Cobra returns in full force with an explosive first look at gameplay, revealing intense action, iconic characters, and a galaxy teetering on the edge
Sydney, Australia – July 16, 2025 – Microids is thrilled to reveal a new gameplay trailer for Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening, the highly anticipated video game adaptation of the iconic animated series produced by TMS, which itself is based on the beloved manga by Buichi Terasawa.
Developed by the talented studio Magic Pockets, this game will offer players around the world a unique opportunity to relive the thrilling adventures of Cobra by exploring the first 12 episodes of the series, featuring one of its most iconic arcs: the Captain Nelson’s treasure.
Created in 1978 by Buichi Terasawa, the cult manga Cobra has captivated several generations of fans worldwide with its plot full of twists, skillfully blending science fiction, action, and mystery. The success of Cobra is largely due to its main protagonist, Cobra, a fearless adventurer with a cybernetic left arm housing a formidable weapon, the legendary Psychogun. This charismatic character, accompanied by his loyal partner Armaroid Lady, has captured the imagination of the audience through his numerous escapades across the universe.
In addition to the gameplay reveal, playable demos are now available across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch, offering players an early hands-on look at the game’s universe, mechanics, and art direction ahead of its official launch.
Key Features Revealed in the Gameplay Trailer:
A FAITHFUL ADAPTATION: Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening is the first video-game adaptation of Cobra on modern platforms. It covers the first 12 episodes of the famous anime series, remaining true to its spirit with the moments of bravery and humour that made it so special.
A THRILLING SF WORLD: Immerse yourself in this amazing SF-Space Opera world as you embark on your adventure as a fearsome, charismatic hero. Over the course of this epic journey, you will cross paths with colourful characters like the Royal Sisters and the terrifying Crystal Bowie – Cobra’s nemesis.
AN ACTION AND PLATFORM CROSSOVER: Visit a multitude of exotic planets across levels filled with traps that will test your skills to the limit. With Cobra’s superhuman abilities, you will need to relentlessly run, jump and climb, and make sure you use all the means at your disposal to take out your enemies.
EQUIPPED TO THE NINES: Master Cobra’s iconic weapons, such as the awesome Psychogun and the Colt Python 77, to destroy the opponents on your heels, as well as his famous gadgets like the cigar and the grappling hook. You will need all of your arsenal to defeat the powerful bosses standing in your way.
SOLO AND MULTIPLAYER MODES: Explore story mode by choosing from the 3 difficulty levels, allowing veterans of the genre to take on a challenge worthy of their skills, while those who simply want to enjoy the story can play without major obstacles. You can also try to escape your enemies in a 2-player co-op mode.
The game Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening promises to stay true to the spirit of the 1982 animated series while delivering an immersive and modern experience, specially designed for long-time fans as well as a new generation of players. With graphics that remain faithful to the anime’s spirit, dynamic gameplay, and a carefully crafted narrative, this game is set to be a vibrant tribute to Buichi Terasawa’s work, while allowing players to immerse themselves in Cobra’s fascinating and dangerous universe.
Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening launches August 26, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
For all the fans who grew up watching Cobra’s smirk light up the galaxy — and for a new generation ready to discover his wild world — the wait is almost over. The legend awakens.
About Microids
Microids is a French video game publisher. Founded in 1985, Microids’ editorial strategy now focuses on 4 major areas: adventure games, racing games, retro gaming and games inspired by iconic titles. By collaborating with renowned studios and authors, Microids has become a major player in international video games. Taking inspiration from legendary titles, Microids reaches a wide audience and creates original adventures which give gamers the chance to play as some of their most beloved characters.
About TMS Entertainment
TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. (better known as TMS), is one of the largest anime studios in Japan. With strong focus on anime production, licensing, and distribution businesses, TMS boasts a library of over 12,000 episodes across a total of 420 titles that include much-loved anime titles such as “LUPIN THE 3rd”, “Dr. STONE” and “Hanma Baki” For more information, visit https://www.tms-e.co.jp/global/
About Buichi Terasawa
Buichi Terasawa hails from Asahikawa City, Hokkaido. In his early career, he contributed materials to a magazine that won him a prize, leading him into the world of comics. In 1976, he came to Tokyo and began to study under Osamu Tezuka. During this period, his illustration work entitled “Daichi yo, aoku nare” (Mother Earth, Turn Green Again), was awarded the Tezuka Prize for Outstanding Creative Work. In 1978, his manga “Cobra” was serialized in the Weekly Shonen Jump. In 1985, he kicked off an eight-color comic book series called “BAT”. In the ensuing years, he created “TAKERU” (1992), the world’s first computer graphics comic book series. Next came “COBRA”, “BAT” and “GUNDRAGON SIGMA” (A hybrid comic where the main character was a real photographed model, with everything else digitally drawn). His works include original works, scenarios, directing and video games. Buichi Terasawa’s works are translated and published worldwide and his comic books have sold more than 55 million copies.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 16 July, 2025 – Today, Ubisoft launched the Division 2 x PAYDAY collaboration, featuring four iconic character looks from the PAYDAY Gang, including the criminal mastermind Dallas, the battlefield veteran Chains, former Yakuza assassin Jiro, and ex-cartel member Sangres.
Through the new time-limited Event Pass, players can earn PAYDAY-themed cosmetics, including Uniforms, Masks, Gloves, and Weapon Skins, as well as Named and Exotic Caches, by earning Season Pass XP to progress the free and paid tracks. Additionally, players who purchase the Payday Event Pass Bundle can obtain Australian anarchist Sydney’s iconic mask and trophy, along with instantly unlocking all other rewards from the Event Pass. An additional Mask Bundle is also available in the store.
For the latest news on Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
About Tom Clancy’s The Division
Since the first The Division game launched in 2016, the series has offered a revolutionary experience through multiple games, all offering robust RPG customisation with tactical action combat. Upcoming games in the series include The Division Resurgence for mobile. Fans can sign up for a chance to play The Division Resurgence at thedivisionresurgence.com
About PAYDAY 3
The four most well-known clown-masked criminals in recent video game history returned from retirement in PAYDAY 3 on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5 and GeForce Now. For more information about PAYDAY 3, please visit: www.paydaythegame.com
About Starbreeze
Starbreeze is an independent developer, publisher and distributor of PC and console games targeting the global market, with studios in Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris and London. Housing the smash hit IP PAYDAY, Starbreeze develops games based on proprietary and third-party rights, both in-house and in partnership with external game developers. Starbreeze shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information, please visit www.starbreeze.com
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. With a Ubisoft+ subscription, players can access new releases, premium editions and extra content on Day One on PC, console and cloud. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1.85 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com
Learn more about Scott and Ramona’s all-new adventure – and score signed swag while in San Diego
MONTREAL (July 15, 2025) – Scott Pilgrim EX, the 2D brawling adventure game from developer Tribute Games, Scott Pilgrim series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley and Universal Products & Experiences, is battling evil exes from Canada to California during San Diego Comic-Con. Tribute, Universal and O’Malley are excited to share more details and give an exclusive look at the game to Comic-Con attendees through a must-attend panel, ahead of Scott Pilgrim EX’s release in early 2026 on PC and consoles. As if that wasn’t enough, Tribute Games will also be throwing a party featuring a live rock show from Anamanaguchi. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2640950/Scott_Pilgrim_EX/
The Scott Pilgrim EX with Bryan Lee O’Malley and Tribute Games panel will take place Saturday, July 26 from 1:30 – 2:30P.M. Pacific Time in Room 5AB at San Diego Comic-Con. The lineup will feature:
Bryan Lee O’Malley (creator of Scott Pilgrim, creative consultant on Scott Pilgrim EX)
Josh Fairhurst (chief executive officer, Limited Run Games)
John Melchior (executive producer, Universal Products & Experiences)
And moderator Griffin Newman (Blank Check podcast)
Panel attendees will learn new details and peep an exclusive new look at Scott Pilgrim EX, the first original Scott Pilgrim video game in more than 15 years, as revealed last month during Summer Game Fest. The panel will include an early look at the upcoming 2D brawler’s story, which follows Scott, Ramona and their allies as they fight to save Toronto from three gangs that’ve taken over and now threaten the world. Excited to hear more? You’ll just have to be there.
Along with this panel, Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley will appear at Oni Press (Booth 1829) where he’ll sign a free poster featuring the Scott Pilgrim EX announcement artwork. Signings will take place across three sessions:
Thursday, July 24 from 2:00 – 3:30P.M. PT
Friday, July 25 from 1:00 – 2:30P.M. PT
Saturday, July 26 from 3:30 – 6:00P.M. PT
After San Diego Comic Con on Thursday, July 24, join Tribute Games for a live rock show from Scott Pilgrim alumni and current soundtrack collaborators Anamanaguchi at the Voodoo Room at the House of Blues (1055 Fifth Ave, in the Gaslamp Quarter). Space for this event is extremely limited, with free admission but a limit of 200 guests. Doors open at 7P.M. Information at https://www.houseofblues.com/sandiego
About Scott Pilgrim EX
Scott Pilgrim EX reimagines classic 2D brawling for a new era, blending high-energy action with fun character progression for up to four players in co-op. Customize a roster of seven playable characters to make every battle and brawler feel truly personal. Take on the role of Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers and more of the all-star crew to battle a variety of enemies in a warped, beautifully pixelated version of Toronto overrun by demons, vegan henchmen and robots in an epic quest to save the city. Featuring a brand-new storyline co-written by Bryan Lee O’Malley and the team at Tribute Games, as well as all-new music by Anamanaguchi, Scott Pilgrim EX delivers a bold new chapter for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Scott Pilgrim EX is expected to launch for PC and consoles in early 2026. Keep up with the latest from Tribute Games and Scott Pilgrim EX at https://linktr.ee/tributegames
# # #
About Tribute Games
Tribute Games is a Montreal-based developer and publisher known for crafting genre-defining, pixel-perfect action titles. With hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Mercenary Kings, Flinthook, Panzer Paladin, and the recently announced MARVEL: Cosmic Invasion, Tribute blends nostalgic artistry with modern design to create unforgettable gameplay experiences that feel just like we remember them.
About Universal Products & Experiences
Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About Scott Pilgrim
Scott Pilgrim is a genre-defying cult classic that has grown into a beloved multimedia universe. Created by Bryan Lee O’Malley as a six-volume graphic novel series published by Oni Press, the story combines romance, music, and video game-inspired action in a uniquely heartfelt and irreverent way. Its popularity sparked a critically acclaimed film adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, directed by Edgar Wright, followed by a video game adaptation developed by Ubisoft. Most recently, the franchise was reimagined in the Netflix anime series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, bringing new life to the characters with the original film cast returning. Across each medium, Scott Pilgrim continues to resonate with fans through its bold storytelling, unforgettable characters, and unmistakable punchy style.
Chart-topping expanded remaster of fans’ favorite ‘castle sim’ takes flight today on Steam
[London, United Kingdom – July 15th, 2025] – The time is now, Sire! After an arduous voyage kicking off from announcement, through the perilous marshes of the Steam RTS and Next Fests, our forces have finally arrived at our divine destination. Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is out now with a 10% launch discount active for the next two weeks!
Behold this glorious love-letter to the golden age of strategy games with a freshly-forged launch trailer:
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition excelled during the Steam Next Fest, ranking highly right against the best new game demos of the most jam-packed Next Fest to date. With over 230k wishlists and 195k demo downloads thus far, it was the #1 Popular Upcoming RTS demo, #5 Popular Upcoming Strategy demo, and #11 Top Strategy demo during the June Steam Next Fest. More than ever, players are fervently hungry for gaming experiences that take them back along memory lane and help them rediscover the joys of the past with modern improvements.
Fresh community driven features will accompany the new missions and maps of two free updates, as well as the Lords and Trails of two DLCs, bolstering the base game with more fresh, quality gameplay than you can shake a sabre at. Whether you’re someone who wants to build the most extravagant desert civilization possible or you just want to face off against one hundred camels, there’s a lot for players to discover and love about this revamp of the original Stronghold: Crusader.
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is the culmination of almost a quarter century of development experience, fan support and technological advancements. With improvements and expansions to practically every core feature and beyond, the fundamental game will feel like an elevated version of the classic experience for returning fans and new players alike. Better-looking, smoother-running and bigger in all ways possible, Stronghold Crusader: DE is the ultimate way to play this stone-cold classic.
PlayStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition now on Steam with 10% off until July 29th! The desert is a cruel place to fight. Are you sure you have the heart for it?
About Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is an expanded remaster of the original 2002 ‘castle sim’ from Firefly Studios. Overhauled by the original game’s veteran developers, this new definitive edition features remastered artwork, animations and music, in addition fresh gameplay content, returning voice actors and many fan-requested improvements including larger maps. Improved with new playable units, characters, campaigns and more, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to play this classic RTS. For the latest news please visit www.StrongholdCrusader.com.
About Firefly Studios
Creators of the BAFTA nominated Stronghold series, Firefly Studios is a Devolver Digital developer of historical real-time strategygames. With more than 25 years of experience publishing titles on PC and mobile, Firefly’s games are enjoyed worldwide by a community of millions, with a dedicated international following and rich legacy in strategy gaming. Founded in 1999 by Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette of Caesar and Lords of the Realm fame, the company has brought to market many high profile and commercially successful strategy games. These include the Stronghold series with lifetime sales of more than 11 million and Stronghold Kingdoms, which currently has ten million registered players.
New Turn-Based Mobile Strategy Game Rewards Players For Perfectly Aligned Attacks And Defensive Moves
Orlando, Florida, 15 July 2025 | Marauder Tech Games, the premier independent AA studio led by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Carolina Panther Morgan Kane, is proud to announce that its hit, highly anticipated turn-based mobile strategy game, Price of Glory 1.9, is now live for Cash Tournaments in the United States. Players from across the nation can now play-to-earn in competitive matches where every move matters.
Compete For Cash Prizes
Welcome to Price of Glory, an asynchronous turn-based strategy game where players can compete for real rewards. Featured in this new 1.9 update, players can now play Crystal matches to earn enough crystals for cash games or deposit money directly into their wallet, allowing them to compete for real-life currency. Players can choose from two entry amounts, $1 or $5. Marauder Tech Games is also excited to announce that they will be hosting private tournaments, with invitations given out in Discord, on social media, or at local in person events.
Price of Glory is a game of pure skill where nothing is left to chance. Players must carefully protect their stronghold against enemy forces while taking turns to advance into each other’s territory, overcome the opposing army, and destroy the enemy base to win. Clever positioning, effective attacks, and tactical foresight are essential in this strategy mobile title.
Watch Your Troops Come To Life
Immerse yourself in the world of Price of Glory with the game’s 3D map; units spawn onto the battlefield with idle animations and particle effects. Call upon scouts to see through the fog of war, revealing your enemy’s position, and anticipate unseen threats to your party with healers. Powerful units, known as Heroes, possess unique abilities to change the tide of war. Summon Worp, a mech hero with teleportation abilities, or Blix, capable of converting an enemy unit into one of your own. The game’s primary resource, Animo, is used for spawning units, moving, attacking, and using special abilities. A limited amount of Animo is generated each turn, meaning every choice matters.
Join In On The Action
New players looking to join the action can experience Price of Glory’s thorough tutorial system. Begin with an overview of the game’s objective: reducing the enemy’s base to rubble. Following this objective, learn how to manage Animo, spawn different enemy types, and check your units’ HP and attack power. Some units require more Animo to spawn in exchange for greater damage, so managing this balance is a key skill. Once you’ve completed the tutorial, you’re ready to take to the battlefield! “AI Battles ” are the game’s quickplay mode, dropping players straight into the action for low-stakes play. For serious competitors, tournaments and head-to-head cash matches will up the ante. More options will be added over time, and eventually players could expect to play for large prize pools.
Gameplay Features:
3D graphics immerse players in this competitive medieval world!
A refined tutorial system offers new players a quick overview of the game.
Asynchronous play encourages players to play how they want, when they want, giving them up to 24 hours per turn. Faster turn timers are coming soon.
Strategic gameplay challenges players to think strategically as they manage Animo resources, control strategic tiles, and maneuver around various map layouts to outsmart their opponents.
Casual play is available through the “AI Battle” game mode. These one-off matches offer rewards to unlock future in-game content.
Three tournament modes offer competitive play for those looking to up the ante. Tournaments can be entered using salt crystals earned in-game or purchased directly.
A Dynasty system rewards players for inviting friends and being active in-game to receive in-game benefits.
Price of Glory’s 1.9 update is out now for iOS and Android in select regions. More information on Price of Glory is available on the game’s website.
About Marauder Tech Games
Driven by a passion for gaming, our founder, Morgan Kane, pursued his vision for turn-based strategy with patience and determination. Piece by piece, Morgan assembled a team to bring this vision to life. Today, we boast over 20 dedicated team members and several supporting agencies handling legal, marketing, public relations, community engagement, and money processing
Beloved pixel-art escape sim arrives on Xbox with console-optimised controls and new content in tow
July 15th, 2025 – Singapore – Spiral Up Games is thrilled to announce that Back to the Dawn, the critically acclaimed pixel-art prison survival RPG, will officially launch on Xbox Series X|S on July 18th, following its breakout success on Steam Early Access. This marks the game’s console debut, bringing its dark conspiracies, dynamic prison life, and thrilling escape mechanics to a brand-new audience.
Players will step into the paw-prints of Thomas the Fox, an investigative journalist framed for uncovering government secrets and thrown into the brutal confines of Boulderton Prison. With the clock ticking and trust hard-earned, survival means more than just staying alive—it means uncovering allies, making plans, and escaping before it’s too late.
Back to the Dawn launches on Xbox Series X|S for $19.99 USD, with a limited-time 15% launch discount bringing it down to $16.99 USD for the first week.
Launching on Xbox alongside the game’s 1.0 release on PC, Back to the Dawn’s full release features the Black Panther Arc—a brand-new storyline featuring Bob the Panther, an undercover cop with secrets of his own. This substantial content update introduces new areas, quests, and morally complex choices that deepen the already rich narrative tapestry of prison life.
With a distinctive visual style, nuanced character interactions, and a reactive world where every decision matters, Back to the Dawn challenges players to adapt, investigate, and survive. The game has earned a 92% positive rating on Steam, and now console players will get to see why.
Key features include full optimisation for Xbox Series X|S controls, the chance to play as Thomas the Fox, complex investigative gameplay, a web of choices and consequences, and the new Black Panther Arc content.
About Spiral Up Games
Spiral Up is an international game publisher based in Singapore, dedicated to identifying standout indie titles and helping them shine. With decades of industry experience, the team is passionate about bringing creative, polished PC and console games to players around the globe.
About Metal Head Games
Based in Shanghai, Metal Head Games is the indie studio behind Back to the Dawn. With a passion for immersive gameplay and story-rich experiences, their debut title showcases four years of meticulous design, creative worldbuilding, and deep mechanics that redefine what a prison escape RPG can be.
The Frontier Demo introduces multiplayer elements, a new tameable boss, upgraded management systems, and more
[July 14, 2025] — Walk among the dinosaurs in the new Dino Topiademo, now available on Steam! Following the success of the recent closed beta test, the developers at Celestial Studio added a variety of new features in response to feedback from eager dino tamers. The Frontier demo will be a fresh start for new and returning dino tamers alike, as data from the closed beta test will not carry over to the demo.
Frontier Demo Features:
Meet Your New Friend — Cunninga!: Cunninga is a fearsome, ironclad beast who is ready to be your BOSS-tier companion. Cunninga boasts powerful attacks and is a great asset with both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Two is Better than One: It’s finally here! Co-op features have arrived in Dino Topia. Players can now team up with their fellow dino tamers locally or remotely and gather resources together, hatch eggs faster, and build a shared abode.
Efficiency is Key: Manage your dino pals more efficiently with an improved UI and unified task system. Assign tasks with a single click so you can devote your important time to gathering resources, exploring the great unknown, and defeating fearsome foes.
Improved Pet Progression: The new Star-Raising System allows you to utilize duplicate dinos to create stronger dinos of the same type. The egg hatching system has also been optimized, introducing ways to decrease hatch times.
Optimization Fixes: To provide players with a smoother gameplay experience, stamina drain and health loss rates have been greatly reduced. Your dinos aren’t fragile creatures!
In Dino Topia you’ll hatch and form bonds with a variety of prehistoric companions to accompany you as you cultivate crops, explore mysterious dungeons, and gather resources to turn your flourishing farm settlement into a home.
Dino tamers can jump into the Dino Topia Frontier Demo today and wishlist the game on Steam.
Key Features:
Create Your Primordial Paradise – The power to create your ideal farm settlement is at your fingertips. Gather resources, unlock new technology to freely design, and continue expanding your home base to your heart’s content.
From Soil to Sustenance – Sow, fertilize, and harvest a plethora of different crops to build a thriving farm with the help of your dino companions.
Breed, Hatch, and Discover – Breed and hatch 40+ different types of dinosaurs with their own unique abilities, talents, and skills to discover new species, traits, and color variants.
Craft Your Combat Style – Build your own unique battle style with 30 different totems and 70 relics, which can modify basic attack mechanics and boost pet attributes.
Explore the Mystical Unknown – Delve into harrowing dungeons with your dinosaur allies by your side and fight fierce creatures, meet new allies, and uncover rare materials. With four different map environments, three difficulty levels, and 60 unique bosses to overcome — the challenges are endless!
Better Together – Create your dino paradise by yourself, or with a friend! Utilize local multiplayer and remote play features to raise dinos with friends near and far.
About Celestial Studio
Celestial Studio is a small team with big dreams—crafting handcrafted games that celebrate weird ideas, heartfelt stories, and juicy gameplay. Fueled by coffee and a love for pixel-perfect details, Celestial Studio makes the kind of games that stick with you long after the credits roll.
When it comes to horror games there are hits and misses and while it only takes a few things right to properly nail the horror element, so many end up missing the mark, especially in the indie scene. That being said, for every five indie horror games that fail to muster enough scares or worthwhile gameplay to keep players interested, there is at least one that manages to pull it off in its own way. Dead of Darkness just so happens to be one of those. An indie survival horror game designed with a retro-pixel aesthetic, there are many aspects of the game that harken back to some classics and even a rather surprising element that rarely is used much despite its popularity in retrospect, but has it come together to deliver a solid game when everything is said and done?
Story
Set in the year 1985 a worn out Private Investigator named Miles Windham receives a strange cassette in the mail from the owner of a massive estate on Velvet Island, a mysterious but well known island in the Celtic Sea near Ireland. While Miles would have likely ignored this tape given its strange origins, the sender claims to have information about his wife and daughter that were presumed dead in a fire that happened years prior and still haunts Miles to this day. With the potential for answers at hand, Miles sets out and joins a blonde woman named Olivia as they take the ferry to the island only to immediately find that something strange is going on as the pair come across a large pool of blood and many members of the staff acting suspicious.
When Miles is told that Charles, the man who sent for him, hasn’t been seen in days and he is sent to wait in the Guest House until they can figure out more, all hell starts to break loose as a guard stumbles in nearly torn to shreds. Olivia, who happened to be at the scene at the time, gives Miles his gun to try and find help at the main mansion only to immediately step outside and find that the island has begun to be overrun with Ghouls and nearly every generic maid or security guard he has come across has died. With very little to go on and plenty of puzzles and twisted monsters in his way, Miles must get to the heart of the mystery within Velvet Island if it means learning the truth about his family.
Dead of Darkness tells a satisfyingly dark and twisted tale that isn’t afraid to shift genre a bit here and there with where it wants to draw its horror aspects from or shift perspective from time to time. While we won’t spoil it here, players will find themselves thinking it may have to do with a certain company only to find out how much more sinister everything truly is, especially if players take the time to find, and read, all of the information logs scattered throughout the game. That being said, the pacing for the storyline feels a bit all over the place and a few of notes players can find are incredibly long to the point players will need to ensure they are in a safe place to actually read them since time doesn’t pause in the inventory screen..That being said, some of this information included in these lengthier optional collectibles are quite enlightening when it involves the island and its history, especially revealing elements that tie into the main storyline as early hints.
Dead of Darkness begins with a lengthy introduction, foreshadowing and introduction sequence before dropping players into the mansion where, outside of the aforementioned notes, the story slows to a crawl. In fact it is only really until players get past the mansion initially and the first couple of extra areas that the story then starts kicking back up. Ironically, it is only in the final three-quarters of this roughly eight hour game that the story really starts to show its true colors, making us wish that the game hadn’t just led bread crumbs as top just how twisted things were until so close to the end.
Gameplay
Dead of Darkness immediately wears its inspirations on its sleeve but does so through a far more retro style than even the games it is taking inspiration from. Players will find themselves playing from a top-down sort of view where they will be able to control Miles, or someone else, along an eight directional path with the ability to run, walk, and stand still and aim in these eight directions to fire a weapon or slash with a knife. Similar to the games that inspired it, players will be always limited to an eight inventory limit slot, which means carrying around a handgun, bullets, and some healing items already means nearly half of your inventory is gone and when players factor in the fact that there are various status ailments they can be afflicted with as well as the need to carry quest items or keys to and fro, there is a lot of item management here and backtracking back and forth to the box, which surprisingly also has a limited amount of space.
In many ways, this backtracking is both tedious but also useful as Dead of Darkness immediately warns players that it does not make use of auto saves in any way and relies on the classic save room system using a diary. Thankfully, not only are there multiple save slots but the title does not punish players for saving frequently, almost encouraging them too when completing significant puzzles or challenging areas since, at least for a good while until new enemies are triggered, anything the player kills stays gone. Healing items are also handled in an interesting fashion as players can use painkillers to heal but they will lose efficiency over time apparently, though while playing on the default Moderate setting we never really noticed an issue. The same can be said about antipsychotics but more on that a bit later, though it is worth noting that using limited “Health Kit”s that are spread throughout the game will not only heal the player and cure them of any ailment, but also restore the efficiency of smaller healing items as well. Various status effects such as poison, bleeding, and even stun can be cured through using antivenom and bandages respectively but these also take up limited inventory space, making players need to balance what they feel is necessary for their next trip and take some risks at times.
That being said, combat itself is something of a mixed bag. It works quite well as stopping to aim and shoot is a tried and true tradition for survival horror but it is also rather limiting in the fact that players really only have a pistol and knife to work with for the early part of the game and gain access to a shotgun soon after, but that’s it. As they advance keen eyed players will gather upgrade parts to improve the damage dealing capabilities of their handgun and shotgun (and immensely for the knife if they take on a secret trial) to take on the ever increasing danger of enemy types they encounter. Initially, the only enemy players will need to deal with are shambling ghouls that can be dodged to avoid wasting ammo with some strategic maneuvering but eventually even more dangerous monstrosities with longer reach and capable of inflicting status ailments will appear and while players can leave and re-enter a room to reset their position, they’ll often need to eliminate them to advance.
That is where some of the survival horror aspect comes in, where players need to judge when to take a risky hit or take down an enemy or, in more than a few cases, get jumped by enemies smashing through a window to try and catch them by surprise. That being said, nearly every single enemy in the game can be “kited” to avoid taking damage and picking away at their health when they have enough distance or put an object between them. The same can even be said about bosses as many tend to have simple attack patterns or, if players simply want to “duke it out” on Moderate with a properly upgraded shotgun, simply blast away and most often than not slay early bosses before they have a chance.
Where some of the cheap aspects of Dead of Darkness come into play are the instant-kill elements and also an essential reason why players should often backtrack and save in this game. Not only do some bosses have instant-kill attacks but there is even a standard enemy type that will instantly kill the player if touched, something that is genuinely annoying and cheap during a few locations that are only lit by lamplight. Plus there is an entire maze-like dark location that features an invulnerable instant-kill boss far separated from the save room and the many switches players must hit to advance. In similar fashion, the game also features spike traps and… glowing red beams? that deal massive damage and status effects though the latter only appears in one location. These spikes are instant kill no matter what and while they aren’t an issue most of the time, players are tasked more than once to run an entire gauntlet of instant kill traps with only a simple save between, leading to plenty of re-runs through hoping this next time will be the one. No one likes an instant kill, and even if players choose to bump the difficulty down from the Moderate to Easy or even Very Easy, it doesn’t stop these spikes and monsters from being instant kills.
One thing that we mentioned earlier that is quite neat and does come into play if players let it slip far enough is a character’s sanity gauge. As players are hit or grabbed by enemies, they’ll not only lose health but a white light beneath their health will start to darken. The darker this light dims, the more possibilities there are for having something strange happen and even downright kill the player if blackened entirely. As mentioned before, taking antipsychotics will restore this light but some of the effects of low sanity are quite interesting. They can range from simply reversing the map if players look at it, swapping the direction of the controls, to even triggering a satanic anonymous phone call. These elements are reminiscent of Eternal Darkness a bit and add an extra little layer.
Speaking of layers, one other interesting aspect are “Clues” that players can find. These clues are used to help solve the countless puzzles that players come across. They tend to involve finding a note, analyzing a clue obtained from a note or object in the environment, and then either combining it with an item or even another clue to come up with the solution and find what players need to properly progress. As for the game’s New Game+, players will be able to access Very Hard once they beat the title completely and the only thing that carries over will be the status of the players’ upgraded weapons, which will make things quite a bit easier at least at the start. The hardest difficulty is only available once players beat the game on Very Hard, though as mentioned before there is no actual difference or notable unlockable bonus for doing so.
Audio & Visuals
Dead of Darkness is designed with a full pixel aesthetic in mind when it comes to gameplay, with all of the game’s sprites being pixelated so even if players are coming across a maid torn in half or a headless torso of a guard, it’s minimized a bit by the style choice. Monster designs are quite solid once players get past the initial round of only having to face off against ghouls and many of the twisted designs that boss monsters take on really embody the “body horror” aspect that the plot starts to turn towards. The only part that takes a more modern turn are the oft lengthy dialogue sequences as these are presented in visual novel-esque form with character portraits fully drawn and given a number of expressions that change to match the tone. The true gruesome nature of some bosses are really showcased here as their twisted forms are even represented in their portraits.
As for the game, it surprisingly features an entire English voice track that works quite well for the most part. Given the game is set off the coast of the UK the voice acting and accents are matching though there are a couple of primary characters that sound a bit amateurish which is unfortunate. The soundtrack works quite well to provide some nice atmospheric moods to navigating the island and players will want to keep an ear out for the sound some monsters make as each is unique and can give an early warning if an enemy in a room might be as simple as a ghoul or as dangerous as an instant kill one.
Overall
Dead of Darkness manages to take its tributes to survival horror games of the past and create a great game that manages to not only to find its own identity through a solid storyline with plenty of twists, once it gets going, as well as some great designs. Combat is serviceable and the same can be said for the puzzles, though over-reliance on insta-kill situations do drag down the experience and rely on players backtracking to save rather than losing solid progress due to a cheapshot.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Los Angeles, CA – July 15, 2025 – From the people that brought you the No JUDGEment Body Pillow, VOID Interactive is pleased to share a brand new launch trailer welcoming the latest recruits to the LSPD as Ready or Not launches globally on consoles, today.
Out now, Ready or Not tasks players to become an elite SWAT commander and bring order to a city overwhelmed by chaos and corruption. Players lead a team of highly-trained SWAT officers through unpredictable high-risk missions against ruthless criminals to prevent the city from spiralling into disorder. Equip real-world weapons and gear to tackle missions inspired by current events against Los Sueňos’ ruthless criminal element.
Ready or Not is fully accessible to squad up across platforms for crossplay.
Ready or Not Digital Edition is out now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S, with the recently announced Physical Edition available from August 8.
Ready or Not features:
18 single-player or online cooperative missions with up to five players
2 new missions as part of the Los Sueños Stories free DLC update
PC players will have access to the new missions in a free update day-and-date with console launch
2 DLC’s that introduce 6 additional levels, and in Dark Waters DLC the UH-60 support Helicopter
Dozens of options to customize a player’s entire SWAT team including armour, weapons, apparel, and more.
Immersive tactical gameplay, full flexibility of approach, and authentic equipment that SWAT teams utilize in the field.
Console pre-order bonuses also include the following weapons:
M32A1 Grenade launcher
MK-V Pistol
590M Shotgun
These items will be updated for free to PC owners of the game.
Ready or Not will launch physically and digitally for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in the following editions:
*Dark WatersDLC and Home InvasionDLC are available to purchase separately $9.99 / £7.99 / €9.99
About
Ready or Not puts players into high-risk and realistic scenarios involving SWAT teams. Defuse situations involving hostages, active bomb threats, barricaded suspects, and more. Ready or Not is rated ESRB M/PEGI18.
About VOID Interactive Limited
VOID Interactive is a digital provider in the video game and entertainment industry. VOID Interactive publishes the realistic, tactical first-person shooter, Ready or Not, as its flagship title, and is delivered digitally for download for PC systems. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cork, Ireland with business activities managed globally. For more information, please visit www.voidinteractive.net
Visitors to the world’s largest gaming trade show will experience more horse-power at GIANTS Software’s booth than ever: In addition to the successful Farming Simulator 25 with its upcoming Highlands Fishing expansion, the publisher and developer extends its exhibition space to make room for the upcoming racing- simulation Project Motor Racing.
Stage Show & Project Motor Racing Playable for the Masses
While visitors at FarmCon, GIANTS Software’s very own convention, already caught a glimpse, gamescom attendees will get an updated and more polished version of Project Motor Racing to foretaste of asphalt soaked in adrenaline.
GIANTS and developer Straight4 will present Project Motor Racing with high-end racing rigs, while aspiring farmers can drive tractors with an authentic setup to operate tractors, harvesters and a whole fleet of other agricultural machinery. Stage shows to entertain the audience, frequent give-aways and more will await video gamers passing by the booth.
Massive Tractor and Legendary Race Car Mark the Booth
As is tradition, a huge, unmistakable tractor will mark the location of GIANTS Software in hall six (stand B061). In addition, a real Le Mans winner car will also be on display at the booth to draw attention to Project Motor Racing – both perfect photo opportunities.
While the tractor and race car may not be competing for attention, visitors can still compare their skills: In the Farming Simulator Championship, the goal is to stack bales as quickly and stable as possible, and the driver who completes the fastest lap in Project Motor Racing can call himself a real pro.
GIANTS Software is an international game developer and publisher from Switzerland, established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator franchise. Self-sufficient with offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), USA (Chicago) and the Czech Republic (Brno), the team is committed to position itself as a leading publisher in the simulation genre, with Project Motor Racing to be introduced to the racing scene soon. The company maintains a global network of partners and close ties with respective industries. Visit giants-software.com for more information.
About Farming Simulator
With more than 40 million copies of the main series sold worldwide since 2008, the Farming Simulator franchise is leading in its genre. Available on all major platforms, the games feature hundreds of authentic machines from renowned brands and offer compelling agricultural simulation with relaxing, family-friendly gameplay. It’s based on the powerful GIANTS Engine – built in-house to provide realistic physics, high-fidelity graphics, dynamic systems and extensive modding support. Visit farming-simulator.com for more information.
About Straight4 Studios
Straight4 Studios features many of the key talents that have shaped sim racing’s heritage for over two decades. With over 20 years’ worth of remote work experience and working from three continents, Straight4 Studios’ veteran staff have earned dozens of industry awards. Merging the passion for motorsport and values derived from the sim racing community with the precision of a new, AI-driven physics engine and cutting-edge graphics, Straight4 Studios is hard at work developing the next generation of AAA-racing simulation.
About Project Motor Racing
Replicating the challenge and sensory overload of professional-level race cars with all the uncompromising passion of big-time motorsport, Project Motor Racing blends 20 years’ worth of racing simulator know-how into one undiluted and unforgettable racing experience.
