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!
Command a Premium on Infamous and Legendary Bounties
Final Week of Outlaw Pass No.4, Free Ability Cards for All, and More
This week marks the final seven days of Outlaw Pass No. 4, meaning a brand-new set of rewards is just around the corner. Current Pass holders have much to celebrate, with a free Treasure Map for playing this week as well as 5,000 XP to help push toward Rank 100, unlocking the coveted Morement Outfit.
Meanwhile, all Red Dead Online players this week will receive a Reward for a free Ability Card to help them thrive in the wild.
Bounty Hunter Bonuses
Bounty Hunters can make a killing several ways this week. Firstly, all licensed Bounty Hunters will receive 2,000 Role XP along with double Role XP for completing any Bounty, plus an Offer for 30% off any Established or Distinguished Bounty Hunter Item.
Tracking down Legendary Bounties will yield rewards all their own: on top of the aforementioned double Role XP, head-hunters will also earn double the usual Ability Card XP for playing Legendary Bounty Missions over the next seven days.
Those in possession of a Prestigious Bounty License can also mount up and reap those same benefits on all 39 Infamous Bounties, which are deeper 3-part missions to track down wanted criminals. Head to the following Bounty Board locations and scroll to the third poster across, then hit up/down to begin tracking these Infamous Bounties:
Annesburg — Tobin Anderson’s Wreckers
Armadillo — The Butchers of Benedict Pass
Benedict Point — “Los Pasajeros”
Blackwater — Thaddeus Walter’s Men
Emerald Station — The Three Widows
Rhodes — The Bellingham Brothers
Riggs Station — Bartholomew Brown’s “Gentlemen”
Saint Denis — Hoare, Roache and Gault
Strawberry — The “Initiates”
Tumbleweed — “Addison Wye’s “Jailbreakers”
Valentine — Allen, De La Mare and Fitch
Van Horn — Bradshaw, Colt and Penn
Wallace Station — Theodore Xavier’s Hunt
Whether you gun these criminals down or apprehend them alive is up to you, but either way: in addition to the cash reward, turning in any Legendary Bounty will land you a gift of 25 Poison Throwing Knives and 100 rounds of Express Rifle Ammo.
Head to your local Bounty Board to peruse the undesirables and launch your next skirmish.
If you haven’t already added A New Source of Employment telegrams to your Satchel, be sure to check your mailbox — either at your Camp Lockbox or local Post Office — for word from your mysterious pen-pal J. Completing Outrider by successfully escorting a delivery wagon from Brittlebrush Trawl any time before March 15th will earn you an Offer for 30% off the Bounty Hunter Wagon.
DISCOUNTS
Whether in hot pursuit of the ne’er-do-wells listed above or just looking to up your arsenal, gunsmiths across the states are offering 40% off the retail cost of all Rifles, plus 30% off all Bounty Hunter Weapon variants, Off-Hand Holsters and Reinforced Lassos.
Experiment and try out some new Passive Abilities, as Ability Cards and Ability Card Upgrades are 30% off for the next seven days.
Prime Gaming Benefits
Red Dead Online players who connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account to Prime Gaming will receive Rewards for:
A free Bounty Hunter License
An Award for the Trimmed Amethyst Bounty Wagon Livery
In addition, players who connect to Prime Gaming before March 15th will receive a Reward for 5,000 Club XP, an Offer for 50% off the Repeating Shotgun and 200 Shotgun Slugs.
The Online Mode is Available Today on Consoles and Stadia at No Additional Cost. PC Players Will Get Access Soon.
Sydney, Australia – MARCH 10, 2021 – Today, Ubisoft announced that the online mode for Watch Dogs: Legion is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5 and Stadia at no additional cost for Watch Dogs: Legion players. The mode will also be coming shortly after on the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, and Ubisoft+*, Ubisoft’s subscription service.
The online mode of Watch Dogs: Legion includes:
Free-roam open-world co-op where players can team up with their friends for up to four-players and explore London, encounter city events, complete challenges and participate in side activities.
New co-op missions for two-to-four players using new co-op gameplay mechanics and giving players the opportunity to recruit the perfect team and fight back against London’s threats across the most iconic landmarks of the city.
The first available Player-vs-Player (PvP) mode, Spiderbot Arena, where four players control armed spiderbots and compete in a high intensity free-for-all deathmatch.
Two exclusive single-player missions for Season Pass owners are also available today:
Guardian Protocol: DedSec will track down an algorithm that shows that AI can sometimes override human decision. If this algorithm was to be used in weaponized drones… they would have power over life and death.
Not In Our Name: DedSec discovers a secret group using their name in London, working under the orders of a ruthless tabloid owner, who uses information stolen by this group to blackmail his notorious victims and gain power in the city.
On March 23, “Leader of the Pack,” the first four-player co-op Tactical Op which will require teamwork and efficiency will be available. More content will continue being added after launch through free updates, including Invasion PvP mode, all-new co-op missions, free characters and more.
In Watch Dogs: Legion, London is facing its downfall. Amidst the growing unrest of a restless London, an unknown entity named Zero-Day has framed secret underground resistance DedSec for coordinated bombings across London. In the aftermath, criminal opportunists from every corner of London took hold and filled the void left by a defeated government. As a member of DedSec, players will be going up against those criminal opportunists in Watch Dogs: Legion; sadists, mercenaries, cybercriminals, and more; they’ll have to be prepared for a variety of situations. Players must recruit members into their DedSec Resistance to take on these criminal opportunists, liberate London and uncover the identity of Zero-Day.
Watch Dogs: Legion has a variety of accessibility options, ranging from fully customizable controls to directional audio captions. A full list of accessibility options can be found on news.ubisoft.com.
For the latest news on Watch Dogs: Legion and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
For more information about Watch Dogs: Legion, please visit watchdogs.com, and join the conversation by using #watchdogslegion.
*$19.95 AUD per month. Cancel anytime. The Ultimate Edition (Excluding VIP status) will be available as part of a Ubisoft+ subscription. More information at ubisoft-plus.com.
ABOUT WATCH DOGS
Watch Dogs launched in 2014 as the video game industry’s best-selling new IP at launch. To-date, the award-winning franchise has registered more than 50 million unique players worldwide. The hacker series extends to other entertainment media, including books and comics. The latest opus in the franchise, Watch Dogs: Legion, was released on October 29, 2020.
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.
Publisher of iconic gaming franchises will expand Xbox’s diverse portfolio on Xbox Game Pass
This is an exciting day for Xbox. Today we officially complete the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks. It’s an honour to welcome the eight incredibly talented development studios – Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios – and their passionate global communities to the Xbox family. Now that everything is official, we can begin working together to deliver more great games to everyone. At every step building toward this moment, I’ve been inspired and motivated by the creativity, insight, and community-first approach of the talented people at Bethesda. Our goal is to give these teams the best foundation for doing their greatest work and to learn from them as we continue to build Xbox into an inclusive platform for all players.
This is the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team, a commitment we have to our Xbox community. With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players.
As we shared previously, it’s vitally important that Bethesda continues making games the way it always has. We look forward to empowering Bethesda’s creative teams to reach even more players around the world, helping make future Bethesda titles the biggest and most popular games in their history. Xbox and Bethesda have long shared a common vision for the future of gaming. Both as fans and as creators, Bethesda understands the potential of Xbox Game Pass.
We would also like to honour the life and memory of my close friend Robert A. Altman, founder of ZeniMax Media. Robert believed deeply in the power of gaming and we are privileged to be able to continue his work by joining forces with the teams he built and led for many years. I will miss the opportunity to work directly with him on the future of our combined teams, but I know that his spirit will live on in the shared work we do and motivate us to make this partnership all he envisioned.
Thank you to all our players for joining us on this incredible journey and to the millions of Bethesda fans around the world. Now that we’re one team, we can start working together on the future ahead. We will have more to share about what’s next for our teams later this year. In the meantime, to properly celebrate this special moment, we are bringing additional Bethesda games into Xbox Game Pass later this week. Stay tuned for more details!
FLASHPOINT will bring new Polish and Premium tanks and extensive rewards for free-to-play tankers and Season Pass holders alike!
Following the 7th birthday of World of Tanks Console, the team is excited to announce the launch of Season 5: Flashpoint. With the ability to unlock incredible new Polish hardware, Consumables, Camos, Premium Days and much more – all tankers are invited to fight it out in Flashpoint between March 9 and April 26!
Whether playing with or without the Season Pass, all players will have the opportunity to harness the titanic tonnage that is the 50TP Prototype – bringing a true Polish powerhouse to the field of battle again. The famed heavy tank can be unlocked alongside rewards like a bespoke Commander, Key Cards, Gold, Silver, Consumables, Boost Ops and exclusive Flashpoint emblems! With 100 Flashpoint tiers to unlock, there’s a huge amount to unlock this season!
Alongside all the bonuses above, Season Pass holders will be in with a chance of unlocking extra rewards at every level, including the Creighton Abrams Hero Commander, the Type 59-11, the T-100 and even a T77 Tank and Hero Skin! And that’s not all, if they complete all tiers – tankers will win enough Gold to purchase the next Season Pass with their winnings!
Premium Season Pass holders can expect all of the rewards and benefits in the Season Pass and free tiers – plus the CS-52 LIS with a Hero Skin and an Edmund Orlik Hero Commander! With the famed Polish Tank Commander at the helm – who could possibly stand in the way of victory?
Creative Director TJ Wagner said: “We are thrilled to bring a new line of tanks into the game for this Season – giving players the opportunity to experience new machines and a new game mechanic. From the potential of the Polish 50TP Prototype and the CS-52 LIS – all tankers have the chance to unlock new tanks, vanquishing their enemies in exciting new vehicles.’
In the weeks moving up to April, players have the chance to experience a completely new line-up of Polish medium tanks to enrich their virtual garage. From the Tier V DS PZlnz over CS 44, CS 53 and CS 59 the range goes up to the Tier X CS63 with a unique gas turbine mechanic, allowing players to turn on a massive acceleration and speed boost for tactical maneuvers manoeuvres on the battlefield.
World of Tanks Console is a team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armoured combat. Players immerse themselves in fierce 15-v-15 tank combat with opponents from around the world, fight it out on more than 90 different maps, and take command of their preferred vehicle out of over 740 tanks from 11 different nations.
World of Tanks Console is played by more than 20 million players worldwide and is available on PlayStation®4 & 5 and on Xbox One, Xbox Series S & X. World of Tanks Console can be downloaded for free by all PlayStation Network and Xbox Live account holders, with stunning 4K resolution and HDR support on PlayStation®4 Pro, PlayStation 5, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S & Xbox Series X.
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 5500 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.
To The Rescue! Finds its Forever Home on Nintendo Switch, Steam in Late 2021
Developer Donating 20% of Profits to Animal Shelters
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – 25 Feb. 2021 – To The Rescue!, the heartfelt dog shelter management simulator from developer Little Rock Games and publisher Freedom Games, adopts an Autumn 2021 release window for Nintendo Switch alongside Steam on Windows PC and Mac.
Build a shelter and help stray pups find good new homes with loving families. Construct an ideal environment to meet the needs of man’s best friend and maximize their chances to be adopted. Caring for dozens of doggos is rewarding, but the mission has its share of challenges as well.
Every pooch has their own personality. It’s important to get to know each dog and find out what makes them unique. People have their preferences too, so learning what they’re looking for in a pupper is critical when making matches that will last a lifetime.
Between visits from potential pet parents, there’s never a dull moment. Shelters have plenty of mouths to feed and treating illnesses like kennel cough is always a concern. Then there’s logistics to worry about. It takes no shortage of supplies to keep the operation up and running.
Meanwhile, someone has to manage the finances and make sure to keep the lights on. Shelters need to be thrifty and make hard decisions. Hiring staff and dealing with investors is as much a part of the job as scritching Rex behind the ears and giving Fido belly rubs. There can be tough times, but at the end of the day helping dogs find their forever homes is always worth it.
“The challenges dog shelters and their volunteers face every day truly inspire us,” said Olivia Dunlap, co-founder, Little Rock Games. “It’s a setting we felt was ripe for exploration in games and we look forward to bringing this world to Nintendo Switch and Steam later this year.”
To The Rescue! will be available in late 2021 for Nintendo Switch as well as Steam on PC and Mac for $19.99. The development team pledges 20 percent of profits to pet shelters.
Little Rock Games is a community-based tabletop game development studio and To The Rescue! is their first digital project. Focusing on making projects that emphasize local, ethical, and impactful elements, the studio aims to raise awareness of social issues as well as donate to organizations whose work inspires the subject matter of their games.
Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.
