BERLIN – June 3, 2026 – Exovia, the oddly satisfying space engineering simulator from developer and publisher ByteRockers’ Games, takes the first steps toward’s humanity future with the release of the Steam Next Fest demo.

Become humanity’s new hope, who has been sent out on a solo mission to reach the depths of space to build a warp gate that will pave the way to the stars. As this lone astronaut, uncover, extract, and harness the potential of a massive asteroid. Using a mining beam and vacuum, explore, craft, and mine elements of rock, metal, and ice, and deliver those materials to the resource collectors.

Use the materials to build machines that can process the materials into useful upgrades and new items. In the demo, become familiar with the mining process, and begin the first steps toward automation. Why deliver iron ore to the resource collector when gigantic Newtonian machines can guide them to the right spots after you shoot them in the right direction?

Mining in zero gravity comes with its own quirks – learn to manage the “floaters,” the mined materials that bounce around in zero gravity. Your vacuum has limited space, and you might need to cut up larger chunks into smaller pieces you can vacuum up and guide to your resource collectors through the accelerators you’ve setup.

Higher output demands smarter logistics, and every solution is a new opportunity to tinker, optimize, and push the limits of your creativity. Exovia contains no timers and no fail states, so experiment, adjust, and keep building. Through intelligence, resilience & smart engineering, you will carve order from chaos and forge humanity’s path in Exovia.

“This demo serves as a perfect introduction to what you can expect in Exovia, and just how satisfying setting up your first automations can be,” said Maxim Suckow, game designer on Exovia. “If you’re impressed by what you can make in the demo, just wait until you see the intricate designs you can create in the full game…The next major demo will be released during gamescom, accompanied by a fitting announcement/news update.”

Exovia’s Steam Next Fest demo is available today on Steam for PC with English language support.

To stay up to date, follow the developer and publisher ByteRockers’ Games on X, Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to their Youtube channel.

About ByteRockers’ Games

Berlin-based development studio and publisher of indie games that loves to rock n’ roll. Currently working on the physic based dice rolling bullet hell game DeeSicks and two other unannounced titles, the company has a long track record of releasing quality games since 2008.

As a publishing partner and proud resident of the German games capital, supporting small teams with fresh ideas has become the signature of ByteRockers’ Games, who make a point to show face at local events of all sizes and even take on the role as industry advocate with the politicians and media in town. With recently released titles such as Let Them Trade and Constance, they have demonstrated that they also know what they are doing as a publisher.

New gameplay trailer introduces additional pups, environments, NPCs and a first look at Dino Plains

Outright Games, in collaboration with Nickelodeon, today revealed the first gameplay trailer for PAW Patrol: Dino World, offering a closer look at the upcoming adventure game set on the prehistoric Dino Island. Inspired by the world of the upcoming “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie™,” produced by Spin Master Entertainment and arriving in cinemas globally in August 2026, the game launches Sept 18, 2026, on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 65 in retail stores.

The new trailer offers a first look at the exciting adventures awaiting players, including new pups, familiar characters from the PAW Patrol universe, and a sneak peek  at Dino Plains – one of the vibrant areas players will be able to explore across Dino Island. Packed with rescue missions, playful minigames and cooperative gameplay, the trailer showcases how young players can jump into action alongside  the pups.

Joining Chase, Marshall, and Skye are fellow pups Zuma, Rubble and Rocky, each bringing their own unique abilities and vehicles to the adventure. Zuma can swim and dive to assist with underwater rescues, Rubble uses his jackhammer to break obstacles and clear paths, and Rocky keeps missions running smoothly with his repair kit, fixing broken mechanisms and restoring pathways across the island.

Players will also encounter several familiar faces who will guide them throughout their adventure. Ryder, the leader of the PAW Patrol, joins the pups on Dino Island to coordinate rescue missions, while palaeontologists Eugenia and Heidi, from the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, help players navigate the prehistoric setting. Dinosaurs roam the island as players explore, creating opportunities for rescue missions and playful interactions along the way.

Additionally, the trailer introduces Dino Plains, the first explorable region revealed from Dino Island. This expansive area features wide valleys, rocky terrain and water zones designed to showcase each pup’s abilities and vehicles. While Dino Plains is the first location unveiled, more areas of Dino Island will be revealed closer to launch.

Designed specifically for younger audiences, PAW Patrol: Dino World features accessible adventure gameplay that encourages exploration, teamwork, and problem-solving. Players can enjoy the story solo or join forces in two-player co-op, tackling rescue missions and minigames together in an experience tailored for preschool players and families.

PAW Patrol: Dino World Coming September 18 to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 in retail stores.

About Outright Games:

Outright Games is a global video games publisher with a focus on bringing quality family entertainment to a worldwide audience. Founded in 2016, Outright Games has established its place in the market delivering engaging interactive games of beloved entertainment licences globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including favourites such as Peppa Pig: World Adventures with Hasbro, DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos with Warner, Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova and Paw Patrol: Grand Prix with Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The Nine Realms with NBC Universal. With an Outright Games title there will be fun for all the family to enjoy.

For more information please visit: www.outrightgames.com

About Nickelodeon:

Nickelodeon, now in its 47th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films.

Pre-orders for FlexStrike begin on 12 June.

Last year, PlayStation Australia provided a first look at a number of upcoming new gaming accessories coming to the PS5 console and PC. This includes their first wireless fight stick, FlexStrike, and their first wireless desktop speakers, Pulse Elevate. Today, PlayStation Australia is pleased to share some new updates on these products.

FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick launches globally starting 7 August, 2026

FlexStrike wireless fight stick will launch starting on 7 August, 2026 just in time for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls. It’s built for PS5 and PC* and is designed with competitive play and portability in mind. With an included sling carry case and a built-in rechargeable battery, it’s easy to bring your fight stick to a tournament, meetup, or a friend’s place to jump right into the action.

Watch the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick – Design Story below.

FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick will be available for pre-order in Australia starting 12 June 2026 for a recommended retail price (RRP) of $299.95 AUD. Pre-orders will be available at participating local retailers.

Pulse Elevate Wireless Speakers, coming later this year

Pulse Elevate wireless speakers share many of the notable innovations featured in the Pulse Explore and Pulse Elite headsets – expanding their efforts to make the gameplay experience more immersive through enhanced sound. These wireless speakers will launch later this year. More information will be shared soon, including the Australia recommended retail price and when pre-order begins. 

PlayStation Australia is excited to bring the FlexStrike wireless fight stick and Pulse Elevate wireless speakers to players, and to continue providing more choices in how and where they play. As always, thank you for being part of the community, and we look forward to continuing to come up with new ways to enhance your PS5 experience. 

Check out this new PlayStation Blog article for more hands-on details with the upcoming products.

To learn more, visit the PlayStation Blog.

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Project Expands to All Modern Platforms with New Streamlined Progression Ahead of Third Installment

SYDNEY (June 4, 2026) – FINAL FANTASY^™ VII REBIRTH, the award-winning, critically acclaimed second game in the FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, is now available on Nintendo Switch^™ 2, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

Watch the new FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Launch Trailer here:

Also available on PS5^® and PC via Steam, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH has earned more than 125 perfect scores from media and 40 Game of the Year awards. With this release on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, alongside the previous launch of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, the first two games in the FINAL FANTASY VII remake trilogy are now available across all modern platforms. No matter where they play, fans can catch up and prepare for the third installment, currently in production.

The new “Streamlined Progression” feature, first introduced in FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, makes it easier than ever for players to jump into the adventure. This optional feature can grant unlimited HP (hit points), MP (magic points) and ATB gauge during battles, 9,999 damage, easier weapon ability acquisition and more to streamline gameplay and allow players to focus on the narrative. The Streamlined Progression feature is also available for the PS5 and PC versions of the game.

Players interested in trying out the title can play the free demo on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, which features Chapters 1 and 2 of the game. Take control of a younger Cloud and the legendary war hero Sephiroth in Chapter 1, then journey with Cloud and his friends into the expansive Grasslands region in Chapter 2. Enjoy several hours of thrilling combat, hidden treasures, side stories and the beloved Queen’s Blood card mini game, with all progress carrying over into the full game.

Set across a vast and vibrant planet, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH sees Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith and Red XIII escape from the dystopian city of Midgar and head out into the wider world. To hunt down the ex-SOLDIER Sephiroth, a haunting figure from Cloud’s past who is now bent on ruling the planet, these unlikely heroes join forces with new companions, like the spirited ninja operative Yuffie and the wisecracking, feline-shaped robot Cait Sith. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH delivers an unforgettable experience to players that’s filled with unexpected twists, memorable characters and jaw-dropping set pieces that longtime fans and newcomers can both enjoy.

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is now available for Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5 and PC. For more information, visit: https://www.square-enix.com/ffvii/en-us/games/rebirth/.

About FINAL FANTASY VII

First released in 1997 on the PlayStation® computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY VII celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022. The game is universally regarded as a hallmark title of the RPG genre. The original title received high praise for its epic storyline, unique characters, and movie sequences that utilized the most cutting-edge technology of the time. Since then, the game revolving around iconic hero, Cloud Strife and his pursuit of the antagonist Sephiroth has sold over 15.3 million copies worldwide and continues to receive widespread acclaim from critics and fans around the world. The popular game has even expanded into spin-offs, films and merchandise.

Now, Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, created by a team of original and new developers, retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. The first game of the trilogy, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, is available for PS4® consoles. The expanded edition, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, and the second entry, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, are now available for Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, PS5® consoles and PC.

About Square Enix, Inc.

Ranked as the #1 Publisher of the Year in 2025 by Metacritic.

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX and TAITO branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 209 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST, which has sold over 97 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

© SQUARE ENIX
LOGO ILLUSTRATION:© YOSHITAKA AMANO
CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA / ROBERTO FERRARI

Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. Xbox Series X|S, the Games for Windows logo and Xbox logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license.

All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Frantically build sturdy structures on alien worlds in this cooperative construction game where you fight against physics  

NICOSIA, Cyprus – June 3, 2026 – Salvation Denied, the chaotic co-op building sim for one to four players from indie developer Firevolt Studios and publisher Digital Vortex Entertainment, launches a playable demo with the first level today ahead of Steam Next Fest, with new content set to arrive ahead of the event.

Work under contract for a mysterious and fanatical client on a hostile planet filled with extreme environments, as a crew of construction robots is tasked with assembling massive experimental structures. Although only their obsessive employer seems to know what’s coming next.

Play the first mission, “Signal to Orbit,” where your objective is to build a base and get the antenna to hit the signal. The shape and form of the base is up to you and your team to figure out – just try not to get flattened by meteor showers.

Coordinate with proximity voice chat to scramble across unstable structures, fling parts into place, throw up temporary supports, and desperately try to keep your structure upright in the face of a robust physics engine where every brick, plank, and rivet carries real weight.

Of course, it helps to have the right tool for the job. Use vehicles like the Fatboy, an all-in-one bulldozer and shredder, to assemble makeshift structures alone or with friends, with the full game featuring tools like gravity guns and jetpacks. 

Challenge yourself with unusual scenarios and modes with harsh limits. Build a structure with only random blocks, strange shapes, and unconventional materials that force you to improvise, adapt, and make decisions under pressure.

Salvation Denied’s demo is available today on Steam for PC, and the full game launches later this year on PC with versions for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 to follow 2027. Follow Firevolt Studios and Digital Vortex Games for development updates.

About Firevolt Studios 

Firevolt is an independent studio that combines its knowledge and experience of the gaming industry to make its own co-op titles that bring new approaches and shared experiences to the world.

To learn more about Firevolt, please visit the studio’s official website.

About Digital Vortex Entertainment

Digital Vortex Entertainment is an independent publisher founded by experienced game industry professionals who have contributed to titles such as Atomic Heart, Lost Ark, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. The company supports distinctive projects across genres and platforms. Digital Vortex Entertainment is part of Utmost Games, founded by Vladimir Nikolsky, former CEO of MY.GAMES.

MomoCon returns to Atlanta next year May 27-30

ATLANTA, GA — June 3, 2026 — MomoCon, the largest celebration of gaming and anime in the Southeast United States, has again broken its attendance records, welcoming 67,277 fans to the Georgia World Congress Center during May 21-24. MomoCon organizers will aim to set new records when the event returns to Atlanta from Thursday, May 27, to Saturday, May 30, 2027.

This year’s MomoCon included the North American debut of Wonder Festival, Japan’s most influential showcase of figure and model craftsmanship. More than 40 studio professionals, hobbyists, and figure designers set up shop in a dedicated area of MomoCon’s exhibit hall space, giving American fans a one-of-a-kind chance to experience Japan’s figure and collectible culture firsthand.

MomoCon 2026 also welcomed legendary Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada, who drew fans to a dedicated panel and signing. Harada-san has recently announced the foundation of VS Studio, which he will lead as director under long-time fighting game publisher SNK Corporation.

Members of the hit webseries Critical Role were featured guests at this year’s MomoCon, including co-founders Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Taliesen Jaffe, Travis Willingham, and Liam O’Brien, drawing hundreds of attendees to their exclusive panel and autograph sessions.

MomoCon 2026 raised a total of $10,000 for its charity partner Silence the Shame, a [501(c)(3)] non-profit organization dedicated to revolutionizing mental health in high stress communities. 

“We spend all year organizing MomoCon to see the impact we have on people’s lives, be it smiles on 67,000 plus faces or raising money for worthy causes,” says Chris Stuckey, co-founder, MomoCon. “This year’s event was our most impactful yet, and we look forward to making an even more profound positive change in 2027!”

Membership for MomoCon 2027 is available now. Four day pass membership is available for $87.13. Single day membership for Thursday and Sunday costs $63.99.  Friday only membership is available for $69.77, and Saturday for $81.34.

For more information, visit the official MomoCon website and follow MomoCon on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Discord, and Instagram for event updates. 

About MomoCon

Founded in 2004 by Jessica Merriman and Chris Stuckey, then students at Georgia Tech, MomoCon has grown from a 700-person on-campus event to the largest event in the Southeast United States for fans of video games, animation, cosplay, comics, and tabletop games.

Discover, build, and leave your mark in a living, breathing galaxy

San Marcos, CA – June 3, 2026 – Developer Playable Worlds is thrilled to announce that their highly anticipated science-fantasy MMORPG, Stars Reach, is launching via Steam Early Access this summer.

Created by Raph Koster, the designer of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, Stars Reach is a modern sandbox MMO about finding your place in the galaxy and then shaping it. Across a vast simulated universe, players explore new planets, build homes and settlements, gather resources, craft, trade, fight, govern, and leave a lasting mark on the worlds they discover. Across land and space, players battle hostile creatures and defend their homesteads, approaching encounters their way through Stars Reach‘s flexible, classless progression system.

In Stars Reach, every action has ripple effects. Players can plant seedlings or burn forests, carve rivers through terrain, harvest resources, build roads and farms, or transform the area around their home into a place worth living in. Ecosystems evolve through simulated climate, wildlife, and player behavior rather than pre-scripted events, creating a galaxy where the world itself becomes a record of what players have done.

Stars Reach is built around discovery and emergent moments. There are no fixed classes and no single correct way to play. Players can become explorers, builders, crafters, traders, fighters, leaders, or something entirely their own.

“This is a game I have been dreaming about building for thirty years,” Raph Koster said. “We want to bring together the best lessons from modern online games and the sense of freedom and community that were present in older MMOs. Stars Reach is a living galaxy that brings back that feeling of stepping into an alternate reality.”

Playable Worlds is led by co-founders Raph Koster and Eric Goldberg, and its cloud-native technology makes the reactive online world in Stars Reach possible. Built on a first-of-its-kind architecture running partly on the cloud, Stars Reach supports a global, persistent universe on a single server with no resets, so the galaxy evolves over time.

Stars Reach enters Early Access with players invited to come in early and help shape what the game becomes. At launch, the Early Access version will include exploration across multiple planets, resource gathering and harvesting, exciting combat, an in-depth crafting system, trading between players, and more. Additional features will be added progressively throughout development, including a planet-eating hive mind players must collectively defend against, factions and political structures, and PvP combat.

Players can choose from three paid Early Access tiers: the Firstlight Pack ($29.99), the Voyager Pack ($49.99), and the Cosmonaut Pack ($79.99), each offering increasing rewards and cosmetics.

Key Features:

• A living, breathing galaxy shaped by players’ actions: Worlds react dynamically to what players do. Forests grow, spread, and burn. Creatures migrate. Rivers flow naturally and can be redirected and dammed. Nothing is scripted or reset, as the universe evolves organically over time.
• Planets with unique ecosystems and socio-political structures: Every world features its own climates, seasons, resources, and environment conditions. As players settle planets, they can establish governments, and impose taxes, allowing each location to form its own identity.
• Fast-paced combat across land and space: Engage in combat both on planets and among the stars, using customizable weapons and loadouts for tactical MMO-inspired encounters to high-energy space encounters.
• A classless leveling system for ultimate freedom: Players can climb up the skill ladder of multiple professions and specialties. Supporting multiple playstyles, Stars Reach’s open-ended leveling system adapts to how you want to play.
• A fully player-driven economy: Gather resources, craft equipment and structures, build cities with others and trade across the galaxy. As economies grow, untamed planets transform into bustling communities and industrial hubs.

Stars Reach launches into Early Access on PC via Steam this summer.

About Playable Worlds

Playable Worlds, Inc. is a game studio building vast, living online worlds where players connect, explore, and make their mark. Founded in 2018 by online gaming veterans Raph Koster and Eric Goldberg, the San Marcos, CA-based studio combines proprietary cloud-native technology with deep expertise in game design, community building, and live service operations. For more information, please visit playableworlds.com.

SOFIA, Bulgaria – June 3, 2026 – What happens when a tiny, female-led indie team from Eastern Europe rejects “safe” modern shooters? You get a global viral anomaly.

Just five days after its world premiere at the prestigious Insider Gaming Showcase – where it was handpicked as one of only 12 games worldwide by a committee led by Tom Henderson – Everything is Gun! has done the impossible: it has organically conquered the most competitive gaming markets on Earth.

In a stunning cross-cultural twist, Japan has emerged as the game’s #1 audience, driving nearly 30% of all Steam wishlists, closely followed by the United States at 23%. The remaining momentum is tearing through other massive, highly distinct gaming strongholds, including China, Russia, the UK, Germany, France, and Spain — demonstrating a rare, universal appeal across completely different global markets.

What makes this surge extraordinary is the scale of production: the gameplay shown in the viral, high-praise trailer was built by just three people in a little over three months of development.

Developed by Incineration Productions, Everything is Gun! fuses game-breaking The Binding of Isaac synergies with raw, unapologetic 90s speed (100+ mph) and an innovative Asynchronous Revenge system where players’ best runs invade other games as Ghost Bosses.

THE VISION: WHY THEY ARE MAKING THIS GAME

“We looked at the current gaming landscape and felt that modern shooters have become far too ‘safe,’ trading raw mechanical depth for cinematic hand-holding. We missed the unapologetic, high-stakes speed of the 90s – an era where your movement was your only shield and every kill felt earned, not gifted. We knew it was time to bring back a game that actually respects the player’s skill.

At the same time, we wanted to fuse that speed with the sheer entropy of The Binding of Isaac – chasing that specific high you get from game-breaking item synergies that shouldn’t legally exist. 

Everything is Gun! is the result. We aren’t here to tell a bedtime story; we are here to provide a character controller that feels like butter, a modular gun engine that invites chaos, and a world that will chew you up the second you hesitate.”

• Gergana Popova, Co-Founder at Incineration Productions

ABOUT THE GAME: YOUR SURVIVAL IS THE SPECTACLE

Imagine the most brutal, high-stakes reality show in the galaxy, where you are the unwilling star. Everything is Gun! takes place on A1-KTRZ – a crumbling prison planet where your consciousness is uploaded into an Uplift battle suit for the twisted entertainment of billions.

You are dropped into industrial hellscapes with shifting geometry. Because the maps reorganize every time you die, you can never rely on memory – only on your raw reflexes, perfect air control, and bunny hopping. You aren’t just playing a level; you are surviving a choreographed chaos designed to keep the ratings high and your life expectancy low.

To ensure the tension never breaks, the prison’s defense networks actively monitor your performance. If you begin clearing rooms too fast, the environment adapts instantly – coordinating lethal flanks and deploying aggressive hunter units to cut you off, while the music ramps up the BPM to match the escalating carnage.

On A1-KTRZ, the environment is alive, the audience is bloodthirsty, and the only way out is through a masterpiece of your own destruction.What will be left of your soul?


KEY FEATURES:

• ISAAC-STYLE SYNERGIES: We don’t just do +5% damage tweaks – we do weapon-breaking mutations. Every augment you collect fuses directly into your raw limb, layering on top of the last to unlock unforeseen lethal capabilities. Strategically stack and architect apocalyptic weapon systems unique only to your run – turn a basic pea-shooter into a sweeping wall of ricocheting flak, fire acid-tipped slugs that dissolve armor, or detonate every single casualty into a map-shattering explosion. But who cares if you level the map? You never play the same layout twice.
• 100+MPH, NO HAND-HOLDING, UNCAPPED MOMENTUM: This is pure skill expression. No sprint buttons, no cover mechanics, and zero aim-assist – your agility is your only armor. Navigate a chaotic bullet hell with razor-sharp precision, chaining bunny hops, lightning-fast dashes, and pixel-perfect flick shots to outpace the carnage. Paint the walls with your enemies – because in this world, if you stop moving, you die.
• ASYNCHRONOUS MULTIPLAYER REVENGE: You don’t just climb a static leaderboard – you become a living, breathing threat. The moment you complete a run with an unstoppable god-build, the network immortalizes your exact execution, weapon synergies, and movement patterns – uploading your playstyle into the grid as a legendary Ghost Boss. You will bridge into other players’ sessions globally, hunting down your friends and rivals with the very weapons you perfected, triggering a ruthless cycle of global rivalries, and humiliating anyone who dares to challenge your legacy.
• ENGINEERED FOR THE STREAMING ERA: Much like the televised carnage of your in-game bloodbaths, your real-world stream is a live arena where the audience holds the trigger. Built from the ground up for Twitch, viewers transform from silent spectators into active executioners or vital allies. Take control of the battlefield in real-time – vote on chaotic reality-bending modifiers, deploy lethal traps to troll your favorite streamer, or throw a crucial lifeline to save their run.

CLAIM YOUR SPOT ON THE JOURNEY No cinematic CGI trailers, no fake marketing hype – just raw, early development footage. What you see right now are the core building blocks of a game that will only get faster, louder, and deadlier. The Incineration Productions team is gearing up for a Q4 2027 launch, and they want the hardcore community on the front lines with them from the very start as they bring this vision to life. Be part of the foundation. Wishlist now on Steam!

Partnership aims to help indie developers validate earlier through a publishing approach that has generated more than 3,000,000 wishlists total for titles before full production investment

TORONTO, Canada – June 3, 2026 – Blue Ocean Games, the early-stage venture fund backed by KRAFTON, Inc., today announced a new partnership with Polden Publishing, an emerging indie game publisher taking a data-driven approach to validating and scaling new game concepts on Steam. Under the partnership, Blue Ocean Games and Polden Publishing will co-invest in future indie game titles identified through Polden’s rapid market-validation methodology that tests audience demand and wishlist momentum before significant production investment is committed.
 
Polden’s recent publishing tests with Cartel Pilots Wanted generated more than 400,000 Steam wishlists and more than 450,000 Steam wishlists for Totally Secure Airport, using a marketing-validation process centered around gameplay-first trailers, vertical video campaigns, and creator-driven discovery. Across its marketing validation campaigns, Polden has now generated more than 1 million Steam wishlists prior to full production investment decisions, with more than 3 million total wishlists accumulated across its broader portfolio.
 
The companies say the partnership reflects a broader shift underway in the games industry toward earlier audience validation, community-driven publishing strategies, and more efficient funding models for independent developers.
 
Damian Lee, Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Ocean Games: “What stood out to us about Polden was not just the results they were generating, but the philosophy behind their approach: testing ideas quickly, understanding audience demand early, and giving promising developers a clearer path toward building successful games.”
 
Polden’s process focuses on defining a game’s positioning and audience, creating marketing-ready Steam assets and gameplay trailers, and then running coordinated creator campaigns across platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Twitch to measure real-world wishlist demand. The publisher primarily focuses on co-op games, survival titles, simulators, and socially-driven multiplayer experiences designed to spread organically through creator communities and short-form video platforms. To date, Polden has released 10 games and sold more than 600,000 copies globally.
 
Kirill Oreshkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Polden Publishing, said: “We believe the future of indie publishing is becoming more transparent, more measurable, and more collaborative with developers. For too long, developers have had to rely on opaque greenlight processes or spend years building games without meaningful market feedback. Our goal in working with Blue Ocean Games is to help studios validate demand earlier and make smarter decisions before full-scale production.”
 
The partnership will also create new opportunities for indie developers worldwide to submit concepts for evaluation and testing through the combined expertise and resources of Blue Ocean Games and Polden Publishing.
 
Developers can apply at www.blueoceangames.com/polden.
 
About Blue Ocean Games
Blue Ocean Games is an early-stage venture fund dedicated to supporting the next generation of indie game developers. Backed by KRAFTON, Inc., BOG invests in innovative game concepts that traditional publishers and investors often overlook. Through its unique SAIL investment model, BOG funds creators at the concept stage while helping them retain IP ownership. The fund also provides practical support, including incorporation assistance, bookkeeping, and mentorship from industry veterans. Blue Ocean Games was founded by former KRAFTON investment head Damian Lee and is headquartered in Toronto.
 
About Polden Publishing
Polden Publishing is an indie game publisher focused on validating and scaling new game concepts through data-driven audience testing, creator-led discovery, and community-first publishing strategies. Based in Cyprus, the company has gained attention for its transparent approach to indie game marketing and Steam wishlist validation.