Shadow of the Road Trailer Reveals Yokai and Steampunk Boshin War Setting
A Polish studio's take on the Boshin War with yokai and steampunk marks an unusual fusion of Japanese history and fantasy in a strategy RPG.
Denfaminicogamer
Games
Horror Game 'The Cave Diver' Gets Steam Release Date of August 13th
The Cave Diver's wishlist count of over 20,000 and its focus on suffocating physics-based horror suggest a growing audience for high-difficulty niche horror games on Steam.
Denfaminicogamer
STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R Switch 2 Version Released, Price Revised
The simultaneous price cut across all platforms to match the Switch 2 version signals a franchise-wide reset to a single price point, while the 30th anniversary livestream's explicit no-new-game disclaimer suggests Square Enix is focused on celebrating the past rather than teasing a future entry.
4Gamer.net, ASCII.jp, Game Spark
Volcano Princess Multiplatform Release Set for July 30 with New Content
The indie darling's expansion to consoles and mobile with significant new content signals a broader push by Colorful Palette to bring niche PC simulation games to a wider audience.
GAME Watch (Impress)
Aesir Interactive Rebrands and Announces Unicorn Academy: Island of Magic
The studio, known for horse-themed simulations, is using a licensed Netflix IP to expand its audience, and the rebrand accompanies its growth from a student startup to a 115-person developer.
4Gamer.net
Fit Boxing 3 Switch 2 Edition Launches with Ensemble Stars DLC
The Switch 2 version brings new features and a music game collaboration DLC, expanding the title's appeal beyond fitness.
4Gamer.net
Pokémon Sleep 3rd Anniversary Event Brings Sleeping Eevees to Yokohama
The event highlights Pokémon Sleep's third anniversary with immersive sleep-themed installations and a corporate tie-in with Toyota's TOTONE napping tool.
GAME Watch (Impress)
AI Dot E Battle Launches August 21 With AI-Powered Drawing Battles
MONO ENTERTAINMENT extends its AI judgment system from a tactical roguelike to a drawing battle game, testing player creativity against AI analysis in a new genre.
Automaton
Liminal Space Horror Bundle Drops to $11 on Humble Bundle
The bundle capitalizes on the liminal space trend, coinciding with the theatrical release of the Backrooms movie, offering six horror games at a steep discount with a charity component.
Denfaminicogamer
BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Switch 2 Version Launches August 13 With Platinum Update
The low-cost upgrade pass and simultaneous free update across all platforms give existing players a clear path to the enhanced version without fragmenting the player base.
4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, and 1 more
Steam Machine Restock Set for July 17 After Instant Sellout
The restock gives a second chance to buyers who missed the initial launch, but the limited supply and one-per-customer cap suggest the device may sell out quickly again.
GAME Watch (Impress), Automaton, Game Spark
4-Player Tag Game 'Catch Me!' Free on Steam Until July 18
The free distribution is part of ByteRockers' Games' first Publisher Sale, which also discounts other titles and offers a bundle, making it a promotional entry point for the studio's catalog.
Automaton, Game Spark
Weekly Japanese Smartphone Game Revenue Ranking: eFootball Tops
The ranking shows the impact of live events and content updates on revenue, with older titles like Pokémon GO and Nikke seeing massive week-on-week spikes, while eFootball maintains its lead.
4Gamer.net
Free Browser Game 'Mezase! Okane Master' Teaches Kids Money Basics
The game turns a picture book series into a free interactive tool, addressing a gap in financial education that parents often struggle to fill, especially as mandatory financial education in Japanese high schools began in 2022.
ASCII.jp
LINE Launches Merge Puzzle Game LINE Majimaji with Magic Cards
LINE is expanding its mobile game lineup by combining its popular character IP with the casual merge puzzle genre, adding a magic card layer to differentiate from existing titles.
4Gamer.net
Steam Reveals First Half 2027 Sale Schedule with New Witch Festival
The 2027 first-half schedule introduces novel themed festivals, continuing Valve's pattern of expanding event programming beyond the traditional seasonal sales.
Game Spark
Fit Boxing 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Launches with Camera Play, Local Multiplayer
The Switch 2 edition offers a paid upgrade path for existing owners and new features that leverage the hardware, while the Ensemble Stars!! DLC continues the series' cross-promotion strategy.
Denfaminicogamer
Arkheron Closed Beta Test Begins on Steam, 45-Player Tower Climb Battle Royale
The closed beta test represents the next development milestone for Arkheron, incorporating player feedback from alpha and demo tests while introducing modes designed to ease new players into the game.
Automaton
VAMPIR MMORPG Launches July 22 With Up to 1,100 Summon Tickets
The launch marks Netmarble's aggressive entry into the Japanese MMORPG market with a proven Korean hit, leveraging generous launch rewards and a unique combat system to attract players.
Denfaminicogamer
Valve Reveals Steam Sale Schedule Through First Half of 2027
The schedule gives developers and players a clear roadmap for discount windows and themed events through mid-2027.
Denfaminicogamer
Solo Developer Batuhan Ceyhan Announces 'Muhit,' a Low-Poly Istanbul Underworld Game
The game's 1990s Istanbul setting, developed by a local solo developer, offers a perspective on the underworld rarely seen in adventure games, with a deliberate low-poly aesthetic.
Automaton
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Launches With Co-Op Lovecraftian Horror and Japanese Support
The release brings a niche Lovecraftian co-op horror with a unique madness mechanic to Japanese audiences with full language support, backed by a wishlist-driven discount campaign that exceeded 800,000 registrations.
Game Spark
Takashi Iizuka Hints at Story-Driven Sonic Game After 35th Anniversary
Iizuka's comments suggest the Sonic series may pivot back to narrative-focused adventures after the experimental open-zone Frontiers and the underperforming multiplayer Racing CrossWorlds.
Anime News Network
4-Player Co-Op Horror FPS 'UNFROST' Announced by Indie Studio Nord Unit
UNFROST combines cooperative horror FPS gameplay with a nuclear strike escape mechanic, offering a structured climax to procedurally generated survival runs.
Game Spark