Author - Jerry Paxton

The Gunk is Out Now on Steam

Thunderful is pleased to report that its space exploring adventure, The Gunk, is reaching new frontiers as it launches today on Steam from 5pm CET. To celebrate the launch, a new accolades trailer highlights the compelling features that have engaged hundreds of thousands of players.

Not only will players be able to enjoy the exploration of their favorite alien world on Steam, they can also take advantage of the recently added photo mode. Post-processing photo editing options include the ability to adjust depth of field, exposure, field of view, add filters like “noir”, “sepia” and “cartoon”, and more. The mode also allows you to adjust the pose of protagonist Rani and even change her facial expressions to add personality to your snaps and perfectly match the tone you are aiming for with each shot you take.

The Steam release of The Gunk features support for some of the most requested languages from the community, including Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, allowing even more people to experience this compelling tale and captivating world.

In The Gunk, you take on the role of Rani, one half of a space-hauling duo that stumbles across a seemingly barren planet infested with a strange undiscovered substance they call “the gunk”. Rani and her partner Becks wonder if their days of scrapping for resources to make ends meet might be at an end with this unusual discovery. But there are other pertinent questions to answer: what exactly is the gunk? How did it get here? What kind of world existed prior to its arrival? And what happened to the ancient civilization that’s left only ruins behind?

The Gunk has a big emphasis on exploration with a wondrous and diverse alien world to discover featuring biomes ranging from rocky canyons, to dense jungles, to deep subterranean caves (this is the team behind SteamWorld after all) and a few more surprises. The gunk is turning all of these zones barren, but as you remove it using Rani’s upgradable goo-sucking power-glove, you’ll discover a flourishing ecosystem seemingly suppressed by this mysterious and destructive gunk.

Forgotten Fables – Wolves on the Westwind Official Launch Date Revealed

Want to set sail on an epic journey through unknown lands? From publisher Ulisses Spiele and developer Owned by Gravity, Forgotten Fables – Wolves on the Westwind is releasing on Steam May 25. Wolves on the Westwind is a choice-driven adventure inspired by one of the most popular tabletop franchises in history, The Dark Eye. With over 15 hours of content, it’s perfect for fans of fantasy novels, tabletop games, and RPGs!

Set in the dark fantasy world of Aventuria, Wolves on the Westwind tasks players with making the right choices to save the lives of innocents across the lands. Play as the grizzled veteran warrior Alrik or the young wizard Nedime, unwitting heroes who are tasked with traversing the frigid countryside of Thorwal in search of an old threat that seeks to cause destruction and chaos. Travel across the realm on board the Keenwolf, a Thorwalian raiders’ ship, forge alliances or make enemies of the unusual crew, and gather unique companions along the way.

Players on Steam can further immerse themselves in the world of The Dark Eye with Wolves on the Westwind: Deluxe Edition, which includes the base game plus an exclusive artbook, the analog solo adventure The Vampire of Havena, and the official game soundtrack. The Art and World of Wolves on the Westwind is a treasure trove filled with illustrations from the game and background on The Dark Eye and the Thorwal region and culture. The Vampire of Havena is a solo RPG experience that can be played without a master or teammates. Finally, the game soundtrack includes 9 atmospheric tracks from renowned composer team Yannick Süß and Robin Birner. Featuring authentic Scandinavian and medieval instruments, these tracks put listeners right into the world of Aventuria.

Ready to embrace your destiny as a hero of Aventuria? Wolves on the Westwind will be available on Steam May 25. You can find updates on Steam or the game’s official website.

Higround Unveils Attack on Titan Peripherals

Higround, a lifestyle and gaming peripheral brand, is pleased to announce its upcoming Attack on Titan collaboration – a collection of computer peripherals inspired by the iconic Japanese manga series. In partnership with Funimation, Higround redefines anime merchandise by combining functionality and art, offering a new perspective on computer peripherals. The entire collection will be available exclusively on Higround’s website in the coming weeks.

Featuring dual silicone dampeners, this Higround capsule offers users the experience of having a heavier, deeper-sounding keyboard without personal modifications. The keyboards feature TTC Titan Heart switches exclusive to Higround, which feature smoked black housing and a red heart embedded inside. These unique features and visuals merge Higround’s dedication to detail and reliability with Attack on Titan’s themes of resilience for a collection of quality, durable products designed to weather the storm.

Higround’s collaboration with Attack on Titan tells a story about dedication to self expression. Wrapped in the iconic imagery from Attack on Titan, the two keyboard designs included in the capsule feature images of Captain Levi and the Colossus Titan—two characters known for their tenacity and perseverance.

“This is the first time in the industry you’ll see inspired designs that incorporate anime graphics across the keyboard,” said Higround Founder and CEO Rustin Sotoodeh. “It’s energizing because we love telling stories and now we get to implement Attack on Titan’s rich storyline and characters and portray it through the medium of graphic keyboards.”

As gaming and anime continue to immerse users into worlds of adventure and storytelling, this is the first time that fans of both can integrate this merging of cultures into their keyboards. As Higround’s inaugural venture into anime hardware, it was only natural to collaborate with Attack on Titan. Growing in popularity across four seasons, Attack on Titan is the forerunner across all anime genres and has proven to the masses that great storytelling knows no bounds.

Higround was acquired by 100 Thieves in November 2021 and has since sold out of all drops in under 10 minutes. This limited drop will be available to customers in the coming weeks. For more information and to purchase the product, head to Higround.co.

Afterlife VR Coming to Steam Early Access on May 13

Afterlife VR, a horror VR game is launching soon on Steam Early Access on May 13. Afterlife VR is a deeply immersive horror game that will let you experience the true essence of terror. Play as Adam Bernhard, a young rookie police officer on a routine night patrol, who receives a call that will change his life forever. Uncover the secrets hidden deep within the Black Rose mental hospital walls, where most of the patients pose a threat to themselves and to others.

Afterlife VR will remain in Early Access for approximately 1 to 2 months and would include all environmental puzzles, a fully functional combat system, and a complete sound design.

The full version of the game would launch with German, Spanish, Italian, French, and Russian translations, modified mechanics of escape from the ghost, enabling of find, collect, and storing the notes in player inventory, features/improvements suggested by players.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Video Game Announced

THQ Nordic and MGM today announced plans to bring the classic Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? franchise to Nintendo® Switch, PS4™, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC later this year. Developed by Massive Miniteam, the game will be published by THQ Nordic subsidiary HandyGames. The original Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? game show ran for five successful seasons on FOX Primetime and averaged 20 million viewers a week in its first season. That success was accompanied by 300 original episodes for syndication. The format remains incredibly relevant today, having been produced in more than 70 countries around the world, and enjoying success across multiple platforms including a YouTube channel and Podcast.

“The Are You Smarter Than A 5thGrader? franchise is truly timeless and ideal for players of all ages to come together and show what they know,” said Robert Marick, EVP Global Consumer Products, MGM. “Working with THQ Nordic and HandyGames on the upcoming video game, we are looking forward to providing fans of the franchise with a new way to enjoy the quiz show and test their knowledge.”

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? for Nintendo® Switch, PS4™, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC is an engaging and humorous quiz game based on the popular quiz show TV franchise. Multiple-choice questions, true-or-false challenges, and minigames will test your proficiency in more than 24 different subjects. Faced with a tough question, you can always rely on your classmates for help! More than 6,800 questions on topics like animal sciences, vocabulary, math, and more are delivered by a diverse, fully voiced, and animated cast of characters. Beat each challenge alone or together with family and friends in exciting couch co-op multiplayer gameplay to prove that you are, in fact, smarter than a 5th Grader!

“With so many kids learning from home and so many of these gaming systems in homes worldwide, the time could not be better to revitalize Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? in the videogame space,” said Adrienne Lauer, Business Development – Americas, THQ Nordic. “The development team at Massive Miniteam has done a beautiful job of creating a game show studio environment and building out an experience featuring 8-player couch co-op multiplayer.”

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? will release later this year for Nintendo® Switch, PS4™, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Add the game to your wishlist today:

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1521160
Epic: https://www.epicgames.com/p/are-you-smarter-than-a-5th-grader-bc328a
Xbox: https://www.microsoft.com/store/productid/9plknfnprxfg
GOG: https://www.gog.com/game/are_you_smarter_than_a_5th_grader
PlayStation: https://store.playstation.com/concept/10002864/

Kapital: Sparks of Revolution Gets An Official Launch Trailer

1C Entertainment and Lapovich Team have today launched their sandbox economic simulation game about class struggle, Kapital: Sparks of Revolution, on PC. Players can head in right now to pull a city from the ashes, although tough decisions will need to be made to ensure the people can survive and thrive.

Being a mayor in Kapital: Sparks of Revolution is a delicate balancing act. Each decision has different consequences for the various classes inhabiting the city. Important investments need to be made into resource distribution, housing and security if tensions spill into the streets. When one class becomes disgruntled, things may get ugly if their concerns are not swiftly addressed.

Kapital: Sparks of Revolution will be available on April 28 via Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and other digital platforms. Priced at 24.99 USD / 24.99 EUR / 19.99 GBP, a 15% launch discount will be available during the first week.

SpellForce III Reforced Journey Mode Trailer Released

SpellForce III Reforced is coming to PlayStation and Xbox on June 7th. Compared to the original version released on PC in September 2017, the Reforced edition is not only a complete overhaul but also adds new features to the game, one being the Journey Mode.

The Journey Mode allows you to create your own hero and offers more than 20+ hours of unique content with a lot of replay value while paying tribute to the much-beloved “free game mode” from the original SpellForce 1. Players can also compete in custom Journey Skirmish matches against each other, which allows them to bring their powerful Journey Heroes to battle.

SpellForce III Reforced is already available on PC and will be coming to PlayStation®4, Xbox One™, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series S/X™ on June 7th, 2022.

This Is the President Coming to Mobile

Having a distinct social media platform as the POTUS is a must-have on your mobile device. Another go-to app for the ruler of tomorrow would be “This Is the President”! This game teaches you how to be a proper politician. And it is coming to your mobile device on May 10th, 2022! ​

“This Is the President” will come to the App Store, Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store.

“This Is the President” is a story-driven mixture of adventure, strategy, and management. In the year 2020, you are elected to be the President of the United States of America. To escape justice for your past crimes as a shady multi-millionaire businessman, you need to ratify Amendment 28 which would grant lifetime immunity to any President.

There’s only one way out. Change the fabric of the Constitution of the United States by persuading, blackmailing, bribing, and bullying a large part of the political system into granting you lifelong immunity.

About “This Is the President”:
  • Experience PC quality gaming on your mobile device
  • Manage your approval rating, cash and crew unlike any US President before – stay on top of your presidency by any means necessary
  • Hold speeches, draft executive orders, manage daily crises, hold press conferences, and tweet better than any President before
  • Hire a team of assassins, hackers, lobbyists, and other specialists. Send them on dangerous missions that can be solved by legal means. If that doesn’t work, send them on dangerous missions that can be solved by illegal means
  • Experience a compelling interactive narrative with a wide variety of choices and story branches. Will you end your term on your terms, or are you just a pawn in a bigger game?
  • Rule the country as a true mobster would with a shadow cabinet that is feared and respected on a global scale

Razer Co-Founder and President Emeritus Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff Passes Away at 81

Razer has posted that Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff has passed away at 81. I thought I’d take a moment to share my thoughts on Rob…

Back in 2005, when I started GamingShogun.com, we searched high and low for news sources as well as peripheral sources for reviews. No one would talk to us. No one. As a young gamer I still had my Boomslang gaming mouse so I thought I’d reach out to Razer. It was a long shot, I thought, but I took a chance.

After so many rejected us, and more would just not talk to us, I got a personal email back from Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff himself. He took time to get to know us, even sent us some products to review, and got us on the company’s press release list.

But that wasn’t all. I then walked up to him at CES and he immediately recognized my name on my event badge. He seemed so genuinely excited to meet me in person (and here I was the one who was really nervous and excited to meet him). He gave me an interview about their products and then spent a good 30 minutes on top of that just talking about gaming in general as well as his personal pursuits like being an author, cycling, and his secrets for longevity. I always looked forward to booking Razer appointments because I knew I’d get the chance to pick his brain a bit on the current state of gaming and hear some sage wisdom from him even when the camera was off. Then, even more to my amazement, he became friends with me on Facebook!

Even after he left an active role at Razer, we would still communicate off and on about how things were going.

He was a truly generous, kind human being who lived an amazing life, and I’ll never forget our interviews and musings. Thank you Robert.

-Jerry “GamingShogun” Paxton

This War of Mine: Final Cut coming to Xbox Series X and PS5

This War of Mine – the bestselling antiwar game in which players take on the role of civilians in a besieged city, to experience war-torn reality from a down-to-earth perspective—is coming to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on May 10th. This newly overhauled version named This War of Mine: Final Cut, will be also available on Day One on Xbox Game Pass.

“The message and themes existing inside of This War of Mine have, unfortunately, become brutally vivid and relevant in recent months. We believe it’s especially important to educate people on the realities of war right now, while its horrifying reality has become a daily struggle for people that are close to us. We’re proud that recent This War of Mine fundraising helped us create a wave of spontaneous help for war victims in Ukraine, and we hope we can further spread our antiwar message with This War of Mine: Final Cut” – says Przemek Marszal, 11 bit studios CEO.

Apart from the newly updated 4K visuals and UI adjustments—which help the sketched, raw aesthetics resonate more than ever—the Final Cut package also contains all locations from both the base game and This War of Mine: Stories, new quests and events, one new classic scenario, and a brand-new character.

This War of Mine: Stories, comprised of three narrative-focused DLC episodes, will be also available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 separately or in one package. This War of Mine: Complete Edition bundles the base game with all of the Stories DLC.