A few new English videos for Soul Hackers 2 have been released ahead of the game’s upcoming release at the end of the month. The first of these videos happens to focus on devil summoning and combat while the other features the game’s opening video.
In Soul Hackers 2 devil summoners are humans who have forged contracts with demons who can then be summoned at will through their COMP systems. Demons can be assigned to each of Ringo’s teammates, and they will then have access to that demon’s abilities in battle.Identify and exploit enemy weaknesses to gain stacks at the end of the party’s turn. Ringo will use those stacks to conduct a Sabbath—a brutal attack that affects all enemies on the field.
As for the three and a half minute opening video, it gives players a brief look at characters and a little bit of what to expect from the game in something of a unique style for an RPG such as this. Currently Atlus is planning on releasing Soul Hackers 2 worldwide on August 26th for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
For some time now fans of Monolith Soft have had at least some idea of what to expect from the developer. After making a name for themselves early with the Xenosaga trilogy the team began to work with Nintendo and started to craft some of the most elaborate JRPGs that a Nintendo platform could hope for. Xenoblade Chronicles has since seen a number of sequels and now with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 arriving and delivering perhaps their largest, most emotional, and perhaps even most accessible entry yet it is clear that Monolith Soft knows exactly what they are doing.
Story
The world of Aionios is a war torn land where two massive nations by the name of Keves and Agnus are constantly at war with one another for seemingly unknown reasons. Rather than fighting for any great cause, these soldiers take to the battlefield to steal the life force from enemy soldiers, seeking to fill their own colony’s “flame clock.” The soldiers doing the fighting know little else as they are born from their Queen and trained as disposable soldiers of war that care little for their own lives that are measured in “terms.” Why they measure their lives on such a scale is due to the fact that every soldier’s greatest dream is to survive to their tenth term, or tenth year of life, and receive a homecoming ceremony that will return their life force directly to the Queen.
Players join this conflict as Noah, Lanz, and Eunie as the three skilled Keves fighters manage to survive a large-scale battle and “send off” the life force of those who have fallen as Noah is one of Keves’ Off-Seers. Thanks to their time lingering behind on the battlefield they must venture back to base on foot, arriving shortly before they are given new orders to pursue a strange new energy source that has appeared nearby. This brings the three Keves soldiers up against a strange new automated foe commanded by a mysterious man belonging to neither side of the battlefield and is eliminating both Keves and Agnus soldiers alike.
After some rather amazing events occur, Noah and friends find themselves allied with three Agnian soldiers by the name of Mio, Sena, and Taion as they now possess the power of “Ouroboros” and learn that their world and the things they are doing are incredibly strange and that the real enemy is something that is pulling the strings of everyone behind the scenes. With the six now finding themselves at odds with everything they once knew and pursued by those that they once called friends, their only hope is to push forward and look for the truth behind the world and find a way to put a stop to the never ending war even if it means taking on everything they once knew as a result.
All of these events happen within what is best described as the introduction/tutorial area of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and even then this is barely scratching the surface of what the full story has to offer. Obviously we won’t be going into more detail than this to avoid spoiling any of the major twists and revelations that happen throughout the easily hundred hour long game. Now while most games would struggle to keep a storyline engaging for that long, Monolith Soft almost makes things look easy here between action packed fights featuring great choreography, heart pulling emotional moments, and constant revelations that keep players on their toes. It also helps that while the core storyline is incredibly well written, nearly every side quest, besides some generic collection ones, players choose to undertake feels naturally written into the world and has an interesting element to it that makes them worth engaging in, especially since players will quickly find themselves invested in the world.
This is thanks primarily due to the various complexities that players will encounter in the world and face off against as the enemies are far more nuanced than meets the eye and many have their own motivations for what they are doing rather than simply being evil. It is worth noting that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 does take a darker tone to its storytelling than what fans of the series might be familiar with but there is still plenty of hope to be had and nowhere does this hope shine brighter than with the characters that make up the player’s party.
Players are quickly introduced to all six members of the cast and despite the fact that some remain unsure of one another for a while it is great to watch the cast come to life and reveal more about themselves as they develop over the course of the game. Not only do these six personalities manage to mesh together so well in a party, even going beyond the usual Xenoblade pairings, but it feels like every character gets at least some time to shine and prove themselves rather than simply focusing on the two primary leads. Of course, some of this charm might be thanks to the stellar and unique voice work that the series is known for but it would mean little without the excellent character writing and interactions to back it up.
It is worth noting that while Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the third entry in the series, players shouldn’t feel discouraged from checking it out if they haven’t played or completed the previous entries in the series. While there are a number of elements, including various spoilers, involving previous entries players will mostly be able to enjoy this release as its own standalone story for the most part.
Gameplay
In a number of ways Xenoblade Chronicles 3 tries to take things slow by introducing various gameplay elements over the course of a few hours to prevent players from being overwhelmed by the many mechanics that they will eventually have access to. This includes explaining how the game’s combat system works and limiting player control to a single character for quite some time. Combat involves auto-attack and making use of active combat “Arts” that can be used to deal extra damage or inflict special status effects when attacking at certain angles or under certain conditions. These attacks build up powerful finishing move gauges that vary from class to class and it doesn’t take long before players will eventually find themselves adjusting their six party members to best lay enemies out while making the most of their current capabilities.
After a certain period of time, players will gain access to the ability to swap a character’s starting class with others, giving players plenty of freedom in seeing what characters work best in certain roles. Initially only certain classes will be available to specific characters but through temporary “Hero” characters that provide new unique classes, some required and some optional, the amount of party customization can be quite extensive, especially when players master classes and unlock their skills permanently. This is only the tip of the iceberg of what the Ouroboros power can do however as players will find themselves being able to “interlink” two characters together and transform them into a large extremely powerful being. When combined with Ouroboros players will be one character short but deal tons of damage and, since it makes use of an overheat gauge instead of health, can be used to rescue party members at low health and turn the tide of battle in more ways than one.
Combat as a whole can be quite complicated but despite how it sounds, it is rather easy to master and allows for some truly powerful attacks and combinations. That being said, while there are a number of challenging fights in the form of bosses and unique field enemies, most of the battles that players will take part in while traveling through the overworld won’t really test their skills too much so while the combat can be extremely fun, it can feel a little underutilized at times especially when grinding for quests or simply traveling through a location.
Of course, traveling is something that players can always cut down on a bit as Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers plenty of fast travel opportunities as not only are various landmarks unlocked for travel once discovered but so are unique locations and even graves that are dropped by special enemies. These graves can be used to refight an enemy that was previously defeated hoping for a better time but it is best used as a quick travel option. Combine this with the ability to make quick saves often, the ability to use banked bonus exp to level characters at camp, and the ability to cook food at camp to provide various stat boosts and players have a lot to work with when it comes to making Xenoblade Chronicles 3 a more appealing experience.
In fact, to make things a little easier, should players choose, special coins called “Nopon coins” obtained from chests, completing quests, defeating special enemies, etc. can be used to help rank up classes, complete collection side quests, cook or craft items without using materials and traded for special items at certain locations. While not required to complete various things, players having access to such a shortcut is a nice touch especially when it comes to some “Collectopaedia” card quests that can be a bit difficult to complete should players miss the required items.
Visuals & Audio
With Xenoblade Chronicles 3 landing on the Switch it is quite clear at times that Monolith Soft is really pushing the hybrid console to its limit. When docked players are presented with a fairly crisp looking image though handheld mode will drop the quality quite a bit but for the most part character designs and combat remains strong looking throughout. The character designs remain as memorable as fans of the series will remember with plenty of flashy moves and amazing looking battles that happen during cutscenes. It is worth noting that the game does suffer from a bit of slowdown here and there when fighting in the open world, especially against bigger foes, and in general a lot of the vistas, while pretty, feel a bit uninspired in design compared to what players have come to expect from the series.
The title features an absolutely astounding soundtrack mixed with various themes and types of music that work well whether players are in the middle of the fight or watching a heart wrenching scene. As for the voice work, players will have the option of the original Japanese voice track but the English voice cast has done an incredible job here making their performances a real treat. It is worth noting that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 continues the series’ tradition of using British voice actors and terminology for the English dub, giving the title a fairly unique feel with only a few odd terms here and there.
Overall
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 hooks players early by introducing an engrossing storyline with so many intriguing and emotional elements that they cannot help but keep playing through to see what could possibly be revealed next. With an amazingly written cast of characters used to support this wonderful storyline and a highly enjoyable combat system that is only limited at times due to battles being a bit easier at times than one would hope, this is an RPG that anyone with a Switch should check out, even if they have yet to dive into the Xenoblade Chronicles series until now.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
LONDON (AUGUST 17, 2022) – Square Enix Collective® is excited to announce Little Goody Two Shoes™, a mysterious new fairytale anime adventure with a dark twist. The narrative-focused horror role-playing game is being developed by AstralShift, an independent game development team based in Portugal and dedicated to creating stunning cinematic and narrative games with immersive storylines and evoking soundtracks.
Set in the mysterious Kieferberg Village, Little Goody Two Shoes™ is a homage to the original PlayStation® and early PlayStation®2 (PS2) RPGs and is centered around Elise, an ambitious girl determined to become rich and escape her humble life. Players will step into Elise’s shoes and soon find themselves immersed in a 90’s inspired horror role-playing adventure game. Gameplay elements such as ‘Sustenance’, ‘Reputation & Suspicion’ and ‘Exploration & Narrative’ will guide players to complete their daily tasks by day and uncover the woodland’s darkest secrets by night. Players will also have the ability to set their own paths to navigate through the wicked woods, solve puzzles and build meaningful relationships in this nostalgic gaming experience.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working alongside Square Enix Collective for this project,” said Patrícia Silva, CEO of AstralShift, on behalf of the team. “Square Enix is a company that we greatly respect and titles such as Legend of Mana have been a big source of inspiration for us along the development process. It’s a true honour to have them at our side.”
“We’re delighted to be working with AstralShift – we were blown away by the early work the team had put into the project, and we can’t wait to show more as we head towards release next year,” commented Phil Elliott, studio head at Square Enix Collective®.
To learn more about the game, please join the discussion on Discord and follow the AstralShift and Square Enix Collective® Social Media Channels. Elise will soon be in touch with more news!
About AstralShift AstralShiftPro LDA is an independent video game software development company based in Portugal. Officially founded in 2022, AstralShiftPro’s story started in 2016 with the release of the popular RPG maker title Pocket Mirror. With video games as its medium, AstralShiftPro specializes in the production of narrative-driven and artistically ambitious titles, with the goal to create immersive and unforgettable experiences.
About Square Enix Collective® Square Enix Collective® is a London-based division of Square Enix Ltd. The Square Enix Collective® programme was launched in 2014 to assist indie game developers build community awareness for hundreds of game pitches and has helped teams raise in excess of $1.2 million via Kickstarter campaigns. Square Enix Collective® has now published and distributed a range of indie titles since April 2016 and is on the look-out for great new projects and talented teams to work with globally – whether it’s publishing support for a development that’s already funded, or investment to help the creation of a game.
About Square Enix Ltd. Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal®. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 168 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 84 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 88 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE, the SQUARE ENIX COLLECTIVE logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. “Steam” is a trademark and/or registered trademark of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. “PlayStation”, “PS4” and “PS5” are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Catch a glimpse of Carnage Hall before World Premiere at gamescom Opening Night Live
Wrocław, Poland — August 17, 2022 — It’s time to unveil Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Bloody Ties—the first DLC coming to the City.
What dangers await? How can you beat them? What will you get in return? One thing is certain… it will be brutal!
Click here to check out the teaser of the upcoming DLC. But this is just an appetizer for Carnage Hall’s true horrors. Prepare for an even bigger rush of adrenaline and excitement when Techland uncovers more during gamescom Opening Night Live on August 23. See you there!
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About Techland
Techland is one of the biggest and best-known Polish game developers with studios in Wroclaw and Warsaw. For over 30 years, we’ve carried a tradition of providing gamers with unforgettable experiences. We’re an international team of over 400 highly-skilled professionals driven by a passion for gaming, always striving for the best quality.
We’re fueled by the support of our global community built on the foundation of successful AAA franchises such as Call of Juarez, Dead Island, or Dying Light. The gamers’ trust in our games has resulted in our newest project, Dying Light 2 Stay Human, selling more than 5 million copies across all platforms within the first month after release.
On top of continuously growing the world of Dying Light through a robust post-launch support plan for Dying Light 2 Stay Human, we’re also working on an unannounced AAA Open World Action RPG set in a brand new fantasy universe; our biggest project to date. Techland’s mission strictly determines every aspect of our work: we want to create unforgettable experiences
Tap Into Extreme Overclocking Potential with Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 Family
Intel® XMP 3.0 Certified
Engineered to Maximize Performance
Dynamic Customizable RGB Lighting Effects
Australia – August 17, 2022 – Kingston FURY, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announced today the release of Kingston FURY™ Renegade DDR5 and Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 RGB memory. The Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 family is engineered to maximize the performance of your system.
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 family pushes the performance of next-gen DDR5 platforms to the extreme with ultra-fast memory up to 6400MT/s1 and quick CL32 timings. With premium components hand-tuned by engineers, rigorously tested for compatibility across the industry’s leading motherboards2, backed by 100% factory testing at speed, and Intel® XMP 3.0 Certified, customers can enjoy the ultimate overclock experience.
Whether it’s the sleek newly designed black and silver aluminum heat spreader or the addition of the dynamic LED light bar, the Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 family complements the look of the latest PC builds. Utilize Kingston FURY CTRL™3 to choose from 16 smooth, customizable RGB lighting effects to game in style, kept in perfect lock-step with the patented Kingston FURY Infrared Sync Technology™.
Perfect for creating content, multi-tasking, or pushing the limits for the latest bleeding edge game title, Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 and Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 RGB are the ideal choice for gamers, enthusiasts, content creators and extreme overclockers.
“We’re excited to offer the best of both worlds: extreme performance and maximum peace of mind,” said Kingston. “With the Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 family, users can take control of their system’s performance and push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 and Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 RGB are available in 16GB single modules and 32GB kits of 2, with speeds up to 6400MT/s and low latencies of CL32. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty and legendary Kingston reliability.
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 Features and Specifications:
Engineered to maximize performance: With speeds up to 6400MT/s1 and quick CL32 timings, Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 features premium components hand-tuned by engineers, rigorously tested for compatibility across the industry’s leading motherboards, and backed by 100% factory testing at speed for a hassle-free overclock experience.
Tap into extreme overclocking potential: DDR5 ushers in a whole new era of memory technology to make extreme overclocking a more stable option than previous generations. On-die ECC delivers more reliable DRAM components, an on-board PMIC balances power when and where it’s needed, and two independent 32-bit subchannels provide dramatic increases in data efficiency for multi-core processors.
Intel® XMP 3.0 Certified: Intel Extreme Memory Profile technology makes overclocking a breeze with advanced pre-optimized factory timings, speeds, and voltages for overclocking performance. Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 features a programmable PMIC for XMP 3.0, supporting up to two customizable profiles to optimize your own unique timings, speeds, and voltages saved directly to the DIMM.
Qualified by the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers2: Tested and trusted for your preferred motherboard so you can build with confidence.
Aggressive aluminum heat spreader design: Newly designed black and silver aluminum heat spreader and matching black PCB keeps your rig running— and looking— cool to complement the look of your latest PC build.
Capacities:
Singles – 16GB
Kits of 2 – 32GB
Frequencies: 6000MT/s, 6400MT/s
Latencies: CL32
Voltage: 1.35V, 1.4V
Operating Temperature: 0°C-85°C
Dimensions: 133.35 mm x 39.2 mm x 7.65 mm
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 RGB Features and Specifications:
Dynamic customizable RGB lighting effects3: Bring your system to life with 16 preset RGB lighting effects utilizing Kingston FURY CTRL or the motherboard manufacturer’s RGB software with a sleek newly designed black and silver aluminum heat spreader and matching black PCB.
Patented Kingston FURY Infrared Sync Technology™: Ensure your RGB lighting effects stay in perfect lock-step with Kingston’s patented Infrared Sync Technology.
Engineered to maximize performance: With speeds up to 6400MT/s1 and quick CL32 timings, Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 RGB features premium components hand-tuned by engineers, rigorously tested for compatibility across the industry’s leading motherboards, and backed by 100% factory testing at speed for a hassle-free overclock experience.
Tap into extreme overclocking potential: DDR5 ushers in a whole new era of memory technology to make extreme overclocking a more stable option than previous generations. On-die ECC delivers more reliable DRAM components, an on-board PMIC balances power when and where it’s needed, two independent 32-bit subchannels provide dramatic increases in data efficiency for multi-core processors.
Intel® XMP 3.0 Certified: Intel Extreme Memory Profile technology makes overclocking a breeze with advanced pre-optimized factory timings, speeds and voltages for overclocking performance. Renegade DDR5 features a programmable PMIC for XMP 3.0, supporting up to two customizable profiles to optimize your own unique timings, speeds, and voltages saved directly to the DIMM.
Qualified by the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers2: Tested and trusted for your preferred motherboard so you can build with confidence.
Capacities:
Singles – 16GB
Kits of 2 – 32GB
Frequencies: 6000MT/s, 6400MT/s
Latencies: CL32
Voltage: 1.35V, 1.4V
Operating Temperature: 0°C-85°C
Dimensions: 133.35 mm x 44 mm x 7.66 mm
1Learn more about megatransfers per second – MT/s denotes megatransfers (million transfers) per second and represents the effective data rate (speed) of DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM memory in computing. A DDR SDRAM memory module transfers data on the rise and fall of every clock cycle (1 Hz).
Ex: DDR4-3200 (PC4-3200)
Clock Rate: 1600MHz
Data Rate: 3200MT/s
Bandwidth: 25,600 MB/s (25.6 GB/s)
2 Featured on the Qualified Vendor Lists (QVL) of the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers.
3 Lighting customizable with Kingston FURY CTRL software or with motherboard RGB control software. RGB customization support through third-party software may vary.
From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.
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Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Samsung Electronics Takes Gaming Experiences to The Next Level With Global Launch of Odyssey Ark
With immersive picture quality and cinematic surround sound, Odyssey Ark represents a new frontier in gaming
SYDNEY, Australia – August 16, 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the global launch of Odyssey Ark, the world’s first 55-inch 1000R curved gaming screen, adding a new form factor to the industry-leading Odyssey lineup. The huge display delivers a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time (GtG1), plus an all new rotating Cockpit Mode and an exclusive controller, the Ark Dial – offering a riveting window into the world of gaming with impressive immersion.
“We are excited to unveil this unique, next-generation gaming screen, the Odyssey Ark. This 55-inch 1000R curved gaming screen brings together premium, cinematic picture quality, immersive surround sound and an incredibly flexible interface which gamers increasingly demand,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The gaming community craves new experiences and Odyssey Ark delivers access to a new world of gaming that will raise standards across the entire industry.”
The groundbreaking Odyssey Ark is built to deliver incredible cinematic experiences, amazing gaming performance and an interface that offers optimised flexibility. Originally unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, the Odyssey Ark was recognised as a CES Innovation Award Honoree.
A New Cinematic Experience That Appeal to The Senses
The large 55-inch screen is designed to wrap around the user’s field of view thanks to its 1000R curvature. This is further emphasised by Cockpit Mode, which helps enable the screen to rotate with HAS (Height Adjustable Stand), tilt and pivot functionality for an optimal screen environment that creates a new sense of world-blending immersion.
The Odyssey Ark brings Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology to bear, using Quantum Mini LEDs, which enable ultra-fine and precise control of the densely packed LEDs. With newly added 14-bit processing, a sophisticated lighting control technology, gamers see both dark and bright scenes, including 16,384 black levels for realistic graphics.
A million-to-one static contrast ratio helps bring out subtle details with incredible clarity. Plus, the Neural Quantum Processor Ultra takes content quality to new heights by using data generated from 20 neural networks to enhance every visual detail, and can upscale content to up to 4K resolution.
For supreme cinematic experience, the Odyssey Ark leverages Samsung’s Matte Display and Sound Dome Technology. The Matte Display is designed to provide both anti-glare and anti-reflection protection, minimising distractions and helps keep users focused on the content in front of them. The Odyssey Ark can introduce magnificent sound with ‘Sound Dome Tech’ featuring AI Sound Booster and Dolby Atmos to help enhance the surround sound experience. Four speakers, one at each corner, and two central woofers result in realistic and rich sound thanks to a 60W 2.2.2 channel with the lowest 45Hz notes of any gaming screen or gaming soundbar.
Superior Gaming Performance Optimised For Players
Along with the 165Hz refresh rate, the Odyssey Ark brings together a 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution featuring 1ms response time (GtG) with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, maximising on-screen accuracy and can give gamers a competitive edge in fast-moving environments. The Odyssey Ark also delivers powerful gaming performance and enables gamers to experience the best of gaming in one place with Samsung Gaming Hub2.
Flexible Interface To Find The Perfect Settings for Victory
Gamers increasingly expect personalised and customisable gaming experiences. The Odyssey Ark provides a range of innovative features that let gamers adjust screen size, position and even ratio for an optimal gaming setup. First, the solar-powered Ark Dial – the exclusive controller for the Odyssey Ark – can quickly and simply control a variety of settings, including Flex Move Screen, Multi View, Quick Settings and Game Bar.
Flex Move Screen allows users to adjust screen size between 55- and 27-inches, change the screen position and even switch the screen ratio between 16:9, 21:9 and 32:9 – all with just one touch of Ark Dial. This freedom in not only horizontal, but also vertical position, is designed to give users even more control of the viewing experience. Multi View allows users to use the large screen to its full potential by displaying up to four screens all at once while horizontal, or three while in Cockpit Mode. This reduces the need for multi-monitor setups, so gamers can enjoy a clutter-free environment.
Game Bar3 is a powerful tool enabling gamers to quickly and easily view their gaming status and control important settings without ever needing to leave the game screen. From checking FPS (Frames Per Second), HDR (High Dynamic Range) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), to adjusting settings such as screen ratio, response time and Game Picture mode, Game Bar puts the player in control and on the road to victory.
As well as being equipped with a solar panel, the Ark Dial can also be charged by a USB Type-C connection, minimising the need for any disposable batteries.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.
Get a glimpse of the chart-breaking playlist in the first teaser trailer
17 August 2022, Sydney, Australia: It’s time to warm up your vocal cords: Ravenscourt and Voxler are announcing, for the first time, Let’s Sing 2023 with Hits from Australia and New Zealand, the next entry into the acclaimed karaoke franchise.
The game will be released later this year for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, the Xbox One family of devices – including Xbox One X – and will also be playable on Xbox Series X/S.
Watch the Teaser Trailer here:
Current smash hits as well as classics and all-time favourites – Let’s Sing 2023 has them all. Rock out to Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits”, Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated”, swoon to Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” or giddy up for Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus and “Old Town Road”. For some local tunes, how about The Kid LAROI and “WITHOUT YOU”, Tones and I and “Fly Away” or Lorde and “Solar Power”? These are just a few of the 35 hits included in Let’s Sing 2023.
For those attending gamescom that want to get the party started early, why not join us in Hall 9? For the first time in the history of Let’s Sing we will be bringing the karaoke-fun to gamescom.
About Ravenscourt Established in 2014 – and operating from its Munich headquarters in Germany – Ravenscourt’s mission is delivering amazing games to a broad audience from both established studios and industry newcomers.With a diverse portfolio, managing the titles of multiple international studios, Ravenscourt games span everything from adventure and management sims through to city builders and indie gems. The label even boasts a good old sing-along karaoke franchise.Our players delight in engrossing narrative driven adventures, relish the challenge of building new worlds and love solving puzzles. We have more delights in store for them…The publishing label Ravenscourt stands for worthy interactive entertainment for a broad range of players. It is a proud part of PLAION.
About Voxler Voxler is a French developer of music games. The company was created in 2005 and the team focuses its energy on developing great games based on advanced technology. Voxler develops or has developed several games on all platforms (Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, and Xbox One®) and on iOS, Android and PC. The team’s key commitment is to give players unforgettable moments in high-quality games. The studio works with leading worldwide publishers and invests continuously in order to exploit the full potential of each platform. More information at http://www.voxler.fr. Voxler is part of PLAION.
About PLAION
PLAION is a leading independent developer and producer of games and entertainment products, with ten development studios and five publishing units based all over the world. Founded in 1994 as Koch Media, PLAION offers a unique breadth of services and solutions, dynamically growing its business to push ourselves and our partners to the forefront in all the segments we operate in.
PLAION runs a multi-label strategy, with fully owned publishing units, such as Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.
Additionally – as a global publishing partner – PLAION has formed long-term multinational publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Focus Multimedia, Giants Software, Koei Tecmo, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, THQ Nordic, Tripwire, Warner Bros and many others.
With its parent company in Höfen, Austria – and the HQ in Munich, Germany – PLAION owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.
PLAION owns ten game development studios: Deep Silver Volition (Champaign, IL, USA), Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham, UK), Fishlabs (Hamburg, DE), Warhorse Studios (Prague, CZ), Milestone (Milan, IT), Voxler (Paris, FR) , DigixArt (Montpellier, FR), Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów, PL), Free Radical Design (Nottingham, UK) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, NL). Additionally, PLAION collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.
Part of PLAION is also PLAION PICTURES, a leading independent film distributor in Europe with a library of more than 1.400 titles. Further business operations include Sola Media, a sales agency and production company for family entertainment, Spotfilm Networx, a multi-channel streaming network, and a sub-label dedicated to Japanese animation.
PLAION also owns the leading video game merchandise company DPI Merchandising (Denver, Roseburg, USA and Munich, DE) and a Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, CZ.
Bethesda ANZ has partnered with Australian food delivery platform Menulog and bubble tea brewers Sharetea to bring The Elder Scrolls Online: Teas of Tamriel to fans across Australia. From August 17 to 29 enthusiasts of enticing flavours and the fantasy world of The Elder Scrolls can experience this limited time collaboration coinciding with The Elder Scrolls Online Free Play event. The Tamriel inspired menu will be available exclusively through Menulog for delivery or pick up from over 50 Sharetea Australia stores in the ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC.
The Teas of Tamriel menu includes five fantastical flavours, each highlighting flourishes from the different cultures and iconic locations that make up The Elder Scrolls Online’s continent of Tamriel. Adventurous sippers can experience a variety of otherworldly inspired delicacies and enticing concoctions including:
Three Bro’s Mead: Assam black milk tea with white pearls, pudding & herbal jelly
Fans are invited to party up and quest with friends near and far to win a year’s supply of Sharetea Australia, a digital copy of The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle and a yearlong ESO Plus subscription. To enter, visit the competition post on Bethesda ANZ social channels, like the post and comment with a backstory for your favourite Teas of Tamriel flavour. Bonus entries are awarded by sharing a photo of one of the five tea flavours on social media. For more information on the competition, visit Bethesda ANZ on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
“Partnering with Menulog and Sharetea Australia is a wonderful opportunity to bring Tamriel to life for fans across Australia in a delicious new way “, said Simon Alty, VP & Managing Director at Bethesda Softworks APAC. “Sharetea Australia’s bubble tea is a favourite refreshment of many Australians, and now we can make their next sip a little more magical with a custom selection of drinks inspired by the award-winning online RPG played by over 20 million people worldwide”.
“We at Sharetea Australia have an undying thirst for adventure and are always looking for new and innovative ways to make our delectable drinks more accessible to people from the land down under. This time round we decided to go down the winding path of something mysterious and magical by teaming up with Bethesda’s game, The Elder Scrolls, enabling gamers and bubble tea aficionados across Australia to explore a gulp of Tamriel inspired drinks in the comfort of their home by having our delivery partner Menulog serve up this magic IRL”, said Eva Martin, National Marketing Manager at Sharetea Australia.
Of the partnership and limited time menu items, Menulog Marketing Director Simon Cheng said “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Bethesda and Sharetea Australia to create something out of this world for the millions of fans of Elder Scrolls and bubble tea enthusiasts alike. At Menulog we’re all about delivering joy and we believe these teas certainly do that! The limited edition flavours are taken right out of the ESO universe and we can’t wait for our customers to try them. Best enjoyed of course while playing the Elder Scrolls Online!”
Discover almost everything Tamriel has to offer and begin your year-long adventure during The Elder Scrolls Online Free Play Event. During the free-play period running August 17-29, anybody on PC/Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 can download and play The Elder Scrolls Online for free. If you’d like to join over 20 million players and explore Tamriel for free, visit the Free Play page and select your platform.
The latest chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle, is out now for PC/Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. For more information on The Elder Scrolls Online and the Free Play Event visit www.elderscrollsonline.com.
About Menulog: Menulog is an app-based food delivery service offering Australians the greatest choice of restaurants and cuisines across the country. Menulog connects millions of active customers with more than 34,000 local restaurants, servicing 93 percent of the addressable population.
Born in Australia more than 16 years ago, Menulog is now part of Just Eat Takeaway.com, a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Download the Menulog App via the App Store or Google Play. Follow facebook.com/menulog.com.au and @menulog on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram.
About Sharetea Australia: At Sharetea Australia, we’ve been sharing our love of fun, creative and delicious bubble tea with our community since 2012. Sharetea Australia upholds the tradition of a well-made tea, with a fresh, innovative perspective to make tea enticing to tea lovers from all cultures. The quality of our ingredients is the source of our success and we are committed to creating the best drinks for our customers whether it’s bubble tea, smoothies, crushes, or yoghurt drinks – we’ve got it all!
My favourite part about announcing games coming soon to Xbox Game Pass is that feeling where you know you’re about to make someone’s day. Sharing ‘coming soon’ details about a new game they’ve been excited about (you can catch me playing Immortality on launch day), one they’ve never heard of that might become their new favourite, or a beloved classic they get to play again. We’ve got all of these and more for you coming soon to Game Pass (and maybe some more surprises later this week) so let’s jump in!
Available Today
Coffee Talk (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox Coffee Talk is a coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator about listening to the stories of alternative-Seattle’s inhabitants. From a dramatic love story between an elf and a succubus to an alien trying to understand the lives of humans, help everyone you meet by serving up a warm drink or two. Plus, Ultimate members can jump right in with Touch Controls via Xbox Cloud Gaming today!
Coming Soon
Midnight Fight Express (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – August 23 Available on day one with Game Pass: A former member of the criminal underworld is lured back into “the life” by a mysterious drone claiming they only have until sunrise to prevent a citywide criminal takeover. Engage in a brutal and hyper-kinetic brawling ballet, using every environmental tool and street fighting technique at your disposal. Level up your abilities to take down the mounting onslaught of bozos, cronies, and crime lords.
Exapunks (PC) ID@Xbox – August 25 The year is 1997. You used to be a hacker, but now you have the phage. You made a deal: one hack, one dose. There’s nothing left to lose… except your life. Exapunks is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of Opus Magnum, Shenzhen I/O, TIS-100, and more.
Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (Console and PC) – August 25 Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition is the definitive edition of the critically acclaimed visual novel-style adventure game, now with all-new voice acting. Dive in and enjoy an intergalactic journey that transcends time through love.
Commandos 3 – HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 30 Available on day one with Game Pass: Commandos 3 – HD Remaster sends you to the relentless and unforgiving battlefields of Europe. Remastered in high definition including reworked 3D models and textures, improved controls, and refined UI.
Immortality (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) ID@Xbox – August 30 Available on day one with Game Pass: Marissa Marcel would have been a star. She made three movies, but none of them was ever released… and then Marissa Marcel disappeared. Explore lost footage, cut your own path into the mystery, and discover what happened to Marissa Marcel in the newest interactive game from Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story.
Immortals Fenyx Rising (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 30 Immortals Fenyx Rising brings grand mythological adventure to life. Play as Fenyx, a new winged demigod on a quest to save the Greek gods. The fate of the world is at stake – you are the gods’ last hope.
Tinykin (Console and PC) ID@Xbox – August 30 Available on day one with Game Pass: Milo arrives on Earth to find that he’s way too small, everybody’s gone, and a day hasn’t passed since 1991! Team up with the mysterious tinykin and use their unique powers to create ladders, bridges, explosions, and a lot more! Find a way home through a sprawling ant-sized metropolis and unravel Earth’s biggest mystery!
DLC / Game Updates
Naraka: Bladepoint – Showdown – Available now Showdown is a whole new cooperative campaign mode coming to Naraka: Bladepoint on August 5, available to players as a free update on Xbox Series X|S and via Xbox Game Pass. Players will team up, fight against ferocious enemies, and upgrade heroes to face challenges of varying difficulties.
Sea of Thieves: A Hunter’s Cry – August 18 A rescue is underway! Sail into the Sea of the Damned to join forces with other crews, reach the peak of a transformed, twisted tavern and save Merrick in A Hunter’s Cry, Sea of Thieves’ sixth time-limited Adventure running from August 18 to September 1!
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Halo Infinite: Pass Tense Commando Rifle Bundle – August 17 Stand apart from the rest with the exclusive “Pass Tense” VK78 Commando Rifle, four 2XP Boosts and four Challenge Swaps!
MultiVersus: MVP Pack – August 23 This free in-game MVP Pack features the Battle Reindog Variant, the Waterfall Banner, and the Dark Matter Ringout Effect.
CrossfireX: Babylon Bundle – August 23 Attention, Mercenaries! To celebrate the new Babylon update, get an exclusive weapon skin and 1,200 CFP to stylize your loadout. Play free today!
Xbox Touch Controls Added To 16 More Games
Ultimate members, 16 more games are available now with touch controls via Xbox Cloud Gaming! Jump into these games at xbox.com/play via browser, Xbox Game Pass app for Android, or Xbox app for PC – no controller required!
Leading Metaverse Adds Award-Winning Reality Show IP as Its First-Ever Virtual Restaurant and Chef-Themed Game Experience
HONG KONG – August 16, 2022 –The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, announced today that it has partnered with ITV Studios to bring Gordon Ramsay’s award-winning reality show Hell’s Kitchen to The Sandbox metaverse. Hell’s Kitchen has traveled to 24 territories globally and the show will air its 21st season in the US starring multi-Michelin Star chef Gordon Ramsay on FOX starting on September 29th.
Through the partnership, Hell’s Kitchen restaurant experiences designed with input from Ramsay will be hosted on ITV’s LAND in The Sandbox. Additionally, Hell’s Kitchen-themed assets, including limited edition Gordon Ramsay avatars, will be available down the line for players and creators to include in their own original experiences.Hell’s Kitchen is a five-time Emmy-nominated reality show in which aspiring chefs compete for the opportunity to run one of Ramsay’s eateries. The Hell’s Kitchen restaurant setting, seen in a new teaser video released today, will represent the first experiences based on cooking themes to appear in The Sandbox:
“We’re shaping the metaverse to become an expansion of all real world activities through the creative possibilities offered by technology – and who better than Gordon Ramsay and Hell’s Kitchen to bring our first restaurant culinary and social experiences to The Sandbox,” said Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox. “In this immersive setting, the show’s fans and community can bring their avatars into Gordon Ramsay’s world and be challenged to bring their creativity to new levels.”
“There’s nothing more exciting to me than chartering new territory, whether that’s creating a signature dish, a new restaurant concept, a new show, or now a virtual experience in The Sandbox,” said Gordon Ramsay. “I’ve been fascinated by The Sandbox and its offering in the metaverse. I couldn’t think of a better platform to bring the high energy of my Hell’s Kitchen restaurant and brand.”
“We’re right at the beginning of exploring the potential of entertainment brands in the metaverse so we’re very excited to bring Hell’s Kitchen to The Sandbox. Both are innovators in their respective spaces, which is why they make a great match,” said Neil Bowler, Controller of Games at ITV. “We think the show’s fans all over the world will enjoy interacting with experiences set in a virtual Hell’s Kitchen in The Sandbox metaverse.”
Part virtual real estate, part amusement park, The Sandbox fully embraces the idea of the metaverse as a continuous shared digital space where worlds and heroes collide to make magic. Hell’s Kitchen joins over 300 existing partnerships including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Rabbids, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Richie Hawtin, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, ZEPETO, and CryptoKitties, all following The Sandbox team’s vision of empowering players to create their own experiences using both original and well-known characters and worlds.
The Sandbox, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is one of the decentralized virtual worlds that has been fueling the recent growth of virtual real estate demand, having partnered with major IPs and brands including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Rabbids, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Richie Hawtin, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, ZEPETO, CryptoKitties, and more. Building on existing The Sandbox IP that has more than 40 million global installs on mobile, The Sandbox metaverse offers players and creators a decentralized and intuitive platform to create immersive 3D worlds and game experiences and to safely store, trade, and monetize their creations. For more information, please visit www.sandbox.game and follow the regular updates on Twitter, Medium, and Discord.
About Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, and TinyTap. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 340 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.
About Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen originated in the UK and the US aired its 20th series. The format travelled to 24 territories around the world and sees one renowned head chef welcome a group of hopeful chefs into Hell’s Kitchen, where they will compete for the chance of a life-changing job in a top restaurant. Real-life drama, high emotion and culinary passion combine as the participants live, cook and compete in Hell’s Kitchen. Which chef can handle the heat?
About ITV Studios
ITV Studios is a creator, producer and distributor of world-leading programmes and formats that people can’t get enough of. Connecting millions of people every day and shaping and reflecting the world they live in, ITV Studios is More Than TV. Its Brand & Licensing department is responsible for all global commercial activities including sponsorship, brand licensing, consumer products, gaming, and live events. It represents a diverse portfolio including scripted and non-scripted content, game shows and kids titles, which offers a wide range of commercial opportunities. Brands include The Voice, Hell’s Kitchen, Love Island, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, The Chase, Coronation Street, Schitt’s Creek, The Last Unicorn, Thunderbirds, Space: 1999, The Prisoner, and more.
About Gordon Ramsay
Acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Gordon Ramsay inked a deal in 2019 with private equity firm Lion Capital to expand his restaurant concepts across the U.S., where the company currently has 13 restaurants across Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe and Kansas City, several of which are in partnership with Caesars Entertainment. Gordon Ramsay North America is scaling dining concepts including outdoor and take-out, as the company taps into several of Gordon Ramsay’s successful U.S. and international key brands including Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, Gordon Ramsay Steak and Hell’s Kitchen. In addition to the Gordon Ramsay North America restaurants, there are 43 international restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants portfolio worldwide, where Gordon Ramsay holds a total of 7 Michelin stars.
Renowned for highly successful and award-winning original programming, Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning Ramsay produces TV shows on both sides of the Atlantic, seen by audiences worldwide in more than 200 territories, and he is the only talent on air in the U.S. with six prime-time national network shows. He hosts and executive produces “Next Level Chef,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef,” “MasterChef Junior”, “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back,” and the upcoming “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” all on Fox, in addition to specials including “Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip.”
Ramsay and Fox Entertainment recently announced their leading new worldwide production venture Studio Ramsay Global to develop, produce and distribute culinary and lifestyle programming for FOX, Tubi and global markets. His earlier multimedia production company Studio Ramsay was launched in the U.K. in 2016 to create and develop unscripted, digital and scripted programming, focusing on new formats and innovative programming, as well as fostering new talent. Its shows include “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back,” which was the highest-rated food show of 2019; “The F-Word Live With Gordon Ramsay”; “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” on National Geographic Channel, which airs in 172 countries and 43 languages worldwide; the ratings hit and BAFTA-nominated “Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip,” for ITV; “Gordon Ramsay’s Bank Balance,” on BBC1; the daytime cooking series “Culinary Genius,” which premiered on ITV in the U.K., and was syndicated on FOX stations in the U.S.; the ITV series “The Savoy” and “Gordon on Cocaine”; and the highly popular children’s series “Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch,” starring Tilly Ramsay for U.K. children’s channel CBBC.
Studio Ramsay Global Digital Division is behind all of Ramsay’s original content on his highly successful YouTube Channel, which has made Ramsay the most subscribed chef on the platform. The 18-34 dominated channel launched the trending interview series “Scrambled,” and is also behind the highly successful “Ramsay in 10,” which went live during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Studio Ramsay Global Digital oversees and creates content for all behind-the-scenes moments from Studio Ramsay linear programming, has produced content for National Geographic and Masterclass, and produces recipe content across Gordon’s 90 million plus Social Media reach, including his breakout TikTok account.
For more information, please visit www.gordonramsay.com or follow Gordon Ramsay on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter.
