The Philippine indie game scene continues to rise as Blood Breaker: Labyrinth of the Witch, a Castlevania-inspired action title developed by Phoenix Up Media, secures a publishing deal with Singapore-based SoftSource Publishing.
Metroidvania Meets Roguelite
Spearheaded by Filipino game developer JC Malapit, Blood Breaker is a striking blend of metroidvania exploration and roguelite unpredictability. Drawing heavy inspiration from genre-defining classics like Castlevania, the game plunges players into a dark, cursed labyrinth where every run is unique—and survival is anything but guaranteed.
Set in a hauntingly beautiful world, Blood Breaker follows a powerful female protagonist, Ayana Crimson, as she slashes her way through monsters, traps, and twisting dungeon paths in search of truth, vengeance, and freedom. The game features procedurally generated areas, skill-based combat, weapon customization, and lore-rich storytelling that rewards exploration and mastery.
PGDX as the Turning Point
The turning point for Blood Breaker came during PGDX (Philippine GameDev Expo) in 2024, where Phoenix Up Media had the opportunity to showcase the game to a wider audience through an expo booth and the event’s business networking platform.
“PGDX really helped me gain exposure—having a booth at the event and using their Meet-To-Match system on the EVENT’s website is how SoftSource first discovered the game,” said JC Malapit, CREATOR of BLOOD BREAKER.
The success of Blood Breaker at PGDX was also celebrated by the event’s organizers and the country’s game development leaders:
“We’re thrilled to see Blood Breaker: Labyrinth of the Witch by Phoenix Up Media picked up by SoftSource Publishing after meeting at PGDX in 2024—an event proudly organized by CBZN and GDAP. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the fruits of the local game industry association: bringing publishers into the country, showcasing our local indie talent, and paving the way for original Filipino games to reach the global stage.
This milestone reflects the progress and growth of our industry, and reaffirms our commitment to nurturing homegrown creativity and expanding its reach worldwide. Looking forward to seeing more of our local games in international markets.”
— James Lo
President, Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP)
“Indie Game Stars at PGDX stands out from other local game conventions. Its primary objective is not only to promote and showcase the games created by smaller developers to the public but also to attract potential investors and publishers. We are thrilled to announce that some of the games that secured deals from participating in PGDX have been revealed. This is the first announcement, and there will be more in the near future.”
— Solon Chen
Vice President, GDAP
Organizer, PGDX – Indie Game Stars
A Dream Fulfilled
The announced partnership with SoftSource marks a major step forward for Phoenix Up Media, ensuring Blood Breaker will reach broader audiences across Southeast Asia and potentially beyond. SoftSource, known for supporting indie developers in the region, will handle international distribution, and funding the development of the game further.
“This collaboration with SoftSource means a lot because I’ve been struggling to find a publisher for many of the games I’ve developed, and this is the first one,” said Malapit.
Watch our interview with Blood Breaker: Labyrinth of the Witch’s Creator JC Malapit through our newest segment, Indie Dev Spotlight here:
What’s Next for Blood Breaker
Early previews and a live demo have already captured the interest of both local and international players, with fans praising its fluid combat, and great art direction.
Download Blood Breaker demo on Steam here ⬇️
Blood Breaker: Labyrinth of the Witch is currently scheduled for release in 2026, with more updates on platform availability, trailers, and launch timelines coming soon.
Follow Phoenix Up Media and SoftSource Publishing on their official channels for the latest developments.
