. Level milestone chests will also be provided as players progress, while the Special Corps Growth Event will offer high-grade rewards, including Heroic equipment and skill books, simply through gameplay.
To celebrate the opening of ZERO, special events will also be prepared for players on existing servers. These events will offer rewards including 330 Summon Scrolls and Legendary Holy Garment and Familiar, giving current players additional support alongside the launch of the new server.
An official sequel to Raven (EvilBane: The Iron King), RAVEN2 is a blockbuster MMORPG set in a dark fantasy realm reimagined with unrivaled graphics. As a member of the Special Corps, players will embark on a journey to investigate dangerous and bizarre incidents under royal order, and engage in a large-scale, cruel war.
For more information about RAVEN2, stay tuned to the game’s official forum, YouTube channel and Facebook. Players can also visit the official website to find out more about the game.
About Netmarble Corporation
Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Re:BIRTH, RAVEN2, MARVEL Future Fight, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
Today’s update brings a brand-new mode, new enemies, fresh cosmetics, plus a wave of improvements across vehicles, weapons and gameplay
PARIS – Sept. 2, 2026 – Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment are thrilled to announce the release of the second major update for John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, the “Retrieval” update,now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Free for all players today, this update brings a new mode for the most seasoned soldiers: collect relics and reach an extraction point before hordes of zombies get to you!
New mode, new nightmares
Retrieval Mode opens up new ways to play for everyone: pick a map, collect relics, and reach an extraction point before hordes of zombies catch up to you. But move fast, or you’ll draw the attention of the Sludge, who wants you dead. The new mode is currently playable on four maps: Church of the Damned, High Octane, Impasse, and Demon Bait.
Alongside the new mode, the Retrieval Update includes several gameplay additions:
New zombies to fight – Goblins: These small enemies come in groups, attack the same target, and can revive each other as long as one of the three remains alive.
Four new ways to purge the zombie invasion: New weapons and tools include the Le Clairon assault rifle, the Flamethrower, the Thunderstick, and the Saw Trap, which tears the infected apart.
A batch of upgrades for day-to-day missions: New fixes and updates have been implemented, including the ability to dash, Trials Season 2, PC local servers, plus vehicle and bot improvements.
Embrace the Sludge style
Launching alongside the free update today is the Cosmetic Pack 2 DLC, which is included in the Bloody Season Pass. Players can unlock unique skins and headgear for each character, as well as weapon and vehicle skins, all inspired by the almighty Sludge God. New profile titles and icons are also available to scare the infected away. Or convince them to join your side…
Commando Incoming: Walter Irons Joins Fortnite
The world’s been saved before, but never like this. Walter Irons, one of John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando‘s playable characters, is dropping into Fortnite and ready to save the Island, one toxic takedown at a time. Whether he’s defusing threats in his home universe or fighting for survival in Battle Royale, one thing’s clear: saving the world is his specialty. Walter will be available in Fortnite starting September 5 at 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT / 2 a.m. CEST for all owners of John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando on the Epic Games Store.
Keep fighting the zombie hordes in John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando’s new Retrieval Update, available now as free content on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Grab your copy today with a limited-time discount of 30% on the base game and 35% off theBlood Editionon Steam!
Plus, four voices from critically acclaimed Lil’ Guardsman return for developer Hilltop Studios’ ambitious second project
DENVER, CO, USA – September 2, 2026 – Rising indie publisher Digital Bandidos and Toronto-based developer Hilltop Studios have revealed the full voice cast for upcoming gothic narrative roguelite Curse of Resthaven, featuring veteran talent from major franchises such as Star Trek, Assassin’s Creed, Death Stranding, Mass Effect and more.
Curse of Resthaven is a single–player gothic narrative roguelite in which players govern a struggling island colony and investigate the disappearance of their niece, a mysterious plague and the death of their predecessor – all while trapped in a six-day time loop that ends in a cosmic cataclysm.
The game combines trading, town management, card-based expeditions with interrogation – the latter being where the game’s fully-voiced characters really shine. Each townsperson you meet has their own agenda, their own secrets to hide, and players must decide who – or what – they trust as their investigation proceeds.
A group of 11 talented actors have now wrapped recording on close to 7,000 lines of dialogue for 25 distinct and memorable characters. Four members of the cast return from Hilltop Studios’ multi-award-winning debut game Lil’ Guardsman.
Among the cast are Raoul Bhaneja (known to Star Trek fans as Starfleet Academy’s Chancellor Kelrec), who plays the disgraced war hero General Bolingbroke, and Wade Bogert-O’Brien (Beacon 23, Good Witch, and Frontier), who voices the game’s protagonist Ambrose, newly appointed governor of Resthaven.
The cast also includes voice talent from smash hit games such as Assassin’s Creed Origins, the Mass Effect trilogy, and Cuphead.
Curse of Resthaven is the pilot project for a brand new actors’ union agreement. Hilltop consulted for ACTRA Toronto (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) on its new Indie Videogame Agreement, and is the first studio to adopt it.
Under terms of the agreement, rates are based on budget tiers with an option for the developer to issue additional payouts to the performers if the game is very profitable.
The full cast is as follows:
Raoul Bhaneja: General Oliver Bolingbroke (Starfleet Academy, Death Stranding 2, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla)
Wade Bogert-O’Brien: Governor Ambrose (Beacon 23, Good Witch, Frontier)
Jan Alexandra Smith: Evelyn Sprigg (Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, Jade Empire)
Alana Bridgewater: Lydia Braithwaite (Cuphead)
Jeremy Lapalme: Micah Islip (Lil’ Guardsman)
David Leyshon: Garet (Lil’ Guardsman)
Rylan O’Reilly: Adam Bolingbroke (Lil’ Guardsman)
Briana Templeton: Agata (Lil’ Guardsman)
Bruce Dow: Pryster Islip (Broadway)
Hailey Gillis: Amalia (Canadian theatre icon)
Players can enjoy these actors’ work right now in the first playable demo for Curse of Resthaven, available on Steam.
“Voice acting was a huge part of what made Lil’ Guardsman special – it’s definitely part of our secret sauce – and we were fortunate enough to receive recognition for it when the game launched,” says game director Scott Christian. “Curse of Resthaven lifts the bar even higher. One of the things that makes this cast particularly special to me is that many of these actors come from the Canadian theatre community, where I spent much of my career before making games.
“We’re also so proud to be the first studio to pilot ACTRA Toronto’s Indie Video Game Agreement. This new agreement makes engaging union voice talent more accessible to smaller game studios, and makes it easier for union actors to participate in cool indie projects like ours.
“Voice recording may be wrapped, but unfortunately for the denizens of Resthaven, the curse is just beginning. We can’t wait to show you more as we build up to launch later this year.”
Curse of Resthaven is currently in development for PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Players can wishlist the game on Steam, PlayStation Store and Xbox Store.
For more information about Curse of Resthaven and Digital Bandidos’ upcoming releases, visit www.digitalbandidos.com.
About Digital Bandidos
Digital Bandidos, established in 2024 by Versus Evil veterans Steve Escalante and Lance James, is an up-and-coming publisher with a secret behind its mask: decades of combined experience in indie and AAA game publishing, hundreds of titles published, and a lifelong passion to empower independent game developers and their creations—no matter who is publishing their games. The company has published well-received games such as Soulstone Survivors, Let Them Come: Onslaught and Froggy Hates Snow, and created Indie Fan Fest to better highlight upcoming games ahead of Steam Next Fest.
About Hilltop Studios
Hilltop Studios is a Toronto-based independent game studio that blends narrative depth with gameplay innovation, crafting experiences that feel both emotionally rich and mechanically rewarding.
The studio’s debut title, Lil’ Guardsman, is a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning adventure that has delighted players around the world. Hilltop is currently developing its second title, Curse of Resthaven, a gothic horror, narrative roguelite that continues the studio’s commitment to memorable storytelling and inventive game design.
Guildford, UK – 2 September 2026:Fangtopia, the spooky kingdom builder from developer Absolutely Games and publisher Secret Mode, will be emerging from the shadows onto PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Stove, PlayStation®5, and Nintendo Switch™ 2 on 26th October.
Fangtopia is a stress-free, scare-free puzzle game that gives you a stack of hex tiles and tasks you with creating the largest kingdom possible. Place a plethora of tile types and watch as they merge to form sprawling towns, dense forests, and more. Earn points through clever tile placement to unlock unique landmarks and complete their objectives to add more tiles to your stack.
A big spooky kingdom needs some big spooky creatures to round out the look. Build your islands out towards portals in the sea to summon scarecrows, giants, werewolves, and other iconic creatures and characters to your world. Keep track of every creature you’ve met and every tile you’ve unlocked in your own Sticker Book – see if you can collect them all!
Play multiple modes to suit your mood, whether you’re looking for a short respite or a more contemplative experience. Chase high scores and show off on the global leaderboards or focus on aesthetics and create a beautiful world. It’s your Fangtopia – build it how you want.
Fangtopia will launch on PC, PS5, and Switch 2 on 26th October. Follow the game on social media to keep up with all the latest news and development updates.
About Fangtopia
Sink your fangs into Fangtopia, a cozy and relaxing tile puzzle game where you assemble landscapes to craft a monsterrific paradise for friendly ghouls and ghosts. Design a care-free, scare-free world of gentle chills.
Fangtopiawill release on PC, PS5, and Switch 2 on 26 October.
PlayStation® 5 and Nintendo Switch™ 2 versions funded by UK Government.
About Secret Mode Secret Mode is an independent publisher and the winner of the MCV/Develop Indie Publisher of the Year 2025 award, Ukie Best UK Publisher 2024 award, and the Debug Indie Game Best Influencer Marketing 2025 award. In March 2025 Emona Capital LLP, a financial investor with deep expertise in the gaming industry, partnered with CEO Ed Blincoe and CPO James Schall in the successful buyout of Secret Mode. Published titles include triple-BAFTA-winner Still Wakes the Deep, A Little to the Left, Wobbledogs, Loddlenaut, and Escape the Backrooms.
About Absolutely Games
Absolutely Games make games in the strategy and tactics genre on multiple platforms, including PC and console. We’re building games designed for the long term, with the dream that our games become beloved hobbies for our players for years to come. Absolutely Games was founded in 2019 by industry veterans James Brooksby and Adrian Hawkins.
PARIS (Sept. 2, 2026) – Developer Runes Studio and Publisher The Arcade Crew (Drop Duchy, Abyssus) today revealed brand-new footage for the top down, 1-4 player ARPG Wardens of Avalon, launching on PC next year: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2409660/Wardens_of_Avalon/
This medieval, Dark Arthurian adventure enlists you as a member of the newly formed Legend of the Twilight Knights for a simple but world-altering goal: restore the fallen Kingdom of Avalon.
Wardens of Avalon blends traditional survival crafting with basebuilding elements and a dynamic combat system. Draw your blade against overwhelming bosses that will take everything you have to overcome. Today’s new gameplay showcases the danger laden journey you’ll take on to restore the kingdom. Whether you go it alone or alongside your fellow Twilight Knights, you’ll have to be smart to make it out unscathed.
FEATURES:
Explore: Venture across the ruined Kingdom of Avalon, navigating and conquering complex, handcrafted dungeons filled with challenging monsters and climactic battles with legendary bosses.
Defeat Corruption: Beat back the foul corruption and monsters that have swarmed the land. Slay beasts, uncover new areas and gather resources to restore Avalon.
Rebuild: Return from your adventures with the resources needed to rebuild, expand and protect Avalon. Establish new districts with workshops, blacksmiths, druids, herborists, apothecaries and more to restore the land to its former glory.
Classless Builds:Wardens of Avalon’s classless system allows you to build the Twilight Knight of your dreams, or what the situation requires in a pinch. Break oaths, swear new ones and create a build needed to take down your next awe-inspiring boss.
Gather the Twilight Knights: Restore Avalon solo or in online co-op with up to four players. Stand side by side with fellow Twilight Knights to fend off assaults on your fiefdom, together.
With a gameplay first approach and high-quality focus, The Arcade Crew produces and publishes awesome indie and innovative games from creative teams from around the world.
The Crew’s iconic projects include Abyssus from DoubleMoose Games, Drop Duchy from Sleepy Mill Studio, Blazing Chrome from JoyMasher and Infernax from Berzerk Studios. The Crew is working on several new games for 2026 and beyond.
The Arcade Crew is Dotemu’s indie publishing division.
About Runes Studio
Runes Studio is an independent studio dedicated to creating high quality games with unique hooks. Runes is also convinced that the quality of a game depends first and foremost on the well-being of the teams who make it. More about Runes Studio at https://runes-studio.com
The viral game that blew up as the most-played Next Fest Demo, with over 6 million demo players, is OUT NOW!
İstanbul, Türkiye – September 2, 2026. It is time for your friendships to take the ultimate test! Today, Lefto Studio launches its viral game, BOMBANANA! onto Steam!
Available now for $7.99/€7.99/£7.15 with a limited-time 20% launch discount, BOMBANANA! launches with over 1 million wishlists and a brand-new trailer showcasing its stylish new art direction.
The game has come a long way from its humble demo, originally skyrocketing in popularity thanks to its universally simple to understand concept: 3 monkeys, 1 Blind, 1 Deaf and 1 Mute try to defuse a bomb. Every player sees, hears, and can do something different. How they will work together is up to them, and there’s not one right way.
In the weeks since, the developers have been hard at work elevating the game’s quality to merit their audience’s enthusiasm. The game launches with significant upgrades to its features, including:
3 Game Modes: Campaign, Endless and Custom
New Environments which include different hazards and interactions to navigate
New Puzzles and Modifiers to keep each game feeling fresh and unique
Complete Monkey Overhaul, which includes emotes for everyone, voice synced animations, new player interactions (including slapping)
A Fresh New Creative Direction: the game has a stylish new art direction, which stays true to the original spirit while carving its own unique niche
Gameplay Improvements, including server browsing and room codes,
The usual bells and whistles, controller support, Steam Deck support, achievements and even a colourblind mode
About the game:
Work together as a 3-player co-op team – no more, no less. Exactly three monkeys required! BOMBANANA! Requires on-the-go adaptation. Each bomb has different modules, different rules, different kinds of panic.
Communication is key, and everyone has a different idea of what exactly ‘good’ communication is. Prepare for lots of yelling, desperate gesturing and silly shenanigans where each run is a frantic and hilarious race against the clock!
Cool Stats:
1 Million Wishlists
#1 Demo for Steam Next Fest 2026
6 Million Demo Players
Second Most Played Demo on Steam June-August
About the Team:
Lefto Studios is an independent development team from Istanbul, Türkiye. Headed by Ufuk Girit, the Lefto team members have worked on similar titles such as Liars Bar and We Are So Cooked. BOMBANANA!’s viral success won the heart of many players, and reassured the team that there’s still a desire for more fun and chaotic co-op games.
About the Publisher:
Lefto have teamed up with local Turkish fund and publisher, TARK, an independent PC and console investor/publisher and whose philosophy is founded in hands-on launch support while protecting developers’ creative freedom. TARK are also backing anticipated indie gems, Terrible Life Expectancy and KORRIDOR.
Watford, UK – September 2nd, 2026: Indie publisher Wired Productions and BAFTA-nominated solo developer Tomas Sala says AHOY as ShipShaper launches today into Steam Early Access. The creative shipbuilding sandbox invites players to build, shape and sail extraordinary vessels across the waters of the Great Ursee.
The launch celebrates the next chapter in Wired Productions and Tomas Sala’s long-standing partnership, following the The Falconeer and Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, with the pair recently signing a new seven-year publishing agreement.
The deal gives Tomas the freedom to keep exploring the Falconeer universe, alongside whatever weird, wonderful and unexpected ideas come next. Wired will be right there with him for the journey.
Watch the launch trailer:
ShipShaper is built around one beautifully simple idea: designing ships should feel good. At the helm, Tomas Sala is doing what he does best: taking a deeply personal creative obsession and turning it into an invitation for everyone else to create something of their own.
There is no combat, management or prescribed way to build. No intimidating 3D tools, rigid grids or correct answers. Players simply pull, push, bend and shape forms into fishing vessels, tall ships, ironclads, submarines or glorious nautical creations no sensible shipyard would ever approve.
Once a vessel is ready to leave the shipyard, players can admire it bobbing on the horizon, place it inside a bottle or handcrafted diorama, export it into Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles or take the complete 3D model into another creative project. Models can also be exported and prepared for 3D printing using external software, depending on the design and printing method.
ShipShaper’s free commercial licence allows developers, modders, makers and other creators to use their designs in personal and commercial projects. Models are already appearing in small independent games.
Early Access features include:
Free-form building
Sailing!
Responsive shaping
Expanding library of details and props, for example historical guns
Steam Workshop integration
Export FBX 3d files with a license to use how you see fit
Export to Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
“Sometimes we all imagine our own Fortress with our mind’s eye, I made a game for that already. I thought it was time we had a tool to imagine a Flagship to go with that.” said Tomas Sala, creator ofShipShaper. “I’ve been moving closer and closer to trying to reproduce the things I enjoy, that give me that natural high of creativity, making 3D ships is something that brings a lot of that together. Deconstructing my own process and tools and distilling them into something that’s enjoyable in an explorative and creative way, but with sails and naval artillery tacked on.”
Leo Zullo, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Wired Productions, said: “ShipShaper is Tomas at his best: creative, unpredictable and unlike anything else out there. Early Access puts it where it belongs: in players’ hands, letting them build, experiment and help shape what comes next. We’ve backed Tomas since The Falconeer, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. Today, though, it’s simple: ShipShaper is out. Go build something brilliant.”
ShipShaper is out now in Early Access on Steam for $8.99, with a 10% launch discount available for a limited time.
Build it. Shape it. Sail it.
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is an independent video games publisher based in Watford, UK. For 18 years, Wired has worked with creative souls around the world to bring bold, distinctive games to players in physical and digital formats. Its award-winning catalogue includes Hotel Architect, Task Time, KARMA: The Dark World, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles and Martha Is Dead. Upcoming titles include Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit, MR. RECORDS, AGNI: Village of Calamity, When Sirens Fall Silent and BrokenLore: DON’T LIE.
About Tomas Sala
BAFTA-nominated Tomas Sala is an independent game artist, designer and solo developer, as well as the co-founder of Little Chicken Game Company. He is the creator of the critically acclaimed The Falconeer and Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. Beginning his journey in games through modding, including the acclaimed Skyrim mod Moonpath to Elsweyr, Tomas developed his distinctive visual and creative style through projects including Rekt!, SXPD and TrackLab.
Acquisition brings established development capabilities and console publishing infrastructure to PIKO’s growing portfolio of video game IP
ANDORRA / SAN ANTONIO, TX — September 1, 2026 — PIKO Interactive announced today the acquisition of 7 Raven Studios, an independent video game developer and publisher with 20 years of experience developing and releasing games across console, PC, mobile, and retro platforms.
The acquisition represents an important step in PIKO Interactive’s continued growth from a company focused primarily on acquiring, preserving, and publishing classic video games into a broader game development and publishing company.
Through 7 Raven Studios, PIKO plans to establish a more consistent internal development pipeline focused on two areas: creating new original IP and developing entirely new games based on PIKO’s extensive catalog of classic video game properties.
Over the years, PIKO Interactive has assembled a portfolio of hundreds of video game titles and intellectual properties spanning the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. The addition of 7 Raven Studios gives PIKO an established development operation capable of bringing many of those properties back through new games rather than limiting them to re-releases and preservation projects.
“PIKO has spent years building one of the most diverse catalogs of classic video game IP, and the next step is creating new games with it,” said Eli Galindo, President of PIKO Interactive. “7 Raven Studios gives us an experienced development team and established publishing infrastructure that we can use to accelerate that strategy, while also giving the studio the opportunity to create completely new properties of its own.”
Founded in 2006, 7 Raven Studios has experience developing games across multiple generations of hardware, including Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, mobile devices, and classic gaming systems.
7 Raven Studios will continue operating as a development and publishing label under PIKO Interactive, with new projects planned for both modern and retro platforms.
The acquisition also strengthens PIKO’s ability to develop, publish, and manage projects internally, providing a foundation for a larger and more consistent slate of releases in the coming years.
Further announcements regarding the first new projects from PIKO Interactive and 7 Raven Studios will be revealed in the future.
About PIKO Interactive
PIKO Interactive is a video game publisher and intellectual property company focused on the acquisition, preservation, development, and commercialization of video game properties. Its catalog includes hundreds of games and IPs spanning multiple generations and platforms, with releases across classic hardware, PC, and modern consoles.About 7 Raven Studios
Founded in 2006, 7 Raven Studios is an independent video game developer and publisher with experience creating games for retro and modern platforms. Over its 20-year history, the studio has developed and published titles across Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, mobile, and classic gaming systems.
Build settlements in the iconic era of the Wild West, expand your territory and help the developers with your feedback
Oberhaching, Germany, September 2, 2026 – Saddle your horses, prepare your provisions and ride over to the Steam product page for the upcoming city builder Wild West Pioneers. Now is the chance to get a glimpse into the story-rich world of life in the frontier, as you lead settlers into unknown territory and establish settlements. Development team EmpireCraft Studios and German indie publisher Toplitz Productions jointly announce todays start of the last open playtest, before the anticipated title will be released into Early Access on PC on September 25, 2026.
Interested players can still sign up and with a little bit of luck will be able to play a specially prepared version of the game before its official release date.
Watch the Let’s Play Video on YouTube
With playtime limited at two hours, the open playtest is available until September 14 and gives you a glimpse into the mechanics and features of Wild West Pioneers. It also provides players a rare chance to give the development team direct feedback about their experience, which is also one of the cornerstones of the further development leading up to the release and beyond.
About the game: Wild West Pioneers is a city-builder, where every sunset brings a new adventure. From timber to gold, from makeshift homes to bustling towns, you have to manage production and care for your people. Follow a story full of dangers while exploring the unforgiving frontier. Giddyup, Partner!
Going West As the leader of a group of pioneers, you are responsible for guiding your people as you expand into the untamed Wild West. Find the perfect places to establish new settlements and turn them into a home for you and your settlers.
Life’s Adventure Everyone has a reason to head west: debt, heartbreak, hope, or… gold fever. But why did your father never come back? Beneath the struggle to build new settlements lies a personal journey to find him and keep the promise you made.
Exploring the Frontier The West is called Wild for a reason. The frontier you’re about to explore is full of surprises, adventures and opportunities just waiting to be seized. Send your Scouts to discover new locations that you can explore, and chart your course westward!
Cities Full of Life Settlers come west in search of a better life. Food and shelter may be enough at first, but a thriving town needs more. Keep your people satisfied, earn their trust, and they may help turn your settlement into a true jewel of the Frontier.
Your own Journey The journey through the Frontier is yours to shape. There’s always something worth pursuing. Choose which goals to follow, decide how to spend your rewards, and grow the town in the way that feels right.
The open playtest for Wild West Pioneers is available now on Steam. Head over to the official product page to apply and wishlist the game. The game will be released in Early Access on PC via Steam, GOG.com and Epic Games Store on September 25, 2026. More information can be found on the respective store pages. Join our official Discord server to get the latest information on not only Wild West Pioneers, but all the upcoming titles from Toplitz Productions.
About EmpireCraft Studios EmpireCraft Studios is a game development company established in 2024. The studio brings together a team of seasoned developers who have previously worked on titles like Aztecs – The Last Sun. EmpireCraft Studios specializes in creating city-building games with survival elements. With a strong foundation in the genre, the studio aims to deliver immersive and challenging experiences that blend strategic city management with survival mechanics, appealing to both hardcore and casual players.
About Toplitz Productions The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.
Interact with Boris’ Siblings, See More of Their Personalities, and Enjoy a New Hide & Seek Mini-Game
The Family Fun update is a free new content update for Adorable Adventures, available today on PC (via Steam® and Epic Games Store), PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Introduces a new scent-based Hide and Seek mini-game for Boris and his siblings.
Interact with Boris’ family in new ways, giving them items to hold and decorations to wear.
Enter Max’s Cabin and uncover a new mystery.
London, 25th August 2026 – PQube and developer Wild Sheep Studio are thrilled to announce the free Family Fun update for their cozy animal adventure game, Adorable Adventures. Available today, the update brings Boris and his family closer together with new ways for them to interact, alongside a scent-based Hide and Seek mini-game to enjoy. Players can download the update today on PC (via Steam® and Epic Games Store), PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the content also included in the physical PlayStation® 5 version upon release. Players can get a taste of what’s included in the free update in a newly released trailer!
In the Family Fun update, Boris can interact with his brothers and sisters in all-new ways throughout his adventure! With a tap of the ‘oink’ button, Boris can call his siblings together before handing them items to carry, helping players gather multiple objects while completing tasks. Each sibling can also be dressed up using any decorations they have unlocked throughout the game, allowing every member of Boris’ family to look the part for their adventure.
Once the main quest is complete, players can put their scent-tracking skills to the test in the newly introduced Hide and Seek mini-game. Boris’ siblings will scatter throughout the park, each hiding away and leaving behind their own unique scent to follow. They won’t make it easy though, as unidentified scents can interfere with the trail and throw players off course, and if they spot Boris they will be quick to flee from their hiding spot, turning the search into a high-speed chase.
The Family Fun update also opens the door to Max’s cabin, allowing players to explore inside and uncover the mystery of the displays that adorn its walls. Additionally, new animations have been added, giving each sibling a more unique personality, while extra visual polish and quality-of-life improvements make Boris’ adventure better than ever.
About Adorable Adventures
Adorable Adventures is a relaxing third-person exploration game where you play as Boris, a curious baby boar who must learn to use his nose to reunite with his family, who were separated after a forest fire.
Across rolling meadows, sun-dappled forest paths, deep caves, and rocky highlands, identify scents and follow trails to learn more about the world around you. Search for your brothers and sisters, uncover secrets, and expand your library of smells against the backdrop of a gentle and heart-warming story.
Key Features
A boar’s life – Play as a mischievous baby boar brimming with energy! Dash through open fields, root around dense undergrowth, scrabble over rocky ledges, and splash about in cool riverbeds.
Explore the park – Traverse beautifully detailed environments inspired by the Cévennes National Park in Southern France. Take your time to enjoy its peaceful atmosphere and soothing natural sounds.
Follow your nose – Use Boris’s developing sense of smell to follow scents and identify their source. Filter the smells that you have learned to navigate the park and make exciting discoveries.
Reunite with your family – Search far and wide for your wayward brothers and sisters, and convince them to join in your adventure by solving puzzles that match their individual personalities.
Easily distracted – Discover a collection of playful side activities. Compete in time trial races, master photography challenges, tidy up the park, and maybe even solve the mystery of a local legend?
A heart-warming tale – Let Maxime, the park ranger, guide you through Boris’ journey of growth and self-discovery, featuring adaptive storytelling and full voiceover.
Reconnect with nature – Track down and collect every scent in the park to unlock handwritten entries in Maxime’s journal, and decorate Boris with adorable accessories!
About PQube PQube is a leading developer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment, with a diverse international team passionate about publishing games they love. Partnering with developers globally, PQube delivers immersive, memorable gaming experiences to players across all major gaming platforms. Its rich, ever-expanding portfolio features established fan-favorites like Kitaria Fables, Potion Permit, Discounty, Adorable Adventures and Tormented Souls, alongside exciting new projects including Kusan: City of Wolves, Sniper Dan, They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror, Aggelos 2, K-pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut, The Detectorist Guild and Spyder: Agent 8. Learn more at www.pqube.co.uk.
About Wild Sheep Studio Wild Sheep Studio is an experienced, independent game developer based in the sunny city of Montpellier, France. The team is composed of twelve talented individuals that share a love for crafting games filled with positivity, memorable characters and believable worlds. Following their successful co-development work on the award winning Maestro for VR, the studio now brings their expertise to their first original game, Adorable Adventures.
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