East meets west in gore-soaked arcade action with retro soul!
Bogota, Colombia, July 14th, 2025 – Amber-owned studio Madbricks, in partnership with REDRUM, are proud to reveal their upcoming frenetic beat-’em-up roguelike Mexican Ninja, published by Amber. Get ready to slice your way through the streets of Nuevo Tokyo in this retro 2.5D arcade throwback. Show me your skills, pinche ninja!
Welcome to Nuevo-Tokyo, a chaotic feudal regime forged when Mexico’s Narcos and Japan’s Yakuza merged to form a new ruling class: The Narkuzas. They are now the law, and the law sucks culo. Now, in the outskirts of Nuevo-Tokyo, a group of rebels is plotting against the five heads of the Narkuza clan. Enter the Mexican Ninja…
Slice your way through the stylized streets of Nuevo Tokyo in adrenaline-pumping combat. Precise movement, positioning, and perfectly timed attacks are all crucial to achieve victory. Mexican Ninja offers satisfying, pick-up-and-play brawling that’s easy to learn, yet rewards mastery that only a true Mexican Ninja can achieve.
Every playthrough is different, with randomized levels, trash-talking duels, and pimped-out weapons. Each run will have you unlocking new ninja skills by training with el Mero Mero Sensei. Gain the favor of Mexican-Japanese spirits, and make use of their powers. Utilize extremely ninja Mexican Jutsus as you experiment with different builds and combos. Just be sure to do it in style, swagging it up with hidden apparel. It’s not enough to fight the Narkuza, you need to look good doing it if you’re to inspire an uprising. Viva la revolución!
There’s an inner cabrón in all of us. Be THE Mexican Ninja and show off your unmatched way of the blade!
“I couldn’t be prouder of what the whole Amber team has helped us build and bring to life through this game. In my culture, the idea of a hero rising up has always been needed. Indeed it still is! And Mexican Ninja has always been about the longing for that idea,” said Mexican Ninja franchise writer and director Carlos Rincones.“Having profound admiration for Japanese culture, its history, and its roots, it naturally seemed like the perfect one to blend and contrast with my own. I hope players can join the fun, explore the world, and embrace all the quirks of this concept. Here’s hoping they persevere through getting their asses kicked again and again—and through this dynamic, understand that Mexican Ninja is more than a game; it’s a vibe, a spirit, a way of being. I wish you a good journey in finding your inner donkey!”
About Madbricks
Madbricks stands as one of Colombia’s longest-standing studios, boasting a seasoned executive staff with decades of combined experience in the industry. With a track record of creating games for Voodoo, Byte Dance, and Maximum Games, Madbricks has earned a reputation for delivering top-tier gaming experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Their titles have sold hundreds of thousands of units across various platforms, showcasing their versatility and proficiency in game development. From console to PC and mobile, Madbricks has successfully shipped games on every major platform, solidifying their position as a leading force in the global gaming landscape.
Committed to innovation and excellence, Madbricks continues to shape the future of interactive entertainment, pushing creative boundaries and embracing new technologies to deliver unforgettable gaming experiences.
About REDRUM
REDRUM is one of Latin America’s leading production companies, specializing in the development and production of high-end feature films and television series for both regional and global audiences.
Its diverse slate includes major international films such as Bardo by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Get the Gringo, Elysium, Spectre 007, Sicario (Parts 1 & 2), and Pedro Páramo. On the television side, REDRUM has produced acclaimed series including Narcos: México, ZeroZeroZero, The Mosquito Coast, The Chosen One, and Bandidos, amongst others.
Most recently, REDRUM premiered The Gringo Hunters, a series created in collaboration with Imagine Entertainment, Woo, and The Washington Post.
Play host to wizards, witches, ghosts, and creatures galore with your very own magical tavern.
[Prague, Czech Republic – July 14, 2025] – Purpledoor Studios delivers a wondrous journey of mystical mystery with Magic Inn. The charming tavern life simulator arrives for PC via Steam on August 4th. As an exiled wizard-turned-innkeeper, you’re in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly. Craft the perfect menu, make the guests’ stay as cozy as can be, and hire the right staff to get the job done!
In Magic Inn, players need to put their best magical foot forward to gain back their notoriety with a 5-star inn. Raise your inn’s status by hiring the best chefs, befriending farmers and merchants, and showing even the King the best hospitality in the land if he visits.
Embark on a journey as an exiled wizard turned innkeeper. Cast elemental spells to cook, clean and serve while managing menus, staff and rooms. Every guest is unique, and you can interact with them to build a network of loyal regulars who can bring you ingredients and join your adventures. As you level up, experiment with deck-building and card battles to get better deals, or flirt with your romantic interest. Ultimately, you craft higher-tier furniture and magical decorations to upgrade your tiny inn into a 5-star magical tavern.
Key Features:
Reclaim Glory: Embark on a journey about tragedy and redemption, all starting with a magical humble inn.
Own Your Inn: Manage the menus, staff, and rooms of your completely customizable inn.
Craft and Customize: Create higher-tier furniture and magical decorations to transform your humble inn into a luxurious 5-star magical tavern!
Make Magic: Learn and harness magic spells in order to help with inn management.
It’s In The Cards: Engage in conversation-driving card battles which simulate actions such as negotiation, persuasion, and attraction.
Charming Connections: Build relationships with guests and members of the inn’s staff.
Send Out Adventurers: Assemble a team of adventurers and send them on expeditions. Engage in turn-based card battles to defeat monsters and earn valuable loot used to craft advanced tools.
Engage with every guest to further reveal their story and unravel the threads of your own. Make connections and put your tavern on the map in Magic Inn on August 4th. Wishlist the game before launch on Steam and stay up to date with the latest news by visiting the official website.
About Purpledoor Studios
Purpledoor Studios is an independent Prague-based studio founded by game enthusiasts and fans of Harry Potter, who just want to change the fact that there are not enough Harry Potter type games. The studio is currently working on Magic Inn.
Over 80 Titles from Sweetish Developers – Discounts Up to 95%
Sweden – July 14, 2025 – Today marks the first day of the Games Made in Sweden Sale on Steam – a celebration of Swedish game development featuring over 80 titles from studios across the country.
Running on Steam until July 27, the sale showcases a curated collection of games developed in Sweden, with discounts reaching up to 95% off. From indie darlings to blockbuster AAA titles, the participating games span a wide range of genres, highlighting the creativity and talent found from the far north to the southernmost parts of Sweden.
Not all titles in the event are discounted – it also includes upcoming releases to raise awareness and encourage players to add them to their wishlists.
The Games Made in Sweden sale offers something for every gamer. Here are all games included in the sale:
1993 Space Machine Abyssus Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! Airport CEO Apsulov: End of Gods Battle Squares Beyond One-on-One Basketball Block’Em! Bosslords Chenso Club Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale Core Keeper Coridden Cosmic Collapse Den of Wolves Distant Bloom Esoteric Ebb Fae & Fauna Find or be Found FlipScapes Gimmick 2 Go Fight Fantastic! He is Coming Into The Zone – Arcade Escape Jump Ship Just Die Already Just Read The Instructions Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer Keep Driving Kingdom Two Crowns Koala Kids Golf KreatureKind Liftlands Lightyear Frontier LiM Balls Little Wings Deliveries Locomoto Muri: Wildwoods Nocturnal Relics Obsidian Prince Octane Remix Odinfall Orten Was The Case Out of Hand: Deluxe Out of Sight Payday 2 PAYDAY 3 Pendula Swing: The Complete Journey picoCAD Pit of Goblin Post Void Project: AMICA PULLBACK RACERS Racket Club Rush to Adventure Sandustry Scrap Galaxy Sea Salt Seer’s Gambit Shadowveil: Legend of The Five Rings Sir Whoopass: Immortal Death Skeletal Dance Party Squirreled Away Steel Effigy STRIDEN SULFUR Super Adventure Hand Switchball HD Tentacle Tango The Battle of Polytopia The JerryMaya Detective Agency The Journey Down: Chapter One The Journey Down: Chapter Three The Journey Down: Chapter Two The Tragedy at Deer Creek This Strange Realm Of Mine Titan Station TOEM Toss! Unforgiving: a Northern Hymn V Rising Vault of Power Warhammer – The End Times Vermintide Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Warhammer Vermintide 2
Set sail with four new U.S. Destroyers in Early Access, the second collaboration wave with ‘Blue Archive’, new combat missions and plenty of quality of life improvements
July 14, 2025 – Wargaming, the developer and publisher of the leading cross-platform naval multiplayer game World of Warships, is sailing into summer with a brand new wave of ‘Blue Archive’ content, including plenty of new Commanders and ships for fans to enjoy. World of Warships’s July update also welcomes a new line of U.S. destroyers spanning Tier VII-X into Early Access, new combat mission chains packed with rewards, and plenty of quality of life improvements.
New U.S. Destroyers come to Early Access
A fresh line of U.S. destroyers drops anchor into Early Access. Four ships including Tier VII Hughes, Tier VIII Osborne, Tier IX Christopher, and Tier X Burrows sail into the game, with ships Tier VIII and upward sporting powerful 137mm guns, putting firepower at the forefront of their offense. This line also features a toggleable Smoke Generator for optimal engagements, and a robust HP pool to support this artillery-led combat. Players can purchase bundles featuring these ships from week two of the update, and can obtain them using tokens earned through a new American-themed Event Pass and via new Personal Challenges.
‘Blue Archive’ Collaboration Wave Two
The students of Kivotos are back in World of Warships—and they’re bringing reinforcements! Fan-favourite ‘Blue Archive’ characters Konuri Maki, Hayase Yuuka, Kosaka Wakamo, and Arona join the Commander lineup ready to lead their respective ships into battle: Tier VIII Italian battleship BA Binah, Tier IX French cruiser BA Utnapishtim, Tier IX Soviet battleship BA Hovercraft, and Tier X Japanese submarine BA Arona’s Whale. Commanders and ships can be unlocked on a week-by-week basis as part of a limited-time Admiral’s bundle, or can be found in the Wishing Wharf using special tokens. The entire collection of ‘Blue Archive’ wave 2 content will also be available to purchase from day one in the Premium shop.
Beyond these new additions, the Wishing Wharf welcomes back content from the previous wave to celebrate the collaboration’s return. Commanders Izayoi Nonomi, Okusora Ayane, Takanashi Hoshino, Sunaookami Shiroko, and Kuromi Serika and make their way back to the game, joined by Tier VIII German battleship BA Tirpitz and Tier X U.S. battleship BA Montana. New and returning ‘Blue Archive’ content will be available from July 9 until August 7.
New Combat Missions Chains and Quality of Life Improvements
Two new combat mission chains are available, which players can progress through by completing Random Battles, Co-op Battles, and Operations, unlocking rewards like Special Containers, Coal, and permanent camouflages
World of Warships’s July update also introduces plenty of user-interface and graphical changes to the game, improving the user experience. Included in this wave of improvements are changes to Container user-interface elements, making the process more intuitive and user-friendly with the addition of a barge animation toggle, a guaranteed reward counter, and flexible opening options to support opening multiple Containers at once.
A new ship rotation system, available in both the Armory and Premium Shop, debuts to minimise overcrowding and ensure a wider array of ships are regularly available. WG Temporal Super Sampling (TSS) is also being introduced, with a new anti-aliasing technology for optimised in-game graphics without significant impact to game performance.
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About World of Warships
World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including five different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry. Its 15 offices around the world include studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Belgrade, and Kyiv. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Its flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, and World of Warships Blitz.
Super Mario Maker 2 relay race, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, expert-level Beat Saber, and more were highlights at this year’s SGDQ
Minneapolis, MN – July 13, 2025 – Summer Games Done Quick 2025 (SGDQ), the week-long, 24-hour video game speedrunning marathon, has come to an end after raising $2,436,614 for Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières. Held July 6-13 at the Hilton Minneapolis in Minnesota, the event saw over 2,600 in-person attendees and many more tuning in online via Games Done Quick’s Twitch channel.
SGDQ was as lively and thrilling as ever, with some of the most popular speedruns including Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Balatro, Super Mario Maker 2, Blue Prince, Mario Kart World, Beat Saber, and more. Another highlight included the AEW Fight Forever segment, where the audience raised signs and roared with growing excitement as if watching a real wrestling match.
Additionally, SGDQ saw numerous firsts, such as the all-new artist alley where artists, makers, crafters, and indie game developers had booths where attendees could shop and demo games. This year’s SGDQ also featured a live concert by the band The Megas, held onsite at Hilton Minneapolis and broadcast online, performing rock songs of Mega Man and Castlevania.
Game Done Quick’s next event is the all-women and femmes speedrunning showcase Flame Fatales, which will be held online September 7-14 and broadcast live on Games Done Quick’s Twitch. Following that is Games Done Queer, a new online speedrunning event from October 31 to November 2. Next year, Awesome Games Done Quick returns January 4-10 in Pittsburgh, PA.
In case you missed it, every run from SGDQ 2025 is archived on the official Games Done Quick YouTube channel.
About Games Done Quick
Games Done Quick is a series of charity video game marathons that feature high-level gameplay by speedrunners raising money for charity. Since 2010, Games Done Quick has partnered with some of the world’s most impactful charities, including AbleGamers, Doctors Without Borders, Organization for Autism Research, and Prevent Cancer Foundation, all while bringing fans impressive runs from a rich community of speedrunners. To date, Games Done Quick events have raised over $57 million for charity.
About Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a private international association founded in 1971. The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to other professions which might help in achieving its aims. Their mission is to provide lifesaving medical care to those most in need.
MSF provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters, and to victims of armed conflict. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed, or political convictions.
As a Private Investigator still haunted by the loss of his family, Miles Windham heads to a mysterious island only to find that the residents are stranger than expected and soon the mansion they are staying in is overrun with monsters. Watch as we take on numerous puzzles and take down the first boss in this indie survival horror from EastAsiaSoft and Retrofiction Games, Dead of Darkness.
Dead of Darkness – Gameplay
Dead of Darkness is a gripping side-scrolling survival horror game that pays homage to classic genre staples like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Set in the mysterious town of Ashfield, players assume the role of Miles Windham, an ex-cop searching for his missing wife. As the investigation unfolds, Miles finds himself plunged into a terrifying nightmare filled with grotesque creatures, haunting secrets, and a heavy sense of dread lurking around every corner.
Blending atmospheric pixel art visuals with methodical exploration, resource management, and puzzle-solving, Dead of Darkness demands smart choices and careful timing to survive. With multiple endings and decisions that shape the narrative, this title delivers a nostalgic yet modern horror experience. Fans of retro horror games will feel right at home—just don’t forget to save your ammo and watch your back.
Dead of Darkness Developer: Retrofiction Games Publisher: Retrofiction Games, EastAsia Soft Platform: Windows, Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: 24 Jan, 2025 Price: $19.99 USD
Recommended – “Dead of Darkness channels classic survival horror yet carves its own identity with a twisty story and sharp design. Combat and puzzles are serviceable but dragged down by cheap insta-kills.”
Make sure the wanted posters get your best side and become an Outlaw on July 17
Shanghai, China — July 12, 2025 | XD Games is excited to announce that Torchlight: Infinite is gearing up for its ninth season, and this may well be the most lawless of them all! Welcome to the “Outlaw” Season, set to be a fast-paced adventure filled with new mechanics and a host of thrilling updates to the action-packed ARPG, coming on July 17, 7PM PDT.
TorchCon, held in Shanghai on July 11, has set the stage for an unforgettable season as XD Games unveiled a host of exciting updates for Torchlight: Infinite, including a preview of the new season’s gameplay, new hero reveals, and a closer look at the game’s direction.
New Seasonal Mechanic: Outlaw – Carjack & Crime In this thrilling new gameplay mode, players will engage in high-stakes missions to attack TOWER Co. transport vehicles, steal valuable supplies, and fend off waves of reinforcements. Here’s what’s in store:
Carjack Missions: Players engage in action-packed missions where they must chase down bodyguards escorting valuable TOWER Supply Caches. Defeat them to summon reinforcements and gather rewards.
Crime Rating: Their actions will increase your Crime Rating, unlocking new Black Market Bounties that provide even greater rewards—but be warned, higher Crime Ratings also mean tougher challenges.
Special Encrypted Transport: Occasionally, special transports will offer even more valuable loot, with a chance for a Chain Multiplication event, significantly boosting their haul.
Hero Update: Lightbringer Rosa – Unsullied Blade This season introduces a radical transformation for Rosa. After a Mercury Baptism, Rosa evolves into the Unsullied Blade, a magical knight who uses Mana to enhance her attack power. Her new Mercury-based abilities allow her to create a Realm of Mercury, which allows her to deal damage, alongside periodically inflicting AoE damage to her enemies, making her an invaluable addition to the roster.
Watch the “Unsullied Blade” Rosa Hero Trait Reveal:
Focus Skills Another major addition this season sees the Imbue skill system become Focus Skills. These skills charge up based on specific trigger conditions, and when fully charged, they unleash devastating effects, offering players new ways to play. Key skills include:
Sharp Focus: Gains charges with each attack, delivering a massive strike at full charge.
Erosion Focus: Gains charges over time, launching homing projectiles that deal AoE damage.
Ice Focus: Gains charges when damaging frozen enemies, creating an Ice Storm that follows the player.
Thunder Focus: Gains charges while moving, dealing lightning damage to enemies in range when fully charged.
Flame Focus: Gains charges on Ignite, triggering massive explosions when defeating enemies.
New Legendary Gear & Crafting To complement the new mechanics, Torchlight: Infinite introduces new Legendary gear designed to complement the Focus Skills and other gameplay updates. Notable additions include:
Trinity: A Legendary necklace that boosts elemental damage and amplifies the effects of elemental builds.
Quantum Convergence: A Legendary glove that boosts Synthetic Troop minion damage based on life consumption, introducing a new minion-based playstyle.
Solid River: A helmet that doubles Spell Burst damage, perfect for those focusing on Spell Burst builds.
Additionally, the TOWER Sequence system has been introduced to crafting, allowing players to create powerful non-Legendary weapons and shields with unique, build-defining mechanics.
Loot & Map Adjustments The endgame loot experience has been revamped to make looting more rewarding and less repetitive. Secret Realms will now spawn less frequently, but with significantly better rewards, and the Sprout of Legends drop rate has been increased by 200% for those tackling Deep Space content.
New Boss Rotation: Supreme Showdown Endgame players can look forward to a new boss rotation in the Supreme Showdown, featuring the newly reworked General Redscale, who commands Blood Swords and uses crimson blood pools to restrict player movement. This new challenge, along with the return of the Sons of Rising Tide, promises a fresh, exhilarating experience for veteran players.
Quality of Life Improvements This season also brings a suite of quality of life updates, including:
Recycling System: Now, players can recycle miscellaneous items directly from their inventory, along with a preview of the items they’ll receive in return.
Loot Filter Customization: Players can now customize loot drop sounds with their own music files, adding a personal touch to their gameplay experience.
Trade House Updates: The price check system has been improved, allowing for more accurate and consistent pricing data across all platforms.
The Outlaw Season begins on 17 July, and introduces a wealth of new features, content, and gameplay mechanics that promise to keep Torchlight: Infinite players engaged for months to come. From the high-risk Carjack missions to the focus on build creativity and new legendary gear, there has never been a better time to jump into the game.
XD Games
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users. XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
Back in 2019 Death Stranding arrived with one heck of a pedigree behind it. Sporting the famous Hideo Kojima at the reins as his first game out of Kojima Productions and featuring Norman Reedus as his lead character, very few fans could have actually expected what the game would revolve around. While it featured all of the nuances and strangeness that came with a Kojima title, the fact that it saw players transferring large bulky packages across the country in a post-apocalyptic world? This led to quite a divisive game at the time where players either enjoyed the experience as it was or were put off a bit by its gameplay, especially since stealth was prioritized and combat was simplified.
Now, nearly six years later Kojima’s vision for Death Stranding has not only flourished, it has allowed him to continue Sam’s journey in a direct sequel called Death Stranding 2: On The Beach that not only doubles-down on what makes the original so unique, but expands upon other elements to deliver what is hands-down a true showcase of what the PlayStation 5 can do.
Story
Now it is worth mentioning that Death Stranding 2 works as an almost direct sequel to the first game to the point that, other than a brief recap of events through a slide-show, players who have yet to finish or even play the original will feel lost as very little is done to actually explain the various rules, terms, and events that led up to the world being the way it is. Sure, there is a Corpus that fills up over-time and can be reviewed to look up various terms and elements that newcomers don’t know or longtime fans may have forgotten, but it is definitely worth noting that this continuation is enjoyed far better with prior knowledge about the game’s story, especially it’s emotional depths.
That being said, Death Stranding 2 picks up eleven months after the events that took place at the end of the first game with Sam, who helped connect the United States together through the Chiral Network, going into hiding following the fallout with the UCA and his BB, now an eleven month old girl he’s chosen to call Lou. Living in isolation, Sam has managed to thrive with Lou off the grid but when an old friend in the form of Fragile comes knocking at his door asking for his help once again, this time to help expand the Chiral Network to an entirely new country, Sam sees this as an opportunity to return to the world and “reconnect.” Choosing to accept the job with a full pardon for himself and Lou being part of the reward, Sam sets out to Mexico with a number of deliveries to reconnect various bases and prepper shelters to bring Mexico into the Chiral Network and find that, shockingly, a Plate Gate has appeared in Mexico that actually connects the country to Australia of all places, opening up a new realm of possibilities and connections. Or at least it would if Sam hadn’t received an emergency call from Fragile that something was happening and his shelter was under attack.
While the original Death Stranding may have seemed like it had plenty of unique build-up and an impactful narrative in its own right all while setting the various rules of the world in place, it feels like Kojima was really able to let loose almost right out of the gates with Death Stranding 2. Obviously we won’t discuss the various events that unfold throughout the storyline beyond the initial bits mentioned before because not only would they spoil the experience but lessen the impact they have at the same time. Death Stranding 2 brings with it of course Sam as well as a number of familiar faces that make a return as players spend the majority of their time as part of a crew aboard a Tar-traveling “submarine” of sorts called the DHV Magellan. This includes Fragile as well as a rather eclectic cast of newcomers that add to the already ridiculously eclectic cast that made up the original game, with new additions such as Rainy, Dollman, Tarman, and even Tomorrow having unique story elements that players can choose to dive deeper into through certain examinations, sub-missions, and even fourth-wall breaking elements.
With the crew of the DHV Magellan serving as his back-up, Sam finds himself tasked with initially setting up the Chiral Network in Mexico, as a tutorial of sorts, before settling the main plot in Australia where the massive continent separated from everything else is seeking to be brought back into the light. Of course, not only are there new threats to be found in this location as the BTs have seemed to grow stronger and more varied with the expansion of the Chiral Network, but a familiar villain from the past has also returned even stronger than before and with an entire army at his beck and call. This grander plot is one that players will constantly be delving into between deliveries, all while taking on more somber and occasionally action focused events as well that play just as pivotal of a role in the grander storyline. An unknown soldier that plagues Sam’s travels and disturbs the Tar and the dead brings with him a poignant and emotional storyline that is far grander than it initially lets on and plays perhaps one of the biggest parts to Sam’s actual journey compared to the actual journey itself, minus the various twists that happen to unfold near the end of course. In fact, the numerous revelations that occur in Death Stranding 2 can be downright heartbreaking at times, even if clues hinting to them were there the whole time. This level of expressive writing and the character interactions make the writing in the game just as, if not more, enthralling than what was in the original release, especially since it no longer has to hold anything back.
That doesn’t mean that things aren’t always somber and depressing moments of introspection though as there are plenty of moments of levity and Kojima-style humor and interactions spread throughout the game and most of these come from unique interactions with the preppers and the various members on the Magellan. Again, for the sake of avoiding things we can’t say what these are, but players will be in for quite a treat when reaching certain star levels of “Likes” and “Bonds” with some preppers, reaching certain parts of the story, or even taking part in optional sub-deliveries. There are some downright hilarious and ridiculous events that can happen that only Kojima could manage to make not feel out of place given the setting. Now that being said, there are moments that the game’s story does tend to drag a bit and unfortunately not only does this happen at the midway point of the title but also towards the end as well. While it is perfectly reasonable, plotwise at least, for some elements to be disabled that would speed things up a bit, players will find themselves having to take part in some rather extreme deliveries from time to time and, as we will mention later, have been ramped up in scale thanks to the elements of the Australian wilderness and the new random weather events that can take place. These long-haul deliveries may be the more intense and challenging ones, but drag the pacing down quite a bit, especially placed where they are in the storyline.
Gameplay
In many ways Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will feel almost the exact same in many ways since players will still find that the primary goal throughout the game is to make countless deliveries across Mexico and Australia using vehicles, all manner of constructions, and of course Sam’s own two feet to make these journeys to try and join everyone together as part of the chiral network. As a result most of the same mechanics from before exist here as well, such is the gameplay loop and those who may not have enjoyed the original because of this fact will likely still find themselves feeling a bit bored by this loop despite the great storyline surrounding it. That being said, players will still find themselves needing to manage Sam’s weight and packages while porting them around, including making sure to hold either R2 or L2 to steady his balance or both together to grip in rough situations and avoid a fall that can not only damage the items but send them tumbling off of his back.
The more interesting aspect here though is that while players still gain access to various tools such as climbing anchors, collapsible ladders that can be placed to bridge gaps, climb hills, or even cross small rivers, players will eventually gain access to things such as exo-skeletons of various types as well as vehicles to make things a bit easier at least when using such an object is possible to actually navigate the terrain. We say this because one element that Death Stranding 2 does introduce far more of is more mountainous and rocky terrain that can block larger vehicles or hills that can make even speedier ones struggle to crest the hill without burning through their battery. In fact, to make things even more interesting, random weather events can now occur as well in certain locations. While rainfall/timefall was always a persistent threat to packages, vehicles, and built items, now players will find that various other elements will come into play as well.
Crossing through desert locations can see an entire sandstorm kick up, coating Sam entirely in sand and making visibility near zero, making players need to move slowly to avoid crashing or falling off a cliff into danger, rivers that can have flash floods and bust out of their banks, flooding the location and sweeping Sam downriver if he isn’t careful or destroying structures in their path. Even fires can happen from time to time, though this was far rarer, and would spread rapidly to limit where Sam could escape to to avoid damaging himself or his cargo. Even Gate Quakes (earthquakes) happen randomly around the continent and while some may happen away from players, those happening right in their location will force Sam to brace himself to avoid getting knocked over and, if near a mountain or rock formation, can send debris raining down. Nothing makes a treacherous four-wheeling navigation up a snow-covered mountain more dangerous than having a gate quake trigger a small avalanche and nearly send the vehicle and all of its cargo careening off into destruction. Thankfully, the title does auto-save regularly and players can save anytime outside of combat so if players happen to make a mistake and face a “game over” for destroying a cargo item it won’t set them back far.
Speaking of “game overs” or things that can’t really happen thanks to Sam’s ability to repatriate, the game’s combat system has been vastly improved upon compared to the first game. First of all, every piece of equipment that Sam has created either out of the Magellan or at an allied base will already be using rubber-bullets in some way and make them non-lethal. This means that even if players manage to get caught when sneaking around and trying to take enemies down stealthily with a strand or silenced stun-pistol, they can just go loud with an assault rifle or even a shotgun without worry. This means that various missisons that see Sam having to either go and destroy a piece of equipment at a bandit base or retrieve something stolen, they will find the fighting far more enjoyable as a result. Of course stealth is also just as viable as players can improve their relationships with certain preppers and gain silenced versions of previously unlocked firearms as well as extra things such as unique grenades that are as simple as smoke grenades to holographic ones that can lure an enemy right where players want them.
The same can be said regarding encounters with BTs. While players can still try to avoid encountering them as much as possible by sneaking around, holding their breath, and making use of things like blood grenades to eliminate them at a distance, players can now make use of the fact that, after a certain point, even standard weapons are equipped to deal damage to BTs. That being said, it is just as easy to get dragged away and having to fight against some twisted tar monster if players aren’t careful. Combine this with other weaponry such as an incredibly handy and powerful blood boomerang that is just as good at taking out BTs as it is knocking out normal humans and players will feel vastly more equipped to handle the many threats they come across in their deliveries and, of course, the different boss encounters and extended story conflicts that take place throughout the story.
As with the original game, as players bring different locations online with the Chiral Network, and in small forms without it, players will notice various helpful elements left behind by other players that have crossed over to their world through the strand system and “connections.” These can be as simple as a ladder already placed in a difficult climb to far more complicated ones like generators that refuel Sam’s batteries, roads that make navigation easier, to even monorails and mines. This mechanic remains as strong as ever and players can leave little “Likes” to show their support for items built by others and their own items, such as making a “launch ramp” that prevents fall damage to skip past a massive drop safely, will reward them with Likes as well should it appear in other players’ worlds.
Audio & Visuals
It is a bit hard to describe how outstanding Death Stranding 2: On The Beach looks without sounding like an exaggeration but it must be said that every single character model in the game is almost as realistic as the actor they are based off of in real life. These characters are incredibly expressive and it makes the many poignant moments throughout the story hit even harder because there is no “uncanny valley” here, these look like real people having real emotions to the point that a family member asked if I was watching an old episode of The Walking Dead at one point during an inside-sequence that we won’t spoil here.
The world itself is also presented in gorgeous detail and while things may be a bit bland at times, considering the locations are Mexico and Australia, meaning there are often plenty of areas filled with deserts and sand, the more thriving locations filled with greenery and various prepper locations are outstanding looking. Even the BTs and enemies that players encounter look better than ever and react as intensely as ever, with the aforementioned improved combat making fighting human enemies more interesting to watch and the BTs just as horrifying when taking them on, especially when players need to take down a boss-style one or get dragged away into a battle.
It is also worth noting that the game has mostly realistic looking sunburn, blood, tar, and even sand effects on Sam’s equipment and gear as he walks around. Traveling without a hat can give Sam a burn that only vanishes without a shower while a dust storm will leave him coated head-to-toe in gritty sand that can ironically be washed away just as easily by a tar coating or a trip through some timefall rain. This attention to detail is extensive to the point that players can easily miss out on the little things but still appreciate the overall package because of how impressive it comes across.
Considering all of the voice actors in the game are presented as themselves within the game, it is easy to say that the voice acting here is absolutely top notch. The voice acting in cut scenes is absolutely outstanding and makes every scene pop, including the more outrageous ones, and both the returning cast and new characters introduced this time around are wonderfully portrayed here. In fact, even the preppers themselves have quite a few references including a certain bunny. The soundtrack for the game is similarly stellar, with a number of standard sets of background music through the game’s cutscenes as well as songs that will play when players are getting close to a main-delivery location, something of a reward for making the journey. Thankfully, players can take all of the songs they’ve unlocked or been gifted by preppers and various facilities and put them into a playlist of music that will play in the background while traveling, giving players all the time to enjoy their favorite songs as long as they aren’t near an enemy location or separate from the Chiral Network.
Overall
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is Kojima at his finest. Refining the travel and delivery mechanics of the first all while expanding on both combat and stealth options make the title simply a masterpiece that is nearly flawless. Between an enthralling storyline that is as emotionally poignant as can be but isn’t afraid of being ridiculous at times and the gorgeous presentation in every regard, Death Stranding 2 is a must-play for anyone who even had a hint of liking the first one, though this sequel won’t do much for those that didn’t like the original.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Visit a nurturing world and witness the whimsy of childhood friendships in a virtual landscape
MELBOURNE, Australia – 11 July, 2025 –Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between, a significantly expanded VR iteration of developer The Voxel Agents’ award-winning puzzle-based adventure The Gardens Between,, recaptures the magic of childhood friendship on Meta Quest and SteamVR on Thursday, 7 August, 2025, as revealed during the Upload VR Showcase.
Reminisce throughout an endearing tale of friendship between Arina and Frendt as they manipulate the hands of time to relive precious moments of the past. Dive into a beloved story told through the lens of VR and Mixed Reality, with newly added puzzles and unparalleled emotional depth. Embark on a charming journey, brought to life in clever new ways.
Since the original story, two decades have passed, and Frendt is in the middle of moving once again. A diary slips out amongst his possessions, belonging to his dear friend, Arina. As he opens the diary, Frendt is transported back to The Gardens Between, this time, guided by Arina’s cherished diary. Thanks to this fresh perspective, Hidden Memories recontextualizes the original game, allowing new players to jump in without missing any context.
Help Frendt and Arina navigate across captivating island levels, bending time forward and back through fluid hand movements. Reflect upon memories across the islands, manipulate objects, and solve puzzles. Observe as the pages of Arina’s diary come alive, revealing the depth of the duo’s friendship. Glimpse a new perspective of Arina’s adolescence, as told by her treasured diary and experienced by Frendt for the first time.
Interact with tangible objects for whimsical moments in a virtual landscape. Lift a paintbrush to create pieces of art, pick up and examine familiar toys, or piece together beads to form colorful friendship bracelets. Unravel an intimate dreamscape through a whole new lens, as memories of the past tell a heartfelt story in a different light.
“Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between pays homage to precious friendships we hold near and dear to our hearts,” says Simon Joslin, co-founder of The Voxel Agents. “We are ecstatic to share the release date with our fans. We can’t wait for you to see this world in all new lighting, only achievable through the magic of Virtual and Mixed Reality.”
Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between launches on Meta Quest platforms and SteamVR on Thursday, 7 August, 2025. For more information, please visit The Voxel Agents’ official website, and follow the team on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
About The Voxel Agents
Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, The Voxel Agents was founded in 2009 by Simon Joslin, Matthew Clark, and Tom Killen to create games that kindle curiosity with a passion for highly focused gameplay. Previous achievements include their highly acclaimed releases The Gardens Between, Train Conductor, and Puzzle Retreat.
11 JULY 2025 – This is not a drill. Firesquid and Traptics have launched Xenopurge in Early Access on Steam. All units, report to command. Your squad’s survival hangs in the balance!
It’s priced at $12.49/€12.49 with a 20% launch discount. Interstellar mercenaries seldom come this cheap! In this unique hybrid of roguelike tactics and auto-battler, players step into the well-polished boots of a M.A.C.E. (Mercer’s Advanced Combat Enterprises) command officer, safely leading from a retro-futuristic command console.
Less safe, are your brave troopers on the ground. Capable fighters, but blind to the greater threats around them. Lead them, and they might get to see another day and another paycheck. Lives are cheap in this business.
Alongside today’s early access launch, Xenopurge’s demo is also available again on Steam, featuring an abridged, replayable mini-campaign to prepare you for deployment.
About the game
Channelling classic Hollywood ‘cassette futurist’ aesthetics, Xenopurge is a game of squad command and tactics seen through the hazy phosphor glow of a half-dozen monitors. Build your squad, equip them, and customize their rules of engagement before deploying them into alien-infested hotspots offering lucrative rewards, should they complete their objectives.
Your troops are trained well enough to engage enemies and hunt targets by themselves, but without your coordination and guidance, their chance of survival is vanishingly slim; that’s why commanders get paid top dollar at M.A.C.E. Monitor those sensors and issue commands to get the job done with a minimum of human blood spilled. Every moment wasted will give the enemy more chances to mobilize. Move fast, hit hard, and extract your assets safely. War is your business, after all, and your job is to keep the company in the black.
“Xenopurge is built around the fantasy of being inside a command room — directing missions, adapting to unpredictable dangers, and feeling the weight of every decision,” said Michalis Papagathangelou, designer at Traptics. “Our goal is to simulate that experience as closely and accurately as possible. Launching into Early Access allows us to collaborate directly with our community and evolve the game together.”
The initial early access version of Xenopurge will feature:
2 playable squads, each with their own distinct combat styles
20 commands, each providing new tactical options in combat
25 unique pieces of equipment for ranged and close encounters
3 difficulty settings fit for junior officers to battle-hardened vets
Content updates will come thick and fast over the course of early access, with the final version planned for release within the year, featuring new squads, gear, missions, and tactical challenges.
Xenopurge will be available in early access on Steam from July 11th with an RRP of $12.49 USD/€12.49 (regional pricing may vary), with a 20% launch discount bringing the game down to under $10 USD/Euro. Tactical veterans will be able to enrol at an even lower price, as Xenopurge will be available in a discounted bundle along with GFX47’s modern-day tactical command gem No Plan B and Misfits Attic’s nerve-jangling classic Duskers for double the low-fi, sci-fi horror.
About the Studio
Traptics is a small game development studio located in Athens, Greece, founded in 2012. Their last title was Homeseek, a post-apocalyptic strategy game released in 2023. Their passion lies in finding unique and refreshing twists on tactical and strategy games such as the upcoming Xenopurge.
