London, UK –  21st January 2025 – Chucklefish today announced that their debut title, Starbound, has landed on Xbox Game Pass.

Starbound launched onto Xbox for the first time on October 24th 2024, with a follow-up quality of life update on December 9th 2024. From today it is now also available for users on Xbox Game Pass! The Xbox version features full controller support, and a toggleable auto-aim accessibility feature. Players can explore the universe with an online co-op crew of up to 4! Starbound on Xbox will also contain all the free content updates available on PC.

About Starbound:

You’ve fled your home after an alien attack, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below and gather the resources you need to repair your ship and set off to explore the vast, infinite universe…

In Starbound, you create your own story – there’s no wrong way to play! You may choose to save the universe from the forces that destroyed your home, uncovering greater galactic mysteries in the process, or forego a heroic journey entirely in favour of colonising uncharted planets.

Settle down and farm the land, become an intergalactic landlord, hop from planet to planet collecting rare creatures, or delve into dangerous dungeons and lay claim to extraordinary treasures.

Discover ancient temples and modern metropolises, trees with eyes and mischievous penguins. Make use of hundreds of materials and over two thousand objects to build a sleepy secluded cabin in the woods, a medieval castle, or an underwater arcade.

Features

• Choose from one of 7 playable intergalactic races and customise your character
• Save the universe in a story campaign featuring unique characters, bosses, dungeons and quests!
• You’re the captain of your very own starship! Customise, expand and commandeer it to explore a procedurally generated universe
• Explore the universe with a crew of up to 4 friends
• Establish a colony on uncharted planets and collect gifts from your tenants – if they like you, they may even ask to join your ship crew!
• Three game modes – Casual (no need to eat), Survival (eat to survive/drop items on death) and Hardcore (permadeath)
• Craft thousands of objects – building materials, armor, weapons, furniture and more!
• Capture unique monsters to fight alongside you or keep in your planetary zoo
• All content is available in online drop-in/drop-out co-op
• Toggle auto-aim at any time – a new accessibility feature introduced for controllers
• Complete with all free content updates from the PC version

Starbound is available on Xbox consoles and will be playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X priced at £11.99/ $14.99 / €13.99 or via Xbox Game Pass.

About Chucklefish

Chucklefish is an independent game developer and publisher based in London, UK, with a love of charming pixel art and a drive to support and create amazing games. Since 2011, Chucklefish has developed its own games (Starbound and Wargroove) and supported indie developers to realise their own visions. They’ve published titles such as Risk of Rain, Stardew Valley, Wildfrost, Pathway, Eastward, INMOST and Timespinner. With their third in-house game – Witchbrook – in the works as well as many exciting projects from their publishing partners, Chucklefish have never been more proud to remain independent. 

Tuesday, 21^st January 2025 – United Label, CI Games’ publishing arm for highly ambitious, lovingly crafted videogames, and Odd Bug Studio, have today released an extended gameplay overview trailer for Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter ahead of its launch on PC and consoles on 28^th January.

As with both games in the Tails of Iron saga, the gameplay overview trailer is narrated by Doug Cockle (The Witcher series, Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3), and introduces the varied environments players will journey across in the game, weapon and armour crafting, as well as new gameplay mechanics including spellcasting, giant beast hunts, and elemental traps.

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 next release will be Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, coming to PC and consoles in January 2025. 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 at www.oddbug.co.uk.

The beloved World War II strategy and the ancestor of the Men of War series receives a new update, 20 years after its initial launch

Prague, Czech Republic – January 21, 2025 – Attention, soldiers! Best Way and Fulqrum Publishing are delighted to announce that they have returned to their beloved title Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, the first installment of what would later become the critically-acclaimed Men of War series, which will be receiving an all-new update, over 20 years after the game’s original release.

Players can take control of American, British, Soviet, or German forces to fight in battles set in World War II. While Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is primarily a strategy game, the player can also directly control their forces with a keyboard and mouse as well.

This new update brings many quality-of-life changes, with many new additions bringing this beloved game from the past into the present day. Such changes include the ability to launch the game naturally on Windows 10, the introduction of Steam achievements and stats support, and Steam workshop support for modding. The game’s multiplayer has also been ported over to Steam, as the old networking and lobby libraries have been closed.

The game has also undergone a series of graphical improvements, including introducing 4K support and widescreen monitor support, upgrading rendering from DirectX 8 to DirectX 9, and fixing the aspect ratios in videos, mission intros, loading screens, etc.

About Soldiers: Heroes of World War II 

• Command or commandeer over 100 authentic vehicles and weapons
• Battle through a variety of ultra-detailed terrain from coastal waters to Normandy villages
• Fire from cover or hide from the enemy with totally interactive scenery. Fight as British, Americans, Russians, or Germans through more than 30 intense missions
• Get into the thick of the action with Direct Control of each unit, or command your elite squad with RTS-style gameplay
• Engage cunning AI enemies as they counter your plans with actual battlefield tactics

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is currently available on Steam and GOG at an incredible 85% discount. Besides that, Soldiers’ younger brother, Men of War II, launched last year, is also included in the sale, and you can now get your hands on it for 35% off! 

About Fulqrum Publishing

Fulqrum Publishing is a global games publisher with a diverse portfolio of titles, including in-house and independent productions. Fulqrum Publishing has successfully launched over 100 game titles, including the critically acclaimed series – King’s Bounty, Men of War, and Space Rangers. Recent releases include such games as Ancestors Legacy, Deep Sky Derelicts, Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark, Forgive Me Father, & more.

About Best Way

Best Way is a video game developer company founded in 1991 in Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine. After the release of its first title, Soldiers: Heroes of WWII (2004), a real-time tactics strategy game set in World War II, the franchise that would come to be known as Men of War was born. The studio’s three design pillars are historical accuracy, in-depth simulation systems, and realistic combat. Over the years, Best Way has offered detailed and intense tactical combat experiences and is currently working on Men of War II, the long-awaited sequel to the classic RTS series.

Become the Jotunnslayer in this intense roguelike horde-survivor 

Košice, Slovak Republic – 21st January 2025 – Grindstone and Games Farm are excited to announce the early access launch of Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel, their highly anticipated roguelike horde-survivor steeped in Norse mythology is available to buy now on Steam Early Access and Epic Games Store for $9.99 | €9.99 with a limited-time launch discount. Also available is a Founders Edition including the base game, Odin’s Legendary Armour Pack, digital artbook, and an original soundtrack composed by Robert ‘Brucky’ Bruckmayer.

Players can choose from four unique heroes, each with their own dark tale: the bloodthirsty Berserker, wielding an axe in their pursuit of infamous glory; the wolf-spirit possessed Revenant, hunting their deceiver with deadly precision; the mysterious Flame Sister, channeling Loki’s fiery powers; or the shadowy Seeress, whose mastery of dark arts challenges the ancients themselves.

The battle will rage across two contrasting realms: the scorching inferno of Muspelheim, domain of the apocalyptic fire giant Surt, and the primordial darkness of Niflheim, the misty underworld beneath Yggdrasil’s roots. Harness the divine powers of four legendary Norse gods: Odin the All-Father, master of war and sorcery; Freya, the powerful Queen of Valkyries; Thor, wielder of lightning and thunder; and Loki, the cunning god of chaos and fire.

The game features cutting-edge graphics powered by Intel XeSS and NVIDIA DLSS technology, ensuring a visually stunning experience across all hardware configurations. Players can engage with their favourite streamers through integrated Twitch features, influencing gameplay choices in real-time.

Key Features:

• Four playable characters; the Berserker, Seeress, Revenant, and Flame Sister
• Battle through the fiery realms of Muspelheim and frozen wastes of Niflheim
• Wield divine powers of Freya, Loki, Thor, and Odin
• Twitch integration, allowing viewers to participate in their favourite streamers’ content.
• Stunning graphics and visual effects
• Support for cutting-edge technologies, including Intel XeSS and NVIDIA DLSS, ensuring optimal performance across various hardware configurations.
• Support for GeForce NOW.
• Founders Edition available, featuring base game, Odin’s Legendary Armour Pack, digital artbook, and soundtrack composed by Robert ‘Brucky’ Bruckmayer. 
• An early access roadmap is available to showcase the upcoming features, including new realms, characters, gods, abilities, and ‘Endless Mode’ available at 1.0 launch. 
• Language support for English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Do you have what it takes to become the Jotunnslayer? Buy Now and join the official Discord community for news and updates.

About Games Farm 

Games Farm is an independent game development studio with a team of more than 50 people, headquartered in Kosice, Slovakia. It specialises in developing premium cross-platform titles for PC and consoles with a portfolio of over 20 titles released to date. From a small unknown studio, Games Farm has evolved into a globally recognised RPG developer with renowned brands like the Heretic Kingdoms franchise and an ever-increasing roster of quality titles.

About Grindstone 

Grindstone is a videogame production and publishing company with a strong background in game development based in Slovakia. It was founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the well-established Slovakian development studio Games Farm to create new opportunities and support game developers in delivering creatively and commercially viable games that can compete on global markets.

CD PROJEKT RED has announced the start of ticket sales for its immersive live concert experience on January 24, with a pre-sale beginning 48 hours earlier. To celebrate the tour’s kickoff, an inaugural concert is scheduled for gamescom 2025.

Snapshot:

• First European tour stops for The Witcher in Concert have been announced for the following countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.
• The tour will officially kick off on August 20th, 2025 with an inaugural performance at gamescom in Cologne, Germany.
• Those who sign up for The Witcher in Concert newsletter will receive an exclusive pre-sale code which can be applied to a venue of their choice.
• Additional stops will be announced at a later date, including concerts in North America and Poland.

The Witcher in Concert, a celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, will bring to life the open-world RPG’s timeless score with a live orchestra performance. Select tracks from the game and its expansions will be accompanied by cutting-edge visuals and gameplay, as well as special guests Percival — co-composers of the game’s soundtrack who are known for their iconic contributions to beloved tracks.

CD PROJEKT RED officially partnered with gamescom, the world’s largest gaming event, to kick off the tour on August 20th, 2025 in Cologne, Germany. Following the inaugural performance, the international tour has announced its first European stops in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. The list of currently available concerts can be viewed on The Witcher in Concert website — with additional stops to be announced at a later date, including concerts in North America and Poland.

Tickets for all listed concerts will be available on January 24, with an exclusive pre-sale running January 22nd and 23rd for those who are signed up for The Witcher in Concert newsletter. The full list of venues will be revealed over time, with select stops also seeing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt composer Marcin Przybyłowicz as a special guest.

“I can’t believe it’s been ten years since we first introduced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to the world! Music is such an important part of our games, and to see the community respond with such enthusiasm for what we created has been truly incredible,” said soundtrack co-composer Marcin Przybyłowicz. “From everyone’s favorite ‘le le les’ to the tracks we used to underscore the most heartfelt moments, every single composition was a joy to create, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with people around the world.”

The Witcher in Concert is created in collaboration with GEA Live and RoadCo Entertainment, the producers of live entertainment events in over 40 countries worldwide. Those interested can browse the current list of venues and soon purchase tickets through The Witcher in Concert official website.

About The Witcher franchise

Created by CD PROJEKT RED, The Witcher is a series of dark-fantasy role-playing games that has, to this date, sold over 75 million copies worldwide and garnered over 1,000 awards. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, was released in 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and later in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch. In 2022, a next-gen update for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 was released. Overall, the game has won a total of 250 Game of the Year awards and sold over 50 million copies worldwide. The upcoming open-world RPG The Witcher IV marks the beginning of a new saga, focusing on main character Ciri as she embarks on the Path to become a professional monster slayer. The Witcher games are set in the universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski in his series of books.

About CD PROJEKT RED

CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and The Witcher series of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).

About GEA Live

Since 2003, GEA Live has delivered innovative live entertainment projects in over 40 countries, establishing itself as a global leader in location-based entertainment. GEA Live has collaborated with legends such as Maestro Ennio Morricone and music industry icons like James Newton Howard, Giorgio Moroder, and George Fenton. Their portfolio includes live cinematic experiences and live screenings with orchestras of major motion pictures like Spider-Man, Dirty Dancing, The Godfather, Titanic, La La Land, and more. Their partnerships with renowned studios and IP giants have earned GEA Live its reputation as a trusted partner in location-based entertainment.

About RoadCo Entertainment

RoadCo Entertainment, formed in 2020, is a producing and distribution agency specializing in live entertainment experiences. A collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment and independent touring entrepreneurs Stephen Lindsay and Brett Sirota, RoadCo represents a broad roster of live events based on popular brands and intellectual properties, as well as all-new immersive and interactive attractions for audiences of all ages.

London, 21st January 2025 – Curve Games, a leading publisher in the video games industry, is thrilled to announce a new publishing partnership with Andriy Bychkovskyi for his upcoming cosy automation game, Super Loco World. This collaboration brings together Curve Games’ expertise in game publishing and Bychkovskyi’s unique vision for the train tycoon genre.

Super Loco World features a dynamic world that offers a fresh run with every new playthrough. Starting out in a sparsely populated island, players will build stations to create industrial zones and villages. Thanks to a flexible and intuitive railroad placement system, they’ll then establish an efficient flow of essential goods that transform villages into bustling towns.

As the world grows in complexity, players will also be challenged to create automated network systems through imaginative use of signposts, stops signs and traffic lights. With zero penalties for rebuilding railroads, Super Loco World encourages players to embrace their creativity and uncover elegant solutions that suit their own unique world.

“We are actively pursuing partnerships with top-tier indie developers to craft innovative new franchises”, commented Bradley Crooks, CCO at Curve Games. “We’re excited to announce the signing of Super Loco World, a title that not only enriches our diverse portfolio but also underscores our dedication to delivering truly unique and memorable gaming experiences.”

Super Loco World is scheduled for release in 2025 on PC. More details on the game’s features will be revealed in the coming months.

About Curve Games

Curve Games (part of Catalis Group) is an award-winning independent label working with developers across the world to deliver the best interactive entertainment. With a uniquely diverse games catalogue that includes renowned indie hits such as For the King, Bomber Crew, The Ascent, Lawn Mowing Simulator, and the multi-million-selling smash hit, Human Fall Flat, Curve Games has taken its place as one of the leading games publishers worldwide.

More information on Curve Games can be found at www.curvegames.com

About Andriy Bychkovskyi

Andriy Bychkovskyi is a Ukrainian-based independent game developer. He strives to create games that are not only fun to play, but are also impactful with a serious message.

Saddle up with an immersive equine racing and care experience

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – January 21, 2025 – Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition, the debut VR entry in the world’s most successful horse racing and equestrian mobile game franchise from developer PikPok, opens pre-orders today ahead of its early Q2 2024 launch on Meta Quest Store and Steam VR.

Equine enthusiasts and fresh foals alike receive a 10% discount on the USD19.99 price, alongside immediate access to the game at launch.

Live the dream of caring for and raising a stable of majestic thoroughbred horses with this all-new entry in the beloved Rival Stars Horse Racing series. The franchise’s VR debut is built from the ground up to provide the most immersive experience available in the equestrian lifestyle (outside of owning a ranch!)

Embrace the full experience of stable life. Explore the leafy landscape around the ranch in Story Mode, uncovering new locations. Develop and breed a stable into a world-class facility for future raceway champions. Raise and care for foals by hand, bonding and training them into skillful competitors. Take on the jockey’s reins and compete in multiplayer racing with intuitive controls to prove the might of the stable’s finest steeds.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing our Rival Stars Horse Racing franchise to the exciting world of virtual reality, as we know that fans are eager to experience an unprecedented level of immersion, interactivity, and connection with their horses,” said Mario Wynands, CEO of PikPok. “Pre-orders are now available, and we look forward to releasing our very unique and highly requested virtual reality experience soon.”

Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition will arrive on Meta Quest 2 & Meta Quest 3 and Steam VR in Q2 2025 with English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean language support. For more information, visit the official website, wishlist on Steam, and pre-order on the Meta Quest Store today!

About PikPok

PikPok® is a leading developer and publisher of critically acclaimed games across PC, console, and mobile. We give players rich gaming experiences with intuitive gameplay, highly polished art, and immersive audio design. Our 200-person strong team across New Zealand and Colombia have created the Into the Dead® series, the Rival Stars® franchise, the BAFTA-nominated Super Monsters Ate My Condo™, and the critically acclaimed Shatter® and Shatter Remastered Deluxe®, plus many more.

TOKYO — Jan. 19, 2025 — Publisher Why so serious, Inc. and developer WSS Playground, will broadcast “WSS Direct 2025” on Tuesday, Jan 21st at 4:00 AM PST filled with the latest information and content updates to fan-favorite titles. 

Takahiro Mizushima, who has voiced Sherlock Holmes in Fate/Grand Order among other roles, will narrate. Tune in for new information about Why so serious titles, and 25-second gameplay demo videos.

URL：https://store.steampowered.com/sale/wssplaygroundpublishersale In addition, WSS Playground is having a Publisher Sale on Steam with up to 60% off.

About WSS Playground

Founded in October 2019, WSS Playground is a development studio that takes “play” seriously, with notable titles in their portfolio including All in Abyss: Judge the Fake, The Great Villianness: Strategy of Lily, DRAINUS, EDEN.schemata();, Touhou Luna Nights, and NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD.

“Needy Streamer Overload” digital deluxe edition to include both games, art book, soundtracks

TOKYO — Jan. 20, 2025 — Needy Streamer Overload: Typing of The Net, the internet lingo typing game developed by WSS Playground and spinoff of Needy Streamer Overload (with more than 39,000 “overwhelmingly positive” Steam reviews), launches today on PC via Steam for $7.99, alongside the simultaneous launch of Needy Streamer Overload’s “Internet Angel Pack” digital deluxe edition.

OMG! OMG! OMGkawaiiAngel is about to go live! Step into the role of an overly-obsessed fan of a famed content creator. Push the boundaries of parasocial relationships, where commenting in a favorite creator’s chat might just lead to life fulfillment. I hope she notices me! Maybe she’ll shout me out!

Nothing builds typing speed like urgent messages that need acknowledgement right meow. Type out quippy, slang-filled messages to catch OMGkawaiiAngel’s attention in hopes of earning a shoutout during her livestream. Experiment with more than 200 slang terms, with full explanations of each colloquialism mid-game for accurate (arguably educational) etymology. 

I know how to get her attention! ‘VERY DEMURE, VERY MINDFUL! *send*. Hmm, that meme only lasted a week…what about… ‘Haha, literally can’t even!’…IT’S NOT WORKING!” Find out what memes, trends, and jargon resonate with KAngel the most. Type out internet lingo of old (from what, like, five years ago?) in nostalgic wayback-machine-style messages reminiscent of early internet eras, or reference the latest trends of 2024’s fast-paced social media landscape. 

In addition to the new frantic typing adventure, WSS Playgroundannounced the Needy Streamer Overload Digital Deluxe Edition “Internet Angel Pack” featuring both games, a digital artbook with 300+ pages of illustrations, two soundtracks (which includes all-new tracks from Typing of The Net), and access to the spinoff Petit Game Collection Vol. 1.

Needy Streamer Overload: Typing of The Net is now available on PC for $7.99 via Steam with language options in English, Simplified Chinese and Japanese. For more information, visit the WSS Playground official website, and follow WSS Playground on X / Twitter.

About WSS Playground

Founded in October 2019, WSS Playground is a development studio that takes “play” seriously, with notable titles in their portfolio including All in Abyss: Judge the Fake, The Great Villianness: Strategy of Lily, DRAINUS, EDEN.schemata();, Touhou Luna Nights, and NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD.