Game intel
Hell is Us
If war is the closest we get to hell on earth, it's because Earth harbours the worst of demons: humankind. In an isolated country ravaged by infighting, discov…
When Gamescom rolls around, you expect the usual deluge of trailers, demos, and hardware reveals-but Nacon’s booth in 2025 genuinely made me stop and pay attention. Not because of marketing flash, but because there’s a rare blend of ambition and risk here that you don’t often see from a mid-tier publisher. Let’s break down the real gamer takeaways beneath the marketing gloss.
I’ll be honest: I’ve been side-eyeing “Hell is Us” since its first tease. Narrative-driven action-adventures aren’t rare, and Nacon’s track record in the genre is… inconsistent (looking at you, “Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood”). But after seeing real gameplay and hearing that the game’s final version is demo-ready at Gamescom, my interest level has gone from meh to genuinely intrigued. Those environmental details, the promise of handcrafted weapons, and a setting that’s more than just “another ruined country”-these are the right signals. And support for AMD’s latest FSR 4 out of the gate? That’s not common for mid-size studios. I’m hopeful, but not convinced—gameplay needs to be as sharp as the presentation. If the story avoids cliches and the monster encounters feel tense, this could put Nacon on the map for single-player fans.
“Styx” fans are a niche bunch, but the series always leaned into tricky, vertical stealth that felt more “classic Thief” than anything in AAA these days. The reveal of “Blade of Greed” looks like a direct play to that audience, with bigger levels, smarter AI, and a new resource economy built around Quartz. The question is whether Nacon can capture that tight stealth gameplay without diluting it for broader appeal. Previous Styx games sometimes got in their own way with janky controls—if they nail responsiveness and improve the writing (give me more of that dark goblin banter), this could quietly be one of the best stealth games of the year. I’ll need to get hands-on impressions before I fully buy the hype, but at least it’s not trying to reinvent the genre with forced “live service” junk.
Sim racing hardware has been a playground for the “money is no object” crowd for years, so seeing Nacon’s Revosim wheels come to consoles actually feels like a bit of a shake-up. Direct Drive tech is what hardcore racers want, but PlayStation and Xbox players usually get last year’s PC scraps or overpriced junk. Plug & play compatibility across all platforms, if it works as promised, is a real win. The proof will be in the force feedback and longevity, but right now, the message is clear: Nacon wants in on Logitech and Fanatec’s territory. If the price lands right (and Nacon resists the urge to nickel-and-dime with “exclusive editions”), this could be the most important sim racing hardware launch in years.
Let’s be real: non-Japanese studios trying their hand at JRPGs is usually an exercise in bad anime tropes, clunky combat, and nostalgia-bait. But “Edge of Memories” might be different. Midgar Studio isn’t new to ambition (they made “Edge of Eternity,” a title with rough edges but honest heart), and now they’re doubling down by collaborating with legendary artists like Yasunori Mitsuda and Emi Evans. It’s not just a cosplay of Japanese design—it could be an evolution. Real-time combat with chained combos sounds like they’re going for something between Tales and FFXV, and the playable build at Gamescom suggests they want real feedback. There’s still risk here (localization has sunk many a “global” JRPG), but the team-up with respected composers means at least the soundtrack will slap.
Nacon isn’t just firing out new IPs—they’re updating their current live games. “Dragonkin: The Banished” rolling out a big free update (new characters, a meaty biome, and extra bosses) is a sign they’re listening to player retention, not just launch sales. “Gear.Club Unlimited 3” also looks like a direct answer to Mario Kart burnout and sim fatigue: 40+ officially licensed cars, two new environments, and an all-ages focus. It does smell a bit like a franchise being churned out year-over-year, but if they keep it from feeling nickel-&-dimed with microtransactions, it could be a sleeper hit for racing fans tired of serious sims.
Nacon’s Gamescom 2025 booth isn’t trying to outgun the mega-publishers—it’s carving its own lane, betting on riskier mid-sized games alongside surprisingly ambitious hardware. If “Hell is Us” sticks the landing, if Styx returns to form, and if the Revosim wheels really deliver for console racers, gamers might actually have a few new things to get excited about. Skepticism is warranted—but for once, so is a bit of hype.
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