The Early Access features two standalone maps, and three game modes to test your speed and skill.

Austin, Texas, October 17, 2024 |  Developer Nathan Dearth is excited to reveal the release date for the upcoming snowboard arcade game, Tricky Madness. This modern take on snowboarding classics comes to Steam in Early Access on November 15th.

Inspired by Nostalgia: Tricky Madness is a love letter to the beloved snowboarding games of the early 2000s. Fans of earlier titles will feel at home in this refreshed interpretation with a familiar tricking system and iconic snowboarding tricks. Boasting polished gameplay, modern graphics, and modern system accessibility, developer Nathan Dearth says he’s “ready to bring people the ultimate modern arcade snowboarding experience they’ve waited decades for.” 

Let’s Get Freaky: Speed and freestyling are the name of the game, so get ready to shred down the slopes, catch big air to score tricking points, and boost your speed on a successful landing. Build your “Freaky Meter” with spins, flips, grabs, and grinds to unleash Wicked Tricks and Wicked Grinds, complex tricking combinations that’ll score big points. The Superman, The Worm, and The Space Cowboy are some of the many Wicked Tricks you can unleash as you speed through your run.

Full of Discovery: Tricky Madness boast will eight standalone maps in full release, featuring branching paths, shortcuts, and hidden areas. With these surprises to uncover, players can blaze a new path run after run. The game’s campaign mode will feature a connected mountain with secrets and collectibles of its own to uncover, and three game modes test your skills in freestyle, time trials, and races. Tricky Madness is complete with an in-game DJ commentator ready to hype up your best moves. Drop into hours of replayable fun as you explore, optimize, and compete in this modern take on the cult classics.

Planned Full Release Features:

• Eight handcrafted standalone maps, each with hidden surprises and experiences. Two will be available in Early Access.
• A dedicated campaign mode set on an open-world mountain with secrets and collectibles. Ride down the entire mountain, seamlessly transitioning from map to map.
• Eight fully voiced characters feature their own backstory, personalities, and snowboarding tricks. Tess and Maya are playable in Early Access.
• A voiced in-game DJ commentator, hyping you up as you make your way through the game.
• Three exhilarating game modes to test your speed and skills, including freestyle, time trials, and races.
• An enhanced tricking points system encourages you to trick more often for speed boosts and unlocks Wicked Tricks and Grinds.

Tricky Madness comes to Steam in Early Access on November 15th.

About Nathan Dearth

A hobbyist game developer from the age of 10, Nathan Dearth developed many games for fun over the years to share with friends and family. After discovering the industry of indie games, he is now taking the steps to pursue his passion of game development full-time. Making games for the love of it and the joy of seeing people play his creations, Tricky Madness will be his debut into the scene. 

LONDON, UK – October 17, 2024 – Embark on an enchanting sandbox adventure to discover the secrets of a long-forgotten world in Core Keeper, available today on the Nintendo Switch™ system, the PlayStation®4 system and Xbox One consoles.

Launched previously on Xbox Series X|S, the PlayStation®5 (PS5) system and PC, where over 3 million players have already dug into the game, Core Keeper is an award-winning mining sandbox adventure set in an ancient cavern of creatures, treasures, and trinkets. Set out as a single-player explorer or venture online with friends, harvesting relics and resources to build your base, craft advanced tools, and discover a vast subterranean world.

Explore diverse biomes, level up your skills and defeat legendary Titans on a quest to unveil the power of the Core. Grow your garden, fish in mysterious waters, master recipes, hatch pets, drive vehicles, fight rivals in online PvP, and explore the world at your own pace as you carve out your unique adventure.

“We’re so excited for even more players to discover the enchanting world of Core Keeper today with the game’s launch on Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One,” said Sarah Hoeksma, Chief Marketing Officer at Fireshine Games. “Core Keeper combines the excitement of combat and exploration with the coziness of base building, farming, fishing and more, all wrapped up into a compelling sandbox adventure that has been a hit with players. We’re very excited for the game’s future, and thrilled for players to join the adventure on new platforms today.”

Core Keeper is available now digitally on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and PC, and with Xbox Game Pass for console, PC, and cloud. A physical edition will also be available on all console formats on October 29th.

For the latest info & updates on Core Keeper, follow @CoreKeeperGame on X and join the community on Discord.

About Pugstorm 

Pugstorm is an award-winning development studio specialising in juicy pixel art games that will make your inner dog bark with joy. For more information, please visit pugstorm.eu. 

About Fireshine Games 

Fireshine Games is a global publisher of digital and physical video games based in London, England, with a focus on finding fun and bringing innovative indie gems to players around the world. Originally established in 2014, Fireshine Games has built a portfolio of digital titles and indie sensations, including award-winning titles Core Keeper and Shadows of Doubt, while partnering with studio giants to bring digital hits to physical release, including Lies of P from Neowiz, Balatro from Playstack, and Planet Zoo: Console Edition from Frontier Developments. Fireshine Games is part of the EG7 group of companies.

Creators and Players Can Now Join Together to Create and Explore One-of-a-Kind User-Generated Worlds

LOS ANGELES – October 17, 2024 – Nexon’s MapleStory Worlds has officially soft launched in North and South America on PC. The platform offers creators and players an exciting new way to experience and engage with the MapleStory IP, bringing endless opportunities to create, explore, and play in rich, thriving user-generated Worlds. In the future, the platform will be available on both iOS and Android. To learn more about MapleStory Worlds, how to get started, and to sign up for the latest updates, click here.

MapleStory Worlds provides a comprehensive suite of tools, featuring intuitive drag-and-drop options alongside advanced Lua scripting for those eager to explore the deeper aspects of game development. Creators can design Worlds for any genre using over 30 million MapleStory assets or upload their own, giving them the freedom to bring their imaginations to life and earn revenue in the process. Whether they are building immersive Worlds, designing unique in-World items, or creating custom avatars, the possibilities are limitless. 

Players can explore and play any of the available Worlds, each capable of supporting a large number of players. These Worlds offer various social features that enable players to share their experiences with friends, including friends lists, text chat, and chat rooms. 

In addition, players can enhance their experience by personalizing their avatars with hundreds of customizable options. From clothing and accessories to hairstyles and more, there is a wide range of options available, including custom items designed by their favorite creators. If a player envisions something that doesn’t yet exist, they can design and sell their own unique creations. 

MapleStory Worlds offers a variety of programs to support creators in crafting their own unique Worlds. Upcoming programs are:

• MapleJam ‘24 – Sign up now for an exciting four-week game jam taking place from November 6 – December 6. Everyone will have the chance to design Worlds and compete for a $15,000 USD prize pool. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your creativity. 
• Creator Circle – Creators who launch Worlds and meet established monthly goals will receive ongoing support, including a monthly stipend and marketing support to help ensure the long-term success of their Worlds. 

Upcoming program announcements will be posted in the “Creator News” section of the MapleStory Worlds website so make sure to check back regularly to stay updated.

Join the MapleStory Worlds community today and bring your imagination to life. 

About MapleStory Worlds

First released in South Korea, MapleStory Worlds is expanding across the globe to bring creators and players an all-new way to immerse themselves in MapleStory. The platform’s powerful worldbuilding tools give everyone the option to build Worlds for any game genre using over 30 million MapleStory Assets or their own assets. Everyone is invited to explore and enjoy MapleStory’s Worlds’ dynamic playground filled with endless possibilities.

 About MapleStory

MapleStory is a beloved, 2D side-scrolling online MMORPG known for its distinctive gameplay and unique art style. This iconic game’s popularity has fueled its expansion to the far corners of the globe with several services of MapleStory available to players around the world. In 2005, the Global version of MapleStory launched and has continued to grow and evolve alongside its passionate community of millions of fans.

About Nexon America Inc.

Founded in 2005, Nexon America Inc. delivers outstanding popular, online game expertise and live game support, taking the strengths of NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) and applying them to uniquely Western audiences. For decades, Nexon America has consistently sustained iconic franchises such as MapleStory, a beloved, 2D side-scrolling online MMORPG known for its distinctive gameplay and unique art style and Mabinogi, the world’s most expressive MMORPG, where you create a unique character and live your fantasy life. With exciting projects on the horizon, Nexon America maintains the pioneering and innovative spirit of its parent company, employing its player-first approach, while designing the best possible gameplay experiences for the Western market.

Make the most of life (while you still can)  

LONDON (Oct. 17, 2024) – Save the world and find true love today with Studio Sai’s apocalyptic love action sim Eternights on Nintendo Switch. Eternights is a unique blend of two of life’s most important necessities: finding love and slaying monsters (https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/eternights-switch/). 

Giant walls are closing in on your city, and a mysterious event has transformed people into mindless monsters obsessed with violence. When your arm is replaced with a magical, shapeshifting replica, granting you strange abilities, it’s up to you to break through the wall to save the world… and your love life. Clear malevolent dungeons utilizing your own magical abilities in intense real-time battles, obtain the cure to return the world to its former state and get that first kiss from the person you love most – all in a day’s work. If you succeed, humanity as you know it is saved and true love is your reward. If you fail, the world as you know it will be gone forever. No pressure.  

Eternights presents a world filled with intense combat, romantic storylines, personal choices and engaging progression for players, all wrapped up in a stylish, unforgettable adventure. High-octane combos, lasting friendships and the possibility of romance await – but don’t take too long: There are only so many hours in the day, and the apocalypse waits for no first kiss. How you spend the end of the world is up to you, but remember that every moment counts in Eternights.   

Distributed in partnership with Maximum Games, fans can get their hands on aphysical edition of Eternights for Nintendo Switch as well as a digital version from the Nintendo eShop now. 

For more information, visit http://www.eternights.com/.  

About Studio Sai 

Studio Sai is a small, fully remote, independent studio composed of a team of developers working together across several different countries. Our games are about the relationships you can forge inside slightly peculiar worlds. Sai means a relationship between 2 people in Korean but not just a relationship; it also means, in a poetic way, “distance” between 2 people. 

Startup Lithuania and GameBCN are inviting studios to apply for funding and investment of up to €104,000 to further develop their video games. Applications are open until November 4, 2024.

“GameTech solutions have the power to revolutionize gaming, while also contributing to the broader innovation ecosystem and enhancing Lithuania’s global competitiveness. This is a golden opportunity for startups to bring their ideas to life and move forward,” says Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of Economy and Innovation.

The initiative will select the 10 most promising studios.

“GameTech provides a platform for creating next-gen digital games with the potential to conquer the global market”, explains Karolina Urbonaitė, Head of Startup Lithuania. “We’re encouraging startups to experiment, innovate, and push boundaries, with solutions that extend far beyond Lithuania and have lasting international impact.”

In addition to funding, the selected studios will join a specialized acceleration program that provides mentorship from top industry professionals on production, game design, marketing and business, advanced knowledge, tools to help them grow and smooth their market entry and networking events to connect with the ecosystem. Studios will work  This program not only enhances production capabilities but also accelerates commercialization efforts.

“Our goal is to help dynamize the video game industry in Lithuania by strengthening local studios and attracting foreign ones, with top mentoring and investment in the best studios,” adds Joan Francesc Bañó, CEO of GameBCN, a Barcelona-based company that runs several video game programs in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

Interested studios in GameTech are invited to apply until November 4, 2024. For more details on funding opportunities and application guidelines, check https://gametech.gamebcn.co

All the fun of classic 2D fighters in a unique and exciting modern game

Torrance, Calif. — October 17, 2024 — Aksys Games announced today that the highly anticipated Blazing Strike is available now for Steam, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5 and Nintendo Switch™. Developed by RareBreed Makes Games, Blazing Strike evokes the excitement and nostalgia of 2D pixel art genre pioneers while incorporating a unique games system with modern mechanics.

Aksys Games is also offering a Limited Edition of Blazing Strike which includes a full-color 112-page art book, a CD soundtrack, and a set of collectible character cards featuring the roster of fighters. “My vision with Blazing Strike is to make a fighting game enjoyable for all gamers regardless of their experience in the fighting game genre,” says creator Mark Chung. “Let’s bring back the nostalgia from the 90s and make it fun to play today!”

After surviving an apocalyptic event, the remains of human civilization are in disarray. In this dystopian world run by a corrupt and murderous government, a resistance group is ready to stand up for the people. Will they succeed in overthrowing these evil autocrats? Join the battle to face the strongest ­fighters in this post-apocalyptic world as they are destined to clash in a long journey to victory.

Features of the game include:

• Classic Meets Modern: Blazing Strike’s rush system creates a new way to experience a classic 2D ­fighting game.
• A Colorful Cast: Select from 14 unique playable fi­ghters and play against 2 hidden characters. Additional DLC characters will be available soon.
• Full Story Mode: Dive into the world of Blazing Strike with extensive story cutscenes, dialogue, missions, and fi­ghts.
• Worldwide Proving Grounds: Play online matches against ­fighters from around the globe with zero network delay, thanks to rollback netcode.

Blazing Strike has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB. For more information, visit aksysgames.com/blazingstrike. Blazing Strike is published in EU and Oceania by Numskull Games and in Asia by Soft Source.

To stay up to date on all the news, follow Aksys Games on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok at @AksysGames, and join our Thursday livestreams on Twitch at AksysGames, with stream highlights and trailers on our YouTube channel.

About Aksys Games

Aksys Games Localization, Inc. is a Metacritic Top Ten video game publisher committed to publishing unique and high-quality interactive content for all current-generation platforms since 2006. The company was a pioneer in localizing otome games for Western audiences, including the award-winning Code: Realize and Collar X Malice series. Its lineup of games features the wildly successful BlazBlue, Under Night In-Birth, and Guilty Gear franchises, Little Dragons Café, and the award-winning Spirit Hunter: Death Mark and Spirit Hunter: NG adventures. Aksys Games and its unique products can be found on the company’s website, www.aksysgames.com.

Japanese players will be able to enjoy this highly-acclaimed narrative thriller when it launches next week with fully localized language support

17 October 2024 – Today Vancouver-based indie studio sunset visitor 斜陽過客 and narrative games label Fellow Traveller revealed that 1000xRESIST will be launching in Japan with fully localized language support next week; for Nintendo Switch (October 24) and PC/Steam (October 25). The game will launch with a 20% discount on both platforms for a limited time, and pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch version are available now.

1000xRESIST is a thrilling sci-fi adventure where you’ll experience a gripping narrative told over (approximately) 10 hours. Experience perspective shifts both literal and metaphorical as the game blends between 3rd person adventure, visual novel, and first-person walking simulator. You’ll be thrown twists, turns, and revelations until you question everything you think you know.

1000xRESIST’s complex dystopian narrative grapples with themes of identity, racism, and intergenerational trauma, and takes inspiration from the games of Yoko Taro (NieR:Automata), the anime of Hideaki Anno (Evangelion) and Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue), and the theater of Robert Wilson (Einstein on the Beach).

Originally released in May 2024 in the same week as Animal Well, Hades II, and Little Kitty Big City, the three-time IGF-nominated game has seen far-reaching praise from players with a 96% Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.

About Fellow Traveller Games

Fellow Traveller is an indie games publishing label exploring the possibility space of what narrative games can be. Since our founding in 2012, we have sought out and partnered with pioneering game developers working on unusual games with narrative at their core.

You may know us from the sci-fi adventure exploring interplanetary capitalism (Citizen Sleeper), the murder mystery with a cast of otherworldly suspects (Paradise Killer), the political RPG in which you lead a broken country in your first term as President (Suzerain), or the noir adventure set before, during, and after the Big Bang (Genesis Noir).

About sunset visitor 斜陽過客

sunset visitor 斜陽過客 is an independent games studio based in Vancouver, Canada (located on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations of the Coast Salish peoples). 

Founded by new media artist Remy Siu, Sunset Visitor seeks to bring their experiences in the experimental performing arts to interactive media. The team is dedicated to telling diverse stories through the lens of speculative fiction.

Today it was confirmed on the PlayStation Blog that ASTRO BOT will be getting more content for players to enjoy! Starting on 18 October (AEDT), Team Asobi will be releasing the first of five brand-new speedrun levels, BUILDING SPEED. 

With the help of Barkster the bulldog booster, players blast their way through a sky-high city. Dodge cranes, smash through crates and even speed through a flying car wash on the way to rescue your stranded crew. What’s more, each of these new levels contains two brand-new Special Bots for players to rescue. 

A new speedrun level will be released every week starting from tomorrow, 18 October (AEDT). These levels test players’ platforming skills and include a leaderboard to see how they stack up against their friends. The release schedule is as follows (all dates in AEDT): 

• 18 Oct: BUILDING SPEED 
• 25 Oct: LET IT SLIDE 
• 1 Nov: SPRING-LOADED RUN
• 8 Nov: HELIUM HEIGHTS
• 15 Nov: RISING HEAT

For more information and details please visit the PlayStation Blog.

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

The indie title was recently recognized for Excellence in Mixed Reality at the Australian Game Developer Awards.

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 16 October 2024 | Toast Interactive, the renowned studio behind the standout VR title Richie’s Plank Experience, adds a new experience to the Steam storefront. Max Mustard, a virtual reality platforming adventure, is out now on PCVR.

Enter the Inventor 

Jump into a colorful 3D platforming experience with Max Mustard, the famous inventor known for outrageous equipment. Use Max’s creative contraptions to face off against Stubbins, a manipulative businessman capturing mudpups, the adorable creatures roaming the Max Mustard realm. Stubbins sells these furry companions as elite vanity accessories for the upper class, putting the mudpup population in jeopardy. It’s up to you and Max Mustard to rescue these pups before it’s too late!

Next Gen Platforming

Max Mustard is a modern VR platformer blending elements of first-person narratives, traditional platforming mechanics, and impressive virtual reality visuals. Over 40 uniquely crafted levels are available to leap, bound, and soar through diverse environments in search of the stolen mudpups. Use Max’s jetpack to fly around industrial factories, scale mountains in search of extra currency, or use more of your kit to face off against Max Mustard’s thrilling boss battles. Destroy targets with Max’s blaster, use double jumps to eliminate enemies and activate puzzle mechanics, and collect the golden letters on each level for additional rewards!

Critically Recognized

Max Mustard boasts approachable gameplay for all VR gamers. Its family-friendly appeal with colorful environments and a compelling story make it the perfect game to play solo or show off to your friends! In recognition of Max Mustard’s approachable innovation in the games space, the title received recognition for Excellence in Mixed Reality at the Australian Game Developer Awards. In addition to the game’s Steam launch, the game is also available on Meta and PlayStation VR. 

Gameplay Features:

• Forty handcrafted levels show an exciting blend of third-person platforming and first-person power-ups.
• Use a variety of first-person gadgets to manipulate obstacles in Max Mustard’s path as you guide her through platforming sections.
• Upgrade as you go to increase Max’s rocket boosts, movement speed, health, and more, or unlock new attacks to your gun, introducing new ways to interact with the environment.
• Four bosses challenge you with new mechanics, encouraging you to use what you learned from earlier levels.
• Increase your wealth by completing special levels like target practice and timed item collection for additional coins and treasures.

Max Mustard is available now on Steam. The title was previously released for PlayStation VR 2 and Meta, and a PICO port is coming soon.

About Toast Interactive

Toast Interactive, the developer and publisher of Richie’s Plank Experience, is based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Toast Interactive was founded by the husband and wife team Toni and Richard Eastes in 2016. Their flagship VR title, Richie’s Plank Experience, is played in hundreds of arcades worldwide and continually features in the Top 20 VR games worldwide. 

The Showcase Will Run From October 17th to November 17th, Offering Discounts of Up to 65% on Select Titles

AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 17, 2024 — Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, today announced the launch of its first-ever Aussie and Kiwi Digital Video Game Showcase. Running exclusively on the Xsolla Mall from October 17th to November 17th, the showcase will feature a wide array of video games from Australian and New Zealand-based developers, offering players discounts of up to 65% throughout the event.

The Aussie and Kiwi Showcase highlights titles from established and emerging local developers, giving gamers worldwide access to some of the region’s best. Featured games include AGDA nominees such as Capes by Spitfire Interactive, Diets & Deities by Larrikin Interactive, and Max Mustard by Toast Interactive.

Throughout the showcase, a range of discounts will be available on select titles, including:

• 8-Bit Adventures 2 (Critical Games) – 25% off
• Burn (Convict Games) – 10% off
• Depth (Digital Confectioners) – 25% off
• Diets & Deities (Larrikin Interactive) – 10% off
• Dream of the Star Haven (Lamplight Forest) – 10% off (early access)
• Instinction (Hashbane Interactive) – 10% off (preorder)
• Joon Shining (Lamplight Forest) – 10% off
• Office Fight (Fenix Studios) – 10% off
• Pixel Starships 1 (Savy Soda) – 10% off
• Rooftop Renegade (Melonhead Games) – 30% off
• Side Decide (Blue Volcano) – 10% off
• Storm Boy (Blowfish Studios) – 65% off
• The Fertile Crescent (Wield Interactive) – 20% off
• The Sacred Acorn (A Few Dragons) – 20% off
• Warhammer 40K: Battlesector (Black Lab Games) – 10% off
• Winter Ember (Blowfish Studios) – 65% off

“We’re excited to celebrate the creative talent coming from Australia and New Zealand by showcasing these incredible games,” said Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer at Xsolla. “The Xsolla Mall is all about connecting global gamers with unique gaming experiences, and we’re thrilled to support these talented developers and their communities with exclusive discounts throughout October.”

For more information, please visit: x.la/anz-games-2024

About Xsolla

Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Montreal, London, Berlin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, and other cities around the world, Xsolla supports major partners like Valve, Take-Two, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, and more.

For additional information and to learn more, please visit xsolla.com.