7 JULY 2021 –  Prime Matter and Dark Crystal Games have unveiled a new gameplay trailer for Encased, the upcoming isometric dystopian sci-fi RPG scheduled to release this autumn.

The new trailer reveals scenes, characters and weapons from all three acts – including previously unseen footage from the later part of the game – highlighting the dangers and challenges players will face as they roam across the devastated landscape.

Set in an alternative 1976, a vast and inexplicable artifact – The Dome – is discovered in the remote desert and, inside, is packed to the brim with amazing technology that could advance humanity hundreds of years. And you are one of those selected to venture inside.

Players start off in one of five disciplines – science, engineering, security, management or convict –  which affects both their initial stats, specialisation and opens (or prevents) unique dialogue within the game. After entering the dome and completing the initial level, a cataclysm happens that changes what was once the bright hope of tomorrow into a desolate world of survival.

The player will fight in tactical turn-based battles, explore the vast wastelands, bunkers and settlements under the Dome. Make decisions with long-term consequences, avoid anomalies and find mysterious artifacts. Act stealthily, improve character skills and upgrade weapons.

While traveling under the Dome, the protagonist will encounter factions that are competing for power. Each of them see the future of humanity differently and this will affect the ending.

The protagonist can go through the story alone or invite unique characters into the party. For example, Yoko, a robot child on the path of self-discovery and self-identification; Sparrow, a mysterious fighter for justice, and other unconventional heroes.

Owing some of its spiritual inspiration to books like Roadside Picnic, the gameplay mechanics will appeal to RPG and survival fans alike.

Encased –  which will be a digital PC release on Steam, Epic and GOG – is currently in early access where users can experience all the first act and part of the second with the game scoring in the high seventies in user Steam reviews: https://store.steampowered.com/app/921800/Encased_A_SciFi_PostApocalyptic_RPG/

Suggested PC Specs

Minimum: WINDOWS® 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Intel® Core™ i5-3.3 GHz or better, or AMD Equivalent, 4GB RAM, : NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660m or AMD Radeon™ R7 260x (2GB of video memory)

Recommended: WINDOWS® 7, 8, 8.1, 10, : Intel® Core™ i7-3.7 GHz or better, or AMD Equivalent, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), or AMD RX 480 (8GB)

About Dark Crystal Games

Dark Crystal Games is an independent RPG studio founded in 2017 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The core of the team was formed by ex Larian devs, passionate to create their own RPG in the post-apocalyptic setting. In 2018 Dark Crystal Games launched a successful Kickstarter campaign that funded the development of the game and raised its production level. The project was promoted and developed by publisher Black Tower; three years on and Encased is almost ready to ship

About Prime Matter

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing gaming development talent all around the globe.

Working across projects of all styles, scopes and sizes, single-player, co-op to live ops, from producing to publishing, from ambitious teams taking their first step that need full support without compromising their dream to larger established successful studios searching that next step in the global market and building of brands.

Prime Matter looks to lead through creativity, expression and passion, with games that will grip and enchant with enthralling story-telling, winning an audience with its incredible moments and larger-than-life experiences. Prime Matter is a proud member of the Koch Media Group.

About Koch Media

The Koch Media Group is a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, VR games, gaming hardware and merchandise.

The group’s publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, America, Australia and Asia. Koch Media has more than 25 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become a leading global publishing partner. The Koch Media Group runs a multi-label strategy with fully owned publishing units such as Prime Matter, Deep Silver, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt, publishing games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.

Additionally, as global publishing partner Koch Media has formed long-term multi-national publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, CI Games, Giants Software, Kalypso, Koei Tecmo, Konami, Paradox, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Techland, Tripwire, Warner Bros, and many others.

With its parent company in Höfen, Austria, and the Publishing HQ in Munich, Germany, Koch Media owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.

The Koch Media Group owns nine game development studios: Deep Silver Volition (Champaign, IL / USA), Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham / UK), Deep Silver Fishlabs (Hamburg / Germany), Warhorse Studios (Prague / Czech Republic), Milestone (Milan / Italy), Voxler (Paris / France) , Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Kraków, Rzeszów / Poland), Free Radical Design (Nottingham / UK) and Vertigo Games (Rotterdam /The Netherlands). Additionally, the Koch Media Group collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.

Part of the Koch Media Group is also Koch Films, a leading European independent film distributor with business primarily in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy as a cinema, TV, online and Home Entertainment distributor. The Koch Media Group also owns Gaya Entertainment, a leading video game merchandise company in Munich, Germany, and the Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Koch Media is an Embracer Group company

by Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

Summer is heating up and we’re ready to catch the next wave of great Xbox Game Pass games coming soon. Now let’s kick back, relax, and enjoy these new arrivals!

Coming Soon

Tropico 6 (Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – July 8

In Tropico 6, travel to a beautiful island state and make it your own. In this sixth entry in the series, build and manage a whole archipelago, decking it out with your choice of buildings, industry, and décor. Will you rule your people as a generous statesman or ruthless dictator? The choice is yours.

UFC 4 (Console) EA Play – July 8

Shape your legend with EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – UFC 4 is coming soon to The Play List! Members can enter the Octagon on July 8 to create and customize their own character and start their journey from unknown amateur to UFC superstar.

Bloodroots (Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – July 15

Left for dead by a colourful group of bandits, you will chain killing sprees to exact revenge on the treacherous Mr. Black Wolf. Improvise your kills with utterly everything you can get your hands on from carrots to plasma guns.

Farming Simulator 19 (Console, and PC) – July 15

The ultimate farming simulation returns! Become a modern farmer and develop your farm on two huge American and European environments, filled with exciting new farming activities, crops to harvest and animals to tend to.

DLC / Game Updates

A Plague Tale: Innocence Series X|S Update – Available now
Follow the critically acclaimed tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history. Now optimized for Xbox Series X|S with native 4K resolution on Series X, 60 FPS, 3D audio support and improved visuals.

Astroneer: Jet Powered Update – Available now
Explore and reshape distant worlds! Astroneer is set during the 25th century Intergalactic Age of Discovery, where Astroneers explore the frontiers of outer space, risking their lives in harsh environments to unearth rare discoveries and unlock the mysteries of the universe. The Jet Powered Update adds new missions that will help you unlock new vehicles including a VTOL and Hoverboard!

Black Desert: Corsair Update – Available now
Need a break from the heat wave? Meet Corsair! She’s a commander of the sea and the newest class in Black Desert. This seafarer can ride the (actual) waves, use tsunamis, and transform into a mermaid to defeat her enemies. Her combat style mimics the waves of the ocean – unpredictable, unique, and cool. If you want to spend summertime surfing with dolphins, Corsair is the right choice for the adventure!

Destiny 2 Solstice of Heroes Event – Available until August 3
Soar across the EAZ in search of glory and treasure. Each day features a buff based on either Solar, Arc, Void, or – for the first time – Stasis. New Prism days let you choose the element you charge! Earn Legendary Solstice armour and upgrade it until it begins to glow, revealing the power within.

Doom Eternal Series X|S Update – Available now
Attention all Slayers! Patch 6 for Doom Eternal is available now, bringing you free next-gen upgrades that unlock the full capabilities of the Xbox Series X|S. Plus, duke it out online in the new Battlemode arena, Corrosion, and put your skills to the test in the Taras Nabad Master Level. Learn more here!

Gears 5 Operation 7 Free Update – Available now
Strike at the enemy in Gears 5 Operation 7, available now. Jump in with four new characters, a brand-new map and a rebuilt classic map, renewed Tour of Duty and more.

Grounded Shroom and Doom Update – Available now
Grounded’s Shroom and Doom content update brings the game’s terrifying first boss, mushroom building materials to build castles from, and long-awaited community requests like sitting and, best of all, pet companions! Learn more about what’s new in the backyard here.

Greedfall Series X|S Update – Available now
Enjoy exploring uncharted lands filled with magic, secrets, and creatures in 4K resolution, highly improved visual, fast loading and 60 FPS in performance mode! With diplomacy, deception, and force, influence a living world to shape your story and forge your own destiny. Read more here.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: Year 6 Season 2 North Star – Available now
Xbox Game Pass members save 10%! North Star will soon ascend in the Siege’s constellation! Discover more about our new operator Thunderbird, the Favela map rework, and much more including some balancing changes, a new death experience animation and the new seasonal “Medicant” skin bundle. Learn more about North Star here.

Zombie Army 4: Abaddon Asylum DLC – Available now
Xbox Game Pass members save 10%! Abaddon Asylum is the second mission in Return to Hell, a haunting three-part Zombie Army 4: Dead War campaign! Explore a terrifying new location in this 1-4 player mission, complete with terrifying enemies, collectibles and more! Plus, grab the free Left4Dead Character Pack 1 containing Bill, Francis, Louis, and Zoey! You may have survived a damned facility – but the dead don’t care! Read more here.

Fallout 76 Steel Reign Update – July 7
Steel Reign is the final chapter in the Brotherhood of Steel storyline. Tensions have never been higher between Paladin Rahmani and Knight Shin. The appearance of Super Mutants and people disappearing are only adding to the divide. Will you take the side of justice or remain committed to duty?Read more here.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Here are lots of brand-new Perks to go claim in the Perks Gallery on your Xbox Console, Xbox App on Windows 10 PC, or the Xbox Game Pass Mobile app for iOS/Android.

Space Jam: A New Legacy The Game – Play It First with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Play as LeBron, Bugs, and Lola as they face the Goon Squad in a wacky basketball beat-em up! Claim this Perk to get exclusive early access and play the full game right now through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks. Space Jam: A New Legacy – The Game will be available as a free-to-play title for all players starting July 15 through the Microsoft Store on your Xbox console.

Black Desert – Special Gift Bundle – Available now

The new class Corsair joins the battlefield of Black Desert! Gear up with this special bundle and embark on an adventure you’ve been longing for!

Apex Legends – Protocol 3 Weapon Charm – Available now

Show the competition what you’re made of with your new Protocol 3 Weapon Charm, brought to you by EA Play! Equip this to your favourite weapon and battle for glory, fame, and fortune in style.

World of Warships: Legends – Navy of the Realm – Available now

Get a pair of powerful early German warships in the new Xbox Game Pass bundle: Navy of the Realm. You’ll get your hands on the fan favourite cruiser Königsberg and the destroyer G-101 along with plenty of Camouflages and Boosters.

Xbox Game Pass Quests

Starting on July 6, Xbox Game Pass members can earn 2x points for completing Quests built around select games celebrating 20 Years of Xbox. Check for Quests on your Xbox console or the Xbox Game Pass mobile app. You can also learn more about Xbox Game Pass Quests here.

Check out the new July monthly Quests you can start today:

• Grand Theft Auto V (150 points): Steal 5 cars
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (150 points): Play 1 training grounds match
• Grounded (225 points): Earn one achievement

Leaving Soon

It’s time to prepare to say farewell to the games leaving the Xbox Game Pass library on July 15, including a batch of EA Play games to be delisted from The Play List on July 14.

Remember, you can use your Game Pass member discount to save up to 20% on games leaving the Game Pass library, while PC and Ultimate members can save up to 10% on the EA Play games.

July 14 (EA Play)

• EA Sports UFC (Console)
• EA Sports UFC 2 (Console)

July 15

• Endless Space 2 (PC)
• Downwell (PC)
• CrossCode (Console, and PC)

That concludes our first round of July announcements! We’ll be back later this month with more news, but in the meantime be sure to follow @XboxGamePass and @XboxGamePassPC on Twitter to get a heads up when these games are available to play. From there, you can download these games straight to your Xbox console or PC from the Xbox Game Pass mobile app! See you next time!

Bonuses for all Showdown Modes and A Land of Opportunities

Red Dead Online: Blood Money Coming July 13, First Trailer Tomorrow

To gear up for the launch of the new Red Dead Online: Blood Money update on July 13, take advantage of special bonuses in Red Dead Online all this week, including 2X RDO$ and XP on all Showdown Modes and A Land of Opportunities.

Winning in any Showdown Mode this week will earn players a Reward for 30% off an Ability Card Upgrade, while completing “Kill Them, Each and Every One” from A Land of Opportunities will earn you a Reward for a free Treasure Map. Moonshiners above Rank 100 who win any Showdown Mode will also receive an Offer for 3 Gold Bars off any Moonshine Bar Theme.

Long tenured Red Dead Online players that are Rank 100 or above will receive an Offer for 50% off a select Weapon, while everybody who purchases a weapon modification this week will get an Offer for 40% off a select Revolver as well as 200 Express Revolver Ammo. Plus all Weapon and Pamphlet Rank requirements at the Fence have been lifted this week.

New Red Dead Online: Blood Money Details Tomorrow
Look out for a host of new details about next week’s Red Dead Online: Blood Money here at the Newswire on July 7, including the debut of the official trailer.

Discounts

• 40% off all Ability Cards
• 30% off all Turkoman Horses
• 40% off all Weapon Crafting Pamphlets
• 30% off all Sniper Rifles
• 30% off all Shotguns
• 40% off all Weapons at the Fence
• 30% off all Bandoliers
• 30% off all Hats

Prime Gaming Benefits

Red Dead Online players who connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account to Prime Gaming before August 2 will receive Rewards for a free Saddle, 2 free Treasure Maps, and an Offer for 40% off the Fast Travel Post.

Check Rockstar Support for details and limitations.

Koch Media and SNK Corporation partner up for the release of The King of Fighters XV

Sydney, Australia, 7 July 2021 – Today, Koch Media, a leading global publishing partner, and SNK Corporation, the Japanese video game developer and publisher, announced their partnership for the upcoming release of The King of Fighters XV, the latest and upcoming addition to the renowned fighting game franchise. The King of Fighters XV will be launching on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Epic Game Store. 

The King of Fighters series is back six years after the release of KOF XIV with a great sequel that will undoubtedly live up to the fighting legacy the franchise has carried since its first release in 1994.

Stephan Schmidt, Director of Global Partner Publishing at Koch Media adds: “We are delighted to be working again with SNK and excited to support them with our local publishing offices around the world. It is particularly thrilling to be able to work on such a legendary fighting game franchise. I’m convinced that we’ll achieve great things together for the digital and physical release of this title.”

Since the original announcement of The King of Fighters XV, fans all over the world have celebrated every subsequent character that has been announced. Koch Media and SNK will be bringing The King of Fighters XV to new heights, allowing the latest title to pave the way towards a new future of fighting games.

Yasuyuki Oda, Chief Producer of The King of Fighters at SNK Corporation adds: “We are very pleased to work again with our overseas publishing partner, Koch Media. Through Koch Media’s global network, I believe we can achieve fantastic results by spreading the appeal of The King of Fighters to game fans all around the world.”

For more information on The King of Fighters XV, please visit https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/games/kof-xv and follow SNK on Twitter and Facebook.

©SNK CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

“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.

***

About Koch Media

The Koch Media Group is a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, VR games, gaming hardware and merchandise.

The group’s publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, America, Australia and Asia. Koch Media has more than 25 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become a leading global publishing partner. The Koch Media Group runs a multi-label strategy with fully owned publishing units such as Deep Silver, Milestone, Vertigo Games and Ravenscourt which publish games for consoles, PC and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels.

Additionally, as global publishing partner Koch Media has formed long-term multi-national publishing collaborations with numerous game publishers including Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Sega, Square Enix, Warner Bros and many others. With its parent company in Höfen, Austria, and the Publishing HQ in Munich, Germany, Koch Media owns local publishing companies in Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, the United States as well as Japan and Hong Kong.

The Koch Media Group owns ten game development studios: Deep Silver Volition (Champaign, IL / USA), Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (Nottingham / UK), Deep Silver Fishlabs (Hamburg / Germany), Warhorse Studios (Prague / Czech Republic), Milestone (Milan / Italy), Voxler (Paris / France), Vertigo Games (Rotterdam /The Netherlands) and Flying Wild Hog (Warsaw, Rzeszów, Cracow / Poland). Additionally, the Koch Media Group collaborates with numerous independent development studios around the world.  

Part of the Koch Media Group is also Koch Films, a European independent film distributor with business primarily in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy as a cinema, TV, online and Home Entertainment distributor. The Koch Media Group also owns Gaya Entertainment, a leading video game merchandise company in Munich, Germany, and the Quality Assurance Facility in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Koch Media is an Embracer Group company.

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.

Sydney, Australia – July 7, 2021 – Microids and Oddworld Inhabitants are thrilled to announce that the PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4 retail editions of Oddworld: Soulstorm are now available! The game is also available digitally on the PlayStation Store and Epic Games Store. Fans who have pre-ordered the Day One Oddition or Collector’s Oddition at participating retailers will also get access to the game’s Original Soundtrack and a Digital Artbook.

The Day One Oddition features the game in a collectible metal case.

The Collector’s Oddition consists of:

• A Unique Collector’s Box
• Oddworld: Soulstorm’s standard edition for PlayStation® 4 or PlayStation® 5
• A collectible metal case
• An exclusive 22 cm figurine of Abe, Mudokon hero
• A premium 160-page artbook by Pix’n Love Publishing
• An exclusive Mining Company keychain
• Three art prints
• Ancient Mudokon Tribal stickers
• Abe’s hand tattoo

***

About Oddworld: Soulstorm

Oddworld: Soulstorm is the bigger, badder, bolder action-adventure platforming sequel to the renowned video game series, and the explosive second installment in the quintology. You play as Abe, the reluctant Mudokon hero whose actions sparked an uprising and now must lead his fellow Mudokons in their fight for freedom against the Magog Cartel and the planet’s ruling power.

Abe will struggle for survival against the planet’s ruling and well-funded power. They are armed with all means of oppression, from propaganda to biological to ruthless deadly force.

Explore massive cinematic scale and 2.9D environments filled with breathtaking visuals. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, arm your followers, solve puzzles, and attempt to safely deliver all of Abe’s 1,000+ followers to freedom.

  Find Microids on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin

Or at http://www.microids.com/

Watch all our videos on YouTube

More information on the Oddworld franchise can be found here!

Follow them on Facebook,  Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter

*** 

The German developer and publisher gave viewers a glimpse at the diverse environments and inhabitants of Middle-earth

Hamburg, Germany, July 6th, 2021 – Daedalic Entertainment has unveiled a new developer’s interview for The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum™ during today’s NACON Connect livestream, where the game’s co-publisher showcased new trailers and footage of its upcoming titles. The stealth-action adventure is set to release in 2022 on PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch and tells the story of the ring from Gollum’s perspective. 

Watch the full video here:

Torn between two personalities, Gollum is no traditional hero. In the new developer video, Producer Harald Riegler introduces characters and environments Gollum encounters on his journey, like the inhuman Mouth of Sauron in Mordor or the Elvenking Thranduil from Mirkwood and explains that their design is as true to the source material as possible. 

The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum™ is a story-driven action adventure, where players take on the role of Gollum to win back his precious lost ring. They have to climb, jump and sneak through dangerous areas, avoid getting caught and try to keep the upper hand. Gollum is skillful and sly, but also torn by his split personality. 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.

The Lord of the Rings™: Gollum™ is developed by Daedalic Entertainment in official partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises and co-published by Daedalic and NACON.

About Daedalic Entertainment

Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops high-quality games for all platforms. The company has a diverse line-up that ranges from classic adventures, RPGs, and strategy titles to multiplayer games. Its titles include Shadow Tactics: Blade of the Shogun, Barotrauma, Iratus: Lord of the Dead, Deponia, Unrailed and Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be the first of a series of games set in Middle-earth that are being developed by Daedalics award winning in-house development team.  

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 9 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/

About Middle-earth Enterprises

Inspired by a deep appreciation for the fictional world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth Enterprises is dedicated to working with businesses providing quality products in accordance with best green business and sustainability practices, including fair trade, equality in the workplace, and a commitment to protect our earth, its wondrous beauty and the viability of every living creature.

The Saul Zaentz Company dba Middle-earth Enterprises has been producing and licensing films, merchandise and stage productions based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit for more than 40 years.  With headquarters located in Berkeley, California, its website may be found at: https://www.middleearth.com/

VIEW THE TALES OF ARISE OPENING ANIMATION NOW FROM BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. has released the opening animation movie from their upcoming JRPG title, Tales of ARISE. Animated by famed Japanese animation studio, Ufotable, the opening movie also features the song HIBANA from the Japanese rock band Kankaku Pierrot.

The opening animation video can be seen below:

Tales of ARISE will be available September 10, 2021 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via STEAM.

Tales of ARISE follows the story of Alphen, an iron-masked individual whose home planet of Dahna has been enslaved and stripped of natural resources for the past 300 years by the nearby planet of Rena. As Alphen fights to free his people he encounters Shionne, a girl from Rena who is on the run from her countrymen. Both Alphen and Shionne will be joined throughout journey by a supporting cast of characters to help in their fight for freedom.  

Tales of ARISE carries the DNA of the much-loved Tales of franchise while also introducing advanced graphics and an evolved combat system to help push the series into the future. A new “Atmospheric Shader” developed by BANDAI NAMCO Studios adds subtle touches to the look and feel of the world evoking a hand-drawn painting. Combat has also evolved, allowing for a better sense of spectacle and direct player feedback based upon their actions. The graphics, combat system, characters, and story all work together to present a vivid and realized world that will immerse players as they are transported to the many environments and biomes they will explore throughout their time with Tales of ARISE.

New player designed Warframe, in-game collectible comic-book quest and Corpus Lich system leads list of gameplay additions and improvements

LONDON, Ontario – July 6, 2021 – An army of cold, calculating killers with mechanized hounds are taking over the Origin System as Warframe, the long-running cooperative looter shooter, introduces the Sisters of Parvos update. The new content update extends the storyline, features a new Warframe, an in-game comic-book collection quest, a Corpus Lich system with new rewards, several new customization options and much more.  The Warframe update is available for free beginning today on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

“At Digital Extremes we’re constantly evolving existing systems as well as building new content to appeal to both active and new players,” said Sheldon Carter, chief operating officer, Digital Extremes.  “With the Sisters of Parvos update we’re challenging our active players to confront the Sisters to unlock new rewards.  With the addition of Yareli, new players can quickly acquire our newest Warframe to help save the Ventkids of Fortuna.  Not to mention there is an expansive amount of new loot and cosmetics for all players.”

Yareli Profile Trailer: 

Sisters of Parvos Trailer:

In this update, the perennial threat of Parvos Granum and the Corpus Corporation expands further into the Origin System. This time, he has created the sisters he never had, an Executive Board of cruel, corporate killers outfitted with high-tech Corpus weaponry. 

Players can battle the Sisters as the new player designed, water-bending Warframe, Yareli who creates create blades of ice, powerful geysers and even an aqua board to protect her wards, the orphaned Ventkids ofFortuna. Yareli is one of the most accessible new Warframes and will be available to acquire by players who have completed Vox Solaris.  

A huge collection of improvements added in the Sisters of Parvos update continue to evolve the Warframe experience, making it bigger, better and more fun to play. Highlights include:

• New Corpus Lich System with Weapon Rewards
• Kuva Lich System Enhancements with New Battles and Rewards
• New Void Storms Rewards and New Syndicate Armor
• Parazon Rework and Melee Weapon Rebalance
• Companion Changes, Helminth Additions and Legendary Rank #1
• New Steel Path Rewards, Ember Deluxe and New TennoGen Bundles
• Supporter Pack Available as an Optionable Purchase

The sixth annual TennoCon fan celebration event will take place on Saturday, July 17 with a suite of new Warframe game-related reveals.

About Warframe
Warframe is an award-winning, cooperative, third-person, looter shooter with frenetic and visceral combat, set in a constantly evolving and expanding sci-fi universe. Players collect and master a sprawling arsenal of different Warframes – each with their own unique abilities – weapons, companions, mechs and even pilotable starships, and personalize them to look and play exactly the way you want with an endless array of customization options.

Warframe can be enjoyed solo or in teams of up to four players. Players embark on cinematic quests across dozens of planets, three Open Worlds, and even the depths of deep space, battling a nefarious, ancient evil that threatens the fate of the Origin System.

To keep up with the latest updates, be sure to follow Warframe on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Download Warframe on Steam PC, Epic Games Store, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo™ Switch. 

ABOUT DIGITAL EXTREMES
Founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, Digital Extremes ranks as one of the world’s top independent video game development studios. Originating with the co-creation of Epic Games’ multi-million unit selling Unreal® franchise including Unreal and Unreal Tournament, Digital Extremes went on to develop Dark Sector®, BioShock® for the PlayStation®3, the BioShock 2 multiplayer campaign, and The Darkness® II. The studio has reached its greatest critical and commercial success with the free-to-play action game, Warframe®, boasting a global community of 60+ million registered players on PC, PS5™, PS4™, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™. For more information about Digital Extremes, visit www.digitalextremes.com. To sign up for Warframe, visit www.warframe.com.
 # # #

SAN FRANCISCO – July 6, 2021 – Today, Ubisoft announced that The Crew^® 2 Season 3 Episode 1: US Speed Tour East, the latest update brought to Ubisoft’s open world motorsports game, will be available tomorrow on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation^®4, PlayStation^®5, Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, Stadia and Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+*.

In Season 3 Episode 1: US Speed Tour East, Motorflix welcomes players to line-up for the biggest tour ever across the east coast of the United States. Each week, players will discover a new stage race from one city to another and special time attack events taking place along the way. A total of 16 new events will be available throughout the episode.

In addition, Season 3 Episode 1 brings new improvements to the game. It includes a refresh of the LIVE Summit experience with a reworked UI, implementing a more rewarding and generous competition system and extending the participation to Star level players. This new season also contains major updates to increase in-game quality-of-life, including a change in the scoring system in Stunt Mode to prevent exploits as well as an option to transfer Performance Parts from one vehicle to another, checkpoint placement improved for more than 50 races and more.

Episode 1: US Speed Tour East will be accompanied by a new Motorpass which contains exclusive vehicles such as: the Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Pulse Performance Ed. (Touring Car), the Pontiac GTO The Judge Sparrow Competition Ed. (Rally Raid), the KTM XBOW-R Spear Racing Ed. (Alpha Grand Prix), vanity items, outfits, currency packs (Crew Credits and Bucks), and more.

Separate from the Motorpass, Episode 1: US Speed Tour East will continue with its free monthly vehicle drops letting players enjoy and pilot new vehicles including the Chevrolet Corvette C2 (Street Race) and the Honda CB1000R (Street race) both available on July 14.  Players can expect more vehicle additions over the course of the Episode alongside with new vanity items.

The Crew 2 will be free to try from July 8 to July 12 on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, Stadia, Steam and Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+.

For the latest news on The Crew^® and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.

For more information about The Crew^® 2, please visit thecrewgame.com and please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/thecrewgame.usa and on Twitter at twitter.com/TheCrewGame or #TheCrew2.

*$14.99 per month. Cancel anytime.

ABOUT THE CREW® 2

Developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower, a studio based in Lyon, France, The Crew® 2 lets players experience the thrill of the American motorsports spirit inside a fully redesigned USA. The game’s playground pushes physical boundaries to let driving and open world fans test their skills in nonstop competition and exploration. From coast to coast, drivers can explore America and compete to become the greatest motorsports champion by collecting a wide variety of exotic cars, bikes, boats and planes, and dominating the motorsports scene on land, on water and in the air. They can find challenges and inspiration among four different motorsports families: street racing, off-road, pro-racing and freestyle, and will be given a broad set of options among a wide selection of vehicle types.

Now in its fourth year of live support, The Crew 2 introduced a new seasonal system, centered around a fictional new company, Motorflix, a television production company known for creating the very best motor-fueled action flicks. Players will be recruited to play the starring role in different TV series with themed episodes per Season. Every Season lasts four months and is comprised of two successive Episodes running for two months.

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: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2021 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Crew logo, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Prepare to blast and slash with the brand new Tesseract Abyss 2 update, coming soon for Oculus Quest and PCVR!

TOKYO – July 6, 2021 – Thirdverse revealed today that the Tesseract Abyss 2 update would be coming soon to its renowned VR sword-action game SWORDS of GARGANTUA. In December 2019, Thirdverse released the original Tesseract Abyss Adventure Mode expansion to much fanfare and rave reviews. This newest expansion, Tesseract Abyss 2, will be sure to provide SWORDS of GARGANTUA players with hours of sword-wielding multiplayer battle!
 
In the Tesseract Abyss 2 update, players will be faced with three new enemies – including a massive new foe, Galossus – while traversing through newly designed, more challenging and strategic battles that will put even the strongest warriors to the test. Tesseract Abyss puts players into the deepest layers of the 4D space known as the “Tesseract”. By using weapons and coins earned by playing this mode, players (single or multiplayer) will be able to continue into the abyss, gradually becoming stronger through equipment and abilities.
 
Masaru Ohnogi, Co-Founder and CBO of Thirdverse, said: “We have a very active and deeply dedicated community, and through their direct feedback we created Tesseract Abyss 2, featuring more challenges and enemies than ever before. Additionally, we heard from players that one of the most attractive features of the game is our sword combat, so we really pushed ourselves to create the best sword combat system and overall gaming experience for our current players as well as newcomers to SWORDS of GARGANTUA, and we can’t wait to see how players respond when we launch in August.”
 
SWORDS of GARGANTUA is a VR sword-action game you can experience in single-player mode or online co-op with up to 3 other players on Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, HTC VIVE COSMOS, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality devices. Players make use of various weapons and abilities to take on difficult battles along their journey. A wide variety of weapons are available, including one and two-handed swords, axes, maces, boomerangs, shields, and more. While in-game, players can use voice chat to communicate with fellow warriors while taking on enemies.
 
Key Features:

• New Challenges in Tesseract Abyss 2: Defeat three new enemies while traversing through the new, more challenging battles that await you in the Abyss.
• Realistic VR Swordsmanship: Swing, stab, crush and parry. Wield dozens of discoverable weapons and fight your way through 101 floors of enemies hell bent on stopping you from reaching the colossal end-boss, Gargantua.
• Rogue-lite Action: Each play through gives different floor advancement choices along the way; play it safe, but it’ll take more battles to reach the end, or skip to a deeper level and be cursed with major disadvantages and debuffs while fighting tougher enemies.
• Character Progression: Keep all the weapons, items, coins and stat upgrades collected through each play permanently. Take excess weapons and combine them to make stronger versions to aid in progressively difficult battles.
• Co-op Multiplayer: Play with up to three other adventurers. Call the shots with native voice chat and defeat the mighty Gargantua.

Play SWORDS of GARGANTUA on the following platforms:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/895200/Swords_of_Gargantua/
Oculus Rift: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/2001971263187898
Oculus Quest: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/3064046640291676/
VIVEPORT: https://www.viveport.com/apps/bb242289-9aca-4b5c-8f93-f3a6a51de1b3

About Thirdverse Inc.
Founded in 2020, Thirdverse Inc. (formerly Yomuneco, Inc.) is a virtual reality game development, distribution and management company based out of Tokyo, Japan. In 2019, the studio released the world’s first VR multiplayer sword-fighting action game, SWORDS of GARGANTUA. Thirdverse is also currently promoting the “Thirdverse Plan”, aiming to create a “Third Space” in the virtual metaverse. For more information visit https://www.thirdverse.io/.