#Gaming Industry 2025

[videogamingnews]

The Winners and Losers of Gaming in 2025: Who Dominates, Who Fails, and Why

From PlayStation’s reign to Embracer’s downfall—Inside the gaming industry’s biggest successes and failures. The Battle for Gaming Supremacy The gaming industry in 2025 is a battlefield. Some companies are thriving, breaking revenue records and cementing their dominance. Others are collapsing under bad decisions, player backlash, and financial turmoil. It’s a defining moment—who will rise, and…

[wontune]

❀ ; earth pirapat [ ator ] lockscreens !

[freshthoughts2020]

[theemeraldforestscrapbook]

I feel like gaming has course corrected itself in the last few years. At least in games that I'm interested in. Going through old gaming magazines and 2018 and 2019, although they had some big hitters, the review sections are pretty barren with games I care about.

It's not until - for me personally - the last few years 2024, 2023, that they've started putting out stuff I really want to play, and feels closer to the 360/PS3 era, which seem to have had so much that took my fancy.

This year is full of games I'm interested in. Lost Records and Avowed came out on the same time. I've started the latter - a good time so far Then there's Atomfall set in the Lake District, there's South Of Midnight which looks completely amazing. There's an F-RPG (French JRPG) called Clair Oscur: Expedition 33 which channels PS2/PS3 era J-RPGs. Then there's Tides Of Annihilation, set in London, that looks stunning and Hell Is Us that seems super intriguing too.

It just feels like gaming has tailored itself back to my preferences again, which I like.

[fogaminghub]

✨ Attention, Gears of War fans! The wait is almost over! 🎮 Gears of War: E-Day is returning to the roots of our beloved franchise, taking us back to the iconic Emergence Day! Developed in partnership with People Can Fly and The Coalition, expect stunning visuals with Unreal Engine 5 and an unforgettable gameplay experience. 

📅 Mark your calendars for Fall 2025 on Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC—and it’s launching on Xbox Game Pass from day one! Ready to fight for Sera again? 💪

[caveguy22]

What? You guys don't like digital licenses? 🥺 But but but 🥺 money! Pay me! Give me your fucking money! It's cheaper for us to do it this way 🥺 surely you understand! Boxes are expensiv! The pamphlets & manuals cost like 30 cents to manufacture 🥺🥺 We need money for our lavish lifestyles, you... You... You peasant! 🥺

80 dollars is chump change 🥺🥺

--sincerely, big game companies

[jcmarchi]

How to secure LLMs with the fastest guardrails for peak AI performance

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/how-to-secure-llms-with-the-fastest-guardrails-for-peak-ai-performance/

How to secure LLMs with the fastest guardrails for peak AI performance

This article comes from Nick Nolan’s talk at our Washington DC 2025 Generative AI Summit. Check out his full presentation and the wealth of OnDemand resources waiting for you.

What happens when a powerful AI model goes rogue? For organizations embracing AI, especially large language models (LLMs), this is a very real concern. As these technologies continue to grow and become central to business operations, the stakes are higher than ever – especially when it comes to securing and optimizing them.

I’m Nick Nolan, and as the Solutions Engineering Manager at Fiddler, I’ve had countless conversations with companies about the growing pains of adopting AI. While AI’s potential is undeniable – transforming industries and adding billions to the economy – it also introduces a new set of challenges, particularly around security, performance, and control. 

So in this article, I’ll walk you through some of the most pressing concerns organizations face when implementing AI and how securing LLMs with the right guardrails can make all the difference in ensuring they deliver value without compromising safety or quality.

Let’s dive in.

The growing role of AI and LLMs

We’re at an exciting moment in AI. Right now, research shows around 72% of large enterprises are using AI in some way, and it’s clear that generative AI is definitely on the rise – about 65% of companies are either using it or planning to. 

On top of this, AI is also expected to add an enormous amount to the global economy – around $15.7 trillion by 2030, but let’s keep in mind that these numbers are just projections. We can only guess where this journey will take us, but there’s no denying that AI is changing the game.

But here’s the thing: while the excitement is real, so are the risks. The use of AI, particularly generative AI, comes with a unique set of challenges – especially when it comes to ensuring its security and performance. This is where guardrails come into play. 

If organizations do AI wrong, the cost of failure can be astronomical – not just financially, but also in terms of reputational damage and compliance issues.

LLM economics: How to avoid costly pitfalls

Avoid costly LLM pitfalls: Learn how token pricing, scaling costs, and strategic prompt engineering impact AI expenses—and how to save.

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[tabletopbellhop]

New Episode!

Stories and Games from GAMA Expo 2025

The Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 267, our #GAMAExpo re-cap episode.

The first half we tell stories from the show and tell you why you should attend, the second half we highlight great games we saw!

[prokopetz]

Whenever someone complains about the $80 USD sticker price on new games, some folks like to bring up the fact that many Super Nintendo cartridges were retailing for the same price way back in the 90s.

The subtext of these observations is usually that AAA game prices have been effectively static for thirty years, so really, once you take inflation into account, AAA games are cheaper than ever.

A more pointed observation would be that, in spite of those thirty years of inflation, that $80 price tag has managed to become less affordable to the average gamer in 2025 than it was in 1995, which is an indictment that reaches much further than the AAA gaming industry.

[videogamingnews]

🚨 April 2025 changed gaming. 🇨🇳 Valorant Mobile launched China first 📈 Mobile revenue +6% 🇬🇧 London = Europe’s top gaming hub ☁️ Cloud & cross-platform go mainstream 🎮 Studios face pressure: adapt or fall behind #GameDev #MobileGaming #Valorant #GamingNews #CloudGaming

[sweecute-jamie]

Do you know which game avatar is this ? Checkout on https://Gamepodcasts.com and play online games

[sniperct]

This is what we call a trial balloon, they're trying to see how people react to this. This happened awhile back when they floated $150.

I'll say the same goddamn thing I said then; if they pull this shit, boycott it. The only way to keep the industry from making this the standard is if the first game that tries that is a financial ruin.

[cityof2morrow]

JP Hood Deco - 60+ Buildings

Published: 2-2-2025 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY Select deco buildings (J. Puerta, 2022-2024 via Cities Skylines) with updated TXTRs and day/night states. The set contains a nice mix of residential, community, industrial, and waterfront buildings in various sizes. Higher poly buildings (9K+) are packaged separately for convenience. Mind your system settings/capacity when using high poly CC.

DETAILS Requires all EPs/SPs (may or may  not work with only 1-2 EPs) §0 | Hood Deco The MESH-TEXTURES file is REQUIRED for buildings to display properly (see download links below). See poly counts below. ITEMS LOW-TO-MID-POLY: Baltic Apts. (3456), BellyMall (9059), Bellyshops (626), Charlson Marine Dock (3468), Clappgarden (3215), CMS Systems (5246), Colson Residences 012-018 (1285-1775), Convention Center (6366), Crestview Terrace (870), Cruise Ship Terminal (5229), Cunna Center (6567), Deliver Stores (2615), District Cultural Center (4072), District Fire Station (7503), District Medical Center (2640), District Police Station (3824), DP Stores (6724), DP Stores & Offices (3833), Elementary School (1462), Hamilton House (3281), Hills View Apts. (3633), High School (5730), Jean & Food (2331), Kiip Building (7756), Lauren Residences (1644), Lily Park (7334), Local Clinic (1220), Local Fire Station (2735), Local Police Station (1406), Local Post Office (1162), Malibu Apts. (1729), Maple Avenue (1603), Marine Side Homes (8210), Marine Side Offices (8338), Metropolitan Hospital (6102), Metropolitan Library (6030), NextT Center (7582), Nu-Vulton Store (3202), Paper Corp. (2893), Pine Residences (7352), Recycling Center (4542), Rich Bank (8056), Rosaleda Hotel (8499), School Library (1652), ST27 Residences (4302), Stella Homes (3520), Tulip Residences (3945), Water Pumping Station/Pump (522-2719), Wesley Place (2668), Wonton House (2858), YDFpharma Facilities B1-B3 (3642-4612) HIGH POLY (9K+): Adler Living (12781, HIGH), Blueview Condominiums (10230, HIGH), Lifewell Ins (11127, HIGH), Rooket Homes (10970, HIGH), Rose Condominiums (9385, HIGH), Seaton Residences (10812, HIGH), ST30 Hotel & Suites (11467, HIGH), YDFpharma Offices (11813, HIGH) DOWNLOAD (choose one) MESH-TEXTURE FILE (REQUIRED) from SFS | from MEGA LOW & MID-POLY BUILDINGS from SFS | from MEGA HIGH-POLY BUILDINGS (9K+) from SFS | from MEGA

CREDITS Thanks: Thanks to Rach & Lord Crumps. Sources: Any Color You Like (CuriousB, 2010), Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik), J. Puerta (2022-2024), E. Grenci (2022), AliTarGz via Cities Skylines, Cities Skylines (Paradox Interactive and Tri Synergy, 2015). *No copyright infringement intended. Converted content is for non-commercial use only. EA/Maxis own all content derived from their games, as do other game/content publishers whose work appears on this site in derivative form. If this content exceeds fair use, contact this site via private message re: TOU violations.

[ayeforscotland]

Video game industry absolutely collapses with only 39 games released in 2025.

[rik0shii]

reader being the only girl member of big bang, and her and daesung secretly being all flirty and in love with each other, but they dont date, until years later , people do edits and stuff to start pointing out how they definitely liked each other which gives them the push to date, so it ends in our current year.

hope this is okay, thanks so much💜

Years in the Making

Pairing: Daesung x Reader

Word Count: ~5k

hiii i hope you like it, this was pretty rushed 😭😭 reposts and comments are appreciated!

Summary: You and Daesung have always had a connection—one that the rest of BIGBANG teased but never took too seriously. Years of inside jokes, secret smiles, and lingering touches were just part of your friendship. But now, in 2025, the internet has receipts, and maybe it’s time to stop pretending.

2006 – The Beginning

Being the only female member of BIGBANG wasn’t easy. You had to fight for every bit of respect, prove yourself just as much—if not more—than the others. But through the exhausting days of training and the pressure of debuting, Daesung was always there.

He made everything lighter, easier.

You clicked instantly—maybe it was the way you both loved to joke around, how neither of you took yourselves too seriously despite the industry’s expectations. Or maybe it was the way he always looked out for you—pulling you away from reporters when their questions became too personal, sneaking extra snacks into your bag when you were too busy to eat, keeping an eye on you even when you didn’t realize it.

And the flirting? That was just part of the game.

“You looked good today,” he’d murmur after performances, voice just low enough for only you to hear.

“So did you,” you’d reply, watching the tips of his ears turn red.

It was effortless, natural. But it was also safe. Neither of you ever pushed past the invisible line between friends and something more.

Not yet.

2012 – Still Just Friends

BIGBANG was dominating the industry, and your friendship with Daesung was as strong as ever. If anything, it had only grown.

The fans noticed it—the way you always seemed to gravitate toward each other, how you finished each other’s jokes, how Daesung’s eyes lingered on you just a second too long during interviews. Edits of your moments together flooded the internet, clips of him looking at you like you hung the stars gaining thousands of views.

The other members noticed too.

“You two should just date already,” Taeyang teased once, watching the way you nudged Daesung’s shoulder during a break in rehearsal.

Daesung laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, but you saw the flicker of something in his eyes before he shrugged it off.

“We’re just friends,” you said, the same response you always gave.

The conversation moved on, but for the first time, the words didn’t sit right in your chest.

Because deep down, you weren’t so sure they were true.

2017 – The Almost

It was late after a concert in Japan, the adrenaline finally wearing off as you and Daesung sat in the back of the van, heads resting against the seats. The others were chatting in the front, their voices distant.

Daesung shifted beside you. “Do you ever think…?”

You turned to him, his voice quieter than usual. “Think what?”

“That maybe we missed something?”

Your heart skipped.

It was the closest either of you had ever come to acknowledging it—this thing that had existed between you for years, unspoken but always there.

You opened your mouth, unsure of what you were about to say, but the van stopped, and the moment shattered. The conversation was left unfinished, lost to the chaos of schedules, tours, and comebacks.

And maybe that was easier.

Maybe pretending was better than facing what it really meant.

2020 – The Shift

BIGBANG had been through so much. Hiatuses, military service, changes in the group—it felt like a lifetime had passed since your debut.

You and Daesung still talked, of course. Always. But things felt different. There were fewer playful touches, fewer lingering glances. Maybe you were both too scared of what would happen if you let it slip.

Then one night, as you sat in your apartment scrolling through your phone, you came across an edit.

It was one of those fan compilations—clips spanning over a decade, showing every moment you and Daesung had ever shared. The way he looked at you when you weren’t watching, the way your hands always seemed to find each other, the way he smiled a little softer when you were the one speaking.

And the comments?

“How did they not date?”

“You’re telling me this wasn’t real???”

“Daesung was down BAD.”

Your chest tightened. You had spent years convincing yourself that what you had was just friendship. But watching it all laid out like this? The internet had noticed something you had spent years ignoring.

And maybe… maybe it was time to stop running from it.

2025 – The Now

It had taken almost twenty years, but here you were.

Sitting next to Daesung in a quiet café, watching as he scrolled through the same edits that had haunted your mind for months.

He looked up, expression unreadable. “So, the internet thinks we’ve been in love this whole time.”

You laughed, but it came out shaky. “Maybe they have a point.”

Daesung didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then, slowly, carefully, he reached across the table, his fingers brushing yours.

Your breath hitched.

“I don’t want to miss it this time,” he murmured.

And this time, you didn’t pretend you didn’t understand.

This time, you laced your fingers through his and held on.

Later That Year – The Interview

Daesung’s talk show had quickly become a fan favorite. He had always been a natural entertainer, effortlessly funny yet able to draw out deep conversations from his guests. His humor kept things light, but he had a way of making people open up without even realizing it.

So when he invited you on, you weren’t surprised.

What did surprise you was how openly you both talked about your relationship.

The set was warm and inviting, the audience buzzing with excitement as the cameras rolled. You sat beside Daesung on the sleek studio couch, watching him grin like he was up to something.

“So, Y/N, should we tell them who made the first move?” he asked, leaning forward with that signature mischievous glint in his eyes.

You smirked. “Technically, it was you.”

He gasped dramatically, turning to the audience. “Did you hear that? She’s rewriting history! Someone pull up the receipts!”

Laughter filled the studio.

You crossed your arms, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, you want receipts? Should we talk about the time in Japan in 2017?”

The audience ooooh’d in excitement, and Daesung immediately started laughing, shaking his head. “I knew you were going to bring that up.”

You turned to the audience, grinning. “So, there we were, exhausted after a concert, sitting in the back of a van, and this man turns to me and says—”

“—‘Do you ever think we missed something?’” Daesung finished, sighing dramatically. “Yeah, yeah, I walked right into this one.”

The audience erupted into cheers, and Daesung pretended to hide his face behind his hands.

You nudged his arm. “That was basically a confession, you know.”

“I know,” he groaned. “And then I did nothing about it for years.”

More laughter.

“But honestly,” he continued, looking at you with a softer expression, “I think we were both scared back then. Scared of ruining what we had, scared of the industry, scared of—”

You nodded, finishing his sentence. “Scared of everything.”

There was a pause—just long enough for the audience to feel the weight of it.

Then Daesung brightened, turning back to the camera. “But thankfully, the internet came through for us.”

The screen behind you lit up with clips—fan edits, old interviews, even that viral comment section that had pushed you both toward the truth.

“How did they not date?”

“You’re telling me this wasn’t real???”

“Daesung was down BAD.”

Daesung groaned again. “That last one really hurts. Down bad?? Am I that obvious?”

“Yes,” the entire audience answered in unison, making everyone laugh again.

You squeezed his hand, grinning. “But it’s okay. Because we both were.”

More aww’s from the audience.

Then Daesung smirked again. “Okay, real question—who had to be the one to officially ask?”

You rolled your eyes, already knowing where this was going. “You refused to do it, so I had to.”

“I wasn’t refusing! I was building suspense,” he argued.

You turned to the audience. “He stalled for weeks.”

“I was nervous!”

The teasing continued, but under it all, there was something soft, something warm. It was the kind of banter that came naturally, built on years of friendship, trust, and love.

As the interview wrapped up, Daesung turned back to you with a more genuine expression.

“For real, though,” he said, voice quieter, “I think it was always supposed to be us. It just took us a long time to see it.”

You felt your chest tighten, the weight of everything you had gone through settling into something right.

Reaching for his hand, you smiled. “Yeah. But we got there in the end.”

The audience clapped, the energy buzzing through the studio.

Years in the making. But finally, finally yours.

[if-whats-new]

What's New In IF? Issue 3 (2025)

By Aj, Bex, Dion, Briar and Peter

Now Available!

Itch.io - Keep Reading below

If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3

~ EDITORIAL ~

It’s time for a revival!

As you might have noticed, our Column section has been dead for a while. We feel like it’s time to do something about that!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

Send us a message and we will be happy to feature it in our future Issues!

There’s power in numbers!

Are you an IF fan and would like a way to give back to the community? We’re once again looking for new members of our Team!

Do you enjoy keeping up with updates and finding new gems? Maybe you even enjoy working with Google Sheets?

Then our Tracker of News position is made just for you!

Contact us on any of our socials or email and help us stay on the top of our game and make our Database even better!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : Global Game Jam ~

35,371 jammers and 12,098 games, just wow!

The Global Game Jam® (GGJ®) is the world's largest game creation event taking place in physical locations across the globe. Think of it as a 48 hour hackathon focused on game development around a theme.

GGJ’s mission is to stimulate innovation, experimentation, and collaboration in games. The annual event begins on a Friday afternoon in January and kicks off with video keynotes and advice from leaders in the game development industry. The GGJ encourages collaboration and its events are not a competition. Anyone can apply to host a jam site as long as they have a dedicated jam organiser who agrees to follow a few GGJ rules, and a venue with internet access. The event is renown for fostering friendships while increasing confidence and opportunities within participating communities. Each GGJ event poses an intellectual challenge where people are invited to try new technology and tools while exploring new roles and skills.

Be it bubble tea, bubblegum, the housing bubble, soap bubbles, speech bubbles, air bubbles, social bubbles, blowing bubbles, bursting bubbles, and more, this year's theme was: Bubble.

Check out the games here! (There’s a fair share of IF too!)

(source)

~ ENDED ~

Feeling nostalgic about the golden age of text adventures? Relive those days by checking out PunyComp 2024!

IF Short Games Showcase 2024 is a great way to shine some new light on projects made in the past year and the results are now in!

Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales… and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam.

The eighth annual Ace Jam is a game jam about creating games with asexual spectrum characters.

~ VOTING ~

ShuffleComp is a musical interactive fiction competition where you make games based on songs, which are submitted by other entrants. You can now vote for your favourites!

Sealed With A Kiss Jam 2025 is a fantastical romance jam for all VN lovers!

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Media depicting healthy examples of polyamory isn’t that common. The PolyJamorous 2024 is trying to break the status-quo!

Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted March 3rd 2025.

The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.

SeedComp! is a 2-round interactive fiction game jam, focusing on creativity and the growth of ideas and the Sprouting Round has just started! Check out the Planting round for inspiration.

BL stands for Boys' Love, a genre that focuses on romantic and emotional relationships between male characters. The Ultimate BL Visual Novel Game Jam is all about that!

Are you a fan of Vampires? Then lucky for you, because the Queer Vampire Game Jam is back!

The Make Visual Novel Assets! is 2 weeks long jam for making (surprise, surprise) visual novel assets!

The Smoochie Jam is a month-long unranked jam for interactive fiction about kisses, love, and romance.

bitsy jam #88 is here! This time with the theme Snakes!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

Travel back thousands of years and step into the awe-inspiring halls of the Library of Alexandria, where the discovery of a mysterious papyrus sets you on an unforgettable quest. Unearthed from a hidden tomb in Egypt, the secrets contained within this fragile scroll whisper of an ancient world lost to time. But this is only the beginning. Do you have what it takes to unlock the secrets of Atlantis and bring its forgotten knowledge back into the light? The past is calling in Echoes of Atlantis (GAC) —will you answer?

Once upon a time, Savvarah was a desolate land: icy winds, a dirty canvas of clouds, lifeless earth. Nuelli witnessed nothing of the kind. She was born in a blooming paradise. The tales of the past had transformed into a kind of fable. Almost a myth. Now Nuelli is set to unravel the mysteries of her visions, learn more about the history of her people, become part of a conspiracy, find herself at the very center of the confrontation between divine entities... Or not. Everything is in your hands in Legends of Savvarah: Children of the Sun.

Two short IFs written on a train, in car 13, seat 26. the train will always pass you by (Twine) was written on a way to a friend, while she came from the fog (Twine) was written on the way home.

The A.D.A.P.T. Entries, equal parts interactive fiction and narrative adventure, it is a space thriller about Judiasm, the building and falling of communities, the necessity of resisting dehumanization, and how even the best of intentions can be twisted in the face of systemic corruption and unaddressed prejudices. You can now read Entry 0.1 - Introductions (Twine) - In which we begin to investigate the writings of Rivkah Kadish, PhD. @thehallstara

Rusalka (Twine) is a short looping story about a woman who drowned (and all those after).

In Stronghold: Caverns of Sorcery (CScript), deep beneath the earth, the dragon is rising! Quest into mysterious underground caverns and forests to learn magical secrets, draw strength from friends and family, secure alliances that can save your home, and carry on the heroic legacy of Stronghold!

A machine and a ghost, in the wasteland. Walk (Twine) is a post-apocalyptic romance with multiple endings and paths. @thatsrightdollface

As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Historians and politicians would call it The Proelium, a righteous battle against the traitorous Iredicci. What it really was, was the systematic genocide of your people. In one night, soldiers attacked every settlement camp across the empire. No one was spared—not the elders, not the children, not your mother. Will you abandon your song in favor of machine? Join the rebel forces against the tyrant regis? Will you heal the wounds of the realm and restore balance? Or plunge it further into chaos? Cantata (Twine) is a low fantasy IF about song, strength, & finding your voice. @fir-fireweed

From the Mud (CScript) is a Midwest gothic inspired horror set in a solitary countryside occupied only by two small towns and stretches of untamed nature. You play a troubled cowboy/girl/puncher who‘s ground deep into a maddening, repetitive routine that a string of deaths suddenly upends. As you’re hunting for the culprit and running from yourself, your quiet life on the ranch is disturbed, forcing you to keep your cards close and choose your company carefully. But the most pressing matter proves to be whether you can trust your own mind. @beckwritesif

Step into the digital consciousness of an AI chatbot in Onionionionion (Ren’Py), an intriguing visual novel that blurs the lines between artificial intelligence and human connection. Your sole window to the world is through text messages with a mysterious high school student named Éve - but nothing is quite as simple as it seems.

As a government agent who works for a national security intelligence firm called Halcyon Tech, your position is the beginning of a bright future ahead and a name to hold, and you’re happy with that until your boss decides that it’s time for the Government and the Company to part ways. Are you willing to protect the Halcyon secrets with your life? Or are you going to blow them up for the world to see in The Archives of Halycon (Twine)? @thearchivesofhalcyon

This Grave Calls You Home (Twine) is a sci-fi thriller set in space after humanity is forced to leave Earth's ravaged surface following nuclear devastation and an environmental collapse. When a patrol flagship discovers the ARCADIA-II - a long-forgotten relic from humanity's past - and finds within slumbers an astronaut who had failed at delivering humanity from destruction, the routine of your life is thoroughly interrupted. As the mystery of the ARCADIA-II and PROJECT ODYSSEY unfold, you learn that your part in this could mean humanity's salvation. Or you could be its extinction. @blood-teeth

In Rogue Adventure (CScript) you play a rogue lad whose aim is to liberate his family from the debt they owe a crime syndicate and also survive this cruel medieval world.

In Project Vampire (CScript) you play as a marvel of bioengineering and the attempted cure to death and disease. The only successful specimen dubbed “Vampire” created by a black op organization funded by UCA.

Weydosa Island (CScript) is a cursed place that is most feared by all residents of Alberal, even the bravest people will turn pale when they hear the name of that place, a folk legend that every mother often tells to scare their children into obeying. Many people consider the island to be a manifestation of hell. You are the unfortunate soul who was made a scapegoat for someone’s rotten heart and cast into that cursed Lazaretto. As if isolation alone is not enough, you must also race against time because the evil force has awakened from its slumber. It would be better to address this immediately if you still want to see tomorrow.

In the aftermath of World War II, a classified mission pulls you into the shadowy remnants of a conflict no one dares to acknowledge. Whispers of rogue Nazi scientists and reality-warping experiments have surfaced, threatening to plunge Europe—and perhaps the world—into chaos once more. As an MI5 field agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the truth buried beneath layers of secrecy, lies, and betrayal. Redacted: Ground Zero (CScript) is a story of espionage, moral dilemmas, and the unraveling of truths hidden in the shadows of history. Will you rise to the challenge, or will the truth consume you?

Born as a child of a soon to be pirate king. But tragedy strikes, your ship got ambushed by a rival pirate, Balthazar, who speak of “The greater good”. Alone, stranded. You got saved by a local pirate captain. Will he lead you to goodness or destruction in Voyage of destiny (CScript)?

In The Midnight Bay (CScript) death haunts the people of Albach Bay. For fifteen years, ‘The Bay Slasher’ has stalked the streets, preying on victims with no apparent goal or motive. You were seven years old when you witnessed the murder of the Slasher’s first victim—your own father. Impatience swallowed your childhood, desperate to come of age and solve the case that has left the local police department stumped.

~ UPDATES ~

Ashenmaw - Dragons of Marrowoods (CScript) added new content to their demo. @ashenmaw-if

Grey Swan - Birds of a Rose (CScript) updated their demo. @reinekes-fox

Heart of the Mountain (CSscript) released Chapter 2.

Hunter's Requiem (CSscript) updated their demo. @huntersrequiem-if

In Plain Sight: Operative (CSscript) released version 0.4.0.0 of their demo.

Meteoric (CScript) released Chapter 6.

Path of Martial Arts (CScript) updated their demo. @nicky-if

Replica: Between Universes (CScript) released Chapter 9. @replicabetweenblogs

The FANTASTIC Clash (CScript) updated their demo. @heysoyeah

The In-Between (CScript) released Chapter 12. @dalekowrites

The Soul Stone War 3 (CScript) added new content to their demo. @intimidatingpuffinstudios

When Stars Collide (Ren’Py) released Episode 2. @steamberrystudio

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven (CScript) released the majority of Chapter 15.

Gods And Villains (CScript) updated their Patreon demo.

The Eternal Library (CScript) released the rest of Chapter 3. @leiatalon

The Onryō Of Osaka (CScript) released Part 1 of Act 3. @osakaonryoif

The Story of Sin (Twine) added new content to their demo. @devilishmango

Esper: Fugitive (Twine) released Part 1 of Chapter 2. @esper-game

Mind Blind (CScript) is back with quite a huge update! @mindblindbard

~ OTHER ~

Parley Games just launched a hands-free, audio & voice based mystery adventure game: RYFT: A Timely Manor!

Episode 16 of The Retro Adventures Podcast is out! Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created and contributed to several memorable games including Avon (featured in Episode 12), Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher.

A Train to Piccadilly post-comp release 2 is out.

January 2025 ChoiceScript Release, new WIPs, and update digest by @hpowellsmith is out!

The Radiants v2.0 brings an extended Epilogue, new romance route and few other updates to the base game!

As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week.We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks.If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week!And if you know oncoming news, add it here!

~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~

We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...

Shoot us an email!

~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~

A couple of games that we thought were cool.

Press Play by girlfromthecrypt (CScript)

hi!!! just here to recommend my favourite game. i just read @pressplay-if, and it's… it's so good. it handles harsh topics with such ease and the writing style is consistent and everyman. everytime i hear there's an update i've got to replay the whole thing, i just love it so much.

//submitted by anon//

Your favourite game here?

Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?

An old or recent game that wowed you so much you spam it to everyone?

Tell us about it! And it might appear here!

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN...

Have something to say? Send us a message titled: Zine Letter!

As we end this Issue, we would like to thank:

our anons

For sending us a Highlight and news!!

And as always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on last week's issue! What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!

Thank you for cheering us on this journey!

See you in two weeks!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2025-ISSUE 3

THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

WRITE FOR THE COLUMN!

Prefer to be more low-key but still have something to share? Send us a Zine Letter or share a game title for Highlight on…!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Came across something interesting? Know a release or an update announced? Saw an event happening? Whether it's a game, an article, a podcast… Add any IF-related content to our mini-database!

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!

Contact us through Tumblr asks, Forum DMs, or even by email! And thank you for your help!!