Latest news with #TheArenaGroup
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Ember and Blade Demands Blood in Free Steam Demo Starting July 17
LINE Games is unleashing a brutal taste of its upcoming action roguelite, Ember and Blade, with a free playable demo launching on Steam this Thursday, July 17. Over two hours of relentless demon-slaying awaits those brave enough to take on the role of Fenrix Haven: a former human now bound by immortality to hunt the infernal horde. Demo features: Horde vs. Hunter: Dive into non-stop combat against waves of demons and challenging soulslike Builds: Unlock randomized angelic blessings and field buffs to craft your own sword-and-magic The demo includes full gamepad support-ideal for seamless run-and-gun action. Following this demo, Ember and Blade will return during Steam Next Fest in autumn, offering a vertical slice build with new progression mechanics, boss encounters, and community features. A Steam Early Access launch is scheduled for Q4 2025, and the full game aims for a global release in 2026 on Steam Deck, with console builds under consideration. The demo delivers a first glimpse of Ember and Blade's adrenaline-fueled world: razor-sharp combat, strategic build crafting, and rogue-like depth wrapped in vivid, hand-painted visuals. It's a promising blend of hack-and-slash thrill and survival-horde pacing that veterans of the genre won't want to miss. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘The Front' Unleashes Massive Update With Full Vehicle Assembly System
The Front, the chaotic post-apocalyptic war sandbox currently in Early Access on Steam, has just rolled out its most ambitious upgrade yet: a complete Vehicle Assembly System that lets players design, build, and deploy custom war-rigs directly from a modular workbench. Players can now craft their dream combat vehicles using over 40 parts-including chassis, engines, weapons, armor, and utilities like batteries, gas cans, or storage crates. Each component directly impacts performance metrics like speed, firepower, durability, and electrical usage. Built-in constraints-such as weight limits, power draw, and mounting compatibility-ensure every creation remains balanced and strategic. Once configured, these war machines are immediately ready for battlefield deployment. A new gameplay trailer puts this creation-in-combat process on full display. To accompany this system, the update introduces seven Black Sun Obelisks, specialized high-difficulty zones packed with terrain challenges, bosses, and twisted "Vehicle Monster" enemies. These zones reinforce a refined gameplay loop: challenge → loot → build → dominate. Lore-minded players also get a boost: the enigmatic "Black Sun Project" receives deeper narrative exploration through new areas and data logs. Technical improvements-such as optimized terrain streaming, enhanced AI and combat animations, and smoother UI-round out the update. To celebrate the launch, The Front is offering a 20% discount on Steam from July 14 to July 28. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Reclaim the Sea Sets Sail on Steam with 20% Launch Discount
After years of meticulous development, indie studio 1 Last Game Studio today released their debut title, Reclaim the Sea, on Steam for PC. To celebrate, the game is available at 20% off until July 24-just US $9.59. In a vibrant pirate-fantasy world transformed by floods, Reclaim the Sea blends roguelike strategy, tactical naval battles, and narrative-driven decision-making. Players helm a rebel crew aboard a customizable steampunk ship. Tasks include ordering cannon fire, repairing hull breaches, extinguishing fires, and activating mystical Arcane Towers-all while navigating treacherous, procedurally generated maps across ten unique zones with dynamic weather and environmental hazards. Combat encounters feature enemy ships from varied factions, each with distinct loadouts and behaviors. Decisions during random text events can alter alliances or chart new paths, offering both strategic depth and storytelling surprises. Between runs, you can permanently upgrade your vessel-adding new weapons, systems, and powerful figureheads to craft thousands of possible ship builds. Accessibility is a priority: the game supports mouse-only play, includes an active pause feature, and offers colorblind-friendly cues. It's fully localized in English, French, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, with international publishing support from Indienova. From a one-person indie effort, Reclaim the Sea brings back the charm of titles like FTL but on the open ocean, with immersive visuals, strategic combat, and memorable narrative moments. Its depth and approachability suggest broad appeal-from strategy fans to newcomers seeking a fresh roguelike with heart. The limited-time discount is an excellent invitation to dive into its flood-ravaged world. Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘80s Sitcom Star, 79, Makes Heartbreaking Admission About Her Brain Tumor
Actress Sandy Duncan, 79, is sharing details about being diagnosed with a benign brain tumor when she was 24 years old. During a July 2025 interview with That's Classic, Duncan said she started feeling unwell while filming the 1971 sitcom, Funny Face. According to Duncan, she was "working like crazy," despite being "so ill." "I had screaming headaches. My vision was already gone," said the actress. Duncan said that MRIs and CAT scans were still in development, meaning doctors had a difficult time determining what was wrong. However, a doctor advised her to have her mother stay with her during the last week of filming Funny Face, which only lasted one season. Duncan said while her mother was staying over, her vision went completely white. "I screamed for my mother," recalled Duncan during the interview. Duncan said her mother called her doctor, who made a home visit. According to the Hogan Family star, he gave her "a shot to relax" amid her intense pain. Duncan shared that she believed the doctor was euthanizing her. "I thought, 'They are putting me to sleep. They are putting me out. Goodbye.' I said okay. What am I going to do?" said Duncan. After wrapping up filming Funny Face, Duncan was able to get exploratory surgery, which determined she had a brain tumor. "They went in and hunted around and there was this big tumor attached to the back of the orbit of my eye," said Duncan. Duncan also said while doctors were able to successfully remove the tumor, she ended up losing vision in her left eye because of the surgery. "They removed the orbit and the tumor. And in doing that, they severed the optic nerve because it's such a thin little line. And it got cut. And that's when my vision went boom. And it was a 10-hour surgery and I woke up halfway through it," said the Broadway actress. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Star Trek' Star Says He Won't Play His Popular Character Again
Star Trek actor Anson Mount is opening up about his decades-long career in the entertainment industry. During an appearance on the July 15 episode of Michael Rosenbaum's podcastInside of You, Mount, who currently plays Captain Christopher Pike on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, discussed starring in the Western series, Hell on Wheels, which aired for five seasons until 2016. Mount said while he missed filming the series "like crazy," he wouldn't ever return to play his character, Cullen Bohannon. "It was a full chapter of my life. I love working outside. I love working with horses. I loved working with all of the cast and producers and everyone on set. I loved working with the network. But, no, I would not go back," said Mount during the interview. He explained that he believed it would be a disservice to his character if he ever reprised the role. "You know you've done your job when you feel like your character has deserved their rest. And it would be like grave digging to bring him back. I wouldn't do that," said Mount. While speaking to Rosenbaum, Mount also discussed playing Captain Pike, a role originated by Jeffrey Hunter in the original Star Trek series, which aired from 1966 to 1969. He noted that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, meaning his version of the captain is "in a very different place" than Hunter's Pike. He also said he appreciated having to abide by the limitations of portraying an already-established character. "I think every artist needs the limitations. And at this point Star Trek is almost its own genre. And I think you have to study if you want to do it correctly," said Mount. When Rosenbaum asked Mount if he "studied" the Star Trek franchise, the Hell on Wheels actor replied that he was a fan of the original series when he was a child. "I grew up watching it in syndication," said the 52-year-old. The third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on July 17 on Paramount+. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
