Major Game Releases

Limited Run Games announced over 20 titles at LRG3 2024, including classics like Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition.
Nordcurrent Labs released Fireside on Switch, and Embers launched Murky Divers on Steam Early Access. Gaijin Entertainment’s “Seek & Destroy” update for War Thunder introduced new military vehicles, while ACQUIRE released Scars of Mars.
Studio Hamlin’s Looped, QUByte’s MARS 2120 Dev Diary, btf’s The Berlin Apartment, and Darkflow’s Rzhev update for Enlisted were also highlighted.
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Fireside Launches on Switch

Indie games publisher Nordcurrent Labs, in collaboration with Emergo Entertainment, has announced the release of the cozy narrative adventure game, Fireside, on Nintendo Switch for $14.99 / £13.29 / €14.79. Already popular on PC via Steam with a 98 per cent positive rating, Fireside offers players a heartwarming hiking adventure through a serene, magical world, encouraging connections with fellow travellers at campfires.
“When we created Fireside, we wanted to share a story about compassion and empathy in a way that was accessible to all, so bringing the game to Nintendo Switch has been really important to us,” said Paul Redetzky, CEO at Emergo Entertainment.
“We are so excited to welcome new audiences to find their space at the fire, share their tales and champion our helping hand philosophies in Fireside!”
Fireside invites players to explore hand-drawn landscapes, share stories, cook camping recipes, and trade collectibles, all while generating “soul energy” to upgrade their in-game home and foster a sense of community.

Murky Divers Released

Embers and OrO Interactive have launched their co-op horror game Murky Divers in Steam Early Access, available today for $5.99/€5.99/£5.25 with a 25 er launch discount. The game, which combines comedy and horror, has players piloting submarines to explore dangerous wrecks and destroy evidence of shady experiments.
“We’re very excited that players can now dive into Murky Divers and experience it for themselves,” said Damien from Embers and Sam from OrO Interactive.
“We’re really grateful to the many content creators that have been playing together, getting scared, panicking, and having fun in Murky Divers. Our new trailer is a thank you to them for showing off our game, but also a way to celebrate the fact that we can now welcome everyone on board by showing them what kinds of experiences our game offers.”
The game has already gained significant traction on social media platforms like TikTok and has been streamed by popular creators such as VanossGaming and RDCgaming. The trailer showcases some of their best moments and highlights the thrilling experiences awaiting players.

Arzette at SGDQ 2024

Limited Run Games, a premium publisher of physical games, announced today their support for GDQ (Games Done Quick), with their popular platformer, Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, featuring in the Summer event from June 30 through July 6 in Minneapolis, MN.
GDQ, known for its video game marathons where elite gamers compete in speed running challenges for charity, has raised over $45 million to date. To celebrate Arzette’s inclusion, Limited Run Games is launching their own Arzette community speed running contest. From today until July 9th, gamers are invited to submit unedited recordings of their fastest runs. The winner will receive a signed Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore Collector’s Edition and a $500 cash prize, with two runner-ups winning signed copies of the game.
“We’re thrilled to see Arzette featured at GDQ and to engage the community with our speed running contest,” said Limited Run Games. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the game’s appeal and support a good cause.”
Since its February launch, Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore has been praised for its platforming gameplay, nostalgic visuals, and humorous voice cast. The game is a spiritual successor to the 1993 CD-i fantasy adventure titles, following Arzette’s quest to save the Kingdom of Faramore from the evil demon king, Daimur.
In additional news for fans, Limited Run Games will re-list their highly collectible CD-i style controllers, which come with a Steam code. These controllers will be available for purchase starting July 5th, marking the last chance for collectors to acquire these unique items

Scars of Mars Launches

ACQUIRE announces the release of “Scars of Mars” on June 20 for both Steam (PC) and Nintendo Switch.
This real-time RPG set in space challenges players with strategic battles and immediate decision-making as they command humanoids on a rescue mission in a dark Mars facility.
“Scars of Mars” features real-time formation battles, where players control four humanoids in a 3×3 grid, making critical choices under time pressure.
Players can customize their humanoids with various classes, frames, and weapons to suit their playstyle. Gaining research points through exploration and battle allows players to enhance their units’ abilities, creating endless strategic possibilities.
The game is available for $19.99 USD, €19.50 EUR, £16.75 GBP, and ¥76 CNY.

War Thunder Update Released

Gaijin Entertainment has released the “Seek & Destroy” update for War Thunder, adding new military vehicles, including the British battlecruiser Queen Mary, the French VLT-2 torpedo boat, the German F-4F KWS LV (ICE) fighter jet, and the Kuwaiti Desert Warrior infantry fighting vehicle.
The update features FOX-3 missiles, detailed helicopter cockpits, and improved damage mechanics for modern armoured vehicles.
“The damage model for modern tanks and anti-aircraft systems in War Thunder has become even more accurate,” says Gaijin Entertainment.
New mechanics allow enemy shells to damage modules like the autoloader and fire control system, affecting vehicle capabilities.
Additionally, the update includes detailed cockpits for helicopters and updated models for crews and pilots across various gaming nations.
The rare French torpedo boat VLT-2, added with this update, will give early access to the French coastal fleet tech tree.

Looped Game Released

Studio Hamlin has announced the release of “Looped” today, an interactive fiction game based on the award-winning short film.
The original film won Best International Sci-Fi 2023 at the Penitente Film Festival in Colombia and Best Animated Short at FerFilm Festival in Kosovo.
“The inspiration for the original story comes from when I met my wife a couple of years ago,” says Thomas Costa Freté, creator of Looped.
“Of course there weren’t any rockets and time loops involved. But the experience of falling in love and feeling like everything is possible, I wanted to put that into a story.”
Costa Freté adds that turning the film into interactive fiction allows the story to “break the loop” and hopes it will evoke memories of love or inspire players to find their own.
“Looped” is available on iOS, Steam (PC), and will be released on Nintendo Switch in Q3 2024.
The game is priced at JPY¥700, USD$5.99, EURO€5.89, GBP£4.99, and CNY¥26.00.

MARS 2120 Dev Diary

Independent developer QUByte Interactive has released the first episode of their behind-the-scenes documentary series, “Journey to MARS.”
Titled “The Creation of MARS 2120,” this Dev Diary offers insights into the development of their upcoming sci-fi metroidvania game, MARS 2120, ahead of its summer 2024 launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Series consoles.
“Get your ass to Mars!” says the team, reflecting their passion for the project.
This episode highlights the transition from Unity to Unreal engine and the inspirations drawn from classic sci-fi authors, iconic films like Aliens and Blade Runner, and games such as Metroid.
With a core team of six people over five years, QUByte Interactive has developed their most complex project yet.
The series will consist of four episodes, with the next focusing on the game’s art and design process. MARS 2120 will be released in the second half of 2024.

Rzhev Update Released

Darkflow Software and Gaijin Entertainment have released a major update titled “Rzhev” for the online military shooter Enlisted.
This update introduces significantly improved graphics, new missions centered on the historic Battle of Rzhev, and new squads, weapons, and military vehicles.
“The Battle of Rzhev was a crazy meat grinder,” recalled eyewitnesses, likening its intensity to Stalingrad. Players will explore iconic Rzhev locations, including the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, city hall, and industrial zones.
The update features new and improved weaponry and vehicles, such as the American T20 rifle, Japanese KE-7 machine gun, Soviet KV-2 tank, and German 8.8 cm Flak 37 Sfl. tank destroyer. Squads can now call in rocket artillery strikes, enhancing strategic gameplay.
Additionally, Enlisted now boasts enhanced Global Illumination technology on PC and PlayStation 5, providing more realistic lighting and detailed reflections without sacrificing performance.

LRG3 Unveils 20 Games

Limited Run Games announced over 20 game titles at the LRG3 2024 Summer Showcase, featuring classics such as Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition, Fear Effect, Lollipop Chainsaw, and Busby Collection.
“LRG3 2023 was a huge success… We’ve gone all out this year to deliver a presentation every bit as exciting,” said Josh Fairhurst, CEO of Limited Run Games.
The event, streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, also teased a future project with Grasshopper Manufacture.
Physical releases include Star Wars Dark Forces, Ninja Five-O, and Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal. Games developed with the Carbon Engine, such as Tomba and GEX Trilogy, will also be available physically.
Titles like Fear Effect and DoubleShake will be released both digitally and physically.

Berlin Apartment Unveiled

btf has unveiled their new first-person character-driven adventure game, The Berlin Apartment, set to release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
The game tells the stories of the inhabitants of a Berlin apartment over the past century through a series of episodes, each with its own unique genre and atmosphere.
“We’re really excited to unveil The Berlin Apartment to the world with our debut trailer,” said Game Director Hans Böhme.
“We’ve got lots more to share in the future when it comes to the variety of genres and stories you’ll be diving into and how that impacts on what you are doing with the game. For now, we’d like to embrace the spirit of the game and leave you with a bit of mystery…”
The narrative begins with a handyman tasked with refurbishing the apartment while homeschooling his daughter.
As he discovers relics from the past, he brings the apartment’s history to life through stories he shares with her.