From the creators of Tales of Seikyu comes an all-new 1-4 player adventure. Decorate your van, set off on a journey into Japanese legend, and capture unforgettable moments.
HANGZHOU, CHINA – September 28, 2026 – ACE Entertainment are thrilled to reveal Seikyu Let’s Go!, a 1-4 player campervan trip through a wilderness filled with co-op puzzles and curious creatures.
In Seikyu Let’s Go!, you and your friends will create your characters before piling into a yokai-designed campervan and setting out into the wilderness. The van has been built according to ancient human mythology, so it might have some unique quirks.
Watch the Seikyu Let’s Go! Reveal Trailer:
Even though you may have to get out and push at times, you’ll come to love your mythical motorhome, decorating it outside and in with new paintjobs and the souvenirs you collect along your travels. Together, you’ll navigate diverse biomes including winding mountain paths, sweltering deserts, and acrid swamps, all in search of the greatest photo opportunities.
Along the way, you’ll meet a host of characters at rest stops, each with their own stories to tell, items to trade, and new quests for you and your pals to embark on. You’ll also encounter unique co-op activities such as pickup basketball, go-karting, mushroom foraging, and much more.
Seikyu Let’s Go!Key Features:
Road trip!: Rely on each other to survive the treacherous terrain and sudden weather changes, keep your van looking stylish, and become the best photographers Seikyu has ever seen.
Touch grass: Biomes filled with mythical beasts and photo ops are waiting for you and your hapless group to try and maneuver your van across them. Camp under the stars, toast marshmallows, and plan your next adventure.
Co-op customization: Express yourself with hundreds of character creation options, then jazz up your mobile home and live out your van life dreams together.
Shared shenanigans: The world of Seikyu is filled with minigames, quests, and unexpected moments to experience as a group. Locate each other with proximity chat, huddle together for selfies, and create treasured memories.
About ACE Entertainment
ACE Entertainment is a game development team with a passion for crafting compelling new experiences within the life simulation genre. The studio’s next title, Seikyu Let’s Go!, brings fans together in a chaotic co-operative adventure through a world of yokai. For more information on ACE Entertainment, visit the official website at gamewithace.com.
Lesquin, France – September 28, 2026 – NACON and Lyon-based development studio Artefacts Studio are thrilled to announce the kick-off of early unlock for MXGP 26, the official video game of the FIM Motocross World Championship. To mark the occasion, Alex VII and Romain Paolillo, the game’s producer, are celebrating the release in a YouTube Premiere video available on the NACON Racing channel.
Watch the YouTube Premiere video now on theNACON Racingchannel
Starting today – 72 hours before the official global launch on October 1, 2026 – players who purchased the “Fox Holeshot Edition” Deluxe version can put on their helmets and line up on the starting gate on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
In addition to this 3-day early access, which allows players to master the tracks before everyone else, the “Fox Holeshot Edition” offers must-have bonuses for all fans of the sport:
5 exclusive Fox liveries to customize your bikes and riders with style.
Access to MXGP-TV, the official platform to follow all the live intensity of the real-world championship.
MXGP 26: The Revival of Off-Road Simulation
Developed for the very first time using Unreal Engine 5, this installment marks a true technological and physics-based breakthrough for the official franchise:
Next-generation photorealistic rendering: Ultra-detailed modeling of motorcycles, gear, and riders, targeting 60 frames per second for precise handling.
A living track with dynamic deformation: The ground evolves in real-time as tires pass over it. Riders dig into the track lap after lap, constantly altering the optimal racing lines.
Completely rewritten physics: Realistic weight transfers and a rider animation system that reacts to every bump and jump for total immersion, especially in the helmet view.
100% official content from the 2026 season: 16 official bikes (MXGP and MX2 categories), major manufacturers (KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki…), and the stars of the sport (Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux…) recreated on legendary tracks such as Bariloche or Riola Sardo.
MXGP 26 is available in early access for Deluxe version owners starting today, and on October 1, 2026, for all players.
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About NACON
A company within the BIGBEN group, NACON was created in 2019 to optimize its expertise and leverage synergies in the video game market. Comprising development studios, AA game publishing, and the design and distribution of premium gaming peripherals, NACON brings 40 years of experience to benefit the world’s gaming community. This unified center of excellence strengthens NACON’s position in the market and creates unique opportunities for innovation and competitive advantages. www.corporate.nacongaming.com
About Artefacts Studio
Founded in 2003 by Bruno Chabanel, Artefacts Studio is today one of the major independent players in the French video game industry.
Driven by a team of over 70 experienced professionals, the studio relies on two historical areas of expertise. On one hand, racing games, with recognized expertise on iconic franchises such as Moto Racer, the FlatOut 4 DLC, and the console ports of several WRC installments. On the other hand, RPGs and narrative games, highlighted by our collaboration with Cyanide Studio on Space Hulk: Tactics, as well as the full development of The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos and its three DLCs.
In 2026, Artefacts Studio continues this momentum with two major new projects: the RPG Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, developed in partnership with New Tales and Asmodee, and MXGP 26, in partnership with NACON.
What do you do when you’ve already created what many saw to be one of the greatest roguelikes of its time? Well, people love cats right? How about teaming up with another popular indie dev and making an entire roguelike built around the same twisted humor and design of your signature title while making it all about cats and breeding them together. That is roughly how we have found The Binding of Isaac‘s developer Tyler Glaiel teaming up with Endmund McMillen to bring forth what ended up dropping a bomb of a roguelike with Mewgenics in the most unexpected ways as a PC exclusive early this year. With the signature art style, gross and brutal humor, and more all piled on top of everyone’s favorite felines and now released on consoles, has the console release of Mewgenics been as successful?
Story
Players take on the role of an unnamed “cat lady” that has recently been brought back from the dead by mad scientist Dr. Thomas Beanies and put to work to help him create a race of genetically superior cats, giving the player a small home to work with and a few starting cats to build with in the strange world of Boon County where it is clear that something has already gone quite wrong thanks to the nature of nearly everything around them alongside the enemies players encounter and even allies in other buildings.
It is worth noting that as a roguelike Mewgenics does not force the story on the player strictly, though it does advance as players make progress through various stages and make actual progress into new levels but for the most part a lot of information comes from the NPCs players talk with as they send them cats for improvements, examine the world as their party of four cats venture out and randomly trigger events and encounters, and of course face off against some of the most absurd, humorous, mutated, or even all three in one, bosses possible.
That isn’t to say that Mewgenics doesn’t have an overarching storyline, as it does, but it will likely take players quite a while to make it to the end thanks to the way the roguelike works out and how random things can be. That being said, the major storyline takes the ridiculous nature of the premise to the next level, taking things far beyond the scope of Tyler Glaiel previously had on offer especially thanks to certain reveals that won’t be spoken of here. Ironically, what makes the game shine the most is the moment to moment storytelling that players will end up inventing themselves.
While we will discuss this primary feature more in a bit, the breeding aspect and finding a crew of cats, or even one or two favorites, and having them fight a grueling battle and then retire safely to make some new kittens and live out the rest of their time either slumbering at the player’s home, outside of the occasional last-stand fights that feature players needing to trot out their retired cats to do battle against threats attempting to destroy their very home, until they pass on from old age. This little detail is minor, but a touching element considering how ridiculous the game can be and how attached most people become to their pets, even their digital ones. Let alone the ones that you’ve bred into some form of mutated monstrosity that is obsessed with eating poop and has ADHD but can dish out the most damage of the entire team thanks to being a Butcher class.
Gameplay
On the surface Mewgenics may seem like a fairly simple premise. Select four of your best felines among your growing hoard of cats and send them out on an adventure that will see them battling across multiple zones, triggering events, fights, finding items, and if they are lucky, fighting the boss at the end of a stage if they don’t die along the way. But the reality is far more complicated than that as not only does combat take place in a strategy-RPG style manner, even successful felines can’t return to fight another round as they retire after a successful mission. Instead these retired cats will now be able to be used for the other core aspect of Mewgenics, the breeding mechanics and passing on their strengths, traits, and weaknesses down to their offspring.
Mewgenics‘ breeding system is about as complex as they come and also involves some of the biggest elements of RNG outside of the actual adventures themselves as players will initially only have a little bit of information to work off of for their various cats since, despite being a cat lady, the player’s character can’t even figure out their sex on their own to start with. This means players will need various upgrades and improvements to their home and unlocks from neighbors to eventually uncover various traits about their cats such as what male or female cats may bond and mate the best and whether some rival might try to start a fight instead. Similarly, trying to pair two males together will just end up in a fight as well or neither cat breeding as a result, often with some rather humorous looking circumstances.
Another aspect of the breeding system is how stats will eventually play into what roles and abilities the kittens will be able to inherit and take on as a result. Since cats can pass on various attributes and skills to their kittens, some may start off strong with unique abilities right off the bat that make them better suited to a class assignment than others while others may have mutations or disorders that may make them either less useful, or paired properly with the right equipment or teammates, incredibly powerful. Various class unlocks as well as equipment comes in the form of completing missions and stages throughout the game’s campaign and while not everything is carried over should players die, most standard home upgrades do and players will almost always have a generally large flock of cats to fall back on, even if they might need to do a bit of work to build their strength up to match their fallen counterparts.
Outside of the house and into the adventures themselves, players will be able to send out a team of up to four selected cats as they travel through various nodes that range from battle nodes, items or discoveries, random events, and more. The battle nodes are the most unique element here since that is where the real challenge comes into play. As mentioned before, fights are handled on a turn-based isometric strategy-RPG grid where the environment can play a major factor into some elements as well. Tall grass can be used to reduce enemy accuracy, however it can also be set on fire to deal massive damage to anything inside of the grass. Similarly water spells can be used to douse flame but are weakened in areas of high heat. This means players will want to bring a team that’ll be able to handle most situations while trying to also min-max as much as possible, even if it means a bit of loss along the way.
There are two major issues that come with Mewgenics and while one of them is more like a general issue of roguelikes in general, the other is the fact that so much information is dumped on the player at once with very little introduction, meaning most will find themselves either flailing blindly until they get the hang of things or using a guide to try and figure out what each mutation might be best or various benefits from combining certain equipment with certain disorders. The other issue is that randomness can sometimes be a major factor in completely ruining a run or devastating a player’s progress for a short period of time. This is something to be expected in a roguelike but it often feels exceptionally punishing here since runs can often last for a few hours with a team on later stages and while it is possible to “save scum” the game does warn players that there are consequences for doing it too many times that include debuffing the player’s cats and straight up removing control if they do it too often in a run.
Audio & Visuals
Mewgenics is something akin to a fever dream someone might have of how felines might look when they’ve been subjected to radioactive material… or cross-bred so much that some of their kittens might barely look like a normal cat anymore, let alone a cat that might have two heads or some other weird mutation. The creepy-chibi design of the world is bleak and wonderful at the same time with stylish presentation and the multitude of feline designs making it possible for players to spend hours upon hours and not manage to get an exact duplicate. Combine this with the dark nature and crude designs sometimes, including plenty of crude animations, and a large enemy variety to work with and Mewgenics will have plenty to keep players looking at throughout their entire time with the roguelike.
The title doesn’t feature much in the way of voice work unless you count meowing because in that case the game features so much meowing and purring that it’s a wonder how many they’ve crafted for the game. The soundtrack also consists of a ridiculously catchy number of background tracks that work with both the exploration and combat missions and even the slower moments back at the home base where players will find themselves tidying up the mess that comes with living with a hoard of in-bred and mutated cats, with nearly every song being a perfect fit for the nature of the game.
Overall
Mewgenics makes the transition to consoles purrfectly and it does it in a way that not only makes sure that this exceptional roguelike has retained all of its unique humor and grossly cartoonish designs but all of its complexity as well, making it one of the deepest games of its genre. That being said, while Mewgenics remains a hilarious and often great time, it can be just as frustrating as it is enjoyable due to poor luck and some real rough onboarding for those who have never played the game before.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
EASPORTSFC™ welcomes fans to The World’s Game with the launch of EASPORTSFC™ 27, inviting players to step into The Grounds for the very first time
EA SPORTS FC™ 27 is available worldwide today, giving football fans everywhere more ways to play, compete, and connect through The World’s Game. Welcoming players to The Grounds*, a new social football playground where fans can live out their street to stadium football fantasy, EA SPORTS FC™ 27 introduces more accessible experiences for first-time players and meaningful gameplay and mode updates for returning fans, based on feedback from the FC community.
EA SPORTS FC™ 27 launches alongside the EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile 27 Season Update and Anniversary Event, for fans to enjoy EA SPORTS FC™ wherever they play. Plus, EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Lite offers a free-to-download** streamlined introduction to The World’s Game, featuring a curated selection of content and modes from the full EA SPORTS FC™ 27 experience for fans to try.
WATCH THE FC 27 LAUNCH TRAILER NOW
“FC 27 is the biggest football experience we’ve ever delivered, with more ways for every fan to find their place in The World’s Game,” said Nick Wlodyka, SVP and Group GM, EASPORTSFC. “At the heart of that is The Grounds, one of our biggest mode innovations in years, introducing a new social football playground where players can compete, connect, and express themselves on and off the pitch. Alongside meaningful updates across Football Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and gameplay, FC 27 has been shaped by our community. We’re incredibly proud of what our teams have built, and we can’t wait to see how fans around the world make FC 27 their own.”
The Grounds: Step into The Grounds*, a social football playground where the streets meet the stadium. From Kickabouts and 1v1s to teaming up with friends in Clubs, connect with renowned football mentors, improve your abilities, and express yourself on and off the pitch.
Career Mode: A rebuilt Transfer Market introduces active club bidding and realistic player values enhanced by TransferRoom. Master new negotiation tactics, including performance and buy-back clauses, as Dynamic OVRs reflect player form, morale, and fitness across every club. Plus, build, play, and share custom scenarios through a standalone web portal, and discover community-made and curated Manager Live Creator Challenges throughout the new season.
Football Ultimate Team™: Immortalise your dream club in the brand-new FUT Gallery, curating Sets of past and present Player Items to grow your Gallery Level, earn rewards, and build your Club’s identity throughout the new season. Discover Holographic variants and Hall of FUT™ Player Items, exchange Items with ease in streamlined SBCs, and take on new Single Player Live Events.
Gameplay: Feel greater control in every game mode with more fluid, true-to-life gameplay, featuring dynamic corners, enhanced attacking awareness, player-focused defending tailored for competitive play, and more community-driven innovations.
EA SPORTS FC™ 27 continues to be the most authentic simulation football experience worldwide, bringing football fans closer to their favourite leagues, clubs, and players with unrivalled authenticity, featuring 21,000+ players from 800+ clubs and national teams, competing in 140 stadiums and 35+ leagues, all powered by the support of more than 300+ global football partners.
EASPORTSFC™ 27 LITE
For fans looking to step onto the pitch for the first time, EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Lite offers a free-to-download** streamlined introduction to The World’s Game, featuring a curated selection of content and modes from the full EA SPORTS FC™ 27 experience. Whether playing for the first time, sharpening skills, or challenging players online, FC 27 Lite is the most accessible way for fans to start their EA SPORTS FC™ 27 journey, with access to modes limited to Kick-Off, Learn to Play, Online Friendlies, and Online Seasons.
Players can upgrade to the full EA SPORTS FC™ 27 experience at any time, available on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, EA app, Steam and Epic Games Store.
Featuring 120 tracks from 36 nations, the EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Soundtrack builds on more than 20 years of music discovery, bringing together global artists, emerging talent, and unreleased music to The World’s Game. Listen to the EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Soundtrack on Spotify today.
PLAY EASPORTSFC™ 27 TODAY
EA SPORTS FC™ 27 is available now on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
EA Play*** members receive access to a 10-hour trial of EA SPORTS FC™ 27. With trial progress carrying over to the full game, members can keep the season going right where they left off. Plus, EA Play members receive 10% off EA digital purchases, including the full game, FC Points and more.
For more information on EA SPORTS FC™ 27, please visit ea.com/fc27 and ensure you’re following our global social channels for all the latest upcoming news and announcements for EA SPORTS FC™. Learn more about how players can provide feedback directly to our development teams in the FC Feedback Hub.
*The Grounds mode, including Clubs, is available only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 versions.
**Requires persistent internet connection & EA Account. Available modes, features, and content aren’t available at all times and in all territories and are subject to change in FC 27 Lite. Available modes at launch: Kick-off, Learn to Play, Online Friendlies, Online Seasons.
***Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.
About Electronic Arts Electronic Arts is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL and EA SPORTS™ College Football. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
Get a headstart, keep everything you unlock and experience the game ahead of its wider release
Munich, Germany – September 25th, 2026 – Independent developer Armative Studios today announced that Steel Aces, the free-to-play tank MMO focused on skill-based, historically authentic armoured warfare, is inviting players to take part in an Open Play weekend via the Steel Aces website from September 25 at 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST through September 27 at 23:00 BST / September 28 at 00:00 CEST.
During the Open Play weekend, players will be able to experience Steel Aces as if the game had fully launched, with all the main features of the game available to explore and no monetisation enabled. Everything players unlock during the event will be kept, giving new and returning players the chance to get a headstart while experiencing how far the game has come since the last playtest.
The free-to-play tank MMO puts skill over spending, with fair tank-on-tank combat where tactics and player ability decide the outcome of each battle. There are no player-controlled artillery or aircraft, keeping the focus firmly on direct ground combat. With no premium ammunition, pay-to-win mechanics or unfair RNG, players can rely on their own decisions rather than paid advantages or random outcomes. Steel Aces features a genuine ballistics simulation and component-based damage system, where shots can damage individual parts rather than simply depleting a health bar and shot placement matters a lot more than in similar games.
Built around more than 100 years of armoured warfare, Steel Aces currently features a selection of over 150 historically authentic vehicles, spanning from the Interwar Period and World War II through to the early Cold War. Developed with military museums and partners with hands-on tank experience, the game focuses on realistic line-of-sight combat, where positioning, vehicle knowledge and decisive action are key. During Open Play, players can experience these systems while progressing through the game’s ranks and unlocking new vehicles, with everything they earn kept beyond the weekend.
“At Armative Studios, we wanted to create a tank game that genuinely respects the machines and history behind them,” said Michael Schmotz, CEO at Armative Studio. “Every vehicle should feel true to the machine it represents, from how it moves and handles to how its armour and ammunition interact in combat. Steel Aces is built on an authentic simulator foundation, with compromises made only where needed to ensure the game remains playable and, more importantly, fun!”
Account creation is now open, allowing players to create their Steel Aces account and secure their username before joining the Open Play weekend. Visit the Steel Aces website and follow the instructions to ensure you are ready to join the battlefield.
About Armative Studios Steel Aces is proudly developed in Germany by a team of just three developers with a background in engineering, automotive and games. This gives a new perspective on a long-established franchise with a commitment to authenticity, technical excellence, and innovative gameplay. We are committed to “the tank game that never was”, with fair gameplay and monetisation aimed at long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits and gambling mechanics.
Build thriving settlements, take care of your settlers’ needs and explore the frontierlands as you discover your family’s secret
Oberhaching, Germany, September 25, 2026 – The time has come. Follow the call of adventure, travel to the iconic era of the American Wild West during the gold rush and build thriving settlements for the pioneers who decided to join you on your adventure. Development team EmpireCraft Studios and German indie publisher Toplitz Productions are proud to announce that their classic city builder Wild West Pioneers is available now in Early Access on PC via Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store.
Enjoy classic city building, experience the hardships of setting up and maintaining prosperous settlements and embark on an exciting adventure set against the story-rich backdrop of the American frontier during the gold rush. However, this is only the beginning: During the course of the Early Access not only will the invaluable feedback from the community help the dedicated development team to improve the game, but a roadmap filled to the brim with additional features and tons of fresh content will expand the gameplay experience.
About the game: Wild West Pioneers is a city-builder, where every sunset brings a new adventure. From timber to gold, from makeshift homes to bustling towns, you have to manage production and care for your people. Follow a story full of dangers while exploring the unforgiving frontier. Giddyup, Partner!
Going West As the leader of a group of pioneers, you are responsible for guiding your people as you expand into the untamed Wild West. Find the perfect places to establish new settlements and turn them into a home for you and your settlers.
Life’s Adventure Everyone has a reason to head west: debt, heartbreak, hope, or… gold fever. But why did your father never come back? Beneath the struggle to build new settlements lies a personal journey to find him and keep the promise you made.
Exploring the Frontier The West is called Wild for a reason. The frontier you’re about to explore is full of surprises, adventures and opportunities just waiting to be seized. Send your Scouts to discover new locations that you can explore, and chart your course westward!
Cities Full of Life Settlers come west in search of a better life. Food and shelter may be enough at first, but a thriving town needs more. Keep your people satisfied, earn their trust, and they may help turn your settlement into a true jewel of the Frontier.
Your own Journey The journey through the Frontier is yours to shape. There’s always something worth pursuing. Choose which goals to follow, decide how to spend your rewards, and grow the town in the way that feels right.
Wild West Pioneers is available now in Early Access via Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store. More information can be found on the respective store pages. Join our official Discord server to get the latest information on Wild West Pioneers and stay up-to-date about all exciting titles from Toplitz Productions.
About EmpireCraft Studios EmpireCraft Studios is a game development company established in 2024. The studio brings together a team of seasoned developers who have previously worked on titles like Aztecs – The Last Sun. EmpireCraft Studios specializes in creating city-building games with survival elements. With a strong foundation in the genre, the studio aims to deliver immersive and challenging experiences that blend strategic city management with survival mechanics, appealing to both hardcore and casual players.
About Toplitz Productions The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.
Face The Djinn. Embrace Your Rebirth. Shape Destiny Itself.
Dubai, UAE (September 25, 2026) | Today, solo developer Rooted Elevation proudly announced that its Arabian folklore-inspired psychological horror visual novel, Saraab: Beyond The Veil, will be released on November 3, 2026, on Windows PC via Steam. A new demo for Saraab: Beyond The Veil will be available during Steam Next Fest: October 2026 Edition.
Play as Elham, a schoolgirl whose brother has suddenly been kidnapped. In a story where saving your brother means facing your own demons, Elham must go on a journey confronting foes she could’ve never imagined. To forge her own destiny, she must unlock the powers of her bloodline. Each encounter, whether with monsters born of the night or fragments of her own psyche, draws Elham closer to the truth behind the abduction and to knowing who she truly is.
Watch theSaraab: Beyond The VeilRelease Date Trailer
Saraab: Beyond The Veil is a story of self-discovery and connection, harnessing the supernatural spirits of Arabian mythology to pay homage to the developer’s heritage, combining Gulf-inspired folklore with psychological horror to uniquely craft an emotional family story. It draws on djinn traditions and tales known across the Gulf and UAE in particular, bringing a less familiar cultural perspective to the visual-novel horror space.
While horror is the setting of the game, healing is what moves the story forward. As Elham confronts the beliefs and inner shadows shaped by her family experiences, she gains the ability to change reality. Her choices influence both her path and the ending.
“I’m incredibly excited to bring this story to players and share a world shaped by authentic cultural themes, folklore, and emotional experiences that are rarely explored in games,” said developer Lubna Ahmed. “I hope players everywhere can connect with the game’s story and characters, because ultimately, it’s a story about the human heart.”
Key Features ofSaraab: Beyond The Veil:
Arabian Influences: The studio draws inspiration from Arabian folklore, lived traditions, and perspectives that are not often seen in games, creating worlds with their own unique identity
Beautifully Unsettling: Experience hand-drawn anime visuals, a hauntingly emotional soundtrack, and a narrative that explores trauma, strength, and the duality of the human heart
Heart vs. Ego: Navigate tense encounters with two fateful characters — Elham’s Shadow and Guide — who hold the keys to her awakening
No Rest for the Wicked: Dive into Elham’s consciousness, confronting the past to reclaim her future
Branching Storylines: Shape Elham’s story through meaningful choices and three different endings
Accessibility: The game uses the dyslexia-friendly Atkinson Hyperlegible font to enhance readability and ensure an accessible experience for all players
Saraab: Beyond The Veil will be released on November 3 on Windows PC via Steam. Psychological horror and visual novel fans alike can wishlist the game on Steam today and look forward to the upcoming Steam Next Fest: October 2026 Edition demo on October 19.
About Rooted Elevation
Rooted Elevation creates narrative-driven visual novels about self-discovery and human connection, designed to inspire reflection, empathy, and personal growth.
Saraab: Beyond The Veil is the first commercial release from solo developer Lubna Ahmed. She leads the game’s development, writing, and music, while collaborating with external specialists where needed.
Senior year is almost over. Make it count in this raunchy, early 2000s-inspired open-world adventure.
September 25, 2026 — Class is back in session for those with a penchant for reliving those awkward high school years in true Y2K style. Agefield High: Rock the School is out now on PlayStation 5, bringing its cringeworthy, raunchy, and early 2000s-inspired open-world adventure to console, with Xbox Series X|S following on October 2. Play as Sam, a high school senior with graduation on the horizon, and spend your final months cutting class (or actually showing up), causing chaos around Agefield, and doing whatever it takes to become the big man on campus.
Be a model student, be every teacher’s nightmare, or land somewhere questionably in between. Explore the open world of Agefield, pick up side hustles for some extra cash, spend your earnings on new clothes, bikes, hairstyles, and more, and keep an eye out for teachers and the cops if you decide to break a few rules along the way. Turn up the pop-punk and get ready to become a legend!
AboutAgefield High:
A Senior Year to Remember (or Regret): Follow Sam’s journey through 30+ main missions filled with humor, rebellion, and teenage drama.
Raise Hell Across Agefield: Freely roam the school campus, town center, neighborhoods, and countryside in a fully open world.
Side Hustle Your Way to the Top: Take on side hustles, earn cash, and complete mini missions to become the talk of the school.
Go to Class…or Don’t: Attend or skip classes while navigating schedules, routines, and consequences.
Your Look, Your Legacy: Upgrade your look with new clothes, bikes, hairstyles, and more.
Pop-Punk, Satire, and Zero Chill: A pop-punk soundtrack, vibrant visuals, and satirical tone bring the era to life.
Relive those awkward phases: With the intention of capturing the true spirit of the “good old days” in every form, Agefield High’s whole vibe is in keeping with the millennium zeitgeist… including the corny interactions and dialogue that we’ve grown to love (or cringe at!)
Agefield High: Rock the School is available now on PlayStation 5 for £24.99/$27.49/€29.99, with the Xbox Series X|S version launching October 2. The game is also available now on PC via Steam. (*Note that exchange rate fluctuations in the digital store may slightly affect your local pricing).
About Refugium Games
Refugium Games is a garage-band-style indie studio creating games that explore untapped ideas. Their journey began as a solo developer with a vision centered around classic grey alien stories, culminating in the release of Greyhill Incident in 2023. After continuing to grow and learn, the team expanded following the release of Vacant’s Mine, setting its sights on its most ambitious project yet: Agefield High: Rock the School, an open-world game about teenage life and rebellion.
When it comes to games about flying around, there are very few out there that aren’t either simply shoe-horned mechanics into an open-world game, those that are entirely on-rails, or even the occasional flight sim that allows players to fly all over the world. There is a drought in games that offer players a chance to step into the cockpit of a fighter jet and take to the skies and dogfight other pilots or take on ground forces and only Ace Combat has stepped in to fill that role, but even then it has been quiet for seven years. After seven years of silence, Bandai Namco’s Aces are looking to bring back that same feeling of fighter jet combat that fans have been hoping for with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Offering a lengthy and visually gorgeous campaign and a slew of multiplayer options, is this everything fans could hope for?
Story
The player finds themselves floating on an inflatable life raft alongside the only other surviving member of their escape helicopter, a mechanic named Jenkins and the player, who never speaks but is assigned to eventually be a pilot once again as the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) is all but destroyed and the aircaft carrier that has saved them, the FCU Endurance, is the last known aircraft carrier to their knowledge alongside a few destroyers. With the FCU being steamrolled by the Republic of Sotoa thanks to their use of orbital weaponry known a Tonitrus Spears and blitzkrieg invasion, the FCU has crumbled and they need every hand, even if they may still be injured, meaning players are assigned to the weapons management of Jan Cope, better known as Rex, who flies under the mantle of the Wings of Theve.
Almost immediately the player is informed that the “Wings of Theve” is simply a title and nothing more, something that is meant to serve as a piece of propaganda to help what remains of the FCU feel like they have a winning Ace pilot out there somewhere protecting the skies and taking the feight to Sotoa. Upon setting out on a mission to try to obtain supplies at a neutral nation and being turned away as the FCU isn’t seen as an established country anymore, Cope and the rest of his squad, Joker Team, catch a distress call from a passenger plane evacuating refugees being pursued by elite Sotoan Shadow pilots. Sending the rest of the squad ahead as protection for the innocents, Cope tries to serve as a diversion only to end up being shot down and killed in action. Despite the player’s best efforts to rescue him, the best they can do is recover his dog tags before being fished from the sea by a rescue chopper.
Upon recovering from the crash, the XO informs that the Wings of Theve does not die, he simply lives on as a new pilot and it is time for the player to take up that mantle, donning the pilot helmet marked Rex and callsign Wings of Theve as the team leader of Joker squadron. This secret is kept from all civilian members on board outside of Tasha, a trick pilot who happened to be aboard the ship when it was forced to flee the invasion. This thrusts players into being the crux of the FCU’s plans to take back what they can of their land, since while Cope was an excellent pilot, he never was a combatant and now that the player is at the stick, it’s time to take down anything in their way. All while Cope’s ghost speaks in the back of their mind, living on as a specter with unfinished business and plenty of vague hints for the player throughout the lengthy story.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve takes a different approach from the previous entries by placing players behind the shoes of an entirely unnamed protagonist who is only shown through a first-person perspective during cutscenes. In these cutscenes players can look around, zoom in, and various other aspects while listening to characters talk, but not talk at all for themselves. The only optional dialogue comes in the form of simply replying Yes or No to questions or command over the radio during combat. These can range from simply giving the player’s wingmen some encouragement, giving them the freedom to support another squadron, or even warn them that they were nearly killed if the player manages to save them. This is a bit of a disappointment as the crew of FCU Endurance and Joker Squadron are a delight when they are talking to one another.
Every character has a backstory and reason to keep fighting as players learn throughout the story, even if they have no direct input themselves. This creates an interesting storyline where players care about their team surprisingly easily considering they aren’t directly interacting with them outside of combat. This is especially true since every single one of Joker squad has their own story arc that takes place over the course of missions and some of them are quite impactful, showcasing the horrors of war and loss, or overcoming one’s fear of fighting. Of course, the core storyline of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is both as ridiculous as the franchise can be and grounded in some form of reality by showing the desperation of a nation at the brink of annihilation struggling against a far superior force and their literal superweapons. Players will face off against everything from land battleships to dodging railgun shots that can decimate them in an instant or even working to throw kinetic weapons from space off course and avoid total destruction, all while still taking on enemy pilots and ground units.
One thing that is interesting to note, that while it may not play a major role in the storyline, how well players protect some units in certain battles or how well they perform will be mentioned or discussed in later missions. For example, protecting enough landing craft while providing air support for a land invasion can lead to the ground forces praising the Wings of Theve for protecting them with high morale, or in the same mission it is entirely possible to have only one landing craft make it, with side-characters and ground units either dying altogether or simply complaining that they can’t trust the Wings for anything. This is a small but interesting detail especially since it encourages players to do their best or give their wingmen freedom to act when needed as it often results in the best outcomes rather than build resentment in the team or lose dialogue during missions.
If there is one downside to the story it is the fact that despite players having plenty of time in the air with their squad and even a first-person perspective in cut-scenes as they talk aboard the Endurance, there is never a chance to actually walk around or initiate dialogue of any kind with them and considering the amount of detail that went into writing these characters and the design of the ship itself it is a bit of a disappointment players are never really given an option to throughout the story.
Gameplay
One of the key aspects of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is that players have two different styles that they can approach controlling their jet. With Standard controls players will have an easier time maneuvering the aircraft and performing various dives, pitching up, and even zero-g turns without losing control of their aircraft or trying to fiddle with every aspect. On the other hand, Standard mode does limit some player controls as well and makes it so other advanced maneuvers such as acrobatic flight or even inverted combat are impossible unless players swap to the more complex Expert controls. The latter is definitely recommended only for veterans of the genre as it can be quit difficult to keep an eye on everything during combat while keeping the aircraft steady or ducking and weaving lock-ons, deploying limited flares to avoid a missile strike, or an enemy on the player’s six.
Before every mission players will be able to select a fighter jet from any that they have unlocked, equip it with various special weaponry such as long-range air to air missiles, multi-lock missiles, bombs for ground targets, or even air to ground missiles. Players are always given an infinite amount of machine gun ammo but will have a limited amount of ammo for their special weaponry and even standard missiles. This can mean that if players are careless or over-extend themselves that near the end of a mission they may be running entirely on machine guns to eliminate ground forces or dogfighting enemy pilots. In many ways players will need to pay attention to their mission briefing as before every sortie they can customize their aircraft loadout to fit the conditions. Highlighting long range air-to-air missiles allows players to take quick decisive strikes at an enemy formation early before they come into contact, while air-to-ground missiles can safely dispatch ground force such as AA guns, howitzers, tanks, etc. without catching flak fire, lock-ons, or smashing into the ground.
In a similar but more limited fashion, players can also select the jets that the rest of Joker squad will be flying though they cannot customize what parts will be added onto the jet nor the special weapon that will be equipped. As for these parts, they are various unlocks players obtain through the upgrade tree utilizing MRP (Mission Report Points) that are obtained at the end of every mission and awarded for taking down various enemies including non-target foes, clear time, damage level, and any deductions for having to restart from a checkpoint. MRP is used to unlock parts that can increase things such as missile reload speed, lock-on speed, maneuverability, decrease the effectiveness of radar jamming, and the biggest part of all, unlocking brand new aircraft to fight in. It is worth noting that players will need to buy four of the same jet if they want their entire team to fight using the same type, though the initial cost drops significantly after unlocking it, but that isn’t required nor preferred as jets come in four different types. Pure attack types, multi-purpose, ground target, and support planes that all offer different benefits in combat.
Once players are actually in the air they will be tasked with any manner of objectives depending on the mission. Most tend to have objectives that continue to update as players progress through them, such as shooting down one enemy squadron only to have to deal with the next, or providing air support for a ground unit that is coming under fire. Assaulting and destroying enemy planes is fairly simple in practice but can be quite challenging depending on the target and the player’s flying ability and weaponry. Obviously the best way to take down an enemy aircraft is a properly locked on pair of missiles but they can also be downed through machine gun fire if close enough, though larger planes can afford to absorb more damage and higher level opponents can deploy flares to send the player’s missiles careening off course. The enemy will also do their best to dodge incoming fire or circle around and get on the player’s six and this is where team work and maneuvering comes into play.
During story combat players can give three different orders to their wingmates in Joker squad or let them fly as usual. These three orders are to focus fire on a specific target, focus on protecting the player and targeting any enemies trying to get onto their rear or obtain a lock-on for a missile, or disperse and let them run wild along the field, staying within range of the player still for support. The allied AI is actually quite intelligent and can hold up for themselves in combat, often being able to take down ground facilities and even shooting down enemy aircraft on their own, including a few more challenging aircraft that players fight against, though they’ll often tend to line-up the shot for the player instead, either chasing a target into the player’s killshot range or damaging them enough that the next strike will send the opponent into the sea. Players can also dictate when their allies can begin to use their special weaponry in a fight and when to hold off with the tap of a button and allies will warn players when they are getting low on ammo for their special weapons.
Outside of the standard missions with specific objectives this entry also brings back the destruction focused missions though these are only few and far between in the actual story. These missions involve destroying as much as possible within a time limit, even being able to resupply if needed at the cost of time. These missions are some of the best as it gives players complete freedom of where they want to target and full control of their plans. The opposite of these are super weapon battles where things are taken to the extreme. Players must do battle against super weapons that can unleash devastating attacks and absorb insane amounts of damage, often only being able to be damaged after certain points and really putting the player’s skills to the test.
When not in the game’s story mode it is interesting to note that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is attempting to offer the most extensive online gameplay that the series has ever seen, including a literal arcade experience when players aren’t up in the skies fighting it out. This includes arcade cabinets that contain Pac-Man, Galaga, and even Rally-X and apparently are meant to rotate every season of online play. As for the actual online mode, this is where player customization does come into play as players will be able to customize their own avatar to run around the ship that can apparently hold up to a hundred other players at the same time. The online save data is completely separate from the story save data so players will need to unlock new aircraft, weapons, aircraft parts, and even skins and logos for their favorite aircraft all through competing and completing missions with and against other players.
As a mercenary pilot players will work their way up through the ranks in cooperative missions and competitive battles. This includes Co-Op Assault, a PvE mode where two teams of four players will be set loose onto a map to complete as many objectives and destroy as many targets and aim for the highest score, with the winning team receiving more rewards. On the other side of the coin we have the Co-op Warfare PvPvE mode that sees four players on each team face off against one another with allied and enemy NPC forces assigned to each team. This mode is all about taking down other players and destroying their allies, working to build up their “Threat Level” to aim for an Ace status that will award a slew of bonus points if obtained, but also reward the enemy a large boost in points if they manage to shoot the player down. Both of these modes are set to timers with the winning team being the team that is leading at the end of the fight, and it is great to see so much focus on PvE content, even mixed in to the PvP mode, for fans who aren’t quite as skilled as some longtime hardcore fighter pilots might be.
Alongside these two main modes players will also be able to take part in random Emergency Missions that will allow eight players to team up at once to take on a superweapon from a past game in the franchise and while we weren’t able to test out a fight like this in our time with the online mode, if it is anything like facing off against a superweapon in story mode it is sure to be a chaotic firefest, especially with seven other players as wingmen. Alongside this there are regular “Event Missions” such as Team Deathmatch and standard Deathmatch as well where it is either 4 on 4 or all eight fighters aiming for supremacy but these modes are also apparently always available as we never were able to try them during the review period.
Audio & Visuals
As one would expect from Aces at this point, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an extraordinary looking game. With over thirty different aircraft players can eventually unlock and use in combat, every single one of them is replicated after their real life counterparts down to the finest details and this is clearly shown from the inside cockpit view which even has its own special effects as players lock onto targets or are locked onto, including having rain drops gathering on the jet’s canopy and obscure their vision. Of course, even when using the outside camera view from behind the jet, players will still be treated to similar water blindness if flying too quick through rain or flying through heavy clouds. So much in fact that in some levels players will need to watch out or they’ll end up flying through clouds and pancaking right into the side of a mountain they couldn’t see.
Dog fighting and combat against ground forces look absolutely wonderful with plenty of explosions and destruction to be had, especially since players can now damage and take out most enemies simply from hitting them enough rather than targeting a weak spot, unless it happens to be a “super weapon.” This is especially true during night missions or those that take place during a storm as fighting during the night and seeing the spectacular blossoms of flame and carnage are a real highlight. Outside of the combat the game’s graphics are also outstanding as all of the character models players see in cut scenes are extremely detailed, down to the point that even the german shepherd that is only here and there is modeled better than most enemy wolves in other games, nevermind how expressive the faces of the character can be.
Speaking of these characters, it is great to note that the voice work is handled exceptionally well throughout the game, whether it is during cutscenes or radio calls during combat. These can even include chirps from allied units calling for assistance, wingmen calling out shots, or even enemies crying out as they are shot down. Another area that Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve excels at is the soundtrack. While some missions may have only a standard action background track going to it, many of the more impressive missions feature incredible sounding voiced music that fits the action perfectly, especially with how tense some fights can end up being. In fact, even the enemy Ace Pilots have their own theme song they come blasting in over the radio waves, trying to intimidate the team, serving as both an effective portrayal of psychological warfare alongside great music at the same time.
Overall
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the best dogfighting game a fan could ask for. Not only has Bandai Namco Aces managed to offer the largest roster of planes to use in combat with various roles, it also delivers an emotionally grounded storyline even if it takes things to the extreme at points with how ridiculous the enemies end up getting as players face off against impossible superweapons. It also helps that it delivers epic feeling moments such as battling it out above a blazing city in a night sky while rock music blares over the radio to honor fallen comrades, delivering some of the best scenes a fan of this genre could ask for.
Between this and an online mode that offers tons of replayability and isn’t afraid to give players more ways to work as a team than simply shooting each other down, though that is certainly an option in the other mode, means that this title has a huge sky ahead for the players to spread their wings and take to the skies, aiming to shoot down any enemy in their path.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The term boomer shooter vanished from the video game line-up for quite a long time, only supported by a few major franchises that barely resembled the gritty and rough around the edges games that originated in the 90s. The indie market has made major moves to help fill this niche with their own takes on a boomer shooter and now it is time for Nightdive Studios to bring a cult FPS back from the dead for the second time. SiN, originally released in 1998, was given a remaster in 2020 by NightDive and called SiN Gold and now six years later they are revisiting the project to improve upon their work and revise some errors they made six years prior, now giving fans of boomer shooters SiN Reloaded. Sitting on its second remaster and not quite being a standout back in the day, is SiN Reloaded worth checking out for fans of the genre or even longtime fans of the franchise that continued later on?
Story
SiN Reloaded is as ’90s as they come with a storyline that is fairly substantial given the time the game came out but also dripping with cheesy dialogue, villains, and one liners. Set in a dystopian future players take on the role of Colonel John Blade of HardCorps, a no nonsense cop responding to a bank robbery that he soon finds out is being supported by the worldwide conglomerate of SinTEK and its femme fatale leader, Elexis Sinclaire dressed in as tight of a latex outfit that she could possibly fit into.
With Blade serving as the nigh unstoppable action hero and celebrating his kills, he’s backed up by a side-kick hacker named J.C. with spiked blonde hair and a pair of coke-bottle glasses back at base. Anytime Blade finds himself hindered by an electronic issue, it’s usually J.C. that will bail him out and the two will banter back and forth between levels as Blade continues to uncover more of SinTEK’s conspiracy and Sinclaire’s twisted plans of using her newly uncovered mutant transformation system to flood the world with mutants.
The story is far from serious but it is nice to note that there is some variation to the story depending on what the players manage to accomplish in some missions. For example, it is entirely possible to have a mission go completely sideways should the player not have the proper code to enter into a DOS style computer, triggering destruction of an entire coastal line and other elements. These different changes are all the more apparent in the bonus episodes that were released a while after SiN was released.
The Wages of Sin expansion missions are included in this remaster and can be played at any time and see the story taking place after the events of SiN, with a mob boss taking advantage of SinTEK’s power vacuum to slide into power. Throughout these missions players will encounter a number of different choices or outcomes depending on how well they perform and figure out that it will deviate some missions in noteworthy ways, something that was unheard of back in the day. Though it is worth noting that just like the original SiN, Wages of Sin is just as corny and ridiculous so players should be prepared for that.
Gameplay
One of the biggest draws of SiN Reloaded is the fact that almost every element of the game’s combat has been reworked to best fit on modern controls and how players would expect them to work. This includes standard twin stick aiming for the FPS, firing, secondary firing for weapons that support it, swapping between guns, and even using an item wheel or weapon wheel which are new to this remake. Players have a variety of difficulties to select from but playing on normal can feel a bit too easy at times, especially since enemies can be downed fairly easily with precise headshots or literally “gibbed” with a shotgun blast and often drop health and armor that Blade will wear to reduce incoming damage.
It is nice to note that players can take almost all of the improvements that were made in Wages of Sin and transfer them into SiN Reloaded‘s original story, this includes being able to wield dual handguns, make certain enemies more visible, and enhance the firepower of weapons that were too weak and felt useless in the original release. That being said, some weapons still feel rather weak compared to others and even more feel like they lack the type of impact they deserve, with rocket launchers or grenade launchers being the biggest issues here, and sniper rifles also apparently sounding like a pea shooter but devastating anything they hit. Similarly, the driving mechanics have also been given an overhauling and feel a little less chaotic than before. Previously the physics of driving were atrocious to the point that players avoided vehicles altogether unless they were required, now they feel worthwhile to use, even if it’s just a forklift to crush a group of enemies and break through some boxes.
When not going in guns blazing players are also given the option occasionally to take a stealthy approach or disguise themselves as a worker to try and sneak through a level. Thankfully there is no real punishment for getting caught outside of having to fight more enemies but the option is there for those who want it. One thing that is a major detriment to the game is that some areas in the game are incredibly dark to the point that it is literally impossible to see in the core story mode. Some of these locations have a limited number of glow sticks that can be thrown to see but cannot be recovered, meaning players will find themselves wasting ammo to use the gunflashes to navigate. Ironically, the Wages of Sin mode immediately includes a flashlight for players to use whenever they want, which is a strange choice considering the fact that this is another option that NightDive could have carried over into the original but chose not to.
SiN Reloaded also features a plethora of bonus content in the form of promotional material that was used back to help showcase the game’s 1998 release and even the team that was behind the Sin Gold release six years ago. These bonuses include everything from never before seen concept art, 3D character models, promotional material from 1998, videos, and photographs to help give fans a little look behind the scenes for this boomer shooter that got lost to time.
Audio & Visuals
As far as the enhanced visuals go, SiN Reloaded is a step up from Sin Gold but that isn’t saying too much considering the game still feels very rooted in the 90s design structure for levels. Enemy designs are decent and nicely varied, especially with the new forms of foes that appear in Wages of Sin and the gun models that the player can use look better than ever. It also features a wide range of cutscenes that are fairly impressive looking for the time the game was made but it is also incredibly easy to skip a cutscene as even pressing a directional button will skip it.
It is interesting to note the game retains all of the cheesy action hero one-liners that one would expect from a guy named Blade, including mocking his opponents and some back-handed banter with his partner. At the same time enemies will beg for their lives as they die or mock the player if they happen to run to reload, though a lot of the dialogue is also very compressed sounding and more than a little rough at times. The soundtrack features a wonderful collection of background music that is fitting for every level and is a nice collection of rock and heavy metal to go with the more intense fights that players will usually be going through throughout the game.
Overall
SiN Reloaded offers easily the best way to experience this forgotten boomer shooter but players should be warned that it is a very basic FPS by today’s standards and while the cinematic presentation of cutscenes is fairly nice and the storyline is more impressive than other games in the same genre, the muffled voice work and other issues make this remake one that is still fairly solid, but perhaps one that only fans of cult classics will enjoy.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
