Polaris is a four-player co-op PvE shooter set in an original sci-fi universe coming to PC via Steam this year. Developed by Polaris Team, an offshoot of Variable State, which is the studio behind 2021's Last Stop and 2016's Virginia, the developer formally unveiled Polaris during today's IGN Live showcase with a cinematic trailer. 

In the trailer, we get a glimpse of this sci-fi world, which takes place in a region of space overtaken by a ruthless force known simply as the Regime. In the game, players must reclaim their homeworlds and bring every enemy stronghold down. 

Check out the game's first look in the Polaris reveal trailer below: 

Polaris Team says, "All in-game structures – installed by the Regime, but not yet inhabited by their indoctrinated citizens – can be crushed, blown apart, and otherwise annihilated over the course of every match, and the same is true of the natural environments and terrain upon which they've been constructed." 

Players control superpowered freedom fighters who utilize guerrilla tactics to take back their territory while flying through dynamic open levels, destroying enemy infrastructure, and unearthing coveted mysteries that drive the Regime's war of conquest. 

"Since I first played Bullfrog's Syndicate Wars, I've always dreamed of working on a game that featured hi-tech squads of futuristic soldiers, causing mayhem and destruction in an original sci-fi setting," Polaris Team creative director Jonathan Burroughs writes in a press release. "Sprinkle in a deep appreciation for the Halo series – particularly its blend of on-foot and in-vehicle co-op action – and you can begin to get a sense of what we hope to achieve with Polaris. 

"We're only a small and scrappy team of 11 people, but have been plugging away at this project since early 2023. Aided by the tools and technologies of Unreal Engine 5, Polaris Team has built a tight 4-player PvE combat game with a dynamic, destructible environment set in our own unique sci-fi universe. With the release date arriving later this year, the team and I couldn’t be more excited to share Polaris with players worldwide!”

Here are some Polaris screenshots to check out: 

Polaris is due out on PC via Steam sometime this year. You can sign up for a beta playtest starting today. 

What do you think of Polaris' reveal? Let us know in the comments below!

Developer-publisher Ancient Forge has revealed Hotel Galactic, a sci-fi hotel management sim with Studio Ghibli-inspired visuals, and it's coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. Revealed during today's PC Gaming Show,  Ancient Forge is launching a Kickstarter for Hotel Galactic next month on July 9 that will run through the end of the month. 

In Hotel Galactic, players are tasked with restoring a rundown cosmic hotel drifting amongst the stars to its former glory. "Entice alien guests from around the galaxy by dreaming up beautifully quirky designs," a press release reads. "Craft elegant guest rooms, grand dining halls, and other rooms crucial to keep guests satisfied during their stay. Purchase furniture from visiting merchants or build them from scratch using wood, metal, and other materials." 

Check it out for yourself in the Hotel Galactic reveal trailer below: 

Elsewhere in the game, you can feed guests by cooking meals created by berries, plants, and cosmic ingredients scattered "throughout the great beyond." You can experiment with new dishes, cater to guests' "sophisticated palates," and perfect recipes for even the pickiest of eaters. 

You must also hire and manage staff to keep the hotel running at its best, and you do so by dragging and dropping workers around the hotel. 

Outside of that, you can "take a reprieve from managing a hotel by exploring an underground complex within the floating island," according to a press release. "Become a part of the local ecosystem by growing plants in the hotel's backyard and raising myriad livestock. Welcome eccentric, alien travelers from across the galaxy, and run the next five-start inn featuring a charming soundtrack and Studio Ghibli-inspired visuals." 

Here are some screenshots from Hotel Galactic: 

Ancient Forge plans to launch Hotel Galactic on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC sometime in the future. The game's Kickstarter campaign begins on July 9 and runs through July 30. The company says that with each milestone achieved, it promises to deliver new content, such as unannounced in-game mechanics, new VIP guests, and more. 

What do you think of Hotel Galactic's reveal? Let us know in the comments below!