We’re keeping a close eye on Gamescom week, and an early leak allegedly spoils what could be one of the show’s sweetest surprises: a new entry in the PixelJunk Monsters series. Per Push Square, a playtest listing on SteamDB and teasing from Q-Games boss Dylan Cuthbert make it look increasingly likely that PixelJunk Monsters 3 is real — and set to be revealed imminently.
What Was Reported
According to Push Square, a playtest page surfaced on SteamDB that appears to contain key art and a changelog pointing to PixelJunk Monsters 3. The visible images on the SteamDB entry were blank at the time of reporting, but the change log reportedly exposed the official artwork. This surfaced after a tease from Dylan Cuthbert that Q-Games would be making an announcement soon.
Push Square also notes that Q-Games has confirmed it will participate in the upcoming Future Games Show presentation. The Future Games Show is scheduled for tomorrow, 26th August at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST, and Push Square suggests this may be the venue for the reveal — rather than Gamescom Opening Night Live, where many had expected the studio to appear.
The Source & Credibility
There are several moving parts to this leak. Push Square credits a social post by known leaker Wario64 for drawing attention to the SteamDB entry, and lists steamdb.info (via social posts on X) as the origin of the playtest discovery. The chain of signals is: an executive tease from Dylan Cuthbert, an apparently live SteamDB test page, and amplification by leakers on X.
- Q-Games confirmation of a participation slot at the Future Games Show is a concrete, public claim highlighted by Push Square.
- The SteamDB playtest entry is the more circumstantial piece of evidence: Push Square describes blank images with a changelog that allegedly reveals official art for a new PixelJunk Monsters title.
- Third-party amplification from Wario64 and social posts is how the discovery spread beyond the initial listing.
Take this with a pinch of salt: while the components line up in a way that looks convincing, none of this is an official announcement from Q-Games at the time Push Square reported it. The playtest listing, the teased reveal, and the studio’s Future Games Show slot together form a strong hint — but they remain unconfirmed until the show itself.
What It Could Mean
If true, a new entry titled PixelJunk Monsters 3 would represent a return to one of Q-Games’ most beloved properties. Push Square reiterates the series’ identity as a tower defence real-time strategy game — players install and upgrade weapons and structures to fend off the titular monsters — and notes that the original remains the fan favourite.
Push Square also highlights that PixelJunk Monsters 2 didn’t land with quite the same universal praise as the original, and that the key artwork for the alleged third entry hints at a stylistic shift back toward the first game’s aesthetic after the second instalment’s departure. If that inference is accurate, it could represent an attempt to recapture what made the original so widely loved.
For context within this week’s slate of reveals, the timing would place Q-Games alongside other Gamescom-adjacent showcases. We’ve already discussed the excitement surrounding the expo — and rumours about major companies using this window for big reveals — including chatter around Xbox making unexpected moves at Gamescom.
Why This Matters
Whether or not PixelJunk Monsters 3 ends up being real, the current signals matter for a few reasons. First, they show how small spots on services like SteamDB combined with developer teases can create meaningful expectation ahead of a show. Second, if Q-Games is indeed returning to the series’ roots, that could satisfy fans who preferred the first game over the second. And finally, the timing around the Future Games Show — rather than Opening Night Live — is a reminder that big announcements can land across multiple showcases during Gamescom week.
We’re watching the Future Games Show slot closely and will update as soon as anything is officially confirmed. For those following potential platform chatter this week, also take a look at our rumour coverage about Diablo IV and its alleged Switch 2 discussions — because Gamescom season is proving to be fertile ground for surprises, leaks, and last-minute reveals.
