Doom Turtle Releases Space RPG 'Legends of Starkadia' for Free on Steam
The release shows a small developer choosing to give away an unfinished project for free rather than abandon it, while using it as a preview for their next game.
Game Spark
Games
Valve Releases Windows Drivers for Steam Machine
The driver release expands the Steam Machine's utility beyond SteamOS, letting owners run Windows for games that are not compatible with the Linux-based OS, though full dual-boot functionality remains pending.
Automaton
CRIWARE Now Fully Compatible With Godot Engine
CRIWARE's Godot support means developers using the open-source engine can now access the same audio and video middleware used by Unity and Unreal Engine projects, removing a technical barrier to Godot adoption in commercial game development.
GameBusiness.jp
Retro Rail GO! Renamed to Retro Rail: Japan! Following Plagiarism Criticism
The developer's decision to rename and adjust UI while keeping core mechanics shows a strategy to address plagiarism accusations without abandoning the project, balancing supporter feedback against legal risk.
Automaton, Game Spark, GameBusiness.jp
Schrödinger's Call Ranked #1 in Metacritic's Best Games of First Half of 2026
A Japanese indie visual novel topping Metacritic's cross-platform first-half ranking signals that narrative-driven, non-AAA games from Japan are achieving critical parity with major international releases.
4Gamer.net, Game Spark, GameBusiness.jp
Good Smile Company Announces Hatsune Miku: Starry Party for 2027
The game marks Good Smile Company's return to a Nendoroid-designed Hatsune Miku title after more than a decade, this time as a multiplayer party game rather than a music game.
Automaton
Dustpile App Lets Steam Users Swipe Through Their Backlog Like a Dating App
Dustpile gamifies the chore of managing a Steam backlog by borrowing the frictionless swipe mechanic from dating apps, turning an overwhelming list into a quick decision-making tool.
Game Spark
Pokemon Sleep Adds Sinnoh Starters for Third Anniversary Festival
The addition of Sinnoh starters expands Pokemon Sleep's roster beyond the first four generations for the first time, and the promise of permanent new features suggests the game is evolving its core loop after three years.
4Gamer.net
SD Gundam G Generation Eternal DMM GAMES Version Launches July 22
The DMM GAMES version gives PC players a native client with cross-platform data sync, while the auto mode lowers the barrier for casual Gundam fans to engage with the strategy series.
4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark
Sequel to 2004 Adventure Game Alida Announced After 24 Years
The sequel arrives 24 years after the original, reviving a niche 3D adventure with a surreal setting and a focus on non-linear exploration.
Game Spark
Steam Users Split on Generative AI Games, Survey Finds
The survey quantifies a deep user divide on generative AI in games, showing a risk of alienating nearly a third of potential buyers even as AI-tagged releases on Steam climb past 30% of 2026 titles.
Automaton
Monster Fantasy Developer Addresses Monster Hunter Comparisons in FAQ
The FAQ marks the first official response from Jotoyo to the visual and mechanical comparisons that have followed Monster Fantasy since its announcement, and signals the developer's intent to differentiate the game through its life-simulation and village-building elements rather than pure hunting action.
Game Spark
Fenris Creations Open-Sources Carbon Engine That Powered Eve Online
By open-sourcing the core technology behind a still-operating massive online world, Fenris Creations is inviting external developers to study and build on the same infrastructure that handled a Guinness World Record battle.
4Gamer.net
Project Phoenix Breaks Seven-Year Silence With 2031 Completion Target
After backers had written off the project, the developer's return with a concrete timeline and a restructured team suggests the long-dormant JRPG may actually reach completion.
Automaton
MonGil: Star Dive NPC Master Anna Draws Attention for Extreme Body Design
The piece frames Master Anna as a standout example of the game's design philosophy, where even minor NPCs carry exaggerated traits that generate player engagement outside the game.
Denfaminicogamer
Jaleco Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 Announced With 32 Games
The collection brings back a substantial library from a defunct arcade developer, with preservation features like DIP switch settings and CRT filters aimed at recreating the original arcade experience.
Automaton
Jaleco Arcade Collection Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 Brings 32 Classic Titles to Switch, PS5, Steam
This is the first time a broad selection of Jaleco's arcade catalog has been compiled for modern consoles and PC, preserving 32 titles that have been largely unavailable outside of emulation or original hardware.
Denfaminicogamer, ASCII.jp, Game Spark
Omega Phenex Crowdfunding Hits Goal in One Day, Astrolabe Games to Publish Worldwide
A passion project built by an Armored Core fan over eight years has cleared its first funding hurdle in hours and secured a global publisher, indicating strong grassroots demand for niche mecha action.
Game Spark
Greedy Greedy Gnomes Clicker Game Sets August 12 Release on Steam
The game turns the classic RPG trope of pot-breaking into a full incremental clicker loop, with automation and embezzlement mechanics that give the idle genre a mischievous twist.
Automaton
NTE: Neverness to Everness Adds Dragon Girl Shinku With Revealing Swimsuit
The character design and the Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Nights update show Hotta Studio pushing NTE's visual and gameplay variety in a competitive open-world market.
Denfaminicogamer
Azur Promilia CBT Hands-On: Cute Kibos and Characters Shine, But Rough Edges Remain
The CBT impressions show Azur Promilia has strong visual appeal and creature-raising mechanics, but the thin story presentation and incomplete voice acting suggest the game still needs significant polish before launch.
Inside
Tokyo Game Show 2026 Announces 759 Exhibitors, 3.3 Million Yen Anniversary Ticket
By expanding to five days and adding a third public day, TGS 2026 aims to reduce congestion and increase play opportunities, while the record number of overseas exhibitors (275) and participating countries (51) signals the show's growing international pull.
Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark, Inside
Five Games Join Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Nintendo Classics
The inclusion of "Tomato Adventure" marks the first time a game from the defunct studio AlphaDream has appeared on Nintendo's modern subscription service.
4Gamer.net, GAME Watch, Denfaminicogamer, and 3 more
Physics-Based Rafting Game 'Sponge Break' Announced for Steam
The game's premise-sponges fleeing tyranny in a kitchen sink-and its physics-based rafting with proximity voice chat mark a distinct co-op survival pitch from a studio founded in 2021.
Automaton