Horde Survival Evolves: Apogee Entertainment's Rising Heat Blasts onto Steam on October 14, 2025
Bullet Hell Roguelike Sickos, Assemble!
Bullet Hell Roguelike Sickos, Assemble!
Cologne, Germany (August 21, 2025) | Today at Gamescom, storied gaming publisher Apogee Entertainment and developer Fuzzy Sock Studios announced the release date for Rising Heat — an Enter the Gungeon-meets-Geometry Wars-meets-Vampire Survivors bullet hell roguelike! Prepare to fight through a gladiator-style space spectacle bankrolled by the Extraterrestrial Elite when Rising Heat releases on Windows PC on October 14, 2025!
"Rising Heat marks my debut as a developer, made possible through Apogee's support: a passion project for players who love games as much as I do. Speed. Momentum. Flow. A gameplay loop that begs players to forget everything else," said Ronnie Lusso, developer of Rising Heat. "This is the game I've always wanted to play: easy to learn, challenging to master, endlessly fun, and impossible to put down. My hope is that Rising Heat pulls you in and keeps you coming back for more."
The next evolution of horde survival awaits! Rising Heat drops you into the arena as a fighter pilot against swarms of extraterrestrial organisms with one thing in mind: utter destruction. The game's momentum-based movement mechanics make for physics-driven flight controls, challenging pilots to learn their aircraft. There is no single strategy to success, either. Weave through enemies, circle and shoot, or barrel straight through the horde using Rising Heat's "tackle" maneuver.
Loadouts are a major element of success in Rising Heat, with countless combinations of pilots, ships, and hacks that can be upgraded, integrated, or fused for maximum effect. Fusing hacks lets you discover synergies that cater to your exact needs. When flying in co-op mode, coordination becomes critical. Your ship is linked to your partner's by a deadly energy beam that can tear through enemies, but uncoordinated movement can yank your wingman into danger.
How you battle in the arena is up to you, Captain.
Rising Heat Key Features:
- Do a Barrel Roll!: Master a dynamic momentum-based movement system. Line up multiple enemies to execute a flurry of precise tackles, dealing devastating damage while bouncing between a barrage of enemy bullets!
- Customize Your Loadout: Each cockpit has a limited inventory in which the pilot can upgrade, integrate, and fuse hacks together to create varied builds. Different strategies in the shop, hack positioning, action order, and even negative stats will help get the most out of every build.
- Plan of Attack: A strong pilot must plan out their runs, including which pilot, ship, hacks, and weapons to equip. As the aliens learn to adapt, how does a successful pilot stay one step ahead?
- Fly With a Friend: In co-op mode, two pilots are linked by a supercharged beam, creating opportunities for mass destruction...assuming they've got each other's backs.
Rising Heat will launch on Windows PC via Steam on October 14, 2025. Wishlist and play the new demo now on Steam.
For more information about Apogee Entertainment, visit www.apogeeent.com, follow on Bluesky, X (Twitter), Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, subscribe on YouTube, and join the community on Discord.
About Apogee Entertainment
Founded by industry pioneer Scott Miller — known for his pivotal role in incubating iconic studios such as 3D Realms, id Software, and Remedy Entertainment, Apogee is one of gaming's most enduring labels. The company enjoys a legacy that spans over three decades, having a hand in launching landmark franchises such as Duke Nukem, Prey, and Max Payne.
Today, the company is an indie powerhouse, publishing and co-developing bold, genre-defining games from the next generation of global independent creators. Apogee continues to build on its library of genre-defining hits by catering to underserved audiences, fostering the development of unique, memorable, and highly-focused experiences that resonate with players for years to come. Recent Apogee hits include the acclaimed Turbo Overkill and Wizordum, with highly anticipated titles such as Total Chaos, LUCID, and more on the horizon.
