Grab those keys and check out the eShop Demo from 6th May

EDISON, NEW JERSEY – 5th May, 2021 – From video game publisher Nighthawk Interactive and developer Toyful Games, Very Very Valet brings up to four players together to take control of a chaotic valet station. Players must team up to tackle a severe parking shortage and the chaos that ensues. 

Co-op gaming fans will experience an all-new challenge as one to four players take control of an “elite” team of puppet valets, working together to overcome any and all valet-related challenges. Teams will need to get creative and utilize a “just park it anywhere” mentality to save the world from a severe parking crisis.

A demo for Very Very Valet  is available right now via the Nintendo eShop from 6th May and the store page can be found here – https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/very-very-valet-switch/ 
 
The frenzied gameplay in Very Very Valet features:

• Madcap Couch Co-op – Valet alone or with up to three other players to solve a severe parking shortage. Help each other and hitch a ride, or cause chaos launching fellow valets across the map.
• No License Required – Accessible driving controls allow anyone to quickly become a valet, with plenty of hidden techniques to master and corner the valet market.
• The World is Your Parking Lot – Players can show off their car corralling skills in over 20 unique levels spanning locations and scenarios such as city streets, cliffsides, bowling alleys, airports and even trainyards.
• Become Very Very Valet – When joining this elite squad, players are ready to accept the challenge and navigate through any parking obstacles that get in their way.

Pre-orders are now open at major retailers including Target, GameStop, Amazon, Walmart, GAME and Best Buy.  Physical versions will include the added bonus of an exclusive playable Valet.

Very Very Valet will be available for Nintendo Switch at U.S. retailers for $29.99 May 25th and the Nintendo eShop globally for $24.99 / £19.99. The game has been rated E for Everyone / PEGI 3.
 
For more information visit www.veryveryvalet.com, or follow along on Twitter (@toyful_games). #veryveryvalet 

About Nighthawk Interactive
Built by a team of industry veterans, Nighthawk Interactive aims to combine their proven experience with the ever-changing needs of modern game development. With a strong focus on publishing, co-publishing, and retail distribution, Nighthawk has built strong partnerships with some of the biggest brands in entertainment, along with many talented independent developers to deliver great experiences to gamers around the world. For more information about Nighthawk, visit www.NighthawkInteractive.com, and follow us on Twitter at (@NH_Interactive).

About Toyful Games

A team of two longtime collaborators focused on creating unique, expressive, and accessible games.  Toyful’s first release is Very Very Valet, a couch co-op game about picking up and dropping off cars in increasingly chaotic situations.  Find more information about Toyful and Very Very Valet at www.toyful.games and follow them on Twitter (@toyful_games)

Final Project CARS 3 DLC, the “Electric Pack”, is Available Now

The Fourth and Final DLC Featuring Four of the World’s Most Electrifying New Cars

The Project CARS 3 “Electric Pack” DLC is available today as part of the Project CARS 3 Season Pass for all players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and as a standalone purchase. 

The DLC shines a light on the vehicles of the future with four astonishing electric-powered sports and race cars: 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S, 2020 Volkswagen ID.R, 2019 Nio EP9, and, for the first time in a racing sim,  the 2020 Audi AI:RACE.

The “Electric Pack” also features a free new track for all players, the beloved Dutch racetrack at Zandvoort complete with three unique layouts.

The “Electric Pack” cars:

– The 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S is “soul, electrified”. 750hp,  0-100kmh in 2.5s, and a brain-warping 1.3Gs under full acceleration. 

– The 2020 Volkswagen ID.R is the first car to break the 8-minute barrier at Pikes Peak and lapped the Nürburgring in a jaw-dropping 6:05.336—the fastest electric vehicle in the world. 

– The 2020 Audi AI:RACE is Audi’s design and technical all-electric concept car with 765hp in boost mode and 0-100kmh in a blink over 2s. LMP1-like performance.

– The 2019 Nio EP9 holds world records for production cars on many tracks around the world and tops out at a blistering  350kmh. 

The “Electric Pack” also includes:

• Latest “Season 7” Formula E liveries 
• 16 themed career events
• New “Electric Pack-based” achievements and trophies
• 12 Liveries / 20 Decals / 5 Patterns
• 5 Rims / 10 Tires
• 10 License Plates / 5 Race Numbers
• 1 new character with 10 outfits and 10 helmets

The “Electric Pack” is the final additional content for Project CARS 3. The “Power Pack”, “Legends Pack”, and “Style Pack” are already available, each featuring one free track available for all Project CARS 3 players.

To view the Project CARS 3 “Electric Pack” in action, check out the announcement video

You decide what’s up and down in this mind-bending sci-fi adventure

Helsinki, Finland – May 4th, 2021 – Mindhaven Games are proud to unveil that its gravity-defying puzzle adventure Sky Beneath has today received a playable demo available to all on Steam ahead of its full launch later this year on PC and before it lands on consoles next year. Get ready to embark on a rip-roaring sci-fi yarn where up and down are all relative!

In Sky Beneath players assume the role of Cassie, an intrepid scavenger seeking salvage in abandoned mining facilities. Aided by her inventor friend Annie and the use of advanced alien technology, Cassie takes control of the gravity to walk on walls and ceilings and change the gravity direction of objects around her. Up and down are all relative in this mind-bending adventure!

“This sneak peek offers players a look at how Sky Beneath’s gravity manipulation mechanics work, as well as teases the lovable duo at the center of the story,” said Eero Kuurne, Creative Director at Mindhaven Games. “Of course the full game will expand upon these systems as the story kicks into high gear, tossing Cassie and Annie into a host of unexpected scenarios. We wanted players to get a taste of what’s to come ahead of Sky Beneath coming to PC, as well as consoles next year.”  

Set on a planet where an uneasy alliance between humans and technologically advanced aliens has caused an increased rift between the rich and the poor, Cassie and Annie must uncover the truth of what happened to the previous inhabitants of this land and how to get off this ravaged planet. As they solve increasingly complex puzzles, they’ll traverse high tech research labs, opulent floating cities, and alien citadels. They’ll also encounter alien flora and fauna, like the mischievous ratcoons, which are exactly what they sound like.

More information on Sky Beneath
Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1313110/Sky_Beneath/
Visit the Mindhaven Games website: https://mindhavengames.com/

About Mindhaven Games
Mindhaven Games is a group of storytellers, bringing an adventurous puzzle game to life with the goal of creating games that evoke strong feelings in the player. Mindhaven seeks to combine the feeling of grand adventure with challenging gameplay that makes players stop and think.

Piranha Games Primes May 27 Launch with Exclusive Mech, DLC Sharing, and Special Pricing

VANCOUVER, British Columbia– May 4, 2021 – Developer Piranha Games is excited to announce that MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will feature cross-platform play for the first time in franchise history. Players can look forward to joining forces with fellow MechWarriors for co-op on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and GOG.com on May 27. A free, major update will be available at launch including over 30 new and enhanced features. The team is also pleased to confirm that players will be able to join a friend to experience the entirety of the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC Career Mode campaign.

To celebrate the upcoming features in MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC, the base game price has been dropped to $29.99 USD. In addition, the special Kobold Hero Mech will be an exclusive for the Microsoft PC and Xbox platforms with a custom load-out and paint job, plus a special new Goblin AI pilot with all-new dialogue. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries can currently be wishlisted on Steam and GOG.com.

“The MechWarriorcommunity feedback has been vital for the 30+ quality-of-life updates and newcontent at launch,” said Russ Bullock, President and Executive Producer at Piranha Games. “We’ve strived to meet fan expectations for what a MechWarrior experience is withthis release – including a new co-op cross-platform experience, base game price drop, and DLC content with the ability to joina friend for free – and look forward to hearing from them on May 27.”

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries finds players in the battlefields of the future, dominated by BattleMechs, hulking machines of war capable of leveling entire cities. As the inheritor of a once-glorious Mercenary company, the quest for glory and revenge will stretch light years, chasing the threads of interstellar intrigue on the journey to become an elite MechWarrior and mercenary commander.

The merc life of a MechWarrior BattleMech pilot continues in the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC. Follow your chosen career path from War Dog to Treasure Hunter in the new Career Mode. Explore new warzones, new quests, and new missions that span the full scope of the Inner Sphere. Hunt the Heroes with special quests that tell the story of seven new heroes and their lostech mechs. Find new mech chassis and variants, weapons, equipment, as well as blueprints to quirk your prized mechs.

Piranha Games has spent a year addressing player concerns for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, implementing enhancements and crushing pain points resulting in over 30 major updates.

Highlighted New Features Include:

• Cross-platform play – Fight alongside your friends with four-player PvE co-op support on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic) and Xbox
• DLC sharing – Play co-op games with players that own the DLC to experience the content
• Extreme conditions
• Loads of gameplay changes – Including Infantry present throughout game, full 360 LOD radar (with BAP available with DLC), more extreme conditions and effects, enhanced AI, enhanced salvage crates, AND SO MUCH MORE
• Campaign changes – New story beginning and optional tutorial
• UI changes – Ability to track encounters and where to hunt desired ‘Mechs, instant action loading previously selected mechs and pilots, modding updates, amongst others

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC is developed by Piranha Games and will be co-published with Sold Out, both companies in the EG7 group, for Xbox Series X|S (digital), Steam, and GOG.com on May 27 for $29.99 USD. The game can currently be wishlisted on Steam and GOG.com, and was previously released on the Epic Game Store. The ESRB rating is T (Teen) for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries on Xbox Series X|S.

Stay up to date with the latest from the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries and follow development team at Piranha Games on Twitter @PiranhaGames and @MW5Mercs, Facebook, and YouTube.

About Piranha Games

Founded in 2000, Piranha Games is an action gaming studio with unparalleled experience developing licensed products for big-name franchises, including AAA licensed titles such as Need for Speed: Undercover and Duke Nukem Forever. Best known for the Free-to-Play game title MechWarrior Online, PGI is as committed as ever to creating world-class action-based games, having most recently released MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries. At PGI, there is a genuine sense of collaboration, respect and a strong commitment to our projects and to each other. We all love what we do, and believe strong companies are built from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Piranha Games strives to foster a positive and inclusive environment, where everyone feels supported, comfortable, and completely part of the team.

About Sold Out

Sold Out combines a wealth of experience with youth to form its close-knit team. Publishing for physical and digital distribution, Sold Out has had the joy of working with Team 17, Rebellion, Frontier Developments, and other indie developers. For more information on Sold Out and its upcoming titles, visit the official website at soldout.uk.com.

About EG7

EG7 is a group of companies within the gaming industry that develops, markets, publishes and distributes PC, console and mobile games to the global gaming market. The company employs 470+ game developers and develops its own original IP:s, as well as act as consultants to other publishers around the world through its game development divisions Daybreak Games, Piranha Games, Toadman Studios, Big Blue Bubble and Antimatter Games. In addition, the group’s marketing department Petrol has contributed to the release of 1,500+ titles, of which many are world famous brands such as Call of Duty, Destiny, Dark Souls and Rage. The group’s publishing and distribution department Sold Out holds expertise in both physical and digital publishing and has previously worked with Team 17, Rebellion and Frontier Developments. EG7 is headquartered in Stockholm with 670 employees in 13 offices worldwide.

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SAN DIEGO – May 4, 2021 – Psyonix, the San Diego video game developer, in collaboration with NASCAR, announced that the NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack will be available in Rocket League beginning this Thursday, May 6, on all platforms! The NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack will be available in the Item Shop and features three Cars (NASCAR Ford Mustang, NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro, NASCAR Toyota Camry), nine NASCAR team Decals and Player Banners, a NASCAR x RL Decal for each car, and Goodyear Racing Wheels. The nine NASCAR teams featured in the pack, along with which car their Decals will be available for, are: 

• Roush Fenway Racing #6 (NASCAR Ford Mustang Decal)
• Stewart-Haas Racing #10 (NASCAR Ford Mustang Decal)
• Team Penske #22 (NASCAR Ford Mustang Decal)
• Chip Ganassi Racing #1 (NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro Decal)
• Richard Childress Racing #3 (NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro Decal)
• Hendrick Motorsports #9 (NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro Decal)
• Richard Petty Motorsports #43 (NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro Decal)
• Joe Gibbs Racing #18 (NASCAR Toyota Camry Decal)
• 23XI Racing #23 (NASCAR Toyota Camry Decal)

The NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack will be available for 2000 Credits from May 6 until May 12. In addition, a NASCAR Trail will be available for free beginning May 6. The pack marks the start of a multi-year collaboration between Psyonix and NASCAR and will be available ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway taking place on May 9. The NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack will return throughout the year around future NASCAR events. 

To learn more about the NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack, please read the latest blog post HERE.

If you or a member of your team is interested in a NASCAR 2021 Fan Pack code, please let us know and we will send you one when it becomes available in the game on May 6.

ABOUT ROCKET LEAGUE
Winner or nominee of more than 150 “Game of the Year” awards, Rocket League is one of the most critically-acclaimed sports games of our generation. Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem with easy-to-understand controls and fluid, physics-driven competition. Available on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Epic Games Store, Rocket League includes nearly endless customization possibilities, a fully-featured offline season mode, multiple game types, casual and competitive online matches, and special “Mutators” that let you change the rules entirely.

To learn more about Rocket League, please visit www.RocketLeague.com, “Like” it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter @RocketLeague for all the latest developer updates and news.

ABOUT PSYONIX™
Based in San Diego, CA, Psyonix is a critically-acclaimed video game developer and a leading expert in Unreal Engine technology. For more than 15 years, the studio has been a driving force behind some of the most successful games in the industry, including Gears of War, Mass Effect 3, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Bulletstorm, Unreal Tournament III, Unreal Tournament 2004, and the award-winning Sports-Action hit, Rocket League®. Psyonix joined the Epic Games family in 2019.

© 2015-2021 Psyonix LLC. Rocket League, Psyonix, and all related marks and logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Psyonix LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

ABOUT NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

by Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

I’m back for some more “coming soon” goodness and this round, we’re bringing a wide range of games for you to look forward to. We’ve got games to build in, score goals in, shred down the Alps in, explore the American Frontier with your friends in, and even games to get spooked in. Let’s jump right in!

Coming Soon

Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Console and PC) – May 4
A block-building RPG set in a fantasy land threatened by an evil cult. Explore, battle, create, and harvest in the charming single-player campaign or build big projects in the online sandbox mode for up to 4-players. This version includes: Hotto Stuff Pack, Modernist Pack, Aquarium Pack, Designer’s Sunglasses, Historic Headwear, Dragonlord’s Throne, and more!

FIFA 21 (Console and PC) EA Play – May 6
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members can hit the pitch and get great rewards when FIFA 21 is added to The Play List with EA Play, including a fresh EA Play Volta Squad Boost and FUT Season XP Boost.

Outlast 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – May 6
Sequel to the acclaimed survival horror game Outlast, set within the same universe as the first game, but with different characters and a different setting, Outlast 2 is a twisted new journey into the depths of the human mind and its dark secrets.

Steep (Cloud and Console) – May 6
Ride a massive open world across the Alps, where the powder is always fresh, and the run never ends. Tame the wilderness on the American continent in Alaska, a new region filled with challenges. The mountain is yours to explore. So, strap in, suit up, and drop in.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Console and PC) – May 13
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster brings the timeless classics forward to the current generation of fans, old and new alike. Fully immerse yourself in the World of Spira as you enjoy over 100 combined hours of gameplay across the two classic titles.

Just Cause 4: Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC) – May 13
Just Cause 4 Reloaded delivers an expansive and explosive experience with new weapons, vehicles, and gear included! Soar through the skies at high speeds using the Skystriker Weaponized Wingsuit or cruise the roads of Solís using the Deathstalker Scorpion Muscle Car.

Psychonauts (Cloud, Console, and PC) – May 13
 A psychic adventure from the mind of Tim Schafer. Psychonauts follows the story of a young psychic named Razputin. Explore the fantastic realm of the inner mind – Join the Psychonauts!

Red Dead Online (Cloud and Console) – May 13
Join millions of fellow players in Red Dead Online, now packed with years’ worth of new features, gameplay, and additional enhancements. Step into a vibrant, ever-evolving world and experience life across frontier America. Forge your own path as you chase down bounties, battle outlaw gangs and other players; hunt, fish and trade, search for exotic treasures, run Moonshine, and much more to discover in a world of astounding depth and detail.

Remnant: From the Ashes (PC) – May 13
The world has been thrown into chaos by an ancient evil from another dimension. As one of the last remnants of humanity, you must set out alone or alongside up to two other survivors to face down hordes of deadly enemies to try to carve a foothold, rebuild, and retake what was lost.

DLC / Game Updates

Fallout 76: Locked and Loaded Update
Upgrade your C.A.M.P. with the all new C.A.M.P. slots to experiment with your new designs, while S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadouts can prepare you for any challenge with a quick skill swap. Also, dive into new Daily Ops expansion for new combinations and game mode: Decryption! Learn more here.

Gears: Tactics Anniversary
Gears: Tactics celebrated its one-year anniversary this past week. Hop in this fast-paced strategy game and experience the action-packed story on console or PC. Build your squad, hunt an evil mastermind, rise up, and fight.

Grounded April Update
Photo Mode is now available in multiplayer games along with some new character poses, Creative Mode now includes passive creatures in the yard, the addition of new building pieces and usable ladders are sure to be exciting, and more quality-of-life changes!

Halo Infinite PC Update
Xbox Game Pass for PC members have a lot to look forward to in Halo Infinite on PC. To get the scoop on PC specific features coming to Halo Infinite, check out 343 Industries’ Inside Infinite blog on Halo Waypoint.

Minecraft: Free R2-D2 Beanie – Available until May 6
In celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4, Minecraft is giving away a free R2-D2 Beanie in-game through the Marketplace. Be sure to jump in and claim before May 6!

Sea of Thieves: Reapers vs. The World – Available until June 22
In response to the Trading Companies’ rallying cry for Emissaries, The Reaper’s Bones are making a power play this Season! In each phase of the Event, they’ll target a particular Trading Company’s Emissaries and dispatch their own Emissaries to take up the hunt. Bonus reputation is up for grabs for both the hunter and the hunted, and there are special challenges to tackle too!

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Get ready, because we have a huge batch of Perks set to launch tomorrow on May 4. Claim them in the Perks gallery before they’re gone!

NBA 2K21: MyTEAM Bundle – Available May 4
Assemble your Dream Team and dominate the court with this MyTEAM bundle. Ultimate members can run with two free packs, ball out with 5,000 MyTEAM points, or pull from the logo with cover athlete Damian Lillard’s Series 2 Amethyst card.

Spotify Premium (New Member Only): 4 Months of Ad-free Music – Available May 4
Play all your favorites with access to millions of tracks and podcasts titles. Ultimate members can enjoy ad-free music listening, music + podcast offline downloads, and on-demand listening with Spotify Premium for 4 months. Available for new Spotify Premium members only.  Make sure you check with your regions since the terms might be different. For full details, see the offer in the Perks gallery on console, mobile or PC.

Apex Legends: Star Wars Weapon Charms – Available May 4
Show the competition what you’re made of with your new Red Leader and Imperial Ties Weapon Charms, brought to you by EA Play! Equip these to your favorite weapons and battle for glory, fame, and fortune in style.

Xbox Game Pass Quests

The new Quests season launches on May 4 with a zombie theme along with double points for select weekly and monthly Quests. Plus, use the Force to sense a special one-day-only 4x Quest (or you can check Quests on your console or see all your Quests in the Xbox Game Pass mobile app!)

Here are a few of the Zombie 2x Quests launching on May 4:

• Minecraft (150 points): Kill 20 zombies or monsters
• Resident Evil 7: biohazard (150 points): Obtain 5 items
• State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition (150 points): Kill 11 zombies
• The Evil Within (150 points): Kill 3 enemies

Leaving May 15

While we wait for these upcoming games to join the Xbox Game Pass library, it’s time to reshuffle your backlog before the games below leave. Remember to use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep these games in your library!

• Alan Wake (Console and PC)
• Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 (PC)
• Dungeon of the Endless (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Final Fantasy IX (Console and PC)
• Hotline Miami (PC)
• Plebby Quest: The Crusades (PC)

This announcement turned out to be a charcuterie platter of different games and I’m here for it. If you’re interested in getting in on this dish of games and you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass Ultimate yet, you can get your first month for $1. Until next time, be sure to follow @XboxGamePass and @XboxGamePassPC for updates when these games become available. Be back soon with more games!

Tuesday 4 May, 2021 —World leading gaming brand MSI announced it’s unlocked a groundbreaking milestone by selling three million gaming monitors worldwide in just three years.

To celebrate the milestone, MSI released a red limited edition of its Optix MAG274QRF-QD Gaming Monitor, one of its most popular gaming monitors. Only 15 units of the limited edition Optix monitor were produced globally, and isn’t available for consumer purchase.

“As we’re a relatively new player in the market, it’s a momentous occasion for the company to have hit this milestone in a short time,” said MSI’s Marketing Manager ANZ Jeremy Tate.

“The ANZ market played a significant part in achieving this milestone, and continues to be an important region for us. We look forward to listening to our customers’ feedback to ensure we continue advancing our technology and delivering quality products,” said Tate.

MSI launched its first Optix G27C Gaming Monitor in November 2016. Since then, it’s launched 60 monitors globally, with the G27C4, MAG271C/MAG272C, G27CQ4, MAG241C and G271 as the top sellers in Australia.

For more information, please visit https://au.msi.com/.

ABOUT MSI GAMING

As a world leading gaming brand, MSI is the most trusted name in gaming and eSports. We stand by our principles of breakthroughs in design, the pursuit of excellence, and technological innovation. Integrating gamers’ most coveted extreme performance, realistic visuals, authentic sound, precise control and smooth streaming functions into its gaming rigs, MSI frees gamers from tedious trial and error and pushes gaming performance beyond limits. The determination to surpass past achievements has made MSI a ‘True Gaming’ brand with gaming spirit throughout the industry. For more product information, please go to https://www.msi.com/.

ABOUT MSI CONTENT CREATION

MSI is globally recognized as a trailblazer and top brand in digital content creation. Built around MSI’s decade-long pioneering tech in gaming, the Content Creation Series packs stunning colour accuracy, long-lasting battery life, high fidelity audio and excellent performance into an ultra-portable, stylish chassis for photographers, graphic designers, 3D animators, video editors and other professionals around the world.

All rights of the technical, pictures, text and other content published in this press release are reserved. Contents are subject to changes without prior notice.

Melbourne Matildas, South Sydney Skorpions, North Sydney Sentinels and Brisbane Bulldogs to duke it out for the $10,000 winner’s prize

Tuesday 4 May, 2021 — Regular season for the world of Tanks ANZ Premier League has wrapped up and players now have their sights set on the finals later this month. Melbourne Matildas, South Sydney Skorpions, North Sydney Sentinels and Brisbane Bulldogs are the four remaining teams set to duke it out for their share of the $20,000 prize pool. The finals series kicks off this Friday 7 May and will conclude on Saturday 22 May with all games broadcast at https://www.twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz. A full schedule for the remaining games can be found at https://worldoftanks.asia/en/news/announcements/anzpl-season-two-live-finals/.

Kicking off back in March and running weekly games since, season two of the World of Tanks ANZ Premier League has been a great spectacle for fans so far. “Season two of the Premier League has seen upsets, wild swings in the leaderboard, and both veterans and newer competitors alike making incredible plays” said World of Tanks ANZ Product Manager, Jake Truman. “We can’t wait to see the competition heat up across the finals series and finally get to watch our players at an in-person grand final!”

The semi-finals games for the Premier League will take place Friday 7 May with Melbourne Matildas facing up against Brisbane Bulldogs and North Sydney Sentinels trying their luck against South Sydney Skorpions. A match for third place will then be held on Friday 14 May alongside a showmatch between Wargaming staff and Community Contributors. The finals will then be played on Saturday 22 May and hosted at Fortress Melbourne for a full in-person broadcast event. Tickets to attend the grand final games can be booked here.

HyperX and Republic of Gamers will continue to sponsor the Premier League through the finals series with both brands offering exciting prizes for viewers and competitors alike. All players in the finals series will receive limited edition World of Tanks themed HyperX Cloud II Wireless  headsets. These headsets come equipped with a 30 hour battery life combined with extreme comfort and sound so players can react to positional audio and dominate the battlefield like never before. Players from the winning team will also receive ROG Strix Curved 32 inch WQHD Gaming Monitors to take home. Both prizes will also be up for grabs for viewers, with custom Cloud II headsets being given away each week during the streams, and a chance to win the curved monitor via a competition on the @WorldofTanksANZ Twitter beginning this week.

“Viewers are in for a real treat over the next few weeks of competition” said Truman. “The Premier League has gone from strength to strength across the last two seasons and having an in-person esports final in Australia after so long without one is going to be incredible. We can’t wait to see it!”

Premier League finals series games kick off at 7pm AEST and can be viewed at https://www.twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz on Friday 7 May and Friday 14 May. Grand final games will be broadcast from 6pm on Saturday 22 May.

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About World of Tanks

World of Tanks is the first team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armoured warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with gamers all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 600 armoured vehicles from 11 nations, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

Official website: worldoftanks.com

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.

Official website: wargaming.com

Xbox Spotlight: Mental Health Awareness Month

by Tara Voelker, Gaming & Disability Co-Lead

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Xbox is amplifying voices of empathy, honesty, and mental health awareness. Now more than ever, people are experiencing new challenges which impact their mental health. With the ongoing pandemic, physical isolation has elevated the importance of virtual connections to stay in contact with friends and loved ones. Through gaming, we can both explore mental health, its impacts, and provide community. More and more studies* have shown that gaming has real benefits on players mental wellbeing. Through a virtual world, people have been able to do everything from ease their symptoms of PTSD to build social connections that are so crucial right now, to finding moments of joy, building connections, fostering empathy and helping to reduce anxiety.

For me personally, gaming is a key part of my mental health routine. When I need to step away from the world and limit my exposure to things that could trigger a PTSD episode, gaming is my escape. It gives me something to focus on and an outlet to funnel any potentially destructive energy I may have. It’s even a place where I can explore complex topics in an environment and know that everything is going to be okay, no matter what is happening in the real world. And you don’t have to trust me, plenty of other gamers talk about the positive effects of gaming they experience.

An Xbox study within the Xbox Research Accessibility Community Feedback Program, a group made up of players with disabilities, showed 84% of respondents agreeing that gaming had a largely positive effect on their mental health during the pandemic. Other community members shared that gaming provided a great distraction from stress (82.9%), emotional stress (63.5%), physical pain (38.6%), and that playing games has offered them more control than their real life (54.1%), demonstrating that people participating in this study use gaming to benefit their lives in a variety of ways.

Especially relevant with the pandemic, 71.7% of respondents in the study agreed that gaming helped them feel less isolated, showcasing how gaming helped them -maintain connections with family and friends during challenging times. The study also showed that 71.7% of participants felt that playing video games during the pandemic was an important part of their daily routine.  

We know that video games can provide connection and joy for so many. Over 11 billion multiplayer game sessions were played globally in January through March this year, with over 3 billion game invites being sent in the same period.

Xbox aims to provide captivating gaming experiences ideal for stepping into different worlds beyond our everyday lives. We know that during the pandemic, issues of mental health have been exacerbated and that people need to build connection more than ever. We invite our community to safely engage in play and communicate with others who may share in their same challenges.

Ninja Theory/Hellblade and Psychonauts 2​

In a world where mental health is more at the forefront of society, team Xbox strives to create and bring the most immersive and entertaining gaming experiences available, inviting all gamers to explore exciting new worlds and embody incredible characters. Two of our Xbox Game Studios teams, Double Fine Productions and Ninja Theory are exploring the theme of mental health through unique gameplay.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice launched to critical acclaim in 2017, with great praise for how it represented mental health conditions and psychosis in particular. Hellblade is both a dark fantasy title telling the story of a Celtic warrior’s journey to Hel and an exploration of the psychosis experienced by the protagonist, Senua. Dominic Matthews, Studio Head at Ninja Theory, tells us “It was critical that our exploration of this subject was grounded in research, and as such our development team collaborated closely with those in both the science and lived-experience communities. This became a creative partnership that saw our designers, artists and audio team work closely with neuroscientists and people who live with experiences of voice hearing, seeing visions and holding unique beliefs. We’re incredibly proud of the reception Hellblade received and to hear from fans about how it’s made a genuine impact on their lives – both enlightening them on the experiences of severe mental health issues and providing a platform to talk about their own experiences. The exploration of the true potential of games to help people manage their mental health has become a part of our mission at Ninja Theory, manifesting in The Insight Project. Our ambition here is to create a powerful tool to help people understand and support their mental wellbeing.”

Double Fine’s Psychonauts 2 tells the story of Razputin “Raz” Aquato, trained acrobat, powerful young psychic, and new member of the international psychic espionage organization known as the Psychonauts. Using his psychic abilities, Raz is able to dive inside people’s minds, where he experiences things from their perspectives, and goes to battle with their inner demons. While it’s primarily a fun and lighthearted game, there are some deeper aspects of it, and Raz explores the minds of people who experience addiction and depression.  “One thing about mental health is that many people have experienced it themselves or with someone in their lives, it’s familiar to many of us.” says Tim Schafer, Founder of Double Fine. “We wanted to approach the topic with care and concern, with our goal to make sure the game is fun while speaking to those who may have gone through some of the things we talk about.” Double Fine worked with outside experts and consultants to help ensure the representation in Psychonauts 2 was grounded and well represented.

This story on the Microsoft Blog reveals more from both Dominic Matthews and Tim Schafer and explores real life stories from our Xbox Ambassadors and wider community on their personal experiences of how gaming has had a positive impact on their mental health. Read it here.

Online Safety: Xbox connects gamers with help through Crisis Text Line
By Athima Chansanchai, Microsoft Stories

Every day, people come to Xbox to play, have fun, relax and for self-care to reduce stress. Sometimes, they need someone to take them from a “hot” moment to a calmer state. Thanks to Xbox’s partnership with Crisis Text Line, they can reach out to a mental health resource, if they need it. Every month, Xbox refers people to this non-profit organization, which provides free, text-based 24/7 support, connecting those in need to a network that includes 27,000 trained, volunteer crisis counselors throughout the U.S. The New York-based organization helps create individually tailored safety plans and de-escalates situations through a platform – texting – that makes it easier for people of all ages to reach out safely. See the full story and resources here.

During the month of May, here are ways in which Xbox will champion and support mental health awareness:

Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards Members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting mental health awareness through Xbox. All Microsoft Rewards donations made to the organizations listed below will be matched by Microsoft through the month of May.  

• Take This​: – Take This’ Mission is to decrease the stigma, and increase the support for, mental health in the game enthusiast community and inside the game industry.
• CheckPoint: CheckPoint provides mental health resources for gamers and the gaming community. Their missions are to raise awareness for mental health issues, reduce stigma, and improve wellbeing in our community. Checkpoint is passionate about using video games for positive wellbeing and resilience. 

Xbox gamers in the United States can earn Microsoft Rewards points in various ways, such as playing or purchasing games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Join today and donate through Xbox.

Xbox Game Pass: Spotlight on Mental Health Awareness

During the month of May, Xbox Game Pass is highlighting a selection of games chosen by the Gaming and Disability community at Microsoft that raise awareness surrounding the issues of mental health and accessibility.

Featured Games chosen by our Gaming and Disability Community:

• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Set in the Viking age, a broken Celtic warrior embarks on a haunting vision quest into Viking Hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover. Created in collaboration with neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will pull you deep into Senua’s mind.
• Sea of Solitude (Electronic Arts / Jo-Mei GmbH) A When humans get too lonely, they turn into monsters… Sea of Solitude takes you on a personal journey of a young woman’s loneliness. Set sail across a beautiful and evolving world, where nothing is quite what it seems. Meet fantastical creatures and monsters, learn their stories, and solve challenges. Explore a flooded city, either by boat, on foot, or by swimming through the water itself. Dare to look what lies beneath the surface, in a haunting struggle of darkness and light, and discover what it truly means to be human. Members can play Sea of Solitude now with EA Play, included as part of their Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass for PC benefits.
• Celeste (Matt Makes Games) Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall.

Be among the first to play the latest titles from Xbox Game Studios and ID@Xbox, available to Xbox Game Pass members the same day as their global release. Join Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Plays

Xbox will be featuring livestreaming content on mental health and gaming the week of May 17th. Join us as we learn from game developers and nonprofits who have explored gaming and mental health.

Play. Connect. Impact: Learn more about what Xbox is doing to raise awareness and support issues related to mental health at the Xbox Community Hub.

Fight for Humanity’s Last Hope in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six^® Siege’s Limited-Time Apocalypse Event

From May 5 until May 18, players must scavenge a wasteland to ensure their clan’s survival

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – May 4, 2021 – Today, Ubisoft^® announced a new limited-time event for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Year 6 Season 1, ‘Apocalypse’, beginning tomorrow and running for two weeks until May 18. Apocalypse introduces a post-apocalyptic version of Outback, where players will have to fight for their clan, hope and freedom to revitalise life.

In the world of Apocalypse, humanity’s dependence on nuclear energy has ultimately led to the fall of civilisation and the emergence of two clans, The Keepers and The Warband. These warriors and scavengers seek the last plant on Earth, which holds the power to re-grow life on Earth.

The new game mode, Canister, will have players fight as The Keepers (Defenders) or The Warband (Attackers) for the last remaining plant on Earth. Defenders can move the canister containing the plant around the map, while the Attackers can activate specific scanner rooms to detect defenders as they roam through the rooms. The main objective of the Attacking side is to defuse the canister transporting the plant. On the Defending side, Operators must protect the canister until time runs out. Either team can also secure the win if they eliminate the opposing team entirely. Who will hold the key to humanity’s new future?

The Apocalypse event comes with its own Collection of 35 items featuring Fuze, Gridlock, Maverick, Nomad, Twitch, Maestro, Melusi, Rook, Smoke and Valkyrie. Players will have access to personalised headgear, weapon skins and uniforms. Each Operator’s exclusive, time-limited customisation items are available for purchase as Bundles in the Shop section for 1680 R6 credits or via the Apocalypse Packs for 300 R6 Credits or 12,500 Renown.

To learn more about the Apocalypse event, please visit: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-au/game/rainbow-six/siege/events/apocalypse

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Alongside a thriving professional esports scene and a community of over 70 million registered players, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of a fast-paced, ever-evolving multiplayer experience grounded in the selection of unique operators. Using the right mix of tactics and destruction, Rainbow Six teams engage their enemies in sieges, where both sides have exclusive skills and gadgets at their disposal. Defenders prepare by transforming the environments around them into modern strongholds, while attackers use recon drones to gain intel for carefully planning their assault. With access to dozens of operators inspired by real-world counterintelligence agents from around the globe, players can choose exactly how they want to approach each challenge they encounter. Through the constant addition of new operators and maps that add to the depth of both strategy and combat, the unpredictability of each round of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege sets a new bar for intensity and competition in gaming.

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, 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 2019–20 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,534 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

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