Celestial Return Review – A Visceral, Dice-Driven Noir Odyssey Into Sci-Fi Madness

Reminiscent of Disco Elysium, Celestial Return is a dirty, risky, and abstract sci-fi noir RPG driven by a finite dice economy.

Reminiscent of Disco Elysium, Celestial Return is a dirty, risky, and abstract sci-fi noir RPG driven by a finite dice economy.

World-class talent is right in our backyard. Direct from XP Game Summit 2026, we sit down with ACTRA Toronto's Elana Dunkelman and Myles Dobson to discuss their upcoming low-budget indie agreement, the vital fight for AI protections, and how games are giving Canadian creators true cultural sovereignty.

IO Interactive delivers a generational triumph with 007: First Light. Read our full review of this brutal, cinematic James Bond origin story starring Patrick Gibson, and find out why it’s the definitive spy sandbox we've been waiting for.

Beyond the curated pitch panels lies the true beating heart of the XP Game Summit: the Indie Showcase floor. Discover four spectacular standout titles, from voxel deckbuilders to chaotic multiplayer maid battles, redefining innovation in the Canadian indie development scene.

Behind the scenes of game audio with freelance powerhouse Lindsey Gardner. From scripting custom video game demos to navigating AAA performance capture for massive franchises, discover how an empathy-first approach and a strict work/life balance are redefining how voice talent is directed in modern gaming.

At XP Game Summit, Behaviour Interactive's VP of Operations Jean-François Mercure-Burroughs opened up about the studio's massive operational shift, managing Hollywood horror icons, expanding their portfolio via studio acquisitions, and why avoiding crunch is a functional necessity for sustainable game development.

Positioned as a premier anchor on the Canadian development calendar, the XP Game Summit 2026 proved to be an essential masterclass in balancing the fiscal realities, technical pipelines, and creative hurdles of modern game production. We look back at a packed week of international matchmaking, the high-stakes Ubisoft Indie Pitch Competition, and production masterclasses from industry leaders like Guerrilla Games and ACTRA Toronto.
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