BIZNOOZ

Tag: #CRPG

  • Sterling Steps Into the Void — Starfinder: Afterlight Demo Expands with James Alexander Showcase

    Sterling Steps Into the Void — Starfinder: Afterlight Demo Expands with James Alexander Showcase

    Epictellers Entertainment has dropped a major update for the Starfinder: Afterlight Steam demo just ahead of Steam Next Fest — and alongside fresh combat, polish, and quality-of-life improvements, the studio has premiered a special gameplay video featuring none other than James Alexander, the prolific voice actor behind the game’s sharp-shooting, quick-witted crewmate Sterling, taking the demo for a spin himself.

    James Alexander — From the Booth to the Bridge

    Best known to gamers worldwide for his extensive work across blockbuster franchises — including Baldur’s Gate III, Transformers: Cyberworld, Crimson Desert, and Brawl Stars — Birmingham-born James Alexander lends his vocal talents to Sterling, one of the core companions in Starfinder: Afterlight. In the newly released video, he sits down to play through the demo, offering a unique behind-the-scenes perspective: hearing the character you’ve helped create come to life in the player’s hands.

    “Sterling is equal parts sharp reflexes and dry wit — the kind of crewmate you want watching your back, even if he won’t stop making quips while doing it,” Alexander says. “Getting to play the game alongside him for the first time was surreal, and seeing how players will bond with the crew is something I’m really excited about.”

    What’s New in the Updated Demo?

    The expanded demo, timed perfectly for Steam Next Fest, delivers a richer, more polished slice of this science-fantasy CRPG based on Paizo’s beloved tabletop universe:

    • More combat options — expanded tactical encounters, additional abilities for all three playable classes (Soldier, Envoy, Operative), and refined turn-based systems
    • Performance upgrades — smoother frame rates, optimised loading, and improved stability across all hardware
    • Quality-of-life refinements — reworked UI, clearer tutorials, and faster access to crew management and dialogue logs
    • Deepened narrative beats — extended interactions with key characters, including Sterling, giving players an earlier taste of the game’s relationship and loyalty systems

    The demo opens with a cinematic introduction, lets players choose from three Level 1 classes, and carries through the prologue aboard the Moon of Misfortune — where the tone, stakes, and personalities of your future crew first take shape.

    A Galaxy in the Making — Early Access Pushed to Early 2027

    Epictellers also confirmed that Starfinder: Afterlight will now enter Early Access in Early 2027, a short delay from the original timeline designed to give the team time to refine the experience with community feedback shaping development. The Early Access period is projected to last roughly one year, concluding with full release in Q4 2027.

    • Act 1 will be complete at Early Access launch
    • Ongoing updates will expand the galaxy, companions, and mechanics throughout development
    • Community input remains central — players can join the official Discord to influence balance, features, and story direction

    Ready to Join the Crew?

    The updated demo is available to download right now from the Starfinder: Afterlight Steam Store Page. Wishlist the game to be notified the moment Early Access launches, and watch James Alexander’s gameplay video to see Sterling — and the galaxy — in action.

    The captain is missing. The crew is untested. And the Pact Worlds are waiting. Will you answer the call?

    #StarfinderAfterlight #EpictellersEntertainment #JamesAlexander #Sterling #SteamNextFest #CRPG #SciFiRPG #Paizo #IndieGame #VoiceActing #PCGaming #Biznooz

  • Before the Curse — Psychic Software Unveils The Lich Wars, Gothic Prequel to The Necromancer’s Tale

    Before the Curse — Psychic Software Unveils The Lich Wars, Gothic Prequel to The Necromancer’s Tale

    Independent studio Psychic Software has officially announced The Lich Wars — a story-rich Gothic RPG that blends branching interactive fiction with deep role-playing skills and narrative-driven combat. Serving as a fully stand-alone prequel to the studio’s critically acclaimed CRPG The Necromancer’s Tale, the game invites players to witness the century-old conflict that shaped the dark world fans know — and newcomers will discover for the very first time. A reveal trailer is available to watch now.

    A Kingdom’s Fall — Spanning Thirty Years

    Set in the alternative-history kingdom of Rulsthen, a fictional realm nestled near 18th-century Venice, The Lich Wars casts you as a recruit in the elite Rychva Musketeers — a career that will unfold across nearly 30 years of service. From 1700 to 1728, you rise through the ranks, fight in two devastating wars of the undead, and watch as necromancy — once a forbidden secret — slowly poisons the minds of the living and the fate of the nation.

    What begins as a campaign to defend borders evolves into something far darker: the very magic used to win battles unravels the kingdom from within. Factions form, loyalties fracture, and a terrible figure rises to claim the throne. Every decision you make doesn’t just change your personal story — it rewrites the history of Rulsthen itself.

    Three Pillars of Narrative Depth

    Interactive Fiction — 300,000 Words of Branching Story

    The game is built around hand-crafted prose totalling roughly 300,000 words — a sprawling narrative where choices carry weight across decades. Your character ages, relationships deepen or fracture, and consequences unfold slowly: a decision made as a young recruit may return to haunt you as a seasoned commander.

    Nine RPG Skills — Shape Who You Are

    Progress through a skill system covering physical, social, and intellectual attributes:

    • Strength, Agility, Endurance
    • Charisma, Authority, Empathy
    • Reasoning, Scholarship, Perception

    Skill checks resolve critical moments — from talking a mutinous squad back into line to detecting a necromancer’s coded message — and the way you build your character opens entirely different paths through the story.

    Prose-Driven Combat — Duels, Fleets, and Fields of Battle

    Combat isn’t just hack-and-slash — it’s narrated conflict shaped by your skills and choices:

    • Duels — precision clashes where psychology matters as much as swordplay
    • Naval engagements — command ships and make tactical calls that determine the fate of coastlines
    • Large-scale battles — lead troops across fields where the dead don’t always stay fallen

    Critical hit tables and variable outcomes keep encounters tense, while your character’s traits and past experiences influence how fights unfold.

    Stand-Alone Prequel — No Homework Required

    While The Lich Wars is deeply connected to The Necromancer’s Tale, it has been designed as a complete, independent experience:

    • New players can step in without prior knowledge — this is the origin story of Rulsthen’s corruption
    • Returning fans will encounter beloved figures in their younger years, witnessing events only hinted at in the original game’s prologue
    • Play in any order — both games stand alone; each enriches the other

    The Necromancer’s Tale earned widespread praise upon release, securing three awards at the Imirt Irish Games Awards 2026, including Best Overall Storytelling, with a narrative exceeding 400,000 words. The Lich Wars carries that legacy forward, expanding the universe rather than simply retreading it.

    Watch the Reveal & Wishlist Today

    The reveal trailer is live now alongside the game’s Steam store page. While a release date has not yet been confirmed, The Lich Wars is in development for PC via Steam. Add it to your wishlist to be notified the moment more details arrive.

    The lich’s shadow stretches long — but here, you decide how it falls.

    More Info: The Lich Wars

    #TheLichWars #PsychicSoftware #TheNecromancersTale #GothicRPG #CRPG #IndieDev #NarrativeGame #InteractiveFiction #Steam #PCGaming #Biznooz

  • From Tabletop Dreamers to RPG Royalty: Celebrating 10 Years of Owlcat Games

    From Tabletop Dreamers to RPG Royalty: Celebrating 10 Years of Owlcat Games

    Ten years ago, a small party of passionate adventurers sat down at a metaphorical table, rolled their dice, and made a bold decision: they were going to build their own computer role-playing games (CRPGs).

    Fast forward to today, and Owlcat Games is officially celebrating its 10th birthday. What started as a tight-knit indie crew with big dreams has evolved into one of the most respected powerhouses in the modern RPG renaissance—and they are now even helping other indie devs as a third-party publisher.

    To celebrate a decade of critical hits, natural 1s, and legendary storytelling, Owlcat dropped an epic anniversary trailer looking back at their incredible journey. Let’s take a look at how this studio redefined the genre.

    The Critical Hits: A Decade of Mastery

    Owlcat didn’t just step into the CRPG arena; they conquered it. Their journey is a testament to what happens when tabletop lovers get the keys to the digital kingdom.

    1. The Pathfinder Era

    The studio put itself on the map by adapting Paizo’s beloved tabletop system.

    • Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018): Despite a bumpy, bug-heavy launch, Owlcat’s dedication to community feedback and relentless patching transformed this kingdom-building RPG into a cult classic.
    • Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021): A monumental achievement. Selling over a million copies, it gave players unprecedented role-playing freedom, unforgettable companions, and the epic Mythic Path system. It remains a high-water mark for modern isometric RPGs.

    2. Venturing into the Grimdark 41st Millennium

    • Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (2023): Owlcat took a massive leap from high fantasy into sci-fi, delivering what many consider one of the absolute best games in the Warhammer 40k universe. It captured the vast, bureaucratic, and brutal nature of the setting flawlessly.

    Levelling Up: Becoming a Publisher

    Perhaps the biggest testament to Owlcat’s growth is their evolution into a third-party publisher. Instead of just focusing on their own campaigns, they are now using their industry weight, knowledge, and resources to champion other indie developers creating deep, narrative-driven experiences. They’ve grown from a party of adventurers into the ultimate Guildmasters.

    What’s Next on the Horizon?

    If you thought Owlcat was planning to rest on its laurels for the next decade, think again. The studio already has some incredibly tantalising projects cooking in the war room:

    • Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy: Returning to the grimdark universe, this upcoming RPG promises to let players dive deep into the investigative, perilous world of the Inquisition.
    • The Expanse: Osiris Reborn: Moving away from traditional isometric formats, this newly revealed title is set to feature Mass Effect-style combat in the beloved hard sci-fi universe of The Expanse.

    “We had no idea what kind of campaign was ahead – the lucky rolls, the critical failures, TENTACLES, the moments we wanted to flip the table and the moments we couldn’t believe we pulled it off! But you were there… The campaign is far from over!” > — Owlcat Games Team

    From all of us at Biznooz, Happy 10th Birthday, Owlcat! May the dice rolls ever be in your favour.

    Source – https://owlcat.games/

    #CRPG #OwlcatGames #RogueTrader #PathfinderWotR #GamingNews

  • A Divine Disaster: Esoteric Ebb Lands on PC This March 3rd

    A Divine Disaster: Esoteric Ebb Lands on PC This March 3rd

    Get your d20s ready and your existential dread polished. Publisher Raw Fury and solo developer Christoffer Bodegård have officially announced that the highly anticipated “Disco-like” fantasy CRPG, Esoteric Ebb, will launch on March 3, 2026, for PC via Steam.

    If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you dropped a 5e Cleric into the middle of a political thriller written by a philosophy professor on a caffeine bender, this is the game for you.

    The Setup: Tea, Politics, and Explosions – In Esoteric Ebb, you step into the muddy boots of The Cleric—less of a holy warrior and more of a “glorified government goon” tasked with menial labour. The setting is Norvik, a sprawling Arcanepunk metropolis on the verge of its first-ever democratic election.

    The campaign kicks off when a local tea shop explodes. Naturally, since no one else wants to touch the paperwork, you and your goblin companion, Snell, are sent to investigate. What begins as a simple “whodunnit” quickly spirals into a web of political conspiracies, ancient secrets, and internal debates with the voices in your own head.

    Key Features: Why You Should Care – Esoteric Ebb wears its inspirations on its sleeve, blending the deep, narrative-driven DNA of Disco Elysium with the mechanical soul of tabletop RPGs.

    The Questing Tree: Forget standard quest logs. This system combines your journal, skill tree, and mind map into one. As you progress, “Quest Branches” take root in your mind, unlocking game-changing feats and altering your playstyle.

    Trust the Dice: Success is great, but in true TTRPG fashion, failure is often where the best stories happen. Whether you’re trying to wrestle a dwarf or talk your way out of a bribe, a bad roll won’t end the game—it’ll just make it weirder.

    Warp Reality: You aren’t just a detective; you’re a practitioner of the esoteric. Use magic to read minds, detect secrets in the city’s underground tunnels, or even speak with the dead (though they usually have nothing nice to say).

    The Voices Within: Your Ability Stats aren’t just numbers; they are personalities that will interrupt, argue, and advise you during dialogue, often leading to “wonderfully ridiculous” outcomes.

    Play the “First Day” Right Now – Can’t wait until next Tuesday? You don’t have to. A substantial demo is currently available on Steam.

    Pro Tip: The demo allows you to play through the entire “First Day” of the game, covering nearly 50% of the content thanks to its non-linear design. Best of all? Your save file will carry over to the full launch on March 3.

    Final Verdict – With a completionist run clocking in at around 50 hours (or one hour if you’re a speedrunning god with incredible luck), Esoteric Ebb is shaping up to be the next indie darling for RPG fans who value agency over action.

    Mark your calendars for March 3. Whether you save Norvik or bumble your way into accidental tyranny, it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

    Find out more here – https://esotericebb.com/

    #RawFury #ChristofferBodegard #fantasy #CRPG #EsotericEbb #games #gaming #gamers #platformgames #gameplay #demogames #videogames