FTS: "Of Ash and Steel," tinyBuild's Open-World Fantasy RPG, Out Now (PC)

 

OF ASH AND STEEL – TINYBUILD’S NEW OPEN-WORLD FANTASY RPG – LAUNCHES TODAY ON PC

Experience a modern spin on classic RPGs featuring deep combat, rich exploration, and meaningful choices in a world with no quest markers!

SEATTLE – Nov. 24, 2025 – Video game publisher tinyBuild and indie developer Fire & Frost are proud today to release Of Ash and Steel, the immersive, third-person, open-world RPG inspired by the golden era of exploration and role-playing, available now on PC via Steam and GOG for $23.99 with a 20% discount for two weeks after launch (standard price $29.99)! As Tristan, a humble cartographer thrown into a life-changing adventure, you’ll travel the vast island of Grayshaft, a world with no quest markers tethering you from one objective to the next. Discover your own journey organically in a game that blends the classic RPG spirit of storytelling, combat, and decision-making with modern design and gameplay!

Let curiosity be your one and true guide in Of Ash and Steel! Learn to survive in an unforgiving realm, exploring the land, honing your combat prowess, and forging alliances with different groups to shape your story. Many corners of Grayshaft contain hidden secrets and events that will only reward those with the skill and determination to seek them out.

Experiment with skill trees and professions, craft a variety of gear and items, and train with different weapons and combat stances to unlock powerful abilities and become a force on the battlefield. Wield two-handed weapons like axes for colossal damage and sweeping strikes, agile weapons like the rapier for mobility and bleeding damage, or one-handed weapons like the mace for something in between. True gladiators can also prove their worth in Arena Master Mode, where your skills are put to the test in fast-paced battles for experience, gold, and fame.

Key Features

• Heroes Are Forged: You aren’t born a legendary hero in Of Ash and Steel. You must fight your way to the top! Learn the ropes, grow your character, and prove your might in battle by mastering your weapons and combat stances. Discover ancient knowledge unlocking long-lost powers to devastate your enemies.
• Shape Your Story with Allies: While many of your choices impact the world, none are as impactful as the friends you make. Choose to align with the Order of the Seven to navigate the path of Knighthood, fight for what's right even when it’s hard as a member of the Free Hunters, or seek an alliance with a guild to earn some coin.
• A Land of Many Legends: Of Ash and Steel is full of unique and well developed characters, each with a story to tell. Every conversation helps you dive deeper into the world and understand it better. Learning about Grayshaft will help you find the right solutions to quests, many of which have different answers to discover.

Grab Of Ash and Steel on Steam or GOG and begin your legend on the isle of Grayshaft today!

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Dear Developers: Did TopSpin 2K25 sabotage TopSpin 2K26?

TopSpin 2K25 may look polished, but its long-term success hinges on one thing: intuitive, responsive controls. Without them, frustration overshadows presentation, and players remember the struggle more than the fun. This is something we've pointed out before, but TopSpin 2K25 is a prime example.

 The Promise of TopSpin 2K25 

After more than a decade away, the TopSpin franchise returned with TopSpin 2K25, promising authenticity, sleek visuals, and the thrill of competitive tennis. Reviews highlight its strong presentation and realistic atmosphere, but beneath the surface lies a critical issue: controls that feel more like a barrier than a gateway.

Games like this thrive when players can pick up a controller and immediately feel connected to the sport. Tennis is about rhythm, timing, and instinct. If the controls demand excessive memorization or punish players with inconsistent mechanics, the immersion collapses.

 When Controls Become a Roadblock 

Players have voiced frustration with TopSpin 2K25’s timing-based system. Even with an in-game coach guiding newcomers, the learning curve is steep. Worse, mechanics like the swing meter don’t always respond to button release as expected. Landing in the “perfect” zone but watching the shot misfire isn’t just disappointing—it’s discouraging.

This isn’t a matter of difficulty alone. It’s about trust. When players feel the game doesn’t respond to their inputs reliably, paranoia sets in. They remember the frustration, and future titles inherit skepticism before they’re even played.

 Why Controls Matter More Than Graphics 

No matter how stunning the visuals or how authentic the animations, controls are the foundation of player experience. A game can look like Wimbledon in 4K HDR, but if swinging a racket feels like wrestling with the controller, players won’t stick around.

Good controls:

• Empower instinctive play. Players should feel like they’re reacting to the ball, not fighting the interface.

• Encourage mastery. A learning curve is fine, but it should reward practice, not punish persistence.

• Build loyalty. When controls feel natural, players return for more matches, more seasons, and more sequels.

 A Plea for Accessibility 

This was meant to be a review at the time of the release, but the controls turned it into a letter. Developers, if you want the TopSpin 2K franchise to thrive beyond its launch window, make the controls a partner, not an obstacle.

• Simplify mechanics so timing feels fair and responsive.

• Ensure meters and release points behave consistently.

• Offer scalable difficulty that teaches without overwhelming.

Players don’t need hand-holding, but they do need confidence that their inputs matter. Without that, the game risks being remembered not for its revival, but for its frustration.

TopSpin 2K25 had the potential to be the definitive tennis game of this generation. But success isn’t about graphics, authenticity, or even career modes—it’s about controls that invite players in and keep them engaged in the action. If the controls remain a stumbling block, the franchise risks alienating the very audience it worked so hard to win back. Having an option for arcade-style controls would've even helped those who wanted in on the fun without the complication. The only way I see them winning back some supporters is for them to release a demo ahead of the next release to showcase improved controls.

Want to try the game yourself? Play for free for a limited time, now!

 + Sophi 

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007: First Light — A Tactical Preview Worth the Watch

IO Interactive’s 34-minute gameplay reveal of 007: First Light offers a focused look at what players can expect from this upcoming stealth-action title and it's bad ass. Known for their work on the Hitman series, IO is applying their expertise to the Bond universe with precision and flair. If I had to imagine IO Interactive making their own spy-based action adventure game... it would look just 007: First Light:

As you see, the gameplay reveal highlights a blend of stealth, tactical movement, and cinematic execution. Players navigate multi-path environments, disable security systems with gadgets, and engage in hand-to-hand combat when necessary. The pacing is deliberate, encouraging thoughtful play that reminds me of Hitman with 10 times the action. It almost feels like Hitman meets Just Cause, and I can't wait... to play! I'm keeping my expectations realistic while also wondering how IO Interactive will treat the life cycle of this game.

Lighting, sound, and environmental design play a role in how missions unfold. The game rewards patience and planning, with reactive AI and layered objectives that evolve as players progress. We've seen situations shift in Hitman... so we'll see how this all translates when it comes to the action.

 Presentation and Immersion 

Camera work is tight and purposeful, keeping the player grounded in the moment. Voice acting and mission scripting reflect the tone of a young Bond—(someone) controlled, clever, and relentless from what I see. You still get the tension of Hitman in this game as well, and I'm trying not to put this in those shoes at all... but they aren't bad shoes to model Bond's spy-friendly shoes after.

 Why We’re Excited 

• Tactical depth without overwhelming complexity (sometimes this got to me in Hitman)

• Strong visual and audio direction (feels like it could be a 007 film)

• A fresh take on Bond that respects the legacy (they went back far enough to justify differences)

• IO’s proven track record with stealth mechanics (duh of the day)

007: First Light isn’t trying to be everything—but what it appears to have going is something that has turned my head and people already know IOI. This was the perfect project for them. Will that make it the perfect game? I have no idea, but we shall see! 007: First Light drops on March 27, 2026 on PC | PS5 | XSX | NS2!

If they stick the landing, this could be one of the most grounded and satisfying stealth titles of the year. On that note, wouldn't it be cool to see Avalanche Studios (the dev team behind Just Cause) make a move to develop a... Mission Impossible game?

 + Sophi 

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FTS: Rami Ismail & Mystic Forge Reveal "Australia Did It," a Genre-Bending Action-Strategy Game Coming This Year (PC)

 

RAMI ISMAIL AND MYSTIC FORGE UNVEIL AUSTRALIA DID IT, A GENRE-DEFYING ACTION-STRATEGY GAME

Tower Defense and Reverse Bullet Hell collide in this radical new creation – the Tactical Reverse Bullet Hell – launching on Steam later this year!

UTRECHT, Netherlands - Sept. 3, 2025 - In a time when risk-taking in the video game industry feels increasingly rare, Australia Did It crashes through convention with a new genre all its own: the Tactical Reverse Bullet Hell. Published by boutique label Mystic Forge, this unique new game, coming to Steam later this year, enhances the thoughtful play of Turn-Based Tower Defense with a unique unit-merging system and explosive on-rails Reverse Bullet Hell combat. Carefully strategize to withstand relentless enemy waves, then unleash sensory overload as you become the Bullet Hell, mowing down thousands in dazzling chaos.

Designed as a compact, experimental take on the strategy genre, Australia Did It challenges genre conventions and industry caution in equal measure. Created by acclaimed designer Rami Ismail (Nuclear Throne, Luftrausers) and co-developed by Aesthetician Labs, the game marks a return to small-team innovation and genre-pushing ambition at a time when the industry sorely needs it.

The project began with a challenge: stay small, take risks, and build something that doesn’t need to fit a mold.

“I believe the games industry has been failing at supporting developer innovation and experimentation,” said Ismail.

 “Publishers, investors, and shareholders fund the same few safe bets, later and later in development - forcing even the most creative developers to make safe games with predictable ideas, and force in the latest flavour-of-the-day. That continues until someone does manage to break the mold and creates something truly new - and then the money chases that until that is replaced again. I had very low hopes for this odd prototype I’d been playing with, but when I showed it to Mystic Forge, they didn’t even flinch at the experimental genre mix, wrote the check for a small development cycle, and supported us throughout development. No guardrails, no caveats, just a firm belief that games need new ideas, and that it is worth chasing that.”

Mystic Forge, the new indie publisher created by founding members of Good Shepherd Entertainment, veterans behind titles like Monster Train, Friday the 13th, John Wick Hex, and the Transport Fever series, was launched to do exactly that - support bold projects by teams they believe in. With Australia Did It, the publisher took a deliberately hands-off approach.

“From the very start, I knew that Mystic Forge had to run with Rami going up to bat and taking a big creative swing with this game. Once we chatted about design intent with the focus on high-tension moments and heard his full pitch with the proposed title name, we were ALL IN,” said Randy Greenback, Portfolio Director at Mystic Forge. “Mystic Forge exists to support ideas that deserve to be seen and played, especially if they don’t follow the rules. Australia Did It is experimental, there isn't anything else like it.”

Set in a drained Atlantic Ocean basin following a mysterious catastrophic event, Australia Did It casts players as hired mercenaries defending a cargo train as it navigates through a monster-ridden drained seabed. Your mission? Escort precious cargo across this hostile terrain by holding off endless waves of enemies at every station. If the shipment arrives intact, we’ll call it a win. Whether you survive or not.

Game Features:

• Defend Your Station: Before the train departs, strategically deploy and position your limited units to hold off relentless waves of enemies. Think chess, but faster and with potentially explosive mistakes.
• Evolve Your Units: Merge units on the fly to unlock 1,500+ combinations across 30+ unit types. Create ridiculously powerful new units or niche specialists. Experimentation is key….. just try not to blow yourself up.
• Survive The Reverse Bullet Hell: Once the train’s moving, chaos begins. Engage in intense real-time battles where you become the Bullet Hell, mowing down thousands in sensory-overload shootouts. Remember, only the cargo’s survival is mandatory.
• Customize Your Strategies: After each successful station, choose from special Reward Cards that grant substantial perks and boosts. Craft unique builds by mixing cards with your evolving crew for creative new strategies.

Australia Did It will be available on PC via Steam later this year.

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