Gamescom is upon us! - Press Release #3
It's been a pretty hefty week of news and announcements thanks to Gamescom, with the event still running through the weekend. As usual I've collated as much as I can from my inbox, slightly tweaking the layout again to hopefully get that bit closer to making it digestible.
New Game AnnouncementsPre-Launch UpdatesPost-Launch Updates & DLCHardware & AccessoriesOddball Extras
CrisisX
Developer: Hero Games
Publisher: Hero Games
Genres: Open World, Survival
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: 2025
Net.Attack()
Developer: ByteRockers' Games
Publisher: ByteRockers' Games
Genres: Action Roguelite, Bullet Hell
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: 2025
Directive 8020
Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Supermassive Games
Genres: Sci-Fi, Survival Horror
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
Roadcraft
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Genres: Construction, Simulation
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
King of Meat
Developer: Glowmade
Publisher: Amazon Games
Genres: Party, Action, Co-op
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and Steam
Release Date: Unknown
Borderlands 4
Developer: Gearbox
Publisher: 2K
Genres: FPS, Looter Shooter
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
A.I.L.A.
Developer: Pulsatrix Studios
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Genres: First Person, Psychological Horror
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: 2025
Mafia: The Old Country
Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K
Genres: Action, Adventure
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
SkyVerse
Developer: Enjoy Studio S.A.
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive
Genres: RPG, Sandbox, Survival
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: Unknown
Brute Horse
Developer: Place of Departure
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive
Genres: Action, Platformer
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
ITER
Developer: fluckyMachine
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Genres: Mining, Roguelite, Tower Defence
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: 2025
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Developer: Raccoon Logic
Publisher: Racoon Logic
Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Comedy
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
Retrieval
Developer: 333Studios
Publisher: 333Studios
Genres: Survival Horror, Adventure
Platforms: PS5 and Steam
Release Date: UnknownHela
Developer: Windup
Publisher: Knights Peak, MY.GAMES
Genres: Exploration, Puzzle
Platforms: Steam
Release Date: Unknown
WILL: Follow The Light
Developer: TomorrowHead Studio
Publisher: TomorrowHead Studio
Genres: Adventure, Atmospheric
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: 2025
[REDACTED]
Developer: Striking Distance Studios
Publisher: Krafton
Genres: Action Roguelike, Arena Shooter
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam
Release Date: October 31st
➤ Jotunslayer: Hordes of Hel demo live on Steam; features a new hero, updated UI, and skill evolution (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Upcoming mobile game Pokemon TCG Pocket gets October 30th release date; pre-registration now available on iOS and Android (Trailer | App Store | Play Store)
➤ Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire gets October 10th release date, with a demo now available on Steam; JRPG paying homage to the golden era of the genre (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Sports: Renovations to be published by Dear Villagers, releasing soon on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S; first person simulator that sees you giving new life to old sports facilities (Steam)
➤ ATLUS announce full English voice cast for their upcoming fantasy JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio; protagonist to be voiced by Caleb Yen
➤ #DRIVE Rally gets September 25th release date at Awesome Indies Showcase; due to launch on Steam, Epic Games, and GOG with an Early Access price of $19.99 (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Antro to participate in Steam Rhythm Fest with a playable demo now available; game to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025 (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Atmospheric first-person adventure game Journey Beyond the Edge of the World gets playable demo on Steam; developers hoping to use feedback from the demo to further improve the game (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Sonic X Shadow Generations gets new trailer showing off Shadow's new Doom Powers to take on Black Doom; Collector's Edition also announced and is available to order via Limited Run Games, though is notably not a limited-quantity release (Trailer | Collector's Edition)
➤ Cthulu-inspired survival horror game Edge of Sanity gets September 13th release date; pre-orders now live for Switch and PlayStation (Trailer)
➤ Lost Records: Bloom & Rage gets first gameplay trailer alongside March 18th release date; game to launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 (Trailer)
➤ Anticipated sequel Path of Exile 2 gets Early Access launch date of November 15th (Trailer)
➤ Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 gets new "Heed the Call of War" trailer; game set to launch September 9th on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Trailer)
➤ New locale and monsters revealed for Monster Hunter Wilds; game set to launch 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with crossplay support confirmed (Trailer)
➤ Dune: Awakening set to release early 2025; gets a 30 minutes gameplay presentation at Gamescom (Gameplay)
➤ Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero to launch October 11th; pre-orders currently available with a new trailer going live alongside the release date reveal (Trailer)
➤ Little Nightmares III gets "Friendship" trailer; game set to launch on all major platforms in 2025 (Trailer)
➤ Narrative action-adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening gets October 18th release date; pre-orders now available (Trailer)
➤ Sid Meier's Civilization VII to launch February 11th; game to be available on PC and all major consoles with cross-play and cross-progression confirmed (Trailer)
➤ Farming Simulator 25 shows off weather events and baby animals with its first gameplay trailer (Trailer)
➤ Double Dragon Revive launches its official website; game announced last month and set to launch 2025 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam (Trailer | Official Site)
➤ Awaken - Astral Blade to get a physical release on the PS5 later this year; set to include slip case, lore book, digital soundtrack, and sticker
➤ Adventure game Koira gets new demo alongside announcement of April 17th release date; game to come to PS5 on top of previously-announced PC (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Space opera Metroidvania Altered Alma gets first public demo September 3rd in line with the launch of its Kickstarter campaign (Trailer | Steam | Kickstarter)
➤ The Nameless: Slay Dragon gets a new trailer to go alongside its release date announcement; game to launch September 26th on Steam, with a Switch version to follow later (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Indie JRPG Bloomtown: A Different Story to launch September 24th on PC and all major consoles; game is inspired by classics in the genre such as Persona and Earthbound (Trailer | Steam)
➤ The Spirit of the Samurai gets Fall 2024 release date alongside a new gameplay trailer; showcases three playable characters, custom combo editor, and more (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Beyond Galaxyland gets September 24th release date announced at the Future Games Show; new gameplay trailer available showing off interstellar exploration and battling (Trailer | Steam)
➤ The studio behind "Richie's Plank Experience" to bring Max Mustard, a VR platforming title to PSVR2 October 3rd; new trailer available to show the game off (Trailer)
➤ Swashbuckling turn-based tactics game Rogue Waters coming to PC September 30th; teaser trailer available with 20% discount on Steam for pre-purchasing (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Tormented Souls 2 gets extended 24 minute gameplay preview; game is set to release in 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S (Trailer)
➤ Cactus, the debut title of Swiss indie developer Axon Flux, gets March 2025 release date; blending "quirky mechanics" with vibrant visuals, a demo is currently available on Steam (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Quidditch Champions gets new "Magic is in the Air" trailer; provides a general overview of gameplay and aims to bridge the gap between enjoyers of the movies and potential buyers of the game (Trailer)
➤ Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter gets a February 2025 release date; game aims to build on the original Tails of Iron with expanded combat, monster hunting, and more (Trailer)
➤ Bandai Namco's upcoming SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada scheduled to get a Closed Network Test from the 13th to the 16th of September; sign up is available until September 3rd (Trailer | Sign Up)
➤ Dead Cells gets its final major update: The End is Near; focuses on the curse status effect and brings with it new enemies, weapons, and mutations (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Roguelike card battler Hellcard gets new "Bruja" DLC priced at $5.99; game to be playable for free until August 26th on Steam in celebration (Trailer | Steam)
➤ The rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT gets its latest free content update, adding a new weapon, utility, and more; game is currently 20% off as a part of Steam's Rhythm Fest (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Free "Holo Danger" update available for turn-based superhero tactics game Capes; introduces unique missions that provide combat challenges for any skill level (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Space exploration game Starcom: Unknown Space to leave Early Access September 2nd with 1.0 release; game has over 92% positive reviews on Steam with more than 20,000 players during the Early Access period (Steam)
➤ Terry Bogard arrives in Street Fighter 6 as its newest playable character September 24th; gameplay trailer revealed (Trailer)
➤ Gamescom trailer reveals a familiar face coming to the Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass; releasing as a part of Episode Aigis, set to launch September 10th (Trailer)
➤ DJ Damitri Vegas returns to Hitman's World of Assassination on September 12th as an Elusive Target; "The Drop" mission to be available for free as a part of the game's free starter pack (Trailer)
➤ Warhammer: Vermintide 2: Versus gets an open beta until September 2nd; advertised as a new way to play the well-received 2018 game with a new asymmetric PvP+E game mode (Trailer | Steam)
➤ EVERSPACE 2 to get new "Titans" DLC, promising to bring "massive repeatable encounters" with new enemies and a bunch of loot; no release date mentioned yet (Trailer | Steam)
➤ Early Access survival game SCUM gets new content with its 0.954 update releasing; improves loot spawn, stealth mechanics, and brings back the Quad Vehicle (Steam)
➤ Diplomacy is Not an Option to launch out of Early Access October 4th with its 1.0 release; game has been well received since launching in 2022, currently sitting at "Very Positive" on Steam (Trailer | Steam)
➤ M-Con gets a new update confirming upcoming Kickstarter for the attachable mobile game controller; also entered the Pegasus World Cup Startup Competition
➤ PowerA unveils new "OVERPOWERED" series of controllers; two flavours available at $49.99 and $99.99, featuring adjustable triggers, hall effect sticks, and a bunch of mappable buttons (OPS v1 ($49.99) | OPS v3 Pro ($99.99))
➤ Turtle Beach announces an assortment of headsets, controllers, and more to launch Fall 2024; headline product is the third generation Turtle Beach Stealth 700 headset (Stealth 700 Gen 3 Headset)
➤ Developer conference devcom ran this week between the 18th and 20th; included Indie Awards, and insights of 100 distinguished speakers on topics such as AI in games development, challenges facing the industry, and financial viability of AAA games
➤ GameChops and Super Piano 64 release licensed cover album Zelda & Sleep 2, featuring 34 soothing piano arrangements from the Legend of Zelda series (Album Availability)
➤ Devcom developer conference breaks all records in new location; achieves record high attendance with 2025 events and dates already announced
Fun-Looking Releases
This week we see the release of one highly anticipated game, but I've tried my best to fish out a few others for those wanting something different.
Black Myth: Wukong
Available on PS5 and Steam
➤ Even if this isn't a game I'll be picking up for a good while to come, this new Action RPG looks fantastic. Pushing visual boundaries (and graphics cards…) with what looks to be some really fun combat, it's a game I can't see many being disappointed by. Assuming you can run it anyway.
Mika and The Witch's Mountain
Available on Switch and Steam
➤ Mika has released to some pretty mixed reviews from major outlets. I'm not quite sure why it's on Switch when it's still marked as Early Access on the Steam side of things, but I will at least say I like what they were going for here. This is a game where you play as a witch delivering packages... A familiar story for fans of Studio Ghibli. According to the Early Access information they plan to use the next six months to add to the experience and embrace feedback. If it's not quite there yet, it could be one for the wishlist while you wait for a 1.0 release.
Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home
Available on iOS and Android
➤ Did you know there's a new Harvest Moon game coming to iOS? Did you know it was already out? I just don't know what to think of Harvest Moon in its current state, but releasing a new game as a one-off £17.99 purchase on a mobile platform is certainly something interesting. I've heard that with Winds of Anthos, Natsume have actually started to bring the series back in a positive direction (albeit still very different from the parallel Story of Seasons), so this might yet be one worthy of consideration if you've perhaps seen all there is to see on Stardew Valley.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Available on Steam
➤ An XCOM-looking turn-based strategy filled with humour and some great stylish graphics. I don't have a lot to say here, the game just looks really good. If somebody ends up picking it up I'd love to hear more.
Wrapping Up
And that's it for this week! We've seen a lot of announcements for 2025, but looking even to next month we have a new Zelda game, and the long-awaited return of Ace Attorney Investigations on modern platforms. There's plenty to look forward to for the rest of this year, and I'll try my best to throw it in here.
️ Very lovely, thank you paper boy 
