A cozy culinary quest with real bite

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 10, 2025) – Timberline Studio have been hard at work in the kitchen, and they’re about to turn up the heat. This charming mix of cozy cooking, light-hearted farming and strategic deckbuilding adventure, made a delicious appearance at Day of the Devs and announced that players can get a taste of the game in its brand-new playable demo available right now on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2417470/Beastro/

And that’s not all, Timberline have also announced Beastro will also be coming to PlayStation 5 in Spring 2026, joining the already announced releases on Steam, Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass. 

Welcome to Palo Pori, a peaceful village of artisans and tastemakers, where not all heroes wield swords, some prefer the spoon.

When darkness stirs beyond the village walls, it’s up to Panko, a talented young chef, to keep his community, and the brave Caretakers who defend it, fueled and ready for adventure.

In Beastro, players will chop, flip and sizzle their way through charming cooking minigames, growing fresh ingredients, serving townsfolk and preparing strategic meals to empower their adventuring allies. Every dish they create becomes a powerful card in a flavorful deckbuilding combat system, played out in theatrical puppet battles.

In Beastro, saving the world starts with a really good meal.

Prepare to cook up a storm and support the heroes of Palo Pori when Beastro launches in 2026 on PS5, Steam, Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass. For more information, visit https://www.beastro.game 

About Timberline Studio:

Timberline Studio is an independent game studio based out of 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.

Lead your team of unique heroes and outwit the competition in this fast-paced 1v1 multiplayer turn-based tactical strategy game!

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Dec. 10, 2025 – Polden Publishing and Blindspot Games are excited to launch a new demo for Infinity: HexaDome Tactics on Steam today! The demo features four unique playable champions – the first heroes from a much larger roster planned for release. Matches are designed to be fast, tense, and highly tactical, with interactive arenas, cover, and tactical cards shaping constantly evolving battlefield conditions.

Blending turn-based tactics and PvP combat, HexaDome Tactics is a turn-based, 1v1 multiplayer, tactical strategy game built on the deep gameplay mechanics of the Aristeia! board game and set in the rich sci-fi world of Infinity Universe. Assemble a diverse team of class-based heroes with unique abilities and gameplay. Be merciless but not brainless: take control of your team, outwit your opponents, and rise to the top.

HexaDome Tactics is planned for release in 2026, developed with a player feedback-driven approach and ongoing community playtests. The demo gives players an early chance to experience the game and help shape its final form.

Key Features

• 1v1 turn-based tactical battles
• Deep systems inspired by Aristeia! and the Infinity universe
• Four demo champions from a larger upcoming roster
• Fast, interactive matches with tactical cards and dynamic arenas
• Development shaped by playtests and community feedback

The Infinity: HexaDome Tactics demo is live now on Steam! To learn more about Polden and the games in its publishing line-up, visit polden.gg and join the Discord community.

About Blindspot Games

Based in Montreal, Blindspot Games is a brand-new independent studio whose objective is to create high-quality games with a small team in which every member has a direct impact on the quality of their projects.

About Polden

Polden Publishing is an indie game publisher dedicated to helping talented creators connect with their audience. We provide transparent, honest, and data-driven support, empowering developers to bring their unique visions to life. To find out more, visit polden.gg.

TOKYO — Dec. 10, 2025 — Awaysis, the physics-fueled co-op dungeon brawler from Kyoto-based developer 17-BIT, combines crisp combat and comic relief in Q2 2026 on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, as revealed today during Day of the Devs. Go hands-on with the first level in Awaysis’ debut demo, available now as part of the ID@Xbox Demo Fest until Sunday, Feb. 22nd, 2026.

The Dark Lord of Darkness and his gaggle of Grimlins have cut off an entire planet’s water supply, turning the Animal Tribes’ fertile soil into inhabitable hardscape. Adventure solo or assemble a mangy crew of up to three additional misfits, investigate a life-threatening drainage clog, and fight to end famine for an entire world.

Awaysis’ comedic mischief, physical humor, and arcade action come together in deep, chaotic combat, but hyper-responsive, crisp controls keep you in charge at all times. Introduce foes to your best friends “Physics” and “Gravity” by bopping foes off ledges and into nearby hazards with weighty, directional weapon swings. Dish out swift combos with lightweight swords, or charge up haymakers with heavy axes. It’s fighting you can feel!

Dash and surf atop hilly terrain to build momentum, then hit ramps to get airborne. Clear massive gaps, find hidden treasure in hard-to-reach areas, and unleash high-speed attacks against brutes that block the path forward.

A motley mixture of creatures is here to save the day! Venture into the unknown as Auro, the fearless fox from the surface world. Join forces with gullible-yet-loyal frog Cicero, the trash-talking turtle Vernelle who speaks only in rhyme, and Sperling — the newest member of an elite Sparrow special ops unit… with zero combat experience. A true dream team!

Take a break from saving the world to duel against friends. Test brains and brawn in a variety of free-for-all and 2 vs. 2 game modes, including Deathmatch and King of the Hill, complemented by a soundtrack from renowned games composer Hip Tanaka (Metroid, EarthBound, Super Smash Bros. Brawl), and artwork by Satoshi Matsuura (Illustrator, Bravely Default, Bravely Second, Mother 3, Legend of Mana) and Alexandre Diboine (Illustrator, Disney).

Awaysis’ demo is now available on Xbox Series X|S with English language support, andarrives on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in Q2 2026 with language support for English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Korean, Portuguese (Portugal), and Chinese (Traditional & Simplified). For more information, visit the official 17-BIT website, and follow 17-BIT on Instagram, X / Twitter, and YouTube.

About 17-BIT

17-BIT is an award-winning, independent game development studio based in Kyoto, Japan, specializing in experiences inspired by classic games that hearken back to the 16-bit golden age of gaming, augmented with the best of the latest modern technology. Previous titles include Skulls of the Shogun, GALAK-Z, and Song in the Smoke.

Dear diary, it is time to survive a spaceship crash against all odds

[Aotearoa / New Zealand] – December 10, 2025 – Stormcloak Games and indie.io have announced during the Frosty Games Mini showcase that Adaptory, the indie survival base-building colony sim, will enter Early Access on Steam on January 26, 2026. Frosty Games Mini is an online event dedicated to the finest games created in Australia and Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Adaptory is an ambitious systems-driven adventure focusing on the valiant crew of a Terranean starship on a mission of exploration. A sudden malfunction forces the ship to crash land on an uncharted planetoid. Roused from their long slumber, the player’s four explorers now need to survive on the seemingly barren rock, build a base to sustain themselves – and hopefully not get on each other’s nerves too much.

Each explorer is procedurally generated, with their own set of skills, traits, and opinions. Beyond simply determining what they can do well and what will almost certainly lead to an emergency, they drive relationships between explorers. Their interactions create a unique story for each playthrough, with each explorer leading a unique life after the crash. Players can explore their thoughts by examining their diaries or listen in on the conversations going on as they go about their busy daily routines.

These routines start out simple, focused on immediate survival: Find food and oxygen supplies scattered in the crash, build shelter to protect explorers from the cold vacuum, and set up a rudimentary base. Complexity naturally grows over time: Pre-packaged supplies run out eventually and explorers need to set up agriculture to secure food and oxygen supply, while research using recovered data chips requires expanding across the planetoid for more raw resources. Eventually, players are able to add automation to the base, to manage the volume of tasks as the post-crash shelter turns into a sustainable settlement.

Players are free to tackle these emerging challenges as they see fit, backed by CHARLI, the cheeky artificial intelligence tasked with ensuring the explorers’ survival. CHARLI’s tutorials help players grasp each element of the gameplay, interlocking with the intricate simulation of physics and chemistry. Adaptory simulates gravity, temperature, density, viscosity, and even phase transitions for fifty different materials. Each problem has a solution limited only by the players’ ingenuity in using these systems for their own benefit, whether it be funneling molten rock to provide heat and power, or refining materials into rare resources. Players should stay on their toes: Environmental anomalies, unchecked expansion, the odd meteor shower or sun eclipse will stress-test both explorers and their base, requiring further creative thinking in case of an emergency.

The resulting emergent gameplay and players coming up with novel, yet sustainable solutions to these problems are a pillar of the game’s design.

“We wanted to create a game that encourages resiliency, long-term thinking, and reflecting on the impact that the player has on their environment and community,” notes Jevon Wright, solo developer and designer. “We believe that the challenge of nurturing them is more rewarding than simply abandoning our mistakes and looking for a fresh canvas.”

Are you up to the challenge? Adaptory will enter Early Access on Steam on January 26, 2026. Join the Discord server and a growing community of Adaptory fans actively involved in helping shape the game’s design.

Play the free demo today in the Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest ahead of the full Xbox and PC launch in Spring 2026.

Publisher 4Divinity and developer Leap Studio today confirmed that the highly anticipated action roguelite Realm of Ink will launch on Xbox Play Anywhere in Spring 2026, arriving day-and-date with the game’s PC V1.0 release. 

To mark the announcement, Realm of Ink is now featured in the Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest, offering players a free, hands-on first look at its fast-paced ink-washed action. Running through the end of December 2025, the event highlights standout indie titles with exclusive playable demos available only on Xbox

What’s Inside This Demo: A Glimpse into the Ink Realm

Realm of Ink is a roguelite action game that uniquely fuses the artistic essence of traditional Chinese ink painting with the spatial dynamics of Western art, creating a visually striking experience where poetic beauty meets a tangible, dimensional world.

Blending this exquisite ink-style art with razor-sharp combat, the Xbox demo puts players in the role of Red, a swordswoman hunting the elusive Fox Demon. Along her journey, she uncovers a shocking truth: her life is part of a scripted tale, dictated by the world around her. To survive and shape her destiny, Red must break free from the story, defy fate, and rewrite her own path – one battle at a time.

The demo provides a substantial preview of the game’s foundation, covering content from the first two major chapters including: 

• Rich Exploration: Traverse over 40 distinct maps and face 8 formidable boss battles.
• Dynamic Identity: Unlock 3 playable characters in the demo and switch between different combat forms at the base camp. The full game will feature 11 unique forms, including the Swordsman, Assassin, Summoner, and more.

The Signature System: Ink Gems & Perks

At the heart of Realm of Ink’s gameplay lies the Ink Gems & Perks system, fully showcased in the demo with access to more than 40 distinctive items.

• Strategic Synergy:
  Equip two Ink Gems and unleash powerful combo effects. Nearly every pairing creates a unique synergy and can even summon an ink-formed pet to fight at your side.
• Endless Possibilities:
  Discover Perks throughout levels and shops to amplify or transform your build. Mix and match them with your Ink Gems to trigger massive damage, dramatic battlefield effects, or additional pets. Every run offers new surprises and explosive potential.

Following a successful run in Steam Early Access, the team at Leap Studio has continued to refine Realm of Ink with regular content updates, improvements, and community-driven adjustments. The Xbox demo now gives console fans their first chance to experience the game’s evolved combat, stunning ink-style world, and roguelite depth ahead of launch.

Xbox fans can wishlist Realm of Ink now on the Xbox Store, and PC players can continue to support the game by wishlisting on Steam.

Realm of Ink Key Features

• Evolving Action Combat – Switch between distinct combat forms, combine powerful Ink Gems, and build creative loadouts that change with every run.
• Rebirth-Forged Progression – Death reshapes the narrative, unlocking new abilities, forms, and story paths as you fight to break the ink-bound cycle.
• Deadly Ink Pets – Summon and evolve companion creatures that support you in battle with unique forms and abilities.
• A Striking Eastern-Inspired World – Explore shifting realms filled with creatures and myths drawn from Chinese folklore, brought to life through expressive ink-style art.

Realm of Ink launches on Xbox Play Anywhere and PC V1.0 in Spring 2026. Try the free demo during the Xbox Indie Selects Demo Fest or on PC via Steam, where players can also explore the game’s story, lore, and mechanics through Early Access. Wishlist now to stay updated on upcoming reveals and development progress.

Expand your bus empire to feature a school bus service, be sure not to miss pick ups and drop offs, or you’ll have a lot of angry parent emails to answer to!

Paderborn, Germany, 10th December 2025: PeDePe and Aerosoft are proud to share the release of City Bus Manager’s newest DLC,School Bus & Student Transportation, available now on PC via Steam for only €9.99 (inclusive of a 20% launch discount). 

City Bus Manager made an instant impact in Early Access, inspiring players worldwide to recreate and improve the bus networks they use every day, expanding coverage, designing smarter routes, and building the transport systems they always wished existed. 

With the new “School Bus & Student Transportation” DLC, players can take their networks further by adding a complete, highly realistic school transport ecosystem to their cities. Starting today, players can add 10 new school bus models from different regions, plan dedicated school routes with morning pickup and afternoon drop-off lines, and tune schedules to authentic, country-specific school timetables. New features like a Student Pass ticket type, school satisfaction ratings, punctuality tracking, and fresh stats make every route a test of reliability and safety, especially as student numbers shift by district, residential zones, and time of day. 

Main Features of the School Bus & Student Transportation DLC Include:

• Ten new school bus models: from compact regional buses to classic long-body school vehicles
• New line type: Create school-only bus routes, adapting to student numbers and home locations
• Timetable integration: Match your schedules to real-world school hours based on each country
• New ticket type: Introduce Student Passes for dedicated school routes
• Detailed statistics: School satisfaction ratings, punctuality scores and comprehensive feedback
• New scenarios and challenges reflecting the daily demands of running a city’s school transport network

Buy, maintain, clean and schedule buses, manage your staff, and turn your company into a thriving transport empire. The “School Bus & Student Transportation” DLC for City Bus Manager is available now for PC via Steam.

About Aerosoft – HOUSE OF SIMULATION

Aerosoft GmbH was founded in 1991 at Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport and develops add-on software for Microsoft Flight Simulator. From 2002 onwards, add-ons for Train Simulator were also developed. Since 2007, Aerosoft has expanded its spectrum to include a wide range of transport and professional simulation titles including On the Road, OMSI 2, Autobahn Police Simulator and City Bus Manager. In 2016, Aerosoft published the successful Fernbus Coach Simulator in cooperation with FlixBus, as well as Emergency Call 112 – The Fire Fighting Simulation. Aerosoft also acts as the exclusive European distributor for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and XPlane 12. With over 40 employees, Aerosoft is one of the leading publishers in the world of transport simulation.

About PeDePe:

PeDePe GbR was founded in 2015 in a small town by Lake Constance, Germany, when three brothers decided to turn their shared passion into a professional game development studio. As experienced software engineers and architects, they combined their expertise to create realistic economic systems for bus simulation games, beginning with popular OMSI 2 add-ons such as Bus Company Simulator, OmniNavigation and Control Centre Simulation. In 2022, PeDePe released their first full game, City Bus Manager, which quickly became a fan favourite. Today, the team expands the world of CBM once again with the release of the “School Bus & Student Transportation” DLC on Steam for PC.

Enemies learn. Hunters adapt. New Rise City bleeds neon.

[Indonesia – December 10] – Step into the neon-soaked chaos of New Rise City. Indonesian indie studios SeblaccSoft and YSY Softworks, in partnership with indie.io, are bringing Bail Force: Cyberpunk Bounty Hunters—a high-octane action roguelite where enemies learn from every move—to PC via Steam on January 16, 2026.

Set in a dystopian metropolis ruled by crime lords and corporate enforcers, Bail Force: Cyberpunk Bounty Hunters puts players in the boots of two elite bounty hunters whose destinies collide on opposite sides of the same vendetta. Angel, a driven student out for revenge, and Lea, a sharp-edged survivor chasing her next big payout, are both tracking the most dangerous crime lord in New Rise City. Their missions intertwine, their motivations clash, and their choices shape a branching narrative of loyalty, betrayal, and survival.

At the heart of Bail Force: Cyberpunk Bounty Hunters is its Adaptive Combat System. Bail Force introduces a groundbreaking system where enemies dynamically learn and counter the player’s fighting style in real time, forcing constant tactical evolution. Unlike traditional roguelites with static enemy patterns, this creates a living, breathing challenge that adapts to each player’s unique approach: lean on ranged weapons and enemies will close the distance; favor melee or dodge-heavy play and they’ll change how they spawn, pursue, and attack.

“We built the Adaptive Combat System so enemy reactions are directly tied to how players fight,” said SeblaccSoft. “If players stick to one comfort zone—melee or ranged—the game responds by shifting enemy stats, spawn patterns, and behavior to push them out of that habit and keep each run feeling tense and fresh.”

Combat takes inspiration from classic 2D arcade action: tight controls, crisp hit-stop, and fast, readable encounters where every slash, shot, and dash matters. Run-and-gun firefights blend with close-quarters blade work and stylish combos, while a modular Add-On Upgrade System lets players customize builds. Add-Ons provide passive bonuses and active ability enhancements that can be tuned to amplify favored weapons, flip a failing strategy on its head, or lean into the shifting demands of late-game hunts.

As an action roguelite, Bail Force: Cyberpunk Bounty Hunters is built for replayability. Procedurally generated city hunts send players across changing New Rise City zones, remixing layouts, encounters, and enemy compositions so no two runs play quite the same. Each hunt unlocks new perspectives on Angel and Lea’s intertwined story, with multiple endings shaped by protagonist selection, combat tendencies, and key narrative choices. The result is a roguelite loop where mechanics and story evolve together, rewarding experimentation not just with better builds, but with new narrative outcomes.

ABOUT YSY SOFTWORKS

YSY Softworks is a global PC game developer & publisher focused on Japanese ACG culture, creating visually stunning anime-style games. Their mission is to provide engaging gameplay, beautiful graphics, and unique storylines that transport players to imaginative and immersive worlds. With a diverse range of games, they are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in game development. 

ABOUT INDIE.IO indie.io is home to over 100 of the world’s best independent video games and developers. Our platform was built to provide independent developers with the resources, services, and management tools needed for success. Through collaboration and passion, we strive to cultivate a diverse and vibrant gaming landscape that resonates with players and creators alike!

Fatshark | Stockholm, Sweden, December 10th, 2025 Fatshark, a developer recognized for its technology-driven approach to game creation, today announced a strategic collaboration with AMD focused on the exploration and development of AMD’s Machine Learning Denoising (FSR™ Ray Regeneration) and Neural Radiance Caching (FSR Radiance Caching) technology. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the first title to showcase the experimental FSR Radiance Caching technology, as demonstrated in the AMD showcase.

The studio behind the acclaimed Warhammer games, Vermintide 1, 2 and Darktide, has a long history as both a game studio and a tech development company. Dating back to 2007, when Fatshark emerged from a small group of developers who built not only games, but also the foundational technology that powered them. Most notably co-creating the Bitsquid engine, a high-performance game engine that was later acquired by Autodesk and rebranded as the Stingray engine. When the studio was approached by AMD this summer, it was an exciting opportunity that Fatshark was eager to sink their teeth into!

A Philosophy of Collaboration

Fatshark sees real-time ray tracing and neural rendering as essential pillars of the future of game visuals. While these technologies are still maturing, the studio views early involvement as crucial. Not only for internal expertise, but also for helping guide the broader games industry toward more accessible, efficient, and high-fidelity rendering solutions.

This is about more than rendering; it reflects the studio’s philosophy of open collaboration and cross-industry growth. The studio’s Chief Technology Officer, Mikael Hansson, enthuses that “Technology is meant to be built and shared together. Working with innovative powerhouses like AMD keeps us sharp, encourages diversification in game technology, and strengthens the entire industry. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and it’s a long-term investment, not just in Fatshark’s future, but in the future of gaming.”

Building for the Future
 
The features demonstrated in the video are not currently planned for release in Darktide’s live build. The technology is new and requires further development, optimization, and quality verification before it could be integrated into a live service game. Darktide’s technology is constantly evolving to offer players the best experience possible, for a live service game launch is not the end, but the beginning.

About Fatshark
Fatshark is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and was established in 2007. More than 100 experienced game developers are part of the independent developer, and we strive to create compelling interactive experiences. Apart from Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the team has previously developed titles including Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, Lead and Gold, Krater, and War of the Roses. For more information, visit www.fatsharkgames.com

About Games Workshop
Games Workshop® Group PLC (LSE:GAW.L), based in Nottingham, UK, produces the best fantasy miniatures in the world. Games Workshop designs, manufactures, retails, and distributes its range of Warhammer®: Age of Sigmar® and Warhammer® 40,000® games, miniatures, novels, and model kits through more than 573 of its own stores (branded Games Workshop® or Warhammer®), the www.games-workshop.com web store and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. More information about Games Workshop and its other, related, brands and product ranges (including our publishing division ‘Black Library’ and our special resin miniatures studio ‘Forge World’) can be found at www.games-workshop.com.
 
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2025. Darktide, the Darktide logo, GW, Games Workshop, Space Marine, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, 40,000, the ‘Aquila’ Double-headed Eagle logo, and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likeness thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world, and used under licence. © Fatshark AB 2025. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

Launching on Steam January 15, 2026

Paris, France, December 10, 2025 – 5 Bits Games announces that players will return to the Tower when DeadCore Redux launcheson PC via Steam on January 15, 2026. A free downloadable demo is also available now on Steam, allowing players to experience part of the game ahead of release.

This challenging first-person platformer drops you into a colossal structure hanging in the void, where every jump, shot, and Dash feeds into a single goal: reach the Summit and break the Cycle. After an endless fall through magnetic storms, you wake with no memories facing a massive Tower in the mist, and each level turns that climb into a dense mix of moving platforms, traps, and patrolling entities that reward bold, fast routes and clean runs.

At the core of DeadCore Redux stands the SwitchGun, a versatile tool that lets you toggle platforms, gravity fields, and patrolling entities in real time, tying every shot to your movement as you chain dashes, unlock upgrades, and turn safe routes into high-speed lines with new shortcuts and secret areas. The game pushes you to master each level, learning routes and refining timing until runs feel seamless, while Sparks unlock challenging bonus stages, Logs reveal the Tower’s past explorers, and music tracks feed into a custom Speedrun Mode playlist. A dedicated Speedrun Mode with online leaderboards, extra Sparks levels tuned for optimization, and a tiered rank system that scores your performance turns the climb into a true playground for routing and competition.

Rediscover DeadCore
DeadCore Redux is a remaster of the 2014 FPS-Platformer DeadCore.

Original Key Features:

• Explore a mysterious world composed of immense and staggering levels with many secret passages to discover.
• Find new powers, upgrades, and lore elements to reveal the secrets of the Tower.
• Unlock 10 Sparks Levels to challenge other players in Speedrun mode.
• Immerse yourself in an atmospheric journey thanks to a lengthy soundtrack ranging from ambient to dubstep.

Redux New Key Features:

• New Graphics: Entirely remade in the Unity HDRP engine featuring modern PBR lighting and volumetric effects, new 3D models and textures, revamped VFX, and a new UI.
• New Audio: Completely revamped SFX, a remastered soundtrack, and improved audio mixing for more immersion and clarity.
• The “Gateway”: A new gigantic Story level to complete before reaching the game’s true ending.
• Solo Rank System: A new offline rank system granting badges for each level based on your performance.
• Gamepad Support: Dedicated gameplay code and UI for game controllers.

Players can wishlist DeadCore Redux on Steam now and try the free demo ahead of launch.

Fabien di Pardo, Art Director, commented: “With DeadCore Redux, we wanted to keep the soul and difficulty of the original game while making it feel fresh, sharper, and more readable for today’s players.” 

Adrien Pelov, Level Designer, added: “The Tower is more atmospheric than ever, the controls are tighter, and we’ve added new content and features for speedrunners who really want to push their limits.”

About 5 Bits Games
5 Bits Games is an independent game studio based in France, founded in 2014 by a group of former ENJMIN students. The team first released the FPS-platformer DeadCore and has since worked on several other games in the industry. With DeadCore Redux and new projects, 5 Bits Games continues to focus on tight, skill-based first-person experiences that blend platforming, precision, and atmospheric worldbuilding.

Brand-new information reveals additional elements for commands and vagrant armies

Hertfordshire, 10^th December 2025 – Today, KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Kou Shibusawa are pleased to announce that digital pre-orders for ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE: Destiny and Strategy Expansion Pack Bundle are now open on Windows PC via Steam®. In celebration, a new trailer has been released along with further details about additional commands and vagrant armies, features set to provide the most expansive ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS experience to-date. Players can prepare to deploy their most intense strategies yet with the bundle’s release on 29^th January 2026 on Windows PC via Steam®.

ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE: Destiny and Strategy Expansion Pack Bundle adds a variety of commands that can be executed without the use of ‘Gems’, broadening the gameplay experience and introducing entirely new ways to upheave a player’s situation. By performing the ‘Abdicate’ command in Parliament, players gain the ability to offer the position of Ruler to another officer; furthermore, the Viceroy and Governor may change sides with the ‘Defect’ command, enabling players to enjoy a new style of play in the middle of the game. Additionally, players can shift the tides of battle with ‘Incite’, where a vagrant army can be formed with an individual the player is interacting with as the leader. Players can also tactically dissolve friendships and annul pledges by using ‘Cut Ties’ in order to tip the scales in their favour. ‘Extort’ has also been added as a city command, which will give players the option to threaten market merchants to obtain money; both free officers and officers belonging to a force can perform this command.

In addition to new commands, further elements have been introduced into the gameplay for chieftains of vagrant armies. Employing prominent officers and defeating bandits in certain battles will increase a player’s ‘Might’, which, upon reaching a certain level, will unlock the vagrant army exclusive ending. Increasing ‘Might’ has the extra benefit of enabling players to obtain dedicated powerful ‘Gems’, offering fans freedom of play for a limitless ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS experience. This experience is extended even more with several extra elements, including events and movies that were central to the latter part of the Three Kingdoms, as well as new traits, fictional spouses, and ‘Official Positions’ that can be given to officers.

ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE, released in 2023, was the first major remake in the ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS series’ history, combining ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 and its Power-Up Kit to provide the most comprehensive entry in the series to-date. With over 55 scenarios spanning the end of the Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, renewed visuals, additional battle elements such as linking, and much more; ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE offers fans an unforgettable tactical experience.

Players who purchase a digital edition of ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE: Destiny and Strategy Expansion Pack Bundle up to the first two weeks after release will receive the “Loyal Han Retainer Ma Teng”scenario as an early purchase bonus. Those who pre-order the game will also receive the “Guan Yu Advances” scenario as a pre-order bonus.

Digital pre-orders for ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE: Destiny and Strategy Expansion Pack Bundle are now open. The title is currently in development and is scheduled for release digitally on 29^th January 2026 on Windows PC via Steam®. The game will include Japanese and Chinese voices with English texts only.

ABOUT ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE

Released in 2023, ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE is the first major remake in the ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS series and offered all-new graphical and game system upgrades to help reawaken the title as the newest addition to KOEI TECMO’s long revered franchise. Among the new additions, the number of playable officers was increased and introduced new officers and forces, allowing players to discover new events and relationships between officers for an even more authentic experience. The “All Periods Scenarios” feature was also updated to offer over 55 scenarios, making it the largest number of scenarios available in the series history. Combats in ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS 8 REMAKE remained turn-based, just like the original title, while featuring a completely restructured system, the result of Kou Shibusawa’s 20 years of know how since the release of Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII to offer an easy-to-play yet highly tactical combat experience.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite NINJA GAIDEN and fighting entertainment title DEAD OR ALIVE. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com 

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