Astro Production Launches Indie Game Brand ASTRA
A video production studio is applying its cinematic expertise to indie game development, aiming to bridge the gap between indie creativity and commercial quality.
GameBusiness.jp
Games
First-Person Horror ADV 'MOLE' Launches on Steam
The game's quick 'Very Positive' reception on Steam suggests that its hands-on machinery repair gameplay and lo-fi psychological horror resonate with players looking for a short, intense experience.
4Gamer.net, Automaton
Cygames Launches 'Cygames Memories' Serial Feature for 15th Anniversary
The feature offers a rare look at the early development and art direction of Cygames' first original title, providing context for the company's growth over 15 years.
Denfaminicogamer
Single-Player Werewolf Roguelike 'Demon Bluff' Demo Hits Steam With Major Update
The game adapts social deduction into a single-player card game where the cards themselves lie, and its demo update marks a step toward a full release later this year.
Denfaminicogamer
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Surpasses 400,000 Units Sold Worldwide
The sales milestone and continued content support show that the 2024 remaster has sustained interest in the cult-classic zombie action series years after its original release.
ASCII.jp
Wreck Runners Gets July 16 Release Date
The release date and cross-play support give co-op horror fans a concrete launch window for a physics-driven escape game set in the Bermuda Triangle.
Game Spark
Cat Life Simulator Demo Launches on Steam During Next Fest
The demo gives players a hands-on look at a cat-perspective open-world simulation that has been in development since at least 2023, now available during a major Steam event.
Game Spark
Nexon CEO Says AI Era Shifts Competition to User Understanding at NDC26
Kang's framing of "context capital" as a moat that AI cannot replicate reframes the industry debate from efficiency gains to the long-term value of community and operational history.
4Gamer.net
Koei Tecmo Revives PS2 Music Game Gitaruman on PS5 and PS4
The revival of a cult PS2 music game, developed by the studio behind Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, gives modern console players access to a niche title that was previously trapped on older hardware.
Game Spark
Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad Demo Launches With Beta Test Chapter
By setting the demo entirely in the beta test period, Bandai Namco lets players experience a part of the SAO timeline the original story skipped, while the save-data carryover and streaming restrictions create a controlled launch funnel for the full game.
Anime News Network, 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), and 4 more
Xbox Faces Major Studio Closures and Restructuring
The potential closure of three well-regarded studios signals a sharp pivot in Xbox's strategy from acquisition-driven growth to cost-cutting, with major implications for upcoming titles and the broader industry.
4Gamer.net
Retro Rail GO! Demo Launches on Steam, Pays Homage to 90s Train Sims
The demo signals a deliberate return to the aesthetic and gameplay of 90s console train sims, a niche that has seen renewed interest alongside modern hyper-realistic simulators.
Game Spark
Genshin Impact Luna VIII Preview Program Airs June 18 With Mariko Honda and Lynn
The early tease of new costumes for Charlotte and Citlali, alongside the unusual Thursday broadcast slot, suggests HoYoverse is adjusting its pre-update marketing cadence for the Luna VIII version.
4Gamer.net, Inside, Game Spark
Captain Tsubasa: My Golden XI Launches on Smartphones With Andrés Iniesta as Ambassador
The appointment of a real-world soccer legend as ambassador ties the game's training simulation directly to the professional soccer career Iniesta inspired, reinforcing the franchise's long-standing influence on actual players.
4Gamer.net, ASCII.jp
Steam Next Fest June 2026 Edition Kicks Off With Hundreds of Demos
The Steam Next Fest has become a key seasonal marker for indie and mid-tier PC game discovery, and this edition's early popularity of soul-like extraction and unconventional simulators signals a continuing shift in player appetite toward hybrid genres and niche mechanics.
4Gamer.net, Automaton, Game Spark
Cat a Photo Is a Multiplayer Game About Taking the Best Cat Photos
The game turns cat photography into a competitive and social multiplayer experience, with scoring, equipment upgrades, and a shared cat house, which is a fresh angle for the pet-sim genre.
Denfaminicogamer
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Lands on Steam Ahead of July Release
The demo gives players a first look at ACE Team's Lovecraftian co-op horror, with a Madness System designed to break trust between party members.
Denfaminicogamer
World of Warships Update 15.5 Adds Decals, American Independence Campaign
The Decals feature marks a new layer of ship customization in World of Warships, initially limited to Tier IX vessels but planned for expansion, while the themed campaign ties gameplay progression to a real historical milestone.
Automaton
Anomaly President Enters Early Access on August 3
The developer's previous game, Anomaly Agent, earned a Very Positive rating on Steam, and Anomaly President builds on that smooth 2D action with deeper roguelike mechanics.
Automaton
Browser-Only 3D Walking Sim 'Messenger' Draws Attention for Web Graphics
The game's browser-based 3D rendering is surprising enough to draw comments from the tech community, suggesting web development tools like Three.js are reaching a new level of visual fidelity.
Game Spark
Mimesis Update Overhauls AI Monster Behavior and Game Structure
The update moves Mimesis away from memorization-based play toward adaptive strategy, a shift that could define its long-term identity in the co-op horror space.
4Gamer.net
Hashire Hebereke EX Demo Launches on Steam Next Fest, Full Release Set for September 3
The Steam Next Fest demo gives players an early look at how Sunsoft is updating a 30-year-old cult racing game for modern platforms, with online multiplayer and multiple game modes.
ASCII.jp
BeXide Brings Namco Arcade Puzzle And Witch Desk Sim To Steam Next Fest
BeXide is using Steam Next Fest to build pre-launch buzz for two very different titles, one leveraging Bandai Namco's arcade legacy and the other targeting the productivity-app-adjacent cozy game niche.
Denfaminicogamer
Funky Can Creative Announces Low-Poly Rail Shooter TeaKnights
TeaKnights marks Funky Can Creative's return to the action STG genre with a retro-inspired rail shooter that explicitly channels the look and feel of late-90s Nintendo 64 titles.
Game Spark