Captain your skyship through new content, survive new boss battles, and grapple to consoles soon
[September 11, 2025] – Lost Skiesexits Early Access and launches into 1.0 next week, on September 17th, on Steam. Ahead of the full launch, the team is excited to share what players can expect on Day 1 and beyond, including a 25% launch discount, as well as announce that console players will be able to take to the skies on Xbox and PlayStation in the future.
The team recently shared an FAQ of community questions, delving into what the future holds for Lost Skies beyond its 1.0 launch. Here’s a bit of what players can expect starting on September 17th.
An expanded game world from one region in early access to four. The original Outskirts region has been split into three, and a new fourth region (the Midlands) has been added.
All of these regions have significantly more, roughly 30 islands, to explore and are now separated by new weather barriers, including windwalls and stormwalls.
Tons of community-built islands made in the free Island Creator tool via the Steam workshop for players to explore solo and with 5 friends.
A new boss type (the Arbiter) has been introduced. Arbiters are smaller than Heralds and are designed to create more frequent sky combat encounters.
Each of the new regions will also contain its own unique Herald boss.
New hostile creatures like Thornets and Harpies.
New ship parts (sail controls, new engines, decorations, and more).
New resources and materials that unlock additional crafting recipes.
All players who played in Early Access can expect a full progress wipe to start the new journey fresh and take advantage of the added stability and new balances of the in-game systems.
Head of Bossa Games studio, Anthony Kyne, addressed the community in the latest developer Skywatch and sent a heartfelt thank you to the Skies community. “First off, it’s been an amazing experience building this game with this community from basically the beginning. It’s been an absolute joy seeing videos and comments from you all when we release builds with new features. I want to thank everyone that’s played the builds, given your opinions (good or bad), designed and built islands, made videos, and anything that has helped make this game possible.
We’re a small team here at Bossa and we’ve made a game we’re extremely proud of – that wouldn’t have been half as good without you.Lastly, a game like Lost Skies can never truly be classed as finished.” Continued Kyne. “The world has endless possibilities for growth. The bigger the success of 1.0 over the coming months, the greater ability to grow that world.”
Alongside a solo experience that will continue to be available, Bossa Games has already committed to supporting multiplayer for the next few years, with the hope of expanding multiplayer gameplay even further with the continued support of the dedicated playerbase. In addition to the new in-game updates and content, Lost Skies will have a 25% launch discount for anyone eager to grapple across the skies on September 17th on Steam. Console players can look forward to Lost Skies soaring onto Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and more information on the console ports will be given in the near future.
Lost Skies launches into full 1.0 on September 17th on Steam. For more information, join the official Discord, and visit the official website.
About Bossa Games
Bossa Games is a multiple award-winning independent studio based in London, UK, with over a decade of great games made by its team. Bossa is recognized as one of the most creative game companies in the world, with titles such as Surgeon Simulator, I Am Bread, and I Am Fish cementing our reputation for disruption.
Bossa Games has a shared mission to ‘Forge the best co-op experiences friends will ever share together’ and our values are our guiding principles and beliefs to get us there.
About Humble Games
Best known for critically acclaimed and award-winning hits such as A Hat in Time, Forager, Project Wingman, SIGNALIS, Slay the Spire, Temtem, UNSIGHTED, Unpacking, and Wizard of Legend, Humble Games is Humble Bundle’s publishing arm, composed of a passionate and nimble team that works remotely with a collection of talented global development partners. Humble Games was founded on a shared passion to support developers and deliver excellent content and gaming experiences to players around the world, while continuing the Humble mission to be a force for good in the industry. Humble Games is committed to investing in top-quality games, comprised of both new and existing beloved IPs, all while prioritizing and supporting developer partnerships so that they can focus on bringing their creative visions to life.
LONDON, UK – September 11th, 2025 – This past month, 400 Boys – the electrifying animated short directed by acclaimed artist Robert Valley and produced by Passion – won two Emmy Awards in the Television Academy’s Juried Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. Honours went to Daryl Graham for Character Animation and Robert Valley for Character Design.
Produced as part of Love, Death + Robots Volume 4, 400 Boys marks the third episode directed by Robert Valley and created in collaboration with Passion for Netflix and Blur, following their earlier works Zima Blue and ICE. The win not only celebrates the achievement of the team but also recognises Valley’s growth as a director with a clear, uncompromising creative vision.
Adapted from a short story by Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw, 400 Boys delivers a gang-fueled sci-fi epic rooted in cult influences like The Warriors, yet reimagined through Valley’s unmistakable visual language. Known for his angular, elongated character designs and kinetic storytelling, Valley pushed his creative vision even further in this project, with the full support of the team at Passion.
In 400 Boys, Valley’s signature aesthetic continues to evolve. While retaining the look audiences loved in ICE, the animation takes on greater complexity and fluidity. A major leap came from merging 2D character animation with 3D environments and camera movement, allowing the team to build immersive, cinematic sequences without sacrificing Valley’s hand-drawn aesthetic.
“Rob always wants to put a new wrinkle in his work,” says Christian Mills, Passion Creative Director. ““With 400 Boys, it was the cameras. To achieve the depth he desired in specific shots, we combined 2D animation with 3D camera movement. That gave him a whole new dimension to play with, and an opportunity for a more cinematic feel in his shots.”
The result is a high-octane blend of hand-drawn 2D animation, bold character styling, and dynamic 3D camera moves, crafted using TVPaint, After Effects, and a suite of custom workflows built specifically around the needs of the director. This hybrid pipeline enabled sweeping camera shots and action choreography not previously seen at this scale in Valley’s work. “The animation style had progressed massively from Zima Blue and ICE. It was all about supporting Rob’s vision, giving him the tools to go bigger while staying true to his style,” adds Ellen Collins, Producer.
The film’s climactic battle sequence, an extended, high-stakes scene involving dozens of characters, environmental destruction, and layered chaos, was the most ambitious the team had ever attempted. The challenge wasn’t just the scale, but making it feel grounded and hand-crafted, from the weight of chains hitting the ground to the atmosphere crackling with kinetic energy. Every department was pushed, from layout and CFX to compositing, as months of planning were brought to life with precision, intensity, and within a tightly managed production timeline. “We had the fortune to work with incredible artists and CFX specialists who worked closely with Rob for months. It all came together thanks to our compositing team, who brought the final look to life with care and precision, each department adding their creative voice to the mix,” adds Collins.
That spirit of collaboration and creative ownership reflects a culture Passion has championed for years. On 400 Boys, creative collaboration wasn’t a tagline, it was the foundation. The project brought together a highly skilled team of 2D and 3D artists, each aligned around a clear vision and committed to pushing into new creative and technical ground.
“We’ve built a studio that allows artists to explore ideas and bring their best work to the table,” Mills notes. “Supporting Rob’s creative vision meant giving our team the freedom to innovate, collaborate, and push boundaries.”
Watch the breakdown here
About PASSION PICTURES
PASSION PICTURES is an internationally renowned production company uniquely specialising in animation and documentary filmmaking and is a three-time Academy Award winner. With teams in London, Paris, New York, LA and Barcelona, PASSION is a fully integrated studio that brings together multiple creative divisions, partner companies, and a wide array of talent. The studio recently won the BAFTA for Best Documentary with “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and recent animation credits include the emmy winning 400 Boys, the standout episode of season 4 of Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots and Not a Box, Season 1 now streaming on Apple TV+ .
Since Sept. 5, Cronos: The New Dawn has been available on Nintendo Switch 2, bringing its acclaimed survival horror experience to handheld players. Following widespread critical praise, the full release launched last Friday across all major platforms — PC (Steam, GOG, Epic), PS5, Xbox Series X|S. To mark the occasion, a chilling new live-action trailer offers a haunting glimpse into the world of Cronos. With its gripping story and next-gen visuals, the game ushers in a bold new era for the genre — and a standout moment for Nintendo fans.
To further celebrate the launch, Bloober Team released a special Nintendo live-action trailer showcasing one of the game’s most defining features — time travel between two eras. The trailer also highlights powerful moments from the game, including merging monsters, struggles with orphans, limited resources, and other intense scenes that make Cronos a true treat for survival horror fans — dark, unsettling, and packed with fresh ideas the genre hasn’t seen in years. Additionally, the game leverages the hardware capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2, allowing players to choose from three different aiming modes: standard, gyroscope, and mouse controls.
Founded in 2008 and based in Kraków, Bloober Team specializes in creating deep and immersive horror games. With a team of over 250 creative professionals, the studio consistently pushes the boundaries of storytelling, delivering rich and complex narratives to players around the world.
Bloober Team’s award-winning portfolio includes acclaimed titles such as the Layers of Fear series, Blair Witch, Observer: System Redux, and The Medium. Their most celebrated project, developed in collaboration with the Japanese publisher KONAMI, was the highly anticipated remake of the iconic horror game SILENT HILL 2. This title received widespread acclaim, earning positive reviews as well as numerous nominations and awards—including Game of the Year at the Horror Game Awards and Best Game of 2024 by IGN Japan.
The latest release from Bloober Team, Cronos: The New Dawn—the studio’s first original survival horror IP—premiered on September 5th across multiple platforms and garnered praise from both players and the media, marking a significant step forward for the studio.
Thursday 11 September, 2025, Cambridge, UK. Become a master of ranged combat with the new Ranged Skill, unlock powerful Spells, and unleash your imagination in the all-new Creative Mode. RuneScape: Dragonwild’s 0.9 Update launches today as a major expansion for the beloved open-world survival crafting game.
Master ranged combat with the new Ranged Skill and return to Ashenfall wielding Crossbows, a versatile mid-range weapon. Plot your course to Level 50, unlocking a range of new Spells, including two powerful Skill Spells: ‘Snare’ and ‘Spectral Arrows.’
Stop your enemies in their tracks with Snare, a new entangling spell that roots targets and leaves them exposed. Or enchant your arrows with Astral Magic to unleash a powerful attack that pierces multiple enemies.
Let your imagination run wild with the new Creative Mode, a fresh way for base-building fans to enjoy RuneScape: Dragonwilds, free from survival friction.
Build without limits in Creative Mode, where every building piece is unlocked, materials cost nothing, and carry weight is infinite. Enter a new Creative World with maxed Skills, all Crafting recipes unlocked, no enemy attacks, and forever-full Hunger, Thirst and Rest for a truly relaxing, uninterrupted building experience.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds 0.9 Update Key Features:
Ranged Skill – Level up to 50, unlock new spells, and craft arrows with the Fletching Table
Crossbows – A new one-handed weapon for versatile ranged combat, allowing shields or torches in the off-hand.
Skill Spells – Master Snare and Spectral Arrows for tactical ranged playstyle advantages
Creative Mode – Build without limits: maxed Skills, no survival constraints, all recipes unlocked.
Multiplayer Protection – Secure your chests and gravestone with new privacy options and protect your bases from player-tampering by placing Protection Totems.
Custom World Settings – Customise your own world by adjusting enemy health, hunger and thirst rates, processing stations speeds, durability and drop rates to create the perfect world for you and your friends.
Quality of Life Improvements – Enjoy upgraded controller support, customisable key rebinding, additional character slots, and a range of bug fixes, performance enhancements, and stability improvements.
For the full list of features included in RuneScape: Dragonwilds’ 0.9 Update, check out this blog post.
The latest game in the RuneScape franchise, RuneScape: Dragonwilds is an open world survival crafting game set on RuneScape’s forgotten continent of Ashenfall, where dragons have awoken. Players will need to gather, build, skill and craft to survive. Only by mastering survival and uncovering ancient secrets can they hope to slay the Dragon Queen—alone or with allies.
About Jagex
Jagex is a leader in creating deep and engaging forever games that empower communities across PC, mobile and consoles. Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1billion + lifetime revenue franchise.
Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond live operations; its titles are forever games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. The most recent entry in the RuneScape franchise, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, launched into Steam Early Access in 2025. An open world survival crafting experience set in the RuneScape universe, RuneScape: Dragonwilds welcomes existing fans and new players alike to the ever expanding and evolving world of RuneScape.
Shanghai, China — September 11, 2025 |Etheria: Restart has unleashed its latest major content update, adding in two new powerful heroes, as well as a limited-time summon, new stages, and a brand new boss fight.
Two new playable Animuses join the fray in today’s update:
New SSR Animus: Plume – a support-type Animus specializing in multi-target debuffs. Her unique effect, Curse Quill, causes enemy units to take progressively increased damage while their speed gradually decreases.
New SR Animus: Hizuki Mari – a control-type Animus. Her passive affects all units in the battle, increasing their attack power while reducing incoming healing, making her a strong counter to healers in PvP battles.
Watch the Character PV Plume: Profaned Plume trailer here:
The update also adds in brand new Grim Pursuit stages and shells, unlocked upon reaching level 100, plus a challenging new boss fight to take on. Carrion Crows-Khloros is the newest boss to join Etheria: Restart, and can be tackled on Nightmare, Hell, and Inferno difficulties.
Alongside the update, Etheria: Restart is running a limited-time Animus Summon event, guaranteeing a limited SSR Animus within 80 pulls.
The full patch notes for the latest update can be found on the official website. Etheria: Restart is available now on PC, iOS, and Android.
About Etheria Restart
Etheria Restart is a free-to-play supernatural hero team-building RPG developed by XD Inc. The game features breathtaking visuals, an immersive narrative, and a rich blend of PvE and PvP content. Players can enhance their experience with optional in-game purchases.
Fast-paced action roguelite features 4-player co-op, 8 travelers with upgradeable abilities and an ever-changing map, making for unique runs every time
South Korea – September 11, 2025 – The Rapids have opened and beckon travelers to claim incredible abilities to battle powerful enemies and bosses, as Shape of Dreams arrives today on PC via Steam! Blending skill-shot combat and co-op gameplay, the full game is now available for players to dive in solo or with friends for a standout roguelite experience.
“The wait is finally over, Shape of Dreams is available on Steam! Our team at Lizard Smoothie has worked so hard, and we are grateful we can share the full game with our community and those who have supported us along the way,” said Eunsop Shim, co-founder and CEO, Lizard Smoothie. “We were empowered by our relationship with NEOWIZ, who helped us earn over 1 million downloads for the prologue and demo version of the game and earn a spot in the top 10 trending titles during Steam Next Fest. We look forward to hearing fans’ thoughts on the game and supporting Shape of Dreams with updates in the future!”
With eight playable character options, wield an ever-changing arsenal of skills, modifiers and artifacts to craft devastating combinations and break through impossible challenges. The action roguelite is available to purchase on Steam for $24.99 USD, regional pricing will apply. Shape of Dreams will offer a 20% discount from launch day until Wednesday, Sept. 24.
To further celebrate the launch, players can take part in the launch early-bird event by logging in to receive the “Ethereal Forest Hound,” a free commemorative item. In addition, a special limited-time banner will be awarded by completing a quest that requires defeating bosses eight times.
The roguelite title will also be available in two Steam bundles through collaborations with Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor and Warm Snow: Rock and Dream and Dream of Snow. These bundles will grant players an additional 10% off from the launch discount. Join over 24,000 community members on Discord, and follow the game’s social channels on X, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for more info on upcoming events and updates.
NEOWIZ remains committed to working with developers to publish a diverse catalog of titles that appeal to audiences worldwide on console, PC and mobile. To learn more about NEOWIZ’s publishing initiatives, please visit the NEOWIZ website.
About NEOWIZ
Established in 1997, NEOWIZ is a global leader in gaming, renowned for blending remarkable storytelling with exceptional gameplay mechanics. With a legacy spanning over two decades, NEOWIZ has solidified its position as one of Korea’s foremost game companies, captivating audiences worldwide with diverse PC, consoles and mobile titles. Recent successes include Lies of P, DJMAX RESPECT and Cats & Soup, all emblematic of NEOWIZ’s commitment to excellence and gamers worldwide. Welcome to NEOWIZ, where legends come to life.
About Lizard Smoothie
Lizard Smoothie was founded in January 2023 by two college students who love indie games. The team’s debut title, Shape of Dreams, is an upcoming action roguelite that was developed with the sole intention of creating a game that is fun for developers and indie game enthusiasts to play. The team’s work has been recognized by various awards from organizations like GIGDC, IndieGo, BIC and more.
Tech delivers native instant-play for premium game demos that can be shared and embedded anywhere on the web
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 11th, 2025 – Square Enix has made its first-ever investment in Brazil by partnering with game publisher Nuuvem, creators of Latin America’s largest digital gaming platform. This signifies that global publishers are looking at LatAm not just as a consumer market, but as an innovation hub.
The driver behind this partnership is spawnd, a web gaming platform that allows premium game demos to be played, shared, and embedded anywhere on the web, just like a YouTube video — giving players instant access with no subscriptions or downloads necessary. spawnd’s unique tech allows demos to be embedded into store pages, media articles, influencer channels, and even social posts! For players, this means instant access to try-before-you-buy, directly in-browser.
For developers and publishers, spawnd offers a frictionless discovery funnel, with one-click trials that directly increase organic wishlists, solving one of the biggest pain points in today’s industry. Most demos remain buried in platforms, never reaching their audiences. spawnd fixes this. Furthermore, spawnd’s data-driven analytics board gives devs visibility into user behavior during their demo, including a direct CTA to the Steam page. This means developers and publishers can gather real-time engagement data to optimize marketing and design decisions. The ease of use of spawnd offers accessible global reach, with communities, press, and influencers able to seamlessly share access to your demo.
Square Enix’s investment supports spawnd as a new model for game distribution and discovery — not just in LatAm, but globally. Contrary to many cloud based solutions that require expensive infrastructure, introduce latency and suffer from long player queues, spawnd employs state of the art browser technologies, delivering smooth gameplay with no queues, delays or limits.
spawnd has soft-launched today, where players can enjoy numerous game demos that are only a click away. Currently spawnd is showcasing its first 12 titles, including exclusive games such as The Posthumous Investigation, CyberWar, Ginsha, Ironhive, Valfaris, Figment and Cris Tales as well as classics such as Cross-Code, SUPERHOT, Townscaper, Monster Sanctuary and Doom 3. The platform also expects to rapidly ramp the catalog up, onboarding over 100 new games by the end of the year through its close partnerships with hundreds of major publishers and studios.
“Square Enix’s investment is a powerful validation of what we’re building with spawnd,“ said Nuuvem CEO and Co-Founder Fernando Campos. “This partnership helps us give publishers and studios a frictionless way to connect their games with the right audiences everywhere—by turning discovery into instant gameplay.”
“Latin America is a strategic territory, full of passionate gamers and a strong bond to the Japanese culture,” said General Manager of Investment and Business Development Dept at Square Enix Holdings, Hideaki Uehara. “Our first investment in Brazil reflects our belief in Nuuvem and in spawnd’s potential to transform game discovery.”
Nuuvem is LatAm’s largest digital gaming platform, with over 3.4M registered players and +11,000 products available partnering with more than 450 publishers and studios, including leading names such as Capcom, SEGA, Bandai Namco, and Cygames. Each month Nuuvem reaches over 45M gamers through its channels – enough to form a line wrapping around the Earth – offering untapped potential for publishers to grow their audiences even further through spawnd.
About Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, is the holding company leading the group of Square Enix companies (the “Square Enix Group”) with a diverse range of content and service businesses. The Square Enix Group publishes, distributes and licenses entertainment content around the world under its internationally renowned brands including SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO®. The Square Enix Group includes a global network of leading development studios and sales offices located in North America, Europe and Japan. The Square Enix Group also boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 204 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 95 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®.
Nuuvem is Latin America’s largest digital gaming platform and a key player in game publishing, founded in 2011 by gamers with a passion for delivering exceptional experiences. With standout titles like Enigma of Fear, Songs for a Hero – Definitive Edition, Copycat, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Asleep, and Bagdex, Nuuvem is dedicated to showcasing the best of Latin American talent to the world. As both a publisher and co-publisher, Nuuvem provides regional expertise and strategic support, ensuring games reach their fullest potential and connecting players with unforgettable stories across local and global markets.
Bloober Team has had one heck of a run the last few years. Originally breaking out thanks to their horror game Layers of Fear that recently saw a re-release, the company had expanded to work on not only other titles such as Blair Witch and The Medium to some success but were tapped to tackle perhaps one of the highest hurdles a horror game developer could be given, Silent Hill 2. Despite the high expectations placed upon them, Bloober Team managed to meet them and deliver a successful remake of the coveted classic all while still working on a project of their own that ended up becoming Cronos: The New Dawn. So now that they’ve taken their past experiences and come together with a brand new IP, is Cronos: The New Dawn as intriguing of a horror game as they may hope?
Story
Some time during the 1980s an unknown disease and cataclysm shook the world and swept through the land, originating in the eastern bloc of Poland. Simply named the “Change” by those that managed to advance and become something more, this Change saw humanity purged from the world as those not slain by the monsters became monsters themselves, “Orphans” as they were called. Creatures of nightmare given flesh and amalgamations of multiple humans transformed into lumbering monsters only seeking more to add to their merged fleshy frames. With the world already destroyed, players take on the role of a Traveler, someone placed in hibernation by the mysterious “Collective” in order to achieve their “Vocation.”
For Traveler ND-3576 as the player is called, this means extracting certain individuals by traveling through what remains of the current abomination and anomaly riddled present and finding rifts into the past where they can travel back to a time just before the Change and gather the “essences” of certain individuals to then upload them into the Collective through a process called “Ascendance.” However it quickly becomes clear that not everything is as it seems, especially as the Traveler not only meets another that should not exist, but begins witnessing visions and voices from the past, including strange phenomena and events that lead to things being far more complicated than they may seem, even as one-minded of a task the Traveler has been given.
Cronos: The New Dawn tells a very intriguing storyline and one that isn’t afraid to keep players guessing even after the credits have rolled. Whether or not that is a good thing is up to the player a bit, especially since some of the larger elements remain unexplained even if players manage to find all of the various notes, travelogs, and recordings throughout the game that do help fill in the gaps a bit here and there. This means that players will definitely have more questions than answers regarding at least some of the grander aspects of the game once they beat it, even if they beat the game’s New Game+ option. It is worth noting that, without going into spoilers, there are two different endings depending on player choice at the end of the original game and in the New Game+ the true ending is revealed.
Metaphorically it is a perfect match for the game’s narrative and themes, which tackle things such as the dangers of time travel and how it can affect the world, the nature of humanity and life itself, and more though going into detail here would be spoiling things. It is nice to note that while Traveler ND-3576 is as dispassionate as can be for the most part, there are shreds of humanity that do leak through, whether it is through the few player dialogue options that can reassure someone, finding the collectable cat’s and petting them with warmth and affection, or even a few environmental comments. It’s also quite telling that at some points these flickers of humanity almost seem like they are forcibly altered away, though why that is we’ll leave for players to discover.
Gameplay
For the most part Cronos: The New Dawn plays almost exactly how many “survival horror” style games lately play. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means that players should already expect a certain level of resource management and limitations to make sure players never feel too free. In fact, this game almost goes the other direction entirely by making players truly feel desperate at times. Combat is handled through standard over the shoulder aiming with initially a handgun before acquiring a shotgun, rapid-fire pistol, carbine, another type of shotgun, an extra carbine type, and finally a rocket launcher of sorts that is incredibly powerful at the cost of having huge ammunition cost and storage. Storage itself is a bit of an issue when it comes to the firearms in the game since, unlike many other games of the genre that have placed guns in their own category, every weapon takes up an inventory slot, meaning carrying the starter handgun, a shotgun, and a rifle will take up six inventory slots unless players also intend not to carry ammunition with them and simply rely on drops or crafting on the fly.
This means players will tend to play lean, depending on only focusing on one or two weapons and focusing on carrying ammo for only one of these, relying on chemicals and mechanical parts scavenged during exploration for crafting additional ammo or health patches for the Traveler’s suit. Of course, players can upgrade their suit’s overall health, inventory space, and even gadgets with “Cores” obtained from reaching story locations, exploring off the beaten path, or collected from thankful cats. On the other hand, Energy obtained from selling valuables and generally the item players get the most from boxes and defeated enemies can be used to upgrade firearms as well as purchase a limited amount of ammo or healing items that vary from shop to shop in each “safe room” that players come across in the game.
Exploring the brutal and gore-filled world of Cronos: The New Dawn is something of a twisted delight. Players never quite know what to expect even as they progress from location to location since even wind-blown desolate areas may still contain the remnants of Orphans laying just beneath the sand and ready to spring back up should they step towards an item box or pick up an ammo pack, while others are obvious threats where the walls are literally dripping in fleshy goo and corpses littering the halls. This sense of tension is quite palpable thanks to the way enemy encounters are handled, in fact it is heightened even more when players obtain a “health gauge” for their firearm. When exploring, some enemies will come right out and attack while others may lay in wait, either waiting for players to reach a doorway that will slam shut or pick up an item before reviving. Creeping forward and aiming at corpses to see if the player’s gun stays normal or starts lighting up green is a great way to strike while an Orphan is still prone and give the player an advantage and avoid getting jumped, but even then sometimes enemies still emerge from the flesh walls so this isn’t a guarantee.
Actually battling Orphans is a straightforward but risky endeavor. There is some great variation in their types, ranging from weak but fast chargers, standard types, standard acid spitting ones, armored Orphans that deflect bullets, large scale monstrous ones, and even wall crawlers. The real risk comes from the fact that even a standard enemy can take at least two rounds from an upgraded pistol shot to dispatch and there are usually more on the way. It is also worth noting that every gun can be shot “as is” or charged for special effect, such as dealing increased damage and piercing through a target with the pistol, spread on shotgun blast, and more, but charging also means having to keep the shot steady at the enemy and potentially leave players open for attack since, even at the best of times, the Traveler is far from agile as there are no dodge or even side-stepping options here. There are punches and stomps but they are shockingly ineffective despite what horror games of the past may have players thinking. Stomping an enemy on the ground is best left as a way to finish off a foe at the brink of death or punching at one trying to absorb a corpse, breaking the process.
That happens to be one of the other key concepts in Cronos: The New Dawn, enemy merging. As players fight and slay Orphans in an arena, there is a possibility that other enemies within that location will start bee-lining it to that corpse and try to absorb it. If uninterrupted by a melee attack, headshot, or literal fire, the enemy will not only absorb the fallen Orphan, it will grow in strength and heal itself as well. This can lead to a standard small enemy type potentially merging with multiple defeated ones and becoming a massive problem that players might be entirely unequipped to handle and die as a result. Dying is actually something players should expect to happen more often than not at least until they get the hang of things, since not only does the title like to let enemy drops be completely random, making it so they may drop plenty of ammo one time and nothing another the next, but if players can’t use their limited “Torch” or “Pyre” to burn the corpses surrounding them or make use of combustible barrels within a location to dispose of enemy remains, they may just end up facing off against near-boss level enemies.
It is unfortunate to say that one of the major issues with the game is the fact that it suffers from some rather poor auto-saves. While it is understandable to keep players on their toes and there isn’t much back-tracking needed outside of solving an occasional puzzle or obtaining a piece of hidden loot, losing over twenty minutes of progress simply because there was never a single auto-save across multiple enemy encounters makes for some awful design. Instead, cautious players may want to simply retreat back to the safe room and save after some particularly dangerous encounters and not only restock or recoup their supplies, but save and avoid having to fight everything again. It is also worth noting that, at the moment, there are a number of glitched achievements relating to collectables, upgrades, and even burning objects that fail to unlock and will hopefully be patched in the future.
Audio & Visuals
Cronos: The New Dawn is a masterclass at atmospheric dread. As players explore through the various locations in the game they will either be treated to near grayed-out conditions where even the flashlight can’t breach far through the storm where Orphans may lay in wait or taking steady heavy steps through the flesh-slick corridors littered with corpses that may spring up at any moment. The design of the Traveler themselves and the various Orphan types is quite well handled but it is actually rather surprising that while the environments may be gory, there isn’t actually that much gore from the player’s actions. For a title all about flesh amalgamations, it is surprisingly tame when it comes to blasting things away with a shotgun or burning corpses with simple disintegration.
The voice work for the game is also handled exceptionally well given the limited amount that it features. The English cast handles the portrayal of those in borderline panic or in existential dread that serves as a perfect contrast to the almost mechanical Traveler’s portrayal. Similarly, the eerie sounds of Orphans stalking just around corners, or types that are tethered to walls like traps, can be heard at a distance and make for creepy exploration. As for the soundtrack, the background music is limited but atmospheric in nature, working quite well given the nature of the game.
Overall
Bloober Team has taken their lessons on survival horror and applied them quite well to Cronos: The New Dawn as this it has turned out to be a great new IP that manages to make the most out of its unique premise even if it does mean keeping players in the dark for far too long and even then leaves plenty of vague questions remaining even when the credits roll a second time through. With satisfying combat that is challenging and item management that requires preparation, players may be in for some frustration at times in the game but this sci-fi horror is certainly worth checking out.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Chaos Arrives to Limveld as the Endless Night Descends – Deep of Night Mode Adds Enhanced Enemies, Depth Relics and New Weapon Enhancements … that Come at a Price
ELDEN RING™ NIGHTREIGN, thestandalone multiplayer co-op action survival game by FromSoftware, Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., is finding new ways to challenge players in the Deep of Night mode, available to all players beginning today. This new gameplay mode adds substantial challenges to overcome; players who are brave enough to attempt the Deep of Night will earn a rank, and as players increase their rating through successful runs, the challenges will increase after surpassing ranking milestones. The latest update to ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is free for all players on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®.
Find out more of the challenges that await in ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN by watching the Deep of Night trailer here
More About Deep of Night:
As an end-game challenge for players, Deep of Night can start by hiding the Nightlord and any Shifting Earth from players until battle begins. Enemies across Limveld will be more challenging and random enemies will be mutated and present extreme danger to players. To help overcome the newly strengthened foes, new weapon enhancements will be available for players to discover, but these could also contain a detrimental effect such as increasing damage taken as well. Being highly selective will be necessary for surviving through the night and defeating the Nightlord. Players will be able to unlock three new relic slots exclusively for Depths Relics, a new reward players can earn in Deep of Night mode. These Depths Relics can add powerful enhancements for players, but like the new variant weapons, the power also comes at a cost for players. Skillful calculation and execution will be necessary to be victorious. Deep of Night mode is for the bravest Nightfarers, providing extreme challenge, showing them the darkest depths of the game, even the possibility of unknowingly facing an Everdark Sovereign Nightlord.
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is unlike any experience created before by FromSoftware, Inc., as a condensed action RPG where players never experience the same journey twice, and the game environment itself is ever-shifting and evolving with each new session. In the game, players choose from one of eight unique Nightfarers, each with its own unique weapons and abilities, and must make split-second decisions about combat and exploration across a map that can fluctuate with different biomes, weapons, and enemies. Each session demands that they stay adept at thinking on their feet as the encircling Night’s Tide forces them into different scenarios with each expedition – just a hair’s breadth can separate a victorious run from crushing defeat. Surviving each day and outrunning the encroaching circle of fire pits players against terrifying bosses from ELDEN RINGand other FromSoftware titles. On the third day, they must take on one of the game’s Nightlords – new, never-before-seen bosses with a new set of challenges to overcome. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience in the ELDEN RING universe. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles. Players can also discover new narratives in this parallel universe as they unravel the story behind each mysterious Nightfarer.
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is a leading global publisher, developer, and distributor of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Producing intellectual property for a global audience, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, and production capabilities of two studios, Reflector Entertainment and Limbic Entertainment.
Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is known for bringing many of the entertainment industry’s top franchises such as PAC-MAN™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, ACE COMBAT™, DARK SOULS™, and ELDEN RING™ to EMEA and ANZ markets.
New Tier XI tanks drive record-breaking engagement across the globe
September 11, 2025 – Wargaming announced today that on September 7, at 14.00 UTC World of Tanks reached 413,399 peak concurrent players following the launch of Update 2.0, which introduced the first-ever Tier XI tanks. The update sparked global excitement across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and China, with record numbers achieved across Wargaming Game Center and Steam.
“This incredible milestone was only possible thanks to our community.” said Michael Broek, World of Tanks Publishing Director West. “We are grateful to every commander who joined the battlefield for Update 2.0. Your dedication and excitement continue to inspire us to make World of Tanks better with every update.”
Since the update’s release:
More than 300,000 player unlocked Tier XI tanks.
Top 5 most popular Tier XI tanks are: Taschenratte, KR-1, T803, Leopard 120 Verbessert and Hirschkäfer.
World of Tanks is the first team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to tank warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with gamers all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 800 armored vehicles from 11 nations, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry. Its 16 offices around the world include studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Belgrade, and Kyiv. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Its flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, and World of Warships Blitz.
