FRANKFURT, Germany – July 30, 2021 – Deck13 Spotlight has announced the release today of Vesper, an atmospheric adventure-platformer created by Italian indie developer Cordens Interactive, on Steam and GOG.com. Dive into a colorful, eerie world as you take control of a small android and – by manipulating light, ancient machinery and hostile robots – try to navigate a post-post-apocalyptic land on a mission to bring back the light and save your kind.

Vesper mixes the gameplay of classic ‘90s atmospheric platformers with newly inspired mechanics. Take control of Seven, a small android stranded on an eerie planet once populated by a highly advanced civilization, now ruled by hostile robots that eradicate any signs of life that don’t belong to their network. You’ll face thought-provoking questions about free will, determinism and more on a journey about the struggle between life and technology.

Use the Drive Gun to wield the light in order to overcome obstacles, take control of your enemies and turn them against each other. The game offers a variety of different solutions for every encounter, allowing you to hide in the shadows to avoid contact or engage enemies head-on. Choosing a path that fits your play style is the core design philosophy of Vesper.

For more information, visit: https://spotlight.deck13.com/Vesper

About Deck13 Interactive

Deck13 Interactive is one of Germany’s leading developers. Employing more than 60 people with studios located in Frankfurt, the team develops award-winning, large-scale productions for consoles and PC. With “Deck13 Spotlight,” the team established a publishing service to help independent developers bring their projects to wider audiences.

About Cordens Interactive

Located in Milan, Italy, Cordens Interactive was founded by Tommaso Loiacono and Matteo Marzorati, game director and art director of the company. After they won prizes at GameRome 2018 and Nordic Game Discovery Contest 2019 thanks to several early game prototypes, they created Vesper, their first game as a company. Along the development, they were joined by Francesca Marchiando, 2D artist, Federico Lippolis, gameplay programmer, Fabio Donadoni, 2D animator, and Francesco Gagliardi, sound designer and composer.

THE ULTIMATE CROSSOVER EVENT – SONIC, MEET TWO POINT HOSPITAL

Gotta cure fast: free Sonic, Amy, Knuckles and Tails hospital staff costumes and items for all!

Sydney, Australia – 2^nd August 2021: SEGA® Europe Ltd. and Two Point Studios™ Ltd. are proud to announce the crossover event of the millennium, as the immovable object of Two Point Hospital™ and the unstoppable force of Sonic the Hedgehog™ collide in an explosion of costumes, items and joy. To celebrate Sonic’s 30^th anniversary, players can now enjoy a whole range of new costumes and items for free in Two Point Hospital on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

Check out the trailer here

With a choice of four costumes in which to clothe your staff (Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Tails), you can rest assured that your personnel will be looking tip-top as they shape up to deliver the very best healthcare in Two Point County.

And with items ranging from a stunning Sonic statue, decorative rugs and even a giant Gold Ring, you can be sure to find something suitably themed to pep up your hospitals in true Sonic style.

As huge fans of the lovely blue blur (and having previously featured a Sonic arcade machine in the game), Two Point Studios jumped at the opportunity to help celebrate Sonic’s 30^th birthday.

“For us, it’s a dream come true to fully bring the joy of Sonic into our universe”, said Studio Director Gary Carr. “With discounts and free trials coming up to coincide with the pack, there’s never been a better time to get involved.”

Two Point Hospital is a charming, accessible, and deep management sim that has now found an audience of four million players. For more information about Two Point Hospital head to www.twopointhospital.com. You can follow the game on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

To stay current on Sonic the Hedgehog news, follow Sonic on Twitter and Instagram, like him on Facebook, and subscribe to the Twitch channel and the YouTube channel. Also, don’t forget to visit the SEGA e-shop for new and exclusive products for the ultimate SEGA fan.

About Two Point Studios Ltd.:

Two Point Studios is a British game developer, based in Farnham, Surrey (UK) and was founded in 2016. Two Point Studios’ small, but dedicated and passionate team have worked on some of the most recognisable brands in gaming, including Fable and Black and White. Drawing on that experience, Two Point Studios released a brand-new IP in the sim genre called Two Point Hospital, which launched for PC in August 2018. For more information about Two Point Studios visit www.twopointstudios.com.  

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:

SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. SEGA wholly owns the video game development studios Two Point Studios, Creative Assembly, Relic Entertainment, Amplitude Studios, Sports Interactive and HARDlight. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.co.uk

TURTLE BEACH’S EXCLUSIVE, PATENTED SUPERHUMAN HEARING AUDIO SETTING PROVEN TO IMPROVE GAMING PERFORMANCE

New US college student gamer study shows improved gameplay statistics when using Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing audio setting

Sydney, Australia – 2^nd August 2021: Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation announced its exclusive, patented Superhuman Hearing® game audio setting has been shown to significantly improve gaming performance. In a recent study conducted in partnership with Real Industry – an educational non-profit transforming how students interact with industry – Turtle Beach put over 100 US-based college student gamers to the test playing a variety of popular games, including Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Fortnite, to see what effect using Superhuman Hearing had on their gameplay performance. Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing amplifies key in-game sounds like approaching enemy footsteps and nearby weapon reloads, incoming enemy vehicles carrying reinforcements, and more. The study found that with Superhuman Hearing enabled, gamers increased their average gameplay time by nearly 20% and improved their in-game stats by over 40%.

Activate Turtle Beach’s exclusive Superhuman Hearing sound setting on specially equipped Turtle Beach and ROCCAT gaming headsets and gain the advantage by being able to hear subtle yet game-changing sounds you might otherwise miss. Enemy footsteps sneaking up for the stealth kill, other players reloading their weapon just before an ambush, and enemy vehicles off in the distance approaching with reinforcements are vital pieces of audio-based intelligence, informing split-second, life-or-death decisions that elevate great gamers above everybody else. When you have a gaming headset with Superhuman Hearing, you not only have phenomenal audio—you have the competitive edge. Hear Everything. Defeat Everyone.

“These latest study results mirror our prior findings showing that Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing delivers a competitive advantage and allows you to stay in the game longer,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “Games have become increasingly more competitive and every edge you can get matters, and Superhuman Hearing provides that edge through precision audio. With the ability to hear where an enemy is coming from sooner, you’ll be better prepared for the encounter and more likely to win the exchange, and that’s why Superhuman Hearing is more important than ever for serious gamers.”

Superhuman Hearing is a key feature on a variety of Turtle Beach and ROCCAT gaming headsets, including Turtle Beach’s best-selling Stealth 700 Gen 2 and Stealth 600 Gen 2 wireless surround sound headsets for Xbox and PlayStation®, and ROCCAT’s all-new Syn Pro Air wireless 3D surround sound PC gaming headset. Turtle Beach’s all-new Recon™ Controller for Xbox (launching 20^th August), with Superhuman Hearing headlining a variety of additional Turtle Beach-exclusive features that work with any connected headset.

In May 2021, Turtle Beach and Real Industry conducted a virtual event called the Turtle Beach Superhuman Hearing Challenge. More than 100 collegiate gamers from around the U.S.A. were selected from over 400 applicants, and the study participants were invited to test and determine the impact of the Company’s Superhuman Hearing audio technology on gameplay performance. Students in the study indicated they played games including APEX Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty: Cold War on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The students played games for an hour without Superhuman Hearing and documented their stats. Then the students repeated the process with Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing feature turned on. Slightly over half of the participants played their game of choice on the Xbox, whereas 45% played the PlayStation.

“In testing the impact of Superhuman Hearing, we sought to determine whether Turtle Beach’s technology gave gamers an advantage in first-person action games, as evidenced by the number of opponents they were able to defeat and the length of gameplay,” said Humera Fasihuddin, Chief Designer, Real Industry. “The results show that with Superhuman Hearing turned off, most of the students had a Kill/Death Ratio (KDR) of 1.9 or less. In contrast, with Superhuman Hearing turned on, the number of players with a 4.0 K/D ratio or higher more than doubled. KDR is a common metric used in first-person action and Battle Royale games that measure a player’s effectiveness of defeating enemy players.”

Ms. Fasihuddin added, “Turtle Beach was fantastic to work with, and after the event, the students had the opportunity to speak with key Turtle Beach team members who addressed questions about the gaming industry and accessories business and offered insights into the various areas the gaming industry has to offer career-wise. Overall, it was a highly informative, impactful, and fun experience for all the students involved, and an activity that got everyone excited about potential future career options.”

In the Turtle Beach Superhuman Hearing Challenge, 78 different colleges were represented, from small private schools to large public schools and everything in between. Participants hailed from 32 different states, with half of the students enrolled in Arts and Humanities programs and the other half enrolled in STEM majors.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit au.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Real Industry

Real Industry is an educational nonprofit transforming how students connect with industry. Our mission is to educate, inspire, and empower university students to thrive in the arts and technology industry. Real Industry develops offline and online courses, workshops and partnerships with dozens of top universities, and a mentorship network that teaches students the roles, responsibilities, and skills within the tech industry. We create hands-on workshops (“design challenges”) where students work with industry mentors to tackle a real-world product, technical, or business problem. Students are exposed to new career paths in industry, develop new skills, and rapidly expand their professional networks. More at www.realindustry.org.

About Turtle Beach Corporation

Turtle Beach Corporation (www.turtlebeachcorp.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming accessory providers. The Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for pioneering first-to-market features and patented innovations in high-quality, comfort-driven headsets for all levels of gamer, making it a fan-favourite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for the last decade. Turtle Beach’s ROCCAT brand (www.roccat.com) combines detail-loving German innovation with a genuine passion for designing the best PC gaming products. Under the ROCCAT brand, Turtle Beach creates award-winning keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads, and other PC accessories. Turtle Beach’s Neat Microphones brand (www.neatmic.com) creates high-quality USB and analog microphones for gamers, streamers, and professionals that embrace cutting-edge technology and design. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: HEAR.

EXPERIENCE THE BEGINNINGS OF THE FINAL FANTASY SERIES WITH FINAL FANTASY, FINAL FANTASY II AND FINAL FANTASY III AVAILABLE NOW ON STEAM AND MOBILE

Purchase the Titles on Steam® before August 11 to Receive Exclusive Wallpapers, Music Tracks and a 20% Discount

SYDNEY (2^nd August, 2021) – SQUARE ENIX® today announced that FINAL FANTASY, FINAL FANTASY II and FINAL FANTASY III are available today worldwide for PC (Steam®) and mobile. The release of these classic titles kicks off the pixel remaster series, which bring the six original FINAL FANTASY® games that inspired a generation of RPG fans as faithful recreations of the beloved games.

The launch of FINAL FANTASY, II and III brings these timeless adventures to Steam® and mobile platforms, with upgrades including:

• Universally updated 2D pixel graphics redrawn for modern hardware, featuring iconic FINAL FANTASY character pixel designs created by the original artist and current collaborator, Kazuko Shibuya
• Beautifully rearranged soundtracks, overseen by the original composer, Nobuo Uematsu
• Improved gameplay, including modernized UI, auto-battle options, and more
• Quality-of-life improvements including supplemental extras like the bestiary, illustration gallery, music player and the ability to save at any time

Those who purchase FINAL FANTASY, II or III by August 11 on Steam® will receive exclusive bonuses, including three specially rearranged music tracks, two exclusive wallpapers and a 20% discount per each respective title. These special tracks transition from the original versions to the new arrangements and can only be obtained via early purchase until 11^th August on individual titles or via the bundle on Steam. The select music tracks include:

• FINAL FANTASY – Main Theme (Timelapse Remix), Matoya’s Cave (Timelapse Remix) and Battle (Timelapse Remix)
• FINAL FANTASY II – Battle Theme 1 (Timelapse Remix), The Rebel Army (Timelapse Remix) and Main Theme (Timelapse Remix)
• FINAL FANTASY III– Battle 1 (Timelapse Remix), Eternal Wind (Timelapse Remix) and The Boundless Ocean (Timelapse Remix)

Each of these tracks have been given new arrangements under the full oversight of the original composer, Nobuo Uematsu.

FINAL FANTASY

Earth, fire, water, wind… The light that once shone within the four Crystals was lost. Darkness covered the land, until the only hope for humanity rested in legends past. Become the Warriors of Light and embark on your own journey to restore power to the Crystals and save the world.

Switch between classes to improve your characters. Traverse the vast world with your airship and other vessels. Return to the game that started it all.

FINAL FANTASY II

This epic tale begins with four young souls orphaned during the struggle between the Palamecian Empire and the rebel army. On their journey, the youths join forces with the white wizard Minwu, Prince Gordon of Kashuan, Leila the pirate, and many others. Behold the beautiful and sometimes tragic twists of fate that await you on your adventure.

FINAL FANTASY II introduced a unique skill level system that strengthens different attributes of the characters depending on their fighting style rather than levelling up. Use the key terms you learn in conversation to unlock new information and progress in the story.

This innovative game series takes an ambitious turn in this second instalment in the FINAL FANTASY series!

FINAL FANTASY III

With the power of light nearly eclipsed by the power of darkness, only the crystals’ four chosen adventurers can save the world.

Experience the iconic job changing system first introduced in FINAL FANTASY III – switch jobs at will and use various abilities as you progress in the game. Choose from a variety of classes including Warrior, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage, Dragoon, Evoker or even call monsters to do your bidding with as a Summoner.

Long-time fans and newcomers can look forward to additional details and the launch of FINAL FANTASY IV, V and VI at a later date. All six games within the pixel remaster series are available for pre-purchase as the FINAL FANTASY I-VI Bundle for a further discount. More information on the bundle is available on Steam at: https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/21478.

*Games in bundle to be available upon respected release timings

Visit the official FINAL FANTASY pixel remaster series website for more information at: https://ffpixelremaster.com/

Related Links:

Official Website: https://ffpixelremaster.com/

Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/21478/FINAL_FANTASY_IVI_Bundle/

About FINAL FANTASY

For over 30 years, the FINAL FANTASY series has delighted generations of gamers and millions of players worldwide through beloved Role Playing adventures that are built upon the benchmarks of spectacular visuals, highly imaginative worlds rich stories, memorable characters and technical and gameplay innovation leading the industry and earning the highest accolades from around the world. Each mainline game in the series is a completely new experience, and an ideal entry point to the series. Titles of the series have sold over 163 million units worldwide.

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

# # #

© 1987, 1988, 1990, 2021 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

LOGO ILLUSTRATION: © 1987, 1988, 1990, 2006, 2007 YOSHITAKA AMANO

FINAL FANTASY, the FINAL FANTASY PIXEL REMASTER logo, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, EIDOS MONTREAL, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation.  All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Team Super Heroine is comprised of Athena Asamiya, Mai Shiranui, and Yuri Sakazaki

Osaka, Japan, July 30^th, 2021 – SNK CORPORATION (Corporate HQ: Suita-city, Osaka, Japan, Company Chairman and President: Ge Zhihui) is proud to announce the release of the character trailer for Athena Asamiya, a fighter returning to The King of Fighters XV (KOF XV) which is slated to launch in Q1 2022. There are more character trailers on the way, so stay tuned for more news!

Athena Asamiya’s Character Trailer:

Athena Asamiya, Mai Shiranui, and Yuri Sakazaki join together for the first time ever to form Team Super Heroine. KOF XV continues the KOF series legacy with its iconic 3 on 3 team battles. Different teams have different stories and endings, so be sure to check out how each one unfolds!

Athena Asamiya

Athena is a high-school pop idol fighting evil to bring about world peace. Her fighting style is composed of the psychic powers she was born with and Chinese Kung Fu. She is a hard worker, both polite and serious. However, this KOF she’s unexpectedly teamed up with Mai and Yuri…?

Mai Shiranui

Mai is a kunoichi and successor of the Shiranui style of ninja arts. Her opponents are at the mercy of her graceful movements and fascinating attire. Using large fans as weapons, her fighting style is to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.

Mai’s Character Trailer:

Yuri Sakazaki

Ryo Sakazaki’s younger sister managed to learn deadly techniques in less than one year after joining the Kyokugenryu Dojo. As a fighting genius, Yuri has brought her own personal touch to the martial art. She joins this KOF to once and for all prove her strength to her brother.

Yuri’s Character Trailer: 

About SNK

Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, SNK develop, publish, and distribute interactive entertainment software on a global scale. Known for such franchises as THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG, and SAMURAI SHODOWN, SNK continues to focus on their rich console game and arcade history.

©SNK CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

* All in-game footage displayed is work-in-progress. Design and specifications are subject to change.

※“PlayStation” is a registered trademark or trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

※©2021 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

※© 2021, Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Epic, Epic Games, and the Epic Games logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere.

PORT ROYALE 4 GOES Historic trade sim plots course for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, adds stunning visuals, real-time weather effects and cross-gen save

Seattle, Wash – (July 30, 2021)  – Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Gaming Minds Studios have today announced that seafaring trade simulator Port Royale 4 will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 10. The next-gen versions of the game include upgraded visuals and performance, cross-gen save functionality, and enhanced lighting and weather simulation. A brand-new trailer showcasing the improvements can be viewed below.

Featuring a stunning 4K game world on PS5 and Xbox Series X (1080p on Xbox Series S), cross-gen save capability and real-time cloud rendering, Port Royale 4 for next-gen consoles gives players the most detailed and true-to-life 17th century trading experience to date. The game will arrive in both standard and extended digital editions – the latter featuring exclusive digital content such as 4 lighthouses and the blueprints to 5 magnificent parks with which players can decorate their settlements. There will also be a boxed Extended Edition available at retail.

Product Information

InformationTitle:Port Royale 4
Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Developer:Gaming Minds Studios
Genre:Trade simulation
Release:9/10/21 – PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Out now – PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch™
Hashtag:#PortRoyale4

Store links: PlayStation Store | Microsoft Store | Steam|Kalypso Store|Nintendo eShop

In Port Royale 4, set sail and join the colonial powers of Spain, England, France and the Netherlands in their fight for supremacy of the Caribbean in the 17th century. Take control of a colony as a young and ambitious governor and learn what it takes to manage and grow a small settlement into a bustling trader city.

Develop production chains connecting multiple islands and create complex trade routes across the Caribbean, covering the ever-growing needs of multiple cities. Make use of the detailed sea map to avoid stormy weather regions, cliffs or shallow waters. Fulfill tasks for your nation’s viceroy, earning more fame to unlock town buildings, ships and more. Conquer the cities of rival nations or hunt down their fleets with a letter of marque while also keeping a keen eye out for pirates and other privateers.

In Port Royale 4, combat encounters are turn-based, with up to 8 ships battling at once. Turn the tide with tactical captain manuvers to ensure a glorious victory each and every fight.

Features

• Choose from four colonial powerhouses: England, France, Spain and the Netherlands, each providing different benefits and unique gameplay styles
• Four single player campaigns following each nation on a path to glory
• Appoint a leader from four different character classes: The Explorer, Merchant, Buccaneer and Pirate
• Establish and manage trade with 60 Caribbean cities in a huge game world
• Navigate cliffs, shallow waters and stormy weather regions to optimize your trade routes
• Choose from 50 buildings to produce goods such as rum and luxuries
• Construct town buildings with neighbourhood effects to optimize productivity and manage the happiness of your citizens
• Sail 18 historically authentic ships from the late 16th and 17th centuries
• Engage in tactical, turn-based naval battles with powerful captains
• Unlock licenses, building permits, new buildings and ships by growing reputation within your chosen nation

About the Kalypso Media Group

Kalypso Media Group GmbH is a fully independent publisher, developer and marketer of interactive entertainment software with 150 employees in 10 locations throughout Germany, England, France, Japan, and the United States, including Kasedo Games, Kalypso Media’s digital-first label, and three development studios – Realmforge Studios (Dungeons series), Gaming Minds Studios (Railway Empire, Port Royale) and Claymore Game Studios (upcoming Commandos game). Kasedo Games also now holds a majority stake in France-based developer Bulwark Studios, increasing the Kalypso Media Group’s total development studios to 4.

Specializing in developing strategy games for a global audience on all modern platforms, Kalypso Media’s IP portfolio includes the full rights to the Tropico series, Commandos, Port Royale, Dungeons, Sudden Strike, Railway Empire, and others. Kalypso Media’s recent releases are Commandos 2 – HD Remaster and Praetorians – HD Remaster, Railway Empire – Nintendo Switch™ Edition, Dungeons 3 – Complete Collection, Railway Empire – Complete Collection, Port Royale 4, Tropico 6 – Nintendo Switch™ Edition, Commandos 2 – HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch™ and Spacebase Startopia. Upcoming releases include Disciples: Liberation (Q4 2021). Kasedo Games’ recent releases include Filament, console and tablet versions of Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, Distant Kingdoms (available in Steam Early Access) as well as the upcoming City of Gangsters (TBA).