Gait Games

Set in a town that’s equal parts Silent Hill and Twin Peaks, Silver Pines puts you into the gumshoes of private investigator Red Walker as he tracks down missing musician Eddie Velvet. The investigation hits a slight hiccup when ravenous monsters that want to eat your flesh down to the bones start to impede your enquiries.

We’ve known about the sidescrolling metroidvania for a while, but it’s now got a Steam demo you can play and a release date you can hunger for. October 8th, the creepiest 8th day of the month in the year.

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Can a fresh *Forza Horizon* rival provide some of the lighthearted excitement that might have been absent in the most recent installment? Why did it take so long for *Fallout 76* to arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S? What will lead one character in the upcoming *Silent Hill* to drop an F-bomb? This is your *Kotaku* Checkpoint roundup for June 2, 2026, where we’re still finding release in the chaos of yesterday’s 60 Minutes town hall incident. But let’s move on to more entertaining topics.

Let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable SNES-era save points:

> Save points in SNES RPGs ❤️
> Shown here:
> 1. Tales of Phantasia
> 2. Final Fantasy VI (FFIII in NA)
> 3. Final Fantasy V
> 4. Secret of Mana
> 5. Super Mario RPG
> 6. Chrono Trigger
> 7. Trials of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 3
> 8. Breath of Fire
> 9. Star Ocean

## *Fallout 76* is set to look better on Xbox Series X than PS5

Bethesda revealed the long-awaited next-gen upgrade for the survival MMO on Tuesday, with specifications including up to 4K resolution on Xbox Series X but limited to 1440p on PS5 and PS5 Pro. Strange! No update yet on when cross-play is happening.

“Available to all who own *Fallout 76*,” Bethesda stated today. “You can download the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 test versions from the Xbox and PlayStation Stores. Following the testing phase, we plan to release the update later this summer!”

## *Resident Evil* may head to Japan in the future

“I believe every Japanese Resident Evil fan has definitely imagined a Japan setting, and I’ve pondered it myself,” *Resident Evil Requiem* producer Masato Kumazawa shared in an interview with *Futaman*. “Since the series is largely developed by a team in Japan, I think everyone involved has probably considered it. Although Japan hasn’t served as a setting for the games yet, I think it could happen sometime down the line.”

## A new open world racing game has emerged

It’s titled *Clutch* and marks the first project from former *Forza Horizon* creative director Mike Brown. The game features a story penned by *Skins* co-creator Jamie Brittain and revolves around two siblings vying for success in a prestigious racing circuit and a group of car enthusiasts known as the Midnight Club. It’s being developed in Unreal Engine 5 with an emphasis on highlighting the distinctive features of each vehicle.

## *Hell Let Loose: Vietnam* has been postponed

The 50v50 multiplayer shooter was originally set to launch this month. It will now debut on August 13 instead. “We want Hell Let Loose: Vietnam to provide the best possible experience for players on both PC and console. After thorough internal testing, along with feedback from the open beta, we’ve recognized several aspects where additional development time will enable us to offer a more robust launch experience,” the developers stated in a recent blog post.

## *StarCraft 2* has effectively become “a new game”

That’s what some players are claiming after trying out the latest patch for Blizzard’s RTS. Update 5.0.16 incorporates major adjustments to the game’s units and economy, alongside various quality-of-life enhancements. Who really needs *StarCraft 3*, right?

## *Silent Hill: Townfall* includes an F-bomb

“The term ‘f**k’ is mentioned in the game.” This tidbit leaked through the ESRB age rating for the forthcoming horror spin-off. It is thought to be a PS5 exclusive. Perhaps we’ll see it at one of this week’s showcases.

An hour into Entropy, the new turn-based RPG from Dread Delusion studio Lovely Hellplace, I stumbled on three randos frenziedly interrogating a severed head. In theory, the head belonged to a demon, one of the hellspawn who had recently laid the realm to waste, but the bystanders seemed… ambiguous on this front. I wasn’t really in a position to judge: by this point in the demo, my party had already hacked a number of arms off, and in any case, many of Entropy’s demons are rogue body parts to begin with. One of the early enemies is a walking pair of lungs, for example. You can shoot it in the windpipe to stop it casting spells.

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start of June marks the official commencement of Summer Game Fest. This week-long celebration of gaming was designed by Game Awards host Geoff Keighley to take the place of E3 after the ESA struggled to regain stability post-pandemic, resulting in the decline of gaming’s once-renowned annual trade show. Fortunately, Summer Game Fest is here to bridge that gap. While Keighley’s primary showcase is a single-day affair, this weeklong festival is anchored by major PlayStation and Xbox presentations, along with several smaller game reveal events in between. Below is the itinerary for everything occurring this week.

The Mix Summer Game Showcase – June 1

This event has already taken place. The livestream broadcasted at 12:00 p.m. ET and showcased over 60 impressive indie games. It was an extensive two-hour program. You can replay the entire event here.

Black Voices In Gaming – June 2

This event celebrates Black creators and developers and the remarkable projects they are working on. It will stream live starting at 3:00 p.m. ET.

PlayStation State of Play – June 2

This marks Sony’s first major summer presentation in a while. It commences at 5:00 p.m. ET and anticipation is high for significant game announcements.

Shacknews Indie Showcase – June 3

The Shacknews showcase pledges “countless titles, exciting announcements, updates, version 1.0 launches, and much more” airing at 5:30 p.m. ET on June 3, live on YouTube.

Latin American Games Showcase – June 4

The Latin American Games Showcase will spotlight 80 games from 12 countries across the continent and will go live at 5:00 p.m. ET on June 4.

Women-Led Games Showcase – June 4

Honoring games and studios created by women who are shaping our industry, the Women-Led Games Showcase will be live at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 4.

Access-Ability Summer Showcase – June 5

Hosted by Laura Kate Dale, the Access-Ability Summer showcase highlights games developed by creators with disabilities or featuring exceptional accessibility options. It starts at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday, June 5.

Summer Game Fest 2026 – June 5

The main event! Keighley’s showcases typically last around two hours, incorporating everything from major world premiere trailers to celebrity appearances, Muppet segments, and promotional spots for various anime gacha games. The event is set to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday and will be streamed on virtually every platform.

Day of the Devs – June 5

Day of the Devs, hosted by Double Fine and associates, features top-tier indie games from developers driven by unique concepts and personal narratives. The broadcast will take place immediately after the Summer Game Fest main event at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday.

Southeast Asian Games Showcase – June 6

The Southeast Asian Games Showcase is set to showcase entries from across the region, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on YouTube on Saturday.

Wholesome Direct – June 6

The

Dungeon crawlers conceptually appeal to me as a genre, but I’ve never quite found one that I’ve entirely clicked with. I’m talking oldschool dungeon crawlers here, where you take each step as it comes. I want to crawl some dungeons! Perhaps just not like that. Hopefully, Dungeon Lurker, with its crunchy dark fantasy pixel art and muddy, deep sound effects, will be able to make the difference.

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### Chivalware: An Exciting New Roguelike Adventure

Chivalware is a captivating, bite-sized roguelike title that melds tile matching with real-time combat features. Created by Regal Pigeon, the game plunges players into a lively visual experience accompanied by catchy tunes, crafting an enticing atmosphere for gaming fans. With similarities to renowned games such as *Mega Man Battle Network* and *Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon*, Chivalware introduces a novel spin to the genre with its distinct gameplay cycle. A demo version debuted recently on Steam, and initial players are sharing positive feedback.

#### Gameplay Features

Battles in Chivalware take place on an 8×4 grid divided into two sections. Players handle one section, where squares represent various weapons and abilities. The fundamental mechanic involves triggering linked chains of at least three squares of the same type, boosting the power of attacks. When a player’s meter is fully charged, they can execute powerful strikes against their foes. This begins relatively straightforward, but as players deal with chaos in real-time skirmishes and the intricacies of their builds increase, the game’s difficulty escalates rapidly, ensuring players remain alert.

#### Roguelike Characteristics

In between confrontations, Chivalware adheres to a classical roguelike framework. Players have the option to select power-ups post-battles, explore different rooms, shop for enhancements, and encounter challenging bosses at pivotal moments. There’s a notable diversity in the arsenal players can gather and the perks available. However, initial experiences suggest that the game could improve with deeper mechanics within its Match-3 components to offer a more complex and engrossing gameplay experience.

#### Developer History

Scheduled for release by late 2026, Chivalware marks Regal Pigeon’s second venture into game development. The developer previously launched a 2D top-down bullet hell roguelike named *Neophyte*, which was available in Early Access. While *Neophyte* received favorable reviews and performed well in sales for its $3 price tag, Regal Pigeon encountered challenges in maintaining long-term support due to the game’s structure. The developer had to navigate the balance between financial sustainability and their passion for creating games, leading to the decision to transition away from *Neophyte*.

Regal Pigeon shared their thoughts in a recent Steam announcement: “While *Neophyte* exceeded my expectations in sales for my debut commercial project, it unfortunately wasn’t sufficient for sustained long-term support.” This honest insight underscores the challenges that indie developers frequently encounter in balancing creativity with business practicality.

#### Conclusion

As the gaming community looks forward to the complete release of Chivalware, it exemplifies the ingenuity and perseverance of its creator. With a solid groundwork and the promise of future developments, players are hopeful that Chivalware will flourish into a unique addition to the roguelike scene. For now, the demo highlights the enjoyable blend of gameplay mechanics that enthusiasts of both tile-matching and roguelikes can cherish.

Fancy devoting your entire existence to the whims and desires of a variety of Greek gods? Sure you do! At least in the safety of your digital blanket that is your Steam library. To do such a thing, you’ll be wanting to check out Theos: Cities Of Myth, an upcoming city-builder where you do just that, all in service of pleasing those fickle deities.

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### Excitement Grows for the Return of Sly Cooper at PS5 Showcase

This evening, Sony is poised to unveil a new State of Play showcase, with enthusiasm soaring among fans eager for news on forthcoming PS5 titles. Alongside highly anticipated releases like *Wolverine*, the potential resurgence of a beloved classic from the PlayStation 2 era—*Sly Cooper*—has sparked significant interest.

#### A Wave of Nostalgia for Sly Cooper Enthusiasts

*The Cooper Gang* has been inactive for more than ten years, leaving fans longing for the return of the thieving raccoon. Over time, numerous hints have suggested the possible creation of a new release, leading fans to speculate that tonight’s showcase might at long last provide the long-anticipated revelation. This sentiment is well-founded; as the gaming environment shifts, classic franchises such as *Sly Cooper* offer a unique chance for Sony to re-establish their roots while broadening their current game range.

Interest in *Sly Cooper* was reignited when Garrett Fredley, a senior build engineer engaged in IP preservation at PlayStation, presented a slide featuring Sly during a talk with Sony leadership. This mention, along with other classic games, indicated a potential revival of interest in the franchise, even though its original developer, Sucker Punch, has appeared reluctant to return to the series.

#### Signs of a Comeback: Sneaky Devil Studios

The discussion surrounding *Sly Cooper* became even more heated with the rise of Sneaky Devil Studios, a newly formed developer comprising former members of Sanzaru Games, the studio responsible for *Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time*. Their team’s name, possibly a reference to the series, and their LinkedIn interaction with *Sly Cooper* voice actor Kevin Miller have bolstered the speculation about a forthcoming project.

Moreover, Team Asobi, creators of *Astro Bot*, added to the intrigue on social media, playfully advising fans to “check the nearest safe” if they were unable to locate Sly. This cheeky teasing has heightened excitement within the community and fostered aspirations of an announcement during the State of Play.

#### The Demand for Diversity in PlayStation’s Game Lineup

In a gaming landscape increasingly dominated by high-budget live-service titles and cinematic experiences, the craving for diverse game development methods has become more apparent. The PlayStation 5 generation has faced scrutiny for its lack of the eclectic range of titles that defined previous console eras. Many fans argue that a new *Sly Cooper* or *Ape Escape* could act as a refreshing counterweight to the current industry trends, reinvigorating creativity and enjoyment in Sony’s portfolio.

The PlayStation brand has historically flourished by taking chances with mid-tier games—projects that may not yield billion-dollar profits yet still play a crucial role in cultivating a varied gaming ecosystem. The success of indie games has demonstrated that numerous players value unique, creatively-driven experiences beyond major blockbusters.

#### Conclusion: A Blend of Nostalgia and Creativity

As excitement escalates for tonight’s showcase, the *Sly Cooper* community remains hopeful yet cautious. Fans are eager to welcome any updates regarding the return of their favorite raccoon and his escapades, while also acknowledging the broader ramifications such a development could have for Sony’s future. Merging nostalgia with innovation could be the key to rejuvenating PlayStation’s game offerings, ultimately enhancing the gaming experience for both newcomers and long-time players.

Tonight’s State of Play may serve not only as a thrilling moment for *Wolverine* and other major titles but could also signify a crucial turning point in the revival of a treasured classic, illustrating that sometimes, revisiting the past can illuminate a brighter future.

Marathon season 2 kicks off today, acting as a fresh start for every single person who’s played so far with its complete wipe of all gear. For this first week of the season, it’s also going to be free-to-play for anyone, clearly a big plea for those that haven’t yet tried it out to give it a fair shake. To do that, Bungie will be doing their first test that eases up on the challenge by offering a “PvP-lite” mode called Sponsored Survival.

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**Title: Amazon’s Departure from Gaming: Effects on Tomb Raider and Future Outlook for Embracer IPs**

Last year, Amazon notably reduced its video game development goals, resulting in the layoff of thousands of staff and the cancellation of several projects, including a much-anticipated *Lord of the Rings* MMO. Despite these challenges, the retail giant is still dedicated to publishing two new *Tomb Raider* games. However, Amazon’s retreat from the gaming space has influenced both titles.

In a recent discussion with *The Game Business*, Embracer CEO Phil Rogers confirmed that Amazon’s exit, scheduled for 2025, has directly affected *Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis* and *Tomb Raider: Catalyst*. Embracer, the entity that possesses the *Tomb Raider* intellectual property, had earlier partnered with Amazon to create a TV series and various games, utilizing the know-how of longtime developer Crystal Dynamics. Although the partnership remains solid, there have been changes behind the scenes, which Rogers pointed out have not all been detrimental.

Rogers mentioned that the alterations have shifted the company’s relationships within the industry. “It’s had a massive change in terms of who we’re connecting with,” he stated, noting that the shift has also led to shorter development cycles. The merger of Amazon’s game streaming service, Luna, with Amazon Games Studios has fostered closer collaboration, which has been advantageous.

Rogers suggested that while dedicated gaming hardware will always hold a position, the gaming sector could experience notable expansion through streaming. He imagines a future where players can seamlessly transition from viewing a game-related TV series to immersing themselves in the corresponding game, crafting a cohesive entertainment experience. This indicates that forthcoming titles might be tailored for streaming platforms.

In addition to focusing on the *Tomb Raider* series, Rogers showed a willingness to revive other Embracer-owned intellectual properties such as *Deus Ex*, *Red Faction*, and *TimeSplitters* through licensing agreements. “We can’t work on everything ourselves,” he remarked, promoting collaboration with other studios and Hollywood to explore possible remakes, remasters, or entirely new adaptations.

Rogers anticipates that the next decade could unveil new prospects in licensing, empowering creators with innovative ideas or treatments to realize their visions. This readiness to collaborate paves the way for fans and developers alike to present their ideas, potentially revitalizing cherished franchises.

To summarize, while Amazon’s strategic withdrawal from gaming has posed challenges for the *Tomb Raider* franchise, it has also ushered in new dynamics within the industry. Embracer’s willingness to engage in licensing indicates that other classic IPs may discover new vitality and innovative expressions in the years ahead.