Join Deranged Games Open Playtest for Lag Kills Until November 2nd!

UNITED KINGDOM, OCTOBER 2026 | With the annual Steam Scream Fest approaching, solo developer DERANGED GAMES is opening a new playtest for LAG KILLS, an upcoming horror game where breaking into a seemingly empty house for loot turns into a fight for survival.

Players take on the role of a desperate intruder who breaks into what they believe to be an empty house, only to discover that the owner is home, lagging badly, and angry. The objective is simple: know when to loot, know when to hide, and try to escape before he catches you.

Players can request access directly through the LAG KILLS Steam page. The current open playtest marks an important milestone for LAG KILLS, being the last build update to the single-player update before game development shifts toward co-op.

WHAT PLAYERS CAN EXPECT

The latest LAG KILLS playtest introduces several new features and improvements, including:

• Fully playable level with new hiding spots
• Playable lobby featuring a new building and placement system
• In-game shop with upgrades and accessories
• Inventory system with item inspection
• UI overhaul for improved player experience
• Gameplay and performance optimizations
• More jumpscares to keep players on edge
• New lights-out sequence featuring new cutscenes and unique gameplay towards the end of the level.

These updates deliver a more developed single-player experience players can try out during the playtest.

ABOUT DERANGED GAMES

DERANGED GAMES is an independent game studio dedicated to delivering immersive, high tension gaming experiences. With LAG KILLS, the studio aims to combine psychological horror with cooperative gameplay, offering players a raw and unpredictable survival challenge. Additional details, including a press kit, will be made available as development progresses.

You can follow LAG KILLS and DERANGED GAMES through development by joining the Official Discord Server, as well as other social media accounts such as Twitter/X, BlueSky, Facebook, and Instagram.

DERANGED GAMES AND LAG KILLS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586008944469  
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/imDERANGEDGAMES  
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/derangedgames.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derangedgamestudio/

Article by: Susan N.

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Mandated Fate by Indie Developer Tetrarchy Studios Launches Demo on Steam!

France, April 2026 | In a world where the truth is dangerous, and loyalty is mandatory, how far will you go to survive?

Indie developer Tetrarchy Studios has announced that Mandated Fate, an upcoming dystopian narrative thriller, will open playtesting ahead of its public demo launch in early May on Steam. To participate in the playtest, gamers can join the Official Discord server and request a Steam key, or request access via the Mandated Fate Steam page. Within the game itself, there will be an option to fill out a completely anonymous feedback form.

Blending investigation, political intrigue, and high-stakes decision making, Mandated Fate puts players in the role of an Imperial inspector navigating a towering technocratic regime where every action is monitored - and every choice has consequences.

A System Built on Control (and Merit Score)

Set in an alternate 1985, Mandated Fate drops players into a society obsessed with technological dominance and absolute unity. Tasked with investigating a mysterious murder in a resistant district, players quickly uncover a web of secrets, surveillance, and conflicting loyalties. 

Through deep dialogue systems, environmental exploration, and faction manipulation, players must decide whether to uphold the regime, or quietly dismantle it from within.

• Interrogate suspects and uncover hidden truths
• Navigate a dense, vertical city with seamless exploration
• Make morally complex decisions that shape multiple outcomes
• Balance personal survival against political consequences

Wear the Mask. Keep your Soul.

Balance your Merit Score - the Empire’s cold, official metric of your worth - against your Loyalty, the hidden fire of your true convictions, in a world that never stops watching. Every word is a gamble: Navigate the rigid protocols of bureaucratic NPCs who only see your file. Earn the trust of desperate Dissidents or evade the gaze of zealous Loyalists who smell your true intent.

Will you become a model citizen to survive, or maintain a flawless public image while secretly feeding the flames of rebellion? In the Empire, the most dangerous weapon is the one they can’t see on your record.

Playtesters Wanted - Help Shape the Investigation

Ahead of its public demo, Mandated Fate is actively seeking players to help refine the experience.

The team is specifically looking for:

• Steam Deck testers to evaluate performance and handheld playability
• Controller users to refine input feel and accessibility
• Narrative-driven RPG fans ready to stress test choices, dialogue, and outcomes

Player feedback will directly influence polish, balance, and overall immersion as the game moves toward release.

Step Into the System Before the World Does

With its blend of noir detective work, branching narrative, and oppressive dystopian atmosphere, Mandated Fate challenges players to operate inside a system where breaking the rules isn’t optional - it’s expected.

The public demo launches in Early May, but those who join the playtest will be the first to uncover its secrets and shape how the story unfolds.

About Mandated Fate

Mandated Fate explores a future where humanity’s grand technological dreams have collapsed into systems of control. Drawing inspiration from classic dystopian storytelling and noir science fiction, the game presents a bleak yet compelling world where gravity manipulation powers an authoritarian society. Built almost entirely by a solo developer, the project reflects a passion for sci-fi narratives in which humanity ultimately becomes crushed under the weight of its own ambitions.

If you’re interested in staying in the loop on all things Mandated Fate, you can join the Official Discord Server, where feedback and suggestions are always welcome!

Article by: Susan N.

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