Veteran Joystick
Indie Games Just Made AAA Look Pathetic... Again
updated
#indiegame #indiegames #corekeeper #steamgames #newgame #indiegaming #gamingnews #corekeeper #minecraft
#indiegame #newgame #fadingecho #gamingnews #steam #steamgames #veteranjoystick #indiegames
You’re a Spartan trapped in the afterlife in Ancient Greece in this co-op survival sandbox game.
If you love Valheim you should definitely check out Dawn Of Defiance
#indiegame #indiegames #steam #steamgames #valheim #survivalgame #survivalgames #newgame #pcgaming #gaming #dawnofdefiance #sandboxgame
This video breaks down the story behind Skate Story, why this game exists at all, how a solo dev managed to create something so ambitious, and why Skate Story is suddenly blowing up across Steam and the indie game scene.
Skate Story isn't just another skateboarding game. It’s a weird, personal, emotional art piece that feels more authentic than anything EA or Activision have released in a decade.
If you’re into indie games, solo dev games, or just unique games that push beyond what big studios are willing to risk, Skate Story is absolutely worth paying attention to.
Watch more:
These Indie Games Quietly Killed It In 2025
youtu.be/Iu3gK222jyg
These Indie Games Are About To Dominate
youtu.be/e_uPB3RLlbA
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
#skatestory #indiegames #indiegamedev #solodev #indiegame #newgame #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
#indiegames #newgame #steamgame #steam #pcgaming #indiegame #fps #fpsgames #survivalgame #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
In this video I’m breaking down the indie games and AA projects that look ready to dominate, from ambitious RPGs to huge open world experiments the kind of stuff AAA won’t touch anymore.
Blood of Dawnwalker is shaping up to be one of the boldest RPGs in years. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn brings proper narrative depth back to sci-fi. Light No Fire is Hello Games swinging for the fences again with a full Earth sized fantasy world. And games like Tides of Annihilation, Alkahest, Solasta 2, and Valor Mortis show exactly why indie and AA teams are carrying gaming forward right now.
And of course, there’s the Larian tease... After Baldur’s Gate 3, whatever they’re working on next, Divinity or otherwise will be well worth the wait. They're teasing something big, watch till the end to find out what.
These are the indie and AA games that look set to dominate 2026 and beyond. Don't miss them!
Watch more:
These Indie Games Quietly Killed It In 2025
youtu.be/Iu3gK222jyg
Indie Games Just Brutally Embarrassed AAA
youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
#indiegames #rpg #newgames #pcgaming #alkahest #tidesofannihilation #solasta #valormortis #owlcatgames #thebloodofdawnwalker #larianstudios #lightnofire #gamingnews #upcominggames
Bladesong - Wishlist on Steam or try the demo
#indiegames #rpg #bladesong #indiegame #steam #steamgames #newgame #gamingnews
Full video here with even more indie gems - youtu.be/Iu3gK222jyg
#taintedgrail #mortalsin #voidbreaker #voin #witchfire #thealters #hades2 #silksong #indiegames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Check the full video for the list - youtu.be/Iu3gK222jyg
#taintedgrail #mortalsin #voidbreaker #blueprince #voin #dispatch #hellisus #theseanceofblakemanor #clairobscur #kingdomcomedeliverance2 #witchfire #thealters #hades2 #silksong #indiegames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Games like Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, The Alters, Witchfire, Mortal Sin, Dispatch, Blue Prince, Hell Is Us, The Seance of Blake Manor, VOIN and VOID/BREAKER did far more heavy lifting than anything coming out of the major AAA publishers, and not enough people are talking about them.
These are the indie and AA games from 2025 that deserve a spot on your wishlist, whether you’ve heard of them or not.
Watch more:
Indie Games Just Brutally Embarrassed AAA
youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
▶ Playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
#taintedgrail #mortalsin #voidbreaker #blueprince #voin #dispatch #hellisus #theseanceofblakemanor #clairobscur #kingdomcomedeliverance2 #witchfire #thealters #hades2 #silksong #indiegames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Night Swarm is a new vampire themed roguelite RPG bullet heaven indie game, where you play as a fearsome young vampire lord rising to power.
It's out now on Steam with 93% positive reviews too.
#indiegame #roguelite #vampiresurvivors #roguelike #indiegaming #newgame #steam #steamgames #rpg #veteranjoystick
Witchspire takes everything you think you know about survival games and throws it out the window!
Witchspire is a new co-op indie survival game dropping in 2026, you can wishlist it now on Steam and signup for the upcoming playtests!
#indiegames #survivalgame #newgame #steamgame #gamingnews #gamedev #indiegame #coopgames #coopgaming #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/islDtCgh_VA
#steam #steamgames #valve #steamnextfest #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Steam Next Fest showed hundreds of AI assisted games slipping through unclear or missing labels, and players have no idea what’s genuinely human made anymore.
With studios quietly swapping in AI content and companies like Epic arguing against disclosure entirely, this is becoming a major issue for anyone who cares about game quality, transparency in video games, and the future of game development.
In this video I break down why Steam has lost control of AI, what it means for game developers, and why players should pay attention.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
Indie Games Just Brutally Embarrassed AAA
youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
▶ Playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
#steam #steamgames #valve #steamnextfest #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/A0qRntRUNjo
#dispatch #indiegame #adhocstudio #gamingnews #gamingindustry #telltalegames #dispatchgame #veteranjoystick #indiegames #indiegaming #criticalrole
AdHoc Studio spent six months unpaid after their publisher walked away, told repeatedly that narrative, episodic games don’t work anymore and that players don’t want branching stories.
They made Dispatch anyway, and it became one of the most successful story driven games of 2025. The success of Dispatch is a direct contradiction of the AAA mindset that says single player narrative games can’t compete, don’t sell, or aren’t worth funding.
This video breaks down why Dispatch works, why AdHoc’s design philosophy proved everyone wrong, how it almost didn't exist and how Critical Role helped push a narrative project that traditional publishers wouldn’t go near.
Dispatch didn’t just succeed, it proved the entire AAA gaming industry wrong.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
Indie Games Just Brutally Embarrassed AAA
youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
▶ Playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
0:00 - Intro
0:10 - Dispatch
#dispatch #indiegame #adhocstudio #gamingnews #gamingindustry #telltalegames #dispatchgame #veteranjoystick #indiegames #indiegaming #criticalrole
#indiegames #indiegame #newgame #newgames #steamgames #steam #gamingnews #vrgames #deadlydelivery
#indiegames #indiegaming #indiegame #indiegamedev #newgame #newgames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
It’s made by Bioshock developers, stars Minthara from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Liam O’Brien from Critical role, and yet everyone’s sleeping on it!
The Killing Stone demo is on Steam right now.
#indiegames #newgame #baldursgate3 #bioshock #indiegame #gamingnews #gaming #pcgaming #indiegamedev #indiegaming #xbox #playstation #steam #steamgames #bg3 #minthara
AAA Gaming investment is massively declining year over year while Steam is hitting record player numbers.
Even safe bets like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are struggling while franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry repeat themselves to death.
This video breaks down why AAA is failing, why players aren’t the problem, and why the AAA games industry just hit the point of no return.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
Indie Games Just Brutally Embarrassed AAA
youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
▶ Full playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
#LarianStudios #BaldursGate3 #MichaelDouse #DanHouser #RockstarGames #EmbracerGroup #CallOfDuty #BlackOps7 #AssassinsCreed #FarCry #Steam #gamingnews #GameIndustry #gamingindustry #indiegames #aaagames
#indiegame #indiegames #corekeeper #steamgames #newgame #indiegaming #gamingnews
#ofashandsteel #indiegame #indierpg #indiegames #steam #steamgames #newgame #rpg
#horrorgaming #indiegame #horrorgame #steam #steamgames #indiegames #newgame #gamingnews
#WrithingWallEvent #YouBelongHere #elderscrollsonline #theelderscrollsonline #bethesda #elderscrolls #mmorpg #rpg
Sponsored by @bethesda
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #indiegame #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick #steam #steamgames
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #indiegame #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick #steam #steamgames
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #indiegame #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick #steam #steamgames
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #indiegame #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick #steam #steamgames
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#ubisoft #ubisoftgames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #ubisoft #indiegame #swenvincke #clairobscur #hades2 #hollowknightsilksong #kingdomcomedeliverance2 #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/z9AWK8pmFQs
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #ubisoft #indiegame #swenvincke #clairobscur #hades2 #hollowknightsilksong #kingdomcomedeliverance2 #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Ubisoft tried to explain their failures by blaming players and doubling down on live service, but every number says the opposite. Single player game demand is the strongest it’s been in years. Steam’s biggest hits are coming from indie and AA studios. And the GOTY nominations show exactly where players are choosing to spend their time.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with twelve GOTY nominations. Hollow Knight: Silksong launches with huge player numbers. Hades 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Megabonk, Arc Raiders, all proving the interest is there, just not for what AAA publishers like Ubisoft keep making.
This video breaks down why these studios pulled ahead, why the AAA model keeps collapsing, and why players are choosing focused, creative, single purchase games over bloated budgets and live service video game design.
If 2024 was the warning… the 2025 Game of the Year Awards is the ultimate proof.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
The Games Industry Just Exposed Itself In The Worst Way
youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
AAA’s Worst Nightmare Just Happened
youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
▶ Full playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
#indiegames #gameoftheyear #ubisoft #indiegame #swenvincke #clairobscur #hades2 #hollowknightsilksong #kingdomcomedeliverance2 #goty #indiegame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Additional footage from thegameawards and Casas No Commentary - Thank you!
#indiegame #indiegames #rpg #steam #steamgames #newgame #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Game - Cursed Companions
#indiegames #indiegame #steamgames #steam #newgame #cursedcompanions #veteranjoystick #gamingnews
#baldursgate3 #bioshock #criticalrole #indiegames #gamingnews #veteranjoystick #steam #steamgames
Lifted is well worth checking out if you love indie games, puzzle games, platformer games, or just want to chill out and explore ancient civilisations.
Demo out now
#indiegames #indiegame #platformergames #newgame #newgames #steam #steamgames #lifted #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/UQuj74uA3Ts
#callofduty #blackops #arcraiders #activision #gamingindustry #gamingnews #gaming
#gameoftheyear #goty #indiegames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #goty2025 #gameoftheyear2025 #veteranjoystick
This video breaks down what actually happened to Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7’s launch, why Arc Raiders exploded at the exact same moment, and how Activision, Eurogamer, Metacritic critics and the wider AAA industry all played a role in the disaster. From AI generated art backlash to review scores and Steam playercount.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
The Games Industry Just Exposed Itself In The Worst Way
youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
Indie Games Just Made AAA Look Pathetic... Again
youtu.be/AD1TB2JNHmU
▶ Full playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVQwXf17llwkQpBPy9wI7bnk
00:06 - Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7
#callofduty #blackops #arcraiders #activision #gamingindustry #gamingnews #gaming
Additional footage from ImaGaming under creative commons license, thank you!
Full video here - youtu.be/RNOeCLYI09Q
#rockstar #gta6 #grandtheftauto #gta5 #rockstargames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
Jump back in and be a part of history, help shape the future of ESO forever!
#theelderscrollsonline #theelderscrolls #bethesda #writhingwallevent #youbelonghere #veteranjoystick
Sponsored by @bethesda
After firing 31 employees, more than 200 Rockstar staff have pushed back, protests have begun outside the studio, a legal claim has been filed, and the entire situation has now been raised in the UK Parliament.
It’s a full scale backlash for Rockstar that hits the company behind GTA 6, GTA VI, Grand Theft Auto 6, and Red Dead Redemption at the worst possible time.
This video breaks down what actually happened inside Rockstar. The accusations of union busting, the leaked HR testimonies about gross misconduct, why developers say they were targeted, how the lawsuit works, and why all of this matters for GTA 6’s development, timeline, and the future of Grand Theft Auto and Rockstar.
If you follow Rockstar Games news, GTA 6 updates, Grand Theft Auto leaks, or the wider state of AAA development in 2025, this is the story shaping the future of Rockstar, and it's only getting worse.
Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
The Games Industry Just Exposed Itself In The Worst Way
youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
Indie Games Just Made AAA Look Pathetic... Again
youtu.be/AD1TB2JNHmU
▶ Full playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVSLrhGtGvxSBOR2a-KN_xlN
#rockstar #gta6 #grandtheftauto #gta5 #rockstargames #gamingnews #gamingindustry #veteranjoystick
#indiegames #indiegame #gamingnews #thegameawards #gamingindustry #clairobscurexpedition33 #silksong #hades2 #absolum #veteranjoystick
#deathstranding #deathstranding2 #hideokojima #playstation #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/_aSycg5r2aI
#arcraiders #eurogamer #embarkstudios #gamingnews #gamingindustry #gamereview #extractionshooter #thefinals #veteranjoystick
#baldursgate3 #bg3 #criticalrole #indiegames #indiegame #steam #steamgame #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
Check out Rue Valley here - bit.ly/VeteranJoystick_RV
#ruevalley #owlcatgames #indiegames #rpg #indiegame #owlcat #gamingnews #veteranjoystick
@OwlcatGames @emotionsparkstudio
Eurogamer accused Embark Studios of a lack of artistic integrity and gave Arc Raiders, one of the best multiplayer shooters in years a 2/5.
This is games media proving again that they don't represent players anymore.
In this video, I break down what Embark actually did with AI in Arc Raiders, why it isn’t unethical, and how this entire review proves that modern games media has lost the plot.
Arc Raiders is easily one of the best multiplayer shooters in years. Embark Studios built something genuinely new, smart design, great atmosphere, and a community actually enjoying itself and Eurogamer punished Embark Studios for innovating. They couldn't even get the facts right.
The Eurogamer Arc Raiders review says more about the state of games media than it does about the game. When a reviewer ignores the gameplay, ignores the facts, and reviews their own beliefs instead, it’s no longer a game review.
This video covers the full Arc Raiders review mess, what Embark Studios actually did with AI, and why this whole situation shows exactly how disconnected Eurogamer and mainstream games media has become from people who actually love video games.
00:03 - Arc Raiders Eurogamer Review
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Watch more takedowns the gaming industry hates:
The Games Industry Just Exposed Itself In The Worst Way
youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
Indie Games Just Made AAA Look Pathetic... Again
youtu.be/AD1TB2JNHmU
▶ Full playlist: The Fall of AAA
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeumzA5hYMVSLrhGtGvxSBOR2a-KN_xlN
#arcraiders #eurogamer #embarkstudios #gamingnews #gamingindustry #gamereview #extractionshooter #thefinals
Additional footage from Optimus Myers - Thank you!
Full video here - youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
#ClairObscur #Expedition33 #DragonAgeTheVeilguard #DragonAge #BioWare #Eurogamer #GameAwards #gamingnews #gamingindustry #SandfallInteractive #indiegames #VeteranJoystick
Full video here - youtu.be/faSC4ZwubdM
#ClairObscur #Expedition33 #DragonAgeTheVeilguard #DragonAge #BioWare #Eurogamer #GameAwards #gamingnews #gamingindustry #SandfallInteractive #indiegames #VeteranJoystick


