Kabam’s popular Marvel Contest of Champions is getting that much bigger this April with villains Ruby Thursday and Doctor Bong (aka Lester Verde) coming to the title.
🔴 Ruby Thursday ROLLS into The Contest as our 350th Champion! 🔴
With her shape-shifting Ruby, attack into this villainous Champion at your own risk! pic.twitter.com/CM6947TgAT
— Marvel Contest of Champions (@MarvelChampions) April 4, 2026
Augmenting her head with a mass of organic circuitry, Ruby Thursday has joined forces with the
Headmen as they seek out world domination through unorthodox methods. She will make her way to Marvel Contest of Champions April 9.
🔔 Ring the bell! 🔔
Doctor Bong brings chaos, comedy, and deafening Reverb as he smashes into The Battlerealm! pic.twitter.com/vXqWTQnCw6
— Marvel Contest of Champions (@MarvelChampions) April 5, 2026
Meanwhile, the super villain Doctor Bong is a super genius with advanced knowledge of genetic
Engineering. Players can obtain him on April 23, or can alternatively acquire Doctor Bong by completing objectives to receive milestone prizes during his 3-month-long Double Track event that kicks off April 8.
Starting April 15, Act 9–Chapter 4: REDEMPTION in Marvel Contest of Champions will have players joining Carina Tivan, daughter of Elders and leader of Heroes, as she gathers forces for one final push.
Set in a world where survival is vertical, Ludogram and Twin Sails Interactive have unveiled their new turn-based exploration roguelite Ascenders: Beyond the Peak.
An award-winning 4X strategy game set within the Avatar universe, Tilting Point and AN Games’ Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is celebrating its one-year anniversary with its biggest update to date.
Bringing classic arcade energy to the heart of baseball, PAC-MAN is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels with the opening of the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop concession stand.
Briefing us on its writing, audio, and espionage roots, we recently joined ZA/UM Studio’s Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe and Honey Watson at GDC 2026 to learn more about CASCADE’s upcoming mission…
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies Interview – ZA/UM Studio Talks Writing, Audio & Espionage
You have a very strong community, with a lot of people that are very passionate about strong writing in games.
What made you want to take on an Espionage RPG angle for this release?
Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe
I would say that we wanted to do something different!
We felt that the espionage genre allows for the type of storytelling we would like to do.
We were also getting a bit tired of the police story – there’s only so far you can go with the police stereotypes and such devices.
It’s just a very fertile breeding ground – if you read about the fiction of spies and the reality of spies, the reality is often much stranger than the fiction.
Gamers Heroes
I completely understand! There are a lot of great espionage works out there too.
Is there anything your team was truly inspired by?
You’re obviously doing your own thing, but anything that you wanted to tap into – whether it be a TV show, movie, or something else – that you wanted to basically build upon and create your own vision?
We also really enjoyed this French show called Libero, which has an awesome American version called The Agency.
We were drawn to this kind of spy fiction that is not necessarily like Jason Bourne or James Bond.
Gamers Heroes
That actually leads me to my next point…
Talking espionage, you’re talking James Bond – and there are so many different Bonds.
You’ve got games like the upcoming 007 First Light that touches upon the origins of Bond, you’ve got Roger Moore, and then you’ve got Pierce Brosnan – they all have a different type of energy.
What kind of went into the design of the agent CASCADE?
I know players of ZERO PARADES can have different types of elements that include analytical, and even anxiety – but let’s not have that last one today!
What would you say goes into your ideal espionage character?
An early exploration for Hershel Wilk, a.k.a. Operant CASCADE.
Whether through playthroughs on Twitch or YouTube, have you noticed any patterns? Were there any people went pure “Paragon” or “Renegade?”
When you get games that are deeply human, the human side comes out when it comes to choices.
When I’m playing these types of games, I tend to go for the same choices – it also gives great insight into the community!
We bring you a new game every day, and THIS is Zero Parades: For Dead Spies – In this game you will fail a lot… but that's kind of the point@studiozaumpic.twitter.com/h84KfbbNTL
I think my favorite podcast moment was definitely when Mikey decided to come in and just totally steal the show and crash everything!
He’s an audio guy and did lots of the voices on Disco Elysium.
He’s also doing some voices in ZERO PARADES – he’s such a character.
He just came in; it was just me and the Narrative Director doing the podcast, and he just completely stole the show.
He started telling us what’s what about all our characters – it was really fun!
Gamers Heroes
That’s exactly what I like to hear!
And people feed off that energy – that’s why they tune in each time, you know?
So mentioning Disco Elysium, I know it originally came out in 2019, with the Final Cut released in 2021.
The gaming landscape has definitely changed in the last five years; like you said, people are craving that human writing.
There are also recent releases like Esoteric Ebb that cite your work as an inspiration – it’s fantastic!
So again, you’re doing your own unique thing, but where are some of the key learnings you’ve had since the original 2019 release?
Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe
You could say the way we consume media has changed…
I would say the way we consume short form content is more prevalent in today’s society.
At the same time, there is the text we are able to keep inside our heads.
We don’t have as much patience or concentration – it is very different to 2019.
In 2019, Twitter was quite big – people were used to 140, then 280 characters. It’s quite a lot of words.
We’re now more used to short-form content.
I wouldn’t say that we all need to feature short-form content when writing, but we take into account the reality of:
“What is the level of intractability in the world at the moment?”
We’re used to doing a lot of clicks, tapping things, moving on.
So it informed us, in some ways, on how many choices the player should encounter per hour, and how will they feel so engaged to the story in a way they will say:
“I don’t want to look at my phone.”
I believe some TV series are already taking into account that people want to look at their phones, and then they’re writing in:
“Okay, repeat the dialog multiple times.”
Gamers Heroes
You’ve got to respect the viewer! I know exactly what you’re talking about.
It’s definitely changing, and you do have a good point. There’s Twitter and then there’s also new networks like Bluesky.
I know short form content is all the rage these days too.
Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe
I have younger friends – they’re very varied like we used to be when we were young.
I think if a young person is into writing, they are into the game.
If a young person is into RPGs, they will also be into the game.
Gamers Heroes
I know what you mean! Putting on my corporate hat: “It reaches many verticals.”
Music is also a big part of ZA/UM’s games – with Disco Elysium, you have the English band Sea Power doing the music.
With the demo of ZERO PARADES, I had to put on my Sennheisers – it was truly incredible!
How are you looking to tap into music with this release?
Siim “Kosmos” Sinamäe
Our Audio Director, the musicians we work with, and audio people are so amazing – it’s such a joy!
I have to say that I have held off playing with audio for some time, just so it will be ready and I can dive into it fully.
Honey Watson
There are a lot of musicians on the narrative team, and our Lead Writer has actually written and performed.
Music is a huge part of this game!
Gamers Heroes
I’m so glad you agree!
Keeping it short and sweet, what’s the next major milestone you can talk about regarding this release?
Not that I want to get in anybody in trouble…
Travis Shrodes [PR Representative]
The podcast will continue going once a month, and you’ll see an update soon!
You’ll see that oftentimes that it’ll align with the assets and the interviews and things that we’re putting out at the same time.
When we were talking about the art, we’re focusing on putting more of the key art out there, putting out more screenshots and things.
Hearing directly from the people involved, their passion, their enthusiasm – that’s what we really want to get out there.
Gamers Heroes
Absolutely – I look forward to it!
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies will release for the PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG on May 21. The title will also make its way to the PlayStation 5 later this year.
We recently joined Game Director Dave Hall at GDC 2026’s Xbox Play Anywhere event to talk shop about Invincible VS’ intricate mechanics, FGC support, and sheer brutality.
Helping with rhythm game staples like Rez and Space Channel 5, we spoke with CORE8 CEO Noboru Hotta at Day of the Devs about Twin Soul’s mission to have us all play, explore, and be moved.
Featuring a true love for the gaming industry, we recently caught up with Ballgame’s Eliot Garcia Weisberg at Day of the Devs for a tee time around this whole new ballgame…
Accepting the interview invite without hesitation, we recently caught up with the insanely talented Creative Director David Ashby at Day of the Devs to learn more about Pro Jank Footy.
We recently spoke with Pete Capella at StocktonCon Winter 2026 about his “Strength in Silver” and his love for the Sonic community – learn more with our interview.
Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is OUT NOW on Steam.
Step into the kitchen solo or with friends and survive the chaos of running a restaurant together. Cook, serve, experiment, and create your own dishes.
A next-generation cooking sim, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together cooks up realistic food preparation mechanics that let players prep dishes, manage kitchen workflows, serve guests, and ultimately develop culinary skills.
Featuring support for both solo and co-op play (hence the second part of the title), Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together sets out to embrace both precision and chaos.
Learn more about Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together with its launch trailer below:
COOKING SIMULATOR 2: BETTER TOGETHER | MULTIPLAYER LAUNCH TRAILER
Set in a world where survival is vertical, Ludogram and Twin Sails Interactive have unveiled their new turn-based exploration roguelite Ascenders: Beyond the Peak.
An award-winning 4X strategy game set within the Avatar universe, Tilting Point and AN Games’ Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is celebrating its one-year anniversary with its biggest update to date.
Bringing classic arcade energy to the heart of baseball, PAC-MAN is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels with the opening of the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop concession stand.
Letting players take on champions across the land, Blades, Bows & Magic features a single-player mode that allows players to unlock new cards that feature a number of special abilities.
For those looking to test their might, Blades, Bows & Magic also lets players challenge rivals online via its PvP multiplayer.
Learn more with the Steam release trailer for Blades, Bows & Magic below:
An award-winning 4X strategy game set within the Avatar universe, Tilting Point and AN Games’ Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is celebrating its one-year anniversary with its biggest update to date.
Bringing classic arcade energy to the heart of baseball, PAC-MAN is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels with the opening of the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop concession stand.
Netmarble’s upcoming monster-taming action RPG MONGIL: STAR DIVE will be featured in the new “FIRST DIVE SHOW” Showcase on April 8 at 9am (UTC) on YouTube.
Bringing classic arcade energy to the heart of baseball, PAC-MAN is teaming up with the Los Angeles Angels with the opening of the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop concession stand.
PAC-MAN × @Angels brings arcade energy to the ballpark with a fun, nostalgia-filled collaboration—featuring themed snacks, desserts, and exclusive treats at the new PAC-MAN Chomp Stop next to Level Up, officially opening April 3rd in Angel Stadium. pic.twitter.com/sBIjCkeI9U
This newly opened PAC-MAN Chomp Stop is located at Angel Stadium’s Right Field Pavilion right next to Level-Up.
While there, fans can play classic Bandai Namco arcade games for free, try their luck at Japanese Gashapon prize machines, enjoy a number of colorful PAC-MAN inspired photo-ops, and indulge in themed tasty treats.
In the case of the latter, PAC-MAN themed snacks, desserts, and drinks are available. The PAC-MAN Chomp Shop also serves as the exclusive location for Pineapple Dole Soft Serve, served in a collectible PAC-MAN helmet.
Angels Executive Vice President Dana Wells said the following:
“Our Orange County neighbors at Bandai Namco have been incredible partners for the past five seasons, consistently providing multi-generational entertainment at Angel Stadium.
The debut of the PAC-MAN Chomp Stop further enhances the fan experience; this themed concession, located next to our free-to-play arcade, Level Up, offers guests of all ages a unique and engaging destination within the ballpark.”
Karim Farghaly, SVP of Business Innovation and Licensing at Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., also said the following:
“Our partnership with Angels Baseball has been incredibly rewarding, and it’s a thrill to launch yet another new exciting experience for fans this 2026 season.
Complementing the Level Up arcade, the addition of PAC-MAN Chomp Stop allows us to continue making meaningful connections with our local community.
We’re grateful to our hometown team for always welcoming Bandai Namco into the stadium and becoming part of the unforgettable memories long-time fans, including many of our staff, take away from watching this iconic MLB club.”
An award-winning 4X strategy game set within the Avatar universe, Tilting Point and AN Games’ Avatar Legends: Realms Collide is celebrating its one-year anniversary with its biggest update to date.
Netmarble’s upcoming monster-taming action RPG MONGIL: STAR DIVE will be featured in the new “FIRST DIVE SHOW” Showcase on April 8 at 9am (UTC) on YouTube.
Featuring an iconic career with decades of excellence, Video Game Designer, Creator, and Programmer Garry Kitchen will be a Guest of Honor at Fire & Ice RGX 2026 this summer.
So, who is Hershel Wilk?
Episode 4 of IMPRINT, our 
Watch now:
