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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: GRAND CROSS UPDATES NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2023

LOS ANGELES – January 3, 2023 – Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, released a new game update for The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross that celebrates the New Year Festival 2023 with a bounty of new content, rewards and a new playable character from the [The Seven Deadly Sins].

The newest character [Cursed Shackles] Purgatory Meliodas will be a familiar face to fans of the anime and enters the game as a Dark Attribute Hero. Players can unlock this new hero and many more in the New Year Festival 2023 Poll Draw. The list of characters, which are determined by players, from Poll Draw includes [Last Philosopher] Mage of Infinity Merlin, [Twisted Darkness] Berserk Estarossa, [Holy Warrior] Traitor Meliodas, and [Restored Memories] Elizabeth of Eternal Rebirth. SSR heroes are guaranteed at 300 and 600 miles, while the latest addition [Cursed Shackles] Purgatory Meliodas is guaranteed at 900 miles.

The celebratory update also brings the New Year Festival 2023 Special Mission, which is composed of five different missions that allow players to earn rewards after completing each, as well as when all five missions are completed. Special prizes as part of the special mission include Diamonds, a New Year Festival 2023 Poll Ticket, Growth materials, and more.

Starting today, players can experience this and all the various New Year Festival update content and events including:

  • New Year 2023 Lucky Raffle Drum: 3 chances to use a raffle drum are provided every day for players that complete a mission. A total of 7,777,777 Diamonds are available for the entire global players, with the first class earning 1,000 Diamonds.
  • New Year 2023 Check-in Event: Players that check in to the game for 28 days can receive up to 300 Diamonds.
  • New Year Festival 2023 Roulette Event: Players can spring the wheel by using a special currency, which is earned by playing the game, and earn rewards including an event costume, an event artifact, and [New Legend] Demon Meliodas.   
  • New Year Festival 2023 Event Boss Parade: A different event boss will appear every week for a chance to earn the special event costume, event artifact, and more Diamonds. The first week will feature boss Malek, while bosses Kimara and Baruja will be featured the second and third week respectively.
  • New Year 2023 Event Artifact Wish Draw: Earn existing event artifacts by entering the Artifact Wish Draw for a chance to earn an artifact card, with chances increased if 3 cards are registered in the wish list.
  • Additional Content Updates: Chapter 25.5 and new Holy Relics like Foreign Swordsman Nanashi and Wanderer Thonar have also been added with today’s update.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross brings the riveting story and adventures of [The Seven Deadly Sins] into a turn-based RPG mobile gaming with dynamic combat and breathtaking animations. The continent of Britannia is brought to life with the cast of the original Japanese voice actors reprising their characters in high-resolution 3D animated cutscenes. Strategiz by combining the unique skills of [The Seven Deadly Sins] characters to take down bosses or in PVP mode and even dress up the characters in exclusive outfits and new accessories through regular updates.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, please visit the game’s official website and Facebook.

Based on the manga “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Nakaba Suzuki originally serialized in the weekly SHONEN MAGAZINE published by Kodansha Ltd.

©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of the Commandments Project,MBS. All Rights Reserved.

©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon’s Judgement Production Committee, TX

©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble F&C Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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About Netmarble Corporation

Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a top developer and publisher pushing the boundaries of the mobile gaming experience with highly innovative games including Marvel Future Revolution, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, Lineage 2: Revolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Blade & Soul Revolution and MARVEL Future Fight. As a parent company of Kabam, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble strives to entertain audiences around the world with a variety of mobile games based on its powerful franchises and collaborations with IP holders worldwide. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com

Unite against chaos in DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, a new open world DC Super-Hero adventure to launch inMarch 2023

Take on the mantle of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman in the upcoming new family-friendly co-op action adventure to save Happy Harbour from the nefarious Mr. Mxyzptlk

Watch the full reveal trailer here

Outright Games, the leading publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, is pleased to reveal the game features and launch date for DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos. Licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC, Outright Games calls DC fans of all ages to unite against chaos in this all-new open world action adventure game. The game will be available in retail stores from March 10th 2023 on PlayStation 4®, PlayStation 5®, Nintendo Switch™ and digitally on Xbox One, Xbox X|S and Steam.

Designed to be fun for the whole family, play as fan favourite Super Heroes Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman to battle Mr. Mxyzptlk, the trickster from the 5th Dimension, who has arrived to reign chaos. He is one of the most powerful Super-Villains, with the ability to manipulate space and time and who also really enjoys pranks. Mr. Mxyzptlk has summoned Starro the Conqueror to keep the Justice League busy while he becomes the new self-appointed Mayor of Happy Harbor.

One of the first villains that the Justice League fought against together in The Brave and the Bold No.28 in 1960, Starro the Conqueror, the mind controlling alien, wreaks havoc across the town. Players will face action-packed missions and must defeat hordes of enemies using each hero’s unique abilities, from Superman’s Heat Vision and Super Breath to Wonder Woman’s Truth’s Pull, to restore peace. Fly, lasso and flip across Happy Harbor to complete puzzles and unlock outfits and special upgrades to customise the DC Super Heroes in this colourful open world adventure. Players can also interact with other Justice League members Green Lantern, Cyborg, The Flash and Aquaman who make cameos throughout the game.

Fans can enjoy DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos with friends and family in 2-player couch co-op to engage with exciting and hilarious gameplay.

(insert name) of Outright Games said: “Working alongside DC and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to bring DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos to life has levelled up the Outright Games portfolio. Fans love the ultimate ensemble team, The Justice League, which is why we are excited to include Mr. Mxyzptlk in this game’s story. Mr Mxyzptlk creates such a fun narrative for players to enjoy, as he thrives on bringing mischief and mayhem to Happy Harbor. We wanted to create an adventure that honed in on the character traits of our Super-Villains, allowed players to experience iconic super powers while also creating a fun experience for younger audiences to be introduced to the Justice League universe.”

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos will be available from March 10th 2023 on PlayStation 4®, PlayStation 5®, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and Steam.

About DC

DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels.  DC’s creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC’s stories and characters integrated across Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games, and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC Universe Infinite digital comic subscription service.  Learn more at DC.com.

About PHL Collective

Since 2013 PHL Collective has designed and released numerous games for console, mobile, PC, and VR; it’s gained media attention and won awards for quality and gameplay. PHL’s games, coupled with its strong management and production processes, have fueled the studio’s growth, and made it Philadelphia’s largest game developer.

About Outright Games: 

Outright Games is a global video games publisher with a focus on bringing quality family entertainment to a worldwide audience. Founded in 2016, Outright Games has established its place in the market delivering engaging interactive games of beloved entertainment licences globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including favourites such as My Friend Peppa Pig with Hasbro, Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Rise of SH1FT3R with NBC Universal, Jumanji: The Video Game with Sony Pictures and PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls with Nickelodeon. With an Outright Games title there will be fun for all the family to enjoy.

For more information please visit: www.outrightgames.com 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl: Come to Me Official Trailer

KYIV, UKRAINE — 29, December 2022
As the most hard and unpredictable year in our studio’s history draws to its end, GSC Game World is pleased to present the new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl trailer:

The video contains footage from both cutscenes and gameplay, and gives a better understanding of the adventure beyond. Featuring a huge, borderless open-world and a non-linear story, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl releases on PC and Xbox Series X/S in 2023. The game will be available on Game Pass day one, and pre-orders are opened on our website, as well as on Steam and GOG

We dedicate this trailer to our fallen heroes: the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Ukraine. We also want to take a moment to express gratitude for all the support we have been receiving from our players and partners during the past months. Even the basic words can do miracles when the situation is dire. Thank you so much for being with us during these uneasy times.

Since the very start of Russia’s full-fledged war against our country, GSC Game World has been supporting Ukraine in all the ways we could. For those willing to do the same, we recommend following a link to the official charity fund of Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine himself:
https://u24.gov.ua/

Feel free to follow our social channels to get the new info about the game as it comes out:Website: https://www.stalker2.com/

About S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a brand-new entry in the legendary series, enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.

The unique combination of first-person shooter, immersive sim, and horror is back. With unprecedented scale, advanced graphics, freedom of choices, and the thickest atmosphere of a deadly adventure, it’s going to be the ultimate S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience

Welcome to The Zone — an area of exclusion around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Full of radiation, mutants, and anomalies, it keeps drawing adventurers from beyond the perimeter.

Bounty hunters dwell deep into the Zone, driven by its treasures and mysteries. These people are known as stalkers.

Are you ready to become one of them?

About GSC Game World
GSC Game World is a Ukrainian video game development company based in Kyiv. Founded in 1995, it is best known for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Cossacks game series. The studio is currently developing the next big entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise.

Eximius: Seize the Frontline Season 3 Update Revamps Graphics with Unreal Engine 5, Overhauls Units

Epic Game Store launches 30 Dec. with full cross-play capabilities

SELANGOR, Malaysia – 29 Dec. 2022 – Eximius: Seize the Frontline, the strategy shooter hybrid from Ammobox Studios seamlessly blending FPS and RTS action, marches onto the battlefield with Season 3, “The Breakthrough,” update alongside an official launch on Epic Game Store with full cross-platform multiplayer tomorrow, 30 Dec. 2022.

Get the lay of the land in a whole new light with fully revamped graphics and optimization systems courtesy of Unreal Engine 5. Recruit freshly reworked units from Support Crawler, APC, Specialist, Armory and Deployed Mule, and Service Ironguard to round out a capable team of commandos. Unite the squadron with seven distinct skins, including two premium options, and enjoy newly implemented key remapping potentials in addition to other exciting updates.

Rival security contractors compete for total control over a devolving dystopian world. The field is dominated by two forces, the Axeron Corporation, a private research organization known as AXR, and the Global Security Force, a peacekeeping organization known as GSF. Both sides hold the irrevocable belief that their status quo will pull society from its downfall, and will stop at nothing to achieve complete authority.

Skillfully meld tactical gameplay with real-time strategy and assemble a powerful team of hand-picked units to engage in 5v5 squad-based combat. Set up camp and train an unstoppable battalion of soldiers as acting Commander on the RTS side. Then, switch into the first-person shooter role to neutralize combatants and gather resources to upgrade forces for the next skirmish. 

Eximius: Seize the Frontline continues to expand with even more opportunities for growth and experimentation, and we at Ammobox couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Jeremy Choo, Director, Ammobox Studios. “We strive to offer commanders ample choice in how they play between real-time strategy and first-person shooter styles. We’re proud to bring Eximius’ fully upgraded systems to fans today, and look forward to introducing new divisions to the AXR and GSF forces in the very near future!”

Eximius: Seize the Frontline is available now, including the Season 3 update, on Epic Game Store for free as a part of their weekly giveaway as well as Windows PC via Steam and the Humble Store at a 75% launch-week discount for $7.49. Following the conclusion of the sale, the permanent price will be lowered to $19.99. Eximius features English, German, Russian, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) language support.

To learn more, visit the official site and join the community on Twitter, Facebook, and Discord.

About Ammobox Studios

Ammobox Studios is an independent developer based in Malaysia. Founded on the core concepts of innovation and a people-first studio culture, they seek to deliver memorable experiences by innovating on classic mechanics. Eximius: Seize the Frontline is their debut title.

For more on Ammobox Studios, please visit the official website.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion Review

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $49.99 USD – Available Here $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Over the years the line between a remake and a remaster has blurred. While there are simple remasters that simply bring a game to modern consoles with barely any upgrades other remasters have taken the original and improved it in almost every possible way. With Square Enix’s handling of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion this line is almost non-existent as the company has taken this 2007 PSP game and revamped most aspects of the title through graphical upgrades and technical changes to some gameplay mechanics. Were their efforts successful or is this prequel of an action RPG best left in the past?

Story

Set seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion follows the story of Zack Fair, a 2nd Class member of SOLDIER who has dreams of becoming a hero and looks up to his friend and mentor 1st Class soldier Angeal. He is jealous that Sephiroth is often given the spotlight as the greatest hero that SOLDIER has ever seen and does his best to train and get promoted to a 1st Class fighter like the rest, not batting an eye at any of the missions that Shinra sends him on even if it involves invading the land of Wutai and eliminating everyone he comes across. 

His hopes of becoming the best Shinra has ever seen begin to waver as other members of SOLDIER begin to go rogue and turn against the company and things begin to grow ever darker as more elements involving Shinra’s shadier elements begin to come to light. As the story progresses through its ten roughly hour long chapters players will watch Zack go from a starry eyed fighter to a more serious and troubled character as he experiences numerous losses, betrayals, and more all while interacting with numerous familiar faces that appear in the main game. Of course, the game isn’t all dark and dreary as it takes plenty of opportunities to work in some eye-rolling humor, some emotionally touching moments, and odd mood swings that feel like the perfect epitome of mid-00s writing.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion continues to work quite well as a prequel to at least most of the events that happen in Final Fantasy VII as it gives some great characterization to both Zack as well as Sephiroth before he turned into the villain that everyone is familiar with. It also details quite a lot of the preceding events and some of the most dramatic moments that appear as memories in the base game. That being said, it is worth noting that this story has not been changed in any way. This means that those who have played the original will already know everything that happens in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion and while this is great for purists and those who may never have played the original despite being fans of the classic Final Fantasy VII, it does mean that certain things may not quite line-up with how events might play out in Square’s latest efforts with VII’s story. Regardless, this story remains a great expansion to the lore of the series and gives some exceptional background to many characters and features numerous moments that fans of Final Fantasy VII will certainly enjoy.

Gameplay

At its core many elements of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion still hold fairly true to its portable origins. Most combat encounters and almost all missions are designed to be small encounters that often only take a few minutes at a time. Even story missions feature battles that are spaced out with frequent save points in-between to make sure that players always have a place to stop should the need arise. It also happens to feature a fairly large number of random mini-games that appear throughout story missions that try and change things up a bit by introducing a random new mechanic that is immediately thrown away and end up being incredibly forgettable.

Battles in the game happen in real time with a focus on action as players always have a standard combo attack available to them at all times, revamped button mapping that allows for easier blocking and dodging, and the ability to swap between and use items on the fly. It also allows for quick use of any of the many Materia that players will have equipped, with four being the initial offering before players quickly unlock the ability to use six at a time. Materia that are used in combat make use of either MP for spells or AP for active attacks though there are also a number of Materia that can be equipped to either boost Zack’s abilities, health, mana, or AP, and offer a number of other improvements.

In fact, players will often find themselves with so many Materia that they may feel a bit overwhelmed with the amount available to them. Thankfully not only can players actively swap what Materia they have equipped in the middle of a mission they can also use Materia fusion to craft even stronger attacks and buffs. Fusing “Mastered” Materia will often result in a more powerful version of that skill being available such as Fira being upgradeable to Dark Firaga if fused with a proper skill or, should players wish, potentially unlock far stronger skills earlier than they usually would become available. This opens up quite a lot of possibilities that make for some exciting combinations, especially once players begin to equip accessories that remove the limiters placed on health, damage, etc.

This emphasis on customization makes for a number of interesting elements in combat but perhaps the most interesting comes from the Digital Mind Wave, or DMW. The DMW works as a literal slot machine that is constantly spinning in the top left of the screen as long as players are fighting in a battle. The spinners feature character pictures and numbers and depending on how the slots land, players may receive a number of buffs or be able to execute powerful attacks. Shouild three of a character’s image appear, not only will Zack restore some of his health, AP, and mana but also gain the ability to use powerful Limit Breaks or Summons that have various effects of their own such as dealing tons of damage, healing or buffing Zack, and even upgrading every Materia he owns. The numbers also play a factor as they can provide a number of buffs ranging from making all AP/MP attacks free of cost, making Zack temporarily invincible, or straight up leveling Zack in the middle of a fight.

The randomness of the DMW makes almost every fight something of an unknown since players may fight against a number of generic foes with zero buffs one time only for Zack to level up and finish everything off with a blast from Bahamut the next with no actual difference. Along these same lines, there can be boss battles that can be completely trivialized due to a Summon triggering randomly and since players have the option to immediately restart a fight should they fall in battle, even having the opportunity to change their equipment should they choose, players will find that the game’s only true challenge comes from tackling a Mission earlier than they should.

Now, these “Missions” end up making up the bulk of the game and also exhibit some of the game’s most obvious portable holdbacks. Missions can be undertaken at any save point, including those found in the middle of a story chapter, and feature a massive amount of rewards should players complete them. Sadly, a lot of these rewards are absolutely useless but players must complete these to reach ones that offer truly valuable items including those that allow them to equip more accessories or unlock new Summons to appear on the DMW. These Missions all make use of a handful of generic looking stages that can be completed within a few minutes and almost always involve some minor exploration through halls with random battles and hidden treasure chests before facing off against the target to complete the actual Mission. The fact that these are bite size challenges doesn’t stop them from being incredibly repetitive and the fact that some feature great rewards is something of an annoying drawback and it would have been nice to see them expanded in some form beyond the limitations imposed from the PSP.

Visuals & Audio

It must be said that Square Enix has put a lot of effort into making most of Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion look as outstanding as possible. Nearly all of the game’s character models have been given a complete overhaul to look as impressive as possible while the environments that players fight through are nicely detailed, if a bit too repetitive when it comes to the game’s missions. The game is at its best during combat where spells and combat techniques are visually impressive and the various summons that players can unleash are outstanding looking and a real treat whenever the DMW makes one available for use. It is worth noting that not every aspect has transitioned well as the game’s cinematic cutscenes are a bit on the rougher side as it appears that these have not been given any actual touch-up other than a minor up-res from their PSP versions, making them noticeable downgrades from what players are used to seeing throughout the game.

The English voice cast for Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion has been completely revamped with all of the voices of familiar characters being replaced with the voice actors who handled the same roles in Final Fantasy VII Remake. While this isn’t an issue for most of the cast, the new English voice actor for Zack is downright awful at the best of times and incredibly annoying during some of the game’s more eye rolling scenes. This means that those who want to really enjoy the game’s story will find the Japanese dub more than satisfactory. The soundtrack features all of the classic background music that fans of the original games will immediately recognize and while it does sound like they may have seen some improvement, the music remains quite impressive in this release.

Overall

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion often feels like it goes far beyond a simple remaster as it takes the game’s original combat mechanics and refines them to be far more accessible now that the title has arrived on consoles. Combine this with the mostly outstanding graphical upgrades and you have an amazing upgrade of a more than fifteen year old PSP game. Unfortunately limitations from its origins as a handheld mobile game as well as a dreadfully bad new English voice actor for Zack hold this remaster back from being truly outstanding.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns – Firaxis Tactical Legends Special Offer

Get Marvel’s Midnight Suns in the Firaxis Tactical Legends special offer on Steam, which includes XCOM 2 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown at special pricing*!

2K today announced Firaxis Tactical Legends, a new special offer on Steam that is available until January 2, 2023* and includes base game versions of Marvel’s Midnight Suns, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2. The special offer is available today at a suggested retail price of $89.92 and is eligible for the Steam “Complete the Set” feature, where you only pay for and receive items that you don’t already own. 

Firaxis’ latest game, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, is included as part of the Firaxis Tactical Legends special offer. Nominated for IGN’s Best RPG of 2022, Marvel’s Midnight Suns launched to critical acclaim, with VGC awarding it at 5 out of 5, calling it a “modern strategy classic.” PC Gamer said it was “completely brilliant” and scored it an 88 out of 100, and Rock Paper Shotgun called it “one of the best super hero games full stop.” The Firaxis Tactical Legends special offer includes:

Marvel’s Midnight Suns

  • Marvel’s Midnight Suns combines the rich story, character relationships, customization and progression of an RPG with the tactical strategy and combat mechanics of a revolutionary new card-based tactics game. Set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe, you will forge unbreakable bonds with legendary Marvel Super Heroes and dangerous supernatural warriors in the fight against the world’s greatest threat yet…the demonic forces of Lilith and the elder god Chthon. 

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

  • Winner of dozens of Game of the Year awards, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the modern remake of the classic and beloved original XCOM. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.

XCOM 2

  • XCOM 2 is the sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year. Aliens now rule Earth, promising a brilliant future for mankind while secretly hiding a sinister agenda. As the leader of a guerrilla force facing impossible odds, you must ignite a global resistance to eliminate the alien threat and save the human race from extinction. 

For more information on the Firaxis Tactical Legends special offer, visit the Steam page.

For more information on Marvel’s Midnight Suns, visit www.midnightsuns.com and sign up for the 2K newsletter, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube, follow on Twitter and Instagram, and join the conversation using the hashtag #MidnightSuns. 

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

*Firaxis Tactical Legends special offer available on Steam until 9:59 a.m. PT on January 2, 2023 (and equivalent time zones where offer is available). Pricing and availability may vary by region. See steampowered.com for details. Terms apply.

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NEXON’S “MAPLESTORY X BLACKPINK” COLLABORATION UPDATE

BLINK Beauty, a BLACK & PINK package designed by the BLACKPINK members will be released

SEOUL – Dec. 23, 2022 – On Friday, Dec. 23, Nexon Korea Co., Ltd. (CEO Lee Jeong-heon) announced the update for the collaboration between Nexon’s flagship IP MapleStory and global artist BLACKPINK.

Nexon has recently released two episodes of the collaboration videos as a preview for the collaboration project. Episode one of the collaboration videos features MapleStory gameplay experiences and each BLACKPINK member’s fashion style preferences. In episode two, BLACKPINK members divide into two teams – BLACK team (JISOO, JENNIE) and PINK team (ROSÉ, LISA) – and use BLACKPINK’s popular songs as inspiration to design collaboration items with the game’s art design department. Those two-episode videos where BLACKPINK members talk about their gaming experiences and provide ideas for design items have garnered a lot of attention from the players.

In this collaboration, MapleStory has released two BLACK Packages, two PINK Packages and BLINK Beauty item (Face/Hair). BLACK Packages, which are designed by JISOO and JENNIE, will include a chic and charismatic concept inspired by the popular songs “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down.” PINK Packages, which are designed by ROSÉ and LISA, will include the cute, bubbly, and lively concept inspired by the popular songs “As If It’s Your Last,” “Boombayah,” “Ice Cream,” and “DDU-DU DDU-DU.”

More information and details for the “MapleStory X BLACKPINK” collaboration update can be found on the official MapleStory and MapleStory M communities in North America, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and Korea.

Official MapleStory M Community: Facebook / Instagram /Twitter / Twitch / YouTube

About MapleStory M  https://maplestorym.nexon.com/

MapleStory M, launched globally on July 24, 2018, brings the nostalgic world of side-scrolling MMORPG MapleStory to mobile, offering the same endless amount of customization, immersive storylines and epic boss raids that fans have come to expect from the legendary franchise. MapleStory M quickly reached 10 million downloads within 100 days after global launch and celebrates its four year anniversary in 2022 having 16 million total downloads globally.

About NEXON Co., Ltd 

Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) (3659.TO) is a company engaged in the production, development and operation of online games and Virtual Worlds. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon was placed on JPX400 in 2015 and added to the Nikkei Stock Index 300 in 2017. In 2020, Nexon was added to the Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 45 live games on multiple platforms including mobile and available in more than 190 countries. Major game franchises include MapleStory, KartRider and Dungeon&Fighter. In 2021, Nexon completed the acquisition of Embark Studios AB, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden, developing multiple projects for global release. 

FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE REVEALS NEW TRAILER FOR PATCH 6.3 AND JANUARY 10th RELEASE DATE

Players Can Enjoy the Holidays with New Starlight Celebration and Heavensturn Seasonal Events

London (Dec. 23, 2022) – Duringtoday’s Letter from the Producer LIVE broadcast, SQUARE ENIX® revealed that FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online’s Patch 6.3: “Gods Revel, Lands Tremble” will launch on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023.

A new trailer offered players a fresh look at what to expect when Patch 6.3 launches, which includes a number of new activities including new main scenario quests, alliance raid, trial and more.
Additionally, updates scheduled for Patch 6.35 were also shared, including a new series of daily tribal quests and the next stage in the Hildibrand story saga.

You can view the trailer for Patch 6.3 here: https://sqex.to/S2deA

Further details on Patch 6.3 content are available below:

●       New Main Scenario Quests – In the darkness of the Thirteenth, the Warrior of Light finds an unexpected ally in a half-voidsent woman named Zero. She returns with them to the Source for a time, and upon recovering from their recent trials, they prepare to continue the search for Azdaja. But an unforeseen threat bars their path…

●       New Side Story Quests – Continue Tataru’s Grand Endeavor and the Tales of Newfound Adventure.

●       New 8-Player Trial – A new challenge at both Normal and Extreme difficulties.

●       New Unreal Trial – Containment Bay P1T6 (Unreal) – As ever, the faux commander craves tales of death-defying derring-do, and in a bid to satisfy him, you cast your mind back to your frenetic encounter with the eikon Sophia. The memory remains vivid even now, and you find yourself facing the Goddess once more, your very survival hanging in the balance…

●       New 24-Player Alliance Raid – Myths of the Realm, Part 2: Euphrosyne.

●       New Ultimate Raid (Patch 6.31) – Launching two weeks after Patch 6.3, challenge a fearsome version of Omega in the latest Ultimate battle.

●       New Dungeon – Lapis Manalis – In pursuit of voidsent, you learn of an abandoned village in the mountains of Garlemald where garleans once practiced the reaper arts. But what will you find there deep in the heart of the mountain?
Duty Support Updates – Support will be added for the remaining Heavensward™ main scenario dungeons (The Great Gubal Library, The Aetherochemical Research Facility, The Antitower, Sohr Khai, Xelphatol and Baelsar’s Wall) so they can be completed alongside a party of NPC allies.

●       Island Sanctuary Updates – A number of quality-of-life improvements, new ranks, crops, animals and more.

●       Gold Saucer Updates – New Leap of Faith map added.

●       Miscellaneous Updates – A new treasure hunt dungeon, various retainer adjustments, a new Crystalline Conflict PvP arena, new custom deliveries and more.

Additionally, Patch 6.35 will also include the following updates:

●       New Tribal Quests: Loporrits – New daily quests for Disciples of the Hand.

●       New Deep Dungeon: Eureka Orthos – The highly anticipated successor to Palace of the Dead and Heaven-on-High.

●       Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures

●       Manderville Weapons Update

To rewatch the broadcast, please watch the archived stream at: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1686701110

Players will also be able to celebrate the Starlight Celebration in-game seasonal event up until December 31 and go on an adventure to obtain seasonal items, including a new mount, the Starlight Steed. Additionally, as the year ends, and a new one begins, players can celebrate the annual Heavensturn in-game seasonal event which will run from January 1 to 16 and offer fun rewards to collect as well.

Finally, players on the North American data centers are now able to utilize the four new Worlds that launched alongside the new logical data center, named “Dynamis.” Launched on November 1, this addition will serve to further reduce congestion during peak periods for the ever-expanding player base with plans to expand again in the future. More details are available on the Lodestone at: https://sqex.to/Ro9we

With more than 27 million total registered players, there has never been a better time for newcomers to begin their adventures in the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online saga. The expanded Free Trial now includes all content from A Realm Reborn™ and the Heavensward™ expansion (and updates through Patch 3.56), as well as an additional playable race (Au Ra), and three additional playable jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist). Free Trial players can enjoy hundreds of hours of award-winning gameplay and story experiences equivalent to two full FINAL FANTASY titles, without limit on playtime. More information is available: http://sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial

New players looking to get up to speed can dive into the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Starter Guide Series, a seven-part online video series which provides novice players with tips and tricks to get the most out of their adventure. The YouTube video series follows the journey of new player Kaz and his mentor Mayra, who guides him through his first steps in Eorzea. Watch the video series online at: https://sqex.to/8q2Pq

For more information on FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker™, visit the official site at: https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/endwalker/

STUDIO WILDCARD UNVEILS ARK: THE ANIMATED SERIES SEASON ONE TRAILER, AND ARK: THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST MODE FOR PC

Competition Re-Evolved – ARK: The Survival of the Fittest Prototype Now Available On Steam
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 23, 2022 – Today Studio Wildcard is continuing its ARK franchise expansion, giving the first in-depth look at Season One of ARK: The Animated Series and launching ARK: The Survival of the Fittest, a dinosaur battle royale spin-off of its hit video game.

WATCH THE FIRST FOOTAGE FROM ARK: THE ANIMATED SERIES SEASON ONE HERE

Featuring an unparalleled voice cast with the talents of Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Gerard Butler (300), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), and Executive Produced by Vin Diesel (Fast Franchise), ARK: The Animated Series is an adaptation of the hit video game. In a sweeping story that spans eons of human & world history, 21st century paleontologist Helena Walker finds herself resurrected on a mysterious primeval land after tragedy. There she must learn to survive and find new allies, or die again at the hands of ruthless warlords — all while trying to uncover the true nature of their strange new world. ARK: The Animated Series will release on a to-be-announced platform in 2023. Join us then for an ageless adventure beyond life & death itself!

ARK: The Animated Series voice talent and character descriptions, in alphabetical order:

  • Dee Bradley Baker vocalizes many of the ARK’s furry and scaly creature friends.
  • Monica Bellucci plays Cassia Virila, a strong-willed Roman noblewoman during the Augustan Empire.
  • Gerard Butler plays General Gaius Marcellus Nerva, a brutal ancient Roman despot.
  • Devery Jacobs plays Alasie, a peppy 17th century Inuit teenager, now finding her place on the ARK.
  • Cissy Jones plays The Gladiatrix, a formidable commander in Nerva’s army.
  • Madeleine Madden plays 21st century Australian paleontologist Helena Walker, newly awoken on the ARK.
  • Deborah Mailman plays Deborah Walker, a 21st century Aboriginal Australian activist, and mother to Helena Walker.
  • Zahn McClarnon plays Thunder Comes Charging, a 19th century Lakota warrior who leads a thriving community on the ARK.
  • Malcolm McDowell plays Senator Lucius Cassius Virilis, a manipulative aristocrat during the reign of Caesar Augustus.
  • Juliet Mills plays Chava, a wise healer and village council member.
  • Elliot Page plays Victoria Walker, an idealistic humanitarian aid worker, and wife of Helena Walker.
  • Ragga Ragnars plays Queen Sigrid, a bellicose 10th century Viking warlord.
  • David Tennant plays Sir Edmund Rockwell, an egocentric 19th century scientist harboring dark ambitions.
  • Alan Tudyk plays The Captain, a crusty buccaneer who profitably sails the dangerous waters around the ARK.
  • Karl Urban plays Bob, a recent square-jawed ARK arrival.
  • Jeffrey Wright plays Henry Townsend, an 18th century American watchmaker and Patriot spy.
  • Michelle Yeoh plays Meiyin Li, a 3rd century Chinese rebel leader, known on the ARK by her reputation as the formidable “Beast Queen.”
  • Ron Yuan plays Han Li, a 3rd century Chinese rebel leader and brother to Meiyin.
    • With Russell Crowe playing Kor the Prophet, an eccentric ‘dino-whisperer’ hailing from a time before recorded history.
    • And Vin Diesel playing 24th century ‘Mek’-pilot, gearhead, & freedom-fighter Santiago.

Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight ReturnsJustice League: The Flashpoint Paradox) has taken on the role of Executive Producer, Director, and Co-Showrunner, alongside ARK franchise creators Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, with the series being produced at Glendale-based Lex+Otis animation studio, and written by Marguerite Bennett and Kendall Deacon Davis.

COMPETITION RE-EVOLVED – ARK: THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST NOW AVAILABLE ON STEAM

It’s the ultimate Jurassic free-for-all to see who will be the last survivor – and dinosaur – standing with ARK: The Survival of the Fittest! This spin-off of ARK: Survival Evolved pits up to 60 combatants against each other in a fast-paced, action-packed struggle for survival, where players are ultimately pushed into an epic final showdown leading their Dinosaur Armies into battle. ARK: The Survival Of The Fittest, which is now released as a prototype available for players to try out, revives the competitive online survival arena ARK experience on PC (Steam) with a significant number of technical/quality of life/balance changes to make it more approachable for all players. A cross-play console release is planned for 2023.

Originally beta-launched in 2016, ARK: The Survival Of The Fittest is the only battle royale focused on large-scale creature-army confrontations, combined with a Real Time Strategy (RTS) overlay, for unique experiences in every match. Survivors will assemble dinosaur armies and duke it out in epic dino-battles until one tribe is left standing victorious.

For the latest ARK updates, follow us on Twitter, join our Discord, subscribe to our YouTube, visit the Website at playark.com, and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.

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ABOUT STUDIO WILDCARD
Founded in 2014 by industry veterans Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, Studio Wildcard’s mission is to bring AAA quality to ambitious indie titles designed for core gamers. The team emphasizes direct communication with its active community, implements player feedback into its fast, iterative dev cycle, and provides tools to drive user-generated content. Studio Wildcard includes distributed developers across multiple continents, as wherever talented developers reside, Wildcard seeks them out! www.studiowildcard.com

Twin-Stick Roguelite Looter Shooter Dust & Neon Comes to Nintendo Switch and PC Early 2023

New Trailer and Extended Gameplay Walkthrough Debuted alongside Nintendo’s Inside the House of Indies: Holiday Event

December 23, 2022 – LOS ANGELES – As part of Nintendo’s Inside the House of Indies: Holiday EventRogue Games, publisher of the wildest games in the west, revealed Dust & Neon is coming to Nintendo Switch in early 2023.

The post-apocalyptic Wild West action game features tight twin-stick shooting controls, Roguelite-RPG progression, and loot… lots of loot, with thousands of revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. Shoot, collect and upgrade with dozens of unlockable abilities as players progress through the beautifully stylish cyber cowboy action shooter.

View the Dust & Neon Nintendo Direct gameplay trailer here: 

To get a feel for the core gameplay loop of Dust & Neon, Rogue Games has also provided an extended gameplay walkthrough showcasing the strategic top-down twin-stick shooting, looting, and deep roguelite progression. Catch a glimpse of the game’s unique mechanics such as the manual reload and automatic cover system, as well as the main hub world and character skill trees.

View the Dust & Neon extended walkthrough video here: 

Dust & Neon is coming to SteamEpic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch in Early 2023. For the latest, follow Rogue on Twitter or Discord.

About Rogue Games
Rogue, founded by industry leaders with more than 150+ years of games publishing experience, brings innovative and distinct games to the masses. Its extensive portfolio of games, which spans console, PC, and mobile, features award-winning hit titles including Arcanium, Monomals, Super Impossible Road, Sprawl, and Swordcar. Rogue also recently announced key partnerships with Bloober Team and Netflix to bring a broad range of badass games to market. 

Rogue is headquartered in San Mateo with offices in Los Angeles and Seattle.

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