Challenge WNBA stars and pursue GOAT aspirations in The W
Today, 2K announced newNBA 2K26 improvements and features in The W mode available on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch™ 2. Players can challenge key competitors on the court, capture the attention of the fanatic WNBA audience, and speak their legacy into existence as they pursue new GOAT aspirations all while earning the respect of WNBA legends and rookies alike.
New enhancements are coming to The W, including:
Pre-Draft Interview: Every player’s journey in the WNBA officially begins with the pre-draft press conference. Fielding questions from the media about the next steps in their career, each question a player answers will start to dictate where they fall in the draft order. During their introductory presser, their story will start to take shape even giving a glimpse into potential rivalries to come.
Social Media Refresh: The social media feature in NBA 2K26 has been expanded and refreshed, representing the ever-growing coverage of the league and its players. As a player’s star power rises, more and more WNBA personalities will be talking about their career including notable real-world journalists and pundits like Myles Ehrlich, Terrika Foster-Brasby and Khristina Williams.
GOAT Challenges: In the W, becoming an all-time great isn’t easy, players can prove their worth by defeating current stars and climbing the all-time ranks. Whenever players beat a rival WNBA star, they’ll unlock short-term and long-term GOAT Challenges. Completing these GOAT Challenges will earn them GOAT points that contribute to their ascension up the all-time ladder. Players can even add to their prestige and receive on-court enhancements in the process, like Skill Boosts, Goat points and Badge performance multipliers and more.
Press Conferences: A player’s on-court performance says a lot, but press conferences in NBA 2K26 are a great way for them to weigh in on the relevant stories circulating around the league. Featuring authentic voice recordings and motion capture, press conferences in The W boast brand new content to interact with, from Rookie of the Year contenders to ongoing rivalries offering players richer and deeper immersion.
The W Online Rewards: For the first time, players can now earn VC in The W Online games in addition to rewards. Also new to NBA 2K26, now that the WNBA is fully integrated into MyTEAM, players will also be able to earn WNBA Player Cards to take their MyTEAM to the next level, plus Coach Cards and Uniform Cards.
For an in-depth breakdown of The W updates check out the Courtside Report blog. Visit the NBA 2K26official website for a full breakdown of the SKU details, availability, and more information. Stay tuned for additional announcements about the latest on NBA 2K26.
Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K26 is rated M in Australia and New Zealand.
Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
Access to online or bonus features, content, or services, including MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, The W Online, and Play Now Online, may require internet connection, online account registration, and/or may not be accessible by accounts registered to users below the age of 13 (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. ProPLAY, The City, The W, and MyNBA are only available for Gen 9 NBA 2K26. Crossplay is only available for Gen 9 NBA 2K26 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Game includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Some in-game content may require download and/or online gameplay to unlock. Online console play may require separate paid platform subscription and account registration. Terms apply.
*Prices based on 2K’s suggested retail price. Actual retail price may vary. See local retailers for more info and availability.
While many people may be familiar with the Puyo Puyo games, it is likely that many may not remember just where these little slimes originated from or in fact perhaps believe that their very first appearance came from the game itself. That however was not the case as the Puyos actually originated from an RPG developed at the same time called Mado Monogatari and were derived from the monsters within. Since then, while the Puyo Puyo games have been extremely prominent, the Mado Monogatari franchise has done the opposite, going almost entirely quiet even in Japan with no Western release until they finally released one with a completely different name over a decade ago.
Now with Compile Heart and Idea Factory International looking to possibly revive this franchise, we now have Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy arriving in the West. The question is, is this dungeon explorer worth your time or was this franchise best left collecting dust?
Story
Fia has always dreamed of becoming a “Great Mage” and with her grandmother’s grimoire and an invitation to the Ancient Magic Academy in her pocket, it seems like she’s well on her way to at least starting that journey alongside her odd looking pet Carbuncle. At least she would be, until Fia finds out that she has actually arrived for the academy’s entrance ceremony, having completely missed the actual testing to find out if she qualified to learn there in the first place. Thankfully, the humorous and far-wiser than he seems headmaster informs the teacher’s that one student is given the test of journeying all the way to the academy as their requirement and Fia just so happens to be that girl, giving her entrance to the magical academy of her dreams. That she then proceeds to cause complete and utter chaos at.
Thanks both in part to the Carbuncle’s strange actions and the even stranger actions of her fellow new classmates, including one that starts breathing fire everywhere, Fia ends up being placed in the “trouble” classroom. But between the mysterious grimoire left behind by her grimoire and her classmates that soon turn into fast-friends despite their disastrous meeting, Fia soon finds out that there is far more to learning to become a powerful mage than just learning spells in a game that isn’t afraid to let loose with plenty of slapstick comedy and let’s the humor run wild a bit, presenting itself more like a younger-hearted RPG than the darker or even slightly serious ones that many have grown accustomed too in the genre.
Mado Monogatari is all about fun little moments and the characters interacting with one another, even if these interactions aren’t that deep. From the usually hilarious teachers that either range from being constantly ignored or frightened that they are about to lose their job to the simple plotline with a few little twists that easily are resolved, there isn’t much depth here but it is still enjoyable nonetheless, especially since the vast majority of scenes are played for laughs rather than drama. Even the main cast of characters are a collection of tropes dialed up to the max but that just so happens to work out well here.
Fia is a girl on a journey of self-discovery with far more power than she actually knows about alongside a and why that is happens to be one of the biggest mysteries alongside Will, a self-proclaimed hero that spends more time trying to name his special attacks than actually using them, the awkward but incredibly intelligent Leena, Totto who happens to care all about money regardless of whether it makes him friends or not, and finally Eska, a dragonnewt that initially sees Fia as her foe thanks to the chaotic entrance ceremony to wanting to be married to her forever once she loses to her in a duel, creating a fun dynamic that always keeps players guessing. Literally, the story can be rather wild with how slapstick it becomes at times and that is where Mado Monogatari shines even if it does make it seem a bit childish at times despite the adult jokes scattered here and there.
Gameplay
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy is a fairly simple game at heart with a slew of additional mechanics that players can mess with if they feel like, though many of these felt rather unnecessary in the long run. For the most part players will take on “lessons” from the teachers in the academy and for the most part these “lessons” are story based ones that will place them in the dungeon eventually. There are side-missions/lessons that allow players to unlock additional skills such as knowing how to fish, fertilize and grow plants in a garden or even a tree, and of course cooking and item creation. Taking on these side-lessons is actually necessary, at least their first stage, as players need enough “credits” from completed lessons to take a test that will allow players to upgrade their mage status.
The majority of the time players will spend inside the actual dungeons themselves and while Fia does gain additional party members, she can only enter a fight with three at a time. Traveling through a dungeon and swinging Fia’s weapon to destroy items or even traveling to the next floor reduces her stamina meter, making long trips dangerous since she will start to lose health when at low stamina. Instead, players can eat curry either obtained as a drop or cooked themselves either at the start of a dungeon or during a dungeon dive if they find a cooking spot. This is designed so players don’t try to scrape every corner of a dungeon, especially since, for the most part, the actual rewards for doing so are pretty bland and generic. Don’t expect to find some rare item or powerful piece of weaponry just for going the extra mile here.
When running into an enemy players will enter a real-time combat arena where all three characters in their party can move freely and will attack according to the strategy assigned to them, though players will only control one directly. Both the enemy characters and the player’s party members all have “locations” on a meter that advances and when it is their turn they can activate a spell they have queued up. It is possible to perform a normal attack out of order but it delays their turn and does less damage then a spell. It is interesting to note that there is a “lock on” mechanic for spells but it doesn’t really work the best. In fact, considering spells all have limited areas of effect or straight lines and adjust as the player moves, trying to lock on is actually a bad thing here as it will result in more missed attacks. Players can only dodge incoming blows by running around the field and heal using either healing items or spells.
When casting spells, either done directly by the player or a party member, they will generate an orb of “Great Magic” that will depend on the element of spell used and players can hold only a certain number of these orbs at a time but they can be quite powerful. When players have gathered the needed number of “Great Magic” orbs for a character’s equipped skill, they can freely trigger an undodgeable blast of magic to every enemy on the field with a small cinematic flourish, making it devastating when used correctly. It is interesting to note that every enemy has an element they are strong and weak to, often dictated by their coloration, but since players can customize their parties skills fairly effectively, it should always be possible to target a weakness somehow and if not, then the aforementioned standard attacks work well enough especially since, outside of a few early boss fights before players gain the ability to heal, the title is quite easy.
Audio & Visuals
One thing that Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy excels at is being as vibrant as possible. The character art is bright and wonderful, with the character portraits during dialogue scenes featuring quite a few variations and a surprisingly large number of CGs available for even the most minor of scenes, giving players a far better look at all of the characters in the game. The character models themselves are fairly standard and chibi in nature, and the same can be said regarding enemy designs. Players will face down Puyos throughout the entire game as well as other types of enemies but there really isn’t a lot of variety here, though that is perhaps due to the series’ signature use of the Puyos. The dungeons themselves are also a bit lackluster, with only a slight variation between them as players move throughout the storyline.
The voice work for the game is handled entirely in Japanese as no English voice track has been created for this Western release. This works fine, for the most part, as the Japanese cast fits their standard roles well even if Carbuncle can be a bit annoying as a mascot character. The soundtrack is a nice collection of background music that works best for its more light-hearted slapstick sections as well as a nice track that plays when players find themselves in a dire situation within a dungeon.
Overall
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy is a fun and cute dungeon crawler that might try to add a few more mechanics than needed in an attempt to add depth to a fairly lightweight game where its characters are the real standouts. There is certainly a place for lighthearted slapstick based games and that happens to be right where Fia’s journey lands. Sure, the combat and exploration are rather simplistic, but that also feels intentional, like a game designed for a younger audience in mind who will enjoy the bright character art and easy to grasp mechanics.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Version 2.6 to Feature New Main Quests, Location, Echoes, Resonators, Convenes and More!
GUANGZHOU, CHINA – AUGUST 16, 2025 – Kuro Games showcased a variety of new content from the upcoming Version 2.6 of its award-winning RPG Wuthering Waves in a Preview Special Broadcast last night, teasing two new Resonators, new main quests, locations, optimizations and events. Version 2.6 titled By Sun’s Scourge, By Moon’s Revelation is planned to release across all platforms on August 28 (UTC+8).
Watch the Wuthering Waves By Sun’s Scourge, By Moon’s Revelation livestream preview below.
Wuthering Waves Version 2.6 Special Broadcast Preview Recap:
New Main Quests:
Main Quest Chapter II Act VIII: By Sun’s Burning Hand
Main Quest Chapter II Act IX: By Moon’s Fated Light
Gifts of the Moon Roamer Event:
Log in to the game and claim Radiant Tide x10 and Forging Tide x10
3pcs Set: Upon gaining a Shield, increase the Resonator’s ATK by 6% and Crit. DMG by 4% for 4s. This effect can be triggered once every 0.5s and stacks up to 5 times.
Law of Harmony
3pcs Set: Casting Echo Skill grants 30% Heavy Attack DMG Bonus to the caster for 4s.
Additionally, all Resonators in the team gain 4% Echo Skill DMG Bonus for 30s, stacking up to 4 times. Echoes of the same name can only trigger this effect once. The record of Echo triggering this effect is cleared along with this effect. At 4 stacks, casting Echo Skill again resets the duration of this effect.
New Tactical Hologram Challenge:
Tactical Hologram: Lady of the Sea
Upcoming Featured Resonator Convene:
Phase I
Eternal Radiance on the Crown （Augusta）
When Silence Tolls (Carlotta)
Till the Sea Turns Clear (The Shorekeeper)
Phase II
Across Time’s Waxes and Wanes (Iuno)
Through Verses and Rhythms (Ciaccona)
New Weapons:
Thunderflare Dominion
Moongazer’s Sigil
Hunter’s Growl Series **Obtainable from Pioneer Podcast’s Insider Channel
Stellar Symphony (The Shorekeeper’s signature weapon)
Phase II
Moongazer’s Sigil (Iuno’s signature weapon)
Woodland Aria （Ciaccona’s signature weapon）
Special Events:
Hunt of Ash and Steel
Area Exploration Event
Sanguis Plateaus Travel Atlas
Featured Exploration Event
Prints of Plateaus
Photo Collection Event
Tidal Defense Simulator
Tacet Discord Tower Defense Event
Gifts of the Hunt
7-Day Login Event
Second Coming of Solaris (Ultra)
Leisure Event
Marks of the Wild
Limited-Time Puzzle Event
Moonlit Revelation
Lunar Phase Divination Event
Beyond the Waves: Rinascita
Featured Exploration Event
Back to Solaris
Optimizations:
Optimized Utility: Flight
Press the Flight Button in any open space to ascend and start flying, without the need to rely on elevated terrain.
The community has been asking and Kuro is delivering – Flight will become available in Jinzhou and Black Shores! Players can soon enjoy the thrill of soaring through these two regions.
Updated Permanent Events:
The main page and lineup page for the “Fantasies of the Thousand Gateways” event have been optimized. New Metaphors have been added, and the Metaphors are now categorized more clearly. Additionally, Lucid Dream state is replaced by Divined Dream state; when Dreamscape Energy is full, the Divined Dream state can be activated manually.
Floor 3 and Floor 4 have been added to the Hazard Tower in the “Tower of Adversity” event, with more rewards available. Additionally, the Overdrive Zone will become available when the Stable and Experiment Zones are cleared, without needing to clear the Hazard Zone first.
The Burning Waves feature in the “Whimpering Wastes” event has been updated; instead of triggering at fixed enemy waves, Burning Waves can now be activated by accumulating “Ember” through combat actions.
Added the Record Sync feature to Tower of Adversity and Whimpering Wastes. Each cycle refresh will now automatically clear certain Floors based on the progress made in the previous cycle. For details about the specific rules, please stay tuned for official announcements.
Optimized Exploration Experience:
Mineral collection spots will be marked on your map, and the detection range of the Lootmapper has been extended.
The tracking feature has been added for specific exploration quests in Jinzhou, including Viewpoints, Blobflies, and Frostbugs. You can now track them from the exploration progress page and enjoy a smoother exploration experience.
Optimized the Gallery:
A new category has been added to the Gallery: Weapons. You can view the details of weapons and weapon projections available in the game.
Optimized the Interface:
Added one-click collection across most of the pages that list claimable rewards, including Guidebook, Data Bank levels, and the majority of events. Click any “Claim” button on the reward page to claim all available rewards on that page.
New keyboard shortcuts have been added to the PC version. Press preset keyboard shortcuts to access certain in-game screens without the need to use the mouse.
Optimized Graphics Performance:
Following the Version 2.6 update, frame generation support on PC will be extended to more graphics cards. The FSR 3 option will be available for certain AMD graphics cards, and the XeSS2 option will be available for certain Intel graphics cards. Additionally, NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation will also be supported, along with the previous versions; up to 4× Frame Generation is available, depending on the graphics card equipped. Please refer to the upcoming official announcements for more details.
More official announcements on updates and optimizations coming soon!
Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play, cross-platform, open-world action RPG that emphasizes dynamic movement and freedom of exploration on a mysterious, post-cataclysmic, sci-fi planet. Engage in fast-paced PVE combat that focuses on special dodge, parry, and counter mechanics. Compose a harmonious battle concerto with characters of different abilities. Wuthering Waves hosts a deep storyline, breathtaking art and atmosphere, and addictive action-RPG combat that is suitable for novice and veteran RPG players alike. Wuthering Waves features plenty of fierce opponents and captivating quests that unfold in the game’s vast world.
Download Wuthering Waves today on the Wuthering Waves official website, on the App Store, Google Play, Mac App Store, PC via The Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Steam and compatible with Steam Deck.
ABOUT KURO GAMES
Founded in 2014, Kuro Games main focus is to create high quality, original games that push the boundaries. For over a decade Kuro Games has strived to bring more diverse, innovative, and enjoyable services to its players.
Kuro Games independently developed Punishing: Gray Raven, which was well received with warm response from players around the world. With over 30 million downloads worldwide, its recently released new open-world ARPG Wuthering Waves is receiving the same public reception.
No pay-to-win shortcuts or confusing currencies – this is MMOs as you remember them
Shanghai, China — August 14, 2025 | Gravity Interactive is proud to announce that Ragnarok M: Classic Global will officially launch worldwide on September 3, 2025. The beloved MMORPG that reignites the magic of the original Ragnarok Online has already captivated millions of players across Asia, and the global version will soon be ready to welcome adventurers everywhere for a true return-to-roots experience.
Built for both MMORPG veterans and newcomers, Ragnarok M: ClassicGlobal stays true to its legacy with a one-currency economy, allowing players to grind for it all without pay-to-win shortcuts. With its nostalgic art style, community-driven world, and classic gameplay loop, Ragnarok M: Classic Global delivers the authentic classic MMO adventure that fans of the genre have been waiting for.
This global launch marks the first time Ragnarok M: Classic Global will be available across multiple regions simultaneously, featuring full cross-platform play between PC, iOS, and Android. Pre-registrations are now open, with exclusive rewards awaiting those who sign up before launch.
On launch day, players can expect:
Faithful classic content – jobs, maps, and monsters from the golden era of Ragnarok Online.
One-currency MMO economy – all items can be earned through gameplay.
Cross-platform access – seamless switching between mobile and PC.
Global servers – connect with friends and guildmates worldwide.
Ragnarok M: Classic Global launches on PC, iOS, and Android on 3 September 2025.
Ragnarok M: Classic brings the timeless charm of Ragnarok Online to modern devices while preserving the gameplay, economy, and community spirit that made the original a phenomenon. Developed by Gravity Interactive and published globally by Gravity Interactive, ROMC is the definitive way to relive the adventure — anytime, anywhere.
The challenging platformer Diamond Hands: To The Moon is now launching on Xbox Series X|S.
The gameplay is built on simple yet brutally difficult mechanics that are hard to master. Featuring 2D retro-style pixel art and a humorous tone, the game is set to release on Xbox consoles on August 14, 2025. Diamond Hands: To The Moon also includes local co-op for two players. The title previously launched on PC and Nintendo Switch.
The game was created by indie developer Terror Dog Studio. The PC and Nintendo Switch versions were released earlier, and the console version is being brought to market by Ultimate Games S.A.
A Retro-Style Platformer That Demands Precision
Diamond Hands: To The Moon is a hardcore pixel art platformer where your goal is simple—get to the moon. But reaching that goal takes precision, patience, and skill. The gameplay draws inspiration from titles like Jump King, focusing on jump timing and perfect execution.
Progress comes from landing well-calculated jumps to reach ever-higher platforms. One wrong move can send you plummeting back to the beginning of the level. Every jump counts.
The game includes 10 diverse and challenging levels that parody themes from the financial world with a humorous twist.
In addition to solo play, Diamond Hands: To The Moon also supports a local two-player co-op mode for shared frustration or teamwork.
Diamond Hands: To The Moon – Key Features:
Hardcore retro-style platformer
Addictive and skill-based gameplay
2D pixel art visuals
Humorous parody of financial markets
Local 2-player co-op mode
The Xbox Series X|S release of Diamond Hands: To The Moon is scheduled for August 14, 2025.
El Segundo, California – August 15, 2025 | Kakao and Ocean Drive Studio are proud to reveal that God Save Birmingham is coming to PAX West, and will be playable on the show floor.
The highly anticipated zombie survival game has already racked up millions of trailer views, and now players visiting Seattle for PAX West will be able to go hands-on with God Save Birmingham, taking their first steps into a medieval British market town overrun with the undead.
As the sole survivor of a zombie plague, players will master physics-based gameplay, stacking furniture to barricade doors, or leaping over low fences to trip the stumbling corpses chasing them. All set in a carefully reconstructed 14th century Birmingham, in all its bucolic, bubonic glory.
For more on what to expect, check out the reveal trailer below:
God Save Birmingham will be available to play at Booth 817 at PAX West from 29 August to 1 September.
To keep up to date with everything God Save Birmingham, players can head over to X and wishlist God Save Birmingham on Steam.
About Kakao Games
Kakao Games (CEO Sang-Woo Han) is the gaming subsidiary of Kakao, specializing in both publishing and development across a wide range of genres, from casual to hardcore titles on PC and mobile. Since its KOSDAQ listing in September 2020, Kakao Games has successfully developed and launched popular titles such as Odin: Valhalla Rising, Uma Musume Pretty Derby, Eversoul, Guardian Tales, and Kakao Battlegrounds, with multiple global releases on the horizon. Kakao Games remains committed to expanding its portfolio and exploring new opportunities in the evolving gaming landscape.
About Ocean Drive Studio
Ocean Drive Studio, a subsidiary of Kakao Games, is a company dedicated to developing and servicing games that resonate with global fans who love the same genres that their developers know and are passionate about. The studio gained attention with the release of its first game, the turn-based tactical RPG Lost Eidolons, on Steam, PS5, and Xbox. Building on this success, they are working on the second game in the same genre, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, as well as other titles including the roguelite shooter Section 13, the physics-based sandbox survival game God Save Birmingham, and an action RPG based on the IP Sword Master Youngest Son,. Ocean Drive Studio aims to deliver unique and engaging gaming experience to gamers around the world through these diverse game genres.
[Lyon, France – August 15, 2025] — Ultimo Disco is excited to extend the Sheepherds!August Playtest for one more week until August 25th following their participation in the Wholesome Games Celebration and Tiny Teams showcases. The team at Ultimo Disco have added two new maps, as well as a new Transhumance mechanic, with the new playtest update.
If you enjoy the playful teamwork like Overcooked or PlateUp! but prefer something simpler with less pressure, Sheepherds! is for you. It is a cozy, family-friendly co-op game where you play as a mischievous sheepdog tasked with herding flocks of sheep and collecting colorful wool. Team up with your friends, personalize your sheepdog, and begin herding fluffy sheep in this collaborative and vibrant party game!
The August Playtest has been a huge success so far, with over 5,000 players signing up to test. It features 12 maps, 15 different dog breeds to choose from, and introduces three new key mechanics that add an extra layer to your sheepherding fun! New Playtest features include guiding your fuzzy sheep through swirling tides and utilizing glowing flowers that reflect secondary colors on sheep. Transhumance is a new feature added just for this extension — guide your sheep forward along paths with the camera in a fixed, forward position. Keep ‘em moving and out of trouble!
Key Features:
Master the flock – The sheep follow and influence each other, just like in real life. Learn to manage them like a good sheepdog, by positioning yourself strategically and barking at just the right moment! Or, just do whatever: after all, you’re a dog.
Spice it up with bonus challenges – Add an extra layer of depth with optional challenges designed to test your skills and teamwork. These features provide a rewarding experience for those seeking more engaging gameplay, while remaining entirely optional for a relaxed session.
Not just any dog – your dog – Turn your well-earned treats into exciting rewards! Unlock a variety of stylish accessories, colorful outfits, and unique skins to personalize your sheepdog. From corgis to pugs, choose from 15 different lovable breeds. Mix and match your favorite combinations to create a look that perfectly reflects your style and makes your dog stand out in the flock.
Small scope, big heart – Sheepherds! doesn’t try to do everything—it focuses on what matters most: cooperation and playfulness. Every detail, from the sheep’s behaviors to the lovingly crafted landscapes, is designed to deliver a polished experience that will leave you smiling.
Herd with friends near and far – Although it can be enjoyed solo, Sheepherds! is designed to be played together, whether you’re side by side on the couch or connecting from across the globe. The game supports both local co-op and a fully integrated online multiplayer mode, making it easy to team up with friends wherever they are
Ready to begin herding your flock? Request access to the Sheepherds! August Playtest on Steam.
About Ultimo Disco
Ultimo Disco is an indie team based in Lyon, France, formed by five passionate developers who collectively bring 29 years of experience and 11 released games. Most team members previously worked at Mi-Clos Studio.
About Yahaha Games
Yahaha Games is the publishing partner behind Sheepherds!. Backed by Yahaha Studios, a 3D UGC platform and Diamond Sponsor at GDC 2023, the label launched in 2024 and is dedicated to bringing standout indie titles to global players.
Relive the ‘90s Revolution: The Timeless Adventures That Redefined a Genre
London, 15th August 2025 – Antstream are excited to share that Revolution Software’s Shadow & Steel compilation is now available on Steam and coming soon to GoG. The co-venture with Revolution, brings a collection of their iconic early adventure games together into a definitive retro collection for fans, including original game art, soundtracks, developer insights, and game saves.
The Shadow & Steel collection includes:
Lure of the Temptress (Amiga Edition)
Beneath a Steel Sky (Amiga CD32 Edition)
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (PlayStation Edition)
Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror (PlayStation Edition)
Shadow & Steel highlights Antstream’s new initiative to work with industry pioneers to create retro game experiences outside of streaming subscriptions. This new approach to retro games is centered around preserving classic retro games and giving players the opportunity to own some of the greatest titles of a generation in their original formats. Antstream will announce future collaboration projects later this year and into 2026.
“Working in partnership with Antstream, we are enormously proud to be able to offer our early adventure games to a modern audience. I am confident that fans of the genre will find the meticulous authenticity of the original games, combined with the modernised interface and bonus content, a real treat.”
– Charles Cecil, CEO Revolution Software
Shadow & Steel is available now on Steam from £14.99, € 16.99, $17.99, with the GoG launch coming soon.
About Revolution Software
Founded in 1990, Revolution Software is one of the world’s most successful adventure game companies. Celebrated for gripping storytelling, historically epic narrative and unmatched artistic direction, Revolution has been driven since its inception by a desire to push the boundaries of narrative adventure gaming.
About Antstream Antstream’s foundation is a team of world-class retro game developers and platform engineers dedicated to preserving classic video games. This includes Xbox’s Retro Classics and bespoke game packs like Revolution Software’s Shadow & Steel. Antstream Arcade works with over 70 licensors to deliver the world’s largest retro streaming service. The subscription includes unlimited access to an extensive catalog of over 1,300 officially licensed titles across Web, PC, consoles, mobile, and Smart TVs all in their original formats – from Atari to ZX Spectrum.
Post-apocalyptic vehicular combat game is now available on Nintendo platforms
Gaijin Entertainment is happy to announce that Crossout Mobile, a vehicular combat online game for mobile devices, is now available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as well, and is known as Crossout Legends on these platforms. The console version is free to download and play, supports cross-platform multiplayer and includes all the content and features from the original version. Players will design and assemble millions of unique armored cars out of over 1000 available parts and ride those steel beasts into battles in a variety of PvP and PvE modes.
Crossout Legends is a spin-off title set in the universe of the award-winning Crossout for PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The civilization as we know it was destroyed by a major pandemic, and multiple factions fight over the remnants of what was previously Eastern Europe. This wasteland could only be safely traversed in armoured vehicles that come in myriads of shapes and forms, wielding hi-tech weapons.
Crossout Legends provides the same core “craft, ride, destroy” experience as Crossout for desktop platforms, while featuring more streamlined gameplay and interface, both optimized for smaller screens and mobile gaming in general. Crossout Legends includes 17 maps, 6 types of weather, 29 unique time-limited battle modes (available via rotation), 1019 car parts and is constantly getting new content via updates.
More information on the game is available at the official website
About Gaijin Entertainment
Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder, Crossout, Enlisted, CRSED: F.O.A.D. and Star Conflict as well as other PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as Gamescom Award and many more. Official website: http://gaijinent.com/
Ever since the Mafia series originally released back in 2002 the titles always helped set themselves apart from other crime-based action games by sticking as close as possible to the mob’s ways, be it how the family handled themselves or their historic elements even if they were embellished heavily. Across the many developers that have handled the four game series Hangar 13 has now fully taken the reins after putting out Mafia III back in 2016 and giving fans a taste of the first two games again both a remastering of the second (albeit from another developer) and a remake of the first. Now after a fairly lengthy period between games Hangar 13 has returned five years after those re-releases with Mafia: The Old Country promising a more story-driven focus on a game that has always excelled at storytelling and atmosphere. The question is, were they successful?
Story
Set as a prequel, players take on the role of Enzo Favara, a young man trapped by an unknown debt that keeps him slaving away underneath the cruel rule of the Spadaro family in their dangerous sulphur mines. After nearly earning enough to buy his freedom, a mine collapse kills the only person Enzo could call his friend while destroying his hopes for escape. Driven to rage by the callous treatment of the Spadaro’s Enzo lashes out at one of the main members before going on the run with a stolen horse only to find that he has managed to ride all the way out of the Spadaro territory to that managed by their rivals, the Torrisi family.
Using their fragile truce as a way to force the Spadaro to retreat, the Torrisi family takes Enzo in, first as a stablehand but soon find that this skilled man has far more potential than just shoveling manure and working the fields. Soon Enzo quickly finds himself becoming more and more important to the Torrisi family’s various activities, growing close with its members, and even the Don’s daughter before becoming a “made man” and officially part of the Torrisi Mafioso. Enzo’s roughly twelve hour journey from the mines to being a made man and beyond is about as predictable as they come.
Anyone that has watched any sort of mob movie or any type of experience with the Mafia series itself will already know how things are going to go here. We have the Don Torrisi serving as the powerful and intimidating head of the family with countless contacts capable of expanding his territory, rival Dons pushing the limits even as they send their own members to assault Torrisi’s facilities, a rat or two that need putting down for trying to take advantage of the guards to make a quick buck, and even forbidden love. Everything here is predictable, in fact seeing even half of the Godfather would work, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable, especially with the few nods to other entries in the franchise.
Part of the reason that it is still enjoyable despite being predictable is because of how well the storyline is actually told. Sure, it’s stereotypical, but the voice acting and the characters are outstanding. These characters happen to shine in the short time players spend with them, whether it is the imposing Don Torrisi himself, Luca, the man that first saw just how good Enzo could do for the family and stood by him, or even the booze and woman loving Cesare. All of these characters and the land of Sicily itself that players will travel through help make Mafia: The Old Country‘s story really manage to hit home despite its predictable nature. It must be said though that it is a bit unfortunate that Enzo himself is a bit of a lackluster lead character and the side-collectables that come in the form of notes or newspapers don’t really do much to actually expand the story in any noteworthy way.
Gameplay
It is interesting to note that despite how it may look, Mafia: The Old Country is not an open world game, it is instead a heavily structured shooter where players will almost always find themselves following a linear path. In fact, the few times players feel like they may be able to wander off, a warning to return to the mission area or straight failure will occur, locking players into each sequence whether it revolves around one of the three standard systems that make up the game. These happen to either be simple walk and talk sections, shoot-outs with standard cover-based mechanics, or instant fail stealth sequences with players either teleporting directly to a location, hopping on a horse to ride it there, or driving.
The gunplay in Mafia: The Old Country is handled well-enough with a decent amount of variety in weapons that Enzo can wield ranging from numerous different kinds of pistols, rifles, and shotguns as well as a grenade toss or two. Enzo can have two guns at a time and can pick up ammo either from the arena or loot it from a body if need be. These shootouts tend to boil down to simple cover shooting systems where players pop-out, take down an enemy that is either flanking or sticking their head out of cover, and drop down before taking damage or healing using bandages if they do. Enemy AI when it comes to these shootouts isn’t the best but they do try to at least push their advantage when players stay down too long, even if it usually just ends up with them running right out of cover.
The stealth system is similarly handled predictably with some minor levels of detail should players want to take extra part in it. As players sneak around they can use Enzo’s unexplained “intuition” that shows where enemies are located and he can either toss a coin if he has one or a bottle to distract one that might be looking his way. Players can then either take down a guard either by choking them out with a quick time event or stab them to death with his knife for a quick takedown. The knife oddly has a “sharpness” meter that degrades with each elimination (or time it used to open a lock) and can only be sharpened via a whetstone that can be found on a body or environment. This is meant to encourage players to only use the knife when needed but for the most part it was never really an issue, even with the instant failure system if captured as the stealth system works very simply here with enemy AI often doing a poor job of even seeing the player. In fact, while players can hide bodies in chests, the only time it was needed was in the tutorial.
It is interesting to note that there is a very minor way to customize Enzo’s abilities through a rosary and beads that also serve as collectables but ironically, these systems are barely worth touching. Making Enzo’s foot-steps quieter or having his tossed items make more noise are of little consequence in the stealth system as it is. The initial bead and charm players have will likely serve them well enough and while players can use money obtained from chests, safes, and enemies to purchase additional bead slots, special weapons, and the like, it just never feels needed.
As for the driving and horse riding, players will once again be able to find that, at some points in the game, they can buy better horses or vehicles but throughout the story they are limited to what the story itself provides with very little choice and even here the actual riding and driving mechanics are simple, though players can change the settings to do things like make manual shifting and realistic driving from the era if they feel like it. As for the horses, the only difference is how many times players can spur them on to increase how long they can gallop for making it very basic. It is only during the aforementioned story sequences where the set-pieces take place that actually give weight to these mechanics, like driving a falling apart car into a fog-filled night-time chase or riding after a bandit crew and firing away on horse-back to rescue someone that’s been kidnapped, that makes these moments feel worthwhile even when the mechanics themselves are bog standard.
Perhaps the most unique moments in Mafia: The Old Country’s gameplay happen to be when Enzo whips out his knife and, for one reason or another, his opponent does the same, even if it means dropping a shotgun or giving up a clear advantage, to duel. These knife duals have their own set of mechanics entirely with players being able to perform lunging stabs or combo slashes together all while trying to parry light-strikes from their opponent or ducking out of the way of heavy blows so players can counter on their own. While exciting, these knife fights often felt like they boiled down to flailing at times especially since cleanly struck blows are ignored by the opponent’s health meter and strikes that should be parried slide through no problem. Not that there is much difficulty here either, as many knife fights eventually trigger a cinematic clash and struggle that heals Enzo and hurts the opponent further.
All in all, every mechanic in Mafia: The Old Country is designed to work with its storyline and set-pieces, helping make the story all the more enticing but don’t hold together on their own which is unfortunate. This is especially the case when players do end up free roaming around to look for collectables as it not only showcases how beautiful the world is, but how little there actually is to do in it. When gathering collectables on a map with no waypoint options and has to always be zoomed in a little to see the item locations, it is incredibly lacking especially since there are no enemies in any way or threats outside of crashing your car and having to literally crank it back up.
Audio & Visuals
It can easily be said that Mafia: The Old Country is an incredibly gorgeous looking game. The team at Hangar 13 has presented a wonderful looking version of Sicily here, whether players are driving along a road through the vineyard or riding alongside a flower-filled location, every spot is filled with color and detail. Even the mines that players have to navigate early have a dark level of detail to them. The character models themselves are also handled incredibly well and Enzo goes through plenty of wardrobe changes as the story progresses if players don’t want to dress them up themselves. This level of presentation makes all of the aforementioned story moments and highlights even better looking and more impactful.
The same can be said in regards to the voice work as the game offers an incredibly solid English voice cast for its characters but offers a wide-range of other languages as well, including Sicilian should players want the most authentic sounding experience. This type of thing is essential in a game that is story driven like Mafia: The Old Country and they really nailed it here. The background music is fairly standard and fits the theme and setting of the game but doesn’t really move beyond that.
Overall
By focusing on delivering a story-driven game, Hangar 13 manages to make the most out of Mafia: The Old Country‘s systems to create a highly enjoyable storyline throughout its limited run-time even if it is as predictable of a mob story as players might expect. On their own, the game’s mechanics are simplistic and bog standard but when combined with intense story beats, those elements blend together quite well, just don’t look too far past this gorgeous set period drama or you’ll find it doesn’t have much beyond that.
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