Today, 2K and Firaxis Games announced that the much-anticipated Sid Meier’s Civilization VII’s Test of Time Update is launching free for all players on May 19. Soon players will have the option to play as one civilisation throughout the game, and explore the new Triumphs and reworked Victories systems.
Key changes introduced in the Test of Time Update include:
Time-Tested Civs – Start a game with any civ from any Age. During the Age transition process, players can select a new civ, or continue playing as the same civilization into the next Age. AI opponents will follow the player’s lead, either remaining as a single civ or switching to a new one in corresponding fashion.
A New Victories System – Achieving Victories has been completely reworked. This new design puts Victories front and center from the start, requiring players to establish clear, undeniable dominance in one of four categories: Military, Economy, Culture, or Science. Players can make progress toward any victory starting in the Antiquity Age, and even win as early as the Exploration Age.
Triumphs – The team listened to feedback and have completely removed Legacy Paths, replacing them with an entirely new system called Triumphs. Triumphs offer a wide range of optional, challenging objectives to help each game feel unique. Triumphs are tied to each of the six Attributes: Militaristic, Cultural, Scientific, Economic, Diplomatic, and Expansionist.
Read the full details on what’s coming in the Test of Time update in the announcement article here.
Jackbox Games brings the jokes everywhere with latest Party Pack as Jackbox furthers expansion in 2026 with new publishing label and partnership with Netflix for fan-favorite Party Pack games
CHICAGO (May 6, 2026) – Developer, publisher and the purveyors of your favorite party game pastimes, Jackbox Games, are keeping the jokes rolling with the latest iteration of their beloved Party Pack series which has been joined by players over 826 million times since December 2022: The Jackbox Party Pack 12. Launching this year on PC (Steam/Epic Games Store) Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Apple TV, iPad and the Mac App Store, this year’s Party Pack promises to give you more opportunities to brand yourself “the funny one” of your friend group with five new games. Wishlist The Jackbox Party Pack 12 on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4199960/The_Jackbox_Party_Pack_12
Watch today’s brand-new announcement trailer for TheJackbox Party Pack 12 here:
The Jackbox Party Pack 12 will follow up on 2025’s Party Pack 11 with five different games designed to take your party to new heights. Highlight your inner artist, comedian, mind reader, debater and team captain like the life of the party you are. Is it social manipulation if you’re trying to make people laugh? That’s for your friends and loved ones to decide. More information about the games in this pack will be coming next month.
You can find more information on The Jackbox Party Pack 12 on Jackbox Games’ website here: https://www.jackboxgames.com/
Today’s announcement of The Jackbox Party Pack 12 is Jackbox Games’ latest in a year of firsts for the studio, including most recently a partnership announced with global streaming service Netflix to bring a select number Jackbox games to subscribers across the world as well as the studio’s first step into games publishing. Announced this past March, Jackbox Games is partnering with Australia-based developer Toot Games to publish their debut title, the highly anticipated, extremely irreverent and kind of discomforting stealth-comedy game My Arms Are Longer Now to mischief makers around the world.
For updates on Jackbox Games, including The Jackbox Party Pack 12, My Arms Are Longer Now, and Trivia Muder Party 3 also releasing later this year.
7, May 2026 –WheelMates, the co-op adventure where two drivers guide tiny RC cars through the secret-riddled house of an eccentric missing scientist from developer FireVolt, puts the pedal to the metal plastic in its first public demo opening the garage area, available today on Steam.
Following the first playtest earlier this year, the doors to the mysterious scientist’s house open up for a public demo, accessible to everyone without waiting. After learning the controls and using the first power-ups in the Kitchen, explore the Garage. This big, open space full of hidden paths offers new tools to use, and more secrets to discover. Unleash gear like magnet grab and rope swing to solve puzzles together, find secret areas, and discover the whereabouts of the professor.
Explore these areas together with a friend, now with split screen local co-op in addition to online play. Drift around corners, performing stunts in the air, and test reworked physics making driving more intuitive and fun. Additionally, the demo adds improved camera control, and new localization for 14 languages in total.
With no timers and no pressure to move fast, WheelMates emphasizes shared problem solving at the duo’s own preferred pace, enabling discovery of surprises and secrets.
Play the WheelMates demo now on Steam for PC, with the full game set to launch on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
For more information, join the Discord server, visit the game’s official site, and follow WheelMates on X, TikTok, and YouTube.
About FireVolt
An independent studio FireVolt combines its experience and knowhow to make its own co-op titles that bring new approaches and shared experiences to the world.
A Modern Take on Classic Arcade Side-Scrolling Brawlers, Featuring Four Playable Characters, Two Distinct Biomes, Boss Fights, and Encounters with the Mad King Himself!
BERLIN, GERMANY – May 7, 2026 – Secret Mission Games, an indie studio made up of industry veterans, today announced that its debut title, Mad King Redemption, will launch into Steam Early Access on Thursday, May 14. Inspired by classic beat ’em up side-scrollers like Golden Axe, and Final Fight, Mad King Redemption is an updated version designed for modern playstyles, including quick matches, strong roguelite progression, and both local and online co-op gameplay (via Steam Remote Play). The game will be available on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Game Store in Early Access for $14.99 USD.
Watch the Mad King Redemption launch date trailer below:
“We wanted to recreate that feeling of long afternoons at the arcade with your friends, playing through an epic quest in 20-minute bursts,” said Nicolo Girotti, co-founder of Secret Mission Games. “It’s built for the busy player who still craves depth and high-quality retro action”
Mad King Redemption is a love letter to the Golden Age of beat ’em ups. Designed for both veterans and new players, the game delivers high-intensity, short-session gameplay that recaptures the thrill of classic 8-bit and 16-bit brawlers. Featuring a 2D/3D pixel art style, Steam co-op, local co-op play, and a unique feature called Corruption, that grants players special abilities that will make them stronger … but corrupted power comes at a price.
Building on the game’s strong momentum, Mad King Redemption has already earned significant industry recognition, winning the Very Big Indie Pitch award and being hand-selected by Valve for the official Steam Next Fest trailer. The title will be a featured exhibitor at Bit Summit 2026 in Kyoto, where it was chosen as part of an elite delegation of developers.
Key Gameplay Features:
Retro-Modern Combat: Classic side-scrolling brawler mechanics updated for 2026.
Local Co-op & Steam Remote Play: Battle through the hordes with a friend locally or online.
High-Octane Sessions: Designed for quick iterations and pick-up-and-play accessibility.
Stay up to date with all Mad Kind Redemption news on the website.
About SECRET MISSION Secret Mission is a team of three gaming industry veterans with Italian roots, located in Berlin, Germany. The studio has been entirely self-funded through the founders’ personal finances and is currently seeking investment partners for the Early Access launch of their game, Mad King Redemption.
Raspberry Studio’s bodycam psychological-horror FPS enters its first Early Access development phase with two missions. Wishlist now and play the final demo today.
Loznica, Serbia – May 6, 2026. Indie developer Raspberry Studio today confirms that A.A.U. Black Site, its immersive bodycam psychological-horror FPS, will launch into its first Early Access development phase onMay 21, 2026, with the first two missions available at launch.
Following a strong reception during Steam Next Fest, the team has been working closely with the community to refine and enhance the experience ahead of Early Access. Players will step into the abandoned region of Uzovnica as an operative of the covert A.A.U. Special Forces, where a routine mission quickly spirals into chaos. Intercepted, framed, and cut off from support, you are left stranded in hostile territory as reality begins to fracture around you.
Watch the Release Date Announcement trailer below
Blending tactical combat with psychological horror, A.A.U. Black Site places players in a relentless fight for survival, captured entirely through a chilling bodycam perspective. Navigate claustrophobic environments, adapt your playstyle with a wide arsenal of weapons, and uncover the truth behind the Black Site.
This initial phase is just the beginning, with additional story chapters, weapons, enemies, and locations planned throughout Early Access, shaped directly by player feedback.
WishlistA.A.U. Black Site on Steam now, and download the final demo today to prepare for deployment when Early Access begins on May 21
Fresh off the heels of its April release, the acclaimed real-time strategy title sets its sights on quality-of-life update, Co-op Mode, DLC, and the Scenario Editor
Bracknell, UK – May 6, 2026–Following its successful global launch on April 23, Sudden Strike 5 continues to gain momentum, and the battlefield is far from quiet. Today, Kalypso Media and Kite Games announced that a lineup of new content and game improvements are already in motion, reinforcing the team’s long-term commitment to evolving the Sudden Strike experience shaped by both developer vision and player input.
The first addition arriving to the game will be a quality-of-life update that will incorporate player feedback and requests from the community to include overall gameplay experience improvements and bug fixes. Following this, Co-op Mode will be introduced. Its addition will open the door for players and their favorite strategy-gaming plus one, to coordinate battlefield tactics across the entire campaign together as a fortified RTS team.
Next, a DLC will bring forth an exciting and currently classified six-mission campaign. Complete details of the upcoming DLC campaign, its release date and price will be revealed soon. Lastly, the Scenario Editor will round out the content additions outlined in the roadmap, offering players the ability to create and engage in player-generated content.
An exciting year is underway for Sudden Strike 5! Stay tuned to Kalypso Media channels as more details on each of these additions will be revealed in the coming months. Sudden Strike 5 is available now on PC, Xbox on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation®5.
Sudden Strike 5 Features:
Command massive battles: Sudden Strike 5 delivers a truly immersive strategy experience 25 missions across huge, diverse maps and the highest unit counts ever seen in the series, setting the stage for large-scale tactical warfare.
Deploy a vast arsenal of WW2 units: Command over 300 authentic units – including more than 190 vehicles and 110 infantry units – such as the Sherman tank for the Western Allies, the Messerschmidt Bf 109 for the German troops, and the T-34 for the Soviet troops.
Shape your strategy in dynamic mission gameplay: Utilize unprecedented strategic freedom by choosing your own tactics, units, and objectives to complete the mission goals. Seize and defend key locations like Field HQs, Supply Depots, and Train Stations to gain critical advantages, while using recon, sabotage, alternative routing, and smart unit combinations to outmanoeuvre your enemies.
Adapt your tactics with customisable commanders: Choose the Commander that best fits your playstyle and tactics – whether offensive, defensive, or more tactical. Each brings unique skills that can turn the tide of battle, such as deploying smoke grenades to provide cover on the battlefield or boosting the accuracy of your artillery.
Take full control of the battlefield: Extended camera options let you zoom out for full strategic oversight or zoom in for a closer look at the frontline action, giving you better control over every aspect of the battlefield.
Challenge yourself and others: Test your strategy against real opponents or AI enemies across multiple difficulty levels, offering competitive PvP challenges.
About the Kalypso Media Group GmbH Kalypso Media Group GmbH is an independent publisher, developer, and marketer of interactive entertainment software with over 200 employees at 10 locations across Germany, England, France, Japan, and the USA. The Kalypso Media Group includes Kasedo Games, the digital label of Kalypso Media Group, along with four development studios: Realmforge Studios (Dungeons series), Gaming Minds Studios in Gütersloh and Paderborn (Railway Empire, Port Royale, Tropico 7) and Claymore Game Studios (Commandos: Origins).
Specializing in the development of strategy and simulation games for a global audience on multi-platforms, Kalypso Media Group’s IP portfolio includes full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, and Railway Empire, among others. Kalypso Media’s most recent releases are Commandos: Origins, Disciples: Domination and Sudden Strike 5. Recent releases from Kasedo Games include Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, Sweet Dreams Alex, and Rise of Industry 2, with upcoming titles such as Warhammer 40000: Mechanicus II and Life Below.
Kalypso Media Group offers a wide range of merch products and clothing in the newly opened Kalypso Media merch store. The products available include Kalypso Media’s best-known franchises, including Commandos, Railway Empire, Dungeons, and Tropico.
Embark on a shared adventure in the vibrant world of Siagarta—alone or with friends!
BORDEAUX, France – May 6, 2026 –Farever, the online multiplayer action RPG set in a vast fantasy open world from Dune: Spice Wars, Wartales, and Northgarddeveloper Shiro Games, is now available in Early Access on PC via Steam.
Heed the call of adventure and journey across Siagarta, either solo or with a group of fellow adventurers in online co-op. Explore expansive regions filled with distinct biomes, dangerous enemies, hidden dungeons, and valuable treasures. Traverse the world with complete freedom: climb towering cliffs, glide across valleys and canyons, and dive into underground and underwater caverns. Every corner of this vibrant world rewards exploration with secrets, gear, and evolving content.
Choose from one of four starting classes (with more planned for 1.0), each offering a different approach to combat roles such as damage, support, or survivability. Build your playstyle through a wide range of weapons, abilities, and talents. In Farever, gear plays a central role in progression. Each piece contributes to your build by unlocking new effects, passive bonuses, and synergies, allowing you to experiment and create a combat identity that’s truly your own. Team up with friends to take on powerful enemies and challenging bosses that reward coordination and mastery.
Whether solo or in a group, Farever dynamically scales its activities to match party size, ensuring a balanced and engaging experience for all players. Between expeditions, return to town to craft equipment, upgrade your gear, or gather rare resources to create potions and consumables that will support you and your allies in battle
“Today’s Early Access launch marks the beginning of an exciting new adventure,” said Nicolas Cannasse, CEO of Shiro Games. “We’re proud to build Farever alongside our community and evolve the game throughout Early Access with player feedback. After all, what’s an adventure without adventurers?”
Farever is available now in Early Access on PC via Steam for $19.99 with English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese language support. For more information, follow Farever on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, and follow Shiro Games on Bluesky.
About Shiro Games
Shiro Games is an independent Bordeaux-based studio founded by video game veterans Sebastien Vidal and Nicolas Cannasse to bring new innovative games to life. Based in Bordeaux, France, the studio released its first project Evoland in 2013 and its acclaimed sequel Evoland 2 in 2015. Shiro Games then launched its popular Viking strategy game Northgard on Steam in 2018, which has gone on to sell more than 3 million units across various platforms as well as Dune: Spice Wars, the spice-infused blend of 4X and RTS gameplay. Wartales is their latest title, with several major DLC additions since its release in April 2023.
Test Your Skills by Re-Fighting Major Bosses and Earn Medals to Unlock Powerful Arcana Spells
Milton Keynes, UK, May 5, 2026 – Today, developer MercuryStream and publisher 505 Games are pleased to share the third episode of their weekly feature video series dedicated to their upcoming dark fantasy action-adventure game Blades of Fire – Version 2.0, launching on Steam PC on May 14. Following Episode 1 – Photomode and Episode 2 – Transmutation, this new episode spotlights two new systems coming withVersion 2.0 which introduce new ways for players to dominate the battlefield: Anvil Trials and Arcana.
Watch the third episode of the Blades of FireFeature Video Series – Anvil Trials & Arcana: YouTube
With the Anvil Trials, players can re-fight major bosses in dedicated arenas after defeating them in the main story. Once a boss is defeated, a special anvil appears; activating it teleports players to an arena where the boss is revived for another encounter. At the start of each trial, players’ health potions are fully restored. Weapons remain in the condition they had on entry, but any damage taken during the fight is not permanent — both potions and weapons revert to their previous state when players exit, regardless of success. Each boss introduces additional mechanics, and each fight is timed, allowing players to earn up to three medals based on completion time.
Players can then use the medals granted during the Anvil Trials to unlock Arcana, ancient spells cast by Adso that grant passive buffs to weapons: with higher-tier medals unlocking stronger Arcana. To apply an Arcana, players will need to speak with Adso; each Arcana requires a minimum weapon reputation and consumes one repair star. Players can have only one Arcana active per weapon at a time, but they can replace it freely as long as stars remain. Different Arcana reward aggressive play, survivability, or weapon efficiency, letting players tailor their builds to their preferred combat style.
The Anvil Trials will offer structured, repeatable boss challenges, while the Arcana will turn those victories into meaningful upgrades players can use on their in-game journey.
Download the Blades of Fire demo, available now on Steam, and experience the new features included in Version 2.0 ahead of its official launch.
Blades of Fire is coming to currently available on PC via the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Blades of Fire – Version 2.0 will be available on Steam on May 14.
Starting May 14, the Version 2.0 upgrade will also be available as a free update on all other platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Epic Games Store (PC).
Highly Anticipated Sequel Joins Paradox’s Portfolio of Management-Strategy Games
STOCKHOLM and SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland – MAY 6, 2026 – Paradox Interactive, a well-trained publisher of games, today announced a publishing partnership with Urban Games, developers of the award-winning Transport Fever game series. Both companies will join forces to publish the latest entry in the series, Transport Fever 3. As announced last year, Transport Fever 3 will launch for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026, bringing the deepest, most ambitious iteration of the series to date to experienced tycoons and new players worldwide.
Start planning your routes by watching the announcement trailerbelow.
Transport Fever 3 challenges players to design, build, and manage transport empires spanning railways, roads, shipping lanes, and air routes across 4 distinctive environments: temperate, desert, tropical and new sub-arctic. Each environment offers a unique set of challenges and gameplay possibilities thanks to massively upgraded terrain generation, all supporting a dynamic, fully simulated world occupied by settlements and industries that evolve in response to player actions. Players can build their worlds using vehicles covering a century of transport innovation with over 250 authentic trains, buses, trams, trucks, ships, planes, and, for the first time, helicopters.
“We are delighted to partner with Paradox Interactive, a publisher that shares our core values and long-term vision. Together, we will continue on the path we have set for Transport Fever 3 and deliver the greatest possible value to the players, for which this partnership will have nothing but positive effects. We are honored to join forces with such a respected publisher, and Transport Fever 3 is now on an even stronger track to reach its full potential when it launches later this year,” said Basil Weber, Founder and CEO at Urban Games.
Both companies are rooted in a player-centric approach to game development, and have identified a natural overlap in their design pillars and in their fanbases, allowing the game to continue on its current development path, amplified and empowered by Paradox’s expertise in management titles. The agreement represents an ideal fit for Paradox and Urban Games alike, offering benefits to both companies and players as the game works towards its scheduled release in 2026.
“Transport Fever 3 is a perfect fit for the Paradox portfolio and we’re incredibly impressed by what Urban Games has created in this series,” said Mattias Rengstedt, CBO at Paradox Interactive. “The game matches every aspect of what we’re looking for in a new title, offering a deep and endless experience that we think players will love. We’re excited to take this important step for the series together with Urban Games and ship, haul, fly, and truck Transport Fever 3 across the world.”
The partnership pertains to the publishing of Transport Fever 3, but it does not include intellectual property rights.
Urban Games is an independent video game developer based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Founded in 2013, the studio released its debut title Train Fever in 2014, followed by Transport Fever in 2016. The third entry, Transport Fever 2, launched at the end of 2019 and became both a critical and commercial success, selling millions of copies on PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
About Paradox Interactive
Paradox Interactive is a leading developer and publisher of management and strategy games for PC and consoles. The company’s games reach six million players every month worldwide, with its largest markets in North America, Western Europe and Asia. The game portfolio consists of popular franchises such as Stellaris, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, Cities: Skylines, Prison Architect, the Surviving games, Age of Wonders and Victoria. Paradox Interactive also owns the World of Darkness brand catalog.
Lesquin, May 6, 2026 – Only a few more hours to wait! NACON Connect is back tomorrow, Thursday, May 7 at 8:00 PM CEST / 11:00 AM PST on our official YouTube channel.
This year, we are presenting our new games and accessories with brand new footage and exclusive information on highly anticipated titles such as The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, Edge of Memories, the latest project from the KT Racing studio, Endurance Motorsport Series, as well as the new project from Teyon studio, Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, which was recently announced. Other announcements will also flesh out our conference.
For racing fans:
Right after the conference, don’t miss the “News From The Pits” show live on our NACON RACING channel. For nearly 30 minutes, dive behind the scenes of our racing projects through exclusive news and features.
Join us on our official YouTube channel on May 7 at 8:00 PM CEST / 11:00 AM PST to follow the #NACONCONNECT announcements.
Find all NACON games and accessories on the nacongaming.com website.
About NACON
A company within the BIGBEN group, NACON was created in 2019 to optimise its expertise and leverage synergies in the video game market. Comprising 16 development studios, AA game publishing, and the design and distribution of premium gaming peripherals, NACON brings 40 years of experience to benefit the world’s gaming community. This unified centre of excellence strengthens NACON’s position in the market and creates unique opportunities for innovation and competitive advantages. https://corporate.nacongaming.com
