Publisher Funcom® and developer Astrolabe® Interactive Inc. are thrilled to announce that Aloft ® has entered Early Access. The feel-good sandbox survival game, priced at 24.99€, lets you restore the ecosystems of a shattered world, solo or in groups of up to 8, by harnessing the wind and exploring the skies in your personal skyships, built from entire floating islands.
The world of Aloft is one of floating islands shaped by the wind. Soar between them on your customizable glider, gathering resources and discovering ancient technology as you go. Transform any island into your home above the clouds, and harness the wind with crafted sails, rudder, and helm. Farm, cook, care for animals, and restore the balance of nature by combating the spreading corruption.
Aloft has already attracted praise, attention, and community feedback through various successful demos, which included the first biome in the game, with some demo players even reaching over a hundred hours building and decorating their ideal home in the sky. With today’s Early Access Launch, the game has grown into three full biomes, which is set to expand further throughout the Early Access period.
Creativity and community lie at the heart of Aloft. Player-built skyships can be shared directly on the Steam Workshop for others to enjoy, and you can even bring along your entire skyship when joining a friend’s game, making it possible to create a whole moving village of eight skyships in co-op.
The Early Access Roadmap highlights the main features planned for future updates. Initial updates will focus on quickly addressing any potential bugs that appear with launch, after which the team will move on to expanding the game with quality-of-life improvements and new features. This flexible roadmap allows for adjustment of priorities based in large part on community feedback.
Aloft is available right now for 24.99€, on Steam Early Access: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1660080/Aloft/
Titan Forge Games has today launched SMITE 2 as a free-to-play game, marking the end of its Closed Alpha stage. In conjunction with a significant patch to update the game, SMITE 2 is now available for all players to download for free on PS5, Xbox Series, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as on Steam Deck. Today’s patch adds 5 new Gods to the playable roster, including the latest God developed for SMITE 2 from the ground up, Aladdin.
Aladdin joins SMITE 2 as a part of the ‘Tales of Arabia’ Pantheon. Developed completely on Unreal Engine 5, the new God brings unique mechanics to the game. Aladdin is a highly mobile God thanks to his ability to run along walls and structures. His companion, the Genie, grants him three powerful wishes throughout the game including a chance for revival upon death. Aladdin’s ultimate ability allows him to use his Lamp to capture enemies in a one-on-one challenge.
Four further Gods have been added to SMITE 2 with the free-to-play patch including Geb, the Egyptian God of Earth, and Mulan the Chinese Ascendant Warrior. Agni comes to SMITE 2 representing the Hindu Pantheon, while Ullr from the Norse Pantheon rounds out the long list of new playable Gods.
Today’s patch also adds ‘Joust’, the fan favorite 3v3 game mode that focuses on fast paced, small-scale combat, along with a brand new Arthurian-themed map. It also includes significant updates to the Conquest map and features, along with an alpha version of the Assault game mode. Additionally a new optional enhancement has been added to some gods in the form of Aspects. These are intended to bring fun new ways of playing the same gods by focusing on one or two clear components of a god kit rather than hitting every ability in small ways.
Wolcen Studio is shaking up the ARPG genre with a new release. Codenamed Project Pantheon, it is the first-of-its-kind: an ExtrAction RPG that offers a blend of intense Hack n’ Slash action and high-stakes extraction gameplay in a dark fantasy world filled with fantastical reimaginings of historical mythologies. The studio has released the first of three teaser trailers and has confirmed a Closed Alpha Test for European players on January 25-26, 2025, and February 1-2, 2025 for players in North America – all who will have a chance to experience an early build of the new flagship title hands-on.
Project Pantheon is a free-to-play live service game that will take players on a journey into a strange afterlife, where they are tasked by Death itself to aid in restoring order to a shattered reality. Players explore diverse maps, battling enemies in dynamic PvPvE combat. Successful extractions will see players haul back valuable loot, while failure may result in losing their gear for good. In their hidden fortress, players will be upgrading their base, customizing loadouts and experimenting with gear to find their optimal playstyle. An open market will foster a player-driven economy that is going to allow players to trade and support each other.
First Closed Alpha Test
Closed Alpha 1 serves as a primarily technical evaluation, focused on validating the stability and performance of Project Pantheon’s backend systems, server infrastructure and community channels. This phase is critical for ensuring a smooth reliable experience throughout Alpha testing and will heavily depend on player feedback to fix any issues.
While servers for this first Closed Alpha test will be located in Europe and North America, Wolcen Studio will announce dates for additional Closed Alpha tests with servers in further territories in the coming weeks. To stay in the loop, players can join Wolcen Studio’s Discord and follow profiles on X, Facebook and YouTube.
Fusing High-Stakes Extraction Gameplay with Action RPG
“Project Pantheon delivers a unique experience by merging the fast-paced combat of ARPGs with the tension and risk-reward gameplay mechanics of extraction shooters,” said Andrei Chirculete, Game Director of Project Pantheon at Wolcen Studio. “Project Pantheon is what would happen if Diablo and Escape From Tarkov had a baby–a fusion of different, exciting gameplays. We are eager to see how our players react!”
A World Rooted in Mythology and Shaped by Players
Project Pantheon’s post-apocalyptic dark fantasy universe draws inspiration from a vast and diverse array of traditional tales and cultures from around the world, immersing players in rich mythology-driven narratives. The journey begins with an exploration of a fantastical reinterpretation of Nordic mythology – The Realm of Fate.
While the game has been in development for more than a year and is currently in the early alpha stage of development, Wolcen Studio aims to give players a voice in driving essential game updates to help shape the world’s future as development progresses.
Tripwire Presents, the publishing division of Tripwire Interactive that focuses on releasing great games from other independent studios, today revealed the Special Edition and opened digital pre-purchase for The Stone of Madness, launching Jan. 28, 2025 on Windows PC via Steam (officially Steam Deck Verified), Epic Games Store and GOG, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-purchase on the Nintendo Switch™ system beginning soon. Developed by The Game Kitchen, acclaimed developers of Blasphemous and Blasphemous 2, The Stone of Madness is currently available for pre-purchase for a MSRP of $29.99 for the Standard edition and $34.99 for the Special edition, which includes a digital copy of the game, digital artbook with over 60 pages of gorgeous art, and the digital official soundtrack (OST) featuring 24 songs including title song ‘La Piedra de la Locura’ available to listen to now on YouTube. All digital pre-purchases will be discounted at 10% off their standard pricing, ending on Jan. 28. Eager fans on PC can download the demo available through Steam, taking players through the multi-hour prologue experience.
Players can learn more about strengths, weaknesses, and phobias of the five uniquely flawed playable prisoners in the latest series of character vignettes released by Tripwire Presents. From young Amelia the rogue, using her small size and quick hands to sneak into forbidden areas and pilfer goods whilst avoiding the horrors of a child’s overactive imagination, to Eduardo the oversized craftsman, silently using his immense strength to overcome obstacles and avoiding dark and dimly lit areas that haunt him, each of the prisoners will work together to overcome their fears and escape…hopefully with their sanity still in tact. All five videos can be viewed via this YouTube Playlist.
The Stone of Madness is a tactical stealth adventure game set in a Spanish madhouse in the late 18th century, presented with gorgeous hand-crafted, period-inspired artwork. Located in the Pyrenees, a timeworn Jesuit monastery is home both to a madhouse and an inquisitorial prison; five mysterious characters have been imprisoned between its walls under different pretenses. Plagued by cruel punishment, madness, and despair, they will soon devise a plan to escape this place and its evil inhabitants, relying on each other to face their deepest fears.
The Stone of Madness key features include:
Escape the Monastery: Control all five characters independently to aid in their escape, taking care to preserve each member’s sanity as much as possible. As they explore the corridors and rooms of the monastery they may discover useful tools or clues to aid their escape. They must avoid detection at all times, the Inquisition is not known for their mercy.
Manage the Madness: Each character carries their own unique traumas and phobias contributing to their own respective madness. Managing their mental health will be crucial to their escape, using a system of character progression and regression. Failing to maintain a character’s sanity can trigger new negative traits including paranoia, dementia, or bouts of violence.
Discover the Secrets Within: Choose between two different escape plans, with each campaign featuring unique stories, objectives, and surprises. These plans will play out through a day and night cycle separating daytime actions and nighttime preparations, giving the prisoners time to rest and recover. Most actions will be best performed during daytime, even with the Inquisition’s presence, however the darkness of night offers unique opportunities, and risks. There is a reason most inmates rarely venture out after dark.
Experience Stunning, Hand-painted Art Style: The visuals in The Stone of Madness have been lovingly hand-painted and animated, drawing heavy inspiration from 18th-century artist Francisco De Goya. An isometric perspective allows players to explore scenes and observe minute details as if they’re adventuring through a Goya painting brought to life.
Developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Tripwire Presents, The Stone of Madness will launch on Windows PC via Steam (officially Steam Deck Verified), Epic Games Store and GOG, PS5™, Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch™ on Jan. 28, 2025. Find out more about The Stone of Madness on the official website, follow the game on X, BlueSky, Facebook, and join the discussion on Discord. This game has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB and PEGI18.
Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, is hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople. He must count on friends — old and new — to solve the mystery before the hostilities between the two kingdoms escalate into all-out war.
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Synopsis: Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, is hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople. He must count on friends — old and new — to solve the mystery before the hostilities between the two kingdoms escalate into all-out war.
Premiere Date: February 11, 2025
Writers: Mike Ostrowski and Rae Benjamin
Produced by: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Executive Producers: Mike Ostrowski, Tomek Bagiński & Jarosław Sawko (Platige), Jason F Brown & Sean Daniel (Hivemind)
Publisher Good Shepherd Entertainment (Dicefolk, Monster Train) and developer Violet Saint today announced Moroi, a dark fantasy hack-and-slash adventure inspired by Romanian folklore, heavy metal and the brilliant works of David Lynch, will beckon you into a peculiar, puzzling world steeped in dark comedy and unsettling horror when it launches on PC in Early 2025 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2518410/Moroi/).
Indulge in eternal torment with Moroi’s reveal trailer:
Descend into the shadow-choked depths of Moroi’s Cosmic Engine, a maddening labyrinth of twisting corridors and forgotten horrors. Plagued by amnesia, your name, past and sins are beyond memory, shrouded in darkness. As you claw your way through this realm of torment, you face grotesque inhabitants in a land where dark-as-night humor is the only silver lining. Cling to your sanity in an otherwise deteriorating existence styled as grimdark fantasy, a subgenre of fiction distinguished by bleak, dystopian settings and scenarios.
Wage war against Moroi’s battalions of mages, guards and the cursed undead while wielding a gruesome arsenal of unorthodox weaponry. Tear through the flesh of your foes with the jagged teeth of a hellish duck, or unleash a storm of projectiles with the aid of a flying brain. Around every corner lies an unexpected discovery or new instrument of death.
The labyrinth’s horrors extend beyond the bloody thrill of combat, conjuring otherworldly environments, eccentric acquaintances and puzzles calling for unconventional approaches. Moroi’s trials forgo mere riddles and sliding blocks; embrace macabre solutions like drinking blood, forcing regurgitation or scavenging through innards to forge deeper into the Cosmic Engine. Each puzzle has its own clever solution, often awarding triumph in exchange for suffering. Engage with the Cosmic’s bizarre residents to uncover the secrets of their twisted world, savoring moments of dark humor to lighten the unrelenting dread.
Escape is your only hope, the key to uncovering the grim truths that bind you. But tread carefully – the choices you make will carve your path toward one of multiple endings, shaping a fate that may prove more harrowing than the Cosmic Engine itself.
Stay up to date on the macabre reality of Moroi by following Good Shepherd Entertainment on Bluesky @GoodShepherd.Games.
DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today announces DJI Flip, a new series of all-in-one vlog camera drones. At less than 249g1, this compact drone features foldable full-coverage propeller guards1, ensuring ultra-safe and reliable flying. Photographers can capture impressive 48MP photos and 4K videos with the drone’s 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with one tap of a button. Being fully equipped with comprehensive protection at all times, even beginner pilots can confidently navigate the skies with DJI Flip.
“Building on the success of our consumer camera drones, we are introducing DJI Flip to combine the simplicity of the DJI Neo with the stunning photo capabilities of the DJI Mini to make both aerial photography and close-up portraits accessible for everyone,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Product Experience Director at DJI. “DJI Flip combines creative tools like AI subject tracking1 and intelligent shooting modes1 with safety features like our latest foldable propeller guards and automatic braking, making it easier than ever for people to capture stunning aerial footage no matter their level of photography or drone expertise.”
Ultra Safe and Reliable Flights Intelligent One-Tap Aerial Photography
DJI Flip makes flying safe and reliable thanks to its foldable, full-coverage guard that wraps the propellers to avoid injury or damage to the drone. Made of lightweight and strong carbon fiber string, the guard’s support structure is only 1/60 the weight of guards made with traditional polycarbonate material while maintaining the same stiffness and durability to ensure safe flights.
Intelligent One-Tap Aerial Photography
DJI Flip makes flying simple, requiring no special training in most countries and regions. This palm-sized drone is lightweight and compact, making it an ideal travel companion for capturing any adventure. Whether hiking through forests or climbing steep peaks, DJI Flip makes flying simple. With one tap of the mode button, photographers can select from six intelligent shooting modes to capture impressive footage. AI Subject Tracking1 can also be enabled to keep a subject in the frame. Six intelligent shooting modes include Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang.
Strong Camera with Smart Enhancements
DJI Flip can capture high-dynamic 48MP photos with more highlight and shadow details. The camera is powered by a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor featuring Dual Native ISO Fusion, f/1.7 aperture, and 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels. It can also capture photos with up to 4x zoom. Intricate details can be preserved with next-gen SmartPhoto1, which combines HDR imaging, scene recognition, and more for images that pop.
DJI Flip records HDR video at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, promising footage with true-to-life quality. It also supports slow-motion recording at 4K/100fps and 10-bit D-Log M color mode. A 4:3-aspect-ratio CMOS sensor provides enough space for vertical crops while maintaining a 2.7k resolution, optimized for smartphone viewing and social media without any cropping needed.
DJI’s intelligent shooting features easily produce professional-grade work:
MasterShots: Allows DJI Flip to automatically perform diverse camera movements, shooting multiple clips and editing them with music, cuts, and effects for fast and simplified cinematic footage.
Hyperlapse: Select from four options, including Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint to capture timelapse footage at up to 4K horizontally or 2.7K vertically.
FocusTrack: Find creative ways to follow your subject with FocusTrack. The suite includes ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0, three powerful storytelling tools.
Panorama: Supports shooting 180°, Wide Angle, Vertical, and Sphere panoramic photos to capture magnificent landscapes.
Other Standout Features
31-minute Max Flight Time1: DJI Flip’s Intelligent Flight Battery delivers up to 31 minutes of flight time, ensuring seamless creation without battery concerns.
Automatic Braking1: DJI Flip’s 3D Infrared Sensing System supports automatic braking for enhanced safety, even at night.
Next Level Video Transmission: When paired with the DJI RC-N3 or RC 2 remote controller, DJI O4 video transmission supports up to 13 km1 of 1080p/60fps video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, allowing you to explore vast landscapes with clarity.
Fast Charging and Data Transfers1: The DJI Flip Parallel Charging Hub charges two batteries simultaneously1, significantly reducing charging time. With the DJI Fly app, footage can be transferred at speeds up to 30MB/s.
Fly With or Without Remote Controller: The DJI Flip can be operated with the DJI RC-N3 or RC 2 remote controllers. It can also operate with the DJI Fly app or Voice Control1 for hands-free flying. When connected to your phone, it can capture audio and intelligently reduce noise, automatically filtering out propeller noise.
Data Protection: Local Data Mode acts like “airplane mode” on the phone by completely disconnecting the DJI Flip from the internet, ensuring all data stays only in the drone.
Price and Availability
DJI Flip is available to order from store.dji.com and authorized retail partners, with shipping starting today, in the following configurations:
DJI Flip retails for $439
DJI Flip (DJI RC 2) retails for $639
DJI Flip Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) retails for $779
Pack your waterskin and return to the scorching hot sands of the Kharidian Desert for a trilogy of new quests coming to the beloved MMO RuneScape, starting with the first quest ‘Beneath Scabaras’ Sands’, available to RuneScape members today.
The sands are stirring and corrupted scarab creatures have been sighted across the desert. The Pharaoh of Menaphos can’t sit idly by and seeks assistance to find the God of Isolation and Wisdom. The time has come to return to the Desert for a trio of quests leading to the final confrontation with the Goddess of Destruction herself: Amascut.
To embark on this new adventure, players will need to have completed the ‘Ode of the Devourer’ and ‘’Phite Club’ questlines and reached the 87 Slayer skill level. After meeting the requirements, venture to the throne room in Menaphos to catch up with some familiar faces and start this quest!
RuneScape is available now on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, complete with cross-platform progression and play on PC and mobile.
Indie game studio The Wandering Band and publisher Stray Fawn are thrilled to announce that their highly anticipated skyward adventure Airborne Empire is available now in Early Access on Steam for PC.
Airborne Empire brings the aerial city-building and colony management series to new heights. The skyward city builder tasks players with building a fantastical settlement in the clouds, all while managing resources and fighting off nefarious sky pirates. Players uncover secrets and complete thrilling quests across the massive world, in hopes of attaining enough materials to grow their settlement into a fortress and a home. Only the most daring leaders can reforge a harmonious world between the land and the skies.
Early Access Launch Trailer:
By traveling through arid deserts and dense woodlands, you encounter a vibrant cast of characters, citizens to recruit, and a slate of unlockable upgrades. Airborne Empire is the follow-up to The Wandering Band’s BAFTA-nominated Airborne Kingdom. This new experience brings expanded open-world exploration, deeper role-playing mechanics, and colorful characters, and introduces combat.
Airborne Empire is now available for purchase on Steam for PC, priced at $24.99. Visit airborneempire.com for more information, and follow The Wandering Band on X and Instagram for the latest updates.
The world of Reverie is about to welcome its new guardians: players on Nintendo Switch™ can pre-order Ravenswatch today to join the fight against the Nightmare on January 23, 2025.
The free update “Nightmares Unleashed” will also be available on January 23, 2024 on all platforms. It will introduce new opponents, mini-bosses and activities.
Ravenswatch is a top-down roguelike action game that combines intense real-time combat with deep gameplay and high replay value. After the success of Curse of the Dead Gods, Passtech Games returns with a new formula and game experience.
In Ravenswatch, no two runs are alike. With over 200 talents, 50 magical items, endless build combinations, 4 difficulty levels, custom game modes and online cross-play co-op up to 4 players, the game offers an addictive experience and high replay value.
Ravenswatch is now available on PC, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. The Nintendo SwitchTM version will be available January 23rd 2025.
.jpg?width=1120&upscale=true&name=DJI%20FLIP_Outdoor%20KV_Autumn%20Scenery%20Camping%20(1).jpg "DJI Unveils Flip Series of Vlogging Camera Drone 2")
