Digital Cybercherries are pleased to announce that DON’T SCREAM is exiting early access today for its full 1.0 release. This new game from the studio that brought you the colourful action-figure title HYPERCHARGE: UNBOXED takes a sharp tonal turn to deliver a ‘90s found footage-inspired horror game where you explore a mysterious forest for a terrifying 18-minutes (unless you’re too scared to move). The twist is that if you scream, you have to restart.
DON’T SCREAM launched in Early Access in October 2023, quickly becoming a breakout hit. In just its first week, the game sold over 100,000 units, driven in part by its meteoric rise as a streaming sensation.
Time only progresses as you move in DON’T SCREAM and you can’t predict the scares. You must calibrate your microphone in-game so that every whimper, jump, or even a minor squeak is registered as a scream, increasing the challenge. With dozens of dynamic scares, each playthrough offers a unique experience.
The 1.0 release of DON’T SCREAM on October 28th comes with a whole host of improvements, including:
Improved performance for smoother gameplay
Enhanced scares with better models, animations, effects, and sounds
Improved pacing of scares, with a greater focus on tension and buildup
Tons of new places to explore in the forest and existing areas look much better
Completely redesigned sound for a more immersive experience
Hugely improved microphone calibration
Some enemies can now kill the player
New environmental dangers
Steam achievements and relics to find to incentivise replayability
New battery mechanic to make things more challenging
Completely overhauled user interface that’s easier to use
Progress page where players can track their progress
Improved environmental storytelling
Game now has much more replayability
These are just the highlights that you can expect when the game hits ahead of Halloween! Those who have already tried the game in Early Access even more changes, with essentially every single aspect of the game enjoying improvements for the 1.0 release.
“The time DON’T SCREAM has spent in Early Access has really helped us define what makes this game tick and that’s all been channeled into a host of massive improvements that we are unleashing today with the 1.0 release,” said Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay and Marketing Director at Digital Cybercherries. “Thanks to everyone for your support and feedback in helping us make the best version of the game yet.”
Indie horror developer Red Barrels is adding a new limited time event with unique rewards to the world of The Outlast Trials, just in time for Halloween, as the scientists at the Murkoff Corporation test new hallucinatory therapies on the completely-willing volunteer participants of PROGRAM GEISTER. The Outlast Trials is on-sale for 33% off during Halloween across Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation®, and Xbox®
Based on the real-world brainwashing experiments that took place in Montréal in the 1950’s and ‘60s, The Outlast Trials features multiplayer co-operative escape room-style tests in an underground psychiatric facility that give way to twisted nightmares. With up to four players, complete tasks and solve puzzles while evading the psychotic killers that lurk within the facility.
PROGRAM GEISTER features new Trial variators, new tasks, new limited-time player rewards, improved jumpscares, a new MK-Challenge, and a new lobby minigame. Part 1 takes place from October 29th–November 12th, and Part 2 follows from November 12th–November 26th.
New MK-Challenge “Eliminate the Past” – Shred documents detailing Murkoff’s history of war crimes to secure your escape.
Improved Jumpscares – When your sanity wanes, receive a visit from the Skinner Man…
New PROGRAM GEISTER Variators:
EXTRACT ORGAN SAMPLES. Find deceased Reagents and extract organ samples for analysis.
HALLUCINATIONS? Are they side effects from Murkoff’s therapies, or is something more nefarious at play?
MORE IMPOSTERS. More Imposters in the Trial: Violent adversaries that look like your teammates and mimic their nameplates.
NO PLAYER NAMES. Player names are hidden, making Imposters more potent and harder to detect. (Intensive and Psychosurgery Difficulties)
ENRAGED ENEMIES. Enemies are on high alert! (Intensive and Psychosurgery Difficulties)
New Tasks: Tasks are divided into two parts, with each task rewarding Event Tokens, Stamps, and a random Geister item. Complete Part 1 of the Geister tasks to unlock Part 2.
New Sleep Room Minigame: Tennis, the first digital video game created by Murkoff and offered exclusively to facility residents.
New “GEISTER” Event Catalog: With event currency earned during PROGRAM GEISTER, players can unlock unique cosmetics for their Reagents and their sleep chambers
A new multiplayer FPS is planned for 2025, with a closed beta starting in the upcoming weeks. Gaijin Entertainment and Matter Team are happy to announce Active Matter, a new mind-bending tactical hardcore shooter set in a fractured multiverse. The game will be available for purchase on PC (at Steam and Gaijin.Net stores), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025. The exact price and release date will be announced later. The Closed Beta Test of Active Matter is planned for 2024 at Gaijin.Net, and players are welcome to sign up at the game’s official website to ensure they do not miss this opportunity.
Active Matter players control operators stuck in a time loop, returning, time and again, to the same point after each death. They choose a loadout and enter quantum-unstable zones, rich in active matter – a substance capable of warping and ripping the very fabric of space and time. Rivals from other timelines, physics-breaking anomalies that change the gravitational force, and ethereal beings stand in the way. Players harvest active matter, collect the loot, and extract it to a safe area before the whole zone ceases to exist with everything inside it.
Active Matter is a realistic, hardcore shooter that blends PvPvE and PvP elements with authentic weapons and gear. It is set in a bizarre, chaotic world inspired by SCP lore. Active Matter randomly displaces objects from alternate timelines into quantum-unstable zones and allows players to replicate items from other timelines when in a safe area on their own base. The arsenal in Active Matter is based on real-world military technology and tactics, with war seemingly the only constant across the multiverse.
More information on Active Matter is available at the official website
When creating content, preparedness and flexibility are key, as is a versatile wireless audio system that helps you capture sound easily and quickly without sacrificing audio quality. For creators and videographers, Sennheiser now introduces Profile Wireless, a two-channel, 2.4 GHz wireless microphone system that connects to mobile phones, cameras or computers, and can be used as a clip-on mic, handheld mic or table-top microphone – whatever the situation demands.
Everything included for capturing high-quality audio with unprecedented ease of use
“We cannot imagine content creation today without compact 2.4 GHz mic systems, and I am really proud that Sennheiser is adding an all-in-one microphone system to its portfolio that truly makes a difference for creators and videographers,” says Hendrik Millauer, Product Manager, Broadcast and Film, at Sennheiser. “We’ve outfitted Profile Wireless with many exciting features that will help users to capture audio more reliably, longer, and more flexibly than was possible before.”
Open the zipper bag…
…and you hold a rugged, multifunctional charging bar in your hands. This charging bar is the heart of Profile Wireless. It stores and charges the key components of the system and doubles as a handheld or desktop mic. The charging bar safely holds a two-channel mini-receiver with an OLED touch display, two pre-paired clip-on microphones that automatically connect to the receiver, magnetic clips for attaching the mics to delicate clothing, and adaptors for connecting the receiver to mobile phones or a camera cold shoe mount. The bag also contains a 3.5 mm jack coiled cable for camera use, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable and windshields for the clip-on mics and charging bar.
As small as the two-channel receiver of Profile Wireless is, it offers clearly legible read-offs for both audio channels
A true audio multitool – versatile in every recording situation
“It was important to us that Profile Wireless can master a diverse set of recording requirements, while being as compact and portable as possible,” says Callie Blake, Category Marketing Manager, Creators. “The range of use cases for Profile Wireless is impressive.”
With the included adaptors, the receiver connects to the filming device of choice, and lets the creator monitor the audio via a dedicated headphone output. The mini-mics of the system simply clip to the clothing or can be attached using the included magnetic mounts.
“While the clip-on mics ensure signature Sennheiser audio quality and are quite unobtrusive, there may still be instances where a creator or videographer would like to work with separate lavalier mics, so there’s a lockable 3.5 mm TRS jack for connecting external mics,” adds Blake.
When a mobile phone is used for capturing video, the Profile Wireless receiver is connected with the included Lightning or mini-USB adaptor. Thanks to a gyro-sensor, the receiver display automatically rotates by 180° to remain clearly legible.
Handheld mic included
There are recording situations where a handheld microphone is an ideal choice, for example for reporter-style pieces to camera, and interviews where the creator needs more control over the conversation or is speaking with varying interviewees. For this application, the creator simply inserts a clip-on mic into the charging bar, puts the included big foam windshield on – and a fully-fledged reporter’s microphone is ready for the job.
All Profile Wireless components come with mounting threads for standard creator’s accessories such as table stands. Thus, the system can also be conveniently used as a desktop mic.
Reliability where you most need it
Losing audio on a shoot is a nightmare. Three clever functions in Profile Wireless help users get great audio even in difficult conditions. First and foremost, each clip-on microphone has 16 GB memory for internal recording – a comfortable safety net. When the creator activates Backup Recording Mode, internal recording will be automatically turned on if the wireless signal should become too weak. And finally, a Safety Channel Mode outputs and records backup audio at a lower volume to help protect against clipping.
“The clip-on microphone has 24-bit recording capability, and records simultaneously at two different audio levels”, notes Blake. “This not only reduces the risk of clipped audio, but also maximises the usable dynamic range of the capsule.”
Range is ample, at up to 245 m in line of sight, and up to 150 m line of sight when taking body blocking into account.
Why Profile Wireless is better
“Right from the start of product development, we involved seasoned videographers and content creators to see what they wished for from a compact wireless audio system, and how existing products could be improved upon,” shares Millauer. “So we’ve come up with a few exciting usability features that make Profile Wireless a gem among 2.4 GHz systems.
“Profile Wireless is the first and at present only compact 2.4 GHz wireless system that has a handheld option integrated, and this option gives you a real 15+ hours of runtime, while with other sets, you cannot use the mics when the system is being recharged,” Millauer continues.
“Usability features like the auto-rotating receiver display, the fact that no app is required, and the diverse mounting options – only Sennheiser has thread mounts on the components – make for smooth workflows in content creation. And while there may be lighter clip-on mics on the market, they do not have internal recording or a connector for an external lav mic.”
The feature-packed clip-on microphone of Profile Wireless is fitted with a thread mount for creator accessories, a connector for an external lavalier microphone, and 16 GB of internal recording memory
Availability and pricing
Profile Wireless can be pre-ordered from 30 October and will start shipping in Q4/2024 and Q1/2025. The system retails at USD 299 (MAP).
Today, Paradox Interactive launched Grand Archive, the new story pack for its sci-fi strategy game Stellaris, developed in collaboration with Abrakam. Grand Archive is available on PC for €14.99/$14.99/£12.79. This Story Pack adds the Grand Archive, a new megastructure where treasures found across the galaxy can be studied and displayed. This Grand Archive includes the Vivarium, where creatures can be dissected for research and resources or to obtain useful genetic material. Grand Archive also includes two new deadly forms of Space Fauna, two new origins, and a new mid-game crisis, amongst other features.
This new Story Pack concludes Stellaris: Season 08, which encompasses the three additions for Stellaris releasing this year and the exclusive “Rick the Cube” portrait. Additionally, it is part of the Expansion subscription offer that includes all additional content for Stellaris for a monthly fee. Grand Archive is launching alongside the free 3.14 “Circinus” update.
Excitement is building as ININ and TAITO proudly announce the release date for the third instalment of the TAITO Milestones series, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch!
Mark your calendars for December 10th, 2024! TAITO Milestones 3 will be available both physically and digitally, reviving ten beloved TAITO games from the late ’80s and early ’90s. This collection, created in collaboration with HAMSTER Corporation, promises to bring players back to the golden era of arcade gaming.
Pre-orders for the digital edition start today, while pre-orders for the physical edition are already available. Take advantage of a 10% discount on early digital pre-orders until the official release date. Go check your Nintendo eShop for more details and secure your copy now!
Whether you’re teaming up in the iconic “Bubble Bobble”, embarking on a heroic journey in the legendary Rastan series: “Rastan Saga”, “Rastan Saga II” and “Warrior Blade”, or experiencing the freshly added “Dead Connection”, TAITO Milestones 3 offers something for every retro gaming enthusiast. Notably, Dead Connection will be making its home console debut, adding a unique twist to this collection.
Prepare to relive the magic of arcade classics with TAITO Milestones 3 – a must-have for both nostalgic fans and new players alike.
Here are ten titles included in the collection:
Bubble Bobble (1986)
Experience a blast from the past in the original 2 player, co-op arcade version of Bubble Bobble! Use Bub and Bob ’s bubble-blowing powers to traverse all 100 floors of the Cave of Monsters to rescue their girlfriends!
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987)
Play as Bubby and Bobby in their human forms! Instead of blowing bubbles, rule with rainbows as you climb to your goal! Battle monsters and more in order to save the inhabitants of Rainbow Islands who have been captured by your arch enemy, Boss of Shadow!
Cadash (1989)
Princess Sarasa, symbol of peace for the prosperous and naturally bountiful Deezar, has been kidnapped. Choose between a fighter, mage, priest or ninja to defeat monsters, gather riches and strengthen your equipment to defeat the evil Baarogue in this classic 2 player co-op action RPG!
Rastan Saga (1987)
In this platform action game, follow the journey of Rastan the Thief, in a tale set before he became king, as he sets off on the Princess’ orders to protect the kingdom of Ceim. Battle enemies along the way and defeat the monstrous dragon with various items, and weapons like a fire sword, a hammer, or an axe!
Rastan Saga 2 (1988)
Set out on a journey into battle against various enemies and traps to protect the holy city of Rastania and the temple, SkyScraper, from the wicked tribe. This action game is a prequel to Rastan Saga.
Champion Wrestler (1989)
Go to war in the ring in 8 rounds in order to become the champion.
Use technical moves such as aerial techniques and submission holds to ringside brawls and the use of deadly weapons! The action never lets up! Play together in tag-team matches or against each other 1v1, either way, this couch co-op promises lots of wrestling action.
Runark (1990)
This iconic beat-em-up features up to 4 player couch co-op! Play as a squad of rangers that must save the animals from evil poachers. Destroy bad guys by any means possible; use hand to hand combat or weapons like knives and rocket launchers! SHBROOM!
Warrior Blade (1991)
The third game in the Rastan series. Set in the kingdom at the end of the earth; Depon, this adventure sees Rastan and his comrades set off in search of vast riches in the face of never-ending danger. Choose from 3 characters in this dual-screen cabinet 2 player co-op game.
Thunder Fox (1990)
A run and gun action game released for arcades in 1990! Play as the Thunder Fox anti-terrorism team to bring down a terrorist organization. Drive tanks, pilot autogyros and ride marine jets and defeat enemies on your way to the terrorist base!
Dead Connection (1992)
Four detectives take a stand against the mafia infesting their city! Mow down the oncoming gangsters and uncover the secrets behind the case! Lift the curtain on this dark plot in your pursuit of Don Nerozzia!! An action-shooting game set in 1950s America.
Get ready to step into the spotlight with Songbird, the first-of-its-kind karaoke game developed for the Meta Quest featuring songs from Billie Eilish, ABBA, Selena Gomez and More!!
Created by the musical hearts behind the iconic Guitar Hero, use your voice to bring the world of Nestopia to life as you engage with this vibrant world filled with “catchables,” rhythmic multipliers, dancing and fun companions who accompany your musical journey. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or having fun with friends, this immersive singing experience delivers the thrill of karaoke directly to your living room.
The world of Songbird is coming this November.
Developer Always Blue Games is led by Marcus Henderson, the California-based multi-instrumentalist who recorded the majority of the high-energy, shredding guitar parts for the original and highly successful Guitar Hero franchise.
Launch day will feature a carefully curated setlist of 33 licensed tracks, including hits from a variety of genres. Starting in early 2025, new song packs will be released monthly to expand your catalog. Sing along to favorites like:
Billie Eilish – I Love You
Selena Gomez – Love You Like A Love Song
ABBA – Dancing Queen
Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
Flipturn – August
Tyler Hubbard- Dancin’ In The Country
Grace Oliver and George Wilson’s Enigma Ensemble – Habanera
Laufey – From The Start
Limahl – Neverending Story
Paramore – Ain’t It Fun
Sublime – Badfish
Seal – Kiss From A Rose
And more!
DANGEN Entertainment has announced its partnership with Mantis Games to publish Deck of Haunts, a sinister new deckbuilding roguelike where players take on the role of a malevolent haunted house. In this eerie title, players will build their mansion, lure unsuspecting humans into it, and terrify them into madness, or kill them, using a variety of haunting cards.
Set in America in the 1970s, players embody a forsaken 1920s art deco mansion, once grand but now steeped in bitterness and malice after decades of abandonment. Over time, the house’s simmering hatred for humanity has manifested as a living, pulsating stone heart at its core. Fueled by this dark power, the house now lures unsuspecting humans into its twisted halls, feeding on their fear—and their very bodies—to satiate its hunger and grow ever more powerful.
In Deck of Haunts, players strategically construct their haunted house by day, setting deadly traps to protect their Heart room, the core of their supernatural power. By night, they must use a deck of terrifying cards to unleash spirits and horrors that gradually drive unassuming explorers insane, or kill them. Players can unleash ruthless card combos and take advantage of special rooms with unique traits to create cunning, fear-driven strategies. The goal is to harvest the essence of these doomed souls, allowing players to grow their mansion and attract even greater explorers—while preparing for their worst threat: the arrival of the Stone Masons.
Today, CCP Games launched EVE Galaxy Conquest, the free-to-play 4X strategy mobile game, for iOS and Android devices worldwide. EVE Galaxy Conquest adapts the player-driven intensity of the iconic EVE Online Universe into a pocket-sized experience, offering a fresh way for players to participate in the epic battles and deep gameplay EVE Online is known for. Download the app now on the App Store or Google Play.
In EVE Galaxy Conquest, players build unstoppable armadas, establish powerful corporations, and compete to control strategic territories. Players choose their Empire, form fleets with iconic ships from EVE Online, and decide whether to forge alliances or carve their path to galactic dominance.
Step into the terrifying unknown with Dark Atlas: Infernum, where you must remember who you are, face your demons, and fight to prevent the apocalypse. SelectaPlay and Night Council Studio are thrilled to announce the upcoming Steam demo for Dark Atlas: Infernum, launching as a part of Steam Scream Fest on October 28th. This free demo offers a glimpse into the unraveling world, allowing players to experience the chilling psychological horror ahead of the full release in 2025.
In Dark Atlas: Infernum, you step into the role of Natalia Asensio, Grand Master of an ancient esoteric order. As society collapses and dimensional barriers shatter, supernatural forces are unleashed into the world. Trapped in a dusty basement, drugged and barely remembering your identity, you must engage in a battle of wills that could open the gates of hell.
Haunted by the voice in your head that tortures and commands you, your only choice is to follow its cryptic orders. The end of the world may be the beginning of your struggle, but your greatest battle is against the dark forces trying to tear apart both your mind and reality. Every step forward is a battle against the unknown horrors that lie ahead.
