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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: IDLE ADVENTURE LATEST UPDATE BRINGS DEMON KING’S DEPUTY ZELDRIS TO THE HEAT OF WAR

LOS ANGELES JANUARY 6, 2025 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has deployed a new update for its idle RPG The Seven Deadly Sins: IDLE Adventure. Players are now able to engage with a new character along with in-game events for rewards and stage expansions.

The latest update offers Demon King’s Deputy Zeldris to the roster of characters that are playable. Zeldris is an INT-attributed DPS in which his debut is more anticipated being the Leader in the original series of the [Ten Commandments]. Players can acquire Zeldris by using the Rate Up Summon Tickets or Diamonds as of the update on December 30. With the newest addition, players can now take on all of the heroes from the Ten Commandments via The Seven Deadly Sins: IDLE Adventure.

Meanwhile, Dreyfus, a VIT-attributed Debuffer who utilizes debuff-oriented skill sets, is also available for Rate Up Summon during the same period.

To celebrate the recent update, The Seven Deadly Sins: IDLE Adventure is executing its “Grand Event” where players can earn multiple rewards, such as a Legendary Hero, through the roulette activity from using event currency they can earn by logging into the game. New rewards are updated on a daily basis with additional rewards to be shared based on the accumulated amount of currency used during the event period.

The update also introduces stage expansions from existing 7000 to 8000 on both Normal and Nightmare stages along with story updates.

Based on the global hit manga and anime ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’, the game welcomes players to an idle RPG world overflowing with epic adventures and fan-favorite characters from the franchise. Inspired by The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, the mobile RPG enjoyed by 60 million players around the globe, The Seven Deadly Sins: IDLE Adventure offers an enjoyable gameplay experience featuring a variety of content, an easy-to-play One-Tap Draw system, as well the opportunity to collect and nurture beloved characters.

For more information on The Seven Deadly Sins: IDLE Adventure, please be sure to stay tuned to the official website and official social channels (Facebook, Discord) for future updates.

ⒸNS,K/TSDSRP,M ⒸNS,K/TSDSDJP,TX ⒸNS,K/TSDSFKAP ©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble F&C Inc.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

Every decision has meaningful consequences in Signal Space Lab’s latest Human Within Dev Diary

Understand how emergent storytelling and narrative decisions impact the player experience in Human Within

Montreal, Canada, January 6th, 2024 – Signal Space Lab and Actrio Studio are proud to release their second Dev Diary for their upcoming multimedia sci-fi interactive VR project Human Within, coming to Meta Quest 2 and 3 on January 9th, and coming soon to SteamVR. Titled Human Within: An Original and Thrilling Branching Storyline, this Dev Diary discusses the ways in which decisions and choices have consequences in Human Within, introducing the main characters and how different selections affect what is and isn’t seen along the journey.

The second Dev Diary introduces the world of Human Within alongside the main characters of the experience: Linh, who the player experiences the entire story from as their consciousness in the digital world; Nyla, Linh’s sister; and Blake, Linh and Nyla’s boss. Throughout the thrilling narrative, memory sequences unfold where you focus on Linh’s relationship with either Nyla or Blake. Who you focus on determines which backstory you follow, each backstory containing flashbacks that task you to make either a selfish or compassionate choice. An amalgamation of choices influences what happens at the end, and with a total of nine decision points and five different endings, each with around a 90 minute playthrough, technology and Linh’s fate is entirely up to you.

About Human Within

Directed by Avi Winkler and Anne Weigel, Human Within unfolds in a modern world where Nyla, a cyber engineer, and her sister Linh, are employed at Forward Industries. Together, they pioneer a groundbreaking supercomputer by harnessing the human brain’s processing power. However, when Nyla seeks to disengage from the project, both sisters are detained, compelled to continue their work amidst suspicions of their employer’s hidden motives. In a daring bid for freedom, Nyla is forced to connect the technology to Linh, and use it in the very way she feared it would be.

Signal Space Lab began pre-production of Human Within, in 2019, including script writing and prototyping the experience under the creative direction of Avi Winkler. Director Anne Weigel and award-winning German producer Actrio Studio joined the project and wrapped principal photography in December 2023. Human Within then began its festival tour in October premiering at FIVARS in Toronto on October 3rd and Beyond The Frame Festival in Tokyo on October 25th-27th, 2024. Supported by Meta, Canada Media Fund, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Filmstiftung NRW Germany, Human Within aims to raise the bar for interactive narrative VR experiences.

For more information on Human Within:

Pre-Order on Meta Quest: https://www.meta.com/experiences/human-within/6218357148255323/
Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1546070/Human_Within/

About Signal Space Lab

Founded in 2014, Signal Space Lab is an award-winning interactive creation studio specializing in immersive XR entertainment, video games, and audio production. Our goal is to advance the art of interactive media by imagining and producing original, innovative, and memorable experiences that materialize into sound, visual, and gaming environments.

About Actrio Studio

Actrio Studio is an award-winning film, games and XR producer in Germany, that focuses on impactful storytelling and innovation. Founded by Michael Geidel, the studio has over 20 years experience in the media industry producing and co-producing projects ranging from comedy to thriller, animation and documentary. Projects have premiered at A-festivals and been released in cinemas, on Netflix and HBO and broadcasters worldwide. As a development and innovation partner we help clients create outstanding and innovative content.

Torchlight: Infinite – Arcana: Embrace Your Destiny!

Your fate has been decided, your future awaits…

Shanghai, China – January 6, 2025 | Torchlight: Infinite has officially unveiled its most dynamic season yet – Arcana – during this weekend’s livestream preview. Packed with innovative mechanics, thrilling challenges, and expanded gameplay possibilities, the Arcana season will launch on January 10, 2025, at 10AM (CST).

Prepare to venture into uncharted territory as the Wheel of Destiny spins, reshaping the Netherrealm with the mysterious power of tarot cards. Each draw presents unique trials, opportunities, and treasures, ensuring every playthrough feels fresh and unpredictable.

Core features of the new Arcana Season include:

Wheel of Destiny and Tarot Trials

The Arcana season introduces the Wheel of Destiny, symbolizing infinite cycles of fate. Tarot cards scattered throughout the Netherrealm stages present dynamic challenges such as:

  • The Sun: Expanding radiant energy that scorches the battlefield.
  • The Hermit: Hidden assassins lurking in the shadows.
  • The Chariot: High-speed chariots demanding reflexes to dodge.

Successfully completing these trials unlocks the Tarot Secret Path, a board game-inspired mechanic filled with treasure chests, traps, and strategic opportunities. Use Notes of Arcana to influence your journey: skip traps, upgrade treasure rewards, or reveal hidden high-value chests.

Introducing Destiny: A New Growth System for Pactspirits

The Destiny mechanic reinvents Pactspirit gameplay, offering hunters the ability to install Fates and Kismets on talent nodes, replacing traditional effects. These enhancements provide:

  • Fates: Regular attribute boosts such as resistance or curse enhancements.
  • Kismets: Rare and powerful mechanics, including Dual Kismets, which open new build possibilities.

Whether reinforcing offensive or defensive builds, the Destiny system ensures unprecedented customization and depth for character growth.

New Hero: Iris, the Vigilant Breeze

The new season introduces Iris, a groundbreaking Hero who merges with Spirit Magi to unleash devastating elemental abilities or become their protector. Control Spirit Magi, push their abilities to the extreme, or amplify their survivability with Iris’s Life Restoration capabilities.

With Iris’s debut, Torchlight: Infinite players can now choose between overwhelming force or steadfast support in battles for a truly versatile experience.

Expanded Spirit Magi Roster

Two new Spirit Magi join the fray to complete the five Spirit Magi lineup, offering unprecedented strategic possibilities for builds. The newest additions are:

  • Rock Magus: A physical-damage powerhouse with devastating area attacks and Whirlwind-style abilities.
  • Erosion Magus: Specializes in high-damage spike explosions and counter-attacks that trigger automatically upon taking damage.

Legendary Gear and Gameplay Enhancements

Season Arcana reworks legendary gear to elevate gameplay, improving items such as Lone Walker’s Boots, and introducing new ones such as Evil Heart Armor. These changes promise exciting opportunities for ailment and trauma-focused builds.

 Co-Op and Endgame Challenges

For hunters seeking cooperative gameplay, the City Defense event offers a limited-time challenge where teams must defend the Energy Crystal through 15 waves of relentless enemies. With seven difficulty levels and rewards including a legendary Pactspirit chest, teamwork and strategy are key.

Endgame content like the Supreme Showdown and Boss Conquest also return, with new bosses and mechanics, including the Supreme: False God of Symbiosis, ensuring even seasoned hunters face the ultimate test of skill.

Plus lots more…

As well as new content, this season introduces player-centric optimisations, including improvements to Trade House features and Time Transition Capsules. Plus, gameplay updates such as Hero Trait Balancing and Streamlined Pactspirit Systems have been designed to improve players’ quality of life.

With its bold innovations and engaging content, Arcana sets a new standard for Torchlight: Infinite. Hunters, your journey begins on January 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM (CST).

For a full breakdown of the livestream announcements and detailed patch notes, visit the official website.

The Wheel of Destiny is turning—are you ready to face your fate?

XD Games

Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.  XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.

Get creative in DEAD MEAT, the detective game where you can ask suspects ANYTHING

New trailer shows players getting up-close and personal with eccentric cast of cold-blooded killers

January 6th – Meaning Machine has revealed a brand new trailer for DEAD MEAT, the murder mystery interrogation game where players can ask the suspects literally anything, using voice or keyboard!

The trailer unveils the game’s wider narrative – featuring a cast of eccentric suspects, and immersing players in a macabre conspiracy of billionaires and butchery. DEAD MEAT is the next game in the “First Person Talker” genre and will be released on Steam in 2025.

“We’re excited to share the full vision of DEAD MEAT for the very first time”, say game directors Thomas Keane and Ben Ackland. “This is your chance to put an evil sect of billionaires in the interrogation chair – and grill them within an inch of their life. A fitting tale for the modern age, you might say… but with more blood, burgers, and body-parts.”

ABOUT DEAD MEAT

Unleash your inner detective in DEAD MEAT – a murder mystery interrogation game where you can ask the suspects literally anything, using voice or keyboard! Dive into a macabre conspiracy of burgers and billionaires, getting up-close and personal with an eccentric cast of cold-blooded killers.

Want to discuss their alibi? Probe them on the meaning of life? Confess your love? Or just troll them mercilessly? Your words hold power, and anything goes. Persuade them, manipulate them, threaten them, or even charm them into spilling their secrets.  The Interrogation room is your sandbox, and your imagination is the only limit. What will you ask to get to the truth?

Features:

  • Interrogate 15+ eccentric suspects using voice or keyboard!
  • Use mind-reading abilities to explore new leads and crack the case!
  • Employ classic interrogation strategies, or invent wild, unorthodox approaches!
  • Watch suspects respond emotionally to your tactics in real time!
  • Piece together a macabre mega-conspiracy of big bad billionaires!

Every suspect has committed a murder, but it’s up to you to unravel the who, where, how, and why. But be warned, the deeper you go, the darker it gets… as moral compasses are flipped, and blood gets on your hands.

Will you be the cunning detective who carefully unpicks the truth – or the chaos agent who takes their own path? The suspects are waiting, and the mic is yours.

ABOUT MEANING MACHINE

Meaning Machine was founded by award-winning game designer Thomas Keane, and conversational AI technologist Ben Ackland. They lead a team of developers, writers, researchers, and creatives who are passionate believers in the value of using new technology to explore bold new types of gameplay.

The advent of generative AI has the potential to kickstart a golden age of creative experimentation – but only if creative people remain at the helm. Meaning Machine’s ambition is to inspire other game developers to join them on this journey – collectively pushing the video game medium into uncharted realms.

Guardian Tales x Animation – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Collaboration Announced!

Elven mage and her companions join Guardian Tales for a month-long collaboration

iOS Download | Android Download | Website

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — January 7, 2025 | Kakao Games is thrilled to announce that they are partnering with Short Story to bring the beloved manga and animation: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End into the world of Guardian Tales today until February 4, 2025.

With over 17 million copies sold, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is preparing for a whole new journey as Frieren and her companions fall through a rift in space and time and become trapped in a world unlike their own, only with the help of fierce guardians do they have any hope of getting home!

Now-playable heroes Frieren, Fern, and Stark will face fierce enemies as they fight for survival in the pixelated world of Guardian Tales. Each of these heroes will come with their own unique weapons, and Stark will be available as part of this event’s rewards.

But what about Frieren? Fear not, the elven mage will be available to collect between January 7 and February 4 while her human companion Fern will be available between January 21 and the end of the event on February 4.

Alongside gems, Guardians can also exchange 200 Special Pick Up Tickets for a Collaboration Hero or Collaboration Equipment, to help them discover what this new journey has in store for these brave heroes.

To celebrate this merging of worlds, Guardian Tales will be filled with unique events across January, including a live event for players to enjoy! Collecting key items from these activities will allow them to evolve Stark to 5 stars and fully limit break the warrior. Alongside events, players can also break the limits of their weapons and boost their power enormously with a free ‘Limit Breaking Hammer’, given to all players as part of the collaboration event.

There has never been a better time to jump into the world of Guardian Tales and discover everything this charming, pixelated adventure has to offer, so jump on in and discover a new journey today!

About Guardian Tales 

Guardian Tales from Kong Studios unites charming pixel art graphics and action-adventure dungeon crawling linked together by a journey traveling a rich diversity of worlds, inspired by the history of gaming. 

About Kong Studios

Kong Studios, Inc. is a startup headquartered in Silicon Valley of the U.S. The studio focuses on developing games with unique and new gameplay perspectives. The studio has so far released Dungeon Link and is now working on Guardian Tales for worldwide service. 

About Kakao Games

Founded in 2016, Kakao Games is a leading publisher of online and mobile games, responsible for releasing titles including Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online (serviced in North America and Europe until early 2021), KRAFTON’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (serviced in Korea), Kong Studios’ Guardian Tales (serviced in North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania), and Nineark’s Eversoul (serviced in North America and Europe).

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: GRAND CROSS RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH “NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2025” UPDATE 

LOS ANGELESJANUARY 3, 2025 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, released a new game update for The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross (7DS), celebrating the new year with brand-new heroes and limited-time events. 

The New Year Festival 2025 update introduces the first UR double hero, [Light of the Holy War] Elizabeth & Meliodas. Players will experience a fresh look as the new hero’s skills and Ultimate Moves are animated for both Elizabeth and Meliodas. Also, [Light of the Holy War] Elizabeth & Melidoas can synergize with both Goddesses and Demons to utilize the ‘Ability’ that allows players to deploy additional skill effects.

Players can enter several new events to celebrate the new year and obtain valuable rewards, including:

  • New Year Festival 2025 Draw (Dec. 26 – Jan. 31): Offers a chance to acquire the UR [Light of the Holy War] Elizabeth & Meliodas, guaranteed at 900 mileages. 
  • New Year 2025 Scratch-Off Event (Dec. 26 – Jan. 31): By clearing in-game missions, players will receive up to three opportunities per day to scrape a scratchcard. The card offers Diamonds including a first prize of 2,000 Diamonds to the winner. 
  • New Year 2025 Festival Special Missions – Part 1 (Dec. 26 – Jan. 9): Clear five different missions to earn rewards including Diamonds, New Year 2025 Festival Tickets and other upgrade materials.
  • Invite Friend Event (Dec. 26 – Jan. 31): Players can invite their friends to join The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross by sending out an Invite Code. Both inviting and invited players will be rewarded for clearing in-game missions. 
  • New Year 2025 Huge Check-In Event (Dec. 26 – Jan. 23): Commemorating the introduction of the first double hero in this update, two check-in boards are available during the event period. Each check-in board offers valuable rewards including Diamonds and various upgrade materials such as Super Awakening Coins, Tier 3 Awakened SSR Equipment Selection Tickets, SSR Evolution Pendants, and more. 

In addition, the New Year 2025 Artifact Wish Draw Event runs through January 31, allowing players to choose Artifact Cards they want to increase their chances. The latest update also features the new season of the Underground Labyrinth and in-game improvements that increases the speed of PvP gameplay.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross translates the storytelling and adventures of [The Seven Deadly Sins] into a highly engaging and entertaining mobile gaming experience. The game features stunning, high-resolution 3D graphics, more than 100 dramatic cutscenes, and is brought to life with the cast of the original Japanese voice actors reprising their characters.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, please visit the game’s official website and Facebook.

Based on the manga “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Nakaba Suzuki originally serialized in the weekly SHONEN MAGAZINE published by Kodansha Ltd.

©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of the Commandments Project,MBS. All Rights Reserved.

©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon’s Judgement Production Committee, TX

©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse Production Committee.

©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble F&C Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

Tap Wizard 2 is coming to Xbox. It’s a new idle game with RPG elements

Tap Wizard 2, a new idle game with action RPG and shooter elements, will be released on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles on January 7. The title features an elaborate spell and skill system, as well as pixel art graphics in a retro fantasy style. Tap Wizard 2 will also hit Nintendo Switch in 2025.

Tap Wizard 2 is a game developed by TopCog, an independent American studio. Ultimate Games S.A. is the publisher of the title for Xbox One. Thanks to backward compatibility, the game also works on Xbox Series X|S.

The TopCog studio’s title is an idle game with gameplay distinguished by its simplicity. In doing so, the game also offers elements familiar from other genres, including action RPGs, shooters and tactical games.

Tap Wizard 2 (Microsoft Store): https://www.xbox.com/games/store/tap-wizard-2/9pgcddrk1f5k

The player selects certain spells, special abilities and traits, and then the title wizard does his job, fighting against successive waves of dark forces. The mechanics used in the game allow the player to keep the acquired powers and abilities even in case of defeat.

A wide set of magical skills based on different elements (fire, ice, lightning, etc.) is at the player’s disposal. Tap Wizard 2 also features an extensive character development system with a wide set of skills and spells. The fun is further enhanced by unique runes and totems.

Tap Wizard 2 – main features:

  • idle game with action RPG elements;
  • accessible and engaging gameplay;
  • a wide set of skills and spells;
  • more than 25 different types of enemies;
  • retro fantasy pixel art graphics.

The release date for Tap Wizard 2 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles is set for January 7, 2025. The game will also hit Nintendo Switch later this year.

MARVEL FUTURE FIGHT INTRODUCES NEW ‘WASTELANDERS’ UPDATE

LOS ANGELES JANUARY 3, 2025 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has released a new update for its blockbuster mobile RPG MARVEL Future Fight. Agents can now experience brand-new ‘WASTELANDERS’-themed costumes and multiple content updates. 

New uniforms for Hawkeye (Wastelanders) and Bullseye (Wastelanders) have been added as part of this update. Character tier upgrades are now available for Hawkeye, Bullseye, and Gambit – all to Tier-4 with new Striker Skills. In addition, Baron Zemo and Crossbones will receive Awakened Potential and Transcended Potential with new Awakened Skills.

The new Sector 14 for the Dispatch Mission is now available. Composed of five stages, agents will have the opportunity to experience the Dispatch Mission at a higher difficulty level and receive Tier-4 Materials as rewards. Agents can equip brand-new Winter Season costumes for Sharon Rogers (Arctic Warrior) and Gambit (X-Men Year-End Party). Additionally, the Winter Season Token Shop is now open, offering various rewards. 

The latest update features improvements for Sword Enchant. Agents can now unlock the max amount for Enchantment and awaken all Swords at once. The Auto-Dismantle feature for Swords has been improved as well. The Friendly Match feature has been added to the Otherworld Battle as part of this update. 

MARVEL Future Fight has over 150 million players across the world with the game currently available worldwide in the App Store® and Google Play™.

For more information, please visit http://marvelfuturefight.netmarble.com.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling: ARISE, Seven Knights Idle Adventure, Tower of God: New World, Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

About Marvel

Marvel is one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands, built on an unparalleled library of iconic characters and stories that have shaped pop culture for 85 years. The Marvel brand spans entertainment, including film, television, publishing, licensing, games, live events, digital media, and more.

For more information visit marvel.com. © 2024 MARVEL

App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.

Signal Space Labs explores player interaction and unique storytelling mechanics in the new Human Within Dev Diary

Discover how Human Within combines and transcends video game and film genres to create a unique immersive narrative experience

Montreal, Canada, January 3rd, 2024 – Signal Space Lab and Actrio Studio are pleased to unveil the first Dev Diary for their upcoming multimedia sci-fi interactive VR project Human Within, coming to Meta Quest 2 and 3 on January 9th, and coming soon to SteamVR. This Dev Diary, titled Human Within: An Innovative Interactive VR Experience, explores how the VR project transcends both video games and film through unique storytelling mechanics, and discusses the concepts behind Human Within: the effect of AI and advanced technology, and its impact, practicality and potential threats they pose on modern society.

Signal Space Lab’s debut Dev Diary directly addresses how Human Within transcends what it means to be either a film or video game by traditional definitions. As a project made specifically for VR, with the idea of evolving the format and storytelling capabilities in general, Human Within aims to raise the bar among interactive narrative, long-format VR experiences. Conceptually, Human Within was inspired not only by science fiction films like Lawnmower Man and Transcendence, but also by the striking impact of AI like ChatGPT, and other advanced technologies, on contemporary society. Set in a near-future dystopia, Human Within tackles the consequences of technological misuse and the impact of both selfish and compassionate decisions made.

Human Within: An Innovative Interactive VR Experience also discusses the different storytelling mechanics incorporated in Human Within, taking influence from other interactive films and narrative-based games. Combining a thrilling branching storyline with video game playability, Human Within differentiates itself with a unique integration of technical features that includes:

  • User Involvement: Experiencing the story from Linh’s consciousness within a virtual internet space provides a unique way to observe the events taking place and have a level of participation unlike anything else.
  • Point Cloud Interactivity: Explore environments in digital recreations. These sequences serve as pace-breaking moments where users engage with the story even further, bringing a whole new degree of interactivity to the mix.
  • Style Variety: The story is told across a unique combination of three distinct visual styles: The Internet Space blending 2D film and 3D graphics, Flashback Scenes with interactive 360 degree stereo film, and Point Cloud recreations with 6DOF 3D environments.
  • Choice and Consequence: At key moments in the story the events that take place are defined by the user’s choices. These moments define how events unfolded in the past and determine how it all ends in the present.

About Human Within

Directed by Avi Winkler and Anne Weigel, Human Within unfolds in a modern world where Nyla, a cyber engineer, and her sister Linh, are employed at Forward Industries. Together, they pioneer a groundbreaking supercomputer by harnessing the human brain’s processing power. However, when Nyla seeks to disengage from the project, both sisters are detained, compelled to continue their work amidst suspicions of their employer’s hidden motives. In a daring bid for freedom, Nyla is forced to connect the technology to Linh, and use it in the very way she feared it would be.

Signal Space Lab began pre-production of Human Within, in 2019, including script writing and prototyping the experience under the creative direction of Avi Winkler. Director Anne Weigel and award-winning German producer Actrio Studio joined the project and wrapped principal photography in December 2023. Human Within then began its festival tour in October premiering at FIVARS in Toronto on October 3rd and Beyond The Frame Festival in Tokyo on October 25th-27th, 2024. Supported by Meta, Canada Media Fund, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Filmstiftung NRW Germany, Human Within aims to raise the bar for interactive narrative VR experiences.

For more information on Human Within:

Pre-Order on Meta Quest: https://www.meta.com/experiences/human-within/6218357148255323/
Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1546070/Human_Within/
Signal Space Lab website: https://signalspacelab.com/

About Signal Space Lab

Founded in 2014, Signal Space Lab is an award-winning interactive creation studio specializing in immersive XR entertainment, video games, and audio production. Our goal is to advance the art of interactive media by imagining and producing original, innovative, and memorable experiences that materialize into sound, visual, and gaming environments.

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 Kicks Off This Weekend in Pittsburgh

Speedrunners will race through old and new games for a good cause, running January 5-12

January 2, 2024 – Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), Game Done Quick’s annual gaming speedrunning marathon, returns this weekend to raise funds for Prevent Cancer Foundation. Speedrunners from around the world will show off their skills by expertly racing through classic and contemporary games as quickly as possible. Taking place in-person at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh from January 5 to 12, the event will also be streamed 24/7 throughout the week on the official Games Done Quick Twitch channel.

This year, attendees and viewers can expect a bevy of impressive speedruns such as a six-hour speedrun through Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Crazy Taxi with a live backing band, Astro Bot, and many, many more. The event will kick off at 12 p.m. EST on January 5 with a speedrun of Pikmin by RayOken. The full schedule can be found at https://gamesdonequick.com/schedule

AGDQ 2025 is being held in support of Prevent Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection. During the event, donations can be made directly to the charity via GamesDoneQuick.com. One hundred percent of proceeds go directly to the nonprofit. Last year, AGDQ raised more than $2.5 million for Prevent Cancer Foundation.

Since 2010, Games Done Quick has partnered with some of the world’s most impactful charities, such as AbleGamers, Organization for Autism Research, and Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières. Games Done Quick events have raised more than $51.8 million for charity. 

For more information, please visit gamesdonequick.com.

About Games Done Quick

Games Done Quick is an organizer of video game speedrunning marathons. These events feature high-level gameplay by speedrunners raising money for charity. Games Done Quick has teamed up with several charities in its 15-year history, including Prevent Cancer Foundation and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). To date, Games Done Quick has raised more than $51.8 million for charity.