From Insane Summoning Stats to Arena Showdowns, Hyperlinkers Brought the Hype!
Shanghai, China — January 28, 2025| With thousands of fans swarming the booth, record-breaking beta participants, and an unforgettable showdown in the arena, XD Inc.’s Etheria: Restart was the must-visit highlight of the Taipei Game Show!
From hands-on gameplay previews, sensational cosplayers and exclusive merch giveaways, the Etheria: Restart booth delivered non-stop excitement. Fans who completed in-game challenges walked away with limited-edition collectables, while some lucky participants even won a PS5 Pro!
Alongside playtests and competitions, the electrifying and renowned streamer Akaoni joined the booth on January 24 and 25, taking centre stage and engaging with fans in live gameplay battles, challenge events, and exclusive meet-and-greets. Attendees who participated even got to take home a signed pic with the gaming icon herself!
XD Inc. can’t thank the Hyperlinkers enough for making the Taipei Game Show an unforgettable event! Their feedback on gameplay balance, character tweaks, and combat mechanics is invaluable – and XD is already working on updates to level up their experience.
And Etheria: Restart wasn’t just drawing attention from fans at the event; across the globe, its closed beta racked up some incredible stats, which are outlined below:
Most Popular Characters:
Lian – The “gentle yet deadly” favorite!
Massiah – The mysterious and OP leader topping PvE & PvP rankings!
Kloss – The hacker prodigy with game-changing support skills!
Summoning Madness:
Over 900,000 total summons!
Top three most-wanted SSRs: Massiah, Tiamat, and the new assassin Hoyan.
The luckiest Hyperlinker? Tianyu Rin – the only player to collect every single character!
Peak Player Achievements:
The average level reached was 35, but player “Lulu” hit an insane level 66
82 players finished their Peak Arena rankings, but one legend stood above all…
“Fried Bun” – the undisputed DOUBLE ARENA KING! Holding the top spot in both PvP modes, he dominated every challenger in the beta.
Boss Battles That Pushed Players to Their Limits:
The new boss, NicoNana, was challenged 24,056 times – the toughest and most-fought enemy in the test.
Guild “Qiyan City” pulled off the highest single-damage output, securing their spot as the top damage guild in the game!
What’s Next for Etheria: Restart?
Players can look forward to more characters, deeper strategies, and even crazier events as XD prepares for the next stage of Etheria: Restart!
Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of Etheria: Restart. Players can participate in the CBT, share their feedback, connect with fellow Hyperlinkers, and help XD Inc refine this groundbreaking experience together.
About Etheria: Restart
Etheria: Restart is a free-to-play supernatural hero team-building RPG developed by XD Inc. The game features breathtaking visuals, an immersive narrative, and a rich blend of PvE and PvP content. Players can enhance their experience with optional in-game purchases.
Crack the Cryptic Killer’s twisted puzzles in this thrilling co-op mystery coming to Steam on March 6th.
28 JANUARY 2025 – Eleven Puzzles has solved the puzzle on locking in a release date for Parallel Experiment and is thrilled to confirm the co-op puzzle game will arrive on Steam on March 6th! The demo is available today and awaits players eager to work together and escape the Cryptic Killer’s deadly experiment.
Mobile versions (iOS & Android) and a Nintendo Switch version are coming later this year and will offer players even more options to play co-operatively, with crossplay possible across all platforms!
Two detectives, one deadly experiment, a race against time. Each player only has one half of the puzzle.
Eleven Puzzles is no stranger to creating acclaimed cooperative games and they are living proof that co-operative puzzlers are a much more popular genre than most would expect, with over 8 million downloads of their free title Unsolved Case.
Puzzle fans who can’t wait for March 6th to get here can already take a stab at the previous entry in the series: Unboxing the Cryptic Killer, giving them more information on our detectives and their nemesis.
But no fear: Parallel Experiment is a stand-alone title you can enjoy without any prior knowledge and is the studio’s most ambitious project yet. It has already amassed well over 60K wishlists!
Parallel Experiment – Official Release Date Trailer
About the Game
Parallel Experiment is a 2-player cooperative puzzle game with escape room-like elements. Players take on the roles of two detectives who are often separated, each with different clues, and must work together to solve puzzles.
It’s a noir-inspired adventure with a comic book art style, featuring detectives Ally and Old Dog. While following the trail of the dangerous Cryptic Killer, they suddenly become his targets and are now unwilling participants in his twisted experiment.
It has a variety of innovative puzzles that push the boundaries of cooperative puzzle design, offering puzzles never seen before in other games.
Key Features
Two Player Co-Op In Parallel Experiment, players must rely on their communication skills as they’re separated and must each discover unique clues that are vital for solving puzzles on the other end. Teamwork is essential to crack the Cryptic Killer’s codes.
Challenging Collaborative Puzzles There are over 80 puzzles striking the perfect balance between challenging yet fair. But you’re not facing them on your own! Communicate with your partner on how to best proceed, solve a puzzle on your end that unlocks the next step for them and discover a wide variety of puzzles from redirecting water flows, finding computer passwords and unlocking intricate locks, to deciphering cryptic ciphers, soldering electronic components, and even waking up a drunk!
Two Can Play That Game Looking for a break from the main investigation? Dive into a variety of retro-inspired mini-games designed with a fresh cooperative twist. Challenge each other to darts, Three in a Row, Match Three, Claw Machine, Push and Pull, and more. Think you know these classics? We’ve reinvented them for a whole new co-op experience
Cooperative Dialogues Uncover vital clues through collaborative conversations. NPCs respond dynamically to each player, offering new layers of interaction that only teamwork can unravel. Some conversations are puzzles in themselves that you need to solve together!
Noir-Inspired Comic Book Art Explore hand-drawn environments that look like they’ve leapt straight off the pages of a comic book.
Annoy Each Other This is a key feature? Yes. Yes, it is. Each level will have some way for players to annoy their co-op partner: knock on a window to distract them, poke them, make their screens shake. You already know you’ll be doing this just by reading it, right?
Draw on… Everything! Every detective needs a notebook. In Parallel Experiment, players can jot down notes, sketch solutions, and interact with the environment in creative ways. But we all know what you’re going to draw first…
About Eleven Puzzles
Founded in Poland in November 2020, Eleven Puzzles began as a passion project during the pandemic, creating online escape rooms that brought people together. In 2022, we launched Unsolved Case, a free standalone game for Steam, iOS, and Android, which quickly became a hit with over 5,000 reviews and an 88% positive rating. The success of Unsolved Case inspired us to develop Unboxing the Cryptic Killer, released in 2023 to critical acclaim.
At Eleven Puzzles, we specialize in crafting innovative, cooperative puzzle experiences that challenge communication and collaboration. With our latest title, Parallel Experiment, we’re exploring new dimensions of teamwork and shared problem-solving, redefining what multiplayer puzzle games can be.
We’re proud to be a fully independent, self-funded studio. The success of our games has allowed us to grow sustainably, expanding the scope and ambition of each new project while staying true to our creative vision.
Odd Bug Studio’s action-RPG medieval ‘squeak-quel’ arrives across PC and consoles.
Tuesday, 28th January 2025 – United Label has today launched Odd Bug Studio’s Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter. Available on PC, PlayStation®5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch™, the action-RPG ‘squeak-quel’ takes place a number of years after the critically-acclaimed 2021 original game, and follows a new protagonist – Arlo, heir to the Warden of the Wastes – on his own bloody ‘tail’ of vengeance against an ancient, existential threat to the Ratdom.
Tails of Iron 2 builds upon its predecessor in several meaningful ways inspired by core player feedback, that serve to evolve rather than reinvent the fan-favourite formula. This includes a more expansive campaign twice the length of Tails of Iron, a more varied game world comprising six diverse biomes, new giant beast hunts, an all-new spellcasting system, and a deeper, enhanced version of the saga’s trademark brutal-but-fair combat.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter isavailable in digital StandardandDeluxe versions. In addition to the base game, those buying the Deluxe version will receive two DLC packs (which will also be available to purchase separately): The ‘Augur of the Draugr’ set that includes the legendary Draugr armour of old, and the ‘Hair to the Throne’ cosmetic pack, which features an exclusive collection of beards and hairstyles. The PC Deluxe version also includes the game’s digital artbook and official soundtrack.
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter features:
Explore a vast, wintry kingdom: Fully narrated by RPG legend Doug Cockle (The Witcher franchise, Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3) prepare to embark on an epic adventure across the northern realm and biomes of the Ratdom; an expansive, frost-bitten land on the brink of all-out war.
Hunt down giant beasts: Track down and defeat 15 legendary beasts of the Ratdom’s northern frontier and be rewarded with rare resources with which to craft devastating equipment. But be warned, these colossal creatures won’t go down without a fight… and then some.
Unleash the power of gods: Unlock the power of the four deities and unleash their powerful ‘Elementa’ spells in combat; harness the magics of fire, poison, ice, and electric upon the damned malevolent Dark Wings!
Master challenging combat: Face down the Dark Wing threat in deadly battles; let the devilish bats taste steel of blade and spear, or attack at range with bolts and arrows… and set elemental traps against these marauding foes (and adjust the difficulty at any point if it’s getting *too* much of a challenge – we won’t judge!)
Improved base building: Construct and upgrade the devastated Rat fortress of Winter’s Edge to gain access to more powerful items from the smithy, tastier meals at the kitchen, a wider range of powerful traps from the shoppe, and more!
About United Label
Founded in 2018, United Label is CI Games’ publishing arm for highly ambitious, lovingly crafted videogames. Its inaugural release, Röki received critical acclaim upon its launch in late 2020, with nominations for best ‘Debut Indie Game’ at both The Game Awards and BAFTA Game Awards. Since then, United Label has released a string of successful titles, including Eldest Souls and Tails of Iron. Its latest release is Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter. For more information about United Label, please visit www.unitedlabelgames.com.
About Odd Bug Studio
Founded in Manchester, UK in 2014, Odd Bug Studio is the team behind the 2017 2D VR platformer, The Lost Bear, and the 2021 critically acclaimed anthropomorphic adventure-RPG, Tails of Iron. Odd Bug Studio is currently developing a Tails of Iron sequel, Tails of Iron 2:Whiskers of Winter, which is set to launch on PC and consoles in January 2025. Proudly on a mission to create odd games, more information about Odd Bug Studio can be found atwww.oddbug.co.uk.
The Seal is Fully Broken as Developer and Publisher Reveal more about the Thriller Inspired by Lynch, Kojima, and Nolan
Watford, UK – 28th of January, 2025 – Award-winning publisher Wired Productions and independent developer Pollard Studio are excited unveil an ambitious final trilogy of trailers that will lead up to the game’s eagerly anticipated release date, due to be announced very soon.
Inspired by the works of visionary creators such as David Lynch (Twin Peaks), Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding), and Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar), KARMA: The Dark World pushes the boundaries of immersive storytelling. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, the game promises to deliver a gripping and visually stunning experience. Wired Productions can also reveal KARMA: The Dark World has been rated ESRB Mature and PEGI 18.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of director David Lynch. His art has had a profound influence on our game development, inspiring us to pay tribute to and learn from his work.” said Ke Yang, Art Director of Pollard Studio.
Creative Director Yonghe Wang added “In our studio’s movie nights, we often choose to watch his work. Our games have also been inspired by David Lynch’s creations. Compared to other directors’ styles, David Lynch’s work has always struck a chord. His films always feel sophisticated, carrying a unique, surreal quality. The colors, the camera work, the character nuances; everything about his art feels intentional and profound. While we could never surpass a master like Lynch, we hope to learn from him—to understand how he created the Lynchian aesthetic and to adapt that sensibility into other forms of art. This is something we aspire to.”
To build excitement for KARMA: The Dark World, the developers have planned a trilogy of trailers that will reveal key aspects of the game’s haunting story, immersive world, and intense gameplay mechanics. The first trailer in this series debuts today, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Karma: The Dark World is a first-person cinematic psychological horror title where players investigate the deepest secrets of their suspects’ minds. What starts out as another case for Roam Agent Daniel McGovern, sees him uncover a world of deceit and betrayal, where he begins to doubt everything, he knows, including his own identity.
Meticulously crafted in Unreal Engine 5, KARMA: The Dark World will be coming soon to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox. Players can wishlist Karma: The Dark World on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox now.
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is a true Indie Publisher proudly presenting a diverse range of specially curated games from some of the greatest storytellers and independent developers. Named as “Indie Publisher of the Year” at the MCV / Develop Awards, Wired is home to an award-winning collection of titles including: DIG VR, Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, Arcade Paradise VR, Tin Hearts, Martha Is Dead, The Falconeer, The Last Worker, and Deliver Us the Moon. Upcoming titles include: Hotel Architect and KARMA: The Dark World.
About Pollard Studio
Pollard Studio is based in Shanghai, China. They are an elite team with talented and passionate developers with experience on many titles from studios such as EA, Virtuos, and other game companies. Founded in 2018, they are a team of 20 with four based in LA, USA.
Poor Uzume, First she wakes up with no memory of how she ended up there but she was just cuddling a Dogoo of all things. Now, after coming to her senses, a whole horde of Dogoo are chasing her. With a nearby motorcycle as her best means of escape and her friends also in trouble, it is up to Uzume and her skills to hunt down these strange Dogoo and free her friends in Hyperdimension Neptunia’s latest spin-off from Idea Factory International, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos.
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos – Gameplay
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a motorcycle combat action game developed by Compile Heart and published by Idea Factory International. Set to release on January 28, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, the game features the beloved characters from the Neptunia series engaging in high-speed battles against the enigmatic Dogoos. Players will navigate through various terrains, utilizing unique combat abilities and customizable motorcycles to defeat enemies and uncover the mysteries surrounding the Dogoos.
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos Developer: Compile Heart Publisher: IDEA FACTORY INTERNATIONAL Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5 Release Date: January 28, 2025 Price: $39.99 USD
Not Recommended – “Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos has fun ideas and is enjoyable for its brief running time but the lack of challenge and additional modes makes this entry tough to swallow even for longtime fans.”
Prague, January 27th, 2025 — Today, Keen Software House officially launched Space Engineers 2, the long-awaited sequel to their popular sandbox game, now available on Steam Early Access. Players can dive into the game’s Alpha, featuring a single-player Creative Mode with plenty of freedom for building and experimentation. On this occasion, Keen Software House also released the Alpha launch trailer, highlighting the process of building with advanced tools and other standout features of the sequel.
About the Alpha:
Keen Software House introduces Creative Mode first, as it plays a crucial role in the Space Engineers series. The original game still hosts one of the largest workshops on Steam, filled with incredible creations from players around the world.
In Space Engineers 2 Alpha, players step into the role of a solo space engineer, venturing into the asteroid cluster of the distant Almagest system. This environment acts as a personal playground in space, where engineers can do whatever they want: from building massive ships, crazy contraptions and experimenting with wild ideas, to simply blowing everything up just for fun.
For the first time, players can explore the groundbreaking 25cm unified grid system, giving them the ability to build with incredible precision. The game also introduces new blueprint tools like snap-to-grid, partial copy/paste, toolbar assignments, and powerful building tools such as the voxel hand, symmetry tools, line/plane building, a flexible paint tool, and grid undo/redo, all giving more freedom to bring the most creative ideas to life.
“Space Engineers 2 is currently in its first alpha phase, and while we’re proud of what we’ve built, we understand some players may prefer a more complete experience. If you’d like to wait for more features and polish, we encourage you to wishlist the game and follow our development journey. With survival mode, multiplayer, and many other exciting updates on the horizon, we’ll be ready to welcome you whenever you decide to join us. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to evolve SE2.” — Marek Rosa, CEO of Keen Software House.
About the game:
Space Engineers 2 is an open-world sandbox game where engineering meets exploration, and survival in the vast expanse of space. Become a pioneer in the distant Almagest system, an uncharted world full of endless possibilities for creativity and discovery. Build everything from starships to space stations as you carve your own path in this highly anticipated next chapter of the Space Engineers series!
Key Features:
Creation and destruction never felt this good: Space Engineers 2 builds upon a decade of experience, reimagining space engineering with more depth and freedom. Powered by the updated VRAGE3 engine, it delivers enhanced creation and destruction in a boundless sandbox where your imagination can truly flourish.
Build with unmatched precision: Try next-level construction with the 25 cm Unified Grid System. Effortlessly merge blocks for intricate builds — no more struggling with large versus small grids. With improved mounting point visualization and grid lines, building is more straightforward and accurate than ever before.
Enhanced controls and mobility: Our upgraded system introduces blueprint building, Grid Undo, and refined CTRL controls for exact rotation and zoom, ensuring seamless design throughout. Push your creations to greater speeds with an increased maximum velocity: characters can now reach 310 m/s and grids 300 m/s. And you’ll never have to worry about falling off platforms or asteroids — magboots and auto jetpack activation are here to support you!
Smarter UI and smoother play: The redesigned UI/UX making building smoother and more intuitive for both newcomers and pros, giving more freedom to bring your intricate ideas to life. Thanks to VRAGE3, Space Engineers 2 is set to deliver better performance for a smoother play. As Early Access progresses, you’ll be able to build bigger ships, fly more of them, and enjoy epic destruction in a truly immersive ride.
Next-level visuals: Enjoy the beauty of space, industrial designs and battle encounters, reimagined with next-level realism. In Space Engineers 2 we introduced new ray-traced global illumination, realistic shadows, a new skybox, tessellated voxel materials, parallax effects for armor and much more, to bring depth and realism to every scene.
Stories of the Almagest: For the first time, Space Engineers 2 will receive a full narrative with an exciting story campaign, featuring human NPCs, AI-driven vessels and factions that bring the Almagest System to life. In the future updates, players will be able to trade with local inhabitants, complete quests, and uncover ancient mysteries, giving new purpose to their engineering skills.
Roadmap
Creative Mode is only the beginning. Over the coming months, Space Engineers 2 will introduce exciting new features, including a UGC Workshop for sharing creations on Steam Workshop, replacing the originally planned Mod.io integration, advanced modding tools through the VRAGE HUB, and various gameplay improvements. In the future, players can expect explorable planets, survival mode, volumetric water for new engineering challenges, and more with multiplayer, NPCs, and a story campaign.
VS 1.1: UGC Workshop (Steam Workshop): Players will be able to share their creations with other players. VS 1.2: Improved mechanics and interface refinements. VS 1.5: Modding: VRAGE HUB, VRAGE Editor. VS 2: Planets and Survival: Explorable planets and the new Almagest System. Engineers will get access to new tools like backpack building and projection building, while experiencing improved progression and engaging challenges. VS 3: Water: Planetary-scale volumetric water will transform gameplay. Players will be able to engineer across oceans, rivers, and lakes, as well as construct boats and submarines for underwater exploration.
More to Come: Keen Software House will continue releasing additional Vertical Slices that will expand upon core mechanics and introduce new features. On the horizon: Multiplayer, NPCs, Story Campaign and more.
With the release of Space Engineers 2, the team at Keen Software House will continue to support the original Space Engineers game. Players can look forward to a new update for SE1 that adds more PvE content and refreshments for Cargo Ships.
Space Engineers 2 is now available on Steam Early Access, alongside the Pioneer Edition, which includes the game’s soundtrack, exclusive wallpapers and behind-the-scenes materials.
About Keen Software House:
Started by Marek Rosa in 2010, Keen Software House is an independent game development studio, based in Prague, and known for its best-seller Space Engineers (over 5 million copies sold) with the 4th largest Workshop on Steam offering over 500K mods, ships, stations, worlds, and more. The studio strives to deliver immersive worlds that celebrate science and encourage creativity, all powered by the proprietary VRAGE3 engine with advanced voxel and volumetric technologies, enabling unparalleled physics-based interactions, expansive sandbox environments, and dynamic gameplay. For more information, visit www.keenswh.com.
Kingdoms mode kicks off with first module, Hunger of the Beast Clan, while the DLC introduces a new mini-region and playable hero
VANCOUVER, January 27th, 2025 – Darkest Dungeon creator Red Hook Studios is happy to announce that a new FREE game mode for Darkest Dungeon II, Kingdoms, along with its first of three adventure modules Hunger of the Beast Clan, and their next paid DLC, Inhuman Bondage ($9.99 / 9,75 € / £8.50), released today for PC and Mac, with consoles set to follow soon. To celebrate the launch, Darkest Dungeon II will be discounted to 50% off on Steam and Epic Games Store until February 3rd, 2025.
Watch the Darkest Dungeon II Kingdoms Launch Trailer
Kingdoms is an entirely new game mode coming to Darkest Dungeon II, released as a free update and consisting of three themed adventure modules, starting with Hunger of the Beast Clan. Featuring a completely reimagined game structure, Kingdoms is a parallel game experience to the Confessions game mode. Players will be tasked with defending the realm from incursions by all-new enemy-factions. Up first they will be tasked with fending off the pitiless onslaught of the rotting and ravenous beastmen!
“Darkest Dungeon II just got a whole lot bigger, and a whole lot scarier! We wanted to swing for the fences with two big releases on a single day: the free Kingdoms update, and Inhuman Bondage, a paid DLC.” says Chris Bourassa, co-founder and creative director at Red Hook Studios. “With Kingdoms, we’ve gone and remixed our own game! It’s an entirely new standalone experience within Darkest Dungeon II. You’ll upgrade and defend inns as you journey across a persistent map completing a quest to defeat the leader of the beast clan. Not only does this release add innumerable new features and foes, but Kingdoms will continue to grow this year – we have two more adventure modules in the works – all free. Inhuman Bondage sees the return of a powerful and unique hero, and a new mini-region with its own faction, mechanics, and rewards. This DLC plugs seamlessly into both the original Confessions game mode, and the new Kingdoms mode, bringing variety and challenge to all players.
The Inhuman Bondage DLC introduces a new mini-region, The Catacombs, and a new playable hero to Darkest Dungeon II, the fan favourite and original Kickstarter backer-assisted designed character: The Abomination. The Catacombs invite players to plunge their stagecoach beneath the Kingdom to face a corrosive, oozing threat. This is a high risk, high reward region featuring a faction of new enemies and new items, and will bring variety and challenge to both Confessions and Kingdoms. The Abomination brings unique mechanics, trinkets, signature items, palettes, weapon kits and a fully voiced origin story including playable flashback encounters.
Darkest Dungeon II is a rogue-lite turn-based road trip of the damned. Form a party, equip your stagecoach, and set off across the decaying landscape on a last gasp quest to avert an apocalypse caused by your own failures. The greatest dangers you face, however, may come from within.
The sequel to the critically acclaimed Darkest Dungeon, the game features all new 3D visuals in the same distinctive style as the original, a new run-based road trip structure, an enhanced version of the innovative turn-based combat system, fourteen playable heroes, five regions, five end bosses, and a metagame hub (“The Altar of Hope”) with extensive persistent upgrades. Darkest Dungeon II first released into Early Access on the Epic Games Store in October 2021 and has seen a regular cadence of major content and feature updates by Red Hook with the aid of community feedback. The first DLC, The Binding Blade, was released on December 11, 2023, and the full game launched digitally to consoles on July 15, 2024, to favourable reviews.
Red Hook Studios is a video game developer based in Vancouver, BC founded by industry veterans Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman. The critically acclaimed Darkest Dungeon was the company’s first product and has sold over 6 million copies. The 25-person-strong team just completed the PC version of Darkest Dungeon II, which was released on May 8, 2023.
Techland celebrates the beginnings of Dying Light and key achievements, including reaching over 45 million players. The anniversary brings back fan-favorite events and free updates for both games.
Wroclaw, Poland – January, 27th – Ten years ago, Harran and Kyle Crane were introduced to the world for the first time, and since then the Dying Light franchise has been enjoyed by more than 45 million zombie slayers. The first game changed the open world survival horror genre forever, pushing it forward with the introduction of the dual night and day experience that has since become a series staple. During the day, players faced slow-moving zombies, which gave a false sense of normalcy. But as the sun set, the rules of the game changed dramatically. New dangers and apex predators emerged, taking control of the night. Alongside the night and day experience, Dying Light focused on visceral, savage combat and natural parkour movement, allowing for a new level of both free movement and creative brutality.
This year, we celebrate this remarkable decade and a journey that wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic community of 45+ million diehard fans! Players have truly shaped what Dying Light is today. And the numbers are astonishing: since the release of our first title in 2015, they have racked up 67 billion zombie kills and over 1 billion hours of playtime! Watch the full episode of Dying To Know, dedicated to our fans, as we reminisce and celebrate a remarkable decade of Dying Light.
A celebration for the fans as much as for us
Players’ dedication has helped the franchise cement its place in the annals of gaming history. It has also created a vibrant and thriving community. Their passion has taken things to another level: from the creation of maps and their lore to fan art and cosplays, and everything in between, it’s amazing to see just what they do! And it’s their feedback that continues to help us improve the overall experience for everyone through the requested features like the introduction of finishers to Dying Light 2: Stay Human.
To commemorate the 10 years of zombie slaying, parkour moves and succumbing to the night, we’ve also prepared a special Dying Light 10th Anniversary – Community Rewind video that details some major numbers from the franchise’s history. Additionally, players can drill deeper and find out how they contributed to the numbers in Dying Light 2: Stay Human with their personal Wrap-Up stats on Pilgrim Outpost soon. Honor the past by celebrating in the present.
To celebrate the franchise, we’re taking a sentimental journey through the thrilling world of Dying Light. Fans of the original Dying Light can enjoy their favorite events making a return, while in Dying Light 2: Stay Human, players can get their hands on special rewards from the first game through bounties on Pilgrim Outpost.
Both games will also receive free updates very soon. In Dying Light we’ll bring back events, add new rewards, and even after all these years, we’re working on an update aimed at enhancing the game further. It will focus on improving the visual quality, adding a remastered soundtrack with new music from the original composer Paweł Błaszczak, and more. Meanwhile, Dying Light 2: Stay Human will see further prologue changes and the permanent release of Tower Raid, our co-op focused roguelite mode, in which players need to overcome challenges such as scaling the building in an attempt to make it to the top and reap the spoils!
During our anniversary celebrations, everyone will be able to claim a free package for Dying Light on their favorite platform stores. And for those new to the series, they can enjoy major discounts on both Dying Light and Dying Light 2: Stay Human, the latter of which is available for under $20 (67% off) for the first time ever.
Even more items are being added to the Pilgrims Outpost’s Armory, the new ‘G.R.E. Hazmat’ bundle for Dying Light 2: Stay Human and Twitch Drops simply for watching Dying Light content. Plus, an anniversary track for Dying Light by the original composer, Paweł Błaszczak, will drop on several music streaming platforms and we will also run a community contest. There’s a lot to dive into in the coming weeks!
The next era of Dying Light begins in Summer 2025
At the same time we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dying Light, we are already hard at work on the next era of the franchise. Our recent major rebrand aims to establish the franchise as the ultimate zombie experience across all future projects. The first piece of this ambitious future is Dying Light: The Beast, which will release in Summer 2025. During the 10th anniversary Dying to Know show, we shared a look behind the scenes of the development and that voice recordings with Roger Craig Smith, who reprises his role of Kyle Crane, have recently finished. The team is now tweaking the moveset and animations as requested by many fans to make Kyle truly feel like Kyle.
And our plans to grow the franchise don’t stop at Dying Light: The Beast. We’ll continue the series with multiple unannounced projects and will also go beyond video games with new board games, exclusive merchandise, original webcomic series and more on the horizon. Our goal is to bring the world of Dying Light to even more people. From the ongoing support of our currently released games to Dying Light: The Beast and beyond, there’s never been a better time to be a Dying Light fan.
Techland is one of the biggest and best-known Polish game developers with studios in Wroclaw and Warsaw. For over 30 years, we’ve carried a tradition of providing gamers with unforgettable experiences. We’re an international team of over 500 highly-skilled professionals driven by a passion for gaming, always striving for the best quality.
We’re fueled by the support of our global community built on the foundation of successful AAA franchises such as Call of Juarez, Dead Island, or Dying Light. The gamers’ trust in our games has resulted in our newest project, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, selling more than 5 million copies across all platforms within the first month after release.
On top of continuously growing the world of Dying Light through a robust post-launch support plan for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we’re also working on an unannounced AAA Open World Action RPG set in a brand new fantasy universe; our biggest project to date.
Techland’s mission strictly determines every aspect of our work: we want to create unforgettable experiences.
When it comes to the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise, you never quite know what Idea Factory and Compile Heart might have up their sleeve next. One year fans of the franchise might see their favorite Goddesses fighting in an action game or taking part in a pseudo turn-based RPG, and the next they might find them in a rhythm idol game or even a strategy RPG. One thing is sure though, almost every year sees the release of a new game featuring Neptune and her friends in some form. Some of these cards that Idea Factory has played have been Aces that, despite not being main entry games, match that level of storytelling quality while others have been Jokers that land flat. This time around we have a motorcycle action title in the form of Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos but the question is, is this spin-off a success or a wipeout?
Story
Uzume Tennouboshi might not know where exactly she is, but she does know that the place she has found herself in is not Gamindustri, and that Dogoo she was just cuddling is not cute. In fact, the sheer swarm of Dogoos around is enough to send her running for a motorcycle that happens to be sitting nearby as she rushes away from the angry mob of well, mobs. It doesn’t take long before she finds that she’s not alone in this strange place as she quickly finds Neptune, only rather than gushing about pudding she’s gushing about Dogoos. After doing her best to wrangle up as many of these Dogoos as possible and clearing the confused mind of Neptune, the two realize that something incredibly strange is going on.
Neither one knows where they are or even how they got there, let alone why so many Dogoo are around and seemingly making anyone that isn’t a Dogoo become obsessed with the lowly enemies. This is further proven when they find that even Noire has found herself fallen under their spell. With their friends obsessed with Dogoos and there being seemingly no way to help them other than to capture as many Dogoo as possible, it is up to Uzume, the proclaimed ‘Dogoo Divider’, to come to the rescue.
If it wasn’t clear already, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is an incredibly strange title and that is saying something for a Neptunia game. There is some solid humor in the fact that the lowly Dogoo enemies that players generally trounce in every game is now the mainline enemy, coming in all kinds of shapes and sizes, including some rather frightening ones. Unfortunately other than that aspect, and the countless video game references that come from some of the Dogoo designs as well as the hundreds of accessories that players can unlock and have the girls wear, the humor isn’t really the best in this entry. Yes, every character still has their fan favorite likes and phrases, in fact some of the best moments are seeing Uzume and Neptune try to break through the Dogoo haze clouding each of their minds, though Blanc is oddly given very little focus and even some of her signature elements are lacking compared to other characters.
This means that while there is some humor, a lot of it is incredibly simple. Fans of the franchise will still get quite a few chuckles out of the game as well as enjoy their favorite characters interacting again, especially since Uzume hasn’t been given many appearances in spin-offs like some other characters besides the main four but it is also worth noting that Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is also incredibly short. Completing the game’s storyline will take less than three hours while aiming for a hundred percent completion took a little over four, something that is easy to track thanks to the game’s own glossary saying how long players have been zipping along collecting Dogoos. This means that not only is there a lackluster level of humor here, it is also over quite quickly and the storyline itself is most of the joke in and of itself, with the “twist” being quite obvious.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is relatively straightforward. Players will select their chosen rider and a partner of their choosing (if they so wish) to enter one of the fifteen available stages that players unlock over the course of the game with each realm having three. Upon entering the stage, they are pitted against a pair of other Dogoo riders or, occasionally, an ally that needs saving or a random enemy completely unrelated to the Dogoo. Players then must race around the stage and gather the target number of Dogoo, usually 100 but occasionally more, before their opponents do to win the stage.
Upon initial completion any stage can be replayed for additional “BP” used to purchase items in the unlock shop such as accessories and motorcycle parts as well as tackle two challenges that remain the same for every stage. That being to complete the stage without a partner and to complete it within a certain time limit. Ironically, given the easy nature of the game, it was eventually possible to do both in one go, though players can choose to tackle these extra objectives separately if need be. Completing these side objectives will unlock additional accessories and parts. Players can modify the motorcycle’s body, wheels, and tires, affecting top speed, acceleration, boost, handling, and Dogoo collection range, giving players some choices on how they want to build their bike to best fit a certain rider’s stats, as each rider also has various stat differences in their attack range, attack power, defense, and long range attack range.
Ironically, once again, the title’s ease with there being no difficulty options basically means that players can simply choose to deck their bikes out however they wish, though later unlocks offer pure boosts with no drawbacks, and use their favorite Goddess once they’ve been obtained without needing to worry too much about stats. As for the stages that players will be racing around and collecting Dogoos, many stages have various gimmicks such as whirlwinds that can send players flying into an unreachable location that may contain plenty of Dogoo, flowers that serve as teleportation circles, jump pads, and even special Dogoos that have specific effects.
The various Dogoo that players collect can provide a number of bonuses and detriments as well, even if they are needed to reach the goal. Some Dogoo can reward players with extra BP, increase gathering range or top speed, while others can slow them down, disable their attack, and even take and shrink or enlarge their bike size depending on the stage they are in. There are even some special types of Dogoo that only appear in certain stages, though it is interesting to note that upon beating the game our Dogoo Glossary was only missing two types that were rather easy to track down. Should players want to get rid of any negative Dogoo they may have picked up, they can fire them either at an enemy or simply away by pressing and holding the long range attack button to fire them off like a Dogoo bomb.
As for the actual combat, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a bit of a mixed bag and it is also quite overpowered at times. Various generic enemies from the franchise scatter the field and can be defeated with a melee or long range attack, spawning numerous Dogoo upon their defeat but the primary opponents will be the rival riders. Players can use long range attacks to knock a few Dogoo off of an opponent’s collection, leaving them free to pick up, while melee attacks can strip the enemy of all their Dogoos at once, often providing tens of them at a time. This can mean players may go from being thirty Dogoo away from the goal only to connect a successful melee attack and instantly win the round. Of course, enemies can also use the same tactics and try to steal the player’s Dogoo and it is worth noting that all attacks, including the boost, are on short cooldowns that vary depending on the chosen character.
Sadly, once players complete the short fifteen levels that make up the game’s storyline and complete the easy to fulfill secondary objectives in each level there is nothing else to actually do in Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos. Shockingly, despite being designed for allowing two riders on a team in a competitive match, there is no online multiplayer in any form. Why the team didn’t make a mode where players could compete in teams of two against one another online is incredibly strange, or even offer a local multiplayer option for players to compete or cooperate. This means that once players fill out their Dogoo glossary, which is the only real thing to do post-game if they didn’t already, there is sadly no extra content in any way. Well, there is a photo mode that players can pose their favorite characters around but that’s about it.
Audio & Visuals
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is as colorful as fans of the franchise should expect and the 3D models of the characters are nicely detailed, with each character given a special costume designed to match their starting motorcycle, all of which have unique designs depending on the Goddess riding it. There are a number of additional motorcycles that players can unlock and add various parts to, as the mufflers and wheels can be customized as well as the complete body of the vehicle. The Dogoo designs are also wildly different, some are simple recolors while others have entire themes built around them and references to other games. It is worth noting that there is no fan service in any noticeable way and that while there are hundreds of different accessories to unlock, with each character having three they can equip at a time, all other costumes are relegated to paid DLC.
The voice work for the game is handled quite well, with Idea Factory International offering both the original Japanese voice track as well as the English dub. All of the original English voice actors have returned to reprise their roles for their characters, which is a nice treat, though a couple of the voices for the strange Dogoo players encounter throughout the story are a bit odd, though this is likely on purpose. As for the background music, it is unfortunately incredibly generic. There is no vocal opening theme and even as players progress through the five different stages, the background music never stands out in any noticeable way, even when picking up a “Disco Dogoo” to trigger special, but still generic sounding, music.
Overall
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos isn’t necessarily a bad game and it has some fun ideas, they just feel rather poorly executed. Racing around a stage with Noire and Uzume is all fun, especially when having to knock away an aggressive Dogoo rider or a brainwashed Blanc but nearly every stage is as easy as can be. The title runs incredibly smoothly and looks great for what it is, even if there are no character portraits and only the 3D models are used for dialogue. The humor is still the same signature Hyperdimension Neptunia comedy that fans will remember, though it does lean more on the actual characters’ personalities and preferences than references and absurdity. Ultimately, Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos is a short offering with little to offer once the game is completed, leaving even die-hard fans wanting more. This means that even those fans eager to see what the next spin-off of Hyperdimension Neptunia might have to offer will likely want to wait for a sale if nothing else as this one is far from worth it even at its smaller price tag.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
With as many games that are seeing remasters and remakes over the past few years, there are still countless classic JRPGs languishing on older platforms and many of these happen to be those in the Tales of franchise. While Bandai Namco has slowly been bringing some Tales of games to modern platforms even while putting out a brand new entry just a few years ago, many of their most beloved entries require dusting off an older console to play thanks to some specific platforms lacking backwards compatibility. Thankfully, fans of Tales of Graces f no longer need to worry about the title being trapped on the PlayStation 3 as Bandai Namco has brought Tales of Graces f Remastered to all modern platforms. Offering a bevy of quality of life improvements alongside graphical enhancements, has this over a decade old JRPG held up?
Story
Asbel Lhent is the son of a minor lord and, thanks to his position, often uses his freetime to explore at will and get into trouble, even if it means dragging his sick friend Cheria and younger brother Hubert along for the ride. One time when venturing past the village limits, they encounter a strange girl in a flower field suffering from total amnesia. The children decide to name her Sophie and opt to take charge of her care, despite Sophie appearing older than them. When the kingdom’s prince stops by Lhent, Asbel even manages to quickly make friends with the royal despite his father’s wishes and an encounter with an assassin. In an effort to continue to rebel against his father, Asbel brings Sophie to the capital after being put on house-arrest only for Sophie to be slain by a monstrous creature and the rest of his friends injured or worse.
This cataclysmic event in the young Asbel’s life sees him flee from his duties as a lord’s son and enter the knight academy, splitting the tight-knit group of friends apart and sending them on their separate ways as seven years pass. Now, nearly a fully fledged knight, Asbel is informed that his father has been slain and he must return to his hometown where not only does he learn that Cheria is fully recovered and capable of magic, but most shockingly at all Sophie makes a surprise return during a battle against enemy invaders.With Sophie mysteriously returning and things growing more dire for the Lhent land, even stranger events seem to be occurring throughout the land as even the prince that Asbel once thought as a friend has changed drastically throughout the years, bringing new dangers to the land already struggling under the threat of invasion.
Tales of Graces f Remastered’s storyline is incredibly charming and entertaining even if it is a bit too predictable and does take a bit too long to actually get going, dragging out the “child” storyline a bit too long. Many familiar tropes are explored and realized throughout the game and even some of the twists can be rather predictable, but this is hardly a bad thing as the story remains entertaining both in part due to how earnestly it is told and the cast of characters that make up the core cast. While Asbel may be a bit hit or miss initially, he grows to be a likable protagonist throughout the journey while Sophie’s amnesiac antics remain adorable and entertaining especially as players learn more about her history and truth behind her, even Cheria works quite well as a foil to Asbel and eventual love interest. The rest of the cast includes the rough and tumble Malik, the more stoic and intelligent Hubert, and the oddball favorite, Pascal.
Not only are these characters fully realized throughout the game’s storyline but also through the stellar skits that are spread throughout the adventure. Anyone familiar with the franchise will be familiar with “skits” which are side-pieces of dialogue that happen between the party in certain locations and all of these are a real treat here, making every random skit a joy to discover. Even the post-fight dialogue is given subtitles, which is great for those taking advantage of a certain new addition to this release, as many character interactions post-battle are hilarious. It is worth noting that no new story content was added into this game, though it does include all DLC that was released for the original with the exception of cross-over costumes. This means there are brand new skits for certain DLC packs, costumes, and item interactions that those who only ever played the base game can enjoy for the first time. Unfortunately, cross-over costumes such as Hatsune Miku and the .hack franchise were not included in this remaster.
Gameplay
For the most part Tales of Graces f Remastered still plays the same as the original release though a number of quality of life improvements have been made. These include the likes of an auto-save when traveling between areas, a faster movement speed with an even faster movement speed available should the player wish, the ability to completely turn off enemies in the field for easy travel during the many backtracking moments, and most helpful at all, little indicators that point not only to the next story objective but also hourglass icons that highlight timed events that will vanish should players advance the story. A helpful little feature for a franchise known for having random events tucked away in the oddest locations.
Combat is also the same as it ever was, and that is a good thing as it is one of the best types the franchise has ever had. Rather than having MP or any other resource, Tales of Graces f Remastered makes use of Chain Capacity (CC), to allow players to dish out attacks to their foes. Players will enter battle with one to four party members, controlling only one directly, and use Assault and Burst Artes that all take various CC points. Higher level artes or longer combos require more CC and players cannot attack at 0. This makes customizing your favorite character, or characters since it is enjoyable to play as nearly every member of the roster directly, with their Arte chains and directional attacks. Players can even perform guards to build up power and dodge incoming attacks at the right time to regain CC faster, or target an enemy’s weakness with a proper Arte to regain CC and lay down the damage as much as possible. As players fight they can also trigger their “Eleth Mixer” in certain conditions which will automatically craft and use healing items or boosting items under certain circumstances. When used, the mixer has to be recharged at shops for a cost.
The best way to unlock additional Artes and improve a character’s stats is through the use of titles. Tales of Graces f Remastered features a slew of titles for every character and they are all unlocked in a variety of different ways. Some happen naturally through story progression, others come from completing mini-games, cooking, shopping, or even using certain Artes enough times. These titles, when equipped, will level up and permanently unlock various boosts, rewarding players for keeping on their toes and offering a vast amount of customization.
Now, as mentioned earlier, a number of quality of life elements were added into the game but one we neglected to mention is the Grade shop. Unlike other Tales of games and like it was originally in this title where the Grade Shop only unlocked in New Game+ and depended on the amount of Grade earned from the previous playthrough, this time the Grade shop is unlocked right at the start of the game with enough Grade to unlock everything should players choose. This ranges from simple boosts such as having extra health or Eleth charges to completely game-breaking ones like offering 2x and even 5x XP, these are combinable by the way, boosted SP gain, boosted money gain, additional damage from everything and to everything, and more. These Grade Shop options are entirely optional and even if purchased can be turned off in the settings later, though this does mean that players can make the title incredibly easy if they feel like it by breaking it wide open with all of the unlocks right off the bat.
Audio & Visuals
All of the character and enemy models in Tales of Graces f Remastered have seen a significant visual upgrade to look as smooth and detailed as possible while retaining the art style. The character portraits for skits and general dialogue are colorful and detailed as well, though there is a bit of disconnect at times when exploring some of the more mundane locations that haven’t quite been given the same type of attention as the character models. There are a number of animated cutscenes scattered throughout the game as well and these also appear to have been retouched to look as impressive as possible for this remaster, something which is an excellent addition given that many of these scenes are meant to be incredibly important to the story.
One of the other features we’ve hinted at in quality of life is that players can now select the Japanese voice track for the first time ever in the West. This dub choice is available at any time and allows players to either select the English dub they might be familiar with or listen to the Japanese version, all of which is now completely subtitled as mentioned before. This is a great addition for the remaster and one that many players should give a chance, especially since a couple of English characters are a little wooden sounding. The soundtrack consists of some stellar sound design featuring soft and soothing town themes for exploration and fast-paced tracks for combat and boss battles. There is also an incredibly charming opening song, something every JRPG feels like it should have.
Overall
Tales of Graces f Remastered is an incredibly handled remaster that not only brings the game’s excellent combat system to modern audiences but its enjoyable storyline as well, despite it few faults. With plenty of side-content to explore and even post-game content, all assisted with handy quality of life features and a feature that should be unlocked with every upcoming remaster, the immediate unlocking of the Grade shop, and this action RPG remains as fantastic as it ever was, making it a must play for any fan of the franchise or even JRPGs looking to experience a classic.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
