The battle to save the world starts now in Playtonic Friend’s thrilling new rogue-like action platformer!
Burton-on-Trent, UK – 10th September 2024. A love letter to action-platformers with a roguelike twist Elsie has BLASTED on PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch TODAY! Take on hordes of deadly robots and survive intense boss fights as Elsie, the female android powerhouse and all-round badass! Are you up for the challenge? Publisher Playtonic Friends and developer Knight Shift Games invite you to lock’n’load and join the fight.
Elsie is a neo-retro, hyperkinetic, rogue-like action platformer filled with procedurally generated levels and an army of robots to blast through. Get ready to dash, dive, and shoot your way through stages filled with dynamic enemies and intense boss fights, all while performing perfectly timed precision parrying. In this roguelike rollercoaster, you’ll die and die and die again, but always get back on your feet and back in the fight to embrace the chaos.
Elsie also has a star-studded cast of voice actors, bringing the eclectic cast of characters to life, a high-octane original soundtrack created by the extremely talented Eric Benaim and stunning retro-inspired technicolour visuals!
Check out the recently released animated trailer below
Features of Elsie
Adrenaline pumping platforming with a unique parry system
Procedurally generated runs through neon-drenched pixel stages
Endless synergies with dozens of weapons, skills and augments
Tons of replayability with hours of content and daily challenges
Elsie is out today for PC via Steam (£15.49, €19.99, $19.99 with a 20% limited-time launch discount!), PlayStation 5 (£19.99, €24.99, $24.99) and Nintendo Switch (£19.99, €24.99, $24.99).
About Playtonic Friends
The studio that brought you Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Playtonic launched their publishing arm, Playtonic Friends to be a helping hand to indie developers around the world. Established in February 2021 Playtonic Friends has helped bring incredible titles such as B.P.M, Demon Turf, Blossom Tales 2 and Lil Gator Game to wider audiences.
About Knight Shift Games
Knight Shift Games is an independent game studio based in Miami, FL, USA. We are dedicated to creating stylish games that reflect our core design values of breaking conventions, along with a hint of hardcore Hispanic spice.
CALABASAS, Calif. – September 10, 2024 – 505 Games is excited to announce the upcoming release of MIGHTREYA, a thrilling anime-styled hero action game, set to launch in 2025. Developed by sole Japanese indie developer Wazen, MIGHTREYA promises to deliver an electrifying experience that blends extraordinary aerial hero battles with a captivating anime-style story.
In MIGHTREYA, players will step into the shoes of the unexpected hero Reya and her manager Nio as they navigate their roles as Hero Content Creators in a world suddenly besieged by monstrous beings from another dimension.
Prepare for heart-pounding superhero aerial battles with intuitive controls, allowing players to effortlessly lock onto targets, unleash rapid attacks, and chain combos with ease.
To celebrate the publishing agreement 505 Games and Wazen are offering a new trailer created with early development footage.
For more information and updates on MIGHTREYA, please visit the Steam page.
About 505 Games
505 Games, a Digital Bros’ subsidiary, is a global publisher focused on offering a broad selection of video games for players of all ages and skill levels. The company publishes and distributes premium and free-to-play games on console and PC platforms as well as mobile devices. Publishing highlights include DEATH STRANDING (PC), Control, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Ghostrunner, Gems of War, Journey to the Savage Planet, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Brothers: A Tale of TwoSons. 505 Games has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, China and Japan.
About Wazen
Japanese game developer Wazen K, who has previously worked on the Devil May Cry series, is sole developer of Assault Spy and the recently announced upcoming indie title MIGHTREYA for PC.
Run, Gun, and Sneak Through a Shadowy Organization’s Sinister Web of Lies
New York, NY (September 10, 2024) — Today, acclaimed developer WayForward and publisher Atari are proud to launch Yars Rising, the newest entry in the decades-spanning Yars universe. Yars Rising is now available on PC via Steam and Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4|5, and Atari VCS.
Watch the Yars Rising launch trailer
Join young black hat hacker Emi “Yar” Kimura as she unravels a deep secret and her surprising link to an enigmatic alien race. After being hired by a mysterious entity to infiltrate the QoTech corporation, Emi realizes she’s taken on more than she bargained for after she’s taken captive inside the company’s colossal headquarters.
Navigate through an array of challenges, puzzles, and boss fights, supported by Emi’s team of eclectic friends, to unravel what QoTech’s been working so hard to keep secret — including powerful biohacks that may just change everything for Emi.
“I’m eager for players to meet Emi Kimura, the star of Yars Rising,” said James Montagna, Game Director of Yars Rising.” As a cyber criminal for hire, she’s far from your typical hero, but her sharp wit and endearing awkwardness make her impossible not to root for. Emi’s charm draws you in, and I’m certain she’ll become a beloved character for gamers everywhere.”
“The enthusiastic response to Yars Rising has been very gratifying; we know that fans are as excited for the release of Yars Rising as we are,” said Wade Rosen, Atari Chairman and CEO.
This newest installment in the Yars universe delivers a wholly reimagined experience that blends past, present, and future, establishing a unique take on metroidvania gameplay with stealth and hacking-based sequences that progress the story and map exploration. With gameplay that rewards both stealth and run-and-gun strategies, unlockable upgrades and abilities, and unique genre mash-up mechanics, Yars Rising creates some new rules and breaks some old ones, just as its predecessor did.
Key Features of Yars Rising Include:
Otherworldly Abilities: Emi must jump, blast, and sneak her way past waves of robotic and alien enemies. Her latent powers are revealed as she progresses, granting her wild augments and biohacks to reach inaccessible areas.
Stealth Traversal: Emi can’t always shoot or jump her way out of a jam — tense sections of stealth gameplay force her to skillfully duck into the shadows to hide from relentless security bots.
Sci-fi Intrigue: A seemingly bottomless mystery takes Emi from drab office buildings into underground labs and even to the farthest reaches of space as she uncovers the dark truth behind the QoTech corporation. A sprawling, interconnected map allows for hours upon hours of gameplay.
Genre Mix: A metroidvania at its core, Yars Rising progresses the story with a series of hacking minigames paying homage to the original Yars’ Revenge, along with other levels and boss battles that take Emi far and beyond her “normal” adventure, like fight scenes and turn-based battles.
Yars Rising is now available worldwide on PC via Steam and Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Atari VCS. For more information, visit the official website.
Fans can order their physical editions on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch from Amazon globally, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart in the United States, and a broad selection of retailers in Europe, The Middle East, and Asia. Find your preferred retailer: https://link.atari.com/buy-yars/
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About WayForward
Founded in 1990 by Voldi Way, WayForward has become one of the biggest independent developers in the video game industry and home to some of the finest talent in the business. The company got its start during the PC, Super NES, and Genesis era of gaming, rode the educational CD-ROM wave through the ’90s, and eventually found its way back onto handhelds and consoles. Wayforward built its reputation on solid gaming fundamentals, feature-quality character animation, and the ability to faithfully turn any brand into interactive entertainment – including original properties of our own design, adaptations of comic book and Hollywood favorites, and exciting new entries in classic gaming franchises.
About Atari
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios, the publishing label Infogrames, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Atari has offices in New York and Paris.
Skövde, Sweden – September 10th, 2024 – Stunlock Studios is excited to announce a Free Weekend on Steam for V Rising, the hit Vampire Action RPG Survival game, running from September 12 at 10:00 AM and ending on September 16 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (PT). For five days, new players can dive into the dark, gothic world of V Rising completely free on Steam, and existing players can take this opportunity to invite friends to join the blood-soaked adventure.
During this limited-time event, players will experience the full game, including all the thrilling content from the recent 1.0 update. This free weekend offers newcomers the chance to awaken as vampires, construct castles, hunt for blood, and battle ancient foes across a vast open world teeming with danger and dark fantasy lore.
For those who fall under the spell of V Rising during the free weekend, the game will be available at a special 30% discount, with all available DLCs also offered at a 20% discount.
What Awaits You in V Rising:
Epic Vampire Adventure: Begin your journey as a newly risen vampire in a world ruled by humans. Feed on blood to grow stronger, evade the sun’s deadly rays, and engage in intense PvE and PvP combat
Explore and Conquer: Explore seven expansive regions, challenge 57 unique bosses, and uncover the secrets of the Ruins of Mortium, a new wintry zone introduced in the latest update
Build Your Vampire Castle: Construct and customize your own gothic castle, a base of operations from which you and your clan can launch raids, defend against enemies, and dominate the realm
Face Legendary Foes: Battle the infamous Dracula, Werewolves, Witches, and the powerful Church of Luminance
Don’t miss out! Mark your calendars for September 12-16, and prepare to rise as the ultimate vampire. Whether you’re new to the world of V Rising or a seasoned bloodsucker, this is the perfect time to immerse yourself in one of the most captivating vampire experiences of the year.
Stay connected and follow V Rising on social media for the latest updates and community events:
Stunlock Studios is one of the leading independent Swedish game developers in Skövde, known for vampire survival game V Rising and arena brawler Battlerite. Out now after 2 years in Early Access, V Rising’s gothic world has already attracted more than 4,7 million vampiric initiates and Battlerite was one of the most popular free-to-play games on Steam with over 6 million unique players entering the arena. With a passion for multiplayer action games, the studio crafts groundbreaking and community-driven games, always with their players in mind.
This week’s new additions to the Antstream library are an action platformer and a vertical shoot ‘em up.
London, 10th September: Following the big launch on PlayStation last week, it is business as usual at Antstream, which means two more titles coming to the massive Antstream library of retro games to play. This week we see Risky Woods (Mega Drive) and Wonder Planet (Arcade) joining the line up.
For challenge fans, head to Gun Force II (Arcade) and take on “A Mortal Coil”. Force your way through and get a high score in this explosive 1-life challenge.
Risky Woods, known as Jashin Draxos in Japan, is a side-scrolling platformer released by Electronic Arts in 1992. The game came to various platforms of the time, and the Mega Drive version was notable for having some visual differences from other versions.
In Risky Woods the player will take on the role of Rohan, who is charged with ancient monks that have been frozen in stone by Draxos and his minions. Jump from platform to platform, fight monsters with a variety of weapons, and rescue the stone monks. But beware, some of the monks will be evil and attack Rohan once rescued. Rescue all of the good monks to reveal the exit and move on to the next stage.
Released to arcades by Data East in 1987, Wonder Planet is a vertically-scrolling shoot ’em up that stood out from the crowd with its bright colours and cartoon-style visuals.
Controlling a starship in Wonder Planet, players will fire weapons forward to defeat flying enemies and drop bombs to destroy enemies on the ground. Currency can be collected and on a variety of power-ups, and special bonuses are available by collecting letters to spell certain words.
From rescuing monks to blasting enemies, Antstream players will be able to use the cloud system to pause and resume the action whenever they choose. Newly added titles are coming to the service each and every week, ensuring there is always something new to discover in Antstream’s massive library.
“These are really exciting times at Antstream right now. The recent launch on iOS and last week on PlayStation brings our mission to allow fans to enjoy retro games anywhere, anytime closer to completion. But there is still more to come, and that includes regular additions to the already massive Antstream library, ensuring there is always something new for players to discover. This week’s titles, Risky Wood and Wonder Planet, are both great titles that are sure to be enjoyed by retro gamers.” – Steve Cottam, CEO of Antstream.
Antstream Arcade is the world’s largest official library of retro games to stream, with more than 1300 titles available to play on multiple devices, including PC, mobile, Samsung TV, Linux, Xbox and PlayStation. With local co-op, weekly tournaments, hundreds of challenges and a global leaderboard to climb, there are plenty of new ways to play classic games, and Antstream’s cloud system instantly saves game progress so players can put down and pick up games at any time.
Antstream Arcade is available for £39.99, giving the player unrestricted access to all 1300+ games and all tournaments, challenges and more for an entire year. For a limited time, players can also purchase the lifetime subscription for a one-off payment of £99.99.
Antstream Arcade is the world’s largest officially licensed retro game platform, featuring more than 1300 games available to stream. The extensive and impressive catalogue includes titles from the early systems like the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64, to Arcade classics and games from SNES, Megadrive, and PlayStation One, and even features newly developed arcade games. Tournaments and challenges mean that these classic games can be played in new ways, allowing players to compete with the active community. With the gaming service accessible on a multitude of devices, including PC, mobile, Xbox, PlayStation and more, Antstream ensures you can enjoy gaming anytime, anywhere!
Subnautica, Vampire Survivors and No Man’s Sky among 80+ titles taking part in sale to raise money for charity
Gamers’ charity SpecialEffect are inviting gamers to buy and play a selection of discounted games from some of the biggest names in the industry as part of their One Special Day Steam Sale running from 16-22nd September. Money raised from the sale will support the charity’s work helping physically disabled people to enjoy video games.
A key element of SpecialEffect’s flagship annual One Special Day flagship fundraising campaign, the sale contains over 80 titles, including Subnautica, Subnautica: Below Zero, Gang Beasts, No Man’s Sky, Vampire Survivors, Bluey: The Video Game and Kingdom Rush Vengeance. Gamers have the opportunity to raise vital funds for the charity by buying games from over 30 participating One Special Day industry partners, who will donate a percentage of the resulting revenue to support the charity’s work helping physically disabled people to enjoy the magic of video games.
The sale is the opening element of the 2024 One Special Day campaign that’s centered around Friday 4 October, when partners from around the world will be donating all or part of their games-related sales revenue for that day to help the charity. This includes a mobile games promotion that runs during One Special Day itself.
A range of other supporting activities and studio events have already contributed over £50k of donations to the campaign and more will take place on and around One Special Day itself. These include auctions, game sales, quizzes, golf days and running challenges from companies including Rocksteady, NDreams, EA, Barclays and Skillsearch. Many creators will also be engaging with One Special Day through a ‘Showcase for OSD’ streaming event to support the Steam initiative.
With demand for the charity’s services continuing to rise, SpecialEffect’s Founder and CEO Dr Mick Donegan explains the significance of the event:
“I cannot overemphasise the importance of One Special Day in enabling our work to bring the joy of video games to physically disabled people across the world. Our team is facing an ever-increasing demand for all our services – accessibility advice, assessments, the expansion and localisation of resources such as gameaccess.info, our DevKit and our Eye Gaze Games website. The generous support of the games industry in securing the future of these life-transforming, free to access initiatives is hugely appreciated. Despite the current economic challenges, we’re looking forward to celebrating One Special Day in the company of a truly amazing and supportive industry.”
The father of one of our beneficiaries, Liam, summed up the importance of ongoing support for the charity:
“The SpecialEffect team visited our disabled 21 year-old son, Liam, to help him play games virtually independently for the very first time. To have been there to see the look of joy on Liam’s face is to know why all at SpecialEffect and anyone out there who contributes their efforts, or money for the charity, are simply awesome.”
Since its inception in 2016, One Special Day has raised over $2.5M towards the work of SpecialEffect to help people with disabilities in the UK and all over the world.
SpecialEffect is an award-winning charity that enables people with physical disabilities to benefit from the fun, inclusion and therapy of video games. We support people of all ages through personalised assessments, equipment loans and equipment modifications.
Dive into the future of business strategy and play the highly anticipated next chapter of the cult franchise at Steam Next Fest!
Oberhaching, Germany, September 10th 2024 – Developer Don VS Dodo and publisher Toplitz Productions are excited to announce that their real time economic strategy simulation game Industry Giant 4.0 will be playable in October’s Steam Next Fest.
Beginning October 14th, keen strategists and budding industry moguls can put their entrepreneurial aspirations to the ultimate test as they get to grips with managing their own business. During Steam Next Fest players will get a feel for managing different aspects of big business and trade including constructing transportation networks, planning production schedules, industrial building and the intricacies of financial management and stock distribution.
Satisfying the popularity and demand of immersive business sim games, Industry Giant 4.0 is where big business starts and empire building begins, giving players an opportunity to fully embrace the challenges that come with being a business owner starting from the ground up.
The playable demo during Steam next Fest in October provides the ultimate taster for PC players to journey into the heart of industrial strategy, from supply chain finesse to global market domination, business sim fans will craft their legacy in the ever-evolving landscape of commerce.
For more details on Industry Giant 4.0 head over to the official Steam Page.
About Don VS Dodo
Munich-based Don VS Dodo is a small studio with a core focus on developing video games. For their games, the most important ingredient is their passion and teamwork. Together with elegant game design and on time and in budget delivery they know that only a polished game is a good game. By prioritizing quality over quantity, they have helped deliver great projects. Focusing on multiplayer and co-op games Don VS Dodo strives to bring together friends and family to play together. Be it as couch co-op or through online play, Don and Dodo want players to enjoy their games together.
About Toplitz Productions
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.
The Upcoming Action RPG Features over 100 Authentic Shops and Restaurants
NIS America is proud to share a new trailer for the all-new actionRPG REYNATIS thatfeatures the painstakingly-recreated streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, complete with over 100 authentic shops and restaurants. Check out the new vlog-style video to see which iconic locations are featured in the upcoming game.
In addition, NIS America has prepared a written Shibuya location guide, where Creative Producer TAKUMI has shared his insights on why he selected Shibuya as the location for REYNATIS, behind-the-scenes of the development process, and more! TAKUMI sought to explore themes around accepting others, expressing individuality, and celebrating uniqueness.. In order for players to resonate with these themes, TAKUMI felt it was necessary to have the game’s setting be something that was an extension of the real world.
Locations include Dogenzaka, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Shibuya Center Gai, and more. Players can take their own pilgrimage to the Shibuya of REYNATIS when the game releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Steam on September 27, 2024!
REYNATIS is an atmospheric urban fantasy set in a realistic recreation of Shibuya, Tokyo, where the ultimate clash between magic and order is about to unfold. Seeking freedom through strength, the wizard Marin heads to Shibuya, where he meets Sari, an officer of the M.E.A., an organization dedicated to keeping wizards under control.
In addition to the M.E.A. exists the Guild, an organization formed in 1923 to protect the citizens of Japan with the power of magic. They have invited the wizards of Shibuya to join them, and rumors suggest they are involved in the production of illegal drugs…
REYNATIS launchesOctober 4, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
For more information about the members of Owl and REYNATIS, please refer to the Media Kit
About the Game:
REYNATIS is an action RPG set in the painstakingly-recreated streets of Shibuya, Tokyo. In a world where fantasy meets reality, the citizens of Shibuya fear magic and the power it holds, forcing wizards to conceal their inhuman abilities or face oppression.
Conceal your magic to explore the city as a regular civilian and shop or take on quests, or use your explosive powers to reach new locations and battle those who stand in your way. Fight for what you believe in in this stylish, spellbinding RPG from director TAKUMI and featuring music by Yoko Shimomura!
Please join PlayStation tomorrow for a streamed presentation hosted by Mark Cerny, Lead Architect of the PS5 console. The 9-minute Technical Presentation will focus on PS5 and innovations in gaming technology. The 9-minute stream begins tomorrow, September 11 at 1:00am AEST.
Please note that this broadcast may include copyrighted content (e.g. licensed music) that PlayStation does not control. We welcome and celebrate our amazing co-streamers and creators, but licensing agreements outside our control could interfere with co-streams or VOD archives of this broadcast. If you’re planning to save this broadcast as a VOD to create recap videos, or to repost clips or segments from the show, we advise omitting any copyrighted music.
Sydney, Australia – September 10, 2024 – Microids and Savage Level are thrilled to reveal the third and final making of for Flint: Treasure of Oblivion. After exploring the motivations and inspirations behind the game in the first episode, and then the storytelling in the second, this new video focuses on the gameplay mechanics.
This third making-of discusses the challenges the studio faced in creating authentic gameplay mechanics while staying true to the pirate-themed universe. It also highlights how different archetypes are managed to develop effective strategies. Battles, particularly the 15 vs. 15 skirmishes, require precise management of your crew’s skills but, above all, a good tactical sense, utilising verticality and unit positioning. Inspired by board games and role-playing games, the gameplay is designed to be both accessible and deep, offering players an experience that is both intuitive and demanding.
About Flint: Treasure of Oblivion :
Prepare to embark alongside Captain Flint, his second-in-command Billy Bones and his crew of old salts in search of a legendary treasure promising freedom and fortune. With its original narrative using traditional comic strips as a narrative medium, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion invites players to immerse themselves in a historically accurate pirate adventure spiced up with fantasy.
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion delivers adventure, but also strategic depth thanks to its turn-based combat mechanics, refreshing the genre’s foundations by drawing on mechanics from role-playing and board games, notably through dice rolls. When players build their crew, each member brings unique skills to use, allowing them to adapt their strategy to their style of gameplay. During the tactical phases, players can use skill and attribute cards to improve their crew members and gain an advantage over their opponents. Hoist the mainsail and set off to discover the secrets buried in the distant lands of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion.
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion features:
TURN-BASED TACTICAL COMBAT: A good preparation is key! Choose your crew members with unique abilities, obtain new skills, improve your dices. During the tactical phases, use cards to trigger skills and attributes and influence the fight with dice throws.
COMIC-BOOK NARRATIVE: Enjoy a narrative which, beyond the usual codes of comics (onomatopoeia, speech bubbles), offers players original and dynamic comic strips.
EXPLORATION: Discover a magnificent world, from the French city of Saint-Malo to the exotic landscapes of central America. Visit diverse environments (cities, camps, jungle, caves…) powered by Unreal Engine 5.
HISTORICALLY-INSPIRED PIRACY WORLD: The game faithfully recreates a world of piracy, incorporating historical elements (language, costumes, weapons) making the experience even more immersive.
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion will be available digitally on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and physically on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 24, 2024.
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About Microids
Microids is a French video game publisher. Founded in 1985, Microids’ editorial strategy now focuses on 4 major areas: adventure games, racing games, retro gaming and games inspired by iconic titles. By collaborating with renowned studios and authors (Revolution Software, Sloclap, Oddworld Inhabitants, Pendulo Studios, Eden Studios, Go Nagai, Charles Cecil, Benoît Sokal, Paul Cuisset…), Microids has become a major player in international video games. Taking inspiration from legendary titles, Microids reaches a wide audience and creates original adventures which give gamers the chance to play as some of their most beloved characters.
About Savage Level
Founded by two brothers Aurélien and Maxime Josse, seasoned veterans in the video game industry, Savage Level develops games that focus on immersing players in rich universes with profound but accessible gameplays while emphasizing on artistic direction deeply rooted in traditional arts.
