Pre-orders are now available for the brand-new fantasy looter shooter from Gearbox Entertainment and 2K, coming to PC and consoles on March 25, 2022
2K and Gearbox Entertainment today debuted an all-new trailer for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a new fantasy-fuelled take on the looter shooter genre from the unpredictable mind of Tiny Tina. The trailer features fans’ first glimpse of gameplay, revealing brand new mechanics like spellcasting, character creation, and the tabletop-inspired Overworld. The trailer also showcases the all-star celebrity cast for the very first time.
View the gameplay trailer below:
In addition, 2K and Gearbox announced that Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will launch on March 25, 2022 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, and PC via the Epic Games Store exclusively at launch, and on other PC digital storefronts later in 2022. Pre-orders are now available across all launch platforms, and all players who pre-order the game will receive the Golden Hero Armour Pack, a unique armour preset. This in-game item is available for all editions on all launch platforms.* Players can also visit playwonderlands.com to register for the game’s newsletter and learn more about obtaining the Town Crier Pack in-game cosmetics.
In Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, players will embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry. As today’s trailer showed:
Tiny Tina is your disorderly guide through an extraordinary fantasy realm where rules rarely apply. Explore majestic cities, dank mushroom forests, foreboding fortresses, and more, all of which are connected by a vast Overworld;
Create your own hero with an expansive multiclass system that lets you mix and match six unique character skill trees, all with their own awesome abilities. Level up, refine your build, expand your arsenal, and become the ultimate Fatemaker;
Defeat evil with devastating spells, powerful guns, and unique Action Skills in frenetic first-person battles. Use your firepower to vanquish legions of enemies, including smack-talking skeletons, land-roaming sharks, and colossal bosses;
Enjoy the story solo or start a party with up to three friends in seamless online multiplayer or local split-screen. Share the spoils or rush to get the shiniest loot—how you play is up to you!
Joining players for the experience are headstrong captain Valentine (Andy Samberg), rule-obsessed robot Frette (Wanda Sykes), and the beloved, bomb-chucking Tiny Tina (Ashly Burch), who makes the rules and changes the world on the fly. During their quest to defeat the Dragon Lord (Will Arnett), players will meet a cast of lovable misfits like a lute-wielding Bardbarian and their very own Fairy Punchfather.
Developed by Gearbox Entertainment, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is rating pending. For screenshots, key art, and other visual assets, please visit newsroom.2k.com. To learn more, please visit playwonderlands.com and follow @PlayWonderlands on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
*Pre-order offer available through March 24, 2022. Digital pre-orders: Golden Hero Armour Pack will be delivered via game at launch. Physical pre-orders: Golden Hero Armour Pack will be delivered via code in box to be redeemed in game. Terms apply.
In the more recent years, there’s been a resurgence of action-adventure games in the “metroidvania” sub-genre. Most of them coming from indie developers through Kickstarter or small unknown publishers. It’s just natural that these game’s focus is on gameplay to the detriment of more modern graphics and sound since the budget simply isn’t there. They’ll normally use pixel-style graphics and chiptune music with varying degrees of emphasis on their art or music, like Blasphemous and Axiom Verge for example. Despite having low production values, some of them are acclaimed titles both amongst critics and players alike. With the successful kickstarter campaign of Bloodstained back in 2015 and its subsequent release in 2019, we took a good look at what a metroidvania using more modern technology and a higher budget would look like. Ender Lillies is one such game that, beyond gameplay quality, also features a more modern presentation. It uses high-resolution, hand-drawn graphics, and even a musical score composed by the Japanese group Mili. Ender Lillies is an action-adventure, dark-fantasy themed game. The graphics use dark shades of colors, and the art and animation have a distinct Vanillaware game feel to it. The developers describe it as a “dark fairy tale” which I think is very fitting; just by looking at some screenshots, you’ll be able to see this instantly. The music also adds a lot to the game’s gloomy feel with moody and sometimes melancholic themes. Ender Lilies was originally released on PC through Steam’s early access program. Releasing as a complete game on June 21 this year. A bit later it was also released for consoles.
Story
Once upon a time… -This is supposed to be a fairy tale, albeit a dark one- there was Land’s End. There lived white priestesses, knights and mages. One day, a rain fell upon the land turning all of it’s inhabitants into undead known as “blighted”. The knights tried to fight the undead horde with help from the priestesses and mages but in the end not a single human remained alive except for a little girl… Lily awakens in a room in a church all alone, or at least she’s the only human remaining in Land’s End. A spectral knight is by her side; one of the few who still retain some manner of conscience. With his help, Lily sets out to find the cause of the rain of death and, possibly, restore Land’s End to its original glory. As you progress through the game, the umbral knight will make remarks on what happened in a given place and will also talk to Lily. Item descriptions also elaborate on the lore a bit. The main story parts are memories that are triggered when Lily meet certain characters. The story is told in a minimalistic but meaningful fashion and tries not to interrupt the flow of the game.
Gameplay
As Lily, the player will explore the different areas of Land’s End while collecting items, learning more about the story and dispatching enemies in your way. Things start slow and easy but the pace picks up fast with the addition of some traps and enemies doing more damage or appearing in larger numbers. You’ll also encounter other types of enemies with different attack patterns and of course huge bosses. Ender Lillies focus isn’t exactly on difficulty: throughout Land’s End, you’ll find resting places that will allow you to save your progress and recharge Lily’s life and abilities among other options. If you die, you’ll go back to the last resting place you visited but will retain all the progress you made including items you collected, chests you opened, etc. You also have the option of returning to these resting places at any time by pausing the game and choosing the corresponding option.
The game was clearly designed to be as accessible as possible. That doesn’t mean the game is a walk in the park. To counterbalance all the advantages you have, enemies do a lot of damage and Lily has a very limited number of life refills. Lily is just a child and has no combat abilities of her own; she can jump or throw herself onto the ground which serves as a dodge. She can also heal herself a small number of times. It’s with the help of spirits that Lily can summon that she is able to dispatch enemies. You begin with only the umbral knight as your ally, and as you defeat more powerful enemies, they will also lend their help to Lily granting new attacks and abilities. Think of the spirits as weapons you can equip. You begin with two sets of three slots each. In each of these slots, you can equip a spirit allowing Lily to command them to attack with the press of one of the face buttons. That means the player can potentially have six different attacks at their disposal as it’s possible to change between sets instantaneously with just a press of a button. This gives a lot of dynamism to the combat as you are able to not only customize your arsenal but also change it as needed on the fly.
The flow of the game is as you’d expect from a title like this. It combines action, platforming and light RPG elements. As you explore the game’s many areas, you’ll come across items like relics that can be equipped and will give some type of bonus. Other items will be used to level up your spirits and are normally located after discovering a secret passage or after acquiring a certain ability. This dynamic of exploration, discovery, overcoming challenges and acquiring that new skill or item so you can access a previously unreachable place is very rewarding and will hook fans of adventure and action games.
Visuals
Ender Lilies uses hand drawn art. I love this type of look in videogames so I may be a bit biased when I say it’s the best looking metroidvania I played to this day. The animations follow this same standard of excellence with a lot of frames in each jump and attack. In some moments, it’ll look like a painting in motion. Not everything are lilies though; some areas can be very simple looking and the overall dark color scheme of the game may make it a little bit difficult to appreciate the finer details. It’s still a delight visually and certainly one of the most beautiful 2d games in any genre.
Audio
Audio is another department that Ender Lilies excels at. The soundtrack was composed by a Japanese group called Mili. Every area has its own theme like games of old used to have. The music, as the overall look and themes of the game also has that somber feel to it but isn’t limited to only gloominess; there’s also more varied pieces as the soundtrack tries to fit the area you’re in. The witches domain for example has a very pleasant magic adventure type of theme while the desolated village plays a calm and soothing tune, even featuring female vocals like it’s trying to lull the departed citizens to their eternal rest. That song in particular is my favorite: it elicited in me calmness and also melancholy. Changing my mood in a matter of seconds. I’m not afraid to say that it almost made me cry sometimes. I believe that any piece of media that is able to make you feel, doesn’t matter what emotion, is certainly something special but when a videogame is capable of doing this it certainly warms my soul. The sound effects also play their part well with nice weather and battle sound effects; the sounds of weapons swinging and hitting enemies are satisfying enough.
Overall
I personally didn’t expect Ender Lilies to have the impact it had on me. I had a bad habit of looking at most indie games with some skepticism. It’s not unjustified, at least not for me as many indie titles that looked promising ended up disappointing me. Ender Lilies shows that when care and passion is put in a game, something truly special might come out.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Remakes, reboots, spin offs, and revivals of long dead franchises are currently all the rage in the video game industry. King’s Bounty was released in 1990 and is finally getting its sequel 31 years later. King’s Bounty 2is reimagined as a combination of third-person exploration and traditional turn based tactical combat.
Story
King’s Bounty 2 struggles with a dull story. The pacing is very bad. The main story is both abrupt and dragged out. It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s a surprisingly accurate description. The main quests move at a quick, clipped pace, yet at the same time are dragged out due to the sheer number side missions the players are encouraged or even required to do to move onto the main mission.
The game also offers an alignment system where players choose some combination of strength or magic and order or anarchy. Like most games, King’s Bounty 2 is plagued with a lot of black and white decisions that will determine the character’s alignment. These aren’t particularly inspiring or ambitious.
Gameplay
King’s Bounty 2 modernizes the original game by switching to a closely zoomed third person perspective when exploring the overworld. Here, players will acquire combat quests, perform fetch quests, manage their army, and generally engage in some light RPG elements. At set points in the world, the player will battle it out in hex-based tactical combat.
The RPG elements of the game are on the light side and very standard for the genre. The level cap and sheer volume allows players to create viable builds. On the other hand, the talents are incredibly dull. For the exception of a few talents, almost all are boring stat bonuses that fail to ignite any excitement. Equipment bonuses are in the same vein, offering stat bonuses oriented for different builds
The combat is enjoyable thanks to its heavy reliance on good tactical decisions. Unit composition is just as important as making the right moves in battle, as players need to be mindful of the alignment of each unit and their damage type. Terrain height, movement, line of sight, restricted special abilities, and limited troops all add an extra layer of complexity to combat. The special abilities are tuned well that they feel like they have actual effect in battle that can turn the tide. Enemies are on rather even footing as they have access to these skills which adds a predictable challenge in combat. I particularly like players being unable to heal a unit to full in the middle of combat. Instead, as induvial members die, healers can only top off the surviving members. It is a more believable system than many other tactical games where healers magically resurrect troops.
Th level design is poor. The quests are predictable and very standard for RPG titles. Players can be expected to be an NPC’s personal assistant as they complete the usual fetch and kill quests. The odd puzzle is thrown in, but they are often simple and straight forward affairs that barely count as a puzzle. The standard quest design on its own is fine, but it’s the organization that makes King’s Bounty 2 so miserable. Players will spend more time exploring the semi-open world map for collectibles and side quests than actual combat. Often, the game’s quests need to be done in a certain order requiring players to run around the map. As a result, players may be forced to do several side quests before they can continue with the main storyline. If the player is losing a unit every other battle, they can expect to be doing more side quests to gather the resources to compensate. At this point, the actual challenging puzzle in King’s Bounty 2 is figuring out the correct order and number of quests to complete, not determining the right order of statues to interact with to open up an area.
Compounding the problem is the agonizingly slow movement speed. The so-called jog feels like a fast walk, while the actual walk feels like the sort of leisurely slow pace everyone takes when they have a great night out with friends and aren’t quite ready to go home yet. I usually don’t mind fetch quests as it’s often free rewards for a small bit of my time. The pacing just turns fetch quests into an agonizing slog that I’d much rather avoid if it wasn’t for the fact I desperately need the rewards.
The learning curve is brutal for new players. The tutorials are a bare bones affair focusing on teaching players the very basics yet miss the intricacies of the game needed to actually be successful. Resources are limited and finite. As a result, players can easily run into a “dead end” that requires a player to go back to a much earlier save in hopes of salvaging the run. In the worst-case scenario, a completely new game might be needed. At the time of publishing, there is only one difficulty setting to make the situation worse for new players.
The user experience is poor. I am always a fan of developers providing players the freedom to choose how they input commands into the game. King’s Bounty 2 is clearly catered to those using a controller, leaving mouse and keyboard users feeling like an afterthought. The game’s UI overemphasizes button input. Combat fares the best as most of the functions can be done with a mouse. On the other hand, the item management menus and vendor interaction buck the basic conventions players can expect from a good PC RPG such as double-clicking items to sell or clicking on an icon to trigger it’s listed action. To add insult to injury, the key binding system is very limited. While many lesser used keys can be rebound, there are a set of main functions that are locked. I already dislike the fact that those not using a standard English QWERTY keyboard layout or prefer alternative movement cluster like ESDF are left out, but not listing these keys to a separate heading stating the bindings can’t be changed is an even worse design.
The game is missing important quality-of-life features. Messing up a battle has long term consequences. Retrying fights to achieve a near perfect result will be common, yet the game lacks a quick save/load function that would speed up the process of reverting back to an earlier state. The game conveniently lists the difficulty of battle before combat starts. It gives players a chance to adjust their army or take on a few other quests before coming back. Since movement speed is so slow, it would be beneficial to list the current difficulty when hovering over the combat icon on the map so players don’t have to make the long jog back just to find out they are still too underpowered for the fight.
Visuals
King’s Bounty 2 offers the standard fantasy style. The landscape full of stone castles, wooden structures, old ruins, and sprawling country sides. The warriors usually wear practical armour while mages are decked out in their exquisite robes and jewelry. The game leans heavily towards a realistic take. While there is nothing separating King’s Bounty 2 from the crowd stylistically, the style is well done.
Audio
The audio has its ups and downs. The soundtrack is enjoyable with its standard fantasy video game soundtrack that uses lots of orchestral style music. It never distracts from the gameplay but does an excellent job of nudging the player’s emotions in the right direction. The sound effects are decent. It is nothing special, but it does the job well enough. The voice acting is where the audio falls apart. There are a few actors who are passable for an AA title, but a large portion of the acting is poor. Several actors struggle with overacting and some just can’t hit the right tone for their character. To make matters worse, the game relies heavily on idle chatter to make the world feel populated, but there is an extremely limited number of lines that are used almost every time the player is near an NPC.
Overall
King’s Bounty 2 is a game with only few bright spots. The combat is punishing in a good way, but everything else falls apart from there. The level design is poor to start with, but the painfully slow movement speed turns it into a frustrating experience. The story and RPG mechanics are uninspiring. User experience falls short, especially for PC gamers using a mouse and keyboard. While the developers have promised fixes to address some of the complaints, the game just feels too frustrating to be worth the time or money to salvage. It’s time to move on and hope for a better game in King’s Bounty 3.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
First Story Trailer Showcases New Details About Protagonist Frey Holland, Reveals More Characters, Hollywood Talent, and an Autumn 2022 Release Window
SYDNEY (Sept. 10, 2021)– SQUARE ENIX® today unveiled a new story trailer and official Autumn(ANZ) 2022 release window for Luminous Productions’ debut title, Forspoken. The new footage reveals more details about the protagonist Frey, a directionless, gritty yet street smart young woman who has persevered despite her rough upbringing in New York City.
Watch the new Forspoken story introduction trailer here:
The new story trailer also gives fans a closer look at Forspoken’s magic-infused combat and swift, dynamic movement, playing a key role in gameplay. Through the course of her journey, Frey will learn to cast and harness dozens of different types of magic and cast powerful spells as she traverses through the beautiful yet cruel land of Athia. Frey’s quest in Athia will take her through a variety of diverse environments where she will use magic enhanced parkour. This dynamic and acrobatic movement, enhanced by Frey’s mystical abilities, enables her to magically flow, zip and float across the vast landscapes of Athia in a fast and fluid manner.
Other key characters in Forspoken are highlighted in the trailer, including Frey’s companion ‘Cuff,’ a magical sentient bracelet, voiced by actor Jonathan Cake (Stargirl), who helps her navigate the sprawling landscapes of Athia. Players are also introduced to Tanta Sila, a maddened and evil ruler who is the strongest and most formidable Tanta, or matriarch, in Athia, as she and Frey face off in an explosive and action-packed battle. Performed and voiced by actress and musician Janina Gavankar (True Blood), Tanta Sila’s debut offers fans a glimpse of the formidable enemies that await in Athia. Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick) also make an appearance as Johedy and Auden, fellow Athians who befriend and assist Frey with her journey.
SQUARE ENIX and Luminous Productions worked in collaboration with Hollywood writer Gary Whitta (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), who conceived the original concept, and award-winning writer/director Amy Hennig (Uncharted series), who developed the story concept in 2019 (prior to heading Skydance New Media). Taking the reins as Lead Writers on Forspoken’s story and script, talented entertainment writers Allison Rymer (Shadowhunters) and Todd Stashwick (Devil Inside) have crafted a thrilling tale about self-discovery and finding out where you belong in the world.
“Writing Forspoken has been a magical experience,” said Rymer. “The main character Frey is strong, complex and very relatable. I am excited for the players to connect with her.” Stashwick added, “Like Frey, it’s been a long, amazing journey for us. I’m thrilled to finally have people adventure through the story we have built. I’m so proud to be part of this team, giving a contemporary, fun, spin on the fantasy genre.”
SQUARE ENIX and Luminous Productions also unveiled that the score is composed by BAFTA award-winning composers Bear McCreary (God of War (2018) and TV series The Walking Dead) and Garry Schyman (Bioshock series). Together, they set the unconventional tone of the game by immersing players into a world of twisted beauty while fusing contemporary electronic beats with a fantasy tone.
“We’re incredibly excited to be working together to compose the soundtrack for Forspoken. When we first read the script for the game, we were moved by Frey’s dynamic character and the contrasting themes of modern and fantasy that run throughout the story, which is something we wanted to reflect in the music we compose for the soundtrack,” said McCreary and Schyman.
Designed for the PlayStation®5 console (PS5™), Forspoken will harness the full power of the console and demonstrate Luminous Productions’ philosophy to provide a gaming experience like never before, fusing together the latest technology with creativity. The game is being developed simultaneously for the PS5 console and PC (via STEAM® Store, Windows Store and Epic Games Store) and is set for release in Autumn(ANZ) 2022.
# ENDS #About Square Enix, Inc. Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with 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 163 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 84 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Available Now on PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
AUSTIN, Texas – 10 September 2021 –Hindsight 20/20 – Wrath of the Raakshasa, the action-RPG with morality-based decisions from the BioWare, ArenaNet, and Sucker Punch veterans at Triple-I Games, makes good on its choices and launches on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows via Steam today.
Shape the destiny of one-armed warrior Jehan, the kingdom of Champaner, and all who call it home in an action-packed journey where hindsight brings an extraordinary impact on every decision. As a mutating virus descends upon the kingdom and begins transforming citizens into violent creatures called Raakshasas, Jehan must choose to fight against the monsters, villains, and tyranny to free Champaner from the brink of destruction.
With the threat of extinction looming, Jehan’s journey is compounded by Champaner’s strict rules against violence. Left to choose between two methods of defending his home, Jehan can switch between the Merciful stun rod to incapacitate foes or the Ruthless, razor-sharp sword to cut a path forward. Citizens of Champaner react to Jehan’s choices in and out of combat, meeting the warrior with disdain or praising his noble nature depending on various decisions.
Choice affects every aspect of Hindsight, from weapon selection to dialogue and the time it takes Jehan to travel through the kingdom. As every decision ripples outward, Champaner and the lands beyond change and react. While some choices may seem obvious at first glance, added context and additional discoveries can re-frame every experience. In Hindsight, the “right” decision doesn’t exist; players must forge their own path, leading to 10 possible endings.
The Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions of Hindsight 20/20 – Wrath of the Raakshasa include full 4K rendering at 60 FPS, with additional next-gen features including post-processing, HDR, ambient occlusion, and more. Haptic feedback is available on PlayStation 5 with adaptive triggers synced to Jehan’s attacks and blocks. The Nintendo Switch version features a 1080p resolution in docked mode and 720p resolution in handheld, both running well over 30 FPS.
“From the outset of development on Hindsight, player choice and consequence have always been our key focus,” said Hemanshu Chhabra, creative director, Triple-I Games. “The choice between right and wrong is never crystal clear, and we cannot wait to see how players experience how every decision they make impacts the world Jehan is fighting for.”
Hindsight 20/20-Wrath of the Raakshasa is now available in English on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, and Windows via Steam for $14.99 with English-language support.
Consisting of veterans from BioWare, ArenaNet, Sucker Punch Studios, and Amazon Games Studios, Triple-I Games came together when Hemanshu Chhabra came to his friends with a vision: to make a game that would help a younger, self-critical version of himself understand what “hindsight 20/20” really means.
To learn more about Triple-I Studios please visit the studio’s official website.
Check out our latest gameplay for UnMetal as we take on the role of Jesse Fox, NOT an elite commando, under arrest for a crime he didn’t commit… Or did he?? Gameplay runs through the first 2 chapters of the game. We escape the prison and sewers, kicking ass along the way!
UnMetal is a 2D stealth action-adventure that pays homage to the classics with a healthy dose of humor and satire. You play as Jesse Fox, who is definitely NOT an elite commando, under arrest for a crime he didn’t commit, and must escape a covert military base using his wits and fists.
UnMetal Developer: @unepic_fran Publisher: Versus Evil Platform: Windows Release Date: 27th of Sept 2021
Backed by brand-new music from the Star-Lord Band, latest trailer features action, mystery and…a telepathic Russian dog?
SYDNEY (September 10, 2021) – Today, Eidos-Montréalhas released a new trailer detailing the out-of-this-world narrative adventure that awaits in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Set in the wake of an epic conflict known as the Galactic War, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy invites players to walk a lightyear in Peter Quill’s jet boots and lead his band of misfit heroes-for-hire across the cosmos in search of glory, riches and a way out of whatever mess they’ve gotten themselves into this time.
In the new trailer, Grand Unifier Raker brings Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and Groot to the Universal Church of Truth, where the Guardians bear witness to a cult-like ritual before the mysterious Matriarch. Grand Unifier Raker states that the Matriarch wishes to share with them a truth — one that can supposedly end all grief and suffering. In true Guardians fashion, things go spectacularly sideways and they somehow manage to get half the galaxy on their back… The Guardians will have to step up and show what they are made of to save the Galaxy.
The video also features appearances by characters including the Xandarian Worldmind, as well as everyone’s favourite telepathic Russian space dog, Cosmo.
Moreover, the trailer’s action is amplified by the sounds of a new track from the Star-Lord Band, titled “Space Riders (With No Names)” In the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy universe, Star-Lord is the name of Peter Quill’s favourite rock band, which eventually inspires his iconic moniker.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be available on PlayStation®5 console, PlayStation®4 console, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, PC, and streaming via GeForce NOW on October 26, 2021.
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media. For more information visit https://www.marvel.com
Established in 2007, Eidos-Montréal™ is a premiere developer of interactive entertainment based on new intellectual properties and beloved franchises including the acclaimed Tomb Raider® and Deus Ex® series. Renowned as master storytellers, the studio builds immersive worlds and adventures that create lasting memories for players across the globe. Eidos-Montréal crafts its multiple interactive projects with close-knit teams in a hybrid work environment, keeping their focus on creativity and technological innovation.
Eidos-Montréal and its network of studios, Eidos-Sherbrooke™ and Eidos-Shanghai™, are part of the Square Enix® group of companies. More information on Eidos-Montréal can be found at https://eidosmontreal.com.
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 163 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 83 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 84 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
EIDOS and EIDOS MONTRÉAL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Limited. SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
“PlayStation,” “PS4” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
The Legendary RPG Is Remade from the Ground Up for a New Generation
AUSTIN, Texas — Sept. 9, 2021 — Aspyr, Lucasfilm Games, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (“SIE”) have announced Star Wars™: Knights of the Old Republic™ – Remake, a new remake of the original revered Star Wars™ story and blockbuster role-playing game experienced by millions of fans around the world. In development as a PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console exclusive at launch and for PC, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake is completely rebuilt from the ground up for a new generation of players to experience this legendary tale as never before. The news was revealed today in a teaser trailer during the ‘PlayStation Showcase 2021’ featuring the iconic imagery of Darth Revan and the voice-over talent of Jennifer Hale, who played Bastila Shan in the original game.
“We’ve spent the past several years assembling the very best talent from across the industry to deliver a modern vision of this timeless Star Wars legend,” said Aspyr co-founder Ted Staloch. “As lifelong Star Wars fans with extensive experience working with many of its best games, we have the deepest love and admiration for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and cannot wait to share this amazing remake with the rest of the galaxy.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL-RfE-ioJ8
Development of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake is led by a newly created team composed of industry veterans at developer and publisher Aspyr, working in close collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Aspyr and Lucasfilm Games have worked together in recent years to bring multiple classic Star Wars titles to modern platforms, including the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The game will be published on PS5 by SIE, while the PC version of the game will be published by Aspyr.
“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic stands out among the Legends of Star Wars storytelling, and we’re thrilled to be joining with Aspyr and Sony to remake this Legend for a new generation of players,” said Douglas Reilly, VP, Lucasfilm Games. “Our teams have been working closely and share a deep commitment to honoring what fans love about the original, while bringing new fans on this incredible journey.”
“Nearly 20 years after its debut, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains one of the most highly requested remakes from the PlayStation community,” said Eric Lempel, SVP, Head of Global Marketing, Sony Interactive Entertainment. “The time is finally right to bring this dream to life for both diehard fans and those who have yet to experience it.”
First released in 2003, the award-winning Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic still stands today as a landmark achievement, frequently ranked among the greatest video games of all time. A pinnacle of Star Wars Legends storytelling, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is set around 4,000 years before the events of the original trilogy, introducing a new cast of heroes and villains in an epic struggle for the fate of the galaxy. The game is beloved by fans and has been praised by critics for its deeply engaging narrative, memorable characters, sense of immersion and discovery, and choice-based gameplay.
Fans can keep up with the latest updates for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake by signing up at www.aspyr.com/starwars, as well as by following Aspyr on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Aspyr
Aspyr is a leading video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games across all platforms and for all players. Today, the company supports a growing network of partners that includes many of the industry’s leading entertainment IP holders, publishers, developers, and technology providers. Aspyr is based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aspyr.com.
About Sony Interactive Entertainment
Recognized as a global leader in interactive and digital entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is responsible for the PlayStation® brand and family of products and services. PlayStation has delivered innovation to the market since the launch of the original PlayStation in Japan in 1994. The PlayStation family of products and services include PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation™Store, PlayStation®Plus, PlayStation™Now, and acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, SIE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation and has global functions in California, London and Tokyo.
“PlayStation” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
THE NETHERLANDS — Sept. 9, 2021 —Residual, a new breed of survival platformer from OrangePixel and legendary publisher Apogee Entertainment, launches today on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store. The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One releases will lift off in early 2022.
Sirens blare. A lone spaceship’s hull quakes. A weary traveler crashlands on a new world. As they emerge from the warped chassis into blazing heat, arctic tundra, drenched swampland, or another type of hostile, procedurally generated planet among unfamiliar stars, one thought emerges: Survive. All alone against the void, the explorer ventures forth—to find food, minerals, and a way to fix their ship to return home.
At the start of every playthrough, the proprietary Nature Engine sculpts a brand-new world, governing everything from climate and resources to plant life from a set of nature-based rules. Carve out an existence on thousands of possible planets, each presenting a different, unpredictable challenge. Find shelter from the sweltering sun. Accumulate power to stay warm during long, cold nights. Discover creatures and flora that can help or harm.
Space holds the possibility of freedom, but beneath the surface lie the long-forgotten secrets of an ancient civilization desperate to make themselves known again. Through creative puzzle-solving and resourceful dungeon-diving, lay bare the mysteries of the universe. But will this discovery aid a planetary escape or leave the lost pilot forever trapped in the void?
“I kept telling them not to go down that chasm, but do they ever listen to me? No!” chimed Pedey-B, the explorer’s constant robot companion and Personal Disaster Bot. “Whatever secrets are down there are not our concern. … Hey, are you even listening?”
“What lies at the heart of Residual is that yearning to explore, discover, and survive,” offers Pascal Bestebroer, the solo developer behind OrangePixel. “Every new planet means different, exciting stories for each player. Share your adventure with others who seek it!”
Residual launches today on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store with support for 11 languages. The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One releases are planned for early 2022.
OrangePixel is Pascal Bestebroer, a Dutch independent game developer best known for the half-million-selling twin-stick dungeon crawler Heroes of Loot and dropping weekly game-dev knowledge bombs on his YouTube channel. His studio name? Well, he tried designing a logo and only got as far as a single orange pixel.
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.
Build your drug empire on real-world maps. Build production lines and supply chains. Hire soldiers and bribe politicians. Do everything it takes to succeed in Pax Narcotica: Trafficker, which launches on PC in Q3 2022.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 9th, Warsaw, Poland.
Tired of always being the hero saving the world, following the rules, acting as one should, and being oh so righteous that it makes everyone around you yawn of boredom? Then you’ve come to the right place. Trafficking drugs is no job for someone of high moral standards. Here you’ll be recruiting soldiers to protect your shipments. Bribing police and politicians to make sure they won’t get in your way. Negotiating sales with competitive crime groups or simply getting rid of their bosses. Whatever works best for your business. Just remember that stepping on too many toes at once may lead to your miserable end instead of becoming the most powerful drug lord in the history of cartels.
In Pax Narcotica: Trafficker, you’ll take on the role of the cartel kingpin. And that means being responsible for developing smuggling routes, establishing distribution across the US, cornering the market, and defeating your competition using violence and strategic intelligence. How? That depends entirely on you. Spread aggressively across the US or concentrate on specific cities and markets. Use your funds to hire soldiers and buy weapons to defeat your rivals or bribe key figures to disrupt their operations.
The same freedom applies to managing your shipments. You can send your fleet of vehicles by either land, sea, or air, as long as you remember to invest in counter-measures to build impenetrable supply lines.
And there are a lot of “counter-measures”. As much as you may be tempted to brutally remove whoever stands in your way, you have to remember that violence may, in fact, neither be the only nor the best option. Sometimes, undercutting your rival’s prices and stealing their clientele, or supplying rival gangs with weapons and product to let them do the dirty work, may be the cheaper, more efficient, and, most importantly, the more discreet strategy.
Of course, any successful businessman needs to think about investing in production and supply lines. Hire a team of engineers and chemists to build a network of meth labs, weed farms, and weapons factories, and you’ll reduce the risk of costly international seizures.
Once you’ve won the dominant position in your local area, start sending money and weapons south of the border to build up your base of operations and take over rival territory. Increase the size of your shipments north or recruit mercenaries to expand your control into new cities. Do everything it takes to build your very own drug empire.
PAX NARCOTICA: TRAFFICKER – MAIN FEATURES
Play your way. Expand quickly and aggressively or build methodically, but always remember to measure the risks and rewards. Every shipment comes with the risk of seizure by the authorities or hijacking by a rival. But when a shipment gets through, the rewards are enormous. You must decide how to reduce the risk – with simple measures such as decoy cars or concealment, or by buying shell companies to transport cargo across the country.
Stop time and plan your next move. Decide to attack your rivals directly or undercut their prices and cut off their funding. Arrange a chain of shipments, send operators to a city to assassinate a rival, transport cash across the border to pay for the next consignment, then watch the actions play out in real-time.
Choose your “go to market” strategy. Cut your product to maximize profit or sell the highest quality merchandise to corner the market. Expand into over 50 US cities, each with different demands and underworld networks. Choose your clients, negotiate the highest price, and help them build their market share.
Clean your cash. Choose how to invest your money. Buy larger shipments or hire soldiers to expand your operation. Invest in front businesses and real estate to clean your money, then send it south of the border to expand your power base. Always pay your suppliers on time, or risk losing the source of your power.
Build your supply lines, hire your workforce, and bribe authorities. Set up meth labs, weed farms, and weapon factories. Hire engineers and chemists to maximize their output. Recruit a network of cops, politicians, and lawyers to build your empire, protect your cargo, and clean your money.
Pax Narcotica: Trafficker is being developed by Stone Spark Games and will be published on PC in Q3 2022 by Games Operators.
Games Operators is a publishing company that invests in, releases, and promotes video games. The company helps develop innovative and unique video games like 911 Operator, Radio Commander, 112 Operator, BE-A Walker, and Transport INC. by getting involved in projects at various levels of progress – from the conceptual phase to nearly-finished products. http://www.gameops.pl/
