There’s no reason to wait to play Chernobylite 2 anymore. Today, along with Steam Next Fest, we’re giving you access to the game’s demo version. The Prologue of the Chernobylite 2 will take you at least 1-2 hours to complete, depending on how many different gameplay mechanics you would like to try and how much you’re into exploring the Zone. The demo lets you begin the open-world exploration. However (because it’s a prologue, not because it’s a demo), it’s a much smaller area compared to the Early Access version that will be launched on March 6th.
Today, Stray Kite Studios released their first ever demo for Wartorn as part of Steam Next Fest: February Edition, providing players with a look at the eagerly anticipated real-time tactics roguelite Wartorn.
From Creative Director Paul Hellquist (lead designer on BioShock and creative director on Borderlands 2) comes Stray Kite’s first original title, Wartorn, which features rich tactical gameplay, gorgeous visuals and dynamic combat as players utilize elemental forces to their advantage.
The Wartorn demo provides players with an overview of how the game’s combat mechanics work. Players will have a chance to experience several unit types and discover how to utilize your abilities and surrounding environment to survive each skirmish. Players will also get to play as the two main heroes, Yara and Elani, while exploring four different maps.
Wartorn Features:
Dynamic Combat: Wartorn’s dynamic combat system lets you harness elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning, which interact in exciting ways to create unique tactical opportunities. Ignite tar to engulf enemies, amplify electric shocks with water, or douse flames to shift the tide of battle.
Destructible Environments: The game’s physics-driven destruction ensures that no two encounters play out exactly the same, adding layers of depth and unpredictability to every skirmish.
Unique Progression System: The roguelite progression system rewards players for perseverance, offering heirlooms, hero upgrades, and new abilities that carry forward with each run.
Beautiful Aesthetic: Wartorn’s world is visually compelling, with heroes, enemy mobs, and its magical lands rendered with incredible attention to detail. The painterly aesthetic adds a gorgeous layer to the experience, even during moments of brutality and tragedy.
Slow Down Time: With the slow-time feature, even the most complex scenarios are accessible, allowing players to slow down, analyze the chaos, and issue precise commands, adapting gameplay to suit their pace.
The SCUF Valor Pro is a wired gaming controller designed for Xbox and PC that walks a fine line between high-end performance and affordability. It enters a crowded market with a compelling blend of features typically found in more expensive controllers, while boasting a price tag that’s more accessible to the average gamer. After putting it through its paces, I’ve come to appreciate its strengths and acknowledge its shortcomings, ultimately finding it a controller that excels in many areas but falls short in others, particularly for PC gamers.
From the moment I first held the Valor Pro, I was impressed by its exceptional build quality. This is not a controller that feels cheap or flimsy; rather, it exudes a sense of solidity and meticulous craftsmanship. Every button, trigger, and paddle feels robust and responsive, providing a satisfying tactile experience. The mechanical buttons deliver a crisp, clean click with each press, while the Hall effect thumbsticks glide smoothly with a reassuring firmness. SCUF has clearly paid close attention to the details, crafting a controller that feels as good as it performs.
And speaking of performance, the Valor Pro is packed with features aimed at giving gamers a competitive edge. The four remappable back paddles are a standout addition, allowing you to execute complex actions without ever taking your thumbs off the thumbsticks. This translates to faster reaction times and improved precision, particularly in fast-paced shooters or action games. The adjustable instant triggers are another unique feature, offering the option of hair-trigger sensitivity for lightning-fast responses in FPS games, or a more traditional full-pull feel for other genres. The dedicated audio controls are a welcome convenience, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments to volume and game/chat balance without having to interrupt your gameplay.
But perhaps the most significant performance enhancement comes from the inclusion of Hall effect thumbsticks. This technology utilizes magnets to detect movement, eliminating the potential for stick drift that plagues many traditional controllers. Stick drift, that frustrating phenomenon where your character moves or the camera drifts without any input from you, can be a serious detriment to competitive gaming. By incorporating Hall effect thumbsticks, SCUF has addressed this issue head-on, ensuring that your inputs are always accurate and responsive.
In practice, the Valor Pro lives up to its performance claims. The controller feels incredibly responsive, and the customizable features genuinely make a difference in gameplay. Whether I was pulling off intricate combos in a fighting game, navigating treacherous platforming challenges, or aiming precisely in a shooter, the Valor Pro felt like an extension of my hands, providing the accuracy and control I needed to excel. The ability to fine-tune the controller to my specific preferences through different profiles and paddle configurations adds another layer of versatility, making it adaptable to a wide range of genres and playstyles.
However, despite its many strengths, the Valor Pro is not without its drawbacks. The most glaring issue for PC gamers, is the currently low 250 Hz polling rate of the controller. According to SCUF, a 1000 Hz polling update will be released at some point in the future. Also, in an age where wireless peripherals have become the norm, being tethered to your PC with a cable feels like a significant step backward. While the wired connection does ensure a stable, low-latency experience, it also introduces a level of inconvenience that many gamers, myself included, would rather avoid. This is especially perplexing considering the $100 price tag, as there are numerous cheaper controllers on the market that offer wireless functionality.
Another area where the Valor Pro falls short is the D-pad. While the rest of the buttons and controls feel fantastic, the D-pad is disappointingly stiff and small. This makes it less than ideal for fighting games or any genre that requires precise directional inputs. It’s a shame that SCUF didn’t put more effort into refining this aspect of the controller, as it detracts from an otherwise stellar experience.
In the end, the SCUF Valor Pro is a bit of a mixed bag. It excels in terms of build quality, performance-enhancing features, and overall feel. However, the lack of 1000 Hz polling and the subpar D-pad prevent it from achieving true greatness, particularly for PC gamers. If SCUF can address these issues in a future iteration, they will have a truly compelling product on their hands. As it stands, the Valor Pro is a solid choice for gamers seeking a competitive edge, but it’s not without its compromises.
Dagger Directive, the new retro/old-school tactical FPS from MicroProse, has a shiny new demo available NOW on STEAM. If you loved classics like the original Delta Force and Ghost Recon, you’re in for a real treat!
Dagger Directive brings back the intense, strategic gunplay and freedom of approach that made those games legendary—blending them with modern mechanics for a fresh yet nostalgic experience.
In Dagger Directive, players take on the role of a member of Task Force Dagger, an elite international special forces unit tasked with saving the world from a variety of threats.
The game offers three distinct campaigns, each set in diverse global environments—from battling eco-terrorists in the icy waters of the Bering Sea to halting international crime in the South Pacific and combating extreme nationalism in the heart of Eastern Europe.
Coatsink are thrilled to announce that their critically claimed VR game Augmented Empire, is making its grand debut on Steam on April 1st. Experience an acclaimed narrative RPG set in a compelling cyberpunk world and featuring an all-star cast that includes Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager, Orange Is The New Black), Nick Frost (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) and Garrick Hagon (Star Wars: A New Hope, Batman: Arkham Knight).
In Augmented Empire, you step into the divided city of New Savannah in 2058. Citizens are graded, with those deemed to have the highest societal value living in luxury at the top, which outcasts and criminals languish in squalor below. Playing as the former poster-child of civil obedience, circumstances turn your world upside down and force you to lead a team of misfits and criminals to survive.
Meet a fascinating cast of characters, across a range of sci-fi locales that span the breadth of the city. Learn the backstories of the characters that join your team and turn their unique abilities to your advantage as you lead them in turn-based RPG battles on your quest to overthrow the corrupt elite. Unlock and upgrade your character’s abilities as you progress to improve your performance in combat and give you new ways of tackling your enemies.
“Bringing Augmented Empire to Steam was a happy accident and excited to share the story of New Savannah to a larger audience. The VR community have screaming for years for a re-master of Augmented Empire,” said programmer Tom Elliott. “We decided to finally give in and dust off the code and rework the game from the Oculus Gear VR and onto the Meta Quest. While we were working on the VR port, we curiously decided to see how the game would feel in a more traditional format.”
Horrors from your worst nightmares await you just beyond the horizon, as Fulqrum Publishing and Misterial Games’ Lovecraftian horror title Stygian: Outer Gods will be launching on PC via Early Access this year! The full 1.0 launch will be hitting PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later date.
But those horrors will be creeping up on you sooner than you realise – as an all-new demo, featuring the earliest segments of the game, will be available during the upcoming Steam Next Fest, taking place from February 24 – March 3. But be quick about it – the demo will be taken down once Steam Next Fest comes to a close!
Stygian: Outer Gods is a survival horror game that pulls you into a hostile world that challenges your very existence. Unravel a thousand-year-old mystery, risk your sanity and face the schemes of the Outer Gods with your skills. Every bullet and every decision counts now, are you up to the task?
Set in the universe of Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones, the game lets players witness and influence the events preceding the Black Day. Immerse yourself in a unique world full of dangers, unexplored dark corners, and looming evil beyond mortal comprehension.
You will accompany an enigmatic occultist researcher, Victoria, on an expedition to the foggy settlement of Kingsport, once a prosperous harbor town, now decrepit and almost abandoned. Hoping to find your missing father, you are shipwrecked and soon encounter the nightmares that have haunted this place for centuries. Would you be able to find your way out, keep your sanity, and prevent the coming of the ancient Outer Gods, or maybe being insane is the key to salvation?
The Stygian: Outer Gods demo will be available during Steam Next Fest, with an Early Access launch planned for 2025 on PC. The full 1.0 launch will be hitting PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at a later date.
Today, KOEI TECMO America and developer Gust revealed the first details on the explorable regions and the monsters who haunt them for their upcoming JRPG, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. Before setting on a journey across the continent of Aladiss to uncover its mysteries alongside Yumia, fans can lose themselves in the marvelous world that awaits them in a brand-new trailer. Players can also learn more about the key members of the Aladiss Research team with the latest artwork by beloved artist Benitama. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available March 21, 2025 on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Windows PC via Steam® and, for the first time in franchise history, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
In Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, players will follow alchemist Yumia Liessfeldt as she joins the Aladiss Research team in hope to unravel the mysteries behind the cataclysm that destroyed the once great continent of Aladiss. Spearheaded by the Order of Eustella and led by Erhard, the Aladiss Research team is an organisation focused on investigating the fallen land of Aladiss, and is composed by researchers, adventurers and mercenaries. Yumia and her friends will be tasked to travel across the three regions of the continent to uncover the mysteries hidden in the ruins of the fallen Aladissian Empire.
Yumia’s journey will begin in the Ligneus region, where the Research team established its first base, far from the Aladissian capital. Yumia will travel through the plains and forest that make up the landscape, and discover research facilities abandoned by the alchemists of the time. Among the points of interest in the region, players will visit the Arbor Botanical Garden and the 8th Laboratory, before continuing their journey.
Players with a passion for fungi of all kinds will be delighted to explore the Sivash region, renowned for its mushroom-like flora, where Yumia will encounter the demihuman Welleks people. While exploring the region, the team will meet the Neru people, a tribe of monsters capable of human speech and easily recognisable by their slender silhouette and mushroom-like umbrellas. Before heading to the next region, players can pause to contemplate the Preces Cathedral, a place of worship at the centre of the Welleks settlement, or explore the impressive ruins of a school, known as Hermea Academy.
The third region is the industrial Auruma region, filled with the ruins of a once thriving city. Among the ruins still standing, players will discover a tree-like metal structure, as well as its commercial district, featuring a station. Yumia will also visit the Mana Transposing Furnace, which was once the nerve centre for the study of mana for the whole of Aladiss. During their stay in the region, the team will encounter the Geni tribe, unique for possessing feathers and beaks like birds.
Everyone who purchases either a physical or digital edition up to two weeks after release will receive the “Athlete of Memories” early purchase costume for Yumia, the “Floating Object of Memories” costume for Flammi, and the unique “Training Wrist Weight” equipment.
In addition, a special physical edition of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is now available for pre-order exclusively through the NIS America Store. The PREMIUM BOX includes the base game, Yumia’s precious stuffed animal, an artbook, a set of 6 decorative keychains, a CD with extra tracks, and an official short story and accompanying translation booklet.
For more information on Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, be sure to visit the official website, Subscribe to the official KOEI TECMO America YouTube channel, Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on X, Instagram, and Discord.
The time to begin your very own Nordic adventure has come! Blum Entertainment is thrilled to announce that Viking Frontiers: Prologue has just hit Steam. Players are invited to hostile Nordic lands, where they will try to survive and rebuild the former power of their clan.
Viking Frontiers is a first-person survival game where players gather resources, construct buildings, craft items, manage their clan, and immerse themselves in a captivating storyline.
You can find more information about the Prologue version, new features, changes and improvements in our devlog. Be sure to drop by!
MicroProse is excited to announce that “Neyyah,” the highly anticipated first-person point-and-click adventure game, has a new DEMO available NOW for you to try!
This immersive journey promises to captivate players with its challenging but ‘at your pace’ puzzles, designed to elicit non-stop ‘a-ha’ moments, alongside cinematic FMV sequences that hark back to beloved adventures of the past.
Fans of the genre and newcomers alike can look forward to immersing themselves in the enigmatic world of Neyyah.
Dive Deeper into Neyyah’s Mysteries
Neyyah is a beautifully crafted game that blends rich storytelling with immersive exploration and puzzle-solving. The game’s features include:
Stunning Pre-rendered Graphics: Experience high-quality, realistic visuals that bring Neyyah’s landscapes and environments to life.
Cinematic FMV Sequences: Enjoy full-motion video sequences that bring a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic adventure games.
Original Atmospheric Soundtrack: Enjoy a captivating sound design that enhances the immersive experience.
User-friendly Interface: Navigate the world with an easy-to-use 2D point-and-click interface, featuring various cursor options to aid interaction.
Customizable Movement Settings: Choose from four transition settings (OFF / SPEED / NEUTRAL / RELAX) to match your preferred gameplay style.
Journey Mode: Transition through game areas with immersive pre-rendered FMV sequences for a seamless experience.
Faster Travel Mode: Skip ahead through certain scenes to travel more efficiently and reach your objectives quicker.
Non-linear Gameplay: Engage in hours of puzzle-solving and exploration through environmental storytelling, close observation, and note-taking.
Today, Realize Music Inc. is thrilled to announce the launch of Realize Music: Sing exclusively on the Meta Quest in North America. The virtual reality application invites you to lose yourself in an ever-growing catalog of music with gorgeous immersive 360 environments that react to your voice and evolve as you sing, aiming to provide therapeutic benefits such as reducing stress, increasing lung capacity, promoting relaxation and releasing endorphins. Realize Music: Sing launches first on the Meta Quest platform with a massive and ever-growing musical library that features songs stemming from licensing deals with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, with more major announcements to come.
“Music, for so many, can be seen as a safe space, a space to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with your inner-self, letting go of any tension and allowing the dopamine to flow. We wanted to create an app that perfectly blends music into a form of wellness and that’s what you get with Realize Music: Sing. Users can sing their hearts out along with their favorite tunes and instantly feel the benefits in their body and their emotional state of mind. You’re virtually transported into a world where you can be carefree, jamming out and actually learning the lyrics to your favorite songs as you go, and with an ever-expanding catalog of music, there will always be something new to explore.” said Mark Roemer, Realize Music co-founder and CEO.
Upon subscription, users will have access to all genres of music from your favorite artists. Realize Music: Sing’s library is continuously growing, with new music set to release weekly.
The next several months will see weekly song and artist additions to the ever-growing library as well as new features added to the app, setting Realize Music: Sing apart from any other app in the market today.
For a limited time, users can subscribe to an introductory subscription price of $9.99 per month or $99.99 for an annual subscription
Key Features of Realize Music: Sing:
Extensive Music Library: Access more than 1 million songs, updated weekly, ensuring a vast and ever-expanding selection to suit every musical taste and mood.
Voice-Reactive Environments: Engage with dynamic visuals that respond to your singing, creating a deeply immersive experience where your voice shapes the world around you. New worlds dropping bi-weekly!
Lyric Visualization: Watch lyrics transform into captivating visual effects as you sing, enhancing the emotional and sensory connection to the music.
Customizable Settings: Personalize your environment and experience by selecting different settings and visual themes, making each session uniquely yours.
Interactive Activities: Enhance your musical journey with 3D painting and air drumming activities in connection with the music, adding layers of creativity and interaction and getting the rest of your body moving for additional benefit.
Advanced Navigation: Utilize seamless voice-command navigation for an intuitive and hands-free experience, allowing you to focus entirely on the music.
Community Playlists: Create, share, and explore playlists with others, fostering a collaborative and social musical environment.
Therapeutic Benefits: Use vocalization to aim for stress reduction and relaxation, tapping into the specific therapeutic power of music and singing to enhance well-being and personal expression.
Invite Your Friends Over!: Use your headset’s ability to cast users’ view to a smart TV, phone or computer for more social settings.
