Latest news with #HaroldRyan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Lego Voyagers' Co-Op Adventure Sets September Release From Annapurna Interactive (Gaming News Roundup)
The video game Lego world is expanding with a new creative co-op adventure game, 'Lego Voyagers,' debuting in September from Annapurna Interactive and Light Brick Studio. According to the game's official description, 'From the makers of 'LEGO Builder's Journey' comes a new 2-player co-op adventure about friendship and play. When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected.' More from Variety Ex-Bungie Boss Harold Ryan's ProbablyMonsters Unveils 'Storm Lancers,' 'Ire: A Prologue' as First Releases (Gaming News Roundup) Game Developers Org 'Alarmed' by Censorship and Delisting of 'NSFW' Games Following Backlash (Gaming News Roundup) 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' Surpasses 5 Million Players Four Months After Launch (Gaming News Roundup) 'Lego Voyagers' will launch Sept. 15 across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The game's release will come approximately one year after a massive shakeup at Annapurna that occurred when the entire staff of gaming division Annapurna Interactive quit. Per the developers, the 'Lego Voyagers' co-op game will allow players to: Experience what it feels like to be a Lego brick. Tumble, jump, snap together, and build your way through rich brick worlds. Unravel a poetic, nonverbal narrative, set in beautiful brick-built environments, supported by an atmospheric soundtrack. Cooperatively solve the game's many challenges and discover how two bricks are better than one. Play locally on the same screen, or online. Invite a friend to join your adventure for free with the Friend's Pass. As long as one of you owns 'Lego Voyagers,' you can both play the full co-op experience together. 'Lego Voyagers' will be unveiled in more detail during next week's Gamescom video game convention in Cologne, Germany. Watch the new release date trailer for 'Lego Voyagers' via the video below. See more gaming news from this week in the roundup below. TRAILERS 'NBA 2K26' released a new trailer that revealed the upcoming game will feature the addition of WNBA Player Cards to 'MyTeam' for the first time in franchise history. Per developer 2K, 'In this milestone addition, players will be able to collect and play with current and historic WNBA players and pair them with their favorite NBA superstars on the same team. Additional updates coming to MyTEAM include multiple new game modes, new card types, a beloved location with a new spin, and so much more.' 'MyTEAM is where competition meets a basketball fan's wildest imagination,' said Erick Boenisch, VP of NBA Development at Visual Concepts. 'By integrating the WNBA into one of our most popular modes, we're not only giving players the opportunity to customize their all-time dream rosters but shining a spotlight on some of the game's most iconic hoopers. We're looking forward to giving our players a new and deeper way to engage with the WNBA. But there is so much more coming to MyTEAM this year – from All-Star Team-Up to new weekly cash prizes in King of the Court, there have never been more ways to compete with friends and win big.' NEW RELEASES 'EA Sports Madden NFL 26' released wide Thursday. Per publisher Electronic Arts' (EA) description for the latest installment in the franchise: 'Powered by years of NFL data, immerse yourself in explosive gameplay with new player-specific traits, authentic play styles, and adaptive strategy that match on-field tendencies and strategies of real NFL quarterbacks and coaches. Play in online multiplayer modes like Dynasty and Ultimate Team with friends via GameChat. Call an audible and stoke friendly rivalries as if you and your friends are playing together in the same room. With full feature-parity, experience realistic, immersive gameplay, dynamic halftime shows and in-stadium gameday presentations – where you'll hear the 'Skol!' chant echo in your ears in Minnesota and be dazzled by the pre-game light show in Baltimore. Extreme weather conditions also impact what you do on the field – adapt to new challenges like limited visibility downfield in heavy snow and fog, or wet conditions that will directly impact player movement, stamina, ball security and more.' Watch Nintendo's launch trailer for 'Madden NFL 26' on Switch 2 below. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
Business Wire
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
ProbablyMonsters Announces First Game Launches, Marking a New Chapter in Studio's Development Journey
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ProbablyMonsters, an independent video game company, today announced the fall releases of its first two titles: Storm Lancers, a rogue-like game coming to Nintendo Switch, and Ire: A Prologue, a psychological horror experience arriving on Steam and Epic Games Store. These launches mark a new chapter as the company moves from vision to delivery, bringing its long-standing mission to life through a focused, diversified slate of original games. 'These games represent the first public expression of the approach we've been shaping behind the scenes,' said Harold Ryan, founder and CEO of ProbablyMonsters. 'We've always believed there's a better way to make games, one that supports original IP, empowers developers, and delivers memorable experiences to players. How we bring games to life has evolved. We've had to adapt, and these first two titles reflect a model that's more focused, flexible, and sustainable. This is just the start, and we're excited to finally share them with the world.' ProbablyMonsters' new development model centers on integrated teams supported by centralized infrastructure. This structure enables shared systems, cross-team learning, and scalable production, while supporting a slate strategy that spans short-, mid-, and long-term projects, each with its own creative scope, timeline, and ambition. Short-term titles move quickly, allowing teams to explore ideas, build momentum, and learn fast. Mid-term projects start with a focused scope but are built to grow, through deeper narratives, evolving gameplay, or recurring content. Long-term projects are more ambitious, designed to become breakout IP or the foundation for future studios. With multiple internal teams working in parallel, the company can launch new titles now while continuing to build for the years ahead. Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue are the first games shaped by this approach. Both are intentionally scoped, under-10-hour experiences designed to be accessible, affordable, and creatively distinct. Storm Lancers is a fast-moving, highly replayable, and built for co-op fun, while Ire: A Prologue reflects the early step in creating a title with the potential to evolve into a larger franchise. Together, they demonstrate ProbablyMonsters' belief that meaningful experiences can take many forms, and that empowered creative teams can deliver great games without relying on scale alone. Storm Lancers is a rogue-like game inspired by 1980s anime and cartoons that features combo-focused fights and couch co-op. Led by industry veterans Jim Veevaert (Microsoft, Zynga) and Seth Thompson (Blizzard), Storm Lancers combines fluid combat with unstoppable momentum. Designed to keep the heart racing and reflexes sharpened, the game gives players a sense of adventure constantly on the move. Set in the world of Cryptica, players crash land on a living planet built around a powerful source of reality magic. As they traverse five ever-shifting biomes, each leap, slash, and dash propels them deeper into a vibrant world, only to be met by enemies that adapt to their every move. While Storm Lancers can be played solo, it's designed to shine in couch co-op. Two players can team up to explore the alien world together, developing complementary playstyles as they battle through merciless enemies and terrifying bosses. Along the way, players collect items that transform and define their approach to combat, making each run unique and replayable. Ire: A Prologue is a first-person, single-player psychological horror game where players must unravel a complex mystery while avoiding a sinister creature that stalks them at every turn. Introduced as a prequel experience, it's aimed at players drawn to focused, story-rich games, with the ambition of establishing the foundation for a potentially recurring horror franchise. Developed by veteran worldbuilders Matt Case (Bungie, HBO) and CJ Cowan (Bungie), the Ire universe is designed to deliver fresh, unsettling chronicles with rich lore and immersive environments. In Ire: A Prologue, players will navigate through the memories of a young teenager named Emily, trapped on a boat in the Bermuda Triangle with a monster relentlessly hunting them. As players loop through various memories of her experience, they begin to piece together what happened to Emily and the crew of the ship, with each loop revealing new secrets and new stories. Together, Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue reflect the breadth of ProbablyMonsters' creative strategy. One is bright, vibrant, and built for replayable co-op fun with friends. The other is dark, moody, and best experienced solo with headphones in a quiet room. Both offer unique experiences that aim to connect with different types of players in distinct ways. Storm Lancers will launch on Nintendo Switch this fall and Ire: A Prologue will be available on Steam and Epic Games Store on Oct. 28, both at a suggested retail price of $19.99. These are the first in a series of original titles from ProbablyMonsters, with multiple longer-term projects planned to launch in 2026 and 2027. To learn more, visit ProbablyMonsters' official website and follow the company on X and LinkedIn for new updates. For updates on Storm Lancers, follow the game on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky and YouTube. For the latest on Ire: A Prologue, follow along on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky and YouTube. About ProbablyMonsters Founded in 2016 by industry leader and former Bungie President and CEO Harold Ryan, ProbablyMonsters is an independent video game company committed to changing the way games are made. Its unique model allows development teams to focus on delivering high-quality titles across a variety of genres, while a robust central services team allows for operational flexibility. The company is built from a talented team of experienced and innovative game development leaders who have a proven track record of launching projects of all sizes. With an eye towards strong, original IP and memorable experiences that engage and delight players of all kinds, ProbablyMonsters is building a vibrant portfolio of games that reflect its mission and creative direction. For more information, visit
