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Unique FPS “Starmasons” Now Available in Early Access at no cost

Starmasons by Luftskip is now playable in Early Access on the Epic Games Store. Starmasons is a one of a kind free-for-all FPS that challenges conventions by allowing players of all skill levels to compete in a fantastical environment and offers pathways to victory for any types of player. Hide in plain sight by posing as a statue, sneak stealthily through the ever moving shadows, ambush over-ambitious opponents, run and gun down the meek, or steal a victory by escaping unscathed with the elusive artifact.

There is simply no other game quite like Starmasons, so get ready for a series of intense and surprising matches in this small diamond-in-the-rough from up-and-coming developer Luftskip.

GAMEPLAY

Starmasons is an online PVP shooter for 2–12 players playing matches lasting 2–12 minutes. The game plays as a minimalistic FPS on a confined map, but with players looking like identical statues it promotes a stealthy, patient tactical approach as a viable tactic alongside the standard fast-paced dynamics of most shooters. However, zoning out while listening to the soft breeze watching the sunsets is not a long-term option. If someone picks up the artifact, with prospects of an instant victory, a scramble towards them is inevitable, so the intensity could flip from meditative to chaotic in an instant.

Without features like weapon choices, pick-ups and builds to pursue to stay competitive or gain an edge, all players start and remain on equal footing throughout matches. Learning the game takes no time, and even players lacking in FPS experience could find themselves refreshingly competitive from the get-go by choosing a more cunning approach. After all, one precise shot is all it takes to get the kill. This makes Starmasons a great game to invite any of your friends to play – not just your usuals. 

SUMMARY

Starmasons is accessible, deep and dynamic, with innovative reverse turing and yomi mechanics. In a field of remakes and remixes, Starmasons offers an actual fresh take on the FPS experience.

  • ACCESSIBLE: Easy to learn for newcomers to the genre. Simple controls. Clear mechanics and match rules.
  • DEEP: Offer different tactical pathways to victory, their efficacy dependent on other players approach.
  • DYNAMIC: Shifts from deliberate and focused to hectic and reactive in an instant – and back!

Pretend to be a lifeless statue, and hide in plain sight. Can you spot the other players in disguise? Read and direct your opponents’ actions to stay one step ahead in the intricate mind games made possible by Starmasons’ unique rule set and level design.

Game Info

Title: Starmasons

Platform: PC / Epic Games Store

Release Date: February 5th, 2026 (Early Access)

Genre: FPS

Players: Multiplayer (2-12)

Price: Free (In Early Access)

Developer: Luftskip

Publisher: Luftskip

About Luftskip

Luftskip is a fresh game development studio from Oslo, Norway. We are a small team of three experienced creatives. Kris is at the helm, Eivind scouts the skies and Geirmund makes sure our engine hums.

Combining our powers and experience from different fields, including psychology, art, media, programming and music, we deliver games and interactive experiences that entertain, teach or communicate.

Useful links

Play Starmasons on the Epic Games Store

Starmasons webpage

Luftskip homepage

Launch Trailer

Crimson Capes to launch February 12th, bringing the Souls Formula to 2D 

Studio Poor Locke has announced that Crimson Capes will be coming to PC via Steam on February 12. Crimson Capes is a sword-and-sorcery action adventure that reimagines the core pillars of the Souls formula in two dimensions, blending deliberate combat, non-linear exploration, and online multiplayer into a high-adventure fantasy world.

Players step into the role of Milon the Tempest, a witch-hunter tasked with dismantling a growing conspiracy of wizards across the kingdom of Amvros. Leading the Crimson Capes – a guild of elite witch-hunters – players will take on contracts throughout the realm, slowly uncovering darker forces at work and coming face to face with the true cost of power.

Combat in Crimson Capes is built around deliberate, animation-commit swordplay inspired by realistic fighting techniques, where feints, thrusts, cuts, and guards create a deadly back-and-forth defined by timing, positioning, and mastery. 

Each of the four playable heroes features a distinct weapon style, moveset, and skill tree, encouraging experimentation, while magic is woven directly into combat through elemental abilities such as wind, thunder, fire, and darkness.

Exploration follows a Souls-inspired philosophy, rewarding curiosity and player choice. Ruined towers, forgotten caverns, mystical forests, and ancient strongholds can be tackled in any order, with artifacts, abilities, and narrative threads waiting off the beaten path.

Crimson Capes also brings classic Souls multiplayer into two dimensions. Players can join forces in online co-op to hunt together as Capes, or invade another hunt as a Deathblade, introducing unpredictable PvP encounters that reshape each mission.

Visually, the game features pixel art animation and hand-drawn environments, with rotoscoped graphics. Inspired by classic pulp sword-and-sorcery tales such as Conan and Elric, Crimson Capes embraces a raw, mythic atmosphere rooted in classic fantasy adventure and discovery.

“From the very beginning, Crimson Capes was built around deliberate combat that rewards initiative, precision and quick thinking,” said Dimitris Tsatsis, programmer at Poor Locke.

“We wanted to bring the tension, discipline, and satisfaction of the Souls experience into 2D, by rethinking how the level design, vibe and multiplayer interactions work in a side-scrolling space.”

KEY FEATURES

  • Souls-like, 2D combat with tight reads, punish windows, and build variety
  • Boss fights that will test your mettle
  • Sword-and-Sorcery adventures in a fantasy world filled with secrets
  • Online Co-op & PvP: Play online with a friend, or invade other witch hunters
  • Optional Dynamic Hunts with unique enemies and bosses, randomly generated each time (reminiscent of Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons)


AVAILABILITY
Crimson Capes will launch on February 12 at 10am PT / 6pm GMT for PC via Steam
Price : 15$
Launch discount: 10% for 9 days
Instruction Manual & Game Guide PDF files along with a printable world map will be included in the game files
Console versions will release at a later date

About POOR LOCKE
POOR LOCKE is an independent game studio led by programmer Dimitris Tsatsis, with art by Kostas MacFarlane and music by David Wurczel. The studio focuses on crafting hand-made, mechanically rich experiences driven by strong artistic identity and player agency. Previous titles include Windmills and Unbeliever. Crimson Capes represents the studio’s most ambitious project to date, merging classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy with modern Souls-inspired design.

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.

This will be fun to see again..

The original version of the 1977 Star Wars will return to theaters on February 19, 2027, for the film’s 50th anniversary.

For more info: https://bit.ly/4pSjs15

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Step into Tales of The Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game in Wholesome Direct Showcase

At the Wholesome Direct digital showcase today, Wētā Workshop welcomed viewers home to The Shire in a brand-new trailer for the Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game featuring charming gameplay, serene surroundings, and in true Hobbit fashion – plenty of food.

The new trailer gives glimpses of life in Bywater, meeting new friends and familiar faces. Decorate your own Hobbit hole, exactly as you like, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in The Shire. Bask in colourful seasonal changes as you stock up your pantry by fishing, gardening, foraging and trading ingredients for shared meals with friends. Your fellow Hobbits don’t need an excuse for a party, they’re just waiting for your invitation….when you’re ready, of course!

You can check out the full trailer here.  Additional assets can be downloaded here.

In addition, those eager to jump in can wishlist the game now on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S!

From the creative studio Wētā Workshop, live the cosy life of a Hobbit in the wonderfully serene landscape of The Shire. Discover, decorate, and share in this peaceful corner of Middle-earth. Launching on July 29, 2025, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game will be available digitally and physically worldwide. Pre-orders for the $39.99 Retail Edition and iam8bit Exclusive Edition are available now for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 at talesoftheshire.iam8bit.com.

For all the latest updates on the game, follow Tales of the Shire on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

GRAVEN, a Dark Fantasy FPS from 3D Realms and Fulqrum Publishing is now out on consoles

RAGUE, Czech Republic — June 25, 2024 — GRAVEN, the dark-fantasy action-adventure FPS co-published by 3D Realms and Fulqrum Publishing with development by Slipgate Ironworks™, unleashes righteous fury on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S today!

Rise as an Exiled Priest of the Orthogonal Order and embark on a mission of bloody vengeance. Guided by the divine instruction of The Creator, cleanse the Order of its corruption in hopes of saving the world from rapidly encroaching evils.

Armed with a staff and a journal, set out into dark lands using magic to spread fires, freeze rivers, charge up machinery, and more, all while finding weapons to upgrade and evil to vanquish. Explore expansive hubs, solve tricky puzzles, and uncover heresies to exhume the evil rooted across the land once and for all.

Face off against over 20 distinct enemies and challenging bosses during fast-paced combat sequences. Explore levels to uncover well-hidden secrets and engrossing side quests across three hub worlds, and experiment with different spell and ability combinations to create a satisfying and immersive gameplay loop that rewards creative solutions in a mysterious world.

GRAVEN features character designs by Chuck Jones (Duke Nukem 3D, Half-Life), with Stephan Weyte (Blood, Fire Emblem, Dusk) lending his vocal talents to this blend of classic first-person shooters and fantastical RPGs. Stand against GRAVEN’s evils solo or seek multiplayer madness with online co-op for up to 8 players.

GRAVEN is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One for $29.99 USD/€29.99. For more information, please explore the official websites for GRAVEN, 3D Realms, Fulqrum Publishing and Slipgate Ironworks™, and follow 3D Realms on Twitch, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Steam. 

First Playable 2022

Italian Video Game Awards

International Industry Leaders Celebrate a lot of Talent!

Milan, 9 June 2022: Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association (IIDEA), Italy’s video game trade body representing the national games industry and fostering the growth and development of the sector, is proud to announce the nominees of this year’s prestigious Italian Video Game Awards. The ceremony is set to air in July on the opening night of First Playable 2022; originally the premier international gaming B2B event in Italy, First Playable is making an in-person return following the pandemic for its 4th edition of bringing together the Italian games industry.

In addition to the trio of categories whose nominees are listed below, the Italian Video Game Awards will also bestow recognition on the worthy winners of Outstanding Italian Company and Outstanding Individual Contribution.

“There’s so much talent in the Italian games industry, it’s a privilege to play a role in championing and celebrating it”, said Thalita Malagò, General Manager at IIDEA. “The Italian Video Game Awards put the spotlight on the growth and excellence of our industry. Seeing the work that’s being produced, by larger studios and indie developers alike, it’s clear that the future of Italy’s games industry is bright.”

The jury for this year’s awards was built on a foundation of different perspectives, from both games industry figureheads and leading specialized members of the press. Renowned game developer, studio founder and consultant Rami Ismail, ex-PlayStation Access host and currently Head of Influencers and Engagement at Frontier Developments Hollie Bennett, and Jon Goddard of metaverse developer Lockwood Publishing and formerly Jagex brought their vast industry experience and expertise to the judging panel.

Leaders in specialist video game media approached the judging process with their broad, industry-wide scope of knowledge to access submissions to the highest standards. MCV/DEVELOP’s Editor Richie Shoemaker, Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+ Sam Loveridge and Vikki Blake whose work can be seen across some of the world’s largest games B2B and B2C outlets including BBC, Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, MTV and PC Gamer formed the second half of the 2022 jury.

With the judges having evaluated submissions and cast their votes, here are the chosen nominees (in alphabetical order) for the Italian Video Game Awards 2022:

Best Italian Game

  1. Dice Legacy by DESTINYbit
  2. Faraday Protocol by Red Koi Box
  3. Hot Wheels Unleashed by Milestone
  4. Martha is Dead by LKA
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive
Italian Video Game Awards

Best Italian Debut

  1. Angry Giant by Jokerrsoft
  2. Faraday Protocol by Red Koi Box
  3. Nostalgici Anonimi by Hufu Interactive Storytelling
  4. RiMS Racing by RaceWard Studio
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive
Italian Video Game Awards - Chris Jones Gaming

Best Innovation

  1. CUCCCHI by Fantastico Studio
  2. Dice Legacy by DESTINYbit
  3. Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator by Broken Arms Games
  4. Martha is Dead by LKA
  5. Vesper by Cordens Interactive

You can check out the nominations for this year’s awards, and read about the jury, over at www.firstplayable.it/italian-video-game-awards/. The Italian Video Game Awards ceremony will take place on 5th July at 6pm BST/7pm CEST, hosted by internationally revered games industry presenters, and will be available to stream in English via FirstPlayable – Twitch.

Italian Video Game Awards - supported by Chris Jones Gaming
V Rising Chris Jones Gaming

V Rising

Skövde, Sweden – 30th May, 2022

Stunlock Studios Discusses their Next Steps after V Rising’s Early Access Launch gets to 1 million Copies!

Devs thank their fans and release an update on what’s in store for V Rising

Stunlock Studios has published their latest Dev Update discussing V Rising’s next steps after it’s hugely successful Early Access launch which has sold over 1 million copies and seen 150,000 concurrent users in it’s first weekend! As with all Early Access titles, there is a still a lot of work to do but the Stunlock Studios team are getting fully prepared for the journey ahead: 

“The release of V Rising has been met with overwhelming support, and we really can’t thank you all enough for joining us on this journey… and it will be a journey. Opening into Early Access is the first step we’re taking on the misty road to the game’s full release.”

Click for the official Developer Update

More on V Rising

V Rising is an open-world vampire survival game. Awaken as a weakened vampire from centuries of slumber and survive a world full of peril. As a vampire, you need to hunt for blood in nearby settlements to regain your strength and quench your thirst. Build and customize your castle, invite friends to join your clan, and convert humans to servants to grow your empire. Engage in real-time combat and compete for world domination with PvP and PvE challenges. Will you become the next Dracula?

V Rising

Stunlock Studios’ concept artists are already sketching possible future scenarios in V Rising.

Wishlist on Steam here
Visit our Website: https://playvrising.com/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stunlockstudios
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VRisingGame
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VRisingGame
Join the Discord server: https://discord.gg/bsSgmhMVSe

There has to be a reason this is doing so well – you should check it out!

Against The Storm

Against The Storm

Build Your City – Against the Storm coming to Steam and GOG Q4 2022, new update release is on Epic Now!

Lead intelligent beavers, lizards, harpies, and humans will establish a bastion against darkness

DALLAS, TX – 26th May 2022 – Hooded Horse is proud to announce the publishing of Against the Storm, a roguelite city builder developed by Eremite Games and set in a fantasy world where it never stops raining. Build endless settlements populated by intelligent beavers, lizards, harpies, and humans and upgrade your citadel while a recurring storm of darkness destroys outposts and reshapes the world.

Against The Storm

With hundreds of gameplay modifiers and 5 distinct biomes, every city location presents unique challenges for even the most resourceful Viceroy. Adjust your strategy to changing weather conditions and mix and match ingredients to take advantage of the resources at hand. You never know what wares the Trader will bring next year, and the forest hold treasures, resources… and ancient threats.

The game takes place in a fantasy medieval world where you play as the Viceroy of the Scorched Queen, tasked with rebuilding the Smoldering City – the only safe haven against a vile cycle of destruction ravaging everything in its path called the Blightstorm. In order to acquire the resources to rebuild, you must tame the wilderness, found endless settlements, and create supply networks while providing a good living for the beavers, lizards, harpies, and humans under your rule.

The game is currently available in Early Access on the Epic Games Store, and the Epic version of Against the Storm has received an update today revamping Trade Routes and introducing a new roguelite mechanic in the form of Timed Orders.

Timed Orders are challenging time-sensitive requests that provide large rewards if succesful but cause the permanent loss of reputation if they fail, encouraging players to experiment with different playstyles and production chains to achieve the objective.

Meanwhile, Trade Routes have been reworked into an export and diplomacy system, where nearby settlements procedurally generate requests for deliveries in exchange for Amber — a unique resource used to unlock new perks and technologies. Trade route offers increase as your relationship with settlements improve, and the goods take time to reach their destination, requiring the player to balance the cost and time of sending a caravan versus the rewards obtained.

Against the Storm is out in Early Access on Epic and it is coming to Steam and GOG in Q4 2022. The press kit for the game, including a downloadable version of the trailer, can be found here. For press inquiries, please contact press@hoodedhorse.com.

Knock knock knocking on Death’s Door

Death’s door is a stylized game with lovely graphics!

It’s to released on X-box S/X and steam in the coming future!

The movements of each character are unique, and the designs are stellar!

The textures used give depth to the already cute and easily-readable characters and environment. The isometric placement of the scenery and fight areas brings them an additional layer of depth in an already 3-D gamescape.

This game looks to a fun a fun romp through a lovingly crafted world, a will be one to look after.

From the Steam page
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