$5 Million in Funding Secured by Apogee, House of Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein, and More

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund invests heavily in the future of gameplay-first indie development

DALLAS — January 25, 2022 — Apogee Entertainment, the legendary developer-publisher behind Duke Nukem, Prey (2006), Max Payne, Wolfenstein 3D, Commander Keen, and many more, today announces the company has accepted $5 million in external financing—the first outside investment in Apogee’s history.

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund’s $5 million investment in Apogee comes on the heels of the original indie game publisher’s public resurgence in March 2021, when founder and industry luminary Scott Miller rejoined the company he started in his parents’ home in 1987. A creative powerhouse that mentored id Software, Remedy Entertainment, and so many others, Apogee’s 2021 resurrection saw several successful game launches, like sci-fi survival adventure Residual from OrangePixel, and even more signings, including the open-world epic Elements (starring Patricia Summersett of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and Turbo Overkill, a frenetic first-person shooter from the acclaimed creator of DOOM II mod Total Chaos.

eWTP shares Apogee’s vision for an industry future where undiscovered indie talent is found, elevated, and rewarded for simply giving consumers great games—complete, polished, and purely fun. Their investment will accelerate Apogee’s growth, allow the hiring of additional management and production staff, and make possible the signing of several new games and developers spanning the globe.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled by this investment in our future success. I’m especially glad to have met Partner CY Chen and VP of Business Development Jack Sorensen, both of whom impressed us deeply with their understanding of our profession and business goals,” said Scott Miller. “Partnering with eWTP has us excited for the rocket ride ahead, on which we’ll discover and bring even more games to the world.”

“We really love Apogee’s proven track record of discovering new indie studios and nurturing their international success,” said CY, a veteran of the gaming industry and Electronic Arts China who helped pioneer online gaming in China. “We’re honored to support their mission to find undiscovered talent and help create evergreen hits that can remain successful for decades.”

Quantum Tech Partners, longtime advisors to Apogee Software, consulted on the partnership with eWTP Tech Innovation Fund. “Congratulations to Apogee and eWTP on the completion of this transaction. Quantum Tech Partners was very proud to exclusively advise Scott and Terry at Apogee on this partnership,” said Jim Perkins, Founder and Partner at QTP. “I’ve worked with Scott for decades, supporting independent developers worldwide. Scott’s talent is unmatched when it comes to finding and supporting visionary game developers and bringing their games to market.”

The resurrection continues in 2022 with the multi-platform releases of Elements, Turbo Overkill, hand-drawn dungeon-diving roguelike Below the Stone, and narrative-driven survival shooter DEAD FURY. Get the latest from Apogee Entertainment on its official website or follow the legends on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.

About Apogee Entertainment

Apogee Software’s pioneering journey began in 1987, when Scott Miller decided to split his new game, Kingdom of Kroz, into three episodes, with the first episode available as free shareware. The “Apogee model” of distribution revolutionized PC gaming at the time and catapulted Apogee Software to global renown. As an indie publisher, Apogee (and it’s later incarnation, 3D Realms) would introduce the world to id Software, Remedy Entertainment, Parallax Software, and other video game superstars in the making. As a developer, Apogee would innovate and inspire in equal measure, creating treasured characters and franchises like Duke Nukem, Shadow Warrior, and Prey en route to earning over a billion dollars in commercial revenue.

The new Apogee Entertainment, with founder Scott Miller and longtime partner Terry Nagy at the helm, will empower today’s incredibly talented indie developers, paving the way for their global success with innovative ideas, cutting-edge marketing, and the same fearlessness that changed the industry.

About eWTP Tech Innovation Fund

eWTP Tech Innovation Fund was established in May 2018 as the first fund originating from China that positions itself for globalization. Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Group are cornerstone investors of the fund. The size of the first funding is $600 million USD.  

eWTP focuses on markets around the world that have high growth potential within industries that revolve around technological innovation and improvement in the quality of consumption. eWTP focuses on technological innovation and development of businesses in regions of the Belt and Road Initiative.    

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — January 25, 2022 —  In keeping with their increasing global profile and ambitious growth strategy, Korean game publisher Kakao Games is eager to announce a 20 million USD strategic investment from Kakao Games Europe B.V. in American independent game developer Frost Giant Studios.

Founded in 2020 by industry veterans Tim Morten and Tim Campbell, Frost Giant Studios is currently at work developing their first real-time strategy (RTS) game, further details of which are expected to be announced later this year.

The game industry mainstays have had their hand in a number of the best-selling PC game franchises of all time, with Tim Morten (Frost Giant CEO and Production Director) having acted as Production Director for StarCraft II, and Tim Campbell (Frost Giant Game Director and President) working as Lead Campaign Designer for WarCraft III, amongst their various high-profile accomplishments.  

“The team at Frost Giant Studio have already proven they have strong development capabilities, creating beloved RTS hits in the global market in the past,” says Kakao Games CEO Kyehyun Cho. “We look forward to seeing them present their first game as a studio, and will actively work together to showcase good work through our close partnership.”

Frost Giant Studios CEO Tim Morten notes, “Kakao Games is a Publisher recognized in both the Korean and global markets; we are very happy to be working together. With their support, we’ll do our best to present a next-gen RTS game that can be enjoyed by players worldwide.”

In addition to this investment, Kakao Games overall continues to expand its lineup with promising and skilled domestic (Korean) and international dev studios, including Ocean Drive Studio, Second Dive, NINEARK, Reality MagiQ, and more.

About Frost Giant Studios, Inc.

Frost Giant Studios was founded in 2020 by games industry veterans Tim Morten and Tim Campbell to embark on a singular mission: build the next great PC real-time strategy (RTS) game! Frost Giant has attracted a team of experienced developers who helped create some of the most acclaimed and commercially successful games in history. Together, they are carrying forward the legacy of epic storytelling, innovative co-op gameplay, and celebrated esports that make RTS both fun to play and engrossing to watch. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and including its remotely-based talent from around the world, Frost Giant Studios is committed to a work environment built on collaboration, inclusion, and mutual respect. For more information, visit Frostgiant.com.

About Kakao Games Founded in 2016, Kakao Games is a leading publisher of online and mobile games, responsible for releasing titles including Pearl Abyss’ Black Desert Online (serviced in North America and Europe until early 2021), KRAFTON’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (serviced in Korea), Kong Studios’ Guardian Tales (serviced in North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania), Moonlight Sculptor (serviced in North America and Europe) MMORPG Elyon (serviced in North America, Europe and Oceania) and ArcheAge (serviced in North America, Europe and Oceania).  

Cut, sand, polish, paint and assemble thousands of items in Intermarum’s nostalgic restoration title

Opole, Poland – 25 January 2022 – Polish developer Intermarum today announced their highly-detailed restoration title, Workshop Simulator, will launch on PC, Xbox and PlayStation on 10 March. Players will craft and restore vintage toys, tools, furniture, and works of art using true-to-life tools and technical craft, while exploring a warmly nostalgic tale of family history and the stories of days gone by that are locked inside some of our most cherished possessions. 

Workshop Simulator offers players a cosy retreat with a nostalgic and creative experience focused on restoring vintage items through disassembling, cleaning, sanding, and painting – or to express their own creativity through brand-new creations. The rewarding nature of tools and craft is complemented by a heartwarming story about lessons in patience and generosity across generations.

Workshop Simulator features: 

A detailed and authentic workshop 
Hammers, drills, paints and machinery are re-created in rich visual and physical detail. Workshop Simulator allows players to repair and refurbish items using a range of restoration techniques and mechanics with authentic tools and specialist equipment unlocked through gameplay.   

A heartwarming and nostalgic story 
An innocent request from your grandmother and a visit to an abandoned workshop leads to a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring your family’s history through the treasures passed down between generations. 

Countless vintage items to build, repair and restore 
Feel the joy of turning old into new. Take intricate vintage items and give them a second life with tactile restoration techniques. Sand, polish, paint and assemble everyday objects to turn them into their own small work of arts. Sell your works to fund better tools and more restoration opportunities. 

“There’s something about restoring items and toys which taps into a sense of nostalgia, creativity, and, warmth,” said Marcin Książek, Creative & Art Director at Intermarum. “This is turn breathes new life into items which may have otherwise been discarded. It’s a hard thing to capture in a videogame, but we feel we’ve got pretty close with Workshop Simulator and we hope that players will love what we have created for them and enjoy tinkering and restoring items so that they shine.”

Workshop Simulator launches on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation on 10 March 2022. To find out more about Workshop Simulator, visit the official Facebook and Twitter pages. 

About Intermarum: 
Intermarum is an indie game development studio, founded in 2010 in the cozy and beautiful city of Opole, located in the south of Poland – the silence and peace give us the strength to do our work in truly beautiful and quiet surroundings, letting our creativity flow freely. Since then, we created games taking the best from many genres, but at the same time making them unique with fresh ideas – we try to make our dreams a reality through dedicated work and a free flow of creativity. Our hardened developers are working each day to deliver the best gaming experiences we can give. 

Play the award-winning narrative adventure from the master storytellers behind Dear Esther and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

Leamington Spa – 25 January 2022: Developers The Chinese Room and publishers Secret Mode today announced the multi-award-winning Little Orpheus is coming to console and PC on 1 March 2022. Players can experience this technicolour side-scrolling adventure on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch.

See the Release Date Announce Trailer here:

The year is 1962 and NASA is trying to put a man on the moon. In a remote corner of Siberia, a Soviet cosmonaut is heading in the other direction. Comrade Ivan Ivanovich is dropped into an extinct volcano in his exploration capsule, Little Orpheus, to explore the centre of the Earth. He promptly vanishes. Three years later he emerges claiming to have saved the world.

Join Comrade Ivanovich as he explores lost civilizations, undersea kingdoms, prehistoric jungles and lands beyond imagination. Little Orpheus is a side-scrolling adventure game for casual players and seasoned adventure fans alike, inspired by classic movies like Flash Gordon, Sinbad and The Land that Time Forgot.

This definitive edition of the multi-award-winning Apple Arcade hit from master storytellers The Chinese Room is rebuilt and remastered for the big screen with hi-res textures, new moves, new animations, and enhanced graphics and effects. Little Orpheus for PC and consoles also features the bonus ninth episode – A Rush of Onion to the Head – and the Lost Recordings Mode from the original game. 

“Bringing such a beloved, award winning and acclaimed title to our PC and Console fans is something Secret Mode are super-excited to be involved in,” said James Schall, Director of Publishing at Secret Mode. “Incredible craft and ingenuity of storytelling is the DNA of The Chinese Room. We can’t wait to hear and read what players think!”

Players who pre-order or purchase the game on Steam in the first two weeks of launch will also receive the Ivor-award nominated soundtrack by BAFTA-winning composer Jessica Curry and Jim Fowler for free.

For more information, visit LittleOrpheus.com.

Follow Secret Mode on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About Secret Mode
Greetings from The Bunker! Secret Mode is the newly founded publishing wing of the award-winning Sumo Group Plc. Our goal is to publish internally developed projects from any of our 11 game development studios across the UK, US, Europe, and India, as well as third party independent game developers. We believe that games are for everyone, and that creativity has no limits. We believe quality and fun are everything.

Justice to the west. Family-friendly and peaceful. Publisher handygames brings “el hijo – a wild west tale” to mobile!

Giebelstadt, Germany, 25th January 2022
El Hijo shows that the Wild West is no country for old men, but for a kid to conquer. With the weapons and the wit of a child, he is out to be reunited with his mother after tragedy struck and the family got separated.

Today, critically acclaimed and award-winning “El Hijo – A Wild West Tale” comes to mobile as a full pay-to-play title. Without any hidden costs or pay2win but with full controller and Apple TV support! International publisher HandyGames strongly believes in serving gamers awesome games, no matter which platform they play on.

“El Hijo – A Wild West Tale” is out now on Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store for an SRP of $ 9.99 | € 9.99 | £ 8.49.

Publisher HandyGames takes mobile gaming seriously

“El Hijo – A Wild West Tale” is not lazily adapted to run on mobile devices but improved to take advantage of mobile devices features. All this without in-app purchases or subscription traps that are specifically tailored to target younger audiences. On the contrary:
The spaghetti-western stealth game has been awarded Best Indie-Title by the gamescom-Awards in 2019, “Best Family Game” by the DCP (German Computer Games Award) and was only recently honoured with a prestigious Pedagogic Media Award. 

About El Hijo – A Wild West Tale:

“El Hijo – A Wild West Tale” is a non-violent game and an exciting story of a desperate child looking for his mother. The boy sneaks past different sorts of suspicious outlaws in a series of diverse western settings.

Instead of violence, this child’s imaginative playfulness comes to life with the help of his toys, which serve to distract his “opponents”.

Using the shadows to his advantage is a core element of the game, as the young hero will often have to hide. Various twists on familiar mechanics are often a product of the challenging and increasingly dangerous environments that the 6-year-old must traverse to reach his ultimate goal.

Features:

• Survive the Wild West with the cleverness of a young hero
• Explore dark monasteries, deserts, and frontier towns in a spaghetti-western world
• Merge with the shadows to hide from your adversaries
• Solve playfully tricky environmental puzzles
• Use a fun arsenal of tactical toys to bypass and distract diverse opponent types
• Inspire other children to find the path to freedom
• Enjoy the gripping storyline of a brave son in search of his mother
• Full controller support

About HandyGames

HandyGames™ is part of the THQ Nordic and Embracer Group family and operates as an international publisher for mid-sized projects and developers for a worldwide audience.

The focus lies on creating and publishing games for current-gen consoles like PlayStation®4, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X or Nintendo Switch™ as well as games for Steam and many other PC gaming distribution channels. HandyGames™ produces titles for new innovative gaming platforms, for example, VR (Virtual Reality) on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Samsung Gear VR, but also offers games of all kinds of genres for Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones, iPads and many other mobile and smart devices.

As a games company that is truly passionate about gaming, we always strive for gameplay innovation. We received the German Developer Award as “Best German Game Studio” in 2015 and produced and published award-winning games of virtually every video gaming genre imaginable for a diverse range of audiences and gameplay styles. One example is “Townsmen VR” which was awarded the German Games Award 2018 in the category “Best Game Design”.

Millions of virtual farmers are tilling the fields, as Farming Simulator 22 reaches the next milestone since release on November 22nd. The latest game in the series, self-published for the first time by GIANTS Software, continues to enjoy loads of new players in 2022. Publisher and developer GIANTS Software reports three million copies of Farming Simulator 22 sold globally within nine weeks.

Globally successful launch
“I’d like to thank our community. Our modders, influencers, gamers and partners. All those who play a role in sustaining our growing ecosystem”, comments Christian Ammann, CEO of GIANTS Software. “We are excited to embrace new opportunities and projects in 2022 – with new content to extend the experience of simulated agriculture and Farming Simulator 22.”

Globally available on PC and consoles, GIANTS Software expects the already massive fan base of the series to grow even further in the following months and years. Thanks to the streamlined communication with international distributors and growing network of partners, as well as the long-term roadmap for future additions to the game.

More content to expand the game
The Year 1 Season Pass will see the game grow by introducing new content packs and one expansion. In addition, free content updates will extend the game even further. The first content update, including three new brands and 16 machines, is already available to download.

Farming Simulator 22 is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and Stadia. The game introduces players to the most extensive farming simulation to date, including new features like production chains forming agricultural empires and seasonal cycles bringing new challenges. Visit the official Farming Simulator website

# # # 

ABOUT GIANTS SOFTWARE
GIANTS Software is an international video game developer and publisher from Switzerland established in 2004 and known worldwide for creating the popular Farming Simulator series. The team with offices in Switzerland (Zurich), Germany (Erlangen), USA (Chicago) and Czech Republic (Brno) is very committed to maintain close contact to the agricultural industry and to engage with the community. For more information, please visit giants-software.com

ABOUT FARMING SIMULATOR 
Since 2008, over 25 million versions of Farming Simulator have been sold worldwide. The game series has been released on all popular platforms including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs since 2008. From the start, the team enabled users to create mods with the company’s own GIANTS Engine. With the Farming Simulator League (FSL), the series introduced a competitive eSports mode in 2019 – with teams competing in professional tournaments and many acclaimed brands and sponsors on board. More information available at farming-simulator.com

© 2021 Published and developed by GIANTS Software GmbH. GIANTS Software and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GIANTS Software GmbH. All manufacturers, agricultural machinery, agricultural equipment, names, brands and associated imagery featured in this game in some cases include trademarks and/or copyrighted materials of their respective owners. The agricultural machines and equipment in this game may be different from the actual machines in shapes, colours and performance. ©2021 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation”, “PS5” and “PS4”, are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, the Xbox Sphere mark, the Series X logo, Series S logo, Series X|S logo, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X|S are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Stadia, the S logo, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. “Mac” is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. All rights reserved. All other names, trademarks and logos are property of their respective owners.

Wiesbaden, Germany – 25th January, 2022. Oh, behave! Today, prolific indie publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer Crazybunch are excited to announce the mobile release of Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice. Now available on iOS and Android mobile devices for £12.99 / €14.99, you can do more than just “swipe right” on our titular heartthrob. Take Larry’s love quest on the go and help him explore the gorgeous Kalaua’a archipelago and uncover a deliciously devious plot, all while aiding in finding his one true love. 

Stranded on the island Cancum after the events of Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Don’t Dry,  Larry’s darling soulmate, Faith, has vanished without a trace, with the only clue to her whereabouts being a weak signal from her PiPhone. Journey through the tropical island paradise in the pursuit of true love, flexing those fingers (on the phone screen, naughty!) solving puzzles and meeting the locals along the way. Faced with an island of beautiful women, will Larry stay Faithful? Or will he give in to temptation? Your call, cupid!

The sensational sequel to critically renowned Wet Dreams Don’t Dry, Larry Laffer is no stranger to praise — sitting pretty at 85% positive rating on Steam. Our man’s latest adventure also won 2020’s Adventure Game Of The Year award, receiving acclaim from both new and old point-and-click adventure fans alike. 

Key Features Include: 

• Explore the Kalaua’a archipelago with all its mysterious and magnificent islands — featuring over 50 beautifully hand-drawn locations
• Meet over 40 new and old friends from Wet Dreams Don’t Dry and chat up some fresh new feminine friends
• Help Larry solve difficult and exciting (and maybe a little erotic) new riddles and complete quests, providing him with a truly happy ending

To make up for his naughty behavior, romance expert Larry Laffer and Assemble have teamed up with ShareTheMeal to promote a ‘Save the World’ Edition of the title on PC via Steam for  £38.99 / €44.99. This edition contains the official soundtrack and digital artbook, with every purchase guaranteeing two meals for hungry children around the world. Larry’s amorous adventure sequel is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

For the latest up-to-date news about Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice, follow Assemble Entertainment on Twitter, Instagram, “like” on Facebook, and join the official Assemble Discord server.

About Assemble Entertainment

Founded in 2016 and based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent games developer best known for the survival city-builder Endzone – A World Apart, that challenges players to survive and thrive following an environmental apocalypse, and the modernized Leisure Suit Larry series, featuring two new entries in the iconic decades-spanning saga. 

Despite the company’s short history, Assemble Entertainment has won the German Developer Award twice — in 2020 and 2021— in the category “Best Publisher”. Assemble Entertainment organizes GermanDevDays, an annual conference held in Frankfurt, Germany since 2016 that attracts more than 1,100 attendees from across the German-speaking video game development industry. The event also includes the GermanDevDays Indie Award, where indie development teams across Germany can participate in varying categories to win a cash prize for their projects. The event is hosted by Stefan Marcinek, CEO and Founder of Assemble

Ever wanted to travel through space as a human-fox hybrid? Now’s your chance!

Check out the brand new FixFox trailer here!

Embark on an adventure into the depths of space as Vix, an unlucky space mechanic, who crashlands on a mysterious planet where tools are forbidden. Accompanied by her trusty toolbox Tin, they travel across the planet Karamel discovering hidden stashes left by pirates, repairing friendly household appliances, and sampling tasty local delicacies.

Prague, Czech Republic – Tuesday 25th January 2022: Rendlike is excited to announce its forthcoming open-world 2D interstellar adventure FixFox will launch on Steam on March 31st, 2022.

Offering players an opportunity to sink into a universe powered by some eye-popping pixel-art, FixFox stands as a wholesome sci-fi adventure game, tracking the adventures of a human-fox hybrid Vix who has a penchant for fixing things. Unlucky as she is, Vix crashlands on a mysterious planet where tools are forbidden, but sets out to fix everything she happens across whilst accompanied by her trusty toolbox Tin.

It’s cute, it’s invigorating, and, most importantly, it’s engaging and entertaining. FixFox mixes a healthy dose of exploration with some bewitching puzzles that task players with everything from fixing a sentient kitchen appliance to constructing and operating giant mechs. It’s a universe designed to make you feel at home as you overcome the obstacles in your path by using anything and everything you come across to fix every fault.

“FixFox is a game powered by positivity, I’d say,” says Jaroslav Meloun, Studio Owner at Rendlike. “We wanted to offer players a challenge without feeling completely cold – an environment where every moment of exploration offers up an opportunity for fun. I was actually  inspired by No Man’s Sky when starting development and, while the end result is naturally quite different, there are beats in FixFox that definitely stir the same feelings of finding delight in discovery.”

In FixFox you will: 

• Explore and discover: Traverse the planet on a peppy scooter, clear pathways with a hefty power loader, or simply go on a peaceful journey by foot to uncover all the landmarks on Karamel. 
• Enjoy a peaceful sunrise: Hum along to catchy chiptunes while discovering secret locations, testing your noggin on whimsical puzzles, and finally settling down for the night next to a toasty campfire looking up at the starry sky.
• Fix and build: Repair machines with uplifting personalities such as a passionate lawn mower using unconventional tools like coins, bandages, glowy bananas… anything really. 
• Always something fun to do: Live out a space mechanic’s dream by constructing and operating giant mechs to help out the local robots with their peculiar problems.
• Eat and make friends: Enjoy delicious meals the planet dwellers have to offer such as homey soups, warm rice bowls, and totally-not-expired pudding. Making a friend over a meal with hospitable robots may just reveal a vital clue to solving your next quest.
• Fix more than machines: An estranged brother looking for his long-lost sibling, specialized artificial intelligences working through past traumas, and an ongoing feud between two planet factions are just a few of the tangled mysteries that need to be taken apart and fixed.

The development of FixFox has been funded by Joystick Ventures, an endeavor designed to partner with talented developers to build thriving studios that release visionary games.

FixFox will launch on Steam on March 31st, 2022 for  $14.99/£11.39/€12.49.

About Rendlike

Rendlike is a solo developer studio in the Czech Republic. Jaroslav leads the studio with a passion to put heartfelt games into the world. He’s vowed to never create violent games and focuses on crafting games that promote kindness and friendship.

About Joystick Ventures Joystick Ventures partners with talented investors and developers to build thriving studios that release visionary games. We personalize every aspect of our collaboration, empowering you to shape your own success. You’re in control of your game, we give you the guidance necessary to get stellar results.

Plus Clowns and Chaos Abound as All Saints’ Wake In-Game Event Returns to Eorzea

SQUARE ENIX® is today celebrating the official launch of critically acclaimed MMORPG FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online’s Oceania Data Centre and announcing the various methods in which its launch will be supported.

Launching alongside Patch 6.08 today, the Oceania Data Centre will be accessible for new character creation, with Home World Transfers being permitted from 26^th January. Five Worlds will be available at this time, with all Worlds being designated as “New Worlds”, meaning players who transfer to or create new characters on them will receive special bonuses, including:

·         Free Home World Transfer for players transferring from another World

·         Double EXP for both newly created and transferred characters (up to Level 80)

·         Gold and Silver Chocobo Feathers exchangeable for special in-game rewards

·         And more…

Full details on the various perks and bonuses can be viewed here: https://sqex.to/GPWd0 

To celebrate the launch, a map of Australia and New Zealand has been created in the style of the in-game world map of Hydaelyn. It contains major cities and landmarks, alongside a selection of in-game creatures that may be familiar for those in the region. A desktop wallpaper version of the map is available to download here: https://sqex.link/FFXIV_ANZ_map

Primarily planned to support a smoother play experience for all in the Oceania region, the Oceania Data Centre also marks the first part of a plan to expand global server capacity for the game and combat congestion in the face of continually growing player numbers.

Additionally, due to the opening of the Oceania Data Centre raising the global server capacity and the fact existing players’ play time and log-in tendencies are gradually returning to normal, the decision has been made to resume sales of the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Starter Edition and Complete Edition as of today. New registrations for the Free Trial remain suspended as of today, but the situation will be monitored regularly to identify a time in which registrations can be reopened.

Full details on sales resuming and the future planned expansions for the North American, European, and Japanese Data Centres can be found here: https://sqex.to/4arS7

Finally, the All Saints’ Wake in-game event is currently underway in FINAL FANTASY XIV Online. From today until 2^nd February, players wishing to partake in this year’s spooky event should seek out the Adventurers’ Guild Investigator in Old Gridania and embark on their quest to obtain some special rewards, including:

·         Clown’s Outfit – Clothing Set
·         Modern Cosmetics – Clowning Around – Face Paint
·         Haunted Pumpkin Set – Outdoor Furnishing Item
·         Pumpkin Flower Vase – Tabletop Furnishing Item

More details on this year’s All Saints’ Wake event can be found here: https://sqex.to/UapeH

The Endwalker main theme song is available for digital download and features vocals by Sam Carter from the chart-topping band Architects. You can watch the official music video here: 

Players looking to get the most out of their in-game audio experience are invited to try Embody’s new “Immerse Gamepack FINAL FANTASY XIV Edition,” which offers a Personalised Spatial Audio experience in FINAL FANTASY XIV. Learn more and try out a 14-day free trial at: https://embody.co/pages/ffxiv.

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

Related Links

Endwalker Site: https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/endwalker/
The Lodestone®: https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/
Official Facebook®: https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasyXIV
Official Twitter®: @FF_XIV_EN
Official Instagram®: @ffxiv
#FFXIV

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.

PLAYISM Game Show Reveals Bright Memory: Infinite, Mighty Goose, La-Mulana 2 DLC

Gnosia PC Release, Momodora: Moonlit Farewell Among World Premieres 

TOKYO – 25 Jan 2022 – PLAYISM Game Show, the live broadcast from Japan’s oldest indie game publisher, PLAYISM, featured more than a dozen world premieres, announcements, and updates on previously-announced titles, as featured during an English and Japanese language simulcast.

Bright Memory: Infinite’s first post-launch DLCs, containing two new outfits for protagonist Shelia, will slash their way into the high-octane, visually stunning first-person shooter made by indie developer FYQD Studio soon. Both pieces of DLC will be available for free for a limited period around Chinese New Year, with further details to be published shortly.

Mighty Goose ventures to a new bounty in a free DLC scheduled for release in Q1 2022. Explore the underwater depths of Planet Ceto to stop the evil Baron from destroying the planet. La-Mulana 2: The Tower of Oannes DLC is available now on Steam. This new map delivers the ultimate challenge, on par with the original La-Mulana’s Hell Tower, so strap in for a test of extreme platforming skill.

Gnosia, the sci-fi social deduction RPG from developer Petit Depotto and published by PLAYISM, has awakened from “cold sleep” today on Steam for Windows PC. Originally released on PlayStation Vita, and discovered by a brand-new audience in 2021 on Nintendo Switch, try to deduce the mystery of the Gnosia, malicious entities imitating the crew of an adrift spaceship caught in time loops.

PLAYISM has announced itself as the publisher of Momodora: Moonlit Farewell on Steam for PC, the fifth installment in the long-running 2D Metroidvania platformer series from developer Bombservice. Become the divine priestess Momo, seeking to save her people from demonic forces in the follow-up to Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight. Enjoy the most detailed art in a Momodora game to date, with more giant bosses and secrets to discover.

TASOMACHI: Behind The Twilight, the gorgeous 3D exploration platformer set in a mysterious Far-Eastern world from Japanese game industry veteran nocras, flies its airship to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on Thursday, April 28. Double jump through platforming challenges, gather mysterious collectibles, and assist the feline Nezu Tribe in an homage to collect-a-thon platformers.

The Sealed Ampoule, the dungeon agriculturalization roguelike from CAVYHOUSE, plants the seeds for release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and Series X|S on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, with pre-orders for Switch and Xbox now open starting today at a special 10% discount until Thursday, Feb. 10. The alchemist Irene buys a dungeon at a bargain-basement price and descends into it to collect the resources beneath to turn a sky-high profit. Irene must use what she finds in the dark depths to upgrade her abilities and upgrade the dungeon to maximize her earnings.

PLAYISM Game Show also included the premieres of Homura Hime, Ahamkara by NIGORO, Samurai Bringer, and Magusphere, along with a new trailer for Noel the Mortal Fate. PLAYISM will also localize The Use Of Life and Takkoman -Kouzatsu World- into English for global release, and port Subway Midnight for consoles, with further information on release windows and consoles to come at a later date.

“Thank you to everyone who tuned in and got to see some of what we have in store for the world this year,” said Shunji Mizutani, Executive Producer of PLAYISM. “This is only a taste of our big plans for 2022, and we look forward to sharing more in the coming months!”

Re-watch the complete broadcast of PLAYISM Game Show in English on YouTube.

For more information on PLAYISM, please visit the PLAYISM Game Show official web page or the PLAYISM official website, and follow @PlayismEN on Twitter.

About PLAYISM

Japan’s oldest indie publisher, PLAYISM is known in the West for supporting popular indie games such as Gnosia, Idol Manager, Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight, Touhou Luna Nights, Fight Crab, Record of Lodoss War -Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-, the La-Mulana series, Bright Memory, Bright Memory: Infinite, and DEEEER Simulator among other titles. 

PLAYISM’s motto is “Bringing a Different Breed of Indie Game to the World”.

To learn more, visit the PLAYISM official website and follow @PlayismEN on Twitter.