Unpacking
News, coverage and analysis tracking Unpacking across the outlets.
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The 50 most-played Steam Next Fest demos include 7 incremental games, 4 AI disclosures, and only one instance of…
Valve has released the list of the 50 most-played demos from the recent Steam Next Fest, highlighting the continued popularity of incremental games and co-op titles. Notably, games overtly utilizing generative AI were largely absent from the top-played list, with only four such titles appearing.
"We made a very difficult decision": Australian indie showcase Freeplay reject antisemitism claims after delisting a Jewish sponsor who was allegedly accused of being a "zionist"
The Australian independent games showcase Freeplay has refunded and delisted the sponsorship of developer Wren Brier, citing accusations from an unnamed speaker that she is a "zionist." Brier, who is Jewish and emigrated from Israel as a teenager, denies being a zionist and states the accusation stemmed from her game Unpacking being featured in a Jewish publication. Freeplay claims the decision was difficult and made under time pressure to prevent the event from being cancelled, while rejecting accusations of prejudice, though the event has faced backlash and lost support from the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
Why so many Steam games have weirdly similar (and forgettable) names
The article discusses the trend of generic and forgettable game names on Steam, citing examples like DUST: Origins and Duskfade. Experts like Hannah Flynn and Simon Carless offer insights into effective game naming strategies, emphasizing originality, memorability, and reflecting the game's essence over mimicking popular titles.
Mark Darrah, co-director of Dragon Age: Origins, has played Riven for 3 minutes and Factorio for 832 hours: 'If you want to know what kind of programmer someone would be, have them play Factorio'
Former BioWare director Mark Darrah discusses his gaming habits, highlighting an 832-hour playtime in Factorio and a brief three-minute session with Riven. Darrah, known for his work on the Dragon Age series, shares insights into game development, programming, and design, emphasizing the lessons learned from playing games like Factorio and his past projects.
Unbox The Room – Unpacking, Decorating And Quiet Stories Land On Xbox
Unbox the Room, an interior design simulator developed by Weird Penguin Games and published by Omni Games, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. The game challenges players to unpack boxes, arrange furniture, and decorate spaces while uncovering stories about the clients through their belongings. It also features a Sandbox Mode and three exclusive bonus levels for Xbox players.
Whisper Of The House Review | TheXboxHub
Whisper of the House is a simulation game that tasks players with unpacking belongings in Whisper Town, drawing comparisons to Unpacking but lacking its emotional storytelling. The Xbox port suffers from control issues and bugs, detracting from the experience.
If You Love Stardew Valley Or Unpacking, This Cozy Game Bundle Is Perfect For You
Fanatical has launched a "Build Your Own Wholesome Collection" bundle on Steam, featuring cozy games like Stardew Valley and Unpacking. Players can select three games for $10, with additional discounts for purchasing more titles, offering a cost-effective way to acquire relaxing gaming experiences.
Steam Week in Review: Games about sorting 1000s of mundane objects onto shelves is the new craze sweeping PC gaming
A new trend of 'sorting simulator' games is gaining popularity on PC, focusing on the mundane task of organizing thousands of objects onto shelves. Titles like Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library!, Toy Shop Tidy Up, and Cellar Keeper exemplify this microgenre, offering varying levels of complexity and player satisfaction. This trend follows the success of other simulation games like House Flipper and Power Wash Simulator, with numerous similar titles slated for release.
Xbox Game Pass Hidden Gems: 20 Games Worth Playing Right Now (2026) | TAG
This guide highlights 20 under-the-radar games available on Xbox Game Pass, categorized by their time commitment. It focuses on titles that are either new, forgotten, or obscure, offering recommendations for various playstyles and schedules. The article emphasizes that these games are worth owning even if they leave the service.
Paralives’ Success Shows Being Generous To Players Isn’t Unreasonable
Paralives' success in early access highlights the appeal of its commitment to free post-launch DLC and updates, contrasting with industry trends focused on maximizing player spending. The small, independent team, funded by Patreons and without investors, can afford to prioritize player generosity. This approach is compared to No Man's Sky, which also found success through consistent free content updates.
Game Pass Adds A Fan Favourite As Eight Games Prepare To Leave
Xbox Game Pass is adding RV There Yet? and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 to its library across various tiers, including PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. However, eight games, including Rise of the Tomb Raider and Slay the Spire, will be removed from the service on June 30th.
Xbox Game Pass Loses 8 More Games Very Soon
Microsoft is removing eight games from Xbox Game Pass on June 30, including Payday 2, Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Slay the Spire, Ultimate Chicken Horse, Mecha Break, Volcano Princess, and Unpacking. Subscribers can purchase these titles at a discount before they are delisted. New additions to Game Pass in June include Call of Duty: Vanguard and EA Sports FC 26.
Here's your next batch of Xbox Game Pass games for June
Microsoft has announced new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June and early July, including EA Sports FC 26, Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. Several titles are also departing the service on June 30th.
Game Pass adds EA Sports FC 26, RV There Yet?, Winds of Arcana: Ruination, and more in late June to early July
Microsoft has announced new titles coming to Game Pass between late June and early July, including EA Sports FC 26, RV There Yet?, and Winds of Arcana: Ruination. Several other games like Junkster, Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Abyssus are also being added. Additionally, the article lists games that will be leaving the Game Pass library on June 30.
Xbox Game Pass lineup for late June 2026 announced
Microsoft has revealed the upcoming games for Xbox Game Pass in late June 2026, including day-one releases like Junkster and Abyssus. Notable additions include Call of Duty: Vanguard, EA Sports FC 26, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Several titles are also departing the service at the end of June.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: EA Sports FC 26, RV There Yet?, Winds of Arcana: Ruination, and More
Xbox Game Pass is adding several new titles throughout June and July, including EA Sports FC 26, RV There Yet?, and Winds of Arcana: Ruination. The service will also see the addition of Call of Duty: Vanguard, Abyssus, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. Several games are also leaving the Game Pass library at the end of June.
Call of Duty: Vanguard and EA Sports FC 26 Joining Game Pass This Week
Xbox Game Pass is adding several titles throughout June and July, including Call of Duty: Vanguard on June 17th and EA Sports FC 26 on June 18th. New additions also feature Abyssus, RV There Yet?, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4. Several games will depart the service on June 30th, such as Mecha BREAK and Slay the Spire.
Review: Momento Encourages Certain Item Arrangements and Unpacking
Momento is a new cozy organizing and puzzle game from Fat Alien Cat and Nomo Studio that builds on the genre established by Unpacking. Players arrange items to progress through different life stages, with choices impacting the narrative path. While not as groundbreaking as Unpacking, Momento offers satisfying puzzles and encourages replayability.
Paralives is unpacking a collab with Aussie game Unpacking
The life simulation game Paralives is collaborating with the Aussie-made game Unpacking in a free update. This update will add iconic items from Unpacking, such as stuffed toys and posters, as decorative objects for players' homes. This marks another collaboration for Paralives, which has previously partnered with games like Among Us and Boyfriend Dungeon.
IGEA Announces the 2026 AGDAs
The Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs) will return in 2026, celebrating the Australian games industry with nominations now open until June 7. The ceremony will be held on October 7 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre as part of Melbourne International Games Week, recognizing outstanding games, studios, and individuals.