4 JUNE 2025 – Belgian indie developer Business Goose Studios has been turning the key on their music box for weeks now and is finally ready to pop it open. Swan Song is out now on Steam.
Swan Song is priced at $7.99 (regional pricing may vary) with a 20% launch discount for its first two weeks.
Swan Song – Launch Trailer:
Swan Song is a calming puzzle game set inside a mysterious music box, where you place notes on a scale to compose melodies that guide a little swan safely back to its nest. With warm visuals and a soothing soundtrack by acclaimed composer Jamal Green (known for TOEM), Swan Song blends clever puzzle design with emotional storytelling.
At its heart, Swan Song is grounded in reality. The story is inspired by a true personal family experience from one of the developers at Business Goose Studios. While deeply personal, the narrative has been carefully crafted to resonate with everyone who has gone through similar experiences. This is not just one person’s story, but a shared one.
Quotes from the Press & Creators
Here is what some early reviews have to say:
“Storytelling in puzzle games can often feel hollow and an unnecessary bolt-on, but in Swan Song it feels an essential part of the experience.” – Gamer Social Club
“A clever and emotionally sincere puzzle game with gorgeous clockwork presentation and inventive musical mechanics.” – Jump Dash Roll
“Swan Song contains interesting brain-teasers wrapped in a cozy atmosphere and a surprisingly touching story of a family dealing with a tragedy that will feel all too real for many.” – Bonus Action
“Swan Song captures your attention from its opening moments and never lets go. Every element works in harmony to create an emotional, rewarding, and remarkable experience.” – GamesHedge
“Swan Song is that lovely type of indie that is so specific in scope and ambition that all its parts slot neatly together (not unlike a well-made music box).” – CheckpointGaming
“I never thought I’d be wiping tears from my eyes while solving puzzles, but here we are… what a beautiful journey!” – StormieDae
Posted inNothing To See Here|Comments Off on Swan Song Opens Its Magical Music Box Today!
Snacktorio, a story-driven, level-based factory automation game where players build giant industrial kitchens to feed world-threatening monsters.
Built around reactive cooking systems inspired by real culinary logic, ingredients don’t just move through the factory – they spoil, contaminate, transform with heat, and create cascading production problems players must constantly redesign around.
Instead of producing abstract resources, players automate increasingly complex gourmet dishes using multi-step recipes, interconnected production lines, and sprawling food-production networks designed to satisfy each monster’s strange appetites.
Alongside the automation gameplay, players gradually uncover a fantasy world filled with hungry beasts, darkly comedic lore, and the mystery behind the monsters’ growing hunger.
A quick note, there is a demo available and a 10% discount during launch (till June 18th, 2026)
Here is the full press release:
TNgineers will release Snacktorio on Steam, a level-based factory-cooking automation game where players build giant industrial kitchens to feed increasingly demanding monsters threatening to consume the world.
Blending deep automation gameplay with reactive cooking systems and a strange fantasy world, Snacktorio transforms recipes into large-scale production challenges. Players gather ingredients, route them through pipes and conveyor belts into mixers, fryers, boilers and ovens, then scale small kitchens into sprawling automated food factories.
Unlike traditional factory games built around static resources, Snacktorio’s ingredients follow real cooking logic. Dairy can curdle when exposed to spice, ingredients can spoil while moving through production lines, and missing preparation steps can ripple through an entire factory. As monster orders grow larger and more complex, players must constantly redesign layouts, optimize throughput, and stabilize increasingly fragile production chains.
Rather than an open-ended sandbox, Snacktorio is structured around more than 55 handcrafted levels, each introducing new ingredients, cooking mechanics, and logistical constraints that reshape how players build and optimize their factories. Inspired by food cultures from around the world, players prepare increasingly elaborate dishes to satisfy each monster’s strange and specific appetites while gradually uncovering the mystery behind their growing hunger.
Designed to be approachable while still offering deep optimization challenges for automation fans, Snacktorio combines charming fantasy visuals with surprisingly complex systems, creating a factory game governed by real cooking logic.
Snacktorio also includes native mod support and custom level creation tools, allowing players to build and share their own factory challenges.
Snacktorio is largely solo-developed by UK-based developer ellraiser, including its soundtrack and audio design, and follows the release of APICO and Mudborne.
No life updates everything is status quo since Vegas. I did get to go to a local comic con followed by a street fair recently in which I bought many comics and many food stuffs, you can see photos of that on the Instagram. I’ve also caught many shows, movies and games, but other than that “status quo” (with updates and changes but nothing of interest from the Pop-Culture range… I just happen to have a life I live.
MOVIES & STREAMING (TV)
Sophie Thatcher under the direction of Refn? Yes please.
This western looks like it’ll be damn good.
I watched this 3 part documentary. I left disgusted, horrified and distraught. It did it’s job. It told it’s story, a story that hasn’t ended, a story that won’t end without work like this existing.
Finally a version of Robin Hood that truly relys on the actual ballads and not just the concepts of them.
I appreciate Angelina being able to be a sex symbol, an aging actress and an icon still and working with a noted French director whose work is brilliant but not broken through to America.
This almost feels like Fiction. Super Army dude Jimmy Stewart, but he was. I am reluctant as this is a faith based film and may come across heavy handed, but the subject matter is still fascinating.
I feel I need to see the directors other film with Qualley to know if this will be any good, but the trailer grabbed me.
Highly anticipated. They teased us good on the season finale, I’m excited to see where this goes.
This looks so dumn, and David Wain does really good dumb.
Season 1 was great, I’m very curious to see how season 2 pans out with a new mystery but following the threads of the overarching reveals established prior.
I am not familiar with the original book, nor seen the creative tema two previous films together, but hey it’s Russell Crowe.
David Leitch hasn’t made a movie or tken a job I haven’t enjoyed yet.
I am not exactly a fan of Adam Wingard’s work, this is actually one of those “the A24 we knew is gone” films, but they also are releasing Death of Robin Hood which premise is very A24, so…
David Robert Mitchell films definitely can not be looked at be called his films. Pure eccentricity hitting all genres.
I just love everything about this.
from the creators of dropout’s Play it By Ear and other such wonderfulness.
This feels like a true departure for Niccol but also very much him. His first film in seven years because of the intensity of the production.
Sexy weird LGBTQ horror thriller.
A breakout kind of film for the writer and director who have had active work but not that home run. and Yahya whose range in Wonder Man opened eyes, now getting more open.
It’s so dumb, it’s genius.
Tropper has a pedigree of creation, be it original or adaptation and it stars Anna Taylor-Joy. I’m in.
MUSIC
(an eclectic selection of recent rock, pop, alternative performances or music videos)
OTHER
This is gonna be so fun.
Unintentional or completely intentional ad for the Banana Synth, a real product you can buy soon, and I want one.
ICYMI and don’t have HBO Max or Cartoon Netowkr, you can watch the brilliant cartoon here.
Cartoon Carttooooooooooooooooooooooons! with another banger.
I don’t have much wrestling to share this week, but Everett Connors hands down is one of my favorites. I am so glad I got to see him perform one last time in Vegas before this his final match (for now?) at a show that also feautured his wife’s dream match.
VIDEO GAMES
Today and tomorrow there are MANY showcases that will reveal many games. on Tuesday there was the State of Play which also revealed many games or showed new footage. Before those hit here’s what caught my eye personally and what I might want to play.
(for the record my current games are MAP MAP and 007: First Light)
Posted inNerd Notes|Comments Off on Nerd Notes 06/04/2026
The new trailer shows that the wait for Lost in Tandem is almost over, with a release set for later this summer!
27 May 2026 – Grab a friend and step into the world of Lost in Tandem, a colorful and heartfelt 2D adventure-puzzle game where a young girl and a lost “Mech-ute” robot journey together through a post-apocalyptic world.
Featuring relaxed-paced exploration and cooperative gameplay, the game blends emotional storytelling with clever puzzle-solving as the duo uncovers forgotten relics and looks to complete the Mech-ute’s mission. Lost in Tandem is currently in development and planned for a PC (Steam) release in July 2026.
Everything in Lost in Tandem was hand-painted and animated using traditional art techniques. The art style follows from Tempete Studio‘s “artist-forward” philosophy. You can check out Tempete Studio‘s prior games here.
Lost in Tandem is a co-op puzzle adventure by the developers Tempete Studio. You play as a girl and a Mech-ute, a friendly robot tasked with completing its mission, journeying together in a post-apocalyptic world.
The gameplay in Lost in Tandem is divided into five distinct chapters where you explore breathtaking biomes by uncovering new abilities to solve puzzles and collect relics from the past to either decorate the Mech-ute with stickers or gain new lore. The game can be played solo but was designed for couch co-op.
Key Features
Hand-painted by real humans: Everything in Lost in Tandem was painted, created, and developed by real humans. No AI here!
2D puzzle platformer journey: Complete complex puzzles in a cozy environment as you navigate in this beautiful but apocalyptic world that mixes beauty and mystery.
Stickers!: Look for stickers throughout the game to place on the Mech-ute!
Secret Items and Lore: Look for items, news clippings and left behind bread crumbs to learn more about this seemingly humanless world.
Upgrades: Upgrade your Mech-ute to unlock new power-ups that help in continuing the journey.
Couch Co-op: Enjoy this game with friends, family or a partner. In a journey about being lost together, it is always better to be with a friend.
The free digital gaming expo is open from May 23–24, 2026. No ticket, No travel, No cost. Just download and walk in.
ENDIX is live now on Steam and the Epic Games Store. From anywhere in the world, players can download the experience for free and step directly onto the expo floor for two days of demos, premieres, panels, giveaways and meetups with the people behind their favourite games.
ENDIX is built on a simple belief: a great gaming expo should be open to everyone, not only to those who can afford to travel. There is no ticket, no shortlisting and no paywall; only a download is needed to join. “Cost and distance should never be the reason someone misses out on a great gaming expo. ENDIX is live now, and anyone, anywhere, can walk in.” — Nikos Perifanis, Founder, ENDIX
Every booth at ENDIX is crafted by the developers themselves and built from real in-game assets. Walk-through spaces that feel like a natural extension of the worlds they showcase. Players can explore dozens of demos, watch new trailers before anyone else and meet the people behind the games face to face. Built-in voice chat connects visitors with developers, journalists, content creators and a global community of players, all roaming the same digital floor in real time.
Between booths, the expo comes alive with parkour challenges, mini-games and other activities scattered across the world, with prizes for those who take part. Top content creators are on site throughout the weekend, exploring the expo, streaming their reactions and meeting their communities inside ENDIX itself.
For those brave enough, Theatrum Obscurum, ENDIX’s dedicated horror wing, returns inside an abandoned theater built for the occasion. It is the home for the darker and deliberately unsettling corners of the medium, with a curated selection of horror titles showcased in an environment designed to set the mood.
This edition brings together a lineup that spans AAA publishers and standout indies. THQ Nordic anchors the publisher presence with Gothic 1 Remake, Wreckfest 2, Titan Quest 2, REANIMAL and Tides of Tomorrow. They are joined by 505 Games with Among the Trolls, Team17 with Silver Pines, Gameforge with Shelf Heroes and Under a Rock, Amber with Mexican Ninja, Untold Tales with Everdream Village, PQube with Necrophosis: Full Consciousness and 10 Chambers with Den of Wolves. On the indie side, highlights include Alpha Nomos (RibCage Games), Sea of Rifts (Out Of Bounds Games), Hela (Knights Peak) and DAVE THE DIVER – In the Jungle (MINTROCKET), with dozens more across every major genre.
Brand partner Alienware is on the floor with a playable in-world mini-game and giveaways throughout the weekend. Across the two days, ENDIX is handing out more than 600 game keys alongside Alienware hardware and exclusive branded merch and monitors for players competing across the expo.
What’s Happening This Weekend
Dozens of playable demos spanning every major genre
First looks at new trailers and premieres
Theatrum Obscurum, the curated horror showcase inside an abandoned theatre
Built-in voice chat to talk directly with developers, press and creators
Live developer panels hosted inside the expo world
Creator meetups and community games throughout the weekend
600+ game key giveaways and Alienware hardware prizes
Free access via Steam and Epic Games Store — no ticket required
“Gaming events have always asked people to come to them. ENDIX comes to you, and it doesn’t charge you for the privilege. That’s the whole point and starting today, anyone with a PC can walk through the doors of ENDIX” — Daniel Thorsen, ENDIX
I always look at Eurovision as a chance for an amazing talent to break out internationally and maybe even to the US. The music industry is a maze and great artists fall through the cracks and exist in places where they are heard and succeed but not at the level their quality deserves.
These links are based on initial impressions from the 35 accepted submissions and being grabbed by that. Language had no bearing. It all based on my personal ears and deciding I wanted more of the artist and enjoying the other tracks I heard.
Satoshi (Moldova): This rapper definitely has some extreme pride in his country based on his other songs. He also has some killer flow.
SIMÓN (Armenia): Paloma Rumba is awesome but it was Ay Paparey Bye that won me over.
Alexandra Căpitănescu (Romania): Choke Me is an American track through and through, but her native Romanian stuff released and signed to Universal Romania is wonderful.
Veronica Fusaro (Switzerland): Signed to Deepdive Records, has quite a few albums, all in English. Has toured Europe. Has the chops and the songs to be a bigger star, but the machine is the machine.
Vanilla Ninja (Estonia): They also performed in 2005 Eurovision and have been constant. Again, ufortunately the music industry doesn’t actually care about music especially in the 00s but maybe the machine can finally pay attention.
LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (UK): His YT focuses more on sound tech then songs, but the songs that are there great.
Lavina (Serbia): Turns out the song submitted to Eurovision is the first time this band has done a song in Serbian. They’re a progmetal group with all their songs in English.
JONAS LOVV (Norway): Maybe my top of the bunch, amazing sound, great songs, this is my Go-Jo like “find” from the season.
ESSYLA (Belgium) : Close behind Jonas with some really catchy tracks.
Eva Marija (Luxemberg): Her other main song available “Time to Go” is wonderful.
I have not actually watched the live performances because what happens there is not representative of what I’m seeking in the artist. I want to know about them outside of Eurovision and these are the ones who I want to hear more from after the 2026 season.
Nothing new in life here, but plenty new music or new things hit my eye view, so here’s an ICYMI Nerd Notes.
I don’t drink Folgers… it is not the best part of wakin’ up. I like small batch coffee, but that isn’t to say Folgers is bad. It is very good and perfect for daily coffee drinkers looking for a quick fix that isn’t mud. What they do best though is get good marketing done and this is great marketing and leads well into a gamut of music videos that my eclectic ears enjoyed.
MUSIC
I’ll be doing a Eurovision 2026 post but former Eurovision contenstants came together to make this super group song. Followed by that is other new stuff from former Eurovision contenstants. Some I discovered through EV, others I knew before it.
And now back to other new music:
The All-American Rejects full LP is now out, so they recently dropped three new tracks on their own.
The following are playlists or long videos of full soundtrack albums from Television and Movies:
Barry Blaustein, famous for the wrestling documentary “Beyond the Mat” and the co-creator of Eddie Murphy skits on SNL and film vehicles like Coming to America and Boomerang passed away. He also helped create this wonderful Pilot starring Corin Nemec (with Eddie Murphy skits) that was retooled into Parker Lewis.
Burlingame, CA. – May 12, 2026 – Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, today announced Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea is launching on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on September 24, 2026. The next entry in the Harvest Moon franchise is now available for pre-order at Amazon (NSW 2, NSW, PS5) and the Natsume Store. Pre-Order Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea and receive Lupo (Baby Wolf Plush), the Bloomfield Guardian while supplies last!
Natsume, Inc. also shared new screenshots from the upcoming title, revealing a first look at new characters, a new bustling city, cozy camping, powerful tornadoes, and more.
Farm, explore, and discover!
Embark on an unforgettable journey in the enchanting world of Teradea, where peaceful farm life meets thrilling adventure!
Raised in the quiet comfort of Bloomfield Village, your life is about to change forever. A mysterious mist creeps from the Forest of Echoes, wild beasts roam under the cover of night, and strange disasters threaten villages across the land.
Explore a vast, living landscape filled with hidden caves, remote islands, and lively towns. Build your farm, forge friendships, and even find love as you shape your destiny in Teradea. Travel alongside your animals – each with special abilities that help you leap across terrain, break through obstacles, and uncover valuable treasures.
Along the way, you’ll meet unforgettable allies like the Harvest Goddess and ingenious inventor Doc Jr., befriend powerful Guardian Spirits, and take on the mysteries behind earthquakes, violent storms, and a looming darkness that threatens everything you know.
Key Features
Massive Open World Exploration – Teradea is a sprawling world packed with diverse regions—from peaceful villages to lush wilderness. Explore maze-like caves filled with ore and gems, uncover nautical charts to reach remote islands, and discover rare collectibles and animals not found anywhere else.
Romance & Relationships – Meet and build relationships with 10 unique characters—5 bachelors and 5 bachelorettes. Form deep bonds, experience heartwarming events, and choose your perfect partner to build a life together.
Animal Companion System – Travel with a variety of animals, each offering unique abilities that go beyond simple companionship. Use them to reach hidden areas, destroy obstacles like rocks and fallen trees, and uncover secrets scattered across Teradea. Your companions are essential for both exploration and adventure!
Campsites & Travel System – The world is too large to explore in a single day! Set up at campsites to rest, recover stamina, and cook meals by the fire. Meet traveling merchants who offer exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else.
Expanded Player Movement – Jump, climb ladders, and scale vines to reach previously inaccessible areas. Combine your movement skills with your animal companions to fully explore every corner of the world.
Power Statue Mini-Challenges – Discover glowing Power Statues hidden throughout the world, each offering quick challenges or puzzles. Free dormant Power Wisps to earn Power Wisp Fruits, then trade them at the Forest Goddess Statue to boost stamina and unlock useful abilities.
Posted inVideo Games|Comments Off on Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea is Now Available for Pre-Order with Exclusive Wolf Plush
Vegas was incredible. We got to see wrestling, rebeat the OmegaMart mission, got to experience Horror Unleashed, went to the NAB Show, enjoyed a suite, got to explore things we missed last time and see things we loved last time, missed a to of things too, saw so many friends, ate great food. It was an experience and a half. Here are two videos I created while there before the regular nerd notes catch up.
MUSIC
The entire Grave Diggler Story deal from Ice Nine Kills rules.
Hate them, love them, it’s catchy.
The first band under the new A24 Music label.
New Stones, New Diamond, new Paul, New Ringo… 2026 music is wonderful.
MOVIES & TELEVISION
Still looking great.
NicolaWalker and JemaineClement was enough, but it’s also from Sophie Goodheart, who has a solid resume.
Avantika is going to be a major star I feel.
I’ll most curious to see if the writers decide to still stick to coninuity or ignore it completely just for the concept.
This looks so fun!
Rarely do I promote Foreign films, but this has weirdo vibes of excellence.
Dafoe!
Coleen Hoover book, noted writers, Michael Showalter directed, and of course the cast. Yeah. One to have an eye on.
I really love what they’ve done here. To adapt Anthony’s summer as is from Restaurant Confidental would be broing, but to actually adpt to be a comprehensive composite should be fantastic.
WRESTLING
This interview is a bot miss for fans of hardcore, death match, weed, fun, GCW, ICW NHB, indepedent wrestling, and happiness. The next one will be the dirty gossip but this just the clean straightforward and worth your time.
If you thought Leon was done, think again! Resident Evil™ Requiem, the fastest-selling Resident Evil game in franchise history, released the action-packed “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” as a free minigame, playable starting today across PlayStation®5, Nintendo Switch™ 2, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW!
“LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” is an extra game mode that is unlocked after players complete the main story and comes packed with the nonstop combat action that players know and love from legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Fight your way through areas you’ve visited previously throughout the game and defeat the final boss, all with stronger enemy variants, five increasingly difficulty ranks, and a race against the clock! Fill your enhancement gauge by defeating enemies in order to unlock Leon’s “enhancer abilities” exclusive to this game mode.
The order and progression of each area, plus options for Leon’s “enhancer abilities,” differ among each run, adding to increased replayability.
Alongside the release of “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” comes several additional announcements:
Various bug fixes across platforms have been addressed
Added PC support for the DualSense® wireless controller’s adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and motion sensor features
All-new “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER” merch including t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirt, and hoodies, is available now on Amazon!
And don’t forget that the first-ever Resident Evil amiibo figures release on July 30 featuring the main characters from Resident Evil Requiem, Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy!
Resident Evil Requiem, the latest mainline entry in the iconic survival horror Resident Evil series, takes players on an incredible journey back to Raccoon City to experience exhilarating, death-defying action and spine-tingling survival horror as Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy face their pasts and uncover the truth behind the Raccoon City Incident that changed the world forever.
Stay tuned for even more updates on Resident Evil Requiem later this year as we continue to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Resident Evil franchise.
Posted inVideo Games|Comments Off on Play “LEON MUST DIE FOREVER,”a Free, High-Octane Minigame Added toResident Evil™ Requiem, Starting Today!
Swan Song is priced at $7.99 (regional pricing may vary) with a 20% launch discount for its first two weeks.
Everything in Lost in Tandem was hand-painted and animated using traditional art techniques. The art style follows from Tempete Studio‘s “artist-forward” philosophy. You can check out Tempete Studio‘s prior games 
