The post Taking You Back to School: Indie Selects for August 2025 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Acclaim Entertainment, a big name in licensed games in the '90s, is "returning." (Although, much like the new Atari, this is technically a different company that bought the old trademark.) The new Acclaim will focus on publishing indie

The announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s release date has created a ripple effect in the indie game community. With the game launching on such short notice – next week, on September 4 – sev

On March 4, it was announced that defunct publisher Acclaim had been resurrected (again), this time as an indie publisher. After months of waiting, it's time to learn what new games will bear th

PlayStation Store welcomes an all-new promotion, starting August 27. For a limited time*, Ready, Set, Play will offer a vast selection of games, including blockbuster franchises, acclaimed indies and standalone greats, at discount. The question then is, where do you start? We’re here to help you with the answer. Browse a selection of games on offer below, then when the promotion goes live, head to PlayStation Store to discover your regional discount. A Fisherman’s Tale 2 A Plague Tale: Innocence Abyss Odyssey: Extended Dream Edition AC Mirage + Valhalla Bundle Actraiser Renaissance Ad Infinitum – Nightmare Edition AEW: Fight Forever – Ultimate Edition After the Fall After the Fall (PSVR2 standard edition) Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Premium Edition Age of Mythology: Retold Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition Alba: A Wildlife Adventure Alien: Isolation – The Collection Aliens: Dark Descent Alone in the Dark – Digital Deluxe Edition AO Tennis 2 Arizona Sunshine® Remake Arkane Collection PS5 Assassin’s Creed III Remastered Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – Gold Edition Assassin’s Creed Origins – Deluxe Edition Assassin’s Creed Origins – Season Pass Astria Ascending Atomic Heart – Premium Edition Atomic Heart – Standard Edition Attractio Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Deluxe Edition Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Gold Edition Away: Journey to the Unexpected Balatro Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Barbie Project Friendship™ Batman: Arkham VR Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Digital Pro Edition (Day Zero) Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Digital Deluxe Edition Call of Duty: WWII – Digital Deluxe Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® Capcom Collab Pack Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions – Deluxe Edition Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 DLC MegaPack Caravan Sandwitch Cassiodora Children of Morta Children of Zodiarcs Chroma Squad Chronos: Before the Ashes Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising – Nemesis Edition College Football 26 Deluxe Edition Commandos 2 & Commandos 3 – Bundle Digital Commandos: Origins – Deluxe Edition CONSCRIPT CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION Cult of the Lamb Cyberpunk 2077 CYGNI: All Guns Blazing Dead Island 2 Main Game Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package Dead Space Death Stranding Director’s Cut DEATHLOOP (GAME) Deliver At All Costs Demon’s Souls Destiny 2: Year of Prophecy Edition Destroy All Humans! 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2 Tropico 5 Tropico 5 – Complete Collection Upgrade Pack Tropico 6 – Next Gen Edition TT Isle Of Man 3 – Racing Fan Edition TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge Type:Rider UFC® 5 PS5 Umbrella Corps Umbrella Corps – Deluxe Edition Underworld Ascendant Unheard – Voices of Crime Unknown 9 Uno – Standard Edition Cross-buy Unturned Valkyria Chronicles Remastered Vanguard – Cross-Gen Edition Vanguard – PS5 Cross-Gen Edition Vernal Edge Voice of Cards Trilogy + DLC set Voice of Cards: The Beast of Burden ＋ DLC set Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars + DLC set V-Rally 4 – Ultimate Edition War Hospital Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr: Complete Collection Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Warhammer Ultimate Pack: Hack and Slash Warhammer: Chaosbane Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition Welcome to ParadiZe – Zombot Edition Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Champion of Gaia Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition Bundle Wildshade: Unicorn Champions Wolfenstein: Resistance Bundle Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Deluxe Edition Worms Rumble PS4 & PS5 WRC 2023 (PS5) WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship PS4 WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship PS5 WRC Generations – The FIA WRC Official Game Yakuza Complete Collection Yakuza: Like a Dragon Legendary Hero Edition Yakuza: Like a Dragon Legendary Hero Edition PS4 & PS5 Yakuza: Like a Dragon PS4 & PS5 Zombie Army Trilogy Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner – Mars *Ready Set Play promotion is live on PlayStation Store from Wednesday, August 27 at 00:00 AM PDT/BST/JST and finishes Wednesday September 10 at 11:59 PM PDT/BST/JST.

After a long, busy day, you boot up your gaming device but don’t quite feel like diving into an intense session. Instead, you open a broadcast of one of your favorite streamers and spend the evening laughing at commentary, reacting to unexpected moments, and just enjoying your time with fellow gamers. Sounds familiar?This everyday scenario perfectly captures the way live streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, or Kick have transformed the gaming experience — turning gameplay into shared moments where gamers broadcast in real-time while viewers watch, chat, learn, and discover new titles.What started as friends sharing gameplay clips has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem where streamers are popular creators, viewers build communities around shared experiences, and watching games has become as popular as playing them. But how did streaming become such a powerful force in gaming – and what does it mean for players, creators, and the industry alike? Let’s find out!Why Do Gamers Love Streaming?So why are millions of gamers spending hours every week watching others play instead of jumping into a game themselves? The answer isn’t just one thing – it’s a mix of entertainment, learning, connection, and discovery that makes live streaming uniquely compelling. Let’s break it down.Entertainment at Your Own PaceSometimes, you just want to relax. Maybe you’re too mentally drained to queue up for ranked matches or start that complex RPG quest. Streaming offers the perfect low-effort alternative – the fun of gaming without needing to press a single button. Whether it's high-stakes gameplay, hilarious commentary, or unpredictable in-game chaos, streams let you enjoy all the excitement while kicking back on the couch, grabbing a snack, or chatting in the background.Learning and Skill DevelopmentStreaming isn’t just for laughs – it’s also one of the best ways to level up your own gameplay. Watching a skilled streamer handle a tricky boss fight, execute high-level strategies, or master a game’s mechanics can teach you far more than a dry tutorial ever could. Many gamers tune in specifically to study routes, tactics, builds, or even to understand if a game suits their playstyle before buying it. Think of it as education, but way more fun.Social Connection and CommunityOne of the most powerful draws of live streaming is the sense of community. Jumping into a stream isn’t like watching TV – it’s like entering a room full of people who love the same games you do. Chatting with fellow viewers, sharing reactions in real-time, tossing emotes into the chaos, and getting shoutouts from the streamer – it all creates a sense of belonging. For many, it’s a go-to social space where friendships, inside jokes, and even fandoms grow.Discovery of New Games and TrendsEver found a game you now love just because you saw a streamer play it? You’re not alone. Streaming has become a major discovery engine in gaming. Watching creators try new releases, revisit cult classics, or spotlight lesser-known indies helps players find titles they might never encounter on their own. Sometimes, entire genres or games blow up because of a few well-timed streams (Among Us, Vampire Survivors, Only Up! – all made big by streamers).Together, these draws have sparked a whole new kind of culture – gaming communities with their own languages, celebrities, and shared rituals.Inside Streaming CultureStreaming has created something unique in gaming: genuine relationships between creators and audiences who've never met. When Asmongold reacts to the latest releases or penguinz0 delivers his signature deadpan commentary, millions of viewers don't just watch – they feel like they're hanging out with a friend. These streamers have become trusted voices whose opinions carry real weight, making gaming fame more accessible than ever. Anyone with personality and dedication can build a loyal following and become a cultural influencer.If you've ever watched a Twitch stream, you've witnessed chat culture in action – a chaotic river of emotes, inside jokes, and reactions that somehow make perfect sense to regulars. "KEKW" expresses laughter, "Poggers" shows excitement, and memes spread like wildfire across communities. The chat itself becomes entertainment, with viewers competing to land the perfect reaction at just the right moment. These expressions often escape their stream origins, becoming part of the broader gaming vocabulary.For many viewers, streams have become part of their daily routine – tuning in at the same time, celebrating milestones, or witnessing historic gaming moments together. When a streamer finally beats that impossible boss, the entire community shares in the victory. These aren't just individual entertainment experiences — they're collective memories where thousands can say "I was there when it happened," creating communities that extend far beyond gaming itself.How Streamers Are Reshaping the Gaming IndustryWhile players tune in for fun and connection, behind the scenes, streaming is quietly reshaping how the gaming industry approaches everything from marketing to game design. What started as casual gameplay broadcasts is now influencing major decisions across studios and publishers.The New Marketing Powerhouse. Traditional game reviews and advertising have taken a backseat to streamer influence. A single popular creator playing your game can generate millions of views and drive massive sales overnight – just look at how Among Us exploded after a few key streamers discovered it, or how Fall Guys became a phenomenon through streaming momentum. Publishers now prioritize getting their games into the hands of influential streamers on launch day, knowing that authentic gameplay footage and reactions carry more weight than any trailer or review. Day-one streaming success has become make-or-break for many titles.Designing for the Stream. Developers are now creating games with streaming in mind. Modern titles include built-in streaming tools, spectator-friendly interfaces, and features that encourage viewer interaction like chat integration and voting systems. Games are designed to be visually clear and exciting to watch, not just play. Some developers even create "streamer modes" that remove copyrighted music or add special features for streamers. The rise of streaming has birthed entirely new genres — party games, reaction-heavy horror titles, and social deduction games all thrive because they're inherently entertaining to watch.The Creator Economy Boom. Streaming has created entirely new career paths and revenue streams within gaming. Successful streamers earn through donations, subscriptions, brand partnerships, and revenue sharing from platform-specific features like Twitch bits or YouTube Super Chat. This has spawned a massive creator economy where top streamers command six-figure sponsorship deals, while publishers allocate significant budgets to influencer partnerships rather than traditional advertising. The rise of streaming has also fueled the growth of esports, where pro players double as entertainers – drawing massive online audiences and blurring the line between competition and content.Video Game Streaming in NumbersWhile it’s easy to feel the impact of streaming in daily gaming life, the numbers behind the trend tell an even more powerful story. From billions in revenue to global shifts in viewer behavior, game streaming has grown into a massive industry reshaping how we play, watch, and connect. Here’s a look at the data driving the movement.Market Size & GrowthIn 2025, the global Games Live Streaming market is projected to generate $15.32 billion in revenue. By 2030, that figure is expected to reach $18.92 billion, growing at an annual rate of 4.32%.The average revenue per user (ARPU) in 2025 stands at $10.51, showing consistent monetization across platforms.China remains the single largest market, expected to bring in $2.92 billion this year alone.Source: Statista Market Insights, 2025Viewership & Daily HabitsThe number of users in the live game streaming market is forecast to hit 1.8 billion by 2030, with user penetration rising from 18.6% in 2025 to 22.6% by the end of the decade.In 2023, average daily time spent watching game streams rose to 2.5 hours per user, up 12% year-over-year — a clear sign of streaming becoming part of gamers’ daily routines.Sources: Statista Market Insights, 2025; SNS Insider, 2024What People Are WatchingThe most-watched games on Twitch include League of Legends, GTA V, and Counter-Strike — all regularly topping charts for both viewers and streamers.When it comes to creators, the most-streamed games are Fortnite, Valorant, and Call of Duty: Warzone, showing a strong overlap between what streamers love to broadcast and what audiences enjoy watching.In Q1 2024, Twitch users spent over 249 million hours watching new game releases, while total gaming-related content reached around 3.3 billion hours.Sources: SullyGnome, 2025; Statista, 2025Global Trends & Regional PlatformsChina’s local platforms like Huya (31M MAU) and Douyu (26.6M MAU) remain key players in the domestic market.In South Korea, following Twitch’s 2023 exit, local services like AfreecaTV and newcomer Chzzk have positioned themselves as alternatives.Meanwhile, Japan and Europe continue to see steady engagement driven by strong gaming scenes and dedicated fan communities.Source: Statista, 2025Event Livestreaming Hits New HighsNintendo Direct was the most-watched gaming showcase in 2024, with an average minute audience of 2.6 million.The 2024 Streamer Awards drew over 645,000 peak viewers, highlighting how creator-focused events now rival traditional game showcases.Source: Statista, 2025As game streaming continues to evolve, its role in the broader gaming ecosystem is becoming clearer. It hasn’t replaced traditional gameplay – instead, it’s added a new dimension to how people engage with games, offering a space for connection, discovery, and commentary. For players, creators, and industry leaders alike, streaming now sits alongside playing as a core part of the modern gaming experience – one that continues to grow and shift with the industry itself.

Welcome to our latest recap of what's going on in the indie game space. It's been a very busy week in that realm, thanks to Gamescom. Before we jam through a few of this week's new releases and some of the many, many Gamescom reveals, the

Team Cherry's hyped sequel is out on September 4, and the news is having a similar impact in the world of indie games as Rockstar releasing GTA 6

Gamescom 2025 is wrapping up this weekend, but the winners of the annual Gamescom Awards have already been named. This year's biggest winner was Resident Evil Requiem, which took home four awards, including Best Sony PlayStation Game.There were some surprises along the way--including the winner of the inaugural Best Nintendo Switch 2 Game--and there were surprise winners among the indie titles like Windup's Hela, which won two awards against stiff competition from more established games like Donkey Kong Bananza.To be considered for Gamescom Awards, publishers pay to nominate their games in one or more categories. However, the actual awards are chosen by a jury that evaluates each title across multiple criteria, including graphics, gameplay, and innovation.This year's Gamescom opening night had a number of new announcements and trailers, and there may be more to come in the show's remaining two days.For now, we've put together a complete list of the 2025 Gamescom Awards with all categories and nominees. The winners are listed in bold. Best VisualsBorderlands 4 - Gearbox Software / 2KBye Sweet Carole – Little SewingMachine / Maximum EntertainmentCrimson Desert – Pearl AbyssMIO: Memories In Orbit – Douze Dixièmes / Focus EntertainmentWINNER: Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom Entertainment Best AudioCairn – The Game BakersLittle Nightmares 3 – Supermassive Games / Bandai Namco EntertainmentPhantom Blade Zero – S-GameWINNER: Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom EntertainmentRockbeasts – Lichthund / Team17 Best GameplayWINNER: Donkey Kong Bananza – NintendoHela – Windup / Knights PeakMario Kart World – NintendoPVKK – Bippinbits / Kepler InteractiveResident Evil Requiem – Capcom Entertainment Most EntertainingDispatch – AdHoc StudioDonkey Kong Bananza – NintendoGrounded 2 – Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game StudiosWINNER: Hela – Windup / Knights PeakMario Kart World – Nintendo Most EpicCrimson Desert – Pearl AbyssDune: Awakening – FuncomWINNER: Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom EntertainmentSuper Meat Boy 3D – Sluggerfly, Team Meat / HeadupWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – Saber Interactive / Focus Entertainment Most WholesomeWINNER: Hela – Windup / Knights PeakIs This Seat Taken? – Poti Poti Studio / Wholesome Games PresentsStar Birds – Toukana InteractiveTiny Bookshop – neoludic games / Skystone Games, 2P GamesWinter Burrow – Pine Creek Games / Noodlecake Games for ImpactCairn – The Game BakersForever Skies – Far From HomeHollow Home – Twigames / GalaktusMonowave – Studio BBBWINNER: Tiny Bookshop – neoludic games / Skystone Games, 2P Games Best Microsoft Xbox GameBorderlands 4 – Gearbox Software / 2KCrimson Desert – Pearl AbyssWINNER: Grounded 2 – Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game StudiosLittle Nightmares 3 – Supermassive Games / Bandai Namco EntertainmentNinja Gaiden 4 – PlatinumGames, Team Ninja / Xbox Game Studios Best PC GameWINNER: Anno 117: Pax Romana – Ubisoft Mainz / UbisoftBorderlands 4 – Gearbox Software / 2KPVKK – Bippinbits / Kepler InteractiveTowa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree – Brownies inc. / Bandai Namco EntertainmentWorld of Warcraft – Blizzard Entertainment / Activision Blizzard Best Sony PlayStation GameBorderlands 4 – Gearbox Software / 2KCrimson Desert – Pearl AbyssCronos: The New Dawn – Bloober TeamPragmata – Capcom EntertainmentWINNER: Resident Evil Requiem – Capcom Entertainment Best Nintendo Switch 2 GameDonkey Kong Bananza – NintendoWINNER: Mario Kart World – NintendoMetroid Prime 4: Beyond – NintendoTowa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree – Brownies Inc. / Bandai Namco EntertainmentWinter Burrow – Pine Creek Games / Noodlecake Best Mobile GameArknights: Endfield – Hypergryph / GryphlineDungeon Clawler – Stray Fawn / Stray Fawn Publishing, PlayworksGenshin Impact – HoYoverseWINNER: Love and Deepspace – Papergames / Infold GamesServant of the Lake – Rusty Lake

Team Cherry, developer of Hollow Knight, has announced a release date of September 4 for the long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong.Over 300,000 concurrent viewers gathered to watch the announcement via Team Cherry's YouTube channel earlier today. At the time of publication, roughly three hours later, the video has over 1.4 million views and counting.The numbers above encapsulate a fraction of the popularity around the sequel, which was announced back in 2019, two years after the release of Hollow Knight, which is a sprawling action-adventure game. Team Cherry hasn't run an extensive marketing cycle, aside from sporadic appearances in video game showcases from Xbox, Nintendo, and Gamescom. For a while, before any conference, people turned to the meme of expecting news of a release date for Silksong. This included industry figure Geoff Keighley, who joked about it on Monday of this week via X (formerly Twitter), ahead of his hosting Gamescom Opening Night Live, which took place on Tuesday.Team Cherry seems unaware of what Jira isHollow Knight sold over 2.8 million copies by 2019, two years after its release. It was, by all means, a successful launch for Team Cherry, an indie development team consisting primarily of three people. But the popularity continued to snowball from there. As of today, according to an interview with Bloomberg, Hollow Knight has sold 15 million copies.Related:Silksong has been in development for seven years now. When asked about why the dev cycle has taken this long, Team Cherry co-founders Ari Gibson and Willian Pellen said that they've been having fun, and that the project has been a vehicle for their creativity."It was never stuck or anything," Gibson told Bloomberg. "It was always progressing. It's just the case that we're a small team, and games take a lot of time. There wasn't any big controversial moment behind it."The idea for the sequel came from designing a DLC that progressively grew in scope, until the team realized that it could become a separate title altogether. According to the devs, that growth continued over time—in 2022, Team Cherry featured Silksong during an Xbox event that promised that all of the games shown would be out within a year. But that wasn't the case."I think we're always underestimating the amount of time and effort it'll take us to achieve things," Gibson told Bloomberg. "It's also that problem where, because we're having fun doing it, it's not like, 'It's taking longer, this is awful, we really need to get past this phase.' It's, 'This is a very enjoyable space to be in. Let's perpetuate this with some new ideas.'"Related:According to Team Cherry, maintaining the team small saved them from having to manage and delegate, even if that led to extended production time. The co-founders are joined by programmer Jack Vine, composer Chris Larking, and "a few contractors" who helped with programming and testing."We don't want to mess with the formula and then find out it's not fun," Gibson said. "I used to manage teams in past lives. I don't really want to do that ever again."This methodology has allowed for a distinct approach to developing a game, to the point where the team seems unaware of task-management applications. Gibson asked "What is Jira?" when prompted if they had used it at some point. Meanwhile, Pellen wondered "Is it software?" and added that the team briefly used Trello before their account was deactivated for lack of use.

Hollow Knight: Silksong, the DLC-turned-sequel to one of the best indie metroidvanias, has been in limbo for what felt like a decade. Extended radio silence and a - seemingly unexpectedly-prolonged - development period has earned the sidescrolling a

Mouse in the house.Annapurna Interactive has today announced that Furcula's weird roguelike-meets-creature collector Morsels will be landing on Switch on 18th November.This one briefly popped up in the August 2024 Indie World showcase, where it was a