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| (Image Source: Global Game Jam) |
Global Game Jam (GGJ), the world’s largest game creation event, is teaming up with One World or None (OWON) to debut an exciting new jam with a bold purpose. “Citizens, Assemble! A Game Jam To Level Up Democracy” invites developers around the world to create mobile-friendly game experiences that capture the challenge and spirit of Citizens’ Assemblies. The winner will receive $10,000 and a chance to bring their game to the world. Citizens’ assemblies give ordinary people the structure and power to come together and actually resolve the issues we're all facing. People are selected through a randomised democratic lottery system that delivers a final group that is an accurate snapshot of society based on gender, age, ethnicity, economic background and geography. Through carefully crafted structures, they deliberate together on the key problems, causes and solutions. The outcome? A series of nuanced, realistic recommendations that most often go farther than politicians do - and that truly represent the voice of the population.
With democracy under pressure worldwide, “Citizens, Assemble!” offers a unique chance for game developers to engage with real-world issues, using their skills not just to entertain, but to inspire change - one game at a time. One World Or None is an initiative organized by a collective of social impact, entertainment and game industry leaders led by co-founder of Trailmix Games (Love & Pies) Tristan Clark and one of the pioneers in the call for global democracy renewal, Jamie Kelsey-Fry. “We already have the tools around us to create a better future, but lack mass awareness of them. That’s why this game jam is so important - no medium has the same power as video games to not only reach a huge number of people, but allow them to experience structures like citizens’ assemblies in a way that’s actually fun and engaging,” said Clark. “Citizens, Assemble!” kicked off last June 6, 2025 and will run through early August. Open to creators of all backgrounds, the jam will have a $10,000 prize for the top game, amongst prizes for additional categories and the potential for further development support for standout submissions. The jam will run across two phases, with teams creating prototypes in a two-week Phase 1, then iterating concepts based on feedback in Phase 2.
Final submissions will be judged on a variety of categories including Best Overall, Best Gameplay and Citizen’s Vote (determined by a public voting). Notable guest judges will include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brian Eno and award winning founding Chair of BiG (BAME in Games) Kish Hirani. Interested teams may sign up by visiting itch.io and completing the online application on or before June 23, 2025. For more information, including an event timeline, can be accessed via the Jam website at https://oneworldornone.world/the-game-jam.
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Ten Square Games Joins Green Game Jam 2025 With A New In-Game Activation Focused On The Ghost Nets In Baltic Sea
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| (Image Source: Ten Square Games) |
Ten Square Games is proud to join the 2025 edition of the Green Game Jam, an annual initiative organized by the Playing For The Planet Alliance. This year’s theme #AllInForNature calls on game studios and players around the world to support environmental projects and speak up about why nature matters. For the 2025 edition, PlanetPlay has joined forces with Playing For The Planet and the Green Game Jam to amplify the gaming industry's collective impact on protecting nature. In response, TSG is launching a powerful new activation in Fishing Clash that tackles one of the most urgent threats facing marine ecosystems: ghost nets in the Baltic Sea.
The Fishing Clash activation invites players to help restore and reconnect with the Baltic Sea - one of Europe’s most unique and vulnerable marine environments. Every year, thousands of fishing nets are lost or abandoned in its waters, continuing to entangle fish, birds, and marine mammals long after being discarded, and releasing microplastics into the ecosystem. By integrating this issue into gameplay, Fishing Clash aims to raise awareness about ghost nets, promote marine restoration, and encourage responsible fishing. Through storytelling, themed challenges, and player participation, the event brings real-world environmental issues to life inside the game. As part of the activation, Fishing Clash features a Green Pack — a special in-game item already familiar to players through the ongoing Make Green Moves initiative, developed in cooperation with PlanetPlay. For this event, 50% of Green Pack revenue will be donated to a PlanetPlay climate project supporting reforestation, clean energy, and habitat protection. Learn more about the supported project at https://planetplay.com/how-it-works/climate-project/67e32225bf93bd05f9d099d2.
This year, PlanetPlay has also joined forces with Playing for the Planet to amplify the environmental message of Green Game Jam 2025. Together, they’re asking players to express why nature matters to them - collecting messages that will be shared with policymakers around the world to demonstrate that gamers are All In For Nature. Meanwhile, voting for the Green Game Jam Player’s Choice Award is now open and will run until July 31, 2025. The award recognizes the most impactful environmental activation of the year. Every vote helps amplify our message and reinforces the positive impact of games in driving change. Vote for Fishing Clash at https://www.playing4theplanet.org/2025-participants/fishing-clash.
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Lighthouse Games Secures Fresh Funding From Tencent, Unveils New Driving Game In Development
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| (Image Source: Eneba/Lighthouse Games) |
Lighthouse Games, a studio at the forefront of modern video game development, recently announced that it has secured additional funding from leading global technology company Tencent. This investment will accelerate the studio’s growth as it develops its debut driving game and continues its journey towards becoming one of the UK’s top AAA development studios. Supported by Venture Lab which is Tencent’s dedicated business unit designed to support early-stage developers, the second round of funding will enable Lighthouse Games to strengthen its 120-strong team in Leamington Spa in the United Kingdom (UK); from hiring more top-tier talent to investing in cutting edge technology, all while maintaining full creative control over both its new AAA driving game and the studio’s broader vision.
Lighthouse Games is led by Gavin Raeburn, founder of Playground Games and former leader of Codemasters Racing Studio, where he helped define the driving genre. With over 30 years of award-winning innovation across 5 generations of hardware, Raeburn has been the creative force behind 15 of the industry's most successful racing and driving games, including all 5 critically acclaimed and award-winning Forza Horizon games, F1 2010, Colin McRae Dirt 1 & 2, Racedriver Grid and the TOCA and WTC series. Under his leadership, Lighthouse Games has built a team of experienced developers with deep expertise in the racing and driving genre. Blending AAA ambition with a collaborative studio culture, the team is focused on delivering a brand-new driving experience for players around the world, with further details about the project to be shared at a later date.
“Tencent’s Venture Lab has been a fantastic partner, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support as we grow both our game and our studio. This additional investment signals real confidence in our project, our capabilities and long-term vision, especially at a time of significant change in our industry. It also allows us to strengthen our studio in Leamington Spa and pursue exciting, new creative opportunities for our debut title in the driving genre,” said Raeburn. “We have tremendous confidence in the talent and vision of Lighthouse Games. Gavin Raeburn and his team bring unparalleled experience and a proven track record in the driving genre. We’re proud to support a studio with such strong foundations and bold creative vision,” said Tencent Games Venture Lab General Manager Juno Shin.
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DC Heroes United Coming To Epic Games Store For Android And iOS
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| (Image Source: Pocket Gamer/Genvid Entertainment/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) |
Genvid Entertainment, winner of the 2024 Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media, is bringing DC Heroes United to the Epic Games Store for mobile on June 12, 2025 where the app will be available worldwide on Android and in Europe on iOS in addition to its current platforms of the App Store and Google Play. To celebrate the launch on this latest platform and the completion of the series’ first narrative arc, all Epic Games Store users will be granted a free gift pack that includes a Batman skin as well as various in-game items amounting to $70 in value to help supercharge their play starting that day. Licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC, DC Heroes United is an interactive streaming series and mobile game where the audience decides what happens to the Justice League together. Featuring an all-new storyline, the series wrapped its first arc – which drew some shocking decisions from the audience:
1. Fans decided that Lois Lane and Clark Kent should break up.
In the first episode of the interactive streaming series, Lois Lane became suspicious of Clark Kent’s absences and was unaware of his connection to Superman. The audience was given a choice as to whether Superman, in his next interaction with Lois, should defend Clark or admit that he (Superman) was indeed Clark Kent. The audience chose to tell Lois the truth. She was furious at Clark for lying to her for months and declared their relationship over.
2. Fans chose to reveal Batman’s greatest fear.
Forced to open the Tower of Fate, the audience voted to have Batman reveal his greatest fear in order to enter and discover the secrets inside. What was his greatest fear…? Watch future episodes of DC Heroes United to find out!
3. Fans chose to have Wonder Woman fight her best friend Barbara Minerva.
With Dr. Fate in mortal peril, Wonder Woman was given a choice as to how she would try to defend him. The audience voted for her to fight Cheetah, pitting Wonder Woman against her best friend.
Written by the former creative leadership at Telltale Games, many such choices have been given to the audience of DC Heroes United – and even more await in upcoming installments. The first seven episodes, including the branches selected (and not selected) by the audience are now available within the DC Heroes United app on the App Store and Google Play, as well as on Tubi and DC’s official YouTube channel.
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NetEase Games Unveils New Ocean Adventure RPG Sea Of Remnants
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| (Image Source: NetEase Games) |
During the PlayStation State of Play last June 4, 2025, NetEase Games officially revealed Sea Of Remnants, a free-to-play ocean adventure RPG developed by Joker Studio, launching for PlayStation®5, PC(Steam), iOS and Android in 2026. Sea Of Remnants invites players into a visually captivating world, where they assume the role of a puppet-like sailor who has lost all their memories. Alongside a mysterious girl, players will voyage across vast seas, uncharted islands and a city slowly awakening to its secrets. Through open-world exploration, intense naval combat and dynamic interactions with a cast of over 300 eccentric characters, players will uncover the truth behind their forgotten identity and shape the fate of the world around them.
On this sprawling journey, players can recruit a crew of unique puppetfolk allies, customize their ships with modular upgrades, and build specialized teams for exploration and turn-based battles. Every decision — whether sparing enemies or seizing opportunities — will unleash dramatic ripple effects across the world. With rival factions reacting to each choice and Orbtopia's cityscape evolving in response, no two captains will share the same story. “Sea Of Remnants places the world’s fate directly in the players’ hands. With more than 300 characters to interact with — whether as allies, enemies, or something in between — every action can trigger surprising and far-reaching consequences. We’re excited to see the stories players will create when they finally set sail,” said Joker Studio Product Lead Sylar Pan. Key features of the game include:
• Dynamic NPCs And Divergent Factions: Meet over 300 characters, each with distinct designs and personalities, aligned across multiple rival factions. Players can befriend, provoke, or remove key figures — shifting political dynamics and redrawing power structures in real time.
• Meaningful Player Choice: Your decisions matter. Every interaction, battle, and allegiance contributes to the rise or fall of Orbtopia. Choose your path carefully, as even minor actions may alter storylines and alliances across the sea.
• Expansive, Living World: Explore a richly detailed seascape filled with hidden wonders, mythical creatures, and diverse island biomes. Discover drifting ships, unlock secrets, and investigate long-lost ruins shaped by the memory currents of sailors past.
• Strategic Turn-Based Island Combat: Assemble your crew, train them in rare professions, and unlock powerful skills to gain the upper hand in tactical turn-based encounters. Each crewmember adds depth to combat through evolving abilities and synergies.
• Real-Time Naval Encounters: Engage in fast-paced sea battles against enemy fleets or monstrous threats from the deep. Every second counts — positioning, timing, and bold tactics will determine survival.
• Port Life Fun: When not sailing, relax in Orbtopia with immersive activities including fishing, hotpot cooking, and traditional mahjong. The port city offers both lively distractions and hidden opportunities to grow your crew and reputation.
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Summoners War Opens Registration For World Arena Championship; Brings World Finals To Paris, France
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| (Image Source: Bleeding Cool/Com2us) |
This year, the beloved Summoners War fantasy franchise returns to the global eSports stage with the ninth annual Summoners War World Arena Championship (SWC2025). Summoners from around the world will compete in regional ‘Road To Glory’ tournaments in more locations than ever to claim a coveted spot at the World Finals in Paris, France. Participant registration is now live via the Summoners War: Sky Arena in-game event page until June 30, 2025. Preliminary participants will be selected based on their individual performance during World Arena Seasons 32 and 33.
The Europe and Americas regions will each field 16 preliminary players while the Asia-Pacific region will be divided into four groups — Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and Others in Asia — with 8 players from each preliminary group. Preliminaries will take place between late July and the end of August. These best-of-five double elimination showdowns will determine who advances to the Regional Cups. Regional Cups will be held in-person around the world to determine the finalists with the Europe Cup kicking off on September 20 as a closed-door event, followed by the Americas Cup on October 11 in São Paulo, Brazil and the Asia-Pacific Cup closing it out on October 18 in Busan, South Korea. Three players from each Regional Cup will earn a spot in the World Finals. Additionally, Open Qualifier events will be held in France and Hangzhou, giving one (France) and two (Hangzhou) players a direct ticket to the World Finals. And at the World Finals on November 1 in Paris, the 12 best Summoners War: Sky Arena players in the world will battle it out in a single-elimination bracket.
Throughout the tournament season of August through November, fans can catch the action in-person and enjoy exciting Summoners War content online while cheering their favorite players on to victory. Catch real-time global livestreams on the official Summoners War eSports YouTube channel. To stay updated on all the latest competition announcements, visit the official Summoners War eSports website.
