Slice and Dice and Your Way Through Swaths of Bio-Enhanced Enemies and Prepare for More Brutality with New Ultra-Hard Boss Battle Content Coming to PC and Consoles

Denver, Colorado (March 28, 2023) – Ziggurat Interactive, publisher of multiplatform retro and modern games, is thrilled to reveal the April 11 Nintendo Switch release date for the wonderfully brutal biopunk title Slave Zero X following a launch last month on PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Soon, Switch players will be able to join the fray and take up bloody arms to carve through foes with relentless precision.

The Slave Zero X Switch release will be available in Standard and Deluxe editions digitally worldwide from April 11 and physically from April 11 (Asia and Japan) and May 17 (United States and Europe). Deluxe content includes a custom Nintendo Switch skin, soundtracks, and three comic books created by Marvel and DC Comics veterans Ant Williams and Andy Lanning (Ideas and Inks) that dive deep into the gnarly Slave Zero universe.

Ziggurat also announced that players on all platforms will be able to take on one last obstacle: SovKhan 300. After beating the Crimson Citadel game mode, players can face SovKhan in his true ultimate form, as originally intended by the game’s designers. SovKhan 300 will be added as free post-game content on April 11 on PC and consoles.

Check out the Slave Zero X Nintendo Switch release date trailer:

With an array of gameplay modes and a strikingly futuristic 2.5D dystopian environment, players will unleash punishing combos and face off against waves of genetically enhanced biopunk enemies — all set to an intense synth soundtrack. Follow the story of Shou’s bloody vengeance in this savage, action-packed title that will resonate with fans of titles like Devil May Cry, Strider, and Guilty Gear.

Key Features of Slave Zero X include:

• KILLER COMBOS: Use swift swordplay, explosive ordnance, and stylish combos against an army of meat and metal 
• DEATH FROM ABOVE: Air juggling, dashes, and frequent target switching allow you to take down foes of any size while wall-jumping and platforming can help you outmaneuver your enemies 
• FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE: Conquer mini-bosses, set pieces, and climactic 1-on-1 encounters that offer intense challenges against unforgettable villains 
• STRENGTH IS NOTHING WITHOUT CONTROL: Use the Training Room to hone precise and powerful moves to string together devastating attack sequences 
• BATTLE TO THE BEAT: A 90s-inspired soundtrack features heavy Drum’n’Bass and funky industrial music that adds to the thrill of combat 
• FEAST YOUR EYES: A unique visual aesthetic combines nostalgic 2D sprites with an advanced lighting system and stylized 3D environments 
• DUAL LANGUAGE: Fully voiced in English and Japanese with an all-star voice-acting cast 
• COLLECTABLE SECRETS: Defeat hidden Gold Troopers throughout the game to collect lore drops that tell the game’s back story in Chronicle 
• THE END IS NEVER THE END: After completing the campaign, further challenges await in an expansive and frenetic ‘Crimson Citadel’ procedural challenge tower with an online high-score leaderboard

Expanded language support is coming to Slave Zero X, too! Coinciding with the multi-platform console release in Asia and Japan on April 11 (via BEEP!), a new language patch adding Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Thai will become available on all platforms.

Slave Zero X is available now on Steam, GOG, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. A physical version of the game will be released in Europe and the Americas on May 17 and can be pre-ordered from the following retailers.

About Ziggurat Interactive
 
Since its founding in 2019, Ziggurat has published over 130 titles, from retro classics to all-new IP franchises. With games currently available across all major PC and console platforms, Ziggurat reaches a wide variety of gamers across all ages, genres and playstyles.

New Investment Leads Big Change Including University Partnership for Career Matching Initiative, Offering Direct Pathway to Console Publishing and Now Connects Partner Studios with 60+ Celebrities

New York – March 28, 2024 – VoxPop Games, Inc., the Independent Game Development Platform, today announced the completion of their Acquisition of the Delaware-based mobile studio, Celebrity Games. 

Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of VoxPop, Celebrity Games previously developed mobile apps integrating actors, athletes, and musicians, including Derrick Lewis, Ric Flair, and Riff Raff. These celebrities would not only contribute their likenesses to the games, but would also contribute prizes that the player base could win, such as private livestreams or signed merchandise. Now, with their combination, Celebrity’s assets are coming to the VoxPop Platform. 

“Celebrity cameos are a mainstay in AAA gaming – think Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk, or Nikki Minaj in Call of Duty,” said VoxPop CEO Charles Yu. “Smaller studios may not consider it due to budget constraints or not knowing where to start negotiating with talent. We see tremendous potential in helping indie game developers find the right celebrity integrations for their games. Plus, our new celebrity friends can submit game ideas through our platform and recruit their fans to help them build their own games!” 

John Euliano, managing partner of Rainmaker Strategic Capital, explained that this investment serves as the first salvo in a new fundraising round.  

“From the day Charles shared his vision for the acquisition, I was sold,” said Euliano. “Given the recent failures of large studios we think investing in indie studios that bring innovative and creative games to life is important and others will see the growth opportunity in our offering and look forward to meeting like-minded investors.” 

VIDEO GAME CAREER READINESS

The merger comes on the heels of VoxPop’s new career readiness initiative, connecting university students with job opportunities in gaming. The program is for students of all disciplines – not just STEM related majors – looking to break into the games industry. Participating universities include Marist College, Stony Brook University, and Bradley University. The initiative along with the Celebrity Games merger, and bringing their first title Outer Terror to consoles this month, VoxPop is well-positioned as a developer-focused leader in the indie publishing space. 

“We couldn’t be happier with the VoxPop partnership,” said Kyle Grenier, a Disaster Golf developer and Bradley University graduate. “As a student development team creating Disaster Golf as a capstone project, we were total neophytes when it came to the business side of launching a game. VoxPop saw something in us and were instrumental in marketing the game and guiding us through the publishing process. Now we have a hit game on Steam with great reviews because of this key partnership.”

For more information on VoxPop Games, please visit www.voxpopgames.com.  

# # #

ABOUT VOXPOP GAMES

VoxPop Games is a New York-based game development and distribution platform. VoxPop primarily caters to independent developers who may not have the marketing budget to pursue traditional advertising and hiring as a model.  

Developers can use VoxPop to find collaborators using a percentage of their future profits, recruiting everything from programmers and artists to build the game, to influencers and celebrities to promote their products. Meanwhile, contractors can trust that their payments will be backed by a robust, and automated system which will keep their employers’ honest months or years after the project’s completion. 

VoxPop is part of the NYC Games Industry Council and collaborates with non-profit groups like the NYC IGDA. VoxPop hopes to disrupt the gaming market by creating systems for smaller content creators to prop up one another. 

Load up with new perks and mutators while you chill out to WWZ’s new post-apocalyptic lo-fi beats video!

MARCH 28, 2024 – Watch your back! The new “Thrill of the Kill” update has arrived in World War Z: Aftermath, the ultimate co-op zombie shooter from Saber Interactive. Available for free today on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, this latest update brings a ton of new ways to slay, including new mutators, weapon perks, and prestige perks.

World War Z also has a special treat for all you vibe-seekers out there: the new WWZ Lo-fi Beats to Relax/Study to video! The end of the world is a big mood, so grab a notebook or curl up in bed and chill out to six hours of raspy groans and spine-tingling moans from humanity’s last days. And remember to like and subscribe!

The “Thrill of the Kill” update introduces a brand-new set of six mutators for Challenge Horde Mode:

• Anthrax: Special zombies leave a poisonous cloud upon death which can infect players.
• Toss a Coin: Receive 10 supplies after killing a special zombie with a melee attack.
• No Deliveries: All defenses and supplies in the store will be restricted.
• Banshee: Screamer shouts deal 10% health damage at any distance.
• Gladiators: The player who kills the most zombies during the wave earns additional resources.
• Sinusitis: The Infector’s spitting distance is doubled, so watch out!

Nine new weapon perks are also available to enhance different aspects of your gameplay, including damage counters, reload speed, melee stamina and more. In addition, there are four fresh prestige perks for each existing class to acquire (32 in total), so grab your weapon of choice and take on the horde! For the latest World War Z news, visit WWZgame.com, and follow the series on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

CD PROJEKT RED directors and key developers unveiled a behind-the-scenes look at the production of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty during a PAX East 2024 panel on March 23rd, which is now available to watch for everyone on YouTube.

Snapshot:

• This was the first time that high-level developers came together to discuss the production of the critically acclaimed spy-thriller expansion.
• Over 1600 attendees joined on-site for “Code, Sweat, and Cheers: How We Made Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty”.
• The panel also streamed on Twitch and is now available in its entirety on YouTube.

The panelists, many of whom arrived directly from Game Developers’ Conference in San Francisco, included Game Director Gabriel Amatangelo, Associate Game Director Paweł Sasko, Creative Director Igor Sarzyński, Acting Lead Quest Designer Sarah Gruemmer, and Environment Art Director Kacper Niepokólczycki, with moderator Blessing Adeoye Jr. from Kinda Funny Games.

The discussion kicked off with a retrospective of the packed video game release schedule of 2023, and how Phantom Liberty sought to stand out: “We felt like we had something unique, something that no one else has. Of course it’s an RPG, but we went into a very specific direction with it and kind of a unique one as well, with the spy-thriller genre. So we kind of knew: ‘of course, a lot of competition’, but also that we have something that no one else has,” said Creative Director Igor Sarzyński.

The discussion also included insights into the production process, the “yes, and” approach the directors utilized within their teams, the Easter eggs that surprised them during playthroughs, their experience surrounding the game’s launch and reception, and a look into the future with Project Orion, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077.

The full panel is available to watch on YouTube.

For more information regarding Cyberpunk 2077 and the Phantom Liberty expansion, visit cyberpunk.net and follow the game on 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.

Sign up today to gain exclusive access to the neon-soaked carnage; new feature video dives deep on adaptive gameplay systems

Cambridge, UK, 28th March – PlayFusion, the Cambridge based entertainment studio pioneering the world’s first ‘Adaption Shooter’, is today pumped to announce that the closed beta for the over-the-top multiplayer shooter ASCENDANT.COM will launch on Friday, 5th April running for two days before coming to an explosive climax on Saturday, 6th April.

A brand new feature video spotlights some of the elements players can experience during the beta, including a look at the Virtual Game Director and how your tactical decisions shape each match for your team and others, in addition to detailing numerous extra features.

The closed beta will immerse players in a unique blend of intense team-based action and adrenaline-fueled combat set within a 3v3v3v3 PvP map that’s as dynamic as their tactics. 

Signing up to the beta is simple: players looking to dive face first into the neon-soaked action can head over to https://www.ascendant.com/ today to grab a beta key and be ready for 5th April to download the game. So what are you waiting for!?

ASCENDANT.COM is a squad-based tactical FPS with serious balls. Each match is different, with game-changing events and adrenaline-fueled battles. Set in a dynamic biopunk world where everything wants to kill you, fight to secure the precious biocores for your team, and get out with more than just your dignity.

Players will experience a battlefield that shifts on a dime, challenging you to adapt, outmaneuver, and outgun your rivals. With a dynamic map, unpredictable in-game events, multiple strategies and weapon dynamics, it means that teamwork will be crucial – adapt or die trying is the name of this game!

ASCENDANT.COM is available to wishlist on Steam and the Epic Store right now. Find out more on the game’s official Discord and don’t forget to sign up for closed beta access at www.ascendant.com.

About PlayFusion:

PlayFusion is a Cambridge, England-based, multi-award winning, independent employee-owned game developer and publisher. The core team has been working together for nearly two decades. Our team’s previous credits include RuneScape, Sniper Elite, Goldeneye 007: All Points Bulletin, Star Citizen and many other cool games. Our team is dedicated to innovation, pushing the boundaries of technology, gaming and entertainment, thereby making the world a happier and more interesting place.

Glass Cannon Unplugged and Klei Entertainment weave the enchanting world of Don’t Starve into an official board game adaptation

Warsaw, Poland (March 27, 2024) —Glass Cannon Unplugged is pleased to announce that they will be responsible for bringing to the world the official board game adaptation of the award-winning video game Don’t Starve as part of a long-term licensing partnership with Klei Entertainment.

Designed by Rafał Pieczyński – lead developer of the highly acclaimed and multi-award-winning Frostpunk: The Board Game, with narrative direction by Jakub Wiśniewski – known for his work on This War Of Mine and Frostpunk: The Board Game – and Natanel Vo-Apfel of Into The Outside: Prelude fame, Don’t Starve: The Board Game transports 1-4 players into the unrelenting, randomly generated nightmare world of the Constant, a distant and ominous realm where magic and science intertwine in ways better left unspoken. Pitched against the elements and a grim pantheon of baddies, the players assume the roles of iconic characters from the video game, having to work closely together and use their wits to outsmart fate, strive for subsistence, and simply stay alive.

With its mechanics highlighting player choice, dynamic combat, and open-world exploration in night and day conditions, Don’t Starve: The Board Game is bound to transcend to unexplored levels of immersion, with its visual design fully embracing the unique, whimsical art style long cherished by fans of the series.

The game will be made available through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that is expected to fully utilize the creative potential of the source material, with a wealth of content offered via expansions, add-ons, and future retail releases. The Kickstarter campaign will launch near the end of the 3rd quarter of 2024.

Sign up on Kickstarter to stay notified

Kickstarter page will be publicly viewable on March 27 at 5 PM EST.
To stay up to date with Don’t Starve:

About Klei Entertainment:

Klei is a video game studio located in Vancouver, Canada. When talented, creative people work and learn together, fearless in creating something genuinely new, amazing things happen. We are relentlessly experimenting, making plenty of mistakes along the way, and gaining amazing insights every day. Since 2005, we’ve seen this process produce amazing results. From Mark of the Ninja to Don’t Starve, we’ve created ground-breaking games across multiple genres. We’re always looking for people who love to learn to join us on our journey.

About Glass Cannon Unplugged:

Founded by seasoned video game industry veterans and life-long tabletop gamers with 50+ years of collective experience, Glass Cannon Unplugged is a tabletop game studio created with one clear mission in mind: producing the best tabletop adaptations of the best video games in the world. Led by Jakub Wiśniewski (creator of the highly acclaimed This War of Mine: The Board Game), Glass Cannon Unplugged’s first release—the highly acclaimed Frostpunk: The Board Game—has won numerous awards, including the UK Games Expo Peoples Choice Award in Best Strategic Game of 2023, the Dice Tower Seal of Excellence, and the Board Game Revolution Meeple’s Choice for Best Solo Game and Best Production of 2022. GCU’s current collaborations include a successful campaign for Apex Legends™: The Board Game with Genuine Entertainment and Electronic Arts, as well as a board game adaptation for Techland’s Dying Light.

Learn more at glasscannonunplugged.com.

Blast magic, embark on a (blocky) fantasy adventure and free your demon brethren with April’s Monthly Games lineup for PlayStation Plus. Immortals of Aveum, Minecraft Legends, Skul: The Hero Slayer will be available to play for PlayStation Plus members* from Tuesday, April 2 until Monday, May 6. 

Let’s take a closer look at each game in turn. 

Immortals of Aveum | PS5

This single-player first-person magic shooter tells the story of Jak as he joins an elite order of battlemages to save a world on the edge of an abyss. Magic is at the core of both your offense and defence. Experience fast, fluid, first-person spell-based combat. Unlock and upgrade more than 25 Spells and 80 Talents. Discover, upgrade and craft hundreds of pieces of magical gear, refine your playstyle across three forces of magic and become Aveum’s most powerful Triarch Magnus. 

Minecraft Legends | PS4, PS5

Discover the mysteries of Minecraft Legends. In this action strategy game. Explore a gentle land of rich resources and lush biomes on the brink of destruction. The ravaging piglins have arrived, and it’s up to you to form alliances with new friends and familiar mobs, then lead the charge in epic battles against the fierce piglins to defend the Overworld. You can challenge your friends or team up in intense battles in online play for up to eight players, as you defend your village while leading your units to destroy your opponents’ settlements.

Skul: The Hero Slayer | PS4

An attack on the Demon King’s castle by a heroic band of adventurers has seen all but one of its denizens captured and imprisoned. Now, as a lowly skeleton Skul, you must save your demonic brethren. This 2D action platformer boasts rogue-like features, with an ever-changing map and a growing arsenal of abilities, each with its own unique attack range, speed and power. Equip two types at a time to fit your play style, and switch out during combat to find the best strategy to defeat your foes. 

The Overwatch 2 Mega Bundle, exclusive to PlayStation Plus members

Don’t miss out on the free Legendary Beekeeper Sigma, Legendary Art Deco Symmetra, seven Epic Skins, and five Battle Pass Tier Skips. This bundle is available for a limited time for all PlayStation Plus members.

This pack includes:

• Beekeeper Sigma Legendary Skin
• Art Deco Symmetra Legendary Skin
• Runner Sojourn Epic Skin
• Punker Queen Junker Queen Epic Skin 
• Construction Ramattra Epic Skin
• Matsuri Kiriko Epic Skin
• Cassia Lifeweaver Epic Skin
• Amethyst Illari Epic Skin
• Rugby Mauga Epic Skin
• 5x Battle Pass Tier Skips

You’ll be able to find and download this bundle in addition to the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games line up on PlayStation Store**. Download Overwatch 2 from the PlayStation Store to access. Once downloaded, the bundle’s contents will be available in-game immediately, regardless of whether you’re a new or returning player.  

Last chance to download March’s Monthly Games

EA Sports F1 23, Sifu, Hello Neighbor 2 and Destiny 2: Witch Queen are available to add to PlayStation Plus members’ game library until Monday, April 1. 

To learn more about the full line up visit the PlayStation Blog. 

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

No Rest for the Wicked, the precision Action Role-Playing Game from Moon Studios and Private Division, will launch on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 2am AEST in Early Access on PC (via Steam).

For the first two weeks following the game’s Early Access launch on April 19, No Rest for the Wicked will be available at a special introductory price of AU$53.96 on Steam. In addition, Private Division will partner with various streamers and content creators on an affiliate program for the game. Through these partnered content creators, No Rest for the Wicked will be available at a further AU$6 off the game’s special introductory price if purchased through their affiliate link, resulting in a reduced price of AU$47.96, available for the first two weeks from launch. No Rest for the Wicked will normally retail for AU$59.95 after this initial two-week period ends.*

In recent social posts by Moon Studios’ co-founders Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol, they confirmed that No Rest for the Wicked will not feature any microtransactions. This decision underscores Moon Studios’ commitment to providing players with a complete and immersive gaming experience. Furthermore, they affirmed that ‘Wicked’ will cater to players’ preferences by offering a seamless Single Player experience without the necessity for an online connection and without any anti-cheat software. The game will showcase a rich Offline Mode, ensuring uninterrupted enjoyment for players across various gaming environments.

To get ready for April 19, check out our action-packed “Wicked Inside” digital showcase with everything you need to know about Moon’s bold foray into the ARPG genre: No Rest for the Wicked – Official Game Overview | Wicked Inside Showcase.

For more information on No Rest for the Wicked, subscribe on YouTube, follow us on X, become a fan on Facebook or Instagram, and visit www.NoRestForTheWicked.com.

*Pricing based on Private Division’s SRP. Actual retail price may differ.

See you on Isola Sacra April 19 at 2am AEST!