Immerse Yourself in the Future of Gaming Audio with the Xbox Wireless Headset

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief

When we were designing Xbox Series X|S, we wanted to ensure that games feel true-to-life, load incredibly fast, and sound as if you were dropped in the middle of the action. We embraced spatial sound processing by including custom audio hardware to offload audio processing from the CPU, dramatically improving the accessibility, quality, and performance of these experiences. Having a high-quality set of headphones at an affordable price for your new console or existing Xbox One will help you feel immersed, react faster to the action, and connect further with your gaming worlds.

With each new generation of our Xbox accessories, we’ve raised the bar for innovation by focusing on performance, stand-out features, quality, and accessibility to deliver immersive experiences across console, PC, and mobile devices. We are excited to build on this legacy with the latest accessory to join the family: the new Xbox Wireless Headset.

The Xbox Wireless Headset delivers best-in-class audio and chat performance, outstanding design and comfort, and unique experiences that are tailored for each gamer. We are also looking forward to bringing more value to the headset category with innovations not previously found in this price range. We chatted with a host of folks from the audio engineering and design teams to learn more about what the new Xbox Wireless Headset will deliver.

Best-in-Class Audio and Chat Performance

The team spent countless hours studying what makes for a great audio experience, and because the team is familiar with the technology behind the Xbox Wireless protocol, they were able to introduce a fine-tuned and configurable auditory experience like no Xbox headset before. With the Xbox Wireless Headset, you can play loud and clear through low latency, lossless audio for exceptional sound quality.

The headset supports industry-leading spatial sound technologies including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X for realism and audio precision that fully surrounds you. You’ll have the advantage by being able to hear all the subtle, yet critical sounds (like enemy footsteps sneaking up on you) that elevate great gamers above the rest.

“We spent a lot of time in the audio testing chambers trying to characterize and understand how the headset reproduces audio in different room environments. It goes in your living room, game room, and dorm room and we want it to sound the best for all types of audio.” said Erik Garcia, Project Architect and Lead. “In the same way, the team studied gameplay to ensure great sounding chat with a sensitive mic to prevent background noise.”

In addition to best-in-class audio performance, the new Wireless Headset provides clear and intelligent chat audio quality. The new headset has dual beamforming microphone elements that focus on speech audio vs. surrounding sound. Additionally, voice isolation tuning helps the mic pick up your voice rather than background ambient noise.

When you aren’t talking, the auto-mute feature automatically mutes your microphone (this can be toggled on or off), so you keep comms channels clear, while the manual mute button gives you privacy when you need it. There’s a lot of attention to detail to be found on the new headset, and the mic is no exception. The team added a light indicator that turns on when the mic is active, so that you always know when your voice is being picked up.

Outstanding Design and Comfort

The team put a lot of energy into finding the right feel. The Xbox Wireless Headset is engineered for maximum comfort during extended gaming sessions with a lightweight design, ultra-soft large earcups made of polyurethane leather that distribute pressure evenly over the ears. It also features an adjustable headband with a thick cushion that easily fits wide-ranging head sizes and spreads pressure more evenly around the top of the head.

The design is intentionally understated and shares the same shapes and colours found on our new consoles. The controls and indicators mirror the circular geometry that informed the design of Xbox Series X and Series S. And much like our new Xbox consoles, the Xbox Wireless Headset is designed to blend into your living room without feeling out of place or obtrusive.

“We’ve learned that gaming is a deeply social activity. Especially nowadays, given the state of the world, gaming and communicating with others is a critical need. The team took a human-centred approach to design a headset that removes the unnecessary distractions so that players can focus on the game and their friends,” said Scott Wang, the Senior Design Researcher working on the new Xbox Wireless Headset.

Combining a sleek and modern design with high-quality materials and finishes the Xbox Wireless Headset has a durable frame with inner metal headband, rubberized dial rings for grip, and a fully adjustable mic that tucks up and out of the way when not in use. The rotating earcup dials of the new Xbox Wireless Headset provide an intuitive way to adjust the volume and game/chat audio balance with just a simple turn without interrupting how it rests on the player’s head. As Elie Ahovi, Senior Designer, puts it “we were driven by wanting every interaction with the headset to be delightful.”

Unique Experiences, Tailored to You

With the Xbox Wireless Headset, you can play wirelessly across multiple devices including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 PCs. The headset also connects to mobile devices via Bluetooth for on-the-go music or chat and to your console via Xbox Wireless technology just like an Xbox Wireless Controller, meaning there are no cables or dongles required.  You can also simultaneously pair the headset to your phone and Xbox. That means, for example, that you can chat with a friend or – as the engineering team recalls doing – dial in to a conference call on your phone and play on your console at the same time.

The Xbox Accessories app on your Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10 devices lets you fine-tune the audio controls for a customized audio experience, including equalizer settings, bass boost, auto-mute sensitivity, mic monitoring, and brightness of mic’s mute light. Best of all, the headset can stay updated with the latest features via wireless updates from your console, ensuring you’ll have a premium audio experience that continues to evolve. Make sure you install all the latest Windows updates to enjoy audio customization features on the Xbox Wireless Headset when using the Xbox Accessories app on Windows 10 devices.

Finally, charging gets you back into the action in a flash: 30 minutes of charging provides about 4 hours of battery life, with only 3 hours of charging to reach up to 15 hours of battery life when the headset is not in use.*

Immerse Yourself in the Future of Gaming

The Xbox Wireless Headset delivers expansive sound, ease of use across devices, long lasting comfort, and customizable sound through the Xbox Accessories app. “We want it to be satisfying when you use it and want you to feel all the pleasure and joy you can get when playing the game,” said Elie. We are also excited to be adding many unique features not found in wireless headsets today, with an eye toward evolving the product over time with updates.

The new Xbox Wireless Headset will be available for $149.95 AU beginning March 16 in most worldwide Xbox markets and can be pre-ordered at select retailers, including Microsoft Store, starting on February 17 at 2 a.m. AEDT. Check your local retailer for product availability and specific pre-order timing in your region. For more product and pre-order details on the new Xbox Wireless Headset, visit  Xbox.com.

*Battery life varies significantly with distance from console, additional accessories, usage and other factors. Testing conducted by Microsoft using pre-production units.

Assassin’s Creed^® Valhalla’s Yule Season Update Introduces New River Raids Game Mode

Sydney, Australia — February 17, 2021 — Today, Ubisoft announced that a new update for Assassin’s Creed^® Valhalla is now available, bringing additional free content to the game for all players: a new game mode, Jomsviking upgrades, new abilities and rewards, and two new unlockable buildings in the Settlement – the River Raid Dock and the Jomsviking Hall.

The River Raids is a permanent addition to the game and a new replayable mode enriching the raiding experience in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The mode contains:

• Higher-stakes raids, with unique maps and rewards, in which the player can raid without impacting their main game progression and alliances in England. Unlike the original raiding feature, the raiding crew can be temporarily lost if players don’t revive them during the raid.
• A Jomsviking Crew: Recruited Jomsvikings (created by other players online) are led by the player’s personal Jomsviking Lieutenant.
• A New Longship: An all-new fully customizable longship exclusive to the game mode – whose cargo hold can be upgraded to bring more resources back from River Raids.

The new Jomsviking Hall has three levels to upgrade in Season 1, with the higher the Hall’s level the higher the ranked Jomsvikings it will attract for the player to recruit. Jomsviking also now have ranks, with the higher ranked Jomsvikings having greater survivability in River Raids.

After players complete one of the first narrative arcs in England, either Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire, build their Barracks and recruit their Jomsviking Lieutenant, they will encounter a new NPC named Vagn and his crew of Jomsviking raiders, who will introduce them to the River Raids game mode. The mode introduces three new river maps set around the coastline of England full of locations to raid and treasure to loot.

Finally, the update brings additional abilities and rewards:

• The Saint George Armor set and Great Sword
• 3 new Abilities, hidden in monasteries
• 2 new Settlement Buildings
• A new set of longship and player cosmetics

The River Raids game mode update, a part of Season 1, is the latest addition as part of the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla post-launch experience, with a variety of new free content for all players focused on gameplay and world evolution coming throughout 2021.

Season 2, named Ostara, will start in March 2021 with a first update bringing a festival in the Settlement, a new game mode that builds on Valhalla’s core combat experiences, new gear and cosmetic items. More information about Wrath of the Druids, the first expansion of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releasing in Spring 2021, will come at a later time.

With development led by Ubisoft Montreal*, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers players the captivating experience of playing as Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior, driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in ninth century AD. Players can relive the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors with a revamped dual-wielding combat system and experience new gameplay features such as raids, assaults, and the settlement, as well as a revamped progression and gear upgrade system. Political alliances, combat decisions and dialogue choices can influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so players must choose wisely to protect their clan’s home and their future.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available on Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One consoles, PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, as well as on Stadia, Amazon Luna and Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+.**

For more information about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, please visit: assassinscreed.com

For the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and other Ubisoft games, visit news.ubisoft.com.

*Associate Ubisoft studios are Sofia, Singapore, Montpellier, Barcelona, Kyiv, Bordeaux, Shanghai, Chengdu, Philippines, Quebec, Bucharest, Saguenay, Winnipeg and Pune. Additional help provided by external partner Sperasoft.

**$19.95 AUD per month. Cancel anytime. More information at ubisoft-plus.com.

About Assassin’s Creed

Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 140 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.

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.

© 2021 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Stadia, the Stadia beacon, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. Amazon, Luna, and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

MARVEL’S AVENGERS ON NEXT-GEN CONSOLES AND OPERATION: HAWKEYE – FUTURE IMPERFECT LAUNCH MARCH 19, 2021

Upgrade to Next Gen and New Hero, Story, and Villain Coming at No Additional Cost

London, UK (February 17, 2021) – Today, SQUARE ENIX LTD announced that Marvel’s Avengers launches on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles across Australia & New Zealand on March 19, 2021 alongside the second new playable Super Hero for the game: Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, the unmatched archer with unerring precision. Players who own the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version of the game can upgrade to the full next-gen version at no additional cost* and transfer their save game to keep their progress.

Clint Barton will bring his unique talents to the game’s roster as part of Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect at no cost to owners of the core game on all platforms. In addition to a new playable Super Hero and the new chapter in the game’s ongoing Avengers Initiative story, Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect also introduces a powerful new villain: Maestro, a version of Hulk with Bruce Banner’s brains and the Hulk’s strengths and abilities, now driven mad in an apocalyptic future.

Watch the Marvel’s Avengers WAR TABLE Deep Dive About Operation: Hawkeye – Future Imperfect

About Marvel’s Avengers on PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S version of Marvel’s Avengers offers higher framerates and enhanced visuals compared to current generation of consoles at up to 4K resolution on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and 1440p for Xbox Series S. The game utilizes the consoles’ built-in SSD for dramatically faster loading and streaming times and takes advantage of their graphics power and memory to deliver higher-resolution textures, farther draw distances for high-resolution models, improved heroics and armour destruction, and other enhancements that leverage the full might of these new consoles to make gamers truly feel like a Super Hero.

Players who transfer their profiles and save games to next-gen consoles continue the action right where they left off. In addition, cross-gen play is supported so PS5™ connect and play with their friends on PS4™ and Xbox Series X|S players can connect with their friends on Xbox One.

About Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Hawkeye– Future Imperfect

Future Imperfect’s story picks up in the wake of Clint Barton’s protégé Kate Bishop’s Operation, Taking AIM and can be played solo or with up to three friends to deliver the ultimate Super Hero experience. Players will learn more about Hawkeye’s quest to find Nick Fury, leader of SHIELD, who he believed could help stop the rise of AIM. What he uncovered instead was a dangerous new weapon being built by Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini that could change the fate of humanity. Along the way, Clint finds himself wrapped up in a time-bending experiment, journeying to a future Earth destroyed by cosmic forces and inhabited by Maestro, an older, twisted version of Hulk who is as smart as he is strong.

The lead-up to Future Imperfect began with Marvel’s Avengers Operation: Kate Bishop – Taking AIM, which launched on December 8, 2020. In Taking AIM, Kate Bishop, master archer and skilled gymnast, resurfaced after her investigation of Nick Fury’s disappearance following A-Day led to Hawkeye going missing as well. As she unravelled the mystery behind the sudden appearance of time-warping Tachyon Rifts, she uncovered a twisted new plan from AIM, which pushed her to work with the Avengers once again.

About Marvel’s Avengers

Marvel’s Avengers offers players a truly rich experience and combines the single player focused Reassemble story campaign with the ongoing Avengers Initiative’s War Zone missions, which take the Avengers around the world and beyond. Each mission in the Reassemble campaign is designed to showcase one or more hero’s unique abilities, while the Avengers Initiative missions can be played solo with your own custom AI team or with a group of up to four players** as any Hero in the player’s roster.

The narrative of Marvel’s Avengers will expand over time with the addition of new stories featuring new heroes, villains, mission types, regions, items, and more delivered to players at no additional cost once they own the core game. These stories move the entire Marvel’s Avengers narrative world forward on a multi-year arc, and all new missions are accessible to the entire roster of playable heroes.

Marvel’s Avengers is currently available on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.

*Free upgrade available only from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, or from Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S. Upgrade from PlayStation 4 disc version requires PlayStation 5 console with disc drive. Upgrade from Xbox One disc version requires Xbox Series X console.

**Internet connection required. Your platform’s online multiplayer requirements will apply.

Related Links
Official Homepage: www.playavengers.com
Official Twitter: @PlayAvengers
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlayAvengersGame/
Official YouTube: http://youtube.com/PlayAvengers
#PlayAvengers #Reassemble #EmbraceYourPowers
 

# ENDS #

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2021 MARVEL
 
About Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics® has developed and published over 30 award-winning titles during its 28-year adventure. Some of the most beloved franchises include Gex®, Legacy of Kain® and most recently, TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 81 million copies worldwide. With over 30 video game titles released and hundreds of awards, the heroine Lara Croft® has been a cultural icon for over 20 years and has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment. Most recently, Crystal Dynamics expanded its operations by opening Crystal Northwest™ in Bellevue, Washington.
 
For more information on Crystal Dynamics, please visit http://www.crystald.com/, their Twitter account, Facebook page, or their LinkedIn page.
 
About Eidos-Montréal
Eidos-Montréal™ (a Square Enix® studio) is focused on creating immersive and captivating experiences. For the last decade, the development teams at Eidos-Montréal have orchestrated the successful reboot of the DEUS EX® series (Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided®), released the latest entry in the THIEF® franchise, and have also played a key role in the development of the award-winning TOMB RAIDER® series.
 
For more information on the studio, please visit https://eidosmontreal.com/ and find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
 
About Square Enix Ltd

Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal®. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 159 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 82 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 81 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

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

Developed by Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montréal. Development support provided by Nixxes. All rights reserved.

CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, the CRYSTAL DYNAMICS logo, CRYSTAL NORTHWEST, EIDOS, EIDOS-MONTRÉAL and the EIDOS-MONTRÉAL logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Limited. SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. DEUS EX, DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED, DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, GEX, LARA CROFT, LEGACY OF KAIN, SPACE INVADERS, TAITO, THIEF, and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. Nixxes and the Nixxes logo are trademarks of Nixxes Software BV. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. STEELBOOK is a trademark of Glud & Marstrand and is marketed globally by Scanavo.

PARIS — Feb. 16, 2021 — Necromunda: Underhive Wars, the thrilling turn-based strategy title from Rogue Factor and Focus Home Interactive based on Games Workshop’s iconic license, gets even more intense today with the release of the new “Cawdor Gang” DLC on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC!

The Cawdor bring a fanatical bent to the action-packed, vertical shootouts of Necromunda: Underhive Wars in both single and multiplayer modes. With horrific masks and vicious brutality, the Cawdor can shrug off blows that would fell other gangs whole. But they allow for the same suite of heavy cosmetic and gameplay customization as all of the game’s playable gangs: recruit and customize your fighters to create a truly unique and dangerous fighting force through your choice of careers, perks, skills, equipment, color schemes, and more.

In addition, today marks the release of the Gold Edition of Necromunda: Underhive Wars, featuring the base game plus both DLC gangs (the Van Saar and the Cawdor) in one package. On Steam, the Gold Edition bundle also includes the game’s digital artbook and OST. Furthermore, players who already own the base game of Necromunda: Underhive Wars can pick up the new “Gangs Bundle,” which combines the Cawdor and Van Saar DLC gangs in one package at a discounted price.

To celebrate today’s releases, Necromunda: Underhive Wars and its Gold Edition are each available at a significant discount on Steam for a limited time. For more information, visit the official store page.

Star Citizen Free Fly Event Grants Free Access to Game and Wide Array of Ships from February 15-25

Who:

Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), developers of Star Citizen, are a new kind of independent studio dedicated to delivering AAA games outside the established publisher system. CIG was founded in 2012 by renowned visionary game developer Chris Roberts and continues to shift the paradigm of the game development process offering their community an unprecedented level of visibility and interaction with product development.

What:

Following the recent launch of the ‘Assault on Stanton’ Dynamic Event, developer CIG has launched a new ‘February Free Fly’ event which grants free access to download and play Star Citizen, plus free access to a wide array of ships for the duration of the event. Pilots can look forward to free test flights for the following vehicles:

• Consolidated Outlands Mustang Alpha
• RSI Aurora MR
• MISC Prospector
• MISC Freelancer
• Anvil Arrow
• Drake Dragonfly

New players can also take advantage of a 10% discount across a large number of Starter Packs on the Pledge Store during the Free Fly event.

Follow the Star Citizen team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch — and visit www.robertsspaceindustries.com for additional information.

When:

The Star Citizen Free Fly event is scheduled to begin on February 15 at approximately 10:00am (Pacific Standard Time) and will run through February 25. Star Citizen discounted Starter Pack sales are also scheduled to begin on February 15 and will run through February 26.

Where:

To take full advantage of today’s Star Citizen Free Fly Event, veteran pilots planning to crew up with friends are encouraged to share their referral code for a bonus 5,000 UEC. New pilots ready to begin their journey in Star Citizen with this week’s 10% discounts on Starter Packs should visit the Welcome Hub for helpful resources.

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A plethora of fixes implemented since release of survival-horror sequel shows Stormind Games’ devotion to game improvement.

Walnut Creek, Calif. (February 16, 2021) – Indie publishing label Modus Games, director Chris Darril of Darril Arts, and developer Stormind Games today announced a massive patch update that details several improvements to the survival-horror game Remothered: Broken Porcelain, which launched in October 2020 on PC (Steam and GOG), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
 
Full patch notes can be found here: https://modusgames.com/news/remothered-broken-porcelain-is-out-today-upcoming-patches-detailed/
 
“Stormind Games has been hard at work patching Broken Porcelain to ensure players experience the game as intended,” said Antonio Cannata, CEO and co-founder of Stormind Games. “The game is now at its most polished state yet, thanks to the help of our devoted community of players that have taken the time to write to us and report bugs. We can’t stop thanking all the fans who have supported the game from the beginning, and those who have acknowledged our hard work and our love for the players.”
 
“We’re grateful to have partners like Stormind Games and Darril Arts who truly care about the players and have worked tirelessly to improve the game since launch,” added Shane Bierwith, EVP of global marketing at Modus Games.
 
Updates to the game include: general optimisation, bug fixes, lighting and music improvements, polished animations, and more. For the latest, visit Modus Games.
 
Remothered: Broken Porcelain deepens the series’ incredible atmospheric tension while lending players new abilities to keep the chilling horrors they’ll encounter at bay. Newly craftable items and stealth-focused mechanics grant crucial opportunities to distract and slip away from foes, buying players precious seconds as they solve puzzles to advance an engrossing narrative, meet the Ashmann Inn’s distinct residents, and fight for their very survival.
 
To learn more about Remothered: Broken Porcelain, visit www.remothered.com.

About Modus Games
Modus Games is one of the fastest-growing video game publishers in the world. The label prides itself on providing AAA publishing services to talented independent developers across the globe. Modus Studios Brazil is a full-service development studio supporting creators of inspired interactive entertainment. For more information, visit www.modusgames.com.
 
About Stormind Games
Stormind Games is the video game studio specialized in the development of intense stories for PC and consoles. Following the team’s award-winning debut effort in the psychological horror game Remothered: Tormented Fathers, Stormind Games has expanded its engrossing and unsettling universe with Remothered: Broken Porcelain.

About Darril Arts
Darril Arts is a digital arts entertainment company focused on story-rich games designed to elevate the player’s experience. Founded by acclaimed award-winning writer and director Chris Darril, the organization provides a range of multimedia products in the games and animation industry. After its successful debut with Darril’s Remothered: Tormented Fathers, Darril Arts is now back in the game with the second title of the series, Remothered: Broken Porcelain.

Enter a World of Steel, War, and Magic. Lay Siege to Other Players’ Created Kingdoms.

Florida, USA – February 16th 2021, Independent developer Poleaxe Games today announced that its action RPG, Empire of Ember will be coming to Steam for PC this summer. Empire of Ember is a first-person action-RPG featuring player-created cities, destructible environments, and procedurally-generated dungeons.  

Blending first-person ranged, melee, and magical combat, Empire of Ember also includes a light RTS strategic element, allowing players to unleash the might of an army of NPCs to fight alongside in hundred-unit battles.

The explorable nature of the game also helps drive the narrative, as players can delve into developer-created story stages in randomly generated overland maps across 4 biomes or traverse through procedurally-generated solo dungeons. Additionally, Empire of Ember’s city builder allows players to design, decorate and defend their own fully destructible 3D kingdoms that they can also explore in first person. More importantly, these player-created cities can be shared in an asynchronous multiplayer mode, in which players can download another player’s city and fight to sack it.

“Empire of Ember is an action RPG that has the player command armies in first person, giving orders and supporting troops fighting with steel and magic. We want players to feel like they are part of a larger battle.” said Kevin Jenkins CEO and Creative Director of Poleaxe Games. “Laying siege to castles generated by other players also opens up yet another level of creativity and discovery, keeping players engaged with constant new experiences.” 

Empire of Ember is an action RPG rich in lore and fantasy filled with more than just magic and myth, with a narrative tied into the game’s persistent world with a script by former Telltale Games lead writer Patrick Kevin Day.

Empire of Ember will be launching on Steam late Summer 2021 and is currently seeking play testers on Steam

Wishlist the game or Join the Empire of Ember Alpha Steam Playtest here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/980640

About Poleaxe Games

Poleaxe Games LLC is a new studio, founded in 2017 developing an original and innovative action RPG Empire of Ember for PC. It was founded by Kevin Jenkins, the original developer of RakNet.

The perilous continent of Yohara bears witness to its greatest challenge yet, as today, publisher Gameforge announces brand new content to their legendary massively multiplayer online action role-playing game Metin2. On February 23, 2021, Content Update: Curse of the Serpent Queen introduces a treacherous new zone, deadly new dungeons, ruthless new bosses, and new high-level armor to aid you on your quest to vanquish Metin2’s most fatal foe yet in the conquest of Yohara!

The deadly and devious Serpent Queen Nethis, right hand to Sung Mahi, craves power for her leader above all else. Having heard of a powerful strategic foothold in the far east on the continent of Yohara, Nethis has set out on a journey in search of an ancient temple to establish control in Sung Ma’s name and recover a treasure that could turn the tides of battle in their favor. However, the lust for power is fraught with peril – upon reaching the temple, a cruel curse befell Nethis and her army, twisting their bodies and turning them into horrific serpentine creatures. Now it is up to the bravest warriors to wrest control of the temple from Nethis, destroy the Serpent Queen and her battalion, or suffer the same fate and join her ranks!

Metin2: Conquerors of Yohara – Curse of the Serpent Queen brings a viper’s den of exciting new features:

• New Zone – Yilad Pass: Venture along the cursed, winding road to gain access to the Serpent Temple and experience a new, thrilling storyline. Keep your guard up as new quests and Chieftains with their polluted army will make your journey a dangerous one. Warriors adventurous enough to make the trek will be rewarded with new legendary armor to aid them.
• New Dungeon – Serpent Temple: At the center of Yilad Pass lies the impregnable lair of the Serpent Queen: The Serpent Temple. Battling with new, slithery, serpentine monsters using challenging new mechanics across several sub-basements will net adventurers rare drops such as Serpent equipment and other rare goodies. But be quick about it – unless you craft at the Serpent Statue, you must work against the clock to evade the curse of the Serpent Queen!
• New Dungeon – Mysterious Dungeon: A twisted maze awaits you in Nam Gwang Chasm, bursting with rapidly spawning different types of monsters, high-level weapons, and a new, mysterious talisman!
• New Armor Set – Serpent Equipment: What is a new update without shiny, new armor? Deck your character in the finest and most powerful serpentine armor with room for several bonuses that can be upgraded

Developed by Webzen, Metin2 is a free-to-play title that takes place in the perilous world of the Dragon God, where exciting battles against dangerous creatures and legendary bosses await. Published by Gameforge in more than 16 languages with hundreds of thousands of players worldwide in search of adventure in the medieval, Asia-inspired setting, Metin2 has remained one of Europe’s most popular MMORPGs for over 16 years.

Metin2: Conquerors of Yohara — Curse of the Serpent Queen will be available for free on February 23, 2021, via the official Gameforge site and Steam. Metin2 is coming to new shores and new platforms as the title is also available for GeForce Now!

Keep up to date with the latest Metin2 and Conquerors of Yohara news by visiting the official Metin2 website and liking the game on Facebook. 

February 16 – Cologne – Publisher, Headup and Elder Games are pleased to announce the official release of Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four for Steam on February 26. 

Launched on Steam as Early Access in July 2020, the game has since gone through multiple updates, unveiling new cards, artifacts, enemies, and biomes. The full release will unlock the fierce final boss, new deathly realm, and end game content.

Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four is a procedurally generated collectible card game with action RPG elements. Tinkering with magic and spells beyond his ability, a dark wizard accidentally unleashes The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and their minions. The only way to send them back to the fiery pit from whence they came is by battling through with 240+ cards and 40 artefacts. 

In the final chapter of the game, the player must fight through brutal creatures called “Agents of Death” at every corner. Agent of Death is a new enemy type appearing for the first time, and only those who win enough keys are allowed to enter the final realm and face the ultimate boss: Death himself.

About The Game

Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four is a procedurally generated collectible card game mixed with action RPG elements!

You are a dark wizard who shouldn’t have tinkered with magic and spells way too powerful for you. But you did. And this time you messed up really bad: You’ve unleashed The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and their minions upon the World! Well done… So hurry, grab your magical cards and send them all back to their hellish dimension before the Apocalypse destroys everyone and everything – and much more importantly, before the old wizard council discovers what you have done…

Collect creature and spell cards throughout your journey and unleash their power if anyone opposes you!

The game’s world is endlessly generated, there’s always something new to explore!

Features:

• Encounter 5 factions and over 200 cards, each with its own unique abilities, art and 3D animation
• Equip your hero with over 40 artifacts
• Battle five mythic bosses, each with its own unique take on game mechanics
• Explore endlessly generated worlds in different biomes
• Complete challenges and trade cards in the Interdimensional Pub you visit between quests

About Headup

Headup is a hybrid games publishing and development company providing players worldwide with the best content in the independent gaming sector. Established in 2009, it is active on all major platforms such as consoles, mobile devices and PC, and was awarded as “Best Publisher” at the German Developers Awards in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019. With over 80 million customers served on mobile and further several million players on the PC and consoles, Headup is always looking to raise awareness and commercial success for developers thinking outside the box. More information can be found at www.headupgames.com and twitter.com/headupgames.

About Elder Games

Founded in 2007, Elder Games is an independent game development team. From 2007 to date, Elder Games had mostly been a “one-man army”. During that time, lead developer Ede Tarsoly collaborated with external freelancers to realize his projects. More at www.eldgames.com.

Tag-Team Racer GENSOU Skydrift Takes Magical Drive March 9 for PlayStation 4

TOKYO – 15 Feb 2021 – GENSOU Skydrift, the spell-slinging tag-team racer from developer studio illuCalab, led by a former Mario Kart developer, and publisher Phoenixx, crosses the finish line on Thursday, March 9 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility, and featuring the debut of brand-new content.

Zip through 20 stages with a powerful duo chosen from 22 characters, one acting as a vehicle with the other riding on her back as driver, each with exclusive stats and magic spells. Strategically swap the two between rider and vehicle positions to perfectly handle the twists and turns of the tracks or use abilities at just the right moment.

Two new characters and two new courses will make their GENSOU Skydrift debut in both the new PlayStation version and now-available Nintendo Switch and Steam versions. Beloved Touhou characters Alice Margatroid and Rin Kaenbyou will be playable in all versions on 9 March. Race through vibrant cherry blossoms in the Heaven course, and through a futuristic city in Redevelopment Area B.

Dive into the magical narrative in Story Mode, battle for the best lap in Time Attack, or face the competition in Versus Mode, which hosts leagues of high-flying action in online multiplayer against up to seven opponents. Speed through the fantasy realm of Gensokyo, filled with charming creatures, flora and multicolored skies depicted in 3D in this fan-made entry in the Guiness World Record-holding Touhou Project franchise bringing the joys of racing to PlayStation 4.

“Racing games can be intimidating to break into, but a game made by fans and featuring a cute and colorful cast can help change that perception,” said EIKI, lead developer, illuCalab. “GENSOU Skydrift melds the best of a beloved genre with the magic and lore of the Touhou Project to create a game which hides depth and strategy beneath a veneer of simplicity.”

Gensou SkyDrift will be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility for $23.99 USD/€ 21.99. It will support English, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). The game is available now on Steam for Windows PC and Nintendo Switch.

To learn more, visit the Phoenixx official website, Facebook page and follow @Phoenixx_inc on Twitter.

About Phoenixx

Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game and one community a time.

To learn more, visit the Phoenixx official website, Phoenixx Facebook page and follow @Phoenixx_inc on Twitter.

About Touhou Project

Touhou Project, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “most prolific fan-made shooter series,” is a collection of games set in the world of Gensokyo and using a recurring cast of familiar characters. Predominantly consisting of vertical shooters, the Touhou Project includes games developed by the original creator, one-man studio Team Shanghai Alice, as well as fan works made by other developers.

About illuCalab

illuCalab is an award-winning Japanese developer with experience working on Mario Kart and other popular titles.