Private Division Announces Publishing Partnership with Wētā Workshop

Renowned New Zealand company developing a new game set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien

Private Division, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced they have signed a new publishing agreement with Wētā Workshop, best known for their work on Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. In 2014 Wētā Workshop founded an interactive game division and are now developing a new game set in the Middle-earth universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-earth Enterprises have licensed the literary works of the series, providing Wētā Workshop with the broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books.

“We are thrilled to partner with Wētā Workshop to publish a game set in such an extraordinary and celebrated universe,” said Michael Worosz, Chief Strategy Officer, Take-Two Interactive, and Head of Private Division. “The Lord of the Rings IP is home to so many remarkable stories, and no entity is better equipped than the team at Wētā Workshop to create a distinctive, new Middle-earth gaming experience.”

“It’s a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that’s so different from what fans have played previously,” said Amie Wolken, Head of Interactive at Wētā Workshop. “As fans ourselves, we’re excited for gamers to explore Middle-earth in a way they never have before, and introduce new fans to the magic of The Lord of the Rings.”

This title is in early development and does not yet have an announced release date. It is expected to launch during Take-Two’s Fiscal Year 2024. Private Division and Wētā Workshop look forward to sharing more details about this game in the future.

To stay up to date on announcements from Private Division, sign up for the newsletter: https://www.privatedivision.com/newsletter/ 

Private Division is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).

About Middle-earth Enterprises

Inspired by a deep appreciation for the fictional world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth Enterprises is dedicated to working with businesses providing quality products in accordance with best green business and sustainability practices including fair trade, equality in the workplace, and a commitment to protect our earth, its wondrous beauty and the viability of every living creature.  Middle-earth Enterprises has been producing and licensing films, merchandise and stage productions based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books for more than four decades.  With headquarters located in Berkeley, California, its website may be found at www.middleearth.com.

About Wētā Workshop

Wētā Workshop brings imaginary worlds to life by delivering concept design, physical effects, collectables, immersive visitor experiences and games to the world’s entertainment and creative industries.

Established by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger in 1987, we are best known for our screen work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Avatar, and Dune, our immersive visitor experiences, Gallipoli: The Scale of our War, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Mobility Pavilion and Wētā Workshop Unleashed. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Wētā Workshop’s ground-breaking work has earned us multiple international awards. Our Interactive division was established in 2014 and is led by an experienced team of creative game developers and film veterans who bring Wētā Workshop’s signature storytelling, technical innovation and artistry to our games studio.

About Private Division

Private Division is a developer-focused publisher that partners with the finest creative talent in the video game industry, empowering studios to develop the games that they are passionate about creating, while providing the support that they need to make their titles critically and commercially successful on a global scale. The Label publishes the Kerbal Space Program franchise, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey from Panache Digital Games, The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment, Disintegration from V1 Interactive, and OlliOlli World and Rollerdrome from Roll7, with future unannounced projects in development with Moon Studios, Evening Star, Piccolo Studio, Yellow Brick Games, and other esteemed independent developers. Private Division publishes the physical retail edition of Hades from Supergiant Games on PlayStation^® and Xbox consoles. Private Division continues to build its internal studio capacity, with Roll7 and Intercept Games as internal developers for the Label. Private Division is headquartered in New York City with offices in Seattle, Las Vegas, Munich, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.privatedivision.com.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, Private Division, and Zynga. Our products are currently designed for console gaming systems, PC, and Mobile including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms, and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: risks relating to our combination with Zynga; the uncertainty of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto; the effect that measures taken to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic have on our operations, including our ability to timely deliver our titles and other products, and on the operations of our counterparties, including retailers and distributors; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on both consumer demand and the discretionary spending patterns of our customers as the situation with the pandemic continues to evolve; the risks of conducting business internationally; the impact of changes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; our ability to leverage opportunities on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S; the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games; and risks associated with international operations.

Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Sign up for the Most Exciting Space Tour in the Galaxy! (Survival Not Guaranteed)

SYDNEY – 15 August 2022 – To the Stars, the tactical roguelike deck-builder from developer Stellar Cartography and publisher Blowfish Studios, adds Earth to the itinerary along with Nintendo Switch, PC and Mac via Steam in Q2 2023.

What’s a disgraced captain of a renowned treasure-hunting brigade to do when they fail to make a name for themselves? Open a universe-wide touring service, of course! Surf a procedurally generated sea of stars while recruiting a group of…quirky, yet talented alien crewmates. Utilize their distinct abilities to effectively manage the voyages ahead and, most importantly, ensure guests have a great time aboard your spaceship.

The galaxy is full of threats, so cruise cautiously and keep an eye out for territorial tyrants and rival tour agencies. Ready a deck with an elite arsenal of aliens, weapons, bonuses, abilities, and ships to safely ferry passengers through the final frontier. Prepare for real-time strategy battles – deploy Neela the Great, the best darn pilot in the galaxy, Zelbob, the slyest smuggler in the sector, and more colorful characters to eliminate galactic threats with style.

Tons of randomized scenarios will require the quick thinking of a true con artist, the expert guidance of a captain, or simply the raw PEW PEW SMASH power of a seasoned celestial barbarian – whichever makes more sense at the time. Sustain a diverse crew to guarantee passenger safety and keep the business thriving.

“To the Stars is a fun mesh of deck-building card games and tactical planet hopping adventures,” said Ido Yehieli, Founder, Stellar Cartography. “Guides will discover strange new worlds, meet cute aliens, and take on exciting battles whilst giving a flock of gullible loveable tourists the space tour of a lifetime!”

To learn more, visit To the Stars’ official site, join the community on Twitter, and search #TotheStarsGame on social media.

About Stellar Cartography

Stellar Cartography is an independent development team of seasoned, award-winning developers who are committed to providing their players with artsy and whimsical new adventures. To the Stars is the company’s debut game as well as the inspiration for their name.

To learn more about Stellar Cartography, please visit the team’s website.

About Blowfish Studios

Blowfish Studios is an award-winning game developer and publisher based in Sydney, Australia. The studio strives to release original multi-platform games, while also collaborating with developers from around the world. As developers first, they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any partnership. The studio provides development services to get the game release ready, porting to all major platforms, platform approval, marketing, and promotion to the world. Blowfish Studios is a part of Animoca Brands gaming focused endeavors.

To learn more about Blowfish Studios please visit the team’s website as well as follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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.

Get ready to release your inner demon with this feminist punk rock slice-of-life

17 August 2022 – Game developer Triple Topping (Welcome to Elk) has unveiled its upcoming game, Dead Pets Unleashed, for PC and Mac platforms. Dead Pets Unleashed is a punk rock story about a band making one last effort to get big or grow up. Triple Topping has just launched a Kickstarter for Dead Pets Unleashed and a playable demo is available on Steam. Those wanting to follow and support the game’s progress can register on Kickstarter. Dead Pet’s Unleashed will also have a playable demo at the Indie Arena Booth at Gamescom (August 24-28). 

Dead Pets Unleashed follows the punk rock band Dead Pets, who have been in the music scene for a decade. Set in the world of Ether, Gordy and the band live in New Void City. An entirely new world, the planet is inhabited by different species of demons. Players will decide if Gordy, the band’s lead singer, will follow her big plans to get the band’s big break or decide to put away childish things after turning 30. While the game does deal with some heavy topics, Dead Pets Unleashed will run players through several fun slice-of-life mini games, let them listen to a real punk rock EP played live during the game, and engage in Gordy’s daily schedule to determine the future of the band.

Inspired by cartoons Bojack Horseman and Tuca and Bertie’s colorful, surreal worlds, complicated adult friendships, and zany, offbeat humor. At its core, Dead Pets Unleashed is a game about friendship. The band have all been friends for a very long time, and the game explores how to manage old friendships that are taking different paths.

Being about a band, music is incredibly important to the game. However the punk rock music of the game isn’t too heavy, and is intended to be enjoyed by everyone with other music genres also intertwined in the game. You can listen to Dead Pet’s full single featured in the trailer, I Own My Smile. Inspired by female-fronted punk bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, I Own My Smile is Gordy’s ode to catcallers.

Check out the song Dead Pets – I Own My Smile

For more information on Dead Pets Unleashed, check out the game’s Kickstarter page, playable demo, Triple Topping’s website or follow along on Twitter. The game will also be available to preview at the Indie Arena Booth for those heading to Gamescom from August 24-28.

International Producer Will Collaborate with Official Gaming Audio and Microphone Supplier on Original Product and Promotional Activities

Australia – August 15, 2022 – HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the signing of world-renowned DJ, record producer, and songwriter Zedd as the brand’s newest ambassador. Through the relationship, HyperX will serve as Zedd’s Official Gaming Audio and Gaming Microphone Supplier. Zedd will in turn help the gaming solutions provider design and promote several original product offerings, including custom and limited-edition headsets and peripherals. Beyond original products, the duo will bring gamers and music fans exclusive content and promotional platforms. 

The relationship between HyperX and Zedd developed organically, as a result of the artist’s passion for gaming. Zedd has been an avid gamer for years, playing multiple titles between tour stops and studio sessions. 

“HyperX has supported my passion for gaming since we first connected via Twitter, several years ago,” said Zedd. “Their products are a major part of my gaming lifestyle and I am grateful for the ongoing support. I’m eager to kick off our collaboration, which dives much deeper than a typical partnership.” 

Since 2002, HyperX has made gaming more approachable for gamers of all levels across multiple gaming platforms through its PC, console and mobile products. In addition to providing products that support varying needs, the brand has developed multi-year relationships with a diverse roster of celebrated ambassadors across culture, entertainment and sport. Built around transparency, innovation and collaboration, these ambassadorships have helped the brand bring gaming to new audiences and cement what was once a niche hobby as a popular pastime.

“Over the last two decades, we’ve really grown alongside gaming, from this bold, grassroots company into a lifestyle brand,” said HyperX. “Zedd is an incredible talent who’s known not only for his musical contributions, but passion for gaming. Together, we aim to show the authentic link between music and gaming, and bring these worlds even closer together.”  

Zedd joins a growing line-up of more than 25 HyperX ambassadors, including Australian content creator Lachlan, football player JuJu Smith-Schuster, basketball players Gordon Hayward and Aerial Powers, tennis player Daniil Medvedev, international soccer players Dele Alli and Casemiro, professional race car driver Sage Karam, skateboarder Minna Stess, streamer Valkyrae and social media sensation Bella Poarch.

To stay up to date on this ambassadorship and potential collaborative offerings, please visit hyperx.com. 

About HyperX

For 20 years, HyperX’s mission has been to develop gaming solutions for every type of gamer and the company is consistently recognised for delivering products that provide superior comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Under the tagline of “WE’RE ALL GAMERS,” HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, USB microphones, and console accessories are the choice of everyday gamers as well as celebrity ambassadors, pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, and overclockers worldwide because they meet stringent product specifications and are built with best-in-class components. 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/hyperx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hyperxanz 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/HyperXAnz

About HP Inc.

HP Inc. is a technology company that believes one thoughtful idea has the power to change the world. Its product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions helps bring these ideas to life. Visit http://www.hp.com .

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HyperX and the HyperX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of HP Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE PATCH 6.2 “BURIED MEMORY” RECEIVES 23^rd AUGUST RELEASE DATE AND NEW TRAILER

Letter from the Producer LIVE Broadcast Showcases Latest Upcoming Content; Moonfire Faire Seasonal Event Live

SQUARE ENIX® today announced FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online Patch 6.2, Buried Memory, will launch on 23^rd August. Revealed during the latest Letter from the Producer LIVE broadcast presented by Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, the news was accompanied by a new trailer and information on the latest chapter of the critically acclaimed title, which includes fresh battle challenges and the highly anticipated Island Sanctuary.

You can view the new Patch 6.2 trailer at: 

During the broadcast, Yoshida offered viewers a demonstration of Island Sanctuary, a new type of casual solo content which allows players to build and customise their own personal farm on a deserted island by gathering materials, building facilities, caring for creatures, and more, without the need for prior crafting or gathering experience.

Additional details on Patch 6.2 were discussed, including PvP updates, Pandæmonium: Abyssos, and more.

An overview of content that players can look forward to in Patch 6.2 is included below:

●        New Main Scenario Quests – The epic story continues in this latest chapter.

●        New Side Story Quests – Experience the continuation of Tataru’s Grand Endeavor.

●        New Dungeon – New challenges await in the Fell Court of Troia.

●        New Trial – Band together with other players in a new trial with Normal and Extreme difficulties.

●        New 8-Player Raid – Pandæmonium: Abyssos will be available in both Normal and Savage difficulties to challenge the most seasoned players. The Savage difficulty raid is planned for release one week following the launch of Patch 6.2.

●        New Unreal Trial – Battle against Sephirot in Containment Bay S1T7 (Unreal).

●        PvP Updates – PvP Series 2 and Crystalline Conflict Season 3 will begin with the release of Patch 6.2. Hidden Gorge will also resume, along with adjustments to PvP actions and the Crystalline Conflict ranked matching system.

●        Continued Improvements to the Main Scenario:

○        The Duty Support feature will be expanded to include main scenario dungeons from the 2.x series to 3.0 (Snowcloak, The Keeper of the Lake, Sohm Al, The Aery and The Vault).

○        The Steps of Faith trial will be reworked into a solo quest battle.

○        The Thornmarch trial will be revamped.

●        Miscellaneous Updates – Additional content including, updates to adventurer plates and portraits, glamour dresser capacity expansion from 400 to 800 slots, and more.

Some additional details were also shared about Patch 6.25 content, which will arrive at a later date:

●        New Side Story Quests – Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures continue in Patch 6.25.

●        New Weapon Enhancement Quests – Players can obtain and enhance Manderville Weapons throughout the Patch 6.x series, which will begin in the Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures questline.

●        New Tribal Quests: Omicron – New daily quests for Disciples of the Land.

●        New “Variant Dungeons” Battle Content – Players can enjoy this new variable-difficulty dungeon content—beginning with the Sil’dihn Subterrane—designed for between 1-4 players, with the difficulty of enemies scaling depending on party size. Dungeons will feature branching routes, which change depending on player action within the dungeon.

●        New “Another Path: Criterion Dungeons” Battle Content –High difficulty four-player content, which features a distinct structure and enemies of the Variant Dungeons, but will have a set route. Criterion dungeons will feature two options of difficulties, each with their own unique set of rules and characteristics

In addition, a collaboration with Insert Coin clothing to create the FFXIV Endwalker Paladin Jacket was revealed. Inspired by the level 90 paladin job-specific gear featured in key art and the Endwalker trailer, the jacket features high-quality embroidery and is available to order now. For more information, please visit: https://sqex.to/InsertCoin

Alongside this, a weeklong livestream titled “Mogchute Farm” was announced, planned to celebrate the upcoming launch of the highly-anticipated Island Sanctuary content. Based in London, United Kingdom, “Mogchute Farm” is taking place at Mudchute Farm, a registered charity with care for the environment at the heart of their mission. From 1pm BST on Monday 15^th August to 1pm BST on Friday 19^th August, viewers will get the chance to watch several farmyard favourites over multiple days, including pigs, goats and chickens, with other surprises revealed as the week progresses. To experience their daily routines of feeds, frolics, and festivities, please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/finalfantasyxiv

Also announced as part of the Letter from the Producer LIVE, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online will be returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for PAX Australia 2022 with a dedicated booth. Between October 7-9, attendees will be invited to visit the booth where a range of activities will be available. More information will be available at a later date.

Furthermore, 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, can be viewed now on YouTube. The videos follow the journey of new player Kaz and his mentor Mayra, who guides him through his first steps in Eorzea. More information about the series can be found here: https://sqex.to/8q2Pq

Finally, the Moonfire Faire seasonal event is in full swing until August 26 and allows players to obtain unique new rewards, including the Summer Sunset attire. More information on this limited-time event can be found here: https://sqex.to/t4wCH

The full Letter from the Producer LIVE broadcast can be viewed at: https://www.twitch.tv/finalfantasyxiv

With more than 25 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: https://sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial

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

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.

Score big in a galaxy far, far away with two new tables celebrating Star Wars™: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars™: The Clone Wars

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Aug. 12, 2022 – “Star Wars™ Pinball” is available today for Zen Pinball Party on Apple Arcade! Relive some of the greatest moments in the Star Wars saga in pinball form with this free content update featuring two new tables with characters and music from Star Wars™: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars™: The Clone Wars.

Join the rebellion against Darth Vader and the evil Emperor in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” Fight alongside Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, R2-D2 and C-3PO as you journey at lightspeed from Hoth to Cloud City and beyond.

In “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” you’ll team up with legendary Jedi™ Knight Anakin Skywalker™ and his courageous Padawan apprentice, Ahsoka Tano™, in a battle to save the Republic and stop the most dangerous Sith™ assassins in the galaxy.

Available exclusively on Apple Arcade, Zen Pinball Party brings you dynamic tables inspired by fan-favorite properties like DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon; Hasbro’s MY LITTLE PONY; and golden age classics from Bally/Williams such as Theatre of Magic, Medieval Madness, and Attack from Mars. Enjoy the best physics simulation in digital pinball, challenge your friends for high scores in multiplayer, and test your skills against the world in online tournaments!

For more information, visit https://zenstudios.com/games/zen-pinball-party.

About Zen Studios

Zen Studios is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for all major digital game platforms. Recognized as one of the premier gaming studios in the world, Zen has worked with some of the most iconic entertainment studios, including Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, NBC Universal, Funko and FOX Digital Entertainment.

Zen’s Pinball FX franchise has defined video game pinball excellence since 2007, and critically acclaimed titles like Operencia: The Stolen Sun have proven its devotion to creating captivating RPGs. Zen Studios joined Saber Interactive in November 2020. For more information on Zen’s library of titles, visit https://zenstudios.com.

STAR WARS © & TM 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

PLAION Celebrates Its Debut with New Game Announcements and First Hands-On for Visitors in Hall 9

Sydney, Australia, Friday, August 12th, 2022 – PLAION, a leading developer, publisher and distributor of entertainment products is proud to announce its line-up for gamescom 2022.

Following a recent rebranding, PLAION will start off strong by with over 2,500 m² of floor space at gamescom in the business and consumer area combined.

This will feature games by our studios and publishing partners such as Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Ravenscourt, Vertigo Games, Coffee Stain Studios and Cardboard Sword. PLAION will serve up a wide variety of games for consumers to play during the show in Hall 9.

Saints Row, set in the unique, sprawling world of Santo Ileso, offers a wild, larger-than-life sandbox of thrilling side hustles, criminal ventures and blockbuster missions, as you shoot, drive, and wingsuit your way to the top. As the future Boss, with Neenah, Kevin, and Eli by your side, you’ll form The Saints and battle for control of the city. Ultimately Saints Row is the story of a start-up company, it’s just that the business The Saints are in happens to be crime. Saints Row launches on August 23^rd and will be playable at gamescom on AMD Ryzen, allowing visitors to have a truly great experience.

​“With our recent rebranding from Koch Media to PLAION, we’ve promised a new chapter in our journey with one mission: to bring unique entertainment experiences to consumers in every way we can. The first step in this journey is to showcase our fantastic line-up of games from our outstanding band of developers and publishing partners from all over the globe.” – said Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of PLAION.

Goat Simulator 3 (Coffee Stain Studios) will bring mayhem and udder destruction to visitors of the show. This will be a World Premiere for fans to get hooves-on with the game; and a chance to meet Pilgor at the booth.

A number of titles from Prime Matter will have a significant presence on the show floor. Visitors will get the chance to investigate the strange events in the neo-futuristic detective RPG, Mato Anomalies; engaging in frantic action when they take on the role of Grave and mow down enemies in a gory ballet of bullets in the stylish Gungrave G.O.R.E; exploring the sci-fi medieval world of The Last Oricru; facing off against one of gaming’s most infamous AI villains – SHODAN – in the genre-defining classic action-RPG System Shock; and explore, raid and conquer your way across the vast continent of Calradia in the strategy/action RPG world of Mount & Blade II.

Ravenscourt presents four titles: For the first time in the franchise history, Let’s Sing Presents ABBA will be playable at gamescom in the PLAION area – as will another unannounced title.

The Indie Arena Booth (Hall 10.2): Step into the paws of the deadliest Corgi ever with the arcade shoot ‘em up ProtoCorgi. Explore the harsh Canadian winter as the adventure Kona II Brume has you fighting to survive the unforgiving wilderness.

Also at the Indie Arena Booth, fans will have a chance to experience the first demo gameplay of The Siege and the Sandfox, the beautiful 16-bit style stealth metroidvania by Cardboard Sword.

Visitors looking for a more immersive experience can try out After The Fall by Vertigo Games at the Pico Interactive booth (Hall 9).

Joule Performance is the official hardware partner of PLAION at Gamescom. Unique custom water cooling systems, optimised high-end gaming PCs and flawless gaming chairs – with original Alcantara material – which all come with Swiss quality as standard. Real #swisscraftedgaming www.jouleperformance.com

​For more information, please read Koch becomes PLAION and visit plaion.com​

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.

PLAION is an Embracer Group company.

Eclipse Crisis Event Plunges Operators in the Dark in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six^® Extraction

Evade detection in new Crisis Event that brings stealth-oriented gameplay, a new Operator, and more!

Sydney, Australia — August 12, 2022 — Today, Ubisoft announced Rainbow Six Extraction’s third Crisis Event, Eclipse, is now available. In addition to the content from the last two Crisis Events, this limited-time event continues to add more postlaunch content for players to enjoy. Eclipse forces Operators into partial darkness as they venture into three sub-zones against a new threat.

As Operators dive deeper into the Truth or Consequences map, they will encounter the source of the darkness: the Neoplasm, a threat which sends out pulses that detect movement within a radius. In each sub-zone, players must weaken the Neoplasm with a stealthy takedown. If movement is detected, the Neoplasm will flee to the next sub-zone, making the next encounter increasingly difficult.

To progress from sub-zone to sub-zone, players will have to restore power to a generator while facing an onslaught of Archæans. The crisis climaxes in the third sub-zone, where players must eliminate the Neoplasm for good and make it to the extraction point safely.

Alongside Eclipse – Rainbow Six Operator Echo joins the REACT Team today. Known for his efficiency in gathering intel, Echo will be a valuable addition to the Rainbow Six Extraction roster both in Eclipse and the main game. Echo’s Yokai drone transmits a video feed to him and can fire ultrasonic bursts that disorients all targets it hits.

A new piece of REACT tech, the Aura Grenade, is also available for players to unlock. The Aura Grenade can be unlocked by completing the quest, ‘Stealth Kill 50 Archæans,’ and can be completed in any game mode. This new piece of REACT tech can lure Archæans and be remotely detonated to obliterate or stun enemies. It can also self-detonate after a set amount of time.

Overall, players can discover more exciting content as they delve deeper into the Eclipse event

• The New Aura Grenade REACT Tech
• The New Operator Echo
• New cosmetic items
• The New Neoplasm enemy
• Themed Charms for players to keep 
• Extra XP towards Milestone Progression 

Eclipse is the newest content added to Rainbow Six Extraction, and players can look forward to more in the future. Players can jump in now with their squad via Game Pass on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and Windows PC, as well as on PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Stadia, Amazon Luna, Ubisoft+, the Ubisoft Store, and the Epic Games Store. 

For more information about Rainbow Six Extraction, please visit r6extraction.com. 

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction 

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction is a one to three-player cooperative tactical first-person shooter. Assemble an elite team of Rainbow Six operators to launch incursions into tense, chaotic, and unpredictable containment zones and discover the mysteries behind the lethal and constantly evolving Archæan alien threat. Knowledge, cooperation, and a tactical approach are the player’s best weapons. Band together and put everything on the line to take on deadly enemies and contain the parasite. 

About Ubisoft  

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed ®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew®, Tom Clancy’s The Division®, and Watch Dogs®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2021–22 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,129 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com. 
  

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