Steam Early Access Hit UnderMine Digs Up the Golden Core Update Today

Final Major Update Before 1.0, On Sale Now

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – 6 May 2020 – UnderMine, the action-adventure roguelike brimming with secrets from developer Thorium Entertainment and publisher Fandom, unearths the Golden Core Update today on Steam for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. Version 0.7.0 is the final major content update before Undermine graduates from Steam Early Access and launches on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and the Xbox Game Pass subscription service later this year.

Delve into the Golden Core, UnderMine’s fifth and final zone. Here, deep within the mine, peasants search for gold in a danger zone, surviving streams of molten metal and omnipresent fire to pick and chip away at the dark secrets lying at the heart of this cavernous shaft. Standing between them and their goal are seven new enemies, three traps and environmental hazards, and a challenging new boss encounter: Seer, World’s Heart.

The Golden Core Update is not only for masters of the mines, however, as any peasant can tackle the more than 150 new encounters found throughout the entire UnderMine experience. Lay claim to four new achievements and enjoy a range of fresh balance changes and bug fixes.

Enjoyed by more than 100,000 adventurers, UnderMine follows peasants on an underground journey in search of treasure and freedom. Discover relics and forge alliances on a series of perilous runs to ensure a brighter future for the next generation of downtrodden laborers.

“UnderMine wouldn’t be the game it is today without the support of our Steam community and we hope they enjoy today’s final Early Access update as we dig towards the full release,” said Derek Johnson, founder, Thorium Entertainment. “We look forward to welcoming many more fresh faces into the mines and see right now as a great time for newcomers to jump in!”

UnderMine is currently on sale for $11.99, a 20% discount off its $14.99 regular asking price as part of the Indie MEGABOOTH Going Away (for now) Sale. The game will increase to $19.99 for its full release across PC and consoles later this year. A portion of proceeds from May 5-12 will go toward Indie MEGABOOTH to support the group as it temporarily suspends operations.

The Golden Core Update is available starting today via Steam Early Access. UnderMine features support for English, French, German, Spanish (Latin America), Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian language options. The full PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One versions are planned for release in 2020.

For more information, please visit UnderMine’s official website, check out the game on Twitter and Instagram, join the official Discord server, and follow Thorium on YouTube and Twitch.

About Thorium Entertainment

Founded in 2015 by Derek Johnson, with his fellow former Relic Entertainment co-worker Clint Tasker joining him, the two-person Vancouver studio brought together by their passion for games. The duo was inspired by their experience in AAA development and the processes that make those games great while having the benefits of independent development, such as artistic integrity and being true to themselves. At the end of the day, Thorium knows games are meant to be fun, and if they’re not enjoying the process, their players aren’t going to enjoy the game. UnderMine is the studio’s debut title, initially released for Steam Early Access in 2019.

About Fandom

Fandom is a global entertainment platform powered by fan passion. As the fan-trusted source in entertainment, Fandom helps fans explore, contribute to, and celebrate the world of pop culture. Whether looking for in-depth information on favorite franchises, watching the latest Emmy-nominated Screen Junkies video or using next-generation D&D Beyond tools, fans come to Fandom platforms to meet other fans in trusted, curated environments. With more than 200 million monthly users and more than 400,000 communities across movies, TV and gaming, the Fandom audience is extremely young and influential: #1 in reach among Teens (13-17), Young Adults (18-24) and Millennials (18-34) in the comScore Top 100.

Wage Fantasy Battles, Spy on Rival Clubs and Make New Friends as you Navigate the Tangled Web of High School Cliques of 1981

Baltimore, MD – May 5th, 2020 – Independent developer EVC in partnership with indie publisher Versus Evil are excited to announce that their narrative-driven tactics RPG Wintermoor Tactics Club is now available on PC via Steam, GOG.com, and VersusEvil.com with PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions launching later this year.

Wintermoor Tactics Club is a narrative-driven tactics RPG married with visual novel elements. You play as Alicia, one of the members of the Wintermoor Academy Tactics Club, where students play the premier tabletop game of the time, Curses & Catacombs. A mandatory snowball tournament between all of the clubs is announced by the Principal and each losing club is disbanded. Now you and your friends need to use your tactical skills to fight rival clubs, while also exploring the school and investigating the Principal’s true motivations for the tournament.

“Wintermoor Tactics Club was designed to be fun for both veteran tactics gamers and for new players who like the idea of tactics games but don’t know where to start. I’m also really proud of the earnest, light-hearted sense of humor and hygge that we’ve worked into this game.” Said Ben Walker, team lead at EVC.

Since Wintermoor Tactics Club tells a story about the importance (and challenges) of inclusivity, it’s designed to have a warm and inviting feel. Inspired by the concept of ‘hygge’, the gameplay is streamlined and accessible, while the art, music, and writing create a cozy space. Even when it deals with serious conflicts and grand fantasy battles, Wintermoor is designed to feel like curling up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa on a winter night.

“We instantly fell in love with the game, it’s got so much appeal,” said Steve Escalante, GM of Versus Evil.“The moment the team here at Versus Evil played Wintermoor, the warm, happy, fuzzy feeling behind the design philosophy clicked. This is a real indie gem with charm and we can’t wait for the world to try Wintermoor Tactics Club.”

With dozens of unlockable upgrades and seven playable characters across 40 battles, players get to test their strategic mettle against a host of different characters while writing tabletop campaigns and crafting adventures. Wrapped in a charming narrative, the game explores the intimate relationships and personal stories behind Wintermoor’s mix of colorful characters.

In celebration of the games launch, Wintermoor Tactics Club is running a 10% discount for a limited time on Steam as part of the Indie Megabooth sale. The game is launching in English, but in the coming weeks will add German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese languages.

For more details visit https://versusevil.com/wintermoor/

About EVC
Founded in 2017, EVC, LLC is a team of ex-AAA game devs and longtime indies, working together to make good games and to make games good. Wintermoor Tactics Club, the studio’s first release, is coming to PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS4. To learn more about EVC Games visit evcg.io

About Versus Evil
Founded in 2013, Versus Evil, LLC is the US based video game publisher behind critically acclaimed video games Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and The Banner Saga trilogy. Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with independent development studios from around the world. The corporate philosophy is to champion for the independent game developer. For more information visit https://versusevil.com  © Versus Evil LLC. 2013-2019. All rights reserved.

JOHN WICK HEX OUT NOW ON PLAYSTATION®4

Good Shepherd Entertainment, Lionsgate & Bithell Games’ thrilling timeline strategy experience infiltrates consoles for the very first time

AMSTERDAM & LOS ANGELES — May 5, 2020— Publisher Good Shepherd Entertainment, global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) and independent developer Bithell Games have released John Wick Hex on PlayStation®4. This unique action-driven timeline strategy game is available today for $19.99 via the PlayStation®Store.

John Wick Hex is fight-choreographed chess brought to life, expanding on the John Wick universe with a new story, gripping graphic noir art design, and the world-class voice talents of Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Troy Baker. The game also features a riveting original score from Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory (Journey, Flow, the Banner Saga series).

Created in close collaboration with the creative and stunt teams behind Lionsgate’s hit franchise, John Wick Hex captures the unique feel of tactical combat from the films, blurring the line between action and strategy. Each move has its own risks and rewards, and every weapon changes the tactics at hand. Ammo is limited and realistically simulated, so time your reloads and make each choice count.

Bithell Games (Thomas Was Alone, Subsurface Circular) has collaborated with Ant Workshop to redesign John Wick Hex for consoles after its original debut on Windows PC and Mac via the Epic Games Store. All of Wick’s skills are at your command quickly and easily using the PlayStation®4’s DualShock 4 controller.

For more information, visit JohnWickHex.com, and follow @mikeBithell and @GoodShepherdEnt on Twitter.

About Good Shepherd Entertainment

Good Shepherd Entertainment is a Netherlands-based game publisher founded by industry experts focused primarily on the business of producing and publishing independent video games. Good Shepherd has built a global business based on its publishing concept that pairs talented developers with creative content, writers, musicians and IP powerhouses. Good Shepherd’s innovative funding model provides opportunities for individual investors to participate in the $130B video game industry by investing directly with the publisher on select projects. Good Shepherd Entertainment works in partnership with some of the industry’s most notable names, including Devolver Digital, Croteam and Perfect World, all successful industry leaders in independent game development and publishing. www.GoodShepherd.games

About Bithell Games

Bithell Games is a team focused on creating entertaining, innovative games which tell mature stories. Their original titles span multiple platforms and include the BAFTA-winning Thomas Was Alone, Volume, and the award-nominated Circular anthology series (Subsurface Circular, Quarantine Circular).

About Lionsgate

The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) is a global content leader whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next-generation audiences around the world. Lionsgate film and television properties also support a global network of location-based entertainment and other branded attractions as well as a robust video game business. Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global sales and distribution infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.

About Ant Workshop

Ants — tiny, strong, focussed, good at working with others to achieve their goals and often with a nasty bite. Some of these characteristics (not so much the bitey ones) are also shared by Ant Workshop, a small independent game developer and work-for-hire studio based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Unlock Special Content for Both Games and Play the Original Asphalt Urban GT at AsphaltLegends.com

Paris, May 5^th, 2020 – Gameloft, leader in the development and publishing of games, is thrilled to celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of the longest-standing, world’s most downloaded, multi-awarded mobile racing franchise, Asphalt. In celebration of this milestone, which coincides with Gameloft’s 20^th Anniversary, Gameloft is introducing exclusive content and exceptional in-game gifts and fabulous cars for the two most-iconic games in the franchise, Asphalt 8: Airborne and Asphalt 9: Legends, marking the first time Gameloft has run a cross-game anniversary campaign. In addition, Gameloft is making playable at AsphaltLegends.com the original game that started it all, Asphalt Urban GT, originally launched on Java-based feature phones, the N-Gage, and Nintendo DS fifteen years ago.

From May 5^th until May 25^th, mobile and PC players on Asphalt 9: Legends can enter to claim a limited-edition Dodge Challenger 392 Hemi Scat Pack with 15^th Anniversary decal. Starting on May 8^th, players can enter the special Anniversary Event and compete to earn the Lamborghini Veneno with an exclusive 15^th Anniversary vehicle wrap.

Nintendo Switch players will receive the Dodge Challenger 392 Hemi Scat Pack with 15^th Anniversary decal by launching the game from May 11th through May 31^st, and the Switch-version Anniversary event runs from May 14^th through May 20^th, letting players earn the Nissan GTR Nismo.

From May 13^th through May 27^th, players of Asphalt 8: Airborne earn a free KTM X-Bow GT4 Car, and on May 22^nd can play the special Anniversary Carnival event to earn the Lamborghini SIAN with a limited-edition 15^th Anniversary decal.

Finally, in recognition of the game that kicked the franchise off, Gameloft has playable via emulation a version of the original Java-port of Asphalt Urban GT, playable on AsphaltLegends.com from May 5^th until June 5^th. A true mobile racing game classic, Asphalt Urban GT was the first mobile game with real-time Bluetooth multiplayer, and was the first mobile game ported to handheld gaming devices. Players are encouraged to play the original for free, register to earn special prizes in both Asphalt 9: Legends and Asphalt 8: Airborne, and marvel at the evolution of the Asphalt franchise from the very beginning.

Visitors to AsphaltLegends.com will additionally find behind-the-scenes ruminations with Asphalt Memories, a series of articles looking back on each of the Asphalt games, as well as an exclusive interview with Ignacio “Nacho” Marin, talking about his experience working with the Asphalt franchise.

Asphalt 9: Legends can be downloaded here.

Asphalt 8: Airborne can be downloaded here.

Asphalt Urban GT can be played here.

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About Gameloft

Leader in the development and publishing of games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, two of which are featured in the “Top 10 iOS Games by All-Time Worldwide Downloads” from App Annie. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, Modern Combat and Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Disney®, LEGO®, Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel®, Lamborghini® and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 4,300 people worldwide. Every month, 80 million unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft Advertising Solutions, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company.

All trademarks referenced above are owned by their respective trademark owners.

Players Can Craft and Sell Epic Gear to Become a Master Shopkeeper Today

MONTREAL – MAY 5, 2020 – The store is now open for all your adventure questing needs! Shop Titans, the award-winning simulation role-playing game from Kabam, is available now as a free-to-play download on Steam for PC. 

In Shop Titans, players will build up and launch their very own fantasy shop with an extensive item crafting system, and one-on-one negotiation gameplay with customers to secure the best sale price and treasure-seeking quests – all supported with hysterical character-driven banter between your Champions and city Workers. By assembling a team of customizable heroes, players will vicariously explore dungeons and defeat powerful bosses in the pursuit of valuable crafting materials for their stores. 

On Steam, Shop Titans features enhanced 1080p resolution, smooth 60 frames-per-second (FPS) gameplay, and proper mouse and keyboard support. In addition to personalized Hero creation from 18 classes, PC players can team up with friends from around the world through co-operative gameplay with guilds, quests, and exciting events. At long last, PC players will join their mobile merchant counterparts with the game’s real time cross-platform play, and create thriving shops in a bustling city, whether on-the-go on mobile, or at home on PC. 

Shop Titans is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and is available now as a free-to-play download on Steam for PC. For more information, please visit Shop Titan’s official website, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT KABAM

Kabam is a world leader of developing entertaining, immersive, and highly social multiplayer games for mobile devices. They merge consumer behavior with the art of game design to create experiences that are enjoyed by millions of players across the globe. Each game has raised the benchmark in mobile gaming, bringing high-quality graphics, next-generation technology and revolutionary gameplay to the console in every player’s pocket.

Kabam has partnered with leading entertainment brands like Disney, Hasbro and Universal to create mobile games based on some of the world’s most iconic franchises.

Kabam’s games have generated hundreds of millions of downloads including Fast & Furious 6: The Game, Fast & Furious: Legacy, Marvel Contest of Champions and Transformers: Forged to Fight. These games have also received multiple awards such as Apple’s Editors’ Choice and Google Play’s Best Game of the Year.

Founded in 2006, Kabam has studios and offices in Vancouver, Montreal, Charlottetown, San Francisco and Austin, Texas. Kabam is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Netmarble.

ABOUT NETMARBLE

Netmarble Corporation strives to entertain audiences of all ages around the world by providing great mobile gaming experiences. Established in Korea in 2000, Netmarble is one of the fastest-growing mobile game companies and consistently ranks as a top mobile developer and publisher worldwide. With more than 6,000 employees, Netmarble has been producing and servicing some of the most successful mobile games including Lineage 2: Revolution, Blade & Soul Revolution, MARVEL Future Fight, BTS WORLD, Everybody’s Marble, and Seven Knights. As a parent company to Kabam, a top mobile game developer in massively multiplayer free-to-play games, the largest shareholder to Jam City, a leading casual social game developer and a major shareholder of BigHit Entertainment, a music production and artist management company, Netmarble has a strategic partnership with CJ ENM Corporation, Asia’s largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia’s largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMORPG company. 

More information can be found at http://company.netmarble.com

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WORLD WAR Z’S “MARSEILLE” EPISODE LAUNCHES TODAY WITH THREE NEW PVE STORY MISSIONS

 Grab World War Z Game of the Year Edition and experience every thrilling challenge, available now on PlayStation®4, Xbox One & PC

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – May 5, 2020 – Saber Interactive and Focus Home Interactive have released the “Marseille” PvE episode for World War Z, the best-selling co-op shooter inspired by Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster film. The episode features four new characters taking on three original storyline missions in a new setting in France.

“Marseille” is available today for Season Pass owners and as part of the new World War Z Game of the Year Edition, which bundles together the full base game and all its Season Pass DLC. World War Z Game of the Year Edition is available on PC via the Epic Games Store for $44.99, as well as on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 for $49.99.

Beyond the base game and new “Marseille” episode, World War Z Game of the Year Edition features several premium weapon and character skin packs. Players also get a year’s worth of free content added to World War Z since it launched, including the wave-based Horde Mode Z, Xbox One-PC crossplay, bonus PvE missions and enemies, weekly challenge mode, extreme difficulty setting and more. And a new playable class with unique abilities is still to come in a free update later this year.

The “Marseille” DLC can be purchased individually on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 for $14.99. Owners of the standard edition of World War Z on the Epic Games Store can grab the new episode by purchasing the Game of the Year Edition upgrade, featuring the game’s full DLC, for $19.99.

Powered by Saber’s dynamic Swarm Engine™, World War Z delivers a thrilling social play experience from the comfort of your home. Survive against hundreds of fast-moving, bloodthirsty zombies at a time with six distinct classes and an arsenal of deadly weapons, explosives, turrets and traps. Outlive the dead through intense four-player co-op campaign missions around the world, and battle both zombies and real human opponents in competitive, team-based Players vs. Players vs. Zombies (PvPvZ) multiplayer.

For more on World War Z, visit http://wwzgame.com, and follow the game on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WWZGame, Twitter @WWZTheGame and Instagram @WWZGame.

About Saber Interactive

Headquartered in the U.S. with studios in Russia, Spain, Belarus, Sweden and Portugal, Saber Interactive is a developer whose credits include the 2019 hit World War Z (with over 3 million units sold), Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered, the MudRunner franchise, the NBA Playgrounds franchise, Quake Champions, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo: The Master Chief Collection and others. https://saber3d.com

About Focus Home Interactive

Focus Home Interactive is a French publisher based in Paris, France. Known for the quality, diversity and originality of its catalogue, Focus has published and distributed original titles (SnowRunner, The Surge 2, GreedFall, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Vampyr, Farming Simulator, Call of Cthulhu, Insurgency: Sandstorm) that have become benchmark titles worldwide, available both in stores and by download across the world. Focus publishes games on all major platforms, consoles and PC. The publisher’s catalogue will get even richer in the coming months and years with eagerly awaited games such as Curse of the Dead Gods, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Othercide and more.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

TM & © 2020 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Those Awesome Guys Release New Localization Update with Sixteen Language Packs, a New Quarantine-Themed Character and 75% Discount in Indie MEGABOOTH Sale on Steam!

As staying inside becomes the new norm, Move or Die creators – Those Awesome Guys – commit to bringing their “Friendship Ruining Game” to as many households around the world as possible. To aid in this effort, a large number of the supported languages have been updated, while some others are completely new. This includes:

• Simplified Chinese
• Spanish – Spain
• Portuguese – Brazil
• Russian
• German
• French
• Polish
• Spanish – Latin America (Argentina)
• Italian
• Filipino
• Hungarian
• Dutch
• Japanese
• Slovenian
• Ukrainian
• Korean
• Alienese*

In addition to the refreshed language pack, Move or Die has introduced a new quarantine-themed character, the aptly named “Soapy.” His whole routine is about reminding people to stay safe during these challenging times… preferably inside while playing Move or Die!

Move or Die is also available on Steam for $3.74 (75% off S.R.P.) as part of the promotional Indie MEGABOOTH Sale. So, stay inside, be healthy, and keep crushing those friendships.

Move or Die is not just the title of the game, but a fundamental gameplay rule: gamers who fail to move will see their health bar diminish rapidly. Players will battle each other in an ever-growing list of mini-game modes that change every 20-30 seconds. Each challenge has its own outrageous level design and rule set to promote hours of laughter and good old friendship-destroying fun. Win battles and unlock insane new character skins, Mutator game modifiers that dramatically change how mini-games are played, and even crazier game modes. When gamers are done beating friends on the couch, jump online and challenge other players to see who will rage-quit first.

To learn more about Move or Die, please visit www.moveordiegame.com, ‘Like’ it on Facebook, and follow its development on Twitter @moveordiegame for all the latest developer updates and news.

*Alienese is not currently supported but is an actual language based on numbers.

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Featuring Top Skate Gear from New Balance, Etnies, DC, Santa Cruz, Primitive, Independent, Vans and Tons More!

LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 5, 2020 – Easy Day Studios announced today that Skater XL, a game that delivers unparalleled access to skateboarding culture, will be launching on July 7 for digital release on PlayStation@4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, and to brick and mortar retailers on PS4 and Xbox One. Preorder for Xbox One and PlayStation@4 discs is available now at select retailers. Click HERE for more information.

Easy Day Studios also announced today that Skater XL will feature apparel, footwear, decks, wheels, and more from top skate brands, including:

• New Balance – Numeric Shoes and Apparel
• Etnies – Footwear and Apparel
• Enjoi – Skateboards and Apparel
• Blind – Skateboards and Apparel
• Almost – Skateboards and Apparel
• DC Shoes – Footwear and Apparel
• Santa Cruz Skateboards – Decks
• Vans – Shoes
• Primitive – Decks and Apparel
• Element – Decks and Apparel
• Independent Truck Co. – Trucks and Apparel
• Venture – Trucks
• Thunder – Trucks
• Spitfire – Wheels
• Lakai – Footwear and Apparel
• ẻS – Footwear and Apparel
• Emerica – Footwear and Apparel
• Grimple Stix – Decks
• Sk8Mafia – Decks and Apparel
• SOVRN – Decks and Apparel
• Ricta – Wheels
• Mob Grip – Grip tape
• Bones – Wheels and Apparel
• Crupie – Wheels
• Grizzly – Grip tape and Apparel
• Dickies – Apparel
• Old Friends – Apparel
• Transworld Skateboarding – Apparel
• 411VM – Apparel
• The Nine Club – Apparel

Skater XL is the first skateboarding game to come to all major platforms in more than 10 years and offers complete physics-based gameplay with total freedom of control and expression. Play as skating icons Tiago Lemos, Evan Smith, Tom Asta or Brandon Westgate on your way to becoming a skateboarding pro or build your own character with unique characteristics and authentic gear from top skateboarding brands.

Create, combine, and style tricks as you hit Downtown LA and other iconic California locations where street legends have left their mark. Dive into the digital skate subculture with more than 60 real skate spots connected by block after block of plazas, schools, pools, buildings, car parks and corridors. With a huge modding community that has created thousands of maps, digital skate ezines, personal highlight reels, in-game brands, and tournaments, Skater XL celebrates the creativity and dedication of the skate community.

Skater XL will launch on July 7 digitally on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC, and at brick and mortar retailers for PS4 and Xbox One. More announcements will be coming soon for Skater XL – be sure to follow the game on Instagram and Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook, and visit the official website, SkaterXL.com.  

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ABOUT EASY DAY STUDIOS
Founded in 2018 by Skater App creator and physicist Dain Hedgpeth, Jon West, former sponsored skateboarder turned game developer, and Jeff Goforth, industry veteran of 19 years and former head of skateboarding at DC Shoes, Easy Day Studios is the leader in action sports video game creation. Based in Long Beach, CA, Easy Day Studios is fully self funded and 100% committed to the shared vision of reviving and evolving skateboarding games into what every fan has been hoping for since the birth of the genre. With decades of experience, the team is comprised of video game development and skateboarding veterans. Since Early Access launch in December 2018 and the rapid growth of the Skater XL modding community, Easy Day has also hired two former modders and continues to work directly with this community. 

Publisher Tripwire Interactive and Developer Digital Lode. Launch Free New Update for Top Selling VR Stealth Title

ROSWELL, Ga. – May 5, 2020 – Publisher Tripwire Interactive and developer Digital Lode announced today that Espire 1: VR Operative continues to be one of the best-selling games on the Oculus Quest and has remained on the Top Sellers list for over five months since it first released in November, 2019.

To celebrate the success of Espire 1: VR Operative, the definitive virtual reality stealth experience, Digital Lode is launching the Espire 1: VR Operative Assimilation content update for free today on all major virtual reality platforms, including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift-S, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality. The Assimilation update will be available for PlayStation®VR later this month. 

Espire 1: VR Operative aims to set the new gold standard for the stealth genre in virtual reality, delivering gameplay mechanics for the stealth and action genres that have yet to be explored in the space. Players are charged with the role of an “Espire Agent” and use cutting-edge Virtual Reality hardware to remote-operate the Espire model 1 drone.

With today’s release of the Espire 1: VR Operative Assimilation content update, players can look forward to an expanded armory of weaponry as well as a series of Virtual Challenges.

Highlights of today’s free Espire 1: VR Operative Assimilation content update include:

New Operative Weapons

• Vector SMG: This semi-auto weapon is an excellent choice for mid-range combat, providing for accurate and quick bursts of controlled fire with one bullet firing upon the first trigger press and the last bullet firing upon release. With an extended clip of 45 rounds and very low recoil, it is the weapon of choice for the new “SMG” weapon challenge mode.
• Sawed-off Shotgun: Get up close and personal with this new shotgun, boasting a wider spread for close quarters combat. Its compact design allows for the shotgun to be holstered as either a sidearm or primary weapon — and reloads via magazine clip instead of individual shells.

New Virtual Challenge Game Modes

Experienced Espire agents can also look forward to three new Virtual Challenge game modes, featuring new stealth gameplay not featured in the campaign. These new Virtual Challenges focuses on weapon mastery, climbing and intel gathering stealth skills essential to completing missions quickly and efficiently. Test your skills against players around the world with an improved leaderboard.

• Weapon Challenges: Run, weave, duck, climb, jump and zipline your way through seven courses designed to test your mastery with each weapon class. Rack up the highest combo while eliminating static, moving and explosive targets, as well as enemy combatants in order to reach the top of the leaderboard.
• Climbing Challenges: Overcome climbing puzzles where speed and timing is paramount to completing the course with the highest score. Make sure to avoid getting squashed by the fast-moving crushers!
• Intel Challenges: Explore four completely new environments. Locate and hack intelligence from all workstations in the area and reach the extraction point. This game mode builds on the core Espire gameplay from the campaign.

In addition, Espire agents can expect a variety of technical and quality of life gameplay improvements based directly on player feedback and requests with today’s free release of the Espire 1: VR Operative Assimilation content update. For full details on the update, please head here.

To celebrate the launch of the new Espire 1: VR Operative Assimilation content update, Tripwire Interactive has launched a special sales promotion! For details on the offer please follow the developers at Digital Lode on official Espire 1: VR Operative social media channels on Twitter and Facebook for full details.

As a virtual reality title that combines first-person stealth and shooting mechanics, Espire 1: VR Operative is a game that’s best shown in motion. Watch an Espire Agent steal a guard’s gun to hold him up, throw a spare ammunition clip to cause a distraction, and activate bullet time to headshot multiple guards while dropping down from above. Espire Agents can also take advantage of the powerful Espire model 1 drones to grab a hold of walls to fling their self across large areas, zoom past enemies on ziplines, and built-in gear to activate infrared and remote cameras to avoid detection.

To stay up to date on the latest Espire 1: VR Operative news, be sure to visit the official website – and follow the developers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Stay up to date with the latest Tripwire Interactive news, community updates, and exclusive promotions by signing up for our email list! Don’t worry, we don’t bite. Head here to sign up for the Tripwire Interactive newsletter today.

© Espire VR Pty Ltd Designed in Melbourne, Australia

About Tripwire Interactive

Formed in 2005 as a humble independent developer founded by gamers who found success in the video game modding community, Tripwire Interactive has developed and self-published multiple critically acclaimed titles in the wildly popular Killing Floor and Rising Storm franchises, which have collectively sold over 20 million units to date. The studio’s latest project, Maneater, breaks new ground in the popular action RPG genre and finds players taking on the role of a deadly shark with the uncanny ability to evolve as it feeds.

Since then, Tripwire Interactive has expanded its business and now turns its experience and resources to include publishing titles spanning multiple platforms and genres from other talented independent studios. Led by John Gibson, the publishing division aims to help like-minded independent studios bring their titles to market, including Chivalry 2 developed by Torn Banner Studios, Espire 1: VR Operative developed by Digital Lode, and Road Redemption developed by EQ Games and Pixel Dash Studios.

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Fifty games announced for Digital Dragons’ Indie Celebration, supported by Steam

Fifty of this year’s best indie titles to be showcased in a live Steam event from 13-15 May

Kraków, Poland – 5 May 2020. Digital Dragons today announced the 50 independent titles selected for next week’s Indie Celebration, running from 13-15 May and supported by Steam.

The titles will be showcased on a dedicated Steam homepage, with live demos and developer interviews in three packed days of livestreams. The event culminates on the last day a virtual award ceremony recognising the top three games of the show, as well as the results of the judges’ and community-nominated awards.

Jury members, Robert Purchese (Eurogamer), Brett Makedonski (Destructoid), Karol Zajączkowski (11bit studios), Jakub Rokosz (Fool’s Theory) and Jakub Wójcik (Indie Games Polska) picked the final 50, which will be showcased during the event on the 13-15 of May. At the event the Jury will select their top three games, alongside a Community Vote Award.

Games featured in this year’s Indie Celebration are:

• Ars Fabulae (Punk Notion, Poland)
• Biped (NEXT Studios / META Publishing, Cyprus)
• Black Book (Morteshka, Russia)
• Bonkies (Studio Gauntlet, Norway)
• Book of Demons: HELLCARD (Thing Trunk, Poland)
• Causa, Voices of the Dusk (Niebla Games, Chile)
• Chernobylite (The Farm 51, Poland)
• Children of Silentown (Elf Games, Italy)
• Danger Scavenger (Star Drifters, Piotr Wolk, Poland)
• Door Kickers: Task Force North (KillHouse Games, Romania)
• Dreadlands (Blackfox Studios, UK)
• Eastern Exorcist (wildfiregame, China)
• ELDERBORN (Hyperstrange, Poland)
• Eldest Souls (Fallen Flag Studio, UK / Poland)
• Encased (Dark Crystal Games, Russia)
• Enemy on Board (Windwalk Games, USA)
• First Class Trouble (Invisible Walls, Denmark)
• For the People (Brezg Studio, Russia)
• For The Warp (Massive Galaxy Studios, Portugal)
• Fort Triumph (Cookie Byte Entertainment, Poland)
• Gamedec (Anshar Studios, Poland)
• Gatewalkers (A2 Softworks, Poland)
• Ghostrunner (One More Level, Poland)
• Last Oasis (Donkey Crew, Poland)
• Legends of Ethernal (Lucid Dreams Studio, Canada)
• Liberated (Atomic Wolf, Poland)
• Nanotale – Typing Chronicles (Fishing Cactus, Belgium)
• Not For Broadcast (NotGames, UK)
• Overloop (George Kobyakov, UK)
• PositronX (Scorpius Games, Romania)
• Quantum League (Nimble Giant, UK)
• Rhythm Fighter (Coconut Island Games / echo games, China)
• Röki (Polygon Treehouse, UK / Poland)
• Rustler (Jutsu Games, Poland)
• Shing! (Mass Creation, Poland)
• Skul: The Hero Slayer (SouthPAW Games, South Korea)
• Stoneshard (Ink Stains Games, Cyprus)
• Tainted Grail (Awaken Realms Digital, Poland)
• The Blind Prophet (Ars Goetia, France)
• The Riftbreaker (EXOR Studios, Poland)
• The Tenants (Ancient Forge, Poland)
• There is No Light (Zelart, Cyprus)
• This is the Zodiac Speaking (Punch Punk Games, Poland)
• Those Who Remain (Camel 101, Portugal)
• Tower Princess (AweKteaM, Cyprus)
• Tunche (LEAP Game Studios, Cyprus)
• Unto The End (2 Ton Studio, UK)
• Uragun (Kool2Play, Poland)
• Wanderlust: Transsiberian (Different Tales, Poland)
• Wingspan (Monster Couch, Poland)

Digital Dragons will host both May’s Indie Celebration on Steam and its own regular Indie Showcase at the rescheduled Digital Dragons 2020 conference in Kraków on 14-15 September. To keep up to date with all things Digital Dragons go to digitaldragons.pl and follow Digital Dragons on Twitter.

About Digital Dragons
Digital Dragons is the leading game industry event in Central Europe. Each year it attracts specialists, professionals, developers to Kraków from all around the world. Last year Digital Dragons gathered 2000 participants from 650 companies coming from 48 countries. Over 100 speakers contributed 83 lectures full of insightful knowledge and case studies grounded in the expert know-how. The prestigious ICE Kraków Congress Center hosted 132 exhibitors who presented their games during the Indie Showcase, Students Talent Show, and the CEE Showcase. Moreover, 1700 business meetings were conducted at the event. This year’s Digital Dragons event is postponed to 14-15 September 2020.

About Steam
Steam is a video game digital distribution service and a social networking service for gamers. Every day 18 million users log in into the platform, which makes Steam the biggest service for gamers, and a great opportunity for indie game developers to showcase their games and acquire new customers.