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Welcome back to Daily Indie News Roundup, your one-stop snapshot of everything happening across the indie games and the wider games industry beyond the AAA space. Rather than flooding your feed with individual stories, we’ve gathered the most notable announcements, milestones, preservation efforts, retro releases, and creative experiments into a single, easy-to-digest update.
HypeTrain Digital and Sleepy Castle Studio have confirmed that Escape from Ever After will launch on January 23, 2026, for Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The Paper Mario–inspired adventure RPG previously released a standalone prologue, Escape from Ever After: Onboarding, which attracted over 10,000 players and earned a 96% Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam.
Insider Trading, a roguelike deckbuilder centered on bending fictional markets to your will, launches February 18. Players stack synergies across more than 120 cards and 50 perks, including high-risk cursed perks, while unlocking new character decks that radically alter playstyles. Each run focuses on momentum, timing, and avoiding financial collapse caused by your own overconfidence.
Developer brlka and publisher Ysbryd Games announced that surreal horror platformer LOVE ETERNAL will launch on February 19, 2026, across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game follows Maya, a teenager pulled into a nightmarish dimension ruled by a selfish god, featuring gravity-flipping platforming, precision movement, and deadly environmental hazards inside a decaying fortress.
Solo developer Alex Kane (Pawsmonaut Games) will release AETHUS version 1.0 on Steam on March 6, 2026. The story-driven survival-crafter stars Maeve, a former corporate engineer unraveling a dystopian conspiracy beneath an abandoned mining claim. Designed with constant narrative motivation, the game blends base-building, exploration, and corporate sci-fi storytelling with an AI companion named Roland.
Experimental physics-based platformer RUBATO launches March 20 on PC and consoles, with an hour-long demo available now. Developed by solo creator dconn and published on consoles by Headcannon, the game reimagines the collect-a-thon genre through momentum-driven physics and surreal sci-fi storytelling set in a universe ruled by a megacorporation.
CRITICAL REFLEX and developer Ichthys have released a new open Steam playtest for pixel-art metroidvania Being and Becoming, alongside confirmation of a 2026 launch. Players explore the Collective Dream, battling corrupted entities, unlocking weapons and abilities, and challenging prophetic forces while navigating increasingly dangerous environments.
Tactical Boar announced Veterans: Napoleonic Wars, a premium real-time tactics game set during the late 1700s. Players command historical armies using authentic formations like line, column, and square, with morale, veterancy, and artillery positioning playing decisive roles in single-player tactical campaigns.
K-pop rhythm action game Ella Stars was revealed by developer Sususoft and publisher Rising Tide. Based on a hit animated series with over 50 million views, the game features over 30 original tracks from K-pop artists, hand-drawn AI-free visuals, idol progression systems, and an accessible rhythm-focused design centered on flow and self-expression.
Following its positive Steam debut in December, Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, and Android in the first half of 2026. The narrative-driven mystery follows a young writer investigating secrets within a silent monastery, blending exploration with atmospheric storytelling.
Silver Lining Interactive announced the Bendy Double Pack, bringing Bendy and the Ink Machine and Bendy and the Dark Revival together in a physical edition for PS5 and Nintendo Switch on May 29, 2026. The collection includes enhanced visuals and soundtrack download codes.
Physical indie publisher Limited Legacy Games revealed PS5 boxed editions of Boxville 2, launching Q2 2026 with only 999 copies produced. The hand-drawn puzzle adventure tells its story entirely without dialogue, relying on animation, sound, and environmental detail.
Publisher The Arcade Crew and developer Saw Mill Studio announced that Drop Duchy: Complete Edition will launch on Xbox Series on January 28, followed by PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch this spring. The roguelite strategy title will also be available day one on Game Pass, with the PC version expanding to the Microsoft Store.
Thunder Lotus Games confirmed that the cooperative roguelike action game 33 Immortals will launch on Steam this summer. The game first entered Early Access on Xbox Series, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store in March 2024 and is also available via Game Pass. The Steam release will deliver the most up-to-date version following five major updates and more than one million players since launch, though it’s unclear if it will remain in Early Access.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II celebrates its 22nd anniversary today, marking another milestone for the classic action RPG originally released in 2004.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King celebrates nine years since its Nintendo 3DS release in North America and Europe, where it launched in 2017.
Spain-based Aeternum Game Studios and Studio Koba have announced a major new partnership described not as a takeover or standard collaboration, but as a creative “fusion” of talent. Both studios shared stylized announcements on X emphasizing shared artistic vision, technical ambition, and narrative focus.
The studios clarified that they will remain independent, continuing work on their own projects, while also developing new titles together under this partnership. Aeternum confirmed that its upcoming game Aeterna Lucis remains on track for a 2026 release, with more joint projects expected to be revealed later this year.
THQ Nordic has kicked off its largest annual Publisher Sale to date on Xbox, offering discounts of up to 90% across nearly 200 games and DLCs. Running from January 20 through February 2, the sale spans action, racing, adventure, platformers, puzzles, horror, RTS, RPGs, wrestling titles, and even karaoke games. The upcoming Reanimal is also available to pre-order with a 10% discount.
Microsoft has announced 12 games coming to Xbox Game Pass in late January and early February 2026. Highlights include Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II. Notably, Death Stranding arrives on Game Pass following Kojima Productions’ partnership with Xbox on its upcoming title OD.
January 2026 Game Pass Additions Include:
Multiple Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 31
Several titles will exit Xbox Game Pass at the end of January, including Shady Part of Me, Starbound, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Lonely Mountains Snow Riders, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, Paw Patrol World, and Cataclismo.
Australia’s Freeplay Festival, billed as the world’s longest-running independent games festival, has warned it may be forced to wind down after failing to secure new funding. Organizers say there are no viable funding opportunities available and that operations beyond 2026 are uncertain. They argue the situation reflects a broader shift away from games and interactive arts within local government funding priorities.
GOG has announced the donation of the complete archive of Polish studio X-Land (XLanD Games) to The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, marking a major step in video game preservation. The initiative stems from GOG’s ongoing Preservation Program and advocacy for safeguarding historical development materials.
The archive includes floppy disks, source code, prototypes, artwork, documentation, and hardware from titles such as Robbo and Electro Body. A 19-minute documentary released alongside the announcement chronicles the preservation effort, highlighting challenges faced by post-communist indie developers in the 1990s and the risk of losing early PC gaming history.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak detailed how deliberately reducing sequel budgets helped stabilize the Hitman franchise. After investing roughly $70 million into Hitman (2016), the studio produced Hitman 2 and Hitman 3 at significantly lower costs while achieving higher critical and commercial success, ultimately enabling the unified World of Assassination platform.
Epic Games has rolled out text chat support across the Epic Games Store app and the new Epic Games app on Android. Players can now chat with friends across Fortnite, the Epic Games Launcher on PC, and mobile devices, further unifying Epic’s ecosystem and social features across platforms.
Offbrand Games and Open Sauce announced the return of the Secret Sauce Showcase, featuring a digital showcase, Steam sale, and live expo in July 2026. The 2025 edition drew 2 million minutes watched and generated over 100,000 Steam wishlists.
Pocketpair revealed that Palworld’s massive success has allowed the company to offer more favorable publishing terms to indie developers. The studio says it aims to avoid exploitative revenue-sharing models and help teams survive from their first sales rather than tens of thousands of units later.
Industry veteran Jude Ower launched Good Game Club, a new Tencent-backed podcast focused on games as a force for positive social impact. The show debuted at the Davos conference and features voices from across games, education, and accessibility.
London-based law firm Harbottle & Lewis has launched the Indie Games Collective, a free year-long mentorship program covering legal, funding, and business topics for early-stage studios. Applications close January 23.
The Nintendo Switch 2 sold 3.78 million units in Japan during 2025, making it the fastest-selling console in the country’s history. Hardware sales drove a 38.8% increase in Japan’s domestic games market, with Nintendo titles dominating physical sales charts.
A deep dive into Butterscotch Shenanigans’ upcoming roguelike How Many Dudes? highlights how a hook-first design, viral demo, and streamer-driven momentum helped the game surge past 100,000 wishlists. The autobattler blends absurd internet culture with emergent gameplay, proving experienced indie teams can still break through crowded markets.
Market research firm Niko Partners predicts Nintendo will raise the price of the Switch 2 globally in 2026, citing tariffs, rising memory costs, and broader macroeconomic pressures. The firm suggests Nintendo may discontinue the $449 SKU and instead shift to a $499 or higher bundle. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged volatile RAM pricing but declined to comment on potential future price increases.
Baldur’s Gate 3 recently peaked at over 110,000 concurrent Steam players more than two years after launch, underscoring the lasting appeal of Larian Studios’ non-live-service RPGs. CEO Swen Vincke noted that both BG3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2 saw major sales boosts following the announcement of Divinity, with D:OS 2 achieving its best sales month since 2017.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has officially surpassed Elden Ring to become the most Game of the Year–awarded title of all time, reaching 436 wins compared to Elden Ring’s 429.
Former Nintendo of America president and COO Doug Bowser has joined Hasbro’s board of directors following his retirement at the end of 2025. Bowser joins alongside Carla Vernón, CEO of The Honest Company, bringing extensive experience in consumer brands and franchise management. Bowser was succeeded at Nintendo by Devon Pritchard, who recently addressed the New York Game Awards.
Letters sent to Washington state officials reveal detailed job losses from Microsoft’s July 2, 2025 layoffs, including 830 roles cut in the Puget Sound area. Of those, 81 positions were tied directly to gaming teams, affecting designers, artists, producers, and engineers connected to Xbox Game Studios, including Turn 10 and other internal teams.
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman says AI companions will become deeply personal within five years, acting as ever-present assistants that understand users’ lives, preferences, and motivations. He reiterated previous comments that AI chatbots could evolve into trusted companions, with Microsoft Copilot’s recent upgrades, such as memory, avatars, and vision, hinting at that future.
Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan argued that players largely support AI tools used to improve productivity, QA, and bug fixing, while strongly opposing AI-generated creative content. Tan emphasized Razer’s investment in AI-powered QA tools designed to assist human testers, reduce development costs, and help studios ship higher-quality games faster without replacing creative talent.
Publisher Awaken Realms and developer Awaken Realms Digital announced that Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon has officially surpassed one million units sold worldwide. The action RPG first launched in Early Access on PC in March 2023 before receiving its full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC in May 2025.
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.
To keep your feed clutter-free, we’ve once again gathered the latest headlines from across the indie gaming space.
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.
To keep your feed clutter-free, we’ve once again gathered the latest headlines from across the indie gaming space.
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.
