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

LOS ANGELES – APRIL 9, 2026 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality games, has shared key details for its upcoming monster-taming action RPG MONGIL: STAR DIVE during an online showcase.

Held ahead of the game’s April 15 global launch, the showcase introduced key game systems and upcoming content while engaging with players worldwide. The event featured VTuber “MiFlat” and popular gaming YouTuber “TesterHoon,” who joined Netmarble Monster PD Dong Jo Lee and Netmarble Business Team Leader Dong Ki Kang to present the game.

The showcase highlighted the game’s core “Monsterling Collection” system that centers on capturing, collecting, and synthesizing monsters. The three-character, party-based, real-time tag system emphasizes intuitive controls and fast-paced combat. Manual control enhances responsiveness, while features such as part destruction and weak point targeting introduce strategic depth based on player familiarity with each character.

Netmarble also shared plans for ongoing player engagement through global online and offline events following launch. Dong Ki Kang stated that various offline programs, including pop-up stores, event zones, and merchandise events, are planned worldwide, with further details to be announced. Ahead of launch, a live broadcast featuring Japanese voice actors and influencers is scheduled for April 13, while additional regional events such as a collaboration café in Taiwan are also in preparation.

Post-launch content plans were also revealed, including Episode 6, which will explore deeper narratives set in the Far East region. The company also confirmed plans to expand to console platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox.

Following the launch, Esther will be featured as the first event summon character being one of the most popular figures with a maid appearance in the MONGIL: STAR DIVE universe.  Various in-game events will offer rewards including profile backgrounds and growth-support items. A special showcase coupon code was also revealed, granting access to the “Artifact: Overflowing Love.”

The showcase also marked the first reveal of the upcoming Legendary Monster “Reginula.” According to PD Dong Jo Lee, Legendary Monsters are designed as an ultimate objective for players, supported by more dynamic and intense combat experiences.

MONGIL: STAR DIVE is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved 2013 mobile collectible RPG Monster Taming. Built with Unreal Engine 5, the game delivers cinematic storytelling and dynamic real-time combat centered on a three-character tag system. The “Monsterling Collection” system supports the capture, collection, and synthesis of monsters, adding strategic depth to gameplay.

Global pre-registration is currently underway ahead of launch. Registration via the official website provides access to the “Francis” character, while additional rewards are available through the App Store and Google Play, including Summoning Tickets known as “Compass of Promise.”

More information can be found on the official website, Epic Games Store page, and official social channels.

About Netmarble Corporation

Founded in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading global game developer and publisher. Through acclaimed franchises and strategic partnerships with top-tier IP holders, the company delivers innovative and engaging gaming experiences to audiences worldwide. As a parent company of Kabam, SpinX Games, Jam City, and a major shareholder of HYBE and NCSOFT, Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Solo Leveling:ARISE, Seven Knights Re:BIRTH, RAVEN2, MARVEL Future Fight, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

400,000 wishlists strong, Neverway turns you into the immortal herald of a dead God. Make friends, fight through horrors and keep your life from falling apart

Vancouver, Canada (April 9, 2026) – Developer Coldblood Inc. dropped the playable prologue for its highly anticipated life-simulator-meets-RPG-nightmare-adventure, Neverway, today. The prologue is available now for free on Steam as the trio also reveals the game’s spooky season launch timeframe of October on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. The news debuted alongside a brand-new trailer showcasing more of what players can expect from this incredibly unique title: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2318330/Neverway/

Step into the shoes of Fiona, who, after quitting her dead end job, starts over with a farm. However, she quickly finds herself the immortal herald of a dead god, unraveling a new life of psychological horror. She needs to balance her new life, not disappoint her friends and… something is seriously wrong about all of this.

As you fight to pick yourself back up the search will begin for Neverway, a nightmare reality that is slowly blending with your own world. Can you figure out what’s really going on here? Actually, maybe just focusing on her new life will be all Fiona needs to get back on her feet instead. Surely…

The playable prologue invites players to about an hour of the game, including the opening, which explores how Fiona gets to her new island home. The prologue then drops you into a mind-boggling midgame segment of Neverway that reveals that nothing is truly as it seems, transporting you into a simulation where you’ll try to piece together what is happening around you and fight your way deeper into Fiona’s memories.

Neverway’s soundtrack is spearheaded by acclaimed composer Disasterpeace (Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, It Follows, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), adding a deeply haunting soundscape woven into the game’sstunning, monochromatic pixel-art world. 

Coldblood Inc. is a three-person, Vancouver based studio. Neverway is co-directed by Pedro Medeiros, the artist behind acclaimed indie hits Celeste and TowerFall and Isadora Sophia, previously a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, who created Neverway’s Murder Engine. They’re joined by Heidy Motta, who helms operations and community, previously from Celeste and TowerFall. Neverway is being funded by Outersloth, the funding arm of Innersloth (Among Us). 

Keep up with all things Neverway at https://neverwaygame.com/and Coldblood Inc. at https://coldbloodinc.studio/. 

About Coldblood Inc.

Coldblood Inc. is a studio co-founded by Pedro Medeiros and Isadora, both Brazilian-Canadian developers based in Vancouver. Pedro is an industry veteran, known as the pixel artist of Celeste and Towerfall. Isadora is a deeply technical programmer, who quit her job as a senior engineer at Microsoft to focus on Neverway and her custom engine. Later joined by Heidy Motta, previously community and operations manager for Celeste and TowerFall.  Neverway is our debut title, self-published and funded by Outersloth.

Cast off and live the life of a pirate in a massive open world filled with epic quests, combat and high-seas naval battles in solo or co-op play! Yarrr!

TORTUGA —April 9, 2026 — Ahoy, ye sea dogs! During today’s Triple-i Initiative showcase, the buccaneers at Windrose Crew announced that Windrose, their co-op pirate survival-adventure game, is set to launch into Early Access on Steam, the Epic Games Store and Stove on April 14. The 8th most wishlisted game on Steam, Windrose invites potential pirates to sail the open seas as a captain on the quest for revenge, alone or in crews of up to four players.

It’s time to embark on your great pirate adventure! Explore three diverse biomes with quests to complete, enemies to fight in souls-lite-inspired combat, and handcrafted points of interest to discover in a procedurally generated world. Take down epic bosses with an armory of unique weapons, including sabers, maces, muskets and more. Improve your reputation with various factions, trade, farm, fish and build a pirate haven of your own – and of course command your own vessel in brutal naval combat with boarding actions. The high seas are yours for the taking!

After a breakout Steam Next Fest demo that saw over 850,000 players begin their adventures, the Early Access launch of Windrose will provide dozens of hours of content and fan-requested features from the demo! Create the perfect pirate playstyle and progress your character with skillpoints, talents and armor sets. Experience seamless land-to-ship gameplay with a focus on exploration, base building and combat. Sail the open seas with three new ships, and one of the most-requested features from the demo, co-op ship battles, where a crew can share control of a vessel’s weaponry, teaming up to take down the enemy.

Key Features

• A Pirate Tale for the Ages: Welcome to the Age of Piracy! You are a captain who dares to challenge the legendary Blackbeard. What starts as a grounded story of survival and revenge will put you in the middle of a conflict between empires, pirate clans and mysterious dark powers looming on the horizon.
• Conquer the Seas: Answer the call of the seas and move seamlessly between ship and shore. Naval combat is shaped by your decisions, whether you’re trading cannon fire at range or closing in for fierce boarding actions. Equip and customize your ship to suit your playstyle, from nimble ketch to versatile brig and monstrous frigate. And when the cannons go silent, claim your spoils and share a sea shanty with your crew as you sail onward.
• Survival Perfected: Establish a foothold in vibrant, diverse biomes, gather resources, and build to your own taste, from simple shelters to elaborate mansions and fully developed forts. Recruit NPCs and grow your settlement to speed up harvesting and production. Venture into the uncharted lands, featuring nearly 100 handcrafted points of interest (dungeons, ancient temples, shipwrecks, abandoned camps and more) containing a wide variety of secrets and treasures, though such rewards rarely come without risk.
• Become the Savviest Swashbuckler: Hack, slash, bash and shoot your way to glory! Master a vast arsenal of melee weapons and firearms, parry and dodge enemy attacks, and make good use of different strikes to gain the upper hand. Put your skills to the test against challenging bosses – defeat them and plunder their treasures!

Wishlist Windrose on Steam ahead of its April 14 launch.

About Windrose Crew

Windrose Crew is an experienced team of developers dedicated to bringing the open seas to fans around the world with their upcoming pirate survival adventure game Windrose.

CHICAGO — April 9, 2026 —Children’s and family entertainment company Playground Productions today announced that a free demo of their forthcoming video game titled Backyard Baseball will be available to play on April 9th on Steam for both PC and Mac users.

The demo features “Backyard Derby,” a new game mode from the upcoming release. Users will get to play as fan-favorites Pablo Sanchez, Kiesha Phillips, or Kenny Kawaguchi in a fun and fast-paced, arcade-style home run challenge. Via the demo, Playground has revealed exciting new features that fans can expect for the full game as well, like couch co-op (to challenge friends in head-to-head competition), live global leaderboards (for Backyard Baseball bragging rights), night mode, and competitive modes like “Crazy Pitch,” which put a uniquely challenging spin on the derby.  

Watch the Backyard Derby Demo Launch Trailer Here

“This demo shows fans our commitment to maintaining the original charm and humor of Backyard Baseball while also displaying how we’re modernizing and updating the brand,” said Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barnett. “With new features (like Night Mode, competitive Global Leaderboards, and couch co-op) we’re showing an expansive and immersive sneak peek of the new Backyard Baseball. Backyard Derby is just the start. We can’t wait to share more.”

At this year’s PAX East event (a large gaming convention held annually in Boston since 2010) the demo was given a “Best in Show” award and received overwhelming acclaim from critics and fans alike. Playground Productions attended the convention with their developer, Mega Cat Studios, and previewed an early access version of the game mode. The response from players was so positive it encouraged the team to make a version of the demo available for their fans.

 “Backyard Derby is a first look at how we’re pushing Backyard Baseball forward. It’s faster, more competitive, and designed to keep players coming back, with pick-up-and-play co-op at its core, all grounded in the character-forward charm fans grew up with,” added Chris Waters, Chief Product Officer, Playground Productions.

“So many of the cats grew up playing Backyard Baseball, and we cannot wait for players to experience Backyard Derby’s demo,” said James Deighan, CEO and Chief Baseball Officer at developer Mega Cat Studios. “The fans have been waiting a long time for Backyard Baseball to come back the right way. Today, we get to prove we heard them. The demo is live, Backyard Derby is in your hands, and this is just the beginning. We built this for the kid who wore out the original disc, and for the next generation discovering it for the first time.”

When Backyard Baseball releases in full on July 9th, it will be the first major console release for the franchise in 15 years. Playground has promised that all 30 original characters will be returning to the game, with some surprises in store as well. The game will officially release on Steam (for PC and Mac) as well as all major consoles such as the Nintendo Switch 2, XBOX (Series S and X), and PlayStation (4 & 5).  

The new game is the most recent step in Playground Productions’ revitalization of the Backyard Sports franchise. Earlier this year, Backyard Sports: The Animated Special was released to YouTube and has amassed over 1 million unique views on the platform, an incredible feat for an independently produced episode. The special recently became available on Prime Video via their Prime Video Direct submission portal.

About Playground Productions

Playground Productions is a children’s and family entertainment company focused on bringing the iconic Backyard Sports franchise back to fans across games, media and consumer products.

About Mega Cat Studios

Mega Cat Studios is a game development and publishing studio built by the people who never stopped loving games. Home to global top sellers and world-renowned licensed IP, including FNAF, God of War, and Backyard Baseball, Mega Cat brings obsessive attention to detail to every game, from original IP to beloved properties. We make games for fans who love to play them.

The 2026 USC Games Expo is supported by Wemade

LOS ANGELES (April 9, 2026) – USC Games, the top-ranked collegiate game design program, will kick off its 10^th anniversary edition of the USC Games Expo with a keynote panel discussion with John Riccitiello, the former CEO of Unity Technologies and Electronic Arts; and Frank D. Gibeau, the President of Zynga. Riccitiello and Gibeau, considered pioneers in developing the global games industry, have both established endowed chairs at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. USC Games is a joint program of the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) and the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. Riccitiello also sits on SCA’s Board of Councilors.

Jim Huntley, the Associate Professor in the Interactive Media & Games Division, specializing in games marketing and publishing, will be the chairholder of the Frank D. Gibeau Endowed Chair. SCA has 36 endowed chairs that provide funding for the academic divisions of the faculty members who serve as chairholders.

The 10th annual USC Games Expo will take place on May 12, 2026 at 4PM PST at the USC School of Cinematic Arts campus. Riccitiello and Gibeau lead off the Advanced Games Project (AGP) Spotlight Show, held at Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre with a live stream on Twitch and the USC Games Expo website. Attendees will have the chance to play more than sixty games created by students enrolled in various USC Games classes, in a carnival-like atmosphere supported by Wemade, the global game developer and publisher behind the Legend of Mir series and a leader in MMORPG and blockchain gaming. Attendees can also experience interactive installations from USC’s newly established Themed Entertainment program, check out an esports tournament, and preview new titles developed in Games as a Service and Live Operations (GLO), a first-of-its-kind class that focuses on the “live” component of game development, using PUBG MOBILE’s World of Wonder platform.

This year’s show features 10 titles created in USC Games’ flagship AGP course, in which students create games in a professional studio atmosphere. They pitch, develop, refine, and launch their original games as the culminating project of the USC Games curriculum. More information on the AGP titles can be found here.  

“The USC Games Expo is all about the joy of making and playing games,” says Danny Bilson, the Director of USC Games, who will also be installed as the John Riccitiello Chair in Games and Interactive Media at the event. “This is where our students get to show off their creations to the industry professionals they want to work with, and where the professionals get a glimpse into the innovations the next generation is working on. In addition to being a coming-out party for our graduating students, the Expo is truly a celebration of all things gaming.” 

“At Wemade, we believe the future of gaming is shaped by bold ideas and the next generation of creators,” says Kwan-Ho Park, Chairman & CEO of Wemade. “By supporting the USC Games Expo, we are investing in student developers who are pushing boundaries, redefining what’s possible in interactive storytelling and gameplay, and shaping the future of the games industry.”

AGP Spotlight Show Keynote Panelists:

John Riccitiello – Former CEO of Unity Technologies and Electronic Arts

John Riccitiello is a longtime leader in the video game industry, known for shaping some of the most influential gaming companies in the world. He served as CEO of Unity Technologies, taking the company public and guiding the platform’s growth as the industry standard for real-time 3D development, and previously led Electronic Arts as CEO, overseeing major franchises across console, PC, and mobile.

Frank D. Gibeau – President, Zynga
Frank Gibeau’s career is defined by a lifelong love of games and a commitment to leading companies where people are empowered to pursue their creative ambitions. A 30-year industry veteran, Frank is an expert in the mobile, PC, and console markets. As CEO of Zynga, he orchestrated a historic turnaround and rapid growth phase that led to a pivotal combination with Take-Two Interactive in 2022. Previously, Frank spent two decades at EA leading iconic franchises like The Sims, EA SPORTS, Need for Speed, and Battlefield.

About USC Games 
USC Games is a flagship collaboration offered jointly by the School of Cinematic Arts Division of Interactive Media & Games and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science. This unified brand allows press, industry, students, and faculty to discuss the overall efforts at USC in games and simultaneously clarify the important distinctions between the offerings of the various programs. 
 
The program has been ranked No. 1 for twelve years, as evaluated by the Princeton Review. The program at the School of Cinematic Arts focuses on both the design and production of interactive media and games. Students emerge as creative media leaders, fluent in many forms of visual expression and storytelling, with a sophistication to design and develop innovative interactive experiences that expand the state of interactive art and play across domains, such as entertainment, education, health care, and social action. 
  
The Computer Science Games program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering provides students with a grounding in the fundamentals of computer science and a cross-disciplinary background in game development. Students emerge with an engineering-oriented game-programming skillset, with an understanding of key technologies and the ability to lead complex technical teams in the development of games. 
  
In addition to the advanced games class, USC Games offers the USC Games Expo and an annual industry event held at the Game Developers Conference. USC Games brings more shared courses under this umbrella, including those from other schools at [email protected]. 

About WEMADE
WEMADE is the only company combining over two decades of AAA game development success with a fully operational, game-proven blockchain ecosystem—built entirely on its proprietary Layer-1 mainnet, WEMIX3.0. Known for global hits such as The Legend of Mir, MIR4, NIGHT CROWS and Legend of YMIR, WEMADE is leading the industry in seamlessly integrating gameplay, tokenomics, NFTs, stablecoin payments, and blockchain infrastructure. Through WEMIX PLAY, WEMADE delivers a unified digital economy where players, creators, and investors can own, trade, and benefit from digital assets—powering the next generation of interactive entertainment and driving the evolution of Web3 gaming. For more information, please visit https://wemade.com/.
 
About the USC School of Cinematic Arts 
The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts is one of the leading film schools in the world. Founded in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929 over 95 years ago, the USC School of Cinematic Arts has fueled and mirrored the growth of entertainment as an industry and an art form. The School offers comprehensive programs in directing, producing, writing, critical studies, animation and digital arts, production, interactive media, and games, all backed by a broad liberal arts education and taught by leading practitioners in each field. Its more than 18,000 alumni are among the world’s most distinguished animators, scholars, teachers, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, sound experts, and industry executives. Since 1973, not a year has passed without an alumnus or alumna being nominated for an Academy Award. https://cinema.usc.edu/. 
  
About the USC Viterbi School of Engineering 
Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering was named in 2004 as the Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, honoring USC alumnus Andrew Viterbi, who developed an algorithm to connect the world, and his wife Erna. Located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology, business, and innovation in the heart of the Pacific Rim, USC Viterbi draws undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world. With more than 10,000 students, 400 faculty across all ranks and appointment levels, and more than 40 in-residence or affiliated members of the National Academies, USC Viterbi is considered among the top engineering programs. Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C . Yortsos, the school helps re-imagine the 21st century engineer, by pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program, leading national efforts in enhancing diversity, and changing the conversation about engineering. With its vision of engineering a better world for all humanity, USC Viterbi embodies the power of engineering (Engineering+) to advance discovery and solutions across all disciplines, to serve California, the nation, and the world. In 2024, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering launched the School of Advanced Computing, thus creating a new school “within a school.” http://viterbi.usc.edu/