Sydney, Australia – 28 August 2023 – Deep Silver and Starbreeze are proud to announce that PAYDAY 3 has received two gamescom Awards, winning the categories “Best PC Game” and “Most Entertaining Game”.

Almir Listo, Global Brand Director and Head of Community at Starbreeze, accepted the awards during the show in Cologne saying: “With the launch less than a month out, these awards are a huge milestone for us at Starbreeze. We’ve been working hard on making PAYDAY 3 the best sequel possible. Receiving two gamescom Awards, ‘Best PC Game’ and ‘Most Entertaining Game’, is a testament to what our team and our partner Deep Silver have accomplished together. We can’t wait for the world to get to play it. The 21st of September could not come soon enough”.

Andreas Häll-Penninger, Lead Producer PAYDAY 3, continues: “PAYDAY 3 is truly a passion project so getting these awards feels tremendous. I want to thank our fantastic team for making this game come to life, and our dedicated community for keeping the PAYDAY-spirit alive and allowing us to continue to do what we love. We cannot wait to see you in New York on September 21st!”

The gamescom Awards for “Best PC Game” and “Most Entertaining Game” follow a strong presence of PAYDAY 3 at gamescom 2023, with the 99 boxes heist playable in the PLAION Consumer Booth.

The four most well-known clown-masked criminals in recent video game history return from retirement from September 21^st in PAYDAY 3 on PC via PC Game Pass, on Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series S|X Game Pass, PlayStation 5 and GeForce Now.

For more information about PAYDAY 3, please visit: https://www.paydaythegame.com

About Starbreeze AB

Starbreeze is an independent developer, publisher and distributor of PC and console games targeting the global market, with studios in Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris and London. Housing the smash hit IP PAYDAY, Starbreeze develops games based on proprietary and third-party rights, both in-house and in partnership with external game developers. Starbreeze shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the tickers STAR A and STAR B. For more information, please visit www.starbreeze.com.

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver development studios include Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Free Radical Design, both in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com.

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

About PLAION

PLAION is a dynamic and diversified business in the global entertainment sector, masterfully crafting franchises that captivate audiences worldwide. Boasting a vast network of nine game development studios, sixteen regional publishing offices, and PLAION PICTURES as an independent film publisher and distributor, the company extends its influence with merchandise production and expansive distribution capabilities across the globe. 

Founded nearly three decades ago, PLAION has firmly established itself within the entertainment arena. With a diverse range of services and solutions, PLAION stands as the premier publishing partner for console and PC games across both physical and digital channels. Moreover, its strong foothold in the Virtual Reality (VR) domain highlights the company’s commitment to varied gaming experiences. 

PLAION is an Embracer Group company. 

2K has announced the all-new badge system coming to NBA 2K24 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, allowing players to focus on their strengths and experiment with different builds to find success with their MyPLAYER.

NBA 2K24 is bringing new elements to the badge system for New Gen that helps players perfect their craft and dominate the positions they love to play. Whether that be a high scoring skilled slasher, a physical ball handler, a playmaker through passing or becoming the best defender in the league, there is something new for everyone to help take their game to new heights.

More details on the all-new badge system coming in NBA 2K24 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S outlined below:

• More Balanced Badges. NBA 2K24 brings 24 new skill badges to the court, raising the total to 77 badges overall, across MyTEAM and MyCAREER, boasting enhanced flexibility and balance to the game. This year includes new badges for Scoring, Ball-Handling/Passing and Defense to help players build on their strengths and create a MyPLAYER all their own.
• New MyPLAYER Builder Experience. The MyPLAYER builder experience has received some major upgrades. NBA 2K24 will introduce customisable NBA Player Templates along with a new attribute builder page, additional badge tier rankings, archetype improvements that help to prevent meta builds, and more.
• Badge Level Progression. An all-new badge progression system that helps bring a more authentic feeling to a player’s MyPLAYER build. Players will no longer have to pick and choose which badges to equip to their MyPLAYER, and they’re no longer stuck within the badge points and attribute categories they were once limited to. Badges are earned by badge usage, meaning the more a player uses a badge in-game, the more they’ll progress toward the next level in which they qualify.

For more information, check out the Courtside Report and assets attached. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements in the coming weeks for more of what’s new in NBA 2K24.

Follow NBA 2K on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook for the latest NBA 2K24 news.

Dungeon-crawling RPG’s latest season is bursting with new content, mechanics, and improvements.

XD Games, Shanghai — August 26, 2023 | Arriving on September 7th, Torchlight: Infinite’s new season “The City of Aeterna” debuts an exciting new chapter for the cross-platform RPG. Rebuild a lost city, challenge the new season boss, and say hello to Torchlight’s ethereal hero, Iris, as well as new skills, legendary gear, Pactspirits, and much more! You can watch an in-depth overview of the new season here.

New content: The City of Aeterna

Delve into the Ruins of Aeterna, undertake timed challenges, and rekindle candelabra to obtain Marks of Ruin. These Marks activate various reward spots scattered across the world map – join the dots and cover as much of the map as possible to maximise reward drops. Only when the map is complete will you be able to enter the fabled City of Aeterna to claim your prizes. 

As you explore the city you will come across a new type of item, Soul Candles. Equip these in your Hunter’s Skill panel to unlock a range of powerful affixes that then be upgraded, evolved, and mutated by spending Tears of Aeterna dropped by monsters. Offering more ways than ever to customise your loadout, experiment with Soul Candles combinations and test out mutations, but with great power comes the occasional side effect. You’ve been warned!

New season boss: The Lone King of Aeterna

Hunters’ efforts to rebuild the city won’t go unnoticed as a menacing new foe awaits deep within. The Lone King of Aeterna will attempt to slay any looking to usurp his domain. However, those who defeat him will claim lost treasures that have been hidden in Aeterna for thousands of years! The more rewards spots you are able to connect on the world map, the more difficult this battle will be, but with an increased chance of looting precious new gear.

New hero: The Forsaken Iris

The City of Aeterna not only introduces a new villain, but a new hero too. Iris is a Spirit Magus from another world, capable of summoning a ghostly brigade of Spirit Magi to fight by her side, buffing them with support spells as they take to the battlefield.

Spirit Magi act differently to other summoned minions found in Torchlight: Infinite. These dynamic sidekicks can hold their own in a fight and will level up alongside Iris thanks to their unique Growth mechanic. By unlocking Talents or equipping certain gear, you can help max out your Spirits, each of the 5 Growth tiers increasing their base attributes. You can unlock Iris by obtaining the City of Aeterna Season Pass which also launches on September 7, 2023. 

New Hero Trait: Flame of Pleasure

This latest season will also introduce a new Hero Trait for one of Torchlight: Infinite’s original heroes, Gemma. Creating an entirely new playstyle to try out, Flame of Pleasure can be unlocked by spending Primocrysts or Hero Emblems in-game. This new Hero Trait allows Gemma to use Purgatory, a powerful skill that applies a fiery Brand to her enemies while dealing massive damage. Gemma can then unleash Death by Fire, baptising her foes in a flaming vortex and inflicting extra damage to those marked with a Brand.

These are just some of the new additions planned for Torchlight: Infinite when the City of Aeterna goes live next month. In addition, XD have also been working hard to improve the core game for new and veteran players. The upcoming season will introduce further changes to crafting, hero balancing, and the Trade House, while also improving performance optimization and making it easier to get your hands on legendary gear. XD continue to evolve Torchlight: Infinite based on the valuable feedback of its players, creating a better dungeon-crawling for everyone!

XD Games

Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.  XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming. 

Riot Games and VALORANT today revealed Sunset, the latest map launching with Episode 7 Act II. Inspired by Riot’s hometown of Los Angeles, Sunset features several Los Angeles cultural staples including food trucks, art deco and mission style architecture, traffic, a neon sunset and graffiti spotlighting a few local artists. A 3 lane, 2 site map, players can expect to vie for mid control as a central part of their strategy on Sunset.

In case you missed it, VALORANT also shared new updates for its team-based competitive system, Premier, officially launching alongside Episode 7 Act II. Players will be introduced to official divisions, weekly matches will now cover all 7 maps in the competitive pool, and players’ career history and results will be officially tracked from here on out. In the future, Premier will also connect with the VCT–you’ll see the first changes for this path to pro in early 2024. For more information around launch or a quick refresher on Premier, please check out playvalorant.com.

VALORANT Episode 7 Act II begins August 29, 2023.

In-Game Commemorative Gift Marking the Milestone and New In-Game Event Coming Soon

London, United Kingdom — 25 August 2023 — The Pokémon Company International announced today that Pokémon Sleep, the sleep tracker app that turns sleep into entertainment, has been downloaded more than ten million times worldwide since launching in late July 2023 for iOS and Android devices.

Ten Million Download Commemorative Gift
To commemorate this milestone, from 5:00 a.m. on Friday, August 25, to 5:00 a.m. on Friday, September 22 (UTC), players will be able to collect a special in-game gift including a Good Camp Ticket, a special item that lets you borrow a Good Camp Set for seven days to aid your research and help you raise Snorlax, a core component of the gameplay.​ The Ten Million Download Commemorative Gift will be available for all users, and contains the following:

• Sleep Points ×1,000
• Good Camp Ticket ×1​
• Poké Biscuits ×5
• Ingredient Ticket S ×3

Notes:
If you log in during the distribution period, you can accept your gifts by selecting Main Menu from the home screen, and then tapping on the gift box in the upper right of the menu screen.
Gifts sent to the gift box must be claimed within the next 90 days. After 90 days have passed, the gifts will be automatically erased.

In-Game Good Sleep Day Event Coming Soon
The Good Sleep Day event will be held in-game from Wednesday, August 30, until Friday, September 1, 2023[1]. During this time, Drowsy Power will be multiplied by 1.5 during the event, except on the day of the full moon (Thursday, August 31), when Drowsy Power will be multiplied by two. Users may be able to draw in more Pokémon or see rarer sleep styles the greater this Drowsy Power grows.​ A Good Sleep Day event will be held once a month for a total of three days: on the day of the full moon and the days before and after it.

To play Pokémon Sleep, players place their smartphone or Pokémon GO Plus + device by their pillow and go to sleep[2]. When they wake up, they can check the results of the sleep tracking, study the sleep styles of the Pokémon that have appeared, and work together with Pokémon sleep researcher Professor Neroli to record them in the Sleep Style Dex.

Learn more about Pokémon Sleep and the Pokémon GO Plus + device at Pokemon.co.uk/Sleep

###

About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

About Nintendo

Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario™, Donkey Kong™, The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Pokémon™, Animal Crossing™, Pikmin™ and Splatoon™, through its integrated hardware and software products.

Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks.

Nintendo has sold more than 5.4 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Frankfurt, Germany, serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in Europe. For more information about Nintendo of Europe, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo-europe.com/

[1] Event period:

• Day 1, Wednesday, August 30, at 4:00 a.m. to Thursday, August 31, at 3:59 a.m. local time.​
• Day 2 (the night of the full moon), Thursday, August 31, at 4:00 a.m. to Friday, September 1, at 3:59 a.m. local time.​
• Day 3, Friday, September 1, at 4:00 a.m. to Saturday, September 2, at 3:59 a.m. local time.​

[2] Don’t place your device under your pillow or blankets, as it may overheat.

Pokémon Sleep is intended for entertainment purposes only and is not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, or treatment of any medical condition or disease.

AMD and Ubisoft have officially announced the PC features players will be able to enjoy in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.  

For further details please visit Ubisoft News and watch the trailer below.

AMD and Ubisoft have officially announced the PC features players will be able to enjoy in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. A trailer that debuted at Gamescom showed off exactly what you can expect; check out the details below.  

Raytracing and Extended Graphic Settings

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will include raytraced reflections and shadows for more immersive environmental exploration, and extended graphic settings that allow for granular tweaks to a multitude of visuals such as environment reflection quality, and distant shadows.

PC Benchmark Tools Included

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will include its PC benchmark tools, which will allow players to test out their hardware in a variety of different ways to optimize their experience.

AMD FSR Technology, Resolution and Ratio Adaptability

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will utilize AMD’s FSR 2 technology so players can fine-tune visual quality and performance, and it will be able to handle most resolution and aspect ratios; including ultra-wide screens. The game will also support DLSS at launch.

A Smooth Experience, High Core Count Processors

Finally, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will deliver a smooth experience, stable FPS, and low latency in all resolutions. Players can even expect a higher frame rate with the right settings and latest hardware.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will be available on December 7, 2023 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Amazon Luna*. Visit the Ubisoft Store to pre-order Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Players can also play the Ultimate Edition of the game on day 1 when they subscribe to Ubisoft+ on PC and Xbox via Ubisoft Connect.

Stay tuned to Ubisoft News for more information on Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on PC, including the full list of PC features supported, and the specs.

*Amazon Luna is available in Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

First Look: The Sacred Line 2 Limited Edition Cartridge Revealed!

Pittsburgh, PA ( August 25, 2023) Hold onto your controllers, retro gamers! Mega Cat Studios is thrilled to unveil the first look at the stunningly spooky Limited Edition cartridge for “Sacred Line 2.” If you thought Sarah’s adventure through an alternate 1999 Yugoslavia was riveting in pixels, wait till you hold this tangible piece of gaming history in your hands!

For a look at what Sacred Line II’s all about, you can check out the Kickstarter trailer here.

And here’s the kicker: We’re on the cusp of unlocking something even more thrilling. With only 7 days left in our Kickstarter campaign, we’re gunning for our first stretch goal: the standalone DLC “A Distant Light.” Delve deeper into the eerie world between Part I and II, experiencing a gothic tale suitable for all ages.

Potential pledgers, this is your golden ticket to exclusive rewards – from the atmospheric black light reactive tapestry to that hauntingly beautiful Limited Edition cartridge. Let’s rally the troops, spread the word, and bring this DLC to life!

Features:

• High-quality 3D graphics optimized for CRT displays
• A memorable story & environments
• A strong and diverse all-digital soundtrack, ranging greatly in instrumentation and style
• Tricky puzzles and exploration
• Text-based dice fighting system
• Multiple endings and secrets
• In-game encyclopedia

To all our supporters, new and seasoned, we extend our warmest gratitude. Together, we can usher in the next thrilling chapter of Sarah’s story. Pledge, share, and let’s hit that goal!

Jump into the chilling adventure now on our Kickstarter page! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/megacatstudios/sacred-line-2-an-original-game-for-sega-genesis-mega-drive

Glee-Cheese’s newest music-centric title will launch into Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC at launch on 31^st October.

Friday, 25^th August 2023 – Glee-Cheese and Team17 Digital have today revealed rhythm-based battle royale game Headbangers Rhythm Royale will launch into Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC on 31^st October. Also coming to PC, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, and PlayStation 5 on the same day, Headbangers Rhythm Royale invites players to tap, flap, and rap their way to victory in a series of manic musical mini-games against 29 other player controlled pigeons, finally answering the age-old question, ‘What is going on in their head?’

Birds of a feather rock together:

The answer to this question, as any self-respecting pigeon will tell you, is music, and players will jump talon first into a mix of mini games that test their memory, rhythm, reflexes, reaction time, and ability to rap, showcasing their im-peck-able memory skills by copying the commanders’ instructions in Yes Commander; playing the piano with a slingshot (yes really) in First Piano Shooter; being first off the mark and into the solar system in To The Sky; and much, much more across all 23 minigames. 

Flocking together is a pigeons second favourite past time (after headbanging), and with cross platform online multiplayer, no pigeon is too near (or too far) to join in on the Headbangers Rhythm Royale fun, regardless of their platform of choice. With hundreds of customisable options purchasable with yummy breadcrumbs earned in game by being crowned the Master Headbanger, players can prune and perfect their pigeon, combining everything from leopard print leotards and western hats, to shark heads and … television bodies before they soar down onto the dancefloor. 

Headbangers Rhythm Royale Key Features

·        Ruffle feathers: Memory, rhythm, reflexes, and reaction times will be put to the test across 23 minigames, each with their own unique musical twist

·        Preen away: With hundreds of unique items to choose from, including full outfits, hats, glasses, voices, and taunts, players can take the top spot and fluff their feathers with their very own personalised pigeon  

·        Peck and earn breadcrumbs: Challenges and unlockable customisations await in the free in-game battle pass, with players able to spend their hard-earned crumbs to help them be the most stylish pigeon in the flock

·        Cross-flock support: Play with up to 29 other pigeons with crossplay enabled, friends and frenemies alike can battle in musical madness regardless their gaming platform of choice

·        Talon tapping music: With unique scores across each minigame, loading screen, and pigeon accessory menu, the party never stops with the bespoke scores written and created by the Glee-Cheese team.

For more information on Headbangers Rhythm Royale please follow us on Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

About Glee-Cheese

Glee-Cheese is an independent video game studio based in France, striving to develop innovative games with a strong artistic identity. Their debut title A Musical Story launched in 2022, and their newest title Headbangers Rhythm Royale is currently in development.

About Team17 Digital

Founded in 1990, Team17 Digital is a leading developer, video games label, and creative partner for developers around the world. Part of Team17 Group plc, which floated on AIM in 2018, Team17 Digital has an extensive portfolio of over 120 titles, and fully encapsulates the spirit of independent games. Winner of the ‘Publishing Star’ award at the 2023 Develop: Star Awards, Team17 Digital has assembled a portfolio of multi-award-winning and award-nominated in-house brands include Hell Let Loose, Golf With Your Friends, The Escapists, and the iconic Worms franchise, alongside its games label partner titles, including the award-winning games Blasphemous, Greak: Memories of Azur, DREDGE, and the Overcooked! franchise.