A new game-related effort to support Palestine in the ongoing conflict in Gaza is available on itch.io.
It is called Play For Peace: Games for Palestine Charity and is organised by Jun Shen Chia, who is also Xbox Southeast Asia’s Strategic Marketing Expansion lead.
The effort is essentially selling a bundle of nearly 400 games from 248 creators for US$8, featuring everything from cosy narrative sims, meditative adventures, action games, visual novel tools, experimental sims, and an RPG about being a cow, to tabletop experiences covering themes from the occult to journaling and self-discovery.
The money is going to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which then channels it directly to relief efforts in Palestine. As of now, the charity bundle has raised US$44,000.
Short Beats
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release on Sept 4 at 10pm temporarily put digital storefront Steam and other console online stores on downtime for about four hours due to overwhelming demand.
2K Games has confirmed that Civilization 7 studio Firaxis is facing layoffs, with veterans of Civilization and Marvel’s Midnight Suns among those affected.
PlayStation has shown off new gameplay of the upcoming I/O Interactive title 007 First Light.
Saudi Arabia-backed firm Qiddiya has acquired co-ownership of the EVO fighting game tournament and bought over organisers RTS.
A Call of Duty movie is in the works at Paramount.
Op-Ed
We talk about the Merdeka Cup 2025 x Umamusume Malaysia gathering at Selangor Turf Club, which had quite a huge turnout.
Games Out This Week
Hollow Knight: Silksong is the long-awaited metroidvania action follow-up to 2017’s Hollow Knight. You play as Hornet, who must fight her way through infected bugs and monsters to the peak of a land ruled by silk and song.
Hirogami is a new 3D platformer from Kakehashi Games, Bandai Namco Singapore, and Bandai Namco Malaysia, featuring a wholly unique origami aesthetic.
Hell Is Us is a new third-person action-adventure game from Nacon and Rogue Factor. This title is set in a civil war-laden country filled with mysterious creatures to fight.
Bad Cheese is a first-person psychological horror title with aesthetics inspired by 1920s animation. You play as a mouse spending the weekend at home with a dysfunctional father while your mother is away. Be on your best behaviour and keep Dad happy.
Metal Eden is a new first-person shooter from Reikon Games and Deep Silver/Plaion. You play as a female super-soldier with heavy weaponry and flight capabilities, fighting robotic enemies in the futuristic city of Moebius. Available for PC and consoles.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a new sci-fi third-person survival horror game developed and published by Bloober Team, the same studio behind last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a mecha-piloting sci-fi action title and a follow-up to 2019’s Daemon X Machina. Experience fast-paced combat in a fully customised armoured suit as you explore a dangerous world on land and in the air. Take on titanic boss battles solo or with up to two friends in online co-op. Out for PC and consoles.
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a remaster of the classic Hot Shots arcade golf series, originally exclusive to PlayStation, now available for PC and all consoles.
NBA 2K26 is the latest basketball title from 2K Games featuring updated rosters, gameplay physics, and familiar features, albeit repackaged at triple-A pricing. Out for PC and consoles.
Tokyo Underground Killer is a new first-person hack-and-slash game where you play as a vampire slicing through criminals in neon-lit Tokyo with your katana. Out for PC.
Recommended Viewing
If you want to see how a fighting game community can orchestrate its own downfall, check out YouTube content creator Technicals. His latest video covers how the Smash Bros. community lost a civil rights lawsuit.
