Join the Community Dawning Bake-Off to earn new emblems!

Today, Eva Levante makes her much-anticipated return to the Tower to celebrate The Dawning festival, where players can indulge in snowball fights to freeze and shatter enemies, as well as to gather ingredients and bake treats for allies around the system. 

Eva will guide players through activities with new challenges and a special Event Card filled with rewards such as the new Exotic ghost, Frost Dragon Shell. Additionally, Guardians can style themselves as magical, frosty dragons with the Astral Stasis Drake sets available in the Eververse Store throughout the event. The Dawning also features a new Adaptive Void Linear Fusion Rifle, Mistral Lift, and brings back freshly updated Dawning weapons from previous years with unique perk combinations.

This year introduces a new community event, the Dawning Bake-Off, which includes three new hidden exclusive emblems inside A Gift in Return packages. To increase the drop-rate of these rare items, players will need to bake cookie recipes that change weekly. Baking these treats contributes to community-wide progress which will boost emblem drop-rates. Learn more about the Dawning Bake-Off details in last week’s This Week in Destiny blog.

Players can jump into Destiny 2: Revenant Acts I & II now, which features the new Tomb of Elders activity, Tonic brewing, Onslaught: Salvation, new weapons and Artifact perks, and more. 

© 2024 Bungie, All rights reserved. Dates and content subject to change.

Lead rebel warriors to liberation in highly-requested deadly siege battles across the countryside

BORDEAUX, France – 11 Dec. 2024 – Wartales, the open-world medieval tactics RPG from developer Shiro Games, lays siege to new lands in The Skelmar Invasion, the new DLC now available on PC via Steam and GOG. This bloody new expansion adds an uncharted map to explore, as well as a host of community-requested features.

Travel to the once free and fruitful lands of Ormance, now occupied by vicious Skelmar soldiers. Unshackle local baronies and heavily fortified castles from enemy control in the heart of each territory. Plan calculated raids and recruit local rebels to aid in the resistance.

Build a fearsome army and lead them into pulse-pounding new siege battles against strongholds at the heart of each barony, taking Ormance back piece by piece. Outfit each fighter with the best armor and weapons to withstand deadly fire from new crossbow-wielding adversaries defending each imposing castle.

Once a barony has been liberated, strengthen the resistance by rebuilding Ormance’s ruined settlements and garrisons. Each restoration unlocks new progression options for every fighter in the warband. Grow ever stronger and take battle and free Ormance from Skelmar control.

“With The Skelmar Invasion, we focused on introducing some of our players’ most wished-for features,” said Quentin Lapeyre, Game Director at Shiro Games. “Siege battles introduce a whole new way to play the game from a strategic level. We’re beyond thrilled to finally get this into players’ hands and watch them wage war to liberate Ormance.”

The Skelmar Invasion is available now on PC via Steam and GOG for $19.99/€19.99/£16.99 with a two-week launch discount of 10% off. Additionally, new Wartales players can pick up the base game and The Skelmar Invasion in a specially priced bundle for $33.50.

For more information about Wartales, please visit the official website and follow the game on X/Twitter, Facebook, or Discord. 

About Shiro Games 

Shiro Games is an independent Bordeaux-based studio founded by video game veterans Sebastien Vidal and Nicolas Cannasse to bring new innovative games to life. Based in Bordeaux, France, the studio released its first project Evoland in 2013 and its acclaimed sequel Evoland 2 in 2015. Shiro Games then launched its popular Viking strategy game Northgard on Steam in 2018, which has gone on to sell more than 3 million units across various platforms as well as Dune: Spice Wars, the spice-infused blend of 4X and RTS gameplay. Wartales is their latest title, with several major DLC additions since its release in April 2023. 

Soar across dark fantasy realms and purge vile demons, one blade at a time

SEATTLE – December 10, 2024 – VOIN, the hack-and-slash action RPG set in a dark fantasy world from solo developer Nikita Sozidar and publisher tinyBuild, hurls two-handed greatswords at foul demons on PC via Steam Early Access today. VOIN’s Early Access launch arrives at the heels of garnering more than 100,000 Steam wishlists.

Born through the ancient magic of powerful sorcerers, an elemental servant known as VOIN becomes humanity’s only hope of saving the world from total destruction. Harness VOIN’s mage-granted gifts — martial prowess, powerful spellcasting combos, and the ability to soar the skies — and embark on a crusade to crush the demon-borne plague.

Wield powerful greatswords to carve through waves of wicked enemies in one massive swoop. Conjure primordial magic to snuff out attackers with a powerful gust of wind. Observe and adapt to enemy behavior, devise a strategy, and fell formidable bosses.

Venture across realms drenched in a dark fantasy allure, featuring breathtaking pixelated graphics that blend old-school aesthetics with modern appeal. Dash through decaying fields and leap through the sky with VOIN’s unique traversal moveset. Vault across waterfalls and ascend mountainous peaks to discover hidden areas and the precious loot within.

Morph into an ever-more formidable force by eliminating corrupted creatures and plundering their mighty weapons and powerful equipment. Purify gear at the hub world to enchant equipment and enhance VOIN’s skillset, learning devastating new attacks. Unlock entry into Boss Arenas, where the mightiest, cruelest threats await. 

VOIN is available today on Windows PC via Steam Early Access for USD 19.99 / 19.50€. The game supports English, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, and Ukrainian languages. 

To stay up to date with VOIN, follow @vointhegame and @tinyBuild on X (formerly known as Twitter), wishlist it on Steam, and subscribe to Sozidar’s YouTube channel. 

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.

For more information, visit: https://www.tinybuild.com/ 

About Nikita Sozidar

A solo developer with a deep background in music and design, Nikita started his game development career as a pixel-art artist and mod developer. VOIN is his first title.

From its viral social media success to a global community of over 500,000 fans, Loftia is reshaping what it means to connect in an online game. Now available to wishlist on Steam!

Sydney, Australia, Tuesday 10 December – Loftia, the groundbreaking cozy solarpunk MMO from Australian indie studio Qloud Games, has unveiled a new trailer showcasing its innovative  ‘Neighborhoods’ feature during the Wholesome Snack: The Game Awards Edition showcase. Following viral success across social media with over 40 million views and a Kickstarter campaign that raised over US$1.2 million, Loftia has cemented itself as one of the most anticipated games.

The new Neighborhoods social feature introduces a unique way for players to connect: by attaching their personal floating islands to others, forming a small community of islands anchored around a central, shared hub. Whether players want to farm together, visit each other’s homes, host social events, or simply hang out, Neighborhoods is designed to bring players closer, either by matching them with existing friends or connecting them with new ones.

Neighborhoods joins the collection of other cozy game mechanics available in the wider world of Loftia, like farming, crafting, fishing, cooking and decorating. This is alongside social features like group adventures, community projects, clubs, and many other ways to interact and connect with others. No matter what you like to do, there’s something for everyone in the upcoming, solarpunk world where you can work together with others toward a brighter, more sustainable future.

Australian indie game studio Qloud Games was founded in 2022 by Michael Su and Martina Qin, who left their corporate jobs to bring their dream game to life. Documenting their journey online, they have fostered a unique connection with their community. By actively involving their community, nicknamed “Loftians”, in the development process and prioritizing player feedback, Loftia is spearheading a new method of community-driven game creation. 

“Loftia is our love letter to the classic online worlds that brought so many of us together. There’s something truly special about the nostalgic charm of early online games – the way they’ve connected people and sparked so many lifelong friendships,” said co-founders Mic and Martina. “With Loftia, and with our new Neighborhoods feature, we’re excited for players to rediscover the joy of shared online experiences.”

With its solarpunk aesthetic and a focus on meaningful player interactions Loftia is more than just an MMO – it’s a collaborative project shaped by its community. With its innovative features and dedicated fanbase, Loftia is poised to become a cornerstone in the cozy gaming genre. 

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

Peaceful farm shop sim coming to digital stores and physical editions from rokaplay and Silver Lining Interactive. 

Knutsford, UK / Darmstadt, Germany – December 10th 2024. Indie developer and publisher rokaplay is thrilled to reveal that their upcoming cozy farm shop sim Sugardew Island – Your Cozy Farm Shop will launch in March 2025! Launching globally via digital stores for PC via Steam, PlayStation and Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch, Sugardew Island invites you to run your own cozy farm shop, selling goods you farm on the island. You can’t manage your store without goods, so you must care for your animals, grow crops, gather resources and complete Harmony Tree quests to restore balance for the cute Forest Folk inhabitants.

Publisher Silver Lining Interactive will also release the boxed edition for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, perfect for those cozy fans who like to keep their gaming library physical! 

Inspired by the beloved Nintendo© DS Harvest Moon games, Sugardew Island – Your Cozy Farm Shop is a love letter to the cozy genre, where you can unwind, relax and enjoy hours of delightful gameplay running your own farm shop on a quiet and peaceful island. 

Run your own farm shop, without any pressure!

Sugardew Island is an intentionally uncomplicated cozy farm shop sim, crafted by a tiny indie dev team. We developed Sugardew Island so you can unwind, relax, and enjoy your beloved genre.

After a surprising storm and a shipwreck, your journey begins as you awaken on a deserted island. To continue your adventure, you must collect Harmony by selling goods to the forest folk, healing the island and overcoming the thorns.

Take care of your animals and your farm, sell your goods to the cute Forest Folk, upgrade your farm and fulfil small orders from the Harmony Tree to fill the tiny island with life again.

Sugardew Island features: 

• Farming – Take care of your plants, make fertilizer and sell your farm produce.
• Your farm shop – Sell items in your shop and negotiate with the Forest Folk for prices.
• Resource Gathering – Collect wood, stones, and weeds for farm improvements.
• Character Editor – Customize your character’s look to create your perfect persona.
• Animals – Feed, interact & build bonds with animals for eggs and milk. 
• Pet Companions – Give names to pets, interact with them, and let them follow you around the island.
• Harmony Tree Quests – Fulfill orders to heal the Harmony Tree and upgrade the small island.
• Romance – If you are looking for some companionship on the island, then love could be in the air with four romanceable spirits, each with their own unique stories and interactions.
• Trader Tomte – Purchase seeds, animals, and more from the friendly trader.
• Upgrade System – Improve your house, barn, and tools to enhance efficiency.

Sugardew Island – Your Cozy Farm Shop will be released digitally for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch in March 2025, with the physical release for PlayStation and NIntendo Switch in March 2025. Fans can Wishlist the game on Steam and PlayStation now! Pre-orders for the physical editions are now available here.   

About rokaplay

“We make Cozy & Family Friendly games” – rokaplay GmbH, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is an indie games developer and supports other indies in realizing their dream games. Inspired by Nintendo, rokaplay offers cross-platform entertainment for all people of all ages. To them, proactive and transparent communication with their community is a crucial and indispensable part of their work. 

About Silver Lining Interactive 

Silver Lining Interactive is a brand new independent game publisher based in the North of England. Founded by a team of seasoned professionals for two decades, this studio has been a cornerstone of the indie game scene. With a passion for fostering creative talent and great games, Silver Lining Interactive is committed to bringing innovative, high-quality games to players worldwide physically and digitally.

Barber and tattoo simulator adds a new chapter and hairstyle: the Dread Cabin

RIGA, LATVIA – Dec. 10, 2024 – Dreads, the first DLC for Shave & Stuff, the barber and tattoo master VR sim from HyperVR Games played by more than 400,000 users, opens up shop on Meta Quest today.

Help clients find perfect new looks with an expansive catalog of hairstyles, tattoos, and accessory items to choose from. Grow, cut, color, and change their hairstyles and beards to match their vision in challenges designed to improve stylists’ skills. Cut hair down from scissors to trimmers to razor blades and regrow it instantly to transform the looks completely. In Shave & Stuff, any style is possible!

Lock in with Dreads, the first DLC for Shave & Stuff, which includes more than 30 new scenarios featuring the popular hairstyle in a brand new chapter: the Dread Cabin. Create thick, thin, and curly locks for clients’ heads and chins, and accessorize them with more than 15 specialty rings. Choose the length and direction of each lock to create new styles and patterns in gravity-defying masterpieces.

Freely try out every tool, color, and accessory in Creative Mode. Make the next town hall a night to remember with wild new hairstyles and tattoos for the whole neighborhood. Experiment with mohawks, mullets, bouffants, and more in every color of the rainbow. Ink up brave clients with croissants, cats, flames, and more; they can be cleaned up later, so feel free to doodle!

The Dreads DLC also features major visual overhauls in all game modes via the ‘Glow-Up Update.’ Enjoy a refreshed workspace to master new skills in The Barbershop, The Tattoo Salon, Creative Mode, and the all-new Dread Cabin.

“Defining oneself through hairstyles is one of the oldest forms of self-expression,” said Aivars Neihefers, Producer, HyperVR Games. “Shave & Stuff celebrates both this form of expression and the real stylists out there helping clients achieve their perfect look.”

Shave & Stuff, ‘Dreads’ DLC, is now available on Meta Quest for USD 5.99 with English language support. Shave & Stuff is also available for USD 14.99 or in a combo with the ‘Dreads’ DLC for USD 17.99. To learn more about Shave & Stuff, visit the game’s official website and follow it on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

About HyperVR Games

HyperVR Games is a virtual reality game development and publishing company based in Riga, Latvia, focused on creating immersive and interactive casual experiences. Its titles include Shave & Stuff, Pet & Stuff, Titans Clinic, and Hide the Corpse.

To stay up-to-date on all things HyperVR Games’, join the team’s Discord, visit its official website, and follow the studio on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

A relaxing city puzzler

Zurich, Switzerland – December 10, 2024 – Stray Fawn Studio and Metaroot have revealed the cozy city puzzler River Towns developed by Frogsong Studios. As part of the reveal, a Kickstarter and a demo were launched. 

Solve puzzles by placing buildings and creating vibrant cities in River Towns. Each district has its own style and shapes, making every level a new challenge. Help to restore and rebuild our River Towns.

In River Towns, you place differently shaped buildings and make them fit into a limited area. Combine unique districts into a vibrant living city and help restore our River Towns. Each of the three districts has its own set of shapes which are shuffled randomly. This makes every game you play a new and unique puzzle to solve. The different district’s unique and vibrant architecture combines into beautiful little towns along the river. As the town grows, more townspeople move in and bring life back into this old and broken world.

About Frogsong Studios

Frogsong Studios, is a small indie studio based in Malmö, Sweden. Since 2014 they have been developing and self-published their own games while making bread through consultant work. They have worked as consultants on various game titles like Goat Simulator, Satisfactory, Little Nightmares 1 & 2, The Stretchers, Stickfight: The Game and more.

About Stray Fawn Studio

Stray Fawn Studio is a twelve person indie game studio based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company focuses on developing their own projects which are often situated in the simulation and strategy genre. In 2023 Stray Fawn expanded into indie game publishing and is now supporting other developers on their journey.

About Metaroot

Metaroot is a small publisher and marketing agency based in Zurich, Switzerland. Metaroot has published the nature simulation city builder “Of Life and Land”.

All New Factory-Building Meets RTS set in the Planetary Annihilation Universe Releases for Steam Early Access

SEATTLE, WA – December 10, 2024 – Galactic Annihilation Inc., a game development and publishing studio established by industry veterans who previously created Planetary Annihilation, Monday Night Combat and more, today launched Industrial Annihilation on Steam Early Access for $29.99.

With its unique blend of deep factory-building combined with iconic real-time strategy action, the Early Access launch will bring with it several ‘test campaign’ missions along with a few 1v1 maps for two-player PvP multiplayer. During Early Access, there are plans to continually update the game to include skirmish mode vs the AI, along with adding PvE multiplayer. There will also be an additional part of the campaign and a second faction added during the Early Access period in a future update, all leading to the full campaign launch with 1.0 release.

Early Access on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1796720/Industrial_Annihilation 

KEY FEATURES

• Latest Game in the Planetary Annihilation Franchise – The team behind Planetary Annihilation, which has sold over 3 million units and is still celebrated and played by fans almost a decade later, is back with a new twist on the popular franchise. 
• Build the Ultimate Factory for RTS Battles – Become a master constructor with intricate production pipelines that supply your killer war machine. Place your bets on the Titan class superbot, or go all-in on a game-ending fusion planet crusher. Create the ultimate kill squad, or build up your artillery to devastate your opponent with tactical nukes.  The choices are many, and all yours.
• Galactic Single Player Campaign – Play through an all-new full single-player story campaign with Industrial Annihilation! Chaos is hellbent on wiping out the galaxy with their diesel-fueled armies that shred and burn any who dare oppose them! 

We’ve heard your Planetary Annihilation feedback! In this full campaign experience you will play as the Commander who rises to stop the destruction and claim the galaxy, one thrilling mission at a time!

Multiple Factions – Choose from two unique factions to play as or battle against – Chaos, and Machina. Each faction presents their own unique combat units, playstyles and strategies. 

About Industrial Annihilation

The galaxy is at stake, Commander. Claim it. Industrial Annihilation blends the iconic real-time strategy of the beloved Annihilation series of games with deep factory-building to deliver a blend of genres unlike any you’ve experienced before. Build a unique working factory-sim to extract resources, lay production pipelines, construct units, and erect defenses against the corruption of Chaos in an epic singleplayer campaign featuring world-class RTS combat. Or, match wits against other Commanders online in intense co-op and PvP battles.  

For more information on Industrial Annihilation, please visit the Website for more information and follow the game for latest updates on Facebook and Twitter.

About Galactic Annihilation Inc.

Galactic Annihilation Inc. is a game development and publishing company established by veteran industry insiders and developers Bob Berry, Jon Mavor, John Comes, and Steve Thompson creators of Planetary Annihilation and Monday Night Combat. Based out of Seattle, Washington, USA, the development team is committed to making fun and engaging titles that bring players together. 

CD PROJEKT RED today released a free update for Cyberpunk 2077 introducing new character customization options, Photo Mode functionality, additional gameplay improvements, and much more. The update’s launch was also accompanied by another installment of REDstreams featuring a deep dive into the latest update with its developers.

Snapshot:

• CD PROJEKT RED launched Update 2.2 for Cyberpunk 2077, bringing a range of free improvements to the game.
• The update was developed in partnership with Virtuos.
• Players can enjoy new customization choices, including character and vehicle customization.
• Photo Mode also received new features including a new camera mode and lighting options.
• More information about the update was shared in a REDstreams episode on Twitch and YouTube.

Update 2.2 is the fruit of a close collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and Virtuos, a studio known for its work on many well-known AAA games for consoles and PC. It is available to all owners of Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

As part of Update 2.2, players will access new character customization options — including new variants of cosmetic cyberware, tattoos, makeup options, and more. That’s not the only thing players can now modify — all luxury or sports cars that have partnered with Rayfield now have access to exclusive CrystalCoat technology, meaning players can swap out the colors of select rides. Changes have also been made to Photo Mode, which now boasts additional features — including improved camera modes, the ability to spawn up to three additional characters in the scene, increased camera range, and new lighting options. Players will also be able to enjoy the presence of Johnny Silverhand in the passenger seat as they drive through the city of dreams. On top of it all, Update 2.2 also brings a number of technical improvements and more secrets to Night City.

[Check patch notes]

More information about the new update can be found in the latest edition of REDstreams on Twitch, featuring Paweł Sasko, Associate Game Director at CD PROJEKT RED and Pauline Debroux, a Lead Producer from Virtuos.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which includes the base game and the Phantom Liberty expansion starring Idris Elba as Solomon Reed, is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. More information can be found on the official game website, Facebook, and X.

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. In collaboration with Studio Trigger, 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 Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V. Players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. The game has sold over 25 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with Studio Trigger. Its spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was released on September 26, 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.

Boulder, Colo. (Dec. 10, 2024) – Serenity Forge and Team Salvato today announced that Doki Doki Literature Club has reached the incredible milestone of inducting 30 million players worldwide into their Literature Club across the game’s original release in 2017 and enhanced 2021 Plus version that brought it to consoles for the first time.

“Doki Doki Literature Club Plus’ reception has continued to astound us since 2021, and we’re so thankful to the game’s loyal community for sticking with us all these years,” said Zhenghua Yang, founder of Serenity Forge. “Reaching 30 million players is incredible, and we can’t wait to show the community what we have in store next.” 

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus expands on the original game that debuted in 2017, quickly becoming the definitive narrative horror experience downloaded by millions of fans. Doki Doki Literature Club is a psychological horror narrative that puts players in the shoes of a student who joins his school’s Literature Club at the request of his childhood friend Sayori. As he meets other members Natsuki, Yuri and Club President Monika, the player begins writing poems and grows closer to the other members – is romance in the air? Hailed by millions as one of the most disturbing games in a generation, DDLC Plus is the ultimate psychological horror narrative experience.

For more about Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, please visit https://ddlc.plus/. Stay in the loop on all things Serenity Forge by visiting the team’s website, Twitter and Bluesky. 

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About Serenity Forge

Based in Boulder, Colorado, video game development and publishing studio Serenity Forge prides themselves on the care and dedication they put into their work, creating meaningful games that challenge the way you think. Firm believers in the artistic, cultural, and educational power of video games, Serenity Forge aims to craft unique interactive experiences to broaden players’ horizons and expand their perspectives.

About Team Salvato

Independent game development studio Team Salvato’s mission, through their games, is to tell stories and express creativity in ways not possible using traditional media. Team Salvato believes that games, as an interactive art form, can have a unique impact and become a part of the player’s personal story. Seeking to provoke deepened self-awareness within players of their games, Team Salvato strives to inspire others to discover new ways of making a positive difference in their own lives and the lives of others.