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STARSHIP JOB SIMULATOR CONTACT PROTOCOL, COMING TO PC AND CONSOLES SPRING 2027

Kinetic Publishing and Cold Zephyr Games have announced Contact Protocol, a starship job simulator set in a gritty cassette-future full of spaceships and CRTs. Coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027.

Revealed as part of Kinetic Publishing’s first wave of titles at the Kinetic Publishing Showcase, Contact Protocol has you take on the role of a security officer onboard the starship Pale Horse, a GalCo mining vessel setting course to Jupiter’s largest moon. You’ll have to assess the intentions of approaching ships, compare the information they provide against company records, and determine whether they are friend or foe.

This is no simple admin job, however – as discrepancies are interrogated and requests for information are sent, the unknown ship approaches ever closer. Uncertainty can lead to disaster for the Pale Horse if a passing ship means harm, but choose to fire torpedoes out of caution and you just might doom a ship full of innocents. All the while the company is watching, with the threat of legal action looming if paperwork is mismanaged.

“Contact Protocol is inspired by the simple premise that, when under pressure and inundated with information, people do not make good decisions!” said Mick Hunter, Lead Designer at Cold Zephyr Games. “We’ve engineered the game so that the player’s cognitive load is at its highest whenever they are faced with a difficult moral decision – and we want to challenge them to make choices that they won’t regret later down the line. It’s about towing the line between doing the job, and doing the right thing.”

Contact Protocol Features:

  • Investigate, Interrogate, Engage: Cross-reference incoming data bursts against company records, prod for answers to explain discrepancies, and destroy incoming ships that don’t meet the mark
  • Multi-task: Fix contact frequencies, check hull images, and recover corrupted data – all while answering comms
  • Choices matter: Your decisions will affect your relationships with the crew and their narratives and will have knock-on effects throughout the solar system
  • Procedural starships: No two encounters will be the same, and no outcome can be predicted
  • A painted universe: Discover a striking sci-fi world as sketchy and hard-edged as the game’s distinct art style

Contact Protocol will launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027.

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About Kinetic Publishing

Launched in 2026, Kinetic Publishing is the publishing label of Kinetic Games, the UK-based developer behind 27+ million selling horror phenomenon Phasmophobia.

Founded to champion innovation within the indie game development space, Kinetic Publishing aims to offer the level of support that would have benefitted Phasmophobia creator Daniel Knight at the start of his journey, and to help developers make incredible games without compromising their creative vision.

In 2027, Kinetic Publishing is launching gritty starship job simulator Contact Protocol and open world witch-tech delivery game Crescent County, followed by PRECOGNITION, Shellbound, and Aether Wizard Life in 2028. For more on Kinetic Publishing, visit the official website and follow them on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Bluesky.

About Cold Zephyr Games

Cold Zephyr Games was founded by former students from the London College of Communication, with one goal in mind – make games that make you think. Starting with Contact Protocol, the team’s debut title, Cold Zephyr Games aims to create interactive experiences that incorporate ethics, information, and the inner workings of the human brain in playful and unique ways.

GRIZZY AND THE LEMMINGS – CRAZY PARTY IS OUT NOW ON CONSOLES AND PC

Balio Studio and French animation studio HARI have launched Grizzy and the Lemmings – Crazy Party, available now digitally on Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch 2 compatible), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store, priced at 35.99 GBP / 39.99 EUR / 39.95 USD / 6,490 JPY . The launch trailer is live, and every store link is gathered on the game’s official page.

The first console game adapted from the series, Crazy Party offers 50 mini games, 6 game modes and 5 boards drawn from the show’s settings, for 1 to 4 players in local multiplayer, in 30 languages. Like the series, which has run for ten years in 200 territories without a single line of dialogue, the game is understood by watching: every round opens with a briefing in pictures and button icons.

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY PLAY

Each player controls a Lemming. All of them are after the same thing: Grizzy’s jar of Yummy spread.

Grizzy is closing in on his fridge, and the only way to hold him off is to throw his own dinner in his face. A bear turns his back at the end of the path, and the lemmings have to creep towards the jar without being caught moving. A lemming launcher smashes down a castle, and the loot goes to whoever grabs it first. A throwing contest is held where the projectile is… a lemming. A kart race means weaving between power-ups and one badly parked bear. And multicoloured chickens have to be herded into a pen they have absolutely no intention of entering.

Fridge Frenzy, Freeze or Fry!, Smash Castle, Launch Party, Drift Rush, Cluck Rush: six mini games out of fifty, six settings, six ways to fight over the same jar of Yummy.

EVERYONE IN THE SAME ROOM

Crazy Party is played by 1 to 4 players locally on every platform. No online play, no chat, no interaction with strangers: a deliberate choice for a game rated PEGI 3. When there are fewer than four of you, the empty slots are held by computer-controlled opponents, across all six modes and all fifty mini games. Along the way, 32 of the 40 Lemmings are unlocked by playing (from the pirate lemming to the penguin lemming) and 150 stickers await collectors.

“We built this game with one clear goal: for kids and parents to have fun and laugh together,” says Massimo Baglio, Co-Founder and CEO of Balio Studio. “That’s what we saw throughout our playtests, and from now on, it happens in your living room.”

Balio Studio was founded in Mons by three brothers, Massimo, Frédéric and Adriano Baglio, and has fifteen people today. Crazy Party is the first title the studio publishes itself.

KEY FEATURES

  • 50 mini games spanning action, reflex, timing and co-operative challenges
  • 6 game modes for different group sizes and session lengths
  • 5 boards inspired by the series: Ranger’s House, Nutty Hill Road, the Diamond Mine, the Yummy Factory and the Lunar Base
  • 40 characters, 32 of them unlockable, and 150 collectible stickers
  • 1 to 4 players in local multiplayer on every platform
  • Empty player slots are held by computer-controlled opponents
  • No online play, no chat, no interaction with strangers
  • Available in 30 languages

The game launches complete. Balio Studio then plans free content updates with new mini games.

Only one thing left to do: gather the family, pick your lemming, and start the first round.

ASSETS

Official game page and all store links
Launch trailer
Announcement trailer

Review codes remain available on request for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

ABOUT BALIO STUDIO

Balio Studio is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Mons, Belgium. Founded by three brothers, Massimo, Frédéric and Adriano Baglio, the studio has fifteen people and creates console and PC games focused on accessible, family friendly experiences. Grizzy and the Lemmings – Crazy Party is the first title it publishes itself.

PRESS CONTACT

Adriano Baglio
Co-Founder and Creative Director, Balio Studio
press@baliostudio.com
https://baliostudio.com

Tactical Deckbuilder Montabi Now Available on Nintendo, Xbox, & PC Storefronts

Indonesian developer Mankibo and publisher Akupara Games have released creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder Montabi on Nintendo Switch 1+ 2, Xbox One + Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $19.99 USD. After months of Trainers building teams and testing runs in the demo, the full roster, city, and campaign are now live to experience today.

Get Montabi Today: 
Steam | XBOX | Switch

On a quest to save the city, you’ll tame a roster of unique Montabi, each with their own abilities, in order to battle your way through unforgiving streets. You’ll strategize on a tactical 3×3 battlemap, evolve your Montabi into more powerful forms, and unlock new cards that keep your options fresh — no run ever plays the same way. 

Features:

  • Build Your Deck By Taming – If you’re going to be the big hero and save the city, you’ve gotta get some Montabi! Each Montabi has a unique set of skills, giving you endless combinations for team synergies. Collect equipment and charms and utilize them to chart the path to victory!
  • Evolve, Learn New Skills – Train your Montabi to grow stronger, unlocking new moves to enhance your team’s strategy. As they level up, your Montabi evolve into more powerful forms, gaining new card abilities and expanding your tactical options. If you work together, there’s nothing you and your Montabi can’t achieve!
  • Outsmart Your Opponents – Deploy your best strategies to beat up the bad guys in a unique 3×3 grid-based system. With every Montabi’s unique abilities, you’ll have endless options to outthink the competition and win the day. Just make sure you rest up at a cafe every now and then to recover those hit points!
  • Choose Your Trainer – Select from diverse trainers, each with a unique playstyle. Do you wanna put your team in the perfect position, get right up in their faces and duke it out, or buff up your Montabi with a hearty meal? When the city’s at stake, everyone pitches in! Just make sure to stay safe! Like the king in chess, if your trainer is defeated, the game ends.
  • Try Every Montabi – Choose your favorite of the 22 starters and start battling! Since each evolutionary line has a unique deck, your playstyle options are endless. With 500+ cards to choose from, every run is unique!

Contact Information
richard@akuparagames.com 

About Mankibo
What if there was a place that welcomed everyone, regardless of their background, physical condition, education, or experience? A place where people are treated with respect, compassion, and provided with a safe environment to have fun and create what they believe in—a fun game! And so, here we are—a group of playful Manki, striving to make games accessible for everyone to enjoy. We may not be the best of the best, but together, let’s defy all odds. We hope to inspire other companies to do the same: to open more opportunities for people, regardless of their circumstances.
For more information, visit: Mankibo.com

About Akupara Games
Akupara Games is an indie game publisher based in Los Angeles, California. Using extensive knowledge and experience in development, they support their developers through an involved and personalized pipeline to bring games to communities of players who are looking for their next enveloping experience. Their vision is to help bring stories to life and usher in the next line of gaming classics. For more information, visit: AkuparaGames.com

Roguelite Action Platformer Dragon is Dead Now Available Physically for PS5 and Nintendo Switch

Meridiem is pleased to announce 2D dark fantasy hack and slash, roguelite action platformer Dragon is Dead developed by Team Sunset is now available physically for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.  Dragon is Dead offers tons of customization fun with different character skill trees and legendary equipment.
 

Dragon is Dead is published worldwide digitally and in North America physically by PM Studios®, with Meridiem responsible for crafting the game’s European physical Guernian Edition, overseeing its design and manufacturing and packing it with collectable extras, including a special sleeve, character cards and the Lore of Guernian!
 

In this dark fantasy action roguelite, death is only the beginning. As an immortal Successor, slash through corrupted lands, master three distinct classes, and keep your legendary gear to return stronger after every fall. The Black Dawn awaits.
 

Play as an immortal Successor 

You are a Successor, an immortal warrior empowered by the gods Lu, Ashuran, and Harnia. When you die, you revive with your gear, runes, and unlocks intact and head back out from Cliffshire to push further into corrupted zones.
 

Choose your Successor 

You’ll start as the Spellblade and unlock additional Successors as you progress. Each has its own skill tree, weapons, and playstyle.
 

Playable Classes 

  • Spellblade – Element-focused hybrid with close and mid-range attacks built around fire, frost, and lightning. 
  • Berserker – Heavy melee bruiser that trades its own HP and positioning for huge damage and armor.  
  • Hunter – Mobile ranged fighter using thrown weapons, poison, and beast abilities to apply damage over time and control space.

2D Roguelite Hack-and-Slash Combat 

Combat revolves around precise dodges, reading telegraphed attacks, and committing to aggressive combos. Areas are multi-layered 2D stages that reshuffle enemy layouts, hazards, and loot each run. When you fall, you lose gold and temporary bonuses, but your gear and runes stay with you and form the base of your next attempt.
 

Loot, runes, and artefacts 

Hunt Elites and Bosses to claim Rune Stones, then craft them into Legendary and Mythic equipment. Runes and class skill trees interact to define your build, while artefacts you pick up mid-run stack into powerful synergies.
 

Uncover the Black Dawn 

The dragon Guernian has fallen, and his Corruption twists the world. You must fight your way to the Citadel at the centre of the rift. But be warned: the history you know is a lie. Track down major bosses, piece together the fragments of the past, and discover what the Black Dawn is really doing with the Corruption.
 

Watch the trailer here 

Dragon is Dead – Guernian Edition is now available physically for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The game is available digitally worldwide through PM Studios.
 

For more info, visit https://meridiem-games.com

 

About Meridiem 

We are Meridiem, a video game publisher and distributor in love with its culture, which we protect and pass on in order to preserve it. We do this by fostering talent through investment in independent projects with potential, bringing back classic titles, promising indies and AAA games while continuing to support the physical format.

When we stop working on video games, we celebrate by playing video games. https://meridiem-games.com/  #PLAYTOREMEMBER.
 

 About PM Studios  

PM Studios is a game developer and publisher dedicated to championing indie innovation and delivering bold, unforgettable gaming experiences to players around the world. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Las Vegas, with international operations in Seoul, Korea, PM Studios brings deep expertise in development, distribution, and publishing — with a growing slate of acclaimed titles and popular franchises across console, PC, and mobile.
 

At PM Studios, creativity comes without compromise. We empower creators, connect communities, and invite players everywhere to unleash their wonder. Come play. www.pm-studios.com
 

 About Team Suneat 

Team Suneat is an indie game dev team made up of 4 industry veterans who have been working together for many years. A subsidiary of PM Studios, Team Suneat is bringing their action game expertise to Dragon is Dead – due to launch in 2024. 

Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence Now Available on Consoles

Following a successful launch on Steam, DevilishGames and Making Enemies are happy to announce that Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence is now available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
 

In this first installment of the Scholar Adventure series, you step into the shoes of William, a young writer searching for inspiration for his debut novel. His quest leads him to a remote abbey where the monks have taken a strict vow of silence. What began as a peaceful literary retreat soon spirals into a disturbing mystery: within the monastery walls lies a dark secret that was never meant to be uncovered.
 

Inspired by the golden age of 1990s point-and-click adventures, Mystery of Silence blends atmospheric pixel art with a narrative rich in suspense and dark humor. You will explore haunting environments, solve clever inventory-based puzzles, and uncover the truths hidden deep within the abbey.
 

With an estimated playtime of 2 to 3 hours, the game offers a focused, intense, and carefully crafted experience designed to keep players immersed until its conclusion. The console versions reinforce DevilishGames’ and Making Enemies’ commitment to bringing this first installment of the Scholar Adventure series to a wider audience, while also laying the groundwork for future stories within its narrative universe.
 

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, iOS, and Android.

Languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Catalan, Basque, and Galician.

Release date: July 3.

Important Links:

YouTube Trailer

Nintendo eShop

Microsoft Store

PlayStation Store

Steam

App Store

Google Play

About DevilishGames

DevilishGames (Spherical Pixel S.L.) is a video game studio based in Villena, Spain, with over 25 years of experience in creating and publishing games for multiple platforms. During this time, it has developed and published more than 150 titles, reaching over 100 million people worldwide.

Currently, the company operates in two distinct lines of business. The first focuses on the development of advertising and educational video games for clients through its agency Spherical Pixel. The second is centered on the creation of innovative and experimental independent video games, which it publishes under the name DevilishGames on PC, mobile devices, and consoles.

Among its most notable titles are Cutout Village, Path to Mnemosyne, Onirike, King Lucas, and Minabo – A walk through life.

About Making Enemies Making Enemies (Ayose Trujillo) is an independent developer from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria who is entering the world of video games with Mystery of Silence, his first title. With a professional background in creative and advertising direction, Ayose aims to create experiences with a strong visual style marked by pixel art and carefully crafted storytelling. His work draws inspiration from classic games of the 80s and 90s, updating gameplay while embracing a contemporary creative vision.

The soundtrack and sound effects are created by Antonio Vozmediano, a Sound Artist from Madrid. With 16 years of experience composing and 6 years producing his own music for both personal and external projects, he has developed a wide stylistic range, standing out especially for his orchestral approach.

2D Roguelike Platformer Pit Panic launching July 21st on PC and consoles

Flying Rat Studio is happy to announce that Pit Panic will launch on July 21, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Pit Panic is a fast-paced 2D rogue-like platformer about escaping a collapsing Aztec temple. Very loosely inspired by games like Spelunky, it combines quick runs, deadly traps, treasure hunting, and constant improvisation with its own focus on vertical movement, digging, grappling hook action, and handcrafted level design.

Players dig their own way up, jump and climb at high speed, use a mysterious grappling hook, collect treasure, trade health for powerful upgrades, defeat ancient bosses, and try to survive more than 1,000 handcrafted levels.

Every run brings a new challenge across four distinct biomes filled with traps, enemies, environmental puzzles, and split-second decisions. After escaping the temple, players can continue the challenge through daily runs, leaderboards, and custom levels.

A free demo is still available to try on Steam

Key features:

  • Fast-paced 2D rogue-like platforming
  • Very loosely inspired by games like Spelunky
  • More than 1,000 handcrafted levels
  • Grappling hook movement, digging, climbing, and environmental interaction
  • Four unique biomes with their own enemies, bosses, and puzzles
  • Daily challenges, leaderboards, and custom levels
  • Launching July 21, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2

Pit Panic is both developed and published by Flying Rat Studio.

Links:

Pit Panic website
Flying Rat Studio website

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Maseylia: Echoes of the Past Confirmed for Consoles with Physical Editions Announced for PS5 and Nintendo Switch

Nejcraft is proud to announce its partnership with French indie studio Sol Brothers to bring Maseylia: Echoes of the Past to consoles. Following the game’s upcoming PC launch on June 19, 2026, the movement-driven 3D Metroidvania is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with physical editions confirmed for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

First images of the retail editions are being revealed today, giving players an early look at the upcoming physical releases.

Inspired by Metroid Prime, Pseudoregalia, and Hollow Knight, Maseylia: Echoes of the Past is a true 3D Metroidvania built around freedom of movement, deep exploration, and non-linear progression. Set within a vast interconnected sci-fi world, players gradually unlock powerful traversal abilities that transform how they navigate the environment, revealing hidden routes, long-forgotten secrets, and entirely new possibilities for exploration.

Maseylia’s Key Features

  • Explore a vast interconnected 3D Metroidvania world.
  • Discover powerful abilities that unlock new paths, shortcuts, and secrets.
  • Traverse 6 unique biomes, each with its own atmosphere, enemies, and boss encounter.
  • Uncover the mysteries of a world abandoned after a devastating alien invasion.
  • Find hidden upgrades, optional areas, sequence breaks, and rewards for curious explorers.
  • Enjoy 10–15 hours of gameplay for the main ending, with significantly more content for completionists.
  • Available in 12 languages at launch.

Physical Editions

To celebrate the console announcement, physical editions for PS5 and Nintendo Switch have also been revealed. Published by Nejcraft, these editions bring Maseylia: Echoes of the Past to store shelves for players who prefer a boxed copy of their adventures.

Physical preorders are now live.

The full contents of the physical editions will be revealed in the coming weeks, but if you already know you want a boxed copy of Maseylia, you can secure yours today and be among the first supporters of the game.

Preorder here

Not ready to preorder yet? Sign up for Nejcraft’s newsletter and they’ll let you know as soon as the complete physical edition contents are announced.


Console Release Information

Platforms
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

Physical Editions
PS5, Nintendo Switch

Estimated Retail Price
Digital Edition: 17€
Physical Edition: 35€ (contents to be announced)

Game Overview

  • 10–15 hours of gameplay
  • 6 unique biomes
  • 6 major bosses
  • 12 languages available at launch

About Sol Brothers

Maseylia: Echoes of the Past is developed by Sol Brothers, an independent French game studio founded by Victor Abresol. The project has been developed over several years with support from talented musicians and family members contributing to various aspects of development and promotion. 

About Nejcraft

Nejcraft is a Czech-based publisher with over four years of experience in co-development, porting, distribution, and publishing. As developers themselves, the team keeps things personal and straightforward—no corporate hoops, just a small crew that knows each project inside and out. 

Alongside game development and publishing, Nejcraft is expanding into physical releases and collector-focused editions, including the physical edition of Laysara: Summit Kingdom. 

Links

Steam

PlayStation

Trailer

Website

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