The Sandbox Raises $93M in Round Led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 to Grow Its Open NFT Metaverse

SoftBank Vision Fund 2 Leads Fundraising Round with Animoca Brands, True Global Ventures, Liberty City Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, and Other Investors Joining Round to Support The Sandbox’s NFT-Based Entertainment Metaverse

TL;DR:

• The Sandbox has raised $93M in a Series B round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, the first investment into crypto assets by SoftBank Vision Fund 2
• The Sandbox is going to accelerate the development of its open metaverse, supporting more creators and involving more brands and IPs
• The Sandbox has seen significant growth in 2021: it has over 500,000 registered wallets and 12,000 unique virtual LAND owners, and generated over US$144M in lifetime GMV
• The Sandbox creator’s economy is expanding rapidly, creating new categories of digital jobs such as NFT creators, virtual architects, game makers, and more
• The Sandbox’s vision to turn players into creators and push for a player-owned economy is expanding beyond gaming into fashion, architecture, virtual concerts, virtual shows, art galleries, museums, and more—developing a whole ecosystem and digital opportunities

HONG KONG – 2 November 2021 – The Sandbox, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and the leading open NFT metaverse platform, announced today it has secured US$93M in its Series B fundraising round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, representing the fund’s first investment in crypto assets. The investment will enable The Sandbox team to scale the platform’s growth as a prime entertainment destination where brands, IPs, and celebrities can engage with their fans through virtual experiences including games, live performances, and social experiences.  

Other investors in the round included Animoca Brands, True Global Ventures, Liberty City Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, Kingsway Capital, Blue Pool Capital, LG Technology Ventures, Alpaca VC, Graticule Asset Management Asia, Com2uS, executives at GoldenTree Asset Management, Nokota, Sun Hung Kai & Co, Sound Ventures, Red Beard Ventures, SCB 10X, Polygon Studios, Samsung Next, Double Down Partners, StakeFish, SterlingVC, and HodlCo. Wedbush Securities acted as exclusive placement agent and financial advisor for The Sandbox, and Rubicon Law provided legal counsel to The Sandbox. 

Additionally, The Sandbox has added the following luminaries to its advisory team: Guy Oseary, founder of the management firm Maverick, whose clients include Madonna, U2, and Bored Ape Yacht Club; Nicholas Adler, manager and brand curator of entertainment icon, Snoop Dogg; Thomas Vu, former Executive Producer and Head of Franchise and Creative at Riot Games ; and Mathieu Nouzareth, co-founder of FreshPlanet and creator of SongPop.

The Sandbox experienced tremendous growth in 2021. The Sandbox has generated over US$144M in GMV to date and over 500,000 users now have a connected wallet. Over 165 brands—including Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, and CryptoKitties—have already formed IP partnerships to create voxelized versions of their worlds and characters in the metaverse. High profile LAND owners in The Sandbox include Zed Run, Republic Realm, Binance, Bored Ape Yacht Club, CyberKongz, CoinMarketCap, Metakovan, Pranksy, GrowYourBase, MetaKey, South China Morning Post, Zepeto, Socios, the Winklevoss twins, Bill Lee of Craft Ventures and more.

“This investment round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2 will help scale up our growth strategy, operations, and player acquisition in The Sandbox ecosystem while sending a clear statement that the world’s most innovative fund believes in Web3 and decentralization as the next major trend,” said Sebastien BORGET, COO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox. “Adding new strategic partners such as Liberty City Ventures and Galaxy Interactive will also benefit The Sandbox’s global reach and expand the network of brands, IPs, and gaming studios interested in entering an open metaverse focused on a player-owned economy and user-generated content.”

“This investment will help fuel the growth of The Sandbox creators’ economy as we expand beyond gaming into fashion, architecture, virtual concerts and shows, art galleries, museums, and more,” said Arthur Madrid, CEO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox. “We are developing an entire ecosystem that opens new digital job opportunities for players and creators in our open NFT metaverse.”

NFTs are changing the way we live, work, create, play, and earn in virtual worlds, empowering players and creating value—and new jobs—in the metaverse. In this era of new possibilities, The Sandbox is emerging as the main NFT-based, open metaverse, where the content, economy, and even governance will be in the hands of the players, creators, and users who contribute to this virtual world.

In The Sandbox, players will be able to use the play-to-earn model to monetize time spent in the metaverse. Play-to-earn creates a circular economy with supply and demand where the resources collected by one category of the players are sold and purchased by another category of player or creator, rewarding participants for their time.

“We believe The Sandbox is constructing an open metaverse, unlocking new economic opportunities by empowering people to build and monetize their creations, from avatars and buildings to games and collectibles,” said Aaron Wong, Investor at SoftBank Investment Advisers. “Leveraging blockchain technology and decentralized governance, the company is putting the power and control in the hands of its users, resulting in a thriving global community. We’re excited to partner with Arthur, Sebastien, and team as they continue to transform what it means to have true digital ownership.”

One of the unique aspects of The Sandbox is that it is not just a gallery of games. Instead, it is a virtual world with a topographical layout that you can explore using your 3D avatar. As you walk to the border of one LAND, you can walk into an adjoining LAND. This makes the location of a game experience very similar to real-world real estate: your location and who your neighbors are become nearly as important as the quality of the entertainment experience. 

The Sandbox Virtual Real Estate Map (October 2021)

Some of the largest LAND Owners and Partners of The Sandbox

The Sandbox is creating an Open Metaverse

Find more information on The Sandbox on our Medium page: https://medium.com/sandbox-game

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSandboxGame

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voxedit

Message us on Telegram: https://t.me/sandboxgame

Join our Discord channel: https://discordapp.com/invite/vAe4zvY

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 Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, deadmau5, Atari, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Care Bears, The Smurfs, Shaun the Sheep, and Binance. Building on existing The Sandbox IP that has more than 40 million global installs on mobile, The Sandbox is a metaverse that 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, 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^®, Marvel, 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 100 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), Bitski, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

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Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass: Forza Horizon 5, Minecraft: Bedrock and Java Editions, and More

by Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

We’re continuing the trend of bringing back-to-back blockbuster games to Xbox Game Pass and I’m absolutely here for it. I’m trying to contain my hype and not type in all capital letters but imagine me writing announcement this very loudly with pure excitement with each game coming soon.

If you haven’t tried Game Pass on Windows PC, now is the best time to join and check it out. Starting November 2, new Xbox Game Pass for PC members can get 3 months for just $1. This means you can play Age of Empires IV, Minecraft (both Bedrock and Java editions starting tomorrow), Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite when they launch, and more on your PC this holiday season for just $1.

Let’s jump in!

Coming Soon

Minecraft: Java and Bedrock Editions (PC) – November 2
Get your computer ready because Minecraft is coming to Game Pass for PC! Play Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition on Windows 10 and 11 as part of your Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate membership. That also means you can conveniently cross-play with any current Minecraft version, including consoles and mobile! Just launch the same edition as the Minecrafter you want to play with. No need to pick and choose — experience Minecraft on PC in one launcher with Game Pass.

Unpacking (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – November 2
Available day one with Xbox Game Pass: Moving day is here! Unpack like never before in this zen puzzle game where you’ll learn about a character through a variety of moves. Unpacking weaves together a story through the everyday and sentimental belongings you’ll encounter as you decorate and organize each new space throughout the game.

It Takes Two (Cloud, Console, PC) EA Play – November 4
Go on a wild co-op adventure with EA Play as It Takes Two joins Xbox Game Pass for PC & Ultimate via The Play List. Discover a metaphorical merging of gameplay and narrative in a light-hearted story of the hardships in getting along. And you can invite a friend to join the adventure with Friend’s Pass!

Kill It with Fire (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – November 4
Kill It with Fire is a first-person action game about hunting spiders and causing collateral damage. Assemble your arsenal of increasingly excessive weapons, track spiders across suburbia, and burn everything in your path!

Football Manager 2022 (PC) – November 9
Available day one with Xbox Game Pass: The closest thing to being a real football manager. Football Manager 2022 brings new, progressive ways to find your winning edge, instil your footballing style and earn it on the pitch with your football club. Experience complete football authenticity and unrivalled simulation gaming.

Football Manager 2022: Xbox Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 9
Available day one with Xbox Game Pass: Navigate your way to the top of the footballing world as the boss of the world’s greatest football teams in a tailored version of Football Manager that’s been adapted for console play on the biggest stage. Build your dream squad and make the club completely your own as you develop your career to become a managerial great. Plus, Ultimate members can play with Cloud Gaming featuring Xbox touch controls on day one, no controller needed!

Forza Horizon 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 9
Available day one with Xbox Game Pass: Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars. Lead breathtaking expeditions across a world of striking contrast and beauty while immersing yourself in a deep campaign with hundreds of challenges that reward you for engaging in the activities you love.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (Console) – November 11
Experience the blockbuster classic, updated for a new generation – now with across-the-board enhancements including Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, high-resolution textures, increased draw distances, and much more.

One Step from Eden (Console and PC) ID@Xbox – November 11
One Step from Eden combines deck-building and real-time action with rogue-like elements, giving you the chance to carve a path of mercy or destruction. Fight alone or with a friend in co-op as you cast powerful spells on the fly, battle evolving enemies, and collect game-changing artifacts. Can you make it to Eden?

In Case You Missed It

Backbone (Cloud) ID@Xbox – Available now
Raccoon detective Howard Lotor is not a hero. He can barely make rent. And yet he has stumbled across something so massive that it will shake the very fabric of society. Stunning visuals, an evocative soundtrack, and a daring narrative bring a dystopian Vancouver, BC inhabited by animals to life in this highly anticipated, post-noir adventure. Get to it, detective.

Moonglow Bay (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Moonglow Bay is a fishing RPG combining a playful voxel art style with a sumptuous soundtrack. You’re cast as a rookie angler struggling to fulfil your partner’s final wish. Along the way you’ll make friends, hone fishing skills, and rebuild the confidence of a fractured community, debunking its ominous myths.

Project Wingman (Cloud and Console) – Available now
In an immersive flight experience, you’ll dogfight, strike, and fly your way to conquering the skies. Strap yourself into the cockpit of over 20 unique aircraft and become a true ace in Project Wingman.

DLC / Game Updates

Doom Eternal: Horde Mode and Update 6.66 – Available now
Free to all players! Experience the all-new Horde Mode, compete in the upgraded Battlemode 2.0 multiplayer, put your skills to the test with two all-new Master Levels, earn new skins for the Doom Slayer and demons, and more.

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle – Pre-order now
Get early access and all the extra content included with the Premium Edition at one low price! The Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle allows you to play four days early beginning November 5, 2021. It also includes the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership and two game expansions when they become available. Plus, Xbox Game Pass members save up to 10%!

Battlefield 2042 Early Access Trial with EA Play – November 12
Game Pass for PC and Ultimate members can plunge into the near-future, all-out war of Battlefield 2042 first on November 12 with EA Play. Fight in military battles of unprecedented scale for 10 full hours, days before release. Plus, save 10% on pre-orders with your member discount and unlock exclusive rewards.

Play, Share, and Discuss in the Xbox Game Club
The Xbox Game Club features a Game Pass game each week for members to play, share, and discuss. It’s like a book club… but for games! Play and connect with others through a shared love of gaming in the official club Discord at discord.gg/XboxGameClub.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Claim the Perks below via the Perks gallery on your Xbox console, Xbox app for Windows PCs, or Xbox Game Pass mobile app.

Discord Nitro: 3 Months of Free Nitro – Available Now
Enhance your Discord experience with Nitro perks like HD video, profile banners, and way, way more. Valid for first-time Nitro users with a Discord account.

Black Desert: Special Gift Bundle – Available Now
A new season server is now live! Get your Special Gift Bundle for rapid progression on the season server! Now is the perfect time to embark on the epic adventure you’ve always imagined!

Apex Legends: Dr. Hakim Weapon Charm – November 2
Show the competition what you’re made of with your new Dr. Hakim Weapon Charm, brought to you by EA Play! Equip this to your favourite weapon and battle for glory, fame, and fortune in style.

Quick reminder: We have extended the availability to claim your Disney+ 30-day trial* through January 31, 2022. So, if you haven’t already, go claim your Perk to enjoy an unprecedented collection of the world’s most beloved movies and TV series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic through the holiday season. Enjoy!

*Valid for new Disney+ subscribers only. 18+ only. After trial, Disney+ automatically renews at the then-current monthly price until you cancel. Subject to Disney+ Subscriber Agreement https://www.disneyplus.com/legal/subscriber-agreement. Limited time offer. One per account. Available in AR, BR, CL, CO, MX, AU, AT, BE, CA, DK, FI, DE, IE, IT, NL, NZ, NO, PT, ES, SE, SG, CH, GB, US. Claim by 1/31/2022. Redeem by 3/2/2022.

Leaving November 15

There’s plenty on the way to look forward to but now is the time to show these games before they go. Remember to use your Game Pass membership discount to save up to 20% on these games before they leave the library.

• Final Fantasy VIII HD (Console and PC)
• Planet Coaster (Cloud and Console)
• Star Renegades (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Streets of Rogue (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Gardens Between (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• River City Girls (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Well now I need to figure out what my schedule looks like over the next couple of weeks to play all of these games. While you’re planning your gaming schedule, be sure to follow us at @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass for heads up when these games are available. Plus, our Xbox Game Pass mobile app has you covered for quick access to the install button while you’re away. See you next time!

THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR UNVEILS SPECIAL SIGNATURE FIGHTERS YURI SAKAZAKI AND KING IN LATEST UPDATE

LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 1, 2021 – THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR,Netmarble’s popular mobile action role-playing game (RPG), adds long-awaited Special Signature Fighters Yuri Sakazaki and King as part of the game’s latest update. The November update also debuts a new skill type, Charging Skill, along with new battle cards, a new Challenge Dungeon and more.

Special Signature Fighters Yuri Sakazaki and King, accessible through the ‘Special Signature Fighter Pick Up Summon,’ will introduce a Charging Skill to the game for the first time. The new skill fills up the Charging Skill gauge as players hold and release the button, unleashing a stronger attack when activated with the gauge fully charged. The Charge Skill is immediately activated when using the Awakened Skill, but the normal Charging Skill and Awaked Charging Skill can be used separately. 

Other updates coming to THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR include:

• New Battle Cards – Special Ryuuko Rambu EX and Illusion Dance EX cards will grant a Special Skill that increases ATK by 10% and Penetration by 400 for 10 seconds when using Yuri Sakazaki and King respectively.
• New Challenge Dungeon: Deimos Base – Players can challenge each stage of Normal Match, Boss Match, etc. with each Awakened Fighter to acquire Awakened EXP Capsule, Fighter Summon Ticket, Rubies and more.
• New Rush Dungeon – Players can collect event coins by clearing stages and exchange coins with various items.
• Special Signature Consecutive Login Event – Players can acquire various items by logging in daily. Logging in five consecutive days can unlock special rewards: five Elite Skill Level Up Card x1 Selection Box.
• KOF Battle Pass – Players can clear daily missions to earn KOF Pass EXP, and the Pass Tier is raised according to the acquired EXP, where players can earn gold, AP and more as rewards.

THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR boasts fast-paced fighting action as players battle through waves of enemies, giant bosses, and rival fighter teams. The excitement is paired with cutting edge graphics, bold colors, and lightning-fast animations. In addition, this game features all of KOF’s classic fighters from ’94 to XIV, with more than 130 fighters available to collect, along with more to come with seasonal events, collaborations with popular IP such as SAMURAI SHODOWN, Seven Knights, and more.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR is available to download on Google Play and the App Store in more than 175 countries and comes with support for English, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Thai, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, and German languages. 

For more information, please visit THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR’s website. Also, please follow THE KING OF FIGHTERS ALLSTAR on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Discord, Reddit, and forum on Netmarble.com.

About Netmarble Corporation
Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble Corporation is a top developer and publisher pushing the boundaries of the mobile gaming experience with highly innovative games including Lineage 2: Revolution, The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, Blade & Soul Revolution and MARVEL Future Fight. As a parent company of Kabam, and a major shareholder of Jam City and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), Netmarble strives to entertain audiences around the world with a variety of mobile games based on its powerful franchises and collaborations with IP holders worldwide. More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com.

©SNK CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©Netmarble Corp. & Netmarble Neo Inc. All Right Reserved.

Action-Puzzler Makes its Debut on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with Updated Graphics, Gameplay, and HD Cutscenes

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (November 1, 2021) – Leading interactive entertainment developer and publisher, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced that Mr. DRILLER™ DrillLand™ will be available in the Americas on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and on the Xbox Series X|S as a digital release on November 4. Marking its arrival on next-gen consoles, Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is an action-puzzle game that challenges players to “drill” their way to the bottom of the screen by destroying colorful blocks in the game field, creating combos of colorful chain reactions and avoiding enemies all the while. The new release delivers new updates to its graphics, gameplay, and HD cutscenes. Mr. DRILLER DrillLand is also available on the Nintendo Switch.

Mr. DRILLER returns in Mr. DRILLER DrillLand to invite players to a secret amusement park known as “Drill Land,” located 500 meters underground. Players can explore and conquer the five attractions in Drill Land, each with their own set of unique gameplay rules and final bosses that must be defeated at the end of each attraction. Mr. DRILLER DrillLand also features competitive multiplayer modes where up to four players can race to the finish or battle it out in Drill Land on one console; a “Casual Mode” is also available for players who want to dig and explore Drill Land at a leisurely pace and enjoy a day in the park.

“We’re so happy to bring Mr. DRILLER’s new adventures in DrillLand to PlayStation and Xbox consoles! These consoles are the perfect way to experience the updated graphics and colorful gameplay,” said Lin Leng, Senior Director of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “Beneath the cute amusement park attractions is an addictive gameplay experience full of depth and strategy. With five robust attractions on top of the multiplayer modes, players will have vast groundbreaking adventures to explore!”

For more information about Mr. DRILLER DrillLand 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 on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

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.

Hinwil, 29 October 2021 – Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Esports endured a challenging second week of action in the F1 Esports Series as the three rounds in the programme delivered two points for the team.

Racing in a trio of classic venues like Silverstone, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, the team aimed to build on the positives displayed in the opening events: a combination of circumstances, however, conspired to limit the inroads our drivers, Filip Prešnajder and Simon Weigang, could make into the top ten.

Qualifying in Silverstone was difficult, with both drivers failing to clear Q1, and hopes of a comeback in the race were dashed by a first lap contact between Filip and Simon. Having to stop for repairs meant they could only finish in P17 and P15 at the chequered flag.

Monza saw an improvement for Simon, who made it all the way to Q3 to line up tenth on the grid, while Filip was in 19th. In the race, the Slovak was the victim of a clash with a rival, finishing in P17 after a spirited comeback. Simon, on the other hand, held on to tenth for most of the race before some late battles demoted him to 14th.

Thursday brought an uptick in performance as the championship headed to Belgium. Qualifying remained the bogeyman, with Filip 19th and Simon finishing 15th after having his best Q2 lap invalidated. In the race, Simon, in the only Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Esports car following a technical failure on Filip’s hardware, made good progress on the wet track, climbing all the way into the points in seventh. Battling with old, worn tyres, he was able to call upon his talent and experience to salvage ninth over the line, grabbing two points for the team.

At the halfway point in the series, the team is ninth in the championship with nine points. There will be now four weeks to regroup and focus before the next event kicks off with first timer Portimao, Zandvoort and USA on Wednesday 24th November.

About Sauber Group of Companies:
The Sauber Group of Companies is composed of two operational entities: Sauber Motorsport AG, which operates and manages the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Formula One team; and Sauber Engineering AG, which focuses on third-party business in the areas of prototype development and additive manufacturing, in addition to full and model-scale testing in the factory’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel and ground-breaking innovation in the field of aerodynamics. The companies collaborate closely and share know-how to apply the expertise of more than 500 dedicated individuals at the headquarter in Hinwil, Switzerland, to all internal and external projects. Since its founding in 1970, the passion for racing has been at the heart of Sauber.

For more than 50 years, the innovative Swiss company has been setting standards in the design, development and construction of race cars for various championship series, such as Formula One, DTM, and WEC. Following its own Formula One debut in 1993, Sauber Motorsport AG has established one of the few traditional and privately held teams in the sport. After 25 years of competition in Formula One, the company launched a long-term partnership with Alfa Romeo in 2018 and enters the 2021 championship under the team name Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN.

The first Israeli aircraft and dozens of other vehicles have also been introduced in the ‘Ground Breaking’ major update

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of the ‘Ground Breaking’ major Content Update for the military online action game War Thunder.Terramorphing technology makes the ground battles even more realistic and offers players more tactical options. Aviation fans get the chance to try the first two aircraft from Israel, the next playable nation to be added to War Thunder. The update also brings dozens of other military vehicles and three new maps.

The terramorphing feature allows players to change the ground’s surface in real time and create cover or obstacles. Ground vehicles with self-entrenching equipment installed (i.e. the Soviet BMP-3 or the British Chieftain with dozer blade) are now capable of quickly building tank scrapes everywhere not surrounded by buildings, rocks, boulders, ice or paved roads. Air bombs weighing approximately 50kg or above, heavy rocket and missile explosions now form a crater of which diameter and depth depends on the power of the blast.

Israel, one of the leading producers and operators of military vehicles, will become the next playable nation in War Thunder. The Closed Beta Test of Israeli Air Force will start in the next major content update, but two packs with premium aircraft are available now for purchase in War Thunder. Their owners will be the first to get access to CBT. One of the packs contains a Spitfire LF Mk IXe in the livery of the personal aircraft of Ezer Weizman, a RAF veteran pilot, who later became the president of Israel! An alternative pack is available with the A-4E Skyhawk, a late Israeli modification of one of the best strike aircrafts in the game.

There are even more new toys to play with, including the light Ystervark, South African mobile anti-air unit, Cold War era destroyer USS ​​Mitscher and three versions of fast and deadly German Wiesel armored vehicles. The Wiesel 1A4 is a basic variant with a 20mm Rheinmetall 202/20 cannon. The Wiesel 1A2 is equipped with a launcher for the TOW-2 ATGM, tandem warhead TOW-2A and TOW-2B, able to hit tanks from above. Finally, Ozelot is a version with Stinger SAM on board.

The Aral Sea map puts ground and air vehicles fighting at the shores of a dried out sea, where a port has been abandoned a long time ago with cargo terminals, fish processing plants, bulk carriers and fishing vessels. Bourbon Island is a location for air battles inspired by Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. A characteristic feature of this large and flat shaped area is the gigantic craters of volcanic origin with a wide flat bottom – calderas. Finally, the Vyborg Bay location for War Thunder coastal vessels has been created using the magnificent northern nature of the Vyborg Bay near Medyanskaya Bay. Players fight inside a dense cluster of rocky islands covered with forest – so called skerries. 

The full list of changes in the update is available at the official War Thunder website: https://warthunder.com/en

About War Thunder
War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform, massively multiplayer military masterpiece with millions of fans worldwide, that allows players on PC, PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Mac and Linux to fight their way across air, land, and sea in the same battlefield. War Thunder offers 1,700+ playable aircraft, armored vehicles and ships from the early 1930s to the 2000s. The US, Soviet, British, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and French military vehicles represented in game are carefully researched, historically accurate recreations of their real world counterparts. Fans can expect hundreds more added as Gaijin Entertainment commits to ongoing development via regular updates. Official website: http://warthunder.com

About Gaijin Entertainment
Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder, Crossout, Enlisted, Cuisine Royale and Star Conflict as well as PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as Gamescom Award and many more. Official website: http://gaijinent.com/

New collaboration between Wargaming and Games Workshop brings fresh Warhammer 40,000 inspired content to the open seas

AUSTIN, TX (October 29, 2021) — Today Wargaming, developer and publisher of the widely popular free to play naval combat game World of Warships, is once again partnering with Warhammer 40,000, as they launch a brand new limited-time event packed with exciting features inspired by the iconic hobby of tabletop wargaming from Games Workshop. 

This exclusive content will also be coming to World of Warships: Legends beginning November 8, giving console players a chance to immerse themselves in the gothic splendor.  

In this epic affair, two brand new ships are launching onto the scene, alongside characters and iconic imagery inspired by the sprawling world of Warhammer 40,000. Players will be able to take charge of the Tier VIII cruiser Cross of Dorn, helmed by Augustin Riegerwald, as well as the Tier VIII destroyer Ship Smasha, by Grotmaz Smart, while on consoles, both ships will be available as Tier VI. The vessels will come with their own unique camouflage, and their commanders brought to life by dedicated voice acting.
 
The event will also allow players to obtain Warhammer 40,000 containers and fly the “Emperor’s Champion” and “WAAAGH!” flags from their chosen ship. For players looking to adorn themselves, an array of new patches will be up for grabs too, from “Black Templars Cross” and “Orky Glyph” to “Ork Scull” and “Mark of the Sworn Brethren.” On top of this, “The Eternal Crusader” and “The Red Threat” will also be available as expendable camouflages.
 
This celebration comes after these two warmongering worlds first crossed paths in June 2020. As well as the spread of spoils described above, all content from last year’s event will also be available, including bundles of themed warships and commanders. Steer the fearsome Ragnarok and ancient Ignis Purgatio through the waters, with specially voiced commanders Justinian Lyons XIII and Arthas Roqthar the Cold to guide you. 
 
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Games Workshop again,” said Sergey Vorobyev, World of Warships’ Product Director. “A lot of us at Wargaming are big fans of Warhammer 40,000 and as such we are very grateful we get to share our passion for the universe and kindle the imagination of our players through this celebration.”
 
This barrage of new content will be made available for a limited time from October 29 to November 19 in World of Warships and from November 8 until December 6 in World of Warships: Legends. Some content in this event can be earned through mission chains, while some can be purchased through the armory or premium shops.

About World of Warships 
World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including four different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts. New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base. 
 
One franchise – multiple platforms 
After the successful launch of World of Warships on PC, its unique gameplay and design has been adapted to bring free massive naval battles to other platforms with World of Warships: Legends available on PlayStation and Xbox and World of Warships Blitz on iOS and Android mobile devices. Official website: www.worldofwarships.com
 
About World of Warships: Legends
Experience epic naval action in World of Warships: Legends, a massively multiplayer online game where you can master the seas in history’s greatest warships! Recruit legendary commanders from maritime history, upgrade your vessels and stake your claim to naval supremacy with or against players around the world in thrilling and immersive battles.
World of Warships: Legends brings the online naval action loved by millions to home consoles for the very first time, alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience.
Official website: https://wowslegends.com/
 
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 5,500 employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.
Official website: wargaming.com
 
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop® Group PLC (LSE:GAW.L), based in Nottingham, UK, produces the best fantasy miniatures in the world. Games Workshop designs, manufactures, retails, and distributes its range of Warhammer®: Age of Sigmar® and Warhammer® 40,000® games, miniature soldiers, novels and model kits through more than 523 of its own stores (branded Games Workshop® or Warhammer®), the www.games-workshop.com web store and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. More information about Games Workshop and its other, related, brands and product ranges (including our publishing division ‘Black Library’ and our special resin miniatures studio ‘Forge World’) can be found at www.games-workshop.com​.
Find out more about Warhammer 40,000® at www.warhammer40000.com
 
Warhammer 40,000 © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2021. GW, Games Workshop, Space Marine, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, 40,000, the ‘Aquila’ Double-headed Eagle logo, and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likeness thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world, and used under license. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (October 29, 2021) – Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. and Supermassive Games announce the fourth feature of The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me.

In The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, a group of documentary filmmakers receive a mysterious invite to a replica of the ‘Murder Castle’ of H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer. They soon discover that they’re being watched, and there is much more at stake.

Step into the anthology’s most bloodcurdling story yet, where players’ choices, more than ever, determines who lives and who dies. Players will watch in horror as their unfortunate crew falls prey to a twisted game master who is observing their every move. 

As players wait for the launch of The Devil in Me; they can get into the Halloween spirit with The Dark Pictures Anthology’s previous chapters: Man of Medan, Little Hope, and the recently released House of Ashes.

For more information about The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me 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 at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

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

About Supermassive Games

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-winning independent game developer with a reputation for innovation in both storytelling and VR. The studio has released a number of successful titles and is best known for the critically acclaimed PS4 hit Until Dawn.

Press Release © 2021 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

Retro-inspired Rougelike/RPG hybrid takes you back to the 80s with a nostalgic adventure full of gags and quirky characters

Cologne, Germany – October 29th, 2021 – Headup Games are pleased to announce that The Bitfather’s nostalgic roguelike/RPG, Pixel Heroes: Mega Byte & Magic, will be making its way to Nintendo Switch on November 5th and will be available to preorder from today. The Switch version features the exclusive new Arena mode, a new campaign, new dungeons and new heroes. There is also a brand new Switch trailer. 

With a retro-pixel art style and an 8-bit soundtrack, Pixel Heroes transports you back to the 80s to deliver an old-school experience that draws on elements of the RPG and roguelike genres. The game features 33 unique hero classes to unlock, each with their own individual skills and attributes, four unlockable campaigns, including the new “The Legend of Hack Hammerson” campaign, each with its own final dungeon and boss, and heaps of procedurally generated axes, spears, spells, crossbows and more to add to your arsenal. 

In the new Arena mode, exclusive to Switch, players can freely choose a party from the entire hero pool and take them into a series of infinite battles that get harder as you progress. Special bonus effects can be selected to modify the next battle, making it easier, or more rewarding.

It would be an understatement to say that Pixel Heroes doesn’t take itself seriously, so expect a world of weird NPCs and hilarious events among the deadly dungeons. Be careful though! This is a roguelike, so it’s got permadeath! At least if you do bite the dust, you can visit a detailed graveyard to mourn your lost heroes and compare their statistics. 

Check out the game’s tongue-in-cheek nostalgia-trip making of trailer for a look at the “Unity Engine” like you’ve never seen before and their innovative use of the “brand new” NES to help make the game’s 8-bit soundtrack.

“We’re really excited about Pixel Heroes coming to the Nintendo Switch on November 5th,” said lead designer Tom Hirsch. “We’re pretty sure people can guess that we love retro games by taking one look at Pixel Heroes, so we’re naturally thrilled to be appearing on the platform of a company with such a rich videogame history and we think the game is a great fit for the system”.  

About Pixel Heroes: Mega Byte & Magic
“Hack Hammerson! Thank goodness you’re here! Listen, there’s troubling news. The elemental spirits are growing restless, and chaos is breaking out yet again. I thought these bloodshot eyes of mine had seen it all!”

Enter the world of Pixel Heroes: Mega Byte & Magic and prepare yourself for a thrilling RPG/Roguelike experience like you have never seen before!

Explore a randomized world full of hilarious events, deadly dungeons and the weirdest NPCs you will ever meet in a game!

Choose three heroes for your party and take them on a journey that will be completely different each time you start a new game. Bath in a pool of procedurally generated loot and defeat the evil forces that threaten the township of Pixton!

About Headup
Headup is a hybrid games publishing and development company providing players worldwide with the best content in the independent gaming sector. Established in 2009, it is active on all major platforms such as consoles, mobile devices and PC, and was awarded as “Best Publisher” at the German Developers Awards in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019. Since February 2021, Headup is part of the Thunderful Group based in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

With over 80 million customers served on mobile and further several million players on the PC and consoles, Headup is always looking to raise awareness and commercial success for developers thinking outside the box. More information can be found at www.headupgames.com and twitter.com/headupgames.

About The Bitfather
The Bitfather is a small indie game development team from Germany founded in 2014. It consists of lead designer Tom Hirsch, programmer Christian Schulz and composer Manuel Krusy.