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IGDA Foundation Elects Shannon Loftis as Chair of Board of Directors

LOS ANGELES – Apr. 7, 2025 – The International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) welcomes Shannon Loftis as the new chair of its board of directors following the departure of Ed Fries, who is stepping down after a successful 2 years leading the organization and will remain on the board. With more than 30 years of experience in game development at Microsoft and beyond, alongside her commitment to inclusion in the gaming and technology spaces, Shannon will be an invaluable addition to the IGDA Foundation’s mission.

After graduating with computer science and mathematics degrees from Duke University, Loftis joined Microsoft’s Games group in 1995, where she contributed to over 70 games across PC, Xbox, and Xbox 360. Some of her contributions include early online card games, the Madness series (Motocross MadnessMonster Truck Madness, and Midtown Madness), Project Gotham Racing, the Fable series, the Viva Piñata series, and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts.

Transitioning to leadership roles at Microsoft, Loftis managed teams worldwide that were responsible for many of Microsoft’s recent successes. She built the Good Science studio, which laid the groundwork and shipped the Kinect system and many of its titles. She later guided Microsoft’s First Party Global Publishing team, which delivered bestselling titles like ReCoreOriMicrosoft Casual Suite, and Flight Simulator. Before retiring from Microsoft, she founded World’s Edge, which is dedicated to the award-winning Age of Empires series. Since leaving Microsoft, Shannon has remained active in the industry as a board member, advisor, consultant, and mentor.

Loftis’ long-standing commitment to inclusion and connection stems from her experiences as the youngest in a large, close family. She is fascinated by and passionate about the ways technology and entertainment can build community, which has driven her career with a passion to forge connections.

“I’m thrilled and honored to lead this board, and to work closely with the foundation and with the IGDA,” said Shannon Loftis, Chair of the IGDA-F Board of Directors. “The IGDA Foundation is one of the most inclusive, intersectional, globally-relevant and effective organizations in game development and I believe our mission is more crucial today than ever before.”

She has served on the IGDA Foundation and AIAS’ board of directors, and co-founded the Microsoft’s Women in Gaming SIG with Bonnie Ross and Laura Fryer, which is still active today as part of Games 4 Everyone (G4E).

“I have worked alongside Shannon since our days at Microsoft; she’s an excellent leader whose background and experience in the industry make her a perfect fit to take on the role of Chair,” said Ed Fries, former Chair of the IGDA-F Board of Directors. “I am confident that the IGDA Foundation will stay true to its values under her guidance.”

To learn more about the IGDA Foundation and to stay updated on the latest initiatives, visit the official website at http://igdafoundation.org and follow @IGDAFoundation on social media.  

About the IGDA Foundation

The International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) is dedicated to advancing inclusivity and diversity in the gaming industry by providing opportunities, education, and support for individuals from underrepresented communities. The IGDA-F is sponsored by a generous group of industry companies, including Double Fine Productions, Stride PR, and Premack Rogers. Since 2008, the IGDA-F has supported more than 1,000 alumni who now develop games at both AAA and indie studios. For more information, visit https://igdafoundation.org

Assemble Your Team of Mighty Monsters to Battle, Collect & Evolve in ‘Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers’, Launching Today in 1.0

Create a powerful team of adorable Kādomon and set out to become the ultimate trainer!

LONDON, UK – April 7, 2025 – Fireshine Games and Dino Rocket are thrilled to announce that the charming creature-collecting roguelike Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers has officially launched into 1.0, and is available now on Steam.

Head off on an adventure into the world of Kādomon, where cute and quirky monsters roam freely. Journey through randomly generated regions, collecting and evolving unique creatures to add to your Kādodex. Train, battle, and evolve over 200 Kādomon, each with unique characteristics and skills.

Collect rare misprints, complete your Kādodex, discover mighty Hyper Evolutions, and supercharge your Kādomon with enhancing buffs. Synergise your Kādomon to unleash powerful team effects and pack a punch against big bosses and mighty enemies. 

Fresh for 1.0, players can enjoy new gameplay improvements, including a higher level cap for their Kādos, a new Ascension Mode that rewards mastery and offers a new layer of replayability, new Victory Ribbons, and an all-new Kādo Guide that serves as a hub of information for everything you need on your Kādomon, your progression, and assembling the most powerful team.

“It’s been an incredible journey creating Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers as my first independent game,” said Patrick Sigley, Dino Rocket. “I’ve had the support from some amazing people to bring the world of Kādomon to life, and now I can’t wait to share the full 1.0 version with all the players who have been with me on this journey since the very beginning.”

Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers is available now on Steam for £7.99 GBP / €9.99 EUR / $9.99 USD, with an additional 50% launch discount available until April 12th, 2025.

About Dino Rocket

Dino Rocket is a small indie game studio based in Adelaide, South Australia. We create games we would want to play ourself. Currently developing our debut title “Kādomon: Hyper Auto Battlers”.

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.

KICKSTARTER FOR ROGUELITE TACTICAL RPG, ‘DEATHTOWER’ SUCCESSFULLY FUNDED

Twenty-four hours left for potential backers to join in for exclusive rewards! 

Angouleme, France, April, 7th 2025 | Indie development studio Headbang Club is pleased to share that the Kickstarter for their tactical RPG, DeathTower, has successfully met their funding goal. The game will be coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. With the campaign ending soon on April 8th, the studio invites new and returning players to experience the latest demo update that is now available on Steam.

24 Hours Remain on Kickstarter!

The time is counting down on the DeathTower Kickstarter campaign! Having met their fundraising goals to allow themselves to self-publish, Headbang Club now looks towards their stretch goal to unlock a brand-new character in the game: the mysterious Beth. Backers can support the launch for as little as $9 USD for exclusive DeathTower HD wallpapers and emotes. Additional rewards are available for those who wish to contribute more, including digital offerings such as art books, the original soundtrack (OST), and the opportunity to have your name listed in the game’s credits. Physical offerings include T-shirts, vinyl records, copies of the game, and more. Interested players are encouraged to participate before time runs out on April 8th, 2pm ET.

A Tactical Roguelite for All 

In this 2.5D isometric roguelite tactical RPG, join Ikarus, a humble machine operator, on his journey to uncover the mysteries behind the Megaryon—a never-ending megastructure tower plagued by a deadly parasite outbreak. As you climb the tower, combine stealthy infiltration and an arsenal of devastating weapons to reach your objective. A combative approach uses weapons, grenades, and ammunition to clear floors, while stealthy players can use environmental structures and resources to avoid notice. Four diverse biomes compose this tower, with numerous floors scattered throughout. Fight through each floor’s threats, use hacks in the tower’s programming to amplify your abilities and summon assists, rewind your movements in case of a fumble, or fall in battle and restart your run from the beginning. 

New Demo, New Allies

In the demo update, players will unlock the new Erebus Game Hub after completing the tutorial, which features pixel-art venues and a fresh cast of characters, ready to share helpful hints. Within the Hub, players can visit the Starter Shop for items and weapons, or crimp upgrades to power themselves up between runs. Highly customizable, the demo showcases over fifty different weapons, thirteen unique tower hacks, and two fluid class trees, less than half of the total options planned for the full game. Headbang Club is excited for everyone to experience the world of possibilities in DeathTower and encourages curious players to give the demo a try! Experience the first hour of DeathTower’s opening act, explore the initial few floors, and try out a fraction of what’s to come in the demo’s first epic boss battle.

Full-Game Features:

  • 6 playable characters are waiting to be unlocked as you ascend the tower and explore the game’s different biomes.
  • 30 enemy types boast unique characteristics depending on their environment and class type.
  • 10 mini bosses necessitate skill expansions and combat expertise to defeat and climb to the next level.
  • 120 unlockable weapons, ranging from grenades to laser guns, let each player hone their perfect kit.
  • 75 hacks in the megastructure’s operations system can be programmed to attack, defend, manipulate the battlefield and summon terrifying creatures.
  • 10 fluid class trees, comprising a total of 75 skills, can be combined to create a well-rounded party.

Don’t miss out on this chance to back the DeathTower Kickstarter  and help reach the stretch goal. The game’s demo is available for download on Steam, and learn more about Headbang Club via the studio’s website.

Murder on the German North Sea: Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing out now on Steam

In the follow-up to A Bavarian Tale, Officer Valentin Schmidt travels to the fictional coastal town of Havstedt, where the murder of Bente Hansen shakes the small community to its core

Munich, April 7, 2025 – Munich-based indie developer Active Fungus Studios is proud to release its latest title: Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing. This detective RPG is now available on PC via Steam and invites fans of intricate puzzles and gripping narratives to dive into a brand-new mystery. Early birds benefit from a 10% launch discount on Steam until April 14, with the regular price set at 19.99 EUR / 19.99 USD.

Watch the Release Date Trailer for Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing on YouTube:

In Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing, young officer Valentin Schmidt – hoping for a quiet vacation by the North Sea – is once again drawn into a mysterious murder case. Players take on the role of a true detective, questioning locals and sneaking around to uncover clues. The stealth system, familiar from the first game, has been completely revamped. A wide variety of challenging logic, visual, search, and combination puzzles keep gameplay fresh and engaging.

Like its predecessor, A Bavarian Tale, this title places a strong focus on dialogue, quirky characters, branching storylines with multiple endings, and a richly historical setting. The story unfolds in 1870, a time of major social and technological upheaval. To tell the story authentically, Active Fungus Studios once again relies on local voice talent. Since The Ebbing is set in the fictional town of Havstedt on the North Sea coast, characters speak in authentic northern German dialects. Of course, subtitles and an English voiceover are also available.

Key Features:

  • Explore an open world: Roam freely through a coastal North German town in the year 1870.
  • Engage in dynamic dialogue: Use the conversation system to interrogate townsfolk, gather crucial information, and find out who’s hiding something.
  • Confront suspects: Conduct interrogations and unmask the perpetrators.
  • Search for clues: Use Detective Mode to uncover hidden evidence.
  • Stay out of sight: Sneak into restricted areas and survive the dangers of the moor – being seen is not an option!
  • Crack challenging puzzles: Find hidden clues and use your wits to uncover vital information.
  • Pass skill checks: Use classic pen-and-paper-style dice rolls to put your abilities to the test.
  • Level up: Develop your character and choose which skills to improve.
  • Craft useful items: Collect resources and craft gear to enhance your abilities.
  • Make tough choices: Your decisions shape the story. Choose your approach – charm, diplomacy, authority… The mission is clear: Solve the case!

Inspector Schmidt – The Ebbing is available now on PC via Steam at a regular price of 19.99 EUR / 19.99 USD. A limited-time launch discount of 10% is available until April 14.

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About Active Fungus Studios

Founded in 2020, Active Fungus Studios is an indie game development studio based in Munich, Germany. Led by Jakob Braun (Founder & CEO), the small but dedicated team of 20 developers specializes in crafting immersive first- and third-person games.

Active Fungus Studios creates games that go beyond entertainment—offering deep thematic experiences that encourage players to see different perspectives and explore historical events that continue to shape the world today.

Sci-Fi FPS La Quimera to Launch on PC April 25 Worldwide from Reburn; Players Can Sign Up For Closed Co-op Beta Ahead of Time

Eager Fans Can Get a Taste of La Quimera’s High-Tech Exosuit Combat in the New Gameplay Trailer

KYIV, Ukraine – April 7, 2025  Game developer Reburn is excited to announce that La Quimera, its narrative-driven first-person-shooter game set in a futuristic Latin American megalopolis, will release on April 25 on PC via Steam. La Quimera will be priced at MSRP $29.99/€29.99. To prepare for the launch, Reburn is hosting a closed beta for 24 hours starting April 12 at 7am PT / 3pm BST / 4pm CEST. Fans can request closed beta access on La Quimera’s Steam page, though slots are limited. Participants will be able to access a part of a pivotal mid-game mission in solo or co-op play.

“Our Reburn team can’t wait to finally share our hard work and vision for La Quimera with players on April 25,” said Dmytro Lymar, CEO and co-founder of Reburn. “Ahead of our release, we invite players to join us in our closed beta to get an early look at the co-op experience for our vision of Nuevo Caracas and far beyond.”

In addition, eager FPS fans can get an extended look at La Quimera’s unique blend of sci-fi worldbuilding, Latin American mysticism, and tense shooter combat in the first gameplay trailer. The gameplay trailer pulls back the curtain on La Quimera’s intriguing blend of exosuit abilities, futuristic weaponry, and robotic enemies standing between the PMC and its objectives. Render enemies vulnerable with a multitarget electric shock, scan for hidden threats, dodge certain death with the exosuit’s agility, and more. Even better, La Quimera players can suit up with two additional friends throughout each mission for co-op action, coordinating combat tactics and experiencing the city and jungles of Nuevo Caracas together.

La Quimera is Reburn’s first original video game IP. The world and narrative of La Quimera is written and created by Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, The Neon Demon) and E.J.A. Warren. Set in and around the fictional Latin American mega-city of Nuevo Caracas, the game tells the story of a down-on-their-luck PMC group caught up in a vast conflict between rival factions and shadowy corporations, as mystical events increasingly blur the line between reality and illusion. Exosuits provided by one such benefactor allow players to engage in intense combat, utilizing high-tech gadgetry and superhuman strength to outwit their enemies.

Reburn’s roster of developers includes lead gameplay designers, artists, sound engineers, programmers, and more from across the entire Metro series. Metro 2033Last Light, and Exodus gameplay and AI designer Oleksandr Kostiuk serves as project lead on La Quimera. CEO and founder Dmytro Lymar has worked in games since 2006, and previously served as director and CEO of 4A Games Ukraine, which operated as a separately owned entity distinct from other 4A Games studios.

“As a development studio operating out of Ukraine, the last several years have been extremely challenging in terms of bringing any artistic creation to life while contending with the realities of war and dramatic shifts in the games industry,” further stated Lymar. ”Through it all, we stayed focused on what we love: Creating immersive, story-driven experiences. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the bravery and sacrifice of those defending Ukraine, and we’re profoundly grateful for their strength and resilience. We’re also truly thankful to everyone who supported and believed in us along the way.”

About Reburn:

Reburn is an independently-owned video game development studio led by CEO Dmytro Lymar. Reburn was formerly known as 4A Games Ukraine, one of multiple studios working on the Metro video game series. Reburn comprises more than 110 developers, featuring many designers, artists, animators, programmers, QA, and more from across the Metro game franchise. La Quimera is the studio’s first unique IP. The studio is based primarily in Kyiv, Ukraine, but utilizes a number of people working remotely around the globe.

Happy Volcano Debuts First Modulus Demo on Steam

Cut, color, stamp, and assemble modular components to build a fully functioning factory from the ground up

LOS ANGELES – April 7, 2025 – Award-winning developer Happy Volcano (You Suck at Parking, The Almost Gone) and publisher Astra Logical are proud to announce the first-ever demo for Modulus, a factory automation game where players build every piece from the ground up with building-block modules. Cut, color, stamp, and assemble these modules to design an impressive factory with your own creative twist.

There are no fixed recipes in Modulus. Players produce each construct from the very modules they manufacture, resulting in a highly personalized approach to factory-building. Witness these structures rise and construct in real time, with each block becoming a visible part of the design. The more complex the buildings, the more advanced the modules must become.

In the demo, players can experiment with a variety of operators, construct Grey and Blue buildings with unique functions, and unlock Zen Mode for relaxed, unrestricted building without objectives. To guide players, a brief tutorial kicks things off for those new to the automation genre.

There are no timers, no enemies—just the player and their factory. Players can relax and find their flow as they build at their own pace. The factory steadily expands, with monumental buildings emerging to meet the ever-growing demand from The Grand Neural Network.

About Happy Volcano

Happy Volcano is an award-winning game studio with a volcanic passion for bold and exciting video games. As a team of artists, designers and engineers, they put their hearts and minds together building unique gaming experiences. The studio is Belgium-based, with a growing remote team that spans the globe. 

About Astra Logical

Astra Logical publishes systems and strategy games that don’t hate you. A mission-driven indie publisher, they support games with an ethos of progressive complexity and emergent thought. Astra teams up with developers who create approachable yet deep challenges for the curious-minded.

RuneScape Heats Up with ‘Pharaoh’s Folly’, the Second Quest in the Return to the Desert Storyline, Available Now

Save the crumbling city of Menaphos in the continuation of the Return to The Desert questline.

Monday, 7th April 2025, Cambridge, UK. It’s time to head back into the scorching heat of the Kharidian desert in RuneScape as the second quest in the Return to the Desert storyline, ‘Pharaoh’s Folly’, is available for RuneScape Members today.

The sands are shifting in Gielinor and the Golden City of Menaphos is in peril. Following Osman’s brutal betrayal in an attack on his own people, Menaphos has been left divided. Amascut’s influence lurks in the shadows, and as Osman’s motives turn even more sinister, it is time to put an end to his evil ways – but only once you’ve escaped the treacherous Shifting Tombs…

Pair with Leela, familiar faces, and new furry friends to uncover the long-lost secrets of Menaphos in a dangerous quest to expose the truth. With tensions rising and The Golden City crumbing from within, no matter what happens next, Menaphos will never be the same. 

Complete Pharaoh’s Folly to earn new rewards, including Thieving and Agility XP, ‘The Rabble-Rouser’ title, and a new Bracelet ‘Leela’s Favour’, capable of teleporting players to all districts of Menaphos, including the Sophanem slayer dungeon, shifting tombs, and all active soul obelisks. 

To embark on this new adventure, players will need to have reached Slayer skill level 87, completed the first quest in the Return to the Desert storyline ‘Beneath Scabaras’ Sands’, reached various requirements to complete the Do no Evil quest in ‘Phite Club’, and built the fort buildings required to complete the ‘Fort Forinthry Storyline’. Those who prove themselves worthy may then speak to Leela outside the gates of Menaphos to rally the city and change the fate of the desert forever.

RuneScape is available now on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, complete with cross-platform progression and play on PC and mobile.

About RuneScape

Celebrating more than twenty years of adventures and acclaimed by PC Gamer as “one of the most endearing and unique MMOs available”, RuneScape is an ever-expanding, community-driven game that’s bursting with activity and life. Today RuneScape is one of the world’s longest-running online games, with over 300 million player accounts. 

Set in a medieval fantasy land, players embark on epic journeys through a vast sandbox world that’s full of gods, warring races, unexplored dungeons, and glittering riches. Propelled by the game’s narrative, choose your own path through enthralling quests, and progress through 29 diverse skills to shape a single character in a classless world. RuneScape is available across PC, iOS and Android devices.

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 acquisition of 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. 

New Ships and Submarines Set Sail in the March Updates for World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends

Set sail with a wealth of new content across PC and console, including new ships, a limited-time battle type, and the introduction of the infamous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the console version.

AUSTIN, TX (April 7, 2025) – Wargaming, the developer and publisher of the leading cross-platform naval multiplayer game World of Warships, is sailing into spring with two jam-packed updates in World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends. For PC players, World of Warships sees two cruisers awaiting construction in the Dockyard, a new Efficiency Badges system, and a limited-time battle type that features a respawn mechanic. On console, World of Warships: Legends welcomes April with the arrival of the fan-favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration, plus a new PvE game mode called War Tales, and a Marathon to earn the German cruiser Hindenburg.

Check out the World of Warships on PC trailer for this update below:

Check out the World of Warships: Legends trailer for this update below

Cruisers under construction and brand-new badges in World of Warships
Headlining April’s update for players on PC is a new Dockyard, with two ships up for grabs. Waiting at the end of 20 construction phases is German Tier IX Premium heavy cruiser Blücher. This ship boasts highly accurate shots and armored piercing shells that come equipped with increased penetration, improved ricochet angles, and flat ballistics. After progressing through the first eight Dockyard phases, players will also unlock Tier VII Commonwealth light cruiser Gambia, equipped with high explosive shells and Short Burst Smoke Generator to help take down enemy ships.

Players confident in their naval combat strategy can now showcase their skills through the addition of Efficiency Badges, which can be earned by completing Random Battles. After each clash, the base experience points of a player’s performance will be compared against the recent average performance of players from around the world, rewarding them with one of four tiered Efficiency Badges to display on the ships in their profile summary. As players improve their standing, climbing from 3rd Grade to Expert, ships will only display its highest-ranking badge.

Finally, a temporary battle type is sailing into World of Warships with Unbreakable Line, which welcomes a respawning feature. Running until 15 May, Tier VIII-IX battleships, cruisers, and destroyers can dive into action-packed 7 vs. 7 skirmishes. In a race to achieve 1,000 points, teams will need to win capture points and sink enemy vessels. But sinking these ships isn’t enough, as they’ll instantly respawn with reloaded weapons to jump back into battle. 

World of Warships Legends shells out turtle mayhem and a new game mode

As part of April’s update, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are surfing into World of Warships: Legends. Players can sail into battle sporting their most beloved dude, with themed Commander guises and new skins. To celebrate the crossover, players hungry for new cosmetics can also pick up limited-time Pizza Time crates. With two available for free, one can be earned by conquering the new Turtle Power! Mission, and another by battling through the Dragon’s Voyage campaign during the update.

April is also bringing fresh ways to play with War Tales, a brand-new PvE game mode that sees teams of three to five players working together to accomplish specific objectives using ships from Tier III ships upward. Three War Tales will be available to begin with, each with its own unique mission, such as securing a control point or escorting an allied ship. To emerge victorious, communication and solid strategies across teams will be vital.

For players seeking new vessels to lay down destruction with, the Hindenburg Marathon rounds out the April update, offering German Legendary Tier cruiser Hindenburg as the main reward. Spanning across three updates, players will have to work hard to accumulate a special currency known as Ship Parts. These can be earned by completing activities, playing the main campaign, earning bonuses through Store purchases, or by finishing Weekly Assignments.

About World of Warships

World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including five different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.

About World of Warships: Legends

Experience epic naval action in World of Warships: Legends, a massively multiplayer online game where you can master the seas in history’s greatest warships! Recruit Legendary Commanders from maritime history, upgrade your vessels, and stake your claim to naval supremacy with or against players from around the world in thrilling and immersive battles.

World of Warships: Legends brings the online naval action loved by millions to home consoles and mobile for the very first time, alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience. Official website: https://wowslegends.com/

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry. Its 15 offices around the world include studios in Chicago, Prague, Shanghai, Tokyo, Vilnius, Belgrade, and Kyiv. Millions of players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Its flagship products include the free-to-play hits World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, and World of Warships Blitz.

© 2025 Wargaming.net © 2025 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. All Rights Reserved.

Outrageous virtual reality gladiator sim GORN 2 takes a swing at Meta Quest, SteamVR, and PSVR2 this year

GORN 2 is the skull-crushing sequel to VR smash hit GORN. New developers Cortopia, working alongside original series creators Free Lives, are stepping into the arena to take on virtual reality’s most outrageous gladiator sim.

In GORN 2 you will ascend to a heavenly realm where the souls of all the gladiators you slaughtered in the first game now dwell—and kill them again. Expect new weapons, new arenas, new traps, new enemies, and new bosses as you raise Hell in the heavens and prove your battle prowess before an army of terrifying foes.

This brutally slapstick brawler will be making its way to Meta Quest, SteamVR, and PSVR2 later this year, with in-your-face combat so irresponsibly violent you’ll check your headset for blood spatters when the fight is over.

Key features

  • Engage in fierce gladiatorial battles powered by an outrageous fully physics-driven combat engine, savagely striking down foes with a bountiful collection of 35 devastating, uniquely violent weapons–including many monstrous new additions to your gladiator’s arsenal
  • Journey through a series of heavenly realms populated by the fallen heroes of the original game. Here you’ll battle the five sons’ champions: powerful bosses primed to unleash fresh challenges upon even the most seasoned, blood-flecked arena veteran
  • GORN 2 is everything GORN was but MORE. More weapons, more enemies, more arenas, more traps, more power-ups, and more hilariously over-the-top combat. If you loved the first game, but still feel a raging yearning for more, GORN 2 will sate your blood-thirst
  • Conquered all five heavenly arenas? Then stand your ground in the relentless non-stop onslaught of Endless Mode, or try creating your own battlefields of destruction in Custom Mode. Get creative and crush your opponents any way you choose, no matter how outlandish

GORN 2 will launch later this year on Meta Quest, SteamVR, and PSVR2.

Sol Dorado Heist Review

Sol Dorado Heist

Developer: Megalixir Games
Publisher: Sometimes You
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Reviewed), PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $9.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

When it comes to a good heist movie, some of the best parts tend to be the build-up to the actual heist. Putting together an eclectic crew with the right set of skills to pull off a job without a hitch. Well, what if things were backwards and most of the heists had already happened and a potential heist member forgot nearly everything about it besides that she is right in the middle of what is meant to be their biggest payoff? That’s where Sol Dorado Heist comes in, a short visual novel from Megalixir Games that recently arrived on consoles following a PC release a few years ago. Delivering a couple hour experience at a fairly cheap price, does Sometimes You’s latest port hit the jackpot or is it a bust for this visual novel?

Story

Alex Thorn wakes up in a swanky hotel room with absolutely no idea how she got there. Besides a massive headache and a few foggy memories that may place her right at the scene of an imminent crime, Alex has very little to go on until she ventures out into the lobby where she meets detective Drake Carrigan who questions her about why she has been appearing so frequently near the locations of so many recent casino robberies. Despite not naming her a suspect, Carrigan reveals that the police suspect that the perpetrator is targeting the popular Sol Dorado Casino next, the very casino she has vague memories of. She also learns from him that the media, and the police as a result, have taken to calling the thief the Silence Ace.

With the police already closing in to surveil the target, Alex must conduct her own investigation despite her memory loss if it means saving her own skin and potentially someone else’s, because if she can’t figure out who the Silent Ace is before they pull off the heist or is arrested, not only will she be left with nothing, but also complicit with their crime, landing her squarely behind bars. This leads to a short but fairly satisfying three chapter investigation filled with colorful characters and Vegas references that takes roughly two hours to completely complete which unfortunately doesn’t quite give many of them too much of a chance to shine.

Keeping a story short and sweet is far from  a bad thing but in the case of Sol Dorado Heist it might work well for its core storyline, keeping things rather brisk and delivering a couple of expected but fitting twists here and there, but it does something of a disservice to its characters that are unfortunately relegated to being one note cliches or mysteries until the last few minutes of each of the game’s four primary endings. There is a fifth one though that isn’t quite the ending one would aim for. Ironically, despite offering choices throughout the storyline most of the actual choices simply provide extra tidbits of information or in a few instances show off a CG or interaction that might have otherwise been missed. Instead, the only choice that actually matters is the final one that dictates which of the aforementioned four endings players will receive

As mentioned before, Alex’s interactions with the various members of the cast such as the mysterious but charismatic Rebecca Mendoza, Drake Carrigan as a fresh detective looking to make a name for himself, Jack Viper the enigmatic magician or even Bennie Hart whose dad puns rival only his downtrodden aura and even a few characters that only have a few appearances feel as if they could easily have been fleshed out more throughout the storyline. This is especially true since many of these developments would have made Alex much more of an interesting main character as a result since here amnesia storyline isn’t the most gripping.

Instead, as mentioned, most of the actual major revelations and developments happen only in the game’s multiple endings. In fact players will want to see at least a few of these as the core storyline remains the same regardless, including the actual culprit, meaning every new piece of information about the characters is welcome even if it does mean that there is unfortunately no actual way of “solving” the case yourself or providing variety by changing the culprit depending on player choice. This means that once players complete Sol Dorado Heist, there’s very little reason to return to it.

Gameplay

Considering this is a visual novel there really isn’t much in the way of actual gameplay involved. In fact Megalixir Games even went a bit light on this as well compared to the usual visual novel. Players have the standard option to simply press a button to continue reading, skip dialogue that is oddly default set to everything rather than previously read only, and being able to re-read the dialogue log. 

There is surprisingly no method to set the game to auto-continue dialogue despite there being a setting for it, though considering there is even a setting for voices that is also absent, perhaps this was meant to be included and just never made it in. Other than that, players will find that a CG gallery will slowly unlock for every CG players have seen in the game, though as mentioned before a few are locked behind non-consequential choices.

Audio & Visuals

It is nice to note that all of the artwork in Sol Dorado Heist is originally drawn and there is quite a bit of detail to both the backgrounds of various parts of Vegas as well as inside the casino. The character portraits are something of a mixed bag, with some characters almost appearing as if they were drawn by a completely separate artist than others and it must be said that Alex desperately needed either more pose variations or far fewer “shocked” reactions as the she will often flail randomly during scenes, looking both incredibly strange in comparison to other characters and flashbanging players as well as these are often accompanied by so many rapid flashes of light it felt like a photosensitivity test.

As mentioned before, despite there being a setting for voice volume, there is no actual voice work in the game besides crowd sound effects and other standard sound effects. The background music is made up of fairly standard sounding tracks that work well enough, with the background track often changing to match the character Alex is currently interacting with.

Overall

Sol Dorado Heist is far from a bad visual novel, but it’s not really a good one either. Thanks to its short length the storyline keeps a brisk pace at the cost of sacrificing potentially enjoyable character moments that could easily have been fleshed out or developed far better given a longer run time. While the title may feature multiple endings, they almost all boil down to one choice at the end and while the backgrounds are nicely drawn and some of the character portraits are nice, the lack of voice work, generic background music, and overuse of flashing effects makes it feel like this visual novel stayed when it should have hit at the blackjack table, even for its low cost.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.