Exploration
Ongoing coverage on Exploration.
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gen ATLAS Name Has Many Layered Meanings, Says Fumito Ueda
Fumito Ueda, creator of Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian, discussed the layered meanings behind the title of his new game, gen ATLAS. He explained that 'gen' can refer to genesis, genes, or generation, while 'ATLAS' can mean a world map or the first cervical vertebra, a concept reflected in the robot head design. Ueda also noted that gen ATLAS will share more tonal similarities with Shadow of the Colossus due to its balance of action and exploration, rather than The Last Guardian. The game is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PC release exclusive to the Epic Games Store.
Forever Skies Launches on Xbox Series X|S This Summer
Polish developer Far From Home announced that their survival game Forever Skies will launch on Xbox Series X|S on July 27th, 2026, coinciding with a major free update titled ‘The Final Echoes’ across all platforms. The game, which has sold over 500,000 copies on PlayStation 5 since its April 2025 release, tasks players with exploring a toxic, post-apocalyptic Earth in a customizable airship to find a cure for a deadly virus. Pre-orders for the Xbox version are now open, offering early access and exclusive cosmetic items.
Solarpunk: How to Get and Build an Airship
This guide explains how to obtain and construct an airship in Solarpunk, a crucial element for exploring floating islands and gathering rare materials. Players must first build an Airship Dock, which requires reaching Research Table Tier 2, gathering iron and cotton, and finding Crashed Airship Components. Once the dock is built and placed, the airship can be crafted at its workbench.
How To Reach The Fruitiger Aero Area In Unseen Liminality
This guide explains how to access the Fruitiger Aero area in Unseen Liminality, a small, non-dangerous subfloor. Players can reach it by finding a spiral staircase in a shallow pool within the Pool Rooms, which is accessible from The Lobby. The Fruitiger Aero area grants the 'The Promised Future' badge upon exploration.
Dive Into the Depths in Grounded 2’s Into the Abyss Update
Grounded 2's 'Into the Abyss' update, launching August 11, introduces a large new area centered around the pond, allowing players to explore both above and below the water's surface. The update features new progression systems, challenges, and an amphibious Toe-biter Buggy for traversing land and water. Grounded 2 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, ASUS ROG Ally, Steam, and PlayStation 5, with options for Game Pass.
The Lost Wild looks like a terrifying mix of Alien Isolation and Jurassic Park
The Lost Wild is a survival horror game from Great Ape Games and Annapurna Interactive, set to release in 2027. Players control Saskia as she explores a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs, utilizing stealth and environmental tools to survive rather than direct combat. The game draws comparisons to Alien Isolation and Jurassic Park, emphasizing a tense, slow-burn experience.
Valheim receives Nintendo Switch 2 release date, new trailer
Valheim is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 9, 2026, coinciding with the game's 1.0 release. This brutal exploration and survival game, inspired by Norse mythology, allows for 1-10 players to explore procedurally generated worlds, craft items, build bases, and battle monsters. A new trailer celebrating the release date news has also been released.
If you've ever wanted to play Geoguessr with a narrative twist, Locator: The Search for Abigail is what you've…
Locator: The Search for Abigail is a Geoguessr-inspired detective game where players search for a missing archaeologist on an alien planet. The game, developed by Empty Exhibit and published by Playstack, features a narrative twist on location-based guessing mechanics and was recently shown at the PC Gaming Show with updated visuals.
Bad Magpie Brings Feathered Chaos To Xbox Game Pass Next Year
Bad Magpie, the debut title from UK studio Milktooth, is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Steam in 2027, launching day one on Xbox Game Pass. Players will control a one-winged magpie on a quest for shiny treasures in a non-linear open world filled with secrets and interactive elements. The narrative adventure blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and a touch of mischief with an underlying mystery.
End of Abyss Launches October 1, Pre-Orders Available Now
Section 9 Interactive and Epic Games Publishing announced that End of Abyss will launch on October 1, 2026, for Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The sci-fi horror game focuses on exploration and survival as players descend into a dark, abandoned underground facility filled with hostile creatures.
Fumito Ueda’s Gen Atlas Revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026
Fumito Ueda's studio genDesign, in partnership with Epic Games Publishing, has unveiled Gen Atlas, a single-player sci-fi action-adventure game. Revealed at Summer Game Fest 2026, the title is set on an abandoned planet and features colossal robots that aid in exploration. Gen Atlas is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
Chronoscript: The Endless End launches this fall
The exploration-based action-adventure game Chronoscript: The Endless End is set to launch for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam in Fall. Developed by DeskWorks! and published by Shueisha Games, the title features a unique blend of 2D manuscript pages and a 3D manor setting. A new "Prologue" trailer showcases character designs and the "Ancient Egypt" stage.
Deep Crafter Launches in Early Access — Roadmap Revealed for Future Updates
Deep Crafter, an indie automation and base-building game, is launching into Steam Early Access on June 5, 2026, for PC. The game challenges players to build an automated industrial base on an alien ocean world, featuring exploration, resource gathering, technology development, factory construction, and ecological study. A roadmap reveals three major content update phases planned for the Early Access period.
How to get a map in Gothic Remake
This guide explains how to obtain maps in Gothic Remake, which are essential for navigation as the game lacks a compass. Players can purchase a Colony map from Dexter for 24 ore nuggets or from Graham for 44 ore nuggets, with Dexter offering a cheaper price. An Old Camp map is also available from Graham for 35 ore nuggets, though its necessity is questioned. Additional maps marking specific locations can be bought later, but players can also place their own markers.
Review: Smalland: Survive the Wilds (Switch 2)
Smalland: Survive the Wilds is a survival game where players help tiny creatures colonize a hostile world. The game focuses on crafting, base building, and exploration, with combat being a secondary but challenging element. While the exploration is rewarding and the game looks good on the Nintendo Switch, the narrative is weak, and the co-op experience is hindered by server limitations, making it primarily a single-player journey.
Review: Smalland: Survive the Wilds (Switch 2)
Smalland: Survive the Wilds tasks players with helping a race of tiny creatures called Smallfolk navigate life on a hostile planet by gathering, crafting, and building bases. While the game excels in its exploration and core survival mechanics on the Nintendo Switch, it suffers from a lack of compelling narrative and limitations in its co-op functionality, making it primarily a single-player experience.
What Lurks Below Deck? Steamboat Incident Sets Sail
Steamboat Incident, a new survival horror game from Mascot Bro Studio and Ratalaika Games, is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch for £9.99. The game casts players as a victim on a steamboat hunted by a creature known as Will, focusing on exploration, stealth, and puzzle-solving.
The Cheapest Horror Game On Xbox And PlayStation – Dare You Enter Village of the Curse?
Village of the Curse, a budget-priced horror game from publisher Sometimes You and developer Leakage Games, is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation for £1.69. The game tasks players with investigating a mysterious settlement filled with supernatural threats and dark secrets.
Can Sora Finally Find Its Wings? Songs of the Stone Launches On Xbox
EpiXR Games has released Sora – Songs of the Stone on Xbox Series X|S for £8.39. This latest installment in the Sora series puts players in control of a parrot exploring desert environments, focusing on movement and relaxation rather than combat. The game aims to refine the series' formula with a new setting, though it shares a familiar structure with previous titles.
THE WELL IS NOT EMPTY – Beta Demo | Alpha Beta Gamer
THE WELL IS NOT EMPTY is a first-person horror exploration game where players descend into abandoned tunnels to investigate a dried-up water source and unsettling sounds. The gameplay involves navigating dark passages, manually powering generators, and using stealth to avoid creatures. A beta demo is available on Steam.
