Today, THQ Nordic has two ICYMI (“in case you missed it”) announcements to share: first, that the renowned Zen Studios are now part of THQ Nordic’s roster of talented and passionate development studios, bringing two and a half decades of experience to the table. And second — well, happy 25th birthday, Zen Studios!
For a quarter of a century, Zen Studios has been at the forefront of interactive entertainment, crafting experiences that merge creativity, innovation, and pure fun. From redefining digital pinball to pioneering new forms of interactive storytelling, Zen Studios has built a legacy that resonates with fans worldwide, collaborating with fantastic brands like Star Wars, Marvel, NBCU, the Monsterverse, and many more. This year, Zen Studios proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary — a milestone that reflects not only its history but also an unwavering commitment to the future of play.
As part of the celebration, a new trailer showcases some of the most beloved games Zen Studios has released over the years.
Over the past 25 years, Zen Studios has consistently pushed the gaming industry forward with first-of-their-kind innovations. At a time when the pinball genre was fading, Zen kept the silver ball alive by transforming it into a digital-first experience, making the game accessible to players around the world. With the first iteration of Pinball FX in 2007, Zen pioneered the idea of a free-to-play pinball platform, introducing in-app purchases and downloadable tables long before they became standard in the industry. The studio also embraced mobile gaming early, ensuring that a high-quality pinball experience could reach players on every screen — console, PC, or handheld device. (Who knows? Refrigerators could be the future of gaming!)
These innovations not only preserved the timeless magic of pinball but also redefined how players discover, collect, and engage with their favorite games in the modern era.
Gas Station Simulator, the critically acclaimed management game from developer and publisher DRAGO entertainment that has sold over 1 million copies, takes a bold leap forward in the roadside attraction business today with the launch of RV Camp DLC, available now on Steam, Epic, and GOG.
The RV Camp DLC expands the world of Gas Station Simulator with the addition of a vacant lot next door, filled with opportunities. Work with an elderly woman named Ruby to make her lifelong dream of creating a one-of-a-kind vacation destination a reality. Set up RV sites and rent them out to highway adventurers, deal with unruly guests, and build new attractions and amenities to expand the RV Camp and bring Ruby’s vision to life!
Meet a host of fascinating characters drawn to Ruby’s campground as it grows in fame. Handle quirky requests and manage the RV Camp’s day-to-day operations by hiring staff and building new facilities. Lend an ear to the interesting stories behind each guest, and improve the camp’s reputation to help Ruby become the reigning RV camp queen.
“RV Camp has been such a fun opportunity to explore and grow the world of Gas Station Simulator,” said Joanna Tynor, CEO at DRAGO Entertainment. “We wanted to give players more of what they love about the core Gas Station Simulator experience, while crafting an experience that feels fresh and surprising.”
The latest trailer is a collaboration between DRAGO entertainment, and the Kraków-based, proto-metal band, TARABAND. The Polish power-trio lend their front-loaded, rock sound to the RV Camp DLC, further bridging together the mainstream and underground music scene in eclectic ways.
RV Camp DLC is available now for $11.99 USD on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG. To stay up-to-date with the latest news, make sure to follow DRAGO entertainment on Twitter/X and Facebook.
Razer™, the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International, unveils the latest additions to the Razer | Pokémon Collection: the Razer Cobra – Gengar Edition and Razer Gigantus V2 – XXL – Gengar Edition, available to Trainers across the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Following the strong demand for the recently launched Razer Kraken Kitty V2 – Gengar Edition, these new releases mark the next chapter in the Razer | Pokémon Collection, expanding the lineup with fresh gear inspired by fan-favorite Pokémon Gengar. The collection continues to blend the iconic Pokémon brand with Razer’s high-performance engineering, delivering peripherals that celebrate bold design, playful personality, and competitive precision.
Ghostly Gear for Fearless Play
Infused with Gengar’s mischievous energy, the new peripherals are crafted for gamers who embrace the shadows and play with fearless style. Whether sneaking through competitive matches or customizing a setup with ghostly flair, the Gengar Edition Cobra and Gigantus V2 – XXL complete a collection built to deliver haunting precision, playful style, and unmistakable character.
Razer Gigantus V2 XXL – Gengar Edition
Razer Gigantus V2 XXL – Gengar Edition
Fluid swipes and pixel-precise aim define this silky-smooth gamingmouse mat crafted to maintain speed, control, and consistency through every intense moment of play.
Razer Cobra – Gengar Edition
Razer Cobra – Gengar Edition
Engineered for lasting performance, this lightweight wired RGB gaming mouse powered by ultra-fast optical switches and a ghostly Chroma RGB underglow delivers shadow-like finesse and swift precision for competitive gameplay.
Fans of Gengar’s iconic mischief can now complete their setup with the Razer Cobra – Gengar Edition and Razer Gigantus V2 – XXL – Gengar Edition, bringing bold design and battle-ready performance to the growing Razer | Pokémon Collection. With Gengar’s mischievous spirit infused into every detail, these new additions continue the collection’s mission to unite the iconic Pokémon brand with Razer’s high-performance gear, delivering peripherals that are as playful as they are powerful.
As a gamer who cut his teeth on the unforgiving corridors of Doom and the sprawling worlds of Baldur’s Gate, I’ve been chasing the perfect blend of action and role-playing my whole life. When a game promises to mix first-person survival horror with deep RPG mechanics, all wrapped in a Lovecraftian bow, my interest is more than piqued. Stygian: Outer Gods, the spiritual successor to a cult classic RPG, steps into this ambitious arena. After spending several hours navigating the fog-choked streets of Kingsport, I can say that Misterial Games has crafted one of the most atmospheric and genuinely unsettling worlds I’ve ever explored. Unfortunately, that brilliant, terrifying world is trapped inside a game that is, in its current Early Access state, a technical and mechanical mess.
The game’s greatest triumph is, without a doubt, the town of Kingsport itself. This is not just a setting; it is a character, and it is your primary antagonist. The developers have absolutely nailed the feeling of cosmic dread. Every grimy alley, creaking floorboard, and distant, inhuman moan works in concert to create a constant, oppressive tension. The sound design is masterful, making you second-guess whether that noise was part of the game or something in your own house. Exploration is a slow, methodical process of scavenging for scarce resources, and the game forces you to make hard choices. Do you use your last two bullets on the shambling horror in front of you, or do you try to sneak past and save them for what might be lurking around the corner? This resource scarcity, combined with a fantastic grid-based inventory system reminiscent of Resident Evil 4, forms a truly compelling survival loop. I found myself completely absorbed in the simple act of picking through a derelict house, piecing together the town’s grim history from scattered notes while my own character’s sanity frayed at the edges.
The RPG systems provide a solid, if currently underutilized, foundation. You begin by shaping your character’s background through a series of questions, granting you bonuses and penalties to skills like lockpicking or occult knowledge. As you complete quests, you earn skill cards to further specialize your build. The sanity mechanic is another highlight. Staring at monsters or lingering in darkness causes your vision to distort and whispers to crawl into your ears, which is a classic trope executed well here. There’s a fascinating hint that madness might not be entirely a bad thing, potentially opening up new ways to interact with the world. These systems show immense promise, but in the current build, they feel a bit shallow. I rarely felt that my specific skills dramatically changed how I approached a situation, but I’m hopeful this will be fleshed out as development continues.
Where the game truly falters, and where my patience as an FPS veteran wore thin, is the combat. To put it bluntly, the combat feels awful. Melee weapons, from a simple knife to a heavy sledgehammer, have no sense of weight or impact. Hitting a monster feels less like a desperate fight for your life and more like swatting it with a foam bat. Encounters against more than one enemy quickly devolve into clumsy backpedaling while you try to exploit the simple AI. The gunplay is a marginal improvement, but it suffers from severe balancing issues. Firearms feel strangely underpowered, with even basic enemies soaking up multiple headshots from high-caliber weapons before going down. This completely undermines the tension of resource management. What’s the point of making every bullet count if it takes half a cylinder to kill a single ghoul?
Compounding the frustration of the combat are the game’s severe performance problems. A game built on atmosphere needs to be immersive, but that immersion is constantly shattered by technical hitches. Even on a powerful PC, the game suffers from frequent stuttering and significant frame rate drops, particularly in the larger outdoor areas. It’s difficult to stay scared of what’s in the shadows when you’re fighting a slideshow. These aren’t minor issues; they are fundamental problems that actively detract from the game’s biggest strengths.
Stygian: Outer Gods is the very definition of a promising Early Access title. It is a brilliant concept with a stellar aesthetic, but it is plagued by poor execution in key areas. The developers have created a world I desperately want to get lost in, but the clunky combat and jarring performance issues keep pulling me out. There is a potential modern classic buried here, a worthy successor to atmospheric horror legends. However, Misterial Games has a tremendous amount of polishing and rebalancing to do before that potential can be realized. For now, this is a cautious recommendation only for the most patient horror aficionados, those who are willing to endure significant jank to experience a masterclass in world-building. For everyone else, I’d advise you to keep this on your wishlist and wait until the stars are right.
Overall Rating 3 out of 5
The game’s greatest asset is its incredible atmosphere. The world is dripping with Lovecraftian dread, from the grimy visuals to the unnerving sound design, creating a truly immersive and terrifying setting for players to explore.
However, the experience is severely hampered by clunky and unsatisfying combat mechanics. Both melee and ranged combat feel underdeveloped and lack impact, which turns many encounters into frustrating chores rather than tense struggles for survival.
astragon Entertainment and astragon Development are proud to announce that Seafarer: The Ship Sim, one of the most ambitious ship simulators to date, is now available in Early Access for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store!
This highly anticipated ship simulation invites players to chart their own maritime careers and take the helm of a wide variety of vessels. Combining technical realism with exciting gameplay, Seafarer: The Ship Sim offers an immersive seafaring experience powered by Unreal Engine 5 and NVIDIA WaveWorks 2.0, ensuring stunning visuals, lifelike wave physics, and dynamic weather conditions.
An Exciting Start with Plenty to Explore
From today, captains can dive into over 30 hours of gameplay across the first two factions. Crescentport Logistics tasks players with cargo operations using vessels such as the Tugboat Bernhard and the Cargo Ferry Herbert. The Tide Guard offers thrilling patrol and rescue missions with the Police Boat Rigid, the Police Ship Density, and firefighting specialists Archer and Lancer.
Players can start with the various and exciting missions of the first act of the Story Mode campaign, or set their own pace in Quick Play Mode. To make their own adventure more personal, the character editor allows players to design their own captain before setting sail.
A Journey That Has Only Just Begun
The Early Access launch is only the beginning of this ambitious voyage. astragon Entertainment and astragon Development are committed to expanding the game with free content updates that will add new ships, missions, and gameplay features. Some of the update contents are already in the works, while others will be based on future feedback from the community.
Later in 2025, the free Bulk and LNG Update will introduce large-scale shipping vessels like the Big Trip, Bulk Willy, and Nordic Duchess, alongside new cargo operations. Early next year, the Rescue Update will add new Tide Guard ships Salvation and Grace, bringing high-stakes rescue missions to the fleet.
Looking ahead, captains can expect additional story acts, expanded map areas, a vessel editor, multiplayer co-op missions, and even a brand-new faction to be revealed at a later date on the official Early Access Roadmap.
As a gamer who cut his teeth on the tank controls of the original Resident Evil and spent countless hours navigating the fog of Silent Hill, I approach any new survival horror title with a mix of excitement and skepticism. Bloober Team, fresh off their commendable work on the Silent Hill 2 Remake, has now stepped out with their own IP, Cronos: The New Dawn. The game wears its inspirations on its sleeve, clearly aiming to capture the lightning in a bottle that was the Dead Space series. After spending a solid 20 hours exploring its brutalist hellscape, I can say that while it doesn’t quite reach the legendary status of its predecessors, it offers a tense and deeply atmospheric experience that old-school fans of the genre will undoubtedly appreciate.
The game’s greatest strength is its world. The narrative, a complex time-travel saga that bounces between a desolate future and 1980s Poland, is immediately intriguing. As someone who loves the deep lore and environmental storytelling of a good RPG, I was captivated by the setting. The fusion of cold, imposing communist-era architecture with decaying retro-futuristic technology creates a unique and oppressive atmosphere that feels wholly original. I found myself pouring over every optional note and audio log, piecing together the history of “The Change” that brought humanity to its knees. The world-building is fantastic. The story itself, however, is a bit more of a mixed bag. The protagonist, known only as the Traveler, remains helmeted and emotionally distant throughout the journey. This creative choice makes it difficult to connect with the personal stakes of the mission, leaving the grand, world-ending plot to do most of the heavy lifting. While the overarching mystery kept me invested, the narrative lacked the emotional gut punch of the genre’s best stories.
When it comes to gameplay, Cronos is a game of brilliant ideas and flawed execution. The movement is intentionally slow and weighty, a design choice I respect as it grounds you in the world and makes every encounter feel deliberate. The combat, however, is where the game stumbles. While the gunplay is functional, with a satisfying charge-shot mechanic that creates tense standoffs, it lacks the visceral feedback that makes combat in games like Dead Space so memorable. Enemies often feel like bullet sponges, absorbing shots with little visible reaction, a far cry from the strategic dismemberment that defined Isaac Clarke’s adventures. Furthermore, the melee combat is incredibly weak, making it a desperate, often futile last resort when you inevitably run out of ammunition. The absence of a dodge or parry mechanic feels like a missed opportunity, leaving you to simply backpedal away from danger.
Where the game truly innovates, and where my respect for it grew immensely, is in its survival systems. Resource management is absolutely brutal, in the best way possible. Every bullet feels precious, and every healing item is a lifeline. My RPG instincts kicked in early, and I found myself prioritizing inventory space upgrades above all else, a necessity for anyone hoping to survive. The standout mechanic, without a doubt, is “Merging”. Defeated enemies don’t just disappear; their corpses remain on the field, ready to be absorbed by another living foe to create a stronger, more dangerous hybrid. This forces you to burn bodies using limited fuel, adding a fantastic layer of tactical pressure to every single fight. It transforms combat from a simple shooting gallery into a frantic game of battlefield control, forcing you to constantly assess threats, both living and dead.
From a presentation standpoint, the game is a work of art. The visuals are spectacular, and the synth-heavy soundtrack perfectly complements the grim, retro-futuristic aesthetic. Bloober Team has proven once again that they are masters of atmosphere. Unfortunately, this artistic achievement is let down by inconsistent technical performance. I experienced frequent stuttering and frame rate drops on my PS5, issues that momentarily shattered the carefully crafted immersion. It’s a frustrating blemish on an otherwise beautiful game.
In the end, Cronos: The New Dawn is a solid and respectable entry into the survival horror genre. It doesn’t have the polish or the revolutionary combat of the AAA titans it emulates, but it makes up for it with a truly unique world and a brilliant core mechanic in the Merging system. It’s a game that feels like a relic from the mid-2000s, a “AA” title with a ton of heart and ambition that isn’t afraid to be difficult and unforgiving. It’s more tense than it is outright scary, with the anxiety coming from dwindling supplies rather than cheap jump scares. For a genre veteran like myself, who misses the days when survival horror was truly about survival, Cronos was a welcome, if imperfect, journey back in time.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Pros:
Incredibly atmospheric world with unique art direction.
The “Merge” mechanic adds a fantastic strategic layer to combat.
Tense, old-school resource management that rewards careful play.
Intriguing world-building and lore.
Cons:
Combat feels clunky.
Technical performance issues.
The story and protagonist are emotionally distant.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair – Quentin Tarantino’s presentation of the revenge epic that was originally presented in two volumes—will be released by Lionsgate as one complete film in theaters nationwide for the first time on December 5, 2025.
The highly anticipated release marks one of the rare times that the entire epic has been presented as a single, combined film. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair removes the cliffhanger ending from Vol. 1 and the recap that began Vol. 2. New to this theatrical release will be a never-before-seen, 7½-minute animated sequence. Select presentations of the release will be in 70mm and 35mm, and it is anticipated that the film will play in all major markets.
Tarantino said, “I wrote and directed it as one movie—and I’m so glad to give the fans the chance to see it as one movie. The best way to see Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is at a movie theater in Glorious 70mm or 35mm. Blood and guts on a big screen in all its glory!”
Lionsgate manages library distribution rights for one of Hollywood’s largest portfolios of Tarantino films, which also includes Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Death Proof.
Tarantino’s Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated epic—presented exactly as he intended, complete with a new, never-before-seen anime sequence. Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child. To exact her vengeance, she must first hunt down the four remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad before confronting Bill himself. With its operatic scope, relentless action, and iconic style, The Whole Bloody Affair stands as one of cinema’s definitive revenge sagas—rarely shown in its complete form and now presented with a classic intermission.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, and David Carradine as “Bill.” The film is produced by Lawrence Bender, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, based on the character of “The Bride” created by Q&U.
Today, Marvel Games and NetEase Games have unveiled full details for Season 4.5: Heart of the Dragon for Marvel Rivals, the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter that lets players assemble an ever-evolving all-star squad of Super Heroes and Super Villains battling with unique powers across a dynamic lineup of destructible maps from across the Marvel Multiverse. The game’s continuation of its fourth season is set to kick off October 10 and will introduce Daredevil as a playable hero. Season 4.5 will also introduce new features, modes, special events, an exclusive Disney+ Perk, plenty of quality-of-life updates and Team-Ups.
Daredevil (Duelist) – Daredevil’s iconic radar sense makes all evil visible; nothing escapes his “sight.” In combat, he can pick a priority target based on the situation, use his agility to close the gap, and unleash rapid attacks with his Billy Clubs. When facing tough opponents, Daredevil taps into The Beast’s power, amplifying his martial arts for even more deadly strikes! Activate his Ultimate Ability, and Daredevil fully unleashes The Beast. Any enemy who dares look at him will be gripped by fear, awaiting his cold justice!
Plus, as a new Disney+ Perk*, players can unlock a complimentary Disney+ inspired Daredevil costume, offered exclusively for a limited time from October 10, 2025 to January 8, 2026. Learn more soon at disneyplus.com/perks.
The full details and features for Season 4.5 in Marvel Rivals are below and in the latest episode of Dev Vision.
Season 4.5 will be introducing a highly requested feature: cross-platform progression! The development team has made this feature a top priority, and to ensure a smooth launch will be inviting a small group of players to test and provide feedback during Season 4.5. Cross-progression will then officially launch for all players in Season 5.0. Rank and leaderboard position will remain separate for each platform. When players compete on PC, PlayStation®, or Xbox, their career battle stats and rank are tracked independently for each device. This update also brings another round of Team-Up Ability adjustments such as removing Ragnarok Rebirth (Hela – Thor) and taking Namor out of Gamma Charge (Hulk – Namor/Black Panther). Two brand-new Team-Up Abilities are coming: Bestial Hunt (Daredevil – The Punisher) and Deep Wrath (Hela – Namor). Next, there will be a special Halloween event and themed costumes so players can celebrate this mysterious and lively season together! And finally, Season 4.5 will also introduce an exciting new mode, with details to be revealed at the Thailand Game Show on October 17.
In addition to the above, players can continue to get all the latest information from the Game Update featuring full Patch Notes and Hero Balance adjustments.
This isn’t just a drawing, it’s a way to hold the fear still. Will you take the pencil and share the weight together?
A creatively inspired new trailer reimagines the world of Little Nightmares III – and the bond between new characters Low and Alone – in an artistic style reminiscent of childhood drawings.
See the new ‘Dreams on Paper’ trailer here:
Coming October 10, Little Nightmares III follows the journey of new characters Low and Alone and adds new variety to gameplay, where each is playable and carries their own iconic item – a bow and arrow for Low and a wrench for Alone. Players can also join the nightmare with friends with online co-op coming to the series for the first time. Little Nightmares III is coming to PlayStation®5, PlayStation® 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PC via Steam® and Xbox on PC, and Nintendo Switch™ and Switch™ 2. For more information on the game, visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/little-nightmares-3.
The award-winning studio behind Run Legends, Talofa Games, has announced an October 9th United States and European release date for its second title, Monster Walk: Step Adventure. Coming to iOS and Android, with over 12,000 players already pre-registered and over 200 million cumulative steps taken in early access, Monster Walk: Step Adventure transforms everyday steps into a vibrant RPG journey filled with collectible creatures, mysterious lands, and action-packed battles.
Recognized by Apple and Google as a next-generation developer to watch, Talofa Games continues its mission to make fitness feel like playing. Monster Walk builds on the studio’s success with Run Legends, which attracted over half a million players and earned accolades as a must-play experience.
Step Into Adventure Monster Walk is not a typical fitness app. It’s a game-first experience where your real-world movement fuels in-game exploration, resource gathering, and bonding with fantastical monsters. Whether you’re walking through your neighborhood or doing chores at home, every step brings you closer to uncovering hidden treasures and growing your monster team.
No GPS. No Pressure. Just Play. Unlike traditional fitness apps, Monster Walk doesn’t track your location or pit you against others. Walk at your own pace, explore at your own rhythm, and enjoy a relaxing, rewarding experience. It’s designed for mindful movement and emotional connection, making it perfect for players of all fitness levels.
Battle, Collect, and Base Build Battle your way through this epic RPG where your real-life steps are your ultimate weapon. Engage in fast-paced, real-time battles where precise movement and timing are key. Counter enemies with accuracy, unlock potent skills, and conquer foes, empowered by your daily workout.
Build your team by rescuing and recruiting a growing cast of magical creatures. Your dream team awaits. Just pair collected monsters with unique powers and personalities and level them up, while you forge bonds through daily activity.
Rebuild a broken world, one step at a time. Unlock new regions and enhance your base simply by walking. Every stride fuels progress, transforming your surroundings and helping your base flourish alongside you.
A Vision for Games That Do Good Founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and long-distance runner Jenny Xu, Talofa Games creates joyful, inclusive, and mindful games that inspire movement and promote a healthier lifestyle. With over 9.2 million downloads across 10 titles, Xu’s vision is clear: games should be good for you, physically, emotionally, and socially.
“Monster Walk is a welcoming RPG experience designed for the next generation of gamers, no matter their fitness level,” said Jenny Xu, CEO of Talofa Games. “It’s about turning everyday movement into something joyful and rewarding.”
Launch Details Monster Walk: Step Adventure will be available in the United States and European regions on October 9 via the Apple App Store and Google Play. Pre-register now and be among the first to experience a game that grows with you — one step at a time.
