Check out our full review for Blasphemous 2 here!

The Game Kitchen’s highly anticipated sequel brings prophetic punishment to Nintendo Switch™, PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Thursday, 24^th August 2023 – The Game Kitchen and Team17 Digital have today launched punishing Metroidvania Blasphemous 2 on Nintendo Switch™, ¹PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S. Following a newly reawakened Penitent One, Blasphemous 2 thrusts players back into an endless cycle of life, death, and resurrection as they face monstrous enemies and inconceivable challenges to halt the prophetic birth of a new Child of the Miracle. Featuring three unique weapons to acquire and master, and an enhanced skillset to choose from, players will have to use these new tools to survive and explore a land hell bent on sending them back to the grave as they collect scattered pieces of lore, unpick long forgotten secrets, and avoid deaths final embrace.

Digital editions of Blasphemous 2 are available for €29.99/£24.99/$29.99 on all platforms. Physical editions of Blasphemous 2 are available for €34.99/£29.99/$34.99 on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, and €39.99/£34.99/$39.99 on Nintendo Switch.

Blasphemous 2 Key Features

·        Discover a rich non-linear world: A series of enchantingly grotesque landscapes await, oozing gothic charm and littered with unforgiving traps; there is no wrong turn to take, only scores to settle 

·        Unleash savage combat: Brutal executions and expanded combos provide new and devastating ways to rain destruction on the abominations that await

·        Play your way: Blasphemous 2 provides the ability to customise and improve the Penitent Ones’ base skillset, and introduces new unique weapons that expand player tactics

·        Overcome intense boss battles: Twisted bosses with unique attack patterns and sundering abilities await in the darkest corners of this twisted new land 

Register at www.blasphemous2game.com

¹ Steam version to launch at 5pm BST today

About The Game Kitchen 

Founded in 2010, The Game Kitchen is an independent developer based in Seville, Spain. They create meaningful game experiences for PC, consoles, and mobile devices. 

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.

Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. “PlayStation” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Mythical Games Launches First-Ever Blockchain In-Game Marketplace on the Official App Store and Google Play Store

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES – August 24, 2023 – To celebrate the kickoff of the 2023 NFL season, NFL Rivals, the officially licensed video game of the National Football League (NFL), and the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA), has launched worldwide for mobile devices. NFL Rivals is the first NFL-licensed mobile game that incorporates Web3 digital ownership technology.

After a massively successful soft launch with more than 2 million downloads and more than 15 million games played in under four months, NFL Rivals is starting off the new season with brand-new packs, in-game and live events, new game modes, and unique pack offerings. Players’ dream of becoming a General Manager of an NFL team is now a reality while competing with arcade-style gameplay.. Built through a partnership with the NFL, the NFLPA, and next-generation gaming technology studio Mythical Games, NFL Rivals is a first-of-its-kind mobile video game, incorporating Web3 digital ownership with an in-game utility that allows fans to own, collect, and trade playable digital assets that unlock access to special events, in-game rewards, and other unique features.

Coinciding with the worldwide launch of the game, NFL Rivals is opening the first-ever blockchain-backed in-game marketplace on mobile. The in-game marketplace will allow players to purchase player cards and packs, and to buy other player’s cards listed for sale, all without leaving the game. Digital items in the marketplace will be listed in Rivals Credits, a currency gamers can buy through the App Store and Google Play using IAP. Later iterations of the in-game marketplace will also feature bidding.

“The incredible reception by fans during the pre-season of NFL Rivals blew us away,” said John Linden, CEO at Mythical Games. “Now, with the global launch of the game, we’re excited to give NFL fans an opportunity to play, build and own their very own team of licensed NFL players during the regular season.”

Recently, NFL Rivals entered into a new partnership with the Miami Dolphins. The partnership, NFL Rivals’ first with an NFL franchise, gives Rivals prominent in-stadium branding at Miami Dolphins home games and opportunities for fans to win VIP experiences at Dolphins home games throughout the season. This Rivals initiative is in an effort to reach fans in major markets as the NFL season kicks off. 

NFL Rivals is now available for download in the App Store and Google Play Store.

Interested players can also visit the NFL Rivals website for more information and to join the NFL Rivals Community.

About Mythical Games

Acknowledged by Forbes’ Disruptive Technology Companies To Watch in 2019 and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2021, Mythical is a next-generation games technology company creating a web3 gaming ecosystem by leveraging blockchain technology and playable NFTs for tools that enable players, creators, artists, brands and game developers to become stakeholders and owners in new “play and own” game economies.

Led by gaming industry veterans, the team specializes in building games around player-owned economies and has helped develop major franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Marvel Strike Force, and Skylanders.

Mythical Platform protects gamers that may be new to blockchain through a custodial wallet for their digital items while allowing advanced players the freedom to link their own wallets via bridges between the Mythical Chain and public mainnets. With its “gamers-first” focus, the Mythical Platform ensures players don’t need to dive into the intricacies of blockchain to enjoy ownership of their digital collections and have a great game experience.

About the NFLPA

The National Football League Players Association (“NFLPA”) is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 NFL season.

About OneTeam Partners

A licensing, marketing, and multimedia powerhouse, OneTeam launched as a joint venture between the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), MLB Players Association (MLBPA), and RedBird Capital Partners to maximize the collective value of athletes’ rights across group licensing, marketing, media and investing. OneTeam represents a range of commercial business interests on behalf of the athletes of the NFLPA, MLBPA, MLSPA, U.S. Women’s National Team PA, WNBPA, U.S. Rugby PA and League of Legends Championship Series PA. OneTeam also has several collegiate partnerships that include Altius Sports Partners, INFLCR and Opendorse. OneTeam Partners, facilitated the NFL Rivals deal in collaboration with all parties.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – August 24, 2023 – Thirdverse, Inc., the leading development studio behind the popular VR multiplayer hero shooter game X8, today announced the arrival of its 2nd Major Update in just a month’s time. Since its Early Access debut in late May, the game has already garnered an impressive community, who have collectively engaged in the game’s heart-pounding 5v5 action.

X8’s Major Update 2 builds upon the momentum from its 1st update in July, introducing an array of new features designed to elevate the ‘X8’ experience and captivate players on an even grander scale. Among the thrilling enhancements are the unveiling of a new Hero 7, a dynamic lighting overhaul in three iconic levels, an expansion of the achievements system, XP progression adjustments, and the introduction of custom matches and a reporting system.

Highlights of Major Update 2:

• Introducing Hero 7: “Xero, The Cyborg” emerges as the newest contender in the X8 arena. This high-tech hero harnesses an arsenal of cutting-edge gadgets and formidable abilities, promising players a whole new dimension of tactical gameplay.
• Revamped Level Lighting: Prepare to be dazzled as the Rock Fortress, Mech Garage, and Plaza Utopia levels receive a stunning lighting rework. Every nook and cranny of these battlegrounds will now come to life, intensifying the already heart-pounding action.
• Phase 2 Achievement Rollout: The achievements system expands further with 30+ new challenges to conquer. Your journey within ‘X8’ will be marked by accomplishments, adding layers of excitement and mastery to your gameplay.
• Tailor Battles with Custom Matches: Craft your battleground and orchestrate epic clashes with custom matches. Engage friends and rivals in personalized settings, shaping the gameplay experience according to your preferences.
• Reworked Skirmish to Gameplay Flow: Dive into battles with full teams, thanks to the reworked skirmish to gameplay flow. Experience seamless transitions that guarantee balanced matches from the start.
• Custom Hand Rotation System: Highly requested by the community, players can now set how their desired hand angle in the options menu.
• Key Improvements: Thirdverse has also diligently worked on improvements to the game, including: matchmaking times are 90% faster and improved weapons balancing. Over 80 bugs have been resolved, enhancing the overall game experience.

The ‘X8’ saga continues to captivate players, with its immersive VR multiplayer hero gameplay and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of virtual reality. This update stands as a testament to Thirdverse’s dedication to providing an unparalleled gaming experience.

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Product Overview:

• Supported Platforms: Meta Quest App Lab, Steam
• Title: X8
• Genre: VR Multiplayer Hero Shooter
• Price: Free
• Release: May 18, 2023
• Players: 5v5, up to 10 players
• Teaser Website: https://playx8vr.com/

 Players can access X8:
Meta Quest : https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/4518172508241377/
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1763510/X8/

About Thirdverse, Co., Ltd

Founded in 2020, Thirdverse, Co., Ltd is a virtual reality game development, distribution and management company paving the path to the metaverse with two studios in Japan and the United States. In August 2022, the studio launched its next-generation sword-fighting VR title “ALTAIR BREAKER” for Meta Quest 2 and PCVR. In September, Thirdverse announced a new multiplayer VR tactical hero shooter title called “X8” developed by its US Studio, and exhibited the game to the public for the first time at the Tokyo Game Show 2022. In November, they announced that both titles are joining the lineup for PlayStation®VR2. Currently, Thirdverse plans to strengthen the recruitment of VR game creators for the development of new titles, scheduled for release in 2023 and beyond.

(C) Thirdverse, Co., Ltd

Guilty Gear -Strive-, which is now the most successful instalment in the franchise with over 2,5 million players worldwide, is welcoming its latest addition to the roster, Johnny. With katana in hand, this daring debonair pirate and his crew spend their days traveling the globe, caring for and defending the less fortunate. Johnny’s mastery of swordsmanship and notable strength will allow for players to get the upper hand using a variety of swift attacks.

Watch the new trailer here:

Johnny is available now as the first character of the all-new Season Pass 3 for Guilty Gear -Strive-. Season Pass 3 will contain three other characters in addition to Johnny, along with two new battle stages, the Additional Colour Pack #3, and the Season Pass 3 Purchase Bonus (which contains additional costume colours).  

Season 3 also comes with a plethora of updates and changes to the game, enhancing the overall experience both offline and online. Among these changes are two new battle mechanics: Wild Assault, a powerful offensive maneuver which allows players to take the initiative and rush forward while attacking; and Deflect Shield, a defensive manoeuvre that creates considerable distance between the opponent while blocking their aggression. However, both techniques are a high-risk, high-reward gamble, utilising 50% of the Burst gauge upon activation.

In addition, today also marks the release of Guilty Gear -Strive- Daredevil Edition, which contains the base game along with the Season Pass 1, 2 and 3. The Daredevil Edition also includes the 25th Anniversary Colours, as well as ad digital sounds and artwork.

Guilty Gear -Strive- is available on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, PC, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. For more information on Guilty Gear -Strive- and other products from Bandai Namco Europe, please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

A massive 2.0 free update is coming to Park Beyond on September 29^th. This upcoming update will include performance improvements, reworked visitor flow, mission redesign, modular building improvement and more.

On top of this, the very anticipated parks and prefabs sharing platform powered by mod.io will also be implemented, allowing players to share their amazing parks and creative prefabs across all platforms, all around the world!

Finally, September 29^th will also mark the release of the game’s first Theme World: Beyond eXtreme, adding new missions focused on the explosive character Blaize, two new flat rides, entertainers and more than 250 scenery items. 90’s vibes and crazy rides, Beyond eXtreme calls out to all adrenaline junkies out there willing to make their park a thrill-seeker’s paradise!

Park Beyond is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

For more information on Park Beyond visit the official webpage.For other products from Bandai Namco Europe please visit: www.bandainamcoent.eu, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU. Join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

Gentlymad Studios announces successor to the critically acclaimed Endzone – A World Apart – coming Spring 2024

Wiesbaden, Germany – August 24th, 2023 –  Publisher Assemble Entertainment with its internal development studio Gentlymad Studios is incredibly excited to announce the sequel to their post-apocalyptic colony sim Endzone – A World Part. The sequel, titled Endzone 2, is a survival colony builder where players must confront an unforgiving environment, discover and repopulate habitable grounds and survive in order to protect the last remnants of humanity. To celebrate this announcement, Gentlymad Studios will also be adding a small update to Endzone – A World Apart. 

Endzone 2 combines elements of survival and city building/colony sims in order to create a new and unique twist on these familiar genres. Players are able to freely choose their starting point and venture into a variety of different locations that are hiding valuable and unique resources and loot. They will also be able to create and manage multiple settlements and fight against the unforgiving and ever-changing environment.

Watch the Endzone 2 announcement trailer here 

When players aren’t exploring, they’ll need to build, develop and expand their settlements and secure economic progress by researching buildings, technologies, and refining resources to create optimised production lines in order to keep up with the size of their growing community. Players will also be tasked with establishing trade routes between habitable grounds and traders. 

Gentlymad Studios strives to bring the supportive community from Endzone – A World Apart over to Endzone 2 in order to develop the sequel in line with player expectations. Players familiar with Endzone – A World Apart can now enjoy the challenge of creating and managing multiple settlements and using vehicles to establish trade routes, barter with traders and go on expeditions. Additionally, Endzone 2 includes a complete overhaul of the rendering system bringing players a more detailed and visually appealing environment along with new animations to immerse players like never before. 

Current Endzone – A World Apart players will also be excited to hear of a new patch making its way to the game which will help to bridge the gap between the first game and Endzone 2. The patch will contain a new side mission, various bug fixes and a decorative new building. There may also be another surprise teaser waiting for players paying close enough attention in Endzone – A World Apart. 

Game Features

• Only the Strongest Survive: Pull together a settlement of humanity’s last survivors and take on an ever-changing environment in a world constantly being threatened.
• Explore the Badlands: Venture through the treacherous badlands, a terrain riddled with ancient ruins, uncover hidden loot and take on daring missions.
• Uncover Resources: Travel to habitable zones full of unique resources and daunting challenges, giving rise to multiple settlements under your command. 
• Build Your New Home: Build up, develop and expand your settlements. Make progress by researching new buildings, technologies and refined resources, as well as optimized production lines. 
• Trade and Manage: Master your trade skills and establish trade routes between your zones.

But that’s not all – Assemble is excited to announce that they will launch a Kickstarter campaign for Endzone 2! The publisher is taking the excitement to the next level by inviting enthusiasts to be a part of this journey from the very beginning. Coming soon, gamers and supporters alike will be able to sign up to receive prompt notifications as soon as the Kickstarter campaign goes live! Keep an eye out for that in the coming days.

Endzone 2 is set to release in Spring of 2024 on Steam. Players who wish to stay up to date on the game can wishlist it right now on Steam.

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About Gentlymad Studios

Gentlymad Studios, the visionary development team responsible for creating Endzone 2, Endzone – A World Apart, Pizza Connection 3, and In Between, was founded in 2014 by Daniel Denne, Matthias Guntrum, Wolfgang Reichardt, and Stephan Wirth in Wiesbaden, Germany. Since its inception, the studio has cherished its independence and agility as a small team, continually adapting to the ever-evolving game development landscape. 

With a profound mission to challenge the traditional industrialization of game creation, Gentlymad Studios is dedicated to delivering exceptional, one-of-a-kind, and meticulously crafted gaming experiences. Currently boasting a talented team of 18 passionate individuals, the studio focuses on developing high-quality city-building and strategy games, with its current focus centered on the thriving Endzone franchise.

About Assemble Entertainment

Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent, privately owned games publisher that’s made “Saving the World. Game by Game.” its mission. Founded by Stefan Marcinek in 2016, Assemble is known for its critically acclaimed and diverse indie games, such as Endzone – A World Apart, Roadwarden, Lacuna, and Orbital Bullet. Since 2022, Assemble has been responsible for the distribution of Mixtvision’s games, handling indie hits such as FAR: Lone Sails. Assemble also has won the German Developer Award twice in the category of “Best Publisher.”

Assemble organizes GermanDevDays, one of Frankfurt’s most popular German-speaking conferences. The conference, hosted by Stefan Marcinek, features the GermanDevDays Indie Award, where indie teams across Germany can participate to win cash prizes.

Sydney, Australia, August 24^th, 2023: Have you ever heard the story about the floating boxes? We are sure Trine’s wonderful wizard Amadeus will tell you all about it! In the thrilling new character trailer released today, you will get another glimpse of the enchanting world of Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy and Amadeus’ powers!

With great responsibility comes great power? Well, almost – Amadeus, who is not only a dedicated husband and father of triplets but also a master of arcane arts, takes centre stage in Trine 5’s latest trailer. With an array of awe-inspiring spells, Amadeus proves to be not just a great solo-adventurer but also an invaluable asset to his companions in co-op mode with up to 4 players (yes, 4!) as he summons boxes and deftly manoeuvres obstacles to clear the path.

Amadeus’ magical prowess in manipulating the environment by conjuring boxes and overcoming hindrances adds a new layer of strategy and creativity for players to explore.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is developed by Frozenbyte in Helsinki, Finland and is coming to PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One™, Xbox Series S/X™, and Nintendo Switch™ on August 31^st, 2023.

Website: https://trine5.thqnordic.com

About Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
Traverse breathtaking landscapes in Trine’s deepest and visually richest chapter to date, with an all-new cast of characters as a riveting story awaits with the heroes’ reputations tarnished, their friends and families in danger, and their enchanted powers at stake. Trine 5 will take Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight on their most action-packed journey yet!

• A beautiful 2.5D world with twenty gorgeous levels ready for players to explore!
• Local and online multiplayer — play with up to 4 players online or in local co-op.
• Puzzles with plenty of replayability and dynamic physics — encounter fire, air, light, magnets, electricity and more, with puzzles tailored both for solo and co-op play.
• Challenging combat — fight against the unstoppable Clockwork Knights and the cunning Rat Gang in engaging and tactical battles and try your wits and courage in formidable boss fights!
• Difficulty settings for combat, puzzles, and character resurrection — the game welcomes everyone’s own playstyle.
• Experience the mesmerising soundtrack, with songs that capture the essence of each unique environment, as well as a voice cast of returning favourites and charming new additions.

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About THQ Nordic

The THQ Nordic official boiler plate can be found here: https://thqnordic.com/company/about

THQ Nordic Website

About Frozenbyte

Frozenbyte is an independent game developer with a focus on game quality. All Frozenbyte games are based on own IP. Original titles include the critically acclaimed Trine series. For more information, visit the following website: https://www.frozenbyte.com/about-frozenbyte

ATLUS has announced that their highly anticipated RPG remake Persona 3 Reload will launch on the 2^nd of February 2024 for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. They have also revealed a Gameplay trailer showing how players can hunt down Shadows and secrets as they climb the heights of Tartarus, this time with an all-new battle BGM track!

Watch the Gameplay trailer below:

In addition, a new Persona 3 Reload – Meet the S.E.E.S. Trailer is available and provides an introduction to S.E.E.S. and their mission in the game:

Watch the ‘Meet the S.E.E.S.” trailer here

In May, PlayStation Australia gave a quick peek at the dedicated PS5 remote play device – now called PlayStation Portal remote player, and the first wireless earbuds, called Pulse Explore. Today, PlayStation Australia is pleased to share more details about these products and reveal a new PlayStation over-the-ear wireless headset, Pulse Elite. Both Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore deliver low latency lossless audio from PS5 and PlayStation Portal using new PlayStation Link wireless technology.

PlayStation Portal remote player

PlayStation Portal remote player brings the PS5 experience to the palm of your hand. It includes the key features of the DualSense wireless controller, including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback combined with the 8-inch LCD screen which is capable of 1080p resolution at 60fps, providing a high definition visual experience. 

PlayStation Portal is the perfect device for gamers in households where they might need to share their living room TV or simply want to play PS5 games in another room of the house. PlayStation Portal will connect remotely to your PS5 over Wi-Fi*, so you’ll be able to swiftly jump from playing on your PS5 to your PlayStation Portal. PlayStation Portal can play supported games that are installed on your PS5 console and use the Dualsense controller. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio. PS VR2 games, which require the headset, are not supported.**

Pulse Elite wireless headset & Pulse Explore wireless earbuds  

Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore are the latest PlayStation wireless headset and earbuds, that are part of PlayStation’s ongoing efforts to amplify the audio experience in gaming and make the gameplay experience more immersive through enhanced sound. Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore will be the first PlayStation audio devices to use custom-designed planar magnetic drivers for an audiophile-level listening experience, normally found in premium headphones for professional sound engineers. 

Pulse Elite is the new wireless headset that offers lossless audio and comes with a retractable boom mic and AI-enhanced noise rejection capable of filtering background sounds. A charging hanger is also included with the product for a convenient charging and storage option. 

Pulse Explore is the first set of wireless earbuds, providing a premium portable audio experience with dual microphones and AI-enhanced noise rejection capable of filtering background sounds. It also offers lossless audio and comes with a charging case. 

PlayStation Link, PlayStation’s new wireless audio technology

Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore connect directly with PlayStation Portal by leveraging new wireless audio technology, PlayStation Link. This innovation delivers low latency, lossless audio and easy switching between multiple PlayStation Link hosts such as PS5 with the USB adapter and PlayStation Portal.

We’ll have more details to share soon, including AU pricing, pre-orders, and launch dates. 

Check out this hands-on report of the PlayStation Portal remote player, Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, and Pulse Elite wireless headset here, as well as a sneak peak video of the new Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore here. 

To find out more, head to the PlayStation Blog. 

Keep up with the latest news from PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.