In Partnership with Nickelodeon, Fans Can Join SpongeBob and His Friends in a New, Epic Bikini Bottom Escapade Beginning Today

San Diego (September 9th, 2021) – Hey SpongeBob fans, it’s time to shout “I’m ready! I’m ready!”
 
Kongregate, a leading developer of mobile free-to-play games, today announced that SpongeBob’s Idle Adventures, an idle game based on the popular Nickelodeon franchise, SpongeBob SquarePants, is available globally for download on both Google Play and Apple App stores.

“Spongebob’s Idle Adventures is a really exciting project for Kongregate. It brings our years of experience in the idle space together with a beloved, international franchise,” said Jorge González Ezquerra, Director of Product at Kongregate. “We’ve been working in idle for almost our entire 15 years in business – from our early days on Kongregate.com, to our long time publishing partner AdVenture Capitalist, to our internally developed idle titles. We’ve been in the space for years and really understand what a traditional idle player wants and expects in their games. But with the SpongeBob universe and audience, we’ll be opening the world of idle to an entirely new player segment. I really hope they enjoy what we’ve put together.”

About SpongeBob’s Idle Adventure
Join SpongeBob & his friends on a F.U.N. idle adventure through dimensions!
 
SpongeBob and Patrick have gotten themselves into another pickle after playing with Sandy’s Vortex Machine…again! Only this time it’s not just themselves in trouble, it’s all of Bikini Bottom!
 
Travel with SpongeBob & and his friends on a brand-new idle adventure as they use the vortex machine to traverse various dimensions and discover alternate versions of themselves while trying to return to Bikini Bottom.
 
Features:

• Collect! Gather your favorite characters from the hit Nickelodeon TV show.
• Automate! Assign managers to run the Krusty Krab, the Chum Bucket, and other iconic Bikini Bottom locations!
• Level up! Earn ranks to help SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and the gang rebuild Sandy’s Vortex Machine!
• Dive into Dimensions! Alternate universes and dimensions introduce all-new versions of characters you know and love!

SpongeBob’s Idle Adventures is in development by Kongregate’s San Diego based development studio. The studio’s previous projects include early idle title Pocket Politics, Office Space: Idle Profits, and the 8-bit idle dungeon crawlerBit Heroes – a title with millions of downloads across both PC and mobile.
 
SpongeBob’s Idle Adventures can be downloaded for free starting today on iOS and Android devices.

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About Kongregate
Kongregate is a leading developer of free-to-play mobile games. With more than 10 years of experience in free-to-play titles, Kongregate is focused on growing the idle games genre and building long term mobile gaming franchises through their partnerships with top tier entertainment brands. Their mobile games have been downloaded hundreds of millions of times and have billions of gameplays. Kongregate is a part of leading international digital entertainment group MTG and has three offices across the United States: San Diego, Portland, and Chicago.
 
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 42^nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing, and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).

New publishing agreement between Raw Fury and Meridiem Games to launch a ‘Norah’s Diary’ special boxed edition across Europe.

Madrid, Spain – September 9th, 2021. Meridiem Games is thrilled to announce that Call of the Sea, the first-person adventure and puzzle game, will launch across Europe as a special boxed edition for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms. Developed by Out of the Blue and published by Raw Fury, the special boxed edition of Call of the Sea will launch this winter. Meridiem Games will manage the design, manufacture and distribution of the physical edition across European territories.

Call of the Sea – Norah’s Diary Edition for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, will include a special premium case, a concept art book, two photographs, a travel ticket and an art poster. 

About Call of the Sea 

It is 1934, in the far reaches of the South Pacific. Norah has crossed the ocean following the trail of her missing husband’s expedition and finds herself on a lush island paradise – a nameless, forgotten place, dotted with the remnants of a lost civilization.

What strange secrets does it hold, and what might Norah unearth in her quest for the truth?

Features of Call of the Sea

• Explore the Beauty – Explore a stunning tropical island (meticulously modelled in Unreal Engine 4), brimming with fantastic sights, lost ruins and occult mysteries.
• Meet Norah – Experience a charming character study of a woman on her quest to discover the truth of the disappearance of her husband and to find out who she really is, fully voiced by Cissy Jones (Firewatch, The Walking Dead: Season 1).
• Dive into the deep – Immerse yourself in a story-driven adventure full of emotion, suspense and surreal surprises.
• Search for the Meaning – Investigate the clues left by a previous voyage, piece together what happened, and solve a variety of clever puzzles.

Call of the Sea will launch as a special Norah’s Diary boxed edition for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 this winter. 

For more information on Meridiem Games, please visit www.meridiem-games.com/en

About Meridiem Games

Meridiem Games is an independent video game publisher and distributor for all platforms. The entire Meridiem Games team is focused on meeting the demand of players who are fond of physical editions, titles such as Fahrenheit 15Th Anniversary PS4, KUNAI Day One Edition NSW, Daymare: 1998 Black Edition PS4, Pang Adventures Buster Edition PS4 / NSW, etc. They have come out in their physical edition thanks to Meridiem Games .. www.meridiem-games.com

About Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue Games is a games company based in Madrid, Spain. We are a group of veteran developers who want to live doing what they love most: games. After working together in several companies, we have decided to start a new adventure where we can develop our own ideas. We would like to grow slowly, to keep a healthy environment of communication and transparency. We advocate for quality of life and respect for each and every one of us. We trust in the responsibility and experience of the team, and we work in an agile and goal-oriented way, enabling flexible schedules and work from home. Our purpose is to make games with quality and attention to detail. We like to create coherent and lively stories, environments and worlds that resonate with our players. We want them to have fun, to feel, to experience those stories. And that together we can feel proud of our work.

About Raw Fury 

Raw Fury is a boutique indie (un)publisher founded in 2015 by Jonas Antonsson, Gordon Van Dyke, and David Martinez. We don’t care about genres or mechanics. We care about experiences and emotions. We want to help developers make magic.

Brand New Entry in Award-Winning and Critically-Acclaimed Franchise, Features All-New Protagonist, Power, and Mystery

LONDON, UK (September 9, 2021) – SQUARE ENIX Ltd. today released LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS™. Created by Deck Nine Games, developers of Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and Square Enix External Studios. LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS marks a new era for the award-winning and critically acclaimed Life is Strange series, with an all-new playable lead character, a new power, and a thrilling mystery to solve!

Players take on the role of Alex Chen, a young woman navigating early adulthood in Haven Springs, a small mountain town where she quickly becomes a part of a tight-knit community. There, Alex reconnects with her long-lost brother, Gabe, who had moved to the town in search of their missing father. Amid this backdrop, Alex struggles to accept a ‘curse’ she’s dealt with all her life: the psychic power of Empathy, a supernatural ability that allows her to experience, absorb, and influence the strong emotions of others – emotions she sees as blazing, coloured auras.
 
When her brother dies in a suspicious ‘accident’, Alex must at last embrace her volatile power, to find the truth and uncover the secrets of Haven Springs. Alex Chen’s journey, power, and future are all fully under the player’s control.
 
This supernatural mystery is brought to life using full performance capture and VO by rising talent Erika Mori as Alex Chen, an original soundtrack from Angus & Julia Stone, original tracks from mxmtoon and Novo Amor, and licensed tracks from Gabrielle Aplin, Phoebe Bridgers, Fenne Lily, and more.
 
“This game was born out of a question that fascinated us during the development of Before the Storm—how can video games act as tools for exploring empathy?” states Jonathan Zimmerman, Narrative Director at Deck Nine Games.
 
“Today, this question grips us and beguiles us as much as ever. After 17 months, and counting, of global trauma, isolation, and loneliness, we are deeply humbled to be offering up a story about connection and hope against all odds. Much as Alex’s power allows her to feel the emotional truths of others, we hope players will feel the love we poured into the game as an expression of the immense gratitude that we share for each other, and our Life is Strange community.”
 
LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS is available in three editions; the Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition, and the Ultimate Edition. Full details on each Edition can be found at lifeisstrange.com.
 
LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS is available NOW on PlayStation 5®, PlayStation 4®, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC Steam, PC Windows Store, GeForce NOW, and Google Stadia. It will also be available on Nintendo Switch later this year.
 
Read more on the Life is Strange website: https://lifeisstrange.square-enix-games.com
Purchase Life is Strange: True Colors: https://lifeisstrange.square-enix-games.com/buy-now/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LifeIsStrange
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeisstrangegame/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeisstrangegame
Life is Strange official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LifeIsStrangeGame/
Join our Discord: https://discordapp.com/invite/lifeisstrange

About Deck Nine Games
Deck Nine Games are an independent videogame developer devoted to bringing together two passions; meaningful storytelling and rich gameplay. Its talented team of developers have won awards for their work in films, TV and videogames. Located at the foot of the Colorado mountains, Deck Nine Games is focused on becoming a premium developer of narrative adventure games for consoles, PC and mobile devices.
For more information on Deck Nine Games visit: www.DeckNineGames.com
 
About Square Enix External Studios
Square Enix External Studios is a London based development and publishing group that works with top development studios across the world, establishing new intellectual properties and developing new franchises within the umbrella of Square Enix Holdings. Square Enix External Studios have been responsible for multiple games including RPG Shooter OUTRIDERS®,the Just Cause® and Life is Strange® series, and titles such as Batman: Arkham Asylum® and Sleeping Dogs®.
 
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.
 
More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

Download and Experience the First Entry in the Nioh Series for Free Until September 16^th!

Hertfordshire, 9^th September 2021 – KOEI TECMO Europe and developer Team NINJA are excited to announce that their critically acclaimed masocore titles, Nioh: Complete Edition and Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition, will be available on the Epic Games Store starting today. This launch also marks a significant milestone for the publisher, as the Nioh series has sold over six million units worldwide! To celebrate the Epic Games Store launch, an action-packed new trailer detailing both of the games was released.

To celebrate the release of both of these titles on the Epic Games Store, KOEI TECMO Europe revealed that both titles will receive an exclusive bonus helmet with those who purchase Nioh: Complete Edition entitled to the bonus Fujin Helmet, while those who purchase Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition entitled to the bonus Raijin Helmet. Additionally, those who purchase their copy of Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition before the 23^rd September 2021 will be able to receive the bonus armour sets, “Sohaya Deserter Garb” and “Ornate Gold Armour” for use on their adventure. To access these limited-time bonus items, simply visit the ‘Boons’ section of the in-game menu and the items will be downloaded. The bonus items cannot be obtained if the game is not purchased during the specified period.

The publisher also announced that Nioh: Complete Edition will be free to download until the 16^th September 2021 on the Epic Games Store, and players that add the title to their library during this period will be able to continue to play the game for free past the download deadline and into the future at any point.

For all of the latest information on the Epic Games Store release of Nioh: Complete Edition and Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition, ‘Like’ us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmogames, and Follow us on Twitter @koeitecmoeurope or Instagram @koeitecmoeurope

About ‘Nioh: Complete Edition’ and ‘Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition’

Nioh: Complete Edition challenges players to traverse war-torn Japan as a blonde-haired swordsman whose background as a fierce warrior and seasoned knowledge of the blade allows him to survive in the demon-plagued land of the samurai. Blending a compelling narrative loosely based on the tale of the English navigation officer who served Ieyasu Tokugawa, William Adams, with a myriad of strange supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, players will discover a diverse and comprehensive world dripping with history and lore – offering a level of difficulty that will truly test even the most hardened samurai’s skills, patience, and strategy. This title features the base game as well the ‘Dragon of the North’, ‘Defiant Honour’, and ‘Bloodshed’s End’ DLC expansions.

Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition invites players to experience the comprehensive Nioh 2 story, including the base game and all three of the downloadable content expansions –  ‘The Tengu’s Disciple’, ‘Darkness in the Capital’, and ‘The First Samurai’ – through the eyes of a half-human, half-supernatural yokai warrior. Players create their own original protagonist and embark on an adventure that will take them through devastated locales across Japan during the Sengoku period and enjoy the thrill of fighting hordes of fearsome yokai in a battle to the death. Not only does The Complete Edition feature a wealth of content for players to dive into, it also enables them to enjoy the title with crystal clear 4K Ultra-HD support, alongside ultra wide-screen compatibility, HDR monitor support, and 144Hz monitor support complete with silky-smooth gameplay at a consistent 60/120 FPS on compatible systems*. Also included is full mouse and keyboard customisation support and gamepad compatibility.

* Features listed, such as 4K and 120 FPS, require a monitor and PC components that support these modes.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), KOEI TECMO has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved.

© 2021 Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Epic, Epic Games, Epic Games Store and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. In the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and elsewhere.

Players Race Through New Festival Challenges to Unlock Limited-Edition Anniversary Bugatti Bolide

PARIS, FRANCE – September 9, 2021 – Gameloft, a leader in the creation and publishing of games, is thrilled to announce that Asphalt 8: Airborne, one of the most popular titles in the one billion downloaded multi-award winning arcade racing franchise, today begins a celebration of its Eighth Anniversary, with an eight day special event, the introduction of Racer Avatars, and a brand new user interface.

Players who jump into Asphalt 8: Airborne will uncover a special event lasting eight days, with lots of great rewards and giveaways. Players can even secure the Asphalt Special Edition Anniversary Bugatti Bolide! Get ready to race in this new ride with the brand new Racer Avatar feature, in which players can use a brand new wardrobe of clothes, costumes, and accessories to mix-and-match to let their unique style shine. Finally, longtime players will be thrilled to discover a complete overhaul of the UI in conjunction with the game’s robust revamp from the inside out. Enjoy the new look and feel, and get ready for even more improvements to come.

“In the mobile gaming space, it’s uncommon for games to reach the milestone of five years, much less eight,” said Kirill Sergienko, Game Manager of Asphalt 8: Airborne. “Asphalt 8: Airborne is an incredible title, and we’re excited to see it entertain players to such a great milestone. P layers should certainly dive into the Racer Avatar feature – it’s really cool.”

Asphalt 8: Airborne can be downloaded here: https://gmlft.co/Asphalt8-Download

A trailer for the eight anniversary with a special focus on the new Racer Avatars for Asphalt 8: Airborne can be seen here.

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About Gameloft 

Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Disney®, LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,600 people worldwide. Every month, 70 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company. 

Pre-order the out-of-this-world survival adventure game today for 10% off on the Epic Games Store

AMSTERDAM & SANTIAGO, Chile – Sept. 9, 2021 – Indie developer ACE Team and Good Shepherd Entertainment have revealed that The Eternal Cylinder, the wonderfully bizarre survival adventure game in which you’ve got to explore and evolve or get crushed beneath a giant rolling cylinder of death, will officially launch on Sept. 30, 2021, for PC via the Epic Games Store, Xbox One, and PlayStation®4.

The Eternal Cylinder gives you a herd of adorably strange creatures called Trebhums to control on a surreal alien world where all life must face the threat of… the Cylinder, a gargantuan rolling structure of ancient origin which crushes everything in its path! In this massive world with real-time environmental destruction, you’ll discover numerous unforgettable biomes, deadly predators, and organic exploration puzzles and challenges.

Your Trebhums start their journey at the bottom of the food chain, but they have the extraordinary ability to spontaneously evolve. They can eat a variety of flora and fauna to evolve with dozens of new attributes and abilities to overcome obstacles and escape danger. These mutations stack, allowing your herd to grow with a range of emergent skill combos and creature designs for different gameplay opportunities.

Pre-orders for The Eternal Cylinder are now open on the Epic Games Store and come with a special 10% discount for buying early. For more on The Eternal Cylinder, visit www.EternalCylinder.com, and follow @theACETeam and @GoodShepherdEnt on Twitter.

About ACE Team

ACE Team is a game development studio founded by brothers Andres, Carlos and Edmundo Bordeu. The independent studio, located in Santiago, Chile, has over a decade of experience in the games industry and is one of Latin America’s leading game developers. The team is internationally acclaimed for its unique titles, which have achieved several notable industry awards around the world.

About Good Shepherd Entertainment

Good Shepherd Entertainment is a Netherlands-based game publisher founded by industry experts focused primarily on the business of producing and publishing independent video games. Good Shepherd has built a global business based on its publishing concept that pairs talented developers with creative content, writers, musicians and IP powerhouses. Good Shepherd’s innovative funding model provides opportunities for individual investors to participate in the $130B video game industry by investing directly with the publisher on select projects. Good Shepherd Entertainment works in partnership with some of the industry’s most notable names, including Devolver Digital, Croteam and Perfect World, all successful industry leaders in independent game development and publishing. www.GoodShepherd.games

TAKE A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH CRASH AND FRIENDS

It’s been 25 years today since Crash Bandicoot made his debut, and he’s been jumping, slamming, spinning, and dancing into fans’ hearts ever since. Fur-ever in pursuit of defeating the nefarious Dr. Neo Cortex and his dastardly minions, Crash has made friends and fans the world over.

To take a stroll through the past 25 years of Crash, head to the following link, where Toys for Bob’s Paul Yan and Avery Lodato look back at Crash’s vibrant history:

Additionally, available now in select territories globally fur PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch, fans can crash the nostalgia with the CRASHiversary bundle, featuring five full Crash games in one, including Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy plus Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

For more information on the Crash Bandicoot franchise and to join the 25 year celebrations, visit www.crashbandicoot.com and follow @CrashBandicoot on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Zurich – September 9, 2021 – It’s the first public hands-on demo of Farming Simulator 22: Publisher and developer GIANTS Software is attending both the gaming-focused HeroFest and the agricultural fair Olma in Switzerland with a playable version of their upcoming game releasing on November 22nd for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia.

• HeroFest takes place from October 1st to October 3rd in Bern
• Olma takes place from October 7th to October 17th in St. Gallen
• GIANTS Software presents FS22 demo, bale stacking challenge & FSL tournament

First chance to play Farming Simulator 22
Attendees of the public events can test the latest installment of the series to preview new machines and features like production chains, seasonal cycles, and new crops. Fans can also take part in a bale stacking competition to see who can pile up small bales of hay for the highest score. “It feels liberating to be back at events, just in time to present Farming Simulator 22 to the public, too”, says GIANTS Software CEO Christian Ammann. “With HeroFest and Olma being two of Switzerland’s most important consumer fairs for gaming and farming, we cannot wait to present the next installment of our successful franchise in our home country and meet our dedicated fans in person again.”

Season 3 of the FSL continues at HeroFest
With GIANTS Software back at events, and the Farming Simulator League continuing with season 3, fans can also watch the next big tournament of the successful esports league live. The participating teams with 3 players each will be competing to get their share from the total prize pool worth 250,000 Euros. Corteva Agriscience, Trelleborg, and Valtra are currently leading the table, with other teams by renowned agricultural manufacturers fighting them for team-based victory on virtual fields.

Visit the official Farming Simulator website, fsl.giants-software.com.

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

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

Yoko Shimomura (Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts) collaborates with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for a new on demand family concert film

Dresden, Germany – September 9, 2021 … Merregnon Studios, in collaboration with Konserthuset Stockholm and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, is proud to announce that specially prepared concert film, Merregnon: Land of Silence, will premiere for free on Konserthuset Play, Friday September 10, 2021 at 10:00 CET / 04:00 EST / 01:00 PST.
 
Featuring exclusive music by acclaimed composer Yoko Shimomura (known for her work on multi-million selling video games Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts), the concert video production is designed to introduce families and children to the wonder of the orchestral sound. The story has been written by celebrated German children’s author Frauke Angel, with Merregnon: Land of Silence’s production led by Thomas Böcker, who previously worked on the internationally acclaimed Final Symphony and Symphonic Fantasies video game concerts.

Performed through narration, music, and beautiful illustrations, Merregnon: Land of Silence is a symphonic fairy tale that follows the story of orphan Miru and builds on the tradition of timeless classics like Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The score demonstrates a lavish diversity of sound and displays the various orchestral sections and soloists.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra pioneered the performance of music by video game composers in 2006 and has since enjoyed over a decade of sold-out concerts and fruitful collaborations with some of the finest composers of the genre, as well as numerous projects with Merregnon producer Thomas Böcker. The newly composed Merregnon: Land of Silence marries this trailblazing approach with the orchestra’s long-time commitment to the next generation, and complements its distinguished educational offering, which includes regular school and family concerts, field trips and masterclasses.

With its digital platform Konserthuset Play, the orchestra offers a comprehensive library of filmed performances which are available for free streaming anywhere in the world.

YOKO SHIMOMURA
COMPOSER
“It’s a great honour to be asked to compose for an orchestra, and I’m particularly pleased and excited to be involved in the Merregnon: Land of Silence project. Creating something that children and young people will enjoy is a rewarding challenge, and together with the charming story and beautiful artwork I hope we will inspire a brand-new generation of orchestral and classical music fans.”

THOMAS BÖCKER
CREATOR AND PRODUCER
“It has always been a goal of my work as a producer to convey the beauty and power of orchestras. I’m fortunate to have had the creative help of some of the most talented individuals from the worlds of music, art and storytelling, and I’m indebted to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for the faith it has shown in actively seeking to premiere Merregnon: Land of Silence.”

STEFAN FORSBERG
EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
“We are immensely proud to present the world premiere of Merregnon: Land of Silence. It’s a joy that the music is composed by Yoko Shimomura. She is one of the most renowned composers in the world of gaming music and we have performed her works in recent years. We firmly believe that the aesthetics of her music can introduce a new audience to orchestral music, no matter the medium.”
Merregnon: Land of Silence will be able free to view on demand 10:00 CET / 04:00 EST / 01:00 PST, September 10, from: https://www.konserthuset.se/en/merregnon

About Merregnon Studios
Founded by Thomas Böcker, Merregnon Studios was the first company to stage and produce a video game music concert outside Japan in 2003, at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany. It continues to produce concerts all over the world, including the ongoing tour of its hugely popular Final Symphony programme, which to date has been performed in Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the USA, New Zealand, China, Austria and Australia.

Merregnon Studios produced the first all-European video game concert production to take place in Japan and has been the first company ever to work with the London Symphony Orchestra on live performances of video game music. The company has won several awards for best concert productions and has worked with X5 Music Group, DECCA and Deutsche Grammophon to release a number of CDs and digital albums featuring video game music, including the Final Symphony album, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, having placed in the top five of both the Billboard and Official UK Classical Album charts.

About The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1902 and Konserthuset Stockholm has been its home since 1926. Noted for its ambitious programming, composer festivals with contemporary music and pioneering work on a more gender balanced repertoire, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is very much present in today’s music life. The orchestra participates in the festivities associated with the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
Regular guest conductors include notable names such as Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Herbert Blomstedt, Nathalie Stutzmann, Franz Welser-Möst and Conductor Laureates Alan Gilbert and Sakari Oramo. The latter concluded his tenure as Chief Conductor in Spring 2021.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has received considerable attention for several recordings. Among them the Carl Nielsen’s symphonies with Sakari Oramo – BBC Music Magazine Award 2016.
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is today among the most active streaming players worldwide.
With its digital platform Konserthuset Play, the orchestra offers a comprehensive library of filmed performances which are available for free streaming anywhere in the world. The collection includes orchestral music, chamber music and jazz as well as productions for families and schools.

Insurgency: Sandstorm’s New Gameplay Overview Trailer Showcases the Tactical Action Coming to Consoles on September 29

PARIS — Sept. 9, 2021 — New World Interactive and Focus Entertainment (previously Focus Home Interactive) are bringing Insurgency: Sandstorm to consoles on September 29, but fans can get a closer breakdown of this action-packed experience today with the game’s new overview trailer. Find out why over a million PC players already have enjoyed this definitive tactical co-op FPS.

Gameplay Overview Trailer:

Insurgency: Sandstorm is a gritty tactical FPS where two factions battle it out in immersive gameplay that rewards careful action and strategy over sheer run-and-gunning. Every mission is objective-based, with multiple tactical options to choose from, and can be played in either full-scale PvP matches or co-op for up to eight players.

Play as several different classes from either faction, each sporting its own set of specialized gear and equipment made with great attention to detail. You can customize your weapons and items for every playstyle, but each modification comes at a tactical cost, so prepare appropriately. As you level up, you’ll also unlock various outfit items like camouflages, BDUs, track-suits, helmets, and different armor types. Customize your soldier’s appearance and voice to make your mark on the battlefield.

Insurgency: Sandstorm lands September 29 on PlayStation®4 & Xbox One, with enhanced capabilities for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X at 4K resolution and 60 FPS. In 2022, the game will receive further next-gen enhancements, with added support for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S console features.

Pre-order Insurgency: Sandstorm, or the game’s Deluxe Edition or Gold Edition, to receive the Warlord Gear Set and Peacemaker Gear Set. The Deluxe Edition includes Insurgency: Sandstorm and its Year 1 Pass, while the Gold Edition includes the additional Year 2 Pass, releasing throughout the year after launch. Each Year Pass includes 16 cosmetic sets, with an extra four instant rewards for the Year 2 Pass.