The Talent Behind Calvin and Faye | Main Voice Cast Revealed
12 August 2026, Kyiv, Ukraine | Today, after 3 years of turbulent development, Frogwares is proud to say they have released The Sinking City 2 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The Reception So Far Currently, the game is sitting at an overall rating of 81 / “Strong” on OpenCritic, along with a 95% approval rating on Steam, and 4.95 / 5 on PSN from the first wave of publically viewable reviews.
“The game opens with a message of thanks to our supporters and then about the struggles of making the game during the war. But we end by saying, ‘We believe this is the best game we have ever made,’ and we are so happy to see so many critics and players agreeing with this sentiment. We took a massive risk changing genres while still trying to keep what our existing fans love about our games, but it seems to have been the right choice. -Sergiy Oganesyan, Head of Publishing, Frogwares
About The Sinking City 2
The Sinking City 2 is set in a Lovecraftian vision of 1920s America, in the infamous city of Arkham. A supernatural flood has driven out all but the most deranged residents, leaving decay and eldritch horrors that roam the streets. Step into the role of Calvin Rafferty, an occult adventurer whose cavalier actions have led to devastating consequences. After a dreaming ritual goes wrong, his girlfriend, Faye, is left trapped in a mysterious sleep. Now Calvin must navigate the drowned streets of a derelict city in a desperate attempt to bring her back. On his quest, he’ll come face-to-face with a plague of otherworldly creatures, the Slither, who possess and twist the dead into lethal, walking puppets.Game Features
Fight to Survive: Use an arsenal of 1920s-inspired weapons to fight against Eldritch abominations.
Explore The Decaying City of Arkham: A world ofrotting apartments, flooded markets, and abandoned hospitals that you’ll explore by foot and by boat.
Find and Use What You Can: Scrounge for limited resources and balance a finite inventory as you decide what to bring and what to leave behind.
Choose to Investigate Further: Explore your surroundings more deeply and solve optional cases and puzzles to uncover secrets, upgrades, and lore.
A Twisted Lovecraftian Tale: Experience a captivating and morally gray story of personal loss, woven through the Lovecraftian mythos of occultism and incomprehensible creatures
ABOUT FROGWARES Founded in 2000, Frogwares is an independent game development studio based in Ukraine and Ireland. We are behind the Sherlock Holmes series and a Lovecraftian detective-horror game series, The Sinking City. Thanks to the work of our talented team of artists and programmers, our games are available for all major platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
A new apartment. One tenant who thought his luck had finally changed. Something already inside.
Following the release of Dead Stop – No Vacancy, independent horror studio Camel 101 has announced Dead Stop – The Tenant, the second standalone episode in its anthology of short horror games.
The Tenant introduces a completely new story, protagonist, and location while retaining the short, focused format established by No Vacancy. Jonathan had spent months chasing listings that vanished overnight, landlords who never called back, and rents that seemed designed to keep people like him out.
Then, at last, he found it: a modest apartment in an old building, cheap enough to afford and decent enough to call home. For the first time in years, Jonathan felt like life was finally giving him a break. He had a set of keys in his pocket, a roof over his head, and the chance to start over.
But some places are cheap for a reason. And life had other plans for its newest tenant.
Dead Stop – The Tenant is a short first-person psychological horror experience built around the familiar anxieties of moving into a new home. Everyday domestic routines gradually give way to disturbing messages, impossible changes to the apartment, and signs that Jonathan may not be its only occupant.
“After the roadside slasher atmosphere of No Vacancy, we wanted the second episode to explore a very different kind of fear,” said Ricardo Cesteiro, co-founder and producer at Camel 101. “The Tenant is about the discomfort of living somewhere that never truly feels like yours – and slowly realizing that the apartment may not want you there.”
KEY FEATURES
First-person atmospheric horror set inside an ageing apartment building
Environmental puzzles built around domestic routines and the building’s disturbing rental history
A story told through messages, objects, tapes, and things that should not be there
Slow-burn psychological horror with surreal changes to rooms and corridors
A short, focused, and complete standalone experience
The second episode in the Dead Stop anthology – no knowledge of No Vacancy is required
Dead Stop is an anthology of short, standalone horror games inspired by classic horror stories. Each episode features a different protagonist, location, atmosphere, and threat, allowing Camel 101 to explore a new corner of the horror genre with every release.
Dead Stop – The Tenant is currently in development for PC and can now be wishlisted on Steam. Its release date will be announced later.
Camel 101 is an independent game studio specializing in immersive horror experiences. Previous titles include Syndrome, Those Who Remain, Beneath, and Dead Stop – No Vacancy, each exploring a different facet of the horror genre.
WereBuff Studio joins Wired’s family of developers to bring a nightmarish world of ancient folklore to players worldwide
Watford August 18, 2026: Wired Productions heads to Gamescom with a new name joining its line-up, as today it announces a worldwide publishing partnership with Thailand-based WereBuff Studio for its highly ambitious debut title Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit, a cinematic horror adventure steeped in Thai folklore, coming to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store in 2027.
Wired Productions’ focus on championing distinctive voices across horror, dark narratives and unsettling cinematic visuals continues with Kumarn, as this authentic Thai game matches ancient folklore with malevolent forces, and a vulnerable spirit child you will find hard not to care for. Blending stealth, environmental puzzles and tense platforming, Kumarn is created for fans of the genre popularised by Little Nightmares and Reanimal, but with a more sinister edge.
Players won’t have long to wait to experience it… Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit will be playable at Gamescom 2026, with both Wired Productions and WereBuff Studio heading to Cologne. Players can experience the game first-hand at the Indie Arena Booth.
“With Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit, our goal has always been to introduce Thai horror to the world. We want to share the unique stories, beliefs, and folklore of Thailand in a way that can be experienced by players everywhere. We’re thrilled to have Wired Productions as a partner who believes in both the game and our creative direction, and we look forward to bringing Thai horror to a global audience together” said Wyn Panichpakdee, Managing Director at WereBuff Studio.
“WereBuff have created something authentically Thai: frightening, beautiful and driven by a story with real emotional weight. They are a passionate team with huge ambition, and these are exactly the kind of partnerships we live and fight for,” said Leo Zullo, Co-founder and Managing Director at Wired Productions.
ABOUT KUMARN: THE WANDERING SPIRIT ONCE SACRED, NOW LOST…
Kumarn, a young child spirit, and his loyal companion Zeb were once guardians of their village, where humans and spirits co-existed in harmony to bring luck, prosperity and protection to those who lived there.
When a forbidden ritual tears them from their shrine, they are cast into a nightmarish world of whispering forests, forsaken villages and forgotten temples where haunting ancient folklore has awakened into a terrifying reality.
Relentlessly stalked by twisted creatures and restless ghosts born from Thai tales that mourn, hunger and hunt them, they must brave a land consumed by ancient darkness to find their way home.
Lurk in the shadows to outsmart malevolent horrors and use your wits to find safe passageways to escape, but beware… this cursed world is eager to claim you, and each step will either bring you closer to your rightful place or leave you as another wandering soul lost to the dark.
KEY FEATURES:
Nightmares Steeped in Thai Folklore Encounter terrifying spirits, each with their own tragic past, supernatural powers and deadly presence, turning centuries of myth into unforgettable horror.
Hide. Run. Outsmart. Survive You cannot fight what haunts these lands! Sneak through the shadows, distract deadly creatures and rely on your wits to escape spirits far stronger than yourself. Every encounter is a test of timing, precision and courage to survive.
Use Your Surroundings Manipulate the environment with your sacred lamp to create pathways to safety and hide your presence from those that hunt you.
You Are Not Alone Even in the darkest places, hope remains! With Zeb by your side, face terrifying horrors together as you search for a place where a wandering spirit can finally find peace.
A Cinematic Horror Adventure Kumarn: The Wandering Spirit is a terrifying single player adventure for fans of the genre popularised by Little Nightmares and Reanimal. Blending stealth, environmental puzzles and tense platforming within deeply unsettling environments shaped by Thai folklore.
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, KARMA: The Dark World, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles and Martha Is Dead. Upcoming titles include MR. RECORDS, AGNI: Village of Calamity, When Sirens Fall Silent and BrokenLore: DON’T LIE.
About WereBuff Studio WereBuff Studio is an indie game studio from Thailand, partnered with Kantana Group, a renowned entertainment production company. The collective mission is to share the eerie and distinctive aesthetics, folklore and narratives of Thai culture, with the global audience – through the art of gaming.
The charming sequel to OBAKEIDORO! will showcase its global build, out now for Nintendo Switch™ and the Nintendo Switch™ 2.
NAGOYA, Japan – August 18, 2026 – Japanese studio FREE STYLE, Inc. is excited to share that they will be returning to PAX West 2026 this September 4th – 7th, 2026. Visitors can try out the recently released global build of OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek for the Nintendo Switch™ and the Nintendo Switch™ 2 and walk away with exciting game-branded swag.
Spooky, Harmless Excitement!
OBAKEIDORO 2 is a family-friendly, asymmetric, multiplayer chase-and-capture game. With all the heart-pumping thrills of popular asymmetric games and none of the horror or gore, OBAKEIDORO 2’s spooky, chibi aesthetic is for players of all ages. The game follows the same rules as the original OBAKEIDORO! with three-minute matches and simple controls. Players can join the Human team or the Monster team in lobbies of 4 or 8 players. Fill in any missing slots with a CPU so you can keep playing to your heart’s content, and experiment with custom rules where even matches like 7 Monsters vs 1 Human are possible! Evade capture as a Human to ensure your team’s triumph, or capture all Humans before the time runs out to secure victory as the Monster. Each Monster character offers unique traits and skills, while Humans can equip special lanterns that can be used to develop a winning strategy!
Find Us at Booth #1016!
FREE STYLE Inc. will be showcasing the global build of the game at PAX West in the Arch Building, Level 4, at Booth #1016. Play with other attendees or test your ability with or against CPUs. Visitors of the booth can receive an OBAKEIDORO 2 notebook made exclusively for the event for trying out the game, as well as postcards for following the team on social media!
Every day at 2 pm ET and 5 pm ET, a special ‘Players vs Director’ event will be run for 30 minutes! Join in and compete against Game Director Katsu Tanaka for special prizes. Human teams that can evade the director’s clutches can earn exclusive rewards like branded keychains, button pins, acrylic standees, and tote bags! These matches will continue each day of PAX until all prizes are gone.
Visit FREE STYLE Inc. during PAX West at Booth #1016 to meet with the studio behind the game and other fans. OBAKEIDORO 2: Chase & Seek is out now on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™ and Nintendo Switch™ 2.
About FREE STYLE Inc. FREE STYLE, Inc. started in 2006 as a Nagoya-based IT company in Japan. With over 200 team members working across Japan, we specialize in providing comprehensive IT solutions. Our game department was launched in 2014 with the mission of bringing joy to people through our games. Along with developing original titles, we also do work-for-hire projects for game publishers. For more information about us, please visit the company’s website at https://freestyles.jp/
Discover an Interconnected Realm of Magic, Experience Over One Thousand Handcrafted Puzzles and an Epic Tale in Jonathan Blow’s (The Witness, Braid) Largest and Greatest Puzzle Game Yet
LOS GATOS, Calif. – Aug. 18, 2026 – Arc Games, a leading publisher of AA and indie titles for PC and consoles, and Thekla, Inc. are excited to announce that Order of the Sinking Star, the massive, highly anticipated puzzle adventure led by legendary, award-winning game designer Jonathan Blow (The Witness, Braid), will launch on PC via Steam and Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5 on October 8.
Excited to jump into this massive puzzle adventure? Wishlist the game today on Steam, Switch 2 and PS5!
In the making for 10 years since the release of the critically acclaimed The Witness, Order of the Sinking Star aims to be the premier puzzle adventure of this generation. This massive experience will seamlessly intertwine a colliding, epic tale with more than a thousand hand-crafted challenges, hundreds of hours of gameplay and a slew of surprises along the way. Designed to respect players’ boundless curiosity, the game will deliver a deeply satisfying, “just one more puzzle” gameplay loop — while its open-ended, interconnected world gives players total freedom to come and go as they like as they take on puzzles at their own pace.
“Order of the Sinking Star simply wouldn’t exist without the incredible designers who helped work on it over the years,” said Jonathan Blow, Founder of Thekla, Inc. and game designer behind Braid and The Witness. “By creating a kind of game design supercollider, we were able to bring together ideas from some of the most brilliant puzzle designers in the industry. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed to help us push the limits of what’s possible in a puzzle adventure. We can’t wait for players to step into this world and discover just how deep and complex it really is.
“Order of the Sinking Star showcases design contributions from Alan Hazelden (Skipping Stones to Lonely Homes, Mirror Isles), Sean Barrett (Promesst), Jonah Ostroff (Heroes of Sokoban), Zach Polansky (Enigmash), Patrick Traynor (Patrick’s Parabox), Marc ten Bosch (Miegakure), and several others — including design contributions from Twitch followers over the years.”
Prepare to take the helm of a motley crew of heroes, utilize their abilities to solve a wide array of puzzles, experience what happens when their worlds collide and get one step closer to uncovering the mystery of the Order of the Sinking Star! What starts as individual journeys will evolve into a dynamic universe where mechanics, characters and abilities collide, and the rules of reality shift to create mind-bending new possibilities.
One of the most-played demos during Steam Next Fest, Order of the Sinking Star will soon be here for fans around the world to fully jump into! Whether you’re a major puzzle fan or a newcomer, the game’s non-linear, open design ensures that hitting a challenging roadblock in one realm simply means you can pivot to another world and return whenever you are ready. As you venture into intercardinal regions, you’ll piece together a deep, enigmatic mythos through exploration, cryptic notes, and professional voice-over narration from a talented cast of actors.
Will you uncover the secret of the Order of the Sinking Star? There’s only one way to find out when Order of the Sinking Star launches on PC, Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 on October 8!
Game Features
Master a Thousand Interwoven Challenges –Embark on an innovative puzzle adventure with dozens of game mechanics and hundreds of hours of unique gameplay. Each puzzle builds on the last, introducing new game mechanics that reward curiosity and persistence.
Choose Your Path, Roam at Your Pace – Explore four expansive, mysterious game worlds, each with its own characters, rules, dangers, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Come and go as you like; you are free to take on the puzzles you discover at your own pace.
Take the Helm of Some Unlikely Heroes – A queen, a thief, a warrior, a wizard, and a talking boat are just some of the heroes of this tale. Each character wields complimentary abilities and has captivating stories to tell.
Decipher an Epic Tale – As playable characters begin to meet and worlds collide, the mystery untangles. Through gameplay and notes you collect, you’ll learn more about this enigmatic realm. Piece by piece and clue by clue, you’ll uncover the secrets of the Order of the Sinking Star.
Try the Demo & Wishlist Today
Eager to embark on this innovative puzzle adventure? Players who wish to get a head start can play Order of the Sinking Star’s Steam demo now. Any progress made in the demo will carry over to the full game at launch!
Arc Games is a leading independent publisher of AA and indie video games — including premium and live-service titles — across North America, Europe, and Asia. Originally founded in 2008 as Perfect World Entertainment, the company later rebranded as Arc Games and continues to expand its presence as a global publisher. Known for bringing beloved titles such as Neverwinter and Star Trek Online to players around the world, Arc Games has also delivered a strong portfolio of original releases, including REMNANT II, Remnant: From the Ashes, the Torchlight series, and Fellowship, as well as distinctive indie experiences like Frosthaven and Have a Nice Death.
Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai, Arc Games is dedicated to supporting talented game creators and delivering high-quality, memorable gaming experiences. For more information, please visit www.arcgames.com.
ABOUT THEKLA, INC.
Thekla, Inc. is an independent video game studio led by Jonathan Blow, known for creating critically acclaimed titles like The Witness andBraid. Originally established in 2009, the studio is based in Denver, Colo., and focuses on making games with high artistic and technical quality. The studio is currently working on Order of the Sinking Star, the studio’s most ambitious and massive puzzle adventure yet, releasing October 8.
Version 1.0 adds multiplayer and more; explore a stunning, ocean-paradise with up to four friends
Zhuhai City, China – Tuesday, 18th August 2026 — Chinese developer, Seed Sparkle Lab has today launched its cozy, anime-inspired life sim Starsand Island, digitally for Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Previously available in both Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, the full 1.0 launch includes a whole host of additional features, including online multiplayer for up to four players, expanded relationship content, character interactions and the Autumn Pumpkin Carnival, which introduces a dedicated seasonal storyline and quests.
Pre-orders for the physical edition of the game on Nintendo Switch 2 ($39.99 / €44.99 / £39.99) and PlayStation 5 ($39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99), are still open ahead of its launch on 12th November.
Starsand Island – Launch Trailer
Starsand Island invites players to give up the hustle and bustle of the everyday grind, in favour of a relaxed, pastoral life in a stunning seaside paradise filled with sunshine, ocean breezes and beautiful natural landscapes.
New residents are free to explore every corner of this breathtaking island as they wish; making new friends with residents and adorable animals alike, while learning new skills, including farming and fishing along the way.
From building lasting friendships to building a home, the game features an intricate and extensive DIY and construction system, letting players design, build and decorate their own dream island abode down to the tiniest details.
While those looking for some light adventure in paradise can head out to discover the island on foot or on a selection of vehicles; gliding along pristine coastlines on a longboard, zipping through lush forests on a retro scooter, or sailing to uncover the secrets of nearby islands, where rich mineral veins, rare treasures, and mysterious ancient ruins await. Players can learn and use combat skills to battle strange creatures, with each encounter full of surprises they won’t see coming!
Starsand Island Features
Experience a living island world: Starsand Island is built around a dynamic four-season cycle that shapes daily life and the wider environment, influencing farming routines, exploration conditions, and community activities.
Deep & evolving pastoral simulation: Combining farming, craft, ranching, fishing, and production, Starsand Island’s systems develop alongside the player, becoming more streamlined in the process, and enabling more time to explore, create, and define their own pace of island life.
Explore the peaceful countryside & beyond: Away from the idyll of countryside life, discover ancient ruins, mine valuable resources, and encounter strange, fantastical creatures.
Meaningful relationships & community life: Social interaction with other residents, each with their own distinct personalities and professions, is central to life on the island. Build long-term bonds and unlock personal storylines and emotional moments; create new friends and forge strong relationships with those around you.
Freedom of expression & island lifestyle: Starsand Island features comprehensive customisation options, from the player character, home building and decorating, while seasonal festivals, cooking, and fashion further add to the cultural flavour.
Starsand Island is now available to purchase digitally for Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
About Starsand Island
Escape the Urban Grind to Starsand Island – Your Island Paradise Awaits! Tired of the hustle and bustle? Return to the tranquil embrace of Starsand Island, a gem hailed as the “Star of the Deep Sea.” Here, immerse yourself in a serene pastoral lifestyle: slow-paced days spent bonding with adorable capybaras, cats, and dogs, savoring the thrill of bountiful fishing, exploring the mystical Moonlit Forest, or simply soaking in the island’s untouched beauty. Leave the mundane behind and rediscover life’s simple joys in this coastal utopia.
Reken, Germany – August 18th, 2026 – DEFEND. SCAVENGE. EXTRACT. Dive into the next evolution of horde survival and PvE extraction with NightRunner, an intense 1-4 player co-op extraction experience, coming to PC in 2027.
Take on dangerous jobs as a NightRunner in a brutal evolution of the horde survival genre. Choose between four different Runner Kits, each shaping how you fight, scavenge, and support your crew. Explore scavenging zones to gather resources and acquire powerful loot, fighting through a ruthless world where every run is a high-risk, high-reward battle for survival.
Upgrade your Runner-Tech with permanent unlocks to dominate runs and take on more challenging jobs, infiltrating a hostile world that combines intense high-stakes extraction gameplay, brutal dungeon runs, and tactical tower defense in one relentless experience.
Defend your wagon – your mobile base of operations – and keep the rails alive in the aftermath of an apocalyptic solar event. To keep the gear you find, your train must successfully reach its destination. Defend your train from deadly mutants, carry out repairs, and engage in missions where fierce co-op combat, strategic decision-making, and a blend of roguelite and persistent progression determine whether you escape with your loot – or lose everything.
Put your skills to the test across four distinct game modes, each offering unique challenges, objectives, and rewards.
Train Jobs – The signature NightRunner experience. Choose your wagon, prepare your loadout, and fight through a relentless world with your team. Stop at scavenging areas to find powerful weapons, gather resources, and reinforce your train before pushing onward to extraction.
Transition Jobs – Board a heavily armed ship and cross mutant-infested waters without the safety of reinforcements or scavenging stops. Survive the voyage to unlock higher-tier jobs, tougher challenges, and greater rewards.
Dungeons – Venture into linear dungeon levels packed with deadly enemies, unique boss encounters, and NightRunner’s most valuable loot. Every expedition is a true test of teamwork and skill.
Endless – Inspired by classic survival experiences, withstand increasingly overwhelming waves of enemies while adapting your strategy, upgrading your arsenal, and chasing the highest score.
ABOUT 314 ARTS Founded with a passion for the First-Person Shooter genre, 314 Arts has grown into a studio that values quality over quantity. We are a team of developers, artists, and gamers who understand that a great game is more than just graphics – it’s the Game Feel.
Our headquarters in Germany serves as the hub for our operations, where we coordinate with talent from around the world to bring ambitious projects to life. We believe in transparency with our community and precision in our craft.
Rebuild the world in this relaxing puzzle title coming to PC and Switch in 2027
Stockholm, Sweden — August 18, 2026 | Maximum Entertainment today announced Hexplorando, a relaxing puzzle-building game developed by Hexplora Interactive that invites players to travel the globe and rebuild some of the world’s most iconic locations, one hexagonal tile at a time.
Coming to PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2027, Hexplorando combines cozy puzzle-solving, exploration, and creative building in a colorful journey around the world.
Hexplorando’s first ever demo will be playable at Maximum Entertainment’s Indie Arena booth at Gamescom 2026 (Hall 10 Booth 10).
Watch the Hexplorando reveal trailer below:
In Hexplorando, players embark on a globe-spanning adventure through 40 puzzle levels inspired by real-world locations. Piece by piece, you can reconstruct landscapes and cities, discover famous landmarks, and build a collection of monuments that can later be used to create their own worlds in Sandbox mode.
Hexplorando features:
Rebuild the world, tile by tile: Solve 40 relaxing hex-tile puzzles based on real-world locations, from New York City rooftops and the River Thames to the Great Wall of China and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
Discover and collect iconic landmarks: Unlock hundreds of landmarks throughout your journey, complete with real-world photography and facts about the places you discover.
Create your own world: Take the landmarks you have unlocked into Sandbox mode and use them to freely build and experiment with your own creations.
Whether carefully finding the perfect tile placement or simply enjoying the satisfaction of watching a famous destination take shape, Hexplorando offers an approachable, wholesome puzzle experience built around discovery and creativity.
For more information, visit maximument.com or follow @MaximumEntmt on X.
About Maximum Entertainment
Maximum Entertainment is a global entertainment company dedicated to crafting indie to AA video game experiences through original content and licensed partnerships. A fully integrated group with a broad portfolio of content, the company emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity in its partnerships to produce the highest level of interactive entertainment. With more than 300 titles in its catalog, Maximum Entertainment has joined forces with talented creators and renowned franchises around the globe to deliver magic to the gamer in everyone. Maximum Entertainment employs experienced professionals across the entire value chain of video games including development, publishing, transmedia, sales, and operations. Visit Maximum Entertainment at www.maximument.com.
About Hexplora Interactive
Hexplora Interactive is a new indie team of senior developers from Spain and Italy, with dozens of published titles in their track record. The studio is led by award-winning veteran game developer Francesco Cavallari, who held both technical and leadership positions at Ubisoft for 15 years. Francesco worked on all sorts of games, including critically acclaimed titles (including Beyond Good and Evil or Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory) and casual blockbusters (such as My Secret World by Imagine and Motion Sports). Francesco is a firm believer in the potential of digital games for good (in 2015, he founded Video Games Without Borders) and intends to prove that a game can be successful commercially while bringing a positive impact on our society.
The brawling roadside-bar sim set in the Gas Station Simulator universe leaves early access behind, with the full release adding new territories, deeper gang politics, and a longer road to running the whole roadhouse.
Kraków, Poland – August 18, 2026 – Roadhouse Simulator, DRAGO entertainment’s brawling bar-management sim set in the universe of the 2-million-selling hit Gas Station Simulator, launches in full on Steam on September 21, following a Prologue chapter released in May and a free Demo that opened its doors in August 2026.
Roadhouse Simulator sends players back down the same stretch of American highway made famous by Gas Station Simulator — years earlier, and behind a very different counter. Players step into the boots of the uncle from the original game, starting out as a bouncer at a run-down roadhouse on Route 66 and working their way up to owning the place outright. The full release expands well beyond the Demo’s single working night, letting players grow their roadhouse from a single bar into a small biker empire: tending taps, striking deals with rival gangs, and expanding territory one hard-won night at a time.
A free Demo released on August 13, 2026 — showcasing an expanded set of mechanics built for the full game — has been very well received, with 92% of user reviews on Steam currently positive.
New and expanded features arriving with the 1.0 release include:
Full Career Progression: Climb from bouncer to barman to full-time roadhouse owner, unlocking new responsibilities — and new headaches — at every stage.
Territory Expansion: Grow beyond the original bar, adding parking, seating, and new facilities to pull in more patrons and open new income streams.
Gang Politics: Manage loyalty and grudges across multiple biker gangs, each with their own favors to trade and scores to settle.
Shady Supply Lines: Use gang influence to unlock “less reputable” suppliers when the legitimate ones won’t cut it.
Staffing Up: Hire and manage employees to keep the bar running when the owner can’t be everywhere at once.
Dodging the Sheriff: Stay ahead of inspections, fines, and unannounced visits as the local sheriff keeps a permanent eye on the place.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: Break up brawls solo or against multiple opponents, with more than one way to handle a fight before it wrecks the furniture.
“Gas Station Simulator was about survival on the road. Roadhouse Simulator is about everything that happens once you decide to stay,” said Lucjan Mikociak, Studio Head at DRAGO Entertainment. “The Prologue and the Demo were a taste of one rough night behind the bar. With the full release, players get the whole story — from bouncer to owner, one brawl at a time.”
Roadhouse Simulator is set to launch on Steam on September 21, 2026. For all the latest updates, follow DRAGO on X/Twitter and Facebook.
About DRAGO entertainment
DRAGO entertainment began operations in 1998 in Krakow, Poland. The company initially focused on creating innovative projects for international video publishers as an external contractor while strengthening internal competencies and creating a friendly and professional team to develop their own titles. Since adopting a new strategy in 2018, their goal is to deliver high-quality productions on an international level. The studio’s flagship title is Gas Station Simulator, which released on September 15, 2021 and immediately became a best seller on Steam. DRAGO entertainment is currently broadening their horizons with new projects, including the Gas Station Simulator universe expansions Roadhouse Simulator and Road Diner Simulator, while continuing to support their current titles. Learn more about DRAGO entertainment on the official website.
Watch the New Music Video and Pre-Order the 7” Vinyl Today
London, United Kingdom & Tokyo, Japan (18th August 2026) – Today, video game publisher and creative studio Kepler Interactive and Tokyo-based developerShapefarm have revealed new details about the soundtrack for their upcoming intergalactic co-op adventure Orbitals.
Orbitals features a retro anime-inspired soundtrack, capturing the spirit of classic anime to create out-of-this-world soundscapes that feel both nostalgically familiar and fresh all at once. Part of the soundtrack’s nostalgic identity lies with the game’s featured vocalist on both the opening and ending themes – Japanese singer songwriter Mami Ayukawa. Known for singing themes for classic sci-fi anime in the 80s (including Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and more), Ayukawa returns with Orbitals to provide her voice to the game’s opening theme song ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ and the game’s ending theme ‘Heart To Heart’. Fans can listen to and purchase ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ on music platforms and online stores from today, and watch the brand-new official music video below.
“I’m truly happy and honored to have had the opportunity to sing the theme song for Orbitals,” shares Ayukawa. “I poured all of the soul and love that I’ve woven into my music since the 1980s into this song. I sincerely hope that these feelings will reach the hearts of everyone who enjoys the game.”
“Collaborating closely with Mami Ayukawa throughout the creation of Orbitals‘ opening and ending themes has been an incredible honor”, says Shapefarm’s Audio Director Christian Wellbo. “Among all the amazing anime music of the era that inspired our game, her songs stand among its most iconic. I hope this collaboration resonates with longtime fans while also opening the door for a new generation to discover her extraordinary music.”
Additionally, starting today fans can pre-order the 7” vinyl of Orbitals’ opening and ending themes via Laced Records. Featuring both ‘~Accelerating Destiny~ (加速する運命)’ and ‘Heart To Heart’, plus karaoke versions on the B-side, the 7” vinyl will release later this year. Furthermore, the game’s full original soundtrack will also be available digitally from 3rd September alongside the release of the game – fans should stay tuned to the game’s official social media channels for more information coming soon. To stream and download opening and ending themes, visit http://lnk.to/orbitals-single.
Orbitals will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch™ 2 on 3rd September and is available to pre-order now. A physical edition will launch alongside the digital edition of the game, and fans can also purchase the Digital Deluxe edition, which includes additional digital bonuses, including the game’s soundtrack (accessed via the base game’s main menu). For more information about Orbitals, follow the game’s official social channels or sign up for the newsletter at www.orbitalsgame.com.
About Shapefarm:
Shapefarm is a Tokyo-based studio comprised of an international team of creative talent turning dreams into games.
United by a deep love of classic Japanese visual design and storytelling, the studio’s first original project, Orbitals, embodies the studios’ passion for creating enduring and universally resonant experiences crafted with the highest level of artistry.
About Kepler Interactive:
Kepler Interactive is a video game company and creative studio headquartered in London. With games like Pacific Drive, Sifu, Rematch and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler curates its partnerships with developers worldwide to showcase some of the newest and most brilliant ideas in gaming that combine experimental game design with unique art direction.
Alongside its game portfolio, Kepler’s creative studio seeks to bring games to life in areas such as art, fashion, music, architecture and design through development of lifestyle products and collaborations with artists like fashion designer Robyn Lynch. Kepler explores the creative spaces that inspire games and the people who make them – challenging perspectives and elevating the medium to a new level.
About Laced:
Laced is the world’s leading video game soundtrack record label, with over 250 releases to date across vinyl and digital spanning games new and old, from the biggest blockbusters to the most intimate indies. Soundtrack releases include music for Assassin’s Creed, Bloodborne, Borderlands, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Civilization, DOOM, Fallout, God of War, Halo, Hotline Miami, Metal Gear Solid, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, SILENT HILL and Street Fighter.
The record label lives alongside Laced’s other service offerings, including music composition, licensing, sound design, implementation, and music publishing administration for games and moving media: www.lacedaudio.com
Laced is a part of Keywords Studios. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
