Week’s Top Gaming News

PAX Aus 2024 will feature Julian Wilton of Massive Monster as the Storytime Speaker, with Canadian voice actor Mark Meer and John Robertson’s The Dark Room also joining the lineup from October 11th-13th.
The Latin American Games Showcase, presented by Devolver Digital and Raw Fury, returns on June 8th during Summer Game Fest 2024, highlighting over 70 games from across Latin America.
The Women-Led Games Showcase, part of the same festival, will spotlight 21 games from women-led studios on June 8th, supported by Stray Fawn and Disobey.
Additionally, Nordcurrent Labs and Emergo Entertainment have released their narrative adventure game, Fireside, on PC, with a Nintendo Switch release on June 18th.
Meanwhile, Digital Cybercherries’ HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed has sold 50,000 copies on Xbox within five days of its release, showcasing the success of indie games. This article updates throughout the entire week.

PAX Aus 2024 Highlights

PAX Aus 2024 has revealed Julian Wilton, the award-winning creator and Creative Director of Massive Monster, as the Storytime Speaker. Known for hit games like ‘Cult of The Lamb’ and ‘Adventure Pals,’ Wilton will kick off the event on October 11th.
Also joining is Canadian voice actor Mark Meer, famous for his role as Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series, with credits in Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age, and Gotham Knights.
John Robertson returns with The Dark Room, his popular live-action video game show. Expect more talent, panels, and entertainment throughout the event.
Three-day badges are sold out. PAX Aus 2024 runs from October 11th-13th at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For details and badges, visit the PAX Aus website or follow their social media.

Latin American Games Showcase Returns

The Latin American Games Showcase (LAGS) is back on June 8 at 10 a.m. PT as part of Summer Game Fest 2024.
Presented by Devolver Digital and Raw Fury, this digital event will highlight over 70 games from countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
Highlights include exclusive trailers for Mariachi Legends by Halberd Studios and Hidden in my Paradise by Ogre Pixel.
Viewers can also expect new looks at Mark of the Deep by Mad Mimic and SOPA: Tale of the Stolen Potato by StudioBando, plus a gameplay reveal of RKGK / Rakugaki by Wabisabi Games.
Supported by Devolver Digital, Raw Fury, and PANIC, the showcase will bring updates on despelote and Arco. The event will stream on YouTube, Twitch, and Steam, with additional content on Steam from June 8 to 15.

Women-Led Games Showcase

The Women-Led Games Showcase (WLG) returns for its second digital edition as part of Summer Game Fest 2024. Starting at 11:30 a.m. PT, viewers can tune in on YouTube, Twitch, and Steam to see 21 games from women-led studios worldwide.
Highlights include deep dives into The Crush House by Nerial Games, Woodo by Julia, Phoenix Springs by Calligram Studio, Urban Jungle by Kylyk Games, and SunnySide by RainyGames. The showcase will feature new looks and updates on various anticipated titles.
The event is supported by publishers Stray Fawn and Disobey.
From June 8 to 15, there will be a special Steam event featuring developer interviews, demos, offers, and discounts on released games.

Fireside Game Launches

Indie game publisher Nordcurrent Labs and developer Emergo Entertainment announce the release of their cozy narrative adventure, Fireside, now available on PC for $14.99 / £12.79 / €14.79.
Nintendo Switch users can join the journey starting June 18th.
Fireside immerses players in a whimsical hiking adventure, featuring hand-drawn landscapes and engaging campfire conversations.
The game emphasizes non-violent interactions, trading, cooking, and home building, fostering a sense of camaraderie among characters. “Amidst the crackling embers of Fireside, we extend a warm invitation to players to embark on this enchanting journey of camaraderie and exploration,” said Paul Redetzky, CEO at Emergo Entertainment.
Andrius Mackevičius, Head of Publishing at Nordcurrent Labs, added, “It’s an experience crafted to provide solace and joy, brimming with lovable characters, tranquil vistas, and a sprinkle of enchanting mystery.”

HYPERCHARGE Hits 50K Sales

Indie game HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed by Digital Cybercherries has achieved impressive sales, hitting 50,000 copies sold on Xbox in just five days. The game, which sold 25,000 copies within 24 hours of its release on May 31st, has maintained strong momentum despite lacking publisher support or a Game Pass deal. It currently boasts a 4.6/5 rating from over 600 reviews on Xbox.Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay and Marketing Director, expressed his gratitude: “50,000 sales might not mean much in the realm of AAA, but for our small team of six, in a tough time for the industry, with no support from a big-publisher, selling 50,000 on Xbox in only a few days is really a big deal! Thank you again to everyone who has supported us!”HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed is an action-packed shooter inspired by films like Toy Story and Small Soldiers. It features a story campaign mode playable solo or in co-op, both online and offline, as well as various PvP modes. Players can defend the Hypercore, survive waves of enemies, or engage in free-for-all battles.

Artistic Adventure Game Announced

btf has announced their new 2D hand-drawn metroidvania game, Constance, set to release in late 2025. The game features a paintbrush-wielding artist navigating a decaying inner-world shaped by her mental health.
Players will explore six unique biomes, uncover secrets, and unlock new techniques while managing paint corruption.
“With Constance we wanted to create a platforming adventure that does more than look and feel great – it tells a relatable down-to-earth story about overcoming self-doubt and finding self-acceptance,” said Sebastian Drews, Game Director at btf.
“We wanted to create something simultaneously wondrous and familiar, that our players can see themselves in. We look forward to sharing more with you soon!”

New Psycho-Detective Game Revealed

Shueisha Games and developer Hakababunko have announced the upcoming release of their single-player psycho-detective mystery adventure, Urban Myth Dissolution Center, for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
The announcement came with a new trailer during the Guerrilla Collective Showcase.
In the game, players assume the role of Azami Fukurai, who uses her unique ability to see human thoughts and memories to solve paranormal cases.
Under the guidance of her colleague Jasmine and director Ayumu Meguriya, Fukurai investigates cursed relics, dimensional anomalies, and other supernatural occurrences.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center features a 2D pixelated art style influenced by 90s point-and-click adventure games and anime aesthetics, creating a mysterious and atmospheric experience.
While awaiting the game’s release, fans can add Urban Myth Dissolution Center to their wishlist on Steam.

AI Game Wins Award

ERNI Consulting Spain’s AI-based video game, CatastrophIA, has won first prize at GameJam 2024, organized by the Patient73 Foundation, FECAMM, the Barcelona City Council, and the Real Club Esportiu Espanyol de Barcelona. The game aims to educate players about rare diseases like xeroderma pigmentosa, narcolepsy, and retinitis pigmentosa.
Developed by Biel Serrano, David Correa, Enric Domingo, Helena Tanco, and Mateo Cáceres, CatastrophIA is a 3D survival game where players use feline characters with unique conditions to overcome challenges. The game includes AI features such as a chatbot for disease information and multi-language text translation. “The main objective of CatastrophIA is to educate and raise awareness among players about minority diseases, highlighting that they are not a handicap, but a special condition,” said Biel Serrano.
Patient73 founder Francesc Cayuela emphasized the competition’s goal of “Humanistic Computing,” ensuring free access to all games in the Patient73 library. This project underscores ERNI’s dedication to creating technology that adds societal value and collaborating with clinical research organisations.

Alan Wake 2 Collection

Remedy Entertainment, Epic Games, and Limited Run Games have announced a physical collection for Alan Wake 2.
Pre-orders for the Collector’s Editions start on June 8th and end on July 21st, exclusively on limitedrungames.com.
Shipping begins in December for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
The collection features items inspired by the game’s setting, Bright Falls, and its Cult of the Tree. Included are a replica of Alan’s Angel Lamp, a 160-page art book, an Oceanview Hotel keychain, enamel pins, and an embossed collector’s edition box.
The Collector’s Edition contains the Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition, which includes expansions, cosmetic items, and a bonus Alan Wake Remastered download code.
The game’s narrative involves FBI agent Saga Anderson and writer Alan Wake battling a supernatural darkness in intertwined campaigns.