Winter Crew Studios’ JRPG-inspired adventure launches 1.0 with new regions, bosses and an ending to Hira’s story
Manila, Philippines, September 23rd 2026 – Independent developer Winter Crew Studios today announced that Fallen Tear: The Ascension, its hand-drawn, story-driven Metroidvania, is now available in 1.0 on Steam for $24.99 / €24.99 / £21.99, with a launch discount of 10% for 14 days!.
Following its Early Access launch in March 2026, Fallen Tear: The Ascension officially reaches its full release today, bringing the journey of Hira to its conclusion alongside a substantial expansion of the game’s world, combat and progression systems. The game’s Early Access journey has already earned a “Very Positive” rating from players.
Set in the high-fantasy world of Raoah, Fallen Tear: The Ascension follows Hira, a mysterious child fated to stand against ancient gods. At the heart of the adventure is the Fated Bonds system, allowing players to forge relationships with allies who bring distinct combat and traversal abilities that can reshape the way players fight and explore. The game combines traditional hand-drawn animation and full voice acting with fast, skill-based combat and JRPG-inspired storytelling.
The 1.0 launch roughly doubles the content available during Early Access. Players can discover 10 additional major regions with interconnected areas, 5 new main bosses and 16 new optional side bosses, alongside 11 new Fated Bonds, each bringing their own abilities and story moments. Hira’s progression also expands with 3 additional Ascensions, 6 new Hunter Skills, 4 new Elemental Imbuements and 16 new Mastery Skills spanning Tier III and Tier IV. Altogether, the full release offers 35 to 40 hours of story content, with more than 80 hours available for players pursuing full completion.
“Fallen Tear: The Ascension has grown tremendously through the support and feedback of our Early Access community,” said Stephen Manalastas, Creative Director at Winter Crew Studios. “Their input helped us refine the combat, deepen the Fated Bonds and shape the journey we wanted players to experience. With the full story now in place, we’re excited to finally share the world, characters and conclusion we’ve been working toward with players everywhere.”
Key Features:
Fated Bonds – Forge bonds with allies across Raoah, each granting unique combat and traversal abilities that change how you fight and explore.
Hand-Drawn World – Explore lush forests, lost cities and forgotten ruins rendered in traditional hand-drawn animation with full voice acting.
Skill-Based Combat – Slash, parry and dodge through the Ascension and Hunter skill trees and switch tactics mid-fight against bosses that keep you guessing.
Multiple Endings – Shape Hira’s fate through the bonds you form and the choices you make on the way to one of several possible endings.
The Temple of Oras – Customize a personal hub high above Raoah and fill it with allies met throughout the journey.
Fallen Tear: The Ascension is now available on Steam, featuring full audio in English and text localization support for English, German, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified Chinese; with further languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Turkish, Korean, and Japanese) arriving after launch. Wishlist Fallen Tear: The Ascension now on Steam!
About Winter Crew Studios Winter Crew Studio is the original game development team under CMD Studios, based in the Philippines. Founded in 2020, Winter Crew focuses exclusively on creating original, high-quality video games and is currently developing its debut title, Fallen Tear: The Ascension. While this is Winter Crew’s first original game, the team brings years of experience through CMD Studios, having collaborated with international clients ranging from AAA game developers to world-class animation studios. As storytellers and passionate gamers, we are dedicated to creating memorable experiences that engage, inspire, and leave a lasting impact on players around the world.
Hell’s forces are coming October 8 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 & PC
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Sept. 23, 2026 – Today Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games have released a shocking new Gameplay Overview Trailer for Clive Barker’s Hellraiser:Revival, the new survival-horror action game coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam on Oct. 8, 2026. Narrated by Xalavier Nelson Jr., the voice of main protagonist Aidan Lynch, this new video breaks down how your terrifying journey into the dark world of the Labyrinth will feel both unique and familiar to fans of survival horror and action.
Combat in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is brutal and visceral. With a wide variety of weapons at your disposal, from hard-hitting melee weapons to explosive firearms, you’ll have plenty of ways to banish Hell’s minions. You’ll need to keep your wits about you, dodging attacks, scavenging for ammo and healing, laying down traps, and bartering for upgrades to stay alive against Cultists, Runners, Bursters, the Unworthy and other terrors.
That’s where the Genesis Configuration comes in. Wield the supernatural powers of this mysterious puzzle box to hurl objects against enemies, scorch them with fire and much more. Use the might at your fingertips to bring the pain to your enemies, gather their Suffering, and even you can unleash the ultimate destruction… the infamous Hell Chains!
Available now, the free Steam demo* for Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival lets you experience an early taste of the game’s original story. Discover the basics of devilish combat, crafting and puzzle solving before the gates of Hell open at launch!
Players can pre-order Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, launching October 8, on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 now for $39.99. The Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order digitally for $49.99. Players who pre-order either edition of the game will unlock the exclusive in-game Labyrinth Pistol Skin and Martyr Sawblade Skin at launch.
Fans can also still pre-order one of two special Collector’s Editions of the game featuring a variety of exclusive, licensed collectibles at hellraiser.bossteamgames.com. Collector’s Edition pre-orders will unlock all Deluxe Edition and pre-order bonus content, including the Labyrinth Pistol Skin and Martyr Sawblade Skin.
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival launches October 8 on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. For more info, visit www.HellraiserGame.com.
*Progress made in the Steam demo will not carry over to the full game at launch.
About Saber Interactive
Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer consisting of 15 studios in the Americas and Europe. Creating games for all major platforms based on original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Jurassic Park: Survival, Turok: Origins, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, World War Z, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Bus Bound, Docked, SnowRunner, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game and RoadCraft. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with leading developers and publishers, including producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered, and many others. Learn more at https://saber.games.
About Boss Team Games
Boss Team Games, LLC is focused on crafting unforgettable experiences across console, PC, mobile, and VR platforms. The company has worked with top entertainment companies to bring iconic characters and franchises to life such as Evil Dead: The Game, Cobra Kai: Card Fighter, and the RetroRealms series featuring Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead. Stay connected with Boss Team Games on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @bossteamgames for the latest updates or visit the company website at bossteamgames.com.
Hellraiser™ and The Hellbound Heart titles, characters, settings, protected marks, plot lines, and themes are exclusively licensed for video games to Lament GameCo, LLC by Clive Barker and Park Avenue Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Care for these tiny companions across Moonlight Valley today on the App Store and Google Play Store
Wellington, New Zealand – September 23, 2026 – Following its mobile launch, New Zealand developer and publisher PikPok, together with global play and family entertainment company Mattel, Inc., is excited to announce that Barbie: Horse Ride & Rescue is adding foals to its wonderfully cozy adventure!
Playable on the App Store and Google Play store, players can now discover foals as they ride around the stunning Moonlight Valley. Once rescued, players can take these foals out on their adventures or care for them in the ranch, because what’s better than riding your own horse? Riding with an adorable companion!
For more on what to expect from Barbie’s Horse Ride & Rescue’s first major update, please see the trailer below:
From the creators of the beloved Rival Stars series, PikPok is bringing their pedigree in horse racing to the cozier side of things. A wholesome adventure for fans of all things Barbie, Barbie Horse Ride & Rescue is perfect for fans of cozy games looking for their next horseback riding experience with a fashionable twist! Whether that’s dressing up their character, racing in time trials or simply exploring Moonlight Valley, there’s something for everyone in this delightful adventure.
Barbie Horse Ride & Rescue will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, and players can wishlist the Steam version today!
About PikPok
PikPok® is a leading developer and publisher of critically acclaimed games across PC, console, and mobile, including the hugely popular horse racing and equestrian game franchise, Rival Stars Horse Racing. We give players rich gaming experiences with intuitive gameplay, highly polished art, and immersive audio design. Our 200-person strong team across New Zealand and Colombia have created the Into the Dead® series, the Rival Stars® franchise, the BAFTA-nominated Super Monsters Ate My Condo™, and the critically acclaimed Shatter® and Shatter Remastered Deluxe®, plus many more.
Trick-or-treat in style with new apparel and accessories
DENVER – 23, Sept. 2026 – Carve pumpkins and collect candy in speedster style with the Sonic Halloween Collection, available now on the Official SEGA Shop, powered by DPI Merch.
After the debut of the original Sonic the Hedgehog on the SEGA Genesis in 1991, SEGA continues to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the iconic franchise and characters with this new collection. Grab candy, Chaos Emeralds, and other treats with the Sonic Halloween Collection:
Celebrate spooky season in style with the Sonic: Trick or Treat Crewneck, featuring Sonic’s greatest rivals on the front, along with Japanese text and Sonic’s friends on the sleeves
Level up jackets, bags, and pinboards with the Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Pin Set. Collect enamel pins featuring Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails in spooky Halloween costumes
Items from the Sonic Halloween Collection are available now on the Official SEGA Shop. Follow the Official SEGA Shop on X and Instagram for the latest updates.
About DPI Merch
Empowered by their passion for high-quality gaming merchandise, DPI Merchandising LLC specializes in creating products for video game enthusiasts. Their team works with gaming industry titans, including Bethesda, BioWare, CD Projekt Red, and SEGA.
Follow DPI Merchandising LLC on X and Instagram for the latest updates.
Filmic Archive DLC, new single-player mode, scalable difficulty, customizable gameplay settings, and more available now on all platforms
Developer and publisher Funcom® is excited to announce that Dune: Awakening, the open-world survival game inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune and Legendary Entertainment and Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster film franchise, is now available on PlayStation® 5 and XBOX.
With the December 18th premiere date of Dune: Part Three closing in, Dune fever has begun gripping movie fans worldwide. Now is the perfect time to prepare by learning the ways of the Fremen in Dune: Awakening, the most immersive Dune game to date.
A new and improved Dune: Awakening
The console release of Dune: Awakening brings with it a major update, also available on PC. The console version also has every addition and enhancement made to the PC version since launch last year, making this the best version of Dune: Awakening yet.
What’s new on console and in the latest PC update:
A full single-player mode. The entire game, all its content, and all its features.
Deep gameplay customization, allowing you to tweak everything from harvesting rates to death penalties to experience gain. Play it how you want, at your pace.
Hours of more story content that brings the epic conclusion to Book One of the game’s immersive and cinematic Dune story
Countless improvements and enhancements, from performance to gameplay
But that’s just the latest. Today’s update should be seen in light of the hundreds of additions and enhancements made to the game over the past 15 months, all available from day one on PlayStation® 5 and XBOX. This includes:
PvP is now completely optional, the entire game can be played PvE
The Deep Desert endgame experience has both a PvE and a PvP instance, with the latter providing greater risk, but also greater rewards
You don’t have to lose things anymore: save your base, recover your vehicles, taxes are gone, death penalty reduced, and more
A completely rebuilt endgame focusing on missions and your rise through the ranks of the Atreides or the Harkonnen
New maps, dungeons, weapons, dynamic encounters, and more
New progression systems: Augmentations and Specializations
Refined action gameplay and combat, especially melee
Enhanced performance, thanks to console-driven optimization
For a full overview, see the below infographic or today’s massive overview. If you want the tl;dr – check out this Deep Dive video that gives you the highlights.
Don the iconic looks from the Dune movies with a new DLC
For those who want to go a step further, a brand-new DLC, Filmic Archive, is now available on all platforms. The Filmic Archive DLC gives players the opportunity to infuse their character, gear, and base with the power of the Imperium.
From the Caladan Stormcoat worn by Duke Leto and Paul in Dune: Part One to the Aegis of an Unwalked Path armor drawn from Paul Atreides’ visions of the Fremen holy warriors in Dune: Part Two, now you can look the part of a true master of Arrakis. The DLC also includes 73 new Sardaukar building pieces, new decorative pieces, weapons, and emotes. The DLC is available at $9.99.
Physical PlayStation 5 edition available in retail and online
A physical PlayStation 5 edition of Dune: Awakening is also now available. The game is being distributed by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe in EMEA, Australia, and New Zealand, by Solutions 2 GO in the Americas, and by Spike Chunsoft in Japan. The Japanese release date is set to October 29th.
Funcom is a developer and publisher of online games for PC and consoles. Funcom has provided outstanding entertainment since 1993 and continues to expand its track record of more than twenty released games. Titles include ‘Conan Exiles’, ‘Metal: Hellsinger’, ‘Aloft’, ‘Dune: Spice Wars’, ‘Secret World Legends’, ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’, ‘The Longest Journey’, ‘Anarchy Online’, and ‘Dreamfall: The Longest Journey’. For corporate information, please visit www.funcom.com.
ABOUT LEGENDARY ENTERTAINMENT
Legendary Entertainment is a leading independent media studio with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to worldwide audiences. Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand that consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment and successfully translates the world’s most popular fan-driven IP. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of nearly $21 billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more, visit: www.legendary.com.
ABOUT BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE S.A.S
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is a leading global publisher, developer, and distributor of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC. Producing intellectual property for a global audience, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, and production capabilities of Reflector Entertainment. Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is known for bringing many of the entertainment industry’s top franchises such as PAC-MAN™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, ACE COMBAT™, DARK SOULS™, and ELDEN RING™ to EMEA and ANZ markets.
Being revived as one of the hidden gems of boomer shooters that arrived in the late ’90s we step into Colonel Blade’s shoes as we fight against the CEO of SinTEK Industries and their nefarious plans to mutate the entire world in Night Dive Studio and Atari’s SiN: Reloaded.
SiN Reloaded – Gameplay
SiN: Reloaded brings Ritual Entertainment’s cult-classic 1998 first-person shooter back for a new generation, putting players in the role of security consultant Colonel John R. Blade in a dystopian near-future overrun by crime and corruption. When the sinister Elexis Sinclaire, CEO of SinTEK Industries, begins flooding the streets with a DNA-altering drug, Blade must blast his way through her forces and an army of genetically engineered mutants using an extensive arsenal of devastating weapons.
More than just a straightforward shooter, SiN features highly interactive environments where players can hack computer terminals, manipulate security systems, commandeer vehicles and discover branching routes influenced by their actions. SiN: Reloaded enhances the original using Nightdive’s KEX Engine with remastered HD textures and models, improved maps, modernized controls and UI, support for resolutions up to 4K and high frame rates, while still allowing players to switch back to the original SiN Gold visuals. The package also includes the Wages of SiN mission pack, new achievements, enhanced music and additional behind-the-scenes material, making this the definitive way to experience one of the late ’90s most ambitious shooters.
SiN Reloaded Developer: Nightdive Studios, Ritual Entertainment Publisher: Nightdive Studios, Atari Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC/Steam Release Date: 24th September, 2026 Price: $29.99 USD
Recommended – “SiN Reloaded revives a forgotten boomer shooter with improved visuals and quality of life elements, though its simple gameplay and audio flaws make it best suited for cult‑classic fans.”
Highly anticipated pixel-art journey from indie studio earned over 200,000 Steam wishlists
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – 22 Sept. 2026 –Nocturne, the story-driven RPG with rhythm combat set in a digital afterlife from Pracy Studios, saves humanity’s consciousness on PC via Steam today after more than a decade in development.
Awaken in a virtual world as Karma, who looked forward to reuniting with their brother in the promised utopia. Instead, Karma finds a decaying world in which a millennium has passed since their death, and their brother is nowhere to be found. Explore what’s left of the corrupted world alongside a mischievous boy and a giant orange fish to discover the source of destruction and save the cyber hereafter before its permanent deletion.
Follow Karma’s journey across a 10-plus-hour story campaign full of twists, memorable characters, and more. Explore breathtaking pixel art landscapes full of secrets, new gear, and curious encounters. Guide Karma as they push ever further into the digitized great beyond, in a philosophical narrative consisting of more than 100,000 words that ponders what it means to be alive.
Encounter and fight enemies in skill-based rhythm combat set to an original symphonic rock soundtrack, including boss fight tracks recorded live by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra. Carefully time musical attacks for critical hits as you observe the distinct battle styles of a mechanical fox, corrupted admins, and twisted creatures found deep within the void beyond death.
Nocturne features six difficulty options, including per-column-autoplay, which lets players with mobility challenges play with one hand. Each difficulty option gives genre newcomers, rhythm game veterans, and everyone in between the chance to tailor their experience. Those seeking mastery can take on Arcade Mode, where earning a high score on one of Nocturne’s 101 playable tracks unlocks increasingly rare trophies.
“Nocturne has been my focus for an entire decade, born from my love of both RPGs and rhythm games,” said Benjamin Pracy, founder of Pracy Studios. “It’s surreal to finally release what is essentially my life’s work, an emotional and unforgettable story that has remained secret from the world until now.”
Nocturne is now available on PC via Steam for $19.99 USD, with a 10% launch discount and English-language support. The Supporter Pack and Nocturne Original Game Soundtrack are also available for $4.99 USD and $9.99 USD, respectively. Seek answers about Nocturne and Pracy Studios on the official website, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and join the Discord community.
About Pracy Studios
Pracy Studios started out as a one-man studio in Canada with a drive for making carefully crafted narrative experiences. His first independent project as a game developer, Nocturne, is a passion project rooted in his love for RPG classics.
LAHAINA, Hawaii – 23 Sept 2026 –Dancing with Ghosts, the life-sim about finding joy from grief, created by legendary game developer Greg Johnson’s HumaNature Studios, bounds into Steam Early Access on PC this Thursday, 8 Oct 2026.
Dancing with Ghosts is a passion project for Johnson, whose work includes lead design on the ToeJam and Earl franchise, the Starflight series, and Doki-Doki Universe. The game was born in the wake of the tragic passing of Greg’s 28-year-old daughter and his family’s devastating loss in the 2023 Maui wildfires.
Greg found solace in the Thai culture and traditions his wife Sirena brought into his life, offering ways to rise and grow from grief. This philosophy, combined with his mind for game design, created a cozy experience celebrating joy and Thai culture, enlisting talent from both Thailand and the diaspora for art, programming, animation, and voice acting.
In Dancing with Ghosts, after a tragic accident claims the lives of her parents, 15-year-old Mai must rebuild her life in the Thai river village where she grew up. As Mai processes the loss of her family and struggles with grief, she meets a friendly young ghost named Pim struggling to remember almost any of her time in the world of the living – but is overjoyed to discover Mai can see and talk to her.
Help Mai and Pim make something positive out of their unfortunate situations by helping others, inspired by the Thai concept of utit suan boon kusohn, dedicating good karma to ease the way for those who have passed.Play mini-games like making deliveries by boat and scooter and cooking up delicious Thai food to help villagers with their daily tasks and earn Karma for Pim.
Groove to original music performed by Genevieve Goings (Disney’s Choo Choo Soul) and internationally renowned reggae artist Conkarah as Mai learns the dance moves from her late mother and sketches in her journal to process her raw emotions. Enter villagers’ bodies as Pim to hear their innermost thoughts and collect Heartlights that help them escape shadow spirits.
“Dancing with Ghosts is a deliberately joyful experience,” said Greg Johnson, creator of Dancing with Ghosts and founder of HumaNature Studios. “We all experience sadness because that’s a natural part of being human – I had to find my way back to joy, and I want this game to help others on their path, while celebrating the Thai culture that guided me there.”
Dancing with Ghosts launches into Steam Early Access for PC on Thursday, 8 Oct 2026 for $14.99 with English and Thai text and voice acting, with a free demo available now. For more information on Dancing with Ghosts, follow HumaNature Studios on Bluesky, Twitter, and Facebook.
About HumaNature Studios
HumaNature Studios was founded in 2006 by veteran game designer Greg Johnson, lead designer on classic titles Starflight and ToeJam and Earl, who has also collaborated with game luminaries like Will Wright and major Hollywood studios like DreamWorks. The studio is the creative force behind Doki-Doki Universe, ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove, and Kimono Cats and aims to build charming and playful games that appeal to non-gamers and help people connect with others in expressive and creative ways.
Restore the town, lead undead forces in battle and embrace the most ethical capitalism harvesting remains for profit in this indie-hit sequel!
SEATTLE — Sept. 22, 2026 –The dead rise – now put them back in the ground! The most accurately inaccurate medieval cemetery simulator, Graveyard Keeper 2, launches today on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Graveyard Keeper 2 has amassed 1 million Steam wishlists and is the follow-up to the indie darling Graveyard Keeper, which reached over 10 million players. Lead your very own undead army into battle, build profit-generating automated machinery out of resources like human remains, and protect the realm from the inevitable zombie apocalypse!
Sow the seeds of discord as you lay corpses to rest in your own graveyard, just long enough for them to rise again as your undead minions. Gather and collect materials like hearts, bones, brains, and skin to create your perfect zombie army and automate all the dirty work for you. Farm food, take care of your livestock, and exterminate the undead to become the most productive keeper and revitalize your quaint medieval town.
Key Features
CORPSE BURYING YOU KNOW & LOVE: All the graveyard keeping, grotesque characters and twisted humor you love is back! Manage your graveyard, craft, upgrade abilities, complete engaging storylines, fish, trade, customize your character and so much more!
A TOWN TO DIE FOR: Explore a massive town overrun by the undead, helping the townsfolk rebuild while earning some revenue along the way. Explore tons of varied locations and travel between areas with the convenient city map.
MANAGE. GRIND. AUTOMATE: Build and manage your own medieval graveyard. Harvest flora and human remains to build extraordinary machinery, automate production, and expand your graveyard for pure profit.
Graveyard Keeper 2 is out today for $24.99 on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
About Lazy Bear Games
Lazy Bear Games is an independent game studio from Lithuania, returning with Graveyard Keeper 2, the sequel to the original, unhinged classic! The studio is known for its legendary humor and art style across various franchises, like Punch Club, Swag and Sorcery, Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story and, of course, Graveyard Keeper.
About tinyBuild
tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. The company’s dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including the Hello Neighbor series, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, DUCKSIDE, The King is Watching and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. https://www.tinybuild.com
Pre-order the acclaimed action titles individually or together as part of the Middle-earth™: Shadow Bundle and save 50% through launch!
AUSTIN, Texas – Sept. 22, 2026 –Happy Hobbit Day! Aspyr is thrilled to reveal Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ Game of the Year Edition and Middle-earth: Shadow of War™ Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the two legendary open-world action titles to a Nintendo platform for the first time when they release on Sept. 30, 2026. Originally developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, this award-winning Middle-earth saga is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Players will be able to experience these games, including all previously released DLC and bonus content, at home or on-the-go, available individually or together as part of the Middle-earth™: Shadow Bundle!
The Middle-earth™: Shadow Bundleis available to pre-order digitally for $34.99, a 50% discount off its base price ($69.99), available until launch. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ Game of the Year Editionis available to pre-order on its own digitally for $9.99 ($19.99 before the 50% discount), while Middle-earth: Shadow of War™ Definitive Edition can be pre-ordered digitally for $24.99 ($49.99 before the 50% discount).
About Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™Game of the Year Edition
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the winner of more than 50 awards, including Game of the Year, Best Action/Adventure Game and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming.
The game delivers a dynamic environment where the player orchestrates their personal plan of vengeance as they bend Mordor to their will. The game begins on the night of Sauron’s return to Mordor, as his Black Captains brutally execute the Rangers of the Black Gate. Players become Talion, a ranger who loses his family and everything he holds dear, only to be returned from death by a mysterious Spirit of vengeance. As Talion’s personal vendetta unfolds, players uncover the mystery of the Spirit that compels him, discover the origin of the Rings of Power and confront the ultimate nemesis.
At the heart of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ Game of the Year Edition is the groundbreaking Nemesis System that creates unique, procedurally generated enemies that level up, adapt, and hold grudges that are unique to each gamer. Players will fight through the open world regions of Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels them, while discovering the origins of the Rings of Power, building their legend and ultimately confronting the evil of Sauron and his armies.
In addition to the base game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ Game of the YearEdition features all previously released content, including:
“Lord of the Hunt” Campaign Expansion: Dive deeper into Mordor’s living world and hunt its wildest beasts to turn them against Sauron’s forces.
“The Bright Lord” Campaign Expansion: Battle against Sauron as Celebrimbor, the great Elven Lord of the Second Age, to unlock powerful runes and the ability to wield the One Ring.
Guardians of the Flaming Eye Exclusive Warband Mission: Face Sauron’s elite Defenders before the Black Gate and earn the Wolf’s Head rune.
Bonus Warband Missions, Runes & Skins: Take on even more of Sauron’s minions, enhance your weapons with powerful runes and customize Talion’s appearance with unique skins.
About Middle-earth: Shadow of War™ Definitive Edition
In the epic sequel to Middle-earth:Shadow of Mordor, players will be engrossed in a richer, more personal and expansive world full of epic heroes and villains, as theyforge a new Ring of Power, conquer fortresses in massive battles, dominate Mordor from within and confront the full power of the Dark Lord Sauron and his Ringwraiths.
The Definitive Edition includes the Sword of Dominion bonus weapon and all downloadable content and expansions:
“Desolation of Mordor” Story Expansion: Play as Baranor, the Captain of the Tower from Minas Ithil, and travel deep behind enemy lines in the Eastern Deserts of Mordor to raise an Easterling Army and open a new front in the Shadow War.
“Blade of Galadriel” Story Expansion: Play as Eltariel, the Blade of Galadriel, as she hunts the newest Ringwraith, battling with a new dual-wield combat style, new powers based on the Light of Galadriel and the ability to wield the New Ring.
Slaughter Tribe Nemesis Expansion: Feared by all other tribes for their savagery and renowned for their ferocity in combat, the Slaughter Tribe is coming to carve a bloody path across the face of Mordor.
Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion: The Outlaw Tribe areMordor’s ultimate rebels, defying the domination of the Dark Lord and the Bright Lord alike and fighting for the Age of the Orc. They make fearsome followers and mighty warriors, wielding chains to capture their enemies and salvage weapons and armor.
Content Note: The Garrison is fully playable offline, so you can reassign your un-deployed Orc followers across regions on the go. As this edition is optimized for offline play, Online Conquests, Vendettas, Fight Pits, Chests, and Training Orders are unavailable in this title.
These are the latest The Lord of the Rings titles released by Aspyr, following the launch of The Lord of the Rings:War in the North – Legacy Edition last month. Fans can look forward to even more classic releases by Aspyr from the beloved franchise in the future!
Pre-order Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™ Game of the Year Edition, Middle-earth: Shadow of War™ Definitive Edition, or the Middle-earth™: Shadow Bundletoday on Nintendo Switch 2, with a 50% discount through launch. Fans can look forward to even more classic releases by Aspyr from the beloved franchise in the future!
About Aspyr
Aspyr is a leading video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games across all platforms for all players. Most recently, the company launched Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration on Nintendo Switch 2, as well as The Lord of the Rings: War in the North™ – Legacy Edition and Legacy of Kain™: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, available now on all platforms. Today the company supports a growing network of partners that includes many of the industry’s leading entertainment IP holders, publishers, developers, and technology providers. Aspyr is an Embracer Group company based in Austin, Texas.
About Middle-earth Enterprises
As Middle-earth’s stewards and custodians, our goal is to consistently deliver a wealth of great content in both new and known formats; to ensure Middle-earth’s rightful place as the world’s leading fantasy IP & brand, forever. Inspired by our deep appreciation for the fictional world created by Professor Tolkien, we are dedicated to working with those developing highest quality creations inspired by the lore, in accordance with state-of-the-art green business and sustainability practices; including fair trade, equality in the workplace, and a deep commitment to protect our Earth, its wondrous beauty, and the viability of every living creature. Middle-earth Enterprises (MEE), acquired by the Embracer Group in 2022, owns exclusive worldwide rights to motion picture, live stage, certain TV, related merchandise and services, inspired by The Hobbit book and The Lord of the Rings trilogy of books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third-party game titles.
