Tag: early access

Heartopia Beta Test

Final Closed Beta Test for Cosy Life Sim Heartopia Announced

Chill out over the holidays in a town full of endless possibilities

Shanghai, China — December 4, 2025 | XD Games is happy to announce that the final closed beta test for Heartopia will kick off on PC and Android, on 10 December, and it will run through to 23 December. Anyone who plays the upcoming life simulation game, during this period, will be rewarded with items that they can claim once Heartopia officially launches next year.

Watch the final closed beta test trailer below:

YouTube Video.

Players who successfully create a character during the final beta test — as well as those who successfully created a character during the first beta test — will receive one Blueberry Crossbody Bag in-game cosmetic, which can be claimed when Heartopia launches, in early 2026. On top of that, players who reach level 18 during the final beta test — or, again, those who reached level 18 during the first beta test — will receive one Star Mascot Head in-game cosmetic, which can also be claimed when Heartopia launches, in 2026.

Pre-registration is now open on the App Store for iOS users, Google Play for Android users, and via the official website for PC players. Anyone who pre-registers will receive a selection of in-game items, including Gold x4000, Wishing Star x20, Moonlight Crystal x400, and Exhibition Pass x60, when the game is officially released.

What is Heartopia?

Heartopia blends narrative roleplay, life simulation, and personal connection. Set in a contemporary, stylish urban world, the game focuses on everyday warmth: think conversations over coffee, shared routines, self-expression, and moments of emotional discovery.

Players create their own lives, building friendships and exploring romance options along the way, making choices that influence how others respond to them. Heartopia prioritises authenticity and emotional realism: relationships evolve naturally, characters react to your behaviour, and your daily decisions gradually define who you become in the world.

Heartopia is built around several core pillars that define the experience. Players can expect deep relationship and narrative systems that allow connections to grow naturally through meaningful choices and emotional interactions. Avatars, outfits, and living spaces are fully customisable, giving players freedom to express their personal style and create a life that feels uniquely their own. Daily routines and social encounters unfold in real time, encouraging organic moments, chance meetings, and a sense of everyday rhythm.

Alongside this, the world offers light and comforting exploration, with gentle activities that support relaxation and immersion rather than pressure or grind. All of this is set within an evolving city filled with story events and memorable characters, each adding depth to the world and inviting players to discover new experiences as they go.

With a welcoming aesthetic and grounded emotional tone, Heartopia aims to offer a space that feels familiar, comforting, and personal.

Heartopia Links:

Stars of Icarus Public Playtest

Hello! From December 5 to 21, player versus player (PvP) multiplayer starship shooter Stars of Icarus will be hosting another public playtest! Sign up now via the Steam page.  In the upcoming title from Muse Games (Guns of Icarus) you’ll assemble your crew and take to the skies, engaging in 5v5 team-based battles.  This latest playtest introduces even more content including two new ships, an all-new map, and player-owned lobbies. A competitive mode is also being introduced for those who want to gain a few more bragging rights with each victory. Those who would like to play alongside (or against!) the devs can also do so each Saturday at 9AM Pacific. Watch the latest Stars of Icarus playtest trailer:YouTube | Download You and your ragtag squad will select from a variety of ship designs, each with strengths and weaknesses, customizing your loadout and your fleet composition for ultimate lethal potential. Be smart and strategic as you decide how to scout the hand-crafted battle maps, deliver damage with speedy or powerful attacks, and have each other’s backs.  Matches can be completed in around 20 minutes each. These tests provide would-be starfighters a good opportunity to improve their ship handling and practice great teamwork ahead of the game’s launch next year.  Those who don’t have a crew ready to go can also find fellow players in the Muse Games Discord.  Key Features of Stars of Icarus The Best Crew in the Galaxy: Whether you pilot a Fighter, man the guns of a Frigate or keep the engines and shields running on a Corvette – every player will experience the highs of their victory, and lessons learned from their defeats. Form friendships, alliances, and rivalries as you come back again and again.Master These Stars: Your success in battle relies upon your strategy and your ability to execute. The ship classes you’ve chosen and your understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, your loadout, and your ability to support each other in a pinch all make the difference. For Glory (and Bragging Rights)!: Assert dominance over other crews and become renowned as the most lethal squadron around. With ranked modes (available at launch), you’ll have the ability to prove your prowess, too.Keep it Casual: Matches are designed to be pick-up and play, with 5v5 battles lasting around 20 minutes. Hang out in the pre-game lobby if you want to catch up with your crew or jump straight into your favourite community server and get stuck in.  Stars of Icarus will be released on Windows PC via Steam in 2026. For more on the game, follow developer Muse Games on X (Twitter), Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and join the official Discord. 

Flotsam 1.0 Release

For Immediate ReleaseFlotsam Drifts Into Full Launch! Version 1.0 Out Today! The colourful post-apocalyptic town-builder leaves Early Access with new story content and major gameplay improvements.Ghent, Belgium – 4th December 2025. Developer Pajama Llama Games and publisher Stray Fawn Publishing are thrilled to announce that Flotsam, the cheerful yet challenging survival town-builder set in a flooded world, officially leaves Steam Early Access and launches as Version 1.0 today for $24.99 / €22.99 / £19.99. Flotsam is a challenging survival town-builder set in a colourful post-apocalyptic world where humanity drifts among the ruins of civilization. Manage drifters, recycle waste, explore the ocean, and build a community that thrives amid the tides, all at your own pace! After years of community-driven development, Flotsam is ready to set sail into its full release, packed with brand-new story content, upgraded gameplay systems, new regions, and long-awaited features that bring fresh life to this floating city-builder.A Major Update for the Full LaunchVersion 1.0 introduces a main narrative questline, allowing players to complete the game’s story for the first time, alongside an array of new features and enhancements designed to make your floating city-building adventure more immersive and rewarding than ever before.Highlights of the 1.0 Update include:Main Narrative Questline – Experience a complete story campaign for the first time.Specialist Quests & 4 New Specialists – Each specialist has their own quests and unique roles, New specialists include Chemist, Electrician, Birdkeeper, and Aquaculturist. New Upgrade System – Install upgrades like Air Filters and Gas Bags to enhance town performance.New Regions – Explore Industry, a hazardous, highly polluted area, and the Polluted Woods, now split into healthy and toxic zones.10 New Buildings – Including advanced bio-energy systems and new production pipelines.Achievements & Quality-of-Life Reworks – More reasons to replay, explore, and perfect your floating paradise.

Build Your Floating Home

Turn ocean waste into vibrant, living communities. Collect driftwood and scrap to build homes, workshops, gardens, and water purifiers. Decorate your town, keep your drifters healthy, and recycle your way to happiness in this heartwarming post-apocalyptic world.

Explore a Drowned World: Navigate your floating settlement across a procedurally generated ocean of trash and discovery. Salvage ancient ruins, rescue stranded survivors, and uncover old-world technologies to keep your people thriving, but beware the dangers of pollution and scarcity.

Meet Your Crew of Drifters and Specialists: Every drifter has a story, and every specialist brings something new to your survival journey. Recruit unique characters like the Birdkeeper, Chemist, and Electrician, unlock new technologies through their expertise, and dive into personal quests that reveal their pasts and shape your town’s future.

Recycle, Research, Reinvent: Create connected production lines that transform junk into essential resources. Develop cleaner energy, research new tech, and evolve your settlement from makeshift rafts to a thriving eco-town powered by innovation (and the occasional eel).

Flotsam V1.0 launches today for PC via Steam, bringing the definitive version of the floating city-builder to players worldwide. Be the first to experience life after the flood, where hope, humour, and recycling rule the seas.

CloudHeim Releases Today

Cloudheim Launches in Early Access Today, Bringing Physics-Fueled Co-op Chaos to Steam and EpicUnited States, December 4th, 2025 – Noodle Cat Games is happy to announce that Cloudheim, a physics-based action-RPG built for online co-op, is now available in Early Access on Steam and Epic Game Store for $29.99 / €28.99 / £24.99; with a 10% discount at launch and the Supporter’s Pack DLC included with each purchase which includes:Extra Characters: Brooks, Jarl Erland, Emma, SylfEmotes: Jellycow Express, Catch a Ride, Galloping Greeble, Ninja Rush, Sign UwU, Runari Stride, Gnasher Strut, Sign Broken BrooksBifröst Character Style: Show off your support with this cosmic style line, available for 26 characters!Players can finally dive into Cloudheim’s chaotic world, teaming up in physics-driven co-op combat, experimenting with wild weapon combinations while exploring a colorful, Norse-inspired landscape. Smash, toss, and juggle enemies in creative ways, craft gear on the fly and uncover hidden secrets as you adventure together.Watch the Cloudheim Early Access Out Now trailer:Following the overwhelming response during Steam Next Fest – where Cloudheim was in the top 50 most played demos out of thousands – the Early Access launch greatly expands what players have seen so far. New islands, additional dungeons, deeper crafting options, and expanded base-building systems are all available from day one. The Noodle Cat Games team is committed to working closely with the community throughout Early Access to refine, improve, and grow Cloudheim with consistent updates shaped by player feedback such as bug fixes and localisation.”We’re extremely excited to launch Cloudheim into Early Access,” said David Hunt, CEO, Founder, and Game Designer at Noodle Cat Games. “The response to the demo has been incredible, and we can’t wait for players to experience everything we’ve added. We have retooled a lot of Cloudheim with the help of players – like improving the physics-system, majors upgrades to the shop, and jump behavior. Cloudheim in Early Access already includes the campaign, up to 4-player co-op, and all main systems in place, and it’s just the beginning – we have big plans for future updates with new weapons, characters, islands, and other content shaped by community feedback. We’re eager to build Cloudheim together with our players.”Cloudheim is a vibrant action-RPG built for co-op chaos and creative physics-based combat. Up to four players can team up to unleash mayhem in a world where almost everything can be destroyed or weaponized. Smash pillars onto enemies – the physics system ensures no two battles play out the same.Explore diverse islands and mysterious dungeons while expanding and customizing the Odin Shell, your flying turtle base. Build out your crafting empire, decorate the island, run a thriving shop, and uncover hidden secrets as your airborne fortress grows along with your adventure.Cloudheim’s Key Features:Physics-Driven Combat: Lasso, launch, and juggle enemies into fire pits, each other, or the scenery—anything goes. Longer air time = more damage. Real-Time Crafting & Fusion: Grab and toss materials directly into crafting stations in the world. No menus, no inventory clutter—just pure, visible teamwork.Drop-In 4-Player Co-Op: Tame creatures, fight bosses, and explore mythic dungeons with friends. All loot is shared; your progression is not.Evolving Base & Shop System: Return from adventures to upgrade your base, sell loot, and unlock new features.Stylized Fantasy World: Built by a team of experienced artists, Cloudheim is rich with visual flair, character, and discovery.

Net Attack Release

Net.Attack() Confirms Full Release for Q1 2026 – Glacier Update Deploys Today
The Ice Protocol Begins: New region. New characters. New code-crafted abilities.
Germany, December 4th, 2025 – ByteRockers’ Games has locked in Q1 2026 for the full release of Net.Attack(), closing out its Early Access cycle with a barrage of new content, system upgrades and lethal refinements. Net.Attack() is a top-down bullet-heaven roguelite where your brain power is your firepower: engineer lethal algorithms from 150+ programming nodes and survive overwhelming security responses.
To mark the announcement, the studio has deployed the Glacier Update – a frozen new region, new enemy threats, three deadly characters and a sweeping upgrade to the game’s algorithm-crafting systems. Early Access players have been refining builds and sharpening the game for months, driving community-powered iteration across nodes, characters and core systems. All of that work is now deploying in this update – and even more content is planned for the v1.0 release. This is the final drop before 1.0 and it hits the system like a full-force intrusion.
Watch the Net.Attack() Glacier Update trailer
Inside the Glacier Update:

Major System Overhaul of Net.Attack()’s tactical programming tools:Node Sets reorganize abilities into clearer, more strategic clusters.Modifications, run-defining super-upgrades, unlock devastating algorithm builds.New enemy threats detected:Warden – A relentless enforcer that locks down waves with suffocating pressure. Wardens don’t give you space, they take it.Artillery – A shock-impact mini-boss that bombards the arena with precision strikes. Hesitation = Deletion.Surfer – A swarm-class predator triggered when all remaining ByteCoins convert into pursuit units. They flood the field instantly and they run you down.These aren’t just new enemies, they’re new failure conditions. Adapt or get overwritten.
Three New Characters Join the Fight

Each character rewrites the battlefield with unique attack architectures:7UR7ING – Armored. Methodical. Deploys modular Heat Link towers channeling thermal energy into brutal suppression zones. Bend enemy paths to your will – then incinerate them.M4RRY – A relentless shark-inspired brawler built for close-quarters brutality. Every strike builds strength until Rage Mode erupts, igniting a speed-and-damage surge turning aggression into annihilation.GU$$ – Serpentine tactician. Collect Observers to extend your shifting body, increasing reach, control and strike potential while weaving through enemy formations. Evolve mid-run and dominate late-game arenas.Net.Attack() is available now in Early Access on Steam. The full version launches in Q1 2026 with even more content, systems and algorithmic firepower.
About Net.Attack()
CODE OR DIE. Net Attack() is the bullet-heaven roguelite for intelligent gamers who solve problems through code. Build killing-machine algorithms from 150+ programming nodes in a visual drag-and-drop system. 

No RNG excuses. Your brain power determines your firepower.

Hack enemy systems. Extract valuable Files. Survive security counterstrikes with algorithms you designed. Trade your files on the Dark Market, climb Hacker Rankings by mastering escalating difficulties.

Every victory is earned. Every failure is a lesson to debug. HACK THE PLANET.
For more information on Net.Attack():
Buy on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3047370/NetAttack/ 
Follow on X: https://x.com/NetAttackGame 
Follow on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/netattackgame.bsky.social 
Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjuRMwvUi8mMzh1bESJS4hg 
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/byterockersgames 

BellWright Maiden Voyage

Popular medieval survival RPG Bellwright unveils its largest update yet – Maiden Voyage! New Halmare Isles map is 25% the size of the original game, with vast new content and QoL features
Los Angeles, CA – December 3, 2025 –  Donkey Crew, in partnership with Snail Games USA, today revealed “Maiden Voyage” as the name of the next major content update for their medieval open-world survival RPG Bellwright, alongside the premiere of a brand-new trailer. Currently in Steam Early Access, Bellwright is currently on sale for 34% off and the Maiden Voyage update will be available on December 9th, offering a vast new map with a story-driven questline, fresh challenges, exclusive loot, and major new progression systems.
Watch the Bellwright “Maiden Voyage” update trailer
The biggest addition to Bellwright is the new Halmare Isles map, which is roughly 25% the size of the original game. At over 10 square kilometers, this region includes all new story-based quests with multiple progression lines, expanded armor and equipment, new animals and buildings, and introduces a Loyalty & Faction system. 

Other major additions to the core game include full controller support, a Trade and Caravans feature that provides a new layer of strategy as players build and manage a sophisticated logistics network between their outposts, and an improved Walls fortification system that allows players to construct walls for their camps. This includes new gameplay mechanics with specific AI behavior for attackers and defenders, which adds a fresh challenge and more strategic depth to base defense.

There’s a bounty of new customization features as well, like a much improved Character Creator, offering further options and higher fidelity player character models. Fashion-conscious players will also enjoy the New Weapon Types & Cloaks offering more ways to personalize player characters and show off their unique builds and looks. Another quality of life improvement is the addition of Blocking Markers on Building Placement, with a new system that now shows foliage blocking construction areas, along with the ability to task workers with removing the foliage before it is built.
“Since entering into Early Access last year, Bellwright has received over a million wishlists largely due to the constant updates and direct communication our team has had with players,” said Creative Director and Project Lead Florian Hoffreither “‘Maiden Voyage’ is really taking the feedback that we’ve received over the last year and improving the game in all aspects. The icing on the cake is we get to introduce an entirely new setting and continent to explore. We’re looking forward to hearing what you think of this Maiden Voyage update as we continue to stride towards our 1.0 launch!”

Kaiju Cleanup gets Co-Op

Co-op Confirmed for Monster Cleaning Sim KAIJU CLEANUPTop requested feature stomping into next year’s launchLondon, UK – December 3, 2025 – Gather the crew for a colossal cleanup! Mythwright and Brightrock Games are delighted to announce that monster attack cleanup sim Kaiju Cleanup will include full co-op support when the game launches on Steam in 2026.Fully playable solo or in 2-4 player online co-op, dawdle into disaster zones to carve up Kaiju corpses, scrub away hazardous material, and literally clean up slop with friends across Kaiju Cleanup’s entire campaign.Wash away detritus as a duo of decontaminators, go with the flow as a gutsy trio, or get the whole gang together to take on monstrous remains in up to 4 player co-op. Work together to navigate radioactive hazards and avoid meeting a sticky end. And be careful not to accidentally unalive your co-cleaners – adding to the body count only creates more mess for you to clean…“As the most requested feature from the community, we’re thrilled to confirm that Kaiju Cleanup will include full support for 2-4 player co-op at launch,” said Stuart Morton, Publishing Director at Mythwright. “With over 130,000 Steam wishlists since the game’s announcement in September, we’ve been swept away by the level of excitement and support players have shown, and can’t wait to share much more as we scrub up for launch next year.”Developed by Brightrock Games (Galacticare, War for the Overworld), Kaiju Cleanup is a colossal cleaning sim like no other. In the aftermath of chaotic Kaiju attacks, grab your licence to scrub and prepare for a monster cleanup job. Relax and unwind by cleaning up the remains of defeated Kaiju, meticulously slicing up their carcasses and tidying away monstrous messes to leave the city clean and serene.Join the cleanup crew by signing up for a future playtest and adding the game to your Steam Wishlist today. For more information, follow Mythwright on TikTok, X, Bluesky and Instagram, join the community on Discord, and visit mythwright.com.

Cathedral Crows Curse

Cathedral: Crow’s Curse reveals new gameplay trailer at Best Indie Games Winter Showcase
New video reveals map system, ranged combat
and artifact upgrades
Helsingborg, Sweden – December 2nd, 2025 – Independent Swedish developer Decemberborn Interactive today revealed a brand-new gameplay trailer for Cathedral: Crow’s Curse during the Best Indie Games Winter Showcase, offering the most detailed look yet at the game’s exploration and combat systems. 
Watch the Cathedral: Crow’s Curse BIG Winter Showcase trailer
The new trailer showcases how Cathedral: Crow’s Curse builds on the core design of the original game with a stronger emphasis on fluid traversal, combat depth and world exploration. It offers a first look at how these expanded systems reshape the gameplay experience, as well as teasing new dangers awaiting players within the Shade Forest and other unexplored regions.
New gameplay features highlighted in the trailer include:A full world-map system with fast travel to streamline long-distance explorationRanged combat using a bow and arrow for more strategic encountersA new dash movement ability enabling greater mobility and combat flowMultiple new enemy types appearing in the Shade Forest and uncharted regionsAn expanded artifact upgrade system featuring toggleable abilities and dedicated skill trees for deep customizationCathedral: Crow’s Curse is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam and GOG in 2026.
About Cathedral: Crow’s Curse
Set in the universe of Cathedral, Crow’s Curse is a standalone action-adventure prequel focused on tight combat, exploration, and atmospheric storytelling. Players take on the role of Crow, a skilled Shade Sentinel venturing into cursed forests, forgotten ruins, and ancient strongholds to uncover the origins of the Sentinel order and confront the dark forces that threaten it.

Combat is fast, precise, and skill-based – challenging players to master dodges, parries, and carefully timed strikes – while optional stealth mechanics allow for tactical approaches and surprise attacks. The world is fully seamless and richly hand-crafted, blending familiar locations with vast new areas brought to life through detailed pixel art and dynamic lighting.

RAEV Closed Beta Announcement

Rule Your Kingdom in the RAEV Closed Beta Available Now!
Build sprawling cities with the first beta playtest alongside a new trailer reveal.

[December 2, 2025 – Oceanside, California] — RAEV: Kingdom on the Distant Shores, is preparing to open its gates for the very first time, allowing players to dive into a Closed Beta starting today, December 2nd through December 9th, 2025. Alongside the playtest, a new trailer, which debuted during the Best Indie Games Winter Showcase 2025, offers a fresh look at the dynamic city-building, character-driven storytelling, and grand strategic challenges that await. Check it out below!

YouTube Video.

In RAEV: Kingdom on the Distant Shores, you’ll shape the destiny of Nyttland by designing not just a single city, but many, nurturing your growing population of Raevins, and guiding your kingdom through challenges both domestic and diplomatic. Every city, village, and settlement across your kingdom is yours to design and manage in real time — and every Raevin who inhabits them brings unique skills and personality traits. Work to help your Raevins find their dream occupation and increase their performance to influence how your kingdom evolves. 

But ruling a kingdom is no simple task. Expand your empire across three distinct biomes: Temperate, Black Forest, and the Tundra, while exploring the World Map to experience grand strategy elements simulated in real-time. Manage armies and distribute resources across your kingdom, but be wary of trespassing as neighboring kingdoms can be very protective of their land. Will your realm flourish through careful planning and thoughtful leadership, or will external pressures push your kingdom to the brink? Your choices will define the fate of Nyttland — and the Raevins who call it home.

Closed Beta Gameplay Features Include:

  • Your Kingdom, Your Empire: Create a network of cities across the world map and jump between them. From bustling capitals to remote frontier towns. Shape the homes, livelihoods, and futures of your Raevins as you expand your empire.
  • Freedom to Build: Enjoy gridless, freeform construction that lets you place structures and roads precisely where you envision them. Build towering castles, serene gardens, lively market districts, and more as you shape a kingdom that stands the test of time.
  • The Fate of a Kingdom: Balance resources, trade routes, diplomacy, and defenses to ensure your kingdom thrives in the face of ever-growing challenges.
  • Meet the Raevins: Each Raevin has unique skills, personalities, and aspirations. Assign them to tasks that suit their talents, from gathering resources to leading expeditions across the land.

Lovers of strategy and city-building eager to experience RAEV early can opt into the Closed Beta on Steam starting today! Join the official Discord to stay up to date with developer updates, community announcements, and additional playtesting opportunities.

There Are no Ghost at the Grand

THERE ARE NO GHOSTS AT THE GRAND
STEAM DEMO AVAILABLE NOW Play the spooky, musical, renovator adventure now on Steam

BRISTOL, UK – Today, indie developer, Friday Sundae announced it has released the demo of There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, now live on Steam. This marks the debut of this hotly anticipated horror, musical, mystery game, following its breakout appearance at the Xbox Showcase in June.

The demo gives players a hands-on preview of this unique genre, mash-up, blending renovation sim, comedy, horror, mysteries and music!

Check out the trailer:

YouTube Video.

In There are No Ghosts at the Grand, players will inherit a crumbling English hotel and restore it by day, while battling ghosts by night. With a sardonic cat, a talking power tool, and a twisting supernatural plot, in a unique musical mystery narrative adventure.

From spooky ska to wartime jazz to skater punk, each mysterious character you meet has their own story and song, waiting to be uncovered.

But when night falls, your talking power tools transform into weapons against the supernatural. Unleash the vacuum on vengeful spirits, expose invisible assailants with the paint sprayer, or subdue slithering spooks with a well-aimed bookcase to the face using the furniture cannon.

As players explore, renovate, and restore, they’ll uncover Lovecraftian mysteries, and with each passing day, a creeping horror tightens its grip.  

Launching 2026, the full game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass on day one. Additional platforms will be announced later.