2K today announced that NBA® 2K24 Arcade Edition, the authentic NBA 2K experience for Apple Arcade, is now available. Check out all the latest features in the official trailer.
Fan favourites make their return to the game, including MyCAREER where players can step into the shoes of their very own NBA superstar as they set out to dominate the league, earn fans, and, for the first time, unlock endorsements with iconic brands. On their path to greatness, players can tap NBA legends to join their 3v3 streetball squad and customise their MyPLAYER as they unlock new shoes, apparel, and custom tattoos. NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition also sees the return The Greatest mode with the opportunity to challenge new GOATs and unlock a lineup of NBA Superstars and Legends. Additionally, players can ball in the indoor and new outdoor MyCOURT environments via Game Center, sit courtside with Spectator mode, play games matching the new NBA season with NBA Today, and more.
Playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition is available on Apple Arcade for a monthly subscription with a one-month free trial*. Apple Arcade is also part of the Apple One Individual, Family, and Premier monthly plans, with a one-month free trial**.
For more information on the included modes, features, supported languages, and more, visit the Apple App Store.
Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K24 is rated E for Everyone from the ESRB. For more information on NBA 2K24, please visit https://nba.2k.com/2k24/.
*New subscribers only. One subscription per Family Sharing group. Offer good for three months after eligible device activation. Plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply, visit https://offers.applearcade.apple/ for more details.
**The Apple One free trial includes only services that are not currently used through a free trial or a subscription. Plan automatically renews after trial until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 IS AVAILABLE NOW
The collection packs the first three Metal Gear Solid games with three bonus games and unique bonus content for players to infiltrate and explore
Catch up with a new MINI GEAR SHORTS – Total Sabotage Action anime video
Sydney, Australia – 25th October 2023: Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. announced METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 is now available worldwide on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, and Xbox Series X. Players can sneak into tactical espionage action and relive “Metal Gear Solid,” “Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,” and “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater”.
Watch the METAL GEAR SOLID: Master Collection Vol. 1 Launch Trailer below:
Title Lineup
Metal Gear
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Metal Gear Solid (Including Special Missions and Integral version)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (HD Collection version)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (HD Collection version)
Metal Gear (NES/FC version)
Snake’s Revenge
Video
Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel
Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel
Digital book
Metal Gear Solid: Screenplay Book
Metal Gear Solid: Master Book
Metal Gear Solid 2: Screenplay Book
Metal Gear Solid 2: Master Book
Metal Gear Solid 3: Screenplay Book
Metal Gear Solid 3: Master Book
Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Screenplay Book
Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Master Book
Soundtrack
Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
Mini Gear Shorts – Total Sabotage Action
MINI GEAR SHORTS – Total Sabotage Action is a brand-new animated series that follows characters of the Metal Gear Solid games and the mischief they get into behind the scenes. In the latest episode, two guards are discussing how one of them somehow finds himself stuffed, sleeping in a locker reading magazines. Previous episodes available here: MINI GEAR SHORTS – Total Sabotage Action
**The cartridge or digital install size for the Nintendo Switch™ is reflective of the included bonus content. Players can choose which title they wish to install first once they have downloaded it onto their gaming platforms.
*Nintendo Entertainment System and NES are trademark or registered trademarks of Nintendo.
About Metal Gear
Experience the thrill of tactical espionage action missions, sneaking into hostile environments without being detected by the enemy. This innovative game series was born from the idea of avoiding combat and infiltrating enemy territory undetected, a complete reversal of common action gameplay resulting in the creation of a brand-new game genre: stealth action. The first METAL GEAR game was released in 1987 and the series celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2022.
About Konami Group
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION was established in 1973, starting as an amusement machine manufacturer for arcades. Over the years, the company has grown to include different business units across various markets. Currently, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION includes the Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Gaming & Systems, and Sports Businesses. The company went public on the Osaka Securities Exchange in 1984, the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1988, and the London Stock Exchange in 1999. For more information, visit: www.konami.com/en.
About Konami Digital Entertainment
Konami Digital Entertainment, which is the core company of Konami Group, develops entertaining content for mobile, console and card games. The company is known for global franchises such as eFootball™, Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Contra, as well as the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game series. www.konami.com/games/corporate/en/
Discover the art of fighting with more than 300 pages of awesome illustrations from River City Girls 1, 2, and Zero!
Valencia, Calif. – October 24, 2023 – The most hard-hitting, knuckle-busting, smash-mouth art book of the year is headed to a bookshelf near you! Independent game studio WayForward, along with Arc System Works and Fangamer, is excited to announce that The Art of River City Girls, featuring more than 300 pages of glorious images, is now available to order from Fangamer.com at a price of $49.00 USD (https://fanga.me/r/art-of-river-city-girls).
Featuring a River City High yearbook motif, The Art of River City Girls is jam-packed with artwork from all three River City Girls games: River City Girls, River City Girls 2, and River City Girls Zero. The hefty tome is bursting at the seams with gorgeous production artwork, concept sketches, game sprites, storyboards, and comic-book-style cutscenes from renowned illustrators such as REM, Kay Yu, David Liu, Mariel Cartwright, Maren “Rennerei” Marmulla, Juby Jong, Nina “InkPangur” Vakueva, Valeriya “Waneella” Sanchilo, and others. From the main crew of Misako, Kyoko, Kunio, Riki, Provie, and Marian to enemies like Abobo, NOIZE, and Sabu to NPCs like Godai and Kaori, the full River City Girls cast is represented, along with backgrounds, items, accessories, and more.
As an added bonus, the initial run of The Art of River City Girls purchased from Fangamer.com will include an exclusive gold autographed bookplate sticker signed by several River City Girls creators and artists (available while supplies last).
An official part of the legendary River City/Kunio-kun series, River City Girls first launched in September 2019, allowing players to hit the mean streets with protagonists Misako and Kyoko to beat up every lowlife in town to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, Kunio and Riki. This was followed by River City Girls Zero (an enhanced version of the 16-bit classic Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka) in early 2022, and most recently River City Girls 2, in which players protect River City from a yakuza takeover in an expansive adventure featuring six playable characters, online gameplay, 4-player co-op, and much more. For more information about the River City Girls series and other WayForward titles, please visit www.wayforward.com and follow @wayforward on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.
About WayForward
Based in Valencia, California, WayForward was founded in 1990 and has remained an independent game developer for more than 30 years. It is home to many talented individuals including programmers, environment artists, animators, modelers, illustrators, audio wizards, designers, and team leaders. With new avenues for distributing games directly to fans, they are finally able to make the games they have always wanted to.
About Arc System Works
Arc System Works (ASW) is the premier publisher and developer of the widely popular Guilty Gear and BlazBlue franchises. Deep rooted in the communities it builds, ASW strives to bring unforgettable experiences to its passionate fanbase
500 players assessed for personality traits and gaming habits in new study that offers guidance on how Players, Game Developers, and Health Professionals can utilize the key findings
OAKLAND, Calif. – October 24, 2023 – Skillprint, a pioneer in adaptive, personalized games that match the personality, cognitive skills, and mindset of players, today published the results of an extensive research study of over 500 players across 28 mobile games to understand why people play games and how gaming can benefit psychological well-being. Their study, called “Games Can Be Good For the Mind: An Empirical Report by Skillprint,” reveals that certain mobile games can have a positive impact on mood and various aspects of mental wellbeing, and the report provides actionable insights for gamers, developers, educators, and health professionals based on these findings.
Study participants were assessed across personality traits such as Conscientiousness, Openness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Emotionality. Gaming habits, including frequency, preferred genres, and motivations, were also documented. Skillprint found that mobile games have a positive impact on mental well-being, with creativity, determination, and focus being the most positively affected aspects. Personality traits significantly influence these effects, suggesting game developers should personalize games to appeal to a wider audience. Different game genres and mechanics cater to various motivations and offer diverse benefits; for instance, puzzle games boost creativity, while timed games enhance focus.
Other key findings from the study include:
Game Developers should consider why players choose their games: are they seeking challenge, relaxation, or community? Test whether you are building games that resonate most with people similar to you and try to incorporate elements that appeal to the broad spectrum of personality traits. Personalization is an essential path to broadening a game’s appeal, and one that AI is making easy to implement via real-time adaptation of game dynamics.
Health Professionals should explore the potential of using mobile games as supplemental treatment for general mental well-being, mood disorders, and attention issues, as published research has found benefits in multiple populations.
Players should be mindful of what emotional impact they aim to achieve through gaming, as well as their personality and choose genres accordingly. For example, people gravitate towards games that emphasize their current traits: extraverts prefer social and competitive games; people who are more open to new experiences enjoy exploratory adventure games and RPGs.
“As gaming has become an integral part of our lives, our research reaffirms that games are more than just an escape; they’re a valuable tool for nurturing the mind and uplifting the spirit. Our report underscores the cognitive and psychological benefits of gaming, emphasizing the influence of personality and motivations. Skillprint is committed to personalized gaming for broader well-being. We’ve also launched the beta of our AdaptivePlay AI platform, providing game developers with real-time and automated ways to enhance the player’s experience. We’re dedicated to empowering players and developers and invite all stakeholders to join us in shaping the future of gaming for the better,” said Chethan Ramachandran, CEO of Skillprint.
Skillprint is at the intersection of gaming and cognitive science and uses AI to reveal insights about a player’s talents, mindset, and personality traits. Its mission is to democratize access to insights that empower individuals and game developers to thrive.
Founded in 2019, Skillprint’s Insights are embedded in 40+ games which collect and analyze an average of 1,200+ events per player per game session and predict a player’s personality traits and cognitive skills and help them to achieve their desired mood. Combining neuroscience research, player gameplay data, and over 150+ game characteristics and ratings, Skillprint can vet games for their ability to assess and develop a player’s cognitive skills and personality traits, positively affect their mood, and help them to achieve their goals.
The company has raised $3.5 million in funding, backed by private investors and leading VCs in the gaming, mental wellness, and future of learning sectors. For more information, visit: www.skillprint.co.
Rip apart mutated enemies with your trusty Pet Gun, and save humanity from destruction just in time for Halloween
AALBORG, Denmark — Oct. 24, 2023 — 3D Realms and Pet Project Games are thrilled to announce that RIPOUT, the co-op sci-fi horror FPS, is available now in Steam Early Access. Prepare to face the terrors of the future as you awaken from cryogenic slumber to find ships once occupied by humans have been taken over by mutated monsters. Face down mutant horrors alone or form a squad of up to 3 players and tear down monstrous enemies as you piece together what happened and search for Sanctuary, the last bastion of humanity.
RIPOUT’s early access version includes the majority of features, most enemy types and cooperative gameplay. During the early access period, the game will see several content updates that include a variety of new features such as new enemies and weapons, new missions, and a lot more based on the feedback received by the community.
RIPOUT is available in early access on Steam for $24.99, with a 10% launch discount for those who pick up the game during the first week. The game is also in development for consoles and will benefit from the community’s feedback in early access.
Face off against mutant monstrosities transformed by Cell, a human-made biological weapon that has turned its sights on its creators, able to adapt their bodies in grotesque ways. Use your trusty biomechanical Pet Gun to gain a tactical advantage over your enemies by ripping weaponry off them while exploring procedurally generated derelict spaceships, collecting loot, and customizing your character to survive whatever dangers lurk around the corner.
Features:
Cooperative PVE Gameplay: Embark on a variety of missions and explore derelict ships alone or in small teams. Be ready to rip apart a massive variety of genetically altered monsters, capable of strengthening and reconfiguring their bodies by attaching smaller mutants to them.
Living Pet Gun: Don’t hold back as you use your trusty Pet Gun and harness the power of the sentient biotech for yourself and turn it against your foes.
Weapon Modifications and Character Classes: Customize your weapon and choose between multiple character specializations to find the perfect mix for your playstyle.
Endless Action: Explore countless ships in quick, action-packed missions which will leave you guessing what horrors lurk around the corners. Thanks to RIPOUT’s procedurally generated level design, you’ll enjoy endless replayability.
Scalable Difficulty: Expect a challenge for teams of all sizes, thanks to RIPOUT‘s scaling difficulty.
Redefining AAA – Action, Attitude, Adrenaline, 3D Realms has rocked the world for almost 30 years by publishing unforgettable, iconic games like Duke Nukem, Terminal Velocity, Shadow Warrior, Death Rally, Max Payne, and more recently Ghostrunner, Ion Fury, Cultic, Tempest Rising, Phantom Fury, RIPOUT. Lead by industry veterans, 3D Realms is a proud member of the Embracer Group as part of Saber Interactive, with a mission of publishing games for grownups. Unapologetic and uncompromising… we’re not afraid of being who we are and being damn good at it – for everyone’s benefit.
About Pet Project Games
Pet Project Games is an indie video game company founded in January 2020. It consists of seasoned developers that have many years of experience in the gaming industry, developing multiple projects together. While working on these projects, they realized they could take the gaming experience to the next level and offer a new game. As passionate gamers and fans of classic video games, they are developing RIPOUT, their most ambitious project to date.
CD PROJEKT RED proudly announces that Cyberpunk 2077: Big City Dreams has won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story or Comic.
Snapshot:
The comic book Cyberpunk 2077: Big City Dreams won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story or Comic.
The author of the comic book script is Bartosz Sztybor — comic book and animation narrative director at CD PROJEKT RED.
This is the first time a Polish author has received a distinction in the Hugo Awards’ long history.
The Hugo Awards are annual literary awards presented to the best science fiction and fantasy works and achievements. By winning Best Graphic Story or Comic, Big City Dreams marks the first time a Polish author has received a Hugo Award.
The comic is set in the megalopolis of Night City — as seen in the open-world RPG Cyberpunk 2077 — and follows the story of two small-time thieves, Tasha and Mirek, who are trying to survive together in the most dangerous city of the dark future.
The story of the comic was written by Bartosz Sztybor, who serves as the comic book and animation narrative director at CD PROJEKT RED. He is also known for his work on comics set in the Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher universes as well as the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime. The artwork for Big City Dreams was created by Filipe Andrade and Alessio Fioriniello, with colors by Roman Titov and Krzysztof Ostrowski.
Published in English by Dark Horse Comics, the award-winning comic is available in both digital and traditional formats.
For more information about Cyberpunk 2077 and the spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, visit the official game website, Facebook, and X.
About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for PCs and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include the futuristic RPG Cyberpunk 2077, its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty, and The Witcher series of games, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and its two expansions. In collaboration with Studio Trigger, CD PROJEKT RED also created the award-winning Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in the same universe as the game. Other games developed by the studio include Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Together with GOG.COM, a game store offering hand-picked titles for PC and Mac, CD PROJEKT RED is part of the CD PROJEKT Group. CD PROJEKT S.A. is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ISIN: PLOPTTC00011).
About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour, and body modification. The game tells the multilayered, mature story of cyber-enhanced mercenary V. Players are faced with choices and consequences as they customize their character and playstyle, take on jobs, and build their reputation. The game has sold over 25 million copies and won over 200 awards, and is also the inspiration for the award-winning Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED in collaboration with Studio Trigger. Its spy-thriller expansion Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was released on September 26, 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.
12 Critically Acclaimed Experiences on Nintendo Switch
iam8bit’s exclusive collection includes a gorgeous custom art book, a soft Switch case, and a suite of innovative games
LOS ANGELES – Oct. 24, 2023 – iam8bit and Annapurna Interactive are excited to announce their latest collaboration, the Annapurna Interactive Deluxe Limited Edition Collection on Nintendo Switch. This limited edition collection showcases Annapurna Interactive’s commitment to visionary, creator-driven experiences. Each title is wholly unique, yet when viewed from the macro as a family of games, Annapurna’s impeccable style of curation becomes clear. The collection is available for pre-order for $199.99 on iam8bit.com starting today.
The collection features a whopping 12 games, including four previously unreleased physical titles, neatly packed onto a single Switch cart – a first for the Switch.
The Annapurna Interactive Deluxe Limited Edition Collection (Nintendo Switch) is limited to 2,500 copies, and includes an exclusive hardcover cloth-bound art book with spreads that celebrate each game in the collection as well as a creator statement from the individual developers. The book and game case slide into a beautifully designed premium slipcase with Annapurna Interactive’s logo. The collection also includes an exclusive Annapurna Interactive console and cartridge case, so players can take the experience on the go.
This collection is available exclusively through iam8bit and will begin shipping in Q4 2023.
About iam8bit
iam8bit is a creative production emporium that’s been boldly redefining the entertainment industry since 2005. Its collaborative works have taken a variety of forms, including groundbreaking community events, immersive art experiences, and exclusive collectibles, all designed to bring surprise and delight to people’s lives. iam8bit played a crucial role in the vinyl renaissance, minting its first record in 2010, and is the industry leader in premium physical editions of top-tier games. iam8bit evolved into financing and publishing games under its iam8bit Presents imprint, including the smash hit Escape Academy; NES mash note Garbage Pail Kids: Mad Mike and the Quest for Stale Gum; and the upcoming chill vibes simulator Simpler Times. The company is based in Los Angeles and co-owned/co-creatively directed by Jon M. Gibson and Amanda White.
About Annapurna Interactive
Annapurna Interactive, founded in 2016, works with game creators from around the world to develop and release personal experiences for everyone. Their award-winning portfolio includes Neon White, Stray, Outer Wilds, Storyteller, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Solar Ash, A Memoir Blue, and COCOON as well as upcoming titles Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Open Roads, Forever Ago, Skin Deep, Flock, Bounty Star, Silent Hill: Townfall and more.
THE BRAND-NEW ANIMATED TRAILER ANSWERS THE QUESTION EVERYONE HAS BEEN ASKING; WHY IS A CAT ON A HOVERBOARD, KILLING UNICORNS?
Watford, UK – 24th October 2023: Publisher Wired Productions and developers Angry Demon Studio today finally peeled back the lid and dropped the meaty details surrounding the highly anticipated brutal hack ‘n’ slasher ‘Gori: Cuddly Carnage’. Revealed through the eyes and mouth of a synthetic hoverboard (and Gori’s best friend, F.R.A.N.K!), players are introduced to the back story and the complete lineup of reluctant heroes, tasked with saving the galaxy.
Watch the trailer now:
Gori: Cuddly Carnage will launch in early 2024 on PC, Utomik, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. To wishlist the game, download wallpapers or sign up for breaking news, simply visit: gori.wtf.
Story Revealed
Humanity has been destroyed – and it’s up to Gori, along with his deadly but wise-cracking sentient hoverboard, F.R.A.N.K, and morose A.I companion, CH1-P, to slay the evil Adorable Army with lethal combos.
Fuelled by insatiable demand, ‘Cool-Toys Inc.’ created ‘Ultra Pets’. The ultimate companions that never hunger, never require bathroom breaks and are impervious to the ravages of time. Little did anyone expect the mutation that transformed these perfect pets into twisted toys straight from your nightmares, hell-bent on wiping out humanity.
Master explosive weaponry and devastating combos in an epic battle to prevent the Adorable Army from conquering the galaxy, and rescue Professor Y, their missing creator and only human who showed Gori and his friends love. Push your combat and platforming skills to the limits as you fight your way through twisted landscapes filled with environmental hazards, razor-sharp adult humour and a bone-crunching, pulse-pounding soundtrack.
Announced Key Features
Play as a badass cat with a team of unlikely heroes
Battle blood-thirsty hordes of mutated toys
Explore multiple levels filled with lethal environmental hazards
Master a devastating arsenal of explosives, razor-sharp weaponry and unlockable moves
Use your extreme hoverboard parkour skills to explore every corner of the level for collectables
Turn the town red with F.R.A.N.K’s blades as you slice and dice
Skate and slay out to an original bone-crunching soundtrack
###
About Wired Productions
Wired Productions is an independent video games publisher based in Watford, UK. Wired has produced and published award-winning titles across all major platforms and its games are curated to deliver on its mantra: ‘Driven by Passion.’ Bringing games to market in both physical and digital media, recent notable launches include Arcade Paradise, Martha Is Dead, The Last Worker and Tin Hearts. Upcoming titles include Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Hotel Architect and Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles.
Find @WiredP on YouTube, Discord, and Twitter or search Wired Productions on Google.
About Angry Demon Studio
Angry Demon Studio is an independent game developer based in Skövde, Sweden, focused on creating high-quality, adrenaline-filled experiences and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in small-scale game dev. Its debut title Unforgiving – a Northern Hymn was a hauntingly unforgettable slice of Nordic folk horror. The team explored these themes further with a striking vision of future viking terror in Apsulov: End of Gods, and is currently hard at work on the ultra-inventive, ultra-violent, ultra-cute skate-and-slasher Gori: Cuddly Carnage.
Just like any automobile enthusiast, farmers know: a garage just can’t be big enough. Developer and publisher GIANTS Software releases a new trailer to provide agricultural machine lovers with a foretaste of what’s to come on November 14th with the Premium Expansion and Premium Edition of Farming Simulator 22.
In the official Garage Trailer, selected machines are highlighted in style, while the company’s video department resuscitated their fondness of electronic freestyle hip-hop of the mid-80s and early 90s.
Watch the official Garage trailer below:
Plenty of New Brands & Machines
Atop more than 400 machines of the base game, the Premium Expansion adds over 35 new items from newcomer manufacturers Dewulf, Gorenc, Agrio & WIFO, plus even more machines by BEDNAR, Fiat, GRIMME, Kverneland, SaMASZ & others. The new additions also push the number of available real-world brands and their authentically digitized machines in Farming Simulator 22 to over 150.
More Authentic Than Ever
To prepare the fields in Zielonka, the Premium Expansion’s new map, and care for the new crops, GIANTS Software adds a variety of machines to sow, harvest and tend to the soil. Carrots, parsnips, and red beet have special requirements, so rotary hillers like the GRIMME GF 800 to create ridges before sowing, and various harvesting machines like the highlight machine Dewulf ZKIVSE vegetable harvester are required to care for them.
All of them, as usual, are authentically digitized – with even more care applied to moving parts and other mechanical details, resulting in even more realistic machinery. A complete list of all machines, various placeables, and other items included in the Premium Expansion is available at farming-simulator.com.
Farming Simulator 22 is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The Premium Edition (and the stand-alone add-on Premium Expansion) will be released on November 14th for the same formats and includes two expansions and seven packs in addition to the full version. Further information can be found on the official Farming Simulator website.
# # #
About GIANTS Software
GIANTS Software is an international video game developer and publisher from Switzerland established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator series. The team with offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), USA (Chicago) and Czech Republic (Brno) is very committed to maintain close contact to the agricultural industry and to engage with the community.
About Farming Simulator
Since 2008, over 30 million units of Farming Simulator have been sold worldwide. The game series has been released on all popular platforms including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs since then. From the start, the team enabled users to create mods with the company’s own GIANTS Engine. With the Farming Simulator League (FSL), the series introduced a competitive esports mode in 2019 – with teams competing in professional tournaments and many acclaimed brands and sponsors on board.
New Survival Crafting Game from Free Range Games and North Beach Games Welcomes All Dwarves to Revisit, Retake, and Rebuild the MysteriousMines of Moria
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Oct. 24, 2023 — Independent developerFree Range Games and publisherNorth Beach Games are proud to announce that The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, the only survival crafting video game set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth™, the iconic fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, is available now digitally for Windows PC via theEpic Games Store. The game will see both a digital and physical release for the PlayStation®5 computer entertainment system on Dec. 5, and is scheduled to come to the Xbox Series X|S console systems in early 2024. Answer the call of Lord Gimli Lockbearer, and lead your band of Dwarves on an all-new adventure to reclaim their forgotten kingdom in the darkest deeps of the fabled Mines of Moria.“The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a love letter to Professor Tolkien’s Dwarves, made by a development team of hardcore fans. We’ve stuffed it with as much lore, exploration, danger and joy as we could fit,” said Jon-Paul Dumont, Game Director, Free Range Games. “But this isn’t the end! With the support of our incredible community, this is just the start of our adventures in Khazad-dûm.”
“We are thrilled to launch The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, and can’t wait for survival crafting fans to create their Dwarves and step into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth to explore the iconic world of J.R.R. Tolkien,” noted John Miller, CEO, North Beach Games. “Free Range Games was the perfect partner for this endeavor; Their vision for the project, dedication to the lore and expertise in the genre combined to create a deeply engaging and satisfying experience that we hope fans of both survival crafting and The Lord of the Rings will enjoy.”
The story of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriatakes players beyond the books and into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the fantastical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer (voiced in-game by actor John Rhys-Davies), players band together as a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria — known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf — in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude and teamwork, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures in the hopes of one day restoring them to their former glory.
In The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriaplayers will create their own custom Dwarf before venturing into the cavernous mines of Moria alone or together with a company of fellow Dwarves online. Each adventure into the depths will bring unique challenges and opportunities through the use of procedurally generated environments, creating nearly endless possibilities as players seek the deepest delves of the Dwarves. As they venture ever deeper, the Dwarves will need to ensure their metal is ready to meet the dangers that lie within, crafting resilient armors and finely honed weapons capable of protecting against and defeating all manner of goblin, arachnoid, or more mysterious foes they may encounter. Excavate the mysteries of the Misty Mountains, extract precious metals prized by Dwarves, rebuild and refire forges that have long since gone cold, and learn the secret of the Shadow that lurks within.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria Key Game Features:
Feel the Fellowship: Experience the Fellowship of the Dwarves like never before, with the rich lore of the iconic fantasy world from J.R.R. Tolkien interwoven into the very fabric of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
Survive the Dark: To survive the treacherous Mines of Moria players must conserve resources, hunt and gather for food, and manage their sleep, temperature and noise levels. Utilize dynamic light systems for safety and to blaze a path further into the darkness. Battle unspeakable evils and survive hordes of monstrous Orcs in visceral combat, while uncovering the secret of the Shadow that looms within the mountain.
Base Building: Find solace from the darkness. Reveal and clear new locations to create architecture on a grand scale. Get creative and construct bases from scratch or build upon the existing environment. Beware the evils which seek to destroy Dwarven progress.
Rebuild and Reshape Moria: Restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm to its former glory, recovering Dwarven landmarks as the story progresses. Resurrect old mines and refire their forges to yield their untouched resources.
Explore: Delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria. Procedurally generated environments are abundant with resources and fraught with mystery and danger, providing a unique experience each and every time.
Co-op Multiplayer: Adventure alone or band together with friends in online cooperative multiplayer with up to eight players on PC and up to four players on Console.
Craft Dwarven Tools, Weapons and More: Craft and loot legendary Dwarven armor, tools, weapons and structures. Rebuild ancient forges to strengthen, repair, and enchant gear. Upgrade and unlock new technologies and fantastical machines.
Uncover Magic Artifacts: Discover ancient magic items including swords that glow when Orcs are near, maps of long-dormant Mithril veins, books with forgotten crafting plans, and amulets that give strength or wisdom.
Mine Ore and Jewels: Establish mines to unearth deposits of precious resources such as iron, gold, and quartz; and fantastical materials such as Mithril. Access crafting stations and forges to convert ore to ingots and upgrade gear. But be prepared, mining is loud and can awaken what lurks in the darkness.
Boost Your Spirit with Drink and Song: Nothing boosts spirits and morale quite like an ale by the hearth. Build your own dwarven brewery, craft a brew and join in dwarven drinking songs with your party.
Comprehensive Dwarf Builder: Players become part of Dwarven Legend as they create their own Dwarf in the custom character creator. Dwarves can be customized in a variety of ways to create a unique Dwarven identity. Then, during gameplay, players can find and craft armor and weapons to further enhance their unique style.
John Rhys-Davies Voices Lord Gimli Lockbearer: Venerable actor John Rhys-Davies reprises his iconic role of Lord Gimli Lockbearer, leading the game’s official voice actor’s cast.
Developed by Free Range Games and Published by North Beach Games,
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is available now for an MSRP of $39.99 USD, and has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB and has a PEGI 12 rating. The game is currently scheduled for release on PlayStation®5 on Dec. 5, 2023, and Xbox Series X|S in early 2024. For more information about The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, visitReturnToMoria.com, join the communityDiscord, follow the game onTwitter,TikTok, andYouTube.
For additional details about developer Free Range Games visit their official website and follow them onTwitter,TikTok, andYouTube. For more information on publisher North Beach Games please visit theirofficial website.
About Free Range Games:
Free Range Games, headquartered in Sausalito, California, is a video game developer founded in 2009 by veteran developers and longtime collaborators. Free Range Games’ mission is to make games people find meaningful, memorable, and fun. To learn more about Free Range Games visit the website at:https://www.freerangegames.com.
About North Beach Games:
North Beach Games publishes PC and console games with a focus on the survival crafting and role-playing categories. The company’s mission is to partner with and empower the world’s best independent developers and studios. Based San Rafael, CA, North Beach Games is comprised of industry veterans with a wide range of experience in publishing, marketing and game development. Most recently, North Beach Games has co-published Stranded Deep for console in partnership with Beam Team Games and provided publishing services for 7 Days to Die with The Fun Pimps.
About Middle-earth Enterprises:
Middle-earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien is the definitive, deepest, richest and most beloved fantasy world of our time. As its stewards and custodians, our goal is to consistently deliver a wealth of great content in both new, and known formats; to ensure Middle-earth’s rightful place as the world’s leading fantasy IP and brand, forever. Inspired by our deep appreciation for the fictional world created by Professor Tolkien, we are dedicated to working with those providing highest quality products in accordance with best green business and sustainability practices, including fair trade, equality in the workplace, and a commitment to protect our earth, its wondrous beauty and the viability of every living creature. Middle-earth Enterprises was acquired by the Embracer Group in 2022, and has been producing and licensing films, merchandise, electronic games, services, and live stage productions based upon The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books, for more than half a century.www.middleearth.com.
