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Devolver Digital unveils a Zelda-like hybrid platformer and a glass skating game

As part of Summer Game Fest 2022, Devolver Digital hosted its own 30-minute showcase and delivered previews of a handful of titles to its fans. Viewers got a sneak peek at a few new games, along with more info on already-announced titles like Cult of the Lamb.

Devolver Digital is known for its special flavor of quirky, indie titles like Card Shark, the action role-playing Western Weird West, and the rouge-like deck-building game Inscryption. While Devolver didn’t have any major announcements, it had a handful of fantastic-looking titles up its sleeve. Here’s what was shown off during the stream.

The Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot who discovers a whole new world outside of the flat pages of his storybook life! Developed by @apossf.

Coming 2023
PS5 | XB S/X | Switch | PChttps://t.co/5Z96xHIEbc pic.twitter.com/njXXfJFgcm

— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) June 9, 2022

The game that stole the show is definitely a Zelda-like title called The Plucky Squire. The story takes a squire named Jot, who lives in a 2D storybook, and throws him into the 3D world outside of the pages.

This 2D/3D hybrid not only takes a bit of obvious inspiration from The Legend of Zelda series, but Punch Out!, shoot ’em’ ups, and a lot more — and it all comes together into a cute package. It releases in 2023.

Spread the word through the flock, Cult of the Lamb launches August 11!

Demo + Pre-Purchase on Steam
PlayStation | Xbox | Switch | PChttps://t.co/ubMrK16FEA pic.twitter.com/1crMIc8YAC

— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) June 9, 2022

Cult of the Lamb is a game that caught a lot of attention at PAX earlier this year. In this game, you play as a lamb with the goal of building your own town and cult. To complete this goal, players have to go through a roguelike world, take on demonic creatures, and gather materials along the way. The game drops pretty soon on August 11, 2022.

Anger Foot is an ultra fast blast of shattered doors, broken bones, and crumpled energy drinks from @Free_Lives!

Coming 2023
Demo + Wishlist on Steamhttps://t.co/kc0BQw8WkO pic.twitter.com/5rTwncn50p

— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) June 9, 2022

If that isn’t over the top enough for you, there’s Anger Foot, a high-octane action game where players literally kick (and occasionally dropkick and shoot) their way through everything in their way. There’s also a lot of green blood and explosions. It releases in 2023, but a demo is currently available on Steam.

You are a demon, made out of glass and pain in Skate Story from @bysameeng!

Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of the Underworld as you take on a seemingly impossible quest.

Coming 2023, wishlist now on Steam!https://t.co/zaxRHnFXJK pic.twitter.com/9ciQWtS9Hk

— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) June 9, 2022

Finally, there’s Skate Story. A skating game about a glass demon who must roll through the underworld to complete his quest. Like many of the other titles of the stream, it releases in 2023.

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DeAngelo Epps
Former Digital Trends Contributor
De'Angelo Epps is a gaming writer passionate about the culture, communities, and industry surrounding gaming. His work ranges…
KarmaZoo turns Super Mario Bros. into a chaotic 10-player 2D platformer
karmazoo hands on impressions first look key art

One of my favorite multiplayer experiences of all time revolved around one wild night with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It was my Junior year of college and a room full of friends all got together to try its four-player mode, passing Wiimotes around between deaths. It was the most chaotic thing I have ever experienced, with everyone screaming at one another and slowly descending into madness. That experience has always left me hungry for more cooperative 2D platformers, filling the role that shooters normally hold as my go-to friend games.

KarmaZoo answers that prayer and it does so in a way that’s somehow more functional and more chaotic. A seven-year passion project from Pastagames (and published by Devolver Digital), the multiplayer game is a unique platforming roguelike that’s all about teamwork and spreading love. Players work together to complete platforming levels before a timer runs out, helping one another progress by solving team-based puzzles and utilizing their avatars' specific animal powers. Sounds simple? Imagine how much more hectic that gets when 10 players are on screen at once.

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Everything announced at THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022
Spongebob Squarepants riding a seahorse.

In a year when its parent company Embracer Group is making some major moves, THQ Nordic also clearly has some big plans for the future. The European publisher owns the rights to a lot of classic series like Alone in the Dark, Darksiders, and Gothic, and it has a reputation for reviving or rereleasing these classic franchises. As a result, it's always surprising to learn what the eclectic publisher has in the works.
Last year, THQ Nordic held its first digital showcase and announced follow-ups to Destroy All Humans, Outcast, and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. Its second annual showcase aired earlier today featured updates on titles we already knew about, like Outcast 2, confirmed a new Alone in the Dark reboot, and revealed some impressive new games such as Wreckreation. If you're curious about what THQ Nordic has in store, we've rounded up everything announced during THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022.
THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022
Alone in the Dark is back
Alone in the Dark | Announcement Trailer
Alone in the Dark was one of the first 3D survival horror games, trailblazing the formula that Resident Evil would popularize. While Resident Evil continues to be popular, Alone in the Dark faded into obscurity. During this stream, Pisces Interactive and THQ Nordic revealed a reboot of the franchise that looks and plays like the reboot of Resident Evil 2. Alone in the Dark is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Wreckreation gives players a giant racing game playground
Wreckreation | Announcement Trailer
Developer Three Fields Entertainment, which was founded by developers known for their work on Burnout and Need for Speed, announced Wreckreation. It will feature a gigantic 400-square-kilometer open world for players to explore. Players can also create wild-looking tracks that they can race on alone or with friends. It is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. 
AEW: Fight Forever gives WWE 2K some competition
AEW: Fight Forever | Showcase Trailer 2022
After a split between 2K and former WWE 2K developer Yuke's, AEW decided to partner with Yuke's to create the first AEW console game. We got a more in-depth look at it during the show from commentator Tony Schiavone and former AEW Women's Champ Britt Baker that showed the game in action. It will feature tag team matches, a career mode, create-a-wrestler, online co-op play, and more, giving 2K a run for its money. We'll see whether or not AEW: Fight Forever is better than the WWE 2K series when it releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It will also be playable at Gamescom. 
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake looks great
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake | Showcase Trailer 2022
Purple Lamp and THQ Nordic shared more details about SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake at the end of the showcase. We saw some gameplay from various worlds showcasing different costumes and gameplay mechanics that players will encounter within them. The game will feature more than 30 different outfits for SpongeBob to wear and shares a voice cast with the show, unlike SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake will be released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Everything else

A HandyGames sizzle reel showcased the sister company's Gamescom 2022 lineup.
Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed got a trailer ahead of its release later this month.
Space for Sale, a new base-building and resource-gathering simulation game, is coming to PC.
Gothic 1 Remake got a new trailer showcasing the mining colony.
Jagged Alliance 3 got a new trailer showing its turn-based strategy gameplay. 
The Valiant got a new trailer featuring its tactical RTS campaign and multiplayer modes.
3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks announced RTS Tempest Rising, which launches in 2023.
Grand strategy game Knights of Honor 2: Sovereign got a new trailer.
Outcast 2 got a new trailer showing how players can fly through the air and explore.
Way of the Hunter got a launch trailer ahead of its release next week.
Stuntfest -- World Tour got a new trailer.
THQ Nordic is working with South Park Digital Studios on an unannounced game. 

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The new Skate game is a free-to-play live service title with microtransactions
A player does a trick on a skateboard in skate.

In the premiere episode of EA's new dev diary series The Board Room, we learned that the next game in the Skate series -- simply stylized as skate. -- will be a free-to-play title with microtransactions and a live service title that developer Full Circle will support for the foreseeable future. 
The Board Room | skate.
This approach might be a bit worrying for fans who just wanted a more traditional Skate 4, but the developer explains in the video that they really want it to be the only Skate game going forward, which is why they've stylized its title as skate. with a period at the end. Expect it to be a multiplayer-focused live service title that gets frequent updates over time depending on what the developers want to add and what the community requests.
Of course, this free-to-play approach means skate. will have microtransactions. That said, the developers are promising that it won't be pay-to-win as players can't buy in-game advantages, no areas are locked behind a paywall, and there are no loot boxes. They also teased that it's a game that they want to be available everywhere, so players can expect it on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and even mobile devices eventually.
While the business model for skate. was the biggest news from this presentation, a few more specific details about the game were also discussed. We got a look at collaborative zones where players can work together to build skate parks and got confirmation that skate. will have full cross-play when it launches. We also learned the name of the city skate. is set in is called San Vansterdam. It looks like it will be a large playground where players can spend a lot of time skating, grinding, running, and climbing over whatever they come across.
Skate. is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. There is no final release date just yet, but as EA has previously explained, interested players can sign up to playtest the game before its official launch.

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