Nimes, France, February 10th 2022 – Indie developer Midgar Studio, working in partnership with publisher Dear Villagers, have today released their hit JRPG Edge Of Eternity on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. It will also launch on Nintendo Switch via a cloud version on February 23rd.
Game Pass subscribers will be delighted to see that Edge of Eternity is available beginning today!
All console versions include all current and upcoming updates from the PC version, as well as the newly added Japanese voice acting, which also launches on the PC build today as a free update.
In a world torn asunder, the people of Heryon pursue a desperate war against a mysterious invader. As this conflict opposing magic and technology grows to cataclysmic proportions, a new threat emerges from the battlefield. Wage epic turn-based battles as you follow Daryon and Selene in their quest to find a cure to the all-consuming Corrosion and save the world of Heryon.
Edge Of Eternity is developed by a small indie team based in the south of France. The game was made possible by over 4000 fans who supported the game via a successful Kickstarter campaign. The crowdfunding was so successful that Midgar Studio was able to work with the legendary JRPG composer Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy XV, Xenoblade Chronicles) and Cédric Menendez (Hover, A Normal Lost Phone).
“Edge of Eternity is the most ambitious project we’ve ever worked on and we were thrilled by its reception on PC last year,” said Jeremy Zeler, founder of Midgar Studio. “It was heavily inspired by console JRPGs, so it feels right at home on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. And being able to play it with a Japanese voice track really adds to the authenticity of its Eastern influence!”
About Edge Of Eternity:
A Deep & Strategic Combat System: Outwit your enemies in epic turn-based tactical combat: use the environment to lure them into devious traps, outsmart and outflank them to inflict massive damage! Craft your gear and inset it with powerful crystals to unlock unique combinations of skills and power-ups.
A Cast of Charismatic Characters: Meet a cast of larger-than-life companions, each with their own unique personalities and attributes. Discover their dreams, flaws, hopes and torments as you experience and share many special moments together.
A gorgeous world to discover: Journey through Heryon’s unique and ethereal environments, and unearth its most ancient secrets.
A stunning soundtrack from the composer of Chrono Trigger & Xenoblade Chronicles: Heryon is brought to life by a sublime soundtrack from industry legend and composer of Chrono Trigger & Xenoblade Chronicles, Yasunori Mitsuda
About Midgar Studio: Midgar Studio is a small French independent development studio created in 2008 and composed of thirteen video game enthusiasts. The studio is located in Nîmes in the south of France and specializes in hardcore games especially on PC and consoles.
About Dear Villagers Dear Villagers is a publishing label of Plug In Digital. It’s a place where talented studios can unleash their creativity and focus on bringing unique single player experiences to players on PC and console, experiences that will stay with them long after the credits roll. Dear Villager’s lineup includes the award-winning The Forgotten City, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk, ScourgeBringer and Edge Of Eternity.
A New and Unique Live-Action Mystery-Adventure from talent behind Netflix’s ‘The Naked Director’ and ‘Metal Gear Solid V’ Launching on PlayStation® Consoles, Nintendo Switch™ and PC (STEAM®)
LONDON (Feb. 10, 2022)– Today, SQUARE ENIX® and video game developer h.a.n.d., Inc. unveiled The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story, an immersive live-action mystery-adventure game launching on the PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console, PlayStation®4 (PS4™) console, Nintendo Switch™ system and PC (STEAM®) on May 12, 2022.
Watch the announcement trailer for The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story here:
Directed by Koichiro Ito (Metal Gear Solid V) and produced by Junichi Ehera (NieR:Automata), The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story centers around the ill-fated Shijima family, who have experienced a chain of inexplicable deaths in their family over the past century. Players will take on the role of mystery novelist, Haruka Kagami and use their powers of deductions to uncover the truth behind four murder cases that have taken place in the Shijima household over the last one hundred years. Take on this accessible mystery story, uncover the truth of the case and reveal the culprit!
Yasuhito Tachibana, producer of Netflix’s ‘The Naked Director’ serves as Cinematographer and Scenario Director on The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story, taking visual storytelling to a new level with high-quality cinematography and thrilling live-action gameplay. Players will be immersed into an authentically traditional Japanese story where they will transcend time across different eras of Japan while collecting information scattered throughout each era to uncover the truth behind the ill-fated Shijima family and solve an age-old mystery.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story features compelling performances from Nanami Sakuraba as the games’ protagonist, Haruka Kagami and Yuta Hiraoka as Eiji Shijima, the second son of the Shijima family who returns home to help unravel the mystery behind his ill-fated family. A cast of talented Japanese actors bring this enigmatic Japanese adventure to life, depicting an array of characters throughout each period setting.
“This is a mystery game that we’ve poured our efforts into wholeheartedly, following extensive discussion between the director, Koichiro Ito – who has created a great many adventure games – and Yasuhito Tachibana, of Netflix’s The Naked Director, on the topic of “a live action game, for gamers”. An intricately woven story, a gameplay experience where you use your powers of reasoning to uncover the culprit, and the massive secret that threads together multiple murder cases that occur at different points in time… We’ve entered the last stage of development, with the aim to make it a mystery game that everyone can enjoy. I hope you’ll look forward to the game!” said Producer Junichi Ehara.
Players can pre-order The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story on PC (STEAM®) digitally beginning today. Those who purchase the game before May 19, 2022, will receive the base game, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story BEHIND THE SCENES and ‘The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story’ mini soundtrack composed by Yuki HayashI (anime and game series DRAGON QUEST: The Adventure of Dai), Daiki Okuno, Ryoshi Takagi, Shuichiro Fukuhiro and Shogo Yamashiro.
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 164 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION ANNOUNCED FOR PLAYSTATION®4, NINTENDO SWITCH, XBOX ONE AND STEAM.
SYDNEY (Feb 10, 2022)– SQUARE ENIX® today announced CHRONO CROSS™: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION, will be available digitally for the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) console, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One and Steam® on April 7th, 2022. Players will embark on an epic adventure that transcends time and space, with refined illustrations from original character designer, Nobuteru Yuuki, remastered music from acclaimed composer, Yasunori Mitsuda, and a variety of additional features.
CHRONO CROSS, which was never before released in Europe, returns as a remasterin CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION. Follow the story of Serge, who stumbles into another world and learns of the connection between his existence and the future of his planet. A classic time-bending tale of adventure and friendship, featuring one of the largest and most diverse casts of playable characters of any RPG. With over 40 potential party members, each character brings their own element affinity and unique skills. Additionally, “RADICAL DREAMERS – Le Trésor Interdit -“, a text-based adventure video game released for Sattelaview in 1996, which forms the bedrock of the story, is also included in this edition.
A new trailer unveiled today provides a first look at the title. To watch the CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION Trailer
Players can look forward to some exciting new features, such as:
3D models converted to HD
Brand new artwork and character redesign by Nobuteru Yuuki
Refined background music by Yasunori Mitsuda
Switch enemy encounters on or off
Background filter feature
Battle enhancement features
Auto-battle function
French, Italian, German and Spanish localization now added
Switch between imitation pixel font and HD font
The inclusion of Radical Dreamers, never before released in the West.
Players can choose between playing with original or updated graphics
*The 3D models, illustrations, font and background filter cannot be toggled separately. They will all be switched together.
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 164 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Stylish Visuals, Flashy Battle Animations and Impressive Effects in an All New RPG Set in the Gundam Universe
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (February 9, 2022) – Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE will release for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Windows this year. Pilots can navigate the Gundam universe like never before with stylish visuals, dynamic battle animations and impressive effects as players take on challenging cooperative battles in SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE.
This action RPG brings players to another world through the strange phenomenon known as “Breaks,” experiencing original works from an array of Gundam stories while striving to restore the world to normal. From “Mobile Suit Gundam” to “Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans,” SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE encourages players to lead a 3-unit squadron to experience exciting cooperative battles with a multitude of characters and extensive mechanics. Players can experience the solo story or take advantage of each Mobile Suits’ unique strength to win the day by joining with friends. SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE will have players battling Super Deformed (SD) versions of Mobile Suits from the Gundam series with thrilling animations in this all new epic RPG.
“We’re so excited to see how players react to famous scenes from various Gundam works in SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE,” said Katrina Castillo, Senior Brand Manager at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “Whether playing with friends or playing solo, we encourage players to break the limits of their favorite Mobile Suits to win battles and lead their squads to victory!”
SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Windows in 2022. For more information about SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE or other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. please visit,https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at,https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation athttps://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
Family Friendly Rhythmic Beat Game Coming to Nintendo Switch
IRVINE, Calif., (February 9, 2022) – Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced Taiko no Tatsujin™: Rhythm Festival exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival invites players to put your rhythmic skills to the test and light their drumming spirit on fire!
In Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival, players can drum along to reach delightful levels of synchronicity with an extensive library of over 76 bopping beats ranging from classical to popular hit songs. Additionally, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival features two new gameplay modes. InDON-chan Band Mode, players can take part in a 4-player live concert and jam out together. In the Great Drum Toy War Mode, players will be able to face-off against each other to decide who is the ultimate drumming master!
“The Taiko no Tatsujin series has delivered decades of family-friendly rhythmic gameplay for generations of players globally.” said Mike Chang, Senior Director Digital Marketing and Business at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival promises to expand the brand’s renown legacy by offering innovative new gameplay modes to ensure a bombastic gaming experience for current and future rhythmic gamers alike.”
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of the BANDAI NAMCO Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
Pre-order the classic action-adventure game today, featuring an epic story, intense multiplayer Duels and immersive Joy-Con™ motion controls
AUSTIN, Texas — Feb. 9, 2022 — During today’s Nintendo Direct, Aspyr and Lucasfilm Games announced the Nintendo Wii™ edition of the classic action-adventure game Star Wars™: The Force Unleashed™ is coming to Nintendo Switch™ on April 20. Play as Starkiller, secret apprentice to Darth Vader, on a mission to hunt down and destroy the Jedi. Dive into a riveting Star Wars™ story featuring devastating Force power and lightsaber combos, multiplayer Duel Mode, and support for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con™ motion controls.
Experience an untold story set between Star Wars™ Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars™ Episode IV: A New Hope, wielding the powers of the dark side as a powerful Force user in a battle that will forever shape the galaxy.
Key Features:
Play as Starkiller and destroy all who stand in your way on your quest to serve Lord Vader.
Unleash epic Force powersand lightsaber combos with optional Nintendo Switch Joy-Con™ motion controls.
Battle your friends in local multiplayer Duel Mode to determine the galaxy’s most powerful Jedi, with 27 characters to choose from!
Travel the Star Wars galaxy and defeat powerful Jedi Masters across a variety of iconic locations, including Cloud City, the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk, the floral planet Felucia, and the junk world of Raxus Prime.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed launches on April 20 and is available to pre-order on the Nintendo eShop today for $19.99.
Aspyr is a leading video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games across all platforms for all players. Today, the company supports a growing network of partners that includes many of the industry’s leading entertainment IP holders, publishers, developers, and technology providers. Aspyr is based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aspyr.com.
All copyrights, trademarks, logos and brands are the property of their respective owners.
First Disney and Pixar Cross-Platform Battle Racing Game, Coming to PC and Consoles this Year
PARIS, FRANCE – February 9, 2022 – Gameloft, a leader in the development and publishing of games, is thrilled to announce Disney Speedstorm, a new cross-playable arcade racing experience, unveiled during today’s Nintendo Direct. Players race and battle each other on stunning tracks inspired by Disney and Pixar films, mastering each racer’s unique skills to claim victory. Developed by Gameloft Barcelona, home to the Asphalt series, Disney Speedstorm is slated to launch free-to-play on PC and consoles in 2022.
For more details about Disney Speedstorm, players can follow here: disneyspeedstorm.com
Disney Speedstorm is a hero-based combat racing game featuring iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains re-imagined as high-speed road warriors, with racetracks inspired by their unique worlds. An incredible lineup of racers will include Captain Jack Sparrow, Mulan, Mickey Mouse, Sulley, the Beast and more, suited-up and revving up for racing action. Upgrade each racer’s stats and make the most of their unique skills, which can impact the outcome of a single race and dramatically change the way to play!
From the docks of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean to the wilds of The Jungle Book, and even racing on the Great Wall of China seen in Mulan or the Scare Floor from Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., players can experience these worlds from a fresh, exciting perspective geared specifically for racing!
Players will be able to speed through action-packed tracks solo, or challenge friends in local and remote multiplayer modes, with Disney Speedstorm supporting cross-platform play. Additionally, the action never slows down thanks to fresh content always around the corner. New Disney and Pixar racers will be added regularly, and unique tracks will be released often, to pump fresh strategy into the mix. More details will be announced closer to launch.
“To work on a dream project like Disney Speedstorm, we are driven to create a game that feels like home for Disney and Pixar fans but is also unique to the arcade-racing genre. The gameplay mechanics, the racer abilities and the location design were all tailored to serve our vision of a fast and gripping competitive experience.” said Alexandru “Sasha” Adam, VP & Studio Manager, Gameloft Barcelona. “We can’t wait to share this vision with players around the globe.”
“Disney fans are in for a full throttle experience with the upcoming launch of the high-speed racing game Disney Speedstorm,” said Luigi Priore, VP, Disney & Pixar Games. “Gameloft has driven some of our most beloved Disney and Pixar characters to new heights with their latest interpretation, while putting a fun spin on their unique circuits and abilities to keep competing fans on the edge of their seats.”
Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Disney, LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,600 people worldwide. Every month, 70 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company.
Classic Namco Side-Scrolling Adventure Anthology Remastered for the Nintendo Switch
IRVINE, Calif., (February 9, 2022) – Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series for the Nintendo Switch. Run, jump, and hover your way through dreamy side-scrolling adventures with this remastered collection!
KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series will feature remastered editions of the classic side-scrolling platformers Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil. Featuring revamped graphics, adjustable difficulty settings, and 2-player co-op mode, KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series is sure to please the hardcore platforming enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre alike.
“Bandai Namco has been a leader in the family friendly gaming genre for over 40-years.” said Mike Chang, Senior Director of Digital Marketing and Business at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We look forward to seeing fans and gamers around the world rediscover and enjoy Klonoa’s enduring side-scrolling adventures in KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series.”
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of the BANDAI NAMCO Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
SYDNEY (Feb. 10, 2022)– SQUARE ENIX® today announced that the highly anticipated sixth release in the FINAL FANTASY pixel remaster series, FINAL FANTASY® VI, will be releasing on February 23 for Steam® and mobile platforms across Europe & Australia / New Zealand. Fans can embark on an enhanced journey in the popular RPG with completely new graphics and audio as a 2D pixel remaster.
Originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994, FINAL FANTASY VI captures all of the magic of the original with improved ease of play. Players will embark on a timeless story following The War of the Magi, which left little but ashes and misery in its wake and magic itself vanished from the world. A thousand years later, humanity has rebuilt the world relying on machines and technology – until they find a young girl named Terra with mysterious powers. The evil Empire has kept her enslaved in an effort to harness these powers as a weapon, leading to a fateful meeting between Terra and a young man named Locke. Their harrowing escape from the Empire’s clutches sets in motion a series of events that touches countless lives and leads to one inevitable conclusion.
Regarded as one of the most beloved games in the FINAL FANTASY series, FINAL FANTASY VI features a robust roster of playable characters, each with their own stories, goals and destinies. Players will be able to customize their party members’ abilities, magic spells and summons with the acclaimed magicite system. In addition, players can look forward to many improvements and updates for FINAL FANTASY VI, including:
Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY pixel character designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator.
A beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by the original composer Nobuo Uematsu.
Improved gameplay, including modernized UI, auto-battle options and more!
Supplemental extras like the bestiary, illustration gallery and music player.
Those who pre-purchase FINAL FANTASY VI on Steam, will receive early purchase bonuses, including four wallpapers, five music tracks, and a 20% discount. The wallpapers, timelapse special tracks, which transition from the iconic original versions to the new arrangements, and an instrumental music track are available through early purchase or via the bundle on Steam. The music tracks include:
The Decisive Battle (Timelapse Remix)
Terra’s Theme (Timelapse Remix)
Searching for Friends (Timelapse Remix)
Locke’s Theme (Timelapse Remix)
Aria di Mezzo Carattere (Instrumental)
All six games within the FINAL FANTASY pixel remaster seriesare available for purchase as part of the FINAL FANTASY I-VI Bundle for a further discount. FINAL FANTASY I through V are also on sale individually on mobile and Steam at a discount through February 23. More information on the bundle and each individual title is available on Steam, the App Store®, Google Play™, and Amazon App Store.
*Games in the bundle to be available upon respected release timings
Visit the official FINAL FANTASY pixel remaster series website for more information at:https://ffpixelremaster.com/
For over 30 years, the FINAL FANTASY series has delighted generations of gamers and millions of players worldwide through beloved Role-Playing adventures that are built upon the benchmarks of spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds rich stories, memorable characters and technical and gameplay innovation leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from around the world. Each mainline game in the series is a completely new experience, and an ideal entry point to the series. Titles of the series have sold over 164 million units worldwide.
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 164 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Players Will Be Able to Incorporate Moves from Top Dancers, Including the Kangsta Wok, to Showcase Their Skills in a Community-Driven Space Where Collaboration Meets Competition
HONG KONG – Feb 09, 2022 –The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, announced today that it has partnered with DanceFight, the world’s leading dance battle app, to bring the authentic DanceFight experience to its own dedicated LAND in The Sandbox. This collaboration will bring head-to-head street dance competitions to the gaming metaverse for the first time, allowing players to fully express their dance skills.
Inclusivity and safety have always been the focus of DanceFight– competitions do not include comments, vote totals or “like” counts to mitigate social pressure – and the ethos of creating a safe space for expression and creation will carry through in the metaverse. Unlike any other social experience in the market, DanceFight is purely about head-to-head competition where the community votes for the winner. This deliberate reframing of competition, which is centered around respect for effort, courage, and honoring competitors, has been deeply embraced by the US-based street dance community and has resulted in the app appearing at the top of Apple’s App Store multiple times.
“We want to create a lively, welcoming space in The Sandbox where much like our mobile app, dancers of all ages and skill levels can do what they love in a totally inspiring community– you’re always winning if you put yourself out there,” said Ryan Jordan, Co-Founder of DanceFight.
“The open metaverse is the perfect platform where creativity can be rewarded not just with audience votes but the possibility for dance-to-earn and choreograph-to-earn to turn into a digital vocation.”
Dance has always been a key form of cultural expression, and it’s no different in digital culture. By transforming DanceFight battles from IRL videos to 3D dance-offs featuring player avatars, The Sandbox will foster the inclusive culture of street dancing in its open metaverse. In partnership with The Sandbox, the DanceFight team will create a dance venue in their LAND, pulsing with live dance battles, events, and music. This will be a space where dancers of all skill levels, backgrounds and countries come together to connect, collab, practice, battle, and add dimension to their craft.
Through the partnership, dance creators will now be able to monetize their personal dance moves as NFT animations players can purchase and apply to their own avatar in The Sandbox, instantly becoming a next-level dance battler. Dancers well-known to the DanceFight community, such as Slim Boogie, Arsenal, Pumpkin, Jon Gifted, Enerjae, Jesse Sykes, as well as KANG FRVR (Isaiah Sosho), the epic dancer known for creating the massive Kangsta Wok dance phenomenon, are already onboard.
“Bringing the artform of dance to The Sandbox metaverse is a huge moment. It allows dancers to receive credit, ownership, and revenue for their innovative choreography – something that’s often lacking in the physical world, especially for BIPOC creators,” said Kangsta Wok creator, KANG FRVR. “It will also inspire a whole new level of creativity in dance that goes beyond real-world limitations like gravity.”
DanceFight has become the mobile epicenter of the US street dance and dance battle scenes with some of the most talented dance battlers on the planet. The experience creates a place where aspiring dancers can express themselves and compete while honing their craft. Dance and music fans soon will be able to experience DanceFight in the metaverse, with 3D dancers freed from IRL physical restrictions. A launch date and other details will be announced at a later time.
“We welcome creators of every type in The Sandbox, and it’s exciting to see choreographers and dancers bringing their artistic skills to bring dance battles to life in the DanceFight LAND,” said Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox. “I can’t wait to try out the Kangsta Wok on the dance floor, knowing that the dance community will be behind my efforts to master the art of street dance.”
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. DanceFight joins over 200 existing partnerships including The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Warner Music Group, 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.
About Virtual Arts Inc.
The venture-backed mobile app company Virtual Arts Inc. created DanceFight – the world’s first mobile competition platform for skill-based, head-to-head video competition. The U.S.-based company is focusing initially on Gen-Z and dance, but will rapidly expand to support all forms of competition content, including singing, comedy, rap, cheerleading, basketball trick shots, skateboarding, other action sports and more. For more information about DanceFight and to download the app (available in the U.S. currently) visit: https://dancefightapp.com and get inspired by their incredible community of dancers by following on Instagram.
About The Sandbox
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 Adidas, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Deadmau5, Atari, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Care Bears, The Smurfs, 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. It 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 Formula 1®, Disney, WWE, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Doraemon. The company has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Bondly, and Lympo. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 150 investments in NFT-related companies and decentralized projects that are contributing to building the open metaverse, including 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.
