First in a range of vinyl figures and plushies from Youtooz available to pre-order now, just in time to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the beloved MMO
Monday 24 February, 2025 Cambridge, UK. ‘Hello, would you like a worm?’ Jagex is thrilled to announce that it has partnered with Youtooz to create the first ever official vinyl figurines based on iconic characters from the beloved MMO Old School RuneScape.
Bring home the nostalgia and start your collection today with two popular NPCs you know and love from the Old School RuneScape universe, starting with the Wise Old Man and Gnome Child figures, both available to pre-order now.
A must for fans of Old School RuneScape and Youtooz collectors alike, these premium collectibles remain true to each character’s original design while adapting to Youtooz’s signature styling – with detailed thematic packaging that ensures each character looks good both inside and outside the box!
Wise Old Man
‘A venerable and rich sage. Greetings player’
Standing at 4.5 inches, the Wise Old Man wields the iconic Saradomin Staff as he unleashes a Saradomin Strike. Featuring a large clear window at the front of the packaging, the Wise Old Man is captured in front of his bookcase wearing his iconic blue party hat.
Gnome Child
‘Small, even by gnome standards. Hello, would you like a worm?’
Sitting at 4.7 inches tall, the Gnome Child sits perched on a large red toadstool, dressed in green gnomish attire with a chat box on his lap containing one of four possible phrases. Don’t miss out on adding this adorable (and memeable) NPC to your shelf.
Available to pre-order for a limited time-only, Wise Old Man and Gnome Child kickstart an exciting new partnership between Jagex and Youtooz as the first in a range of vinyl figures and plushies coming from the world of Old School RuneScape.
Pre-orders for the Old School RuneScape Youtooz vinyl figures are available now on the Youtooz Store. Don’t miss out – these collectibles won’t be around forever! Pre-orders close on March 21st, 2025.
Old School RuneScape is available now on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, complete with cross-platform progression and play on PC and mobile.
About Old School RuneScape
Old School RuneScape is the industry-defining collaboration between the community and developers. Embracing its nostalgic heritage, hundreds of thousands of active players control the direction of the game with an in-game polling system. Featuring adventures for solo play through to 100-player strong raids, Old School RuneScape caters for every brave adventurer. Old School RuneScape continues to innovate, introducing its first ever new skill in 2023 to commemorate its 10th anniversary, arriving later this year. Play now at http://oldschool.runescape.com
About Jagex
A leader in creating deep and engaging forever games that empower our communities across PC, mobile and consoles. Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1billion + lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond live operations; our titles are forever games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.
In 2022, Jagex expanded with the acquisitions of PipeWorks and Gamepires, bringing its expertise in building forever games to SCUM, a multi-million selling open-world survival title in Steam Early Access & other unannounced titles. Jagex employs more than 600 people globally, and is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
About Youtooz
Youtooz turns the joy of internet culture into amazing products that people love. We create high-quality collectibles for the heroes and role models of the internet – memes, content creators, music artists, licensed IPs, and more.
Our mission is to bring to life the most memorable moments and personalities that bring fans joy, to proudly display on a desk at work or a shelf at home.
Since our launch in 2019, we’ve released more than 1500 unique products, all limited edition drops, and have built an amazing community of creators, artists and fans that continue to drive our mission forward.
Experience the updated demo with 60 puzzles, a Rodent Editor, night mode, and multiple accessibility features
Montreal, Quebec, February 24th, 2025 |Indie duo Alblune, previously known for Spirit and the Mouse, is back with a new game that combines the best of interior design and nonogram puzzles. In Squeakross, a Wholesome Direct 2024 pick, players will solve, design, and decorate a rodent residence one puzzle at a time. An updated demo is available in celebration of Steam Next Fest, and players can look forward to the full launch later this year.
Squeakross Home: Squeak Home combines the charm of classic nonogram puzzles with the fun of home decoration. In the demo, step into the small shoes of a rodent, solve puzzles to unlock furniture, and customize your dream rodent residence!
Home is Where the Mouse is!
Begin your journey by joining the Home Squeak Home program and meet Nini, the CEO and passionate nonogram expert! Nini has gifted you your very own house, but there’s one condition: you must solve nonogram puzzles, better known to rodents as Squeakross puzzles, to furnish your home! Browse through your puzzle catalog to select the furniture items you’d like to solve for. Each completed puzzle will unlock a new piece of furniture, transforming your empty house into a fully decorated home—whiskers included!
Squeakross Away!
Squeakross is suitable for both new and experienced puzzle players alike! Start with a beginner-friendly tutorial with step-by-step instructions from Nini, or jump straight into puzzling. Access the in-game manual anytime for tips and tutorials, and tailor the puzzle experience to your liking thanks to our fully customizable hint system! Squeakross is created with everyone in mind, offering accessibility features such as bindable controls, a zoom option, and an ‘auto count’ function. If you get stuck on a puzzle, don’t worry! You can call your rodent pal for help using the Logic Assist Mode, which includes a “show mistakes” button and an automatic case-solving option. For a challenge, try Nini’s Challenges! These higher-difficulty puzzles allow you to unlock color variants for your furniture.
A Rodent Lover’s Paradise
In the demo, players can make their rodent feel right at home with 60 furniture set pieces. Treat your furry companion to a comfy couch where they can kick back to watch TV or surprise them with a vinyl record and stereo to groove to some tunes! Use the Rodent Editor to customize your rodent’s fur color and tail style, and add fun costumes and accessories. Once you finish, prepare them for a photo shoot in the game’s photo mode. Match your rodent to multiple furniture themes, such as an intergalactic furniture set or a cozy cottage aesthetic. You can also choose a classic rodent theme with running wheels and cheese-shaped furniture. The options are endless!
SNF Demo Out Now
Squeakross’s demo is available now for Steam Next Fest. It is compatible with PC, Mac, and Steam Deck. Players are invited to explore the vibrant world of Squeakross, where they can get a preview of the hundreds of puzzles and countless furniture combinations that await in the full game!
Demo Features:
60 puzzles to solve in the game’s free demo.
The logic-assist system reveals possible puzzle solutions to assist the new player experience.
Nini’s Challenges elevate the game’s difficulty and unlock color variants for existing furniture
60 furniture pieces are waiting to be collected in the demo preview.
Sixteen costumes are available to dress up your furry friend!
The Rodent Editor allows you to fully customize your rodent tenant.
“Streamer mode” silences copyrighted music for a seamless stream experience.
Experience the Squeakross: Home Squeak Home demo on Steam.
About Alblune
Alblune is a small indie game development studio composed of Alexandre Stroukoff and Luka Lescuyer. They released their first game, “The Spirit and the Mouse,” on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation in 2022. Alblune aims to create non-violent, immersive games that can appeal to people of all ages. Obsessed with rodents, they also can’t help but include their furry friends in their games.
Take your first steps into the enchanting fantasy life sim today and carry your progress over to Early Access
LONDON, UK – February 24, 2025 – Discover a wondrous world of Yokai and take the first steps into your magical new life with the first playable demo of Tales of Seikyu, available to download today as part of Steam Next Fest.
As an extra special thank you, players who download and progress through the demo can unlock the exclusive Serpent Rattan Armour, a bonus in-game armour set that celebrates the Year of the Snake, and that can be carried over to the Early Access version of Tales of Seikyu. Visit your in-game mailbox in the demo to accept this exclusive bonus item and be ready for the Early Access launch later this spring.
Embrace the mythical powers of Yokai to build an idyllic life on an island steeped in adventure, wonder, and romance in the first playable demo of this magical new life sim. Harness your powers of transformation to manage your farmstead, explore the world, grow bonds with extraordinary islanders, and uncover the secrets of Seikyu.
Download the demo to experience 3 beautiful in-game days under the Seikyu sun. Take a tour of the town, shapeshift into your first Yokai form, meet the island’s residents and love interests, complete the game’s opening quests, check out your brand-new farmhouse, and get to grips with farming, fishing, crafting, and decorating.
Start your adventure in the demo today and continue your progress when Tales of Seikyu launches on Steam Early Access this spring. Any progress made in the Steam Next Fest demo can be carried over to the Early Access version of Tales of Seikyu, letting you pick up your island adventure right where you left off.
Tales of Seikyu launches on Steam Early Access in spring 2025 and can be added to your Steam Wishlist today. For the latest updates, follow Tales of
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, Tales of Seikyu, aims to bring fans into a life sim experience that incorporates the team’s own culture and personality, in an exciting and surprising world of yokai. For more information on ACE Entertainment, visit the official website at gamewithace.com.
About Fireshine Games
Fireshine Games is a global publisher of digital and physical video games based in London, England, with a focus on finding fun and bringing innovative indie gems to players around the world. Originally established in 2014, Fireshine Games has built a portfolio of digital titles and indie sensations, including award-winning titles Core Keeper and Shadows of Doubt, while partnering with studio giants to bring digital hits to physical release, including Lies of P from Neowiz, Balatro from Playstack, and Planet Zoo: Console Edition from Frontier Developments. Fireshine Games is part of the EG7 group of companies.
TROLL COUNTRY, NORWAY – February 24, 2025 – Following the enthusiastic reception of our initial demo last month, we’re excited to offer tower defense enthusiasts another opportunity to experience Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn! During Steam Next Fest, from February 24 to March 3, 2025, the updated demo not only revisits the beloved Forest campaign but also introduces two brand-new Special Missions: Rocky and The Shamans Path.
Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn completely revitalizes the classic tower defense game that have captivated more than 1.3 million players over the last decade. Now, fans don’t have to wait until the official launch on March 7, 2025; an updated Steam demo is available now, offering an in-depth glimpse into the enhanced gameplay and features.
The Steam Next Fest demo encompasses the complete Forest campaign, culminating in the challenging Eric the Red boss battle. Players can even engage in two new special missions: The Shaman’s Path and the newly unveiled Rocky.
During our initial demo week, many players came tantalizingly close to conquering every challenge we threw their way. However, the all-new Brutal Mode remains undefeated, standing as the ultimate test of strategy and skill. Think you have what it takes to be the first to claim total victory? Jump into the fray during Steam Next Fest and show us what you’ve got!
Brutal Difficulty Level: Think you’re tough? Face 34 unforgiving new levels that will make even the most seasoned strategists question their life choices. Are you brave enough to cry a little? Or a lot? Then this is for you!
Expanded Special Missions: Dive into 35 mind-bending missions with encounters that include Nordic gods and scenarios so complex, you’ll wonder if you’re battling gods or writing a doctoral thesis in Viking trickery.
Overhauled Upgrade System: No pay-to-win nonsense here! Loki tricked us into making the first game free-to-play (of course he did—he’s Loki). But we’ve learned from our mischief-laden past and revamped the shard system to deliver pure, sweat-and-tears gameplay progression. Fair and balanced, like a troll on a tightrope.
Revamped Spell Mechanics: Now you can sling spells with a sense of strategic satisfaction and a smirk that says, “Take that, Thor.”
Enhanced Visuals: Witness trolls in their high-definition glory as they charge headfirst into the fray, with all the detail and clarity of a blockbuster movie (minus the popcorn).
Remastered Soundtrack: Groove to the epic new “Trolls Forever” theme by Aleksandar Dimitrijević, featuring real troll and gnome musicians. (Yes, we’ve gone full method.) We even remastered the old music, because, we want it to sound as awesome as it can!
Revitalized Viking Art and Animations: We shifted out all our Viking models with all new looks. Not only that, our award-winning animator have infused the Vikings with so much personality, you’ll almost feel bad stomping them. Almost.
Steam Achievements: Bragging rights? Absolutely. Earn achievements that show your strategic genius—or your sheer stubbornness
Double the speed, double the madness – For those who like to live life in the fast-lane, the entire game can now be played on double speed. You feel a sense of control? Well, think again!
Pure Gameplay Experience: This is a return to premium tower defense form, where you enjoy uninterrupted, pure strategy bliss. You are always in control of moment-to-moment decisions, units, upgrades and tactics.
And yes, the legendary endless Valhalla levels are back, ready to put even the toughest tacticians to the test. Brace yourself for challenges so maddening that they’ll leave you gripping your mouse, eyes wide, shouting, “Who needs sleep, anyway?!” and muttering, “Just… one… more… round…” as dawn breaks through your window.
Don’t wait and try the new ‘Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn’ Demoon Steam and if you like it, don’t forget about wishlist it on Steam to not miss its launch on March 7th!
ABOUT TROLLS VS VIKINGS: REBORN
Strategy meets mischief! Explore an amazing and lush fantasy world, where an epic battle between Trolls, Vikings and the Nordic Gods rages on. Get ready to don your tactical horns and dive into Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn where strategy is king, trolls reign supreme,and your sanity is the final boss!
ABOUT MEGAPOP
Megapop is an indie developer located in Oslo, Norway, proudly being part of Oslo Game Hub. Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn is the sixth game from the company, and former games include Trolls vs Vikings 1& 2, Meganumbers, Haxity and Rob Riches. The company focus on high quality indie games with unique gameplay experiences. Their titles have been ‘featured’ multiple times by Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, and have reached a top 10 status in more than 130 countries. Currently the company creates the city-builder ‘Life Below, where you control the destiny of a coral reef, as well as ‘Trolls vs Vikings: Reborn”.
LONDON, UK – February 24, 2025 – Become the overseer of an occult dungeon and aid the Deities of Dread in their dastardly desires to build an evil underworld in The Deadly Path, a mercilessly moreish roguelike dungeon management game launching on Steam on March 25th.
Become the dungeon master, gathering grim materials and creating a formidable economy to build sinister structures. Balance bones, meat, gold, knowledge, and blood to construct unique buildings, upgrade your throne room, enrich your stockpiles, and expand your dungeon to appease fearsome gods.
Advance through the ages to unlock new tiers of buildings and servants, and forge a powerful Idol to appease each of the Dread Deities as you toil in preparation for their ascension. Complete runs to unlock eight diverse Deities, each with their own gameplay quirks, perks, and victory conditions.
Flex your strategic muscles in an easy-to-pick-up but tricky-to-master gameplay loop. Gain new unlockables and permanent upgrades, face diabolical new challenges with increasing ascension levels, and emerge as the harbinger of darkness in a unique roguelike dungeon management game.
Download The Deadly Path demo at Steam Next Fest today to begin your dungeon keeping and perform dastardly duties for two playable gods: Roiaan and The One Who Rusts. Expand your underworld, increase your devotion, and discover barbarically powerful buffs to help appease your baron.
Owlskip Enterprises is the brainchild of developer Tim Sheinman. They have been around since 2020 and released a number of critically acclaimed games. Originally specialising in narrative, detective and puzzle games, they are now working in strategy, roguelike and building genres.
About Fireshine Games
Fireshine Games is a global publisher of digital and physical video games based in London, England, with a focus on finding fun and bringing innovative indie gems to players around the world. Originally established in 2014, Fireshine Games has built a portfolio of digital titles and indie sensations, including award-winning titles Core Keeper and Shadows of Doubt, while partnering with studio giants to bring digital hits to physical release, including Lies of P from Neowiz, Balatro from Playstack, and Planet Zoo: Console Edition from Frontier Developments. Fireshine Games is part of the EG7 group of companies. For more information on Fireshine Games and its titles, visit the official website at fireshinegames.co.uk.
The Warcraft 30th Anniversary World Tour is coming to Sydney on 3 April 2025, hosted at Fortress in Central Park Mall. Tickets to attend the event are free, but attendance is limited. Secure your free tickets here when the first wave goes live tomorrow, Tuesday 25 February 2025 from 12:30 PM AEDT!
As well as three decades of the Warcraft Universe, the event will also celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the launch of World of Warcraft in Australia, which occurred in November 2004. Attendees will be able to meet Warcraft developers, connect with fellow Warcraft fans, and experience unique Warcraft-themed experiences. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details on the activities and attractions coming to the Sydney event.
This gathering is set to bring together fans of all Warcraft games, from World of Warcraft, which recently passed its 20-year anniversary; to Hearthstone, also celebrating a 10-year milestone; and Warcraft Rumble!
This Sydney event is part of a series of global celebrations, reaching cities such as London, Seoul, Toronto, and São Paulo, and conclude in Boston during PAX East in May.
For additional Sydney ticket wave timing and other event information, players should keep an eye on the Blizzard ANZ social channels (X, Facebook, Instagram).
More Details and Card Reveals for Magic Sets Tarkir: Dragonstorm and Edge of Eternities
CHICAGO, Illinois – February 21, 2025 – Magic: The Gathering is in Chicago once again for MagicCon: Chicago, running from February 21-23. Wizards of the Coast is showcasing cards, art, and details about upcoming sets for the most popular tabletop card game in the world. Thousands of fans and players are at McCormick Place in Chicago for an incredible weekend full of Magic. Featuring the Pro Tour, a variety of on-demand and ticketed play events, events and panels on the mana stage, immersive experiences, exclusive merch, fan-favorite Magic artists and cosplayers, there’s something for everyone at MagicCon Chicago.
Fans gathered today at a special preview panel revealing more information for upcoming sets including a first look at Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the world premiere announcement of Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender, and a special preview on Edge of Eternities.
All of the latest announcements and details from today’s panel are below:
WORLD PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING | AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Bend the battlefield with Magic cards from Avatar: The Last Airbender! Master the elements and join your favorite characters for new adventures, iconic art, and an elemental showdown like never before. This Standard-legal set based entirely on Nickelodeon’s original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series will be available on November 21.
TARKIR: DRAGONSTORM The plane of Tarkir is now bigger and bolder than ever, filled with cinematic martial arts action, dynamic clan gameplay, and powerful new dragons that add lasting firepower to players’ Magic collections. Tarkir: Dragonstorm follows from the events of Dragons of Tarkir where people were subjugated under the oppressive rule of the dragonlords. Over time unrest grew and the people rebelled against dragonlords, taking up the banners of the old clans. In a bid to end the conflict, the leaders of the rebellion uncovered a powerful ritual, one that would summon a force strong enough to defeat the dragonlords once and for all. With five distinct clans to choose from, players will confront these terrifying dragonstorms and battle for survival and power.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm will launch on April 11.
EARLY LOOK AT EDGE OF ETERNITIES Magic: The Gathering players will soon venture to the Edge of Eternities, Magic’s take on an adventure-filled science-fantasy space opera. Players will discover new space-fantasy themed cards and mechanics, spacecraft Commanders, and stunning new collectibles while they explore the Edge, where vast interstellar powers marshal great forces as they attempt to command the stars. Players will find magic among these stars as they chart a course through the Sothera system to explore distant planets, wield dazzling magic, and wage war with alien factions.
Magic: The Gathering’s compelling characters, fantastic worlds, and deep strategic gameplay have entertained and delighted fans for 30 years. Fans can experience Magic through the tabletop trading card game, the digital game Magic: The Gathering Arena, a New York Times bestselling novel, and a critically acclaimed comic book series. With more than 50 million fans to date, Magic is a worldwide phenomenon published in more than 150 countries.
About Wizards
Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), develops legendary games that inspire creativity, spark passions, forge friendships and foster communities around a lifetime love of games. Wizards delivers compelling experiences for gamers across tabletop and digital gaming through its best-known franchises MAGIC: THE GATHERING and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and Hasbro’s unparalleled portfolio of approximately 1,500 brands. With headquarters in Renton, Washington and studios in Austin, Montreal and Raleigh; Wizards is dedicated to fostering world-class talent to create unforgettable play experiences on all platforms. To learn more about Wizards, please visit our Company website and social channels (@Wizards on Twitter and LinkedIn).
About Hasbro
Hasbro is a leading games, IP, and toy company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through toys, consumer products, gaming and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com.
With no memory of who he is or how he ended up stranded on a small island, Goro Majima must regain his memories and what better way to do that than to set sail as a brand new captain of a pirate crew? Watch as we begin this oddball adventure on the high seas and take part in fast paced combat in Sega’s Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – Gameplay
Embark on an over-the-top, modern-day pirate adventure in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii! Set after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, this action-adventure game follows the fan-favorite character Goro Majima, who, after being stranded on an island near Hawaii with amnesia, becomes the captain of a pirate crew. Explore diverse locales, including Rich Island, Madlantis, Nele Island, and Honolulu, as you engage in exhilarating combat on land and sea.
Utilize Majima’s two distinct fighting styles—Mad Dog and Sea Dog—to defeat enemies, and take command of the Goromaru ship for thrilling naval battles. Dive into a world filled with dynamic environments, engaging side activities like Karaoke and Dragon Kart, and a captivating storyline that blends the series’ signature humor and drama.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to release on February 21, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Publisher: SEGA Platform: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: 21 Feb, 2025 Price: $59.99 USD
Recommended – “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii shows a new side of Majima while delivering quick action packed combat and satisfying ship battles that break new ground for RGG even with its simple story.”
When it comes to Obsidian Entertainment, you never quite know what they’ll have up their sleeves next, especially in recent years. One minute they’ll go from releasing a space-faring RPG to crafting a title all about surviving as a shrunken kid in your own backyard and eventually go on to make a “ye olde” murder mystery with all kinds of unique elements. As such, when Obsidian revealed that they would be working on a fantasy RPG again and would even be setting it in the same realm and universe as their beloved Pillars of Eternity titles, fans were eager to see what Avowed would become. So now that it has arrived and is set to make its own mark in the Pillars universe, is Obsidian’s latest release worthwhile?
Story
Now, before we begin, it is worth noting that Avowed might take place in the same shared world as Pillars of Eternity and in fact does take place years after the events of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Avowed tells a completely separate storyline, using the same setting, races, and gods of Eora. This means that newcomers can still enjoy the title as much as possible and the game offers a one-press glossary button to provide details about specific terms and events that may be referenced. That being said, longtime fans of the series will easily recognize numerous past events that nearly shattered the world as they are referenced throughout dialogue options and even the fact that some characters have even managed to survive otherwise terrible fates as previously thought. This means that while newcomers may be able to enjoy Avowed as is, perhaps a little extra research would benefit players before starting.
Players take on the role of “The Envoy,” a godlike whose backstory they will create upon character creation, that regardless of how they developed was chosen and raised to high status by the king of the Aedyr Empire, the strongest and most dominating empire in Eora, and sent to the Living Lands in an effort to track down the mysterious Dreamscourge that has started springing up in these already wildly untamed lands. Those afflicted by the Dreamscourge, be they man or beast, become radically violent and crazed with the only known cure being a quick and efficient death. With Aedyr already gaining a foothold in the Living Lands and seeing potential for further expansion, the fact that this plague is threatening to not only sweep through their potential territory but also travel back to their own empire means it is a devastating threat, though the threat of those already living in the Living Lands will be just as dangerous for the Envoy.
The reason for this is twofold, not only do the residents of the Living Lands prefer the freedom that the wild territory has provided them and see Aedyr’s ever-growing reach as a threat to their independence, but also because The Envoy being a godlike is not only incredibly rare in general, no one has ever seen one like the player before. All godlike bear some mark depending on the god that has touched them upon birth, usually granting them abilities at the same time, but the player’s godlike is completely unknown and has left them with fungal-like (completely customizable) growths on their face and head, something even those in the Living Lands will react negatively towards, especially with its potential ties to the Dreamscourge. With dangers lurking around potentially every corner, new powerful allies and dangerous foes in wait, The Envoy’s journey won’t be an easy one but it will be a highly entertaining one that will feature quite a shocking twists and turns, major reveals, and lasting impression that makes this smaller scale RPG far more impressive than it initially lets on.
While things may start a little slow it doesn’t take too long before the stakes begin to reveal themselves, both through the initial welcome the Envoy receives but also the mysterious voice that speaks only to them through the adra minerals in the land. Combine this with the mysterious Dreamscourge and the fact that the Steel Garrote, a draconian force of paladins eager to slay anyone they deem “unjust” and Avowed will keep players interested and intrigued with how the story will play out throughout its entire runtime. This is helped by the fact that player choices can play a role in how some events play out, including completely talking your way out of conflicts or choosing to even side with an obviously evil outcome if the player wishes, the excellent way that the companion characters are written, and just how lived-in and developed the Living Lands feel as players explore them.
Anyone familiar with Obsidian’s work, or many pseudo-open world style games such as this, will know that there are often locations that players can explore that have their own stories to them that aren’t obviously spelled out and must be inferred through objects in the environment, be they loot, enemy and body placement, and more and this is especially true with Avowed. Numerous optional locations can feature small notes to provide context all while laying out various traps, bodies, and items that tell their own story of how bad things went in the location or what this former fortress turned dungeon once was. It also helps that while exploring towns players can often hear NPCs mentioning various events that have happened by the player’s actions, making it really feel like players are having an impact on the world as they continue their journey. Even the side-quests are often fairly well-written and run the gambit from being serious to quite hilarious and while we won’t spoil them here, there are even some that players can follow up on after completion to complete optional extra tasks or see how things played out.
As for the companions, Avowed keeps things a bit on the smaller scale with only four actual companions throughout the game but this smaller number isn’t much of a detriment because each of these four is incredibly well-written and performed. Not only do all four of them avoid falling into the standard tropes, they all manage to be multi-dimensional and often interject into conversations with other NPCs as the player talks to them. Kai serves as perhaps one of the best first companions players could ask for by being knowledgeable and also haunted a bit by some of his past choices while Marius’ strong front hides moments of his own past as well. Following them, Yatzli and Giatta are also similarly enjoyable as companions, with one being a ‘Godless’ focused character and the other dealing with frowned upon Animancy.
While players cannot directly talk with their companions while adventuring with them, with two at a time, they can camp out at any major adra source and interact with them then, with companions often having something to say about not only major plot points that have happened but even some side-quests and how players handled them. It is a bit unfortunate that some interactions with the world are lacking almost entirely such as a crime system or even any attempt to actually attack normal NPCs and, as mentioned before, players cannot directly talk with their companions outside of camp or even most NPCs outside of quest-givers, making some elements feel less interactable than most players would hope for an RPG.
Gameplay
Avowed is a first person, though it can be played in third person, pseudo open world RPG where players will gain access to the full map of each region, of which there are four primary ones that unlock in sequence as players progress through the story. The maps are designed with a “fog of war” style of design in mind where players will need to travel through the area to map it out fully and also unlock various fast travel points along the way. Something interesting about exploration in Avowed is the fact that the level designs implement a lot of vertical thinking and platforming. This means that many dungeons, story locations, side-quest objectives, and even simple areas to explore, will feature some form of platforming and climbing up ledges to uncover a secret chest or body hidden away. In fact there are even secrets hidden underwater from time to time as well, meaning players can often be rewarded for diving down deep and risking running out of air in an effort to find a sunken treasure or cave.
Of course during this exploration players will also be taking on plenty of enemies and, as mentioned before, they will usually have at least one or two companions with them in a fight. Combat and character load-out in Avowed is a bit of a strange beast but a unique one that offers some extensive customization even if it does lack some depth. Rather than forcing players into choosing a specific class or even a specific weapon type, players can wear any type of armor and wield any type of weapon including some rather unique combos, should they want. Players can have two weapon sets equipped at a time, being able to swap between them at a press of the button and these weapons can range from being a simple sword and shield, a wand and grimoire, or even double pistols. In fact, any single-handed weapon can be wielded in either hand, allowing for a wide array of options such as being able to fire at an enemy at a distance with a bow and swap into two-handed melee when the enemy moves in close.
Skills make use of “Essence” that can be recharged by food, potions, and a little from defeated foes, and once again can be mixed and matched as long as the player has learned them already. Unfortunately, on the Xbox there are only four quick-use slots available, meaning if players want to keep healing potions and essence potions available for quick use, only two skills can be placed on shortcut with everything else requiring pulling up the radial, including giving your companions orders to use specific combat skills. Thankfully the companion AI in fights is competent and they will pull their weight in fights, which is good as rarely does it feel like players are overpowering enemies even on Normal difficulty, unless they return to an old location of course. In fact, there are often times players may find themselves shockingly on the back foot in fights as some foes can be quite hard hitting if players haven’t gotten the hang of dodging or parrying in combat or making use of their tanks if they are built around ranged attacks.
Along these same lines, players can put skill points they earn from leveling up into any of three class trees, Fighter, Ranger, and Wizard. Since there is a level cap of thirty, players will find that they can either spread themselves across these classes, obtaining passives and active skills that can be used in combat or focusing on one class if they want. Thankfully, respec’ing the player’s stats is simple and costs only a nominal amount of currency. Similarly, players will obtain an attribute point as well for every level gained and not only do these attributes that are fairly standard such as might, dexterity, intellect, etc. provide various bonuses to player stats but can also unlock special dialogue options as well. For example, a character with a certain level of resolve can boast about how they felt nothing from an attempted attack while someone without enough perception might find a dialogue option requiring a certain level of that stat completely hidden, making players wonder just how well they want to design their character and make for multiple unique interactions. In similar fashion to skill points, character attributes can also be reset for currency.
One element that is a bit too simplistic feeling is the loot and armor systems. As mentioned before, players can equip any type of armor though heavy armor will lower their total stamina and essence meters while providing better protection. Unfortunately, this is the only real armor players have to work with, as boots and gloves they acquire simply provide additional buffs and the two ring slots and necklace/trinket offer similar bonuses such as increasing a stat, boosting movement speed, or even dealing extra elemental damage with critical hits. While there is some solid variety here, it is a bit too limited feeling, especially when it comes to general looting of locations. While players can often find various treasure chests and bodies a bevy of loot on them, if it doesn’t contain a “Unique” piece of gear it will almost always follow a generic offering of currency as well as upgrade materials and a weapon or piece of armor that matches the level of the location players are traveling in. This can make some exploration feel a little unsatisfying unless it happens to contain a Unique piece of gear, especially since spare equipment is best broken down in favor of upgrade materials since players do have the option to craft higher tiered materials if needed.
Audio & Visuals
The art style for Avowed is a gorgeous looking one and it is great to see that Obsidian has embraced such a vivid color palette for the game. Players will be in for a treat while exploring and uncovering a new grove filled with colorful plants and twisted forms of nature while also battling it out against numerous types of enemies that come with some nice variety that changes depending on the location. The character models and races are similarly colorful and detailed and although gear isn’t quite as customizable as some may like, the title does offer “transmogrification” so if players find equipment they like the look of, they can always change their next better piece of gear to match. It is also nice to note that spells look wonderful in the game and being able to unleash a powerful fireball or chain lightning is as satisfying as making it rain icicles on an area and these are only lower level spells, with even more impressive ones further along the Wizard skill tree. It is worth noting that, at least at the moment, the game features some rather excessive ragdoll mechanics for some defeated enemies, especially those defeated by explosions or heavy hitting blows, and while this may be an unintended feature, it is a real blast to see in motion, making the player feel like a real powerhouse at times, especially in the thick of a fight against numerous monsters, bandits, or even plaguebearers.
The voice acting for the title is handled exceptionally well with Obsidian recruiting a large number of highly talented voice actors to handle the main cast here. Kai will sound just like a certain favorite companion from a familiar sci-fi franchise and other companions are also suitably voiced and it is worth noting that all dialogue in the game is voiced minus the main character.. The player’s character is not voiced, allowing for some of the aforementioned “oddball” dialogue choices to be an option. The background music is no slouch either as Avowed features a solid soundtrack that works well for the theme of the game and its setting.
Overall
Avowed is a surprising RPG that offers some extensive customization and happens to be quite accessible when it comes to the flow of combat once players get the hang of things and its intricate storytelling and well-written companions are wonderful to enjoy. Unfortunately it is a bit lore heavy for newcomers, meaning those jumping right in might feel a bit lost in some elements of Pillars of Eternity lore and both loot and general equipment is quite generic, but even then this does little to dampen the enjoyment of traveling through the colorful but deadly Living Lands and uncovering the mysteries that have woken within them,
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AMD and The Game Expo have formed a partnership to support the gaming expo and community festival on March 22-23, 2025.
Returning soon for its third year at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Game Expo (TGX) in 2025 is proud to announce its partnership with AMD.
Matching the TGX passion to provide gamers a fun and engaging experience together, AMD is the perfect presenting partner as the mission for AMD is to advance the experience of computing and bring gaming to a new level. As the high performance and adaptive computing leader known for Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU, which are found in PCs and game consoles alike, AMD is a major part of the gaming landscape.
AMD at The Game Expo will proudly be supporting the show as a whole and supercharging the ever popular PC Freeplay and Tournaments area. AMD powered PCs will be part of our 60 PC LAN in which players can enjoy incredible tournaments in Marvel Rivals, and the much loved Apex Legends Creator Showdown. AMD will also support our Indie Game Zone with a special Ryzen CPU prize to the Indie Zone People’s Choice Winner.
An AMD Experience Zone will be on the floor at TGX, an easy going freeplay space featuring AMD PCs with a range of games to enjoy. This will include Capcom’s MONSTER HUNTER WILDS, currently available with selected Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU. Come play at the booth on a mega 100inch screen. Plus, a feature custom PC and further activities on booth to be announced, including:
Content Creator meet and greet
Prize giveaways
Playable demonstrations
“We are thrilled to have AMD as our presenting partner at The Game Expo for 2025.” Said Daniel Chlebowczyk, Brand Director, The Game Expo. “The AMD team in Australia are dedicated gamers who have been great supporters of the community over the years. Our PC zone has been powered by AMD since the beginning and we’re excited to be working with AMD to enhance The Game Expo as a whole.”
The AMD team shared their excitement to be part of The Game Expo, noting that working together to support an event built ground up for gaming fans is a natural fit.
ABOUT
The Game Expo
The Game Expo was formed by members of the gaming community who have come together in collaboration. With decades of experience in gaming events producing activations for the industry, or to support their favourite games and find more people to play together.
AMD
AMD is the high performance and adaptive computing leader, powering the products and services that help solve the world’s most important challenges. Our technologies advance the future of the data center, embedded, gaming and PC markets. AMD is the high performance and adaptive computing leader, powering the products and services that help solve the world’s most important challenges.
