Daily Indie News Roundup #12 (2. 2. 2026.)

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Welcome to Daily Indie News Roundup #12, your one-stop destination for everything happening across the independent games scene, from ambitious new announcements and early access launches to preservation efforts, industry shifts, and community-driven revivals. Each day, we gather the most important stories from developers, publishers, and creators around the world to give you a clear picture of where indie gaming is heading.

After the Wane Brings Interactive Storytelling and Dance to PC and Consoles

After the Wane has been announced as an interactive graphic novel coming to PC, Mac, Linux, and Nintendo Switch. The game follows Lena, a young dancer trying to build a life in the city while grappling with family history, romantic struggles, and a mysterious inner voice that constantly comments on her actions. Players shape her journey through meaningful choices, deciding whether to align with an elite troupe, support community dancers, or explore darker occult interests. Hand-animated rotoscoped dance scenes, hundreds of hand-drawn images, and an adaptive soundtrack bring the experience to life.

The Last Gas Station Opens Its Doors for First Playtest

Alawar’s cozy-but-creepy management game The Last Gas Station has launched its first public playtest. Set in a future where electric vehicles have made gas stations nearly obsolete, players inherit a forgotten roadside stop and must rebuild it into a thriving business. During the day, players manage inventory, repair pumps, decorate the store, and serve weary travelers. At night, however, the tone shifts dramatically as strange and unsettling events unfold in the surrounding wilderness.

Dino Time Raiders Announces Demo Ahead of Spring 2026 Launch

Solo developer Luke Webster and Armor Games Studios have revealed Dino Time Raiders, a time-traveling park-building strategy game launching in spring 2026. A playable demo arrives on February 12, just ahead of Steam Next Fest. Players recruit scientists and interns to travel through time, capture dinosaurs, and build a prehistoric theme park in the present. Each era introduces stronger dinosaurs, greater risks, and increasingly chaotic management challenges.

Baladins Brings Tabletop-Inspired Fantasy to Consoles

Baladins, developed by Seed by Seed and published by Armor Games Studios, arrives on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation platforms on February 20, 2026. Inspired by tabletop RPGs, the game focuses on storytelling, cooperation, and creativity rather than combat. Players explore the region of Gatherac as wandering performers tasked with spreading joy and solving problems. Up to four players can adventure together online, choosing from five classes and shaping the story through narrative decisions.

Slay the Princess and Scarlet Hollow Reach Major Sales Milestones

Black Tabby Games has announced that Slay the Princess has surpassed one million sales worldwide. The surreal horror visual novel has gained widespread acclaim for its philosophical themes, branching narrative, and hand-drawn art by Abby Howard. Meanwhile, Scarlet Hollow has passed 100,000 copies sold ahead of its next episode, launching February 13 as a free update.

Starsand Island Revises Launch Strategy with Early Access Plan

Seed Sparkle Lab has updated the release roadmap for its anime-inspired life simulation Starsand Island. The game now enters Early Access on February 11 for PC and Xbox, with a full release planned for summer across multiple platforms. The Early Access period will focus on refining endgame systems and expanding content. Two editions will be available, including a Deluxe version with romantic-themed outfits and furniture.

Swimpossible! Makes a Splash with February Launch

Arcane Cabinet Games has announced that Swimpossible! will launch on Steam on February 18. The game stars Craig, an upside-down mermaid controlled limb-by-limb by the player, creating intentionally awkward and challenging movement. Blending rage-game mechanics with cozy presentation, Swimpossible! tells its story through silent comic panels and environmental storytelling.

We Gotta Go! Demo Turns Bathroom Emergencies into Co-op Chaos

Mad Mushroom and FuzzyBot have released a public demo for We Gotta Go!, a cooperative puzzle-horror game about desperate friends trapped in a haunted mansion while urgently needing the bathroom. Up to four players must solve puzzles, avoid ghosts, and manage their characters’ “intestinal urgency.” The game blends slapstick humor with genuine tension, offering a unique twist on co-op survival gameplay.

BARDA Prepares for March Early Access Launch

Mudita Games has announced that BARDA will enter Early Access on March 9. This survival roguelike focuses entirely on inventory management rather than traditional combat. Players climb a dangerous mountain while managing hunger, fatigue, and madness through their backpack. Items physically shift and crowd the inventory as conditions worsen, making organization a core survival mechanic.

DeckLand Heads to Early Access in March

Korean developer JellySnow and publisher CFK have confirmed that DeckLand launches in Early Access on March 23. The deck-building roguelite draws inspiration from Korean folklore and Eastern fantasy. Its standout Card Synthesis System allows players to combine cards into powerful new forms. A free demo is available now, letting players sample its systems ahead of launch.

Crabmeat Brings Survival Horror to the High Seas

Crabmeat, developed by Nicholas McDonnell, launches March 10, 2026. This short first-person point-and-click survival horror game puts players in the role of a prisoner forced to harvest valuable crabs in icy waters. The game combines atmospheric exploration, resource management, and psychological tension. A demo is available now on Steam, offering a preview of its two-to-three-hour experience.

Protect the Pit Revealed as New Incremental Tower Defense Project

Indie developer Tom Daly has unveiled Protect the Pit, an incremental tower defense clicker game. Players build winding mazes filled with traps and towers to defend a central pit from forest creatures. Featuring deep upgrade trees and customizable layouts, the game encourages long-term experimentation and strategic planning. It continues Daly’s tradition of relaxing yet mechanically rich indie projects.

Retro News and Preservation

NEC PC-FX Wrestling Game Receives English Translation

The fan community has released an English patch for All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling: Queen of Queens on the NEC PC-FX. Created by 72PaulDaniel, the patch translates most menus and updates the manual. The FMV-based wrestling title joins a growing list of PC-FX games being preserved and localized, helping keep this obscure platform alive for modern players.

ScummVM 2026.1.0 Adds Nearly 200 New Playable Games

ScummVM has released version 2026.1.0, one of its largest updates ever. The release adds support for a dozen new engines, making roughly 194 additional classic games playable. Newly supported titles include Dark Seed, Heart of China, The Adventures of Willy Beamish, Tex Murphy: Martian Memorandum, and multiple Nancy Drew entries. Accessibility tools, mobile performance, and scaling shaders were also improved, reinforcing ScummVM’s role as a cornerstone of game preservation.

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest Returns Online Through Fan Project

The MordorWide project has restored online multiplayer to The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, Pandemic’s final game before its closure. The project re-implements EA’s original backend, allowing fans to play online again. The revival includes bundled DLC and ongoing remastering efforts, giving new life to a cult favorite that once symbolized the end of a legendary studio.

GOG Highlights Major Preservation Achievements

GOG has shared extensive details about its preservation efforts through Dreamlist and its Preservation Program. In 2025 alone, over 300 community-voted games were added, with more than 1,400 technical improvements delivered. Classic titles like Dino Crisis, Breath of Fire IV, and Devil May Cry HD Collection were restored for modern systems. To celebrate, GOG is giving away Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy, reinforcing its commitment to DRM-free preservation.

Industry News

Ashes of Creation Developer Intrepid Studios Shuts Down

Reports indicate that Intrepid Studios, developer of Ashes of Creation, has closed following internal disputes between leadership and its board. Multiple employees confirmed layoffs on social media. Creative director Steven Sharif stated he resigned after ethical disagreements, leading to further resignations and mass layoffs. Despite the closure, Ashes of Creation remains on Steam Early Access, with a development update planned for February 13.

Iron Lung Film Proves Indie Adaptations Can Succeed

The Iron Lung movie adaptation earned $21.5 million in its opening weekend on a $3 million budget. Directed by YouTuber Markiplier, the film demonstrates the growing transmedia potential of indie games. Its success has fueled interest in other adaptations, including Dredge and Poppy Playtime, highlighting new revenue paths for small developers.

GameStop CEO Eyes Major Acquisition Amid Store Closures

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has stated his intention to acquire a publicly traded company, aiming to grow the retailer’s market cap to $100 billion. With $9 billion in liquid assets, GameStop is actively scouting targets. This ambition comes as hundreds of stores continue to close worldwide, reflecting the company’s ongoing transformation.

GameSpain Direct Announced to Promote Spanish Indies

Spain’s DEV association has launched GameSpain Direct, a seasonal showcase highlighting 25 indie games per event. The first broadcast takes place February 11, hosted by ClemmyGames, offering international visibility for Spanish developers.

Industry Veteran Compares AI Boom to 1990s Fuzzy Logic Bubble

Localization pioneer Richard Honeywood has compared today’s AI hype to Japan’s “fuzzy logic” craze of the 1990s, warning that much of it may be marketing-driven rather than transformative. His comments add to growing skepticism about the long-term sustainability of current AI trends in gaming.

The Game Awards 2026 Officially Scheduled

Geoff Keighley has confirmed that The Game Awards 2026 will take place on December 10 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Despite being early in the year, fans are already speculating about major contenders, with Grand Theft Auto 6 dominating early discussions.