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FTS: Critical Reflex Releases "Inkblood" Steam Playtest with New Trailer

**OCCULT DETECTIVE ADVENTURE INKBLOOD DEBUTS NEW TRAILER & STEAM PLAYTEST IN SECOND WIND GAMES SHOWCASE**

Investigate two full cases right now in an eerie, hand-animated world of intrigue and sorcery

NICOSIA, Cyprus – April 23, 2026 – At today’s Second Wind Games Showcase, CRITICAL REFLEX (Mouthwashing, No, I’m not a human) and developer Hey Bird! revealed a new trailer for the occult detective adventure game Inkblood! In addition, Inkblood has a new Steam playtest that will get you started as an Inquisitor into the mysteries of this dark and treacherous world.

Inkblood’s new Steam playtest features two bizarre ritualistic murders to solve. This strange, hand-animated world, inspired by 19th-century Eastern Europe, is home to eerie mental institutions, secret societies, uncanny masked carnivals, and even mushroomfolk in human form. Your job is somehow to keep it all in check by solving the most peculiar crimes and upholding the rule of the Inquisition. At least, while your objectives align...

About Inkblood

Wicked sorcery abounds, rotting the minds of the people and the very fabric of reality itself. You must uncover what’s really going on before the comet arrives, dooming the whole land. And that’s if it isn’t already too late.

Inkblood challenges you to solve 10 unique cases, each more mind-boggling than the last, inspired by games like The Case of the Golden Idol, Strange Horticulture, and Return of the Obra Dinn. Explore the past and present, travel the small open world in search of answers, investigate both outside and inside your carriage, and seek further insight through mushroom-induced hallucinations. But be warned: both this land and the Inquisition itself harbor secrets that are better left unsolved.

Key Features

Uncover the Truth: As the Inquisitor, you are uniquely equipped to solve a cultist conspiracy. Deduction, observation, intuition, supernatural tools provided by the Inquisition – use everything we have trained you for.
Home Away from Home: Your carriage is a temporary home and base of operations. There are rumors it might even contain hidden secrets of its own… Ignore those! Return the carriage exactly as it was, or face your fate.
Explore the Land: You’re not bound to one place: the investigation will lead you to bizarre, secret locations. Poke the map on the back of the coachman to tell him where to drive, and pursue the enemies of the state across the land.
Eradicate the Occult: Your cases may seem like random occurrences at first, but they’re all connected to a grand conspiracy that even we’re not authorized to speak of. No detail is insignificant, and sometimes even the smallest may lead to the greatest of revelations.
Gaze into the Past: Your magnifying glass has a rather peculiar ability to see not only what is, but what once was. But be careful: don’t look into things that are none of your concern!

Inkblood will officially release later this year. Join the new playtest and wishlist now on Steam!

游戏开始！

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FTS: Rachel Dratch Leads Comedy Talent Joining Dan Houser's ABSURDAVERSE

RACHEL DRATCH, DAN SODER, ARI MATTI AMONG ENSEMBLE OF COMEDY TALENT JOINING DAN HOUSER’S ABSURDAVERSE

Houser and longtime collaborator Lazlow reveal first wave of castings for their upcoming animation and video game universe; debut animated shorts to screen at “Netflix Is A Joke Festival” live comedy event in Los Angeles

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — April 21, 2026 — Absurd Ventures, the entertainment company founded by Dan Houser (Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Bully), today announced the first wave of voice castings for the ABSURDAVERSE, an interconnected comedy satire universe with an untitled animated series and an untitled original AAA story-driven open-world video game project currently in development. The first animated shorts will be unveiled and screened at an exclusive live comedy event as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in Los Angeles on May 7 at The Hollywood Improv.

With a cast of hundreds expected across the animated series and video game projects, Absurd Ventures has revealed the first slate of names attached to the ABSURDAVERSE, which leans heavily into comedy veterans and standup stars. Appearing as voice talent across some of the ABSURDAVERSE projects in development are Rachel Dratch, Dan Soder, Ari Matti, Annie Lederman, Yamaneika Saunders, and Steph Tolev, with many more to be confirmed in the future.

Initially announced in 2025, the ABSURDAVERSE is a wholly original comedy-satire universe created and scripted by Houser and Lazlow, his longtime writing partner. Games written and creatively led by Houser include record-breaking titles in the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, which have sold hundreds of millions of copies and are among the top 5 bestselling video games of all time. These story-driven titles are known for their sprawling and immersively detailed worlds, which featured hours of satirical animated TV shows and cartoons including beloved GTA fan favorites like Princess Robot Bubblegum, Kung Fu Rainbow Laser Force, Republican Space Rangers, and The Loneliest Robot in Great Britain.

"Since our earliest days working together, Dan and I have approached storytelling with an emphasis on comedy, satire and creating immersive media universes – whether through in-world radio, animated TV shows, comedy clubs you could visit, and more,” said Lazlow. “We always loved making those animated shows, starting with GTA4 and expanding through all the games that followed. The ABSURDAVERSE is our evolution of that tradition, partnering with comedians to bring these ridiculous characters to life with stories that will cross over between animation and open-world games."

“For many years, Lazlow and I have collaborated to give form to all sorts of characters that have inhabited our worlds,” said Dan Houser. “I look forward to introducing some of our newest group of maniacs from our next universe in this first set of animated shorts. We are proud to partner with the Netflix Is A Joke Festival to present this first look."

Absurd Ventures will screen a very first look at animated short subjects at an exclusive live comedy event called “ABSURDAVERSE Presents…” as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 7, at The Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles. In these original shorts, eventgoers will be introduced to an ensemble of eclectic and unhinged characters, including a Chief People Officer who treats his job like a DJ residency (voiced by Dan Soder), a chain-smoking sovereign citizen podcaster (voiced by Rachel Dratch), an insane MMA fighter (voiced by up-and-coming comedian Samantha Alton), and more. The event will feature live standup from Patton Oswalt and ABSURDAVERSE cast members Dan Soder, Ari Matti, Yamaneika Saunders, Steph Tolev, and host Annie Lederman. Limited tickets are now available for purchase online.

The ABSURDAVERSE animated shorts are produced by Dave Newberg (#1 Happy Family USA), with character designs by Kendra Melton (Rick & Morty, The Venture Bros) and animation via Cutting Class Media. The untitled animated series and AAA open-world action-adventure game are currently in development, with further details on release windows and platform partnerships to be shared at a later date.

To learn more about Absurd Ventures and the ABSURDAVERSE, visit www.absurdventures.com.

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Our Initial Thoughts On... ALEX GARLAND’S ELDEN RING!

There’s no point in pretending this is going to be a safe, mass-appeal fantasy film. The combination of Bandai Namco Entertainment, A24, and Alex Garland already signals a very specific direction, and it’s not one built around accessibility. This project looks like it’s aiming to preserve what made Elden Ring stand out rather than reshape it into something easier to digest. That alone separates it from some adaptations, which tend to smooth out the rough edges in favor of broader appeal. Why am I even writing this? It's to help the newcomers get a better idea of what's to come in 2028!

Garland’s involvement is especially important here because his work typically leans into ambiguity, mood, and psychological tension. He’s not known for over-explaining his worlds, and that lines up naturally with how Elden Ring presents its story. Instead of a clearly defined narrative path, the game offered fragments of lore and environmental storytelling, leaving players to interpret meaning on their own. I don't believe that would occur with this film, but it may end up being an onion with layers of lore to peel through.

Leaning Into Horror—Is The Obvious Move

One of the easiest assumptions to make so far is that this film will likely lean heavily into horror, but not in a traditional sense. This won’t be shaping up to be a slasher-style experience with quick scares or predictable tension. The horror in Elden Ring has always been rooted in atmosphere and unease, where the world itself feels hostile, ancient, and fundamentally broken.

The Lands Between creates fear through scale, isolation, and the presence of things that don’t fully make sense. It’s less about immediate danger and more about a constant sense of dread that lingers in the background. If the film captures that tone, it won’t rely on jump scares or fast pacing to keep audiences engaged. Instead, it might build tension through imagery, sound design, and the unsettling feeling that something is always slightly off. That approach won’t appeal to everyone, so they may mix enough in to make the investment worth it. Resident Evil and Monster Hunter films didn't turn out the way I expected, but I enjoy them. Elden Ring has the player base to make it a big box office contender, so I wouldn't sleep on that but what about the others? That's where I believe the cast will help.

A Cast Built for Presence, Not Just Action

The confirmed cast, including Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, Tom Burke, and Havana Rose Liu, suggests a focus on performance rather than spectacle. These are actors who can carry subtle, character-driven moments, which is critical for a story that relies more on mood and presence than constant action.

With no specifics on the roles they'll fill, it’s still unclear how closely the film will follow the game’s structure. It could center on a single Tarnished character, explore multiple perspectives, or take a more original approach within the same world. Regardless of the direction, the casting choices potentially indicates that the film is prioritizing tone and authenticity over traditional blockbuster expectations. I don't want to sell it, but these are our initial thoughts when looking at the cards revealed.

Production begins in Spring 2026, with the full cast announced:

Kit Connor (Warfare, Heartstopper)
Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Paddington)
Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus, Civil War)
Tom Burke (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Black Bag)
Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms)
Sonoya Mizuno (Ex Machina)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)
Ruby Cruz (Willow, Bottoms)
Nick Offerman (The Last of Us)
John Hodgkinson
Jefferson Hall
Emma Laird
and Peter Serafinowicz

IMAX and the Importance of Scale

The decision to film for IMAX says a lot about how this story is being approached. This isn’t just about making the film look bigger; it’s about reinforcing the sense of scale that defines the game. Elden Ring constantly places the player in environments that feel overwhelming, where massive structures and towering enemies emphasize how small and vulnerable you are.

Bringing that into a cinematic format means leaning into wide compositions, slower pacing, and visual storytelling that allows the environment to take center stage. When used effectively, IMAX can enhance that feeling of insignificance, making the audience experience the world in a way that mirrors the game rather than simply observing it or doing a reimagined tale. It will be reimagined in some form but lets see how they adapt.

Time to Get It Right

Production beginning in Spring 2026 with a release date set for March 3, 2028 gives the team a solid window to develop the film properly. That kind of timeline is encouraging, especially for a project that depends so heavily on atmosphere, visual design, and world-building. Rushing something like this would almost guarantee a loss of identity, turning it into a generic fantasy film rather than something distinct. That would suck.

Taking the time to refine the environments, effects, and overall tone increases the chances that the final product will feel cohesive and intentional. For a property like Elden Ring, that level of care isn’t optional—it’s necessary if we're to see a sequel. Let's see how this goes, but in the mean time you can check out the world of Elden Ring on console or pc.

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Top Audiences Last Week + Grab... The Stone of Madness for Free!

New week, more games, and more shout outs! The ranks aren't budging at the moment with France making the most gains. The articles have shifted... so lets go ahead and dig into them. Oh before that... Wonder Confetti Cakes I have to give a 1 out of 5. They're dry, overly sweet in an artificial way, and just don't appeal to my sweet tooth. Tastykake is a lot more moist. I didn't eat the both at the same time (I promise) but... Wonder needs to go back and work on that snack cake, I don't like spitting my snacks out.

Last thing, last thing! Shout out to sH_SMOKE_Dw, the medic of Arc Raiders... he showed some love to a kid who was being bullied in game and gave him a number of cool items. Okay, lets jump in!