Welcome to the weekly brew, where we quench your thirst for indie game news.
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PixElated Festival Kicks Off on Steam
Calling all pixel art enthusiasts! The PixElated Festival is happening right now on Steam, running from July 29th to August 5th. This digital festival celebrates the best pixel art games, featuring titles like Roots of Pacha, Final Profit: A Shop RPG, Travelers Rest, Spilled, Delverium, and many more. Expect exciting discounts and a chance to discover your next pixelated adventure! Check it out on Steam here.
Big lay offs at Humble Games
In a blow to the indie game industry, Humble Games, the publisher behind Coral Island, Stray Gods, and Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, has announced major layoffs. While their statement mentions restructuring, reports suggest the entire company might be shutting down. This results in 36 job losses and potential delays for some console ports of published titles like Coral Island. Read the full statement here
Shapez 2 Coming to Early Access
The second edition of the automation game where you transport and manipulate shapes in your factory, is coming to early access. Shapez 2 elevates the much loved mechanics of the first game, this time giving players a 3d experience set in a space themed world, complete with a mysterious vortex to deliver your shapes to. You can get cutting shapes, in Shapez 2 very soon, with the game launching into early access August 15th. Wishlist the game here
New mysterious delivery game announced
Deliver goods to townsfolk in your pick up truck in the newly announced Truckful. While this may seem like a peaceful game set in the countryside, you’ll soon uncover an ancient mystery surrounding the nearby old forest. You’ll stack your truck full of cargo of all shapes and sizes, delivering it to townsfolk as you explore the strange country side. This looks set to be a game packed full of adventure, and you can wishlist it now. Wishlist it here
Cat Quest III drop new trailer ahead of launch
Cat Quest III, the cutest action RPG you ever did play, have dropped a new trailer ahead of their release. The new trailer gives some purrsatively piratey details to what we can expect for this action adventure game, where you play as purrivateer kitties sailing the seas in search of treasure. With a long lost mythical treasure to find in this 2.5d open world set in the Purribean, this is sure to be a swashbuckling adventure. Cat Quest III releases August 8th. Wishlist here
Moonstone Island is getting another free update
Moonstone Island is getting another free update, adding a pretty popular mechanic to the game. The devs have announced they’re adding cooking to the game, with new kitchen furniture, recipes and dish based quests to complete. Alongside this, there’s also a decor DLC being released, adding some extra cooking themed items, but the cooking functionality will be completely free. There’s not long to wait for this one, you can play the new cooking update July 31st. Get it here
Team17 announces new game
Team 17 have announced a new game is joining their line up, and this one is perfect for reality tv lovers. Date Everything is a sandbox dating sim where you, with the help of some magical glasses, can bring your house to life…literally. You’ll be able to meet 100 datable characters that are actually your own furniture items, and each character is fully voice acted with their own personalities and backstories. Will you date your bed, or fall in love with your piano? Find out in this quirky dating sim game. Wishlist it here
On Track announce release date
The cozy train themed productivity tracker, On Track, has announced it’s release date. This peaceful game sees you watch landscapes roll past from your seat on the train. With productivity tracking features like to-do lists, and timers, and a relaxing lo-fi soundtrack, this is the perfect co-working companion for those who love to watch the world go by. You can start your cozy train journey in On Track from July 31st. Wishlist it here!
Call of Boba drops first trailer
The cozy pixel art adventure game where you attempt to save a Boba Tea shop, Call of Boba, have dropped their first trailer. This cute and cozy game, sees you brew drinks, battle enemies for inspiration, make friends with customer and so much more on your quest to serve up the best tea in town. Call of Boba looks set to be a tasty adventure game, so be sure to add it to your wishlist. Wishlist it here
Steam roll out major update to demos
Steam have rolled out a pretty major update to demos and how they function on Steam.
As part of a new roll out, demos will now have their own Steam pages, and will appear more in the Steam store, essentially being treated similarly to how free games are. They’re also introducing reviews for demos, so players can leave valuable feedback, and you’ll also get wishlist notifications for when demos drop for games on your wishlist. Demos are one of the best ways to try games before you buy, and are completely free with some often giving you a pretty decent amount of gameplay, so this is a really great update to see being implemented. Find out more here.
Upcoming Releases this week
We’ve got some amazing games set for release this week!
- Hadley’s Run – an action arcade game set deep in space drops July 30th
- The Garden Path – a cozy slice of life game set in a secret garden drops July 30th
- Tidy Cauldron – a witchy farming sim, where you bring back life to Mutter Island by growing magical critters launches July 22nd
- On Track – A productivity tracking game with a train theme drops July 31st
- Mini Airways – An air traffic control simulator drops July 31st
- Thank Goodness You’re here – an emotional narrative game where you serve up tasty ramen dishes and listen to your customer’s stories drops July 23rd
- Shark Siege – Together Survival – a survival game where you go up against a mega shark drops August 1st
- Closer the Distance – a heartwarming game about grief and loss drops August 2nd
- Lamu– an adventure RPG game with a farming sim twist drops August 2nd.
That is a wrap on this edition of The Weekly Brew!
Until next time, Stay Caffeinated!
