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Welcome back to our third Daily Indie News Roundup. To keep your feed clutter-free, we’ve once again gathered the latest headlines from across the indie gaming space and the wider games industry, excluding major AAA releases, into one place. From new announcements and launch updates to industry shifts and retro highlights, this roundup aims to provide a clear snapshot of everything worth knowing today.
Creepy Jar’s second original IP StarRupture has sold over 500,000 copies within just 11 days of launching in Early Access on January 6, 2026. The game reached 42,864 peak concurrent players, climbed to #2 on Steam’s global charts, and maintained a Top 10 position throughout its first week. Gross revenue, including associated Steam products, exceeded $8.7 million, significantly outperforming internal expectations according to Creepy Jar board member Grzegorz Piekart.
PRM Games, Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions have announced that FMV horror-thriller The Run, from The Complex and Five Dates creator Paul Raschid, will launch on Steam on February 5, 2026. Set along a remote trail near Lake Garda, Italy, the game follows a fitness influencer whose routine run turns into a fight for survival.
Developer Lidlocks has unveiled the Steam page for Finding Polka, a narrative walking simulator centered on a young girl named Friendy searching for her childhood dog. The game follows Friendy and her current dog, Jazz, after she spots a familiar figure that may connect her to her past.
Sobaka Studio and Callback have confirmed that co-op horror title KLETKA will leave Early Access and launch on February 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. First released in December 2024, the game centers on descending a deadly, ever-expanding structure while feeding a sentient elevator that consumes fuel and flesh.
THQ Nordic and DigixArt have delayed Tides of Tomorrow from February 24 to April 22, citing feedback from its demo and closed beta. The first-person adventure, featuring a multiplayer-influenced narrative system, will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
Pocketpair released a new trailer celebrating the second anniversary of Palworld’s Early Access launch. The video teases new Pals planned for the game’s full release, expected sometime in 2026, and features messages of gratitude from CEO Takuro Mizobe and publishing head Bucky.
RS34 has announced that Karous, the 2007 Dreamcast vertical shoot ’em up, will launch on Steam on January 22 with English and Japanese support. The PC version follows recent console releases and features weapon progression tied to player actions, atmospheric visuals, and a drum ’n’ bass soundtrack.
Metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit launches January 20 on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo platforms. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with scores ranging from 8/10 to 9.5/10, praising its atmosphere, exploration, and narrative-driven design.
Developer CeL has revealed YAP and the Enchanted Bubbles, a brand-new Game Boy Color action-reflex game inspired by Pang. The game features multiple environments, boss fights, power-ups, cheat codes, and support for four languages.
BALL x PIT will receive its first free major update, The Regal Update, on January 26. The update adds two new characters, eight new balls, new passives, and an unannounced surprise.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center has begun teasing an announcement scheduled for January 20, with details currently under wraps.
Chained Wheels is an online co-op driving game where two players control cars physically chained together, navigating harsh environments filled with physics-based puzzles, dynamic weather, and precision challenges.
Physics-based driving game 4×4 in a Furniture Store tasks players with rock crawling through a mini open-world furniture store, completing customer missions ranging from “floor is lava” challenges to object-toppling precision maneuvers.
Fan developer Besky has released the first alpha demo for Project Reforged, a fan remake that reimagines Sonic and the Black Knight while aiming to stay faithful to its core identity. Rather than serving as a simple visual upgrade, the project focuses on modernizing gameplay through smoother controls, updated systems, and new mechanics designed to address long-standing criticisms of the original game’s combat.
Publisher Experience has announced Demon Kill Demon ~Yomi 1984~ for Nintendo Switch, launching in Japan on May 28. The dystopian dungeon crawler RPG is set in the same universe as Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi, with its story taking place five years after the events of the original game. The Transfer Arc contains the main story, while the Revenge Arc offers post-game content that becomes accessible only after completing the former.
The 2005 PS2 visual novel Mabino×Style has received its first-ever English fan translation, thanks to translator Gopicolo and collaborators Monnekey and Nanaboshi Hoshikawa. Set in a magical academy, the game blends time management, relationship-building, and narrative progression.
Fire Emblem Engage marks its third anniversary, remembered as a fanservice-heavy entry that divided opinion on writing but resonated with longtime fans.
Sony’s cult classic Gravity Rush 2 celebrates its ninth anniversary, remaining a standout for its gravity-based traversal and distinctive art direction.
Darkest Dungeon is celebrating 10 years since its wide release, marking a decade since Red Hook Studios’ punishing roguelike RPG made its lasting mark on the genre. Known for its brutal difficulty, stress mechanics, and distinctive gothic art style, the game helped popularize darker, psychologically driven RPG design in the indie space.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Dragoon’s release in Europe for PlayStation 1 on January 19, 2001. This cult classic JRPG follows Dart Feld and his party through the fantasy world of Endiness, wielding ancient Dragoon Spirits to battle dragons, winglies, and apocalyptic threats in a twist-filled tale spanning four discs and 50+ hours.
Valve has revised its AI disclosure policy on Steam, now requiring developers to disclose AI usage only when it generates in-game or marketing content. The company no longer requires disclosure for AI tools used solely for efficiency gains, citing the widespread integration of AI tools in modern development workflows.
Oxalis Games has officially abandoned web3 and NFT elements in its cozy RPG Moonfrost, repositioning it as a handcrafted premium PC title for Steam and Epic Games Store. The announcement coincides with leadership changes, with Gina Nelson becoming sole CEO following Ric Moore’s departure. The studio also reaffirmed its commitment to human-led development over generative AI.
Megabit, Aonic’s publishing arm, has named Jonathan Hales as CEO following the merger with nDreams’ publishing team. Hales previously founded Kasedo Games and led releases such as IXION and Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus.
The CO-OP Smorgasbord Sale has launched on Steam, spotlighting co-op games developed in Sweden. Featured titles include GTFO, Payday 2, Payday 3, V Rising, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, and Vermintide 2, alongside a limited-time bundle offering an extra 10% discount.
A new report suggests Microsoft will introduce an ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming tier in 2026, allowing players to stream digitally owned games without a Game Pass subscription. Early testing reportedly included one-hour sessions and capped monthly playtime, though final details remain unconfirmed.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home Game of the Year at the 15th Annual New York Game Awards, with Jennifer English also winning Best Acting. Other winners included Blue Prince (Best Indie), This Seat Taken (Best Mobile), and Donkey Kong Bananza (Best Kids Game).
Guillaume Broche, director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has said the game’s success took the entire development team by surprise. Speaking about the response, Broche explained that while the studio hoped the game would resonate with players, the scale and immediacy of the reaction exceeded all internal expectations.
According to Broche, what stood out most was how strongly players connected with the game’s narrative, cinematics, and emotional storytelling, elements that are often difficult to predict during development due to their deeply personal nature.
Devon Pritchard delivered her first public remarks as President of Nintendo of America during the New York Game Awards ceremony, using the platform to reflect on creativity, opportunity, and inclusivity within the games industry.
In her statement, Pritchard emphasized that “every dream matters” and highlighted the importance of ensuring that people across the industry are able to do meaningful, fulfilling work in gaming and storytelling.
Today’s roundup covers a wide range of stories shaping the future of independent games.
The indie games scene doesn’t slow down and neither do we.
An IGN trailer recently highlighted 1348 Ex Voto, an upcoming third-person action-adventure game set in Italy during the Black Death.
This update comes after a long development journey that began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021.
Deep knowledge of chess is not required and the developer has made it clear that learning strict openings or endgame…
Knight’s Path is an upcoming action RPG made almost entirely by solo developer Jan Tichota.
Some developments in today's gaming world are simply too significant to ignore, and today’s roundup reflects that balance.
The latest controversy about LGBTQ characters began with a former viral screenshot shared on X.
The Outer Worlds 2 is less an isolated disappointment and more a sign of a changing market.
In a new Patreon-exclusive article (free-to-read for anyone), I break down the full workflow behind our reviews.
Both Pillars of Eternity games used backer betas, which gave early access to players who supported the projects.
What shocked publishing lead John Buckley was not the number of pitches, but the terms developers had come to accept.
Welcome back to Daily Indie News Roundup, your one-stop snapshot of everything happening across the indie games and the wider…
We’re already halfway through January 2026, and the new year is off to an incredible start for gaming.
![[OPINION] Gaming Exclusives Are Losing Their Value: Who Really Breaks the News in Gaming Anymore](https://www.indie-games.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gaming-Gaming-Journalism-300x200.jpg)
There is a growing problem in gaming media with exclusives and question arises who really breaks the gaming news anymore…
We are still fine-tuning this format, so please bear with us as we improve.
In BEFORE I GO, you take control of an inner child trapped in limbo, moving through a symbolic journey toward…
Instead of flooding your feed with dozens of individual posts, here’s everything you need to know from the indie games…
![[OPINION] Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft Unite on Safety – Here’s Why That Matters](https://www.indie-games.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gaming-Industry-big-tree-300x200.jpg)
At its best, the alliance sends a strong signal that online safety is no longer something to be handled in…
It is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys beautiful worlds, strong narratives, or tactical depth.
Today’s roundup covers a wide range of stories shaping the future of independent games.
The indie games scene doesn’t slow down and neither do we.
An IGN trailer recently highlighted 1348 Ex Voto, an upcoming third-person action-adventure game set in Italy during the Black Death.
This update comes after a long development journey that began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021.
Deep knowledge of chess is not required and the developer has made it clear that learning strict openings or endgame…
Knight’s Path is an upcoming action RPG made almost entirely by solo developer Jan Tichota.
Some developments in today's gaming world are simply too significant to ignore, and today’s roundup reflects that balance.
The latest controversy about LGBTQ characters began with a former viral screenshot shared on X.
The Outer Worlds 2 is less an isolated disappointment and more a sign of a changing market.
In a new Patreon-exclusive article (free-to-read for anyone), I break down the full workflow behind our reviews.
Both Pillars of Eternity games used backer betas, which gave early access to players who supported the projects.
What shocked publishing lead John Buckley was not the number of pitches, but the terms developers had come to accept.
Welcome back to Daily Indie News Roundup, your one-stop snapshot of everything happening across the indie games and the wider…
We’re already halfway through January 2026, and the new year is off to an incredible start for gaming.
There is a growing problem in gaming media with exclusives and question arises who really breaks the gaming news anymore…
We are still fine-tuning this format, so please bear with us as we improve.
In BEFORE I GO, you take control of an inner child trapped in limbo, moving through a symbolic journey toward…
Instead of flooding your feed with dozens of individual posts, here’s everything you need to know from the indie games…
At its best, the alliance sends a strong signal that online safety is no longer something to be handled in…
It is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys beautiful worlds, strong narratives, or tactical depth.
