Category: Game Preview

Cryptic Studios Launches “Quick Start” Event Across 3 MMOs, Unveils New Roadmaps & Partnership

RYPTIC STUDIOS LAUNCHES “QUICK START” EVENT FOR ALL PLAYERS, UNVEILS CONTENT ROADMAPS & NEW PARTNERSHIP

“Quick Start” Event Accelerates Progress for New and Returning Players Across Cryptic Studios’ Long-Running MMOs

Roadmaps Released for Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, Revealing What’s Coming Up for These Epic MMOs

Cryptic Studios Partners with Beadle & Grimm’s on Star Trek Games Kickstarter Campaign

LOS GATOS, Calif. – April 21, 2026 – Following the return of Cryptic Studios veterans like CEO Jack Emmert, Arc Games and Cryptic Studios are excited to announce three major updates for the long-running MMO studio:

  • “Quick Start” Event: This limited-time event across the studio’s epic MMOs (Star Trek Online, Neverwinter and Champions Online) gives players permanent access to a high-level character for free, so they can experience the content in each MMO with ease.
  • Roadmap Releases: 2026 content roadmaps for two of its flagship games, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, have been revealed.
  • Partnership with Beadle & Grimm’s: A champion of tabletop game experiences, Beadle & Grimm’s has recently launched a Kickstarter for two new Star Trek games and Star Trek Online is teaming up with them.

This limited-time event for each of Cryptic Studios’ games lets all players – from newcomers to returning players across PC, PlayStation and Xbox – jump straight into the heart of the action. Experience everything the games have to offer and go on epic adventures with a fully equipped, high-level character.

For the next 30 days, starting today until May 21, every player can log in and claim a high-level character designed to give players a streamlined tutorial and a refresher on the game. Experience each game’s content at ease; from content geared towards beginners all the way to the content aimed at high levels. This high-level character will be available to claim for a limited time during the Quick Start event, but once claimed, it’ll be a permanent character that a player can keep forever after the event ends.

Check out the Quick Start Sizzle Trailers for Star Trek Online, Neverwinter and Champions Online:

And check out the latest Star Trek Online, Neverwinter and Champions Online dev blogs for more details on the event per title.

With the Quick Start event starting today across Star Trek Online, Neverwinter and Champions Online, players have access to:

  • High‑level Character: Available to claim for all players who log in during the time of the Quick Start event! Once claimed, players can keep the character permanently, and players will find the character has the following:
    • Pre‑equipped endgame gear,allowing players to easily experience all the content in each game
    • Streamlined onboarding,including a focused tutorial tailored for advanced play
    • All content unlocked,meaning players can go on any adventures they’d like – including all content available in each game, even the most recent content
  • Notes for the character:
    • One‑time claim per account per game, with the character being kept permanently once claimed
    • Dedicated character slot included with the claim, additional character slot granted if the player is already at maximum capacity
    • Permanent retention of the bonus character slot, even if the Quick Start character is deleted
    • For Neverwinter, players must have an existing level 16 character to be able to have access to and claim the high-level character that’s part of the Quick Start event

“When I returned to Cryptic, the first initiative I wanted to kick off right away for our games was this Quick Start event,” said Jack Emmert, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “One of our key initiatives this year and beyond is to make our epic worlds even more accessible and welcoming to every type of player – whether you’re a new player who’s just starting your adventure or a long-time veteran player who’s played our games since launch. By offering a fully equipped, high‑level character that players can keep forever, we’re removing long‑standing barriers and giving returning veterans, curious newcomers, and time‑strapped fans a direct path to the heart of our games. At the end of the day, we want players to experience the pinnacle of what our MMOs offer — without feeling like they have to climb a mountain to get there.”

Future 2026 Roadmaps Revealed for Star Trek Online & Neverwinter

In addition to the exciting Quick Start event introduced across Cryptic Studios’ titles, the studio is thrilled to unveil content roadmaps for the next several months of this year for their Star Trek MMORPG, Star Trek Online, and Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG, Neverwinter.

For this year, the studio plans to continue to be committed to bringing popular properties to life with innovative content inspired by franchises that players love. Star Trek Online is celebrating Star Trek’s 60th Anniversary with a year-long, timeline-order set of releases themed around the history of the show, including starships, characters, locations and so much more – along with quality-of-life updates that will improve the overall experience for players. In Neverwinter, adventurers will encounter Dungeons & Dragons-inspired content, including adventure zones, dungeons, heroic encounters, and more – and also quality-of-life improvements to make adventuring even better. An exciting future awaits for both titles, and stay tuned for what’s to come for Cryptic Studios’ superhero MMO, Champions Online.

Partnership with Beadle & Grimm’s on Star Trek Games Kickstarter Campaign

Cryptic Studios is excited to partner with Beadle & Grimm’s on their Kickstarter campaign to help bring two new Star Trek murder mystery and escape room games to life: Deep Space Nine: Holosuite Homicide and Lower Decks: Chaos Protocol. As part of the Kickstarter campaign, Beadle & Grimm’s is collaborating with Star Trek Online to create exciting offers for fans of all types of Star Trek games. Kickstarter backers will gain access to a complimentary Hysperian Intel Battlecruiser Pack if they pledge at the Kickstarter’s higher tiers.

Check out the Kickstarter campaign here for more details: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beadleandgrimms/star-trek-murder-mystery-escape-room-games-ds9-lower-decks

Weapon-building Metroidvania Clockwork Ambrosia launches May 12th on Steam

Indie developer Realmsoft, in partnership with OI Games, today announced that weapon-building metroidvania Clockwork Ambrosia will officially launch May 12th on Steam. Blending fast-paced 2D action with deep weapon customization, Clockwork Ambrosia invites players to build their own arsenal through a wide range of modular upgrades, from screen-filling shot splitters to devastating missile barrages and precision sniper rounds.

“After 14 years of development, seeing Clockwork Ambrosia finally launch is incredibly meaningful for our team,” said Nathan Hiemenz, Founder and Developer at Realmsoft.“We set out to create a metroidvania where creativity is at the core of the experience, and May 12th marks the moment players can finally explore that vision for themselves.”

Players step into the boots of Iris, an airship engineer stranded on the mysterious island of Aspida following a near-fatal crash. What begins as a fight for survival quickly turns into a deeper mystery, as Iris uncovers a world where the island’s population has vanished, replaced by hostile machines and strange creatures.

Set across a richly detailed steampunk world, players will explore diverse biomes ranging from sky cities above the clouds to overgrown mushroom forests and the depths of sunken ruins. Along the way, Iris will encounter a cast of eccentric characters, from rogue AI allies to curious inhabitants, all while piecing together the truth behind Aspida’s downfall.

With its blend of classic metroidvania exploration and modern customization systems, Clockwork Ambrosia offers a fresh take on the genre, combining discovery, experimentation, and fast-paced combat.

Clockwork Ambrosia features:

  • Side-scrolling action platformer with an authored, interconnected world to explore
  • Six vastly different weapons, each offering unique mechanics
  • 150+ modifications for simple and intuitive weapon-customization, offering endless experimentation
  • Snappy crafting system lets players unlock new powers and abilities at their own pace
  • Beautiful hand-drawn art bringing the world and characters to life
  • Original score composed by Johnny Stixx
  • A story of mystery, friends, robots, and at least one mysterious robot friend!

First Tropico 7 Gameplay Teaser Revealed – The Island Awaits Its President

Features: 

  • Lead your nation to new heights: Tropico 7 tells El Presidente’s continuous success story across 5 campaign maps – starring himself, Penultimo and a new nemesis: Victoria Guerra. 
  • More is more: Archipelagos, with the biggest islands ever in the series, await your rule, expanded with 10 extra scenarios, more than 20 sandbox maps, and endless possibilities with a random map generator.  
  • Move mountains – literally: Erase them, create beaches, or even create entirely new islands! The new terraforming feature brings your megalomaniac dreams to life. Start that mammoth project – NOW! 
  • Bollocks uhm… Politics: Navigate the snares and pits of internal politics, when you summon the different factions to your council, a new way to meet them face to face while you pulverize their dreams – or use them for a BIG DEAL to your own advantage.  
  • Make the world your playground: Elections, election speeches and a vast portfolio of edicts depending on your political standing spice up your daily rule while you juggle foreign affairs and occasionally steal… uhm relocate a landmark to revel in its benefits.  
  • Built to prosper: Strategically place buildings to make use of synergy effects, keep citizen satisfaction high, and fill any unused plots of land with beautiful parks in a freely customized size.  
  • Generalissimo No. 1: Eliminate those pesky rebels and fend off foreign threats with a reworked military system enabling more direct control of your military units.  
  • Always judge a book by its cover: Customize the appearance of your palace and El Presidente with new and creative options.  

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

Resident Evil has never been bigger with the overwhelming success of Resident Evil Requiem as well as the remakes and the hype buzzing around Zach Cregger’s new film reboot. So what happens when you try to be faithful to the games that started it all on a shoestring budget and a even more half-ass understanding of the source material then the Paul W.S. Anderson movies that came before?

Claire Redfield has returned to Raccoon City in search for her estranged brother Chris. Raccoon City is a near dead town overseen by the Umbrella Corporation. Chris, a member of the police’s S.T.A.R.S team is sent to investigate trouble in the Spencer Mansion in the Arklay Mountains while trouble begins in town. A sickness is spreading and Claire’s only companion is bumbling rookie cop, Leon Kennedy. Zombies, monsters, secrets-what is really going on in Raccoon City?

This movie frustratingly tries biting off more than it can chew by combining the stories of the first two RE games into one and fails pretty miserably at it. There are names and easter eggs galore from the games but none of it is implemented well. Chris is a smarmy pro Umbrella crybaby, Leon is a dumbass who only was only a cop because his daddy pulled strings, Wesker is a chilled out bro, and Lisa Trevors is a friendly ghoul secretly living in the orphanage. The shoestring budget is pretty apparent. The zombies, what very little their are, don’t even look like zombies, the monsters except for the licker look like they were ripped off of the sci-fi channel, and the city itself looks like a small town instead of a bustling city. There are a few great sets like the mansion and the police station that made me happy but feel really out of place. What makes this movie entertaining unfortunately is how unintentionally hilarious the movie comes across. There’s one scene Savior and I watched on repeat for almost twenty minutes because we couldn’t stop laughing- just watch the flaming zombie scene and thank us later. In the end, if you’re a die hard RE fan avoid this movie like the plague. If you want something to rip on with your friends and few beers, this is for you. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Street Fighter 2026 trailer

I admit I’m not a huge Street Fighter fan but I do enjoy playing here and there. I figured with the success of Mortal Kombat 2021 , this movie was certainly going to happen. Honestly, I liked what I saw more than I thought I would. The movie looks fun and the over the top. Even as a casual fan, I give the movie major props for trying to capture the look of the games. There’s a heavy 90’s vibe I honestly dig. In the end, I really like this first trailer and I hope it’ll be a rare good video game movie. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Sente Demo and Announcement Trailer OUT NOW

Experience the strategic depth of Sente, a simultaneous turn-based board game where every decision unleashes a cascade of electrifying reactions. Built for 1-6 players, this is the final battleground of humanity against AI supremacy. Check it out on Sente Steam now.

Albion Online Coming To Xbox on 21 April

 Albion Online, the free-to-play fantasy sandbox MMORPG developed by Sandbox Interactive will launch for Xbox Series X|S on 21 April 2026. Albion Online is currently available for PC, iOS and Android, and the step into console spaces will open up the door to new players while giving long-time fans a new way to play on their existing account.

Albion Online is set in a fantasy medieval world where players can forge their own path by exploring the vast landscapes, crafting everything from basic tools and clothes to armor and powerful weapons, facing enemies or other adventurers, and carving out their own pieces of Albion by forming guilds, claiming land and making it their own. 

The game has been fully optimised for Xbox Series S|X with a brand-new UI navigation flow, a dedicated controller scheme and specifically adapted key screens, like the Marketplace and player inventory. Combat has also been overhauled to work smoothly with controllers, and new accessibility features have been developed with console players in mind.

Players that have already spent time in Albion on PC or mobile, will be able to use the same account for Xbox Series S|X without losing any progress, allowing seamless cross-play no matter which platform they choose.

Albion Online will also receive a full visual upgrade when the Radiant Wilds update launches on 13 April, which will bring the graphics up-to-date for modern systems along with performance improvements, controller support, and a new PvP mode which will benefit Xbox players as well.

Albion Online Key Features:

  • Console Optimisation: When Albion Online launches for Xbox Series S|X it will include a brand-new UI navigation flow, overhauled combat and accessibility features all designed to work smoothly for console players.
  • Cross Platform Play: Albion Online is a true cross-platform MMO experience available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. One account lets you play on all platforms.
  • Player Driven Economy: Nearly every item in the game is crafted by players which can be sold, bought and traded at local marketplaces all across Albion.
  • Classless Combat System: In Albion, weapons and armour define a player’s skills meaning that switching playstyles is as easy as switching gear.
  • Face Deadly foes: From solo to small-group to large-scale battles there’s an array of enemies to take on, including small scouting bands to massive bosses, to dungeons and full-blown faction bases.
  • Put Down Roots: Players can claim land to make their own and use for growing crops to make into food and raising livestock and mounts. Houses can be kitted out with plenty of custom furniture.
  • Explore A Vast World: With five vivid biomes, each with its own challenges, there’s plenty to discover as players seek out resources, dungeons, or the mystical Roads of Avalon.

Albion Online is coming to Xbox Series X|S on 21 April 2026. Keep up to date with Albion Online on its website, X, YouTube, Discord, Facebook, and Twitch. Players can download the game for free on Steam, Epic Game Store, Apple App Store and Google Play.

Cozy Alpine tycoon game Above The Snow launches April 23rd

Above The Snow is a cozy, story-driven tycoon set in the ruthless beauty of the 1960s Alps. Build and customize your dream mountain lodge in striking mid-century modern style, then step outside and take control of the mountain itself. Plan dangerous trails, manage gear, read shifting weather, and rescue stranded alpinists while catering to a diverse cast of guests, each with their own demands, personalities, and breaking points. Every choice shapes your crew, your reputation, and who makes it off the mountain. With 20+ hours of narrative, dynamic systems, and authentic Alpine vehicles, the pressure never stops. Fame grows, competition tightens, and storms loom closer with every passing day. Whether you thrive under pressure or switch to Creative Mode to build without limits, Above The Snow invites you to build, manage, and thrive in the coldest winter of your life.

“Above The Snow is a unique mix of quasi-cozy hot cocoa-sipping relaxing resort simulator with frosty survival management strategy where you must make high-stakes life or death decisions,” said Michał Wasiak, Founder and Studio Director at Above The Desk. “There’s plenty of interpersonal drama in this tale of friendship and business management, and we want players to feel fully immersed in our true-to-life rendition of the 1960s Alps, complete with real world furniture and outerwear from brands like Cortazu, Fjordfiesta, and Heywood-Wakefield. We can’t wait to take you to our virtual summit above the snow!”

Above The Snow features:

  • Alpine Hospitality Simulator: Build and manage your lodge in the heart of the Alps, customize interiors, expand facilities, and cater to daring guests with bold tastes and big personalities.
  • Story-Rich Shelter Life: Dive into 20+ hours of narrative-driven gameplay featuring a colorful cast of crew members, each with unique backstories, strengths, and quirks. 
  • Trailblazing Management: Map out custom trails through icy peaks and scenic vistas, adjust for guest skill levels, upgrade hazards, and rescue anyone who gets in over their skis.
  • Dynamic Alpine Economy: Attract thrill-seekers and casual tourists alike with smart decor choices, expanded services, and a morale system that rewards good hospitality.
  • Creative & Endless Modes: Prefer more relaxed play? Unlock Endless Winter or Creative Mode to build your dream resort without the story pressure. Bonus: import your own custom decor!
  • Vehicles & Logistics: Use land and air vehicles inspired by real Alpine equipment to transport guests, supplies, and complete vital trail tasks, just keep an eye on the weather.

Winner – Best PC City-Building Game – NYX Game Awards: Season 2 (2025)
Nomination – Best Narrative Indie Game Award – Taipei Game Show (2026) 
Nomination – Best Polish Indie Game – Poznań Game Arena (2025)

Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy’ Revealed at Future Games Show (PC, PS5, XSX, Switch 2)

“Remothered was the first game we developed at the very beginning of our journey, and after our experiences with A Quiet Place and Mafia: The Old Country, we returned to the series because we couldn’t accept seeing Remothered fade away,” said Stormind CEO Antonio Cannata. “We decided to make this game out of a strong sense of respect and responsibility toward Remothered and its community, who thought this project had been abandoned.”

“Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy will dig deep into the story and present new special skills that expand the gameplay pillars of Remothered,” said Game Director Antonio Cutrona. “While the game is a standalone experience that fans of old-school horror can dive right into and enjoy without playing the first two games in the series, it will offer the conclusion that long-time fans have been waiting years to play.”

The team at Stormind has also released the first in a series of three developer diaries celebrating the return of Remothered. In today’s new video, CEO Antonio Cannata and Game Director Antonio Cutrona talk about the feelings that motivated the studio to take up the project. They also discuss how the team is focusing on the franchise’s roots to bring a sense of closure to long-time fans, expanding on its established gameplay, story and challenges while throwing in some surprises for players new and old to discover. The dev diary is available to watch now on YouTube.

In Red Nun’s Legacy, players will enter a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Exploring a convent, you’ll need to use your wits to overcome disturbing revelations, secrets, and a twisted reality to learn the truth behind the Red Nun—all while surviving the relentless Stalkers preying upon you.

Named one of the scariest games of all time, the original Remothered: Tormented Fathers hooked fans with its twisting narrative and tense survival horror atmosphere when it debuted in 2018. Stormind Games has a strong pedigree for creating stand-out horror titles, including developing the first two installments in the Remothered franchise, developing 2024’s A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead from publisher Saber Interactive, and working with Behaviour Interactive. In 2025, the team co-developed Mafia: The Old Country with Hangar 13, bringing an immersive authenticity and cinematic atmosphere to its story.

Key Features

  • Survive Horrific Stalkers: Challenge your survival instincts by hiding and evading from the murderous Stalkers hunting you down, and even fight back in critical moments.
  • An Homage to Old-School Horror: Feel the atmosphere of this heartfelt love letter to third-person survival horror adventures of the past.
  • Harness Hypnosis Powers: Read objects to reveal forgotten memories, expose concealed passages, and reshape your understanding of the environment.
  • Explore a Richly Detailed World: Find clues and key items in a sprawling game world, and solve puzzles to access new areas and progress to the final revelation.
  • Uncover the Secrets of the Cristo Morente: Learn the forgotten story of the convent, the cradle where the terrifying myth of the Red Nun began.

Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy is available to wishlist on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG.com. For the latest news and updates from the game, visit remothered.com, and follow along on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

About Stormind Games

Stormind is an independent AA studio creating original and licensed horror games for PC and consoles. The team is best known for the survival horror saga Remothered and A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, the first-person horror adventure based on the Paramount Pictures franchise. They also co-developed Mafia: The Old Country alongside Hangar 13 and 2K.

The MIX Showcase | Persona and Shin Megami Tensei-inspired dungeon crawler ‘Descent of Lunaris’ launches playable demo

Indie studio Unison Games has released the public demo for upcoming Descent of Lunaris, giving players their first chance to step inside the moon and see what’s waiting below the surface. The demo is available now on Steam and offers an early slice of the game’s dungeon crawling, combat, and unsettling sci-fi mystery ahead of its launch on PC later this year.

Set in the year 2070, the demo kicks off after a lunar mining operation picks up a strange signal from deep within the moon. An experiment at a secret facility goes terribly wrong, with machines across the base turning violent and wiping out most of the crew. 

Players will take on command of a specialized security team sent in to investigate and protect researchers during the evacuation. However, tears in reality and warped grotesque scientists are the least of their worries when a cosmic entity appears.

The Descent of Lunaris demo includes the prologue and the entire first level of the game. Players can explore early dungeon areas, meet strange characters, and get hands-on with the game’s grid-based exploration, tactical, turn-based combat, and party customization systems.

Descent of Lunaris mixes old-school design with modern visuals built in Unreal Engine 5, plus an atmospheric soundtrack from underground musicians that gets stranger the further you go.

The Descent of Lunaris public demo is available now on PC via Steam, with the full game coming soon. 

For more, follow Unison Games on Bluesky or Instagram, subscribe on YouTube and join the official Discord community.