Metaphor Games and Shoreline Games have released a dice-based narrative RPG titled Celestial Return, now available on PC via Steam. The game features players as Detective Howard in the neon-lit Netherveil City, with plans to expand to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles by Q1 2027, including support for three new languages. Players use dice as a currency to navigate the game's narrative, which is influenced by their choices and character attributes. The game includes features like a gameplay loop focused on dice management, a branching narrative, and a unique visual style combining manga and American comics.
tms developed two campaigns featuring exclusive toys and packaging for McDonald's, including six Movie Meal collectibles inspired by McDonald’s characters and six toys from the Minecraft Movie. The campaigns transformed McDonald's restaurants into immersive experiences and included a retail kit for over 100 global markets. Packaging design included a golden treasure chest for the Minecraft Movie Meal and three variations of Happy Meal boxes. Customers could scan toys to unlock in-game skins for Minecraft and participate in a digital treasure chest quest related to the movie.
Steam's Games Made in Sweden sale features notable titles such as Vermintide, Darktide, Payday, Valheim, Amnesia, and Satisfactory, with many available at discounts. Vermintide 2 is priced at £2.34. Three microstrategy games highlighted in the sale are Bad North, Kingdom Two Crowns, and The Battle of Polytopia, all available for under £10. Bad North involves defending islands from Viking invasions, Kingdom Two Crowns combines town-building with exploration and co-op gameplay, and The Battle of Polytopia offers quick 4x gameplay with 16 civilizations and various modes. Some notable titles, like Arc Raiders, are not included in the sale.
Minecraft: The Official Crochet Book will be released on July 14, 2026. It features 20 crochet projects inspired by Minecraft characters and elements, designed by Lee Sartori and Nadia Oxford. The book includes step-by-step instructions, detailed charts, and yarn suggestions, making it suitable for all skill levels. Projects range from amigurumi figures to wearable art, including hats, scarves, blankets, and decor. The book also contains full-color photography.
Star Citizen's Alpha 4.8 update reset the game's universe and introduced new features but also caused a surge of bugs. Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has reassessed its bug prioritization process, identifying nearly 100 critical issues affecting gameplay, with about 20% already addressed. The development team has temporarily paused work on some features to focus on stability, delaying the Siege of Orison event to update 4.10, scheduled for mid-August. The game has surpassed a billion in player funding, and the single-player component, Squadron 42, is set for a 2026 release.
Epic Games is offering two complimentary titles for PC users: Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon, available until July 16 at 4 PM BST. Nova Lands is a 2D open-world game focused on factory building and exploration, currently rated 89% on Steam, with an average playtime of 19 hours. Tattoo Tycoon is a simulation game where players manage a tattoo parlor, priced at .99 and holding a mixed rating of 61% on Steam. Both games can be claimed at no cost and are yours to keep indefinitely.
Games Workshop has shifted its focus to explore the perspectives of various alien species in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Notable works include "Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh" for ork fans and "Voidscarred" for those interested in aeldari pirates. The novel "The Infinite and the Divine" by Robert Rath centers on the rivalry between two necrons, Orikan the Diviner and Trazyn the Infinite, who clash over an artifact and face various challenges, including confrontations with Exodite armies and xenos uprisings. Orikan and Trazyn will return in the upcoming title "The Wicked and the Warped," where they must collaborate to uncover the fate of a lost expedition on a Chaos-tainted planet. A reprint of "The Infinite and the Divine" in hardback format is forthcoming, and its audiobook version has received positive reviews.
Obsidian Entertainment has canceled several projects, including a sequel to Avowed, to focus on developing a new Fallout game. The layoffs at Xbox led to the departure of 52 employees, about 25% of Obsidian's workforce. The new Fallout game will be led by Josh Sawyer, the design director known for his work on Fallout: New Vegas. The cancellation of other projects, especially those in the Pillars universe, has disappointed some fans.
Microsoft has acquired Bethesda, leading to speculation about a new Fallout RPG being developed by Obsidian, with Josh Sawyer, director of Fallout: New Vegas, at the helm. Reports indicate that Obsidian has paused the production of an Avowed sequel and other projects to focus on this new Fallout game. However, this development occurs amidst significant layoffs at Xbox, raising concerns about team morale and stability.
