All employees to clock in in T-0!

El Segundo, California – May 26, 2025 | Employees rejoice! Ocean Drive Studio and Kakao Games are unleashing the full spectrum of cosmic horrors of Section 13 into the world! Coming to PC and PlayStation 5, the sci-fi twin-stick shooter is available now, with an Xbox Series X/S launch coming soon.

Introducing a brand new take on high-pressure environments and performance evaluations, monsters lurk around every corner ready to take a chunk out of careless employees. Formerly known as Blackout Protocol, the development team behind Section 13 has taken player feedback to heart and used the early access period to fine-tune this roguelite shooter into a tension-filled, witty and deeply satisfying gameplay experience. 

Now better than ever, corporate has issued a mandatory training manual for your perusal. Note: Viewing is essential. Employees who do not watch this video will receive a warning. 

Corporate admits that everything is temporary, especially Red’s employment (and life) if she does not gear up and beat up whatever S2P corporation has been hiding within the Section 13 compound. But employees do not have to brave this mission alone, they can bring along up to two of their friends – or least favourite coworkers – and sacrifice them to buy themselves more time. Most importantly, the personality hire goes first. Make sure it’s not you. 

PC employees will be able to play together online at launch, while PS5 will see online and couch co-op capabilities enabled after launch. Currently, they’ll have to go it alone, but fear not; back up is on the way soon!

Whatever playstyle suits best, the dangers of Section 13 need to be eliminated now and corporate has deemed you up to the task! So get your rubber ducks in a row, rubberstamp your will, kiss your loved ones goodbye and get Section 13 now on Steam or Playstation! 

About Ocean Drive Studio

Ocean Drive Studio, a subsidiary of Kakao Games, is a company dedicated to developing and servicing games that resonate with global fans who love the same genres that their developers know and are passionate about. The studio gained attention with the release of its first game, the turn-based tactical RPG Lost Eidolons, on Steam, PS5, and Xbox. Building on this success, they are working on the second game in the same genre, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, as well as other titles including the roguelite shooter Section 13, the physics-based sandbox survival game God Save Birmingham, and an action RPG based on the IP Sword Master Youngest Son,. Ocean Drive Studio aims to deliver unique and engaging gaming experiences to gamers around the world through these diverse game genres. 

About Kakao Games Founded in 2016, Kakao Games is a leading publisher of online and mobile games, responsible for releasing titles including Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online (serviced in North America and Europe until early 2021), KRAFTON’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (serviced in Korea), Kong Studios’ Guardian Tales (serviced in North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania), and Nineark’s Eversoul (serviced in North America and Europe.

Dare to sit back and relax—if you can—through the exclusive asymmetrical two-player campaign

Kraków, Poland, May 26, 2025  | Solo indie developer Tyci is proud to share that his debut title, Astrumis-Survive Together, is now available on Steam. Drawing inspiration from games like Split Fiction and Alien Isolation, Astrumis offers a promising yet chilling sci-fi survival horror experience to the co-op genre. In Astrumis, players are challenged to combine their best efforts to solve puzzles, complete co-op minigames, and devise strategies under pressure to stay clear of an invisible extraterrestrial creature. 

Grab a Friend. Stay Silent. Work Together or Die Trying. 

A secretive alien mutation experiment, Project A.S.T.R.U.M.I.S, has gone awry, leaving a failed invisible experiment roaming the ship and killing every crew member in its path. Now, your only means of survival is to partner up with another last remaining survivor. Together, you must work side by side to solve the mysteries of the ship inside and out in hopes of making it back home safely.

Two Roles. One Exit. No Room for Error. 

Enjoy a sci-fi epic designed specifically for two players in mind. With each purchase of Astrumis, you will receive a free friend pass, allowing you to share the two-player campaign experience. Player One will take on the role of John Kowalski, the Survivor, who explores the ship’s corridors, reroutes power, and hacks into control systems in real-time. Player Two will take on the role of Yang Sungbin, the Mission Control Operator, who can view the ship’s layout and use surveillance footage to monitor the alien’s movements, guiding the Survivor to safety. Players must find their rhythm through separate viewpoints and real-time coordination to overcome time-sensitive challenges, navigate environmental obstacles, and utilize hiding spots to remain undetected. Prepare for stealth endeavored missions with constant close encounters with the invisible creature through cat-and-mouse games.

Built on Synchronized Survival.

Experience the narrative-driven campaign as you escape the confines of your decaying ship. The story unfolds across nine levels, featuring cinematic cutscenes and fully voiced dialogue. Each level introduces new survival mechanics and challenges, such as limited visibility, zero gravity, and squeezing through claustrophobic spaces. Your journey will often be derailed by system failures, catastrophic explosions, power outages, and other unforeseen events. As you progress, your ability to work as one becomes essential. Familiar mini-game mechanics will resurface to test your skill retention and ability to stay composed in dire situations. Remember, there are always two sides to every story, and each adventure brings unique challenges that could test your relationship. Uncover the lore behind the failure of Project A.S.T.R.U.M.I.S, and what secrets John and Yang are hiding beneath the surface.

Full Game Features:

• Played exclusively in co-op, this experience offers replayability through two different gameplay experiences.
• Friend Pass availability means only one copy of the game is required to purchase!
• Survivor : Play as John Kowalski, a fearless engineer, if you enjoy being thrown directly into the action. You’ll explore the ship’s corridors, reroute power, and hack into control systems.
• Missions Control: Play as Yang Sungbin, a systems expert, if you prefer puzzles that challenge your critical thinking. You’ll guide your partner using maps, cameras, and remote controls.
• Cooperative challenges allow you to learn recurring survival mechanics, including timing critical moments, solving puzzles, and playing mini-games that test your team’s ability to work as one.
• 9 mission levels featuring fully voiced dialogue and cinematic cutscenes to make your safe descent back home to Earth.

Astrumis – Survive Together is now available for purchase on Steam. To stay updated on everything Astrumis, join the Discord for community discussions! 

Coming to PC, set foot in a world where humanity is dying. The planet is frozen, civilisation lies in ruins and the only respite is an escape to a virtual reality: Etheria. Become a Hyerplinker, a sci-fi adventurer who can take control of seemingly boundless magical powers to defeat those seeking to destroy the last vestige of life. 

A stunning RPG inspired by traditional JRPGs, this neon-soaked adventure is one you won’t want to miss. For more information, check out the official Steam page here.

THIS IS (NOT) A CHESS GAME

Every move is a step deeper into a world, where puzzles and shifting tiles reveal fractures within the game’s very foundations.

May 26, 2025 – Fragile Shapes Studio announces Beyond the Board, a minimalist puzzle adventure coming very soon to Steam. In this surreal, chess-inspired world, you’ll guide a lone Rook through a land of shifting tiles, searching for answers and the rest of your party as you solve puzzles within a game turned existential maze. Imagine Monument Valley meets Limbo in a checkered universe. Unveiled during the OTK Games Expo with a first look at gameplay, Beyond the Board breaks the boundaries of the chessboard. Here, pieces defy the grid, puzzles twist perception, and the path forward is anything but linear. No chess knowledge required—just curiosity, and a willingness to lose yourself in the unknown.

In Beyond The Board, players take control of a lone Rook, cast adrift after a bolt of lightning shatters a match mid-play and sends the board spiraling into a new dimension. As you pursue the enemy King through collapsing kingdoms and cursed lands, each step forward becomes a puzzle to solve — with shifting tiles, hidden pathways, enemy pieces, and powerful boss battles standing in your way.

Inspired by evocative puzzlers like Monument Valley and Limbo, Beyond The Board unfolds as a minimalist, immersive journey. Its story is told not through dialogue, but through visual storytelling, atmosphere, and sound — inviting players to make sense of this surreal world piece by piece, through mood, movement, and the spaces in between.

“This demo is just the beginning, a first look at the shifting landscapes, defying puzzles, and quiet mysteries that define our game.”

 Guilherme Gama, Programmer & Visual Artist

“Our design philosophy was to create a game that unfolds itself to you step by step, without saying a single word.”  Bruno Mascarenhas, Game & Audio Designer

KEY FEATURES:

• Explore fracture lands – Step into a quiet, surreal world, where each area carries echoes of something that’s come undone.
• Solve puzzles with reimagined rules – Classic chess won’t be enough. Switches, moving tiles, and strange rules force you to rethink every move.
• Face enemies and bosses – Enemy pieces follow rules, but not always yours. Learn their patterns through observation and find the cracks in their essence.
• Unlock new paths and secrets – Return to past levels with new combinations to uncover hidden areas, strategies, and fragments of the story.

Demo Out Now: The demo is now available on Steam, offering a first look at the journey ahead.  Step into the world, share your discoveries, and wishlist Beyond The Board to follow its development.

About Fragile Shapes Studio

Fragile Shapes Studio is an independent game studio from Porto, Portugal, dedicated to crafting visually striking and immersive experiences. Composed of just two developers, Guilherme and Bruno, the studio focuses on blending art, sound, and design to create unique worlds. Beyond the Board will be their debut project.

The Moon Shattered. The World Has Frozen. Humanity Has Fallen. You Must Survive in Permafrost’s latest Trailer Reveal.

Oberhaching, Germany, May 26, 2025 – After generating early buzz during its debut at the OTK Games Expo, Toplitz Productions has officially released its latest trailer for its upcoming post-apocalyptic survival title, Permafrost – now available to wishlist on Steam.

Set in a frozen future brought on by the catastrophic shattering of the moon, Permafrost presents a world where ice has swallowed civilization, and the few who remain fight for survival among fractured factions, deadly cold fronts, and crumbling remnants of the past. The new trailer offers an in-depth look at the game’s bleak and beautiful setting, its survival-driven tension, and the human stories buried beneath the snow.

Trailer Highlights:

• Frozen Wastelands: A devastated open world shaped by ice, collapse, and the remnants of once-thriving cities.
• Survival at Its Core: Endure brutal weather, scarcity, and the constant threat of violence.
• Faction Tensions: Align with or oppose rival groups trying to control what little is left.
• Canine Companion: You’re not alone. A loyal dog by your side helps you track, survive, and stay human.
• Multiplayer Co-op: Brave the cold alone or with others as you can choose to survive the frozen wasteland with up to 3 other players.
• Gritty Visuals & Storytelling: A grounded, atmospheric take on survival after the fall of humanity.

Permafrost will launch for PC in Early Access on Steam in 2025 and will be playable both single player and in cooperative multiplayer for up to four participants. Visit the official Steam product page to stay updated on all the latest info and join the discussion on Discord.

Watch & Wishlist

Fans of survival games and post-apocalyptic storytelling can now watch the official trailer and wishlist Permafrost on Steam to follow development updates and be notified of future milestones.

About SpaceRocket Games
SpaceRocket games was founded in 2023. However, the seeds of what would become the flagship project, Permafrost, were sown a bit earlier. Initially, in December 2022, a dedicated trio began to mold the prototype in a somewhat informal setting. Fast forward to the present, and our team has expanded to 15 members. This diverse group consists of talented game designers, programmers, and graphic artists. Our ranks include both individuals just making their debut in the game development world and seasoned veterans who’ve contributed to numerous projects. 

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.

Stay up to date and learn everything worth knowing about Toplitz Productions by following the company on X, Facebook, the official website and Instagram.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada, the mecha-based extraction shooter game has launched its second season called Punishing Land. This new season brings adjustments, improvements, and new content for players to enjoy.

This second season is coming out after many adjustments and patches have been made to the game through its first season. Weapons and Cradle are no longer faction limited, giving players more flexibility in their playstyle. Also, earnings when selling AO Crystals have been increased and the time required to craft Cradles has been reduced to provide a more fluid experience.

Season 2 also brings new content and challenges with the addition of a new high difficulty stage called “Punishing Lands” in which players will be challenging death to obtain high tier equipment like nowhere else. Deep into these lands, players will also have the opportunity to defeat extremely powerful Enders for rare loot. Additionally, Drifters can now travel to the “Underground Arsenal”, an industrial map with powerful Enders protecting high-tier items. Another map is also available, the “Dream Island”, consisting of city ruins above toxic water, where falling means failing and where players will find high-tier items.

Moreover, the Amasia Eastern Region has now entered its rainy season, boosting AO Crystals, drop items and Enders to their high tier level, and allowing Drifters to craft “Legendary” weapons and Cradles. Finally, players will also have the opportunity to team up with other Magus such as Lynn, or Ciel who appears in the anime SYNDUALITY Noir.

Later during the season, a PvE-only area, the “Molten Dunes”, will be implemented and in which a raid event will occur where a giant Ender will appear.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with PC via Steam. 

For more information about SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada and other titles from Bandai Namco Europe please visit https://www.bandainamcoent.eu, or follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bandainamcoeu/.  Join the conversation on X at https://twitter.com/synduality.

Solo Leveling is Crowned Anime of the Year; Attack on Titan Receives First Inaugural Global Impact Award

Sydney, Australia (May 26, 2025) – Crunchyroll, the global brand fuelling anime fandom, revealed the winners of the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards during a star-studded live ceremony honouring the creators, musicians, and performers powering the global love of anime. The full list of honourees that can be found on the Anime Awards Official Website and below.

The 9th annual Anime Awards was again hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira, who returned for their third year in a row to celebrate anime’s biggest night. The winners were revealed by a global slate of celebrity anime fan presenters including GRAMMY^Ⓡ award winning singer Kacey Musgraves;  Canadian director, musician, and actor Finn Wolfhard and American actor Gaten Matarazzo, both from the hit series Stranger Things; global superstar and anime collaborator J Balvin;Italian singer-songwriter Damiano David; Musician and actor Rina Sawayama; Award winning Brazilian pop icon Pabllo Vittar; American snowboarder Chloe Kim;screenwriter Zak Penn; the comedy duo made up of Shohei Osada and Shun Matsuo Chocolate Planet; Japanese actor, musician and talent Dean Fujioka; the Japanese actor known for live-action adaptations of anime, Kanata Hongo;Japanese Academy Award winning actress Mayu Matsuoka; and Japanese model and talent Saya Ichikawa.

The Anime Awards pre-show, which was broadcast live from the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, was co-hosted by Crunchyroll hosts Lauren Moore and Tim Lyu and featured top global drag star Plastique Tiara; English professional boxer Ben Whittaker; American recording artist d4vd; American-Chilean singer Paloma Mami; Demon Queen VTuber Ironmouse; and Pioneering YouTube content creator Gigguk.

During the awards show, global fans enjoyed electrifying performances from Creepy Nuts, the 2025 Anime Awards winning hip-hop duo, who performed “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening theme from Mashle: Magic and Muscles; legendary rock band FLOW performed “DAYS” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven; and LiSA, Spotify’s most streamed Japanese artist overseas in 2020, performed three songs “crossing field,”  “Datte Atashino Hero,” and “gurenge,” the smash hit from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Fans can also catch a special Video on Demand performance from Creepy Nuts of the viral hit song “Otonoke,” the opening theme for Anime of the Year nominee Dan Da Dan

During the ceremony, Attack on Titan was awarded the Anime Awards’ first Global Impact Award, which celebrates visionary creators and groundbreaking works that have left an indelible mark on culture, history, and the hearts of audiences around the world. The final film Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK premiered in late 2024, marking the end of the longstanding, iconic anime. Yuichiro Hayashi from MAPPA accepted the award on behalf of all the creatives who brought the series to life over the years.

“Fans form deep emotional connections to anime. These are not just series, films or songs, but rather works of art that help define the identity of anime fans,” said Rahul Purini, President, Crunchyroll. “With an incredible 51 million votes this year, the 2025 Anime Awards are celebrating the creators in Japan who have captured the hearts of fans and are powering anime’s prominence in global pop culture.”

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the yearly awards program celebrating anime’s creative community. This year, a record 51 million votes were cast by fans worldwide to celebrate their favorite series, films, and actors. Some of the most engaged countries, in alphabetical order, were Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States with both Canada and Chile being first time additions into the top 10. The 2025 Anime Awards will be available to stream as video-on-demand, shortly on Crunchyroll’s YouTube and Twitch Channels, along with SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Japan and Global YouTube Channels. .

Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions supported Crunchyroll in the execution of the Anime Awards this year.

2025 Anime Awards^Ⓡ Winners

• Anime of the Year – Solo Leveling
• Film of the Year – Look Back
• Best Original Anime – Ninja Kamui
• Best Continuing Series – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
• Best New Series – Solo Leveling
• Best Opening Sequence – Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – DAN DA DAN
• Best Ending Sequence – request – krage – Solo Leveling
• Best Action – Solo Leveling
• Best Comedy – MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
• Best Drama – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Best Isekai Anime – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
• Best Romance  – Blue Box
• Best Slice of Life – Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
• Best Animation – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
• Best Background Art – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Best Character Design – DAN DA DAN
• Best Director – Keiichiro Saito – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Best Main Character – Sung Jinwoo – Solo Leveling
• Best Supporting Character – Fern – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• “Must Protect At All Cost” Character – Anya Forger – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
• Best Anime Song – Otonoke – Creepy Nuts – DAN DA DAN
• Best Score – Solo Leveling – Hiroyuki Sawano
• Best Japanese Voice Artist Performance – Aoi Yuki (Maomao) – The Apothecary Diaries
• Best English Voice Artist Performance – Aleks Le (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
• Best Arabic Voice Artist Performance – Hiba Snobar (Anya Forger) – SPY × FAMILY Season 2
• Best Brazilian Portuguese Voice Artist Performance – Charles Emmanuel (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
• Best Castilian Spanish Voice Artist Performance – Masumi Mutsuda (Sung Jinwoo) – Solo Leveling
• Best French Voice Artist Performance – Adrien Antoine (Kafka Hibino) – Kaiju No. 8
• Best German Voice Artist Performance – Daniel Schlauch (Monkey D. Luffy)  – ONE PIECE
• Best Hindi Voice Artist Performance – Lohit Sharma (Satoru Gojo) – JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 2
• Best Italian Voice Artist Performance  – Ilaria Pellicone (Kyomoto) – Look Back
• Best Latin Spanish Voice Artist Performance – Miguel Ángel Leal (Eren Jaeger) – Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centred around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

MANILA, Philippines – May 25, 2025 – Fallen Tear: The Ascension, the JRPG-inspired, hand-animated sidescrolling Metroidvania from developer Winter Crew and publisher CMD Studios and Holysoft Studios, sets the stage for a grand adventure on PC via Steam and consoles in Q1 2026 with a brand-new trailer revealed today at the OTK Games Expo.

The overgrown land of Raoah hoards many mysteries for protagonist Hira to uncover – including the keys to his own missing memories. Master Hira’s Ascension Abilities, mixing and matching them to suit any playstyle. Fight the feral dangers lurking in the shadows and access pathways otherwise hidden to the average explorer.

Hira will not face this fate alone. Forge Fated Bonds to take advantage of a JRPG-inspired party system with assist mechanics in combat. Meet an eclectic cast of characters from all over the realm, each with their own vibrant personalities – and potent abilities, providing aid against even the most terrifying threats. 

Just as Hira’s newfound friendships change his abilities, so do his actions shape his surroundings. Watch Raoah’s living environment shift in response, revealing hidden paths, new secrets, and more challenges throughout his journey. Stand up to epic Bosses in fluid combat blending traditional JRPG elements with modern action.

Called by GamesRadar “the Elden Ring of Metroidvanias in terms of map sizes,” Fallen Tear’s journeys to dozens of masterfully hand-drawn biomes. Legendary guest Composer Motoi Sakuruba (Golden Sun, Dark Souls, Star Ocean) beautifully complements each new vista with modern, orchestrated melodies.

“We’re hard at work in crafting a world worthy of our community’s passions,” said CMD Studios founder Stephen Manalastas. “We’re grateful to OTK for giving us a chance to showcase more of the excitement awaiting everybody in Fallen Tear!”

Fallen Tear: The Ascension is set for release on PC via Steam and consoles in Q1 2026. Visit the website for more information, keep up to date with the game on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and Reddit, follow its conversations on Discord, and wishlist the game on Steam.

About The CMD Studios

Founded in Manila, Philippines, The CMD Studios sets out to recreate the great memories and experiences of gaming’s past. The studio’s name is its ethos, highlighting the Creative Minds and Designs as the foundations upon which truly memorable experiences are built, to build with greatness, work with kindness, and inspire with purpose.