Mississauga’s Square One Shopping Centre has evolved into a center of excitement with the launch of “Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue.” This temporary interactive event, marking its Canadian introduction, is tailored for Minecraft fans, particularly families with children who love the game. Developed by Montreal’s Supply + Demand studio, in partnership with Experience MOD and Mojang Studios, the event vividly brings the game’s signature biomes and blocky visuals to reality.

The experience is formatted like a treasure hunt, where attendees must rescue a village from a zombie invasion. Armed with a luminous “Orb of Interaction,” guests collect materials, solve riddles, and concoct potions. The orb serves as a navigational tool, illuminating and vibrating to signal significant interactions.

A standout feature is a 360-degree projection chamber that envelops participants in various biomes, accompanied by ambient sounds and lighting, enchanting the younger crowd. While some areas lean more towards decoration than interactivity, and a handful of challenges may seem superficial, the overall production quality maintains participant engagement.

Mojang’s Federico San Martin refers to the experience as a novel way to interact with Minecraft, though it might not be revolutionary. Olivier Goulet from Supply + Demand points out the fusion of game design and experiential storytelling, clear in the vibrant transitions between realms.

Tickets for “Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue” commence at $32, with options for flexible and group bookings. Situated at Square One Shopping Centre, 199 Rathburn Rd. W., it provides a delightful outing for families with young Minecraft enthusiasts, offering an entertaining afternoon filled with adventure and creativity.

Initially revealed in 2020, information regarding *Pragmata* has been quite scarce—until it emerged at [Summer Game Fest 2025](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/summer-game-fest-returns-june-2025/) and allowed the press to get some hands-on experience with the game. What first appeared to be a captivating idea has ultimately transformed into something fascinating, distinctive, and potentially very thrilling. While I was [previously doubtful about what *Pragmata* could entail](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3357650/PRAGMATA/) and how it might function in reality, at least from my 20 minutes with the game, I’m eager to learn more and witness what the game has in store when it launches in 2026.

Even though the game has been somewhat enveloped in secrecy, this year we’ve received a bit more insight into what’s happening and what makes the environment so alluring. Awakening after some sort of event, you control Hugh Williams, who finds himself clueless about what’s occurring—or why everything appears intent on eliminating him. During your quest, you are supported by Diana, an android resembling a young girl, who you soon realize can infiltrate other robots and machinery within the lunar facility, simplifying their defeat.

While it is a rather straightforward idea, *Pragmata* effectively establishes its setting and world early on, providing a reason to not only care for the characters but also to advance through the narrative. The enigma surrounding the lunar research outpost leaves just enough clues to encourage you to move forward, eager to understand what’s transpiring, who Diana is, and what role she plays in the station’s tale. From the demonstration, only a limited amount was hinted at, so it’s difficult to predict where things are headed, but I’m sufficiently intrigued to want to delve deeper into the game’s universe.

Fortunately, the demo kicks off strongly, offering a glimpse into Hugh’s character as he confronts a lethal AI android that might be targeting him—and Diana. Even after unleashing shots into the machine, it relentless pursues him—at least until Diana reveals her capabilities and hacks the android, disabling its defenses and highlighting one of the most distinctive features of *Pragmata*: the necessity to hack adversaries while engaged in combat.

### “*Pragmata* effectively establishes its setting and world early on, giving you a reason to not only care for the characters but also to advance through the narrative.”

Hacking serves as the main selling point of *Pragmata*, and this is where the overall gameplay framework and emphasis begin to coalesce. At first glance, hacking during battles with various robots and androids might seem like a tedious idea. Yet Capcom has successfully fused third-person combat with the hacking mechanism in a manner that not only functions but is genuinely enjoyable. When you first engage in battle, you quickly discover how ineffective it is to merely shoot the foes around the lunar research facility. Each attack barely affects them, taking off only a fraction of health compared to how much damage they inflict on you with a single strike.

It’s at this juncture that the [hacking system](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/system-shock-2023-pc-review/) becomes relevant. Once Diana is assisting you, you’ll be introduced to a relatively straightforward hacking mini-game that you can complete while actively fighting. You must connect the starting point to the endpoint on a grid. Although the mechanic is simple initially, it swiftly starts adding power-ups and other components into the mix, and this is all before you’re compelled to handle multiple foes simultaneously. Even as the difficulty escalates, *Pragmata* manages to make it all function in a way that feels unexpectedly gratifying.

The pace slows marginally during hacking, granting you valuable seconds to perform the action without facing death. However, even with this brief slowdown, it never relinquishes the frantic sensation of needing to manage everything being thrown at you, all while striving to survive. It’s a distinctive concept that I didn’t anticipate enjoying, but [Capcom has executed it well](https://www.cgmagonline.com/tag/capcom/) making it feel fluid and fully incorporated into the gameplay loop.

Fortunately, there are various pickups distributed throughout the game world that help make the challenge more manageable. Different firearms can either enhance your attack power or hinder enemies, making the juggling of combat and hacking feel much more achievable.

Now, I’ll take a moment to admit—despite the 20 or so minutes spent with the demo—that, beyond a few sections featuring three or so different obstacles, most of the time

**EVE Online: The Lantorn Battle – A Lowsec Grudge Match for the Ages**

EVE Online has enchanted gamers for years, recognized for its enormous player-driven confrontations and intricate political dynamics. Recently, the game experienced one of its most unforgettable encounters in the Heimatar region, referred to as the Lantorn Battle. This lowsec clash has emerged as a significant event of the year, highlighting the volatile essence of EVE’s universe.

The confrontation was ignited when the infamous lowsec coalition Snuffed Out entered Lantorn, provoking local factions such as FL33T and Fraternity. Tensions mounted when Fraternity reinforced Snuffed Out’s Fortizar, leading a coalition of lowsec alliances—including SC, RC, SEDIT, and BIGAB—to strive for its annihilation. Nonetheless, coordination problems and an abrupt treachery by a prominent factional warfare alliance hindered the attackers’ objectives.

The engagement itself was a spectacle, with Fraternity and their allies deploying an enormous Rokh fleet against Snuffed Out, The Initiative, and the Minmatar Fleet Alliance’s formation of Rokhs, Ravens, and Tempest Fleet Issues. The battlefield was tumultuous, filled with barrages of fire, dread bombs, and unforeseen reinforcements from Russian NPSI Ravens.

In spite of the attackers’ endeavors, the Fortizar endured, resulting in a withdrawal and leaving behind a debris field valued at around 3.1 trillion ISK, which is approximately $25,000 US. The aftermath saw Snuffed Out formalizing a compensation arrangement with FL33T, underscoring the constantly evolving alliances in EVE Online.

The Lantorn Battle illustrates the wild and unpredictable character of EVE Online, where player interactions weave narratives more gripping than any scripted story. As the War of the Ruses progresses, the galaxy remains tense, awaiting the next major conflict. Stay tuned for further updates from the front lines of EVE Online.

As the eufyMake E1 breaks crowdfunding records, it appears that Canadian innovators are eager to transform their ideas into textured, tactile products.

With the countdown on the last days of the eufyMake E1’s Kickstarter campaign, Canadian creators, small business owners, and technology aficionados are closely monitoring the situation. As the campaign comes to a close, the figures are quite remarkable: over $37 million USD raised from more than 14,000 supporters globally, including nearly 600 Canadians excited to incorporate industrial-grade texture printing into their homes and studios.

Originating from eufyMake, the new creative tool brand by Anker, the E1 has been generating buzz among creators for its capability to print tactile, 3D textures up to 5 millimeters thick on a diverse array of surfaces — such as flat panels, rotational objects, and even roll-to-film materials — all with professional-grade precision. Thanks to its Amass3D technology and ColorMaestro system, users can achieve millions of colors and realistic surface textures, making it perfect for custom products, art, and branding. The printer features a modular design that includes rotary, UV direct-to-film (DTF) laminating, and roll-to-film attachments, all contained within a compact form factor that’s 90 percent smaller than traditional UV printers — ideal for home studios or small businesses.

With increasing expenses for studio space and tariffs complicating international production, more creators are inclined to keep manufacturing local. The eufyMake E1 meets this demand, empowering Etsy sellers, crafters, and product designers to produce high-quality, customized goods directly at home — without the overhead or complexity associated with commercial printers. It’s a device built to support the side-hustle economy and a fresh wave of Canadian-made products. As someone thrilled to witness individuals utilizing tech in novel and innovative manners, I must say — I’m genuinely eager to see what unfolds next.

“The E1 UV is a pioneering device, a printer that delivers industrial-level precision and UV surface texturing into the homes and studios of creators everywhere,” stated Frank Zhu, General Manager of eufy. “This isn’t just about printing items. It’s about assisting individuals in building their brand, product line, or side hustle from day one with professional tools that were previously inaccessible.”

The Kickstarter campaign presents various bundles, ranging from the basic $1,899 setup to the complete deluxe package at $2,752, which includes everything from rotary and laminator attachments to a full materials kit. Early adopters have also enjoyed cash-back offers and exclusive stretch goals, such as complimentary ink and cleaning cartridges, making the deal even more appealing for backers.

As the campaign nears its conclusion, the eufyMake E1 is expected to ship in July, with Canadian backers likely to be among the first to experience this transformative technology. With nine days left, those interested in the eufyMake E1 can still check the Kickstarter page to see if any pricing tier meets their requirements.

Streaming no longer requires a studio—only a decent microphone, a reliable connection, and the motivation to go live.

You don’t need a complete studio to begin streaming nowadays. Whether it’s reacting to gameplay, commenting on match highlights, or streaming live during a session, what used to be reserved for professionals is now available to everyone. What once necessitated a powerful PC, a permanent setup, and extensive preparation can now be packed into a backpack.

This transition is fantastic for adaptability, yet it raises a crucial question: When does performance outweigh portability?

## Gaming Streams Demonstrate How Lightweight Setups Can Still Succeed

Live dealer games showcase how far you can get with minimal equipment. These are low-overhead streams where the game runs server-side, and the streamer merely records their commentary and reactions. Often, this is accomplished using tablets, laptops, or portable rigs. There’s no gameplay to render, no foes to keep track of—just real-time engagement and clear audio.

International iGaming platforms have attracted streamers with significant bonuses, often hitting 350%, along with generous payout offers. As stated by iGaming specialist Viola D’Elia, many of these platforms support mobile access and permit gameplay [for real money](https://esportsinsider.com/us/gambling/best-online-casinos), paving the way for spontaneous, casual streams that don’t necessitate high-end equipment. Streamers participating in these sessions don’t require GPU-heavy setups. They need speed, clarity, and the ability to go live from any location.

However, even low-intensity games come with their requirements. Once overlays, alerts, or voice filters are introduced, performance becomes significant again. Portability allows for content creation, but performance ensures it runs smoothly.

## What Portability Excels At

Nevertheless, performance doesn’t always equate to importance. Many mid-tier streamers don’t require dual PCs, 2K encoding, or audio processing at a DAW level. What they truly need is reliability, and that’s where portable gear excels.

A laptop with a dependable CPU and [solid-state drive can handle OBS](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/editorals/elgato-neo-series-creators/), browser sources, webcam inputs, and effective audio routing with ease. With proper scene management and bitrate settings, stream quality is quite acceptable. Some streamers achieve this using handheld PCs and mirrorless cameras connected via USB-C.

What mobility provides is freedom—the ability to change locations, stream from different environments, jump into live games, or record reaction content without dismantling an entire setup. For channels that emphasize audience engagement or diverse formats, that adaptability is worth more than a few additional frames per second.

Portability also expedites testing. Whether it’s a new game launch, a special event, or a cross-platform session, the convenience of moving gear often outweighs any slight quality reduction. The outcome is more frequent content with less obstructions.

## Streaming Is Still Limited By Audio, Not Visuals

Regardless of platform or format, poor audio still ends streams quicker than subpar visuals. Portable setups have closed the visual gap, but pristine sound still necessitates investment. Echo, distortion, or low-volume commentary will lose more viewers than a dropped frame ever could.

Luckily, audio equipment has become more compact. Small-format shotgun mics, wireless clip-ons, and compact USB condensers can now provide studio-quality results. A mobile streamer with a decent microphone setup will often outperform a desktop rig utilizing basic webcam audio.

Even entry-level laptops now accommodate digital audio interfaces. With minimal effort, you can incorporate voice compression, noise gating, and mixing—all without needing rack units or mixer boards. As long as the setup is compatible with the environment, portable rigs can generate fully functional audio for both live and recorded purposes.

## Where Performance Becomes Essential

[The instant your stream exceeds a static camera and single-source audio](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/top-5-live-streaming-platforms-in-2025/), everything transforms. If you’re gaming live while capturing your own feed, chat overlays, music cues, and webcam inputs, your system must manage real-time encoding across the board. That’s where desktops still have the advantage.

Dedicated GPUs minimize dropped frames and help maintain a manageable CPU load. They’re also more stable during extended sessions. Streamers aiming for 1080p at 60 fps, or exporting clips while recording local backups, benefit from the extra processing capacity. Live streaming may appear lightweight, but when you scale up, it seldom is.

Another frequently overlooked advantage is I/O. [Full rigs allow for multiple displays](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/features/best-streaming-solution-2025/), high-quality capture cards, professional audio interfaces, and external storage. Streamers capturing hours of footage for highlight edits can’t afford slow transfer speeds or system failures caused by thermal throttling. This makes fixed setups crucial for anyone developing a long-term streaming strategy.

Minecraft enthusiasts should be thrilled to learn about the upcoming update! The latest Chase the Skies update for Minecraft will be launched tomorrow on PC, consoles, and mobile, introducing a wide array of new features. Alongside this update, the new Vibrant Visuals will also be released tomorrow—providing its initial official visual enhancement. Mojang has been developing the impending visual upgrade in the labs for some time. They also released a new video highlighting the features of Chase the Skies and the enhancements of Vibrant Visuals.

The Chase the Skies update was initially revealed earlier this year in March. One of the exciting new features players can look forward to is the ability to have a pet ghast. To start, players can acquire their first flying mount by finding a “dried ghast” block in the Nether. You can also craft one, and according to the recent Minecraft blog post, all you need is “ghast tears and a soul sand block.” Once you have your block, place it in water to watch it transform into your pet Ghastling.

Additional new features consist of a player location bar that assists in tracking the whereabouts of other players, including their elevation level. This will be displayed in the same location as the XP bar. The developers have also introduced leads, allowing players to tether mobs together, as well as mounts or even boats, along with saddles. However, this does not permit players to tether themselves to one another! Saddles can now be crafted using 3 leather and 1 iron ingot at a crafting table. Additionally, shears can now extract specific leads from a knot of leads, maintaining the integrity of the rest of the knot.

The Vibrant Visuals update marks the first significant graphical upgrade for Minecraft since the abandoned Super Duper Graphics Pack was announced. Mojang’s latest blog entry detailed: “Vibrant Visuals is initially releasing solely on compatible Minecraft: Bedrock Edition devices. This is merely the first phase, and we intend to introduce Vibrant Visuals to Minecraft: Java Edition in the future. For those who enjoy exploring Marketplace content, please note that Marketplace Add-Ons, Skins, and Persona items will be compatible with Vibrant Visuals. However, Worlds and Texture Packs will not be compatible with the new mode at launch.”

Another unfortunate limitation of activating Vibrant Visuals is that splitscreen multiplayer is unsupported. The blog mentioned that the game “will switch to Fancy or Simple rendering if multiple players are connected locally.” The visual enhancement update allows players to experience a new aspect of Minecraft with rebalanced lighting and shadow improvements. This enables the visibility of water reflections, shaded woodlands, fog drifts, and waterfalls shimmering in the radiant sun’s light.

So far, the devices supporting these two updates include Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC.

If there’s one takeaway from Game Con Canada 2025, it’s that the indie gaming landscape continues to thrive. Once again hosted in Edmonton, Alberta, the event showcased a plethora of imaginative, inventive, and genre-blending games—many featuring the creative input of local talent from Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as backing from major tech companies like ASUS. Whether your aim was to unearth hidden treasures or engage with the developers behind the games, the indie innovation available was abundant.

Indie games are celebrated for their diversity, and this year’s array demonstrated that each project brings something distinct. While significant unveilings like the newest trailer for Void Crew and Cronos: A New Dawn captured considerable interest, it was the indie titles that genuinely commanded the limelight on the exhibition floor.

In collaboration with Game Con Canada, we at CGMagazine were thrilled to present the second annual Game Con Canada Indie Game Awards! This year’s accolades encompassed five categories: Best Studio, Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Best Art Style, and, undeniably, Best Indie Game overall. With such a wealth of talent on display, the selection process was challenging, but ultimately, only one winner emerged for each category. Here are the official victors of CGMagazine’s Game Con Canada 2025 Indie Game Awards!

Most Innovative: Highway Hijinks

Studio: Ode Software
Release: July 22, 2024

The creators at Ode Software astonished us with Highway Hijinks, an indie title that fuses an array of ideas that, on paper, shouldn’t fit together, yet after experiencing it, they harmonized spectacularly. The concept is straightforward: merging the death mechanics of a roguelike with the gameplay of an infinite runner, infused with a synthwave aesthetic, results in something irresistibly captivating.

The game is enjoyable, straightforward to dive into and grasp, and it lingered in our minds even as we navigated over 60 titles on the show floor. Although the concepts have appeared in other games before, Ode Software has blended them uniquely, ensuring they merit players’ attention. Coupled with numerous upgrades and challenges, this makes for a compelling recipe for a game deserving of this year’s Most Innovative Indie Game award from Game Con Canada.

Best Art Style: Grey Wake

Studio: Second Fiddle Studio
Release: Wishlist Now

Many impressive indie games featured at this year’s Game Con Canada, showcasing breathtaking visuals and distinctive concepts, but Grey Wake truly captivated us. Even for a game in development for only a few months, its simplistic art style conveyed the eerie solitude and appeal of the environment in an unexpected manner. It presented a game world rich in charm and style, offering a glimpse into the adventures that awaited exploration.

Delicate details, like the constellations visible as you moved forward in your boat, were subtle yet compelling elements that enriched the experience, making it something genuinely enchanting to observe. Even in its nascent form, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the evolution of the art style and concept as it progresses through development. In its current incarnation, it earns our Best Art Style accolade for this year’s Game Con Canada Indie Game Awards.

Best Gameplay: Gothic Hell: Survivors

Studio: KIB Games
Release: Wishlist Now

As we wandered through the diverse offerings at Game Con Canada, we were astonished by the sheer number of genuinely entertaining, engaging, and original titles. Amidst numerous captivating games, Gothic Hell: Survivors effortlessly distinguished itself from the competition. It introduced a fresh spin on the Vampire Survivors formula. The fully developed 3D environment presents new methods to face the various creatures eager to make you their next prey. Furthermore, it adds new dynamics by integrating missions and altering the mechanics of treasure chests.

The visuals, combined with the overall aesthetic the game aims to project, set it apart from the myriad of titles trying to replicate the Survivors gameplay style. Above all, it was simply enjoyable to pick up, play, and challenge yourself to see how far you could advance. While there are several elements that could use refinement, the achievements of the team at KIB Games with this title have us at CGMagazine eager for what’s next.

Best Studio: Moonspiregames

Game: Speechbound
Website: Moonspiregames

Moonspiregames claimed last year’s Most Innovative award for their educational RPG, Speechbound. This game is self-described as a “language learning RPG.” It incorporates all the mechanics of an RPG while combining them with a learning platform that encourages language acquisition in a way that feels engaging. Numerous language applications exist, but despite their presentations, they often come off as tedious, stripping the joy and enthusiasm out of the language learning process. What Moon

Crunchyroll is preparing for a thrilling Anime Expo 2025, delivering numerous anime debuts and announcements. Taking place from July 3rd to July 6th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this event is essential for anime fans. Crunchyroll will present highly anticipated titles such as “Let’s Play,” “Gachiakuta,” and “Kaiju No. 8.” Participants can stop by Crunchyroll’s booth (#2526) and the Crunchyroll Stage located at the JW Marriott for exclusive content.

New titles making their debut include “Let’s Play,” based on a gaming-themed webcomic, and “Otherworldly Munchkin: Let’s Speedrun the Dungeon with Only 1 HP!,” a comedic isekai adventure. Popular series like “The Rising of the Shield Hero,” “Frieren: Beyond the Journey,” “The Apothecary Diaries,” “Dr. Stone,” “My Dress-Up Darling,” and “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun” will also be highlighted.

“Let’s Play” centers on Samara “Sam” Young, a game developer whose life changes when a prominent streamer critiques her game. This romantic comedy series delves into themes of gaming culture, memes, and social anxiety. “Otherworldly Munchkin” presents a fantasy journey where Yukito Kirihara sets off on a mission with only 1 HP to rescue his sister.

Attendees of Anime Expo can also anticipate the premieres of “Clevatess” and “Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse.” “Clevatess” revolves around a Demon King, whereas “Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse” marks david production’s debut original anime series.

Fans will be able to engage with voice actors and production crew, including Yuki Aoi and Seto Asami from “The Apothecary Diaries,” along with Megumi Ogata from “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun.”

At booth #2526, Crunchyroll will provide immersive experiences, featuring “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” and “Gachiakuta.” The Crunchyroll Store at booth #2135 will offer exclusive merchandise, such as a “Kaiju No. 8” Youtooz Vinyl Figure and apparel from series like “Shangri-La Frontier” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

For those who cannot attend, Crunchyroll will broadcast highlights across their social media channels.

From the studio behind the Warhammer titles, Mordheim: City of the Damned, and Necromunda: Underhive Wars, comes a fresh project developed internally with Nacon handling the publishing. The game studio Rogue Factor, based in Montréal, Canada, is finally poised to create an original IP game: Hell Is Us. This forthcoming third-person action-adventure video game is scheduled for release on September 4th, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

As the release date approaches in fall 2025, CGMagazine engaged with members of the Rogue Factor team to gain deeper understanding of the studio and the creation of Hell Is Us. Creative director and art director Jonathan Jacques Belletête, founder and head of Rogue Factor Yves Bordeleau, and audio director Antoine Vachon discussed facets such as the audio design, visuals, combat, inspirations, and overall atmosphere of the game.

This marks Rogue Factor’s first original IP game, yet the team boasts significant experience. What characterizes Rogue Factor’s culture and community-building—what is that unique element?

Yves Bordeleau: Excellent question. The key aspect is our long history together. When I founded the studio, we were a very small team. Several individuals here are people I’ve known and collaborated with for the past 20 years. It feels very family-like. We’re a small family that began by developing Warhammer games.

Then Jon [Jonathan Jacques Belletête] reached out, and we were like—

Jonathan Jacques Belletête: I said, ‘Hey there! I’m done with [AAA] games.’

(Everyone laughs)

Yves Bordeleau: [That’s when I replied], ‘Let’s do it.’ Jon brought a wealth of the AAA experience, along with the high-level principles necessary for crafting quality titles. I contributed the scrappy, resilient indie mentality. We essentially formed Voltron together. (Everyone bursts into laughter).

Jonathan introduced some of his team from Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and I brought my entire crew. That guy (gestures to Antoine Vachon) was employed by a buddy of mine, and after sharing a beer together, I managed to persuade him to join us.

Antoine Vachon: My background is more indie. What I can say about Rogue Factor is that we’re [situated right between indie and large studio]. We’ve retained the creative freedom of an indie team, despite our scale.

Yves Bordeleau: We have about 62 members on board, with 55 developers contributing to [Hell Is Us]. Everyone here is a seasoned [developer] with a wealth of experience.

Jonathan Jacques Belletête: [Hell Is Us] sits within the AA range. It wasn’t prohibitively expensive, but it wasn’t inexpensive, either. It looks more costly than it is. This is due to our multi-talented team and the abundance of experience we have.

In my honest opinion, [Hell Is Us] is nearly a flawless game, acknowledging that no game is truly perfect. Resident Evil 4 on GameCube had lengthy and tedious segments in the castle, and BioShock’s shooting mechanics don’t compare to Call of Duty. Aesthetically, [Hell Is Us] isn’t perfect. However, when considering its pricing, [everything fits].

Yves Bordeleau: Having everything produced in-house is a major advantage. Instead of being a colossal, cumbersome vessel, we operate like a swift speedboat. We can quickly adapt and execute iterative changes, which significantly benefits us. That’s the enchantment and fortune of [Rogue Factor].

Jonathan Jacques Belletête: Indeed, fortune. We’re fortunate to have built what we have. We’re genuinely pleased with it!

Yves Bordeleau: A crucial moment for us was when we were acquired by Nacon; that’s when we realized we might have the chance to develop our first original IP. Having talented individuals like Jonathan and the experienced personnel from [entities such as] Eidos-Montréal and Warner Bros. [Games Montréal] greatly enhanced our creative process.

Hell Is Us unveiled its initial teaser trailer in 2022, coinciding with the full reveal of Unreal Engine 5. Knowing Hell Is Us utilizes Unreal Engine 5, how did that influence its development?

Yves Bordeleau: We have a great rapport with the folks at Epic Games. We’ve collaborated with them previously. The tools and innovations introduced with Unreal Engine 5 significantly aided

Taking a quick look at future endeavors, Game Con Canada hosted its inaugural GCC Studio Showcase featuring Devolver Digital, Bloober Team, and several others.

Returning for its third iteration, Game Con Canada takes place from June 13 to 15, offering a venue for gamers to engage in video and board games, cosplay, participate in workshops, and meet special guests. On the first day of the expo, with CGMagazine’s Dayna Eileen as part of the panel, Game Con Canada hosted its first annual GCC Studio Showcase, providing an exclusive preview and highlights of titles from Focus Entertainment, tinyBuild, Devolver Digital, and Bloober Team.

The initial GCC Studio Showcase was held on the Intel Gaming Mega Stage, showcasing forthcoming titles from four prestigious studios, alongside Hollywood celebrities, influencers, and developers. For those who couldn’t attend or prefer a summary, here is a list of studios that took part in the Game Con Canada Studio Showcase to unveil their games:

tinyBuild

Beginning the GCC Studio Showcase, tinyBuild revealed two forthcoming games. The first was Sand, an open-world PvPvE extraction shooter created by Hologryph and Towerhaus and published by tinyBuild. Set in 1910 after the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s colonization of space, players navigate the perilous planet Sophie on massive walkers known as Tramplers. To thrive, players must enhance and upgrade their Tramplers, combat other players and creatures, and explore to collect essential resources. Sand is set to launch in 2025, with a wishlist currently available on Steam.

The second title introduced was Kingmakers, crafted by Redemption Road Games and published by tinyBuild. As elite agents, players go back to 15th-century England to alter history and avert a future apocalypse — either solo or with up to three friends. Carrying the fate of the world, players wield a range of military weapons and vehicles to confront AI-led medieval forces while devising strategies against varying unit types. Kingmakers Early Access launches on Steam on Oct. 8, 2025.

Focus Entertainment

Created by Hutihut Games and published by Focus Entertainment, Void Crew is a co-op roguelite game set aboard a spaceship. Played solo or with up to six friends, participants adopt different roles on a customizable spaceship, complete missions, and fend off hostile aliens and space pirates that test your untrained crew’s limits. In addition to facing threats, players can invest time in upgrading their ship and personalizing their characters. Scheduled for release on Steam in November 2024, Focus Entertainment attended the GCC Studio Showcase to promote the game and host a Void Crew giveaway.

Devolver Digital

Crafted by Pigeons at Play and published by Devolver Digital, the publishing team presented a co-op first-person shooter, Mycopunk. Joining the game solo or with friends, players become part of the Atlas Hazard Crew, a team of robots tasked with eradicating fungal infections from the galaxy. During their mission, players can select and enhance various weapons, create distinctive builds, and relax in an orbital dropship brimming with toys and games. Mycopunk is on its way soon, with a demo currently available on Steam.

Bloober Team

From the creators of Silent Hill 2 (2024), Bloober Team has unveiled insights into their upcoming third-person sci-fi survival horror title, Cronos: A New Dawn. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players embark on a mission to salvage the future by protecting the past, seeking and gathering the essence of those lost during the apocalypse. Although challenges abound, players must manage resources, explore the New Dawn area, battle creatures, and confront the hauntings of essences trapped within their suit. Cronos: A New Dawn is set to launch in fall 2025 on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

From June 12 – 16, 2025, Game Con Canada Powered by TELUS will feature a Steam page throughout the expo, highlighting games showcased at the GCC Studio Showcase. In addition to the titles mentioned, the store page has spotlighted RoadCraft, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – Casey Jones & the Junkyard Jam DLC, and many others.

That sums up every game showcased at the GCC Studio Showcase from the studios that participated in the event. Gamers can check out the Game Con Canada website for more information about the expo and look forward to next year if they couldn’t make it this year.