SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – August 12, 2021 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla’s next major expansion, The Siege of Paris, will be available.
Set in Francia, this new adventure will set Eivor on a dangerous path full of gripping questlines across the Frankish countryside towards one of the most infamous battles in Viking history. Players will get their hands on new weapons, abilities, gear, and skills to take on new enemy types. The Siege of Paris will also mark the return of Infiltration Missions, directly inherited from long-time, fan-favorite Black Box Missions. Here, players will have the liberty to choose the best way to eliminate their designated target. The Siege of Paris will be available for all Season Pass owners or as a separate purchase for $36.95 by all owners of the main game.
Click below image to view YouTube trailer
Players will have access to the expansion after completing one of the two first narrative arcs available in England (Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire), which unlock just after they arrive from Norway. When in Ravensthorpe, Eivor will stumble upon visitors from Francia offering suspiciously generous presents and will then find their way to Francia. The suggested power level for Francia is 200, but there is no mandatory power level to play The Siege of Paris.
With development led by Ubisoft Montreal*, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers players the captivating experience of playing as Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior, driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in ninth century AD. Players can relive the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors with a revamped dual-wielding combat system and experience new gameplay features such as raids, assaults, and the settlement, as well as a revamped progression and gear upgrade system. Political alliances, combat decisions and dialogue choices can influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so players must choose wisely to protect their clan’s home and their future.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One consoles, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+.**
For more information about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, please visit assassinscreed.com.
For the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
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*Associate Ubisoft studios are Sofia, Singapore, Montpellier, Barcelona, Kyiv, Bordeaux, Shanghai, Chengdu, Philippines, Quebec, Bucharest, Saguenay, Winnipeg and Pune. Additional help provided by external partner Sperasoft.
** $19.95 per month. Cancel anytime. The Gold and Ultimate Editions will be available as part of a Ubisoft+ subscription. More information at ubisoftplus.com.
About Assassin’s Creed
Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 155 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Watch Dogs, and Tom Clancy’s video game series including Ghost Recon®, Rainbow Six and The Division. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,241 million. To learn more, please visit: http://www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Astroneer Announced for Nintendo Switch – System Era’s award-winning title arrives on a new platform in early 2022
SEATTLE – Aug. 11, 2021 – Today, as part of the Nintendo Indie World Showcase, independent developer System Era Softworks announced their first title, Astroneer, will come to Nintendo Switch in early 2022. Specially developed to run exceptionally well on Switch, players will be able to enjoy the full Astroneer experience on the go.
Astroneer’s interplanetary survival sandbox adventure has been played by more than six million space explorers since its Steam Early Access launch in 2016 and subsequent full release in 2019. Since that 1.0 release, System Era has updated the game more than 25 times, adding Automation, Missions, and a full Creative Mode. Astroneer has won seven Webby Awards, a SXSW Gaming Award, and has a 91% lifetime rating on Steam.
Astroneer celebrates space travel by giving solo players and friends alike a galaxy of planets to explore. Excavate using the game’s Terrain Tool to collect valuable resources for researching new technology. Craft vehicles, build and customize bases, overcome the challenges of diverse biomes, and uncover the secrets at the heart of the solar system.
For more information, visit the official website or follow Astroneer on Twitter and Facebook.
About System Era Softworks
System Era Softworks is an independent game development studio based out of Seattle, Washington. Inspired by space-exploration and possessing an optimistic view of space-age futurism, the System Era Softworks team strives to build games that motivate future generations of spacefarers.
Necrobarista: Final Pour Out Now on Nintendo Switch
Including New Modes, Gameplay, Locales to Explore, Improved Visuals, Music
MELBOURNE, VIC – Aug. 11, 2021 – Necrobarista, the gorgeous cinematic cel-shaded visual novel from Route 59 Games, is now available on Nintendo Switch™, as revealed in the Nintendo Indie World Showcase today. Dubbed the “Final Pour,” this enhanced version contains a fresh brew of new content that will also be coming soon as a free and flavorful expansion for the PC and Apple Arcade versions of the game.
Return to Melbourne’s favorite supernatural café and share a fresh cup of coffee with the living and dead. Now remastered with overhauled visuals and a cinematic aspect ratio, Necrobarista: Final Pour is overflowing with content, including four hours of never-before-seen gameplay, new modes, more original music, additional environments to explore, and bundled-in DLC.
Delve deeper into the tales of The Terminal’s necromantic new manager Maddy and her ghostly guests. Venture into unfamiliar spaces like the “Sky Station” and “Soul Storage” while enjoying original storylines. The experience also now includes Studio Mode, which caffeine enthusiasts can use to create and edit scenes using the Necrobarista Engine. Meanwhile, Ashling Doodle Mode allows new patrons to be drawn, customized, and inserted into the game.
Necrobarista: Final Pour also includes the “Walking to the Sky” and “Devil’s Den” downloadable content updates previously released via Steam and Apple Arcade. The original soundtrack from composers Kevin Penkin (Florence, Made in Abyss, Tower of God) and Jeremy Lim has also been expanded with new tracks to enhance this colorful anime-inspired narrative adventure.
“When we first envisioned Necrobarista, we never expected it to become a cult hit that would touch and inspire so many people,” said Kevin Chen, lead designer, Route 59 Games. “We look forward to welcoming even more fans into our community now that the game is out on Nintendo Switch and hope those that have been with us the whole time enjoy the Final Pour.”
Necrobarista is out now on Nintendo eShop for $21.99 / €17.99 / ¥2480 with an additional 15% off as an introductory launch discount. The game is also available as part of the Apple Arcade subscription service and on PC via Steam and GOG.com. The “Final Pour” will be available on PC and Apple Arcade soon. Supported languages include English, French, French (Canadian), Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, and Dutch.
To learn more, visit Necrobarista’s website or follow Route 59 Games on Twitter and Facebook.
About Route 59 Games
Route 59 Games is a Melbourne-based indie studio comprised of industry veterans dedicated to creating interesting narrative games. They came together in 2015 to create Necrobarista by combining their love of anime and visual novels to innovate and rejuvenate the genre.
Endearing Action-RPG Garden Story Surprise Launches Today on Switch, PC and Mac
PORTLAND – August 11, 2021 –Garden Story, the adorable action-RPG where a young grape protects and rebuilds a whimsical community from developer Picogram and published by Rose City Games, blooms today on Nintendo Switch™, Steam and Epic Store for Windows PC as well as MacOS with no prior release date announcement, as revealed today at Nintendo Indie World Showcase.
In a small, hidden land resides The Grove, a massive tree full of mana. Four settlements surround the great tree: Spring Hamlet, Autumn Town, Winter Glade, and Summer Bar. Denizens of these towns include Greenlings — precious fruit, fungi, and vegetables — Seafolks, and Frogs. Each region appointed honorable citizens as Guardians, leading to safe, happy communities. But now the villages have fallen into disrepair, and the age of Guardians seems to be nearing its end.
This mantle now falls to Concord, the youngest Greenling around. As the newly-appointed Guardian of Spring Hamlet, they’ve got plenty of work ahead of them to prove they’re worthy of such a prestigious title. Help the community by checking the daily request board for tasks, including gathering resources to help local shopkeepers, repairing bridges to ensure safe passage for citizens, battling the invasive entities collectively known as Rot, and much more.
Prepare for the challenges ahead by mastering Tools useful for both combat and harvesting. Slash bothersome roots with a Sickle or use it to chop hay free from Rot. Pluck shells from the sea or the armor off of enemies with the Dowsing Rod. Upgrade each tool with precious resources, then explore the deepest corners of dungeons and battle bosses threatening The Grove’s peace.
Help your fellow neighbors in need to earn more than 60 memories with the denizens of the towns. Each memory empowers the young Guardian to carry on their mission by providing useful perks like improved Stamina, Run Speed, or Health or other unique abilities. Collect schematics throughout the world, then use the handy Toolbox to create Benches, Request Boards, Town Storage Containers, or more decorative items like Umbrellas.
Settle into a new role on the coziest island around, with warm acoustic instrumentation and catchy synth beats composed by Grahm Nesbitt (Floppy Knights, Goodbye Doggy) accompanying Concord’s adventures. Dress up with fashionable hats like the Sparkle Cone or Golden Sun Snapback to make Concord shine. Enjoy a wholesome pixel-art world while living and evolving as a Guardian ready to cultivate love and confidence wherever they go.
“Garden Story is inspired by generations of different migrant peoples whose love & courage place me where I am today,” said Picogram, creator of Garden Story. “It’s dedicated to them and the wonderful stories they will never have the chance to tell.”
Rose City Games is an indie studio based in Portland, Oregon, born out of a love for games and community. Inspired by the games the team grew up playing, the studio is dedicated to telling fantastical stories that immerse players through striking artwork and unforgettable soundtracks.
A curious surprise for would-be adventurers revealed at today’s Indie World showcase
Gothenburg, Sweden – August 11th, 2021 – Thunderful Publishing & independent developer Maschinen-Mensch are thrilled to announce that their charming narrative roguelike adventure, Curious Expedition 2, is available now on the Nintendo Switch™. The game originally launched on PC and received several free content updates, so Switch players can enjoy the whole package while playing at home or on the go. The Nintendo Switch™ retails for $/€19.99 / £16.99.
Curious Expedition 2 is like a Journey to the Centre of the Earth version of D&D, mixed with narrative roguelike elements, all wrapped up in a streamlined and accessible gameplay experience. Take on the role of an intrepid explorer, assemble your crew and head out into the unknown. On your expeditions you’ll come across all manner of cultures, flora, fauna, treasures and more, ranging from the worldly to the altogether more… curious! Using a combination of hand-crafted and procedural gameplay and story elements, Curious Expedition 2 creates completely unique and epic adventures every time you play.
You can fight T-rexes, plunder pirate ghost ships, barter with traders and indigenous tribes, recruit fellow explorers, discover ancient treasures and a whole lot more in your own procedural pulp adventure. In Curious Expedition 2, a world of unimaginable wonder and surprise awaits!
The Switch version includes all the content added after launch, most notably the new Director Mode and weekly Club Competitions that offer more challenges and rewards.
“It was really exciting for us to see Curious Expedition 2 announced and made available during the Nintendo Indie World showcase,” said Riad Djemili, CEO of Maschinen-Mensch. “We think the game is a great fit for the Switch, as you can start your run at home on the big screen and just pick up where you left off on the go. Curious Expedition 2 welcomes all types of adventurers and we can’t wait for more players to explore the colorful world we created.”
About Curious Expedition 2In a reimagined late 19th Century mysterious islands shrouded in purple fog have begun to appear in the oceans, only to vanish soon afterwards. The three great Explorer Clubs of Paris are now funding expeditions to these strange islands in a bid to make bold new discoveries. These new treasures will be exhibited in their stands at the upcoming World’s Fair. Will you seek out the legendary Golden Pyramid, or choose to recover the Rainbow Orchid instead? In Curious Expedition 2, a world of unimaginable wonder and surprise awaits! Purchase Curious Expedition 2 on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040230/Curious_Expedition_2
Curious Expedition 2 is available now for PC (Steam®), priced at $/€19.99 / £16.99 and Nintendo Switch™ priced at $/€19.99 / £16.99. The game is also launching soon on Xbox and PlayStation® platforms.
Thunderful Publishing is a games publishing company, founded in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017. Part of the Thunderful Group, which also includes development studios Zoink Games and Image & Form, and publisher Rising Star Games, Thunderful Publishing focuses on premium PC and console games for a worldwide audience and is the publisher behind award-winning games such as Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh, Lonely Mountains: Downhill and Curious Expedition 2.
About Maschinen-Mensch
Maschinen-Mensch is a Berlin-based studio founded in 2014 by Riad Djemili and Johannes Kristmann, combining 15 years of experience in professional AAA game productions. Among other projects, they worked on the multi-award winning game “Spec Ops: The Line” by YAGER Development. Maschinen-Mensch’s debut title Curious Expedition was first released in 2015 on Steam.
Aliso Viejo, Calif. – Aug. 11, 2021 – Lineage II Aden, a new, solo gameplay-enhanced server for the Lineage II MMO is now live and available to all players in the Americas for free. Lineage II Aden tweaks all player classes to add survivability for solo hunting, and adds the new Death Knight class, Sylph race, and Sylph Storm Blaster class. Lineage II Aden is now available for all players to download and play for free by visiting lineage2.com/aden.
Check out the new player guide created by the Lineage II team as well as the recent official cinematic trailer.
To celebrate the launch of the game, the following in-game events are taking place:
Attendance Event: Through September 15, players can log in daily to claim special rewards, including consumables, and some items normally found on the premium L2 Store. There are 28 total days of rewards, culminated with the Antharas Doll, which can only be obtained through the Attendance Event. Find out full details here.
Raid Master Event: Until September 1, the Raid Master event will spawn two special enemies every hour 10 minutes after the hour, and if they are defeated within the time limit, will drop Raid Master Chests, which contain special rewards that would normally be found in the L2 Store, and also have a chance of dropping 1000 or 8000 premium L2 Coin Boxes. Full details here.
Why Burn Event: Through September 1, one of the hottest prizes in Lineage II Aden is up for grabs. A one-per-server flying Wyvern Mount will be gifted to the player who is at the top of the leaderboards by September 1, along with a Boss Weapon Pack. The top 1,000 players on the leaderboard will all receive various items. Full details here.
Exclusively to Lineage II Aden in the Americas are permanent changes to the loot tables of several elite monsters and World Raid bosses to include Raid Master Chests and L2 Coin Boxes. Celebrate battle accomplishments with incredible rewards!
Key features of Lineage II Aden include:
Solo-friendly Gameplay: Waiting around for a party to level or grind is a thing of the past in Lineage II Aden. All 36 classes are tuned to be self-sufficient while hunting, and Lineage II Aden will have six new solo dungeons at launch. Lineage II Aden also features a simplified leveling system, making it easier on players to reach max level.
Two new player Classes: Lineage II Aden will have two new player classes – the agile Sylph Storm Blasters, and the fearsome Death Knight – based on the Death Knight raid boss from the original Lineage. Storm Blasters can harness the power of spirits into fast but accurate gun attacks while swiftly moving through the battlefield on top an elemental hoverboard. The Death Knight is a melee magic user with powerful single-handed sword attacks, can transform into an unleashed skeletal monster, and ride a Nightmare Mount. Lineage II Aden will be the first Lineage II service in the Americas to receive these classes. More information and lore about these new classes can be found here for the Storm Blaster and Death Knight.
Pet Systems: Players can now adopt cuddly yet fearsome pets to join them in battle. Different pets have different skills and abilities, and can be evolved from their base stage through two different power levels as they fight with you in combat. Players can summon 6 different types of pets, and can equip them with their own gear. Full details on the pet system are available here.
Free to play, supported by the L2 Store and L2 Coin Shop: Lineage II Aden will be completely free to play. For players who want to progress faster, items, equipment, supplies, and boost items can be purchased with L2 Coin, which can then be traded with other players, or NCoin, which can be acquired through real money transactions. Players can also purchase items through the L2 Coin Shop for Adena. Adena, various rare items and end-game materials can be acquired through gameplay such as hunting, crafting and boss raids.
The Lineage II Aden service is now available in the Americas. Visit https://www.lineage2.com/aden to learn more and download the game.
Independent developer, Spider Nest Games is excited to announce a duo of in-game events coming to their roguelike deckbuilder, Vault of the Void.
Vault of the Void was released in early access in November last year. Since its release, the game has picked up huge praise from the deck-building community, including a 96% very positive rating from over 300 Steam reviews.
Next week, Vault of the Void is celebrating its first major in-game events. Both released on the 16th of August, the first event will bring new cards, mechanics, and cosmetics with a 7 deadly sins focus. The second event will see Spider Nest Games team up with fellow independent developer, Kaio Meris, for a game-to-game crossover with anime deckbuilder Quantum Protocol.
Vault of the Void early access trailer:
Reflection of Sins
This 7 deadly sins inspired event, titled Reflection of Sins, will take place on the first floor of your run. Players may choose one of the sins to embrace, adding a unique card to their deck. Fulfilling sins will reward players with cosmetic card backs and new in-game achievements.
Quantum Protocol crossover
The crossover event can be found on the second floor of your run and features Queen, the main character from Quantum Protocol. The event will feature 16 new Void Stones for players to create new cards with, as well as new Quantum Protocol themed cosmetics to be earned.
With this being a crossover event, Quantum Protocol will be receiving some Vault of the Void goodies with new cards and card art, implementing some of the unique Vault of the Void mechanics into the puzzle-focus gameplay of Quantum Protocol.
Vault of the Void is a deckbuilder heavily inspired by its sister genre, competitive card games (CCG). The CCG inspiration comes in the form of providing the player with complete control. Including dynamic deck management, enemy previews before a combat encounter, and a full breakdown of what every tile in a run has to offer.
Despite Vault of the Void providing players with every tool they need to succeed, this does not make the game easy. Vault of the Void is one of the most challenging deckbuilders on the market, and with the removal of almost all RNG, it’s also one of the most rewarding to complete.
During its early access period, Vault of the Void has already received a substantial amount of updates. Over the past nine months, the game has received a major card expansion for all launch classes, new monsters, new void stones, and new in-game cosmetics. A new class is in the works and will feature front and center for the next big content update, coming soon. Currently, Vault of the Void offers over 300 unique cards, over 220 artifacts, 30 spells, and over 100 unique monsters, as well as the 3 very diverse classes.
Vault of the Void is available in early access on Steam now for $14.99/€12.49/£11.39. Both the 7 deadly sins event and the Quantum Protocol crossover will draw their way into the game on Monday 16th August.
New Ships and New Gameplay Mechanics Await Players Itching for Some Scallop Shucking
Stavanger, Norway (August 11, 2021) — Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…it actually is, and there are plenty ‘o delicious scallops just waiting for you to dredge up and get prepped for the dinner table. The Scallops DLC for Fishing: North Atlantic from developer Misc Games — is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC via Steam and GOG! Of course, you don’t send a harpoon to do a dredge’s job (as scallops are much, much smaller than swordfish and thus far more difficult to spear), so the maritime masters at Misc Games have also included three brand new, fully licensed, and realistically detailed scallop fishing vessels — including the OG herself, Old Ben!
In order to harvest these tasty aquatic treats, players will need to learn the ins and outs of “dredging,” which is the use of perforated metal shovels that are dragged along the sea bed, filtering out water and sand, keeping the delectable shelled creatures for collection. Digital fishermen will begin this learning experience the way their predecessors did — by hand — on the mighty Old Ben, the original scallop ship located in the port of Yarmouth. Once they’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to climb the tech tree and begin to use more modern, less labor-intensive techniques and technology to get more scallops from the sea bed and into the Michelin-starred kitchens worldwide.
Of course, the process is a tad more complicated than simply dropping a dredge overboard and pulling up the beautiful bivalves. The Scallops DLC stays true to the hardcore simulation aspects of the base game, which means multiple realistic dredges, sensors, cranes, and of course, some good old-fashioned hands-on sorting!
Key Features of the Scallops DLC:
Three Brand New Ships: Old Ben, a $295,000 old-school scallop boat located in the Port of Yarmouth that holds 20,000kg with two crew. Ocean Scout, a medium-sized ship that’ll run you $1,695,000 in-game and can hold 100,000kg of cargo and 5 crew members, located in Lockeport. Viking Power, a massive monster of a scallop boat that costs $8,995,000, requires 6 crew, and comes equipped with two dredging arms!
I Sense a Scallop: Each of the three new ships utilizes a range of sensors to make fishing for scallops more efficient, including Depth from Ship, Catch Load, and Depth of Net, so you can keep a close on where the real treasure is and how much you’ve caught.
Get Your Hands Dirty: You can’t sell low-quality goods, and you’ll need to dive headfirst into sorting your catch, making sure to separate the high-quality meat from the…not so high-quality meat, and return the small specimens to the seabed to maintain sustainable fishing.
Published and developed by Misc Games, Fishing: North Atlantic is available now for PlayStation 4 and Windows PC via Steam for $34.99 USD, and Xbox One with a limited-time discount for $29.99 USD. The Scallops DLC is available on all platforms for $13.99 USD. Learn more at https://fishingnorthatlantic.com.
About Misc Games
Founded in 2013, Norway-based Misc Games is a development studio outfitted with a team of passionate developers that aim to create unique games for various niche markets to drive the industry forward. To achieve this, the studio prioritizes positive company culture and treats video games like art rather than playthings. Known for the hugely popular Fishing: Barents Sea and Fishing: North Atlantic, Misc Games’ goal is to become the world leader in technical ship simulation games. For more information about Misc Games, please visit the official website: https://miscgames.no.
Ahoy Mateys! Award-Winning Multiplayer Game Born from Michigan State University’s GameDev Program to Get Full Home Release on PC and Consoles
East Lansing, MI (August 11, 2021) — Will Winn Games — an independent developer founded by Michigan State University (MSU) faculty, students, and alumni — announced today the much-anticipated release date for its swashbuckling 12-player action-arcade game Plunder Panic. Rival pirate crews will battle for supremacy on the high seas in this frantic multiplayer game on September 17, 2021, when it launches on Steam for PC. Plunder Panic will additionally launch on consoles in early 2022.
Inspired by classic SNES games, Plunder Panic blends retro graphics, arcadey action, and a boatload of online (and offline) gameplay modes and options to shiver even the most hardened pirates’ timbers. Two teams of up to six players must go all hands on deck and face off against each other, utilizing a variety of weapons, enchanted items, and power-ups. Quick, round-based matches begin as rival teams anchor their ships on the same island. Only the scurviest dogs will prevail once the action starts, with victory within reach if the rival team loses either too much of their gold, their ship gets scuttled, or if their precious captain takes a trip to Davy Jones’ locker. It’s up to teams to decide on an offensive or defensive approach!
Key Features of Plunder Panic:
Pirate Panic — Fast-paced action-arcade gameplay with elements of platforming, combat, and strategic play
Multiplayer Mode Madness — Supporting local and online play with up to 12-players (including AI), Plunder Panic features several exciting game modes: Free Play, Tournament, Conquest, Ranked and Unranked, and Captain vs. Captain 1v1. Players can invite friends to private lobbies and also go into Matchmaking.
Claim Victory — Multiple win conditions offer pirate crews different gameplay strategies. Teams can coordinate to either collect enough gold, sink an enemy ship with cannons or a rowboat of TNT, or defeat the enemy captain.
Modify-arrs — Matches can be customized with up to six modifiers at once which change up the game rules dramatically. Randomized Captains per round? No captains at all? What about all pirates having a pair of never-ending Seagull Wings? Anything and everything can happen!
Items Galore — Chaotic items that can be wielded by players can drop into a match at any time. From weapons such as the Blunderbuss, Molotov cocktails, and dynamite to stat-boosting rum barrels and enchanted idols; even squid can be used as weapons (the Kraken doesn’t take kindly to this, though).
Pretty Pixels — A charming retro pixel-art aesthetic by lead artist Andrew Bonczyk (currently with Bungie and formerly Insomniac Games)
“Following several successful showings at various trade shows over the last couple of years, it’s a dream come true to turn the Plunder Panic prototype into a full-fledged multi-platform game,” said Will Jeffery, Will Winn Games co-founder and MSU alumni. “While commercializing Plunder Panic is an important milestone for Will Winn Games, it is just the first step. We have a robust plan to grow a vibrant, profitable game studio in the mid-Michigan area, offering on-the-job, real-world, industry experience for students and employment opportunities for alumni.”
“MSU and Spartan Innovations has been an essential partner in the development of Plunder Panic and launch of Will Winn Games,” said Brian Winn, Will Winn Games co-founder and MSU professor. “Plunder Panic was developed by an excellent team of talented student employees from MSU’s Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab. We’re collectively so incredibly excited to bring Plunder Panic to the masses starting with the Steam release in September.”
A prototype of Plunder Panic previously premiered at multiple trade shows, including IndieCade 2017, where it won the Audience Choice Award. Plunder Panic was also a finalist in the SXSW 2018 Gaming Pitch Competition and an official selection for the PAX East 2018 Showcase. Thanks to educational and financial resources provided by Michigan State University’s Spartan Innovations and Red Cedar Ventures, Will Winn Games was formed by Brian Winn (Director of the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab at MSU) and Will Jeffery (MSU alumni and former Walt Disney Imagineer). Additional members of the Will Winn team include individuals with credits from Bungie and Insomniac Games. Will Winn Games licensed Plunder Panic from the university to make it into a full game release for PC and home consoles.
Plunder Panic releases on Steam in Early Access for PC on September 17, 2021 — just in time for National Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 — and can be wishlisted today at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1455900/Plunder_Panic. The game will also release on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch in Q1 2022.
About Will Winn Games
Will Winn Games Inc. is a new East Lansing-based game studio launched out of the Michigan State University Game Development Program, Spartan Innovations, and Red Cedar Ventures. The mission of the company is to design, develop, and market compelling multiplayer video game experiences. A prototype of the studio’s premier title Plunder Panic has already received multiple accolades including finalist in the SXSW 2018 Gaming Pitch Competition, Audience Choice Award winner at IndieCade 2017, and was an official selection for the PAX East 2018 Showcase. Plunder Panic officially launches on PC this September and on consoles in Q1 2022. For more information about Will Winn Games, please visit https://willwinn.games.
Tripwire Presents and Torn Banner Studios Launch Free Expansive Content Update for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC Today
ROSWELL, Ga. – Aug. 11, 2021 – The ultimate medieval battlefield continues to grow as more players jump into the fun of the award-winning multiplayer hit, Chivalry 2. Developer Torn Banner Studios, publisher Tripwire Presents, and global retail publishing partner Deep Silver are excited to announce the launch of the first free content update for Chivalry 2. Available today for PC (via Epic Games Store), the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 computer entertainment systems, the Xbox One family of devices, and the Xbox Series X|S console systems, the free House Galencourt update introduces two new maps, a brand-new gameplay mode, the return of the popular arrow camera feature from the original Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, over 60 new customization options, and more!
Chivalry 2 is a multiplayer first-person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles. Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era from clashing swords and storms of flaming arrows to sprawling castle sieges, and more. Dominate massive battlefields while catapults tear the earth apart as players lay siege to castles, set fire to villages, and slaughter filthy peasants in the return of Team Objective maps.
Improving on the original genre-defining Chivalry: Medieval Warfare in every way, Chivalry 2 invites players to master the blade with an all-new and improved combat system that combines real-time strikes and a free-flowing combo system to speed up the action and let players become a whirlwind of steel on the battlefield. Created with the ability to fight multiple foes in mind, Chivalry 2’s combat mixes the best of both FPS and fighting game genres for an unmatched melee experience.
“Chivalry 2 at launch was just the foundation and was intentionally built to be extended” said Torn Banner Studios CEO & Creative Director Steve Piggott. “Today’s update is just the first step in our continued commitment to double the size and scope of Chivalry 2 for free. We hope players enjoy it!”
Chivalry 2: House Galencourt Update key features include:
● Galencourt (New Team Objective Map): The Mason Army lays brutal siege to the Great Walled City of Galencourt and seat of the Agathian Church. Capture the great walled fortifications, explode the harbor’s ships, then desecrate the relics and the tomb of Feydrid!
● Courtyard (New Team Deathmatch/Free-for-All/Arena Map): An agreement to settle the battle for Courtyard by champions duel is broken, as unsuspecting nobles are swept into the carnage.
● Arena Mode: Experience more competitive, smaller-scale battles with a focus on teamwork in this brand-new game mode, featuring 3 versus 3 team combat with winners determined by the first to win 5 rounds. Arena Mode will be playable in special versions of 3 maps: Tournament Grounds, Fighting Pits, and the new Courtyard map.
● Arrow Cam: Back by popular demand, archers can look forward to the return of the beloved Chivalry: Medieval Warfare feature that attaches a camera to fired arrows making for some truly cinematic action shots.
● Over 60 New Customization Items: The Armoury will receive over 60 options for new weapons, armor, voice over, and more to customize the look of your Agatha Knights and Mason Order teams. Highlights include Argon’s Sword, the Skull Crusher Mace, Golden Leaf Shield, and more!
Chivalry 2 has an MSRP of $39.99 / €39.99 / £34.99 MSRP for the Standard Edition or $49.99 / €49.99 / £44.99 for the Special Edition, with an ESRB rating of M for Mature and a PEGI 18 rating. To stay up to date on the latest Chivalry 2 news, please sign up for the newsletter on the official website, follow Tripwire Presents, join the official Chivalry 2 Discord server, and follow the developers on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Chivalry 2 will be released for PC exclusively on the Epic Games Store and through selected online retailers via Publisher Iceberg Interactive.
Torn Banner Studios
Torn Banner Studios is an exciting independent video game company located in Toronto, Canada. Passion and innovation are the core elements of everything that we do. We are people that truly love games and are lucky enough to be following our dreams, thanks to the incredible support from our community.
We want to go places other companies are afraid to go, because we believe great games begin with the passion of a small group of diehard fans. Those fans have the deepest understanding and appreciation for the subject they love and a vision for how it should be presented in a game. We want to breathe life into that vision and allow more people to appreciate it. We want to take on the challenging ideas that when done well create truly powerful and unique games that are remembered. You say it can’t be done? We say bring it on.
About Tripwire Interactive
Formed in 2005 as a humble independent developer and founded by gamers who found success in the video game modding community, Tripwire Interactive has developed and self-published multiple critically acclaimed titles in the wildly popular Killing Floor and Rising Storm franchises, which have collectively sold over 20 million units to date. The studio’s most recent hit release, Maneater, breaks new ground in the popular action RPG genre and finds players taking on the role of a deadly shark with the uncanny ability to evolve as it feeds.
Since then, Tripwire Interactive has expanded its business with the publishing division, Tripwire Presents, turning its experience and resources to include publishing titles spanning multiple platforms and genres from other talented independent studios. Tripwire Presents aims to help like-minded independent studios bring their titles to market, including Chivalry 2 developed by Torn Banner Studios, Espire 1: VR Operative developed by Digital Lode, and Road Redemption developed by EQ Games and Pixel Dash Studios.
About Deep Silver
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. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining 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 grim post-apocalyptic future of the Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include Dead Island 2 and Saints Row V. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and Warhorse Studios based in Prague, Czech Republic. For more information, please visit www.deepsilver.com.
Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, North America and Australia. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become the number one publishing partner in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Milestone, Sega, Square Enix, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States.
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 Iceberg Interactive
Iceberg Interactive is an independent video game publisher founded in 2009 by an international group of games industry veterans. Located in Haarlem, The Netherlands and staffed with avid gamers, Iceberg works closely with an assembly of game developers around the world, both midsize and indie.
Known for many hit franchises including Circle Empires, Starpoint Gemini and Endless Space; the company has enjoyed recent success with Multiformat titles such as Transient, Shortest Trip to Earth, The Sojourn and Railroad Corporation. Iceberg Interactive has many exciting games coming up, including Blazing Sails, Star Dynasties and Sacred Fire.
