FTS: Focus Entertainment to Publish "CLUTCH," an Open-World Racer Coming Spring 2027 to PC, PS5 & XSX

This game has badass written all over it!  

FOCUS ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHING PARTNERS WITH MAVERICK GAMES
 TO PUBLISH CLUTCH, THE FORZA HORIZON VETERANS' NEXT OPEN-WORLD RACING GAME

PARIS – Aug. 24, 2026  – Focus Entertainment is pleased to announce a major publishing partnership with Maverick Games, an independent developer founded by award-winning game creators, for CLUTCH. The agreement strengthens Focus Entertainment’s portfolio with its first entry into the open-world racing space, driven by a shared ambition to deliver a standout experience and establish CLUTCH as a major new racing IP. CLUTCH is scheduled for release in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

CLUTCH puts players inside the double life of a new generation of racing outsiders - competing at the highest level of professional motorsport by day and entering a dangerous underground world of racing, reputation and pursuit by night.

With an original story from Jamie Brittain, co-creator of Skins, CLUTCH brings a new level of character-driven, cinematic storytelling to the open-world driving experience, alongside deep vehicle customization that gives players the freedom to express their style and shape their progression.

"At Focus, we look to partner with creators who are redefining their genre. Mike Brown and his team are regarded as one of the defining creative voices in the racing genre, and CLUTCH embodies exactly the creative ambition Focus Entertainment wants to champion," said Vincent Chataignier, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Focus Entertainment Publishing.

"We founded Maverick Games to build the open-world racing experience we'd dreamed about for years. Focus shares our creative bar and our ambition for CLUTCH, and we can't wait for players everywhere to discover this world," said Mike Brown, Founder & CEO of Maverick Games.

More information about CLUTCH is available on ClutchGame.com and on Steam.

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FTS: Where Winds Meet Unveils "Heaven’s Threshold": The Second Chapter of the Hidden Mountain Expansion Launches August 20

 

 

Where Winds Meet Unveils "Heaven’s Threshold": The Second Chapter of the Hidden Mountain Expansion Launches August 20

 

Explore Sky-High Peaks, Battle Ancient Automata, and Meet Us at Gamescom 2026

 

Hangzhou, China - August 12, 2026 - Everstone Studio and NetEase Games today announced that Where Winds Meet will launch the second chapter of its Hidden Mountain expansion, titled "Heaven’s Threshold," on August 20 (UTC). The major update takes players beyond the safety of the mountain city into high-altitude cliffside frontiers, introducing new story campaigns, massive mechanical monsters, puzzle-filled dungeons, and festive seasonal events.

 

Hidden Mountain Chapter 2: Heaven's Threshold Announcement Trailer!

 

 

Ascend Heaven’s Threshold

Following the events of the previous chapter, players leave the mountain base to scale the fog-shrouded summits of "Heaven's Threshold." By joining the community-wide "Cloudtop Ascent" building event, players will gradually unlock a vast mountain area featuring vertical exploration, dramatic drop-offs, and crumbling ancient observatories. The story deepens as a moral debate splits the ancient craftspeople: should they stay hidden from the world, or use their advanced engineering to help people in need? 

 

Engage Dynamic Mechanical Bosses & Dungeons

The update challenges players with giant mechanical bosses and intricate puzzle environments:

 

• Colossal World Bosses: Face the Inkpincer Scorpion and Cloud-Seizing Serpent - two giant iron beasts designed by ancient inventors. Victory requires timing strikes to hit vulnerable joints when their armor opens.
  
  

 

• Evershift Labyrinth Dungeon: Hidden deep underground, this multi-layered maze features rotating wooden gears and traditional interlocking joints. Players must battle security constructs while adjusting the moving floorboards to find a way out.
  
  

 

• Campaign of Mirkvale: Infiltrate a quiet, abandoned valley taken over by rogue blacksmiths. Players team up with a young boy to repair forgotten waterwheels and machinery to uncover why the industrial center fell silent.

 

Tactical Combat, Folklore Horror & Other New Gameplay

• Combat expands with two new mystic skills: Bursting Nine, an archery technique that fires a nine-arrow volley to slow and trap groups of enemies, and World to Sword, which channels excess healing power into flying energy blades.
  
  

• Additionally, to mark China’s traditional Ghost Festival, the update introduces Reflection Temple—a solo survival mode set in an eerie, haunted mountain shrine where players must follow strict rules and uncover hidden clues to escape unpunished.
  
  
• For a change of pace, players can join Chasing with Kite, a high-speed racing mode available in both solo time-trials and online multiplayer, or try Pangolin Peddler, establishing merchant trade routes between remote villages to earn rare rewards. 

 

Join Where Winds Meet at Gamescom 2026

Taking the momentum straight into Cologne, Germany, Where Winds Meet will also be heading to Gamescom 2026 from August 26 to 30. Fans visiting the public area can find the team at Hall 7.1, Booth B-050.

At the booth, visitors can play an exclusive hands-on demo featuring the dramatic finale of the Hidden Mountain storyline and try out the upcoming Drunken Master combat style. Beyond the game stations, players can explore the eerie "Ghostlight Market" style booth to obtain exclusive merchandise, and witness a unique "wuxia-punk" stage show featuring both human and specialized robot cosplayers blending futuristic tech with traditional martial arts aesthetics.

 

Answer the call of the wind and prepare to conquer the clouds—mark your calendar for August 20 and embark on your journey through the lofty peaks of Heaven's Threshold!

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced – Are You Ready to Set Sail Again?

There are remakes that cash in on nostalgia, and then there are remakes that remind everyone why the original became legendary in the first place. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced falls into the second category.

Let's clear something up immediately: This is a full remake, not a remaster.

Ubisoft rebuilt the game from the ground up using the latest version of the Anvil engine, introducing modern visuals, updated gameplay systems, and additional content while preserving the heart of Edward Kenway's pirate adventure.

If you've been waiting for a reason to return to the Caribbean, this might be it.

 The Open Seas Feel Alive Again 

Ubisoft couldn't have picked a better time to revive one of the franchise's strongest entries. Open-world pirate adventures aren't exactly overflowing the market, and Black Flag still stands apart because it lets you feel like you're living the pirate fantasy instead of simply visiting it.

The moment you leave port and the Jackdaw cuts through the waves, it's easy to remember why so many players still rank this among the best Assassin's Creed games ever made. Storms, naval combat, hidden coves, and bustling settlements all benefit from the remake's graphical overhaul.

 Gameplay That Feels Effortless 

One thing that immediately stood out during my time with the game was just how fluid everything felt.

Stealth flowed naturally instead of feeling forced. I found myself sneaking behind an enemy in one of the shopping districts, ducking into nearby bushes while other guards stood only a few feet away. Without breaking immersion, I pulled the unsuspecting target into the vegetation and knocked him out before anyone noticed.

That's exactly the kind of smooth gameplay Assassin's Creed fans expect.

Movement feels responsive, combat transitions cleanly between swordplay and pistols, and traversing rooftops remains as satisfying as ever. Whether you're silently eliminating enemies or boarding an enemy ship with cannons blazing, the controls rarely get in your way.

 Still One of Ubisoft's Best Worlds (IMO) 

Edward Kenway remains one of the franchise's most entertaining protagonists because he isn't trying to be the perfect Assassin. He's a pirate first, and that's what makes his journey memorable.

The Caribbean continues to encourage exploration, rewarding players who stray from the main story with hidden treasures, underwater shipwrecks, naval encounters, legendary ships, and enough side activities to keep completionists occupied for dozens of hours.

This remake doesn't try to reinvent what already worked—it modernizes it.

 Price and Platforms 

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is available now for:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC (Ubisoft Connect/Humble Bundle, Epic Games Store, and Steam) If purchased through Humble Bundle, a percentage goes to a charity and wallet credit goes to you. Epic Games Store gives you 5% back!

Pricing is straightforward:

• Standard Edition: $59.99
• Deluxe Edition: $69.99

 To Sum It Up 

Ubisoft made the right call bringing Assassin's Creed Black Flag back as a full remake instead of giving it a simple visual touch-up. The improvements are noticeable, the gameplay remains incredibly smooth, and the Caribbean is just as inviting today as it was over a decade ago.

If you've never experienced Edward Kenway's journey, there's never been a better time.

And if you have...

The real question is simple:

Are you ready to raise the Black Flag and set sail again?

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FTS: Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures' AAA Open-World "A BETTER PARADISE" Game

 

Smilegate to Publish Absurd Ventures’ AAA Open-World Game Set in the A BETTER PARADISE Universe

 Smilegate expands partnership with former GTA creative director Dan Houser for global AAA publishing

New game set in A BETTER PARADISE universe in development, funded by Smilegate

August 6, 2025 – Smilegate today announced that it has signed an agreement with Dan Houser’s Absurd Ventures to globally publish the studio’s upcoming AAA, open-world, sci-fi action-adventure game, set in its mind-bending A BETTER PARADISE universe. The partnership follows Smilegate’s strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, announced last year.

A BETTER PARADISE is an expansive universe created by Absurd Ventures, the company founded by Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, the former creative director and lead writer of the GRAND THEFT AUTO and RED DEAD REDEMPTION franchises, among others. Building on the studio’s talent for crafting incredible narrative worlds and characters, A BETTER PARADISE has already spawned a hit audio fiction series, A BETTER PARADISE Volume One: An Aftermath, which debuted at the top of Apple’s Fiction charts and won the 2024 Signal Award for Best Episode of Scripted Fiction. Absurd Ventures is also releasing a novelization of the first volume of A BETTER PARADISE’s story, due out in October 2025.

Currently in early development, the video game is being written and creative directed by Houser alongside his worldbuilding and creative team which includes longtime collaborators Lazlow, and Michael Unsworth. The game’s development at Absurd Ventures is being led by veteran studio head Greg Borrud who was previously General Manager of Niantic and co-founder of Pandemic Studios. Houser and Borrud have been building an elite team at Absurd Ventures studios and the A BETTER PARADISE game project boasts senior game development talent with previous experience from Bungie, Treyarch, Respawn, Insomniac, Riot, and more, with lead credits on best-in-class action and adventure games such as Call of Duty, Destiny 2, Valorant, Spider-Man 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and many others.

With a top-tier development team, Absurd is officially in development on this new AAA game, driven by an ambitious and exciting creative vision. The company expects Smilegate’s expertise and experience, as proven by its success in the global gaming industry, to bring strong synergy to their strategic publishing partnership. Following its equity investment in Absurd Ventures last year, Smilegate plans to make a full-scale investment, including development funding, into the A BETTER PARADISE project to help ensure its global success. 

Sung Joon-ho, CEO of Smilegate, said:

“We are thrilled to take on this new challenge in the global AAA game market alongside Dan Houser and Absurd. We are confident that the strong storytelling of the ABP universe combined with the development capabilities of the Absurd team will result in an outstanding title. We are a company with a developer-first DNA and truly understand what development studios need,” he emphasized. “Through our partnership with Absurd, we will fully support the A Better Paradise game project and do our utmost to help create a new title that will be loved by players around the world. Smilegate will leverage its extensive experience and success in global markets to ensure the ABP project becomes a beloved success worldwide.”

Dan Houser, founder of Absurd Ventures, stated:

“Absurd Ventures was set up to tell new and different kinds of stories, and to create what I hope are interesting and compelling original experiences. This new game is an opportunity to go somewhere entirely different and to take players on an entirely new adventure. I am excited to be going on this journey with the amazing team that we are building here at Absurd Ventures and am grateful that we are partnering with Smilegate who really understand and support our vision.”

Kwon Hyuk-bin, Chief Visionary Officer of Smilegate, added:

“Dan Houser and I have formed a deep friendship through our shared interest in games and the future, and I find it especially meaningful that we are now able to share our creative visions through this collaboration on the A Better Paradise project,” he stated. “We’re excited to present a title that reflects the vision we’ve often discussed—one that we hope will deeply resonate with gamers around the world.

Through this joint project, Smilegate aims to grow beyond Asia and become a major player in the global gaming industry.

Absurd Ventures was advised by Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, P.C. and Fenwick & West LLP in connection with the transaction. Smilegate was advised by DLA Piper.

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PIONER: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure That Feels Like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Meets Fallout

During the recent Future Games Show Spring Showcase, GFA Games unveiled an exciting new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated MMO shooter, PIONER. Set on the mysterious Soviet-era island of Tartarus, this post-apocalyptic game has drawn comparisons to iconic titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout, and for good reason.

A Dark and Immersive World

PIONER's gameplay trailer showcased its atmospheric environments, blending eerie Soviet-era aesthetics with a haunting post-apocalyptic setting. The game's open world spans over 50 square kilometers, offering players a vast and dynamic landscape to explore. The attention to detail in the environments, combined with the game's dark tone, evokes the immersive world-building seen in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Intense Combat and Survival Mechanics

The game features a mix of PvE and PvP combat, with high-risk zones like the "Shadowlands" pushing players to their limits. Realism takes center stage, as traditional health bars and levels are replaced with immersive mechanics that demand strategic thinking. This focus on survival and resource management is reminiscent of Fallout's gameplay, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death.

Player-Driven Storytelling

PIONER also emphasizes player-driven storytelling, with faction missions, hidden dungeons, and dynamic events shaping the narrative. This approach allows players to carve their own path in the game's anomaly-ridden world, much like the freedom offered in Fallout's branching storylines.

While PIONER draws inspiration from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout, it carves out its own identity with its Soviet-era setting and innovative gameplay mechanics. The game's developers, GFA Games, have promised a challenging and immersive experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.

PIONER is set to launch on PC later in 2025, with console releases planned for a future date. Fans of post-apocalyptic adventures can wishlist the game on Steam to stay updated on its progress.

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