To mark and celebrate the upcoming release of the open world action adventure Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, developer Mehuman Games and Publisher Toplitz Productions are inviting players who are already planning to donate blood to participate in a special key giveaway.
Anyone who plans to donate blood at a certified donation center until January 30, 2026, can submit a short declaration through the Blood4Bloodlord website. While supplies last, participants of the raffle can receive a free digital Steam key for Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. Participation in this giveaway is non-compulsory and based on the voluntary blood donation. The full terms and privacy details are available on the website.
Every eligible participant can win one of 1.000 Steam keys for Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. The keys with an overall value of over 30.000€/30.000$ will be made available on the release day, when the game enters Early Access on January 30, 2026.
In Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, blood is a central gameplay element, powering your imposing castle and unlocking new areas as you expand your grip over the gloomy land of Sangavia. In real-life, blood donations have an even greater impact, with one donation being able to help save up to three lives. For those already planning to donate, the #Blood4Bloodlord campaign offers a way to combine a good deed in the real world with a bit of virtual adventure, as players try to become a true Bloodlord.
As the infection spreads and survivors grow more desperate, Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days pulls back the curtain on the origin of the outbreak in its seventh complimentary Early Access update — Heart of Darkness, arriving today on Steam.
In this brand-new escape plan, players will guide their survivors straight to Pickett Stadium, the epicentre of the outbreak in Walton City. Once a fan-filled home team venue, Pickett Stadium is now a twisted ruin overrun by football-themed undead, littered with shattered bleachers and flickers of a past that refused to stay dead and buried.
Joining the cast are Sgt. Bowman and Dr. Stanfield, offering players new narrative turns and moral choices. Within the Heart of Darkness update, players will also discover the all new rooftop Researcher Camp, as well as returning to existing areas in surprising and tactical new ways.
With branching endings, more emotionally complex decision-making, and high-stakes stealth tension, Heart of Darkness further deepens Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days’ commitment to player-driven narrative and worldbuilding. This free update continues PikPok’s enhancements of Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days since it launched into Early Access in April 2025. The game has over 2,000 Steam reviews and remains one of the most distinctive narrative survival horror titles in development.
The Heart of Darkness update is available now for free, and Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days Early Access available on Steam for $24.99 on PC, Mac and Steam Deck.
Today, Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most iconic and beloved brands in the industry, is thrilled to announce its 35th anniversary this year! Since his debut in 1991, Sonic has defined generations with his signature speed, attitude, and style, expanding far beyond his innovative video game origins into new characters and worlds, blockbuster films, animated television, music, merchandise, and more. To commence the festivities, SEGA released a new anniversary trailer to build hype and rewind through Sonic’s best moments over the last 35 years.
Throughout the upcoming year, SEGA will roll out a high-energy slate of anniversary programs designed to celebrate Sonic’s legacy while bringing fans together around the world. Planned activities include digital content highlighting Sonic’s evolution across the decades, fan meet-ups and community gatherings, exclusive brand and retail partnerships featuring limited merchandise, museum pop-ups and art exhibits, live concert celebrations, and a brand-new narrative podcast.
“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 35 years of our beloved Sonic franchise with our fans,” said Marcella Churchill, Vice President of SEGA/ATLUS Brand Marketing at SEGA of America. “This milestone is not just a reflection of our past, but also a look toward the future as we continue to innovate and grow. We want to bring our community together and create memorable experiences for all our fans throughout 2026!”
Additional 35th anniversary-inspired content, partnerships, collectibles, and fan experiences will be revealed throughout the year. Head to the official Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary website for the latest news, updates, and media surrounding the year’s programs.
Tickets are now on sale for Universal Fan Fest Nights as Universal Studios Hollywood sets the stage for its exciting second annual event designed to immerse guests in the spellbinding worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime based on this year’s all-new innovative experiences, including Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters and ONE PIECE, as well as the return of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS by popular demand. Plus, guests will be treated to all-new experiences in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ for a limited time.
Universal Fan Fest Nights is exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood and tickets are now available for purchase to attend the event which runs for 12 nights only: April 23-25; May 1-3, 7-9, 14-16, 2026.
Universal Fan Fest Nights is an after-hours, separately ticketed event that celebrates the exhilarating world of fandom through immersive and interactive in-world experiences created by the theme park’s renowned and highly creative entertainment team in collaboration with esteemed industry experts. Featuring a spectrum of inspirational categories, Universal Fan Fest Nights will welcome guests to embrace a variety of eclectic worlds that celebrate and elevate fandom favorites alongside character interactions, cosplay and photo opportunities as well as curated food, beverages and merchandise (separate purchase required).
All experiences and activations are included every event night for guests to enjoy. Here’s what guests can expect at this year’s Universal Fan Fest Nights, with more to be announced soon.
Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot. This all-new, immersive walk-through adventure is designed to give guests the sensation of stepping into a live-action mystery with the Scooby-Doo gang and the Universal Monsters. Guests will travel to the destination via Studio Tour tram where they have a chance to walk along a movie studio backlot with Scooby-Doo himself and his pals Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy. The exciting escapade will challenge them to solve a mystery involving the most legendary Universal Monsters in cinematic history, including Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and Wolf Man, as they navigate portions of Universal’s world-famous outdoor film sets, from the cobblestone streets of Little Europe to the iconic Court of Miracles, the original filming locations for historic Universal horror films Frankenstein (1931) and The Wolf Man (1941).
ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show. ONE PIECE returns to Universal Fan Fest Nights, but this time as a live show extravaganza at the WaterWorld show venue. Inspired by the success of the Universal Studios Japan production, ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show will invite guests to a whirlwind performance featuring a cast of ONE PIECE fan-favorite characters. With action, comedy and chaos taking center stage, guests will be transported to the very heart of the world of ONE PIECE – enveloped in friendship, freedom and mayhem.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This new, unique, walk-through experience will take guests into the depths of the Forbidden Forest in search of a lost Hippogriff. With guidance from a Hogwarts Professor, they will encounter magical creatures and familiar beasts as they face a series of obstacles which will require the guests to summon their bravery and spell-casting skills to help a Hippogriff in need.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – Colorful Yoshi Celebration. This year’s Universal Fan Fest Nights introduces a vibrant, multi-colored Yoshi celebration in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. This all-new adventure will welcome guests to explore the land, where they will have a chance to meet new, colorful Yoshis who can be found throughout the Mushroom Kingdom.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep. This fan-favorite immersive experience returns due to popular demand, along with some enhancements. Inspired by the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game™, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D), this epic walk-through experience will welcome guests and fans to partake in a one-of-a-kind adventure and explore the fantastic world of D&D. Guests will join the Harpers—a heroic spy network—to foil a plot by the legendary beholder Xanathar and save the city of Waterdeep.
This engaging experience features the legendary beholder Xanathar, uniquely created by the masterful puppeteer, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. For over 40 years, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has been a world-renowned innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation.
Tickets are on sale now with a variety of ticket offerings available. Click here to purchase tickets and for full Terms and Conditions. Details for each ticket type are subject to change.
General Admission: General Admission ticket to Universal Fan Fest Nights. Does not include daytime theme park admission or early event access.
UniversalExpress: Admission to Universal Fan Fest Nights, including one-time (per day) express access to each in-world experience, ride and attraction. Does not include daytime theme park admission or early event access.
Universal Express Unlimited: Admission to Universal Fan Fest Nights, including unlimited express access (per day) to each in-world experience, ride and attraction. Does not include daytime theme park admission or early event access.
After 2PM Day/Night: Daytime General Admission to the theme park after 2pm and same day evening General Admission to Universal Fan Fest Nights.
After 2PM Day/Night Universal Express: Daytime admission to the theme park after 2pm and same day evening admission to Universal Fan Fest Nights, including one-time (per day) express access to each ride, attraction and seated show during the day, plus one-time (per day) express access to each in-world experience, ride and attraction during the event.
2-Night General Admission: 2-Night General Admission access to Universal Fan Fest Nights. Does not include daytime theme park admission or early event access.
Ultimate Fandom Pass: General Admission pass to enjoy for up to all event nights of Universal Fan Fest Nights (based on your selected first visit date during purchase). No blockout dates on return visits. All visits must be completed by May 16, 2026. Does not include daytime theme park admission or early event access.
Early Access Ticket: Early access, beginning at 6pm (subject to change), to select Universal Fan Fest Nights in-world experiences prior to event opening. A Universal Fan Fest Nights admission ticket for the same date must be purchased separately.
Universal Fan Fest Nights VIP Tour: Enjoy VIP treatment of the event, including a shared, expertly guided walking tour of the in-world experiences, rides and attractions, as well as a gourmet dinner (alcoholic beverages excluded) in the private VIP dining room and complimentary valet parking.
Pass Member Special Pricing: Pass Members can take advantage of special online Pass Member pricing on General Admission tickets to Universal Fan Fest Nights when visiting on select event nights.
Adding to the adventure, guests can also experience select theme park attractions open during the event, including “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge,” “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™,” “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” “TRANSFORMERS™: The Ride—3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™”.
IO Interactive, the award-winning developer and publisher behind the globally-acclaimed HITMAN franchise, and Amazon MGM Studios are proud to announce a collaboration with NVIDIA GeForce to deliver an enhanced PC experience for 007 First Light, launching May 27, 2026. 007 First Light is set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox ROG Ally X, Xbox ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch 2*, and PC, and is available for pre-order. Players who pre-order 007 First Light will get upgraded to the 007 First Light – Deluxe Edition for free, granting a 24-hour Early Access**, as well as exclusive in-game skins and outfits.
007 First Light harnesses the power of NVIDIA GeForce’s latest RTX technologies, bringing cinematic visuals and breakthrough performance to PC gamers worldwide. Developed in close collaboration with NVIDIA, the game features DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, for an even deeper sense of immersion and improved performance.
“Our partnership with NVIDIA on 007 First Light allows us to deliver a PC experience that matches the level of quality we believe the Bond franchise deserves. Performance, responsiveness, and visual fidelity, it all needs to feel effortless for the player, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX technologies including DLSS 4 enables us to deliver exactly that,” shared Ulas Karademir, CTO at IO Interactive.
IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios also unveiled the PC Specifications for 007 First Light, which can be found below. For 007 First Light, IO Interactive has significantly advanced its proprietary Glacier engine, evolving it to support the game’s cinematic tone, dynamic action, and breathtaking set pieces. The enhancements focus on delivering a smooth and immersive experience, from more expressive character performances to environments that feel alive and breathing. These improvements allow the team to stay true to the studio’s strengths in craftsmanship while raising the bar for a modern, reimagined Bond adventure in gaming.
007 First Light is scheduled to launch on May 27, 2026, and can be pre-ordered right now. Pre-order details can be found at https://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame.
YAKUZA KIWAMI 3 is an extreme remake of the action-adventure beat ’em up Yakuza 3 featuring ex-yakuza Kazuma Kiryu’s fight to protect those he loves. DARK TIES is a brand-new game featuring Yoshitaka Mine from Yakuza 3 included as a separate action-packed experience. Last week, SEGA had us out to the BUDONOKI in Los Angeles for an exclusive preview event to check both games out. Listening to a pre-recorded video from the game’s developers at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio explained that this was more than just a remastering.
In Yakuza Kiwami 3, Kazuma Kiryu runs the Morning Glory orphanage and spends his days helping the youngsters out to increase his “Daddy Level”. The Daddy Level is increased by doing things like helping kids with their homework, sewing clothing, preparing meals, planting crops in the garden, and A LOT more. Each of these is basically a mini game with plenty of over the top Yakuza style action thrown in. I had so much fun jumping in and out of these mini games. It breaks up the core gameplay a lot and adds hours upon enjoyable hours to your total playtime.
Of course, Kiryu soon finds himself battling his way across Okinawa. The city is chock full of various activities to take part in – from Mahjong parlors to Karaoke and a lot more. The side quests are also plentiful and, in my playthrough, Kiryu was even recruited by a TV travel host and crew to take them around the city. Of course, things go South along the way and Kiryu is forced to use his fists and flying kicks to settle a problem. The combat is visceral and satisfying. It didn’t take a lot of time to get the hang of fighting and the colorful enemies Kiryu encounters add extra Yakuza flare to the game. Kiryu has two different fighting styles to choose between – The Dragon of Dojima Kiwami style (which is based in shootboxing) and the Ryuku Style (which uses weapons and provides a balance between offense and defense).
The game’s new Bad Boy Dragon game mode is a total blast. In this mode, Kiryu joins up and becomes the chairman of the Haisai Girls motorcycle club. The goal of this mode is to add new members to the club and increase its power. Of course, you can also rumble with rival clubs and the action is fast, furious, and fun as you jet around on motorcycles to claim territory. You can even customize your motorcycles and outfits for style purposes.
In your travels, you’ll even come across a full-on SEGA Game Gear emulator! And this just scratches the surface of all the different activities and mini games that can be found in Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties. Speaking of Dark Ties, the game trades the whimsy of Yakuza Kiwami 3 for a darker tone. In the level of Dark Ties that we got to play, Yoshitaka Mine works to assist his lieutenant Tsuyoshi Kanda as he seeks to bolster his reputation and rise in the ranks by resolving a series of dramatic substories, local disputes, tasks and missions around town in the Kanda Damage Control segment.
In the Hell’s Arena underground fight club game mode, Mine must survive a series of death-defying battles to bring down Hell’s Arena’s fight club organizers who pose a threat to the Nishikiyama Family’s operations. As Mine, players must survive Hellish Brawls, traditional one-on-one fights that push participants to the brink, and Survival Hell, dangerous races where competitors are relentlessly chased by hunters through a treasure-filled dungeon.
Overall, our preview of Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties was one of the most fun events I’ve been to in a long time – and while Budonoki and SEGA staffers were all amazing to work with, the fun was in large part due to the games themselves. Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties are so much fun to play and provide a ton of variety as well as plenty of action to satisfy both long-time fans of the franchise as well as players new to the Yakuza world. Yakuza Kiwami 3 + Dark Ties is set to launch on February 12, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam. For more information on pre-orders, please visit the official game website.
Today Saber Interactive, the studio that brought you excitingly challenging sim hits like SnowRunner and RoadCraft, has released a new Heavy Machinery Trailer for Docked, the realistic port simulation game coming later this year to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. In this latest gameplay video, you’ll meet the eight steel beasts that play a vital role in making the bustling Port Wake run like clockwork. From the ground level all the way up to the top of the stacks, you’ll take command of these massive machines, loading, unloading, moving, lifting, storing and transferring tons of cargo to bring Port Wake back to life after a devastating hurricane.
Working the docks ain’t easy, but with the right tools, you’ll get the job done!
Docked will launch with eight dynamic port vehicles: the STS (Ship-to-Shore) Crane, Reach Stacker, Straddle Carrier, Terminal Tractor, Hopper, RMG (Rail-Mounted Gantry) Crane, RTG (Rubber-Tired Gantry) Crane, and MHC (Mobile Harbor Crane). Each is expertly engineered with the raw power and precise handling needed to fulfill your contracts.
Ready to prove you’ve got what it takes?! Docked’s free Steam demo is out now and has already generated loads of buzz from players around the world, as featured in its recent Demo Accolades Trailer!
Test your skills at the height of the storm with three unique vehicles. Unload dangerous cargo from a distressed vessel using the giant Ship-to-Shore Crane, move cargo to the storage yard with the Straddle Carrier, and handle hazardous freight and containers under pressure with the Reach Stacker.
So what are you waiting for – roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work revitalizing Port Wake!
Play Docked’s Steam demo today and wishlist the game on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. For more information, visit saber.games/docked, and follow Saber Interactive on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for the latest news and updates.
Mixing detective work with psychological horror, Hollow Mire drops you into 1952, post-war England, as a blizzard traps you in the shadow of Breken House — where two seemingly separate investigations begin to spiral into something far darker. Developed by indie studio Mowlo Games, the free demo for Hollow Mire is available on Steam now with a brand new trailer!
If you grew up on slow-burn interactive mysteries, Hollow Mire is made for you. With hand-painted isometric environments and muted winter lighting, it builds the kind of atmosphere where the house feels present, silence feels loaded, and you keep clicking because you need the next piece of the puzzle.
You play across two intertwined perspectives: WWII veteran journalist John Rowe, searching for his missing family at Breken House, and Detective Gwen Porter, investigating a patient’s disappearance tied to Bordon Down Asylum. As their cases converge, the story digs into trauma, fractured memory, and long-buried secrets… all leading to one of eight possible endings, shaped by your choices.
Who Hollow Mire is for:
Fans of classic 90s point-and-click mystery adventures
Players who prefer atmosphere + narrative over action
Anyone into slow-burn investigation, clue chasing, and choice-driven storytelling
Viewers who love psychological horror, ghost stories, and theory-building
What makes it worth your time
From the first notes of its cello-led original soundtrack, Hollow Mire commits to mood from the outset: melancholy, tense, and quietly unsettling. But far from being a simple throwback, the game also adds a modern system of choice and consequence to the classic point-and-click formula. Conversations and discoveries shape what you understand, what you miss, and how the truth unfolds. The result is a story-forward mystery that’s easy to start, hard to put down, and built for replay — especially if you love comparing theories, debating decisions, and chasing alternate outcomes.
If you like the sound of all of this, do yourself a favour and play the 30-minute free demo of Hollow Mire on Steam or wishlist to get notified as new updates, trailers, and news drop!
HumantiZ, the isometric open-world zombie survival sandbox by developer Yodubzz Studios and indie.io, prepares for the end of the world and the end of Steam Early Access with a 1.0 launch on PC via Steam on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
Humanity has fallen. The dead rose, the world burned, and only the rotting husk of civilization remains. In HumanityZ’s 1.0 launch, return to a world that has become even more vicious, unpredictable, and alive with terror. Survival isn’t a goal: it’s a war that never ends, with plenty of post-launch content updates already on the pipeline.
Fight to exist and resist extinction as one of the last living humans. Scavenge through the ruined bones of the old world for supplies, build fortified bases before dusk swallows the light, and craft weapons to keep nightmares at bay. The wilderness has grown feral, the undead are hungrier, and the few survivors left are one bad decision away from joining their ranks. Team up with up to four friends to increase the chances of survival, or choose to die alone.
The 1.0 release of HumanitZ marks the most chilling evolution of the game to date, featuring new content, optimizations, add-ons, and more, that wouldn’t be possible without the community’s help and input. Survivors now step into the apocalypse with fully redesigned character models and deeper customization than ever before. Skill trees and professions have been rebuilt, transforming progression into a high-stakes journey shaped by tactical choices, branching paths, and risky multiclassing.
The revamped infection system turns every zombie encounter into a frightening strategic gamble. Infection now creeps through the bloodstream in real time, so stay alert, treat wounds early, and pray for survival before your lungs fill with rot.
HumanitZ’s bleak world has become far more hostile yet far more rewarding. Anywhere, USA, has been completely reimagined with denser environments, unpredictable hazards, and new points of interest hiding both essential resources and unspeakable threats. Abandoned hospitals, forgotten strongholds, toppled suburbs, overrun woods, and more locations hold secrets for sharp-eyed survivors.
Only the bravest will seek out what once seemed unreachable: The Island, a new endgame region for elite players. Remote, mysterious, crawling with evolved threats, and shrouded in rumors of a truth long buried beneath blood and ruin, the Island serves as the ultimate survival test.
In the apocalypse, every sunrise means borrowed time. Every zombie is a promise of pain. And every step toward survival demands cunning, grit, and a refusal to die.
“We’ve come a long way since launching into Early Access in 2023. Shaped by both our development team and an incredibly passionate community, HumanitZ 1.0 has mutated and evolved into something terrifying and incredible,” said Yozza, Lead Game Designer. “This release marks the next major evolution, and both long-time and new players will find a deeper, more immersive zombie experience packed with all-new content and improvements, with even more still to come
HumanitZ eliminates a zombie takeover as it exits Steam Early Access for Windows PC on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. It will include language support for English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Italian.
For more information and the latest updates, visit HumanitZ’s official site, follow the game Twitter/X, TikTok, and Instagram, and join its official Discord.
Today, 2K and Firaxis Games announced Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII Arcade Edition, the latest installment in the storied and esteemed strategy series, launches February 5 on Apple Arcade – Apple’s game subscription service that offers unlimited access to more than 200 games.
Developed by Behaviour Interactive in partnership with Firaxis Games, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition enables players to experience the strategic depth of Civilization VII and build an empire to stand the test of time.
In Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, strategic decisions shape the identity of an evolving empire. Players rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of their story by choosing a new civilization to represent their empire in each Age of human advancement. Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand territory, improve civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world.
Discover new ways to play Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition with features including:
The Authentic Civilization Experience. Rule as one of many legendary leaders throughout history in this genuine Sid Meier’s Civilization VII experience on mobile.
Exclusive Mobile Experience. Build your empire on your iPhone and iPad.
Intuitive Touch Controls. Keep going for one more turn on-the-go with seamless touch controls on iPhone and iPad.
For more information on game features, visit the Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition page on the App Store.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is rated E10+ by the ESRB. Firaxis Games is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
