Control Briar and Lute at the same time and harness their unique abilities
Walnut Creek, Calif. (August 27, 2021) … Publisher Modus Games along with developer Reply Game Studios yesterday released a brand-new trailer at the Future Games Show for Soulstice, the stunning hack-and-slash title arriving on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2022. The trailer showcases the unbreakable bond that sisters Briar and Lute exemplify as they harness their powers to take on their foes
Only by utilising Briar’s incredible strength and Lute’s mystical abilities will the two be able to reclaim the city of Ilden.
The Chimeras are hybrid warriors, forged from the union of two souls. They are the only beings who can oppose the Wraiths, ravenous creatures borne of Chaos itself. Briar and Lute are two sisters — both voiced by Stefanie Joosten (Metal Gear Solid V) — who were turned into a Chimera: Briar gained superhuman abilities, but Lute was sacrificed to become her Shade, a spirit with mystical powers. When the city of Ilden falls to the invasion of the Wraiths, the two sisters are sent on a mission to purge it.
The sleek, fantasy-inspired world will transport players to places filled with danger and beauty. Thanks to a deep combat system with ruthless combos, multiple weapons and myriad customisation options, Briar and Lute will have an endless array of methods to take down enemies as they explore Ilden, facing new threats around every corner.
About Modus Games Modus Games is one of the fastest-growing video game publishers in the world. The label prides itself on providing AAA publishing services to talented independent developers across the globe. Modus Studios Brazil is a full-service development studio supporting creators of inspired interactive entertainment. For more information, visit www.modusgames.com.
About Reply Game Studios Reply Game Studios is the development studio of the Reply Group, a team of dedicated professionals who work hard to present players with exciting AA games that feature high production values, deep experiences and engaging stories on PC and next-gen consoles.
Dice Legacy wins Most Original Game at Gamescom awards The unique mix of city-building, survival roguelike and boardgame convinced the judges
Watch the new “Forging the Dice” Trailer on YouTube:
Sydney, August 30th, 2021 –The unique Indie Game Dice Legacy by DESTINYbit and Ravenscourt has won the award for Most Original Game at gamescom 2021.
With Dice Legacy, the developer DESTINYbit set out to kick the ball in a new direction for city builders, combining their tabletop and digital passions. The game does so by successfully blending different genres from city builder to strategy game, to survival roguelike. The result is a critically acclaimed, award winning, and entirely new gaming experience.
To mark the occasion there is also a brand new trailer highlighting an important feature of the game: Dice Crafting. Empower your dice or forge two dice together to create new unique combinations that best fit your playstyle.
Dice Legacy will launch on Nintendo Switch™ as well as PC via Steam on the 9th of September 2021, with Ravenscourt providing full global publishing support.
About Dice Legacy
Dice Legacy is a roguelike survival city-builder. Players use dice to establish a medieval town in a fascinating ringworld and grow their society.
Every action is based on the roll of a six-sided dice, from planting and harvesting to establishing supply chains or combat. In Dice Legacy, the dice represent the work force. As a ruler, builder, conqueror or trader the players will need to provide their dice with nourishment and care or witness their subjects eventually fade away. Balancing exploration, resource gathering, building and conquering is key whilst the ever present threat of mysterious factions looms in the fog of war.
Players will soon realise luck is nothing without a good strategy behind it – and dice versa.
About DESTINYbit
DESTINYbit is a game development studio based in Ravenna, Italy which strives to give players tools to create stories worth sharing. With an all-remote approach to development and a focus on a small but very talented core team, DESTINYbit aims to create gameplay experiences never seen before. Founded in 2016 by Gian Paolo Vernocchi and Simone Daminato, and acquired by Amplifier Game Invest in 2020, DESTINYbit is part of the Embracer Group.
About Ravenscourt Established in 2014 – and operating from its Munich headquarters in Germany – Ravenscourt’s mission is delivering amazing games to a broad audience from both established studios and industry newcomers. With a diverse portfolio, managing the titles of multiple international studios, Ravenscourt games span everything from adventure and management sims through to city builders and indie gems. The label even boasts a good old sing-along karaoke franchise.
Our players delight in engrossing narrative driven adventures, relish the challenge of building new worlds and love solving puzzles. We have more delights in store for them…
The publishing label Ravenscourt stands for worthy interactive entertainment for a broad range of players. It belongs to the Koch Media Group.
HyperX Signs Professional Tennis Player Daniil Medvedev asGlobal Brand Ambassador
Australia, 2021 –HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev as a HyperX Global Brand Ambassador. At 25 years old, Medvedev is the most successful Russian tennis player of the 21st century with 12 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour singles titles and currently ranked as the number two tennis player in the world by the ATP. As HyperX’s first global brand ambassador from Russia, Medvedev will receive a comic-style illustration and participate in global marketing activities.
“I love playing videos games, so much so that I avoid taking them with me to tournaments to ensure my complete focus is on the court,” said Medvedev. “When I do get off-the-court gaming time, having top-quality sound has been essential to amplifying my gaming experience and with HyperX headsets I escape from the real world and completely immerse myself in virtual competition.”
Known for his unique style of play with incredible ball movement senses and pace changing skills on the court, Medvedev’s quick and precise skills also come in handy when competing in some of his favorite video games, including Rainbow Six Siege, FIFA and Fortnite.
As a HyperX brand ambassador, Medvedev will receive the HyperX Hero’s treatment, including his own hero illustration inspired by his gaming persona. He joins a line-up of internationally recognised talent on the HyperX roster, including football player JuJu Smith-Schuster, basketball players Gordon Hayward and Ariel Powers, ice hockey player Filip Forsberg, international soccer player Dele Alli, professional race car driver Sage Karam, and more than 25 global streamers and influencers in the HyperX family.
“Daniil Medvedev is talented both on the tennis court and in the virtual game, and we are excited to add him to the HyperX roster,” said HyperX. “His passion for gaming and commitment to giving everything he has on the court make him an ideal addition the HyperX family as he continues to inspire gaming audiences and tennis fans around the world.”
About HyperX
For 18 years, HyperX’s mission has been to develop gaming solutions for every type of gamer and the company is consistently recognised for delivering products that provide superior comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Under the tagline of “WE’RE ALL GAMERS,” HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, USB microphones, and console accessories are the choice of everyday gamers as well as celebrity ambassadors, pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, and overclockers worldwide because they meet stringent product specifications and are built with best-in-class components.
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com .
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HyperX and the HyperX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of HP Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.
There is nothing like the classics. NIS America have made a name for themselves, creating a following who are always hungry for the next best import from the company. While there is certainly a history of acclaim, NIS have a few titles that most have yet to have the opportunity to experience, but are looking to change that with some fresh re-releases. Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1 brings us two past titles that hardcore fans are sure to enjoy on modern platforms. Does this new package age well, or is this duo ready for an early retirement? Let’s find out.
Story
Phantom Brave is the first title to speak of, as this version features a little girl by the name of Marona as the main protagonist. Having lost her parents years prior, she has the ability to see phantoms. Needing to gather funds, she sets out on a journey alongside Ash, a phantom who was with her parents during their time of demise. To tackle her low funds, she begins accepting quests – with the main narrative taking place as she sets out to also save the world and learn more about her mysterious past. It’s a fascinating tale that is told well, with progression setting up an engrossing tale that has made the game the cult classic it is today.
Soul Nomad & the World Eaters is a bit similar, but still very different from the other title in this two-piece collection. Players take control of a silent hero who is given a sword containing a God by the name of Gig, who fuses with your body, providing you with a ton of power. The twist is that Gig can eventually consume you if over-utilized, so it is up to you to find balance by building a mass army to do most of the fighting, while trying to save your soul and defeat the World Eaters at the same time. The story here is a bit cheeky, but one that is easy enough to follow and enjoy due to the great dynamic between you, Gig, and Danette, a spunky young lass who basically acts as the moral compass of the game – ensuring you do not overuse Gig’s abilities and become consumed. Both games are strong with their own narratives, so those looking for two great stories will be happy to know that will be the strongest elements to hold up the set provided here.
Gameplay
Both of these titles in a sense are strategy RPGs, but each have very different styles of gameplay that set them apart. Phantom Brave is far more traditional. This title has battle sequences play out on an isometric, top-down field full of fauna and hazards, where players can summon phantoms to bind to these objects to increase stats and provide other perks. It is all about alignment. The proper set-up can lead to a quick battle, but the thick strategy involved will have you assorting your tactics to get from point A to point B through a lot of preparation by understanding the mechanics involved. There is a bit of tedium tied into this as some battles took way too long to play out as moving phantoms around is an overly lengthy process. The game has a rich sense of satisfaction for victory despite its shortcomings, as the gameplay is far more accessible to newcomers than the other title within this compilation.
Soul Nomad is rough. Not rough in a bad way, but more-so that it can be confusing to understand how to play due to cumbersome menus and a heavy depth overlying just about everything. Instead of getting that gratification of understanding the learning curve of the game, I found myself more frustrated early on trying to assort squads properly. As mentioned, this title revolves around armies, and each character has their own squad to take to the battlefield. While most grid-structured strategy RPGs focus on movement and placement (as this one does), Soul Nomad adds in extra depth with never-ending customization of these squads – which are all within their own universe at sorts. Yeah, it is confusing, but after some hours most should be able to get down the basics as there is a lot of attention provided for all of the mechanics involved.
Phantom Brave may not have the strongest story of the lot, but it is hands down the more enjoyable and timeless of the two as it is just so accessible in comparison. I can see a lot of tenured vets of the genre still getting enjoyment with Soul Nomad, but I think it hasn’t aged well enough to really earn the spot on this re-release. Most remakes or re-releases are great because they are able to revamp and update battle systems to incorporate newer mechanics that streamline gameplay – basically ironing out past kinks. Soul Nomad is updated slightly from a visual standpoint, but as I was playing it, I kept thinking of ways this type of game could be updated to be more accessible. In my personal opinion if I, as the player, am more focused on poorly aged mechanics rather than enjoying the gameplay – it tells me that this title is mainly for those who enjoyed it prior, and that newcomers may not be able to stick round long enough before they see the massive amount of potential it ultimately has.
Visuals
This isn’t really a remaster of either game, but the graphics have been formatted to look more attractive on modern systems. The dialogue boxes (particularly within Phantom Brave) seem stretched and off, while both games have a bit of a blur to the character models and other terrain that is quite noticeable throughout each experience. That said, everything is still tolerable overall – and I didn’t focus on the imperfections as either game rolled onward.
Audio
The voice acting for NIS America has come a long way since either title released years before this release. That is a good thing, but these two games could certainly have benefitted with newer voice tracks, as the acting is a bit hammy and rough – yet still good enough for someone to still easily understand either narrative. While I did prefer Soul Nomad’s soundtrack, both are quite fantastic, and appear to play in their original format, which will certainly click on some nostalgia for older fans.
Overall
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1 is a tale of two decent strategy RPGs that are definitely worth revisiting if you want to understand the rich history within NIS America’s vast library. Sure, there are more refined products out there, but there is something truly special about each one of these titles, and I think fans will be happy to pack these on a current platform as they will find a lot of playtime with in-depth mechanics that (love them or hate them) brought some out-of-the-box execution to a genre that doesn’t get the attention it once received decades ago. Even if it’s just to understand latter cameos within Disgaea’s universe, this twosome is sure to be an interesting second look for fans who simply want more from their favorite publisher.
Join us as we run through the first hour of gameplay for Tormented Souls, as we make our way through the first section of the abandoned Wildberg hospital reaching the Main Hall. Along the way we solve puzzles, find long-forgotten journals and take down some of the evils that wait in the darkness.
Survival Horror inspired by the original Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark series. With a fresh twist on the fixed perspective adventure, Tormented Souls modernises for a new generation – as Caroline Walker investigates the mysterious disappearance of twin girls in a terrifying mansion.
Tormented Souls Developer: Dual Effect, Abstract Digital Publisher: PQube Limited Platform: Windows Release Date: 27 Aug, 2021 Price: $19.99
Recommended – “Tormented Souls takes classic survival horror tropes and makes them its own with a unique spin that longtime fans of the genre will adore.”
Goblinz Studio unveils new games Sandwalkers and Oaken at Gamescom Awesome Indies, plus exclusive trailers for Diluvian Winds and Terraformers
Indie studio and publisher punches up with big titles joining its growing lineup coming to PC and Switch
Germany – August 27th, 2021 – Independent developer and publisher Goblinz Studio has revealed brand new trailers for four upcoming games, including two big new announcements. Sandwalkers and Oaken were exclusively revealed during the Gamescom Awesome Indies showcase, alongside a fresh gameplay trailer for Diluvian Winds. In addition, a new trailer was unveiled for Terraformers, and demos are available for Terraformers and Defend The Rook in the Gamescom Indie Arena Booth.
Newly announced roguelike adventure Sandwalkers is a major development project for Goblinz Studio, while turn-based deck management roguelike Oaken is being developed by Laki Studio. Release dates for both games will be announced in the future. With the new trailers for Goblinz Studio’s upcoming titles, plus its already available games including Early Access resort builder Snowtopia and recent hit dungeon defender Legend of Keepers, the developer and publisher is consolidating a formidable lineup of tactical and management games for PC and Switch.
Sandwalkers – Release date TBA (PC, Switch) Reveal trailer:
Developed and published by Goblinz Studio, Sandwalkers is a roguelike turn-based exploration game. Players will assemble and guide their caravan of adventurers through ever-changing landscapes and hostile meteorological chaos. Only by facing countless dangers, can they reclaim the lands left to the mercy of monsters and pirates, and establish a new refuge city for their people.
Oaken – Release date TBA (PC, Switch) Reveal trailer:
Developed by Laki Studio, Oaken is a turn-based roguelike which focuses on deck management and highly tactical battles with 3D figurines on a hexagonal grid. Players will explore a mystical world inhabited by spirits and collect and upgrade powerful skills, artifacts, and allies, in order to restore the Oak’s Song. The journey is different every time, with tons of levels, cards, and events to be discovered.
Diluvian Winds – Release date TBA (PC, Switch) Gameplay trailer:
From developer Alambik Studio, Diluvian Winds is a 2D narrative management game in semi-real time, in which humanity is being exiled due to the rising waters. The player takes the role of the Guardian who, refusing to leave his lighthouse, watches the mass exodus unfold. In order to survive, players will have to choose whether or not to take in travelers who need their help.
Terraformers – Release date TBA (PC, Switch) Gameplay trailer:
Developed by Asteroid Lab, Terraformers is an expansive colony builder and resource management game. Players will explore the Red Planet, develop spectacular cities, spread life, and terraform the planet with ambitious projects. The developers hope their game will help inspire humankind to take its first steps out of the cradle and become an interplanetary species.
From developers One Up Plus, Defend the Rook features roguelike tactical board combat combined with tower defense elements. Players must defeat the invading hordes to stay alive and save the land. The game has an expanded range of tactical hero battles, with the added challenge of building towers and fighting off waves of enemies.
Lesquin, 26 August 2021 – NACON and Brave Lamb Studio are pleased to announce that they have joined forces for the publication of the game War Hospital, a unique strategy and survival game in which the player controls the fate of a British field hospital during the Great War.
Discover the new gameplay trailer:
InWar Hospital players are confronted by the human drama resulting from the terrible conflict that has so deeply marked our recent history. Every day, when barbarity is unleashed, the hospital doctors have to deal with the moral dilemmas associated with the dual nature of their task, which is both humanitarian and military. They fight not only for life, but also to maintain their morale and humanity in a world that seems to have rejected them completely.
In the very creative strategy and survival game segment, War Hospital provides a unique experience that blends real-time strategy, survival and RPG elements, while developing a theme rarely dealt with until now. The game is set in 1917. You play as Major Henry Wells, a British doctor sent to the front to treat the wounded in an attempt to give a glimmer of hope to the troops.
Despite the difficult conditions and the lack of equipment and resources, you must manage how emergencies are handled and develop your hospital. Thanks to the exceptional support that the British Imperial War Museums gave the developers, the game faithfully recreates the context of the front and its trenches, as well as the medical equipment available at the time.
In addition to the deep management gameplay, the game also requires players to make moral choices that affect the soldiers, the situation at the front and the battles. The player therefore undergoes an emotional trial through the drama experienced by the soldiers sent into the carnage. The game broaches the subject of war very differently than is usually the case.
“We are excited to partner with Nacon. We believe that this will help to introduce War Hospital to more players around the world and show them a different face of war in video games.” stated Michał Dziwniel, Head of Studio.
“Nacon is especially proud and honoured to have been selected by Brave Lambs to work together on the success of War Hospital, a unique game in the genre, once again demonstrating, on the heels of titles such as This War of Mine and Soldats Inconnus that our media can deal with subjects that are complex and serious while keeping their identity,” stated Benoît Clerc, Publishing Director at NACON.
More information about War Hospital will be provided at a later date.
About NACON NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 12 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON’s position in the market and enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages. https://corporate.nacongaming.com/
About Brave Lamb Studio Brave Lamb Studio is an independent studio located in Poland, Warsaw. The studio currently has 17 employees consisting of former Techland, CD Projekt Red, People Can Fly, and Fuero Games specialists, and is focused on games in which the player has to make emotion-based choices, analysing specific problems from different perspectives. The studio was established in 2020, after one year of informal War Hospital pre-production. Brave Lamb Studio is led by Michael Dziwniel – an industry veteran with 13 years of experience.
Invade other worlds for ill-gotten gains or come to an allies’ aid with faction-based multiplayer
SEATTLE – August 27, 2021 –Salt and Sacrifice, the next installment in the million-plus selling soulslike platformer Salt and Sanctuary series from Ska Studios and Devoured Studios, summons online multiplayer details ahead of its launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC in Q1 2022, as revealed during the Future Games Show.
Death or servitude as a Marked Inquisitor are the only options for criminals unlucky enough to get caught in the act. As a Marked Inquisitor, hunt down mages and devour their hearts to cleanse the corrupted Altarstone Kingdom, but beware of invaders from another world trying to halt the purification process…or invite the player-controlled interlopers to trial by combat.
After creating a Marked Inquisitor’s appearance, class, and past crime, you’ll embark on your cursed hunt, but there’s no sense in suffering alone. Join a variety of factions for multiplayer combat and online interactions. Revealed in a gameplay trailer highlighting Salt and Sacrifice’s multiplayer features are two such factions: the Shroud Alliance, with a focus on pure PvP combat, and the Blueheart Runners, an invading PvE cadre of arcane smugglers who wreak chaos in a host’s realm.
Consume a Guiltless Shard to temporarily disable the Spellmark, strange magic that binds Marked Inquisitors to their Kingdom, opening the world to invaders seeking riches and blood. Although invaders are other players seeking PvP encounters, the magic that binds them provides ample opportunity for balance. Oathbound Watchers are drawn into worlds threatened by invaders to protect their hosts, and Sheriff Inquisitors are summoned to police realms defiled by Blueheart Runners.
Solo players desiring a pure-PvE experience can avoid the threat of otherworldly invaders simply by never summoning an ally. Those seeking friendly cooperation and exploration may use a password system to grant allies easy access to their game world for epic, mage-slaying adventures.
The eight starting classes, Highblade, Paladin, Assassin, Cleric, Dualist, Fighter, Ranger, and Sage, give PvP matchups a wide variety of strategies and depth. Claim victory in the name of multiple factions like the Dawnlight Order or Shroud Alliance. Finish each fight in style with gruesome finishers to rid the realm of your faction’s enemies.
Experiencing the dark tale of Salt and Sacrifice goes beyond a challenging single-player campaign, utilizing fan-favorite mechanics from soulslikes of the past and deadly multiplayer PvP for a gripping journey that never relents.
“After the success of Salt and Sanctuary’s single-player adventure, we knew that we had to deliver something that continued to raise the bar of quality,” said James Silva, founder, Ska Studios. “We felt that the iconic soulslike multiplayer experience was the best way to do that. We really can’t wait to see what kind of community forms around it. Don’t be surprised if the development team joins a few online fight clubs!”
Salt and Sacrifice will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC for USD $19.99 Q1 2022 in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Largely a one-person show, award-winning game developer James Silva has a talent for art, animation, music, coding, and level design. James always focuses on making games he would want to play first. His other games include Salt and Sanctuary,The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, Charlie Murder, and I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!.
Devoured Studios is a new collaboration between James Silva and his longtime friend Shane Lynch. As a former senior platform developer who worked on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, Shane’s netcode skills form the backbone of Salt and Sacrifice’s online play.
Santo Ileso, USA, 27th August 2021 / Sydney, Australia, 28th August 2021 | Deep Silver and Volition have unveiled the Welcome To Santo Ileso Trailer, lifting the lid on the developer’s ambitious vision for the evolution of the notorious Saints Row franchise.
Along with a veritable wealth of new information from the creative minds at Volition, the latest trailer offers an exclusive first look at stunning gameplay moments, showcasing the exciting new world of Saints Row. It also stars US acting talent Bryce Charles – the voice of the game’s default Boss – and establishes the rival gangs, fresh tone and new characters, which make up the biggest and best Saints Row playground yet.
Watch the Welcome To Santo Ileso Trailer here:
Plus, gamers can kick-start their obsession with Saints Row by pre-ordering the Notorious Edition* now, which includes must-have swag for players to pimp their Saints Row experience from launch.
Notorious Edition features:
The full Saints Row game; the Idols Anarchy Pack, which contains a digitised Idols DJ helmet, a pretty-but-brutal Idols Twinkle bat and a neon illuminated Scrambler bike; the Saints Criminal Customs pack, which is a digital pack for pre-orders of physical product and contains The Saints Custom Convertible car and The Saints Custom Stab Jacket; The Los Panteros American Muscle Bundle – featuring the Los Panteros ‘El Lanzador’ Heavy Weapon skin and Custom ‘Fury’ Motorcycle; The Expansion pass to extend gameplay over three additional episodes, as well as Saints Row: The Third Remastered.
Plus, all purchases of Saints Row via the Epic Games Store come bundled with Saints Row: The Third Remastered until 2nd September 2021: SaintsRow.com/PreOrder
Saints Row will launch on 25th February 2022 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, the all-in-one games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation® 4 and the PlayStation® 5 computer entertainment systems and on Epic Games Store for PC.
*The Notorious edition is a limited stock, physical only release. There are three different versions to choose from for both Digital and Physical purchases.
Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds by creating products of the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires.
Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include the next entries into the Saints Row, TimeSplitters and Dead Island franchises. Deep Silver development studios include Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Free Radical Design, both in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com
All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.
ABOUT DEEP SILVER VOLITION
Deep Silver Volition combines long-standing industry experience and state-of-the-art technology with creativity and a strong dash of humour, to create the truly unique gaming experience their fans know and love. Its portfolio comprises the critically acclaimed Saints Row series of games, Agents of Mayhem, Red Faction, Descent/Freespace and Summoner series. It is currently working on the next Saints Row game. The studio is in downtown Champaign, Illinois. The Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area is home to the University of Illinois and is a diverse, growing community that combines the arts, a vibrant technology sector, and affordable housing. Deep Silver Volition currently employs over 240 talented people. In 2013, Volition joined Koch Media / Deep Silver as one of their three international development studios. Four years later, the group was acquired by Embracer Group. To learn more about Deep Silver Volition, please visit the official website DSVolition.com, and follow on Twitter @DSVolition and Facebook @VolitionGames.
ABOUT KOCH MEDIA
The Koch Media Group is a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, VR games, gaming hardware and merchandise.
The group’s publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, America, Australia and Asia. Koch Media has more than 25 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become a leading global publishing partner. The Koch Media Group runs a multi-label strategy with fully owned publishing units such as Prime Matter, Deep Silver, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.
Additionally, as global publishing partner Koch Media has formed long-term multi-national publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, CI Games, Giants Software, Kalypso, Koei Tecmo, Konami, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, Tripwire, Warner Bros, and many others.
With its parent company in Höfen, Austria, and the Publishing HQ in Munich, Germany, Koch Media owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.
The Koch Media Group owns ten game development studios: Deep Silver Volition (Champaign, IL / USA), Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham / UK), Deep Silver Fishlabs (Hamburg / Germany), Warhorse Studios (Prague / Czech Republic), Milestone (Milan / Italy), Voxler (Paris / France) , Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów / Poland), Free Radical Design (Nottingham / UK) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam /The Netherlands), DigixArt (Montpellier, France).Additionally, the Koch Media Group collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.
Part of the Koch Media Group is also Koch Films, a leading European independent film distributor with business primarily in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy as a cinema, TV, online and Home Entertainment distributor. The Koch Media Group also owns Gaya Entertainment, a leading video game merchandise company in Munich, Germany, and the Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Primitive Skate Park Featured as Free Map Download Available Now
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 27, 2021 – Easy Day Studios announced today that Skater XL will be the exclusive console/PC video game sponsor of the Street League Skateboarding (SLS) 2021 Championship Tour. The world’s largest street skate competition for over a decade, SLS will begin the first leg of its highly-anticipated 2021 tour in Salt Lake City, Utah today (Aug 27) and tomorrow (Aug 28).
In celebration of the partnership, the team at Easy Day Studios has released a new map of skate icon Paul “PRod” Rodriguez’s Primitive Skatepark available now. The updated map is based on Primitive Skateboarding’s brand new indoor training facility which hosted the SLS Tour Qualifier in late July, setting the stage for the return of street skateboarding’s premier annual competition.
Tiago Lemos, one of the pros featured in Skater XL skates the Primitive Skatepark Map
“The SLS Championship Tour is an iconic brand in street skateboarding and one that we felt made a lot of sense for Skater XL,” states Jeff Goforth, Marketing Director for Easy Day Studios. “Coming out of the excitement and broad visibility of the Olympics, the tour is well-timed to build on that momentum as street skateboarding’s most long-standing competition that shows off the talents of some of the best pros in skateboarding today.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Skater XL as excitement builds for the 2021 SLS Championship Tour,” says Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports and Entertainment – SLS’ parent company. “Gaming has been a key element of skateboarding culture for decades. Now Skater XL is leading a resurgence in the space with innovation and authenticity, qualities that will also be front and center when the world’s best face off for street skateboarding’s ultimate prize.”
The 2021 SLS Championship Tour is a three stop series taking place at the following U.S. cities:
Salt Lake City, Utah – August 27 – 28 (Utah State Fairgrounds)
Miami, Florida – October 29 – 30 (SkateBird Miami)
Jacksonville, Florida (SLS Super Crown World Championship) – November 13 – 14 (Jacksonville Landing)
For tickets and more information on the Street League Skateboarding 2021 Championship series, visit the official website, streetleague.com.
Skater XL is now available for $39.99 USD on PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, and at brick and mortar retailers for PS4 and Xbox One. For the latest news and updates on Skater XL, follow the game on Instagram and Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook, and visit the official website, SkaterXL.com.
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ABOUT Street League Skateboarding Since its inception in 2010, Street League Skateboarding (SLS) has propelled street skateboarding from a collection of independent standalone events to a renowned global series. As pioneers of street skateboarding’s premium qualification system and competition format, SLS offers an amateur-to-professional pathway and creates thrilling live events across the globe. The SLS Championship Tour is recognized as the world’s premier professional street skateboarding competition. Events take place on custom-built, one-of-a-kind, SLS-certified plazas in major cities around the world, with the best in the sport competing for the highest stakes. For more information, visit www.streetleague.com.
Street League Skateboarding is now part of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment. Thrill One is a next-generation content company that lives at the nexus of sports, entertainment and lifestyle, combining the resources of Nitro Circus, SLS, Nitro Rallycross and Thrill One Media. A multi-media platform founded in 2020, Thrill One is dedicated to creating mind-blowing action sports events and original content, fueled by the most daring athletes, talent and brands in thrill-based entertainment. It also boasts one of the largest aggregate social audience in action sports, with over 40 million followers across its multiple brand pages and channels. Go to thrillone.com for additional information.
ABOUT EASY DAY STUDIOS Founded in 2018 by Skater App founder and physicist Dain Hedgpeth, Jon West, former sponsored skateboarder turned game developer, and Jeff Goforth, industry veteran of 19 years and former head of skateboarding at DC Shoes, Easy Day Studios is the leader in action sports video game creation. Easy Day Studios is fully self funded and 100% committed to the shared vision of reviving and evolving skateboarding games into what every fan has been hoping for since the birth of the genre. With decades of experience, the team is comprised of video game development and skateboarding veterans. Since Early Access launch in December 2018 and the rapid growth of the Skater XL modding community, Easy Day has also hired two former modders and continues to work directly with this community.
