{"rewrite":{"id":"r_6fb8f6b41341ae82a2321dd1","clusterId":"c_bd4eb107a03f678d3c694c4d","slug":"next-stage-announces-slam-tank-a-tank-game-built-around-melee-attacks","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"Next Stage Announces SLAM TANK, A Tank Game Built Around Melee Attacks","summary":"Developer Next Stage announced SLAM TANK on September 23, a PC (Steam) tank action game with no release date set. The tank fights AI-controlled machines, including industrial robots and heavy machinery, by swinging its barrel and spinning its hull instead of firing its cannon. Players pick from three tank types across factory, port, and military facility stages, with a boss at each end.","whyItMatters":"Next Stage built a following on fast sword action in Ultra Age, and SLAM TANK applies that same melee-first combat to a tank chassis rather than a humanoid one.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eSLAM TANK keeps the cannon but not the shelling. The player\u0026#39;s tank swings its barrel as a melee weapon, and one confirmed move has it balance on the barrel like a single leg while spinning the hull at speed. Containers along the stage routes break under ramming, scattering PC parts such as graphics cards.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStages run through factories, ports, and military facilities toward a boss, and one boss shown so far is an armed train that fires missiles and charges. Players drift or hit boost pads to close distance. Three tank types are planned, with decals and exterior parts for appearance changes.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"SLAM Tank cuts the cannon and keeps the barrel as a melee weapon, so Next Stage's whole combat loop is spacing and hull rotation, not aim. Factory, port and military stages each end on a boss.","twitterPost":"SLAM Tank removes the shot and keeps the barrel as a club. Next Stage's combat is spacing and spin, not aim.","threadsPost":"SLAM Tank strips the cannon and turns the barrel into a melee weapon, which makes Next Stage's combat about spacing and hull rotation instead of aim. Three Tank types, three stage sets (factory, port, military facility), a boss at each end.","newsletterBlurb":"Next Stage announced SLAM TANK, a PC (Steam) tank action game where the cannon is not the point. The tank swings its barrel, spins its hull, and rams containers that scatter PC parts, fighting AI-controlled machines across factory, port, and military facility stages. No release date yet.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/slam-tank-20260924-469729/\",\"title\":\"High-Speed Body-Slam Tank Action Game 'SLAM TANK' Announced. A \\\"Melee Tank\\\" That Doesn't Fire Its Cannon, Swinging Its Barrel at AI Machines\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4484,"outputTokens":592,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791137675,"createdAt":"2026-10-04T18:10:56.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-04T18:13:25.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-04T18:13:25.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_bd4eb107a03f678d3c694c4d","canonicalTitle":"体当たりハイスピードバトル戦車アクション『SLAM TANK』発表。AI機械たちに砲身大回転攻撃、「砲撃なし」の“肉弾戦車”がゆく","representativeArticleId":"a_decad9c149a3ceffc341a7de","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"SLAM TANK\"],\"studios\":[\"Next Stage\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-09-24T08:34:10.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-09-24T08:34:10.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-04T18:13:21.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/slam-tank-20260924-469729/","title":"体当たりハイスピードバトル戦車アクション『SLAM TANK』発表。AI機械たちに砲身大回転攻撃、「砲撃なし」の“肉弾戦車”がゆく"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["SLAM TANK"],"studios":["Next Stage"],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}