Super Duper Gamer Team Entertainment: gaming community

Akatori Didn’t Come Outta Nowhere… But It Sure Felt Like It!

I did kinda see Akatori coming… but at the same time, I didn't. It still hit me like it popped outta nowhere. Let me explain while you scratch your head in confusion.

So I was digging through our treasure trove of games this week (right), just scrolling, minding my business—and then boom—“Akatori: Chapter One.” I had to do a double take like, “Wait… how did I miss this?” And I’m not even gonna lie… once I clicked it to check it out, I liked what I saw and had to present it to... you.

That experience (which I haven't finished yet) had that “oh this might be something serious... in a good way” energy. And sure enough—next thing you know while seeing if there was more to the franchise (possibly a chapter two), I see... the full Akatori game is lined up for a 2026 release!

While you might not have access to Akatori: Chapter One, here’s some gameplay to give you a taste of the metroidvania action:

This gameplay is from April 2024’s Chapter One, so you should be able to expect the full release to be more polished, more expanded, and just overall leveled up.

But hey, if it ends up not being too far off from what we’re seeing here… I wouldn’t even be mad, because this is already a GOOD time. So they can add to it, but if it ain't broke don't fix it.

What Kind of Game Is Akatori?

Akatori is a metroidvania-style action-adventure, meaning:

You’re exploring a large, interconnected world
Unlocking abilities that open new paths
Backtracking—but in a way that actually feels rewarding

This game is built on movement and flow.

You play as Mako, a staff-wielding monk, and that staff?
It’s not just for combat—it's a platform helping you reach new heights, and more.

We’re talking:

Air dashes and glides
Wall interactions and fast traversal
Combat that blends directly into movement

The Look & Feel

That 2.5D mix of pixel characters and 3D environments is clean.

Bright, colorful environments
Smooth animations that match the speed of gameplay
A world that feels alive without being cluttered

This is one of those games where you can move fast… but still catch yourself thinking:
“Hold up… this is fire.” I would've loved playing this on the Nintendo 3DS, but... this experience is still saluted on the PC. I'm sure it will also be a Deck compatible title as well.

From Code Wakers to Contrast Games — Passing the Baton

Akatori was originally developed by Code Wakers and published by HypeTrain Digital—but somewhere along the way, the baton got passed to the indie devs over at Contrast Games.

And honestly?

That kind of transition can go either way…

But from what I’ve seen so far... it looks like the vision is still intact—and possibly even stronger.

So now I’m locked in to see how this version of Akatori really plays out.

Here’s where I land on it so far (after digging in further):

This is one of those games that didn’t start loud…
but is slowly building into something you don’t want to ignore if you're a metroidvania adventure lover!

Strong metroidvania foundation
Fast, fluid gameplay
Clean art direction
Years in development with clear evolution

So while we wait on that official release (listed as 2026)... go ahead and grab the new demo. If this demo leaves you wanting more, add it to your wishlist, and stay ready.

We might be looking at one of those sleeper hits and I'd hate for you to sleep on it if you want to support the team and the franchise.

Illustration of Blu with headphones and sunglasses.

+ Sophi

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FTS: Where Winds Meet Introduces First Major Expansion: Hexi, Chapter One “Jade Gate Pass” Coming on Mar 6th

Massive expansion featuring 3 major maps, nearly 20 sub-regions- spanning deserts, ice fields, and grasslands, available for free!

GUANGZHOU, China – (Feb 27th, 2026) – Where Winds Meet is proud to unveil the game’s first major expansion, “Hexi”. The new expansion will be free-to-play on PC, PlayStation® and mobile. It consists of three major chapters, with chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass launching on Mar 6th, bringing a mesmerizing desert area, brand-new narratives, bosses, as well as fresh gameplay features and martial art styles to the Jianghu.

From March to May 2026, players will unlock Hexi's three chapters - Jade Gate Pass, Liangzhou and Qinchuan - in sequence. Spanning deserts, ice fields, and grasslands, each chapter introduces brand new landscape and challenges. Featuring 3 major maps, nearly 20 sub-regions, 11 unique bosses, 7 Jianghu Legacies, dozens of side quests, and more, the Hexi expansion is a truly distinctive addition to the game with rich content waiting to be discovered!

Sneak Peek Into The Hexi Narrative - A Dream to the Tang Dynasty
The entire Hexi expansion exists outside the game’s current main timeline, inviting players into a dream that harkens back to one of ancient China’s most glorious eras - the Tang Dynasty. Hexi adopts a more cinematic approach to storytelling and gameplay. As the developers push boundaries and bring something fresh to the table, players will inhabit characters in history and become a witness to the era and live through the fates of ordinary people caught in the tides of history. It is the ordinary people who make up history, and that is what makes Hexi's main story unique.

Hexi Chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass Brings New Desert Exploration Gameplay
On March 6th UTC, the biggest expansion since launch will begin at Chapter 1: Jade Gate Pass - a desert area with sand and poetry, and generations holding onto hope.

After the update, players will be able to obtain 2 new tricks, Cosmic Reversal and Sand Chaser, both designed to optimize the unique experience when wandering in the massive desert. Sand Chaser allows you to surf on the sand, and Cosmic Reversal enables you to reverse time and rebuild the ruins in the desert, which can be useful for overcoming obstacles, uncovering secrets, and solving puzzles. What you need may simply be your imagination and a touch of curiosity. In addition to matchmaking battles, there will be even more gameplay fun and strategic depth. New gameplay, Sand Table Struggle and Heroic Gauntlet, will also be available for a limited time!

Campaign boss at Jade Gate Pass: Guo Xin
With this update a brand-new campaign, White-Crown City, opens. This border pass lies between Jade Gate Pass and Liangzhou Area; for centuries, it has been a crossroads of east - west travel and a vital part of ancient frontier defense. Today, the once-bustling pass lies abandoned, as time quietly erodes its former glory.

When players enter this land, ancient legends are rekindled: Guo Xin, the last Grand Protector of Anxi, stands as the guardian of this lonely outpost. Time has turned his hair to white as he watches over the frontier in solitude, while you personally witness all that unfolds on this desolate ground and uncover the secrets hidden behind history.

World Boss: The Wandering Ark
Across the sand sea, there is a roaming world boss - The Wandering Ark - a colossal vessel that moves freely and isn’t tied to any single location. In the midst of a sandstorm, its enormous hull seems to cut through the night, delivering a visually imposing presence while players must precisely target its weak points as they shift between ranged and close-quarters combat, choosing their moves with care. The legend of The Wandering Ark is closely tied to Hexi’s lore and awaits discovery by players.

Two new Martial Arts for Umbrella and Rope Dart
Additionally, the Jade Gate Pass update will introduce a new path: Bamboocut Dust, including two new Martial Art styles. The first, Spring Dreamscape, is an Umbrella-style art focused on agility, enabling fluid, endless combos and excelling in tight spaces or group skirmishes. The second one, Fleeting Clouds, is a new Rope Dart art that centers on large, sweeping AOE attacks. Its moves cover a wide area, making it ideal for crowd control; in one-on-one duels, you can keep the pressure on and chase down enemies for relentless damage.

The Hexi expansion pre-download is available now. With a bold new chapter in Where Winds Meet, we welcome you to step into the Jianghu - as new adventures await!

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FTS: Teardown’s Huge Multiplayer Update Drops March 12 on Steam

TEAR DOWN TOGETHER! TEARDOWN’S ONLINE MULTIPLAYER UPDATE TUMBLES ONTO STEAM MARCH 12

Assemble a squad of up to 12 players to blast through the campaign, competitive multiplayer, destructible Sandbox mode, and endless mod experiences together!

MALMÖ, Sweden – Feb. 26, 2026 – Call in your wrecking crew! Teardown developer and publisher Tuxedo Labs is thrilled to announce that the award-winning destructible heist game’s long-awaited online multiplayer update is launching for all players on Steam on March 12. This is the largest free update since Teardown’s launch, introducing the opportunity to heist together in the original base game’s campaign in co-op, go head-to-head in hundreds of dev- and community-made multiplayer game modes, and create a variety of maps, weapons, and more using Teardown’s robust collection of modding tools!

One of the community’s most highly requested features, the online multiplayer update will allow up to 12 players to experience the fully destructible world of Teardown together! Play multiplayer classics like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag, tackle the base game’s campaign in co-op, get creative (or destructive) together in Sandbox Mode, and explore the ever-growing list of multiplayer-specific community mods. With the entire base game’s map collection, two brand-new, dual-sided arenas, and an expansive library of community-made maps on the other end of your sledgehammer, the possibilities are nearly limitless!

This update will also introduce multiplayer functionality to the Teardown API, enabling creators to build new cooperative and competitive game modes, maps, tools, and more to further expand the Teardown experience via the in-game mod library. Over the course of multiple pre-launch playtests, the modding community has already launched hundreds of multiplayer-specific mods, including competitive game modes like The Floor Is Lava, Battle Royale, and Prop Hunt.

The March 12 online multiplayer update on Steam is just the beginning! The multiplayer update is expected to arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later this year, and the team also plans to release a new high-octane multiplayer racing experience for Teardown in the future.

Winner of multiple awards, including Excellence in Design at the Independent Games Festival, Teardown’s realistic physics and fully destructible, voxel-simulated world give players total freedom to discover unique and emergent gameplay solutions to almost any challenge. Plan and pull off the perfect heists nearly any way you can dream of with an expanding arsenal of tools and vehicles, plus anything else you can get your hands on.

For more Teardown, visit TeardownGame.com, and stay tuned for news regarding the game’s fourth major DLC, coming later this year.

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FTS: Crystal Dynamics Reveals Two New Legacy of Kain Games Launching March 2026 (PC, Consoles)

CRYSTAL DYNAMICS REVEALS TWO NEW LEGACY OF KAIN VIDEO GAME TITLES LAUNCHING THIS MARCH ON PC & CONSOLES

The franchise resurgence continues with the return of an action-adventure classic in Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, launching March 3, and the brand-new 2D action platformer Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, releasing March 31!

SAN MATEO, Calif. – Feb. 12, 2026 – Crystal Dynamics is excited to reveal two new video game titles in the Legacy of Kain franchise! Debuted today at Sony’s State of Play, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered modernizes the iconic 2003 action-adventure game with new graphic upgrades, modernized controls, and extensive bonus content. Published by Crystal Dynamics and developed by Crystal Dynamics and PlayEveryWare, this definitive edition of the classic adventure launches for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 3, 2026, and is available to pre-order today. Customers who pre-order will receive Kain and Raziel character skins inspired by the “Shifter” game concept, the inspiration for the entire Soul Reaver saga. (If you know, you know).

Also announced today is Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, a fast-paced 2D action platformer published by Crystal Dynamics and developed by Bit Bot Media in association with FreakZone Games (A Bit Bot Company) that introduces a brand-new gameplay style to the franchise, and features original voice actors reprising their iconic roles: Simon Templeman as Kain, Michael Bell as Raziel, Anna Gunn as Ariel and Richard Doyle as Moebius, plus a soundtrack from hit recording artist Klayton (Celldweller), releasing for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 31, 2026.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a timeless dark fantasy reborn for a new generation. Return to the dark world of Nosgoth as you take control of both the vampire Kain and his betrayed lieutenant, Raziel, two powerful entities bound by the conflict between fate and free will.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Key Features

Two Legendary Protagonists: Play as both Kain and Raziel, each with distinct abilities, combat styles, and perspectives that shape how the story unfolds.
Return to Nosgoth’s Dark Fantasy World: Explore ruined cities, ancient temples, and towering strongholds filled with challenging environmental puzzles, enemies, and secrets to discover.
New! Updated HD Visuals: Experience Nosgoth like never before with a new camera, as well as upgraded character models, textures, and environments, with the ability to switch between classic and modern presentation on the fly.
New! Refined Camera: Play the game with the original fixed camera or a new third-person camera built for modern platforms.
New! Bonus Content: Enjoy a slew of additions including a photo mode, alternate character skins, a comprehensive lore reader, unreleased content and 'lost levels' from the original game.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is available to pre-order today on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, with three editions to choose from:

The Standard Edition, which includes the base game and the pre-order exclusive “Defiance Remastered Shifter Skin Pack,” for $24.99.
The Deluxe Edition, which includes everything in the Standard Edition, plus a comic book reader (with three classic comics), a demo of the unreleased Legacy of Kain: The Dark Prophecy, and the pre-order exclusive “Defiance Remastered Shifter Skin Pack” for $29.99.
The Heart of Darkness Collection, which includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, an Ascendance-themed skin pack for Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, and the pre-order exclusive “Defiance Remastered Shifter Skin Pack, "for $44.99. The Heart of Darkness Collection is available to pre-order on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

A prequel to Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a fast-paced, 2D action platformer built around vertical movement, fluid combat, and skill-driven play, with select PS1 era–inspired 3D sequences. Story and narrative are key to the experience, woven directly into gameplay, cutscenes, and world design. Beautifully crafted retro pixel-art gameplay and anime-influenced cinematics bring Nosgoth’s dark fantasy world to life, telling a new story set in a vast world of collapsing kingdoms, haunted ruins, and shattered timelines.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Key Features

Retro-Inspired 2D Action Platformer: Chain melee strikes, evasive dashes, and supernatural attacks in fluid, vicious combat in this brand-new Legacy of Kain adventure.
Throwback 3D Moments: 3D sections inspired by the PS1 era appear at key narrative points, offering story-driven interaction and lore-heavy sequences that reward fans of the Legacy of Kain mythos.
Anime-Inspired Cinematics: A bold new animated style debuts for the franchise, enhancing major story beats with anime-inspired visuals.
Play as Three Powerful Protagonists: Overwhelm the battlefield with Kain’s vampiric powers. Play Raziel before his fall as a human Sarafan knight, then take flight for the first time in his vampiric form. And discover an aggressive playstyle focused on fast, relentless offense as the vampire Elaleth.
Iconic Voice Talent Returns: Legendary Legacy of Kain voice actors Michael Bell (Raziel), Simon Templeman (Kain), Anna Gunn (Ariel), and Richard Doyle (Moebius).
Experience an Epic Original Score: Feel the thrill of the action with a powerful original score by award-winning recording artist Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid).

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is available to pre-order today exclusively as part of the Heart of Darkness Collection on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Fans can also wishlist on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

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FTS: Blood Strike × BLEACH Collaboration Now Available

Blood Strike × BLEACH TV Animation Series: Thousand-Year Blood War Collaboration Now Live

Iconic Soul Reapers and Zanpakutō descend into Blood Strike with new modes, free rewards, and exclusive skins!

Guangzhou, China - February 6, 2026 - Developer and publisher NetEase Games is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated BLEACH TV Animation Series: Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration event in Blood Strike, live now through February 28. Strikers around the world can channel the power of the Soul Reapers, unlock free rewards, and collect exclusive BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War-themed skins and weapons inspired by the legendary anime.

Featuring iconic characters including Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Toshiro Hitsugaya, and Byakuya Kuchiki, this collaboration delivers a striking blend of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War’s spirit and Blood Strike’s high-intensity combat. A must-play experience for fans of both worlds.

Free Rewards for All Players

Players can claim a series of free collaboration rewards throughout February:
ETHAN - Byakuya Kuchiki (Feb 1-14): Invite friends to unlock this new look.
Free Gold Up to 500 ($5 Value): Log in and invite friends to claim throughout Feb 1-14
Off-roader - BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War: Login to get this vehicle skin for free throughout the event (Feb 1-28)
Playpal, Parachute Skin + More (Feb 7-28): Exchange earned tokens for collaboration items.

New Collaboration Items & Skins

Suit up with BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War’s characters and weapons, available for a limited time only:

Featured BLEACH I (Feb 1–28): Equip MCX – Tensa Zangetsu, M82 – Tensa Zangetsu, Zanpakutou – Tensa Zangetsu, ZERO – Ichigo Kurosaki, and Loot Crate – Tensa Zangetsu.
Featured BLEACH II (Feb 2–28): Unlock QBZ95 – Hakka no Togame, MP5 – Hakka no Togame, Zanpakutou – Sode no Shirayuki (Bankai), RAN – Rukia Kuchiki, and Parachute – Daiguren Hyorinmaru.
BLEACH Pass (Feb 1–28): Collect Uzi – Zangetsu, SPIKE – Toshiro Hitsugaya, and Zanpakutou – Hyorinmaru.

These items will disappear after February 28 — don’t miss your chance to claim them.

Celebrate the Collaboration

To mark this special event, Blood Strike is rewarding players with free skins, gold, and collaboration gear.

Blood Strike is free-to-play and available now on Android, iOS, and PC (Beta).

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