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UK software sales chart for the week ending September 12, 2026 – Onimusha: Way of the Sword doing well
The UK software sales chart for the week ending September 12, 2026, shows Onimusha: Way of the Sword climbing to the number one spot. Nintendo titles Pokemon Pokopia and Mario Kart World also saw significant movement, ranking third and sixth respectively.
Recension – Orbitals bär sitt anime-hjärta från 90-talet till en succé för två
Orbitals is a highly successful co-op adventure game for the Nintendo Switch 2, developed by the Swedish studio Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. It masterfully captures the 80s and 90s anime aesthetic with vibrant colors and pop-culture references, offering a delightful experience for fans of classic Japanese animation. While its core tools could offer more variation and its playtime is on the shorter side, the game is a polished and charming triumph, particularly for its visual and audio design.
After Clair Obscur Expedition 33, president of France announces international festival of video games: "Video games…
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to create an international video game festival, aiming to elevate French game development and integrate video games into the country's cultural landscape. The announcement follows the international success of French studio Sandfall Interactive's game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Recension – Recension: Orbitals bär sitt anime-hjärta från 90-talet till en succé för två
Orbitals is a co-op adventure game for the Nintendo Switch 2, developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. It successfully captures the 80s and 90s anime aesthetic with vibrant colors and pop-inspired sound effects. The game features two protagonists, Omu and Maki, and requires cooperative puzzle-solving and gameplay, drawing comparisons to Hazelight Studios' titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
Orbitals is a gorgeous anime throwback, but I've had a tough time enjoying its mandatory co-op
Orbitals is a visually stunning game with a strong anime aesthetic, but its mandatory co-op requirement presents a significant barrier to enjoyment for players without a compatible partner. The game's design, while appealing artistically, demands a level of coordination that can be difficult for casual players or those with less gaming experience to meet.
Orbitals launch trailer – retro anime-inspired co-op game releases exclusives on Nintendo Switch 2
Orbitals, a retro anime-inspired co-op game from Shapefarm and Kepler Interactive, has launched exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. The game features asymmetric co-op gameplay where players control Maki and Omura to save their space station. A free Global Friend's Pass app is available for local multiplayer demos.
You can't pet the talking rat wall in Ontos, the new space horror game from Soma's creators, but surely it can run Doom
Frictional Games' new space horror title, Ontos, is shaping up to be a philosophical puzzler rather than a traditional horror game. A new video showcases the game's environments and experimental gameplay, which involves interacting with sci-fi ephemera and a unique AI server made of rats. The developers suggest the game will launch next year.
ONTOS: This Horrifying, Tantalizing Thriller Feels Like an Immersive Sim for Puzzle Gaming
ONTOS is a forthcoming sci-fi thriller that blends immersive sim elements with puzzle gameplay, focusing on player choice and exploration. Players control Aditi, who investigates a mysterious moon resort and confronts philosophical questions through intricate, often grotesque, experiments. The game emphasizes tactile interaction and allows for multiple solutions to its challenges, promising a deeply engaging experience.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Asmodee appoints Brian Trunk as senior vice president, Route to Market for the Americas
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the games industry. Notable moves include Brian Trunk joining Asmodee as senior vice president, David Scarborough becoming senior manager of EMEA communications at Blizzard Entertainment, and Ilari Kuittinen stepping down as managing director of Housemarque after 31 years. Several other individuals have taken on new roles at companies like CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard.
Orbitals Review – An anime-zing adventure
Orbitals is a co-op puzzle-platformer that serves as a beautiful homage to 20th-century anime, featuring faithful animation, a strong soundtrack, and excellent voice acting. Players control siblings Maki and Omura, working together to solve clever puzzles and navigate space to save their colony. Despite minor issues with checkpoint frequency and online play, the game is a joyful and polished adventure.
Orbitals review - gorgeous anime stylings from breakaway It Takes Two devs only make for a lesser light of the co-op renaissance
Orbitals, a co-op puzzle platformer from former It Takes Two developers, features gorgeous anime stylings and charming characters but ultimately falls short of its inspirations. While the game's presentation and character interactions are endearing, its core gameplay mechanics and narrative feel derivative and lack memorable moments, making it a lesser entry in the co-op genre.
Two-player anime adventure Orbitals hypes September 3 launch with music video and digital instruction book
The two-player co-op adventure game Orbitals, developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, is set to launch on Nintendo Switch on September 3rd. The developers have released a music video for the opening theme, a website-based digital instruction manual requiring two players, and announced a pop-up merchandise shop in Kyoto. A friend's pass will allow a second player to join for free.
7 developers that will save the video games industry - Reader’s Feature
This reader's feature highlights seven smaller developers, including 11 bit studios, AdHoc Studios, Daniel Mullins Games, Hazelight Studios, Larian Studios, Sandfall Interactive, and Supergiant Games, who are seen as vital to the future of the video game industry. The article praises their innovative approaches to game design and storytelling, contrasting them with the perceived missteps of larger publishers.
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to not call it a 'turn-based RPG' so people…
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida advised developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to avoid marketing it as a 'turn-based RPG' due to the genre's perceived unpopularity. Despite this, the game has achieved significant success, selling over eight million copies and helping to revitalize interest in turn-based titles. Yoshida believes this success highlights the risks of solely chasing industry trends.
Shuhei Yoshida told Expedition 33 studio to avoid terms like 'turn-based RPG' because it may cause people to "overlook" the game
Veteran PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida advised Expedition 33 developers Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive to avoid marketing the game solely as a 'turn-based RPG,' believing the term might cause players to overlook its innovative combat. The team adopted the term 'reactive turn-based battles' instead, contributing to the game's commercial and critical success, selling 5.5 million copies and receiving multiple awards.
Ex PlayStation boss told Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs not to call it a turn-based RPG: "That alone might cause…
Former Sony Interactive president Shuhei Yoshida advised Kepler Interactive to avoid marketing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a turn-based RPG due to perceived market unpopularity. Despite this guidance, the game, developed by Sandfall Interactive, was released to critical acclaim and numerous awards, ultimately helping to revitalize interest in the genre. Yoshida shared this anecdote at the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026.
How to make the perfect video game according to Google AI - Reader's Feature
A reader explores the concept of the 'perfect video game' by asking Google's AI for its criteria, which include good controls, clear rules, no wasted time, and good style. The AI's top picks were Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Elden Ring, prompting a discussion on how games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Assassin's Creed succeed and fail in meeting these standards.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's "untranslatable" inspiration is finally getting an English release after 22…
Alain Damasio's influential French novel, Horde of the Counterwind, which inspired the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is finally receiving its first English translation. The book, originally published over two decades ago, will be available in the US on October 13 and in the UK on November 12. The novel's complex wordplay had previously made it a challenging text to translate.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33's studio is a manor that looks just like the one in the RPG, but it was a pure coincidence: "It shouldn't feel like coming to an office"
Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, coincidentally found an office space in a manor that closely resembles the one in their game. Creative director Guillaume Broche stated their philosophy was to create a warm, house-like environment rather than a traditional office. The team values their current, smaller space to maintain an independent spirit and foster close communication.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Switch 2 is a "big technical challenge" because many Unreal Engine features "don't work," leads say, but Sandfall is "interested" in pulling it off
Developer Sandfall Interactive has stated that bringing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the Nintendo Switch 2 presents a significant technical challenge due to Unreal Engine 5 features not working as expected on the platform. While interested in a port, the studio acknowledges the hardware's limitations compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, impacting their ability to achieve the desired visual fidelity.