Tag: New Blood Interactive

  • New Blood April Fools Hotline Receives 1,000+ Fan Voicemails

    New Blood April Fools Hotline Receives 1,000+ Fan Voicemails

    Key Takeaway

    1. The April Fools’ joke about the tip line became a genuine feedback hotlines, with fans actively calling in and leaving messages.
    2. The studio has listened to over 1,000 voicemails, receiving a mix of questions, compliments, jokes, and even food orders.
    3. The hotline serves as a nostalgic, community-centric way for gamers and developers to stay connected, contrasting industry trends of disconnect.
    4. New Blood is actively developing new content, including expanding ULTRAKILL’s latest Act III and working on future levels.

    Last month, the publisher known for some of the coolest retro-style shooters, New Blood Interactive, decided to have some fun with an April Fools’ joke that quickly turned into something more real. They set up an old-school hotline where players could call and leave questions, suggestions, or simply chat about their games. Surprisingly, the line, which was launched on April 1, is still ringing with calls, over a month later, and they are taking them every day.

    Feedback and Fun Responses

    What started as a joke became a genuine way for fans to connect with the devs, and the responses have been quite amusing. Some callers shared real feedback, others ordered food, and some just tried to stump the team with classic jokes like “Is your refrigerator running?” The studio shared on May 1 that they listened to more than 1,000 voicemails and thanked the fans for their support, questions, and humor. They promised to have some answers to the fans’ questions soon.

    Memorable Voice Messages

    One message stood out to the team, where a fan suggested an interesting game idea: “Hey, you ever think about making a game where you fight bugs? It’s all the rage these days, and you’ve got so many bugs to choose from.” This message, among others, was shared publicly to show how the community is engaging with the hotline.

    Video and Voice Acting Highlights

    The YouTube announcement titled “Call the New Blood Tip Line Today” was full of personality and featured some fun voice acting. Gianni Matragrano played the Gloomwood Huntsman, and composer Andrew Hulshult appeared as the hero from Amid Evil. What was initially meant to be a silly joke turned into a heartfelt way for fans to interact with the developers, creating a sense of community in an industry often perceived as detached from its players.

    A Unique Connection

    The constantly ringing answering machine is a cool throwback to old-school gaming culture. It’s a wholesome touch that helps build real connections between gamers and developers, which is quite rare nowadays. Instead of being just a business, New Blood’s hotline feels like a fun, communal experience, keeping the spirit of classic gaming alive.

    What’s New at New Blood

    The studio is busy with other projects as well. Their flagship game ULTRAKILL just released Act III, titled “Godfist Suicide,” where players are thrown into the depths of hell with Layer 8 called “Fraud.” This update adds four new levels, a fresh Prime Sanctum, and a hidden level for players to discover. The final layer, “Treachery,” is still in the works and coming soon with new surprises.

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  • Indie Game Studio: Switch 2 Dev Kits More Accessible, Nintendo Cautious

    Indie Game Studio: Switch 2 Dev Kits More Accessible, Nintendo Cautious

    Key Takeaways

    1. Development kits for the Switch 2 are now easier to obtain, according to Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive.
    2. Nintendo is being selective about which games get published on the Switch 2, aiming to avoid eShop clutter.
    3. The indie game Dungeons of Dusk is planned for the Switch 2, but approval from Nintendo is still pending.
    4. The Switch 2 dev kit enables strong performance and mouse control for games like Dungeons of Dusk.
    5. Recent changes to the eShop include ranking game visibility by revenue and reducing cheap AI-made copies.

    Before the handheld was introduced in June 2025, there were whispers about the hard-to-find Switch 2 dev kits. In a recent chat, Dave Oshry, the CEO of New Blood Interactive, confirmed that these tools are now easier to get. However, Nintendo, which is becoming more cautious about eShop clutter, might still turn down games that are under development.

    Insight from an Interview

    Nintendo Everything picked up on some comments that were missed when Oshry spoke with RPG Site. The indie studio known for Dusk and Blood West is getting ready to launch its multi-platform dungeon crawler. Though they plan to bring Dungeons of Dusk to the Switch 2, it’s still not a definite thing.

    Development Kit Access

    Oshry mentioned that getting dev kits from Nintendo isn’t really a problem, saying it’s “not much different than the Switch 1.” Reliable leaker NateTheHate echoed this in an update at the end of 2025. But not every studio might share New Blood’s luck. A recent report from Arkaden suggests that Nintendo has denied some developers access.

    Promising Performance

    Thanks to the Switch 2 dev kit, Dungeons of Dusk builds display solid performance and even allow for mouse control. However, the indie game is still in the submission phase:

    “We’re just waiting for Nintendo to give us approval to actually launch it because they’re still being quite cautious about allowing games on Switch 2.”

    The New Blood developer also shared how they’re tackling shovelware:

    “They don’t want it to just become a giant slop fest like the Switch 1 eShop became after a few years with just tons of shovelware on there.”

    Nintendo’s Selectivity

    Despite the rise of third-party games for the Switch 2, Nintendo is careful about who gets to publish. The company has also made efforts to cut down on eShop clutter. In June 2025, IGN reported on updates to the store in certain areas.

    Now, game pages are ranked by revenue from the last three days instead of just the number sold. This change aims to lessen the visibility of cheap AI-made copies. Shoppers might also notice fewer bundles with the same games and more precise descriptions.

    With a playable demo of Dungeons of Dusk out on Steam, most gamers wouldn’t label it as slop. Still, it’s uncertain whether Switch 2 users will be able to play this turn-based RPG.

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  • New Blood’s Dungeons of Dusk: Retro FPS Meets DOOM-Inspired RPG

    New Blood’s Dungeons of Dusk: Retro FPS Meets DOOM-Inspired RPG

    Key Takeaways

    1. New Blood Interactive is developing a spin-off of Dusk titled Dungeons of Dusk, a turn-based dungeon crawler set to launch in 2026.
    2. The game will bridge the storyline between the three episodes of Dusk, starting right after Episode 1 and leading into Episode 2.
    3. Dungeons of Dusk draws inspiration from classic mobile RPGs, particularly the DOOM RPG, and will feature 30 campaign levels with quirky NPCs and engaging dialogue.
    4. The game is currently in development with most mechanics finalized and 6-7 campaign levels completed; a demo was showcased at the Steam Next Fest.
    5. It will be available on multiple platforms, including Steam, GOG, PS5, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, and is priced at $16.99.

    New Blood Interactive has revealed a spin-off of its classic FPS Dusk, which will be a turn-based dungeon crawler. The game, titled Dungeons of Dusk, is expected to launch in 2026 and is being crafted by 68k Studios. This RPG is set to fit neatly between the three episodes of Dusk.

    Development Journey

    The CEO of New Blood had considered making a Dusk RPG for some time, but struggled to find a developer familiar with the classic dungeon crawler style. He desired a team member who had a passion for DOOM RPG similar to his own. After testing out 68k Studios’ games like Inferno and Ludus Mortis, he discovered the perfect developers.

    In a Steam post, Dave Bleiwess, the CEO of New Blood, shared the news about Dungeons of Dusk:

    “Dungeons of DUSK begins right after the conclusion of Episode 1 and leads into Episode 2, while the latter portion unfolds between Episode 2 and Episode 3. Did you think our hero just teleported from one location to another? Heck no. He was stuck in some DUNGEONS the entire time, obviously.”

    Gameplay Inspiration

    David Szymanski’s 2018 boomer shooter was praised for its charming pixel art reminiscent of Quake and Doom, alongside its fast gameplay. However, Dungeons of Dusk takes a different approach, transforming that concept into a compact RPG.

    The game draws from lesser-known mobile classics, including Fountainhead Entertainment’s Doom RPG and the 2000s Wolfenstein RPG. Bleiwiss mentioned in his post that he has cherished these games privately for over two decades. He also stated:

    “Our main inspiration for Dungeons of DUSK was indeed… DOOM RPG. A mobile RPG adaptation of DOOM by Fountainhead Entertainment, which was surprisingly impactful in 2005. DOOM RPG was unexpected, yet it delivered everything it promised and so much more.”

    Game Features

    This inspiration has led to an RPG featuring 30 campaign levels, along with quirky NPCs and engaging dialogue.

    Dungeons of Dusk is currently about a year into its development, with the majority of its mechanics finalized and six to seven campaign levels complete. A demo was showcased at the Steam Next Fest in February.

    The game will include full controller support, verification for Steam Deck, and a level editor at launch. Dungeons of Dusk is set to retail at $16.99 and will be accessible on Steam, GOG, Mac, Linux, PS5, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

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