A small indie game called Scarlet Skips has become the most talked-about release on gaming this week, and the reasons are not especially subtle. Developer Yerk introduced the one-button jump rope roguelike on 20 April 2026, and within a day a single repost of the trailer had pulled in roughly 4.1 million views, with most of the attention pointed squarely at the protagonist’s chest physics rather than the gameplay loop.

The game itself is a genuinely clever take on score-chasing roguelikes, built around a single button and stackable upgrades. But the conversation online has split cleanly in two, with one crowd dissecting the mechanics and a much larger crowd making the same joke over and over. The Steam page is now live for wishlisting, and whether that traffic converts into actual sales will be one of the more interesting indie case studies of the year.

How Scarlet Skips Actually Plays

Underneath the memes, Scarlet Skips is a tightly designed arcade roguelike. The entire game runs on press, hold, and release inputs of one button, with the hold duration controlling jump height and rope swing timing. Nail the release and Scarlet keeps skipping, mistime it and the run ends.

The roguelike layer sits on top of that core loop. Each level-up offers a choice of three random power-ups pulled from a pool the developer describes as more than a dozen possible upgrades, ranging from increased jump height to adding a jump rope, to setting the rope on fire. The upgrades stack and combine, which opens up what Yerk pitches as a virtually infinite number of build configurations for players chasing optimised runs.

The premise framing is lightly self-aware. The Steam description frames the game as helping Scarlet break out of her funk by touching grass, with the tagline noting that life can be hard but you can take it one jump at a time. It is a simple elevator pitch for a simple game, which is part of why it has spread so easily.

Why The Trailer Blew Up

The game went viral through a repost from indie curator account IndieGameJoe, which framed Scarlet Skips with a straight description of its mechanics and asked whether people would play it. That tweet hit around 4.1 million views, and the replies quickly made clear that a lot of the audience was not primarily interested in roguelike build theory.

This indie dev is making a game where all you do is skip rope… with one button.

– Time your jumps perfectly
– Roguelike upgrades every run
– Try to survive as long as possible

It’s called Scarlet Skips. Would you play this? pic.twitter.com/yyKYd8TiRa

— Indie Game Joe (@IndieGameJoe) April 20, 2026

One reply noted that the developer had put their focus on “the physics” in a jumping game, to which IndieGameJoe replied that the idea is actually cool though. Another account replied that they play it “purely” for the roguelike mechanics, which earned a simple “ffs” from the curator. The running joke across quote tweets was that the character’s proportions and bounce animations were doing more marketing work than the trailer itself.

A secondary observation that has picked up traction is that Scarlet bears a clear visual resemblance to Princess Daisy from the Mario series, with red hair, a blue top, and a pose-heavy animation style.

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The Animation System Yerk Is Actually Selling

The uncomfortable irony for the developer is that Scarlet’s animation system is the feature they seem genuinely proud of, and it is the reason the physics look the way they do. The Steam page specifically highlights that the team pushed the animation system to be as dynamic, expressive, and adorable as possible, using Unreal Engine animation tools to combine dozens of candid animations with logic-driven procedural movement.

That procedural layer is what allows Scarlet to respond dynamically to in-game conditions rather than cycling through pre-baked animation clips. It is a legitimately interesting technical pitch, and in a different viral cycle it might have been the headline feature. In this one, it is the reason everything jiggles.

Where To Play Scarlet Skips

Scarlet Skips is listed on Steam with a wishlist button live, though no firm release date or price has been confirmed on the store page at the time of writing. Yerk has not indicated platforms beyond PC, and given the scope and one-button design, a mobile port would be an obvious fit if the current momentum holds.

Whether the viral wave translates into actual wishlists and eventual sales will tell a broader story about how indie games break through in 2026. The attention is real, but a lot of it is ironic, and the gap between a million impressions and a paying customer is wide. If Scarlet Skips lands well mechanically when it launches, it has a genuine shot at converting the joke traffic into a real audience. If not, it will be remembered as a meme trailer that briefly owned a weekend.

The post Jump Rope Roguelike Scarlet Skips Is Going Viral, And Its Jiggle Physics Are Doing The Heavy Lifting appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Jeff Kaplan, the longtime Blizzard developer and former game director of Overwatch, has officially revealed his next project. The new title, called The Legend of California, is an open-world multiplayer cowboy shooter that blends survival gameplay with Wild West exploration.

Developed by Kaplan’s studio Kintsugiyama and published by Dreamhaven, the upcoming game marks the first major project Kaplan has shown since leaving Blizzard in 2021. Early details point to a multiplayer survival FPS set during a Gold Rush era, where players can build communities, hunt wildlife, and carve out their own frontier life.

Jeff Kaplan’s First Game Since Leaving Blizzard

Kaplan spent nearly two decades at Blizzard Entertainment, working on World of Warcraft before becoming the game director of Overwatch. He departed the company in April 2021 while Overwatch 2 was still in development.

According to comments Kaplan shared on the Lex Fridman Podcast, the idea for The Legend of California grew out of a long-term passion project with his new studio, Kintsugiyama. The team has quietly been building the game for around four years.

Kaplan described the project as a handcrafted take on California during the Gold Rush era, except the state itself is reimagined as a fictional island.

“We handcrafted the world so the shape of California is always the familiar shape of California, except it’s an island,” Kaplan explained during the podcast.

A Multiplayer Cowboy Survival Game

At its core, The Legend of California is an open-world multiplayer survival shooter. Players take on the role of frontier settlers exploring the island, gathering resources and establishing their own homesteads.

The gameplay combines several survival mechanics. Players can craft equipment, hunt wildlife, gather materials, and build ranches or settlements across the landscape. The game also includes gunfights, optional PvP encounters, and hostile camps to challenge players exploring the frontier.

Players can choose to go it alone or team up with friends, with the game supporting co-op groups of up to four players.

The official Steam description highlights precision-focused gunplay alongside deep crafting systems that cover weapons, tools, and even food preparation.

A Dynamic Open World With Procedural Maps

One of the more unusual elements of The Legend of California is its map system. Rather than using a fully static world, the game uses procedurally generated maps.

Major landmarks remain fixed, including iconic locations inspired by real California geography such as Yosemite. However, other points of interest shift between servers, meaning each playthrough can feature different layouts and exploration paths.

The game also avoids traditional level systems. Instead, servers assign different difficulty tiers to regions. An area that acts as a beginner zone on one server might become a dangerous endgame region on another, depending on how the server’s difficulty tiers are distributed.

A Western Setting With Survival And Community Building

The game’s reveal trailer shows players exploring forests and mountains, stalking wildlife like buffalo, and engaging in tense shootouts with revolvers and rifles.

Beyond combat, the game emphasises survival and community building. Players can mine resources, build structures, and develop their own ranch or homestead across the island.

Depending on how players approach the world, they can live as solo explorers or work together to create larger settlements and communities.

The mix of gunfights, crafting, and settlement building gives the project a feel that blends elements from Western games like Red Dead Redemption with organised crime storytelling similar to Mafia-style worlds.

Early Access Plans And Playtests

The Legend of California is currently planned for Early Access on PC in 2026. Players can already wishlist the game on Steam.

Kintsugiyama says the project has been in development for four years so far, and the team still considers it a work in progress.

“We formed our team around a single passion project: The Legend of California,” the studio explained on its official website. “Four years in the making and there’s still a ways to go, but we’re excited to start sharing the world we’re building with players.”

Playtests are expected to begin ahead of the Early Access launch as the developers continue refining the multiplayer survival experience.

For longtime Overwatch fans, the reveal is also notable because it marks Jeff Kaplan’s first new game since leaving Blizzard, giving players their first look at the direction he has taken after one of the most influential hero shooters of the last decade.

The post The Legend Of California Revealed By Ex-Overwatch Director Jeff Kaplan appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The long-rumoured John Wick game is officially happening, and yes, Keanu Reeves is back. During Sony’s State of Play showcase, Saber Interactive and Lionsgate announced an untitled AAA John Wick game in development for PlayStation 5, with releases also planned for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

This is being positioned as a mature, single-player third-person action game, built around the franchise’s signature “gun-fu” combat style. If you’ve ever wanted to properly step into the shoes of the Baba Yaga, this is shaping up to be that moment.

A New AAA John Wick Game From Saber Interactive

According to the official announcement, the game is tailored for mature audiences and will be a single-player third-person action experience. It is currently untitled, and there is no confirmed release date yet. Players will be able to wishlist it on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC while development continues.

Keanu Reeves Reprises His Role As John Wick

One of the biggest confirmations is that Keanu Reeves is officially involved in the project. Saber has confirmed that Reeves will reprise his iconic role, lending not only his likeness but also his voice and more to the game.

That level of involvement is significant. It signals that this is not just a licensed spin-off loosely inspired by the films, but a direct extension of the John Wick universe with key creative figures on board.

In a statement, Jenefer Brown, President of Global Products & Experiences at Lionsgate, said the teams are working closely together to capture the action, fight choreography, and world-building that define the films. Saber CEO Matthew Karch echoed that sentiment, calling it a true collaboration with Stahelski, Reeves, and Lionsgate.

An Original Story Set Before The Impossible Task

The upcoming John Wick game will feature an original gameplay narrative set within the established timeline. Specifically, it takes place years before the events known as the “Impossible Task,” expanding the lore of the franchise during a key period in Wick’s life.

The story is being developed collaboratively between Saber’s writers, Stahelski, and Lionsgate. It will include familiar characters from the films, alongside new characters created specifically for the game. That means this is not a direct retelling of any of the four films, but a canonical addition to the wider universe.

For fans invested in the deeper mythology of The High Table and the assassin underworld, that timeframe opens up plenty of room for fresh storytelling without contradicting existing canon.

Gun-Fu Combat And Cinematic Presentation

Saber has made it clear that the combat system is being built from the ground up to stay authentic to the John Wick style. Expect hard-hitting gun-fu, tight choreography, and a distinct combat flow designed to mirror the films’ rhythm.

Beyond combat, the game promises jaw-dropping camerawork, intense driving sequences, and rich neo-noir environments. The team has specifically highlighted cinematic storytelling and immersive level design as core pillars of the experience.

The goal, according to the developers, is to blur the line between film and video game, delivering something that feels like you are inside a John Wick movie rather than simply watching one.

Expanding A Billion-Dollar Franchise

The John Wick franchise has already generated over $1 billion worldwide across four films. Beyond the movies, the universe now includes the Peacock series The Continental and the upcoming spinoff film Ballerina starring Ana de Armas. A film focused on Donnie Yen’s character Caine, along with another sequel following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, is also in development.

Bringing the franchise into AAA gaming is a natural next step. It allows the world of assassins, High Table politics, and stylised action to be explored in a more interactive way.

Saber Interactive’s track record also adds weight to the project. The studio is known for titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and World War Z, both of which emphasise visceral action and large-scale set pieces. That pedigree suggests the John Wick game is aiming for spectacle as well as authenticity.

What We Know And What’s Next

Right now, the John Wick game remains officially untitled, with no launch window confirmed. Platforms are locked in for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and wishlisting is expected to go live as development progresses.

Given the involvement of Reeves, Stahelski, and Lionsgate, expectations will be high. If Saber can deliver on its promise of faithful gun-fu combat and cinematic immersion, this could easily become one of the most anticipated action games on the horizon.

For now, all eyes are on the next reveal, which will likely bring the official title and a clearer look at gameplay. And if the early messaging is anything to go by, management really is here to serve.

The post John Wick Game Announced For PS5, Keanu Reeves Confirmed To Return appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Square Enix has confirmed that a new version of Final Fantasy VII is coming to Steam, set to replace the long-standing 2013 PC release. While existing owners will receive the update for free, the publisher has not explained what is actually new, nor when the updated version will launch.

Square Enix Confirms Steam Re-Release

The announcement was shared via the official Final Fantasy VII account on X, stating that the original game will be re-released on Steam to deliver an improved gameplay experience. Players were directed to a Steam post for further details, but the explanation stopped short of outlining specific changes.

The original Final Fantasy VII will be re‑released on Steam to provide an improved gameplay experience.

Existing owners will receive the new version for free and will be able to continue playing the older version on Steam.

Full details: https://t.co/BnFGMmptls pic.twitter.com/TlF0hM0jti

— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) January 29, 2026

According to the Steam notice, the current listing will be renamed Final Fantasy VII – 2013 Edition once the new version goes live. At that point, the 2013 Edition will be removed from sale, though it will remain playable for anyone who already owns it.

What Happens If You Own The 2013 Version

Square Enix has confirmed that all existing owners of the 2013 Edition will automatically gain access to the new version at no extra cost. Both versions will remain available in the player’s Steam library, allowing users to choose which edition they want to play.

However, save data will not transfer between versions. Progress made in the 2013 Edition will only work there, and any new save files created in the updated release will be locked to that version. Players interested in switching will need to start a fresh playthrough.

No Details On Changes Or Release Date

Despite calling it a “new version”, Square Enix has not outlined what improvements players can expect. There is no confirmation of visual upgrades, performance enhancements, quality-of-life changes, or adjustments that could affect long-standing mod support.

The wording of the announcement has also raised questions. The phrase “re-released” suggests a relaunch rather than a major overhaul, even though the Steam post explicitly refers to it as a new version. At the time of writing, Square Enix has not shared a release window or pricing details for new buyers.

Context Around The Original PC Release

Final Fantasy VII originally launched on PlayStation in 1997, followed by a rough PC port in 1998. That PC version was later reissued in 2012 through Square Enix’s own store, before arriving on Steam in 2013. The Steam release added features like achievements, cloud saves, and compatibility tweaks for modern systems.

This latest move appears to retire that 2013 build in favour of a refreshed listing, though the scope of the update remains unclear.

A Quiet Update Alongside Bigger Franchise Plans

The announcement comes as Square Enix continues work on the third entry in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy and expands multi-platform support across its catalogue. In contrast, the Steam re-release of the original game has been introduced with little fanfare and minimal detail.

For players who have been waiting to buy the original PC version, the timing may matter. The 2013 Edition is currently discounted on Steam, and purchasing it now will grant access to both versions once the new release arrives.

The post Final Fantasy 7 New Version Coming To Steam, 2013 Edition Delisted appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After a long wait and plenty of teasing, Terraria 1.4.5: Bigger And Boulder is officially out now, bringing one of the biggest and most ambitious updates the game has seen in years. The update marks the start of Terraria’s 15th anniversary celebrations, and it lands with a clear goal, make the game smoother to play, richer to explore, and far more surprising than before.

If you have spent hundreds of hours digging, building, and fighting bosses already, this update is aimed squarely at you. Bigger And Boulder expands core systems, adds huge crossover content, and quietly reshapes how Terraria feels from minute to minute.

A Mostly Global Launch, With One Exception

Re-Logic has rolled out Terraria 1.4.5 simultaneously on PC, console, and mobile across most regions. The only version not launching today is the bespoke China mobile edition.

According to the developers, the Chinese mobile build relies on official online servers, which means the full 1.4.5 code needs additional server migration, review, and internal testing before release. With the update finishing close to the Chinese New Year period, the teams at Re-Logic, 505 Games, and XD agreed that delaying was better than shipping something unfinished. The studio says the China mobile update is coming as soon as possible once everything is ready.

Bigger And Boulder Is About Expanding What Already Works

The name Bigger And Boulder is not just a joke, though there are indeed new boulders to worry about. The update focuses heavily on expanding existing systems rather than simply piling on content.

Replayability has been boosted through improved world seeds, crafting and inventory management have been reworked to reduce friction, and atmosphere has received a noticeable upgrade through new effects, visuals, and music. It is the kind of update that quietly makes everything feel better while still sneaking in plenty of new toys.

Crafting And Inventory Finally Get A Major Overhaul

One of the most impactful changes is the new crafting interface. With more than 6,000 items now in the game, the old grid system was showing its age.

Crafting menus are now organised by clear tabs such as weapons and furniture, fully searchable, and styled similarly to Journey Mode’s research system. Players who prefer the old list view can still toggle it back, but the new interface makes finding recipes dramatically faster.

Crafting from nearby chests has also been improved. Materials can now be pulled automatically from storage without opening chests or moving items into your inventory first. For players with well-built bases, crafting is now almost frictionless.

Inventory management also gets welcome quality of life upgrades. Identical items now stack fully, even with matching prefixes, and banners no longer need to clog up storage. A new banner menu lets you claim and apply bonuses when you want, without carrying them around.

A New Spectator Feature Changes Multiplayer Deaths

Dying in multiplayer no longer means staring at a respawn timer. The new Spectate feature allows dead players to cycle through teammates’ perspectives while waiting to respawn.

It is a small change that adds a lot of energy to boss fights and multiplayer sessions, especially when things start going wrong and you want to see exactly how your friends are coping without you.

Easier Villager Housing And Clearer Feedback

Villager management has also been smoothed out. NPCs no longer require a valid house to spawn, reducing early-game pressure to build awkward housing towers. Villagers without homes will retreat at night, making them unavailable until properly housed.

The Housing Query tool has been upgraded with visual indicators that show exactly what is being checked and where required elements are missing. It is far easier to understand why a room does or does not qualify.

World Seeds Get A Massive Upgrade

World seeds are one of the standout features of Bigger And Boulder. A new World Seed Menu makes special seeds visible and selectable during world creation, instead of being hidden behind obscure codes.

Players can now combine special seeds freely, opening the door to wild custom worlds. New additions include a Skyblock seed that starts you on a tiny floating island with no ground below, and a team-based “royale with cheese” seed that spawns each team in different parts of the map.

Seasonal seeds now allow permanent Christmas or Halloween worlds, while other seeds introduce constant rain, extreme terrain, or dramatically expanded dungeons. Some seeds and combinations remain secret, with unique effects waiting to be discovered by the community.

Dead Cells And Palworld Crossovers Are Live

Two major crossover collaborations arrive with 1.4.5.

The long-awaited Terraria x Dead Cells content is finally playable, featuring Dead Cells-inspired weapons, vanity items, furniture, and more, reimagined in Terraria’s style. Fans of both games will find plenty to hunt down without everything being spelled out upfront.

The Palworld crossover also expands, this time bringing Pals into Terraria itself. Creatures like Digtoise and Cattiva are not just decorative pets, they actively help with tasks such as digging and gathering resources. More Pals are hidden throughout the update for players to discover.

Hundreds Of New Items And Visual Upgrades

Bigger And Boulder adds more than 650 new items, pushing Terraria’s total item count beyond 6,000. New summoner whips, prefixes, transformations like bats and rats, RC cars, and a wide range of new furniture and block sets are included.

The game’s atmosphere has also been upgraded with new biome backgrounds, aurora effects, visible fish while fishing, sun phase visuals, thunderstorms with lightning, and refreshed banner and trophy sprites. Many older sprites have also been quietly updated to better match the modern look of the game.

A Make-A-Wish Vanity Set With Real Meaning

One of the most heartfelt additions is the Heroicis vanity set, created in collaboration with Make-A-Wish New Jersey. The set honours Frank, a longtime Terraria fan who wanted his own vanity set during a critical illness.

The update includes the vanity set itself, a matching film noir shader, and a special obtainment method for players to discover. Frank also shared a personal message with the community at launch, focusing on resilience, gratitude, and looking forward rather than back.

New Languages And Improved Localisation

Terraria 1.4.5 adds full support for Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese. Existing localisations have also been reviewed and improved with help from the community and professional translators. Some additional localisation fixes are planned for the upcoming 1.4.5.1 patch.

Eight New Boss Tracks And A Bigger Soundtrack

Every boss in Terraria now has its own music. The update introduces eight new boss tracks, along with additional songs available through music boxes.

These tracks will be added to the official soundtrack on Steam and other platforms, bringing the total number of new Journey’s End-era tracks to 14.

What Comes Next For Terraria

Re-Logic has been clear that Bigger And Boulder is not the end. While the studio once suggested Terraria’s updates were finished, there is no claim that 1.4.5 is the final chapter. Crossplay support is planned for a future update after this release, meaning at least one more patch is on the way.

For now, Bigger And Boulder stands as a huge moment for a game that is nearly 15 years old and still finding ways to surprise its players. Whether you are jumping back in or starting fresh, there has rarely been a better time to dig in.

The post Terraria 1.4.5 Bigger And Boulder Update Launches Across PC, Console, And Mobile appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The next premium Warbond is almost here in Helldivers 2, and it is shaping up to be one of the most aggressive content drops yet. Arrowhead Game Studios has officially revealed the Siege Breakers Warbond, launching on February 3, and it is all about tearing down enemy defences with overwhelming force, loud explosions, and some very blunt instruments.

Positioned as the second Warbond of 2026, Siege Breakers leans heavily into brute strength fantasy. If you have ever stared at a fortified Automaton base and wished you could simply smash straight through it, this one is built exactly for that moment.

Built To Break Enemy Lines

According to Arrowhead Game Studios, Siege Breakers is designed for Helldivers who want to collapse walls rather than go around them. The Ministry of Defense pitch is simple, break barriers, crush strongholds, and keep pushing forward no matter how much resistance is in your way.

At the centre of the Warbond is its most talked about addition, the CQC-20 Breaching Hammer. On paper, it is described as a sledgehammer that can be used for direct melee smashing or fitted with an explosive charge. In practice, as shown in the release trailer, it is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. Slam it down, trigger a huge explosion, then slap on another charge and keep swinging. It looks tailor made for chaotic clips and accidental self destruction, in true Helldivers fashion.

New Weapons And Stratagems

Siege Breakers does not stop at one explosive tool. The Warbond introduces a full lineup of weapons and stratagems built around relentless pressure.

The LAS-16 Trident returns from the original Helldivers, now reworked to fire six energy beams instead of three, giving it a heavier, shotgun like feel that melts through targets at close range.

For players who prefer sustained destruction, the GL-28 Belt-Fed Grenade Launcher delivers a continuous barrage of explosives, ideal for locking down choke points or flattening entrenched enemies. If you would rather send a single, devastating message, the EAT-411 Leveller fires one high yield missile designed to erase whatever is standing in front of you.

To balance all that offence, Siege Breakers also includes the G/SH-39 Shield. This throwable emplacement deploys a spherical, projectile blocking barrier, letting squads create their own cover while advancing or holding ground under heavy fire.

Heavy Armour And Stamina Boosts

Defence is just as important when you are charging headfirst into fortified zones. Siege Breakers adds two new armour sets focused on survivability and momentum.

The SA-8 Ram is a heavy armour set inspired by plate armour and blast shields, turning its wearer into a walking battering ram. The SA-7 Headfirst offers a medium armour option, trading some bulk for extra mobility while still looking built for frontline combat.

Both armour sets feature the Supplementary Adrenaline passive, which restores stamina whenever you take damage. The idea is simple, get hit, keep moving, and never slow down while pushing through enemy lines.

Each set comes with matching capes and player cards. Highlights include the Rags of the Fashionable, a deliberately tattered cape signalling past siege experience, and the Wedgeful Tricorn, finished with a saw tooth edge along the bottom.

Cosmetics, Emotes, And Titles

Siege Breakers also expands squad customisation. The Churned Earth pattern can be applied to shuttles, exosuits, hellpods, and the FRV, giving your entire deployment a scorched battlefield look.

There is also a new Display of Brawn emote, usable both in normal play and victory poses, plus the Bunker Buster player title for Helldivers who want their profile to match their playstyle.

Release Date And Platforms

The Siege Breakers premium Warbond launches on February 3 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. As with previous Warbonds, it requires the base game, a paid purchase of Super Credits, and sufficient in game progression to unlock its contents.

For players who enjoy Helldivers 2 at its most chaotic, Siege Breakers looks like a perfect excuse to stop playing carefully and start smashing everything in sight.

The post Helldivers 2 Siege Breakers Warbond Brings Heavy Firepower On February 3 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After years of silence and speculation, Fable is finally stepping back into the spotlight. Playground Games has delivered its most detailed look yet at the long awaited reboot during the latest Xbox Developer_Direct, confirming platforms, release timing, and exactly why this new take on Albion could be one of the most ambitious RPGs of the generation.

Fable launches this Autumn on Xbox Series X and S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It will also support Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning a single purchase carries across Xbox and PC. For the first time in franchise history, Fable is releasing on PlayStation 5 alongside Xbox platforms, opening the gates of Albion to a much wider audience.

Developed by Playground Games, best known for the Forza Horizon series, this is not a remake or sequel. Instead, it is a full reboot, designed as a new beginning for one of Xbox’s most iconic RPG franchises.

A New Beginning For Albion

According to Fable general manager and game director Ralph Fulton, the decision to reboot was intentional. It has been nearly two console generations since the original trilogy ended, and Playground wanted the freedom to rebuild Albion without being tied to existing timelines or characters.

This fresh start allows the team to honour the spirit of the original games while crafting their own version of the world. The result is a familiar yet reimagined Albion, one that keeps Fable’s identity intact while modernising its systems, storytelling, and scope.

At its core, Playground’s Fable is built around a simple idea inherited from Lionhead Studios. Fable is fairytale, not fantasy. Rather than epic political drama or world ending stakes, the game focuses on smaller, more personal stories about ordinary people, and what happens when magic disrupts their lives.

Story Setup And Player Freedom

Fable begins, as tradition demands, with your character as a child. Early on, your heroic powers awaken, setting you apart from everyone around you. A time jump then moves the story forward, reintroducing your hero as an adult returning to their home village of Briar Hill.

The inciting incident strikes quickly. A mysterious stranger turns your entire village, including your grandmother, to stone. With no clear answers and only fleeting clues, your journey into the wider world begins, driven by the hope of reversing what has been done.

From the moment you leave your village, Albion opens up completely. There is no ticking clock forcing you down the main story path. You can head toward the Heroes’ Guild in Bowerstone, chase rumours, explore distant settlements, or ignore the main quest entirely for hours on end. The story waits for you, giving players full permission to get lost in side activities, relationships, jobs, and exploration.

A Fully Open World Without Level Gating

Playground has built Fable as a true open world RPG. There are no invisible walls or regions locked behind level requirements. Players can travel anywhere in Albion from the start, and the game’s progression systems are designed around that freedom.

Instead of pushing players toward a specific route, the world adapts to where you go. Every settlement offers meaningful activities, regardless of when you arrive. This approach ensures that curiosity is rewarded rather than punished, encouraging players to explore without fear of hitting artificial barriers.

Fluid Style-Weaving Combat

Combat in Fable revolves around what Playground calls style weaving. The classic mix of melee, ranged, and magic returns, but with a modern twist that allows players to seamlessly chain attacks together.

You can swing a sword, fire a ranged shot, and launch a spell in one smooth sequence, without delays or rigid loadouts. Combat encounters are designed around groups of enemies, each with strengths, weaknesses, and behaviours that reward tactical thinking.

Emergent moments play a big role too. Enemies can accidentally damage each other, weak points trigger specific reactions, and slapstick chaos often breaks through during fights. It keeps combat feeling dynamic, unpredictable, and unmistakably Fable.

Morality Reimagined Through Reputation

One of the most important changes comes to Fable’s morality system. Rather than a simple good or evil meter, the reboot introduces a reputation-based system shaped by what you do and who witnesses it.

Every action seen by others contributes to how you are perceived. Kick chickens often enough and you may become known as a Chicken Chaser. Be generous, thieving, romantic, or reckless, and those traits form your identity within each settlement.

Different NPCs interpret these reputations differently. There is no objective morality. The world does not judge you, but the people of Albion absolutely will. Reputations affect dialogue, romance, marriage, shop prices, and how NPCs treat you on the street. You can even manipulate public opinion by paying the town crier to spread a new reputation if you want to reinvent yourself.

A Living World Of Over 1,000 NPCs

Albion is populated by over 1,000 unique NPCs, each with their own routines, jobs, relationships, and homes. This Living Population system means towns function like real places rather than static backdrops.

NPCs wake up, go to work, socialise, return home, and react dynamically to your actions. Over time, players can learn individual names, preferences, and personal stories, forming relationships that feel more grounded than traditional RPG crowd systems.

While the Living Population occasionally references your actions during the main quest, it remains optional. Players focused purely on the story can progress without interference, while others are free to experiment with Albion’s social systems as deeply as they like.

British Humour And A Bold Storytelling Twist

Fable’s British identity remains central to its tone, and Playground has leaned heavily into that heritage. Dry wit, awkward humour, and absurdity flow through the world, supported by a cast that includes familiar British comedic talent.

One of the most distinctive features is a mockumentary-style interview technique inspired by The Office. Characters occasionally speak directly to the camera, allowing jokes and character moments to land naturally without interrupting gameplay.

According to Ralph Fulton, this approach has rarely been used in games before, but it offers a powerful way to deliver humour and personality in a format that feels effortless and authentic.

Character Customisation And Player Expression

Character customisation is fully confirmed, allowing players to shape their hero however they choose. Combined with open world freedom, fluid combat, and reputation-driven morality, Fable is built around player expression in every sense.

You are free to define what kind of hero you become, whether that means noble protector, chaotic troublemaker, or something in between.

What Comes Next

Playground Games says there is still much more to reveal before launch, including deeper dives into progression, weapons, exploration systems, and the main cast. For now, Developer_Direct served as a statement of intent.

Fable is back, rebuilt from the ground up, and aiming to deliver a fairytale RPG where choice, humour, and consequence shape every journey. Albion is opening its doors once again, and this time, more players than ever are invited inside.

The post Fable Returns With A Powerful Open World Reboot, Launching Across Xbox, PC And PS5 This Autumn 2026 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After years of waiting and a lengthy delay, Marathon finally has a locked-in release date. Bungie has confirmed that its upcoming PvPvE extraction shooter will launch on March 5, 2026, arriving on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, priced at USD $39.99.

The announcement comes alongside a fresh gameplay trailer, full pre-order details, Collector’s Edition reveals, and even a striking new Marathon-themed DualSense controller. For Bungie, this marks its first completely new release since Destiny 2 launched back in 2017, and a major step into the competitive extraction shooter space.

A Modern Reimagining Of A Cult Classic

Originally released in the 1990s, Marathon was once a linear, story-driven first-person shooter. This new version is a complete reimagining, shifting the franchise into a modern PvPvE extraction shooter set in the year 2850.

Players take on the role of bio-cybernetic Runners, dropping into the dangerous world of Tau Ceti IV either solo or in squads of three. Each run challenges players to scavenge weapons, loot, and narrative clues while surviving hostile AI forces, rival Runners, and unpredictable environments. Extraction is never guaranteed, and every decision carries real risk.

Unlike traditional shooters, progression is tied closely to survival, information gathering, and long-term planning rather than simple match wins.

Delay, Feedback, And A Second Chance

Marathon was originally targeting a September release window, but Bungie delayed the game last June after mixed-to-negative reactions from its early alpha playtest. Feedback highlighted issues with cluttered UI design, gunplay that lacked impact, and pacing that felt slow compared to other extraction shooters already on the market.

Rather than rushing to launch, Bungie chose to rework core systems and rebalance gameplay. That decision pushed Marathon’s release back nearly six months, but it also gave the studio time to refine its vision and respond directly to player concerns.

The delay period wasn’t without controversy. An independent artist publicly accused Bungie of using art assets that closely resembled her work, including signage and decals. Bungie later confirmed the issue, and by December, the artist stated that she, Bungie, and Sony had reached an agreement that resolved the matter to her satisfaction.

Factions, Contracts, And Living Storytelling

The newly released gameplay trailer introduces Gantry, an agent of the anti-establishment MIDA faction, one of six major factions operating on Tau Ceti. Factions play a central role in Marathon’s storytelling, progression, and world-building.

By completing faction-specific contracts, players unlock upgrades, rewards, and narrative threads that gradually reveal the mystery behind humanity’s lost interstellar expedition. Bungie describes Marathon’s story delivery as discoverable rather than linear, with lore unfolding through contracts, Codex entries, audio logs, graffiti, abandoned systems, and environmental storytelling.

Everything you uncover is tracked in an out-of-run Codex, allowing players to piece together Tau Ceti’s fate between deployments.

Endgame Zones And Seasonal Progression

Marathon’s long-term structure includes seasonal content and endgame challenges. One of the first major endgame locations, Cryo Archive, will unlock during Season 1. Set aboard the UESC Marathon ship, the zone tasks players with breaching security systems, opening frozen vaults, and eventually confronting an entity feared even by the UESC.

Players will rely on faction upgrades, Runner shells, weapons, mods, and implants to survive deeper runs and higher-risk zones as the game evolves post-launch.

Voice Cast And Full Localisation

Bungie also confirmed Marathon’s extensive English-language voice cast at launch, featuring well-known talent including Roger Clark, Ben Starr, Neil Newbon, Erica Lindbeck, Jennifer English, Dave Fennoy, and many more.

The studio has also confirmed that Marathon will feature fully localised dialogue across all supported languages, with additional voice casts to be revealed closer to launch.

Editions, Pre-Orders, And Cross-Play Support

Marathon is available to pre-order now in Standard and Deluxe editions across all platforms, with full cross-play and cross-save supported at launch.

Image Credit: Bungie

Image Credit: Bungie

The Standard Edition includes access to all gameplay updates throughout the year, including maps, Runner shells, and events. Pre-order bonuses include weapon cosmetics, emblems, backgrounds, and exclusive Destiny 2 rewards linked to a Bungie.net account.

Image Credit: Bungie

Image Credit: Bungie

The Deluxe Edition adds premium cosmetic bundles, a Rewards Pass voucher, SILK tokens, and exclusive Midnight Decay weapon and Runner shell styles.

Image Credit: Bungie

For collectors, Bungie has also revealed a premium Collector’s Edition, featuring a 1/6-scale Thief Runner Shell statue, a WEAVEworm collectible, embroidered patches, postcards, digital rewards, and a high-end unboxing experience inspired by Sekiguchi Genetics’ shell-weaving process.

Limited Edition Marathon DualSense Controller Revealed

Alongside the game, Bungie and PlayStation have unveiled a Limited Edition Marathon DualSense wireless controller, designed to feel like an in-universe object from Tau Ceti.

Image Credit: Sony

The controller features bold graphics, fractured shapes, and vivid accents inspired by Marathon’s industrial sci-fi aesthetic. It launches on March 5, 2026, with global pricing set at USD $84.99, and will be available in limited quantities.

Pre-orders for the controller begin on January 29, 2026, via direct.playstation.com where available, as well as select retailers. Availability may vary by region.

High Stakes For Bungie And Sony

With recent multiplayer setbacks such as Concord, expectations are high for Marathon. The extraction shooter market is already crowded, with titles like Arc Raiders gaining strong momentum. Whether Marathon can carve out lasting success remains an open question.

Still, after years of development, feedback-driven delays, and renewed focus, players will finally be able to see whether Bungie’s bold reinvention of Marathon can stand out when it launches this March.

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Theorycraft Games has confirmed that it will officially end live service for its MOBA battle royale SUPERVIVE in early 2026, bringing the ambitious free to play title to a close less than a year after its full launch.

SUPERVIVE Live Service is ending in February of next year. Hear the details from Jess, our Executive Producer. pic.twitter.com/UjTlu2MW0T

— SUPERVIVE (@playSUPERVIVE) December 17, 2025

The studio announced that SUPERVIVE will sunset on February 26, 2026, following a final content update later this month. The decision marks the end of a short but eventful run for the action focused multiplayer game, which struggled to maintain long term player engagement despite strong early interest.

Live Service to End in February 2026

The announcement was shared by Jessica Nam, Executive Producer of SUPERVIVE, during the game’s latest Fireside Chat. Nam explained that ongoing development had become increasingly difficult to justify, both creatively and financially.

“As time has gone on, it’s become clear that our changes haven’t been effective enough, and bringing in new players has only gotten harder,” Nam said. “Although we’ve seen a huge number of people download and try SUPERVIVE, most of them move on after their initial time with the game.”

According to Theorycraft Games, SUPERVIVE has proven to be an ambitious and expensive project to maintain, with live service support no longer considered sustainable for the studio.

Final Patch Confirmed Before Shutdown

Despite the shutdown announcement, SUPERVIVE will still receive one final planned update. Patch 2.04 is scheduled to launch later this week and will serve as the last content release before live service ends.

The update will introduce a prototype game mode called Prisma Party, alongside character balance adjustments and a free cosmetic bundle available to all players. Following this patch, servers will begin their gradual wind down ahead of the February sunset.

Theorycraft Games has also confirmed that real money purchases have already been disabled, although players can continue spending any remaining in game currency until servers fully go offline.

From Project Loki to Full Release

Previously known as Project Loki, SUPERVIVE is the debut title from independent studio Theorycraft Games, a team made up of former Riot Games and Blizzard Entertainment developers. The game blends top down MOBA combat with battle royale and hero shooter elements, featuring squad based matches and a diverse roster of characters.

SUPERVIVE entered early access on Steam in late 2024, where it gained early traction. According to SteamDB, the game reached a peak of nearly 48,000 concurrent players during early access.

However, momentum slowed after the game’s global 1.0 launch on July 24, 2025. Player counts peaked at around 15,200 on release day before declining rapidly in the months that followed. By late 2025, SUPERVIVE was averaging between 300 and 600 concurrent players, with some days dropping as low as 400 at peak.

Supervive, the game made by ex Devs from Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Apex, will be shutting down in February of 2026 pic.twitter.com/n9yOK8mTo7

— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) December 17, 2025

Notably, the game never received console versions for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and S, limiting its reach to PC players only.

Competitive Scene Showed Early Promise

SUPERVIVE also experimented with esports and creator focused events during its lifecycle. Even before its global launch, Theorycraft Games hosted the SUPERVIVE Creator Cup Invitational from November 22 to 24, 2024.

Data from Esports Charts shows the event reached a peak viewership of over 84,000, alongside more than 480,000 total hours watched and an average viewership exceeding 55,000.

Throughout 2025, Theorycraft continued to run community competitions, including Saturday Night SUPERVIVE events in Europe and North America. These began with Turbo Cups in October and continued through multiple series into November.

Despite these efforts, the studio never established a formal competitive circuit. With live service ending in 2026, SUPERVIVE’s competitive future now appears unlikely.

Community Reaction and Lingering Frustrations

While SUPERVIVE struggled to retain players, it maintained a passionate core community. Following the shutdown announcement, players across forums and social platforms shared mixed reactions, ranging from disappointment to appreciation for the game’s unique combat design.

Some fans cited ongoing concerns around limited game modes, weak progression rewards, and inconsistent post launch marketing as factors that hurt long term retention. Others expressed sadness at losing a title they felt captured something special within the genre.

One player wrote that SUPERVIVE “created lightning in a bottle, however fleeting,” crediting the game with inspiring them to create content for the first time.

What Comes Next for Theorycraft Games

The closure of SUPERVIVE does not signal the end of Theorycraft Games itself. The studio has confirmed plans to pivot toward new projects, with a renewed focus on finding a more sustainable development path.

Nam explained that Theorycraft hopes to “forge a new direction” that positions the studio between indie and triple A development, though no future titles have been revealed so far.

For now, players can continue to enjoy SUPERVIVE until late February 2026, with the upcoming Prisma Party update offering one final chance to experience the game before servers shut down for good.

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Larian Studios has officially lifted the curtain on Divinity, its next major role-playing game and the first new project since Baldur’s Gate 3 took over the industry. Revealed during The Game Awards 2025, the announcement confirms a long-rumoured return to Larian’s own fantasy universe, with the studio promising a game that is even larger, darker, and more ambitious than its award-winning predecessor.

Geoff Keighley didn’t mince words on stage, calling Divinity Larian’s biggest game ever, and early details suggest the studio is aiming higher than it ever has before.

A Dark Reveal at The Game Awards

The first look at Divinity came via a pre-rendered cinematic trailer, and it was far more unsettling than what many fans expected. The trailer opens with a man burned alive inside a Wicker Man-style structure, surrounded by cheering villagers who descend into a disturbing ritual. Masked cultists, flagellants, and a strange celestial event loom over the scene, before everything spirals into chaos.

By the end, the crowd itself is absorbed into a grotesque statue made of fused bodies, echoing the mysterious desert monument that had fuelled speculation in the days leading up to the show. The reveal confirmed that the strange obelisk was neither an Elder Scrolls tease nor a random stunt, but the first breadcrumb for Larian’s next epic.

The tone is notably darker than Baldur’s Gate 3, signalling a grim fantasy world where player choices may push things toward light, or drag them further into horror.

What Is Divinity, And How Does It Fit the Series?

Despite the simple name, Divinity is not a hard reboot. Larian has clarified that the game does not require knowledge of previous entries, but players familiar with Divinity: Original Sin and Original Sin 2 will notice stronger continuity and deeper connections.

Interestingly, this is the first title in the franchise to be called simply Divinity. Past entries ranged from Divine Divinity in 2002 to Divinity: Original Sin 2 in 2017, often jumping around the timeline and rewriting major lore along the way. Larian publishing director Michael Douse has already confirmed there are no plans for Divinity: Original Sin 3, reinforcing that this new game is intended as a fresh foundation for what the studio calls the Divinity universe.

According to Larian founder and CEO Swen Vincke, this project brings everything the studio has learned into one cohesive vision, combining breadth, depth, and intimacy on a scale they’ve never attempted before.

Bigger Than Baldur’s Gate 3, By Design

In multiple interviews following the reveal, Vincke has been clear about the studio’s confidence. He believes Divinity will surpass Baldur’s Gate 3 on all fronts, from systems design to player freedom.

One major advantage is ownership. Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3, which was built on Dungeons and Dragons rules, Divinity is entirely Larian’s own creation. That freedom allows the team to design mechanics specifically for a video game, rather than adapting tabletop systems.

Vincke has described Divinity as Larian unleashed, explaining that every class, system, and narrative choice is being built without external constraints. The goal is to make a game that feels more intuitive, more flexible, and ultimately more reactive to how players choose to play.

Turn-Based Combat Is Confirmed

Following fan speculation, Larian has officially confirmed that Divinity will be a turn-based RPG, staying true to both Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Original Sin games. This confirmation came via interviews conducted after The Game Awards, including comments shared with IGN.

Vincke told IGN that Divinity is a single-player game with cooperative multiplayer, once again allowing friends to experience the story together. He also revealed that the game has already been in development for two years and is now in full production.

Importantly, Larian has not ruled out early access. While nothing is locked in yet, the studio has said it will most likely follow a similar early access approach to Baldur’s Gate 3, depending on how development progresses.

Player Agency At The Core

If there’s one word Larian keeps returning to, it’s agency. According to Vincke and writing director Adam Smith, Divinity is built around giving players control at every level, from character identity to narrative direction.

The team wants players to feel like they are shaping the world, not just reacting to it. Choices will matter, and the consequences are designed to ripple outward in unexpected ways. Vincke has hinted that some systems and story outcomes will surprise even experienced RPG players, with different playthroughs leading to wildly different stories.

This philosophy builds directly on what made Baldur’s Gate 3 so successful, but Larian believes Divinity will push this even further, with deeper reactivity and more extreme outcomes.

Development, Early Access, And What Comes Next

Despite the scale of the project, Divinity still has no release window. Vincke has suggested that an early access launch is planned, but it is unlikely the game will be ready as early as 2026. Larian is also experimenting with a new engine, which has introduced challenges but promises better cinematic storytelling and smoother content streaming.

The studio is aiming to shorten development time compared to Baldur’s Gate 3, which took around six years to complete. Even so, Vincke has been clear that creativity cannot be rushed, and Larian is expanding its writing and scripting teams to develop content in parallel.

For now, fans will need to wait for gameplay footage, but all signs point to Divinity being a massive, long-term project that defines Larian’s future.

A New Era For Larian Studios

With Baldur’s Gate 3 selling more than 20 million copies, Larian is entering this next chapter from a position of strength. The success of that game has given the studio the resources to take bigger risks, experiment more boldly, and double down on what it does best.

Divinity represents a return home for Larian, but also a leap forward. If the studio delivers on its promises, this could be the RPG that sets the tone for the next generation of narrative-driven games.

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