Hot off their debut from Sony's State of Play, Eclipse Glow Games has released a new gameplay video for their highly-anticipated, action-adventure title Tides of Annihilation. The 11-minute gameplay walkthrough video showcases the combat system where spectral knights can be summoned to perform devastating combo attacks. Watch Gwendolyn traverse an environment constantly shifting from powerful magical forces where modern London and mythical Avalon collide. And learn more of Gwendolyn's story in Tides of Annihilation as she faces off against the alluring Mordred in an epic boss confrontation.

Tides of Annihilation is a single-player, narrative-driven title set in a twisted version of modern London cataclysmically altered by an otherworldly invasion. Taking on the role of Gwendolyn, humanity's lone survivor, players embark on a legendary quest through London's iconic environs to unravel a mystery that will determine the fate of reality itself. Battling alongside summonable spectral knights, players will encounter hordes of enemies, unforgettable bosses, and vertical levels in the form of gigantic knights roaming the landscape.

Welcome to another week of new game releases and this week's AAA title takes place in the same world as Pillars of Eternity, for those that were a fan of that game from a decade ago. If RPG games aren't your cup of tea, how about a face full of Norwegian snow, or maybe the summer of 1995? How about some equestrian challenges, some pirate ninjas or maybe something a bit more dystopian? If so, we got the games for you this week.

Avowed / This week's AAA title / Tuesday 18 February
Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG set in the world of Eora, where your choices carve a path through war, intrigue, and ancient mysteries. Navigate a land in turmoil, forge powerful alliances or deadly rivalries, and wield magic and steel to shape the fate of the Living Lands—and your own destiny. Steam link

Steam recently delisted a free game from its store, named PirateFi, suspecting that it may have contained malware. As such, the platform has requested customers who installed the game to do a full system scan utilizing a trusted antivirus software, even going so far as to recommend a full system wipe. Valve claims it is likely that malicious files were opened on systems where the game was installed and launched, necessitating such drastic measures. As noted by TechCrunch, the game had a total of 51 reviews on Steam, with an average rating of 9/10. SteamDB reveals that the game was installed by anywhere from 800 to 1500 people, which is to be expected considering that the game was launched on the 6th of February and was live for almost a week before Valve took action.

With the above facts in mind, if any of our esteemed readers had the misfortune of installing the aforementioned game, we would highly recommend performing a full system wipe.

Valve has updated its Steam platform policies to prevent mobile-style advertising practices from infiltrating the PC gaming market. The new guidelines, recently added to the Steam Terms of Service, explicitly ban any game that requires players to watch or interact with advertisements to progress. Under the revised rules, developers must eliminate any ad systems that force players to engage with promotional content as a prerequisite for gameplay. Games that rely on mandatory ads for rewards or advancement will not be permitted on Steam. While cross-promotional partnerships and product placements remain acceptable, the forced ad model is no longer supported. Mobile games often burden players with unwanted commercial interruptions. Developers are now encouraged to pursue alternative monetization strategies, such as single-purchase models, optional microtransactions, or downloadable content packages.

"If your game's revenue relies on advertising on other platforms, you will need to find a new monetization model in order to release on Steam."—states Valve pricing guide. In addition to banning forced advertisements, Valve has introduced a new feature for early-access titles. This functionality displays the time elapsed since the last update, offering players greater transparency regarding game development progress. By drawing a clear line against aggressive in-game advertising, Valve is fighting smartphone-style ads that force players into watching unwanted content. Valve's commitment to ecosystem quality ensures that Steam remains a trusted platform for gamers seeking pure gaming and ad-free experiences. Other platforms are likely to follow suit.

Welcome to week two of February, during which one of the oldest game franchises is launching its seventh iteration, although this time around it steps away quite a bit from its past versions, for better or worse. This is followed by some mayhem, Hollywood drama, an action co-op RPG, some classic side scrolling action with a lot of big guns and the week is rounded off with a JRPG.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII / This week's AAA release / Tuesday 11 February
In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement. Steam link

Altergaze is thrilled to announce that HoverGrease 2 will be part of Steam Next Fest: February 2025, giving players the first chance to experience the adrenaline-fueled action of its single-player campaign and 5v5 multiplayer mode during special weekend playtests. This is the first opportunity to dive into HoverGrease 2 and explore its high-speed combat, deep strategy, and diverse mutant roster ahead of launch.

Whether you prefer mastering a story-driven campaign or testing your skills in competitive multiplayer, the demo offers something for every player.

French indie developer Exalted Studio and independent publisher Dear Villagers are proud to announce that Big Helmet Heroes (trailer, website, press kit), the zany 3D beat'em up that combines charismatic heroes with unique powers, exhilarating action and beautifully detailed animations is now available on PC (Steam, EGS), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The game is available at the price of 24,99 USD for the base edition on all platforms, and 29,99 USD for the Exalted Edition (includes an art book and the OST) on Steam, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

Fire up your rockets and journey back to the golden age of adventure gaming; Elroy and the Aliens launches on April 2nd, and will be part of this month's Steam Next Fest. Travel back in time to 1993 in the live demo and meet Elroy, a passionate but chaotic rocket engineer who teams up with the daring reporter Peggie to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his father. Their search for the truth will launch them on an unforgettable intergalactic adventure spanning 60 locales to explore across two sprawling planets.

Puzzles, peculiar aliens, and ancient legends await on Elroy's path, with a tale of love, loss, and regret presented in a 90s-era cartoon style inspired by LucasArts and Sierra games. You'll meet an eclectic cast of human (and non-human) locals to befriend as Elroy and Peggie begin to unravel an ancient archaeological mystery…

Clear River Games, a video game publisher specialising in classic and retro games, in conjunction with Japanese publisher and developer City Connection, announced today that celebrated arcade shooter Under Defeat is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The ultimate version of the classic arcade shooter. Under Defeat has been developed by retro port specialists City Connection, and includes DLC content previously only available in Japan. Alongside an 'Arcade Mode' that faithfully replicates the original arcade experience, a fresh 'New Order Mode' adapts the game for modern displays, while 'New Order Mode+' brings brand new elements to the game, including a 'WARNING GAUGE', which mixes up the classic shooter formula.

Obsidian's latest RPG, Avowed, is undoubtedly quite a challenging game to run even on capable hardware, if recent reports are anything to go by. It was previously mentioned that the game will focus on visuals and fidelity instead of fast-paced gameplay, and might be limited to 30 FPS on the Xbox Series X. For those who need a refresher, the 4-year-old Xbox Series X packs a GPU with just over 12 TFLOPS of raw performance, courtesy of its 52-CU RDNA 2 GPU. Now, however, it appears to have been confirmed that the game will indeed be able to hit 60 FPS on the Series X.

In a recent interview with YouTuber MinnMax, Avowed game director Carrie Patel confirmed that the game will be able to hit 60 FPS on the aforementioned console. Previous leaks sourced from a person who was able to play the game on Microsoft's consoles stated that the game will be limited 40 FPS on the Series S, and 60 on the Series X, the latter part of which has now been confirmed to be the case. Of course, there will be a downgrade in the quality of visuals to be able to hit the vaunted 60 FPS mark, but that is nothing out of the ordinary for consoles. UE 5-based Avowed is set to launch on the 18th of February, and will be available with the Xbox Game Pass, which has witnessed quite a delightful series of major launches lately.

SteamDolls, the debut stealth-meets-action platformer delight by French-Belgian studio The Shady Gentleman, will launch February 11th at 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm UTC into Steam Early Access. A new trailer has been released as well, officially revealing the launch date.

Play as the bloodthirsty, witty, and just a bit kooky Whisper (played by David Hayter) and balance both stealth and brutality as you make your way through a comic book-inspired steampunk city on the verge of anarchy. A free demo also remains available, featuring the intro sequence the game. The game will be available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish at launch, and contain about 6 chapters of the game, totaling an estimated 5-7 hours of content. The game's developers are hoping to gather player feedback to improve mechanics, balancing, and content leading up to the 1.0 launch.

Today, the storied Battlefield franchise known for uncompromising all-out warfare and world-class gameplay for over two decades, announced the most ambitious community testing program in franchise history - Battlefield Labs. The work on the next Battlefield experience is entering a critical phase in development that will benefit from collaboration with the community like never before.

Sign Up for Battlefield Labs Are Now Open
The first phase of Battlefield Labs testing will go live in the coming weeks, and sign up to players is available now at battlefield.com/labs. Initial tests will include an invited group of players and servers located in Europe and North America ahead of plans to expand invitees and server locations in the future.

Welcome to February, also known as the shortest month of the year. This week's AAA release brings you some open-world medieval knight action. The rest of the week is pretty low-key, kicking off with a rather odd action-puzzle game which is followed by a new take on the vampire genre. Up next is some musical combat, some more knights, although this time we're back in Camelot and the week is finished off with a paranormal point-and-click adventure.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II / This week's AAA release / Tuesday 4 February
Diving back into the heart-pounding world of 15th Century Bohemia (Central Europe), Kingdom Come: Deliverance II picks up where its predecessor left off, thrusting players into the shoes of Henry, the steadfast son of a blacksmith, embroiled in a tumultuous tale of vengeance, betrayal, and self-discovery. In this gripping sequel, players will traverse a meticulously crafted medieval landscape, from the humble confines of a blacksmith's forge to the grandeur of royal courts, all while navigating the treacherous currents of a kingdom torn apart by civil war. Steam Link

Today SEGA kicks off the return of the VIRTUA FIGHTER franchise with the release of Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., available for purchase now on Steam for £15.99 with a special launch discount of 20% off for a limited time (see Steam product page for details). This release marks the first time the franchise has come to the platform.

Based on Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. features rollback netcode and the first new balance adjustments in over 13 years, giving players the definitive fighting experience. Combined with support of up to 60 FPS/4K resolution, players can enjoy smoother gameplay in their quest to become the best fighter in the world.

Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive today announced that the highly anticipated next chapter in the studio's legendary Killing Floor franchise, Killing Floor 3, will launch worldwide on March 25, 2025 for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation 5 system, and the Xbox Series X|S console systems. Tripwire also announced that pre-orders are now available for both retail and digital versions, along with detailing pricing, pre-order bonuses, and exclusive content across both standard and special editions. Digital pre-orders for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and retail pre-orders for console versions are live now. Digital pre-orders for console versions will be opening soon, with specific timing and updates available via Tripwire socials. In celebration, Tripwire has revealed the next in its series of Zed reveal videos, focused on the new and deadly Siren.

Like Zeds, Killing Floor 3 editions will come in many shapes and sizes between both digital and retail. All digital and retail pre-orders will include the limited timed exclusive Flatline Tactical Bundle (Flatliner weapon skin, Fear the Reaper trinket, and Special Action Force player card).

With nearly 900 cars available in the game, over 40 thematic game updates, two expansions, and so much more content, our team is excited to announce that this spring, PlayStation 5 players will be able to explore Mexico's beautiful roads and experience the Horizon Festival for the first time as we are officially launching Forza Horizon 5 on PS5.

The PlayStation 5 version of Forza Horizon 5, developed by Panic Button in partnership with Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games, will have the same content as the Xbox and PC releases of the game. Previously released Car Packs, as well as the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions, will also be available for purchase.

Rebellion, one of the world's most successful independent video game developers and publishers, has today launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, the latest instalment in the genre defining franchise. Sniper Elite: Resistance is available to play now on Game Pass, and available for purchase, both digitally and physically (with the boxed edition published by Fireshine Games) on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 Pro, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Windows PC and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

As well as the Standard Edition, Sniper Elite: Resistance is also available in a Deluxe Edition, which will include additional Season Pass content. The game has been enhanced for the PlayStation Pro 5, offering players the chance to experience the game in full 4K resolution.

UK-based games publisher Kwalee and independent developer Galaxy Grove are thrilled to announce their new game, Town to City. The game is releasing on PC via Steam in 2025. Town to City is a charming city-building game where players can build an idyllic 19th century Mediterranean town and help it flourish into a prosperous society. They can freely place and customise each element to create the perfect home for their growing population in this cosy city builder from the creators of Station to Station. Kwalee and Galaxy Grove are excited to unveil an announcement trailer giving players a glimpse of what to expect from the game.

"We're thrilled to partner with Kwalee as our publisher! From the very beginning, they shared our passion for reimagining the city-builder genre with a fresh twist. Their belief in our vision and their unparalleled in-house publishing expertise have been instrumental in bringing this project to life. Today, we're excited to share our announcement trailer and can't wait to continue this journey together as we bring our game to completion!", said Joost van Dongen, Founder of Galaxy Grove

Time flies and we're already at the end of January and we have another packed week of new releases. This week's major release is already a couple of years old if you own a console, but it's only managed to swing its way onto PC now. This is followed by doing some engineering in space, going on an epic adventure to prevent the world from crumbling, some shape shifting action, being part of the French resistance and finally you can be the first sentient AI running a city. In addition to the games below, this week also brings: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. and Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 / This week's major release / Thursday 30 January
Be Greater. Together. The incredible power of the symbiote forces Peter Parker and Miles Morales into a desperate fight as they balance their lives, friendships, and their duty to protect in an exciting chapter of the critically acclaimed Spider-Man franchise on PC. Steam link

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, winner of over 40 Game of the Year awards globally, is now available worldwide on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The award-winning RPG is also available now on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) console, with enhanced support for the PlayStation 5 Pro. Heralded as "the best Final Fantasy of the century" by The Washington Post and recipient of over 110 perfect review scores, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH comes to the PC platform with a variety of new features and customizations that deliver a new level of realism and immersion to the unknown journey including:

• Improved lighting across the entire game renders the adventure with even greater beauty and clarity.
• 4K resolution and 120 FPS are supported on top-spec PCs.
• Greater polygon and texture density can be achieved through optional settings. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH has never looked better.
• With DualSense controller support, enjoy the same controls and immersive haptic feedback as on the PS5 console.
• NVIDIA DLSS allows for upscaled image quality and enhanced framerates.
• Variable refresh rate (VRR) enables smoother gameplay with compatible hardware.
• Full control rebinding, plus mouse and keyboard support. Freely customize controls between world exploration and combat or mini-games.
• FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is Steam Deck Verified for an optimized handheld experience.

As we enter the second to last week of January, we have another week packed to the brim full of new releases. The major release of this week allows you to walk around in 2016 km² of a mediaeval fantasy world with five different regions for some MMORPG action. This is followed by some 4X Roman strategy, a trip to Norse mythology hell or pretending to be one of King Arthur's knights. This is followed by a remake of another JPRG from a famous franchise and we end the week with an anime inspired PvP shooter.

The Quinfall / This week's major release / Friday 24 January / Early Access
Embark on an adventurous journey to explore the Quinfall universe. Be a part of unique battles and an immersive story with dozens of different professions in the depths of medieval times in an all-new MMORPG experience. Explore the world's largest MMORPG map with an area of 2016 km². Shape your adventure in five regions with their own unique, distinct climates. Steam link

Today, Delta Force developer Team Jade revealed their plans for continuing content updates coming to the game in 2025, as well as gave an update on the release of the mobile version of Delta Force. Delta Force has a bold plan for bringing its players fresh new content in 2025, including five new operators, seven new maps, new gadgets, new vehicles and more. For a full breakdown, please check out the Delta Force 2025 roadmap.

Team Jade will be sharing more when these seasons are dropping in the game soon, in the meantime, please visit the game's official website for more information about Delta Force. Team Jade also provided an update on the release window for the much anticipated mobile version of the game. In a message to Delta Force Players by Game Director Shadow Guo, the team is committed to delivering the top tier experience that players deserve, and to do that means moving the release of the mobile version to the Summer of 2025.

Welcome to the middle of January and a busy week of new game releases. We kick off this week with some driving, on tracks though, as these cars might not be entirely road legal. If cars aren't your thing, then how about a city builder, but in the sky? If that doesn't tickle your fancy, how about a unique looking ARPG? This is followed by something of a PC clone of recent Zelda games, just without any defined goals. This brings us a futuristic side scroller where you fight demons. We round off the week with some Chinese hack and slash action back in the feudal era.

Assetto Corsa EVO / This week's major release / Thursday 16 January
As with its predecessor, Assetto Corsa EVO will include cars from different classes spanning across years of motoring history. From road cars, classics, hypercars, and race cars. The most iconic representation of the automotive and motorsport world. Each vehicle is reproduced through an advanced system that simulates mechanical, electronic, and aerodynamic performance, combined with the fidelity of the circuits created using Laserscan technology. Steam link

This GFN Thursday recaps the latest cloud announcements from the CES trade show, including GeForce RTX gaming expansion across popular devices such as Steam Deck, Apple Vision Pro spatial computers, Meta Quest 3 and 3S, and Pico mixed-reality devices. Gamers in India will also be able to access their PC gaming library at GeForce RTX 4080 quality with an Ultimate membership for the first time in the region. This follows expansion in Chile and Columbia with GeForce NOW Alliance partner Digevo. More AAA gaming is on the way, with highly anticipated titles DOOM: The Dark Ages and Avowed joining GeForce NOW's extensive library of over 2,100 supported titles when they launch on PC later this year. Plus, no GFN Thursday is complete without new games. Get ready for six new titles joining the cloud this week.

Head in the Clouds
CES 2025 is coming to a close, but GeForce NOW members still have lots to look forward to. Members will be able to play over 2,100 titles from the GeForce NOW cloud library at GeForce RTX quality on Valve's popular Steam Deck device with the launch of a native GeForce NOW app, coming later this year. Steam Deck gamers can gain access to all the same benefits as GeForce RTX 4080 GPU owners with a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership, including NVIDIA DLSS 3 technology for the highest frame rates and NVIDIA Reflex for ultra-low latency.

The term 'AI' has been used in games for decades. These non-playable characters (NPCs) traditionally follow strict rules designed to mimic intelligence, adhere to a guided story, and provide a scripted interaction with the player. However, with the rise of intelligent language models, game AI is primed for a truly intelligent overhaul. At CES 2025, NVIDIA is redefining game AI with the introduction of NVIDIA ACE autonomous game characters. First introduced in 2023, NVIDIA ACE is a suite of RTX-accelerated digital human technologies that bring game characters to life with generative AI. NVIDIA is now expanding ACE from conversational NPCs to autonomous game characters that use AI to perceive, plan, and act like human players. Powered by generative AI, ACE will enable living, dynamic game worlds with companions that comprehend and support player goals, and enemies that adapt dynamically to player tactics.

Enabling these autonomous characters are new ACE small language models (SLMs), capable of planning at human-like frequencies required for realistic decision making, and multi-modal SLMs for vision and audio that allow AI characters to hear audio cues and perceive their environment. NVIDIA is partnering with leading game developers to incorporate ACE autonomous game characters into their titles. Interact with human-like AI players and companions in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, inZOI, and NARAKA: BLADEPOINT MOBILE PC VERSION. Fight against ever-learning AI-powered bosses that adapt to your playstyle in MIR5. And experience new gameplay mechanics made possible with AI-powered NPCs in AI People, Dead Meat, and ZooPunk.