Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console: Red Dead Redemption 2, Day Z, Final Fantasy IX, and More

by Megan Spurr, Community Manager, Xbox Game Pass

Howdy! Okay, I don’t really say howdy that often, but you might be adding it to your lexicon shortly after playing one of these games. We have a great refresh to your gaming priority list, so let’s jump in.

Coming Soon

DayZ (ID@Xbox) – May 7

An unforgiving, authentic, open world game where each one of 60 players on a server follows a single goal: Survive as long as they can, by any means necessary. There are no superficial tips, waypoints, or help given to you. Every decision matters with no saves and no extra lives where mistakes can be lethal. Your choices and decisions will create a gameplay experience that’s completely unique.

Red Dead Redemption 2 – May 7

America, 1899. Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are outlaws on the run. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal, and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. Includes access to Red Dead Online (Xbox Live Gold required).

Final Fantasy IX – May 14

Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. To their surprise, however, the princess herself yearned to escape the castle. Through a series of unusual circumstances, she and her personal guard, Steiner, fall in with Zidane and set out on an incredible journey in this classic entry in the heralded Final Fantasy series.

Fractured Minds (ID@Xbox) – May 19

Fractured Minds is an immersive artistic short game, exploring anxiety and mental health issues. Embark on a journey through the human psyche to experience the everyday challenges associated with these conditions.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Your new Perks are here!

This month, Ultimate members in the United States can play their favourite tracks offline, anywhere, ad-free with Spotify Premium for 6 months. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate Members in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Mexico and Brazil can enjoy Spotify Premium for 3 months. Only new Spotify Premium members are eligible for this Perk.

Plus, Phantasy Star Online 2 is back with a monthly bonus including rare drop boosts and more! Plus for those who haven’t grabbed them yet, you can still get an Ori-inspired hull, flag, sail, and figurehead in Sea of Thieves, 5,000 MyTeam points and 30 skill boosts from NBA 2K20, a Warframe Xbox Starter Bundle and other great perks!

In Case You Missed It

We’ve had a few surprise games arrive since we last spoke, so here’s a few that available for you to play right now!

Moving Out

As a newly qualified Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technician, you’ll take on moving jobs across the busy town of Packmore. Smooth Moves may not be the biggest moving company, but there’s no task too dangerous or bizarre for this busy team of go-getters. Move through sleepy suburbs, frenzied farms, haunted houses, virtual reality, and lands beyond. Grow your business to brave new heights, recruit colourful customisable characters and save Packmore from furniture peril.

Streets of Rage 4

The first entry to the core series in 25 years with Axel, Blaze, Adam and new characters reunited to clean up the streets. With lush, hand-drawn animations, new combat abilities, and fresh tracks from an amazing team of composers, Streets of Rage 4 is a masterful tribute and revitalization of the classic action game fans adore.

DLC / Game Updates

Human: Fall Flat – Thermal DLC

It’s a gold prospector’s dream come true in the frozen mountains of Thermal, thebrand-new gold-filled free level for Human: Fall Flat. You and up to seven online friends can interact with massive mining machines and manipulate rising air thermals to traverse giant caves. Or you may find the soft glow of the campfire too comforting to leave behind.

Journey to the Savage Planet – Hot Garbage DLC

The planet of DL-C1 has it all! Tropical beaches, lovely views, toxic waste, and killer robots. There’s only one person who can handle a job this dangerous and that’s the person sitting on the closest planet…you! So, pack your bags and get ready for a beach vacation! Use your Xbox Game Pass membership to get up to 10% off this new DLC for Journey to the Savage Planet.

Leaving Soon

If you want to give these games a proper send off, now is the time to get in some play time! However, if you’re not ready to say goodbye quite yet, you can use your membership discount to get any of these games for up to 20% off while they are still in our library.

May 7

• Grand Theft Auto V

May 15

• Black Desert
• Doom
• Lego Ninjago Movie Video Game
• Mega Man Legacy Collection 2
• Metal Gear Survive
• The Banner Saga
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

If you or any friends haven’t checked out Xbox Game Pass Ultimate yet, there’s no better time than now – the first month is only $1, granting you access to all of these games and Perks! If you’re familiar with what we’re doing here, you already know where to stay up to date: Twitter and Instagram.

Borderlands SciencePlayers Completed 36 Million Puzzles In First Month

More than 700,000 players from the Borderlands 3 community are helping map the human gut biome by completing an average of 1.2 million puzzles per day

Borderlands Science – a mini-game within Gearbox Software and 2K’s best-selling, critically acclaimed video game Borderlands 3that contributes to real world biomedical studies – has seen players solve 36 million puzzles, with more than 700,000 individual players from the larger Borderlands 3 community solving an average of 1.2 million puzzles per day since the program launched on April 7. Borderlands Science continues to grow, with nearly a quarter of a million new players joining within the last two weeks.

“Video game players are now contributing to real world science,” said Gearbox Software co-founder Randy Pitchford. “Borderlands 3 players have demonstrated the power of gamers to solve complex problems useful to medical progress and have fun doing it. The dream that through playing a video game a scientific advancement can be made is now closer to becoming a reality.”

Borderlands Science encodes the DNA of gut microbes as strings of bricks composed of four different shapes and colors. Players connect those colored shapes to help scientists estimate the degree of similarity between each microbe. The more puzzles players solve, the more they help decode the human gut microbiome, all while earning rewards that can be used in Borderlands 3. A brief video featuring Dr. Mayim Bialik explaining Borderlands Science can be found here.

Since launch, Borderlands Science has reached the following significant milestones:

• Players solved more than 36 million puzzles;
• On average, players completed 1.2 million puzzles per day;
• Participation from more than 700,000 players from the larger Borderlands 3 player base;
• Borderlands Science continues to grow with nearly 250,000 new players in the last two weeks;
• Overall, players dedicated more than 86 total years of playtime to mapping the human gut microbiome.

This major initiative is the result of international partnerships with researchers and scientists at McGill University, Massively Multiplayer Online Science (MMOS), and The Microsetta Initiative at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

“Thank you to the Borderlands community for advancing scientific research,” said Massively Multiplayer Online Science CEO and co-founder Attila Szantner. “We had a huge player base during these first weeks, and we hope that this success will entice additional AAA titles to include citizen science projects in their games.”

“Most players are curious how they are helping science while they are having such an enjoyable experience with the mini-game,” said McGill University professor Jérôme Waldispühl. “By completing such simple tasks, players are actually helping us more proficiently train artificial intelligence algorithms to align sequences based on what seems right to most humans. This sounds simple, but it requires a lot of data, and could not be completed at this scale until a AAA game developer like Gearbox embraced such a project.”

To learn more about the Borderlands Science project, visit Borderlands Science online or dnapuzzles.org.

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

About Gearbox Software

Gearbox Software is a Frisco, Texas-based award-winning, independent developer of interactive entertainment. It was founded in 1999 by game industry veterans, and its first release was Half-Life: Opposing Force. Since then, the company has become known for successful game franchises including Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, and Battleborn, as well as acquired properties Duke Nukem and Homeworld. For more information, visit www.gearboxsoftware.com.

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 through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games.  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, 31^st 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.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada’s top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

About MMOS

MMOS (Massively Multiplayer Online Science) is a Swiss start-up focusing on bringing citizen science activities to AAA videogames; setting up collaborations and providing the necessary infrastructure to connect these two worlds. MMOS together with CCP, the Human Protein Atlas and the University of Geneva created Project Discovery, the citizen science minigame inside EVE Online acclaimed by an extensive worldwide press coverage and winning several awards. For more information visit www.mmos.ch

About The Microsetta Initiative

Established in 2018 as a global extension of UC San Diego’s American Gut Project, The Microsetta Initiative (TMI) aims to allow anyone in the world to participate in microbiome citizen science. To date, the collective projects of TMI have DNA sequenced over 25,000 samples from more than 20,000 participants, and is the largest open-access human microbiome reference database. The de-identified data generated so far have been used in over 100 peer reviewed publications, helping researchers to better understand migraines, depression, how fermented foods modify your gut, and have even provided a backdrop to predict age from poop.

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YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON LAUNCHES DAY 1 ON XBOX SERIES X!

Rise like a Dragon and take on the world from rock bottom in an RPG like none you’ve ever seen before.

Sydney, Australia – 8^th May 2020 – Just announced at Inside Xbox, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on the next-gen Xbox Series X*. Yakuza: Like a Dragon will also be available as simultaneous release on the Xbox family of devices, including Xbox One X*and PlayStation 4. Yakuza: Like a Dragon Day One Edition physical pre-orders are available now at Australian retailers, with details to be revealed at a later date.

Check out the Cinematic Trailer here to get a first look at just what to expect in this groundbreaking new entry in the Yakuza series.

We are also excited to announce that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release, ensuring players only have to buy the game once and will be able to play it on either Xbox One or Xbox Series X when both the console and that version of the game are available. Cross-save functionality between Xbox One and Xbox Series X is also supported, so no matter when players decide to upgrade, they never have to start over from rock bottom.

The Story Begins…

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is, at its core, an underdog story about fighting for what you believe in, even when you’re at rock bottom. Our new main protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family, takes the fall for a crime he didn’t commit in order to protect his patriarch and father-figure, Masumi Arakawa. After serving an 18-year prison sentence, he returns to society to discover that the clan he once belonged to has been destroyed, its few remaining members are being hunted in the streets and learns that his former patriarch may be the man responsible for it all. Facing an unimaginable sense of betrayal, loss, and confusion, he sets out to discover the truth. This is where Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s story begins.

A Truly Outrageous RPG Like You’ve Never Seen Before

Along with the all-new cast and setting, Yakuza: Like a Dragon introduces a new dynamic RPG combat system that takes the genre somewhere it’s never been before – present-day Japan. Ichiban is a diehard RPG fan, so to help him stay focused in fights, he imagines the battlefield as if he was living in one of his favourite games. In Yakuza: Like a Dragon, players will level up 19 different ‘Jobs’ far from traditional RPG fare – not Warriors or Mages, but Bodyguards and Musicians, with completely unique strengths and skills. Get ready to step into Ichiban’s shoes and crack some skulls in style!

Welcome to the Underworld Playground

Even with so many changes, Yakuza: Like a Dragon still retains the core Yakuza experience and a large part of that is the seemingly endless supply of hilarious minigames and substories spread throughout the city. Over 50 substories and a collection of never-before-seen minigames, as well as the return of fan-favourites like Karaoke and SEGA Arcades will ensure players enjoy their time in Yokohama to the fullest.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is everything that fans know and love about the series, with several over the top twists for the next generation. Featuring an entirely new cast of characters and taking place in the brand new and beautifully-realized setting of Yokohama, players can jump right into the drama, action, and hilarity Yakuza is known for.

Stay tuned in the coming months for more information about the release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, including more gameplay details, classes, skills, recruitable party members, and more players will encounter on their journey through Yakuza: Like a Dragon!

*The Xbox Series X and Xbox One X of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will release simultaneously in Western territories only. Details on the Asian region Xbox Series X and Xbox One X releases of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be announced at a later date.

About the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku Series

With over 12 million units sold worldwide since its creation in 2005, the Yakuza / Ryu Ga Gotoku series was created with the core concept of “Entertainment geared towards mature audiences” in mind, this series portrays the life of relatable people living in Japan’s red-light districts. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio excels at bringing players into a true-to-life realization of modern Japan while exploring themes of love, humanity, and betrayal, creating an experience unlike any other in digital entertainment.   

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment. SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com.

© SEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SEGA, the SEGA logo, YAKUZA and LIKE A DRAGON are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

Inside Xbox May 2020 Episode Recap

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief

Everyone here at Xbox is excited to share more about the games and experiences coming in the next generation. Earlier this week, we shared our plans for Xbox 20/20, our new reoccurring series that will be rolling out over the course of the year. We kicked it off today with an episode of Inside Xbox that included a very special First Look at Xbox Series X Gameplay event which highlighted 13 new titles coming to Xbox Series X in the launch window from a variety of our development partners from across the globe. Many of these titles are brand-new properties that are being shown for the very first time, kicking off the new generation in a very exciting way.

We’ve always made a point to showcase great work from developers large and small from around the world, and this is just the beginning. Hundreds of titles are already in development for Xbox Series X thanks to our amazing partner community. We’ll be sharing a lot more in the coming months in our Xbox 20/20 series, not only from those partners but from Xbox Game Studios as well.

We’re also happy to share that all of the games included in today’s show will be Xbox Series X Optimised, meaning they are built to take advantage of the powerful Xbox Series X features that make games look and feel incredible, including 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second, DirectStorage, hardware-accelerated DirectX raytracing, super-fast load times and much more. Putting the power of the console in the hands of developers to decide what’s best for their games is one of our core beliefs and we’re excited for this first look at how they are choosing to leverage the Xbox Series X.

You’ll also probably note that some of the titles below have asterisks next to their names. This means that these games are confirmed to take advantage of Smart Delivery, ensuring you’ll only have to buy that game once knowing you’ll get the best version of that game for whichever Xbox console you’re playing on. Today, we confirmed 9 more titles leveraging this tech for a great customer experience adding to the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and all Xbox Game Studios titles.

For a full recap of what was shown, read on below or watch the replay of Inside Xbox episode above when the VOD is available.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla* (Ubisoft): In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. Raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power in the quest to earn a place among the gods in Valhalla.

Bright Memory Infinite (Playism): Bright Memory: Infinite is an all-new lightning-fast fusion of the FPS and action genres, created by FYQD-Studio. Combine a wide variety of skills and abilities to unleash dazzling combo attacks. Bright Memory: Infinite is set in a sprawling, futuristic metropolis in the year 2036. A strange phenomenon for which scientists can find no explanation has occurred in the skies around the world. The Supernatural Science Research Organisation (SRO) has sent agents out to various regions to investigate this phenomenon. It is soon discovered that these strange occurrences are connected to an archaic mystery – an as-of-yet unknown history of two worlds, about to come to light…

Call of the Sea* (Raw Fury): Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure puzzle game set in the 1930s that tells the story of Norah, a woman on the trail of her missing husband’s expedition. The search takes place on a strange but beautiful island in the South Pacific, filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed. It is an otherworldly tale of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery.

Chorus* (Deep Silver): Discover Chorus, an immersive single-player experience that tells a mature and dark tale of redemption. Take control of Nara, an ace pilot with a haunted past and Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, as they embark on a personal, redemptive journey to challenge a relentless foe and take down the dark cult that made her. This is a true evolution of the space combat shooter.

DiRT 5* (Codemasters): Ushering in the next generation of racing, DiRT 5 writes a new chapter in the legacy of DiRT – bolder and braver than ever before. New features, new innovations and a fresh approach make DiRT 5 a hub of amplified off-road racing, style and culture, where no two races are ever the same.

Madden NFL 21 (Electronic Arts): EA Sports’ Madden NFL is the defining experience for simulated NFL action, enabling fans to play out their NFL fantasy on the virtual gridiron. For more than three decades, since the original release of John Madden Football in 1988, Madden NFL has continued to evolve and innovate to deliver an even more authentic and fun experience for players. The storied franchise continues with Madden NFL 21, which will make fans feel next level on Xbox Series X. Visit ea.com/nextlevel for more information.

Scarlet Nexus* (Bandai Namco Entertainment): Take on the role of Yuito Sumeragi, a new recruit to the OSF aiming to become an elite psionic like the one who saved him as a child. Armed with a talent in psycho-kinesis, explore the futuristic city of New Himuka and uncover the mysteries of a Brain Punk future caught between technology and psychic abilities in Scarlet Nexus.

Scorn (Ebb): Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry. It is designed around the idea of “being thrown into the world”. Isolated and lost inside this dream-like world, you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. The unsettling environment is a character itself. Every location contains its own theme (story), puzzles and characters that are integral in creating a cohesive world. Throughout the game you will open up new areas, acquire different skill sets, weapons, various items and try to comprehend the sights presented to you.

Second Extinction* (Systemic Reaction): Second Extinction is an intense 3 player cooperative shooter, where your goal is to wipe out the mutated dinosaurs that have taken over the planet. Teamwork is vital as you adopt the role of one of the survivors, using a unique combination of weapons, abilities and skills to take on the vast number of enemies. Fight through a maelstrom of bullets, bombs, teeth, claws and gore, it’s up to you to reclaim Earth!

The Ascent* (Neon Giant / Curve Digital): The Ascent is a solo and co-op action RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Confusion and chaos ensue, security and order are in disarray, and without protection, everyone is left to fend for themselves. Stop gangs and hostile corporations from taking over and discover what really happened in this explosive sci-fi shooter.

The Medium (Bloober Team): The Medium is a next-gen psychological horror game from Bloober Team, the makers of Blair Witch, Observer, and Layers of Fear. You play as Marianne, a medium living in two worlds: the real and the spirit one. Haunted by a vision of a child’s murder, you travel to an abandoned hotel resort, which many years ago became the stage of an unthinkable tragedy. There you begin your search for difficult answers. The Medium’s soundtrack is a collaboration between two composers – Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski and Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame – reflecting the game’s most important theme: duality.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* (Paradox Interactive): What Monster Will You Be? Enter the World of Darkness and rise through vampire society. Experience Seattle – a city full of alluring, dangerous characters and factions. In this sequel to the cult classic, your choices, plots and schemes will change the balance of power.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon* (SEGA): Just announced today, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on Xbox Series X. We are also excited to announce that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release. This means that players who purchase the Xbox One version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be entitled to a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X version. Cross-save functionality between Xbox One and Xbox Series X is also supported, so no matter when players decide to upgrade, they never have to start over from rock bottom.

And if a first look at next-gen gameplay, trailers and sneak peeks from this wide variety of partners across the globe and industry wasn’t enough, we heard from Ubisoft, Deep Silver, Bloober Team, and more about what they’re doing with their games on Xbox Series X.  

We hope you enjoyed the show, and we’ll be sharing more about the next entry in the Xbox 20/20 series soon!

Assassin’s Creed^® Valhalla First Look at Gameplay Trailer Released  During the Inside Xbox May Episode

Sydney, Australia — May 8, 2020 — Today, Ubisoft announced during the Inside Xbox May Episode that Assassin’s Creed^® Valhalla, the next installment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, will take full advantage of the enhancements offered by the next generation of consoles, including Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. Players can also take a first look at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla gameplay in a trailer that released today.

“As developers, we’re always excited to work with new hardware because it gives us a greater ability to express our creative vision. Assassin’s Creed has always been committed to exploring new technologies and leveraging new consoles abilities to deliver the most immersive experience possible. We are excited to be collaborating closely with Microsoft to bring Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to the Xbox Series X” said Ashraf Ismail, Creative Director of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

With the Xbox Series X, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will take full advantage of its enhanced graphics, giving players the opportunity to experience the open world of Norway and England down to the very last detail. In addition, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will benefit from faster loading times.

Finally, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will leverage Smart Delivery technology, allowing players to buy the game once and play it on either Xbox One or Xbox Series X when both the consoles and the game are available. 

Developed by the team behind Assassin’s Creed^® IV Black Flag^®  and Assassin’s Creed^® Origins at Ubisoft Montreal*, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla invites players to live the saga of Eivor, a fierce Viking raider raised on tales of battle and glory. Offering a captivating Viking experience, the game brings players to a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players can take advantage of new features including raids, growing their settlement, building their power and expanding their influence.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will release worldwide Holiday 2020 on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Stadia, and for Windows PC exclusively on both the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store. The game will also be available on UPLAY+**, Ubisoft’s subscription service.

Fans who pre-order*** Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will receive at launch an additional mission The Way of the Berserker, in which players will join a legendary Norse Berserker on his quest for revenge.

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

For the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: news.ubisoft.com

*Associate studios are Ubisoft Sofia, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Montpellier Ubisoft Barcelona, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Philippines, Ubisoft Quebec, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Pune, with additional help from external partner Sperasoft.

** $19.95 AUD per month. Cancel anytime. The Gold and Ultimate Editions will be available as part of a UPLAY+ subscription.  More information at uplayplus.com.

*** Pre-order currently available digitally for PC on the Epic Games Store and Uplay, and in retail for Xbox One and PlayStation®4.

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 2018-19 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,029 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com/.

© 2020 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks in the US and/or other countries. Stadia, the Stadia beacon, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC.

Retro Action Platformer Infinite – Beyond the Mind Jumps to PC, Consoles Today

SYDNEY – 8 May 2020 – Infinite – Beyond the Mind, the futuristic retro action platformer from developer Emilie Coyo and publisher Blowfish Studios, delivers high-flying, explosive combat to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for Windows PC today.

Take on the forces of the Beljantaur Kingdom and its vile Queen Evangelyn as a pair of young women raised on the battlefields in a world devastated by war. Rush into the fray and eviscerate enemy battalions and war machines across 16 genre-blending levels to topple the evil empire.

Harness Tanya and Olga’s superpowers to bound across warzones with acrobatic maneuvers and unleash lightning-fast onslaughts against enemy soldiers. Annihilate heavy artillery by commandeering mounted gun emplacements, take to the skies and blow away waves of gunships in shoot-‘em-up sequences, and summon a robotic companion with an arsenal of long-ranged weapons to turn the tide against any foes that would stand in our heroes’ way.

Enlist the help of a partner with drop-in, drop-out co-op play to double your firepower, or turn up the challenge by racing against the clock, seeking high scores, and mastering a range of difficulty settings. Experience a story of friendship, conflict, and revenge brought to life with colorful chibi pixel art and a pulsing chiptune soundtrack inspired the 16-bit era.

“Infinite – Beyond the Mind is a love letter to the classic action games and platformers I adored growing up,” said developer Emilie Coyo. “Back then, I could have only dreamed I would be able to create an experience of my own that pays homage to my childhood favorites, so today is a special day for me and I’m delighted to share the game with everyone on PC and consoles.”   

Infinite – Beyond the Mind is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for $9.99 USD / €8.99 / £7.99. It features support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese language options.

For more information on Infinite – Beyond the Mind, please visit the official website.

About Blowfish Studios

Blowfish Studios is an award-winning independent game developer and publisher based in Sydney, Australia. We strive to release original multi-platform games, while also collaborating with developers from around the world. As developers first, we bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any partnership. Our team provides development services to get the game release ready, porting to all major platforms, platform approval, marketing and promotion to the world.

To learn more about Blowfish Studios, please visit the team’s website.

About Emilie Coyo

Emilie Coyo is an independent video game developer based in Occitanie, France who aims to create genre-bending experiences with distinct and varied playstyles.

Deep Silver Announces New IP Chorus, A Dark Space Combat Shooter from Deep Silver FISHLABS

Releasing for current and next-gen consoles in 2021

Larkspur, Calif. (May 7, 2020) – Publisher Deep Silver together with developer Deep Silver FISHLABS has announced new IP Chorus, a dark space-combat shooter for Xbox Series X and Xbox One, PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, Google Stadia and PC in 2021.

Exclusively revealed during today’s Inside Xbox event, Chorus will support Smart Delivery on the Xbox family of consoles ensuring players get the best experience on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X with a single purchase.

In Chorus, players will take control of dual protagonists: ex-cultist Nara, an ace pilot with a haunted past, and Forsaken – a sentient AI starfighter and Nara’s closest ally – which has a mysterious backstory of his own to unravel. This story-driven single player experience invites gamers to unlock devastating weapons and mind-bending abilities as they fight to free the galaxy from the Circle, the oppressive cult that will stop at nothing to ensure complete subjugation. 

“We’re delighted to announce this exciting new IP, said Tobias Severin, Studio Director at Deep Silver FISHLABS. “From the beginning our focus has been on delivering amazing moment to moment gameplay to evolve the spirit of classic space flight shooters. We are fully leveraging the power of next-gen hardware, allowing us to create richer, more detailed, ray traced environments, all at 4K and 60FPS.”

About Chorus:

Take control of Nara, once the Circle’s deadliest warrior, now their most wanted fugitive, on a quest to destroy the dark cult that created her. Unlock devastating weapons and mind-bending abilities in a true evolution of the space-combat shooter. Along with Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, explore ancient temples, engage in exhilarating zero-g combat, and venture beyond our waking reality.

A journey of redemption – Lead Nara, an ace pilot facing her haunted past, and Forsaken, her sentient ship. Their quest for redemption will take them across the galaxy and beyond the boundaries of reality, as they fight to unite resistance forces against the Circle and their leader, the Great Prophet, at all costs.

Venture beyond the void – Enter a dark new universe, teeming with mystery and rife with conflict. Explore epic locations such as sprawling space stations and strange planes of existence beyond our own. Engage in exhilarating zero-g dogfights from epic cosmic vistas to tight crystalline corridors. Chorus balances the scale and spectacle of space exploration with frenetic, fast-paced action.

One pilot, one ship, one living weapon – Attain powerful and distinct weapons and combat upgrades. Master your ship’s unique drift mechanic and deadly mind-bending abilities, including extra-sensory perception, teleportation and telekinesis, to overcome massive hordes of enemies and take down titanic battleships. Chain your powers together to become the ultimate living weapon.

Key features:

• A compelling single player experience
• Play as dual protagonists Nara and her sentient AI companion and starfighter, Forsaken, on a personal journey of redemption
• Experience fast-paced, frenetic action that evolves the spirit of classic space shooters
• Fight to unite resistance forces against the Circle and their ominous leader the Great Prophet
• Face down hordes of enemy starfighters, titanic battleships and unknown Void entities
• Reclaim, upgrade and wield devastating weapons and abilities in zero-g dogfights
• Explore a dark new sci-fi universe, teeming with mystery and conflict
• Enjoy gorgeous next gen sci-fi visuals in 4K, from cosmic vistas to sprawling space stations
• Fully engineered to take advantage of next-gen hardware, enhancements include:
• Ray traced reflections
• 4K resolution at 60fps
• Advanced enemy ship destruction
• Higher quality volumetrics
• Richer environmental effects

Chorus launches on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia and PC in 2021. 

For more information about Chorus, please visit one of the following official sites:

Website: www.ChorusTheGame.com Twitter: Twitter.com/ChorusTheGame

Facebook: Facebook.com/ChorusTheGame Instagram: Instagram.com/ChorusTheGame

© 2020 Koch Media GmbH. Developed by the wholly owned development studios Deep Silver FISHLABS and Deep Silver Dambuster. 

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires.

Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the grim post-apocalyptic future of the Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include Dead Island 2 and Saints Row V. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and Warhorse Studios based in Prague, Czech Republic. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com. 

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, North America and Australia. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become the number one publishing partner in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Milestone, Sega, Square Enix, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States. 

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

About Deep Silver FISHLABS 

For more than 15 years Deep Silver FISHLABS has been creating compelling games that have been brought to life on millions of screens across the globe. We joined the Deep Silver / Koch Media family in late 2013 and, since then, we have continuously raised the quality bar. Today, we are one of four internal development studios run by our parent company, alongside Deep Silver Volition in the US, Deep Silver Dambuster Studio in the UK and Warhorse Studios in the Czech Republic.

We specialize in high-end 3D games for consoles and PC. With a strong development history and award-winning portfolio of mobile games; such as blockbuster space-action shooter Galaxy on Fire: Manticore and the tactical zombie brawler Dead Island: Survivors; we are currently developing thrilling titles for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia and Nintendo Switch. 

TRANSPORT FEVER 2 IS COMING TO MAC IN FALL 2020 & WILL RELEASE A MAJOR NEW UPDATE IN JUNE

Building a transportation empire for the ages has never been easier or more enjoyable – there’s no better time to jump aboard!

AMSTERDAM – May 7, 2020 – Good Shepherd Entertainment and developer Urban Games have revealed that Transport Fever 2, the latest great tycoon simulation game from the makers of the hit Transport Fever and Train Fever series, will launch on Mac this fall. In addition, the game will receive a major new update in June introducing several player-requested improvements, significantly improved modding support, and a new wiki with a game manual and modding specifications.

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066780

Originally released in December, Transport Fever 2 has exceeded all expectations and become the fastest growing entry in the series yet. Transport Fever 2 gives you more than 170 years of real-world technology and history to design and master your own transportation empire with a vastly improved feature set, user interface and modding capabilities. Make your fortune creating elaborate new worlds of transport routes and infrastructure over land, sea and air. Choose from over 200 realistically modeled vehicles from Europe, America and Asia, including trains, buses, streetcars, trucks, aircraft and ships, plus modular stations, airports and harbors.

Experience the greatest logistical challenges from 1850 to today across three unique story campaigns featuring voiceovers and cutscenes, and let your creativity run wild through giant sandbox maps in free play mode. Watch your empire boom in beautiful detail with intuitive construction tools and dynamic economy, transportation and city simulation systems. You can even create and share your own worlds, missions, landscapes, vehicles and more with the in-game map editor and extensive modding tools and support via Steam Workshop. Build a diverse empire by utilizing the game’s new ecosystem options, which allow users to choose from distinct natural environments, each rendered in exquisite graphical detail.

For the latest information, visit www.TransportFever2.com, and follow @GoodShepherdEnt and @TransportFever on Twitter.

About Good Shepherd Entertainment

Good Shepherd Entertainment publishes video games from independent artists worldwide and operates a proprietary investment platform for a growing global network of qualified investors seeking risk-mitigated participation in the $130B video game industry. Originally established in the Netherlands in 2011, operating under the name Gambitious, the Company became a full-featured publisher in 2014. Good Shepherd Entertainment is backed by some of the industry’s most notable names, including Devolver Digital, Croteam and Perfect World, all successful companies in independent game development and publishing. www.GoodShepherd.games

About Urban Games

Urban Games is an independent video game developer based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Established in 2013, the company shipped the debut title Train Fever in 2014 and its second game, Transport Fever, in 2016. Both games became profitable within the first weeks after launch, and with more than half a million units sold, Transport Fever enabled the company to continue its strong growth. Urban Games’ third title, Transport Fever 2, was released on Dec. 11, 2019.

DIRT 5 Ushers in the Next Generation of Racing with the Ultimate Amplified Off-Road Experience

Extreme off-road racing, stunning real-world locations, four player split-screen and more in DIRT 5™

Larkspur, Calif. (May 7, 2020) – Codemasters today reveals the next generation of racing with the announcement of DIRT 5, launching October 2020 on Xbox Series X, PlayStation®5, PC (Steam) and the current generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles. A Google Stadia version will be released early 2021. Fully optimized for all platforms, DIRT 5 is a new heart-pounding off-road driving experience set against a sensory backdrop of vibrant visuals, an eclectic soundtrack, and dynamic weather conditions.

DIRT 5’s global journey takes in some of the most thrilling, exotic, and picturesque settings such as New York City and Rio de Janeiro alongside challenging events in remote areas of Greece and China. Players will experience the thrill of in-your-face extreme racing in a variety of vehicle classes from buggies, unlimited trucks, and rock bouncers to traditional and modern rally cars.

The expansive narrative-driven Career mode is bigger in every way with event types and challenges across some of the toughest terrain. Before hitting the track, get creative using the livery editor, with more customization options than any previous DIRT game. DIRT 5 features a non-linear progression path, so players can choose more of the events they want.

DIRT 5 heralds the return of split-screen for up to four players. The full list of game modes will be announced shortly, including a new game mode focused on creativity and designed for social couch play with friends or global online battles against the best racers in the DIRT universe.

DIRT 5 also boasts a roster of voice talent led by the iconic Nolan North and Troy Baker. Together, and in their unique style, the dynamic duo guide and mentor players through the Career mode and feature in the DIRT in-game podcast series, including the voice talents of other celebrities from the worlds of racing and gaming.

“As a studio, we are big fans of DiRT 2 and 3. This game is our homage: a bigger, amplified DIRT off-road experience in a setting that is alive, challenging and fun,” said Robert Karp, DIRT 5 development director at Codemasters. “Whether you want to compete against the AI on some of the world’s most challenging environments or play a four-player split-screen game with your friends, DIRT 5 has you covered.”

Keep up with all the DIRT 5 news and follow updates from the studio on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. 

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ABOUT CODEMASTERS:

Codemasters (AIM:CDM) is an award-winning British video game developer and publisher with over 30 years of heritage. The company specializes in high-quality racing games including DiRT, GRID, and the BAFTA award-winning official F1® series of video games.

In November 2019 Codemasters acquired Slightly Mad Studios, creators and developers of award-winning IP including the Project CARS franchise.

For more information on Codemasters’ product portfolio, please visit www.codemasters.com. Join in the conversation with @codemasters on Twitter or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/codemasters.

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires.

Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the grim post-apocalyptic future of the Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep Silver include Dead Island 2 and Saints Row V. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and Warhorse Studios based in Prague, Czech Republic. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com.

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe, North America and Australia. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business and has risen to become the number one publishing partner in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Konami, Koei Tecmo, Milestone, Sega, Square Enix, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux, Australia, Czech Republic and the United States.

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

SYSTEMIC REACTION REVEALS SECOND EXTINCTION,
AN INTENSE DINOSAUR CO-OP SHOOTER FOR XBOX SERIES X, XBOX ONE & PC

Sign Up Now to Take Back the Planet in this Summer’s Closed Beta!

STOCKHOLM, May 7, 2020 — Systemic Reaction, a creative division of Avalanche Studios Group based in Stockholm and Malmö, is excited to reveal Second Extinction: a three-player, online co-op shooter in which players team up to reclaim Earth from mutated dinosaurs. Second Extinction offers non-stop action, forcing players to think fast and shoot faster in short but intense combat operations across a beautiful yet dangerous frozen world.

“I’m very proud of what our team has created,” said Tobias Andersson, Managing Director at Systemic Reaction. “As a live game, we plan to support Second Extinction long-term, as we do with all our titles. We can’t wait for players to team up, start playing, and become part of our community.”

Made by a small group of 35 talented developers from 15 different countries, Second Extinction is the first title developed by the division’s team in Malmö, Sweden. The game offers players fast and fluid combat as they fight side by side against a wide variety of beastly predators long thought extinct — now mutated and deadlier than ever!

“Second Extinction is a real passion project for our tight-knit team, and we’re just getting started. It’s incredible how far we’ve come in this short time, and I’m super excited to reveal more details, including our live roadmap, in the coming months,” added Brynley Gibson, Lead Producer at Systemic Reaction.

Second Extinction is currently in development for Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC, with a closed beta slated for Steam this summer. To sign up, visit: www.secondextinctiongame.com/warsupport.

Key Features:

• Intense Three-player Co-op — Earth is overrun by mutated dinosaurs! Team up with up to two other resistance fighters to take it back in short but intense combat operations.
• Battle Mutated Monstrosities — These dinos are nothing like the ones in your history books! From electric raptors to behemoth T-Rexes that tower over the horizon, these deadly creatures have evolved into the ultimate killing machines.
• Experience Spectacular Action — Combine your fireteam’s unique weapons and abilities for explosive results against overwhelming opposition in challenging set piece engagements.
• Take Part in a Joint Effort — Your actions, together with the rest of the community, will shape the course of the war against the dinosaurs.

To stay up to date on Second Extinction, visit www.secondextinctiongame.com, and follow @2nd_extinction on Twitter.

WE ARE SYSTEMIC REACTION

Small but fierce, we started as a group of veterans from within Avalanche Studios Group. Based in Stockholm and Malmö, we focus on crafting new and empowering games with unique settings. Drawing from our experiences within the industry, we want to create games that appeal both to us, and to you — our players. We want to play in a sandbox that lets your creativity thrive.

Our focus is freedom, exploration, and a drive to create games like the ones that kept us up at night as kids. So far, we’ve got Generation Zero launched and Second Extinction announced — with even more to come. Join us in the sandbox!