New Back 4 Blood Gameplay Trailer Released at Summer Game Fest; Early Access Open Beta to Begin 6th Aug.

Warner Bros. Games and Turtle Rock Studios today released a new Back 4 Blood gameplay trailer during the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live! digital event and confirmed the upcoming Back 4 Blood Open Beta will begin with an Early Access portion from 6^th-10^th Aug. for those who pre-order the game. Players can also register at Back4Blood.com/Beta for a chance to get into the Early Access portion, but please note, registration does not guarantee Early Access entry as codes are limited. The Open Beta will continue from Aug 13^th-17^th and be available for all players. Both Open Beta portions will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation® 5, PlayStation® 4 and PC, including cross-play and cross-gen support. For more information on the Open Beta, visit Back4Blood.com/Beta.

Additionally, the Back 4 Blood E3 2021 PvP Showcase will take place on June 14 at 7 am AEST, providing an in-depth look at the game’s new PvP (player versus player) mode. Tune in to the official Back 4 Blood Twitch, YouTube or Facebook channels to watch the upcoming gameplay reveal, as well as a discussion with Turtle Rock Studios.

To view and share the official Back 4 Blood – Summer Game Fest Traile

Back 4 Blood is a first-person co-op zombie shooter from the creators of the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead franchise and features thrilling, dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay and highly variable, customisable action to keep players coming back for more. The Back 4 Blood story takes place after a catastrophic outbreak where most of humanity has either been killed or infected by the parasitic Devil Worm. Hardened by unspeakable events and emboldened to fight for the last of humanity, a group of apocalypse veterans called the Cleaners have rallied to take on the infected horrors known as the Ridden and reclaim the world.

Back 4 Blood will be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation® 5, PlayStation® 4, and PC on Oct. 12, 2021. Pre-orders will receive entry into the Early Access portion of the Open Beta from 6^th-10^th Aug, along with a bonus Fort Hope Elite Weapon Skin Pack.

To learn more about Back 4 Blood, please visit: www.Back4Blood.com or join the community conversation on Facebook (Back4Blood), Instagram (turtlerockstudios), Twitter (@Back4Blood), Twitch (Turtle Rock Studios), YouTube (Back 4 Blood), or Discord (Turtle Rock Studios).  

All assets can be found on the Warner Bros. Games Press Site. To access, please visit the following link and click the “Register Now” button: www.warnerbrosgames-press.com.

The Back 4 Blood Communications Team

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BACK 4 BLOOD™ © Turtle Rock Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BACK 4 BLOOD™ and the BACK 4 BLOOD™ logo are the trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Slamfire, Inc. throughout the world. Turtle Rock Studios® and the Turtle Rock Studios® logo are the trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Turtle Rock Studios, Inc. throughout the world. Published by WB Games Inc.

Bringing the Joy and Community of Gaming to Everyone

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief

At Xbox, our mission is simple: bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet. To achieve that, we aspire to empower everyone to play the games you want, with the people you want, anywhere you want.

Ahead of the first-ever Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on Sunday, when we will unveil our best and biggest games lineup of ever, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the importance of gaming to Microsoft and in the world. We also shared new updates on how Xbox Game Pass is changing the way we discover, connect, and play and how Xbox and all games from its 23 studios are coming to more screens.

“We believe that games, that interactive entertainment, aren’t really about hardware and software. It’s not about pixels. It’s about people. Games bring people together,” said Spencer. “Games build bridges and forge bonds, generating mutual empathy among people all over the world. Joy and community – that’s why we’re here.”

“Gaming is fundamentally aligned with our mission as a company,” said Nadella. “When you talk about Xbox’s mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, which I absolutely love, that is precisely aligned with Microsoft’s mission, which is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

“As a company, Microsoft is all-in on gaming. Gaming is the most dynamic category in the entertainment industry. Three billion consumers look to gaming for entertainment, community, creation, as well as a real sense of achievement, and our ambition is to empower each of them, wherever they play.”

“We believe that Microsoft can play a leading role in democratizing gaming and defining the future of interactive entertainment. There are really three key areas where we believe we have an incredible competitive advantage: First, our leadership in cloud computing. Second, the resources we have to build our subscription service, Xbox Game Pass. And third, our overall focus on empowering creators.”

Expanding on our quest to reach billions of players with Xbox, today we provided new updates on the success of Xbox Game Pass and what’s next for Xbox:

Xbox Game Pass is Changing the Way We Discover, Connect, and Play

• Xbox Game Pass members play 30% more genres and play 40% more games. And more than 90% of members said they played a game that they would not have tried without Game Pass.
• On average across the Game Pass library, partners see engagement go up by more than 8x when they enter Game Pass.
• Whether it’s purchasing games inside or outside of what’s available in the library, or purchasing additional content for the games they like, members spend 50% more than non-members.
• Xbox Game Pass has become a true discovery engine, a platform for connection and community, and is driving game sales. New insights we’re sharing today include:
  • Since we started our partnership with EA Play in Game Pass Ultimate, our players have been engaging with EA’s subscription service in a significant way. Compared to before the integration, EA Play has seen record usage on Microsoft platforms, driving hours played on these platforms up by more than 200%. As a result, EA’s incredible portfolio of games has reached and gained millions of new fans on the Xbox platform.
  • The new Square Enix game Outriders is in Game Pass and was also the #1 selling digital game on Xbox during its launch week and a top 10 selling digital game on Xbox in the month of April. Game Pass helped introduce millions of players to the game.
  • During launch week, MLB: The Show 21 was the biggest sports game of the past year on Xbox and the second biggest sports game of all time on Xbox. Game Pass added millions of new fans and grew Major League Baseball’s player base significantly. MLB: The Show 21 was also the #1 selling paid game on Xbox for the month of April. 

Xbox and Xbox Game Pass are Coming to More Screens

• Xbox is working with global TV manufacturers to embed the Xbox experience directly into internet-connected televisions with no extra hardware required except a controller.
• Xbox is exploring new subscription offerings for Xbox Game Pass so more players around the world can experience the most immersive and fun games across devices, geographies, and financial realities.
• Xbox is working with telecommunications providers on new purchasing models like Xbox All Access, which allows consumers to buy both a console and Game Pass for a low monthly price, rather than spending money up front.
• Xbox is building its own streaming devices for cloud gaming to reach gamers on any TV or monitor without the need for a console at all.
• Cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will launch in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan later this year.
• In the next few weeks, cloud gaming on the browser will open to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With Edge, Chrome, and Safari support, players will be a click away from gaming on almost any device. 
• We’re in the final stages of updating our Microsoft datacentres around the world with our latest generation of hardware, the Xbox Series X. This means gamers will see faster load times, improved frame rates, and experience Xbox Series X|S optimized games.
• Later this year, we’ll add cloud gaming directly into the Xbox app on PC and integrate it into our console experience to light up scenarios like try before you download. 

An Incredible Pipeline of Games

• With more than 23 studios worldwide creating games for Xbox, our goal is to release at least one new, first party game into Game Pass every quarter. Role playing games, shooters, strategy titles, adventure games, and more are all being built by our first party teams to ensure that there is a steady stream of compelling exclusive content to explore.
• Our independent developer program ID@Xbox has earned developers over $2B dollars since the program’s inception, with over 2000 titles launched and many more on the way. This model is now being used for ID@Azure, allowing independent devs to build cloud-based experiences. These programs bring new voices from diverse backgrounds into the world of game development.

As Phil Spencer noted when he opened the day, the team knows that achieving its mission is not going to be easy, and it has a long way to go. But he believes that only Microsoft can bring to bear the global scale, the vast wellsprings of technical innovation, the financial resources and the deep, decades-long legacy in video games required to truly bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone.

To learn more about the next, incredible wave of games you’ll be enjoying soon, please join us on Monday, June 14 at 03AM AEST for the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase.

GEARBOX PUBLISHING AND NORSFELL GAMES’ TRIBES OF MIDGARD: DELUXE EDITION ANNOUNCES 30^TH JULY AUSTRALIAN LAUNCH

Gather your Viking tribe for an epic journey

Sydney, Australia – 11^th June 2021: The end is nigh, and it is up to you to save Midgard! Norsfell Games and Gearbox Publishing today announced the co-op action survival RPG Tribes of Midgard: Deluxe Edition will launch 30^th July on PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4 in Australia. Hack and slash through enemies, monsters and Jötnar (Giants), all to thrive in the wilderness as you collect the resources necessary to defend your village from a nightly invasion of Helthings. Your tribe’s might will be tested in two different game modes: a session-based Saga Mode and an endless Survival Mode.

Check out the trailer here

Grab your axe and pre-order the Tribes of Midgard: Deluxe Edition, featuring platform-exclusive armour, weapons and pets, available soon at Australian retailers for a suggested retail price of AUD $59.95.

Tribes of Midgard is set in the colourful world of the ancient Norse. Since the dawn of the Nine Realms, the Seeds of the World Tree Yggdrasil have protected and nourished Midgard – what we know as Earth. These seeds are now scattered and hidden throughout the realm. Ancient evils and enemies of Asgard seek to extinguish these flickering remnants of life to bring about Ragnarök – the end of the world. Your mission? Protect the Seeds, Viking!

You’ll take control of an Einherjar, a glorious Viking hero in Valhalla, hand-picked by the Valkyries to protect the Seeds and save Midgard. Tribes of Midgard is designed from the ground up with both solo and co-op play in mind, so bring as many as nine other Einherjar with you – the game automatically balances the challenge based on your party size. You’ll work together to bolster your defences, venture into the unknown wilderness, defeat monsters and Giants, and more! Choose among eight different classes and numerous combat styles to suit your playstyle.

“Tribes of Midgard is the right kind of game for anyone who wants to test their Viking skills. People who want to play solo can face a great challenge on their own, and folks who want to play with friends will have a blast – we think we’ve found the perfect balance,” says Julian Maroda, Co-Founder, CEO, and Creative Director at Norsfell. “We’ve poured our hearts and souls into this game, and what came out is a bright, lively world with engaging, class-based co-op combat that players can explore and survive together.”

Tribes of Midgard key features:

• An Ever-Changing World to Explore: A vast, procedurally-generated world filled with ancient relics, daunting dungeons and treacherous enemy camps. Midgard’s regions are home to unique weather effects that impact your survival, and during the game’s day-night cycle, fearsome foes emerge in the darkness.  
• Unique game modes:
  • Saga Mode: players build, craft and fight their way to the ultimate confrontation against epic world bosses before Fimbulwinter – the prophesied endless winter that signals Ragnarök’s arrival. This mode will receive seasonal updates that add new content, bosses and more on a regular basis.
  • Survival Mode: a survival-focused sandbox that challenges players with defending their village against a constant flow of enemies that become stronger the longer they survive. Parameters selected affect the Season XP earned. The World is saved when you exit and can be revisited.
• Classic Top-Down Combat: Hack-and-slashing Viking action with an isometric look and feel, built in a stunning 3D environment.
• Crafting and Building: Craft legendary gear, build structures to traverse difficult terrain and share resources with your companions.
• Progression, Loot and Treasure: A rewarding progression system based on levelling up across eight specialised classes, crafting and looting stronger weapons and armour, and collecting over 30 different rune modifiers that can make you the ultimate Viking warrior.
• Challenging Boss Battles: Giants that reign over the land with their terrifying stature will arrive at your village gates every few days. They can crush the underprepared in a single blow, so make sure you’re ready.
• Seasonal Content: Continuous updates and seasonal content to keep Midgard fresh, maintaining an ever-evolving world that lets you live out the myth of Ragnarök in all its aspects.

Come, Einherjar – Midgard needs you. Valhalla can wait!

For more information on Tribes of Midgard, visit www.tribesofmidgard.com

About Norsfell

Norsfell is a game developer based in Montreal, Canada. Like the great Vikings from the past, they too sail over the oceans, helped by the gods. The studio creates games for all platforms that have already been downloaded more than 1 million times and won numerous awards. Norsfell was founded in 2013 with one mission in mind: to forge new genres that bring people together. Learn more at www.norsfell.com.

About Gearbox Publishing

Founded in 2016, Gearbox Publishing was established with the goal of helping developers around the world bring their products to market while retaining their unique creative visions. The mission began with the critically-acclaimed Homeworld Remastered Collection for PC and has since been followed by many partnerships that include tiny Build’s Hello Neighbor, System Era Softworks’ Astroneer, Compulsion Games’ We Happy Few, Hopoo’s Risk of Rain 2 and Counterplay Games’ PlayStation 5 launch title, Godfall. Gearbox Publishing remains committed to its mission to entertain the world and become the most developer-friendly publisher in the industry. The Gearbox Entertainment Company is a proud member of the Embracer Group AB family of companies, which is publicly traded at Nasdaq First North (EMBRAC B). For more information, visit www.Gearbox.com.

WELCOME TO TWO POINT CAMPUS – ENROL NOW TO JOIN THE CLASS OF 2022

Build your University, your way!

Sydney, Australia – 11^th June 2021: SEGA® Europe Ltd. and Two Point Studios™ are excited to reveal that Two Point Campus™, the sequel to the critically acclaimed management sim Two Point Hospital™, is coming to PC and consoles simultaneously in 2022! Create the campus of your dreams, shape the lives of your students, and manage everything in between!

In Two Point Campus, you’ll be tasked with building and running your very own campus environment, where the decisions you make will shape the lives of the students you enrol and the staff you hire. For the first time, build in the great outdoors as you develop your very own campus grounds, buildings, and surroundings. Lay down dorms, pathways, hedgerows and more with new easy-to-use creative tools. The only limit is your imagination (and your in-game bank balance).

The fun doesn’t stop there! The people of Two Point County have slightly different priorities when it comes to education, meaning your students get to enjoy a wide range of hilariously unusual courses such as Knight School, where they’ll learn jousting and practise the noble art of chivalry. The less martially inclined can hone their skills in Gastronomy, and collaborate on all sorts of oversized culinary delights, like gigantic pizzas and equally humongous pies.

However, it’s not all about serious education – you’ll also need to nurture your students, explore their personalities, and fulfil all their wants and needs! Surround them with friends, help them develop relationships and make sure they balance everyday schoolwork with extracurricular delights like gigs, societies, and sports. Academia has never been more appealing!

“We hope that the incredible Two Point community will love all the new creative freedom that Two Point Campus will bring and that new players will be intrigued by its setting and the quirky world we’re trying to build, packed with our trademark humour and charm”, said Gary Carr, Co-founder and Creative Director at Two Point Studios.

Like Two Point Hospital, Two Point Campus is a charming, accessible, and deep management sim but now in a brand new setting.

For more information about Two Point Campus head to www.twopointcampus.com, where you can also sign up for County Pass, which gives you a free coveted in-game item at launch. You can follow the game on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For more information about SEGA Europe, log on to www.sega.co.uk and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube on Twitter.

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

DOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

NEW ENCASED TRAILER REVEALS FIVE DISIPLINES WITHIN THE GAME

FRIDAY, 11 JUNE 2021 Prime Matter and Dark Crystal Games have unveiled the new trailer for Encased, the upcoming isometric dystopian sci-fi RPG scheduled to release this autumn; you can watch it here

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.

The catch, because of course there’s a catch, is that while living creatures can enter the dome, they can never leave; only inanimate and non-organic material can go outside of the dome. So once you’re in, you’re in.

The game, 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.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/921800/Encased_A_SciFi_PostApocalyptic_RPG/

Timeline

Encased started out as a Kickstarter campaign in 2017 and has snowballed into something of an RPG epic.

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 everything inside the dome.

We’re not going to give too much away #NoSpoilers suffice to say that the imperfect world under the dome becomes a dystopian challenge of quite epic proportions. And, as you would expect, is packed to the gunwales with quests, items, crafting and everything you would expect from a top-notch RPG.

Owing some of its spiritual inspiration to books like Roadside Picnic, the intent had been to release the game across all platforms but, as development progressed, it became apparent that the complexities and depth of the game meant the team needed to focus all their efforts on getting the first platform right and then looking at either ports or bespoke console versions after that.

Encased was one of the key reveals when Koch Media launched its new premium gaming label and will see Koch responsible for digital distribution, sales and marketing of Encased.

Operating out of Koch Media’s head quarter in Munich, Prime Matter is a dynamic mix of seasoned industry veterans and enthusiastic fresh faces creating an incredible team of diverse multi-cultured gaming experts.

Working in conjunction with Koch Media’s global publishing offices and development  partners – and headed by industry stalwart Mario Gerhold – Prime Matter will 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. 

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 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 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 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

House of Ashes, the brand-new game in The Dark Pictures Anthology will release on October 22, 2021 on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Experience moments of tension and terror alone in single player mode, with your friends through 2 player online shared story or with up to 5 players in the couch-friendly movie night mode.

Iraq, 2003. In the shadow of the Zagros mountains a military unit comes under fire from Iraqi forces. The resulting firefight causes an earth tremor where both sides fall into the ruins of a buried Sumerian temple. With all communication severed, our protagonists are trapped in a terrifying underworld they must navigate to escape – unaware that something ancient and evil has awakened in the shadows and has found a new prey to hunt.

Horrific discoveries and impossible decisions now face the survivors as they strive to escape the terrifying threat they awakened. Will they each prioritize their own survival, or put aside their fears and personal rivalries to fight together as one against these underworld monsters?

Check out the latest trailer revealing more about the underworld story of House of Ashes here

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will be available in Standard and Pazuzu editions (BNE Store Only), and will also be included in the upcoming Triple Pack bundle

• The Pazuzu Edition, includes House of Ashes game, the Pazuzu Edition box, an exclusive underworld creature figurine (9x9x10cm), a metal Eclipse pin, exclusive art print, stickers and access to the pre-order bonus: Curator’s Cut.

• The Triple Pack is a bundle of Man of Medan, Little Hope and House of Ashes games. It also includes a 4-disc steelbook, a Dark Pictures cloth map, 3 pins from The Dark Pictures and access to the pre-order bonus: Curator’s Cut.

• Pre-order bonus:

Day-1 access to The Curator’s Cut, opening up previously unavailable scenes with different playable characters and outcomes.

The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of stand-alone, branching cinematic horror games, designed to present a new terrifying experience on a regular basis. Each game is unconnected and will feature a brand-new story, setting and new cast of characters.

For more information about The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes or other BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe products, visit our website or follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

INDIE Live Expo 2021 Sets New Record with More Than 10 Million Views

World’s Biggest Indie Showcase to Return This Winter

TOKYO – June 10, 2020 – INDIE Live Expo 2021, the digital showcase connecting indie game fans worldwide which has highlighted more than 800 new indie titles across three shows, celebrates its most successful event yet, with more than 10.7 million views around the world watching the Saturday, June 5 event on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Bilibili in English, Japanese, and Chinese.

INDIE Live Expo 2021’s highlights included the announcement of Wizardry: The Five Ordeals’ June 18 Steam Early Access release date, Chivalry 2’s June 24 release in Japan, and the premiere of a new trailer for cinematic adventure novel fault – milestone two side: below. The developers of Craftopia unveiled Palworld, a brand-new, multiplayer, open-world survival crafting game about befriending and putting to work mysterious creatures known as “Pals.”

Additional reveals include the surprise Steam Early Access release of LOST EPIC, a gorgeous 2D side-scrolling action RPG with fast-paced battles from Team EARTH WARS, whose game EARTH’S DAWN sold more than 300,000 copies. PLAYISM announced it will publish The Good Life, the murder mystery RPG co-developed by SWERY’s White Owls Inc. for PC, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.

INDIE Live Expo 2021, the third event in the biannual series of showcases, continued the wide reach and impressive growth of the show, especially in English. INDIE Live Expo has achieved more than 28 million views to date in English, Japanese and Chinese broadcasts across multiple global broadcast programs.

INDIE Live Expo will return this year with INDIE Live Expo 2021 Winter, featuring more reveals of upcoming games, new information on previously-announced titles, and features of noteworthy games available now. INDIE Live Expo Awards will also return for this show, recognizing the latest and greatest in independent video games from around the world.

More than 300 games were featured during the show, including more than a dozen INDIE Live Premieres, media-chosen INDIE Picks, and hundreds of 15-second INDIE Waves features of games for console, PC, mobile, and even the classic MSX system. Sponsors for this event included Cygames, Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Arc System Works, Koch Media, Phoenixx, top Japanese multimedia companies Kodansha and Shueisha, and many more.

“The growth we have seen between each Indie Live Expo has been phenomenal, and it is all thanks to the developers who submitted, the sponsors who support our show, and everyone who watches,” said Ryuta Konuma, Founder, Ryu’s Office. “Your passion inspires us to keep raising the bar, and we look forward to showcasing even more amazing indie projects when INDIE Live Expo 2021 Winter takes place later this year.”

INDIE Live Expo 2021’s full five hours showcase VOD can be rewatched in English via YouTube.

Developers interested in information about future INDIE Live Expo events and opportunities can sign up for the INDIE Live Expo Letter here.

For more information, please visit theINDIE Live Expo website, follow @INDIELiveExpoEN on Twitter, and search for #INDIELiveExpo on social media.

About Ryu’s Office

Ryu’s Office offers in-depth marketing solutions for smartphone, console, arcade, and PC games in Japan. They are particularly focused on the planning and production of numerous live broadcasts based out of Japan for the gaming industry.

To learn more, visit the official Ryu’s Office website.

The new video for Tales of Arise presents the region of Elde Menancia, a luxurious and diverse region of Dahna, and its capital of Viscint. Here players will meet Kisara and Dohalim, the last two characters to join Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell and Law in their quest to free Dahna from Renan oppression.

Watch the new trailer here:

Dohalim is a noble from Rena with very different feelings toward Dahnans compared to other Renans. He is a very well-mannered gentleman with a particular sensibility towards forms of art like music, poetry or antiquities. He fights using his rod with a mix of techniques and astral artes making him able to adapt to his opponents.

Kisara is a Dahnan soldier who accompanies Dohalim. One of the most powerful soldiers in the Dahnan army, she is also highly regarded by Renan soldiers, even while using their equipment. She uses her hammer and shield to deal strong damages in close combat, but can also use her shield to protect her friends while unleashing high-powered and wide-ranging defensive techniques.

In this trailer players can also discover some of the most spectacular attacks of Tales of Arise, such as Artes, one of Tales of staples, that will allow players to initiate and create devastating combos, and the Boost Strikes, very powerful attacks performed by two characters with the intent of giving a final blow to the enemies.

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

For more information on Tales of ARISE and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe visit our website or follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE AVAILABLE NOW FOR PLAYSTATION®5 CONSOLE

The Award-Winning Game Enhanced, Expanded and Bundled with Brand-New FF7R EPISODE INTERmission Featuring Yuffie as the Main Character

SYDNEY (June 11, 2021) – SQUARE ENIX Ltd. today invites players to experience the city of Midgar like never before in FINAL FANTASY® VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, the graphically enhanced and expanded version of the award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE on the PlayStation®5 (PS5™) console. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE builds on the critically-acclaimed PS4 version with new content – FF7R EPISODE INTERmission. Following Yuffie Kisaragi and her partner Sonon Kusakabe, on a dangerous mission to infiltrate Midgar – this new episode brings with it minigames to master, enemies to fight, a new summon to take to the battlefield and an exciting Photo Mode to capture and share memorable moments.

View the “FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Final Trailer”

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE takes advantage of the latest generation hardware and includes a wealth of graphical, gameplay and system enhancements for the PS5 console:

• Access to FF7R Episode INTERmission, a PS5 console exclusive adventure that brings a new perspective to the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE storyline
• Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments. Players can switch between two game modes:
  • “Graphics Mode” prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics*
  • “Performance Mode” prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
• Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
• Enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense wireless controller, with its haptic feedback integration, and enjoy dynamic bike racing with its adaptive triggers
• New difficulty settings for ‘Classic Mode’ provide new ways to play
• Jump into the action faster with optimized loading times

Players who have purchased FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE for the PlayStation®4 console can download a free PS5 console enhancement update** that includes all the next-gen visual and gameplay enhancements detailed above at no extra cost when playing on a PS5 console. FF7R EPISODE INTERmission is then available as a standalone download from PlayStation®Store, after downloading the free PS5 console enhancement update. Owners of the disc version of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE on PS4 will require a PS5 console with disc drive in order to take advantage of this digital upgrade.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE is available now from local and online retailers.

*4K display required.

**If you already own FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE for the PS4 (physical or digital version) and own a PS5, you can download the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE free PS5 enhancement update. If you have purchased FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (physical edition) for PS4 and own the PS5 digital edition (the model without a disc drive), then you are not eligible to download the upgrade. Please note the PS4 version of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE available to PlayStation Plus members is not eligible for the PS5 digital version upgrade. This update does not include FF7R EPISODE INTERmission. FF7R EPISODE INTERmission can be purchased separately. An internet connection is required to obtain the free PS5 enhancement update.

Related Links:

Official Website: www.ffvii-remake.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finalfantasyvii
Twitter: https://twitter.com/finalfantasyvii
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalfantasyvii/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/finalfantasy
#FinalFantasy #FF7R

About FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

In FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, players will be drawn into a world where the Shinra Electric Power Company, a shadowy corporation, controls the planet’s very life force. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to an anti-Shinra organization calling themselves Avalanche. The first game in the project is set in the city of Midgar, and is a fully standalone gaming experience designed for RPG players that crave unforgettable characters, a powerful story and the ability to choose their style of play with a battle system that merges thrilling real-time action with strategic, command-based combat.

About FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE is an enhanced and expanded version of the critically acclaimed and award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE for the PlayStation®5 console. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE comes bundled with the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie as the main character, titled FF7R EPISODE INTERmission which introduces an exhilarating new story arc and numerous gameplay additions for players to enjoy. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE further brings the re-imagining of the legendary game that redefined the RPG genre to life—with improved textures, lighting, background environments, visual optimization options, Photo Mode, and more.

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.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

BRAND NEW TRAILERS FOR TALES OF ARISE ANDTHE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: HOUSE OF ASHES REVEALED DURING GEOFF KEIGHLEY’S SUMMER GAME FEST KICK OFF

During the Summer Game Fest Kick Off earlier today, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. premiered two all-new trailers that are sure to satiate fans hungry to explore exciting new worlds. 

• Tales of Arise: 
  • 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. Tales of Arise will launch in the Americas on September 10, 2021 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via STEAM.

• In addition to the standard, Digital Deluxe and Ultimate Edition versions now available for pre-order, Tales of Arise will have a physical Collector’s Edition exclusive to the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. online store. The Collector’s Edition can be pre-ordered at https://www.bandainamcoentstore.com/brand/tales_of_series and comes with the following items:
  • Standard Edition of Tales of Arise
  • Exclusive 18-cm Alphen and Shionne figurine 
  • Steelbook case
  • 64-page hardcover art book
  • Physical CD soundtrack

• The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes: 
  • The place… Iraq. The time… 2003. In the shadow of the Zagros mountains a military unit comes under fire from Iraqi forces. The resulting firefight causes an earth tremor where both sides fall into the ruins of a buried Sumerian temple. With all communication with the outside world severed, our protagonists are trapped in a terrifying underworld they must navigate to escape – unaware that something ancient and evil has awakened in the shadows and has found new prey to hunt. Horrific discoveries and impossible decisions now face the survivors as they strive to escape the terrifying threat they’ve awakened. Will they each prioritize their own survival, or put aside their fears and personal rivalries to fight together as one against these underworld monsters? The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will release in the Americas on October 22, 2021 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via STEAM. 

• The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will also have an exclusive Pazuzu Edition, which includes the House of Ashes game, the Pazuzu Edition box, an exclusive underworld creature figurine (9x9x10cm), a metal pin, exclusive art print, stickers, and access to the pre-order bonus, known as The Curator’s Cut. Day-1 access to The Curator’s Cut opens up previously unavailable scenes with different playable characters and outcomes.