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Heartopia X My Little Pony Collaboration Event to begin Next Month

 XD Games is excited to announce that the Heartopia ╳ My Little Pony collab will officially begin in Heartopia this Valentine’s Day. 

The collaboration event sees the Tree of Harmony from My Little Pony appearing on Whale Island, needing to be reawakened by Heartopia players via the Elements of Harmony. By working together, players can ensure the tree returns home to the magical kingdom of Equestria. 

Ahead of the collaboration, a week-long pre-event will begin on 7 February, allowing players to complete a number of daily puzzles in order to unlock an exclusive pet costume based on the My Little Pony character Spike, as well as Time-Limited Exhibition Passes. More details on the Heartopia ╳ My Little Pony collaboration, including new activities, collections, and outfits, will be revealed next week.

Additionally, Heartopia’s first season — Winter Frost Season Fashionwave — begins today, bringing new winter-themed content and activities. Players who venture to the top of Onsen Mountain will be rewarded with ice and snow slides, as well as a brand new skating rink that allows townsfolk to perfect their figure skating choreography with friends. Players now also have access to ice rink flooring while in build mode, meaning they can construct their own practice rink at home. 

There’s also some snowman-related fun to be had in this frigid weather. Players can build their own snowmen by shovelling fallen snow, or they can turn into snowmen themselves by interacting with the huge snowmen that can be found dotted around town. 

Players can now purchase and level up their Winter Frost Season Fashionwave Gift Boxes, too. These can contain Exhibition Passes, Heart Diamonds, an exclusive instrument skin for a steel tongue drum, the Fashionwave Penguin set, building materials, and more. 

Heartopia players from all towns can meet one another at the concert venue, which will be hosting week-long opening and closing concerts celebrating Winter Frost Season. At nearby stalls, players can purchase items, like glow sticks, to wave about while watching the musical performances and firework displays.

Winter Frost Season runs from 31 January through 13 March. For a full breakdown of everything in this season, watch the Official Launch Special Program or follow Heartopia on X.

Heartopia is available to play for free now on PC, iOS, and Android.

About XD Games

Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users. 

XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.

Party tycoon Disco Simulator is now available on PS5

Disco Simulator was developed by Polish studios Games Incubator and Frozen Cave Studio. It first launched on PC in 2024 and recently arrived on Xbox Series X|S. On Steam, Disco Simulator currently holds 72% positive user reviews. The console versions were published by Ultimate Games S.A.

Build a disco empire
Disco Simulator is a nightclub management simulator. This party-driven tycoon lets players build and develop their own venue, featuring dance, techno, and chill music.

At the start, players choose a manager from several candidates, each with unique skills that affect different aspects of club operations. Disco Simulator also offers a selection of clubs with distinct characteristics and locations, ranging from small towns to large cities.

Gameplay includes a range of mechanics related to running a music club. Players must take care of interior design, including furniture, lighting, and sound equipment. Staff management is also important. Progressing through the game unlocks upgrades and improvements for individual elements.

Success in the nightclub business also depends on maintaining customer satisfaction and the right atmosphere.

Disco Simulator features several game modes, including a campaign and a sandbox mode.

Disco Simulator – key features:

  • party-focused tycoon gameplay;
  • club design and management;
  • dance, techno, and chill music;
  • hiring and managing staff;
  • multiple game modes.

Disco Simulator launched on PlayStation 5 on January 29, 2026.
 
Disco Simulator – PS5 Release Trailer

Disco Simulator (PlayStation Store)

Disco Simulator (Microsoft Store)

Disco Simulator (Steam)

Basic information:
title: Disco Simulator
genre: simulation, tycoon, economic, relaxing, music, indie
developer: Games Incubator, Frozen Cave Studio, Ultimate Games S.A.
publisher: Ultimate Games S.A.
language: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese
number of players: 1
file size: 2.2 GB (PlayStation 5), 5.8 GB (Xbox Series X|S)
release date: January 29, 2026 (PlayStation 5), January 15, 2026 (Xbox Series X|S), March 5, 2024 (PC Steam)

Demo for incremental city builder Urban Ascend Launches on Steam

Urban Ascend is an incremental city-building game focused on long-term growth, layered upgrades, and systemic expansion. Players develop a city over time by unlocking buildings, scaling production, and responding to changing conditions as the city grows.

A demo is now available on Steam, allowing you to experience the game’s core incremental systems ahead of its full PC release.

The demo introduces the primary progression loop, including building placement, resource generation, and upgrade paths that persist across play sessions. As the city expands, new systems and constraints are introduced, emphasizing planning and prioritization.

Unlike traditional city builders with fixed scenarios, Urban Ascend is structured around incremental progression. Growth is driven by accumulated upgrades and unlocked systems, with each session contributing to the ongoing development of the city.

The demo reflects the intended structure and pacing of the full game and is designed to communicate how its incremental systems interconnect.

Platform: Windows
Release Date: 2026
Pricing: TBA
Engine: RPG Maker MZ

Developer & Publisher : BitQuest Studio

Systemic Open-World RPG game Sword Hero Kickstarter now live

The Kickstarter campaign for Sword Hero is now live. Developed by solo creator ForestWare and supported by Crytivo, this game is a third-person open-world RPG focused on systemic design, player agency, and immersion-first gameplay inspired by early 2000s genre classics.

The campaign supports final stages of development, including expanded content, production polish, and additional artistic support, while maintaining a design philosophy that avoids level scaling, invisible barriers, and heavy-handed guidance.

Watch the Official Kickstarter trailer here

Sword Hero takes place on the quarantined island of Wes, part of a long-abandoned Ringworld shaped by fragile political truces, hostile factions, and ancient threats buried beneath the surface. Players assume the role of the Delver, a character without status, prophecy, or narrative protection. The world does not adapt to the player, and survival depends on understanding how its systems interact.

The entire world is seamless and explorable from the outset. Interiors, caves, and dungeons exist within the same space. Enemies remain fixed parts of the ecosystem, NPCs follow persistent daily routines informed by memory and observation, and events continue to unfold whether the player is present or not.DESIGN APPROACH

Sword Hero is built around simulation-driven systems rather than scripted encounters. Combat is directional and limb-based, with individual body parts tracking armor, damage, and debuffs. Disabling an enemy or exploiting the environment is often more effective than defeating them outright. Environmental hazards, positioning, and verticality play a central role in encounters.

Character progression is permanent and visually reflected through scars, physique changes, prosthetics, mutations, and magical alterations that persist throughout the game.

AT A GLANCE :

• Seamless open world with no invisible walls or level scaling

• Systemic gameplay including weather, fire propagation, crime, routines, and persistent consequences

• Directional, limb-based combat with dismemberment and targeted disabling

• Colossal creatures designed around physical interaction and exposed weak points

• Player-owned housing and businesses with full item placement

• Visible, permanent character progression tied to player decisions

Narrative RPG Aether & Iron Coming to Steam in Spring 2026

Seismic Squirrel is thrilled to announce that Aether & Iron will launch on Steam this Spring. This narrative-driven RPG invites players to step into the shoes of Gia, a smuggler navigating the dangerous underworld of an alternate 1930s New York City, featuring turn-based vehicular combat and storytelling from writers with credits on Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate.

Aether & Iron takes place in an alternate 1930s New York transformed into a vertical city after the discovery of “aether” – a key component to newfound anti-gravitational technology. Customize and upgrade your fleet of aether-powered vehicles with weapons and armor, and recruit unique companions to watch your back, each armed with talents that can make all the difference. Your choices shape not just your path, but the city’s fate as well. 

Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. As a simple job draws you into a conspiracy that threatens the whole city, you’ll reconnect with old friends, make new enemies, and determine whether New York’s citizens will find hope in this corrupt world. 

Aether & Iron will be available on Steam this Spring in English, Spanish (Spain & Latin America), French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Players can try a free demo now on Steam.  

Key Features

  • Muster Your Crew: Recruit unique and resourceful companions to watch your back, and follow their stories. 
  • Turn-Based Vehicular Combat: Assemble a wide range of incredible aether-powered vehicles and unlock new tactical options to try out in an interesting twist on strategic, turn-based vehicular battles.
  • Dive into An Underground Life: Navigate secret paths, dodge enemies, hide contraband, and stay ahead of the big bosses out to get you.
  • Your Choices Matter: Your decisions will shape the unfolding history of New York and the lives of its citizens, determining whether they will be able to find hope in a corrupt world of manipulation and violence.
  • Grow your Talents: Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. But no matter how good you are, you’re always a dice roll away from success or failure.
  • Drive in Style: Upgrade your aether-powered rides to suit your playstyle. Enhance your cars with every trick in the smuggler’s toolkit – hidden compartments, smoke dispensers, and flamethrowers of course.
  • Fascinating Visuals: Inspired by 1930’s detective comics and the art deco period, Aether & Iron brings a unique visual identity to gameplay.
  • Full Voice Acting: Experience an alt-history 1930s New York directly through the voices of its inhabitants. Learn their stories; sometimes funny, sometimes philosophical, usually tragic.

Aether & Iron on Socials

Steam Page

Steam Page

Website

Website

Instagram

Instagram

Facebook

Facebook

YouTube

YouTube

Discord

Discord

About Seismic Squirrel
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics. 

Metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit quickly established itself as one of the genre’s latest stand-outs

Focus Entertainment and Douze Dixièmes are today celebrating MIO: Memories in Orbit’s critical success with a brand-new trailer. Distinguished by its striking art direction and an equally remarkable original soundtrack, this French‑crafted metroidvania has resonated strongly with international critics, securing a Metacritic score of 84/100.

Watch the MIO: Memories in Orbit Accolade Trailer.

MIO: Memories in Orbit launched January 20th and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (both generations), and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. The game is also playable day one on Xbox Game Pass and runs seamlessly on Steam Deck.

Composed by Nicolas Gueguen, the game’s original soundtrack is now available across all major streaming platforms — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp, and more.

Listen to the OST here. 

MIO: Memories in Orbit is priced at €19.99, with a 10% launch discount still available for Steam and Xbox players. Owners of the Nintendo Switch 1 version receive free access to the Nintendo Switch 2 version.

Fantasy Extraction-RPG Eldegarde is Out Now on PC, features New PvE Mode

Notorious Studios is pleased to announce that its debut title, extraction-RPG Eldegarde is available now on Steam, bringing dynamic fantasy combat and RPG mechanics to players on PC.


Eldegarde launches today following a successful period in Early Access, receiving over 3,000 Mostly Positive review, and building a dedicated community of players who have supplied the development team with invaluable feedback in the lead up to launch. 


Players can pick from a selection of iconic fantasy classes, including classics like Warrior, Rogue, Wizard, and Priest, as well as the newly added Paladin. Eldegarde’s 1.0 launch also introduces a PvE mode, allowing newcomers to learn the game’s maps and combat mechanics at their own pace, playing the game in a whole new way, safe from the flagship full loot PvP experience.


Eldegarde has been created by Notorious Studios, a team composed mostly of Blizzard veterans and led by former World of Warcraft Game Designer Chris Kaleiki.


“Eldegarde is a game that raises the bar on so many stagnant RPG systems like class design, combat, PvP and progression found in many RPGs and MMOs” said Chris Kaleiki, Founder of Notorious Studios. “Extraction has really taken off recently with Arc Raiders. Eldegarde is really the Fantasy RPG version of that experience, so we feel it has a ton of potential. This genre is still very much in its infancy.”


Eldegarde is available now on Steam priced at $24.99 / €24.99 / £21.99.


Notorious Studios
Notorious Studios is a venture-backed start-up headquartered in Irvine, California, with a global team of passionate developers. Founded by core developers from Blizzard Entertainment who worked on iconic titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, the studio is committed to creating immersive and engaging worlds that foster community and creativity. With a team of 30 talented individuals, including remote employees from around the world, Notorious Studios is focused on delivering high-quality gaming experiences built for players, not powerpoint. Our current project, Eldegarde, exemplifies our dedication to building rich, player-driven narratives within dynamic, ever-evolving gameplay environments.
For more information, visit https://www.notorious.gg/ or follow us on social media at https://x.com/notostudios.

BEING & BECOMING REVEALS 2026 RELEASE WINDOW & NEW STEAM PLAYTEST OUT NOW

The collective dream calls to you! Publisher CRITICAL REFLEX (Mouthwashing, No, I’m not a human) and developer Ichthys have released a new open playtest on Steam today for the atmospheric, pixel-art metroidvania Being and Becoming, alongside the reveal that the game will officially launch this year! Play through the game’s intro, explore multiple locations, learn to use several types of weapons and abilities, meet different NPCs, and fight two epic bosses plus a wide variety of enemies.

You are a would-be martyr, rescued from a watery grave and plunged into the Collective Dream: defy the prophecy of The Word, defeat the corrupted, gain new weapons and abilities from those who came before, and save the Dream by breaking the other dreamers free of The Word’s tyranny. Don’t let beauty dull your vigilance: the deeper you descend, the more treacherous the world becomes.

Key Features

  • Discover Echoes of the Past: Follow in the footsteps of the divers who came before you and take what they no longer need. Find new weapons and abilities to help you explore the Collective Dream.
  • Expand Your Arsenal: Assemble an array of weapons wielded by noble spirits ensnared within the torment of The Word. Weave intricate combinations of attacks to annihilate your foes.
  • Explore an Interconnected World: Venture across a vast, interconnected world which unfolds with unique visual style and mechanics.
  • Gorgeous Pixel-Art Aesthetic: From picturesque to grotesque, each location has its own ambience and feel, decorated with detailed handcrafted backdrops. Each boss has a distinctive personality, emphasized not only by the story, but with dozens of unique animations and environmental interactions.
  • Fully Voiced-Over Characters & Atmospheric OST: A diverse cast of charming and terrifying voice-acted characters and bosses. The soundtrack is filled with dynamic and atmospheric tracks that are both shaped by and directly shape gameplay.

Play the Being and Becoming playtest now on Steam and wishlist the game today! To dive deeper into all things CRITICAL REFLEX, visit www.criticalreflex.com, and follow along on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

About Ichthys

Ichthys began as a single man’s dream and grew into a collective dream encompassing a team of talented people with a shared goal in mind: to live by the rule of cool and tell meaningful stories. Working diligently for The Word, this team of dreamers put their heart and souls (literally) into creating visually stunning games that awaken spirits.

About CRITICAL REFLEX

CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publisher obsessed with genre-blending, rule-breaking, brain-melting games. We help devs polish the weird, sharpen the wild, and launch their projects loud. Known for titles like Buckshot Roulette, Lunacid, Mouthwashing and No, I’m not a Human, we champion the unforgettable experiences. Genre is a prison and we ate the warden.

About CR Channel

CR Channel is the CRITICAL REFLEX publishing label focusing exclusively on indie horror. Join the Discord here

Walking Simulator Finding Polka gets Steam page and new trailer

Lidlocks is excited to share the Steam page of “Finding Polka”, a heartfelt walking simulator about a young girl’s journey to find her beloved dog. 
 

Friendy has a peaceful life alongside her beloved dog, Jazz. One day, she spots a dog in town that looks just like her childhood dog, Polka. Before she even realises it, Friendy and Jazz begin running after this piece of her past.

Game Features

  • Produced with the theme ‘fun in every step’ to create a magical journey with every step
  • A vast world created with lines of ballpoint pen, inviting players to encounter friends and reveal secrets
  • Explore from city to forest to ocean! Look closely and you’ll find everything from unique objects, fishing platforms and even rhythm games
  • Quirky yet endearing characters – a giraffe with an extra long neck waits patiently for.. something, a cat that’s always hungry and a star that keeps getting buried. Help them out and they may also help you in return!
  • Unspoken understanding – this game has no words or sentences. You’ll be able to feel and communicate with the characters through facial expressions, small gestures and sound effects

Game Information

Title: Finding Polka

Genre: Walking simulator

Number of Players: 1

Platform: Steam

Release Date: Q3 2026

Developer/Publisher: Lidlocks Inc

Languages: English, Simplified Chinese and more!

Trailer

Steam

YouTube

X

About Lidlocks
 

“Lidlocks” is the name of the torture device used to immobilize the eyes, featured in the film “A Clockwork Orange.” We chose this name with the hope of creating content that “makes it impossible to look away.” We are currently developing “Finding Polka,” a dog-finding walking simulator, with support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Sofu Acceleration Program.

Sci-fi Boss-Rush Sports BAKUDO Launching New Demo Next Month

#ShueishaGames is proud to announce that the competitive sci-fi hyperball #sports #bossrush action game #BAKUDO will be launching a new demo in February 2026, on #Steam

All gaming intel: chrisjonesgaming.net 🎮 Level up your feed!

#gamingnews #gaming

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