Celeste
News, coverage and analysis tracking Celeste across the outlets.
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Now Playing at SUPERJUMP, Issue 42
Writers for SUPERJUMP share their current gaming experiences, including Persona 5 Royal, Urban Myth Dissolution Center, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and Bionic Bay. The discussions cover personal progress, game design critiques, and the impact of technical performance on player enjoyment.
Here's your next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for July
Xbox has announced new games coming to its Game Pass subscription service throughout July and into early August. Headlining the additions are Halo: Campaign Evolved and Hell Is Us, with other titles like The Planet Crafter and Beast of Reincarnation also joining the lineup. Several games will also be leaving the service on July 31st.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles throughout July and early August, including day-one releases like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and Shift at Midnight. The service will also see the addition of The Planet Crafter, Hell is Us, Mistfall Hunter, Corsair Cove, Heretic + Hexen, and Zenless Zone Zero. Several games are also scheduled to leave the Game Pass library on July 31.
Xbox Game Pass Is Removing A Lot More Games Very Soon
Microsoft is removing eight more games from Xbox Game Pass on July 31, including titles like Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, and Sniper Elite: Resistance. This follows the removal of 11 games on July 15, making it a significant month for content departures from the subscription service. Subscribers can purchase these games at a 20% discount before they are delisted.
PC Game Pass takes a fresh blow with eight big losses, including Crusader Kings 3
Eight games are leaving PC Game Pass on July 31, including popular titles like Crusader Kings 3, Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, Celeste, and Rain World. Microsoft and Paradox Interactive are offering discounts on Crusader Kings 3 for players who wish to purchase it before it departs. New titles such as The Planet Crafter and Halo: Campaign Evolved will be added to the service in the coming weeks.
On Sale
The Steam Games Made in Sweden Sale 2026 is offering significant discounts, including 75% off Celeste and 25% off Monument Valley 3. Additionally, a 2K Megahits 2026 Bundle is available on Humble Bundle with a pay-what-you-want model that supports charity.
Små pixlar, stora hjärtan
This article explores how indie games like A Void Hope, Thomas Was Alone, Firewatch, and Celeste connect with players emotionally, often through minimalist design and compelling narratives rather than advanced technology. The author reflects on how simpler graphics and mechanics can leave space for deeper player interpretation and emotional engagement.
PAX West 2026 names its 11 PAX Rising Showcase winners
PAX West 2026 has announced the 11 winners of its PAX Rising Showcase, an event dedicated to highlighting upcoming indie games. Among the selected titles are Lazy River, Dungeon Lurker, Giga Turtles, and the unrevealed Project Red. These games will be playable at the Seattle Convention Center from September 4-7, 2026.
What Does Elegance Mean in Game Design?
This article explores the concept of elegance in game design, defining it as the creation of significant depth from a minimal set of rules. It uses examples like Rayman Jungle Run, Into the Breach, and Celeste to illustrate how elegance can be achieved through subtraction or concentration of mechanics. The author reflects on how this understanding is shifting their own approach to game development, prioritizing depth over adding more features.
Metal Gear Solid Composer's Studio Ghibli Jazz Album Announced
Scarlet Moon Records announced Prescription for Sleep: Ghibli, a new jazz arrangement album featuring music from Studio Ghibli films. The album, performed by Norihiko Hibino and AYAKI as GENTLE LOVE, will be released on July 20, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Spirited Away. Three tracks are currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp.
Summer Vacation Handheld Loadout 2026 | TAG
This guide provides recommendations for pre-installing 4-6 games on handheld devices for vacation gaming, emphasizing variety and offline playability. It covers device-specific considerations for Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPad, along with strategies for battery management, cloud saves, and storage. The article also suggests backup activities and packing checklists for a seamless gaming experience during travel.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continues
The Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Laura Shigihara: The Composer Who Breaks Hearts
Composer Laura Shigihara is celebrated for her emotionally resonant work in games like Rakuen and Deltarune, often evoking deep feelings of sadness and catharsis in players. The article highlights her journey from classical piano training and playing World of Warcraft to becoming a respected game composer and developer, emphasizing the importance of supporting indie creators in the industry.
The BAFTA Young Game Developer Awards feature games tackling anxiety and struggles in daily lives
The BAFTA Young Game Developers Competition has revealed its 2026 finalists, showcasing games that explore themes of anxiety, depression, and daily struggles. Among the highlighted projects are 'In Your Head,' a mental health-themed bullet hell; 'Maya,' a narrative game about sweatshop labor; 'Kompis and the Wells of Fontis,' a platformer about confronting inner demons; and 'The Last Thing the World Forgot,' which delves into memory and societal remembrance.
Weekend Console Download Deals for June 12: PlayStation Mid-Year Deals
PlayStation is offering mid-year deals on titles like ARC Raiders and Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection, with additional free games for PlayStation Plus members. Xbox features Capcom publisher sales, including Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, while the Nintendo eShop also has Capcom discounts. Various other publishers like Atari and RGG Studio also have sales across platforms.
Acclaimed Metroidvania Constance Announced For Nintendo Switch 2
The hand-drawn metroidvania game Constance is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with performance and resolution improvements, including a free upgrade for existing owners. Players control a paintbrush-wielding artist exploring inner-world biomes, utilizing unique brush techniques and unlocking new abilities to overcome challenges and uncover the protagonist's past.
Constance getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
ByteRockers Games, Parco Games, and Blue Backpack have announced a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Constance, a Metroidvania praised for its fluid movement and intricate world design. This new version will feature significant upgrades, including performance modes up to 120 FPS and 1440p resolution. Owners of the original Nintendo Switch version will receive a free upgrade.
How Small Game Studios Are Bootstrapping in 2026
The article analyzes how small game studios can bootstrap their development in 2026 without external funding, highlighting platforms like Itch.io for concept validation, Steam Early Access for revenue generation, Kickstarter for community-funded projects, and Poki for publishing partnership and player data. It emphasizes that these methods are not mutually exclusive and depend on a studio's immediate needs.
Mel the Pyramid Cat Review | TheXboxHub
Mel the Pyramid Cat is a precision platformer that falls short of genre expectations due to its simplistic gameplay mechanics and uninspired stage design. While the game features a distinct desert aesthetic and some challenging enemy combinations, its core traversal abilities and forty stages lack the depth and intentionality found in similar titles. Despite being an improvement over its predecessor, this entry leaves the series stagnating.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 48
This article highlights lesser-known games, including 'Evolution of Ages: Settlements,' a city builder with RPG elements, and 'Celeste Classic,' the free PICO-8 precursor to the acclaimed platformer 'Celeste.' It also discusses 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest' for the Sega Genesis, comparing its design to modern narrative-driven games.
