KEEP IT CLEAN WITH POWERWASH SIMULATOR’S CHALLENGE MODE UPDATE, OUT NOW!
For those looking for a little more pressure, beat your scores in Challenge Mode!
SYDNEY (8th July 2021) – Today, independent developer FuturLab released their first content update for Steam Early Access title POWERWASH SIMULATOR. Published by Square Enix Ltd, the latest update (0.4) features new ‘Challenge Mode’, additional cleaning jobs, and some all-important community requested quality of life changes. POWERWASH SIMULATOR lets players wash away their worries with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water. Players can build their very own power washing business and blast away every speck of dirt and grime that they can find. With a unique take on the simulation genre, POWERWASH SIMULATOR focuses on player relaxation and escapism.
For players looking for a little more pressure, new ‘Challenge Mode’ invites you to fight grime in different scenarios; by washing against the clock in Time Challenge or testing your accuracy by using as little water as possible in Water Challenge.
“POWERWASH SIMULATOR can offer something for everyone, which is why we created ‘Challenge Mode’,” commented Lead Designer Dan Chequer. “With the deliberate exclusion of limits and time pressures in Career Mode, the new separate Challenge Mode evolved naturally to offer a light bit of competition for those who want it.”
That’s not all for the 0.4 Update! Get into the zen zone with more fantastically filthy things to clean; forage in the forest and help Hunter Lode clean his Treehouse, restore a well-travelled RV to its former glory and lend a helping hand to a ‘copter caked in ash!
We’ve also added a whole host of quality-of-life changes to improve gameplay, such as a reworked soap system, support for up to 240FPS and an extra level of crouch to get to those hard-to-reach places. You can read all about our QOL changes in our latest Dev Log.
POWERWASH SIMULATOR is currently available on Steam Early Access here:
FuturLab is a boutique, award-winning game studio based in Brighton, UK. FuturLab has developed and published remarkable games on PC and console since 2003. The game studio is best known for Velocity 2X, Tiny Trax, Mini-Mech Mayhem and Peaky Blinders: Mastermind and is currently working on the highly anticipated PowerWash Simulator.
About Square Enix Collective
Square Enix Collective® is a London-based division of Square Enix Ltd. The Collective programme was launched in 2014 to assist indie game developers build community awareness for hundreds of games pitches and has helped teams to raise in excess of $1.2 million via Kickstarter campaigns. Collective has now published and distributed a range of indie titles since April 2016 and is on the look-out for great new projects and talented teams to work with globally – whether it’s publishing support for a development that’s already funded, or investment to help the creation of a game.
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 161 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 82 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 82 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, EIDOS MONTREAL, FINAL FANTASY, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
MapleStory M Kicks Off Three Year Anniversary Celebration With Game Update and Feature Content Throughout July
Level Increase, 5th Job Skills, and Arcane River Special Content arrive July 6
LOS ANGELES – July 7, 2021 – MapleStory M, the free-to-play mobile MMORPG for iOS and Android, is celebrating its third anniversary with a host of new features and content beginning with the latest game update arriving July 5 which includes the highly anticipated addition of 5th Job Skills and Arcane River Special Content and a level cap increase to 230.
5th Job Skills have officially arrived in MapleStory M, offering players above Level 200 that have completed job advancement quests, the opportunity to fortify their characters’ abilities by allowing them to upgrade from primary 1-4 Job Skills to use 5th Job Skills.
Unlike the initial 1-4 Job Skills, 5th Job Skills are divided into three different types – Shared Skills, Class-Specific Skills, and Job Skills, offering more diverse battle opportunities for characters and overall use.
Shared Skills: Skills that can be acquired and used by any character regardless of Class or Job.
Class-Specific Skills: Skills that can only be used by a specific Class (Warrior, Magician, Bowman, Thief, or Pirate).
Job Skills: Skills that are limited to a specific Job, similar to applications with 1st through 4th Job Skills.
With 5th Job Skills acquired, access to the Arcane River area along with special Arcane River content is granted. The Arcane River provides advanced MapleStory M content including daily quests, the ability to boost Arcane Power and gain stronger Arcane Symbols which enable characters to boost their damage and deal stronger hits when hunting in the Arcane River area. The Arcane River also adds new daily quests which become available after the region’s story quests have been completed.
To learn more about MapleStory M, visit the App Store or Google Play page and follow @PlayMapleMon Twitter for the latest updates.
MapleStory M, launched globally on July 24, 2018, brings the nostalgic world of side-scrolling MMORPG MapleStory to mobile, offering the same endless amount of customization, immersive storylines and epic boss raids that fans have come to expect from the epic franchise. MapleStory M quickly reached 10 million downloads within 100 days after global launch and recently celebrated its 2-year anniversary with 16 million global downloads.
From the Developers of the Bitsquid and Stingray Engines, The Machinery Delivers Flexibility and Access for Experienced and New Game Developers
SEATTLE, WA – July 7, 2021 – Our Machinery, an independent game and entertainment technology development studio, today announced that The Machinery is live and available for purchase.
Using a completely plugin-based model, The Machinery offers a wide range of tools and applications to help developers create and build compelling games, interactive experiences, and high-end virtual worlds.
With simplicity and scalability in mind, The Machinery is designed to be “hackable.” All code is written in C, a significantly simpler language than C++. Developers can write their own plugins and build completely new applications on top of the API, all while allowing for real-time collaboration where multiple people can work together within the same game project.
With The Machinery’s limited Early Adopters Program, developers can purchase The Machinery for a discounted price of $50.00 per year for independent developers and $450.00 per year for industry professionals. Both pricing options come with the full suite of features, technical support, and source access. The Early Adopters Program is available until January 1, 2022. A free version without source will also be available. For more on the Early Adopters Program, please visit: https://www.ourmachinery.com/pricing.html.
“During our time working with other technologies, we saw a need for a flexible and lightweight 3D engine,” said Tricia Gray, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Our Machinery. “It’s been exciting and challenging making a new game engine in a space that’s pretty competitive, but we feel The Machinery offers a robust and customizable experience that will allow developers to have much more freedom and flexibility to create the game of their dreams. We have tremendous passion for what we do and look forward to working with the many developers that share our passion to create.”
Our Machinery recently secured a seed round from game developers: Arrowhead Studios, Fatshark founders, Martin Wahlund and Rikard Blomberg, and Avalanche Studios founders, Linus and Viktor Blomberg.
“We invested in The Machinery personally because we feel strongly about its capabilities and performance,” said Linus Blomberg and Viktor Blomberg, Avalanche Studios Founders. “We will be opening a new game studio later this year and The Machinery will be our engine of choice to develop and create the games we are envisioning. The team at Our Machinery has a clear vision of their own and goals that align with our values. We see our partnership lasting for many years to come.”
“We worked with the team at Our Machinery previously and trust their ability to build efficient tech,” said Johan Pilestedt, Chief Executive Officer of Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers of Magicka, Gauntlet, Helldivers, and more. “When they first presented us with The Machinery, we were drawn to the engine’s features and the flexibility it provides while focusing on developer iteration time. We look forward to working with Our Machinery in the future.”
About The Machinery Lightweight, hackable and modern, The Machinery is designed to be a high performance, easily modifiable, and plugin-able engine with a modern rendering architecture to fit the needs of developers looking to stand out in a competitive market. While primarily designed to be a game engine, The Machinery can easily be adapted for other purposes, such as architecture and movie previsualization.
About Our Machinery Our Machinery was founded in 2017 with the goal of making game and 3D development easier, more diverse, and more fun. Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, we wanted to create a framework that lets developers express their individual creativity and customize their workflows. Our Machinery celebrates inclusivity and diversity. We strive to support our community’s needs and welcome all to join us.
EVER WANTED TO PRANK YOUR PESKY NEIGHBOUR ON THE GO – WELL, NOW YOU CAN! HANDYGAMES IS BRINGING THIS CLASSIC PRANKSTER GAME TO MOBILE!
Vienna, Austria / Giebelstadt, Germany, July 6th, 2021: Imagine sittin’ in your front yard, drinkin’ lemonade, a nice suburban life, you think you’ve got it made. But you don’t know, what’s in store, for you. Wouldn’t you want to have a neighbour? One that drinks and stinks and smokes? That makes your live a misery? You know what to do!
Neighbours back from Hell will be out on Android and iOS on August 3rd, 2021!
As Woody, the vengeful star protagonist of Neighbours back From Hell, you will prank your way through Seasons 1 and 2 of the fictitious, but aptly named TV show. Take the mischief from your nasty neighbour’s flat all the way to China, India and Mexico where you will make sure his holiday is a living hell. While you’re at it, why limit targeting your antics at your neighbor, when you can involve his mother and fellow travellers? Whatever you decide to do, your trusty camera crew will be right there and keep a keen eye on all the action. You can let your crooked creativity flow freely and watch the neighbour rage in desperation.
What a beautiful day in the neighbourhood!
Just be mindful not to get caught by him or his companions, or they will whoop you good and your TV show will be taken off the air. If you perform well on the other hand, by creating more and more disarray and chaos in the neighbour’s life, ratings will increase, and you could win prestigious awards.
Features:
Neighbours From Hell 1 & 2 Remastered in one package: 25 episodes set in the neighbor’s home, on a cruise liner, and in several different holiday locations around the world
All graphics newly rendered in Full HD
Framerate of all animations doubled for a smoother experience
Use stealth, skill and style to perform the perfect ambush
Easy to use interface and controls
Superb cartoon-style graphics
Big band soundtrack
About FarbWorks:
FarbWorks is a mobile game and application development studio based in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 2015, the studio focuses on the development of casual games and has now joined forces with THQ Nordic and HandyGames to bring a modernized HD-Version of the classic Neighbours From Hell titles to life.
About HandyGames
HandyGames™ is part of the THQ Nordic and Embracer Group family and operates as an international publisher for mid-sized projects and developers for a worldwide audience.
The focus lies on creating and publishing games for current gen consoles like PlayStation®4, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X or Nintendo Switch™ as well as games for Steam and many other PC gaming distribution channels. HandyGames™ produces titles for new innovative gaming platforms, for example VR (Virtual Reality) on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Samsung Gear VR, but also offers games of all kind of genres for Android smartphones and tablets, Apple iPhones, iPads and many other mobile and smart devices.
As a games company and that is truly passionate about gaming, we always strive for gameplay innovation. We received the German Developer Award as “Best German Game Studio” in 2015 and produced and published award-winning games of virtually every video gaming genre imaginable for a diverse range of audiences and gameplay styles. One example is “Townsmen VR” which was awarded with the German Games Award 2018 in the category “Best Game Design”.
Azerion Moves Beyond Games to Provide IP-Driven Multimedia Content for Hello Kitty and Friends within Azerion Platforms
Amsterdam, The Netherlands — July 7, 2021 — Azerion, the leading pan-European digital gaming and monetisation company, and Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand recognized worldwide for its universally beloved pop icon Hello Kitty, today announced a three-year partnership to provide fans of the popular Japanese character with a series of casual games.
Through this partnership, Azerion will launch five Hello Kitty and Friends-branded games as web-enabled versions powered by HTML5. The games will be accessible to a wider audience on both web and mobile devices.
Azerion is planning a series of joint marketing initiatives to introduce the new Hello Kitty and Friends games across its diverse platforms to its audiences across the globe. Multimedia promotional events and community engagement through social media channels, featuring video trailers and other assets will be developed and distributed by Azerion. Promoting and activating its audience to drive awareness for the new Hello Kitty and Friends experience will enable Azerion to reach new audiences on publisher and user side and offer new entertainment content for existing Sanrio fans no matter where they are or what device they use.
Silvia Figini, COO of Sanrio- EMEA, India and Oceania, Mr. Men – Worldwide said: “We are extremely glad to partner with Azerion on this new project. The combination of the global appeal of Hello Kitty and the great experience of Azerion in developing and publishing high quality engaging games will generate the perfect formula to deliver fantastic gaming experience to our worldwide audience.”
Erol Erturk, EVP Games & Strategic Partnerships at Azerion said: “Azerion’s partnership with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and Friends supports the iconic brand in becoming a fully fledged media franchise. Azerion will give Hello Kitty and Friends cross- and multi-platform reach, specifically with customized concepts for our publishing partners. We are honoured to have Sanrio’s trust in this and are thrilled about the possibilities.”
With a series of games to rollout within the coming years, the first games include: Hello Kitty Pinball, and Hello Kitty and Friends Jumper.
About the games
Hello Kitty and Friends Jumper
Choose your favorite Hello Kitty and Friends character and jump up on the platforms! Every few seconds a new floor will appear and you have to time your jump correctly.
Play as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kerokerokeroppi or Bad Badtz-Maru and explore different environments. Jump as high as you can and set a new high score!
Hello Kitty Pinball
Enjoy a classic Hello Kitty pachinko pinball game and obtain the highest score by shooting yellow, green, blue and pink balls! Unlock the bonus and Hello Kitty will throw in some special bonus balls. You have ninety seconds to set the highest score!
About Azerion
Azerion is a fast-growing and leading pan-European digital gaming and monetisation company. We develop and operate a safe and reliable online social gaming and entertainment platform for people of all ages to enjoy. Our integrated platform includes monetisation features and provides technology solutions to automate the purchase and sale of digital advertising for media buyers and sellers.
Content creators, publishers and advertisers work with us to reach millions of people across the globe that play our games and use our entertainment concepts to increase engagement, loyalty and drive e-commerce.
Founded in 2015 by two Dutch entrepreneurs, Azerion has experienced rapid expansion thanks to organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Azerion employs more than 900 employees across 19 offices and is headquartered in Schiphol-Rijk, the Netherlands.
About Sanrio Sanrio is the global lifestyle brand best known for Hello Kitty who was created in 1974, and home to many other beloved character brands such as My Melody, LittleTwinStars, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, gudetama, Aggretsuko, Chococat, Bad Badtz-Maru, Kerokerokeroppi and the British icons Mr. Men Little Miss.
Sanrio was founded on the small gift, big smile philosophy – that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration to offer quality products, services and activities that promote communication and inspire unique consumer experiences across the world. Today, Sanrio’s business extends into the entertainment industry and includes the operation of a number of theme parks. Sanrio boasts an extensive product lineup of around 50,000 products, which are available in over 130 countries and regions around the world. To learn more about Sanrio, please visit www.sanrio.eu and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
At this year’s FarmCon, Farming Simulator 22 will be the main theme of GIANTS Software’s own annual event. Streamed from July 21-23 on the official GIANTS Software Twitch channel. Tune in as publisher and developer GIANTS Software shows a first look at Farming Simulator 22 gameplay footage.
Carefully cultivated: gameplay premiere, new features and more! Each day, from July 21-23, GIANTS will stream for a couple of hours, starting at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET. Viewers can expect exciting insider information directly from the developers: Viewers will get a deeper look into already announced features like production chains and witness the reveal of even more content and unannounced gameplay mechanics.
Wednesday (July 21) highlights seasonal changes, the new US map ‘Elmcreek’, a look behind the scenes of the Cinematic Trailer and more.
Thursday (July 22) will focus on the gameplay premiere of Farming Simulator 22, the GIANTS Engine 9 and its vast improvements and brand-new features.
Friday (July 23) is about the three new crops, various customization options, and sound improvements. Also, a Bale Stacking Challenge with real tractors.
Saturday & Sunday (July 24-25) are reserved for the Farming Simulator League and will see the competitive esports league continue with season 3. The tournament finale will stream live on July 25th at 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET on Twitch and YouTube.
That’s not all: even more features and details will be revealed! Prepare for surprises! Even more insightful presentations, multiple Q&As, raffles and dedicated Discord chat rooms with developers to discuss the FarmCon news of the day will be unveiled soon. All this will allow fans to learn more about Farming Simulator 22 and even interact with GIANTS Software and the developers directly.
“As we approach FarmCon, the game grows bigger by the day in terms of features and polish. We are excited to present Farming Simulator 22 from almost all sides with a wealth of new details. Fans around the world should mark their calendars and come chat with us – as is the tradition at FarmCon”, reminds GIANTS Software CEO, Christian Ammann in excitement of the upcoming online event.
FarmCon is the official and annual community event for modders, developers and players of the Farming Simulator series. Since 2016, fans can meet at FarmCon to chat with GIANTS Software and other players.
Farming Simulator 22 will release on November 22, for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Stadia. For more information, please visit the official Farming Simulator website
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
A Sinister Bookstore and a Spate of Unusual Customers Opens a Pandora’s Box of the Paranormal
Hermitage isn’t your ordinary book shop. If customers are purely looking for something to read, they won’t find that here. From Japanese folklore to superstitious tales from Southeast Asia, the books on offer here are as colourful as the shop’s clientele. But when one customer comes to the sales desk clutching a book of ancient texts and rituals, Hermitage takes a turn towards the truly dark…
Location – Wednesday 7th July, 2021 – Giiku Games is excited to announce it will bring gripping paranormal horror adventure Hermitage: Strange Case Files to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Steam this summer.
Having already made waves in China, acclaimed story-driven studio Arrowiz’s latest is being fully localised for a western release across all major platforms, bringing the game’s sinister brand of mystery and investigation to an entirely new audience.
The aforementioned ‘Hermitage’ is a quirky and altogether curious bookshop stood at the crossroads of a lonely junction, serving as a port of call for only the most eccentric of book worms. The store’s manager – usually to be found casting a critical eye over Hermitage’s patrons with a cigarette in his hand – is used to endearing oddities perusing his dusty shelves, but when one customer comes in searching for literature to solve the mystery behind some particularly lucid ritualistic dreams.
“Hermitage: Strange Case Files is what Chinese developer Arrowiz does best: an engaging mystery wrapped up in a multi-layered and immersive story where every line of dialogue is an important cog in the wheel that is the game’s overarching narrative,” says Rinalda Faraian, Product Manager at Giiku Games. “It’s important then that we do the script justice, and we can’t wait to bring this new localised version to gamers on console and PC this summer.”
With Hermitage: Strange Case Files causing its protagonist to question the lines between fantasy and reality, players take on the role of said bookshop owner – a former anthropology professor who has strangely never been seen outside of Hermitage. With the help of a hacker genius on the run, a self-proclaimed detective and a short-tempered legal consultant, players will need to get to the bottom of a series of horrific incidents, taking on the supernatural horrors that lurk between the pages of Hermitage’s weird and wonderful book collection.
Hermitage: Strange Case Files features:
A unique adventure with a multi-layered story and a visual novel style
Interviews with characters where choosing the approach that matches their personality serves up important leads
Clues discovered through TV news, online forums, phone messages and emails
Analyze characters and events using an interactive pinboard
Investigate character backstories to discover secrets
Match your intel with your suspicions to uncover the truth
Take your adventure on a new path by unlocking various storylines with your choices
About Giiku Games
Giiku Games is a digital publisher for Anime and Asian games for PC and console. The portfolio includes the successful Anime MMO Florensia and the mystery visual novel Detective Kobayashi. For more information about Giiku Games please visit https://www.giikugames.com/
About Arrowiz Founded in 2016 by a group of game industry veterans and young talents, Arrowiz aims to build a leading studio focused on story-rich experiences with unique design and gameplay. Please visit http://arrowiz.com/
There was a time that many risky games were made for a certain platform that, with a fairly die-hard fanbase, kept the little handheld going long beyond it was officially supported by its own developer. This led to many unique titles being developed that really weren’t found elsewhere and Scarlet Nexus not only looks but even at times feels just like one of those games that would have been right at home on the Vita. Bandai Namco has experimented in the past with some interesting anime-styled takes on genre in the past, especially with Code Vein in 2019, and their latest take on an action-RPG is one that stands out in more ways than one.
Story
Set in the near future in an alternate reality humanity has managed to develop psionic super abilities that vary from person to person as well as create a technological world capable of linking everyone to the net at all times. The problem is that despite their advancements humanity is forced to live within large areas defended by the Other Supression Force, the OSF, who battle against mysterious creatures known as the Others who appear from an “Extinction Belt” that circles the globe. Little is known about what the Others are besides the fact that they kill indiscriminately, can appear from thin-air or drop out of the sky, and want to eat the brains of anyone they come across.
In Scarlet Nexus players will immediately be presented with a fairly significant choice as they will choose between playing as either Yuito Sumeragi, a more mainstream style protagonist by all appearances, or the cold and blunt Kasane Randall who lives for her adopted sister Naomi. Both happen to share the same psionic ability of psychokinesis that allows them to throw objects and control them to some extent. The reason this is a significant choice is because, while Kasane and Yuito’s storylines do intertwine, there are nearly two games in one package here as these storylines are lengthy in nature. Both character’s see new elements of the story and explore different aspects of the world with more than enough variation to keep players on their toes even after finishing one character’s story and moving onto the next.
Another aspect that keeps things fresh is that, outside of a fairly slow start, the game quickly begins to evolve beyond its generic anime styling and go in new unexpected directions that we won’t go into here as things quickly spiral out of left field. Mysteries abound and the characters players thought may have been their friends might quickly become enemies and vice versa, it is truly difficult to guess just what can happen next and being able to tie that together across two separate storylines that still intertwine with one another makes for some great storytelling that will keep players hooked.
It is also worth noting that the core storyline is separated into “Phases” with intermissions in-between. These intermissions allow players to freely explore areas they have traveled to before in an effort to level up, retrieve items from enemies or various locations, and of course interact with the large cast of characters that eventually join them in their Hideout. Any character that can join the player’s party can be given gifts in the Hideout and unlock bond episodes that not only reveal new aspects of the character, another aspect that can differ between Kasane and Yuito, but also serves as a way to increase their combat ability as well.
Things can be a bit funky at times as characters that just tried to kill the player may be openly having a nice chat around tea immediately afterwards in a bond episode but this tonal shift isn’t too much of an issue as they remain mostly isolated from the core plot.
Gameplay
Being an action RPG, especially one that has multiple characters with special psionic powers, it only makes sense that Scarlet Nexus tries to be as flashy as possible with its combat system and it manages to pull that off almost flawlessly. While Kasane and Yuito may have the same type of psionic power the two play very differently from one another as Kasane fights at a bit of a distance using floating knives whereas Yuito battles up close and personal using a sword. Initially combat is a bit finicky but, as players level up and unlock various perks on their Brain Map, combo attacks flow far better with more movement abilities keeping players on their toes and off the ground.
Both fighters can chain together normal attacks, use a parting blow to gain some distance and, whenever they wish to as long as they have energy, pick up a piece of rubble, car, garbage can, etc. and throw it at the foe dealing extra damage. There are even special items that, with extra inputs, can deal extra elemental damage or strike multiple foes such as driving a bus, swinging a telephone pole, or blowing a tanker truck. Any psychokinetic attack can then be followed up with a chain attack that will have the player dash in to deal extra damage, with these chains being able to be repeated multiple times. In fact there are even special break gauges that, when hit with either a weakness or chained attack, allows for a stylish “Brain Crush” finisher. Combine this with an eventual temporary super state that triggers automatically and a risky but even stronger form that goes beyond that level and players will find that they have quite a lot of power at their fingertips, and that doesn’t even touch upon the assistance that your party members provide.
For almost every mission players will find themselves accompanied by either a party of their choosing or one forced onto them and each of these characters has special abilities. These range from applying elemental bonuses to attacks and potentially changing up the user’s combo strings, duplicating thrown items, speeding up time, and even becoming temporarily immune to damage. Initially these powers can only be used one at a time but as mentioned before it is possible to eventually unlock the ability to use all four at once using the Brain Map.
It is worth noting that outside of the core storyline and unlocking various bond scenes with characters during intermissions, that there really isn’t much in the way of side content to be found in Scarlet Nexus. While there are side-missions that can be acquired from random NPCs they all boil down to either finding enough of a random item or killing enemies in a certain way and even then the rewards for completing them are almost never worthwhile. In fact none of these side-missions even serve to expand the world as a whole which is rather disappointing.
Visuals & Audio
Bandai Namco has really outdone themselves when it comes to stylizing Scarlet Nexus as the Others players fight against make for some of the most memorable enemies in recent years as their twisted forms are amalgamations of animals, humanoids, plants, and more all set against a dystopian futuristic city with an anime twist to everything. The character models themselves are nicely handled but it is worth noting that while the Others are gorgeously designed, there is an unfortunate lack of variety to the point that players will quickly find themselves battling old foes just at a higher level. The same thing can be said regarding the various environments that the game takes players to since, as detailed as they are, are rather limited and often players will be investigating the same areas multiple times.
The title readily offers both an English and Japanese voice track that players can choose to swap between as they wish with the English voice actors really putting their all into making sure this world, filled with its unique technobabble, feels as fitting as possible. The soundtrack features some great catchy music as well as some noteworthy pieces of background music that make some of the more frequent dungeon visits a bit more tolerable.
Overall
Taking a risk is never easy, especially when it happens to be a stylized one but Bandai Namco has pulled it off here. Scarlet Nexus is an action packed game with a unique combat style and storyline that constantly keeps players on their toes but it does feel like it is held back a bit by the lack of any notable side content and expanded world. Even then, those looking for something new with plenty of flair and great in-depth combat look no further than Scarlet Nexus.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Set to Release in 2023 for Console and PC, The Game Will Be a Brand-New Story
Lesquin, France July 6, 2021 – One of the most exciting sci-fi franchises of all time is coming to a gaming screen near you! Game publisher NACON and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), a leading entertainment company focused on the production of premium film and television content across platforms, announce they have signed an agreement to launch an all-new RoboCopTM video game based on the first three films in the original RoboCop universe. The highly-anticipated game will feature a new RoboCop story and is being developed by the studio Teyon, who is behind the critically successful Terminator: Resistance. The game is planned to release in 2023 for console and PC platforms.
Discover the reveal teaser of RoboCop: Rogue City
RoboCop is a classic sci-fi action-adventure and one of Hollywood’s most iconic film franchises of all time. First released in 1987, the franchise continues to resonate with audiences around the world today. Celebrating its 35th anniversary next year, RoboCop has transcended pop culture with a robust consumer products and licensing program and a strong legacy in the gaming space.
NACON and Teyon will work with MGM to develop an authentic RoboCop game experience that is faithful to the franchise’s DNA, while immersing gamers in an original story that enables them to play as none other than RoboCop himself. In the original RoboCop film, when good cop Alex Murphy is fatally wounded by ruthless criminals, innovative doctors are able to piece him back together as an unstoppable crime-fighting cyborg called “RoboCop.”
“We’re delighted to be teaming up with MGM to offer a new vision of a popular franchise that was created over 30 years ago. This game is the perfect fit to pursue our aim of offering different gaming experiences to the widest possible audience,” said Alain Falc, CEO of NACON.
Robert Marick, Executive Vice President Global Consumer Products and Experiences, at MGM, said, “We’re very much looking forward to collaborating with NACON and Teyon to bring one of MGM’s most timeless I.P.’s back to gaming platforms with a brand-new story. The film is known for gripping action and complex storytelling, and we are excited for RoboCop fans to experience this first hand through the game.”
More information about RoboCop: Rogue City will be shared at a later date.
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Check all NACON games and accessories on the new website nacongaming.com
About NACON NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 11 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. https://corporate.nacongaming.com/
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Lesquin, 6 July 2021 – NACON is delighted to share a summary of the many announcements made at NACON Connect, its online press conference broadcast today at 7pm CEST.
Watch NACON Connect 2021 on demand here:
NACON Connect 2021 showcased some projects gamers have already been looking forward to, such as Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong (Big Bad Wolf), Steelrising (Spiders) and the highly anticipated Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (KT Racing). It also announced several games still under development: Ad Infinitum (Hekate), Clash: Artifacts of Chaos (Ace Team) and RoboCop: Rogue City (Teyon).
The NACON and RIG accessory teams were obviously there as well. They gave an exclusive first look at a range of new products that owners of Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation®5 will love.
Through some 20 trailers and brand-new content, along with appearances from special guests like Sébastien Loeb (WRC 10), The Bloody Beetroots (RiMS Racing) and professional skateboarder Daewon Song (Session.), NACON presented a catalogue offering an unprecedented variety of experiences from a video game publisher.
By placing gamers at the core of its strategy, NACON is aiming to delight the most passionate among them. Whether they are fans of racing, sport, roguelikes, action-adventure or simulators, this new edition of NACON Connect provides plenty of excitement.
* * * Descend into the darkness of Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
Galeb, one of the three playable characters in Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong (Big Bad Wolf), is a 300-year-old vampire. Just and unsentimental, Galeb plays a central role in the events that are impacting the Camarilla, the secret society that most vampires belong to. Watch the video.
Return to Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum™
Daedalic Entertainment has unveiled a new developer’s interview for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum during which Producer Harald Riegler introduces characters and environments Gollum encounters on his journey. In this stealth-action adventure, players take on the role of the iconic character to win back his Precious lost ring. Torn between two personalities, it is up to you to decide whether the darker side of Gollum takes over or if there is a spark of reason left in what once was Sméagol… Watch the video.
Steelrising, an alternate version of the French Revolution
Introduced by Jehanne Rousseau, Founder and Creative Director of the development studio Spiders, Steelrising gave us a first look at its combat gameplay, which is a core part of the experience. In this action-adventure game set in an alternate 18th-century Paris, the combat will be challenging and any error in judgement could be fatal. Watch the video.
Blood Bowl 3: are you ready to score touchdowns?
Funnier, bloodier and more spectacular than ever, Blood Bowl 3 introduced its Campaign mode through an interview with Yoann Drulhe, Lead Cinematic Artist at Cyanide. Blood Bowl 3 will be released on PC and consoles in February 2022. Watch the video.
RoboCop: Rogue City – NACON’s adaptation of an iconic franchise
You play as Alex Murphy aka RoboCop™ – part man, part machine, all cop – in this first-person shooter. Development studio Teyon is creating an original story in the franchise’s universe, in which your mission will be to protect the city of Detroit. Watch the video.
* * * Roguebook: new free content coming soon after a successful release
Following a highly successful launch on 17 June, new content is already on the horizon for Roguebook. The first free update will soon be available for the roguelike deckbuilder developed by Abrakam and co-designed by Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering™. Watch the video.
Ad Infinitum: can you survive the unexpected horrors of the war?
NACON is working with the German studio Hekate, the developers behind Ad Infinitum, a new story-driven horror game franchise. Descend into the nightmares of a First World War soldier in this first trailer, which conveys the game’s unique atmosphere. Watch the video.
Rogue Lords: the Devil is coming in September
More details about Rogue Lords (Cyanide, Leikir Studio), the diabolical roguelike where cheating is part of the game, were revealed in a new gameplay trailer, along with its PC release date: 30 September. Watch the video.
The creators of Zeno Clash return with Clash: Artifacts of Chaos
Introducing Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, a game announced at NACON Connect and developed by ACE Team, a talented Chilean studio. Explore the unique world of Zenozoik and defeat the best warriors while respecting the strange rules of the Ritual. Watch the video.
* * * Professional skateboarder Daewon Song praises the excellence of Session.
Awarded Skater of the Year in 2006 by Thrasher Magazine and inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2017, it was an honour to watch Daewon Song introduce Session., the skateboarding game from crea-atureStudios Inc. that sets a new standard for the genre. It was also a chance to announce a new update, available in early access today on Steam, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Watch the video.
New teaser for Rugby 22
NACON and Eko Software showed the first trailer for Rugby 22, which is planned for release in January 2022. Watch the video.
The Bloody Beetroots – Original music for the RiMS Racing soundtrack
To present RiMS Racing from RaceWard development studio, the microphone was handed over to Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo from the group The Bloody Beetroots, who announced his contribution to the game’s original soundtrack and the opening of preorders on consoles and PC. Watch the video.
WRC 10 – 50 years of legendary rallies with Sébastien Loeb
Nine-time world WRC champion Sébastien Loeb was the prestigious ambassador for WRC 10 (KT Racing) during the conference. NACON was delighted to welcome him as a special guest to discuss the new edition, which is celebrating 50 years of the FIA World Rally Championship. Watch the video.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will release 22 September, 2022
There was a gripping new cinematic trailer for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, which revealed the setting that the many fans of the iconic franchise will be able to explore: Hong Kong. An interview with Amaury Beyris and Alain Jarniou, Game Director and Creative Director at KT Racing respectively, revealed more details about some of the game’s features. Watch the video.
* * * NACON revisits the “life simulator” genre with the LIFE range
The LIFE range of games offers new experiences for simulation fans. Watch the video.
Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator (Cyanide) puts you at the head of a restaurant, which you need to manage from top to bottom, from supplying the kitchen to serving tables.
Hotel Life: A Resort Simulator (RingZero) is a hotel simulator that takes you behind the scenes of an idyllic holiday destination.
In Train Life: A Railway Simulator (Simteract), you drive trains, including iconic ones, and for the first time in a simulator in this genre, you also manage the development of your company. Train Life: A Railway Simulator will be available in early access on 15 July.
* * * Yannick Allaert, Head of Accessories at NACON, revisited some of this year’s highlights. He also unveiled some new projects currently under development, including new official accessories for Xbox and PlayStation®5 consoles. Watch the video.
NACON MG-X Series for smartphones – Designed for Xbox
The MG-X and MG-X PRO smartphone controllers have been specially designed to provide the ultimate experience for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The MG-X series is compatible with all Android smartphones up to 6.7 inches and will arrive in Europe and North America in fall 2021.
NACON Revolution X Pro Controller – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & PC
The Revolution X premium controller benefits from NACON’s extensive expertise in terms of features, comfort and customisation. On Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC, the Revolution X includes a wide range of manual and software customisation options, as well as Dolby Atmos for Headphones support. Arriving in fall 2021, the Revolution X will offer competitive gamers a new standard in terms of performance. Watch the video.
RIG 400 HS & RIG 500 PRO HS GEN 2 Headsets – PlayStation®5
At NACON Connect, the RIG teams were excited to give an exclusive first look at their new audio peripherals for the PlayStation®5. With two new headsets, the RIG 500 PRO HS GEN 2 and RIG 400 HS, PlayStation®5 owners can now enjoy the same unrivalled audio quality and comfort behind RIG’s global success. More details will be shared very soon.
RIG 200 HS Stream Mic for PlayStation®5
RIG is adding an officially licensed streaming microphone for PlayStation®5 to its range of products. Currently under development, the RIG 200 HS Steam Mic boasts a metallic finish and technology specifically adapted to recording and streaming voice on PlayStation®5.
NACON Daija Arcade Stick for PlayStation®5
To finish, Yannick Allaert and all NACON teams are very proud to announce the forthcoming release of a new officially licensed Daija Arcade Stick for PlayStation®5. Already available for PS4™, this arcade stick, which was developed in collaboration with professional gamer Marie-Laure ‘Kayane’ Norindr, won praise from legions of players for its ergonomics and SANWA components. NACON intends to repeat this success with a new and improved PS5™ version. * * *
About NACON NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 11 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON’s position in the market and enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages. https://corporate.nacongaming.com/
