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Indie dev defends criticism of Steam refund abuse amid review bombing of his game: 'It's wrong to refund a…
Indie developer Mateo Covic has spoken out against players who refund games on Steam after completing them, despite his own game, Paddle Paddle Paddle, experiencing a high refund rate. Covic clarified that his frustration stems from players bragging about finishing and refunding games, not the refund policy itself. The controversy has led to some review bombing of his game, though he maintains his stance that completing a game and then refunding it is unethical.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has £75 of day one DLC and fans are livid
Players are expressing anger over day-one DLC for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, with optional cosmetic packs and a map costing over £75. Ubisoft stated that the standard edition offers the complete experience and the additional packs are not required. Despite the controversy, the remake has achieved a 'mostly positive' rating on Steam.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
Echoes of Aincrad Released
Echoes of Aincrad, an action RPG from Game Studio Inc. and Bandai Namco Entertainment, is now available for PC and consoles. The game shares a setting with Sword Art Online and is available on Steam for Windows.
Release Dates/Windows
Several games have announced their release dates and associated trailers. Geppy-X will have its official countdown trailer on July 16th, Graphite will release a date announcement trailer on July 27th, and Verde is set to launch on Steam on August 12th.
Suss Out Saboteurs in Style: Firefighting Social Deduction Game OCTOPinbs Adds New Free Skins, 30% Off Sale
The firefighting social deduction game OCTOPinbs has received a free DLC update adding new firefighter skins and emotes. Co-developers tri-Ace and Lasengle Inc., along with publisher Aniplex, announced the update for PC via Steam. The game is also currently available at a 30% discount during the Steam Social Deduction Fest.
Unusual Findings’ “Vinny’s Diary” update available now on all platforms
The "Vinny's Diary" update for the 80s-inspired pixel-art adventure game Unusual Findings is now available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Epic Llama Games and published by ESDigital Games, this free update includes improved controls, new content, and quality-of-life enhancements. The game has received critical acclaim for its narrative, puzzles, and art direction since its launch.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Has The Best Launch The Series Has Seen In Years
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved the best launch performance for the series in years, with over 100,000 players on Steam alone, excluding other PC storefronts and consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Despite this success, Ubisoft Barcelona is implementing layoffs impacting around 51 developers as part of broader company cuts.
A Mobile Headon: Body Cam Shooter Is Coming to PC - Wishlist Now on Steam 🚀
Headon: Body Cam Shooter, a tactical multiplayer game with a body cam perspective, is coming to PC via Steam's Early Access. The developers aim to expand and improve the experience based on feedback from its established mobile player base.
Indie developer says Steam did them a solid by fixing their unbootable game to beat the Next Fest deadline
An indie developer shared how Steam Support went above and beyond by fixing a broken build of their game, Red Flag, allowing it to meet the deadline for Steam Next Fest. Instead of rejecting the submission due to a C++ redistributable issue, a Steam reviewer corrected the configuration themselves. This act of support enabled the game to participate in the festival, leading to a significant increase in wishlists and player engagement.
Black Flag Resynced blows every other Assassin's Creed - and very nearly The Witcher 3 - out of the Steam waters
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced has achieved a series-high concurrent player count of nearly 100,000 on Steam, surpassing other recent Assassin's Creed titles like Odyssey and Shadows. While it fell slightly short of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's peak, its performance is notable for a single-player game, especially considering the current hot weather. The article also briefly mentions Skyrim's launch numbers and highlights the appeal of open-world and pirate-themed games.
ALL ABOARD: AESIR INTERACTIVE’S EVERRAIL ARRIVES IN EARLY ACCESS ON JULY 20
Aesir Interactive announced that its self-published open-world survival crafting game, EverRail, will launch into Early Access on July 20, 2026, for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game will be priced at $14.99 with a 10% launch discount, and will also be available in a Supporter Edition and with a separate DLC pack for additional cosmetic items.
ANIIMO SHARES NEW TRAILER TO CELEBRATE OPENING OF GLOBAL BETA TEST
Pawprint Studio has launched the global closed beta test for their creature-catching open-world RPG, Aniimo. The beta is available on PC via Steam and a standalone launcher, as well as iOS and Android devices. The game is slated for a Q3 2026 release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Mac.
The World Well: Blood of Caro Reveals August 18 Release Date at Bilibili World 2026
Beep Japan, Inc., 2P Games, and Pulling Lemon Studio announced that the dark fantasy visual novel The World Well: Blood of Caro will launch on Steam on August 18, 2026. A free demo is currently available on Steam, allowing players to experience the beginning of the story set in a world ruled by vampires.
Dinoblade – Everything You Need to Know
Dinoblade is a prehistoric action-RPG developed by solo creator Jean Nguyen, featuring dinosaurs wielding large swords. The game blends Soulslike combat with light RPG progression and exploration, and its demo has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. Currently slated for a July 23rd release on PC, Dinoblade focuses on fluid combat, readable animations, and a compelling narrative about preventing extinction.
Against the Storm Free Weekend
Eremite Games and Hooded Horse are offering a free weekend for the fantasy city-builder Against the Storm on Steam. Players can try the game for free until Monday.
Slay the Spire meets Terra Nil in The Solace of Flowers, an "eco-dystopian" deckbuilder in which you cover corrupted islands with foxgloves, bees and, er, lions
The Solace of Flowers is a tactical roguelike deckbuilder with gardening elements, where players plant flora and deploy animal cards on corrupted islands to fend off apocalyptic threats. Developed by Ceiling Games, the game combines deckbuilding synergies with grid-based island colonization mechanics, aiming for a unique eco-dystopian experience.
Devs don't buy Steam disclosure claiming gen AI was a necessity: "I'm literally unemployed and I still…
A Steam disclosure for the game Bahast, which stated generative AI was essential for its development, has sparked debate among developers. Many indie developers argue against using AI, citing personal asset creation without AI despite financial struggles. Industry figures like Tim Sweeney believe AI-aided development is crucial for the future, while Sony also views AI as an important technology.
A single city-state against empires: the hybrid strategy game leaves Early Access with its full 1.0 release
The hybrid strategy game City States: Medieval has left Early Access and launched its full 1.0 version on July 24, 2026. Developed by Reverie World Studios and published by indie.io, the game focuses on a merchant city-state surviving between larger empires in the 12th century and is available on Steam and the indie.io Store.
Gray Trading Turns the Stock Market Into an Incremental Game
Solo developer Nedeey has released Gray Trading, an incremental game inspired by stock market trading, on PC via Steam. Players buy and sell stocks, trade forex, and unlock upgrades and automation to maximize profits. The game is available for $3.99 with a limited-time launch discount.