Marvel’s Avengersis a third person action-adventure game. The game stars Black Widow, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and Thor. After the events of A-day, the Avengers are disbanded, and its members driven into hiding as Inhumans with superpowers are systematically hunted down.
Story
Kamala Khan, a young Inhuman and Avengers superfan, is the star of the campaign. The story focuses on her journey to adulthood and assuming the Ms. Marvel persona. It is a heart warming coming of age tale that is driven by Kamala’s infectious personality and youthful energy. I can see her jubilance and immaturity rubbing some people the wrong way, but her journey into adulthood touches on a lot of relatable themes.
The dialogue is witty and well written. The script fits in well with the tone of other Avenger films I’ve seen in the past. Players looking for some story content beyond Ms. Marvel will be glad to know each character has their own mini-campaign which provides a little extra meat for the short campaign.
Gameplay
Marvel’s Avengers is a third person action adventure brawler with some RPG and shooter elements. The launch roster only has six characters, but Crystal Dynamics is opting for a battle pass-style content scheme that will add more characters for free alongside paid hero challenge cards that unlock cosmetics, crafting resources, and currency for completion. Unfortunately, Sony has rights to Spiderman, so Spidey will be a PlayStation exclusive.
Each hero has their own unique fighting style but have a common set of input combinations. It makes the game less technically challenging and allow players to jump between characters with ease, but some may find the limited combo set to be restrictive. I find the early character levels to be the dullest as most abilities have yet to be unlocked, resulting in players getting away with a lot of button mashing.
Combat is a tightly executed affair with only a few minor hitches. Most characters rely strictly on traditional third person mêlée combat with ranged combat as an afterthought or a situational attack; however, unique abilities like Thor’s flight and Blackwidow’s powerful ranged attacks do provide a little strategic variation. While button mashing will get players through the first few levels, Marvel’s Avengers quickly becomes a more skillful title requiring dodges and counters to survive later levels and higher difficulty settings. Dark Souls fans will probably scoff at the difficulty peak, but it is enough to give the average gamer an enjoyable challenge without hurling a controller across the room. The controls are tight and responsive for the most part, though I found there were a few enemies that were nearly impossible to dodge no matter what I tried.
The level design is decent, though the more linear story-heavy levels outshine the open world levels. The game consists of a campaign, mini campaign missions, and generic open world missions found on the War Table. The generic open world levels are bland, dropping few random objectives in an open map. Most of the objectives are optional, and the length of the missions tend to be painfully short if the side objectives are skipped. The generic missions pale in comparison to the story-based missions, especially the linear ones with a heavily directed experience. These missions feel more cinematic and are willing to experiment with more challenging puzzles and a little bit of stealth once in a while. The higher number of required objectives stretch out the missions better, even the ones that opt for some open world elements from the generic missions. The story heavy nature gives the campaign missions a sense of purpose beyond grinding.
The user experience is good, though a few PC features could have been executed better. The third person mêlée genre tends to play better on a controller, so its understandable that the mouse and keyboard experience isn’t up to par. The developers do make the best of the situation and allow most keys to be rebound, but there are some odd hiccups. Menu keys can’t be reassigned and how toggle aim is handled clashes with the standard control scheme for third person shooters. Tapping the aim button toggles the aim; but instead of simply tapping the fire button to shoot, the player still needs to hold down aim again to fire a projectile.
Visuals
Marvel’s Avengers offers an excellent graphical experience. The visual style is inspired by the films, but the game still retains a comic book flair with the cosmetics. The UI is minimal and fades away when not in use which gives the game a cinematic flair. On the technical side, PC users are given a beefy set of visual options worthy of a AAA PC title, including high resolution texture packs that will likely only arrive on consoles with the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Audio
The audio is excellent. Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics hired top talent for the game and snatched Thor’s original voice actor to boot. The supporting cast are skilled enough that even the unnamed character lines are only slightly behind in quality. The sound effects are solid, giving combat a heavy thump worthy of a superhero title. The soundtrack is great, mixing traditional video game scoring with a few licensed tracks to give the game a cinematic feel.
Overall
Marvel’s Avengers is an enjoyable experience. The story is excellent, and the audio/visual experience creates a cinematic feel. The combat is fun and strikes the right balance between accessibility and difficult. There are some issues with content. Those looking for a longer story heavy game will be a little disappointed as the story content is on the shorter end of the spectrum. Those more interested in a multiplayer loot grind with superheroes will probably get some more mileage out of the game until more content is released. Their experience will be more heavily focused on the duller generic War Table levels. While I think the game is still a solid title, the content issues are what keeps the game from reaching a must buy status for everyone. Sure, the free content updates may solve the shortage, but we can only review what’s released now.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Crytek’s Crysis franchise returns with extensive graphics upgrades
Frankfurt (Germany), September 18, 2020 – Crytek is pleased to announce that Crysis Remastered is out now for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The remaster of the seminal first-person shooter was developed and optimized in partnership with Saber Interactive, and follows the launch of Crysis Remastered for Nintendo Switch. Crysis Remastered is available as a digital release via the Epic Games Store, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, and the Nintendo eShop for USD 29.99 / EUR 29.99.
Players who buy the game within the first three weeks from launch on the Epic Games Store will also receive a Crysis soundtrack and wallpaper. Gamers who buy Crysis Remastered within the same period on the PlayStation Store will receive a Crysis Remastered PlayStation Theme as a launch bonus.
“Our aim was to meet the expectations of the Crysis community and celebrate their passion for the franchise,” said Steffen Halbig, Project Lead. “Naturally, we are thrilled to invite players to suit up and experience Crysis, upgraded and remastered to take advantage of today’s hardware and advances in CRYENGINE.”
Crysis Remastered features the all-action, sandbox single-player gameplay from the acclaimed shooter, upgraded with remastered graphics, including high-quality textures, improved art assets, and more. For the first time this console generation, Crytek’s software-based ray tracing comes to PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. On PC, CRYENGINE’s hardware-agnostic technology brings ray tracing to a wide-range of contemporary GPUs. Additionally Crysis Remastered supports hardware-based ray tracing using NVIDIA’s VKRay Vulkan extension on launch and NVIDIA® DLSS technology will be added soon, for NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX GPU.
In Crysis Remastered, players face down an alien invasion, armed with a powerful Nanosuit which provides strength, armor, speed, and cloaking abilities. Gamers choose their own path as they fight through the open world of Crysis, destroying obstacles, driving vehicles, and using a huge armory of modular weaponry to dominate enemies on ever-changing battlefields.
For more information, visit www.crysis.com.
About Crysis
With its 2007 release, Crysis set the industry standard for first-person shooters with stunning visuals, highly evolved gameplay, and an enormous sandbox world. What begins as a simple rescue mission becomes the battleground of a new war as alien invaders swarm over the game’s island setting. Armed with a powerful Nanosuit, players must use adaptive tactics to survive and conquer.
Take on the role of a gallant yet amnesiac knight on a quest to find out who you are and how to get home
Gothenburg, Sweden – September 18th, 2020 – Decemberborn Interactive and Elden Pixels are proud to announce that the acclaimed metroidvania Cathedral will be making the jump to Nintendo Switch. Originally launched on Steam in October 2019, Cathedral will be available for £11.99 / $14.99 / €13.99 on the eShop when it launches later this year.
Developed by Decemberborn Interactive and published by Elden Pixels, Cathedral has been lovingly brought over to Nintendo Switch to find its natural home, having been inspired by classic games from the NES and SNES era. With over 600 rooms to explore across its huge interconnected world map, Cathedral presents an 8-bit audiovisual feast that has been created with contemporary metroidvania game design principles. Cathedral’s expansive map is completely hand-crafted in meticulous retro detail, filled to the brim with all sorts of locations, secrets, puzzles, items and special challenges. Using the handy map feature is a must for gamers wanting to uncover every mystery this game holds. Prepare for a rollicking, noble adventure that will challenge and entertain for hours!
In Cathedral, players wake up in a world with no recollection of how they got there. Control a nameless protagonist, a knight from a different world, who teams up with a spirit known as Soul. Explore the world together to figure out who you are, how you got there and, most importantly, how to get back home. Unravel the secrets of the knight’s past by finding five legendary elemental orbs. The orbs, placed in ancient times by the demi-god known only as Ardur, are protected by five fearsome guardians. Make your way through their dungeons, meet them head-on in combat, and see if you can defeat and claim the treasure they are guarding! In classic metroidvania fashion, on your journey you’ll find a host of items that allow you to explore the world even further, reaching new areas, secrets and surprises!
“Cathedral has been a labour of love for us and we’re extremely excited to be able to partner with Elden Pixels to bring it to Nintendo Switch,” said Eric Lavesson of Decemberborn Interactive. “We hope Nintendo fans enjoyed our trailer and are looking forward to discovering or reliving the past through a modern design lens. Stay tuned for a release date announcement as soon as we can share one!”
Cathedral is coming to Nintendo Switch this year, where it will be available for purchase on the eShop. The game is also available now on Steam for £11.99 / $14.99 / €13.99.
About Decemberborn Interactive Decemberborn Interactive is an independent game developer, based in Helsingborg in southern Sweden. We love games – both to play and to develop them. Our goal is to create fun and immersive experiences through indie games. We have a passionate team based mainly in Sweden and the Netherlands, but we also employ freelancers from around the globe to help bring our project to life.
About Elden Pixels Elden Pixels was founded in 2016 when a group of friends got together and started making the game Alwa’s Awakening. What started just like a small side project eventually turned into a real studio when the game became successful. Now the goal is to create fun, creative and cool games with a focus on gameplay.
Ripstone and VooFoo Studios deliver the ultimate cue sports experience for Nintendo players any time, anywhere
Liverpool, United Kingdom – September 18th, 2020 – Ripstone Games today announced that its acclaimed cue sports simulation Pure Pool is coming to Nintendo Switch later this year. Pure Pool has been fully optimised for Nintendo Switch and offers stunning 1080p visuals alongside a full suite of pool and snooker game modes, to bring Nintendo Switch players the definitive rendition of cue sports; whether playing at home or on the go.
The Nintendo Switch edition of Pure Pool offers players a no-compromise experience, taking full advantage of the platform in every way possible. Pure Pool is a technical marvel, running at 1080p docked and 720p handheld with all of the game’s high-end visual features, all at a solid 60 frames per second. Offering the full range of control options supported by the Nintendo Switch, Pure Pool’s myriad of playstyles ensures that whatever the setup, players will be cueing up and potting balls in no time.
Featuring a single-player campaign, skill-based challenges, unlockable customisation options and multiple modes of pool and snooker including Killer and American 8 Ball, Pure Pool has players covered with more modes and options than you can shake a cue at. The Campaign Mode tracks progress from Amateur right through to Master difficulty, with players facing off against a series of opponents from pro players, to pool club sharks looking for an easy hustle. Players that make it to the top will either reign supreme or go down in a baize of glory!
Pure Pool also offers a huge range of additional modes, playstyles and challenges. With exhilarating fast-paced modes such as Speed Pot, Checkpoint and Royal Rumble, alongside the skill-based challenges of Snooker Colours, Perfect Potter and Breakpoint, Pure Pool offers something for everyone. With global online leaderboards thrown into the mix, the competition to pocket the top spot has never been fiercer.
Pure Pool on Switch features a host of local and online multiplayer modes, including Cross-Play support with Steam and the option to play online against stored DNA player profiles. Global leaderboards and rankings allow players to track their performance across the Pure Pool player base whilst challenging members of the global community in Free-play, Two-player, Leagues, 8-ball, 9-ball, Blackball, Killer and Accumulator modes. All snooker content from the original Pure Pool DLC is included too, complete with online and local support for anyone that prefers the stricter rules of the gentleman’s game.
“We’ve worked extremely hard to ensure that Pure Pool offers Nintendo Switch players the definitive pool and snooker experience on the platform,” said Hollie Pattison of Ripstone Games. “Everything from the visuals, performance, game modes, control options and snooker DLC is included in the Switch version with no compromises and we’re really proud of what has been achieved by VooFoo. Pure Pool offers everything you could want from a billiards simulation and more, and we can’t wait to welcome Nintendo Switch players onto the baize later this year.”
Follow Ripstone Games on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RipstoneGames
About Ripstone Games Ripstone® is a global independent video games label founded in 2011 by game and film industry veterans. They fully fund the development, distribution and marketing of video games made by elite creative teams. They have financed and published 17 games across 45 SKUs, with global sales of over 10 million units.
The Medal of Honor Franchise Goes Back to its Roots with a Deep Single Player Campaign, Stories from Survivors, Multiplayer and More, The Game Will Be Available on the Oculus Store for Oculus Rift and also Steam with OpenVR Support
Redwood City, Calif. – September 17, 2020 – Respawn™ Entertainment, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), and Oculus from Facebook today announced during Facebook Connect that the highly-anticipated upcoming Virtual Reality (VR) title, Medal of Honor™: Above and Beyond will release on December 11, 2020, worldwide. This new innovative and immersive title blends films and games into one, and will be available on the Oculus Store for Oculus Rift and Steam with OpenVR support and cross-platform play.
“The Medal of Honor franchise has always been a powerful series that tells the untold stories of war heroes, and from the beginning of this series in 1999, our goal has been to create grounded and emotionally authentic games that are true to the experiences of people that fought and lived through it,” said Peter Hirschmann, Director, Respawn Entertainment. “We’re honored to share these moving first-hand stories from survivors and veterans of WWII and deliver an immersive VR gameplay experience that provides high-flying action and emotional, intimate storytelling in equal measure.”
Medal of Honor™: Above and Beyond returns to the series’ roots, transporting players to a boots-on-the-ground World War II setting that spans the earth, sea and sky, with players jumping from planes, skiing down mountainsides and sabotaging Nazi bases. Aspiring soldiers won’t be going it alone, however: a veteran sergeant and young British medic will serve as companions throughout the single-player campaign, and the game will feature appearances from other Medal of Honor legends, including M anon Batiste and Dr. Gronek.
The single player campaign also aims to tell one of the most immersive World War II stories yet in a robust and emotionally-driven first-person experience. The team at Respawn has spent the past four years and hundreds of hours interviewing veterans of the war, and travelled to the places where history happened, in order to get the emotional tone of the game right. The team also captured more than 120 pages of stunning performance capture – an entire movie’s worth of narrative performance – to supplement the moving tale of heroism and sacrifice.
Additionally, Medal of Honor™: Above and Beyond will feature a variety of multiplayer modes, some of which are only possible in VR and with the addition of Steam support, players will benefit from cross-platform play across multiple different devices. Keep an eye out for more information on these modes in the months ahead.
Stay tuned for more details on the coming leading up to launch, including more details on Medal of Honor™: Above and Beyond multiplayer features, new modes and more. For more information on the game, follow the Medal of Honor channels on Twitter.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
In fiscal year 2020, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
Medal of Honor, Respawn, EA, EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. FIFA, John Madden and NFL are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
About Oculus
The Oculus team at Facebook Reality Labs lets people defy distance—connecting with each other and the world—through world-class VR hardware and software. The Oculus content team, including Oculus Studios, pursues the creation of best-in-class games, narrative experiences, and new VR use-cases like fitness, productivity, and travel. Oculus joins other teams at FRL dedicated to cutting-edge research, computer vision, haptics, social interaction, and more. Facebook Reality Labs is committed to driving the state of the art forward through relentless innovation.
TRANSFORMERS ROLL INTO WORLD OF WARSHIPS AND WORLD OF WARSHIPS: LEGENDS
Unique Camouflages, Commanders with Voiceovers and Much More
Starting today, iconic Transformers characters will roll out in World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends as part of an exclusive time-limited collaboration between Wargaming and Hasbro. Players can align with the heroic Autobots – Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, or their eternal foes the Decepticons – Megatron and Rumble –by customising their ships withunique Transformers-inspired ship skins, commanders voicing favourite phrases, and much more. The promotion will be available in game through October 5, 2020.
For fans of the Autobots, World of Warships is offering two permanent camouflages: Freedom Fighter, based on Optimus Prime — the courageous and powerful leader of the Autobots; and Gold Bug, based on Bumblebee, one of the youngest members of the Autobot team who is completely devoted to his leader’s mission to secure freedom for all sentient beings.
Representing the Decepticons, players will find two additional permanent camouflages: Messenger of Oblivion, based on their leader, Megatron; and Crush’n’destroy, based on Rumble, who loves nothing more than causing chaos and destruction.
“We are very excited to introduce the iconic Transformers characters into both our games,” said Kirill Peskov, World of Warships: Legends Development Director. “The Autobots and Decepticons are known around the world, and we took great care to incorporate these characters into the game in an authentic way that will provide our players with fun, new challenges.”
“We’re delighted to give fans the opportunity to activate Transformers characters in World of Warships for a limited time through this collaboration” said Mark Blecher, SVP Corporate Strategy and Business Affairs at Hasbro. “The World of Warships team have skillfully integrated the Transformers characters into the game to create a unique naval combat experience for fans”.
Along with the permanent camouflages, World of Warships is also introducing two expendable camouflages – Autobots Ark and Decepticon Disguise – as well as flags and patches. Players can also explore Cybertronian Containers where they will have the chance to get distinctive themed permanent and expendable camouflages, as well as a unique 10-skill point Transformers Commanders with a special voice over and signals.
Themed content will be available for purchase in the Armoury and the Premium Shop, while some rewards can be obtained free of charge by participating in various activities.
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About World of Warships World of Warships is a free, historical, online combat PC game from Wargaming. With its massive fleet of most iconic war vessels, including four different ship classes and strategically designed environment, World of Warships provides the ultimate naval warfare gaming experience, suitable for everyone. Thanks to its largest collection of historically accurate ships available to play, World of Warships prides itself as a digital ship museum and a focal point for naval history enthusiasts.
New thematic content and innovative game modes are being added on a regular basis, providing a diverse and exciting gameplay to its broad player base.
One franchise – multiple platforms After the successful launch of World of Warships on PC, its unique gameplay and design has been adapted to bring free massive naval battles to other platforms with World of Warships: Legends available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and World of Warships Blitz on iOS and Android mobile devices.
About World of Warships: Legends Experience epic naval action in World of Warships: Legends, a massively multiplayer online game where you can master the seas in history’s greatest warships! Recruit legendary commanders from maritime history, upgrade your vessels and stake your claim to naval supremacy with or against players around the world in thrilling and immersive battles. World of Warships: Legends brings the online naval action loved by millions to home consoles for the very first time, alongside a host of content and features exclusive to the console experience. Official website: https://wowslegends.com/
About Wargaming Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play and Entertainment Experiences. From toys, games and consumer products to television, movies, digital gaming, live action, music, and virtual reality experiences, Hasbro connects to global audiences by bringing to life great innovations, stories and brands across established and inventive platforms. Hasbro’s iconic brands include NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE, POWER RANGERS, PEPPA PIG and PJ MASKS, as well as premier partner brands. Through its global entertainment studio, eOne, Hasbro is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for all children and all families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked among the 2020 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past nine years. We routinely share important business and brand updates on our Investor Relations website, Newsroom and social channels (@Hasbro on Twitter and Instagram.)
Pre-Order Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Starting Tuesday, September 22
by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief
On November 10, a new generation of console gaming begins. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will deliver players the most performant, immersive and compatible next-generation console gaming experiences ever.
Next week, beginning September 22, you’ll be able to pre-order both Xbox Series X, our most powerful console ever made, and Xbox Series S, our smallest console ever delivering next-generation performance at a more affordable price. Xbox Series S and Series X will be available in 37 countries on November 10, and 41 countries by this holiday. You can secure your place in the next generation by pre-ordering Xbox Series X at $749 (Estimated Retail Price) or Xbox Series S at $499 (Estimated Retail Price), or for a low monthly price through Xbox All Access. Or grab both, if that’s your thing!
Beginning on September 22, you’ll be able to pre-order Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S online at the following retailers:
– United States (8AM PT): Microsoft Store, Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, Newegg, and other participating retailers
– Canada (8AM PT): Microsoft Store, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, EB Games, The Source, and other participating retailers
– UK (8AM BST): Microsoft Store, GAME, Amazon, Dixons, Currys PC World, Argos, John Lewis, Smyths Toys, VERY, AO, Tesco, Simply Game, Shopto and other participating retailers
– Australia (8AM AEST): Microsoft Store, JB Hifi, EB Games, Telstra, Harvey Norman, and other participating retailers
– New Zealand (8AM NZST): Microsoft Store, JB HiFi, EB Games, Spark, and other participating retailers
Across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, you can pre-order online starting at 9AM CEST at Microsoft Store, Amazon, MediaMarkt, GameStop, FNAC, Elkjøp/Elgiganten, and other participating retailers. Retailers and availability may differ by country.
For in-store pre-order availability please check with your preferred retailer.
Pre-order is also available via the Xbox All Access program. Xbox All Access is your all-inclusive pass to Xbox where you can get the next-gen Xbox console of your choice plus 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with over 100 high-quality games and soon an EA Play membership, from $33 a month for 24 months with no upfront cost. As with our standalone console purchasing, you’ll be able to pre-order Xbox All Access starting on September 22, aligned with regional start times at the following retailers:
– United States (8AM PT): Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Store, and Walmart
– Australia (8AM AEST): Telstra – New Zealand (8AM NZST): Spark – UK (8AM BST): GAME and Smyths Toys – Denmark (9AM CEST): Elgiganten – Finland (9AM CEST): Gigantti – Norway (9AM CEST): Elkjøp – Sweden (9AM CEST): Elgiganten
Also, as a reminder for existing Xbox All Access members, you now have even more flexibility when it comes to your upgrade path to the next generation. This means you are now able to purchase Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S with Xbox All Access at any time, including during the pre-order window, (US and UK-only, subject to availability) while still completing your minimum payment requirements for upgrade. Learn more about how to upgrade at xbox.com/xboxallaccess-upgrade.
We hope you’re as excited as we are to usher in the next generation of console gaming with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. We’ll be bringing you more details on both consoles, details on games and so much more as we get closer to launch on November 10.
Brawl Without Limits in WWE® 2K BATTLEGROUNDS – Available Today
Battle family and friends in pick-up-and-play arcade action showcasing fan-favourite WWE Superstars and Legends in diverse, interactive environments
Sydney, Australia – September 18, 2020 – It’s time for players of all skill levels to lace up their boots and step into the ring: WWE® 2K Battlegrounds is here! Developed by Saber Interactive and available now for the PlayStation®4 system, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch™ system and Stadia for $69.95 in Australia and $79.95 in New Zealand*, WWE 2K Battlegrounds brings fast-paced action and an assortment of power-ups, special moves, unconventional melee items and interactive environments to take the match to the next level. Players can take on the challenges alone, compete with friends and family on the couch or online in cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.
“We’re excited to add WWE 2K Battlegrounds to 2K’s growing portfolio of WWE and licensed sports properties, and to offer yet another way for gamers to enjoy WWE video game action,” said David Ismailer, President at 2K. “This arcade-style brawler offers a completely different experience from our WWE 2K simulation franchise and WWE SuperCard collectible card battling game, that we’re confident fans will enjoy.”
A roster of more than 70 WWE Superstars, Hall of Famers and Legends will be available in WWE 2K Battlegrounds at launch, with more than 60 additional Superstars currently scheduled for future release via free** downloadable updates, including “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair and many more. The deep and varied roster enables players to bring a myriad of dream battles to life, including Andre the Giant™ vs. Undertaker®, Roman Reigns® vs. The Rock, Charlotte Flair® vs. Beth Phoenix®, Stone Cold Steve Austin® vs. John Cena, Edge® vs. AJ Styles and many more. They can also create their own custom WWE Superstars in the Superstar Creator with different body types and sizes, facial features, clothing, hair and fighting styles. All Superstars utilize one of five class styles – Powerhouse, Technician, High-Flyer, Brawler and All-Rounder – with each class having its own combat moves, strengths and weaknesses. Arcade-style offensive and defensive power-ups, such as Flaming Fist, Ice Breath and Earthquake, offer an additional dimension of strategy that can quickly change the direction of a match.
“WWE 2K Battlegrounds marks a definitive new chapter in our partnership with 2K,” said Sarah Cummins, WWE Senior Vice President, Consumer Products. “The combination of over-the-top arcade action, social fun for friends and family, and fantasy matchups between current WWE Superstars and Legends will keep fans on the edge of their seats.”
A variety of game modes and match types are available in WWE 2K Battlegrounds, including King of the Battleground – an online, last-man-standing mode – and Battleground Challenge,where players take their customized creations from the Superstar Creator and compete in a series of challenges to unlock skill points, build up their abilities and earn customized items. WWE 2K Battlegrounds also features a unique, single-player Campaign Mode, told through a comic book art style, where players team up with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and legendary advocate Paul Heyman™ as they travel the world in search of the next WWE Superstars. Online multiplayer matches bring players together from around the world, while time-limited Online Tournaments offer rewards and a wide range of match conditions.
Energy, intensity and expecting the unexpected are all keys to victory in the world of WWE 2K Battlegrounds. Along the way, players can explore eight unique Battlegrounds environments featuring interactive elements and outrageous melee objects, such as squeaky toy hammers and motorcycles that can be used. Players will give opponents a tune-up in the Auto Shop by tossing explosive barrels at them and sending a car crashing down. The action heats up in the Everglades as players toss each other into the jaws of a hungry alligator! Players can also customize their own arenas to give each match a personal touch.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is available in two formats: Standard Edition (MSRP $69.95 in Australia and $79.95 in New Zealand) and Digital Deluxe Edition (MSRP $79.95 in Australia and $89.95 in New Zealand). Players who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition will receive WWE Hall of Famer Edge®; all versions of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Ronda Rousey® unlocked at the beginning of play; 1100 bonus Golden Bucks, an in-game currency that can be used to unlock Superstars and cosmetic items***.
Developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind the NBA 2K Playgrounds franchise, WWE 2K Battlegrounds is available now for the PlayStation®4 system, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch™ system and Stadia, with cross-platform play available****. For more information on WWE 2K Battlegrounds and 2K, visit WWE.2K.com/Battlegrounds, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WWE2KBattlegrounds or subscribe on YouTube.
*Standard Edition MSRP
**Characters may require unlocking through game modes or in-game currency. In-game currency can be earned or paid.
***WWE Superstars, in-game currency and cosmetic items can also be unlocked by achieving in-game objectives. No additional purchase necessary.
****Cross-platform play is currently available on Xbox One and Windows PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch™ system and Stadia.
2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
Saber Interactive is a trademark of Saber Interactive, Inc.
Andre the Giant TM licensed by CMG Brands, LLC.
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, Private Division, and Social Point. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.
About 2K
Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union and Cloud Chamber. 2K’s portfolio currently includes the renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia and XCOM® franchises; NBA® 2K, the global phenomenon and highest rated*** annual sports title for the current console generation; the critically acclaimed Sid Meier’s Civilization® series; the popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as emerging properties NBA® 2K Playgrounds 2, Carnival Games and more. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2k.com.
The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: the uncertainty of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto; the effect that measures taken to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic have on our operations, including our ability to timely deliver our titles and other products, and on the operations of our counterparties, including retailers and distributors; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer demand and the discretionary spending patterns of our customers; the impact of reductions in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of potential inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games; and risks associated with international operations.
Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG, family-friendly programming can be seen in more than 800 million homes worldwide in 28 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to: the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business, results of operations and financial condition; entering, maintaining and renewing major distribution agreements; a rapidly evolving media landscape; WWE Network (including the risk that we are unable to attract, retain and renew subscribers); our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; the possibility of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and greater financial resources or marketplace presence of many of our competitors; uncertainties associated with international markets including possible disruptions and reputational risks; our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events including without limitation, claims alleging traumatic brain injury; large public events as well as travel to and from such events; our feature film business; our expansion into new or complementary businesses and/or strategic investments; our computer systems and online operations; privacy norms and regulations; a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; our accounts receivable; our indebtedness including our convertible notes; litigation; our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance, which could adversely affect our stock; Vincent K. McMahon exercises control over our affairs, and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by the McMahons and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of those shares could lower our stock price; and the volatility of our Class A common stock. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Sydney, Australia – September 18, 2020 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Brawlhalla®’s Season 2 Battle Pass is available now on all platforms for AU$14.95*. Lasting for 12 weeks, the Season 2 Battle Pass casts Legends in a Synthwave theme, a 1980s retro-futuristic universe where players will be able to unlock up to 85 Tiers with rewards unique to this Battle Pass.
Players progress through the Season 2 Battle Pass by earning Gems through General, Daily and Weekly missions, increasing their Battle Pass Tier. One Daily Mission is granted to each player every day, with the ability to store up to three Daily Missions at a time. Once a day, players can recycle a Daily Mission for a new one, while Weekly Missions open each new week of the Battle Pass and will not expire until the end of the Battle Pass Season. If players want to progress faster through the tiers, they can unlock them immediately for 35 Mammoth Coins each.
All players can earn and advance Battle Pass Tiers in the free track, which offers unique rewards such as:
Avatars
Color Schemes
Weapon Skins
Emotes
Sidekicks
The Gold Battle Pass offers Brawlhalla’s players the access to even more unique rewards such as:
Character Skins
KO Effect
Progression Podium
Progression Skin
Mammoth Coins
Battle Pass Boosters
Loading Frame
UI & Nameplate Theme
All the rewards the free pass offers
Additional Weekly Missions are available to players who own the Gold Battle Pass, which immediately grants all rewards for previously unlocked tiers upon purchase, including the most radical Synthwave loot and accessories.
Developed by Blue Mammoth, Brawlhalla is an epic free-to-play platform fighting game that brings players to the fight for glory in the halls of Valhalla. Choosing from 50 unique characters, players can jump into single-player and co-op modes as well as online and local competitions. Brawlhalla also supports cross-platform play between the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation 4® system, PC, iOS, and Android devices where players can play custom games and queue together for all online matchmaking.
For the latest news on Brawlhalla and all of Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News: https://news.ubisoft.com.
*The Battle Pass can be accessed in-game but can only be purchased through first party platform stores.
About Blue Mammoth Founded in 2009 and acquired by Ubisoft in 2018, Blue Mammoth Games is a development studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. The experienced team specializes in online multiplayer games with large player bases.
Blue Mammoth develops Brawlhalla, a Free-To-Play fighting game on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, PlayStation® 4 system, iOS, and Android devices. Brawlhalla has over 45 million players and is currently the most played fighting game on Steam.
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: https://www.ubisoftgroup.com.
BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE ACCELERATES ITS TRANSFORMATION WITH REFLECTOR ENTERTAINMENT ACQUISITION
Lyon, FRANCE – September 17, 2020 – As part of its strategy to build Western development capabilities, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. (BNEE) today announces that subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable Canadian regulatory approvals, BNEE will acquire Reflector Entertainment Ltd. (Reflector Entertainment) and its subsidiary Reflector Interactive Productions Ltd. from Lune Rouge Innovation Inc. (Lune Rouge). This deal acquisition furthers BNEE’s content strategy aimed at developing 50% of its content outside of Japan.
“Designing and developing the content we shall publish and distribute is the cornerstone of our strategy.” commented Arnaud Muller, COO of BNEE. “The creative vision and development capacity of Reflector Entertainment will boost BNEE’s ability to craft breathtaking experiences over the years. We look forward to working with such a skilled team, and to welcome them to the BNE family.”
This first strategic move in the incredible Montreal based developer community highlights the implementation of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment’s Mid-term Plan that aims at strengthening each regional headquarters’ autonomy for greater expansion in global markets.
Founded in 2016 by Alexandre Amancio and Lune Rouge, Reflector Entertainment is focused on building Storyworlds that people can interact with across a variety of media, including videogames, novels, podcasts, movies, and much more.
Its Unknown 9 franchise, nurtured by its 120 talented employees, among which industry veterans behind some of the best AAA videogames coming from Canadian studios, was revealed to the public with, so far, the release of the first book in a novel trilogy written by the bestselling author Layton GREEN, along with podcast episodes, a comic book series, and most recently the highly anticipated videogame Unknown 9: Awakening.
“The reach to worldwide audiences and the endless entertainment possibilities offered by the synergies with BNEE and the rest of the group will provide a great long-term perspective for the team, here in Montreal” commented Alexandre Amancio.
“We believe this acquisition will enable Reflector Entertainment to deepen its transmedia vision to build amazing journeys, while expanding on the work already done on the Unknown 9 franchise and other projects,” said Robert Blain, President of Lune Rouge. “BNEE has an amazing team in place and their skills and knowledge of the industry will guarantee Reflector Entertainment a brilliant future.”
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2020. Upon closing of this acquisition, Alexandre Amancio will become Chief Creative Officer of Reflector Entertainment and will operate alongside Hervé Hoerdt, Vice President of Content, Marketing and Digital at BNEE, who will manage the transition as CEO.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™ and DARK SOULS™ as well as new franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™ and THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY.
The guiding principle of Lune Rouge, founded in Montreal in 2015, is to promote innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. The company develops projects and invests in funds with a focus on technology, arts, entertainment and real estate, as well as on initiatives that generate positive social and environmental impacts.
About Reflector Entertainment
Headquartered in Montreal, Reflector is a new breed of studio working with top talent to create high-quality content for a global audience. Our true transmedia approach centers around the creation of Storyworlds, expansive universes that allow us to tell richer, deeper stories that connect with fans everywhere.
