It’s a cozy Sunday night and we’re back to wrap up another eventful week of games!
This week was filled with exciting events and plenty of game showcases. We were so spoiled from the number of games announced, so make sure to check them out from our coverage below!
One of our incubated games, Stagehands!, was featured in Future Game Show’s Future Hits showcase. If you wanna see some fun co-op action, check it out here!
Sony’s PS5 got a debut this week with an impressive lineup of upcoming exclusives. The futuristic design of the console is a nice break from the traditionally plain design and gives Sony an edge over Microsoft’s ‘boxy’ Xbox One X.
With the ongoing pandemic, game event organizers have been switching up their plans to stay flexible and provide the safest option for participants. Gamescom Asia has been delayed until 2021, and Games Done Quick has been moved to an online format. Riot’s League of Legends animated series, Arcane, is also being delayed until 2021.
The pandemic has also led to a significant increase in gaming according to a new Unity report, with a whopping 46% increase in daily active users for desktop and 17% for mobile. The report also highlights a positive trend for monetization as well as an unprecedented decline in cost per install for mobile games.
The PS5 reveal might have been the highlight of the week, but we also saw a surge in gaming extravaganza with The Escapist Indie Showcase, PC Gaming Show, Guerilla Collective, and Future Game Show.
Gaming companies have been taking a strong stance against racism and showing no tolerance towards hate speech. Last week, Riot suspended the Global Head of Consumer Product Ron Johnson for blaming George Floyd for his own death.
The battle for exclusivity beyond Epic borders draws to a close as EA releases more of their signature titles on Steam, including Mass Effect Andromeda, Battlefield V, and Battlefront II. Their subscription service EA Access will also be coming to Steam this summer.
NetEase has just announced the launch of its new Tokyo-based branch, Sakura Studio, with a focus on next-gen console game production. The company also received a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, following their US listing.
No Man Sky continues to delight fans with their commitment to constant updates and new features. This week, Hello Games is releasing crossplay for Windows, Xbox, and PlayStation space travellers, with a new Friend system that lets you find and add fellow travellers from any platform. New features such as voice-to-text and improved VR support are also on the horizon.
Bungie has announced its plans to continue support for Destiny 2 with Beyond Light coming in September and 2 more expansions coming in 2021 and 2022. It will also be ported over to the next-gen consoles. Destiny 2 launched 3 years ago and Bungie is still releasing content - talk about dedication!
A 2015 build of Dead Island 2 has been leaked. This is the build that was made by Yager Productions who left the project due to different visions.
A friendly reminder that Steam Games Festival Summer Edition is coming on 16th June. Celebrate a plethora of upcoming games, play limited-time demos, and connect with their developers! It’s going to be a blast.
16th June
Desperados III (PC, Xbox, PS) is a hardcore squad-based real-time tactics game that lets you control a band of cowboys through a series of missions. From bounty hunting to train robbery, this game promises a deep role-playing experience set in the ruthless Old West setting. You can also play the demo before deciding to get the full game, courtesy of GOG.
Disintegration (PC, Xbox, PS) is a sci-fi FPS developed by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto with a single-player campaign and PvP multiplayer modes. The game is an ambitious mix between FPS, strategy, pilot sims, and some MOBA elements set in a technological dystopia.
Summer in Mara (PC, Switch) is a cozy story-driven farming adventure where you’ll get to take care of an island and explore the vast ocean. Think Animal Crossing meets Wind Waker. The game is a promising title that will likely continue the growing trend of wholesome games.
Griftlands (PC via Steam) is finally coming out of Alpha. Developed by Klei Entertainment who brought Don’t Starve, Mark Of The Ninja and more, Griftlands brings about a fresh look at the rogue-lite deck building (ala Slay The Spire) genre. It comes with a more established story and the card battle gameplay is layered on top of it as a means to fight or negotiate with others.
17th June
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Isle of Armor (Switch) is the game’s first expansion, taking place in a new island of the Galar region with plenty of new environments - forests, caves, sand dunes, and more. Get ready to meet a bunch of new pokemon, from newly discovered Legendaries to new regional forms!
Haxity (PC via Steam) is another Rogue-lite deck builder set in a cyberpunk setting. The card battler has more layers to it than traditional ones, where the player has to plan through multiple phases to successfully defeat the enemy.
18th June
Waking (PC, Xbox) lets you go on a unique adventure in the mind of a coma patient. You will navigate procedurally generated worlds, make choices with envisioned memories about your loved ones, and engage in Souls-like combat. Get ready to cry.
Best Friend Forever (PC via Steam, Switch) is a simulation game that combines both pet care and dating. The cute aesthetics and warm fuzziness bring about a casual yet charming experience.
19th June
The Last of Us II (PS) needs no introduction as Naughty Dog’s signature title comes back for a sequel after being delayed due to the pandemic. The game will pick up the story of Ellie and Joel 5 years after the events of the first game. Embark on a journey to seek vengeance as Ellie navigates the familiar post-apocalyptic America in four seasonal chapters.
The Academy: The First Riddle (PC via Steam) is a puzzle adventure game where you figure out riddles and solve puzzles as a student of Arbor's Academy.
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We are The Iterative Collective - an indie games incubator! Each week, we shed light on the latest gaming trends for all folks interested in the scene by going through a summary of the latest news from the industry as well as promising upcoming game releases!
We are currently raising our debut indie game fund. Do reach out if you'd like to learn more!