Barcelona, Spain / Vienna, Austria, March 11th, 2021: Today THQ Nordic announces the incorporation of its new studio, Alkimia Interactive in Barcelona, Spain. After the Gothic Remake project was greenlit the next step was to fully set up a studio subsidiary. In Summer 2020 the studio started operations and began bringing together a team of passionate RPG developers. Since then, the studio has set up an office in the heart of Barcelona. The team is constantly growing and is still looking for developers to join the family. More information about Alkimia Interactive can be found on the official website – there are still a few positions open: https://www.alkimiainteractive.com/
The team’s focus and ambition is to build high-quality RPGs, with its first project being the full development of the Gothic Remake for PC and Next-Gen consoles. Development is well underway and the first results from all of the hard work the team has put in will be revealed in the next couple of months. “We strive to build Alkimia Interactive as a top-notch RPG studio”, said Reinhard Pollice, Studio Head at Alkimia Interactive. “Our ambition is to become one of the best addresses for PC/Console core game development in the South of Europe.”
About THQ Nordic Our official boiler plate can be found on our website: THQ Nordic Website
About Alkimia Interactive Alkimia Interactive is a studio based in the heart of Barcelona, Spain with the sole purpose to deliver high quality games in the RPG and Action Adventure genre. The studio started its operations in 2020 and currently employs more than 35 highly talented developers. As of now, the studio is working hard on completely remaking the legendary Gothic game from scratch. Alkimia Interactive Website
The Publisher Unveils Its New Slogan That Captures the Company’s Social Responsibility and Compassionate Corporate Culture
Wiesbaden, Germany (March 11, 2021) – German publisher Assemble Entertainment — best known for the popular point-and-click Leisure Suit Larry adventures and award-winning survival simulator Endzone – A World Apart — is celebrating its five-year anniversary by unveiling today its new slogan: “Assemble. Saving the World. Game by Game.” The phrase represents the company’s awareness of societal issues and its dedication to finding solutions to address these problems through wide-ranging and multi-faceted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
Most notably, Assemble Entertainment regularly partners with charities and nonprofits all over the world to offer “Save the World” editions within the game’s Steam listings. Presently, Assemble offers four different “Save the World” game editions, which include exclusive content such as special game art, soundtracks, and behind-the-scenes materials as well as donations to charitable causes and initiatives. The special editions typically cost roughly $10.00 USD more than the Standard Editions and a portion of proceeds go directly to the partnered organizations. Assemble Entertainment plans to include a partnered (and themed) “Save the World Edition” with every future game launch.
Assemble Entertainment CEO and Founder Stefan Marcinek is a strong believer in this program, saying, “I think that personal economic success introduces an obligation to give something back. That being said, it was a fundamental priority for me to lead a company that leaves a positive impact on the world and its people. Thanks to our ‘Save the World’ editions, foundations, sponsorships, and donations, we’re undoubtedly on the right track. We’re always looking for more ways to help and new charities to work with.”
Presently, Assemble Entertainment offers the following “Save the World” Editions:
Endzone – A World Apart: In collaboration with One Tree Planted, a charity aimed at reversing global deforestation and the damage caused by massive wildfires, one tree will be planted for every “Save the World Edition” of Endzone purchased. So far, over 40,000 trees have been planted worldwide.
Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice: Alongside ShareTheMeal, Assemble is able to donate meals to underprivileged and poverty-stricken children around the world. For each “Save the World Edition” purchased, two meals are donated through the program.
Encodya: In-line with the game’s theme, Assemble partnered with Plan International, a charity focused on advancing children’s rights and equality for young girls. For every “Save the World Edition” sold, 10% of proceeds go directly to the organization, with extra emphasis on support for orphaned children.
Ultimate ADOM – Caverns of Chaos: Chaos shouldn’t be part of a child’s life, which is why Assemble is working alongside the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), donating 10% of proceeds from every “Save the World Edition” purchased.
Assemble Entertainment’s corporate social commitment does not end with its special editions of games. Extensive charitable activities are also carried out internally within the “A-Team.” For each Assemble team member (26 total), a “godparenthood” has been formalized through Plan International, meaning over two dozen impoverished children and their families in 50 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America are sponsored directly through the program. Additionally, Assemble Entertainment carries out many local efforts, including regular donations and monetary support to Wiesbaden’s food banks and animal shelters. Assemble also directly supports the Zwerg-Nase Organization, a local hospital facility that houses disabled children and offers support for parents.
For Stefan Marcinek, Assemble Entertainment’s CEO and Founder, social commitment also means funding, supporting, and educating young “close to home” talent within the games industry. As such, Assemble Entertainment organizes GermanDevDays, the largest German-speaking developer conference in Germany, with over 1,200 attendees annually, many of which are students who are able to attend completely free-of-charge. Additionally, students have the opportunity to earn a GDD Award through the GDD Foundation, an effort dedicated to providing scholarships and mentoring services to budding talent in the German games industry. Taking place virtually in 2021, developers who attend GermanDevDays are able to submit their games for award consideration, network with industry professionals, attend workshops, and more.
Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, Assemble Entertainment is an independent games developer and publisher, best known for Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice, the latest installment in the humorously naughty point-and-click adventure saga, and the multi-award-winning Endzone – A World Apart, that challenges players to survive and thrive following an environmental apocalypse. Assemble Entertainment also organizes GermanDevDays, an annual conference that attracts more than 1,200 attendees from across the German-speaking video game development industry.
The First PC Game to Come Out of Nigeria is Now Available
Warri City, Delta state, Nigeria – March 11, 2021 – Take a journey to an immersive world full of magic and medieval warfare with the classically-inspired action adventure RPG Zack 2: Celestine’s Map from Smart Olive Games. This throwback RPG launches today on PC via Steam for $14.99 USD.
Zack 2: Celestine’s Map is a story-driven, 3D action adventure RPG set in a world full of magic, secrets, and supernatural creatures. Play as three different characters; Zack, Meggy, and Amice, as they journey to save their brother from the hand of the evil wizard Celestine. Fulfill the greatest quest of all and fight against a variety of evil forces and 12 bosses – each with their own unique abilities. Players must carefully choose how they interact with the world because each choice has its own massive consequence to their journey.
Experience the retro gameplay in this trailer
“Developing Zack 2 has been a rewarding experience because we’ve pioneered the way for PC development in Nigeria,” says of Smart Olive Games CEO and programmer Ifeanyi Chigbata. “We’re proud to bring more awareness to Nigerian developers and the Nigerian gaming community, and even more so, the gaming community all throughout Africa. We see this launch as another step in turning Africa into an emerging continent for all development.”
Key Features Include:
Alter Your Destiny – Forge your own destiny as you make friends or enemies based on your conversational decisions or battles.
12 Challenging Boss Battles – Battle 12 bosses, each with their own distinct and diverse destructive abilities, requiring you to utilize different strategies to defeat them.
Multiple Playable Characters – Play the game as three different yet connected characters with individual storylines, unique combat mechanics and magical skills.
A Beautiful Immersive World – Discover ancient secrets on your journey that has you encounter supernatural beings, witches, corrupt humans and more.
Unique Items and Equipment – Invest your rewards from completing quests and battles into upgrading your weapons, skills or armor.
Multiple Storylines –The game’s story is driven by decisions made during certain dialogue with different characters, battling enemies and bosses, and solving puzzles. Your choices influence the storyline and also alter your relationships with other characters.
For more information regarding Zack 2: Celestine’s Map please visit the game’s Steam page,
About Smart Olive Games Smart Olive Games is a video game software developing company founded by three African game developers in Nigeria in 2016. The company strives to make video games both educational and non-educational purposes for gamers of different cultures around the world, with a current focus of creating Action Role-Playing Games with powerful storylines. They are currently one of the few game studios in Africa and the first PC game developers from Nigeria.
The base game, and all DLCs available now from the get-go!
London, United Kingdom – March 11th, 2021 – UKIYO Publishing and Overhype Studios are proud to announce that its critically acclaimed procedurally-generated tactics title Battle Brothers is available now on the eShop for Nintendo Switch. Switch owners can purchase the game for $29.99 / £22.99 / €27.99, while a comprehensive bundle that includes the main game and premium DLC expansions: Beasts & Exploration, Warriors of the North, and Blazing Deserts, is also available for $60.98 / £50.98 / €58.98, offering an additional 5% in savings. For further information on all the add-on packs, check out their descriptions on the Nintendo eShop now.
“The community has been requesting and patiently waiting for a portable version of the game for a long time. We went to considerable effort to make the most of the Nintendo Switch’s control options and bring the game over in a truly console-optimised fashion. We’re thrilled fellow tacticians can now enter the gritty, tactical world of Battle Brothers wherever they go”, said Jan Taak of Overhype Studios. “The game is designed to both challenge players and their tactics, while generating memorable, unique stories, and now they can lead their own mercenary companies when commuting or even flying ten thousand feet in the air. ”
“We are really excited that Battle Brothers is finally available on the Switch. It’s a perfect fit for gaming on the go, as well as playing on the big screen while you’re at home,” said Martin Hann of UKIYO Publishing. “It has many compelling stories to tell, and we can’t wait for more players to experience them.”
Having launched on PC to rave reviews in 2017, Battle Brothers is a turn-based tactical RPG in which players accrue their own mercenary gang in a gritty, medieval fantasy world. On Nintendo Switch the game has been re-engineered to best make use of the hardware and its control options. You decide who to hire, where to go, what contracts to take on, and how to manage your private militia. Running a company requires blood, sweat and tears as you balance your budget, equip your crew, and do whatever it takes to put food on the table as you wander through this unforgiving world.
Once in combat, Battle Brothers is a different kind of tactical affair, as you position your players into place. They best be well equipped, however, as different weapons will have different advantages and disadvantages against the rogue gallery of cronies. Split shields with axes, stun enemies with a mace, form a phalanx with spears, or crush enemy armor with a warhammer. Everything in Battle Brothers is permanent, so once you lose a soldier, they’re gone forever. And if you lose your whole squad, it’s game over! The world of Battle Brothers is rough and unforgiving, ensuring that the stakes are always high both in battle and in the monetary management outside of it.
About Overhype Studios Overhype Studios is an independent game developer studio from Hamburg, Germany. Devoted to making great games that they want to play, Overhype Studios strives to reflect the creativity, complexity and originality from the old days when game developers were passionate gamers, not corporate businessmen. To create their breakthrough hit Battle Brothers, Overhype drew inspiration from titles such as the original X-Com, Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat and Jagged Alliance.
About UKIYO Publishing UKIYO Publishing specialises in offering help to indie developers that would like to see their games reach their maximum potential. Based in London, UKIYO’s team has worked in the games industry for over a decade, and has a proven track record publishing games and helping developers with their project management and development requirements. For more details on UKIYO, check out the website: ukiyo-publishing.com
Reshape History Across Dimensions as You Defeat Otherworldly Foes in Tactical Turn-Based Combat
Baltimore, MD – March 11th, 2021 – Independent developer Room-C Games in co-production with Croteam and in partnership with indie publisher Versus Evil are excited to announce that their rogue-lite RPG game The Hand of Merlin will be coming to PC via Steam Early Access in May.
The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG in which Arthurian legend clashes with sci-fi horror. Players recruit three mortal heroes on a desperate journey from Albion to Jerusalem to explore richly-imagined medieval lands on the brink of apocalypse – assaulted by an otherworldly evil.
Written by Jonas Kyratzes (The Talos Principle, Serious Sam 4) and Verena Kyratzes (The Lands of Dream, Serious Sam 4) with a story inspired by Arthurian legend and historical literature, and gameplay inspired by modern tactical classics such as XCOM and The Banner Saga.
“The Hand of Merlin is an innovative genre clash that combines historical literature soaked in medieval legend with science fiction horror to create a really unique narrative. This creatively disruptive clash of worlds coupled with a rogue-lite RPG is a bold and exciting way to tell a story around a beautifully crafted game. Versus Evil has a history of publishing great games with this type of combat enriched in great storytelling. We are proud to be publishing the debut title from Room-C and look forward to a long relationship with the team” Said Steve Escalante, General Manager of Versus Evil.
Search for the lost fragments of your soul, scattered across the multiverse – and save as many worlds as you can. This is a world where items imbued with magical power are scattered throughout, from a peasant’s humble luck charm to the legendary sword wielded by Arthur himself. Will you take a dangerous route, risking life and limb in pursuit of such legendary relics? Or will you choose a safer path? In The Hand of Merlin, choices are permanent, the decisions you make echo for eternity and can make all the difference to your party’s synergy and combat prowess.
Enemies are tough and ruthlessly challenging; utilizing squad-based and turn-based combat, players can employ tactical cunning to use cover, set up ambushes and coordinate attacks to conquer both human and demonic foes looking to do them harm. The Hand of Merlin also brings the mystical energy of spellcasting to combat as players gather Soulstones to restore their power and unlock new Spells. Even in defeat, players retain collected arcane knowledge as they jump into the next dimension.
To find out more about The Hand of Merlin and to wishlist the game head over to its Steam page here alternatively check out the developers gameplay reveal on the MiX on this Sunday 14th March.
About Versus Evil
Founded in 2013, Versus Evil, LLC is the US based video game publisher behind critically acclaimed video games Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and The Banner Saga trilogy. Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with independent development studios from around the world. The corporate philosophy is to champion for the independent game developer. For more information visit versusevil.com
About Room C Games
Room-C Games is a spin-off studio started by some of Croteam’s most talented game engineers and core team members (The Talos Principle, Serious Sam). They are a small 9-person dev-team based in Zagreb, Croatia, composed of an (almost) equal number of industry veterans and passionate young blood with a simple, but challenging mission – to enrich players’ lives with memorable gaming experiences.
Cathartically Creative Lockdown Blues Buster Launches Today for $4.99/£3.99
Melbourne, Australia — March 11, 2021 — Create the perfect solitary night out without leaving your room with Isolationist Nightclub Simulator, a relaxing sandbox-meets-multimedia art experience from composer and sound designer, Edwin Montgomery, now available for $5 on Steam with a 10% discount launch sale.
Create your own music (no prior skill required!) using in-game instruments, including a synth keyboard, drum machine, bass loops and arpeggiator, or occupy yourself with an assortment of mini-games in your club’s Arcade. Feel like just relaxing instead? Explore a series of serpentine spaces, such as an art gallery, a forest-scale garden and a number of Chill Out rooms where you can sit back with a virtual drink and relax with soothing music – perhaps of your own making. You can also leave notes for other players with the in-game messaging system, which randomly populates items such as drink coasters and toilet wall graffiti with your messages.
“As a composer and sound designer, I have a deep love for full sensory art and wanted to create a virtual space where you can interact, create, play and just enjoy a little break,” said Edwin Montgomery. “It’s sort of a full-sensory labyrinth that I think players will find intriguing, soothing and engaging, while allowing for customization and creativity if that’s what you are looking for.”
Isolationist Nightclub Simulator is supported by Creative Victoria’s COVID-19 Sustaining Creative Workers grant and is designed to provide a relaxingly creative experience that offers a little something for everyone, no matter what mood you are in. Isolationist Nightclub Simulator is now available for the price of $4.99/£3.99
About Edwin Montgomery
With a background in classical composition and a Masters Degree from AFTRS in composing for screen, Edwin Montgomery is a composer, musician and sound designer who works across film, games, immersive theatre, installations and mixed media artworks. Recently they scored the award-winning feature documentary Time, which won Best Documentary Directing at Sundance 2020, and created the games Sisyphus Reborn, Song Animals, and the unique sonic-driven interactive music experience Neon Cyborg Cat Club.
by Briana Roberts, Microsoft Senior Program Manager
With so many exciting games on the market, it’s understandable that gamers may do some homework before committing to a title: that can entail reading reviews, looking up technical features, or just making sure a game supports the way we prefer to play. But it shouldn’t feel like research. Today we’re happy to announce updates to the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the Xbox Game Pass app to show you which languages a game supports at a glance.
You can now easily determine whether a game contains any in-game language support based on a ‘Languages’ label before you even open the product details page. In-game language information is being collected for three elements of the gaming experience – a title’s interface, audio and subtitles – across 27 languages. We’ve already added language tags to hundreds of games and will add more over time.
With this update, when you log into the Microsoft Store on Xbox or the Xbox Game Pass app, you can easily see which languages a game supports, making it easier to decide if you’d like to purchase or play that title. This view will also show what aspects of the game have been localized for a given language, including the game’s interface (game controls and on-screen menus, for example), the spoken audio you’ll hear from the characters, and subtitles corresponding to that audio. To make it even easier, the language you select as the default for your console will surface to the top of the list; you won’t have to scroll.
The addition of language tags to the Microsoft Store on Xbox and in the Xbox Game Pass app on consoles is an important step toward our goal of making you and your friends feel at home when you play on Xbox. This update will make that easier, and help bring the joys of gaming to more people. Stay tuned, because later this year we will unveil more updates to make it even easier for you to find and play games that are right for you, meeting your unique preferences and needs. The world of gaming is vast and diverse, and we believe there is a perfect game or games for everyone – we’re here to make that process quicker and easier.
FOR AN ALL-NEW SONIC THE HEDGEHOG PREMIUM PLUSH COLLECTION
The international toy brand gains license for a super-soft Club Mocchi- Mocchi- Plush line paying homage to the Blue Blur
Sydney, Australia – 10th March 2021:TOMY International, Inc., a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality toys, has signed a collaboration deal with SEGA of America, Inc. to bring the beloved characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe to retail via its highly collectable Club Mocchi- Mocchi- line.
Sonic the Hedgehog burst onto the gaming scene on 23rd June 1991 with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog on the classic Sega Genesis, and quickly became known for his super-fast speed, signature attitude and readiness for all types of adventure. Since his debut, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a prominent figure in pop culture that has captivated fans around the world with an expansive franchise of iconic video games, entertaining TV series and more recently, the critically acclaimed blockbuster movie, Sonic the Hedgehog. With the film’s sequel and a new Netflix Originals animated series, Sonic Prime, slated for 2022, the Blue Blur is truly unstoppable.
Sonic has taken many forms over the past three decades, and will now be available in a new, unique plush form. Developed under TOMY’s Club Mocchi- Mocchi- brand, this collaborative line will include super soft, super squeezable and super huggable plush versions of characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe for fans to cherish.
“Sonic is an all-time classic video game character that has evolved into a beloved lifestyle brand and we are thrilled to bring these amazing characters to fans and collectors around the world through our unique Club Mocchi- Mocchi- brand,” said TOMY’s Director of Global Brands, Morgan Weyl. “The signature look and feel of our Club Mocchi- Mocchi- items will even turn Sonic’s quills into the most huggable quills ever!”
“TOMY has a long-standing reputation for high-quality plush toys not only in the industry but is well revered with Sonic collectors as well. We’re thrilled to re-partner with them to create this unique line for Sonic the Hedgehog,” said Michael Cisneros, Manager of Licensing at SEGA of America. “Fans have embraced Sonic in so many different mediums, and these super-soft, Club Mocchi-Mocchi- plushies will be ones they can hug and cherish for years to come.”
To learn more about TOMY and its range of innovative, high-quality toys, visit www.tomy.com. For news, updates and product information, follow TOMY on Facebook and Instagram.
About SEGA® of America, Inc.
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA® of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.
The “Texas Rattlesnake’s” 25th anniversary comes with new cards, rewards and more
2K has announced new WWE® SuperCardcontent in celebration of the 25th anniversary of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s WWE debut. Throughout the month of March, players can honor the Texas Rattlesnake with new items and events, such as a brand new “Stone Cold” Steve Austin cardback, Austin’s iconic jean shorts and more. WWE SuperCard is a collectible card-battling game from Cat Daddy Games, available now on the Apple App Store for iOS devices, including iPhone® and iPad®; the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore for Android™ devices*; and Facebook Gaming.
In addition, the “Stone Cold” Fusion event is now available, allowing players to collect and combine Rattlesnakes and ATVs from the draft board for a chance to make their own Special Edition “Stone Cold” Steve Austin cards. Keep an eye out for “Stone Cold” cardback and Legacy Pack QR codes on social media channels.
*WWE SuperCard requires iOS 11.0 or later for iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad, as well as requires Android 4.2.1 and up for Android devices. App includes optional in-game purchases.
Cat Daddy Games is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
by Mike Brown, Creative Director of Forza Horizon, Playground Games
Last month we announcedForza Horizon 4 was headed to Steam for the first time, and today we welcome new players as Forza Horizon 4 is officially available for purchase. We’re excited for Steam players to experience the joys of driving in beautiful, historic Britain alongside players across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 PCs and cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
There are three ways to customize your Horizon Festival experience and car collection, with the Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate Editions offering players options in kickstarting their garages and seeing everything Britain has to offer. Choose one of the below bundles to get started, or head to ForzaMotorsport.net for more details. You can also purchase car packs and expansions separately.
Standard Edition digital bundle $99.95:
Forza Horizon 4
Formula Drift Car Pack
Deluxe Edition digital bundle$129.95:
Forza Horizon 4
Formula Drift Car Pack
Car Pass
Ultimate Edition digital bundle$149.95:
Forza Horizon 4
Formula Drift Car Pack
Car Pass
Best of Bond Car Pack
Welcome Pack
VIP
Fortune Island
LEGO® Speed Champions
The world of Forza Horizon 4 has grown tremendously thanks to the support of the community, with game modes including The Eliminator and Super7 joining expansion content Fortune Island and LEGO Speed Champions alongside over 600 available cars to create an expansive and social driving experience. Players looking to add even more playful fun to their garages can also check out the Hot Wheels Legends Car Pack, which introduces iconic favorites such as the 1949 Ford F-5 Dually Custom Hot Rod and 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk ‘Dream Roadster’ to Forza Horizon 4.
Interested in adding a very special car to your garage for free? Starting today, all Forza Horizon 4 players across Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Windows 10 PC and Steam can add the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS to their collections for free by playing Forza Horizon 4 while logged into their Xbox profile between now and March 14 at 10 a.m. PDT. Upon their next log-in, players will receive a message in their message center about the reward car, and upon opening the message it will redeem to their garage. More information on this promotion can be found on forzamotorsport.net.
New to Forza Horizon 4? Check out our beginner’s guide filled with advice and tips from our community of seasoned and welcoming racers. With cross-play, you can cruise with a convoy of your friends no matter where they play—across Xbox consoles, Windows 10 PCs, cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and now Steam!
