Daily Indie News Roundup #8 (26. 1. 2026.)

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Welcome to Daily Indie News Roundup #8, your one-stop destination for everything happening across the indie gaming world and beyond. From major showcase announcements and release dates to industry shakeups, preservation wins, and platform uncertainty, today’s edition brings together the stories shaping how games are made, shared, and played in 2026.

INDIE Live Expo Spring 2026 Set for April 25

INDIE Live Expo will return on April 25, 2026, with its annual Spring showcase. Since launching in 2020, the event has amassed over 100 million views and continues to connect global indie developers with fans worldwide. The showcase will feature world premieres, deep dives, and updates from more than 100 games. Developers can submit entries until February 20.

Gambonanza Expands with Global Co-Publishing Partnership

Stray Fawn and Sidekick Publishing have announced a global co-publishing deal for Gambonanza, a roguelike chess-builder by solo developer Paul Giovannini. The partnership includes ATEO handling mobile ports, enabling a simultaneous PC and mobile launch later in 2026. A public playtest is now live, and the collaboration brings together teams previously behind TerraScape and Dungeon Clawler.

Possible One: Lunar Industries Revealed as Realistic Colony RTS

Upstairs Games has unveiled Possible One: Lunar Industries, a grounded real-time strategy game focused on building and sustaining a profitable lunar colony. Players will manage mining, housing, manufacturing, and survival under realistic space conditions while balancing economic and political pressures from Earth.

Journey to the Void Launches January 28 on Steam

RuneHeads’ tactical roguelite Journey to the Void arrives on Steam on January 28. The game centers on grid-based combat where players cannot move, relying instead on chaining cards to survive. Moral choices and evolving synergies ensure each run unfolds differently.

Konfronto Leaves Early Access on February 23

Sci-fi roguelike autobattler Konfronto will launch its full 1.0 version on February 23 for Steam and Epic Games Store. The release includes updated visuals, UI improvements, balance changes, and quality-of-life features. The game exits Early Access with a 90% “Very Positive” rating.

Astro Protocol Launches February 9

Null Vector Studios confirmed that turn-based 4X strategy game Astro Protocol launches February 9 on Steam for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Designed for one-hour matches, the game features randomized research trees, tactical hex-based combat, and six playable factions.

Serene Estates: The Last Guy Launches February 27

Team Serene’s atmospheric action-adventure Serene Estates: The Last Guy launches on Steam on February 27, 2026. Inspired by PS2 and GameCube-era design, the game emphasizes exploration, minimal UI, and environmental storytelling within a massive underground megastructure.

O.D.T: Escape Again… Or Die Trying Remake Revealed

O.D.T: Escape Again… Or Die Trying has been fully remade with modern visuals, restored content, and expanded combat systems. The remake features nine playable characters, reworked levels, enhanced progression, modern controls, and restored content from PS1, PC, and N64 versions.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror Restored for Modern Platforms

GMedia has launched the Steam page for Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition, a restoration of cult classic The Dark Eye. Powered by ScummVM, the release preserves the original stop-motion visuals and features voice work by William S. Burroughs and music by Thomas Dolby. The game is set to launch later this year.

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes Reveals Gameplay Details

Alt Shift released new information on Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, highlighting fleet management and tactical combat systems. The game builds on Crying Suns’ legacy and encourages players to wishlist ahead of future updates.

Arc Games to publish Hell Express

Arc Games has partnered with indie studio Full Metal Bagel to publish Hell Express, a supernatural anime-style co-op extraction shooter. Developed by industry veterans with credits including The Last of Us Part II and Assassin’s Creed: Origins, the game is currently in development with Alpha playtests planned for this year.

Industry News

THQ Nordic Launches Massive Steam Publisher Sale

THQ Nordic has launched a two-week Steam publisher sale running until February 9. Over 400 titles and DLC packs are discounted by up to 90 percent, with many priced under a few dollars.

NateTheHate Predicts Major Switch 2 Third-Party Support

Industry insider NateTheHate shared predictions for major third-party titles on Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Metaphor ReFantazio, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Yakuza titles, Resident Evil remakes, Doom: The Dark Ages, and possibly Final Fantasy XVI.

Rumor: First Nintendo Direct of 2026 Could Air February 5

NateTheHate also suggested Nintendo’s first major Direct of 2026 may take place during the first week of February, potentially on February 5. He cautioned that details remain unconfirmed, though Nintendo has already announced a Tomodachi Life Direct for January 29.

Windows Central Gaming Division Hit by Major Layoffs

Windows Central has reportedly dismantled most of its gaming division, leaving Executive Editor Jez Corden as the sole full-time member. The layoffs, ordered by parent company Future PLC, follow widespread job losses across gaming media, with over 1,200 full-time journalists exiting the industry in recent years.

Judge Raises Concerns Over Epic–Google $800 Million Deal

A U.S. judge has expressed concern over Epic Games’ $800 million partnership with Google, questioning whether it undermines Epic’s previous antitrust stance. The deal includes joint development and marketing efforts and may influence Android platform policies. Critics argue it weakens efforts to challenge Google’s dominance.

Nintendo Veteran Hideki Konno Retires After 40 Years

Hideki Konno, a key figure behind Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Island, Nintendogs, and Nintendo’s mobile initiatives, retired last summer after nearly four decades at the company. He received special thanks in Mario Kart World for Switch 2.

Stop Killing Games Initiative Passes 1.29 Million Signatures

The Stop Killing Games European Citizens’ Initiative has surpassed 1.29 million verified signatures, clearing the threshold to advance to EU review. The campaign seeks to prevent publishers from disabling games after support ends and aims to preserve consumer access.

Perp Games Horror Showcase Returns January 30

Perp Games will host its Horror Showcase on January 30 via IGN’s YouTube channel. The event will feature new reveals, updates, and sneak peeks, including content related to The Relic: First Guardian, hosted by prominent horror-focused creators.

VR Experts Warn About Meta’s Reality Labs Pullback

Industry leaders expressed concern over Meta closing studios and reducing VR investment. With 70–80% of VR revenue tied to Meta’s store, developers fear short-term instability, though optimism remains around new platforms from Google and Valve.