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Nibs, Slightly, Wendy, Curly, and Smee standing close together in Alien: Earth season 1 episode 8

‘Alien: Earth’ season 2: everything we know so far about the sci-fi horror show’s return

by admin September 27, 2025

Alien: Earth season 2: key information

– Hasn’t been officially announced
– Showrunner Noah Hawley hopes a renewal order will come before 2025 ends
– Unclear when it could be released
– No trailer unveiled yet
– Main cast from season 1 expected to return
– Last season’s finale teases where the story could go next
– Hawley has ideas about what season 2’s plot will entail
– No word on how many seasons there could be

Want to know if Alien: Earth season 2 is on the way? Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question as the sci-fi horror show hasn’t yet been renewed for another outing.

Nonetheless, it’s worth discussing the prospect of another installment of Alien: Earth. Indeed, with its debut season ending on a cliffhanger, there’s plenty of narrative ground for showrunner Noah Hawley and its cast to cover in a follow-up.

There’s lots of reading to do to keep you occupied until we hear more about the FX TV Original’s possible return, too. Below, I’ve rounded up the latest information and rumors on season 2, including its likely cast and potential story beats. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!

Alien: Earth season 2 release date prediction

Don’t look so concerned, Wendy – I’m sure Alien: Earth season 2 will be announced soon (Image credit: FX Networks)

Predictably, with the series yet to be renewed, Alien: Earth season 2’s release date hasn’t been revealed. Hawley has discussed the prospect of a sequel season, though, so let’s see what he had to say.

Chatting to Polygon, Hawley stated he was “pretty confident” that the cast and crew would “get to make more [seasons]”. And in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Hawley expressed his hope that he’d learn if FX Networks wants to make another installment before the end of 2025.

On the basis that Alien: Earth is renewed, it’ll be some time before we get to see it. Speaking to Variety, Hawley revealed that no script work had been carried out, but he and his writing team were ready to go if and when a season 2 announcement is made. Additionally, Hawley told ScreenRant that he doesn’t want the series to be off the air for too long.

That said, given it’ll take months for those scripts to be penned, and then, at my estimate, at least 12 to 18 months to complete pre-production, film the next eight-part season, and carry out its lengthy post-production phase, I’d be amazed if Alien: Earth is back on our screens before mid to late 2027.

Alien: Earth season 2 trailer: is there one?

Staring at our phones waiting for a season 2 trailer like… (Image credit: FX Networks)

No. Alien: Earth hasn’t even been renewed for a second season, let alone begun filming, so it’ll be a long time before a trailer is released. Once one is, I’ll update this section.

Alien: Earth season 2 cast: who’s likely to return?

Wendy and Joe are nailed on to return in a possible second season (Image credit: FX Networks)

Full spoilers follow for Alien: Earth season 1.

Based on how last season ended, here’s who I expect to see if a second season is greenlit:

Alien: Earth season 2 story speculation

What’ll become of Boy Kavalier in season 2? (Image credit: FX Networks)

Major spoilers follow for Alien: Earth‘s first season.

Alien: Earth season 2’s plot synopsis doesn’t exist yet. However, there’s stuff we can infer about it, thanks to its predecessor’s final episode.

I already covered many of the biggest talking points in my Alien: Earth season 1 ending explained piece, but let’s expand further on them with a little help from Hawley.

Let’s start with the Hybrids now ruling the roost at Prodigy HQ. With Boy, Dame, Morrow, Kirsh, and Atom all locked up and watched over by the xenomorphs under Wendy’s control, all seems well for Wendy and her fellow robot-humans (if they can be labeled as such).

However, it appears that their successful revolt will be short-lived. Weyland-Yutani forces are on their way to reclaim the dangerous alien lifeforms that Prodigy stole from them early in season 1. Will Prodigy’s rival take back what’s theirs and – potentially – the Hybrids, too? Or will Wendy and company steadfastly refuse to turn in themselves and the aliens?

Dame Sylvia is one of many Prodigy employees (and one from Weyland-Yutani) who are jailed in last season’s finale (Image credit: FX Networks)

Then there’s the worry that the xenomorphs could perform their own mini-revolution and rail against Wendy. Right now, she knows how to control them, and many fans believe they see her as their ‘queen’. Nevertheless, will her hold over them last? In conversation with Variety, Hawley suggested not, saying: “those of us who know xenomorphs are like ‘Well, maybe they can be controlled for a period of time…'”. Don’t be shocked, then, if Wendy’s pets eventually start disobeying their master.

Xenomorphs aren’t the only bioweapons Wendy and the gang have to contend with. The flesh-eating plant alien is now loose somewhere on the island. Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite eyeball monster – aka Trypanohyncha Ocellus, aka The Eye – is not only free, but has also taken over Arthur’s corpse following his death in episode 7. What will The Eye be able to do with Arthur’s body while it’s still in some usable state? And, once it’s too decomposed to be functional, will The Eye try to track down a new human host?

Will the xenomorphs continue to play nice with Wendy and company? (Image credit: FX Networks/Disney+)

On top of the numerous story strands left dangling after last season’s finale, there’s also the question about how Alien: Earth ties into two of the best movies in the Alien franchise. Those being, 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens.

Speaking to TechRadar prior to the show’s two-episode premiere, Hawley and executive producer David W. Zucker confirmed Alien: Earth wouldn’t fully treat the Alien prequel movies as canon. Essentially, that means 2012’s Prometheus and 2017’s Alien: Covenant wouldn’t impact the story they wanted to tell with Alien: Earth.

However, with this series set in 2120, i.e., just two years before Alien, the former can’t necessarily ignore the lead-up to the 1979 original. So, how could Alien: Earth establish events to come in the franchise’s inaugural installment?

“I think there are bridges that you cross right when you come to them,” Hawley told Variety. “A big part of the world-building and the act of creation on these first eight episodes was to build something that was coherent to itself, that worked within the construct of… the first two movies. In a season 2 and beyond, then we really need to dig down and start to think about how these two stories are going to cohere together in the long term.”

Alien: Earth could end up setting the stage for 1979’s Alien (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

And what of this TV show’s own ending? Whether it happens in Alien: Earth season 2 or not, Hawley told the Evolution of Horror YouTube channel: “I have a destination in mind story-wise, which allows me to know what the story is I’m telling, what it means. And I don’t know how long it takes to get there, but I do have a sense of where we’ll go.”

If, for whatever reason, FX chooses not to move forward with another season of Alien: Earth, Hawley said (via Polygon) of the prospect of the series’ open-ended nature: “A big part of what I try to do as a visual storyteller is always to engage the audience’s imagination. Too much of what we watch treats us as passive viewers. So, if the worst thing that happens is that the audience has to finish this story, I trust them to come up with some good ways to go forward”. Prepare to come up with your own canon ending, then, just in case Alien: Earth is a one-and-done situation.

Will there be more seasons of Alien: Earth?

How many seasons of Alien: Earth will characters like Morrow appear in? (Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu/Disney+)

We shouldn’t jump the gun about future seasons when a second one hasn’t been greenlit. Nevertheless, Hawley has expressed interest in making more than two installments if the opportunity arises.

In July, Hawley implied (via comicbook.com) that Alien: Earth could run for five seasons. However, he walked back that claim when talking to THR, saying, “I wouldn’t read too much into that”, before also telling Entertainment Weekly: “We always discussed it as a recurring series. I have a sense of where the journey goes in the long run, but I don’t necessarily know how long it’ll take me to get there.”

How many installments it takes to complete the sci-fi horror show’s overarching narrative, then, remains to be seen. Regardless of whether Alien: Earth season 2, its forebear, or another entry brings it to a close, we’ll be seated for every one of its chapters.

For more coverage of shows available on Hulu and Disney+, read our guides on Shogun season 2, Percy Jackson season 2, Daredevil: Born Again season 2, and Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2.

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

‘The Astronaut’ Teases a Returned Space Traveler’s Worst Sci-Fi Nightmare

by admin September 25, 2025

A person who thinks they’re home alone starts to suspect there might be an unnatural presence lurking around: that’s a pretty classic horror movie setup. What makes The Astronaut extra eerie is that the main character is a NASA astronaut whose most recent voyage ended with a rough re-entry. And that presence just might be something extraterrestrial that hitched a ride to Earth.

Here’s the new trailer for The Astronaut, starring Kate Mara as the understandably freaked-out title character. Is it real or in her mind—and which scenario would actually be worse?

Here’s the official synopsis:

“When astronaut Sam Walker (Kate Mara) crash lands back to Earth, she’s discovered alive in a punctured capsule off the Atlantic coast. General William Harris (Laurence Fishburne) places her in quarantine under strict NASA surveillance for rehabilitation and testing. But as disturbing events escalate, she begins to fear that something extraterrestrial has followed her home.”

While Mara is often seen in drama roles, she’s no stranger to genre; while she’d probably rather leave 2015’s Fantastic Four behind, she was also in the standout Black Mirror episode “Beyond the Sea” (coincidentally also about space-travel oddities), the overlooked android thriller Morgan, the first season of American Horror Story, and she does a voice on Invincible, to name a few credits.

The Astronaut is the debut feature from writer-director Jess Varley. It also stars Gabriel Luna (The Last of Us), Ivana Milicevic (The 100, Gotham), Macy Gray, and Scarlett Holmes, and it hits theaters October 17.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Vs Youtube Saros Gameplayrevealtrailerps5games 2’37” (1)

Game Updates

Here’s Sony’s Next Exclusive Sci-Fi Death Trap, Saros

by admin September 25, 2025

Sony opened its September State of Play with our first gameplay look at Saros, the next big PS5 game from Returnal makers Housemarque. It’s set to arrive on March 20, 2026 exclusively on PS5 and will be “enhanced” on PS5 Pro. Like Returnal, it’s a fast-paced third-person roguelike sci-fi shooter built around players dying over and over while getting stronger with permanent upgrades.

Here’s the new Saros gameplay trailer that just premiered during State of Play. The upcoming sci-fi game stars Rahul Kohli as Arjun Devraj and looks just as wild and frenetic as Returnal.

And here’s the game’s official description:

Arjun Devraj, a Soltari enforcer, fights to survive on the lost colony of Carcosa under an ominous eclipse. Shape-shifting biomes and hostile ruins set the stage for a fast-paced, cinematic action experience where every encounter demands precision and adaptability. Combat unfolds as a fluid dance of dodges, shields, and parries, paired with a high-tech arsenal built of human and alien weaponry. Master enemy patterns, evolve your strategy, and face off against spectacular bosses that push every skill to the edge. Death is not the end, with permanent upgrades, evolving equipment, and the “Second Chance” system that allows you to always come back stronger.

PlayStation 5 owners have been wondering what 2026’s exclusive release calendar will look like, and with Saros, it looks like Sony is starting the year off strong with what appears to be another exciting and likely tough-as-nails third-person roguelike shooter from a team that has been consistently knocking it out of the park for three decades. Will Saros match the success of Helldivers 2, the sci-fi shooter that kicked of Sony’s 2024? Probably not, but either way, I’m excited to get my hands on Saros in March of next year.

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September 25, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Don’t overlook The Invincible on PlayStation Plus, it’s a gorgeous sci-fi mystery that lingers long in the mind

by admin September 19, 2025

It’s not how a game feels at the time but how it feels after that defines it. That’s a thought I’ve been chewing in my mind like gum for most of the year. How it settles; that’s the clincher. There can be extraordinarily strong feelings when you’re playing a game, but months later, do you want to go back? Ask yourself. The answer is telling.

Yes, I want to go back to The Invincible, a walking-pace adaptation of a novel by the same name, written by Polish author Stanis&lstrok;aw Lem. The answer surprises me, because when I reviewed The Invincible in 2023, I didn’t have those extraordinarily strong feelings I mentioned. Three out of five stars, I gave it. Intriguing but slim, I said. “The Invincible is a spectacular adaptation of Stanis&lstrok;aw Lem’s book, but it’s limited in terms of what you can do in it, and the impact on the story you have.” I stand by what I wrote. Yet, I also yearn to go back.

To me, The Invincible – now added to PlayStation Plus Extra, which suits it enormously – is an exhibition. A recreation and celebration of a place we can’t otherwise go. This is a place dreamt during an era which long ago passed us by. An era of clumpy Smeg refrigerators and tank-like steel cars, when such things as weight and realism didn’t seem to get in the way. It’s hard sci-fi, technically, which means the story is concerned with scientific accuracy, but labelling it that way gives the wrong impression. To me, this belongs far more to Space romance. To storytellers laying on the grass and looking at the stars and wondering what magnificent things might be out there. All that matters is possibility. Unfettered imagination rules all.

Image credit: Eurogamer / Starward Industries

Image credit: Starward Industries

Image credit: Starward Industries
The Invincible is a beautiful game full of beautiful sci-fi things.

The Invincible celebrates impossible sci-fi design. There are creations here that would never get out of Earth’s atmosphere, and yet, here they are hulking-around in Space. This is a game of sci-fi toys and chromatic machines, with knobs and dials to push and pull, which beep and whirr as you follow the footsteps of your missing crew. A game that begs you to touch, to feel the rusted surface of buggies you find abandoned, or to clack the chunky buttons of locator-devices in your hand, as you venture towards surface anomalies.

This focus on gadgetry wouldn’t work if The Invincible otherwise asked too much of you – if it was busy making you run and jump and shoot and fight. But it doesn’t; it allows the atmosphere to breathe. The Invincible is content to unfold gently and unhurriedly, and for you to sightsee and gaze at postcard horizons and improbable planetary views – all while wondering where you are and what’s going on. It gives you time and space to examine, time and space to appreciate. An evening stroll – that’s what it is – and there’s great worth in a calming experience like that, especially among games that agitate and rile us up.

That’s not to say there’s no tension or excitement here. There is – there’s enough to pull your curiosity through, and there’s a climax still piercingly relevant even 61 years after Lem’s book was released. But a malleable and reactive experience this is not. The Invincible is a story to be experienced rather than to shape.

But that’s okay. This is a grand and lavish recreation of a story I would otherwise have had no experience of, and such are the sights in the game they will stay with me for a long time (that spaceship!). I’m glad I walked around in it, and I’m doubly glad it’s easier for many of you to walk around it now too. Fondly remembered, it certainly is.

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

A Spaceship Crew Faces Doom in This Surprisingly Tender Sci-Fi Story

by admin September 5, 2025

io9 is proud to present fiction from Lightspeed Magazine. Once a month, we feature a story from Lightspeed’s current issue. This month’s selection is “Last Meal Aboard the Awassa” by Kel Coleman. Enjoy!

Last Meal Aboard the Awassa

by Kel Coleman

Gardener ladled dark-purple porridge into her primary digestion sac, staring absently out the viewport at black space and the distant smudge of the planet they had come to study. The simple meal and the gesture it represented soothed her after a long, thorny morning in a section of the growth bay that was in full flower and had needed hand pollinating. Though the other crew members around the mess made do with the usual break time assortment, Cook had steamed and spiced osard grains just for her before going off shift to nap in their rooms.

When the two of them joined the crew as a couple, roughly four solars ago, Gardener had worried the special treatment shown to her from the kitchen would lead to resentment. She had heard it could get lonely on a long haul if you made a bad impression, especially on a tiny ship where everyone knew each other’s families, had vid night sleepovers in the observatory, and could count at least a handful of birthdays and Endless Nights aboard. But unlike Gardener, this hadn’t been Cook’s first long haul and she’d soon researched the crew’s home planets and ports, tracking down family recipes, popular street food, and festival treats. The crew of the small science vessel were immediately smitten with her, and Gardener found herself warming to them as a result.

She finished her porridge, scraping the bowl clean, but lingered at the table to—

The speakers mounted around the mess blared three urgent tones.

The other crew members scattered at tables and behind the serving counter dropped what they were doing and moved to readiness. For Gardener, like many bipeds, this meant standing with her limbs at her sides. She turned toward the nearest screen, which had already switched from Union news to video from the bridge.

The captain’s wings were tucked close to their thorax, their five eyes reddened and rapidly blinking. In all four solars of her time aboard, Gardener had never before seen them fearful.

“Crew of the Awassa, this is your captain speaking.”

Gardener’s sensitive hearing picked up all the ear dots around the room overlaying the words with translations. Her own ear dots not only translated the captain’s words but amplified things like pitch changes so she would be less apt to mistake one tone for another. They were frightened, but with a tinge of anger perhaps?

“As some of you may already know, we lost contact with the team sent to Gulsan-6 two hours ago. This happened shortly after they sent a probe into the gas giant. Following review of footage, scans, and probe data, we can conclude with high certainty that Gulsan-6 is, rather than a planet, an unknown species. It is capable of surviving and navigating the vacuum of space. And since exiting dormancy, its size has become incalculable as its shape is ever-changing. It is capable of reducing matter to its smallest units, and I regret to inform you your crewmates Engineer Ulli and Physicist Andel, along with their shuttle, were consumed by the alien. With equal regret, I must inform you the alien is now on a course to intercept and consume the Awassa as well.”

As her hearts’ paces fell out of harmony, Gardener found she could no longer sort out the emotions behind the words. On the faces around her, though, she read the captain’s pragmatic hopelessness regarding the situation. As they continued speaking, a time-to-intercept countdown appeared in the bottom of the screen. They ordered three senior crew members to the bridge and told everyone else to call their loved ones. So . . . there was nothing useful for her to do except find Cook.

• • •

Cook was in the hydroponics row, pinching leaves off of herbs and dropping them into a handwoven basket. Her dark, smooth skin was riddled with planet-orange hives and her voluminous whiskers were drooping.

“Cook?”

She didn’t stop pacing or look up.

“Nailo? Did you see the captain’s—”

“Of course,” Cook said. She gestured at the herbs and fruits tumbling around in the basket like that was explanation enough.

And for Gardener, it was. The two of them needed few words.

Cook would do what she loved until the end. She was already gliding around the corner to the next row, and if she had been the same species as Gardener, she might’ve heard her utter a term of endearment, one that didn’t translate well to many other fleet languages.

An endearment close to meaning beloved, one her caretaker had called her often. An endearment that had journeyed with her when she left her lush world for Outpost Nine. An endearment that kept her and her seedlings warm despite the miserable cold outside the outpost greenhouses. An endearment that had come with her on a vacation where she got crater-sloshed with a slick-skinned traveling chef in the backroom of a Meat Meet Meat. An endearment that had accompanied the both of them to the Awassa, where they were swept up in all the drama and mutual care of a large family that Cook had missed and Gardener discovered she could tolerate when she wasn’t flat-out loving it—the shift-change gossip, the hugs, the too-loud music shoving through thin walls, her first spacewalk accompanied by Engineer Ulli . . .

Her hearts skipped.

She pulled herself out of her ruminative state and joined Cook in another section of the bay, where she was snipping blue flowers from climbing dewdrops. Gardener gently took the shears from her. “My job,” she said. “Just tell me what you need.”

• • •

When they were finished with harvesting, Cook agreed to give prep over to uninitiated but enthusiastic crewmates so she could call her family. Gardener lay in bed, blankets holding down her jumpy limbs, and tried to block out Cook’s murmurs two rooms away. She set the updates from the bridge to a volume high enough that it caused her some pain.

The bridge crew had learned a lot about “the vapor” and how it consumed the team and the shuttle. They were able to collect this data when the vapor altered its course to eat the second probe they sent to analyze it. They still couldn’t stop it or outrun it, but they estimated that they could buy several additional hours with the remaining probes as decoys.

When she got off the call, Cook was weirdly pleased with the news. “More time to cook,” she explained. A few minutes later, with bottles of something clear she’d been “saving for a special occasion” cradled in her arms and a nuzzle against Gardener’s cheek, she was off to make a feast for their crew, their beloveds.

• • •

Gardener didn’t often record videos unrelated to her duties. She smoothed down the fur around her eyes and cleared her throat.

“This is Gardener Ketri,” she began. “A hostile member of an unknown species is bearing down on my ship, the Awassa, and I don’t have anyone to say goodbye to who isn’t in the same boat . . . except you, I guess, whoever sees this.”

The dread dripped steadily through her bloodstream now, but she imagined the people who would watch this, especially the younger ones, and she didn’t want them to feel afraid for her.

“Instead of goodbye, though, do you mind if I tell you what it’s like to be a gardener on a long-haul science vessel?” She found a smile, showing silver-specked herbivore’s teeth. “It’s incredible. I love my job. Every day, I coax things to life. I help them grow. I spend my shifts with dirt under my feet and light on my skin. Sometimes my partner, Cook Nailo, brings me a germination challenge, usually a special request from a crewmate missing home cooking, and sometimes I get the water and light and nutrients just right on the first try. Not often, but those are good days.”

She could already hear music thumping from the observatory. Scientists that they were, everyone wanted to watch the vapor’s approach. It was an undeniably cool way to die: eaten by a space monster. There would be papers written about it for decades, and they only regretted they wouldn’t be the ones to write them.

“If you’re considering joining the fleet, go for it. Don’t let our bad luck stop you.”

• • •

By unspoken agreement, they all followed the dress code for vid nights, which had no requirements but personal comfort. Several crewmates had moved empty crates from the storage bay to make a long table for a “family-style” meal. Gardener wasn’t familiar with family-style, but it seemed to mean an impossible amount of food being passed around chaotically until everyone proved, under threat of more heaping spoonfuls, that they were physically incapable of eating another bite.

The meal was a showstopper, of course.

Dewdrop blossoms stuffed with fungus, tied closed with the plant’s delicate vines, and fried to midnight blue. Thick, smoked leaves used as wraps and plates to enhance flavor. A fruit platter with everything from extra bitter, underripe kio to sweet, waterlogged berrymelon to sour, gritty seeds Gardener hadn’t even known were edible before today. Roasted frog and tomatillos inside corn patties, served with yellow rice. Raw tentacles, sliced thin, alongside a dry dip that was such an angry red she knew it would send her to the med bay if she touched it. A vivid, purple gradient of osard, from the light uncooked grains still on the stem—good for digestion—to the steamed kind perfect for lunch to a nearly black pile of pebbly bread rolls. Smoking papers packed with calming herbs and tightly hand rolled. And those bottles of suspiciously clear liquid. And more. And more. Something, a gift, for each member of the crew.

What followed was a night of dancing, imbibing, embracing, some prayer, more eating, the revelation of juicy ship secrets, and four rounds of “Lunar Penny” by everyone with the parts to sing or stomp or howl.

Halfway through the night, they watched the last probe disappear into the vapor. Gardener was at Cook’s side, resting a furred cheek on her smooth shoulder, their hands clasped tightly enough to cut off circulation.

Someone cheered awkwardly, intoxicated. A few more cheers went around the group like nervous laughter. Then it was silent . . .

Gardener surprised herself by shakily starting another round of “Lunar Penny.” The crew joined her heartily, turning away from the end and back to their party.

About the Author

Kel Coleman is an Ignyte-nominated author whose fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in FIYAH, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Solarpunk Magazine, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 and 2024, and others. Kel is a Marylander at heart, but they currently live in Pennsylvania with their family, a stuffed dragon named Pen, and a collection of strange and frivolous collections. They can be found online at kelcoleman.com.

Please visit Lightspeed Magazine to read more great science fiction and fantasy. This story first appeared in the September 2025 issue, which also features short fiction by Jake Stein, Cadwell Turnbull, Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko, Bogi Takács, C.Z. Tacks, Isabel J. Kim, Stephen S. Power, and more. You can wait for this month’s contents to be serialized online, or you can buy the whole issue right now in convenient ebook format for just $4.99, or subscribe to the ebook edition here.

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September 5, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

100 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books for September

by admin September 2, 2025

September brings with it io9’s biggest list of new books so far this year, with an emphasis on horror titles as the days grow shorter. That said, there are still plenty of sci-fi adventures and fantasy tales on the way.

September 1 and 2

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter

“A fusion of modern and fantastical worlds, where a young woman must navigate a secret society, uncover a shocking enemy… and resist an undeniable attraction.” (September 1)

Bees in June by Elizabeth Bass Parman

“With a captivating blend of Southern grit, magical realism, and an empowering journey of self-discovery, Bees in June is a tender reminder of the healing power of community, second chances and the quiet magic all around us.” (September 2)

Beyond All Reasonable Doubt, Jesus Is Alive! by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

“An ethereal and revelatory short story collection about faith, delusion, and the demons that can’t get enough of us.” (September 2)

Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper

“The notorious warrior queen who led a legendary rebellion in 60 CE against the Roman Empire in Britain” comes to life in a book that “follows Boudicca’s meteoric rise and devastating fall through the eyes of her youngest daughter, Solina, who seeks revenge against Rome.” (September 2)

By the Horns by Ruby Dixon

In this sequel to Bull Moon Rising, “a woman with a deadly magic secret needs the help of the minotaur she’s trying to forget.” (September 2)

Changelog by Rich Larson

“Ranging in length from byte-sized drabbles to elaborate novelettes, the 26 stories assembled in Changelog rove from the sands of biopunk West Africa to the scarred hull of a generation ship to the dismantling of time itself—exploring the symbiosis of humanity and technology at every stop.” (September 2)

Head Witch in Charge by Avery Flynn

“When two witches with a tangled history are forced to team up, it spells disaster in this steamy rom-com.” (September 2)

Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings

“A richly imagined dark fantasy that pulses with the beautiful destruction of a town reclaimed by the natural world.” (September 2)

A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig

“Playfully drawing from Scottish folklore, Erin A. Craig’s adult debut is both a deeply atmospheric and profoundly romantic exploration of freedom versus security: a stunning celebration of one woman’s relentless bravery on a quest to reclaim her lost love—and seize her own future.” (September 2)

Livewire by Sarah Raughley

“Amanda McKee is a psiot, an evolved subspecies of humanity with mysterious psychic powers … the ability to talk to machines, control technology, and even see into a secret parallel world that exists inside computers.” Her complicated existence gets even more so when a man from the future appears, intent on killing her to prevent what he says is her role in destroying the human race. (September 2)

Making History by K.J. Parker

In this dark fantasy tale, “a group of scholars must do the impossible for a ruthless king. The cost of refusal, of course, is death.” (September 2)

Moonflow by Bitter Karella

“A gloriously queer and irreverent psychedelic trip into the heart of an eldritch wood and the horrors of (cis)terhood.” (September 2)

The Nga’phandileh Whisperer by Eugen Bacon

“A glossary of Bantu, Afrocentric, and made-up words complements this genre-bending, cross-cultural novella. Something beautiful, something dark in lyrical language packed with affection, dread, anguish, and hope.” (September 2)

Night & Day edited by Ellen Datlow

“A horror anthology with one side featuring stories about what haunts the night while the other side showcases the terrors that can exist in the light of day in this new addition to the Saga Doubles series.” (September 2)

The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg

“A captive healer and a mysterious prince are drawn to each other in the midst of war and magic in a beguiling dark fantasy.” (September 2)

These Dreaming Spires: A Dark Academia Anthology edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane

“A beguiling, sinister collection of 12 more dark academia short stories from masters of the genre, including Olivie Blake, Genevieve Cogman, MK Lobb and more.” (September 2)

Tracer by Brendan Deneen

“A fast-paced sci-fi romance adventure that sends one mercenary on a dangerous mission across a postapocalyptic landscape.” (September 2)

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

This tale is “set in the world of the gods first introduced in Divine Rivals” and “delivers a sweeping, beautiful adult novel filled with tension, romance, and dark secrets.” (September 2)

September 9

Acquired Taste by Clay McLeod Chapman

“Packed full of humanity, humor, and above all, relentless creeping dread, Acquired Taste is a timely descent into the mind of one of modern horror’s finest authors.” (September 9)

The Burial Tide by Neil Sharpson

“Drawing on the creatures and horrors of Irish folklore, The Burial Tide unearths our darkest truths: how far we’d go to win our freedom, and how quickly our desires can become monstrous.” (September 9)

Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson

“A Vietnam veteran and his adopted niece hunt—and are hunted by—the vampire that slaughtered their family.” (September 9)

David Lynch: His Work, His World by Tom Huddleston

“An in-depth, richly illustrated exploration of the work and life of cinema and TV’s greatest cult creator.” (September 9)

The Gnomes of Lychford by Paul Cornell

“Gnomes, witches, and podcasters clash for the future of the village of Lychford in this delightful conclusion to the Witches of Lychford series.” (September 9)

The Haunting of William Thorn by Ben Alderson

“How to Sell a Haunted House meets The Haunting of Hill House in this split timeline queer romance, set against the backdrop of a haunted English manor.” (September 9)

A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love by Ann Rose

“In this slightly spooky paranormal romance, will two women finally break their curse and get the happily ever after they’ve fought for?” (September 9)

The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time by Josiah Bancroft

“The second book following the adventures of the Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, as they tackle a case that could redefine the nature of magic itself.” (September 9)

House of Idyll by Delilah S. Dawson

“A darkly seductive tale of beautiful rock stars, sinister cults, and a magical oasis where dreams come true… for a price.” (September 9)

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

“A stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them… or be destroyed.” (September 9)

The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez

A healer’s daughter strikes a surprising deal with the monster lurking in the nearby woods, then must contend with an even bigger threat in this story “rooted in fairy tales, folklore, and sapphic romance.” (September 9)

Pantomime by L.R. Lam

The first in “a fantasy trilogy about a circus aerialist’s quest to escape his past and decipher the magical prophecy that will shape his future.” (September 9)

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

“A woman must confront the demons of her past when she attempts to fix up her childhood home in this devilishly clever take on the haunted house novel.” (September 9)

They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil

“When Jen Monroe hears her father’s remains have been found, she returns home to disprove his death, only to find the forests of rural Washington are hiding something ancient and dangerous.” (September 9)

An Unbreakable World by Ren Hutchings

“A petty thief is kidnapped to take part in the heist of a lifetime in this space opera.” (September 9)

We Are Always Tender With Our Dead by Eric LaRocca

“The disturbing first installment of a new trilogy of intense, visceral, beautifully written queer horror set in a small New England town.” (September 9)

September 16

American Werewolves by Emily Jane

This satirical tale “brings readers from the wilds of the New World to the opulent board rooms and golf courses of the 21st century, where devouring the weak is an American birthright as old as the country itself.” (September 16)

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon

“A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of The Priory of the Orange Tree.” (September 16)

The Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill

“In this stellar debut fantasy, a trickster Fox god challenges an underachieving acolyte to save herself by saving her own ancestors. But are Nesi and her new friends from the past prepared to defeat the ferocious Wolfhounds of Zemin?” (September 16)

The Enduring Universe by Kritika H. Rao

“The explosive and reality-shattering Rages trilogy, started by The Surviving Sky, concludes as Ahilya and Iravan fight one last time to save everything they’ve ever loved—the survivors of humanity, their families, their home, and each other.” (September 16)

The Ever Queen by LJ Andrews

“With his queen missing, the king’s wrath knows no boundaries.” (September 16)

Exiles by Mason Coile

“A terrifying locked-room mystery from the author of William—this time set on a remote outpost on Mars.” (September 16)

The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan

“In this atmospheric and bewitching novel, Louisa Morgan reimagines the story of Morgan Le Fay, one of the most enigmatic and powerful women in Arthurian legend.” (September 16)

Fiend by Alma Katsu

“Historical horror maven Alma Katsu turns her talents to the modern world for the first time, in this terrifying tale about an all-powerful family with an ancient evil under its thumb.” (September 16)

Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

“After the deaths of his parents, a witch returns to his spooky family manor and joins forces with his former crush when his parents’ spirits warn them of a sinister threat in this witty and lyrically unique rom-com.” (September 16)

If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry

“A true-crime-nail-biter-turned-mythic-odyssey pitting Jack the Ripper against Medusa. A defiant love song to sisterhood, a survivors’ battle cry, and a romantic literary tour de force laced with humor.” (September 16)

Love at First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi

“In this paranormal spicy age-gap romance, a successful author—whose novel is being adapted into a movie—clashes with the actor cast as the male lead, all in a cozy mansion filled with friendly ghosts.” (September 16)

A Ruin, Great and Free by Cadwell Turnbull

The Convergence Saga concludes as “the inhabitants of Moon have been very fortunate in the intervening months. Inside their hidden monster settlement, they’ve found peace, even as the world outside slips into increasing unrest. Monsters are being hunted everywhere, forced back into the shadows they once tried to escape from. Other secret settlements have offered a place to hide, but how long can this half-measure against fear and hatred last?” (September 16)

The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi

“After a decade, acclaimed science fiction master John Scalzi returns to the galaxy of the Old Man’s War series with the long-awaited seventh book.” (September 16)

The Sleep of Empires by David Annandale

“Eloran is a world of imperious elves, fractious human realms, and the hated, skeletal kaul—with each nation poised to grasp at any advantage over the others … A chance encounter with a pair of mercenaries leads Latanna to a lost crown, a relic of forces the world has tried desperately to forget, and gives her the means to break free from her corrupt family—but at a terrible price.” (September 16)

The Summer War by Naomi Novik

“A young witch who has inadvertently cursed her brother to live a life without love must find a way to undo her spell.” (September 16)

Sunward by William Alexander

“This story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.” (September 16)

To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth

This sequel to When Among Crows “pulls from Slavic folklore to explore family, duty, and what it means to be a monster.” (September 16)

Uncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood

“A ‘perfect’ witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic.” (September 16)

Veil by Jonathan Janz

“A heart-stopping story of one father who will stop at nothing to save his family.” (September 16)

The Whistler by Nick Medina

“A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror.” (September 16)

Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar

“In this (delightfully screwball) fairy tale romp, even the most wicked deserve their happily-ever-after.” (September 16)

September 23

Alchemised by SenLinYu

“In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.” (September 23)

Beings by Ilana Masad

This novel “based on true events asks whether extraterrestrial life might be what ties us to one another, to history, and to reality itself.” (September 23)

Body of Water by Adam Godfrey

“A wildly inventive, sinister thriller following an estranged father and daughter who find themselves trapped in a diner by a living body of water.” (September 23)

In the Dragon’s Wake: The Ashen War Saga Book II by Dan Le Fever

This sequel to The Ashen War delves “further into the cultures and peoples in the post-apocalyptic world of a vastly changed 1910 America,” as “James Barlow must come to terms with his violent nature and what it means to those he’s chosen to protect.” (September 23)

The Revelation Space Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Alastair Reynolds

These two separate volumes gather “the complete collection of tales set in the Revelation Space universe.” (September 23)

Road Trip With a Vampire by Jenna Levine

“A vampire who can’t remember his past and a witch with secrets of her own hit the road in this zany, cross-country romantic comedy from beloved author Jenna Levine.” (September 23)

Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby

“A gothic feminist body horror in two timelines revolving around three Anatomical Venuses—ultrarealistic wax figures of women—that come to life at night to murder men who have wronged them.” (September 23)

A Spell for Winter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart

“In this holiday romance with an enchanting twist, a magic-averse witch returns home to save her small town’s beloved winter festival in time for the holidays with the help of her estranged coven and distractingly handsome childhood rival.” (September 23)

Spread Me by Sarah Gailey

“A routine probe at a research station turns deadly when the team discovers a strange specimen in search of a warm place to stay.” (September 23)

Terms of Service by Ciel Pierlot

“When her cousin gets kidnapped by a dastardly trickster, Luzia is forced to sell herself in servitude to the Eoi in exchange for his life. But the terms of the deal turn out to be much more complicated than she ever imagined.” (September 23)

Thief of Night by Holly Black

Sequel to Book of Night. “There’d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn’t willing to double down on. She may be good enough to steal a shadow from a tower, but will she be good enough to steal back a heart?” (September 23)

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman

“Carl and Princess Donut are ready to battle it out in the epic seventh book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.” (September 23)

The Unfathomable Curse by Courtney Smyth

“A witty, witchy fantasy murder mystery packed with ancient magic and fiendish puzzles. When Cornelia’s twin sisters are taken by the Wickermere Reaper, Mallory, Diana and Theodore must race against time to uncover the buried secrets of the Broadwicks before it’s too late.” (September 23)

We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

“Frankenstein by way of Heathers, We Love You, Bunny is both a prequel and a sequel and an unabashedly wild and totally complete stand-alone novel. Open your hearts, Bunny, to another dazzlingly original and darkly hilarious romp in the Bunny-verse.” (September 23)

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

“A sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.” (September 23)

Why I Love Horror edited by Becky Siegel Spratford

“A captivating anthology and heartfelt tribute to the horror genre featuring essays from several of the most celebrated contemporary horror writers, including Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison.” (September 23)

September 30

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi

This unconventional slasher mystery is set in a retirement community and stars a 70-something Final Girl. (September 30)

The Captive by Kit Burgoyne

“A satirical Rosemary’s Baby for our conspiratorial present in which anti-capitalist activists unwittingly unleash terrifying demonic forces when they kidnap a pregnant heiress.” (September 30)

Crossroads of Ravens by Andrzej Sapkowski

“A new standalone novel following fantasy’s most beloved monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia, on his first steps towards becoming a legend.” Read an excerpt from this latest Witcher tale here. (September 30)

Daedalus Is Dead by Seamus Sullivan

“A delirious and gripping story of fatherhood and masculinity, told through the reimagined Greek myth of Daedalus, Icarus, King Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.” (September 30)

Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada, translated by Philip Gabriel

“Literary misfits” who gather and work at a library displaying works by deceased authors band together when a series of strange events endanger the museum-like sanctuary. (September 30)

Falling in a Sea of Stars by Kristen Britain

“Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the eighth book in the Green Rider fantasy series.” (September 30)

Fate’s Bane by C.L. Clark

In this “tragic sapphic adventure,” peace among the clans of the fens is threatened when a surprising love awakens a new magic. (September 30)

First Contact by Becky Ferreira

“A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for and fixation with extraterrestrials.” (September 30)

The First Thousand Trees by Premee Mohamed

“This stunning novella concludes the story Mohamed started in The Annual Migration of Clouds and continued in We Speak Through the Mountain, bleaker than ever but still in search of a spark of hope in the climate apocalypse.” (September 30)

The Heist of Hollow London by Eddie Robson

Two clones who exist to serve as backups for important executives scramble when their corporate owners go out of business. Their new owner is a scientist who promises them freedom—if they can pull off a dangerous heist. (September 30)

Horror’s New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse by Blumhouse with Dave Schilling

“Celebrate legendary horror studio Blumhouse’s legacy with this lavishly illustrated visual compendium that takes you behind the scenes of the films that have reshaped the horror genre, from The Exorcist to the Paranormal Activity and Halloween franchises.” (September 30)

How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe

“The LitRPG bestseller releasing in a stunning new deluxe hardcover edition, now with a new Afterword.” (September 30)

The Infernus Gate by Anthony Ryan

“The thrilling conclusion to the epic saga of the Seven Swords.” (September 30)

Level: Apocalypse by David Dalglish

In this “epic fantasy isekai LitRPG,” set “inside the mysterious Artifact world of Yensere, Nick has scored a major victory in the war against God-King Vaan, but now the true test of power has begun, and it won’t end until either Nick or Vaan are truly dead.” (September 30)

A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky

“A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story.” (September 30)

A Philosophy of Thieves by Fran Wilde

“Robin Hood meets Parasite meets Six of Crows in multi-award-winning author Fran Wilde’s thrilling, high-tech adventure heist wrapped in a futuristic fantasy where thieves are entertainment for the wealthy.” (September 30)

Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley

“Once a servant, now a princess, a young woman thrust into power challenges everything about the underground Fae realm in the spellbinding sequel to Servant of Earth.” (September 30)

Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei

“The epic tale of two sisters who sail across oceans to find their missing third sister―and Earth’s environmental salvation.” (September 30)

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden

“A magical cookbook and a summer on her family’s Italian olive farm help a brokenhearted social media chef cook up a satisfying new life in this delectable novel.” (September 30)

Shadowman by Shola Adedeji

“In this thrilling origin story, one young man finds himself in the middle of a war between powerful gods, and tasked with saving the city he holds dear.” (September 30)

The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub

“An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom.” (September 30)

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire

The October Daye series continues as “Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger… and this time she has more than ever to protect.” (September 30)

So Blooms the Dawn by Julie C. Dao

“Freshly vampiric Lucy Westenra thirsts for revenge in the second and final book of this Dracula retelling.” (September 30)

The Sovereign by C.L. Clark

“The Sovereign brings princess Luca and soldier Touraine together one last time in the thrilling conclusion to C. L. Clark’s beloved queer political fantasy trilogy.” (September 30)

What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

The Sworn Soldier continues as Alex Easton heads to West Virginia to explore a haunted coal mine. (September 30)

Who Will You Save? by Gareth L. Powell

“With settings ranging from the dead sands of Mars to the seedy backstreets of Amsterdam and Buenos Aires, these action-packed tales explore mind-bending ideas through the eyes of unforgettable and all-too-human characters. As their lives implode around them, will they use the moment to save their own skins, or to find a way to make up for past misdeeds?” (September 30)

Widow’s Point: The Complete Haunting by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar

“A riveting found footage narrative about doomed thrill-seekers trapped in a haunted lighthouse.” (September 30)

Wings of Tabat by Cat Rambo

“In the final book of Cat Rambo’s magical Tabat Quartet, we return to the city of Tabat, where Humans and magical Beasts coexist—but uneasily. The exploited Beasts, used for both their labor and their very bodies, are finally fighting back, and turmoil abounds in the city.” (September 30)

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer

“Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage—half witch, half werewolf—and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.” (September 30)

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September 2, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

NetEase shut down studio of Fallout and Star Wars alumni who were making an online sci-fi action game

by admin September 1, 2025

NetEase have shut down T-Minus Zero Entertainment, a studio founded in 2023 by former BioWare developer and Star Wars: The Old Republic executive producer Rich Vogel.

The studio had been working on an online multiplayer sci-fi action game, with contributions from a number of ex-BioWare and Bethesda staff including Fallout 76 design lead Mark Tucker and senior producer Scott Malone. However, that project and T-Minus Zero Entertainment’s on-going existence are not a good fit for “current market conditions”.

Vogel announced the end of NetEase’s partnership with T-Minus in a LinkedIn post on 26th August. Game Developer have now obtained confirmation that the studio has been closed down, in the absence of other funding.

“Every journey has its twists and turns, and ours with NetEase is coming to an end,” Vogel writes in the LinkedIn statement. “We deeply appreciate NetEase for providing us with both ample runway and support – from helping us find potential investors to giving us the time and budget to develop our game into a fully playable hands-on demo. It has generated a lot of interest. However, despite this progress, current market conditions have prevented us from securing the funding we need at this time.”

Vogel goes on to celebrate his team’s “dedication and passion” adding that “now may not be the best time to seek funding given today’s climate, but our playable demo proves our potential to develop something fresh and exciting that will resonate with players for years.”

As Game Developer report, senior NetEase staff have commented on the post to praise the bygone studio’s work, with former NetEase president of global investments and partnerships Simon Zhu commenting that the prototype “delivers [the] great fantasy of fighting against 15th floor kaiju to protect the city you care about” while NetEase head of brand/publishing for North America & Europe Cisco Maldonado called it a “super great concept and [in my opinion] a solid market fit”.

Approached for comment, a NetEase spokesperson told Game Developer that “this decision was made with careful consideration, as we have been inspired by our partnership with the studio and their bold vision. However, we have had to reassess our business priorities and are now working closely with the studio to provide support and explore next steps.”

NetEase have been cutting staff and projects recently, after investing in several studios founded by big names in the triple-A business. Last November, they called time on Worlds Untold, a studio founded by former Mass Effect writer Mac Walters. In January this year, they did likewise for Jar Of Sparks, the studio founded by former Halo Infinite head of design Jerry Hook. In February, they trimmed down the Marvel Rivals development team and made layoffs at Liquid Swords, the studio founded by Avalanche co-founder Christofer Sundberg.

Best of luck to all the former T-Minus Zero Entertainment employees now looking for a safe port.

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September 1, 2025 0 comments