Premiering at the 2023 PC Gaming Show, the Newest Trailer Gives a Glimpse at the World of Islands of Insight

Montréal, Québec – June 11, 2023 – Behaviour Interactive, Canada’s largest independent gaming studio, is thrilled to unveil new details about their upcoming title, formerly known as Project S. Developed in collaboration with Lunarch Studios, Islands of Insight is an epic shared-world puzzle-adventure game set in a fantasy realm brimming with mysterious puzzles, secrets, and awe-inspiring landscapes for you to discover at your own pace, alone or with other players.

Players will embody a Seeker on a peaceful journey rich in exploration and puzzle-solving. Their goal is to find and solve the game’s many puzzles as they let their curiosity guide them through a breathtaking open world of floating islands, where the answer is always in sight.

Islands of Insight was built for those in search of a new puzzle experience. Its gameplay and shared-world setting will appeal to both creative thinkers who thrive on turning challenges into solutions, and explorers. It offers an inviting experience for newcomers, while adding a fresh spin for masters of the puzzle genre.

“Behaviour Interactive and Lunarch Studios have collaboratively designed a truly unique game,” shares Carla Rylance, Head of External Production at Behaviour Interactive. “Islands of Insight transports players to a beautiful realm never seen before, where exploration and a-ha moments awaits, making this a one-of-a-kind game within the puzzle genre.” The official reveal trailer presented at the 2023 PC Gaming Show can be watched here.

Islands of Insight Key Features Include:

• A world brimming with puzzles – Players are encouraged to seek out and solve mysterious puzzles in every corner of the landscape. Thoughtfully crafted to be both relaxing and challenging, solving these puzzles offers a sense of accomplishment and are the key to unlocking new areas and adventures.

• Exploration & discovery – Players will also uncover an expansive realm of sublime beauty, natural wonders, and timeless architecture, freely and at their own pace. They’ll be able to wander the landscape on foot or spread their wings to glide above it.

• A shared experience – Those who partake in this unique experience will share a sense of discovery with others across the lively open world. They will be able to interact and collaborate to solve puzzles alongside friends and other online players or enjoy this tranquil experience as a solo adventure.

Add the game now to your wishlist

Behaviour Interactive and Lunarch Studios are thrilled to invite players to be a part of this extraordinary journey. To stay up to date with the latest news, updates, and exclusive access opportunities, players are encouraged to add the game to their wishlists and visit the official website of Islands of Insight. 

About Islands of Insight

From the puzzle-masters at Lunarch Studios, in collaboration with Behaviour Interactive, comes Islands of Insight – an epic new shared-world puzzle adventure game. In a peaceful fantasy realm of ancient wonders and natural beauty, players embody a Seeker on a journey to find and solve every puzzle across a breathtaking open world of floating islands. Filled with secrets to uncover, and rewards to earn, players can explore this serene world alone, or with other players as they hone their puzzle-solving skills. Islands of Insight is available to Wishlist on Steam. For more information, visit Steam and www.islandsofinsight.com.

About Behaviour Interactive 

Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian gaming studio, with more than 1,200 employees worldwide. Behaviour is best known for its flagship franchise, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight, which has entertained over 50 million players across multiple platforms. The studio is currently expanding its portfolio of original IP with multiple projects, including the highly anticipated base building and raiding title Meet Your Maker. Behaviour has also established itself as one of the world’s foremost providers of external development services.  The company has partnered with many of the gaming industry’s leaders, including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner, Netflix, and Take-Two, among many others. Over 30 years, Behaviour has developed an unparalleled, award-winning culture. The company was named one of the Best Places To Work in Canada by GamesIndustry.biz, and has been recognized with Deloitte Canada’s Enterprise Fast 15 and Best Managed Company awards. Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour has expanded its global presence with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Seattle (Midwinter Entertainment), and the United Kingdom (Behaviour UK – North).

About Lunarch Studios

Headquarted in Canada but remotely staffed by talented developers from around the world, Lunarch was founded in 2013 by a group of math olympiad champions, professional poker players, and MIT PhD students aiming to advance the art of online games through aggressive innovation. Lunarch aims to create ambitious, one-of-a-kind titles that define new genres and innovate in multiple directions at once. After developing Prismata—an award-winning strategy game of perfect information—Lunarch partnered with some of the world’s greatest puzzle designers to create an uncompromising open-world puzzle game: Islands of Insight.

© 2015-2023 BEHAVIOUR, ISLANDS OF INSIGHT and other related trademarks and logos belong to Behaviour Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.     

###

Larian reintroduces audiences to the iconic city in new Baldur’s Gate 3 video

DUBLIN — June 11, 2023 — Hot on the heels of Summer Game Fest – which revealed award-winning actor Jason Isaacs in the role of Baldur’s Gate 3’s second major villain – Larian Studios provided players with their first look at the iconic Forgotten Realms city of Baldur’s Gate in decades at today’s PC Gaming Show.

Opening on an image of the sprawling waters of the Chionthar River, in-game footage reveals a fully next-gen reimagining of this iconic fantasy setting while the development team discusses the daunting undertaking of recreating Baldur’s Gate for a modern RPG. The city of Baldur’s Gate is a metropolis of labyrinthine streets, with alleys, temples, and crowded public houses teeming with life, and stories woven into the lives of every local you encounter.

Baldur’s Gate is back and bigger than ever

“We can put lots more of the city on screen than we could in 1998,” said narrative design expert Lawrence Schick. “We can do something that is more immersive, richer, has more texture to it.”

The city itself is also bigger than any iteration of this setting that’s come before it. The streets — which span the menacing roads of the Outer City, the opulent estates of the Upper City, and the dark alleys of the Lower City — are populated with a rich cast of characters, each possessing their own untold stories, well-kept secrets, and personal reactions.

“You have crowds that are walking around everywhere. You can talk to pretty much anybody, and they react to every single thing,” said Swen Vincke, creative director at Larian Studios. “It’s very alive in that sense.”

“One of the things that’s done is it’s added this level of believability and immersion and also complexity that wouldn’t have been there otherwise,” said associate writing lead Chrystal Ding. “It feels like you are walking around a place where there are lots and lots of people living their actual lives.”

Larian originally prototyped Baldur’s Gate as a series of smaller contained regions connected by teleports, but midway into developing the city, decided to make some major changes.

“[Swen] said, like, can’t we just connect everything?” said world building director Farhang Namdar. “And that was an interesting day.”

Come launch, players will be stepping foot in a Baldur’s Gate made up of three seamless open world districts. No matter if you’re investigating underground crypts, wandering the chambers of a towering citadel, or descending into hidden cellars, there will be no visible loading screens to interrupt your experience.

“We spent I think three times, four times more effort on the city than we originally planned to, but the result, the feeling of walking in there, is just fantastic,” said Vincke. “So the thing that I was the most afraid of when we started making this game turned out to be the thing that I’m the most proud of.”

Players can experience the city for themselves when Baldur’s Gate 3 releases on PC and PlayStation 5 on Aug. 31, 2023.

More information on Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on the official website. You can stay up to date with the latest Larian Studios news via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and the official Discord server.

About Larian Studios

Larian Studios is an independent RPG developer founded in 1996 in Ghent, Belgium. Over 400 people work between worldwide studios in Ghent, Quebec, Dublin, Guildford, Malaysia and Barcelona. Larian is best known for the Divinity universe, which they introduced to the world with Divine Divinity in 2002.

In 2014, Larian launched Divinity: Original Sin, a classic CRPG that won over 150 awards and nominations. The company released its critically acclaimed sequel Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Sept. 14, 2017, followed by the Definitive Edition in August 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to a 93 Metacritic rating. The Nintendo Switch version released in September 2019 featuring cross-save progression between Nintendo Switch and Steam. Divinity: Original Sin 2 won a BAFTA for Best Multiplayer Game. In October 2020, Larian Studios released the early access version of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Watch the debut trailer now for this story-driven, pixel-art action-platformer, revealed at the PC Gaming Show

NEO-BARCELONA – June 11, 2023 – Developer 2Awesome Studio and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX have announced Altered Alma, a new action-platformer game in development for PC, Mac and Linux. Revealed during the PC Gaming Show, Altered Alma combines the classic Metroidvania formula with RPG and dating sim elements, a slick pixel-art presentation, and a gripping, non-linear story from award-winning writer Antony Johnston (Resident Evil Village, Dead Space).

Embark on a journey through the neon-lit streets of Neo-Barcelona in this stunning cyberpunk adventure! As a young mercenary named Jack, you’ll carve your way through ruthless gangsters in fast-paced combat while working for some of the city’s most dangerous people yourself. Upgrade your hero with unique abilities, customize your ship, recruit and forge bonds with new crew members, and make difficult moral choices while trying to protect the ones you love.

Key Features

• A Space Opera Metroidvania: Discover new routes, acquire powerful upgrades, and adapt your playstyle as you take on the criminal kingpins of Neo-Barcelona.
• Your Ship, Captain & Crew: Customize and upgrade your base of operations while recruiting new crew members. The choices you make will directly influence Jack’s abilities and playstyle.
• Forge Relationships with Colorful Characters: Reconnect with Jack’s old friends and make new ones! Recruit them to your cause, build relationships, and even find love in an unforgiving world.
• Engage in Intense Combat: Master a rapid, stylish combat system while using powerful abilities of skill and mobility to overcome the relentless onslaught of enemies.
• Face a Pantheon of Adversaries: Encounter tons of unique foes, from gangs of giant lizards to armies of cyborgs… and don’t forget a variety of vicious bosses for Jack to defeat!
• Experience Barcelona, Reimagined: Explore Neo-Barcelona, a futuristic city inspired by the real thing, featuring bold visions of iconic landmarks like the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and more!

Altered Alma is available to wishlist now on Steam. For the latest information, visit www.AlteredAlma.com, and follow the game on Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.

2Awesome Studio

2Awesome Studio is an independent game development studio and indie publisher whose mission is to add awesomeness to reality by developing video games with new and addictive mechanics and finding games that are equally awesome to publish. www.2awesomestudio.com

About CRITICAL REFLEX

CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publishing label on a mission: find kick-ass games, make sure they’re at their best upon release, and put them in front of as many gaming fans as possible. Members of our team have worked with a lot of successful indie projects, launched a dozen crowdfunding companies, and now we’ve come together to publish games that we love! www.criticalreflex.com

Starfield Direct | New Starfield Gameplay & Information Unveiled

During today’s Starfield Direct, Bethesda Game Studios revealed new Starfield gameplay and information. The studio pulled back the curtain on new systems, features, characters, and stories players will discover as they chart their own course amongst the stars.

Along with a wealth of new gameplay, the Direct revealed the Constellation Edition and Premium Edition. Players who purchase either edition will be granted up to 5 days early access to the game.

Starfield Direct: twitch.tv/videos/1843662818

Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® and Fallout® 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create your character and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.  

In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game. 

Along the way you will join in the adventures of various factions; pilot and customise your own ship; explore planets and discover their local flora, fauna, and resources; build outposts; and master a refined combat system to deal with threats of all kinds. 

Constellation Edition and Premium Edition

Starfield Constellation Edition includes:

• Starfield Base Game
• Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)  
• *Up to 5 days early access 
• **Starfield Chronomark Watch and Case 
• ***SteelBook® Display Case  
• Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
• Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack  
• **Constellation Patch
• Credit Stick with Laser-Etched Game Code  

*Actual play time depends on purchase date and is subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.  
**Disclaimer: Phone connectivity limited. The Starfield Chronomark watch does not transmit phone calls, does not support cellular service, and is not a touch screen device.
***Only available at select retailers.

Starfield Premium Edition includes:

• Starfield Base Game   
• Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)   
• *Up to 5 days early access   
• Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack 
• Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack  

*Actual play time depends on purchase date and is subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.  

All active Game Pass members as well as players who pre-order Starfield will receive the “Old Mars Skin Pack” in-game bonus items, which includes:

• Laser Cutter  
• Deep Mining Helmet  
• Deep Mining Pack  

Starfield Limited Edition Wireless Xbox Controller and Headset

Bethesda Game Studios teamed up with the Xbox hardware team to create a Limited Edition Starfield Xbox controller and headset. The controller features full side and back grips that resemble the panels of a spaceship as well as a metallic bronze directional pad. The faceplate is accented with Constellation colours and printed with a control scheme inspired by your ship, the Frontier.

The first ever custom headset created by Xbox, the Starfield Limited Edition Xbox headset is the perfect companion for the controller. Like the triggers on the controller, this headset sports a matching transparent and metallic bronze mic boom. Both the headset and controller are available now for purchase on Xbox.com.  

Starfield releases September 6 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Players can pre-order now or play day one with Game Pass. Pre-ordering either the Premium or Constellation Edition will grant players up to five days early access to the game, dependent on purchase date and subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.

To learn more about Starfield you can check out the official website.

For more information head over to the Bethesda News site

Gorgeous hand-drawn Metroidvania coming to PC, consoles this year

SAN FRANCISCO — June 11, 2023 — Ebenezer and The Invisible World, a hand-drawn Metroidvania fantasy reimagination of Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story, A Christmas Carol, from Orbit Studio and Play on Worlds, kicked off Christmas in June with a reveal trailer debuting at the PC Gaming Show. The ghosts of Christmas Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam will visit everyone later this year. Play the demo today on Steam.

After his haunting visits from Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Ebenezer Scrooge’s eyes have been opened to the invisible world. He now sees ghosts chained to the mortal world crowding the streets of Victorian-era London. Many seek Ebenezer’s help. Play as miser-turned-hero Ebenezer Scrooge in a story-rich, supernatural fantasy adventure where Christmas spirit and frightening phantoms collide.

On a dark, wintery night, a benevolent spirit warns Ebenezer of a sinister threat looming over London: the Malthus family. Led by Caspar Malthus, the family dreams of a power source able to render the working class irrelevant and susceptible to their wealthy overlords. If anyone can show the Malthus bloodline the error of their greedy ways, it’s Ebenezer.

However, other forces at play seek to keep Ebenezer and his spectral allies from achieving their goal. Unrepentant ghosts, the Malthus Private Guard, Caspar Malthus, a mysterious Dark Spirit, as well as menacing bosses and mini-bosses will test his resolve.

Set off on a journey to save the people of London from Caspar Malthus and a legion of unrepentant ghosts. Encounter friendly spirits, each with a personal story and quest. Help these ghostly allies, then summon them to help defeat enemies or overcome insurmountable obstacles. Glide through the air, smash through walls, defy space and time with teleportation, and combat enemies with the ghosts of a mountaineer, soldier, prisoner, harpoonist, trapeze artist, astronomer, and many more. Over a dozen unique spirits await Ebenezer’s call.

Explore a meticulously hand-drawn Victorian-era London adapted into a non-linear Metroidvania map full of secrets. Uncover hidden rooms and pathways to unlock powerful, game-changing Heirlooms and master a variety of ghostly weapons. Beyond the snow-covered streets, discover the mysteries of magical observatories, forgotten passageways, experimental facilities, advanced technology factories, and even ghostly realms beneath the city.

“Ebenezer and the Invisible World explores the premise of a London filled with ghosts like Jacob Marley,” said Carlos Martin, Founder at Play on Worlds. “In a world inspired by A Christmas Carol, Victorian-era London has become a spectral playground filled with ghosts, friend and foe, and each one you meet has great power.”

Ebenezer and The Invisible World will arrive later this year on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5|4, Xbox Series X|S|One, and PC via Steam. For more information, visit the game’s official website, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, join the community on Discord, and search for #EbenezerGame on social media.

About Play on Worlds

Play on Worlds is a video game company that produces high-quality indie budget games committed to excellence in gameplay and deep universes. The team’s first commercial release is Ebenezer and the Invisible World, a supernatural, fantasy adventure based on Charles Dicken’s classic ghost story, A Christmas Carol.

About Orbit Studio

Orbit Studio was founded in 2016 by a group of passionate game developers with a shared vision of creating captivating and innovative game experiences. Over the years, Orbit has grown from a small indie team to an award-winning, full-fledged game development studio.

Spider hunting sequel announced at PC Gaming Show; Steam Early Access in 2023, consoles in 2024

SEATTLE — June 11, 2023 — Kill It With Fire 2, the sci-fi inspired sequel to the first-person spider-hunter from developer Casey Donnellan Games and publisher tinyBuild, battles even more creepy crawlers – this time in space! The sequel arrives on PC via Steam Early Access in Q4 2023 and on PlayStation 4|5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2024, as announced during the PC Gaming Show.

The blowtorch had been stowed away, and there was finally a chance to breathe and enjoy some well-earned peace. Well, until spiders stopped being just an “Earth problem” — now they’re attempting to take over the entirety of time and space as we know it. So get those fires blazing and don that spacesuit because Kill It With Fire 2 is here, and the spiders are bigger and badder than ever.

Stop the eradication of the universe by using interdimensional travel to defeat these highly powerful new spiders. Step into the shoes of The Exterminator once more, taking every measure possible to destroy the eight-legged freaks. Learn the sordid tale of how these nearly unkillable spiders were created. Work alongside the capable A.I. Darwin to finally demolish the spiders he’s been trying to take down for centuries. 

“If the spiders on Earth were scary, then the spiders awaiting termination among the cosmos are beyond horrifying,” said Casey Donnellan, solo developer of Kill It With Fire and Kill It With Fire 2. “This astronomically adventurous sequel explores the depths of the multiverse with new worlds, time travel, and a new story that eager exterminators will love!”

Kill It With Fire 2 launches on PC via Steam Early Access in 2023 and on PlayStation 4|5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2024.

To stay up to date with the latest updates, visit Kill It With Fire 2’s official website and follow @tinyBuild and @KIWF_Game on Twitter.

About Casey Donnellan Games

Casey Donnellan is an independent game developer and former AAA developer. After graduating from SMU Guildhall in 2012, he spent several years as an engineer at Certain Affinity before helping to found Rooster Teeth Games. Shipped titles include DOOM (2016), RWBY: Grimm Eclipse, Vicious Circle, and Age of Booty: Tactics. Casey lives with his wife, dog, and two cats in Austin, Texas. He does not like spiders.

About tinyBuild

tinyBuild is a global video game publisher and developer focused on creating long-lasting, sustainable franchises across multiple media formats. Responsible for over 70 titles including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, and Potion Craft, the company has a dozen development studios spread across the US, EU, Serbia, and Ukraine.

Earlier today, during the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature, Xbox showed its most ambitious line-up of games yet.  

The showcase – which you can watch on-demand here.

Featured 27 games players can look forward to on Xbox – from next-gen titles and never-before-seen exclusives like Clockwork Revolution and South of Midnight, as well as exciting updates from Fable, Forza Motorsport, and Avowed. Players also got a look at never-before-seen content from Starfield, the highly anticipated RPG from Bethesda Game Studios. Following the new content revealed from Starfield, Xbox announced that the Starfield Limited Edition Xbox wireless controller and headset are available later today for purchase. You can also view Starfield Direct here. 

For more information on everything revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature, please check out the full recap on Xbox Wire,as well as deeper looks at a number of titles featured in the show in dedicated posts across Xbox Wire.   

Xbox also announced a new addition to its console family: theXbox Series S – 1TB in Carbon Black, which will be launching worldwide on Sept. 1, just in time for Starfield. Pre-orders for the console will open later today at Xbox.com and MicrosoftStore.com. 

To learn more about some of the latest reveals you saw today and even more Xbox content, tune in to the Xbox Games Showcase Extended on Wednesday, June 14 at 03 am AEST/ 05 am NZST, where we will share in-depth interviews for key titles from our Xbox Games Showcase, as well as game updates and news from our partners. Some of the content you can expect from the show includes: 

• Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel shares more insights on the game following its gameplay trailer reveal at Xbox Showcase 
• A behind-the-scenes look at the performance capture tech powering Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II 
• Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Microsoft Flight Simulator – Dune Expansion 
• An in depth look at the newly revealed Towerborne from Xbox Game Studios Publishing and Stoic 

If you would like assets from the events (screenshots, logos, fact sheets, artwork, etc.), Xbox has a new Xbox Press Portal. If this is your first time on the new Press Portal, you will be asked to register, and a password will be provided to you in email within 48 hours. If you require assets sooner, please let us know and we will assist as quickly as possible.  

CD PROJEKT RED has announced today at the Xbox Games Showcase that Phantom Liberty, the upcoming spy-thriller expansion for their open-world action-adventure RPG Cyberpunk 2077, will be launching on September 26th, 2023. The announcement was accompanied by a brand new trailer featuring key story beats, characters, location, as well as new content coming with the expansion.

In Phantom Liberty, players once again take on the role of V, a cyberpunk for hire, as they embark on a mission to save the President of the New United States of America after her orbital shuttle is shot down over the deadliest district of Night City — Dogtown. What follows is a deep dive into an intricate story of espionage and political intrigue which connects the highest echelons of power with the brutal world of black-market mercenaries. The stakes are larger than life, but so is the reward — your very survival.

Watch the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Official Trailer

The full-fledged expansion to Cyberpunk 2077 features a hard-hitting spy-thriller adventure to embark on set in a brand new location. Over the course of the new story players will meet and work with new characters, including FIA sleeper agent Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba. Among the returning cast is Keanu Reeves, reprising his role as rebel-rockerboy Johnny Silverhand. The expansion also comes with a slew of new content, including new quests, gigs, and gig types; new vehicles, tech, cyberware, and weapons; a brand new Relic skill tree for even more freedom for crafting one’s own unique playstyle, and more.

Learn more about Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC (GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store) on September 26th 2023. Pre-orders for the expansion are now available across all platforms, including a Cyberpunk 2077 & Phantom Liberty bundle including the expansion and base game, the latter being required to play Phantom Liberty. Anyone who pre-purchases Phantom Liberty will receive a special bonus — early access to the Quadra Sport R-7 “Vigilante” upon the expansion’s launch, with PlayStation users additionally receiving 3 premium PlayStation Network profile avatars.

Pre-order Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

For more information regarding Cyberpunk 2077, including the Phantom Liberty expansion, visit the official website, as well as follow the game on Facebook and Twitter

About Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is a narrative-driven, open world RPG set in the most vibrant and dangerous metropolis of the future — Night City. The game follows the story of V, a hired gun on the rise in a world of cyberenhanced street warriors, tech-savvy netrunners and corporate life-hackers. Featuring CD PROJEKT RED’s hallmark concept of choices and consequences, players will face difficult decisions that ripple through the entire game. Winner of over 200 awards, Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the universe of the classic pen & paper RPG system, Cyberpunk 2020.

About CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a game development studio founded in 2002. It develops and publishes video games for personal computers and video game consoles. The studio’s flagship titles include The Witcher series of games, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, and the futuristic AAA role-playing game — Cyberpunk 2077, upon which the Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, created by CD PROJEKT RED and Studio Trigger, is based. 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).

Become the Galaxy’s Most Wanted Scoundrel in the First Open-World Star Wars™ Game

LOS ANGELES — June 11, 2023 — Today at the Xbox Games Showcase, Ubisoft, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, announced that Star Wars Outlaws, the first open-world Star Wars game, is launching on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC through Ubisoft Connect in 2024.

A first look at Star Wars Outlaws gameplay will be shown during Ubisoft Forward on Monday, June 12 at 10:00am PDT / Tuesday, June 13 at 3:00am AEST and can be watched on YouTube (youtube.com/Ubisoft) or Twitch (twitch.tv/ubisoft).

With development led by Massive Entertainment*, Star Wars Outlaws will invite players to experience the Star Wars galaxy like never before through an original story set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™. As the Galactic Empire relentlessly pursues the final defeat of the Rebel Alliance, the criminal underworld thrives. Fans will play as cunning scoundrel, Kay Vess, brought to life by Humberly González, and her loyal companion Nix, played by Dee Bradley Baker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch™), as they attempt one of the greatest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen. Seeking the means to start a new life, players will join Kay and Nix as they fight, steal, and outwit their way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates and join the galaxy’s most wanted.

“When we first imagined the first open-world Star Wars game, we explored where and when it could take place, and quickly realized that we had all the right ingredients for the journey of a scoundrel. These outlaws live life under the thumb of the Galactic Empire, but can still thrive given the opportunities that the criminal underworld opens up for people looking to take advantage of the turmoil,” said Julian Gerighty, Creative Director at Massive Entertainment. “The time is ripe for a new outlaw to make their name, and Kay Vess is written in the stars.”

“With Star Wars Outlaws, we’re excited to deliver the first truly open world Star Wars game, with an action-adventure story filled with characters and planets both new and well-known to the Star Wars galaxy,” said Douglas Reilly, vice president, Lucasfilm Games. “We have been working closely with the talented team at Massive Entertainment, and with their years of experience in creating richly-detailed worlds, we’re excited for fans to be able to jump into the Star Wars scoundrel fantasy like never before.”

For more information about Star Wars Outlaws, please visit: starwarsoutlaws.com

For the latest news on Star Wars Outlaws and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: news.ubisoft.com 

*Development partners include Ubisoft Annecy, Bucharest, Chengdu, Milan, Montpellier, Shanghai, Toronto and Paris.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew® and Tom Clancy’s The Division®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2022–23 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,739 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2023 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks in the US and/or other countries.

STAR WARS TM & © 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Ubisoft. Ubisoft TM & © 2023 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Chess meets fighting games in Checkmate Showdown, a brand new co-developed title by indie studios ManaVoid Entertainment and BadRez Games. The game was officially announced today during the OTK Games Expo, where viewers were treated to an explosive Announcement Trailer. The teams also took the opportunity to launch a new Kickstarter campaign to help bring the game to the next level.

Inspired by the rising popularity of chessboxing, competitive chess streaming and the new golden age of fighting games, Checkmate Showdown is an online multiplayer competitive game mixing the strategical elegance of chess with the fast-paced execution of fighting games.Through its innovative dual-leveled gameplay, it will truly challenge players to a competition of mind and spirit.

Developed by a team of passionate fighting game players, Checkmate Showdown will feature the standard elements all fighting game enthusiasts expect with a robust combo system and a tight-knit combat approach that rewards skill over button mashing.

The game is currently slated for a PC release, with consoles (PS4/5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch) to be considered depending on Kickstarter or publishing funding.

Key features:

• True Test of Strategy & Skill: Checkmate Showdown will require the player to master a broad set of skills to become the best. Learn strategies for the board and elaborate combos for the fights to make your way to the top. 
• Tactical Fighting Decision-Making: As each chess piece corresponds to a fighting game archetype, the choice of attacking with one or the other will be crucial. Strategize on the board but stay flexible as you’ll never know which type of fighter might come your way!
• Strong competition system: Checkmate Showdown is made by a team of hardcore fighting game enthusiasts who understand the importance of competition in fighting games. The game aims to feature the most up-to-date matchmaking technology and balancing to allow for friendly (or not!) competition.
• Community at Heart: Based in the center of Montreal, the development team thrives from its proximity to the local fighting game community. The game is made by fighting game enthusiasts for fighting game enthusiasts.

About ManaVoid Entertainment
Founded in 2014, ManaVoid creates video games that mix genres, themes and popular mechanics in order to create innovative and unique experiences. After launching Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan to critical acclaim (84 Metacritic) in 2021, the team is also currently working on a roguelike city-builder titled Roots of Yggdrasil alongside Checkmate Showdown.

About BadRez Games
Founded by Mathias Theys and Jon Cote, BadRez Games is born from their shared love of fighting games but also from the realization that the genre has mechanically not evolved at the same pace as other genres. Checkmate Showdown follows this direction and aims to offer a more strategically complex competitive game than other fighting games while delivering a sensational fighting game experience!