Hey there, Arcade Spirits fans!

We've got some AMAZING news to share! Are you ready for it?

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers, the standalone sequel to the award-winning Arcade Spirits, has been nominated twice at the Gayming Awards! It's up for Best LGBTQ Indie Game and Game of the Year!

The 2023 Gayming Awards are taking place on April 24th, and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this HUGE achievement with all of you!

So, grab some popcorn and tune in to the livestream on Twitch and on IGN!

Don't forget, it all goes down on April 24th at 3pm ET (12pm PT, 8pm UK) ! Mark your calendars!

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

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Arcade Spirits fans, rejoice! (Please rejoice. It would help a lot if you rejoice.)

Arcade Spirits fans, rejoice! Our next visual novel is on the way...



It's a world of heroes and villains, masks and capes, and Penny Larceny -- grifter, con artist, catburglar -- is barely scraping by. Life's hard for a young mask trying to make it big, but now she's gained access to Crimr, the gig-economy service for henchpersons looking to help supervillains with their evil, evil schemes! Guide Penny through her new career, pull off daring heists, and unravel the conspiracies which allow the rich and powerful to maintain their profitable status quo.

[h3]Wishlist on Steam today![/h3]

By doing this one-click task, you help us defeat THE ALGORITHM(tm). Who doesn't enjoy defeating THE ALGORITHM(tm)?

[h3]Hey there challengers![/h3]

Some of you may have seen that it was recently announced that the Gayming Awards will return for its third edition, making its Broadway debut in April 2023!

We're excited to announce that Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers has been nominated for two awards!

Game of the Year

The Game of the Year Award celebrates the best game released in 2022, as chosen by our diverse panel of judges.



Best LGBTQ Indie Game

Indie games allow more personal and diverse stories to be told, yet regularly are overlooked for awards. This award acknowledges the best indie game made by an independent developer which is focussed on telling an LGBTQ story, or heavily features an LGBTQ element.



This is a huge honor and we couldn't be more grateful for all of the support and kind words that our community has shared with us this year.

You can check out the full list of award categories and nominations HERE

Fingers crossed for 2023!

Fiction Factory Games & PQube

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[h2]Just a quick reminder for all you champions out there! [/h2]

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is set to have its 1.5 update arrive today (June 30, 2022).

The update does include several fixes for the Skip Button, Typos, Misgendering, and more. However, when testing, we noticed that it caused some Saved Games to become lost. Most notably, the saves made during the choice menu, while a voice line/sound FX is playing, or when a notable visual effect (such as pop-up animation) is activated.

To reduce the chance of experiencing any issues please save your game during a scene containing normal text dialogue.

Alternatively, while Steam will automatically update to 1.5, you can use these instructions to return to an earlier version of the game (version 1.3) if you find that your save was affected.

To keep playing on your original save using version 1.3:

Steam should automatically update and begin downloading the selected version

Again, we apologise for any inconvenience this update may cause but we hope youll continue your journey on either the 1.3 or 1.5 build of the game!

For any questions or help, please hop onto the Steam Forums or join our amazing community on Discord.

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

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And PQube Indies on:

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[h2]Important 1.5 Update: Please Read [/h2]

Hello again to all you Retro Romancers!

We have an important update for you today regarding the 1.5 patch heading to Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers.

The update will be released on June 30, 2022, and will include several fixes including:

• Fix for the Skip button during new playthroughs.
  
• Several fixes for the Linux version.
  
• Typos and misgendering errors addressed.
  
• A Content Warning has been added to show prior to starting Chapter 6.
  

• Right-click on the app in the Steam library
  
• Click "properties"
  
• Select "betas"
  
• Select "Rollback" from the opt-in dropdown
  
• Steam should automatically update and begin downloading the selected version
  

[h2]Hello, challengers! [/h2]

Its been almost 4 weeks since the release of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers, and by now were sure that youre well on your way to becoming the next esports legend! Weve been overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the growing Arcade Spirits community and thought wed share with you a special surprise...

Introducing our OST Mixtape featuring the very best tracks composed by Greg Mirles, live now on the PQube official YouTube channel!

[previewyoutube=aMJmmGral4g;full][/previewyoutube]

Check out the incredible original artwork and animation created by our character artist, Molly Nemecek. The scene includes loads of hidden easter eggs and references to uncover, so let us know in the comments which ones you manage to spot!

Track list:

0.00 - A New Game
3.45 - Interlaced Video
5.03 - Late Game Carry
8.15 - Style Rank SSS+
12.31 - Co-op Partner
18.13 - Pocket Healer
22.28 - Otherworld
25.10 - Freeplay
27.50 - Danger Health Critical
31.45 - Out of Quarters
34.57 - Ultima Ability
38.09 - Pouring Neon Rain
40.57 - On Your Feet, Kid
44.27 - Save State Decision
47.40 - Together We Play Better (with Alice Knows Karate)

If you like what you hear you can also purchase the full soundtrack on Steam.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is out NOW!

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

Join Arcade Spirits on:



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[h2]The wait is over, champions![/h2]

Your journey to becoming the next esports legend starts HERE in the highly anticipated standalone sequel to Arcade Spirits. Arcade machines have taken the world by storm with the hottest fighter on the market, Fist of Discomfort 2 attracting players from all over the globe to compete in the pro tour. It is up to you to build a team, defeat your rival, and become a true champion... or just enjoy the ride whether you win or lose. Check out our launch trailer below:

[previewyoutube=u4WBnU7XXBQ;full][/previewyoutube]

Head on down to Good Clean Fun, your one-stop shop for everything pizza, laundry, and arcade related! Conceived by couple Ben and Matt, this establishment is the perfect hang out spot for you and your future team. Meet the new challengers who frequent GCF, Domino, Grace, Jynx, Locksley, Rhapsody, and Zapper.



All of these candidates have the potential to become inseparable friends, or even romantic partners. In Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers you have the option to choose exactly how your friendships develop. Your handy AI companion, Iris, will ask you about your preferences. Are you actively looking for love, open to the idea of a potential relationship, or just here for the thrill of the arcade?

Personality is everything in Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers. As you progress through the story you'll be faced with several decisions that influence your growing personality, reflected in the traits Quirky, Steady, Kindly, Gutsy, and Flexible. Your decisions will not only determine how well you get on with other characters, but will also influence your skills in battle.



Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers also has a wonderfully diverse character creator complete with an extensive list of body types, pronouns, clothing, and accessories. Changed your mind about your arcade avatar? No worries! Make adjustments at the end of every story chapter.

And remember, for those of you that have completed the original Arcade Spirits, you can import your save and see unique interactions, cameos, easter eggs and more based on your previous actions!



Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is out NOW!

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

Join Arcade Spirits on:



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Life isn't just about climbing the Fist of Discomfort 2 rankings, y'know?

For those of you looking to heat things up a little, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers offers plenty of opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with those around you. In fact you can engage in 9 different romance paths, involving each of the 6 main characters, and even your rival!

Throughout the story, you'll be getting to know the regulars of Good Clean Fun, the arcade/pizzeria/laundromat and the home of your future team. The place is full of interesting people (and pizza toppings) each with their thoughts, feelings, and favorite playstyles (the people, not the pizza).

Fear not as your trusty hand-held helper AI, Iris, is just a click away. Iris automatically tracks the development of your personality and whether anyone in the group has taken a particular shine to you.

We appreciate that not everyone will want romance to feature so heavily within the story, and some of you may not want it to feature at all! Well, we've got you covered as when starting your adventure you'll be presented with a choice from Iris:

No romance at all and keep things strictly professional.



[h3]Analyze Your Appeal[/h3]

Build up enough favor with someone and it will open up different dialogue choices to help further your growing relationship. Play your cards right and a full-blown retro romance is sure to develop! Iris will keep track of your standings with each of the main 6 characters and present you with a summary at the end of each chapter.



Each of the romance options offers a unique perspective on various situations that arise during the game. After several key events in the story, Iris will present you with the person(s) your personality gels with the most.

From here you'll be able to see which characters a possible romance could blossom with. This is entirely dependent on your interactions with those characters and the dialogue options you've chosen up until this point.

[h3]Pay Attention to Your Team[/h3]

Building an esports team from the ground up while trying to balance a social life can be tricky. Not everyone will agree on decisions (such as sponsors etc...), and it's up to you to decide whether you should go with what's best for the group, or the individual.

Keep a close eye on the bottom left of your screen to pick up on which characters agree with your decisions. This will be indicated by a teammate's personal avatar popping up with a handy chime as Iris takes note of their reaction to your decisions.



[h3]Date Night![/h3]

If you've successfully nurtured a strong relationship with your arcade crush you'll eventually get the opportunity to take them out on a date. Here, you'll be faced with even more options on how you want this relationship to play out, do you go in guns blazing or take it slow? You can also change your mind at any stage if you realise it just wasn't meant to be... :(

Hopefully, this has given you a good foundation for understanding and beginning your next retro romance or friendship.

Lead a new generation of challengers to esports glory in Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers, launching on May 27th 2022!

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

Join Arcade Spirits on:



And PQube Indies on:
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[h2]Welcome Challengers![/h2]

In Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers you'll be taking on the best of the best as your team strives to reach the top of the legendary Fist of Discomfort 2 world rankings. Here are some insider tips and tricks to prepare you on your journey to becoming an FoD2 CHAMPION!

[h3]What is Fist of Discomfort?[/h3]
Originally conceived by designer Jason Takeshi as a fun side project to combat the monotony of his day job, Fist of Discomfort rapidly gained a huge following of devoted fans. Now the game's sequel is lighting up the world of competitive esports, with challengers from all corners of the globe battling it out to be crowned champion. Entire gaming careers are being made and shattered in the name of Fist of Discomfort!

[h3]Tournament of Champions[/h3]
Tournament season is here and the competition is fierce! Only the top 8 officially sponsored esports teams can be put through to compete. You'll soon find yourself pitted against some serious fighters, including members of L7, The Four Heavenly Kings, and arch rivals - Team Play-2-Win.



[h3]How Do You Play?[/h3]
Typically played in teams of two, the aim is to defeat your opponents by achieving the highest score over four rounds, represented in-game by the seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. At the start of each round youll choose from one of three actions for your character to perform:

Attack!
Defend!
Special!

All moves have a specific counter, for example; Attacking will power through an opponent's Special move while a Special move can get around an enemy's Defence.


[h3]Outsmart the Competition[/h3]
FoD2 is as much a mind game as it is a straight-up brawler. To guarantee victory one must first know how their opponent will react. FoD2 is, in a nutshell, all about anticipation. So constantly being on the attack is no use against a player that likes to play defensively.





Strategic use of an ultimate ability can also change the tide of battle. This once-per-game move is totally unavoidable, awarding a massive point bonus unless countered by another ultimate.

[h3]Maximizing your score through your personality[/h3]
Another way to score bonus points is to choose a move that matches your personality!

As we covered in a previous post you will develop specific personality traits based on the decisions you make throughout Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers. Whether that be quirky, steady, kindly, or gutsy, you name it, these traits will match up with certain actions and give you a particular edge in battle. Beware, your opponents also gain a personality advantage so basing your strategy on your own emotions alone may not always be the best idea!

[h3]Think you have what it takes to become an esports legend?[/h3]
We'll be back with another update soon!

Fiction Factory Games & PQube



Join Arcade Spirits on:



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[h2]Welcome to Good Clean Fun![/h2]

The best (albeit only) pizzeria/laundromat/arcade in town.

To catch you up to speed, Ben & Matt put together a little video introduction to their humble abode. Well worth the sixteen bucks they paid Ben's nephew to edit it together for local late-night UHF station commercial breaks.

[previewyoutube=33eEGh6TTWg;full][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Where legends are born[/h3]

Good Clean Fun is where players will be introduced to the bulk of the main cast in Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers. Friendships will be formed here, scores will be settled, and perhaps romance will blossom? 'GCF' is your home away from home with Ben & Matt serving up a slice of TLC.

There are several points in the game where you'll be able to converse with the dynamic dough duo to get advice or just to put things into perspective. Plus you get a free slice of whatever pizza you like! Keep an eye out for the Ben & Matt specials for those truly wanting a wild ride to taste-bud city.

Being the manager of a growing esports team can be time-consuming and often you won't get to experience everything GCF has to offer. At several points in the game, you'll need to choose between chatting to certain characters and activities you'd like to take place in. Thankfully, your trusted IRIS ai is here to help make those decisions a little easier by providing a map of the facilities.



[h3]A closer look at the facilities[/h3]

Pizzeria - Hang out with Ben, Matt, and whoever else decided to grab a bite to eat over in the pizzeria. It provides the perfect space to get away from all the stress of management whilst also enjoying a slice of heaven.



Laundromat - If you've got some loose change to spare feel free to get some laundry done in between games. After all, nothing good ever comes from playing dirty.



Arcade - The crown jewel of Good Clean Fun, with an emphasis on the Fun. There's a game for every type of player as well as the hottest machine in the business right now, Fist of Discomfort 2. It is here that you'll train the next generation of legendary esports fighters and become an FoD2 champion!



That's all for now but we can't wait for you to start exploring GCF! In our next update we'll be taking a detailed look at the ubiquitous Fist of Discomfort 2 mini-game...

- Fiction Factory Games & PQube

All you need to know:
https://www.arcadespirits.com/newchallengers/

Join Arcade Spirits on:



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Hello challengers!

Today we're going to be looking at how your character's personality will gradually develop during a playthrough, and how this affects your interactions, relationships, and gamer skills!

[h3]Developing your personality[/h3]

Dialogue options in games can be a scary thing. Do you choose what best befits you or do you try and seek a particular outcome? While there are no inherently "good" or "bad" choices in Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers, there are a wide variety of outcomes and consequences which will be linked to the development of your in-game personality.

This means that when faced with an opportunity to respond or interact with other characters and situations, you'll have multiple dialogue options to choose from, each tied to a specific personality trait.



[h3]Personality Traits[/h3]

Your personality is based on a natural blend of 5 different traits:

• Quirky - Using jokes, sarcasm or being a bit snarky to try and make light of a situation. Quirky is brilliant in the right crowds but not everyone appreciates a badly timed joke.
  
• Steady - Sincerity, honesty, and logic are what you're all about. You stop and think before speaking but might not always take someone's personal feelings into account.
  
• Kindly - You're compassionate, empathetic, and gentle in nature. You're careful with what you say as to not hurt anyone's feelings but this may come across as wishy-washy.
  
• Gutsy - When in doubt, go with your gut! This bold and brash trait emphasises risk-taking but could be seen as confrontational or aggressive.
  
• Flexible - Lastly there's being flexible. A perfectly neutral response that's adaptive to multiple situations.
  

[h2]Welcome back challengers![/h2]

Today we'd like to shine a spotlight on the new and improved character creator for Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers. Building on the success of the original Arcade Spirits and taking on board community feedback we've introduced a number of new features to help you to tailor your character.

Customization Options

When you begin a new game you'll be asked to create your character using a range of adjustable criteria. Players will get to choose from a variety of options including:

• Name & Handle - Pick a name and a creative gamer handle. You'll also have the option to decide how other characters refer to you throughout the game.
  
• Online Avatar - What gamer profile is complete without an awesome avatar? Here you'll be able to pick your online avatar to compliment the iconic designs belonging to your team mates.
  
• Pronouns - Choose from a wide variety of pronouns: He/Him, She/Her,
  They/Them, Ze/Zir, Ze/Hir, Ze/Mer, Ze/Zher, It/Its, Xe/Xem, Ey/Eirself, Ey/Emself, Ne/Nem, Ve/Ver, Fae/Faer, Ae/Aer
  
• Skin Tone - The gaming scene is as diverse as ever, so let your character reflect this by selecting a natural skin tone from a palette of 30 choices.
  
• Hair Style - From casual styles to stylish contemporary cuts, create a new look and choose from 100+ dyes.
  

• Eye Color - Explore some truly eye-catching looks or reflect your own eye color.
  
• Nose Selection - Pick from a range of distinctive facial features.
  
• Body Type & Shirt - Select your body type from a range of shapes and sizes, and pick out some stylish new threads to complement your look.
  
• Pants & Skirts - Smart-casual or light and breezy?
  
• Glasses - A selection of interesting frames to choose from, from the studious to the outrageous!
  
• Headwear - Strengthen your hair game with headwear that comes in multiple sizes for the perfect fit.
  

Hello to all you esports legends in the making!

We've got some exciting news as today we are officially announcing that Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers will be launching on May 27 2022!

To celebrate we've got a brand new character trailer to share, featuring the key players that you'll be encountering on your road to victory!

[previewyoutube=bMSRZPI2HoQ;full][/previewyoutube]

For those of you that missed them first time around, check out our previous posts to learn more about each character:

• Domino - A shy individual who struggles to form real attachments. While he may sometimes have a bleak outlook on life he will do anything for his friends.
  
• Grace - A genius in her own right, she helped develop several pieces of innovative technology but prefers the life of an indie game developer.
  
• Jynx - Don't let the icy stare scare you away. Jynx can come across as intimidating but in reality, she's just pragmatic while showing a fierce loyalty to those close to her and their needs.
  
• Locksley - The thief with a heart of gold. As his namesake suggests, Locksley loves nothing more than helping those in need whilst attempting to bring down big corporations.
  
• Rhapsody - Knows everything there is to know about strategy. They are an expert in all things Fist of Discomfort related and a top-notch shoutcaster to top it off!
  
• Zapper - To say that she is passionate would be an understatement. Zapper is highly competitive and likes to do everything at 110%.
  

Happy Friday everybody!

Thank you for sticking with us these past few weeks but we have sadly come to the end of our character introductions no worries, we will be going out with a bang!

You might want to keep your eyes on this space and our social channels, weve got a little surprise coming your way but until then

Meet Zapper (she/her)!



Voiced by: Fryda Wolff (she/her)

Thank you, fellow Arcade Spirits lovers, for sticking with us. We hope you loved our characters as much as we do. Whos your favourite? Let us know!

Well see you soon exciting things are coming your way


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Happy Friday, Challengers!

We are nearing the end of our little Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers character intros with only two more character to go! Todays character holds a special place in our hearts (were definitely not biased, I swear).

We hope youll love them as much as we do so much so youll want to shout(cast) it from the rooftops.

Meet Rhapsody (they/them)!


Voiced by: Alex A.K (they/them)


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Hi Arcade Lovers!

Its Friday and you all know what that means! Its time for another round of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers character intros! That means weve got 3 down and 3 more to go with number 4 coming today

Well admit, Locksley (he/him) is a bit of an enigma, so we dont know a lot about him but see for yourself. Welcome to Round 4!

Let us know who your favourite is so far!


Voiced by: Ryan Laughton (he/him)


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Welcome back, Challengers!

Its that time of the week where we introduce you to yet another Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers team member. Were halfway through and well be hitting that milestone with one of my favourite characters and she comes with a little furry friend (if you choose a certain path that is )!

So, heres the star of Character Intros Round 3: Meet Jynx (she/her)!


Voiced by: Risa Mei (she/her)

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We hope youre ready for round 2 of our Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers character intros!

Last week we introduced you to Domino, our favourite fashion icon with a bit of a bleak world view, and today its time for you to get to know Grace (she/her) a little better!


Voiced by: Simply Undrea (she/her)

Follow PQube Indies on:

Its not long now until the release of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers and we hope you are as excited as we are! To keep the hype going weve decided to introduce you to a different team member each week here and on our social channels.

Ready to meet the future champions of e-sports? Lets get started!

Were starting you off with an acquired taste, the human form of a pineapple on your pizza bagel if you will: Meet Domino (he/him)!


Voiced by: SungWon Cho (he/him)

[h2]Hey everyone![/h2]

Today iGeekedOut will be playing the demo of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers which includes the newly added voices!!

Catch him at 5 pm EST / 10 pm BST



This tale of love and friendship from an alternate history where arcades never went away is coming in early 2022! Get ready!

In the meantime please do follow Fiction Factory Games on:
Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers' Official Website
ArcadeSpiritsVN Twitter
Join Arcade Spirits Discord


And PQube Indies on:
PQube's Website
PQubeIndies' Twitter


Thank you so much for your support. Good times are ahead!


- PQube & Fiction Factory

Today Aenne - one of the developers from Fiction Factory, will be playing the demo of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers which includes the newly added voices!!

Sounds like a wholesome time - Come hang out with us to talk about your gaming crushes with Aenne and learn more facts about pizza.



This tale of love and friendship from an alternate history where arcades never went away is coming in early 2022! Get ready!

In the meantime please do follow Fiction Factory Games on:
Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers' Official Website
ArcadeSpiritsVN Twitter
Join Arcade Spirits Discord


And PQube Indies on:
PQube's Website
PQubeIndies' Twitter


Thank you so much for your support. Good times are ahead!


- PQube & Fiction Factory

We are excited to announce romantic comedy visual novel, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers demo is live from today.




Find Love Friendship and esports glory in an electric alternate timeline Visual Novel!

Successor to the critically acclaimed Arcade Spirits, launched in 2019, the demo will be the first time players can get hands on with the latest title since it was announced in back June.
Check out Arcade Spirits

Watch Announcement Trailer:
[previewyoutube=Qm5_GogEz4g;full][/previewyoutube]

Containing a segment of Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers Chapter 1, players will find themselves thrown head first into the dog-eat-dog world of championship esports.

Team Play-2-Win, the hottest team on the circuit and your ultimate rivals, have arrived at the Good Clean Fun arcade. Sizing up the competition, you and your brand new teammates find yourselves in the crosshairs of your opposition - with a series of crucial decisions that could shape your future in the tournament, how you handle the situation is down to you.




Follow, wishlist, like, share, subscribe, smash that bell, all the usual stuff so you can stay on top of all things Arcade Spirits-y.


In the meantime please do follow Fiction Factory Games on:
https://www.arcadespirits.com/newchallengers/
https://twitter.com/ArcadeSpiritsVN
Join Arcade Spirits Discord
https://discord.gg/ gaCcH2N

And PQube Indies on:
https://pqube.co.uk
https://twitter.com/PQubeIndies

Thank you so much for your support. Good times are ahead!


- PQube & Fiction Factory