São Paulo, Brazil –  Love doesn’t follow a single path, and neither does visual novel, Pivot of Hearts. Following a warmly received demo during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest, Pivot of Hearts will officially launch on May 21st for PC via Steam. Developed by Brazilian indie team Dragonroll Studio, the game invites players into a narrative that explores love, identity, and the many forms connection can take. 

“We’ve been working on Pivot of Hearts for so long and now the release is suddenly around the corner. These last weeks are going by so fast, it is really hard to keep up with the roller coaster of emotions. But I’m proud of the game we’ve made, and hope it becomes a fond memory for everyone who plays it.” — Wilson Kazuo Mizutani, Lead Developer

Pivot of Hearts has drawn attention for its portrayal of queer, non-monogamous relationships and its inclusive approach to storytelling. The full release invites players to explore a branching narrative across four chapters, five unique endings, and a cast of colorful characters whose journeys are shaped by player choice.

About Pivot of Hearts

Pivot of Hearts follows Wén Xiàn, a Taiwanese-Brazilian game developer, as he reconnects with a childhood friend and forms new bonds that challenge his understanding of love. Set in São Paulo, Brazil, the game explores identity, emotional growth, and the complexities of connection through branching storylines and player-driven choices. The experience is built around:

• Narrative depth and scope: Four chapters, five unique endings, and over 100,000 words of dialogue create a branching, deeply emotional experience. 

• Inclusive relationship dynamics: Romantic, platonic, and non-monogamous storylines unfold through player choice, offering a nuanced look at modern connection. 

• Diverse character representation: Characters reflect a wide range of sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnic backgrounds, and body types.

• Interactive Tarot system: A symbolic card mechanic shapes conversations and choices, reflecting each character’s instincts, needs, and desires.

• Authentic São Paulo setting: The game celebrates the culture of São Paulo through local traditions, fictional metal bands, nostalgic anime and gaming references, and richly detailed urban environments based on real locations.

• Accessibility and player experience: Designed with inclusion in mind, Pivot of Hearts has planned features for accessibility-focused settings to welcome players of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Pivot of Hearts launches May 21st on Steam and itch.io. A free demo is available now for players to explore the story ahead of release.

Download the Pivot of Hearts demo on Steam or itch.io now, and don’t forget to wishlist the game!

Stay connected for the latest updates on Pivot of Hearts and follow the game on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X.

Join the Pivot of Hearts community on Discord.

About Dragonroll Studio

Dragonroll Studio is a São Paulo-based indie game developer dedicated to making cute but subversive games! The team met in their college years, formed the studio in 2019, and created Pivot of Hearts as their first commercial game. Their dedication to storytelling and inclusivity has earned them accolades, including Best Narrative at SBGames 2022 and a Diversity nomination at BIG Festival, held during Gamescom Latam, 2024. 

For more information, join the community on Discord, or follow the studio on Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky.

Aarhus, Denmark – Indie developer, Fair Games, shadow dropped the Forgotten Depths update to “Necesse“, the fast-growing sandbox survival game, live during the Triple-i showcase on April 10.

According to the team, this surprise update is to celebrate the amazing support from players in the start of 2025, including more than 250.000 new players pouring in last month.

New and old players alike can now dive into a brand new biome, The Plains Deep Caves, that holds new foes, secrets and loot 🌍⚒️

🗓️ When:

• The update is live now!

• Release trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mASOe3OMhyk 

Why You Should Play “Necesse” Now

• Co-Op Action: The Free Weekend is the perfect opportunity to team up with friends and explore the world of Necesse together. Build, fight, and survive as a team or tackle the challenges alone — the choice is yours.

• A Game on the Rise: With this update, Necesse has grown even more to be the 2025 standout title in the sandbox survival genre. The community is expanding fast, and we’re thrilled to welcome even more players as we approach the 1.0 launch later in the year.

• Help shape the Game for the official 1.0 release: With the official 1.0 update right around the corner, now’s the perfect time to experience the game’s current features and help shape its final release. The developers have worked hard to create a world full of exploration, crafting, and survival — and there’s even more to come.

• Endless Exploration: Necesse offers a procedurally generated world where each playthrough feels unique. You can explore +25 unique areas, craft more than 150 powerful tools and weapons, build your dream base, and face off against dangerous enemies, including 17 challenging bosses. Whether you prefer solo survival or playing with friends, there’s always something new to discover.

Where to get Necesse:

1. Necesse is on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1169040/Necesse/ .

We can’t wait to see you in the world of Necesse!

In the words of some of the many, many fans, that left a review behind: 

• Zilik2221: “Built a city, but my friend destroyed it. Now I have no friends. Recommend ✓

• Alexantony:  “Very good game, lots to do, I recommend it, took me 83,4 hours to platinum, almost lost my sanity. I recommend it!”.

• R1ck :): “Good to play with the guys”.  

Good luck surviving, explorers!

Update and live showcase features:

• Fair Games is shadow dropping “Necesse: The Forgotten Depths” content update LIVE at Triple-I!

• New boss, The Cursed Crone, awaits in the brand new biome: the plains’ deep caves. Alongside new armor sets, trinkets and weapons.

• Improvements to the economy: Traders, Task Board and much more!

• 1.0 Teaser.. What could it be?

Necesse on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1169040/Necesse/
Necesse on Discord: https://discord.gg/FAFgrKD
Necesse on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr4Jtyot0FRRWsXAWXOHW6g 

About Fair Games
Fair Games is one of the most influential Indie Game Developers in the Sandbox, Survival and Crafting genre. Based in Aarhus, Denmark, the studio mixes its own unique blend of ingenious gameplay and dazzling pixel art and is one of the leading Indie studios in the Nordics.

About Necesse
Necesse is created by pioneer-developer ‘Fair’ aka Mads Skovgaard and is often seen as a pioneering game, perfectly balancing chill colony building with bullet hellish boss fighting. With lifetime sales of 1,4 million and a lifetime wishlist above 1,1 million, the date for the game’s 1.0 launch later in the year is highly anticipated.

Oberhaching, Germany – Independent development team Angry Bulls Studio and Publisher Toplitz Productions are showcasing new gameplay for the isometric action-adventure Survive The Fall in a fresh trailer which premiered last night at the prestigious Future Games Show.

Watch the new trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y4WOWbywBZw

Together with this exclusive first look at the latest version of the anticipated game, a new demo for the exhilarating gameplay cocktail, which mixes exploration, fierce fights against a variety of factions, looting, resource management, crafting and base building was also published on Steam.

Go to Steam now and experience this unique blend for yourself with the new demo. Are you ready to Survive The Fall? Get the demo for Survive The Fall

Oberhaching, Germany – Polish development team EmpireCraft Studios and German publisher Toplitz Productions proudly announce Wild West Pioneers, a fresh take on city-builders, combining beloved classic gameplay elements with contemporary visuals and modern comfort.

Become a visionary and shape the foundation of America, when you set out to explore and colonize the frontier. After humble beginnings, you can eventually establish a townhall and expand the encampment you started with into a hustling and bustling city.

Manage resources, while you take care of the residents and their individual needs like food, water and safety. Appoint sheriffs, build up defense systems and protect your aspiring, prospering town from outlaws and wild animals.

Learn to secure new territories via scouts or colonization posts, explore the strategic map, manage multiple settlements and adapt to challenges waiting for you in the undiscovered frontier. Enjoy the diverse environments, follow the captivating narrative and participate in quests.

“We are very happy to work with EmpireCraft Studios on Wild West Pioneers”, comments Matthias Wünsche, CEO Toplitz Productions. “They have embraced our core philosophy of creating ‘Games with Heart and Soul,’ bringing a thoughtful and well-crafted approach to the city builder genre. Their vision strikes a careful balance between modern design and the classic appeal of strategic settlement building. We look forward to seeing players shape their own communities and experience life on the American frontier.”

Wild West Pioneers will be released later in 2025 on PC in Early Access. Further information on the game can be found on the Steam product page, where it can be wishlisted already. 

Wild West Pioneers on Steam

Oberhaching, Germany  – Independent Polish development studio Play2Chill and German publisher Toplitz Productions jointly announce that they inked a publishing deal for the upcoming city builder Aztecs: The Last Sun.

Slated for a release on PC later this year, Aztecs: The Last Sun marks a return of the classic isometric city builder, but adding a modern twist. The player is tasked to become one of the great leaders of ancient civilizations by building and shaping the city state of Tenochtitlan, the pride of one of the defining mesoamerican societies.

Links:
The new video on YouTube
Permafrost on Steam
Join the Permafrost Discord server

About SpaceRocket Games
SpaceRocket games was founded in 2023. However, the seeds of what would become the flagship project, Permafrost, were sown a bit earlier. Initially, in December 2022, a dedicated trio began to mold the prototype in a somewhat informal setting. Fast forward to the present, and our team has expanded to 15 members. This diverse group consists of talented game designers, programmers, and graphic artists. Our ranks include both individuals just making their debut in the game development world and seasoned veterans who’ve contributed to numerous projects.

About Toplitz Productions
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.

Stay up to date and learn everything worth knowing about Toplitz Productions by following the company on X, Facebook, the official  website and Instagram.

São Paulo, Brazil  – How do you explore love and identity when they don’t conform to traditional expectations? Pivot of Hearts, an upcoming visual novel set in Brazil’s São Paulo, invites players to explore the complexities of relationships through the lens of a Taiwanese-Brazilian protagonist. As part of Steam’s Visual Novel Fest (Mar 3 – 10), Dragonroll Studio is releasing an updated demo with enhanced assets, animations and sound effects calling players to experience a rich story of non-monogamous relationships.

“We’re super excited to share during the Visual Novel Fest what we’ve been working on in Pivot of Hearts. It’s a very small team working hard and with so much care since 2019 in this debut project… And now that the finish line is becoming visible we can’t wait to let everyone know what the game has in store for them. As a visual novel, it breaths in lots of fresh air into the genre, both in game format and theme. The tarot-inspired mechanics empowers players with a lot of self-expression without sacrificing the narrative, while our down-to-earth exploration of non-monogamy is, among other things, intended to contrast with the usual representation in visual novels in general.” says Wilson Kazuo Mizutani, Lead Developer

“One thing we really wanted to do was bring a sense of familiarity to the game – to create characters that would make the player go: ‘Oh, I know that guy!’, and the same goes for many places and activities we see in Pivot of Hearts. Although, some aspects of it might be brand new for international players. For example, we thought it would be cool if a Brazilian celebration like Festa Junina could get the same sort of spotlight as a Matsuri or a High School Cultural Festival gets in Japanese Media. It’s definitely fertile ground for romance!” added Lívia Santos, Art Director

About Pivot of Hearts

A Story of Representation and Inclusion
Pivot of Hearts follows the journey of a Taiwanese-Brazilian game developer navigating relationships and self-discovery in modern-day São Paulo. After a long period of isolation, Wén Xiàn starts finding chances to open his heart again: he suddenly reconnects with Etsuko, someone important from his past, and forms an unexpected bond with a new colleague, Cauã. These encounters set off the protagonist on a journey to question all his old notions of love. Through its four chapters, five endings, and over 100,000 words, the game delves into the diversity of relationship structures, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and body types, offering an authentic and rarely seen narrative in gaming.

Unique Gameplay and Cultural Depth
Blending traditional visual novel storytelling with interactive tarot-inspired mechanics, Pivot of Hearts offers players a rich and engaging experience. The game’s design celebrates São Paulo’s vibrant culture, featuring fictional metal bands, nostalgic anime/game references, and richly detailed urban environments.

Accessibility and Player Experience
Committed to ensuring an inclusive experience, Pivot of Hearts incorporates accessibility-focused design and settings, making the game welcoming to a broad audience, regardless of background or gaming expertise. The game resonates with those seeking stories of growth, love, and identity, whether they are gamers, anime enthusiasts, or fans of narrative-driven media.

Pivot of Hearts updated demo is now available on Steam, offering players a glimpse into the game’s immersive world. With its full release set for later this year, it’s a perfect opportunity to experience Pivot of Hearts ahead of its launch.

Download the Pivot of Hearts demo on Steam now and don’t forget to wishlist the game!

Stay connected for the latest updates on Pivot of Hearts and follow the game on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X.

Join the Pivot of Hearts community on Discord.

About Dragonroll Studio
Dragonroll Studio is a São Paulo-based indie game developer dedicated to making cute but subversive games! The team met in their college years, formed the studio in 2019, and created Pivot of Hearts as their first commercial game. Their dedication to storytelling and inclusivity has earned them accolades, including Best Narrative at SBGames 2022 and a Diversity nomination at BIG Festival, held during Gamescom Latam, 2024. 

For more information, visit the official Dragonroll Studio homepage, join the community on Discord, or follow the studio on Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky.

Jyväskylä, Finland – Lohkare Games Oy is proud to reveal their upcoming game Last Drop, an unapologetically raw and humorous journey back to Finland in 1994. You wake up in the fictional city of Nykylä, where Seppo Sahtivaara, also known as Zeze, is already waiting. From that moment on, you are drawn into a story based on real-life experiences.

What makes Last Drop stand out is its unique blend of dark humor, gritty storytelling, and authentic characters inspired by Finnish culture and classic action movies from the 1980s and 1990s. Set in the fictional yet so familiar city of Nykylä, the game explores themes of friendship, addiction, and redemption through the lens of unforgettable characters like Rahikainen, Kuikka, and Seppo (Zeze). Last Drop is a game that doesn’t pull its punches because neither did the era that shaped it.

“I just wanted to tell a story, and using games as a medium is the perfect way. We hope, that this game feels like good old 1990’s and people enjoy the story of Seppo and his friends” stated Henri Koskinen, CEO & Founder, Lohkare Games Oy. Henri continued: “This game is Finland, I have heard that so many times”

Key features:

• Action-packed open world game with RPG-elements.

• Authentic storytelling inspired by real-life experiences.

• Built of Unreal Engine 5 for realistic environments and immersive gameplay.

• Professional voice acting brings characters to life.

• Survive and Thrive: hustle for cash to stay afloat.

• Drive, Ride, and Collect: unlock new cars, bikes, and more.

• Fight for Respect: take on enemies and claim your place in the city.

Over 90 interns and thesis project participants from institutions like JAMK, Metropolia, and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences have played a key role in Last Drop’s development, contributing to an impressive 40,000 work hours. Remarkably, 32,000 of these hours were completed as internships without external funding, apart from a 25,000 euro grant from the Digidemo Avek fund in 2021.

Get ready for your journey in the last millennium’s Finland and don’t forget to wishlist Last Drop on Steam.

Watch the announcement trailer here: https://youtu.be/K0FM42FjGE8

Steam Next Fest demo

Try out Last Drop during the Steam Next Fest. The demo will be available from February 24, 2025 via Steam.

About Lohkare Games Oy

Lohkare Games Oy is an indie game studio founded by Timo (audio & story), Hannes (coder), and Henri (CEO & Founder) with 19 years of experience in animation, video production, sales, and client project management. Having worked with over 100 companies, including Royal Caribbean, Toyota, Valmet, and Kone, the founder brought extensive industry expertise to game development. Last Drop is the studio’s first game and delivers a Tarantino-style story in Kaurismäki Finland.

Oberhaching, Germany – While the gaming world looks with anticipation to the coming Steam Next Fest starting later in the month, there is still the chance to play one of the hottest demos on Steam. During the October edition of the demo event, the survival adventure Permafrost from development team SpaceRocket Games and publisher Toplitz Productions collected a ‘very positive’ rating from the Steam users for the trial version, which garnered more than 300.000 downloads so far.

Experience the fascination of Permafrost for yourself, when you brave bone-chilling temperatures in arctic-like conditions caused by a world-changing event that resulted in the almost complete extinction of the human race.

Grab your friends and enter the world of Permafrost with up to four players in cooperative multiplayer or take on the hostile environment all by yourself, just accompanied by your dog as a trusted companion.

Exploration, resourcefulness and the sheer will to survive will help you when you construct intricate shelters, cultivate crops to stave off hunger, and harness the power of technology to fend off threats both human and environmental. Be wary of the sub-zero temperatures and the effect they can have on your character’s capabilities, as you fight challenging conditions, hunt elusive prey and utilize salvaged machinery to craft the tools you need to combat the relentless winter.
But don’t wait too long. The closer we get to Permafrost’s release date set for later this year, the higher the chances that access to the demo will be discontinued.
Get ready to experience a modern post-apocalyptic setting, combining intricate resource management with deep survival mechanics, before it is too late.

For more details on Permafrost head over the games official Steam page here.

About SpaceRocket Games
SpaceRocket games was founded in 2023. However, the seeds of what would become the flagship project, Permafrost, were sown a bit earlier. Initially, in December 2022, a dedicated trio began to mold the prototype in a somewhat informal setting. Fast forward to the present, and our team has expanded to 15 members. This diverse group consists of talented game designers, programmers, and graphic artists. Our ranks include both individuals just making their debut in the game development world and seasoned veterans who’ve contributed to numerous projects.

About Toplitz Productions
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH) today unveiled two new striking colorways for the latest Stealth™ 600 and Stealth ™ 500 wireless headsets – two top-rated models in the brand’s critically acclaimed wireless gaming headset range. Turtle Beach’s Designed for Xbox Stealth 600 is getting a new purple colorway, while the Stealth 500 for Xbox or PlayStation® now comes in a cool arctic camo option.

The new Stealth 600 purple and Stealth 500 arctic camo colorways are available for pre-order today from Turtle Beach and will launch this spring. 

“We’re happy to give gamers a wider range of colors for our best-selling Stealth 600 and Stealth 500 models,” said Cris Keirn, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “Both are top-rated, award-winning wireless gaming headsets, and Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 series has been the industry’s best-selling gaming headset model by revenue since the first generation was introduced in the U.S.(1)”