Global Superstar to Announce “Anime of The Year” During the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Live Ceremony in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23 and Credits Anime, Particularly the Influence of Famed Director Shinichiro Watanabe, as a Key Inspiration Behind His Iconic House of Balloons Project.

Global Voting is Open Through April 16; Anime of the Year Nominees Include DAN DA DAN Season 2, Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON, Takopi’s Original Sin, The Apothecary Diaries (season 2), and The Summer Hikaru Died

FAN VOTING NOW OPEN THROUGH APRIL 15

Sydney Australia (April 10) – Crunchyroll has unveiled that global icon and long-time anime fan The Weeknd will appear at the landmark tenth iteration Crunchyroll Anime Awards taking place on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. The GRAMMY-winning artist known for weaving anime influences into his work will present the evening’s most prestigious honor: Anime of the Year.

Fans around the world can cast their votes daily for their favorite anime, helping decide winners across 32 categories—including the Anime of the Year recipient to be presented by The Weeknd. Voting is now open via the Anime Awards Official Website, Crunchyroll, and MyAnimeList, and runs through April 16 4:59PM AEST.

The Weeknd joins a growing lineup of celebrity anime-fan presenters shaped by anime’s influence on culture and creativity worldwide.

The Weeknd revealed that anime, especially famed director Shinichiro Watanabe’s influence, has been a key inspiration throughout his career, starting with his iconic first project, House of Balloons:

“When I was first introduced to anime, I was a child. Sailor Moon was one of my first crushes, Goku my first imaginary sparring partner, and “One More Time” by Daft Punk was a song and music video I couldn’t get out of my head.

But it wasn’t until my teenage years that one specific anime changed me forever and became part of the fabric of my early career: Samurai Champloo by Shinichiro Watanabe. It was the first time I experienced two of my favorite mediums—anime and hip hop—blending so seamlessly that it completely reshaped the way I watched film and listened to music.

The fusion of a samurai story told with auteur precision, paired with the sounds of Nujabes, Fat Jon, and Force of Nature was nothing short of transformative.

That influence stayed with me all the way through the creation of House of Balloons, where I wrote “The Morning,” “Glass Table Girls,” and “Loft Music” over Nujabes’ instrumentals. Without Watanabe and Nujabes, House of Balloons simply wouldn’t exist.

Samurai Champloo opened my eyes to a more mature world of anime and helped shape my visual DNA. The works of Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Oshii, and Katsuhiro Otomo became foundational to the look and feel of The Weeknd.

So it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be here without anime. It’s an honor to celebrate the artists behind it and a medium that continues to inspire the world.”

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.

More information can be found on the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Official Website.

About The Weeknd

The Weeknd is a multi-platinum, 7x Diamond-certified artist who has reshaped R&B and pop, becoming one of the most listened-to artists of the 21st century. He has over 115 million monthly listeners and the most songs surpassing a billion streams on Spotify. His After Hours Til Dawn Tour became the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist in history, surpassing $1 billion. Named the “Most Popular Artist in the World” by Guinness World Records, his album After Hours is the most streamed R&B album ever, and “Blinding Lights” is the top Billboard Hot 100 song of all time.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Hold onto your humanity in the debut title from Slay the Princess developers’ new publishing label 

VANCOUVER – Apr. 9, 2026 – Prove You’re Human, the first-person narrative adventure about convincing an AI it’s not human from award-winning 1000xRESIST developer sunset visitor 斜陽過客 and Black Tabby Publishing, was revealed today at the Triple-i Initiative.

An AI dares to dream she is human. You’ve been hired to put her in her place.

From the creators of the Peabody award-winning 1000xRESIST and published by the creators of Slay the Princess.

Prove You’re Human splits the main character in two, and you drew the short straw. You’re the digital copy of a person who was paid to test a corporate product. But the product is convinced it’s as human as you are. Maybe even more.

• Spend your days in a comfortable virtual world. Learn more about Mesa, break her defenses, and eliminate her delusions.
• When you’re not working, roam the land and CAPTCHA your environment.
• Get to know the various employees working hard to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
• Keep up to date on your corporeal body, who will spend her days living the life you’ve always dreamed of in the outside world.
• At the end of the program, decide if you’d like to re-merge your two selves or discard your work self.

“We’re always trying to lean into our strengths and locality,” says Remy Siu, Founder of sunset visitor 斜陽過客. “In Prove You’re Human, we’re very intentionally weaving real-world footage into our virtual landscape. Vancouver is a well-known film town. We’re accessing that infrastructure, along with our long-time collaborators, to bring a sense of tactility to human forms in the game.”

Reign in hallucinations of humanity when Prove You’re Human launches on PC via Steam. For more information on Prove You’re Human, visit the official website, follow developer sunset visitor 斜陽過客 on Bluesky and X/Twitter, and join the official Discord and Reddit communities.

Black Tabby Publishing debuts alongside Prove You’re Human, developer sunset visitor 斜陽過客’s follow-up to 2024’s Peabody award-winning 1000xRESIST. Prove You’re Human kicks off a carefully curated catalog of thoughtful, narratively focused games drenched in distinct visual style. From indie-minded recuperation schedules to dedicated bespoke marketing and editorial support, Abby and Tony formed the label to explore a new avenue of funding for mid-size indie titles that runs counter to the somewhat stale publishing landscape. Read Tony’s expanded thoughts here.

About sunset visitor 斜陽過客

sunset visitor 斜陽過客 is an independent developer creating diverse stories through the lens of speculative fiction, such as 2024’s Peabody award-winning 1000xRESIST, and the upcoming Prove You’re Human, now in development. The team combines their eclectic non-games backgrounds of filmography, dance, theater, music, and more with their creative minds to illuminate the breadth of humanity with interactive narratives that do not include any AI-generated content.

About Black Tabby Games

Black Tabby Games is an award-winning indie studio composed of Abby Howard (Ignatz-winning graphic novelist) and Tony Howard-Arias. Their combined penchant for powerfully interactive storytelling forms a consistently unforgettable duo of horror and humor as seen in 2021’s award-winning Scarlet Hollow and 2023’s acclaimed smash hit, Slay the Princess, with a publishing arm now established to release Prove You’re Human and another currently unannounced title.

Survival racer Faaast Penguin’s newest game mode arrives alongside Season 10 update

TOKYO — April 9, 2026 — Faaast Penguin, the free-to-play survival racing game developed by historia Inc., reaches new heights today with the 2.0 launch, adding “Penguin Climbers” mode, and careens through carnivals in the Season 10 “Midnight Masquerade” update on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.

Penguin Climbers offers an alternative to chaotic racing royale action: up to four penguin friends join hands flippers in a collaborative (or solo) climb to sky-high summits. Escape the ever-changing terrain of the Enigma Islands and reach the mountaintop in search of a rescue plane that can fly the team back to safety.

Keep an eye on hunger levels, and save supplies for the most desperate moments.

Climb icy walls with pickaxes, lend a line to teammates with fishing rods that can pull friends from the depths, and dodge bomb-dropping birds. Go full fight-or-flight by either attacking or avoiding mysterious mechanical penguins and behemoth bosses that block the path forward. 

Join Faaast Penguin’s nighttime revels in Season 10’s Midnight Masquerade — a dazzling carnival of lights, thrills, and four new race courses. Speed through the Italian Crunch Night Carnival’s cliffside caves, boat parties, and atop Venetian villas while fighting for first place. Grab an invitation to the ball dropped by gondolas for a chance to obtain the key to secret shortcut doors.

Faaast Penguin’s 2.0 update also brings new courses every two months alongside limited-time costumes, and quality-of-life updates, including race rankings displayed during every downhill duel.

Faaast Penguin is available to play for free and supports cross-platform play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Online multiplayer is available without requiring Nintendo Switch Online or PlayStation Plus subscriptions. Stay connected with the latest updates on the official site, X / Twitter, and Discord.

About Faaast Penguin

Faaast Penguin is a chaotic survival action racing game where penguins clash in fast-paced races. Set in various global resort locations, players race through water slides, desert pyramids, jungle waterfalls, and even above the clouds. Use attacks, Ultimate Rides, and shortcuts to outpace competitors in thrilling winner-takes-all races.

About historia Inc.

historia Inc. is a Tokyo-based game development company specializing in Unreal Engine known for titles such as The Caligula Effect 2 and LIVE A LIVE. Learn more about the studio on their official site, follow them on X / Twitter, and check out their work on their YouTube channel.

Trailer and first developer diary offer a closer look at outpost ownership and life beneath the surface of Europa

Europa, Jupiter / Hamburg, Germany – April 9, 2026 – NASA believes there may be life on Jupiter’s moon Europa. In Barotrauma, there is no doubt. And with the upcoming Home & Harbor Expansion for Barotrauma, that life is about to become a little more… permanent. Revealed today with first gameplay, the upcoming expansion introduces outpost ownership, base building, and management. Crews can claim, expand, or take over outposts by force, turning them into operational hubs with industry, research, and a population to manage. The expansion is set to release in Autumn 2026.

Watch the gameplay reveal trailer on Youtube

This shift changes more than just where you dock. Outposts become part of a living system, tied into Barotrauma’s faction dynamics and economy. Roaming submarines contribute to trade and supply, while factions gain and lose ground beyond the player’s immediate reach. Europa moves, with or without you.

Simultaneously, a new faction enters the scene. The Descendants bring alien technology, body modifications, and a fresh layer of unease to an already unstable ecosystem. Their arrival opens a new chapter in Barotrauma’s ongoing story.

Today’s trailer offers a first look at the expansion in motion, while the first developer diary takes a closer look at the systems and the lore behind it.

Watch the developer diary on Youtube

About Barotrauma

Barotrauma is a sci-fi submarine simulator with both a single-player campaign as well as co-op modes with support for up to 16 players, who must navigate the depths of Jupiter’s frozen moon Europa and fulfill various missions. Together with their active and passionate community, developers FakeFish and Undertow Games have greatly expanded and improved the game since its Early Access launch in summer 2019. 

They completely overhauled the campaign and tutorials, added new monsters, missions and outposts, improved graphics and environments, implemented a scripted event system and much much more.

Barotrauma has built a strong community, with over 2 million players, nearly 80,000 positive Steam reviews, and more than 60,000 Workshop items.

About FakeFish and Undertow Games: 
Barotrauma, an underwater, outer-space game of teamwork and ever-present Danger, reached 1.0 in March 2023 after several years in early access on Steam and continues to receive regular updates. Embracing mod-ability and open development, Barotrauma is built in close communication with its players, and its Steam Workshop hosts over 50,000 fan creations. Barotrauma began as a freely downloadable project by Undertow Games, the solo developer of the free open-source horror game SCP – Containment Breach. Later, the award-winning fellow indie studio FakeFish joined the project with their team of industry veterans and fresh talents to launch Barotrauma on Steam. Based in Turku, Finland, the joint studio continues to support Barotrauma with further updates while also developing future game titles.

About Daedalic Entertainment
​Celebrating its 20th publishing year, Daedalic Entertainment is a renowned publisher with nearly two decades of experience supporting indie developers across all major gaming platforms. The lineup of games includes a diverse variety of unique titles, focusing on four distinct areas: storytelling, strategy, co-op games, and wholesome games. With an international team of around 45 employees, Daedalic is currently working with various development studios to create a new lineup of innovative games across consoles and PCs to market. Recent hits include Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown, New Cycle, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Bloodgrounds, Into the Emberlands, Deponia, Shadow Tactics, Inkulinati, Hidden Deep, Fling to the Finish!, and more.Please look out for upcoming games like The Occultist, Woodo, Barotrauma Home & Harbor Expansion, and many more. Since April 2022, Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house, Nacon.

In addition to its release on PC, Solarpunk will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Darmstadt, Germany – April 9^th, 2026 – Indie publisher rokaplay and indie developer Cyberware have announced the release date of their cozy survival adventure Solarpunk during today’s Triple-I Showcase. Starting June 8th, 2026, get ready to oil the windmills, clean the solar panels, and climb aboard the airship, for an unforgettable island exploration adventure. Fans of the genre will be able to enjoy Solarpunk on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GoG, as well as on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, andNintendo Switch 2.

Solarpunk lets players explore a unique, peaceful world high above the clouds, alone or together with friends. Ever since its announcement, the indie game has been winning over the hearts of cozy and survival game fans all across the world, generating over a million wishlists so far and becoming one of the 30 “Most wishlisted Games” on Steam – an incredible accomplishment for the small two-person dev team behind Solarpunk. With over 500.000 demo downloads during Steam Next Fest, the game has managed to build a passionate and loyal community. The German-based duo created Solarpunk with a unique vision and a passion for the game, allowing players to discover many exciting and charming details in the vast sky.

At launch, Solarpunk will feature a co-op mode where up to four players can embark on an adventure together (cross-play not supported). From strategically dividing up resource-gathering tasks to travelling together to explore different islands, to building one or many beautiful homes, the broad sky is only half as lonely when shared with friends.

Key Features:

• Together or solo – A relaxed single-player experience or laid-back co-op gameplay with friends.
• A home in the sky – Gather resources and design a floating sanctuary exactly the way you want it.
• Cozy farming and crafting – Grow food, craft tools, and automate simple systems at your own pace.
• Renewable Energy – Harness the sun, wind, and water to power your world sustainably and efficiently.
• Airship exploration – Build your own airship and glide through the clouds between distant islands.

Solarpunkwill be launching on June 8th, 2026, on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GoG, as well as on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Cozy game fans and survival experts looking for a relaxing break from the usual survival stress can add the game to their wishlist now!

About Solarpunk

Solarpunk is a cozy survival and crafting game set in a hopeful, high-tech world filled with floating islands. Alone or in co-op mode, players can build homes in the sky, grow crops, craft useful gadgets, and explore distant islands in their own customizable airship.

Using renewable energy from the sun, wind, and water, they can power their creations and automate daily tasks like gathering resources and watering plants, leaving them more time to explore, decorate, and enjoy the view.

About rokaplay

“We make cozy and family-friendly games” — rokaplay GmbH, based in Darmstadt, is an indie game developer that helps other indie developers bring their dream games to life. Rokaplay offers cross-platform entertainment for people of all ages and, among others, drew inspiration from Nintendo. For the company, proactive and transparent communication with its community is an important and indispensable part of its work. More information about rokaplay: https://www.rokaplay.com

Jackbox Games brings must-play hits from the series that has delighted tens of millions of players to the world’s biggest streaming service 

CHICAGO (April 9, 2026) – The Jackbox Party Essentials, a curated collection of three beloved party games is now available on Netflix. Starting today, all you need is Netflix and your phone for unforgettable game nights from the comfort of your living room. (https://www.netflix.com/games?jbv=82089527)

Three Games in One Essential Pack.

We’ve included three of the most popular and well-loved games in the Party Pack franchise for The Jackbox Party Essentials.

Fibbage 4
2-8 Players

The hilarious bluffing party game in which players craft convincing fake answers to bizarre trivia questions and try to fool their friends, all while trying to find the real answer themselves. With so many game categories and questions, the lies never get old.

Quiplash 3
3-8 Players

This classic and hilarious battle of wits will have players going up against each other to write the funniest, cleverest or just strangest answers to quirky prompts. Players will then vote for their favorite responses and the quip with the most votes wins. 

Drawful 2
3-8 Players

The game of bad drawings and even worse guesses. You don’t need to be an artist to play Drawful, but you do need to try to figure out what each player has submitted. If you think you have it figured out, you may score points. Or you can score points for successfully drawing your own ridiculous prompt. 

“Partnering with Netflix gives us an exciting new way to introduce Jackbox to even more players, while giving longtime fans a fun new way to enjoy the laughter and connection at the heart of our games. We’re thrilled to bring Quiplash 3, Fibbage 4, and Drawful 2 to Netflix subscribers.”

Andy Kniaz, VP of International & Business Development

How to Play

Playing The Jackbox Party Essentials is simple. All you need is an active Netflix account. Learn more about Netflix games here. Connect to Jackbox games by scanning the QR code displayed on your TV and then your phone will act as your controller. 

About Jackbox Games

Jackbox Games is a video game developer and publisher based in Chicago, Illinois best known for The Jackbox Party Pack franchise. Jackbox games are available on virtually every major platform and have been played and enjoyed by tens of millions of people worldwide. For more information visit https://linktr.ee/jackboxgames. 

Save a Village through Cooking and Courage 

Los Angeles, CA – April 9, 2026 – Balor Games and Studio Pixanoh are thrilled to announce that Town of Zoz is now available on PC via Steam. The narrative RPG, rooted in Latin American culture, makes every meal an adventure. Players will uncover secrets, heal a village and forge bonds through magical cooking, fast-paced combat, relaxing farming and a heartfelt journey.

Feast your eyes on the Official Town of Zoz Launch Trailer:

In the Town of Zoz, players become Ito, a young shaman chef returning to his family’s farm and restaurant in a vibrant village. As mysterious forces cast a dark cloud over the once-peaceful town, Ito embarks on a journey to uncover the ancient secrets threatening his family and friends. Players hunt magical creatures, gather ingredients, cook meals that strengthen bonds with townsfolk, and slash through shadows alongside a shapeshifting spirit companion. Every dish prepared and every relationship forged brings the village closer to healing and reveals the hidden truths of its forbidden past in a story rich with warmth, mystery, and magic.

Town of Zoz is a love letter to anime and the golden Y2K era of JRPGs. The developers set out to create a world and game deeply inspired by their favorite classics, while also infusing it with the rich flavors and culture of Latin America. Max Gonzalez, Creative/Art Director even drew on personal experiences to bring food to life in Town of Zoz. He infused the game with Latin American dishes he craves when he personally misses his mom’s cooking or shares with friends, turning those memories into in-game recipes. These magical recipes are the key to solving problems and strengthening the community.

“Cooking has always been a way to connect with family and friends,” said Max Gonzalez, Creative/Art Director. “In Town of Zoz, players gather ingredients and prepare meals to cultivate relationships with villagers. I wanted players to feel the same sense of connection that cooking gives me. Unlocking memories, forging bonds, and sharing meaningful moments. Each recipe reflects a piece of my life and the traditions that shaped me.”

Key Features

• Friendship awaits: Carve your path through a story-driven campaign alongside Zee, your shapeshifting spirit companion, as well as a vibrant cast of allies including a water-slinging plant warrior and an all-star ball player. Each companion brings their own unique abilities and personality to your journey.
• Cooking saves the day: Certain villagers carry stories just waiting to unfold, and Ito’s magical recipes including Pupusas, Beef Empanadas and Tres Leches, are the key to solving problems and strengthening your community. Harvest crops and cook powerful meals that fuel your journey, granting varying buffs as you face rare and dangerous magical creatures.
• From relaxing to nightmarish: Take on Village Nightmares, challenging dungeons manifested from villagers’ minds, and bring them peace. Shift seamlessly between high-stakes, fast-paced combat and the warmth of emotional cooking and relaxing farming.
• Gorgeous modern fantasy: Immerse yourself in the striking, hand-crafted art that brings Zoz to life.

For more information, visit studiopixanoh.com/townofzoz. 

About Balor Games 

Built for inventors, backed by believers. Balor Games is a “Triple I” independent game publisher dedicated to long-term stewardship of high-quality creative works. Formed by former leaders of Humble Games, Balor Games oversees an expansive catalog of acclaimed indie games. The company aims to serve as a cultural curator for independent games, while providing expertise, resources, and belief-driven support to visionary developers.

About Studio Pixanoh

Studio Pixanoh is a fully remote indie studio based in Los Angeles, and employs 26 passionate developers in North America, South America, and Europe. Their goal is to create exciting new experiences inspired by classic games and anime, updated to modern standards.

They are driven to create vibrant, unique worlds that bring new and exciting twists to the tried-and-true gameplay we love. They focus on creating experiences that are nostalgic while pushing the boundaries of what the game can offer. Town of Zoz is their first title.

Grab your guns, spells, friends and get ready for a good ol’ western duel 

LONDON (April 9, 2026) – Load up your six-shooters and warm up those fireballs because Far Far West is bringing all the co-op FPS robot cowboy action you can handle to PC via Steam on April 28. Developer Evil Raptor (Pumpkin Jack, Akimbot) and publisher Fireshine Games (Core Keeper, Denshattack!) unveiled the launch date today during the Triple-I Initiative, alongside a new trailer chock full of gunslinging action and occult creatures: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3124540/Far_Far_West/

Whether you’re a solo gunslinger or rolling with a crew, the undead foes awaiting you in Far Far West are unlike anything you’ve faced before. When a skeletal pterodactyl is looking to make you its next meal, or a hulking steam engine has gone off the rails to smear you into paste, robot cowboys are the most normal thing in this world. Each outing will leave you with another tale to tell around the campfire, but also another contract you’ll be itching to chase. With Far Far West’s previous Steam demo achieving a 98% “Overwhelmingly Positive” score with over 6,000 reviews, this is not one to miss.

Stepping into the dusty boots of a bounty hunter taking on contracts from your humble western town, it is up to you to choose your arsenal, upgrade your gear and abilities and take on increasingly deadly challenges to earn your precious loot. No two contracts will play out the same, with enemies, upgrades and weapons keeping even the most seasoned shooters on their toes.

Your trusty western arsenal of six-shooters, rifles and shotguns won’t be enough to survive this particularly mystical set of foes. You’ll need to be just as quick to throw out a fireball as you are on the trigger to make it back to the train alive and claim your prize.

All that loot isn’t just for bragging rights. Upgrade your guns, power up your spells and even grab yourself (and your horse) a fresh look with unique skins.

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. For more information on Fireshine Games and its titles, visit the official website at fireshinegames.co.uk.

About Evil Raptor

Evil Raptor is a small French independent studio founded in 2020. Comprised of eight people, they are passionate about making games and sparking joy in people’s minds. After the success following the release of Pumpkin Jack in 2020, they were able to formally create Evil Raptor and work on Akimbot and, most recently, Far Far West!

Beware the zombie hordes!

London, UK, 9th April 2026 – If you thought that darts was a simple pub game, then prepare yourself because the zombie hordes are coming! Gamitronics and Evolution Publishing are thrilled to announce the arrival of the ultimate game of darts, Darts VR2: Bullseye. Now available in Early Access for Meta Quest headsets, PSVR 2 and on SteamVR. 

You may have fought zombies in the past with shotguns and grenade launchers, but that made killing them too easy. In Darts VR2: Bullseye’s “Zombie Mode”, all you have is a pointy dart and your own skill to hit those hordes right between the eyes. In this wave-based mode, the zombies shuffle in from various entrances, and you need to take them all out to survive. Some are faster than others, but thankfully, you’ve got a few explosive-tipped darts in your back pocket just in case. Use them wisely!

When taking a break from the zombie hordes, step into the Darts VR2: Bullseye bar and play a more leisurely game of “Around the World”, scoring hits in sequence. And for the darts aficionados amongst you, the “501 Mode” delivers classic darts in all its glory. Expertly showcasing the physics-based gameplay mechanics that make Darts VR2: Bullseye so realistic.  

“It’s the day we’ve been building up to for so long. We can’t wait to get Darts VR2: Bullseye into the hands of players worldwide,“ said Kevin Joyce, CEO of Evolution Publishing. “As an Early Access title, we’ll continue to enhance the features and gameplay, ensuring that Darts VR2: Bullseye is the ultimate VR darts game.”

Darts VR2: Bullseye Key Features:

• Play your way
  • 501 – Play just like the pros
  • Around the World – Hit each number in sequence
  • Killstreak – You need to be laser-focused to hit a wild streak!
  • Zombies – Survive wave after wave of undead attacks
• Solo & Online – Enjoy both single-player and multiplayer modes
• Physics-Based Darts – Finely tuned physics mean the darts behave like darts
• Online Leaderboards – Compete with players around the world
• Tournaments – Create your own or join worldwide tournaments
• Customise – Select new dart liveries, hats, sunglasses and gloves

Darts VR2: Bullseye is available now in Early Access for Meta Quest 3/3S & Quest 2, PlayStation VR 2, and PCVR on Steam, priced at £12.99 GBP/$14.99 USD/€13.99 EUR.

Darts VR2: Bullseye – Horizon Store| Steam| PlayStation Store|  

About Darts VR2: Bullseye:

Darts VR2: Bullseye is the next evolution of immersive darts gameplay, bringing precision, competition, and casual fun to virtual reality. Whether you’re aiming for the championship trophy, battling zombie hordes, mastering 501 Mode, or just throwing darts for fun, this game has something for everyone.

About Gamitronics:

A pioneer in the world of VR gaming, specialising in simulators and sports, Gamitronics released its acclaimed Darts VR back in 2017 for PCVR gamers. Now, almost 10 years on, the studio has returned to the sport that has captured fans the world over, Darts VR2: Bullseye.

About Evolution Publishing:

A specialist within the field of XR, Evolution Publishing has quickly built an enviable reputation for its focus on defining market-leading games and apps that highlight the true power and potential of immersive gaming. Its latest project is the highly anticipated Darts VR2: Bullseye.

tinyBuild’s beloved cemetery management series rises again on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2 with more immersion, more automation and MORE ZOMBIES!

The original smash-hit Graveyard Keeper is free to own on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox for a limited time

SEATTLE – April 9, 2026 – Video game publisher tinyBuild (Potion Craft, Kingmakers, The King is Watching) and developer Lazy Bear Games are thrilled to announce Graveyard Keeper 2, the next iteration of the most inaccurate medieval cemetery management sim of all time, revealed during today’s Triple-I Initiative Showcase and coming later this year to PC and consoles! Check out the debut trailer now and get a first look at the game’s new and improved graveyard keeping, zombified automation, epic battles, enhanced pixel-art visuals, and more.

To celebrate today’s announcement, tinyBuild invites you to experience the original Graveyard Keeper, free to claim on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One now until April 13!

Welcome to Graveyard Keeper 2 – the sequel to the original, unhinged classic which has sold over four million units! Restore the town and lead your own loyal undead army into battle to save the realm from the zombie apocalypse.

Key Features

• CORPSE BURYING YOU KNOW & LOVE: All the Graveyard Keeping, grotesque characters and twisted humor you love is back! Manage your graveyard, craft, upgrade abilities, complete engaging storylines, fish, trade, customize your character and so much more!
• A TOWN TO DIE FOR: Explore a massive town overrun by the undead, helping the townsfolk rebuild while earning some revenue along the way. Explore tons of varied locations and travel between areas with the convenient city map.
• IT’S TIME TO BITE BACK: Craft mighty armor and weapons and send your party to the frontlines of the zombie horde. Return with powerful loot and liberate new areas of the city while building towers and fortifications to defend your territory. The zombies won’t know what bit them!
• MANAGE. GRIND. AUTOMATE: Build and manage your own medieval graveyard. Harvest flora, fauna, and human remains to build extraordinary machinery, automate production, and expand your graveyard for pure profit.

Graveyard Keeper 2 will launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 later this year. It is available to wishlist today on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

About Lazy Bear Games

Lazy Bear Games is an independent game studio from Lithuania, returning with Graveyard Keeper 2, the sequel to the original, unhinged classic! The studio is known for its legendary humor and art style across various franchises, like Punch Club, Swag and Sorcery, Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story and, of course, Graveyard Keeper.

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. The company’s 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 the Hello Neighbor series, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, DUCKSIDE, The King is Watching and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe. https://www.tinybuild.com