July 8, 2025 – World of Tanks proudly introduces its latest Battle Pass Special: Heroes’ Paths, a thrilling tribute to the gaming legends Lara Croft and Duke Nukem. Running from July 10th to July 21st, this limited-time event features two unique Chapters, each themed around one of these iconic heroes and packed with exclusive content inspired by the Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem franchises. The heroes come to life through their acclaimed voice actors: Lara Croft’s lines are delivered by Keeley Hawes, renowned for her role in several classic Tomb Raider titles, while Duke Nukem’s iconic grit is brought back by Jon St. John, the unmistakable voice of the character since 1996.
The Heroes’ Paths offer 30 stages for Tomb Raider Chapter and 40 for Duke Nukem. Along the way, players will unlock themed 2D styles, decals, emblems, and exclusive crew members with zero perks — Lara Croft and Duke Nukem. At the end of every Improved Rewards track awaits the ultimate prize: a brand-new Premium vehicle designed to match the unique style of its hero. These tanks come with exclusive 3D styles, featuring visual elements inspired by their respective universes.
For Lara Croft, it’s the IMT, a Tier VIII U.S. versatile medium tank. Sleek, swift, and deadly accurate — this machine reflects Lara’s cleverness and agility. The tank is outfitted with iconic gear such as a winch, a hook-tipped harpoon, cables, ropes, a hatchet, powerful spotlights, and a range of hand tools personally used by Lara — each reflecting her signature style from the games.
For Duke, it’s the TS-6,a Tier IX U.S. assault heavy tank. A powerhouse of destruction, this tank mirrors Duke’s “all guns blazing” approach. It boasts a custom nuclear reactor, enhanced weapon systems, and aesthetic nods to Duke’s arsenal, including laser machine guns and grenade launchers. The tank’s design draws inspiration from classic Duke Nukem weapons such as the incinerator and fire extinguisher.
Players looking for the full thematic experience can opt for hero-themed bundles, packed with additional cosmetics, characters, and collectibles from Tomb Raider and Duke Nukem universes.
Complementing the action are two dynamic musical themes: a newly composed adventure track echoing Lara’s spirit, and the legendary “Grabbag” theme from Duke Nukem, composed by Lee Jackson.
Lara Croft and Duke Nukem blaze into World of Tanks with attitude, legacy, and firepower. Join the Heroes’ Paths and carve your way through the battlefield with legends by your side.
About World of Tanks
World of Tanks is the first team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to tank warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with gamers all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 800 armored vehicles from 11 nations, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 15 offices around the world, including studios in Guildford, Prague, Chicago, Austin, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Kyiv, and Belgrade. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Our flagship products include hit free-to-play franchises – World of Tanks and World of Warships.
The Gearbox Entertainment Company, LLC entertains the world with award-winning and genre-defining video games with rich universes that are expanded upon via transmedia storytelling, live experiences, and consumer products. Gearbox Entertainment has become widely known for developing successful game franchises such as Borderlands,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and Brothers in Arms, as well for continued development of acquired properties including Duke Nukem, Risk of Rain, and Homeworld. The company was founded as Gearbox Software in 1999 by a team of industry veterans and is headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The Gearbox Entertainment Company is proud to be part of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
About Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is an award-winning, best-in-class game development studio headquartered just south of San Francisco in sunny San Mateo, Calif. Founded in 1992, Crystal Dynamics has grown into a world-class studio by developing iconic franchises and keeping at the forefront of the very latest in technology and graphics. Having created beloved properties such as Gex and the Legacy of Kain series, as well as driving the award-winning, massively successful Tomb Raider franchise at over 100M franchise units sold to date, Crystal Dynamics is now laying the groundwork for the next generation of innovative and technologically stunning projects. Crystal Dynamics’ website can be found at www.crystaldynamics.com.
Publisher GIANTS Software and developer Straight4 Studios are thrilled to announce that Project Motor Racing, the highly anticipated, ultra-authentic racing simulation, will be playable at the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, taking place from July 10–13, 2025 at the Goodwood Estate in Chichester, West Sussex, UK.
Get Ready to Race!
Set to launch on PC and consoles on November 25, Project Motor Racing blends the beauty, speed, and drama of professional motorsport with groundbreaking handling, realism, and immersion. Now, fans attending Goodwood will be able to go hands-on with this next-generation sim racer before the official launch.
Festival-goers will have the exclusive opportunity to test drive the latest build of Project Motor Racing on three high-performance, fully equipped racing rigs. Visitors get behind the wheel of four incredible cars featured in the racing sim: the Lola T70 Mk3B GT, Aston Martin DBR9, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, and Panoz LMP1 Roadster S.
One of the game’s most detailed tracks will be available for racing, faithfully recreated by the team using state-of-the-art track scanning and environmental modelling. Whether you’re chasing lap times or just feeling the power, this is your chance to get a real taste of what’s coming.
Pro Racing Legends On-Site
Joining the action at Goodwood will be British racing stars Ben Collins and Johnny Herbert, who will be on hand at the booth to share tips, insights, and stories from their time on the track. Whether you’re a seasoned sim racer or a motorsport enthusiast, it’s your chance to learn from the best and push your driving skills to the limit.
Come visit the Project Motor Racing team at Stand 8, right by the start line of the iconic Goodwood Hillclimb. It’s the perfect location to feel the roar of engines, both virtual and real, and experience firsthand the adrenaline-pumping world of modern motorsport simulation.
Project Motor Racing launches worldwide on November 25, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are now open on selected platforms, including the bonus GTE Decade Pack. Visit giantssoftware.com,Straight4.com,ProjectMotorRacing.com.
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About GIANTS Software
GIANTS Software is an international video game developer and publisher from Switzerland established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator series. Since 2008, the game series has been released on all popular platforms and over 40 million units of Farming Simulator have been sold globally. The proprietary GIANTS Engine was built from the ground up with modifiability in mind, allowing users to create and share their creations. With offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), the USA (Chicago), and the Czech Republic (Brno), GIANTS Software is very committed to be in close contact with the manufacturer industry and to engage with the community.
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.
Critically Praised Platform Adventure Arrives on Consoles with a Brand-New ‘Challenges’ Mode and Optimized Gameplay
TONSBERG, NORWAY – JULY 8, 2025 – Independent game developers Rock Pocket Games and Lav Games announced today its action-adventure sci-fi metroidvania Somber Echoes is available now on PlayStation 5 and Xbox for $19.99 (a 20% discount). Following its successful debut on Steam, where it earned a ‘very positive’ user rating, the game now brings its acrobatic combat and mythic storytelling to a new audience, enhanced with console-specific optimizations and new content.
In Somber Echoes, players take on the role of Adrestia, a fallen tribune revived by a mysterious force and given a second chance to save the universe from her twin sister, Harmonia, now a mad architect of unmaking. Set aboard the derelict, Greco-Roman spaceship Atromitos, players must master god-like powers and fluid, acrobatic combat to explore a vast, decaying world, uncover ancient secrets, and carve their legacy into the bones of a dying world.
Somber Echoes Gameplay Features:
A Modern Console Metroidvania: Action packed side-scrolling gameplay, ideal for console players. Powered by Unreal Engine 5 players will embark upon a haunting journey through seven distinct districts, looming with decay, ruin and an eerie beauty. Every dark corner hides a story.
Greco-Roman Story: Inspired by Greco-Roman mythos, and sci-fi visuals, players explore a wrecked spacecraft in deep space that is overrun by extra-dimensional horrors.
Multiple Endings: Gameplay actions shape how the story ends, the more players explore and discover the entirety of the ship, the more choices there will be when deciding the fate of the Atromitos.
Challenges Mode: A new way to experience Somber Echoes designed to extend gameplay and provide players with intense, skill-based objectives beyond the core story experience, including boss fight and puzzle challenges with more content planned for subsequent updates.
Somber Echoes is a Greco-Roman inspired sci-fi Metroidvania set within the shell of the spacefaring vessel Atromitos, where divine ruin and cosmic rot intertwine. Awakened by primordial Gods and Goddesses, Adrestia ascends from ash and oblivion to hunt her twin sister Harmonia, now a mad architect of unmaking, through echoing halls and sanctums lost to time. Wield godlike wrath, uncover ancient sins, and carve your legacy into the bones of a dying world.
Somber Echoes is available now for PlayStation $19.99 (a 20% discount), Xbox $19.99 (a 20% discount), Steam $19.99 (a 20% discount), The Epic Games Store and GOG.
ABOUT ROCK POCKET GAMES
Rock Pocket Games is an independent game development studio founded in 2008 and headquartered in Tonsberg, Norway. Specializing in crafting engaging and innovative video games, the studio has delivered over 30 titles across mobile, PC, and console platforms, including award-winning projects like Moons of Madness and Shiftlings. Known for its expertise in Unreal engines, Rock Pocket Games is dedicated to creating high-quality gaming experiences with a focus on passion, communication, and fun. For more information, visit rockpocket.games.
ABOUT LAV GAMES
Lav Games is a game development studio focused on delivering high-quality co-development services and crafting original IP’s. The studio has contributed to a range of acclaimed AAA titles while building its own visually bold, artistically ambitious IP’s. Lav Games is dedicated to creating immersive, visually striking experiences that combine technical excellence with strong art direction. The studio’s contributions include work on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Insurgency: Sandstorm and several upcoming titles yet to be announced.
View the New Teaser Trailer for the Upcoming Roguelite Action RPG Title below
LOS ANGELES – JULY 7, 2025 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, officially unveiled its new Roguelite Action RPG title, Solo Leveling: KARMA,through an exclusive teaser trailer at Anime Expo 2025.
Solo Leveling: KARMA will be available on both mobile and PC platforms and expands upon the universe of the global hit Solo Leveling anime series. The game introduces an original storyline set in the Dimensional Gap — an unexplored narrative window within the source material — where protagonist Sung Jinwoo endures a 27-year-long war among Monarchs. At the heart of this epic is the “Broken Cup of Reincarnation,” an artifact that can only be restored through Jinwoo’s fragmented memories.
In the newly revealed teaser, fans can catch a glimpse of Jinwoo’s dazzling combat using an arsenal of weapons such as daggers, scythes and bows, as he battles against formidable Magic Beasts, featuring The Gatekeeper of Hell Ceberus, Hobgoblin Leader, Avaricious Vulcan, The Demonic King Baran, and the Godlike Statue of Cartenon Temple – all taken from the original series. Check out the new teaser trailer on the game’s official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@SoloLevelingKARMA).
The narrative deepens as original characters including Jinwoo rise to the main story stage, enhancing immersion through cinematic storytelling and dramatic stakes. Featuring isometric-view hack-and-slash combat, Solo Leveling: KARMA delivers thrilling, responsive gameplay characterized by heavy-hitting action, strategic “Blessing” upgrades that buff skill levels and stats, and growth-driven mechanics. Players can summon iconic Shadows like Iron and Igris and perform signature combo skills that echo the unique combat style of Solo Leveling.
Solo Leveling: KARMA aims to captivate both gamers and anime fans alike, offering easy accessibility with deeply differentiated gameplay within the roguelite genre.
More information and updates on Solo Leveling: KARMA will be available on the official website, YouTube and X in the coming weeks.
Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.
The mystery RPG has surpassed 88,000 copies sold and over 15,000 adventurers delving into its haunting DLC
MIDIAN (July 7, 2025) — Indie developer and publisher RedBoon has officially released a new Custom Mode for Knock on the Coffin Lid, the artfully presented fantasy-mystery whodunnit RPG wrapped in a deckbuilder. The new mode is something the community has been asking for, as it gives players greater control over their runs and allows for enhanced player creativity. Since its release, Knock on the Coffin Lid has sold over 100,000 copies spanning the base game and Nightmares of Millenis DLC making it a success for the small, independent RedBoon team (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1232580/Knock_on_the_Coffin_Lid/).
Custom Mode Features:
Venture into a freshly forged battlefield each time with a randomly generated map in this take on Daily Run-style gameplay (Daily Runs bring a new seeded map every 24 hours, offering a new run each day).
Craft your fate by customizing your starting deck from all available cards for your chosen character.
Arm yourself with relics of power by selecting any starting equipment encountered in the Story Mode.
Tempt fortune and curse alike with modifiers that will both positively and negatively impact your run.
Players who own the Nightmares of Millenis DLC can invoke the power of the Tarot Cards.
All experience gained in Custom Mode will carry over to characters in Story Mode, letting players grind XP to unlock new classes.
Knock on the Coffin Lid beckons players down a path shrouded in mystery, where the empty throne of the Northern Gate awaits its rightful ruler. As players investigate their own untimely demise, the fate of the land of Midian trembles in their hands. Each decision made will weave the threads of destiny, shaping the fates of goblins, orcs, and elves in both wondrous and perilous ways.
Craft your deck to summon allies, cast powerful spells, and fortify your defenses on a shifting battlefield. As the terrain and the tides of battle change, tacticians must adapt to overcome these ever-evolving challenges. Along the journey, uncover over 200 unique items, from enchanted weapons to ancient armor, each bestowing mighty abilities and strengthening your prowess with both active powers and passive blessings.
Stay up to date with Knock on the Coffin Lid and future updates by following the official X account and joining the Discord server.
BetaDwarf Continues Its Momentum for Upcoming Game Vaultbreakers with First Gameplay Trailer, New Playtest, and Major Investment from Square Enix.
(Copenhagen, Denmark) – July 7th, 2025 – After revealing their new project: Vaultbreakers, in January 2025, BetaDwarf today announced a new investment led by Square Enix to accelerate the development of this upcoming title. The studio is also announcing their first Gameplay Trailer and new playtest, running from July 3-9.
Vaultbreakers is a top-down high-stakes adventure Action RPG. Fight challenging bosses in heroic brawler combat. Explore a dynamic world that reacts to your actions. Reclaim lost relics and escape! Play solo or with friends in savage PvE & PvPvE modes.
The investment marks a major milestone for BetaDwarf, the team behind Forced and Minion Masters, and signifies growing publisher interest in high-concept multiplayer games built around cooperation, skill, and dynamic gameplay.
“Square Enix is always looking for high-quality games and talented development studios. When I played Vaultbreakers, I was genuinely excited by the experience of connecting with other players and exploring its rich game world.”, said Hideaki Uehara, General Manager, Business Development at Square Enix Holdings. “After visiting BetaDwarf and learning about the team’s mission and passion, we decided to invest in them to help realize their dream and bring this game to players around the world.”
The funding will help BetaDwarf improve its production capabilities and deepen the game’s ongoing community-driven development.
“Being accompanied by Square Enix on our journey is an amazing access to a combination of knowledge, talent, and resources.”, said Steffen Kabbelgaard, CEO and Game Director at BetaDwarf. “We are already very far with our dream game Vaultbreakers: we have a huge amazing community, and we have already run 15+ tests with more than 50,000 players who constantly enable us to refine. So getting this additional support feels amazing when we are far into production already. I can really see how this enables a home run vs having just started on an uncertain journey – yeah, I’m just really excited about our situation!”
What’s New: Gameplay Trailer, new Features & Public Playtest (July 3–9)
Alongside the announcement of the Square Enix investment, BetaDwarf is unveiling its first full gameplay trailer and launching a weeklong public playtest to showcase the latest evolution of Vaultbreakers.
Following the overwhelming success of the January playtest, BetaDwarf has reprioritized its development roadmap based on community feedback. As a result, two of the most requested features, a Solo Queue and the PvE mode, are being fast-tracked. The Solo Queue will be available in this playtest, while the PvE-only mode is scheduled to arrive in the coming months.
Playtest Highlights
Playtest started on July 3rd, 9 am CEST, and end on July 9th, 11:59 pm CEST
Evolving haven: Take your base from a pile of rocks to a powerful base of operations to unlock helpful NPC’s, new abilities, and lots of upgrades
Activable Items: Strategically use tools that enhance your build, like a grappling hook or a way to summon a wolf to fight with you
Playstyle Expression Upgrades: Expanded perk options and itemization to further customize your Champions
Solo & Duo Queue: Select your queue and face either solo or duo players.
More unpredictable enemies: New varied spawn locations system and varied patrol paths
And much more!
To learn more about the game, visit our Steam Page.
About BetaDwarf
BetaDwarf is a Danish company founded in 2012, where the team started working on their first game by squatting in an abandoned university classroom for 7 months. 13 years later, the team has published several games like Forced, Forced: Showdown, and the multiplayer game Minion Masters, which has been downloaded more than 4M times and has a 89% positive rating on Steam. BetaDwarf is now an ambitious venture company trying to push the boundaries of co-op games to create lifelong friendships all around and across the world.
Farm, fight, and fall in love—together—in Mirthwood’s highly-anticipated co-op update
[Seattle, WA – July 7, 2025] – Grab a friend and get ready to share the adventure! Bad Ridge Games and V Publishing are thrilled to announce that the Co-Op update for medieval life sim RPG Mirthwood will launch on July 10, 2025. Revealed during ClemmyGames’ Best Indie Games Summer Showcase 2025, this update brings local co-op and Steam Remote Play support, giving players the chance to explore the Freelands of Mirthwood side-by-side.
Forge your path in a beautifully simulated medieval world—now with a partner at your side. The Co-Op Update enables drop-in/drop-out local multiplayer, featuring a shared dynamic camera system that adjusts as players explore. Whether you’re planting crops, battling brigands, or starting a family, every corner of Mirthwood is now yours to share.
Player 2 enjoys full access to farming, crafting, combat, skill progression, and mount riding. Both players retain their individual inventories, skills, and gear, with seamless transitions between co-op and single-player modes. For the romantically inclined, yes—you can even marry your co-op partner and raise a child together. Children grow over time, inherit traits from both parents, and eventually strike out on their own.
The update also introduces new combat enhancements, including a directional attack indicator, enemy lock-on system, and performance optimizations to ensure a smoother experience.
Key Features in the Co-Op Update:
Play Together: Local split-screen co-op and Steam Remote Play support.
Drop-in/Drop-out Gameplay: Join or leave a friend’s world at any time.
Shared World, Separate Progression: Each player retains their own skills, levels, inventory, and gear.
Revive Mechanic: A new “downed” state lets players rescue each other in combat.
Family Building: Marry your co-op partner and raise a child, who grows over time and eventually becomes an adult NPC.
Improved Combat: New attack direction and enemy lock-on indicators.
New Content: Additional farm structures, items, and minor optimization improvements.
The Mirthwood Local and Steam Remote Play Co-Op update arrives on July 10th, with online co-op planned for a future update. Stay updated by visiting the official Mirthwoodwebsite and joining the community on Discord!
About Bad Ridge Games
A two-person development team from the Pacific Northwest focused on creating immersive experiences for players, Bad Ridge Games is currently developing updates for their debut title, Mirthwood, a medieval fantasy RPG and Life Sim Adventure.About V Publishing
Spawned from video game marketing firm Vicarious PR in 2018, V Publishing is a games label dedicated to Strategy, Simulation, and RPGs for PC and consoles. Please visit V Publishing for more information.
During its panel at this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CD PROJEKT RED proudly announced that they reunited with studio TRIGGER to create a new standalone anime series set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2.
Snapshot:
Today’s panel revealed the logo and poster art for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and confirmed Kai Ikarashi as director.
Panelists included Hugo Award-winning writer Bartosz Sztybor, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners director Hiroyuki Imaishi, and voice actors Emi Lo (Lucy Kushinada) and Zach Aguilar (David Martinez) with host Joey “The Anime Man” Bizinger.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is being created by CD PROJEKT RED alongside the legendary studio TRIGGER and will be released on Netflix.
At this year’s Anime Expo, taking place between July 2–6, CD PROJEKT RED invited attendees to the livestreamed panel “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners — Behind the Scenes With its Creators” featuring story writer and producer Bartosz Sztybor and voice actors Emi Lo (Lucy Kushinada) and Zach Aguilar (David Martinez) with host Joey “The Anime Man” Bizinger and a special guest appearance by Cyberpunk: Edgerunners director Hiroyuki Imaishi.
Following a lively discussion about the critically acclaimed anime’s legacy, insights into its creation, and more behind-the-scenes tidbits, Sztybor announced the new collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and animation studio TRIGGER to create Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. Together with Imaishi, he shared an exclusive reveal of the anime’s official logo and its poster art.
Imaishi also took the opportunity to officially pass the torch to Kai Ikarashi (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, SSSS.Gridman), who will make his directorial debut with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. Ikarashi joined the panel with a recorded video message and debuted a Director’s Voice video to share more about his motivations for the anime.
“David’s story might be over, but there’s plenty more to discover in Night City. And to again have the legendary animation studio TRIGGER along for the ride makes us at CD PROJEKT RED so excited to introduce a raw, real chronicle of redemption and revenge, something unlike what we’ve done before,” said Sztybor, showrunner, story writer, and producer on Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. He will be joined by lead character designer Kanno Ichigo (Promare, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) and Masahiko Otsuka (Gurren Lagann, Promare), who will be responsible for the screenplay adaptation. The panel ended with an invitation to a closed-door viewing of new teaser footage at the Peacock Theater during studio TRIGGER’s panel later in the evening.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is created in collaboration with CD PROJEKT RED and animation studio TRIGGER and is now in production with a planned release on Netflix in the future. More information about the anime can be found on the official website, its newsletter, or X, Facebook, and Instagram.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and The Witcher series of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. In collaboration with studio TRIGGER, CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an award-winning Netflix anime series created in collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and the legendary animation studio TRIGGER, set in the dystopian world of Cyberpunk 2077. The original series released in 2022 tells the story of teenage protagonist David Martinez, who, in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, chooses to take control of his own life by becoming an edgerunner and entering the criminal underworld of Night City. In 2025, CD PROJEKT RED announced a new collaboration with studio TRIGGER to create Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, a new standalone anime series featuring a brand-new cast of characters and a raw, realistic story set in the most dangerous city of the dark future.
When it comes to a game being “remastered” players never quite know what to expect these days. Sometimes a remaster is simply bringing a PlayStation or even Super Nintendo game to modern platforms with some enhanced sprite work and cleaner backgrounds and a few bonus elements like speeding up combat or they could be a near complete rework of the original, remastered with the love and care deserving of a title that many may have never played when it originally released or never had a chance to.
In this case we have the 2006 PlayStation 2 game Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army that saw modest success back in the day but landed long before the franchise’s far more popular titles started putting the Shin Megami Tensei franchise as a whole on the map and trying to put its own spin on things by being an action game instead of a turn-based one. So now with Atlus bringing the game back as Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army for modern platforms, just how far have they gone with this remaster?
Story
Players take on the role of a boy in his late-teens that almost immediately abandons the player’s entered name to become Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, the latest in a long line of highly specialized Devil Summoner that work in the shadows and alongside the government to protect Tokyo and other Japanese citizens from demonic influences. Paired up with a chatty black cat named Gouto, Raidou is sent to Tokyo to continue his studies and work as a member of the Narumi Detective Agency while also taking on any missions that the Yatagarasu, the head of his organization, may assign him. One day, when the agency receives a strange request from a client to meet them at a bridge at night, the pair find a young girl pleading with them to kill her. Before Riadou or Detective Narumi are able to figure out why or even talk her out of it, strange men clad in red armor and wielding immense power appear and beat down Raidou and his demonic allies as if they were nothing, kidnapping the client named Kaya in the process.
With very little to go on, Raidou and Narumi must begin investigating the capital for clues as to where she was abducted and taken to, why she was taken in the first place, and perhaps most importantly, why did she ask to die? Along the way Raidou finds a number of new allies on the detective side of things with some unique and comedic humans joining his search while on the demonic side, Raidou’s “soulless army” is anything but as he gathers countless demons to assist him in both battle and to help further his investigation with their powers.
For those familiar with the original, Raidou Remastered sticks mostly true to the original outside of a some minor translation alterations here and there and makes for an entertaining, abeit a bit on the shorter side for an Atlus game, story. The setting that places Raidou in the fantastical realm of 1931 Japan makes for an eclectic setting where old rigid structures have started to change and new advancements are encroaching upon tradition. One of the player’s first major new allies in the story happens to be a young woman named Tae who is just that, a modern woman that acts on her own volition with more casual dress and works as a local journalist trying to understand the strange events happening around town. That being said, the story itself is mostly simple in nature with its few twists and turns being a bit too predictable and the characters and even main antagonists, with the exception of a few, being one note since character development takes a back seat here to keep the plot moving forward.
That is far from a bad thing however, as Raidou Remastered’s storyline will still likely take an average player well over thirty hours to complete and that isn’t even if they want to tackle everything available to them. Those that do though will find that while some side-quests are rather unique and some “sub-plots” that involve completing mini detective jobs with the help of Raidou’s demons’ unique abilities such as flying up to retrieve a dog stuck on a building, many are incredibly bland fetch quests. Sure, players can easily make use of the fast travel system to move from location to location quickly but that doesn’t prevent these quests from feeling like a waste of time more often than not.
Gameplay
As mentioned before Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is indeed a reamster but it is one that pushes that line into practically remake territory when it comes to one half of the gameplay. You see, Raidou Remastered is basically split into two separate categories when it comes to gameplay, investigating and tracking down clues while exploring the human world and then battling against demons in the demon realm and inside of dungeons hidden away from humanity. This first part is rather simple and straightforward and made even more so by the fact that the title now indicates where players should travel to and who they need to interact with to properly advance an investigation, though sometimes they’ll still need to have the proper demonic ally with them to help smooth things along as some demons have specific abilities that are required to progress such as mind reading, flight, fitting in tight spaces, and even invigorating a target.
The investigations tend to be a bit… one note at times and considering players only have to worry about following the proper path there is no real guesswork involved in the actual investigation or figuring things out, this means that while there is a mystery to solve, outside of solving some simple puzzles align the way, there isn’t much of an actual detective game here which can be a bit disappointing. That being said, there are the aforementioned side-quests that are occasionally more rewarding and a bit unique but far too many fall into simply being fetch quests to feel worthwhile, especially since they rarely contribute much to the story as mentioned earlier.
Now perhaps the biggest place that Raidou Remastered has actually undergone its changes is when it comes to exploring locations where they encounter enemies and the fights themselves. Atlus has made a large number of quality of life improvements here, mostly those integrated into the sequel, and retroactively applied them here in the remaster. No longer will Raidou randomly encounter battles with demons, instead demonic enemies will spawn in the open and players can even trigger a fight right away by sending their currently summoned demon to attack for an advantage at a start of a fight or, if the player is high enough level, instantly eliminate a week foe without dragging them into combat.
Once players enter a fight they’ll also see that the game makes a direct change from most Shin Megami Tensei titles by not being a turn-based RPG but an action RPG instead. The combat in Raidou Remastered has gotten an almost complete overhaul from what it was before. What was once a stiff controlling action game with limited movements and combat options where Raidou would fight with only one demon at his side players will now find themselves transported into a combat arena that Raidou can move around fluidly, making use of dodges and jumps to avoid attacks all while fighting alongside two demon allies at the same time, using his light sword attacks to boost their shared MAG gauge, heavy sword attacks to deal extra damage, and even his gun to stun enemies temporarily. Alongside this Raidou can eventually learn various spells and enchant his weapon in various ways to make combat even more intricate and unique compared to before, including special “takedown” maneuvers performed when dealing enough damage to an enemy in a combo or even “absorbing” a demon to bring them into his party. Ironically enough, some demons can still resist and try to force Raidou into a conversation here, bringing about the familiar demon bargaining mechanics that fans of the franchise are familiar with.
These new changes to combat make fighting along two demonic allies an absolute blast. Combined with the improvements made to Raidou’s movement capabilities and arsenal, the fact that players can bring two demons with them is a major blessing, especially since they can be swapped out mid-battle with no punishment, making it far easier to target enemy weaknesses. While there is no “Push Turn” system here, enemies hit by their weakness will receive increased damage and be left with their guards broken, allowing them to receive even more damage for a limited time, this means players are encouraged to keep a well-rounded roster of demons with them.
Then again, this remake also makes the demon fusions by mad scientist Victor far more powerful as well.Fusing demons used to result in random skill inheritance but now players can pick and choose what skills a demon can inherit from its “fused” parents, making for some rather outlandish abilities that players can put together. Combine this with grimoires that can teach powerful abilities at a limited cost and players can quickly find themselves stacking a massively overpowered team if they aren’t careful. It is also nice to note that a large number of new demons have been retroactively added into the game as well and made available as part of the fusion pool. On top of this, there is some further paid DLC that unlocks additional signature and fan favorite demons from later Shin Megami Tensei games should players wish to add these familiar faces to their team as well.
All of these additions make the game’s combat feel like it pushes far past remaster territory and nearly into remake territory instead, if it wasn’t for the fact that the detective aspect still holds true to many of its original elements and some controller aspects, especially during standard moving around the world, feels rather dated in nature. Thankfully throughout my entire time with the game we did not experience a single bug nor crash meaning this remaster has also been successfully completed without any notable bugs throughout the main storyline and most of the side content.
Audio & Visuals
Alongside the aforementioned combat changes the biggest changes made to Raidou Remastered come in the form of its graphical improvements. The pre-rendered backgrounds of the original version have been completely removed to instead provide fully 3D backgrounds to fit with the game’s exploration and have plenty of attention to detail, especially when traveling between the widely different locations. The combat is similarly impressive looking as well, though not all of the touch-ups were quite as successful. While a large number of new demons have been added to the game from recent entries, not all of the models that were in the original release were touched up quite enough to match with current expectations and more than a few character models just look odd. Combine this with some occasional low quality textures appearing here and there and some of the title’s PlayStation 2 legacy still hangs on.
The game now features an entirely new recorded English and Japanese voice track which works quite well, though those that want the more authentic feeling experience may want to stick to the Japanese dub as some of the English performances, especially for a few of the side characters, are rather stilted sounding and even the main characters don’t stand out in any notable way except for Gouto. The soundtrack on the other hand features a great collection of background music with a mix of jazzy style tracks for exploration and rock-style music for battles and more intense sequences, making for a great collection here.
Overall
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army may have seemed like a strange pick from Atlus’ storied catalog of forgotten games but not only does this remaster push to borderline remake but it also gives us a chance to replay what turns out to be a great action RPG that may have some issues due to its dated nature and lackluster storyline but manages to deliver a game any fan of the Shin Megami franchise should enjoy and even entice new ones with its unique premise and action combat.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
A once-in-a-generation phenomenon awakens echoes of the past in Version 1.7’s emotionally rich update
July 4, 2025 – A rare and ethereal tide returns to Miraland in Infinity Nikki’s latest seasonal update, Blue Tears Season (Version 1.7), available from July 8 to 29. This evocative new chapter invites players to explore a legend steeped in melancholy, memory, and mysticism, as Nikki and Momo confront a long-buried sorrow beneath the glowing meadows of Breezy Meadow.
Once every twenty years, the tranquil landscape is transformed by the Blue Tears. These waves of radiant light bathe the fields in a mysterious glow. According to local folklore, those chosen by the tide may revisit the past and find a way to reconcile with what has been lost. As the season progresses, players will uncover a story that gradually brings forgotten history to light through a deeply emotional narrative.
Drawn by a haunting voice rising from the water, Nikki begins to see phantom-like apparitions across the land. These are echoes of a tragic past that only she can perceive. With guidance from a solitary scout and a reserved historian, she starts to unravel the meaning behind the visions. Her journey takes her through dreamlike landscapes and ultimately leads to the heart of ancient ruins, where the truth of the Blue Tears must be revealed. There, a sorrowful spirit awaits its final rest.
Blue Tears Season introduces new story quests and side content shaped by its sombre and mysterious tone. Each activity has been crafted to highlight the season’s central themes of loss, memory, and redemption. More details will be shared closer to launch, but players can expect immersive environments, atmospheric storytelling, and new gameplay experiences that build on Infinity Nikki’s signature mix of fashion, exploration, and emotional depth.
This update continues Infinity Nikki’s tradition of combining richly detailed worldbuilding with elegant character design and a sense of magical realism. The event will run from July 8 to July 29 and will include all-new story content, visual enhancements, and limited-time in-game activities.
For the latest news and updates, please follow the official channels and prepare to step into one of Miraland’s most unforgettable seasons yet.
