Earlier this year, multi-dimensional developer All Possible Futures and ink-stained publisher Devolver Digital launched The Plucky Squire on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and Nintendo Switch to great acclaim.

But for some of you more experienced adventurers, Jot’s dimension-hopping quest through the Land of Mojo was a little too eager to hold your hand.

Which is why we’re delighted to present a brand new version of The Plucky Squire aimed at those brave warriors unafraid to venture forth without any help.

You can still play the game as it was before, but a new abridged Streamlined Mode has been added for anyone who’d prefer a less hand-holdy experience. This trims less necessary dialogue, removes or reduces camera hints, cuts out some tutorial content, and control of the game is taken away from you less often.

It’s the same grand Plucky Squire adventure, just tweaked to remove some of the friction for seasoned gamers.

This free update also adds classy new dialogue portraits for the major characters, as well as some general bug fixes and other small improvements.

The Plucky Squire’s free Streamlined Mode update is available now on PC, and will be coming to consoles very soon.

Find out more at thepluckysquire.com

Joshua Boggs provides a development update following the unique stealth game’s March reveal  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Dec. 11, 2024 – Sleight of Hand, a third-person, card-slinging occult noir stealth game from RiffRaff Games, premiered a behind-the-scenes video trailer today at Day of the Devs 2024: The Game Awards Edition. From the team led by Joshua Boggs, creator of the multi-award-winning noir puzzle game FRAMED, Sleight of Hand invites players to unravel an occult mystery as Lady Luck, a retired detective pulled in to do one last job – bring down her former coven.

Set in the rain-soaked streets of Steeple City, the game follows Lady Luck (voiced by Debi Mae West, known for her role as Meryl Silverburgh in Metal Gear Solid), as she investigates her old witch coven and its recent rise to power. Armed with a taboo deck of cursed cards, players will uncover sinister truths, navigate ritualistic magic systems, and mete out justice against their past companions as they see fit, in a world dripping with noir flavour.

Players will harness the power of their cards to outwit enemies: see through walls, blind opponents to avoid detection, or vanish in a puff of smoke to evade capture. When stealth fails, turn the tables with devastating curses and combos. Upgrade your deck to unleash powerful abilities like the Crone’s Mark to crush the bones in an enemy’s body, or use synergies to inflict Hexes, teleport behind targets, and execute silent takedowns.

“Tight alleys, secret occult rituals, and hidden speakeasies make Sleight of Hand a treasure trove of hard-boiled mysteries,” said Joshua Boggs, Game Director and Founder at RiffRaff Games. “Lady Luck’s journey through Steeple City’s underworld blends stealth-action with deckbuilding elements in unexpected ways, giving players the freedom to carve their own path through the game.”

Sleight of Hand is coming to PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass “when it’s ready”. Check out today’s trailer revealed at Day of the Devs here! For more information, check out the game’s Steam page, follow RiffRaff Games on X, Instagram, and Facebook, and visit the game’s official website. 

About RiffRaff Games

RiffRaff Games is a Wellington-based game studio with a mission to craft games that become new genres. After his work on FRAMED, Joshua Boggs founded RiffRaff Games to continue the noble pursuit of seeking out and crafting new gameplay experiences. Almost 10 years after FRAMED, Sleight of Hand is his biggest swing at creating something never seen before, inspired by his friendship with Hideo Kojima, love of Metal Gear Solid, and hard-boiled noir. 

Josh is joined by a highly experienced and even more talented crew at RiffRaff who has previously worked with companies like Arkane, Sony Santa Monica, Eidos, Activision, Square Enix, Electronic Arts, PikPok, A44, Magic Leap and include former credits working on Dishonored, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, God of War, God of War: Ragnarok, Call of Duty, Ashen, Flintlock, and more.

Last chance to get rewards!

Halifax, Canada, December 11th, 2024 – Board game creator Brueh Games and video game developer YarnCat Games are proud to announce that their video game adaptation of Luís Brueh’s acclaimed strategy board game Keep the Heroes Out! has made over 20 times its goal, with a current tally of over $200,000! Along the way it’s smashed through numerous stretch goals, ensuring the final game will be as feature-filled as possible. If you’d like to get in on its exclusive rewards – like securing the digital game for $15 – you still have 48 hours left before the Kickstarter campaign ends on Friday, December 13th at 2pm PST.

Keep the Heroes Out! is an asymmetric, cooperative dungeon defense game for 1-4 players where you play as the monsters protecting their hard-earned treasures against invading hordes of “heroes” trying to steal it.

Your goal as a team is to survive going through the Guild deck two times, protecting the treasures in each room. If the main treasure is taken, the game ends in defeat, but if you manage to protect your treasures for long enough, you all win. Monsters may die, which is tragic, but you can always bring them back to the dungeon, so you are never eliminated from the game. However, once the treasure is gone, it’s gone forever.

The digital game brings the tabletop experience faithfully to life, with the same art style and gameplay, only now being that the computer controls the nasty heroes invading our lair. This means you can play solo against the AI, or get a gaming going remotely with your friends from afar. Furthermore, YarnCat Games has boosted the visuals with fluid animation and a tutorial to help onboard new players. There’s never been an easier, more convenient way to get into hero thwarting!

The original board game version of Keep the Heroes Out! was a massive success, selling over 70,000 copies since its launch in 2022. It became a Golden Geek Best Cooperative Game Nominee at BoardGameGeek, where it’s currently ranked as the 664th best board game of all time out of a database of roughly 156,000 titles. 

For more information on Keep the Heroes Out!:

Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2592340/Keep_the_Heroes_Out/
YarnCat Games website: https://www.yarncatgames.com/
Brueh Games website: ​​https://luisbrueh.com/games/

About Brueh Games

The brand of solo game developer Luís Brueh, a Brazilian Game designer & artist now living in Halifax, Canada. During the last 15 years Brueh has worked with many publishers and brands localizing their work to Brazilian territories and has expanded into designing his own games, of which he also does the art. Titles published so far include: Dwar7s (Fall, Winter, Spring, Duels), Covil The Dark Overlords, Valknut, and Keep the Heroes Out!

About YarnCat Games

YarnCat Games is an independent game studio based in Halifax, Canada. It’s currently working on the digital version of the acclaimed tabletop dungeon defense game Keep the Heroes Out!

Bigger. Bolder. Badder. 

LONDON (Dec. 11, 2024) – Award winning indie developer Veewo Games today announced Neon Abyss 2, their chaotic cybermyth roguelike. This time everything goes to 11: faster action, higher stakes and endless possibilities make each run more action-packed than the last. Get ready for a vibrant, pixelated and chaotic adventure when Neon Abyss 2 enters Early Access in 2025 on PC via Steam. 

A sequel to the 2020 roguelike run ‘n’ gun hit, this installment raises the stakes in every way. Frantic run ‘n’ gun gameplay returns with a twist – an all-new weapon system lets you decide your own combat style. Get up close and personal with melee weapons or unleash chaos from a distance with a range of unique firearms. Mix and match combat styles using an arsenal that lets you tear through the Abyss in your own way. Item synergies are back and wilder than ever. Hunt down powerful items and stack them to make combinations that make every run one-of-a-kind. 

Players will once again dive into the Abyss with their favorite companions by their side – Hatchmon. These adorable and vibrant companions evolve into powerful allies, adding an extra layer of excitement to every run. 

Neon Abyss 2 is currently in development for PC with Early Access in 2025 bringing players an array of new features, formidable enemies, powerful gods, updated loot and hidden secrets. In the Abyss, there’s always something new to uncover.

# # # 

About Veewo Games  

Founded in 2011, Veewo Games is an award-winning independent game development studio based in Xiamen, China. With a focus on creating replayable, surprising, and dramatic gaming experiences. The studio’s titles include Neon Abyss, Super Phantom Cat, and Super Phantom Cat 2 and they are now working on Neon Abyss 2. Veewo Games is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment and continues to deliver immersive, high-quality experiences for players worldwide. 

Dismantle and Destroy

Toronto (Dec. 11th, 2024) – Indie studio Alpha Channel today announced the release of their debut game, TankHead, a roguelite built around exploration and thrilling vehicle gameplay where players take on missions across the desolate ECA. A surprise announcement at this year’s Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition, TankHead is available now exclusively via Epic Game Store.

A cataclysmic event has left the war-torn world of ECA largely uninhabitable. In TankHead, players step into the role of Whitaker, a sleepwalker who illegally ventures into the ECA on missions to recover high-value items. To survive the harsh environment, Whitaker ‘tele-projects’ his consciousness into a Needle—a robust drone able to withstand the ECA’s unforgiving conditions. Using a Needle, players will pilot a Tank to combat the vehicles and creatures of the ECA in an effort to reach Highpoint City and uncover its secrets.

Missions culminate in desperate, high-stake fights with imposing war machines known as TankHeads. Survival depends on more than brute force; players must strategically customize their tanks with an arsenal of weapons, armor, wheels, motors, and abilities. Combat is tactical, requiring players to expose enemy weak points and strike with lethal precision to deliver a killer blow. After each fight, scavenge the battlefield for resources, salvaging parts to upgrade your tank or send to the scrapheap. Every decision matters—the cleaner the fight, the more valuable loot to recover.

At the heart of TankHead lies its distinct tank warfare system. Controlling both the body and turret, players must master maneuvering to keep their armor facing the enemy while shielding vulnerable motors. With a diverse array of mods and weapons, three beautifully detailed maps, and a host of deadly enemies lurking in the ECA, every mission is a battle for survival.

TankHead is available to buy now for PC via Epic Game Store. Fans wanting more information can visit the official site, https://www.tankhead.com/.

About Alpha Channel Inc

We create beautifully realized worlds, rich with history and imagination governed by player emergent driven design. We strive to create experiences that will not only entertain and challenge players but resonate emotionally creating a timeless experience. Founded in 2018, Alpha Channel is composed of veteran AAA developers looking to do things a bit differently.

The highly anticipated AAA 3D fantasy RPG Rise of Eros: Desire is officially available for download today! Starting now, players can download the game on both Google Play and the App Store to embark on their own unique fantasy adventure. As the year’s most awaited blockbuster release of 2024, Rise of Eros: Desire not only delivers an immersive, high-quality visual experience but also captivates with its rich storyline and strategic gameplay, allowing players to dive into a profound tale of intertwined love and desire in every battle.

Log in Now to Receive 150 Summons and Exclusive Sweetie Fox Accessories!

To celebrate the official launch of Rise of Eros: Desire, players who log in will receive 150 summons, helping you quickly recruit legendary goddesses and build an unstoppable team! Plus, every login comes with exclusive themed accessories inspired by our ambassador, Sweetie Fox, adding a distinctive allure to your character and letting you show off your captivating, seductive style.

Exclusive Game Features – Immerse Yourself in an AAA-Level Fantasy Adventure

Stunning Visuals and Realistic 3D Graphics: Featuring console-level AAA-quality graphics, Rise of Eros: Desire brings the otherworldly landscapes and character details to life, creating a visually immersive experience that feels incredibly real.

Rich Storyline and Mythic Worldbuilding: In this world, the God of Desire was born from humanity’s deepest cravings and grew in power as civilization advanced. This led to intense conflicts between the gods, culminating in their imprisonment within mystical relics. Players will venture with the reincarnated forms of concubine goddesses, uncovering ancient mythic secrets hidden for millennia.

Diverse Characters and Strategic Gameplay: Rise of Eros: Desire allows players to create unique teams of goddesses’ Personas, each with distinct personalities and skills. Strategic planning and skill combinations make each battle dynamic and engaging, providing endless layers of gameplay enjoyment.

Ongoing Fantastic Rewards: From the initial login reward of 150 summons and exclusive accessories, players will unlock even more rewards as they progress, making it easy to gain powerful allies on their journey.

Explore the Boundaries of Desire and Reality with Sweetie Fox

With globally renowned star Sweetie Fox as its ambassador, Rise of Eros: Desire fully embodies the theme “Fantasy Can Be Real”. Sweetie Fox’s exclusive accessories add a captivating allure to the game, drawing players into a magical world brimming with romance and the thrill of desire. As the ultimate call to action, Sweetie Fox invites you to experience this tantalizing RPG masterpiece alongside her.

Download Rise of Eros: Desire Now and Begin Your Mythic Adventure!

Head to Google Play or the App Store to download Rise of Eros: Desire! Log in to receive 150 summons and Sweetie Fox’s exclusive accessories, opening up endless possibilities for your journey. Set out with your divine allies, embark on an epic adventure, unravel the mysteries among the gods of desire, and dive into a magical journey made just for you!

Official Website: https://riseoferosdesire.com/

Villedor is back in holiday spirit with Santa’s plane-shaped sleigh and a stockpile of presents. With Patch 1.20 streamlining the Prologue, it’s easier than ever to jump into the game and join the Winter festivities!

Wrocław, Poland – December 11th, 2024  – The temperatures are dropping, snowflakes are falling, and the festive spirit is alive in Dying Light 2: Stay Human once again! Techland is excited to announce the return of the fan-favorite event, Winter Tales: Gifts from Above. The celebration kicks off on December 11th, alongside the release of Patch 1.20, and will run until January 2nd.

No place to go? Let it snow!
Villedor has been hit by frosty weather, and its citizens are ready to celebrate the festive season. There’s a tree, but it’s missing decorations – where are they? Players must complete bounties from Baka or loot containers to gather trinkets, ornaments, and decorations to dress the tree and spread holiday cheer! As a reward for hard work, players will get presents like the Killer Krampus Outfit and Winter Sweets, which can be spent at Baka’s stall.

Baka’s back with his (festive) shack
Baka’s Halloween stand has been exchanged for something more festive and offers up some great and unique items, including the boomerang-style Skoll, Snowballs and much, much more. He has also ordered some new stock with the Killer Krampus items, including The Punisher weapon, used to reprimand those naughty zombies. So before taking on any bounties, players have to make sure to check out all of Baka’s wares!

What’s more, with each level increase of Baka’s reputation, players will get a letter they can send to Santa using the box located next to the stall to get an airdrop full of presents.
They will have to make sure to participate in the weekly airdrop challenges as the rewards will change, allowing them to earn the entire Killer Krampus Gear Set.

Jingle all the slay – new enemy
Uncle Snows and his helpers – the Naughty Infected and Virals—are back and hungrier than ever. Watch out for a new festive zombie, the Ice Spitter, who will shoot icy projectiles. While Naughty Infected can be found all over Villedor, the most formidable Uncle Snows will be guarding precious airdrops.

One more update for 2024…
Alongside the release of Winter Tales: Gifts from Above 2024, we’ll be releasing Patch 1.20. This patch will streamline the Prologue so players can get into the action much quicker, making it the perfect time to jump into the game for the first time, or finally return to see what else has changed since your last visit to Villedor. The patch also addresses various issues, including those relating to crashes and co-op, and several that have been reported by the community, such as the headless Aiden during the stomp animation.

…And two more presents!
This is the season for giving after all, so until January 2nd, all players will be able to grab the Above the Law Bundle completely for free. Just like the Killer Krampus, this bundle is all about making sure those not following the rules get punished, so pick it up and keep law and order in The City.

For those who haven’t yet experienced the world of Dying Light, now is the perfect time! During this festive season, both Dying Light 1 and Dying Light 2: Stay Human are available at discounts of up to 80%.

To help us create unforgettable experiences for all Dying Light players, we invite them to join the conversation on Discord, Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube – we’ll be waiting!

For more information about Dying Light franchise and Techland, head to www.dyinglightgame.com

THE ACTION SOULS-STYLE RPG TITLE MADE BY THE ITALIAN DEVELOPMENT STUDIO JYAMMA GAMES ARRIVES ON MICROSOFT CONSOLES

Released in September on PC and PlayStation 5 and now finally available on Xbox Series X|S, Enotria: The Last Song is an epic adventure set in a sunlit region, inhabited by actors and masks trapped in an eternal script. Featuring famous masks such as Pulcinella and Arlecchino and intense fights, Jyamma Games’ release offers a new spotlight to the stage of Italy’s tradition.

Milan, December 11th, 2024 – The Enotria: The Last Song spectacle is set to amaze players worldwide on Xbox Series X|S starting from December 12th. Developed by Jyamma Games, the Italian development studio that has made its land into a video game, this Action RPG leads players in a sunlit region, trapped in an eternal and distorted plague, known as Canovaccio. As the Maskless One, it is up to the player to rid the game world of the Authors, entities that pull the strings of a macabre and perpetual spectacle.

Distinguished from other exponents of its genre for its sunny atmospheres, inspired by Italian landscapes, Enotria: The Last Song is a Souls-style action videogame with unique mechanics. During the adventure it is indeed possible to wear Masks obtained from enemies defeated in duel, consequently modifying the gameplay and the approach to encounters. In addition, it will be possible to equip one of the over 120 weapons available for the 8 classes that can be picked, and improving their stats thanks to the Path of Innovators, a rich skill tree. Exploration is also unique to the genre, featuring the distinctive Ardore, which will allow to radically alter the game world, unveiling secrets and opening new explorable paths.

After enchanting audiences worldwide on PC and PlayStation 5, Enotria: The Last Song lands on Microsoft consoles with all the updates aimed at improving the gameplay experience and satisfying the feedbacks received by the community since its release. The curtain on Jyamma Games’ adventure rises on Xbox Series X|S* starting from December 12th: to the players the task of breaking the tyrannical Authors’ strings. The most recent version of the game includes the following adjustments: 

• *NEW* Loadout Presets: Presets allow you to save up to 5 premade loadouts for each save slot. You can store them for later use or as a utility to transfer multiple items from one loadout to the other. Presets can be accessed through the “Manage Loadout” button in the Loadouts Menu, at any Reality Knot.
• [PC] Presets are saved to a dedicated folder inside each Profile. You can share them or import presets from other players easily, by copy-pasting the file. 
• A new weapon stat is now shown in menus, the Average Damage. It is a unified value between Physical, Ardore and the highest Elemental damage, to help determine the overall strength of the weapon at a glance. This stat will also help you quickly identify the Loadout Preset with highest damage, when loading a Preset.
• The rarity value of the weapons is now displayed better and written in the inventory
• The weapon rarity border is now shown on the HUD too, when looting items. Rarity information has also been added in the weapons details on the right to match the borders.
• The Fast Travel menu now shows which Reality Knots have an anvil for upgrading equipment nearby.
• Fixed minor visual issues in the Shop menu.
• Updated and unified Italian definitions for “Longsword” to “Spada Lunga” to better reflect the class.
• Implemented some camera views to improve players guidances through different areas
• The respec feature is now moved on Pulcinella instead of Veltha
• Added displayed inputs on the menu part of the initial tutorial
• Now when you switch your active loadout your HP will scale in percentage
• A short cutscene of Veltha has been added to give more immersion
• A slight bodylight has been added to the main character to have a better readability is some dark areas
• Giangurgolo’s phase two fight improved for a better combat experience
• HLOD have been improved slightly and we are continuing to improve them
• The golden path and especially Litumnia guidance have been improved to help the exploration
• The lighting of the whole game has been improved overall
• Improved the quality of the SFX of some gameplay elements for a better feedback
• Fixed some issue on trophies that sometimes makes impossible to get the platinum
• Improved the readability of some VFX (as Pillar, Rifts, Grenade explosion, Reality knot)
• [PS5] Improved and optimized Scalability settings: Graphics vs Performance

*Performances of  Enotria: The Last song might differ when playing the game on Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.  

About Enotria: The Last Song

Enotria: The Last Song is an action rpg souls-like set in a fictional world based on Italian folklore and culture. The game is described as a souls-like, but in contrast with other titles belonging to this genre, it is set in a world portrayed with the colors of the Italian summer, becoming, as the development studio Jyamma Games loves to describe it, a “summer-soul”. Enotria: The Last Song is set on a continent with the same name, in which several countries and cultures have prospered in different ways – until everything has fallen into ruin. The curse of the Canovaccio, indeed, has started to spread among the lands, depriving them of its inhabitants and their roles to make them part of its spectacle. In a world emptied of its soul, your mission will be to turn everything back to the glorious days, facing many enemies and encountering those who will be there to help you in your quest, creators of the Canovaccio in the first lands and those who serve them. Many will be the hurdles on your path: defeat bosses and enemies with more than 100 different weapons, 45 spells, parry modifiers and more. With over 150 million possible combinations of builds, the customization of the experience will be unlimited. 

About Jyamma Games

Jyamma Games has started its journey in Milan, Italy, in September 2019 as an independent videogame development studio with just a dozen of young and enthusiast developers. Jyamma has released four titles for mobile devices: Hi-Ball Rush, Matchy Catch, Cowzuuka and Go Down. On its path, the studio has collected skills and talented people coming from some of the best companies of the videogames industry, and now it counts more than 65 associates in several countries. Under the management of some veterans of the industry, Jyamma Games has already released the AA project named Enotria: The Last Song, a RPG souls-style game that embraces the Italian culture, reproduced in an extremely diverse world and with a dynamic gameplay. 

New Weapons, New Trinkets, New Character Skins and a New Revenge Mechanic Headline First Feature Update Since Early Access Launch 

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (Dec. 11, 2024) – Independent developer Motion Twin have today announced that the first Early Access feature update for Windblown is available now for all players, including new gear and quality of life changes to improve the lightning-fast and thrilling single player and online co-op game experience. 

Additionally, alongside today’s new feature update, the developers have also announced that more than 250,000 players have already joined Windblown’s Early Access and taken their first lightning-fast dashes in the game since its release in October. To celebrate this milestone achievement and today’s new feature update, new players can take advantage of a limited-time discount for the game by getting 20% off Windblown on Steam from now until Jan. 2, 2025*. 

Highlights for today’s new game update include: 

• New Revenge Mode – Based on community feedback in the first weeks of Early Access release, Revenge Mode replaces the previous multiplayer Sudden Death mechanic to power up players whenever their comrades fall in battle. Become empowered with increased speed and attack power to avenge your fallen teammates, but beware: the enemies will become more bloodthirsty, too.
• Two Deadly New Weapons – Unleash the power of the Umbrella and Fiery Claws, both featuring new animations, new critical mechanics and powerful new Alterattacks to bring more options to Leapers as they overcome the Vortex’s trials. Both weapons will need to be found by overcoming mid-to-late game challenges, so veteran players are rewarded with more exciting new ways to play. 
• Four Powerful New Trinkets – Discover new trinkets that can further refine your builds to create explosive new synergies. These trinkets can open more options to Bleed or Mark builds – plus players can discover a new pet robot trinket who can zap your foes from afar. 
• Four New Cosmetic Skins – Hardcore players are rewarded for conquering higher-difficulty challenges with new skins, including Toad, Horned Lizard and more. 
• Russian and German Languages Added – Players can now enjoy Windblown with full Russian and German text and UI localizations, bringing the total number of supported languages in the game up to nine, with even more to be added throughout Early Access on the road to 1.0.
• New Quality of Life Improvements – New accessibility options, new cursor aiming algorithms to enhance gameplay while using a keyboard and mouse and a new Pause feature for single-player fans are also included in today’s feature update. Finally, a whole host of new improvements to existing biomes and enemy behaviors further refine and improve the lightning-fast rogue-lite experience for all players, rounding out today’s new features and updates.  

Both today’s and future updates for Windblown throughout the Early Access period are based in part on community feedback and suggestions. Players wanting to be part of the conversation can join the official Windblown Discord channel to discover more about the game and share feedback directly to the team at Motion Twin and shape the development of Windblown throughout Early Access and beyond. 

Additionally, in more news for fans of Windblown, from Friday, Dec. 13 fans of the game’sunforgettable, energetic score (composed by Danger) can listen to the official soundtrack on major music streaming platforms for the first time. For more information, visit here. 

Windblown is available now in Early Access on Steam. For more information about Windblown, visit www.windblown.game. 

About Motion Twin: 

Motion Twin is an indie worker’s cooperative game studio based in France. We’ve been raging at the machines since 2001 and we’ll be doing so for as long as people keep smashing into our games. Our previous game, Dead Cells, has brought joy and tears to 10M+ players around the world, and our newest game, Windblown, launched in Early Access in October 2024. 

About Danger: 

Franck Rivoire, known by his stage name Danger, is a pioneering electronic music producer and visual artist. Renowned for his cinematic compositions and immersive live performances, Danger has garnered a global following and collaborated with numerous high-profile artists. His music has gained him recognition in the indie French video game scene, notably through his soundtracks for Haven and Furi. For Windblown, Danger has crafted a haunting soundscape infused with eerie vocal textures, metal elements, and nostalgic nods to 80s and 90s video game music.