High-profile workshops, over 500 participants from 180 Italian development studios and 45 international publishers and investors, more than 1100 business meetings held

Milan, 20 July 2023 – First Playable 2023, the fifth edition of the business event for the video game sector in Italy, organized by IIDEA and the Toscana Film Commission – Fondazione Sistema Toscana, in collaboration with the ICE Agency, has reached an extraordinary milestone this year, with record breaking attendance.

The initiative, which took place on 6 and 7 July at the Nana Bianca innovation hub in Florence, attracted an unprecedented number of Italian video game developers, investors and publishers from all over the world.

More than 500 professionals from 180 Italian development studios and 45 publishers and investors from 12 countries worldwide took part in the event – ​​including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Poland, Mexico , Japan, Germany and Italy. This international participation has offered important opportunities for networking and collaboration, creating a stimulating environment for the growth and development of the Italian video game industry. Over 1,100 1:1 business meetings were held during the two-day event, offering Italian developers the opportunity to discuss potential collaborations with international operators present in Florence. These intense meeting sessions have fostered the exchange of ideas and the creation of new connections and partnerships that will further promote the growth and innovation of the gaming industry in Italy in the near future. 

Thalita Malagò, General Director of IIDEA said: “We are very pleased with the success of the fifth edition of First Playable, which has just concluded in the wonderful city of Florence. This year we recorded an unprecedented turnout, a clear sign of the important consolidation phase that the video game production scene is experiencing today in our country. This success is a symbol of the strength and vitality of the video game industry in Italy. IIDEA is particularly proud of how First Playable has now become an event not to be missed, not only for the local developer community, but also for international publishers and investors. The event represents a unique opportunity to share ideas, develop new partnerships and show the world the innovation and creativity that the video game industry is capable of expressing made in Italy”.

Stefania Ippoliti, Director of Toscana Film Commission also commented, underlining the importance of the collaboration with IIDEA: “Toscana Film Commission has always been very attentive to audiovisual innovation, for this reason video games, right from the start, have been the subject of great interest for us. We are a region full of tradition, but also of curiosity for everything that is able to intercept the interests of new generations, for technology and for internationalization. Video games have shown that they can create development, employment and an interesting growth for our country. Therefore, it is with enormous satisfaction that we can announce the excellent numbers of this fifth Florence edition.”

The 2023 edition was able to count on the support of various partners who, also through exclusive content, brought prestige and value to the event. Among these, Google and Unreal Engine, Diamond Partner of the initiative. Silver Partners include Acer, AWS for Games, LCA law firm, Maga Animation Studio, and TikTok. Other partners include Broken Arms Games, Memorable Games, 34BigThings, Climax Studios and Women in Games Italia. The Sustainability Partner was Treebu, a Benefit Company and innovative start-up that supported First Playable to give life to the creation of a real forest to partially offset the emissions of this edition of the event.

This year, for the first time, the MiC – Ministry of Culture was also present at the event, which opened the works of First Playable 2023 with a workshop organized by the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual focused on tax credit and how much this measure has made it more interesting and convenient for foreign operators to invest in national videogame productions.

Finally, there was the wonderful award ceremony of the Italian Video Games Awards 2023, presented by the Irish games host, critic and streamer Aoife Wilson and staged live on 6 July from the Nana Bianca auditorium. During the evening, the five winners of the prestigious awards were announced and awarded, celebrating Italian talent in the video game industry. The evening ended with the engaging Italian Video Game Awards Party.

First Playable continues to consolidate its role as a leading business event for the video game industry in Italy, offering a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas, the creation of partnerships and the recognition of Italian talent in the local and international videogame scene.

Stay tuned for an update on the unmissable event next year, First Playable 2024!

The Italian Video Game Awards 2023 ceremony is available to watch back on the IIDEA YouTube channel, and the list of finalists and winners is available on the First Playable website: www.firstplayable.it/italian-video-game-awards/ 

For more details on First Playable and to consult the list of guests and publishers and investors present, visit the website www.firstplayable.it 

New Missions, New Challenges, New Player Hub & More – Available Today

London, UK, Thursday 20th July 2023: Immersive entertainment studio, Maze Theory, has today released the latest batch of free updates to acclaimed VR action-adventure, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, on Meta Quest 2 and PICO 4. 

Watch the latest trailer showcasing all of the brand-new content:

As part of a commitment to serve up brand-new content throughout 2023, today’s update is the most significant so far. As of today, players can take on two new story-driven combat missions – in Defend the Garrison, you’ll be fighting alongside Arthur Shelby fending off the Winter’s Children and in Battle for Pennyfields, players will fight their way through the streets of Limehouse with Arthur to defend Lily Wong’s territory from men still loyal to Feng Ho.

Also on offer is a brand-new Weapon Challenge where you’ll be tasked with taking down enemy grunts in the fastest time possible using the quick-fire Lewis gun, and new item skins for gloves, lighters, and the pistol, as well as a new ‘Player Hub’ where you can store and equip them all. Finally, there are also brand-new achievements to unlock as you complete some of the new content. Players will be able to access all the new content once they’ve completed the main game.

“We’re mid-way through our planned content roadmap for Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, and we’ve already delivered over an hours’ worth of additional free new gameplay since launch,” said Tim Jones, Game Director at Maze Theory. “Today’s update is our most exciting and weighty so far, with yet more substantial new DLC still to come later in the year.”

Inspired by the BAFTA-winning drama, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is an original story written in collaboration with Peaky Blinders’ producer and brand owner Caryn Mandabach Productions, and with series creator and writer Steven Knight. The game is created in partnership with Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay.

Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is available now on Meta Quest 2 and PICO 4 (in all markets where PICO is available, including Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea) for £24.99 / €29.99 / $29.99.

About Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders was created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke). The multi award-winning BBC One series is produced by Peaky Blinders’ official series and brand owner, Caryn Mandabach Productions, and co-produced with Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Productions. Series 1 to 6 are available on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Peaky Blinders is distributed by Banijay Rights and has sold in more than 183 countries and is widely available internationally on Netflix including in the U.S.

The Peaky Blinders brand enjoys international success across multiple categories including gifting, live experience, apparel, accessories, and essentials. Officially licensed products are proving a hit with consumers and retailers, with over 40 licensees across multiple territories.

About Maze Theory

Maze Theory is an immersive gaming studio led by experienced industry veterans from top entertainment companies including Activision, Sony PlayStation, Oculus, EA, Disney, BBC, Channel 4, Output Group and more.

Recent expansion has seen the business grow to over 40 people with the team comprising multiple award-winning developers and creatives. The studio believes in delivering unforgettable stories through innovative, multi-tech and multi-platform narrative experiences that go beyond mere gaming and re-define the future of entertainment.

The game portfolio includes the first ever Doctor Who VR game Doctor Who: The Edge of Time and award-winning found-phone horror game Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins, which launched this year to massive critical acclaim, heralded as ‘the best Doctor Who game ever’. 

About PICO

Founded in March 2015, PICO is a leading VR company with independent innovation and R&D capabilities, focusing on VR all-in-one technology. Embracing a mission to bridge connections, enrich life, and release infinity, PICO is committed to building an integrated XR platform that inspires the community and empowers developers, creators, and businesses.

Fourth DLC pack headlined by Bray Wyatt, alongside surprise addition Uncle Howdy, Zeus, Valhalla, Joe Gacy and Blair Davenport making their WWE 2K franchise debuts

Today, 2K announced the Revel with Wyatt Pack, the fourth DLC* for WWE® 2K23, the highest-rated game in WWE 2K’s history according to Metacritic**, is available now. The Revel with Wyatt Pack is headlined by the charismatic Bray Wyatt, a former WWE Champion, two-time Universal Champion, two-time Tag Team Champion, and host of the bizarre “Firefly Funhouse.”

Also appearing in the Revel with Wyatt Pack is the enigmatic Uncle Howdy, a previously unannounced addition, as well as four additional Superstars making their WWE 2K franchise debuts: Zeus, star of “No Holds Barred” and one-time rival of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, Valhalla, primal huntress often seen accompanying the Viking Raiders, Joe Gacy, leader of the cult-like faction The Schism, and Blair Davenport, best known for brutalizing her NXT opponents in a series of sneak attacks. These Superstars bring 44 new moves and taunts into the game, which can also be used for custom Superstars in the creation suite, and each playable Superstar also comes with their own MyFACTION card. This fourth DLC is available for individual purchase, and is included as part of Season Pass***, Deluxe Edition, and Icon Edition of WWE 2K23.

Also available now in WWE 2K23’s MyFACTION game mode is the new Summer Heat card collection featuring Amethyst tier Batista, Stacy Keibler, Chyna, and Ultimate Warrior, and many more. Coming July 28 is the Neon Horizons card collection featuring Diamond tier The Prototype, Leviathan and Chad Gable, plus Amethyst tier Alba Fyre, Bruno Sammartino, Grayson Waller, Roxanne Perez, and Scott Steiner, and many more. On August 4, the SummerSlam card collection will launch featuring Diamond tier Roman Reigns, Asuka, Scott Hall, Bianca Belair, and Jake Roberts, plus many more. 

The Bad News U Pack, the final DLC pack for WWE 2K23, will be available August 16. The WWE 2K23 Deluxe and Icon Editions are currently on sale on Xbox platforms for 35% off through July 31, while the Standard and Icon Editions are on sale on PlayStation platforms for 35% off through August 2****. WWE 2K23 will also be free-to-play on Steam from August 3-8 and Xbox (for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscribers only) from August 3-7, 2023.

*****

For more information on WWE 2K23, visit the game’s official website, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and subscribe on YouTube. Official campaign hashtags #WWE2K23 and #EvenStronger.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

*WWE 2K23 required to use DLC content. DLC purchase necessary. Online Account (13+) required to access online features. See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. 

**Based on WWE 2K23‘s Metacritic scores on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

***Season Pass available for individual purchase or included in Icon Edition and Deluxe Edition. Players who purchase the Icon Edition or Deluxe Edition will automatically have access to Season Pass and each DLC pack included in the Season Pass as they become available.

****Discount based on 2K’s SRP. Digital Only. Xbox sales ends: July 31. PlayStation sale ends: August 2, 2023. Terms Apply.

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Free play period ends 09:59:59 AM PDT, August 8th, 2023 on Steam, and 10:59:59AM PDT August 7th on Xbox for Xbox Live Gold & Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscribers Only. Progress, any add-ons or items purchased for the game (including any earned or purchased virtual currency) will transfer if the game is purchased. Purchases made during the free play period are final. Internet connection required. Terms apply.

LOS ANGELES – July 19, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, announces a new update for the mobile RPG Seven Knights 2. A brand new Legendary+ hero Hell Adjutant Knox will be debuting in this update, as well as new Mythic pet Black Tempest Zeo.

Black Tempest Zeo is a new Mythic Pet for players to obtain. It applies HP Recovery and Invincibility to all allies, as well as resets the cooldowns of all allies, making it the ultimate support pet. When ally HP drops to a certain percentage, the pet applies Immortal and unremovable Debuff Immunity. It also applies HP recovery and increases Ultimate Skill Gauge to the caster.

Hell Adjutant Knox is a new Legendary+ hero (Universal type, ranged) who can remove stat decrease effects from all allies and applies an unremovable Invulnerable to the caster and Universal allies in PvP Fields. This effect makes him a great counter to heroes and monsters that apply debuffs, as well as high damage types. He has a chance of changing all debuffs applied to enemies to be unremovable when they are inflicted with Fear. Lastly, he deals damage to all enemies in Unstoppable state, and applies Fear and Pull effects on enemies – this allows players to group up enemies making them ideal targets for Area of Effect attacks.

Month of 7K is still ongoing so players can earn abundant rewards including Mythic Ace. Several new events are now available through  August 2, including:

• Check-in event: Those who check-in the game for 7 days can earn various rewards. On the 7th day, players can obtain Legendary Jewel Summon Voucher(x3).
• Month of 7K Celebration Shoot & Loot event: Players can use Cosette’s Bullets that are available from in-game missions and check-ins to get Pet Step Up Summon Ticket and Legendary Jewel Summon Voucher.
• Shoot & Loot Seven Ticket Crafting Event: Collect Seven Tickets obtained from Shoot & Loot event or Field Exploration to craft special rewards including Legendary+ Hero Selection Tickets, Rubies and more.

The official sequel to Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, Seven Knights 2 takes place 20 years after the original and introduces beautiful open world gameplay. The story centers on the Daybreak Mercenaries who embark on a journey to find the last member of the Seven Knights, “Rudy,” after a series of events involving a mysterious girl named Phiné. Stunning cinematics and graphics powered by Unreal Engine 4 will immerse players in this epic game story filled with unique characters and powerful bosses. Players can collect and develop their heroes and experience a new combat system with powerful ultimates and suppressors.

Seven Knights 2 is available now for download on Google Play, App Store and Windows PC (beta).

More information on Seven Knights 2 can be found on the official Facebook page, YouTube and forums or by visiting Netmarble’s Global YouTube channel.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

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Sign-Up for the Early Access on Google Play Store Today

LOS ANGELES, CA – July 19, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has announced a brand new game, Seven Knights Idle Adventure. Based on their flagship franchise and the successor to the original Seven Knights game, this new title has been reimagined as an idle RPG for mobile platforms.

Seven Knights Idle Adventurehas been developed with low-capacity and low-specification devices in mind with a guiding principle of easy playability. Players will experience an expanded storyline, with previously untold episodes of the original Seven Knights heroes, while collecting and nurturing returning favorites who have been reborn as cute SD characters.

Starting today, players can experience the game through the newly launched Early Access, currently available to download from the Google Play Store. Over 130 Seven Knights heroes, 25 pets, and 170 hero costumes are currently available for all players to enjoy. A new trailer to celebrate the Early Access has been released and can be viewed on YouTube HERE.

Early Access participants can look forward to a variety of features and modes, including:

• Main Field Exploration: Players can explore territories while raising their favorite Seven Knights heroes. These territories are composed of stages which are cleared by summoning a boss after defeating a certain number of enemies within a stage. As players progress through each stage, they can enjoy the story through cutscenes and portrait conversations that reveal details which expand on relationships from the Seven Knights lore.
• 10v10 PVP Arena: A desynchronized PVP mode where players can battle other players’ heroes and earn points based on wins and losses of the match. Special rewards can be obtained based on the points earned.
• Dungeon Delves: Obtain in-game currency by exploring special dungeon challenges with their team. These challenges include Gold Dungeon, Hero EXP Dungeon, Knight’s Token Dungeon, and Relic Shard Dungeon.
• Conquest Request: A system where you can obtain rewards for defeating a challenging group of monsters that’s been summoned. Upon clearing, players will acquire Dice to power up their heroes and unlock their full potential.
• Infinite Tower: With a total of 300 floors, this is the ultimate challenge for players. Various rewards can be acquired for defeating enemies on each floor.
• Repeated Missions: Various new content will be released with Daily, Weekly and Continuous missions.

To celebrate the Early Access launch of Seven Knights Idle Adventure, players can enter limited time events, available through August 3:

• SKIA Launch Carnival: Players can obtain “Legend Hero Kyrielle”, a classic returning hero from the original Seven Knights game, by earning various in-game rewards.
• 14 Day Check-In Events: Daily check-in rewards will be available over a 14-day period, including Seven Knights Summon Tickets.

As an official continuation of Seven Knights, a game enjoyed by 60 million players globally, Seven Knights Idle Adventure will be an exciting addition for fans looking to interact with their favorite heroes while maximizing their time.

For more information on Seven Knights Idle Adventure, please be sure to stay tuned to the official brand website for future updates. The game will introduce many more heroes and modes in the coming months.

About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a leading developer and publisher of top-grossing mobile games worldwide. Through powerful franchises and collaborations with acclaimed IP holders, Netmarble strives to elevate the gaming experience and entertain audiences globally. As a parent company of Kabam and SpinX Games, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble’s diverse portfolio includes Lineage 2: Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, The King of Fighters ALLSTAR, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, and forthcoming PC games like Paragon: The Overprime. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

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Award-winning studio thatgamecompany will deliver surprises all summer long… including a World Record attempt and hands-on with new PC version

Highlights:

• Sky’s anniversary event returns this month as a two-week celebration featuring in-game parties and limited currency items.
• thatgamecompany heads to Gamescom in August to break a world record and offer attendees a chance to celebrate the event and get an exclusive preview of Sky’s flight to PC.
• Players around the world will also enjoy an encore of AURORA’s legendary experiential concert in Sky’s Coliseum, alongside the return of the concert in-game event.

Santa Monica, Calif. – July 18, 2023 – thatgamecompany is honoring Sky: Children of the Light’s four-year anniversary today by treating the internationally beloved game’s community to a summer full of celebrations. In addition to several fan assemblies planned for Asia, South America and the U.S., the award-winning developer adds something special: thousands of community members can venture to Gamescom in August for the long-awaited first hands-on of Sky on PC… and players around the world can be a part of gaming history as thatgamecompany attempts to break a world record for most players together on a single screen with its proprietary technology behind Sky. But players don’t need to wait until August to gather for the anniversary fun as the popular birthday event returns alongside a brand-new prairie level, “Season of Moments,” available now.

Introducing an exciting array of updates and events, thatgamecompany has something to captivate experienced Sky kids and new players alike, including:

• Fly Through a Two-Week In-Game Anniversary Event in July – Sky: Children of the Light’s four-year anniversary celebrations just kicked off on Monday, July 17, as thatgamecompany brought back the memorable in-game party event in which players don their birthday crowns and join a plethora of activities. The lively event will bring hundreds of players together in a dance floor celebration. Players will also see the return of limited event currency items, including cakes, guitars, happy birthday music sheets, props, and more.
• Digitally Capture Sky’s Untamed Beauty – The festive “Season of Moments” is here, and players can saddle up for adventure as they explore a brand-new prairie level based on Yellowstone National Park. Sky kids can connect with nature while collaboratively exploring gorgeous, wide-open plains and capturing each moment with new photography tools, including a selfie mode.
• Gamescom: Sky Official World Record Breaking Event – On Friday, Aug. 25, Gamescom attendees and fellow Sky players will become a part of a remarkable moment in gaming as thatgamecompany attempts to make multiplayer history for video games and reach a world record of concurrent players in a single screen. Players in person and around the world will come together via proprietary technology and break online game boundaries.
• Gamescom: Sky Embarks on a New Journey – Attendees will get a glimpse into the future with a firsthand look at Sky on PC with an exclusive onsite Steam play test in Hall Nine. Sky fans can also wishlist the PC version on Steam; details on a virtual play test are coming soon!
• Relive Sky’s One-of-a-Kind Concert – From Sunday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 3, Sky kids will relive the in-game musical journey alongside thousands of other players in-game. During this encore event, seasonal items will return including items and cosmetics initially only available during the performance.

“Sky’s 4th anniversary soars with a mix of achievement and gratitude,” said Jenova Chen, CEO and creative director of thatgamecompany. “As I reflect on Sky’s journey, I celebrate the connections fostered and the impact Sky has had on the hearts of players. The shared moments and unwavering support propel us forward. This new benchmark speaks to that connectedness and demonstrates what a caring community and video games as a whole can accomplish.”

Fans can follow @thatskygame on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, join its Discord community, or follow @thatgamecompany on Twitch to stay informed on Sky: Children of the Light updates.

About thatgamecompany

thatgamecompany is committed to developing broadly accessible, artistic, emotional and enriching experiences, including award-winning titles Flow, Flower, Journey and Sky: Children of the Light. Its accolades include an induction into the Smithsonian’s permanent collection, and most recently a 2023 Webby Award for an in-game concert that connected 4,000 players in a single instance. Its hope is to expand the range of emotional experiences possible in video games, so that it can be enjoyed and loved by people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds.

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Neo-noir title hits PC and Xbox this September

El Paso, Texas (July 19, 2023) – With a belly full of pills and mouth full of blood, lead protagonist James Savage down the screaming, winding path under a nondescript motel where reality reaches its breaking point in El Paso, Elsewhere, the latest title from Xalavier Nelson Jr. and Strange Scaffold. Your one-way trip departs when the game launches on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam September 26. Drink in the the sounds of El Paso, Elsewhere in today’s release date trailer, a brilliant animated music video revealing the latest banger from the upcoming game’s soundtrack, “Stay Awake,” a collaboration between Xalavier Nelson Jr. and musician RJ Lake.

Watch El Paso, Elsewhere’s release date trailer here:

Today’s trailer showcases a stylish depiction of the story of El Paso, Elsewhere while dropping hints and glimpses at what’s to come when the game launches on September 26 through its latest released OST sample, “Stay Awake” – an original collaboration between Nelson and Lake. The song features vocals by Nelson, who also voices the haunting, self-loathing protagonist in the game.

El Paso, Elsewhere takes players on an unwanted, tumultuous trip down a dark rabbit hole. After learning that his ex-girlfriend, Draculae, lord of the vampires, is conducting a ritual that will doom the world as we know it, James Savage rushes back to his hometown of El Paso, Texas for a calamitous reunion. Guarded by hordes of monsters, Draculae continues her foul work, leaving Savage’s journey as a desperate rush to prevent the end. Haunted by his memories with the undead queen, the werewolves, mummies, and biblically accurate angels awaiting James are just one threat of many. Fight them off with a wealth of weapons, pills that keep the pain at bay, and badass bullet time that lets you pick and choose your shots or deftly dodge attacks while countering.

Keep up with the creatures from El Paso, Elsewhere, by following Strange Scaffold on Twitter and other social media services @StrangeScaffold.

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The second Faction Focus gameplay video for Frontier Developments’ real-time strategy game Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is now available, spotlighting the brutal and cunning Orruk Kruleboyz. Featuring new gameplay footage of the Kruleboyz’ savage squads and lumbering monsters in action, players can take charge of this scrappy faction when the game launches on PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.  

Trickery and cunning tactics are the Kruleboyz’ speciality. This swamp-dwelling Warclan of Orruks call the Bestial Realm of Ghur their home, and they’ll stop at nothing to defend it. In Realms of Ruin, the Orruk Kruleboyz are led by the devious Killaboss Dankfeer, whose goal is to bring destruction to the Stormcast Eternals’ fortress settlement of Harkanibus and establish himself as the dominant force of Ghur’s wildlands. The Kruleboyz will be playable as part of Realms of Ruin’s cinematic singleplayer campaign, which features multiple factions, as well as in multiplayer. 

Basic squad types include the Beast-skewer Killbows whose long-range artillery can dent opponents’ health with their poisoned bolts, as well as the numerous Hobgrot Slittaz, who can expand their ranks as they eliminate their enemies. Larger monsters support their relentless assault: the Marshcrawla Sloggoth is a bipedal hunter manned by a band of grots armed with nets, ready to ensnare even the most mobile combatants in Ghur. The devastating Mirebrute Troggoth, meanwhile, manned by a Kruleboyz rider, can deliver a frenzied and devastating attack to all within range – including other Orruks.  

This video also delves into Realms of Ruin’s competitive multiplayer, which players recently sampled during the Open Beta. Available in both 1v1 and 2v2 modes, the goal is to dominate the battlefield against warlords from across the world on a variety of maps and to turn the tide of war in the players’ favour. With each faction offering different strengths and weaknesses, the key is to capture Arcane Conduit resource points, unleash tougher squads than the enemy, upgrade and specialise forces via the tech tree, and control more Victory Points to win. 

The Orruk Kruleboyz are just one of four factions coming to Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, inspired by their tabletop counterparts from Games Workshop’s fantasy universe. Additional factions and ways to play will be revealed soon. 

For more information about the game, visit www.aosrealmsofruin.com. 

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin will be coming to PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and is available to wishlist now.  

Follow the game on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

Demo the dwarven roguelike on Steam and GOG today

DALLAS — July 19th, 2023 — Below the Stone, a dwarf-themed extraction roguelike by developer Strollart and publisher Apogee Entertainment, digs up an Early Access release in Q4 2023 and a new demo available now on Steam for PC and GOG ahead of its arrival on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S in 2024. 

After earning a top-three “favorite indie” at OTK Games Expo 2022, and voted top-two favorite indie games at TooManyGames of 2022 and 2023, the highly-anticipated roguelike unveils what lurks beneath the surface of the Dwarven Kingdom, home to a long lineage of valorous and bearded miners ready to sacrifice it all to acquire the endless riches that lie below the surface. Grab a pickaxe and hack a path of endless adventure through procedurally generated caverns, caves and ancient ruins across more than 50 biomes.

Start out with the essentials of any fine dwarven explorer, a pickaxe and hardhat, and journey through five increasingly challenging underground layers. Complete missions from your dwarven allies to amass wealth and raw materials, and smelt dozens of unique metals and alloys to craft tools, weapons and gear for plundering the earth. Unearth rare metals such as Arcanium, Mithril, and Adamantine as well as mythical gems to spiff up and strengthen armor, or merge gems for powerful runes! 

Invest in your descents by crafting stronger armor and weapons, bettering the odds of your survival. Face hordes of beasts who lie in the darkness, using a variety of magic, melee, and ranged weapons to fit any playstyle, and come to the aid of helpful allies along the way. Prepare for dungeons with a variety of boss encounters. Every boss conquered opens a path to deeper layers of the caves, where even more valuable loot and cunning creatures await.

But be warned! – as your death will lead to any items brought along for the journey will forever remain below the stone. Safely store gear and precious resources in The Dwarven Kingdom to render death less costly, and adorn brave dwarves with previously-plundered loot from past journeys. 

Cave-dive in style with customizable appearance options, and spelunk to the tunes of an hour-long original soundtrack by Karam Bharj.

“We’ve always loved bringing retro titles to new audiences and Below the Stone is no different,” said Scott Miller, founder of Apogee Entertainment. “The quirky Dwarven Kingdom combined with punishing roguelike gameplay makes for a memorable experience for players to dig into.” 

Check out gameplay footage of Below the Stone here. For more information on Strollart’s underground tale of dwarven expedition, check out the official website, and follow their Twitter, and Discord.

For more on Apogee Entertainment, please visit the Apogee website and follow @Apogee_Ent on Twitter.

Assets

About Strollart

Founded as a place for a group of friends to come together and express their love of indie games, Stollart looks to break the formula that’s pervasive within the AAA space and build something that can only be found within indie development. Michael Strollart, director, producer, and artist, is joined by Andrew, Karam, Eric, Dean, and Matt in the development of their debut game, Below the Stone, with an eye set on showing what a few friends in a metaphorical basement can build together.

About Apogee Entertainment

Apogee Software’s legendary journey began in 1987, when Scott Miller decided to split his new game, Kingdom of Kroz, into three episodes, with the first episode available as free shareware. The “Apogee model” of distribution would revolutionize PC gaming and catapult Apogee Software to global renown. As a publisher, Apogee (and its later incarnation, 3D Realms) would introduce the world to id Software, Remedy Entertainment, Parallax Software, and other video game superstars in the making. As a developer, Apogee would innovate and inspire in equal measure, creating treasured characters and franchises like Duke Nukem, Shadow Warrior, and Prey en route to earning over a billion dollars in commercial revenue.

The new Apogee Entertainment, with founder Scott Miller and longtime partner Terry Nagy at the helm, will empower today’s incredibly talented indie developers, paving the way for their global success with innovative ideas, cutting-edge marketing, and the same fearlessness that changed the industry.

Knowledgeable, helpful and up-to-date: Publisher and developer GIANTS Software released the second issue of the official Farming Simulator magazine, available on newsstands and online from today. On 52 pages, the creators of the internationally successful Farming Simulator series offer interesting insights into their game world and related areas around – the digital version is available via the Farming Simulator website.

Video Game Bestseller on the Magazine Shelf

Since 2008, Farming Simulator has been the benchmark in the genre – for its 15th anniversary, GIANTS Software launched a quarterly magazine with all topics of interest to Farming Simulator fans.

In addition to technology and pack reviews, the now available second issue provides interesting articles on the new competitive game modes, interviews, a Top 25 selection on popular mods and an exclusive poster.

Entertainment and Relaxation in Seven Languages

Compared to the first edition, GIANTS Software expands the number of languages and offers a Czech translation on its website. The printed versions are distributed in twelve countries: Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. A digital edition is available globally.

“Since we act as a publisher ourselves, we not only develop the game, but also take care of all adjacent areas intensively,” comments Boris Stefan, Head of Publishing. “The magazine is a welcome multiplier of our brand at the newsstands with the same aspects as in Farming Simulator: entertainment and relaxation.”

Farming Simulator 22 is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. A Year 2 Season Pass is available separately, which includes four packs and one expansion – saving fans up to 30% compared to buying the content individually. The Nintendo spin-off Farming Simulator 23 is available as Nintendo Switch™ Edition in retail shops and in the Nintendo eShop, the mobile versions for iPhone, iPad and Android™ devices are available in the App Store and on Google Play respectively.

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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.

© 2023 Published and developed by GIANTS Software GmbH. Farming Simulator, GIANTS Software and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GIANTS Software GmbH. All manufacturers, agricultural machinery, agricultural equipment, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. The agricultural machines and equipment in this game may be different from the actual machines in shapes, colors and performance. © 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation”, “PS5” and “PS4”, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Microsoft, the Xbox Sphere mark, the Series X logo, Series S logo, Series X|S logo, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X|S are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “Mac” is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other names, trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.