Today’s the birthday of the Triple-I Initiative, a 45-minute showcase of game announcements and trailers from the likes of Slay The Spire devs MegaCrit, Darkest Dungeon devs Red Hook and Dead Cells custodians Evil Empire. What makes a “triple-I” game a “triple-I” game, as opposed to (hawk, spit) a regular indie? I've given it some thought, and I think the answer is: "has more money and status than most indies, but not, like, Call of Duty levels, and also one of our partners is Gearbox Publishing, so this is perhaps ‘indie’ in the Geoff Keighley sense."

Don’t expect any of Keighley's beloved Kojima interludes or dance numbers in this one, however. The IIIIs are a leaner, quieter showcase with no host or advertising or celebrity drop-ins – you can read more about the thinking behind the event in my GDC interview with a few of the participating studios. Find the full stream below.

The Triple-i Initiative 2024: A New Gaming Showcase Watch on YouTube

Don't have 45 minutes to spare? Well, hark at you with your active and efficient lifestyle. Here's a quick round-up of what we here at the Treehouse consider to be the more significant announcements from tonight's showcase, leaving aside the bittier videos and the console-specific stuff.

  • Slay The Spire 2
  • Risk Of Rain 2
  • Shadows Of Doubt
  • Gestalt Steam And Cylinder
  • Vampire Survivors
  • UnderMine 2
  • What The Car
  • Norland
  • Darkest Dungeon 2
  • Rakugaki
  • Ravenswatch
  • The Last Spell
  • Cat Quest 3
  • Brotato
  • Old World
  • Palworld
  • 33 Immortals
  • Wizard Of Legend 2
  • Laysara: Summit Kingdom
  • V: Rising
  • Never Alone 2
  • The Rogue Prince Of Persia

Slay The Spire 2

Slay the Spire 2 - Reveal Trailer Watch on YouTube

The big news of the day: MegaCrit have announced Slay The Spire 2 with a flashy story animation. It’s coming to early access in 2025. Here’s Alice0’s write-up.

Risk Of Rain 2 Devotion Update

Risk of Rain 2 - Free Content Update ft. Dead Cells Crossover Skin & More | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Risk Of Rain 2, meanwhile, is getting a Devotion Update which introduces the Verdant Falls stage, together with some alt skins and new artefacts.

Shadows Of Doubt Sharpshooter Assassin Update

Shadows of Doubt - Console Announce + Sharpshooter Assassin Launch Trailer | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Procedural detective sim Shadows Of Doubt has a brand new Sharpshooter Assassin update, live now...

Gestalt Steam And Cylinder release date

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder | Release Date Trailer Watch on YouTube

...while retro 2D steampunk platformer Gestalt: Steam and Cylinder has a release date - 21st May.

Vampire Survivors Operation Guns DLC

Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns DLC feat. Contra - Coming 9th May Watch on YouTube

Vampire Survivors is partnering with Contra in the shape of Operation Guns – out 9th May. Amongst other things it introduces lupine Brad Fang from Contra: Hard Corps - Alice B has a piece.

Undermine 2

UnderMine 2 - Announcement Trailer | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Thorium have announced UnderMine 2, a sequel to their well-regarded action-RPG. Nic has important questions about the title, but likes the cut of the bomb-bouncing.

What The Car

WHAT THE CAR? - Steam Date Announcement - DEMO OUT NOW! | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Nic's also fairly enthusiastic about arcade dafty What The Car?, which now has a Steam demo and 5th September release date.

Norland

Norland Early Access Release Date Announcement | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Medieval kingdom sim Norland is coming to early access on 16th May.

Darkest Dungeon 2

Darkest Dungeon II - Kingdoms Announcement Trailer Watch on YouTube

Speaking of kingdoms, Darkest Dungeon 2 is getting a big new mode - I’ve interviewed Red Hook about its creation.

Rakugaki

RKGK - Developer Intro & Game Reveal | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Wabisabi Games, meanwhile, have unveiled Rakugaki, a Gearbox-incubated sci-fi game about revolutionary graffiti artists, for summer 2024 release.

Ravenswatch Fall Of Avalon update

Ravenswatch - Fall of Avalon Update | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

There’s a big Fall Of Avalon update in the works for dour roguelike Ravenswatch, out 22nd April 2024.

The Last Spell Dwarves Of Runenberg DLC

The Last Spell - Dwarves of Runenberg DLC Announcement | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Tactical RPG The Last Spell is also getting some DLC, Dwarves Of Runenberg, which launches 24th April.

Cat Quest 3

Cat Quest III - Opening Animation Reveal | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

A new trailer for Cat Quest 3, which appears to feature more than three cats, and also some ghosts.

Brotato Abyssal Terrors DLC

Brotato - Abyssal Terrors DLC & Local CO-OP Update Announcement Trailer | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Alice0 favourite Brotato will receive some Abyssal Terrors DLC and a couch co-op update this summer...

Old World Behind The Throne expansion

Old World - Behind The Throne DLC Trailer | 4X Turn-Based Strategy Game Watch on YouTube

...while historical strategy game Old World’s Behind The Throne expansion arrives on 28th May 2024.

Palworld multiplayer

Palworld - Arena Teaser | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Palworld’s arena multiplayer made a fleeting appearance in the showcase, as reported by Matt - it's out this year.

33 Immortals

33 Immortals - Beta Gameplay Trailer | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Thunderlotus’s 33 Immortals, meanwhile, goes into closed beta on 24th May - Ed has had at least 33 thoughts about its mini-MMO dungeon raiding.

Wizard Of Legend 2

Wizard of Legend 2 - First Look at Gameplay | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

Some footage of Wizard Of Legend 2. I'm not familiar with the series but the footage reminds me a tiny bit of Magicka, and I do like Magicka.

Laysara: Summit Kingdom

Laysara: Summit Kingdom - Surprise Launch Trailer | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

A small but pleasant surprise drop: mountain city-builder Laysara: Summit Kingdom is out this very minute in early access. Nic likes what he's seen of it.

V: Rising Castlevania crossover DLC

V Rising - Legacy of Castlevania Gameplay Trailer Watch on YouTube

Here's a proper trailer for V: Rising's Castlevania crossover DLC, in which you can batter Simon Belmont - and presumably, drink his blood? It’s out 8th May.

Never Alone 2

Never Alone 2 - Game Reveal | The Triple-i Initiative Watch on YouTube

There's also a new trailer for Never Alone 2, sequel to the game about an indigenous child traversing a world of ice.

The Rogue Prince Of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia: Reveal Trailer Watch on YouTube

Oh, and we should probably mention The Rogue Prince Of Persia, "a new roguelite that combines wall running with Arkham-style agile combat", in the words of Alice B, who has a proper preview. It's a collaboration between Ubisoft and Dead Cells live ops studio Evil Empire.