CRYTEK REVEALS CRYSIS REMASTERED

Remaster of the original landmark FPS coming to PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch this summer

FRANKFURT, Germany – April 16, 2020 – Crytek has announced a remaster of the classic first-person shooter Crysis will be available this summer for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Nintendo Switch. Co-developed on CRYENGINE with Saber Interactive, Crysis Remastered features the action-packed gameplay, sandbox world and epic battles of the original blockbuster title, with remastered graphics and optimizations for the latest modern hardware.

“We are excited to be working on the Crysis franchise again, and to bring all the Crysis fans a remaster worthy of their passion for the game,” said Crytek CEO Avni Yerli. “It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to bring Crysis back to PCs and current consoles – even Nintendo Switch – so that a whole new generation of players can experience the thrill of a battle in the Nanosuit!”

Crysis Remastered will feature the original game’s single-player campaign alongside high-quality textures, an HD texture pack, improved art assets, temporal anti-aliasing, SSDO, SVOGI, state-of-the-art depth fields, new light settings, motion blur, parallax occlusion mapping, and particle effects (where applicable). Further additions like volumetric fog and shafts of light, software-based ray tracing, and screen space reflections deliver a major visual upgrade to this classic FPS experience.

The original Crysis arms players with the powerful Nanosuit on the battleground of a new war against alien invaders. The Nanosuit’s speed, strength, armor and cloaking allow creative solutions for every fight, with a huge arsenal of modular weaponry to give you incredible control over your play style. Become invisible to stalk enemy patrols, boost your strength to lay waste to vehicles, and deflect damage to dominate your enemies in this enormous sandbox world.

About Crytek

Crytek is an independent videogame developer, publisher, and technology provider dedicated to pushing the boundaries of gaming with its cutting-edge 3D game development solution CRYENGINE. With headquarters in Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and studios in Kiev (Ukraine) and Istanbul (Turkey), Crytek has created multiple award-winning titles, including the original Far Cry, the Crysis series, Ryse: Son of Rome, Warface, The Climb, Robinson: The Journey and Hunt: Showdown. Crytek delivers fun and innovative gaming experiences for PC, consoles, and VR and continues to grow its reach in the games-as-a-service market. Every Crytek game is created with CRYENGINE, which can be used by anyone to create games.

For more information, visit www.crysis.com, www.crytek.com and www.cryengine.com.

Devolver Digital Publisher Weekend Blatant Smokescreen For Ill-Conceived Podcast

– Up to 90 Percent Off Games You Should be Embarrassed Not to Own –

AUSTIN (April 16, 2020) – The Devolver Digital Publisher Weekend has taken over Steam with obscenely generous discounts on Devolver Digital games, even the ones you promised your concerned parents that you would never buy. Now is your chance to correct the wrongs of the past by purchasing each and every Devolver Digital game at a fraction of their intended price.

This year’s unprecedented annual Devolver Digital sale features games from the label’s eclectic roster including the award-winning and critically acclaimed GRIS, Ape Out, Observation, My Friend Pedro, Enter the Gungeon, The Talos Principle, Shadow Warrior 2, Broforce, and the Hotline Miami series. 

In an entirely separate move born out of entirely original thoughts, the fully integrated media and entertainment company has also branched out into the lucrative world of podcasting with the newly announced Devolver Digital Forkcast. Emanating from a secret and, frankly, nauseating location, The Devolver Digital Forkcast will be available every Thursday from forkcast.devolverdigital.com and wherever people who like podcasts find their podcasts.

Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/devolver/

“If Elon Musk can smoke a marijuana cigarette on a podcast, so can I,” noted Devolver Digital CFO Fork Parker.

Consumers can dispose of their disposable income during the Devolver Digital Publisher Weekend on Steam from April 16 – April 19.

Weird, Wonderful, Jazz-Infused Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 Headed to Steam on May 15

Cosmo D Studios Follows Critically-acclaimed The Norwood Suite with IGF-nominated Successor; New Screens & Gameplay Trailer Showcase Unique Tone and Environments

Brooklyn, NYC, United States — April 16, 2020 — Cosmo D Studios, today announce that its IGF-nominated first-person adventure title, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1, is headed to Steam (Windows, Mac & Linux) on May 15, priced $9.99 – with a 10% discount available at launch.

Set in the same universe as the critically-acclaimed The Norwood Suite and Off-Peak, Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 will see players visit the unforgettable street corner of July Avenue and Yam Street, as they plot to obtain a saxophone from longtime pizza-maker (and former saxophonist) Caetano Grosso. This instrumental pursuit will set off a chain of events across the neighborhood, taking players deep into the hidden worlds and private lives of the people living there.

Filled with memorable characters, secrets and hidden agendas, this open-ended locale is rife for exploration – players will make pizzas, take photos, push buttons, open drawers they’re not supposed to – all while losing themselves in an atmospheric score that’s directly integrated into the game world.

An acclaimed cellist, Cosmo D composed the unique soundtrack for Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1, which will also be available at launch, either separately, priced $6.99 or as a Deluxe Bundle (Game + Soundtrack) for $12.99.

Volume 1: Caetano’s Slice is the first game of many in the anthology of Tales. While each ‘Volume’ is its own self-contained story and experience, taken together, they build towards the larger overarching narrative of what’s really going on at the corner of July Avenue and Yam Street and what role you ultimately play in its fate.

Head over to the Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 Steam store page to get the low down, before the game releases on May 15.

About Cosmo D

Cosmo D is a game designer based in New York City with a background in cello performance and music composition. One rainy night in June 2013, he was struck by a car while crossing the street and found himself unable to play or make music for several months. While convalescing, he took it upon himself to learn the Unity Engine. The result was Off-Peak, released in 2015. A homage to Cosmo D’s home city of New York, as well as a commentary on the commodification of art and music in the urban space, Off-Peak gained a cult following, with hordes of press nods, let’s plays on YouTube, and a fanbase eagerly awaiting the follow-up. With assistance from NYU Game Center’s Incubator program, publisher Alliance Digital Media, as well as the New York game development scene at large, Cosmo D released a sequel, The Norwood Suite, in October 2017.

Building on the momentum from developing and releasing The Norwood Suite, Cosmo D started work on Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1 in Spring of 2018. Visit the official website at cosmod.net

STAR WARS™ EPISODE I: RACER TO LAUNCH ON NINTENDO SWITCH AND PLAYSTATION 4 ON MAY 12 

Two Engines. One Champion. No Limits. 

AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2020 – Get ready to shout – “Now, this is podracing!” 

Aspyr announced today that the classic Nintendo 64 racing game, Star Wars™ Episode l: Racer, will arrive for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on May 12 for $14.99. Fans can take control of a podracer speeding through flaming methane lakes, Tusken Raider assaults, anti-gravity tunnels, and much more in a pulse-pounding, do-or-die fight to the finish line. 

Star Wars Episode l: Racer, the classic sci-fi racing game based on the podracing sequence in the film Star Wars™: The Phantom Menace™, is back with modernized controls.  

• Twenty-five (25) playable racers including Anakin Skywalker, Sebulba, and Ratts Tyerell
• Race tracks spanning eight unique worlds including Tatooine, Baroonda, and Malastare
• Players can work with pit droids to upgrade podracers for higher top speeds and acceleration
• Discover short-cuts and secrets to master lap times
• Play single player campaigns or multiplayer via split-screen

“Star Wars fans can soon go full throttle with Aspyr’s update to the classic, fan-favorite, Star Wars Episode l: Racer,” said Elizabeth Howard, vice president of publishing at Aspyr. “The beloved game has been modernized for the most optimal gaming experience on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Star Wars fans should get ready to steer their racer to victory and leave their opponents in the dust.”

Star Wars Episode l: Racer will be available for purchase on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on May 12 for $14.99 USD. Sign up for the latest news via aspyr.com/StarWars. 

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

About Aspyr
Aspyr is a leading video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games across all platforms and for all players. Today, the company supports a growing network of partners that includes many of the industry’s leading entertainment IP holders, publishers, developers, and technology providers. Aspyr is based in Austin, TX. For more information, visit www.aspyr.com.

JUMP FORCE DELUXE EDITION, THE ULTIMATE MANGA CROSSOVER, ANNOUNCED FOR NINTENDO SWITCH

Worlds Collide as Heroes and Villains from the Jump Universe Take Their Battles at Home or On-The-Go with Nintendo Switch

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (April 16, 2020) – Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. has announced JUMP FORCE Deluxe Edition for the Nintendo Switch console, set to release through the Americas. Take control of mighty heroes and evil villains from popular manga franchises spanning over 50 years of the influential Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, published by Shueisha. Battle with or against characters from DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE, NARUTO, and many other franchises in a knockout brawl for Earth’s survival. 

JUMP FORCE Deluxe Edition comes to the Nintendo Switch with a roster of over 50 playable characters hailing from 16 different Weekly Shonen Jump franchises including all previously released DLC characters from the Season 1 Characters Pass. Players can create a team of three using their favorite characters or discover a new favorite series with the breadth of character options available. Players also have the ability to create their own unique avatar to use in both Story and Versus Modes.

Play against friends and foes through both offline and online battles. A new offline 3 vs. 3 mode is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version of JUMP FORCE Deluxe Edition, allowing for six friends to each control a character and battle it out together. In this mode each player controls a character on their team of three and will enter the fight when their character is tagged into the battle. Strategic thinking and knowing when to tag players in and out of the battle will be key to success.

“The casual pick up and play nature and multiplayer focus of JUMP FORCE Deluxe Edition lends itself perfectly to Nintendo Switch,” said Stephen Akana, Senior Brand Manager for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The large roster of players, explosive battles, and new features means limitless fun for players.”

The JUMP FORCE Character Pass 2 has also been announced today for all versions of the game for $17.99. Character Pass 2 will come with five new playable characters, the first being Shoto Todoroki from MY HERO ACADEMIA, and the rest coming from the following manga franchises: YuYu Hakusho, HUNTER X HUNTER, Bleach, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. More information regarding Character Pass 2 will be released at a later date.

Rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB, JUMP FORCE Deluxe Edition will be available for Nintendo Switch with a MSRP of $49.99. JUMP FORCE is now in the Americas for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system system, Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM®. For more information about JUMP FORCE and other titles from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit; https://www.bandainamcoent.com, follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

©Jump 50th Anniversary
©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.        
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Press Release © 2020 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

Fans Can Purchase Live Video Chats, Recorded Videos, Signed Photos During Events, Accessible Via Dedicated Website, Social Platforms For Fans Across The Globe

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2020 – Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD) announces that the next two entries in the “Wizard World Virtual Experiences” are set for next week. The first, featuring Lethal Weapon and Point Break star Gary Busey, will be held on Tuesday, April 21 beginning at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT. The other, featuring “RWBY” superstars Lindsay Jones, Kara Eberle, Arryn Zech and Barbara Dunkelman, will be held on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 pm. PT.

During each session, the celebrities will participate in a FREE live moderated video Q&A, followed by one-on-one video chats, recorded videos and autographs. Sessions are accessible to virtual attendees on their computer and mobile devices via https://tixr.com/e/18693 (Busey) and https://tixr.com/e/18697 (“RWBY”).

As part of the events, fans across the globe can:

· Submit questions via chat during the free 45-minute panels (open to everyone, no entry fee to watch or submit). Panels available for viewing live or on demand via Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/wizardworldvirtual; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wizardworld; and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wizardworld/
· Participate in a personal, exclusive two-minute live video chat with each celebrity(paid)
· Purchase a recorded video from each star specifying the message if desired
· Purchase an autograph on an 8”x10” photo, custom exclusive 11”x17” lithograph designed specifically for the event, or copy of Busey’s book Buseyisms: Gary Busey’s Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Pricing begins at $60 for the individual chat, video and autographs, and vary by item, available on the Website.

Past and Upcoming Wizard World Virtual Experiences
· Tuesday, March 31, “Supernatural,” Mark Sheppard, Emily Swallow, Ruth Connell, Sebastian Roché, Timothy Omundson
· Saturday, April 4, “Once Upon a Time,” Jared Gilmore, Andrew J. West, Sean Maguire, Lee Arenberg
· Saturday, April 11, “Buffy,” “Angel,” James Marsters, Amber Benson, Clare Kramer, Emma Caulfield, Elisabeth Röhm, Camden Toy
· Tuesday, April 14, Ed Asner (“Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Up)
· Saturday, April 18, “The Magicians,” Stella Maeve, Hale Appleman, Summer Bishil, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Trevor Einhorn, Harvey Guillén.
· Tuesday, April 21, Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon, Point Break)
· Thursday, April 23, “RWBY,” Lindsay Jones, Kara Eberle, Arryn Zech, Barbara Dunkelman

About Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD)
Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Additional initiatives may include an augmented touring schedule of Wizard World shows, fixed-site installations, curated e-commerce, and the production and distribution of content both in the U.S. and internationally. Fans can interact with Wizard Entertainment at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.
The 2020 Wizard World convention schedule is available at: http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.

Restore the Fairy Tail Guild to its Former Glory and Reap the Rewards!

Burlingame, Calif. – April 16, 2020 – KOEI TECMO America and developer GUST Studios revealed new guest characters featured in their upcoming magical JRPG, FAIRY TAIL. New guild hall features were also detailed to give fans a taste of the different gameplay highlights outside of battle they can expect when the game launches across North America on June 26, 2020 for the Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and on June 25, 2020 for Windows PC via Steam®.

During FAIRY TAIL’s gripping narrative, players will team-up with a range of guest characters from other guilds across Magnolia to take on common enemies. These fan-favorite characters are ready to team-up and support your party in battle, and include: the ‘Arc of Time User,’ Ultear Milkovich, from the Crime Sorcière guild; the ‘Ice-Make Wizard,’ Lyon Vastia, from the Lamia Scale guild; the ‘Burning Hair Wizard,’ Flare Corona, from the Raven Tail guild; and Minerva Orland, ‘Sabertooth Guild’s Finest Lady.’ And while guest characters are not playable, they will instead join your party and automatically perform a range of powerful magic abilities – including those featured in the anime and manga!

Throughout the FAIRY TAIL adventure, from Tenrou Island to the Grand Magic Games and beyond, the guild’s famed hall becomes a key meeting point for party members to prepare for upcoming quests. Inside the guild, items are available for sale and trade – including consumable items, Lacrima, and a variety of materials at the item shop. There’s even a selection of drinks at the bar that provide different status effects to party members. By saving up gold and purchasing upgrades for the guild, an increased inventory of items and drinks are available for purchase, and the appearance of the guild itself becomes increasingly more extravagant.

Within the guild hall, players are also able to talk to their comrades and challenge them to thrilling one-on-one duels, with the winner receiving rewards based upon the character they just defeated. Players are also able to find members of other guilds across Magnolia and challenge them to duels, leading to all-new exciting battles that have never appeared in the manga or anime!

FAIRY TAIL is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch™, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC via Steam®, and is available now for pre-order through select retailers.

A Digital Deluxe version of FAIRY TAIL has also been recently revealed, boasting a special Grand Magic Games costume, a bonus Lacrima set, and a DDX Limited Ryza costume for Lucy!

Purchasing any version of the game, physically or digitally, within a limited time from launch will also unlock the Early Purchase Bonus special Miss FAIRY TAIL costume for Erza.

For all of the latest news on FAIRY TAIL, visit the official site at https://www.fairytailgame.com, like us on Facebook @KoeiTecmoUS, and follow us on Twitter @KoeiTecmoUS.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.

KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.

Based on the manga “FAIRY TAIL” by Hiro Mashima originally serialized in the weekly SHONEN MAGAZINE published by KODANSHA Ltd. ©Hiro Mashima, KODANSHA/FAIRY TAIL Committee, TV TOKYO

©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

“PS” Family logo, “PlayStation” and “PS4” logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

© 2020 Nintendo

© Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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The community has raised $350K and counting so far in 24 hours, here’s how you can help

Bungie is excited to announce the Guardian’s Heart fundraising initiative. With all profits going directly to charity Direct Relief, this campaign will raise money to buy supplies for frontline healthcare workers around the world. Bungie’s community of content creators all over the world are also jumping in to help from all over the world. Players who donate $20 or more will earn a special Destiny 2 in-game Guardian’s Heart emblem.

The campaign will be run through the popular donation platform, Tiltify. Donors who donate $20 or more will receive an email within one week after completing their donation that will contain the emblem code and instructions on how to redeem the code on Bungie.net.

According to their own mission statement: “Direct relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion or ability to pay.”

For more information and in-depth detail as to how the campaign will work, please check out this post on Bungie.com.

Please note:

• Each donor will earn one emblem.
• Donations of more than $20 are welcome, but do not grant more emblems.

Additional donations made using the same email will not grant more emblems.

by Megan Spurr, Community Manager, Xbox Game Pass

I know it feels like we were just here, sharing the new games, new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks – that’s not déjà vu (or that none of us understand the passage of time anymore). We’re back because we have even more games! There is a lot to get to, so let’s jump in.

Coming Soon

The Long Dark (ID@Xbox) – April 16

There are no zombies — only you, the cold, and all the threats Mother Nature can muster. A thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster.

Gato Roboto (ID@Xbox – Day One with Xbox Game Pass) – April 21

Make a valiant effort to save your stranded captain and his crashed spaceship! Inside of your cozy armored mech, set off on a dangerous trek through an alien underworld full of irritable creatures and treacherous obstacles.

Deliver Us The Moon (ID@Xbox – Day One with Xbox Game Pass) – April 23

Will you save mankind or be forgotten in the dark abyss of Space? Deliver Us The Moon is a Sci-Fi thriller set in an apocalyptic near-future, where Earth’s natural resources are depleted. A lunar colony providing a vital supply of energy has gone silent and a lone astronaut is sent to the moon on a critical mission to save humanity from extinction.

HyperDot (ID@Xbox) – April 30

Quickly evade enemies and test your skills in over 100 hand-crafted trials during campaign mode, outlast your friends in multiplayer battles, or build complex challenges with the custom level editor in this minimalist action arcade masterpiece with one rule: dodge everything.

Levelhead (ID@Xbox – Day One with Xbox Game Pass) – April 30

Create incredible contraptions and machines, craft adventurous expeditions that require brain and brawn to complete, or just create a relaxing music experience. Build, play, share and compete using the platformer maker. With the deep, intuitive systems of the level editor, you can create the levels of your dreams and other players’ nightmares. Supports up to four players for couch co-op mayhem!

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

In case you missed it, we added some new Perks last week for you Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Get some time on the court (virtually) with get 5,000 MyTeam points and 30 skill boosts from NBA 2K20. You can also get an Xbox Starter Bundle with Credits and more from Warframe and jump into Phantasy Star Online 2 with a monthly bonus pack. To unlock all of these and more on console and PC, simply go to the Perks section inside the Xbox Game Pass tab to redeem them! Perks are also available for redemption through the Xbox Game Pass mobile app.

Game Updates

Coming April 22 to Sea of Thieves, it’s true that Ships of Fortune introduces an entirely new element to trading companies by allowing pirates to serve as emissaries and collect bonus loot and exclusive rewards (also introducing Reaper’s Bones as an all-new company), as well as an overhaul to The Arena… but what I care most about is the cats! The Pirate Emporium will now have three breeds of feline friend for your pirate: the scruffy Wildcat, fluffy Ragamuffin, and slinky Mau. Catch up on all the Ships of Fortune upgrades here on Xbox Wire.

Leaving April 30

It’s time to say goodbye to some games, so get the play time in now! If you want to keep the game going, you can use your membership discount to get any of these games for up to 20% off while they are still in our library:

• The Banner Saga 2
• Bomber Crew
• Braid
• Fallout 4
• Full Metal Furies
• Metal Slug 3
• Ruiner
• Silence: The Whispered World 2
• Smoke and Sacrifice
• Wolfenstein: The New Order

If your friends haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass Ultimate yet, now’s the best time – their first month is only $1, getting them access to all these games, and even the Perks! And while you’re planning your list of what games to play next, you might find helpful our many ways for you to keep up to date: Twitter, Instagram, Mobile app, sky writer (I may have made up one of those). Stay safe and game on friends. Be back here soon!

Devin Booker Crowned as the First-Ever NBA 2K Players Tournament Champion

#FirstRespondersFirst and the Arizona Food Bank Network Will Receive An Equal Share Of $100,000 in Booker’s Name

Last Saturday, Devin Booker defeated Deandre Ayton in the Finals of the inaugural NBA 2K Players Tournament which aired on ESPN and was distributed internationally through broadcast partners. For being crowned the inaugural NBA 2K Players Champion, the $100,000 grand prize will be donated and split between #FirstRespondersFirst and the Arizona Food Bank Network, Booker’s charities of choice, in support of ongoing coronavirus relief efforts.

#FirstRespondersFirst is a fund dedicated to providing essential supplies, equipment and resources for the protection of frontline healthcare workersand the Arizona Food Bank Network is a non-profit organization serving five regional food bank members across the state of Arizona and a network of nearly 1,200 food pantries and agencies.

This contribution will add to the $100,000 that Booker and the Phoenix Suns Charities each already pledged to support healthcare workers and those most in need due to coronavirus. The social giving campaign is an extension of Booker’s Starting Five initiative and adds to the bench of non-profits he has directly supported.  He has committed more than $2.5 million over the next five years through Phoenix Suns Charities and was just named as a global ambassador for the Special Olympics. Additional donations can be made through Booker’s Twitch Channel: Twitch.tv/DBook.

The NBA 2K Players Tournament was a single-elimination, 16 NBA player-only knock-out tournament using Xbox One that took place from April 3 – 11. En route to being crowned the inaugural NBA 2K Players Champion, Booker won matchups against Michael Porter, Jr., Rui Hachimura, Montrezl Harrell and Ayton.

The final featured Booker besting Ayton in a Best-of-Three matchup. He cruised in Game 1, playing as the Houston Rockets past Ayton as the Los Angeles Lakers in a 72-62 victory. Booker then doubled up in Game 2 to take the crown as the Denver Nuggets with a clutch 74-62 victory over Ayton, who was playing as the Milwaukee Bucks.

“With this year’s NBA season on hiatus, 2K was honored to have had the opportunity to host this exciting esports competition alongside the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association,” said Jason Argent, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations for NBA 2K. “We’d like to thank everyone involved – players, partners, and ESPN — for coming together and delivering welcomed entertainment, but more importantly, helping raise relief funds for coronavirus recovery efforts.”

“I had a really great time participating in the NBA 2K Players Tournament,” said Booker. “Winning it was really great for my competitive spirit and I’m glad I could give our fans a little taste of basketball while supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. I hope that our fans stay safe and healthy during this time and I can’t wait to get back on the court soon.”

To watch video recaps of all the tournament action, fans can visit either the 2K and NBA social channels including Twitter (@NBA2K, @NBA), Twitch (@NBA2K, @NBA), YouTube (@NBA2K, @NBA) and Facebook (@NBA2K, @NBA).

For more information on NBA 2K20, please visit https://nba.2k.com/2k20/, become a fan on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram, or subscribe on YouTube.

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