Sponge Break Rafting Game Sets July 31 Steam Release
Sponge Break went from announcement to release in under a month, with the July 8 playtest's chaotic co-op sessions drawing attention on livestreams before the release date was set.
Automaton
Games
Schrodinger's Call Gets First 20% Off Sale With Collab Bundles
The first discount for the May 2026 release arrives with cross-promotion against two established narrative games, bundling Schrodinger's Call with The House in Fata Morgana and Coffee Talk Tokyo at a combined 10% discount.
Denfaminicogamer
Gamble With Your Friends Adds Japanese Support and Endless Mode
The localization and endless mode lower the barrier for Japanese players and remove the daily time limit, extending the life of a game that already draws over 5,000 concurrent players daily.
Automaton
Path of Exile Update Curse of the Allflame Adds Voyage League and Allflame Crafting
The update brings back Torath's Mercenaries as a permanent core mechanic and adds the Luminari ascendancy class, expanding build options while the game continues to receive support alongside Path of Exile 2's early access.
Automaton
Retro-Style Game Gate to Die Launches Free on Steam August 7
The developer's decision to prohibit streaming and monetization entirely, while releasing the game for free, positions Gate to Die as a pure homage to Shadowgate rather than a commercial product, a stance that contrasts with typical indie release strategies.
Automaton, Denfaminicogamer
Fit Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition Adds Camera Play, New Judgment Modes
The Switch 2 Edition expands the series' accessibility features with camera-based play and new judgment options, continuing the franchise's focus on lowering the barrier to regular exercise.
4Gamer.net
Moonsigil Atlas Ties Deck-Building to the Real Moon Phase
Moonsigil Atlas replaces the standard energy system with spatial card placement on a moon-shaped board, and ties item performance to the real lunar calendar, making each day's run play differently.
4Gamer.net
Analysts Warn Sony Disc End Could Kill Used Game Market
The used game market is a $7.2 billion business, and Sony's disc phase-out could eliminate it, while Ubisoft argues digital-only will not disrupt the industry.
Automaton
CEDEC2026 Panel Dissects Indie Puzzle Hit Ooo
The panel shows how veteran directors read an indie hit, breaking down Ooo's design into lessons about player learning, misdirection, and nonverbal communication.
Denfaminicogamer
Action RPG Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call Sets July 27 Steam Release
The game's July 27 release date and its explicit no-generative-AI, hand-crafted development stance give players a concrete alternative in a market where AI-assisted production is a growing concern.
Denfaminicogamer
Spiritstead, a Miyazaki-Inspired Village Builder, Launches on Steam
Spiritstead marks the debut release of a four-person European studio, Turbo Dog Games, which launched in January 2025, and its Miyazaki-inspired design may appeal to players seeking a low-pressure alternative to more complex city builders.
4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer
Steam Dev Says 99% of New Players Are Pirates as Sales Drop
The developer's data shows pirated versions now dominate new player counts, and he now doubts that piracy helps promote the official version.
Automaton
NTE's New Character Trailer Drops the 'Mystery Light' for Japan
The removal of the 'mystery light' in the Japanese version of the Irohi trailer continues a pattern of quick adjustments to character presentation, following the recent underwear change for Shinju.
Automaton
Project P.I.T.T. Drops Rubber Ducks Into a Bottomless Hole on August 19
The full release expands the demo's physics-based production line gameplay with new phases and products, building on a demo that earned a 'Very Positive' Steam rating from 200 reviews.
Automaton
MOLDRISE Horror Climb Earns 95% Positive Reviews on Steam
MOLDRISE turns a forced upward climb and a body slowly consumed by fungus into a roguelike loop where player knowledge of the fixed building structure drives repeated attempts.
Automaton
Fake Meccha Chameleon Smartphone Ads Appear on YouTube
The repeated appearance of fakes, from SNS accounts to a VR store page and now YouTube ads, shows the game's popularity is attracting imitation attempts that the developer must publicly counter each time.
Game Spark, GameBusiness.jp
VARREL to Compete in All Four Divisions at Esports World Cup 2026
VARREL qualified in all four of its divisions, including two via championship wins, and will field additional players in Last Chance Qualifiers for two more.
ASCII.jp
Honkai Star Rail Fate Collab Adds Rin and Gilgamesh With Deep Lore Cuts
The collab frames Rin as a composite of the strongest elements across the Fate franchise, a freedom the article argues only Star Rail's multi-world setting allows.
Automaton
P5X Popularity Poll Full Rankings Revealed at First Fan Meeting
The full poll results, including the unexpected first-place win by Motoyoshi Kitazato, give a clear picture of which characters resonate most with the player base one year into the game's service.
Denfaminicogamer
Outbound Devs Explain Cozy Survival Blend
The interview reveals the deliberate design philosophy behind Outbound's unusual genre blend, tracing it to a desire to keep survival's creative growth while removing stress, and to a yogurt commercial's optimistic vision.
Denfaminicogamer
Sapporo Game Camp 2026 Opens Recruitment With New High School Session
The addition of a High School Student Session and CG School/Company Booth signals the event's push to broaden its audience beyond working professionals toward students considering careers in game development.
4Gamer.net
Morimirai Launches Auto-Battle Ninja RPG Boku to Ninja to Tenka Touitsu
The launch pairs a 1000-stage conquest structure with login and gift-code bonuses aimed at pulling new players in on day one.
ASCII.jp
Kitsune no Kaerimichi Heroine Kokoro 3D Model Goes on Sale at Booth
BeXide's first VRChat-compatible 3D model sale opens a new revenue stream for the studio, extending the Kitsune no Kaerimichi brand beyond the game itself.
Denfaminicogamer
Vampir MMO Adds Japan Server Two Days After Launch as Crowds Fill Existing Ones
The quick server addition shows Vampir's Japan launch is drawing heavy player traffic, with most servers already capping new characters within two days.
Automaton