New trailer reveals total player freedom of
sandbox mode for Eric Chahi’s VR game Paper Beast
Sandbox mode expands on Paper Beast’s dreamlike
story and gives players total freedom in spawning fantastic creatures,
influence weather, shape the environment, and experiment with its in-depth
physics engine
Montpellier, France – 11 February 2020 – Eric Chahi’s (Another World, From Dust) studio Pixel Reef has today revealed the sandbox mode of their upcoming PlayStation VR game Paper Beast (Q1 2020). An entirely stand-alone game mode, Sandbox allows players to create their own unique, freeform virtual domains, from the fantastical creatures that inhabit it, to the weather and the terrain itself.
The new Sandbox mode
approximates a god game experience, as active experimentation with Paper
Beast’s intriguing ecosystem plays a major role. Players can form and
manipulate the environment, influence the weather and experiment with the deep
physics engine that powers Paper Beast.
Experience the
distinct characteristics of Paper Beast’s wildlife in this brand-new
mode, as creature behaviour is profoundly dependent on the elements. Special
focus is given to immersion and environmental simulation. Players can interact
with eleven different hybrid animal species, as well as plants, geological
elements, and even the sun.
“The Sandbox mode is the
place for players’ creativity and experimentation,” says Eric Chahi. “Imagine creatures
creating dams and diverting water, but what happens if you freeze the water?
It’s up to you to find out. For our part, we’ve discovered a lot of emergent
behaviour while playing. I’m sure the gaming community will surprise us!”
The Paper Beast
sandbox mode will coexist with a captivating story in which intrepid
player-explorers discover a blossoming virtual world where the environments and
quirky animals have independently evolved from lost code and forgotten data.
Following an unspoken narrative, players will solve environmental puzzles and
interact with fascinating wildlife that adapts its behaviour to the player’s
actions. Paper Beast is set to launch on PlayStation VR in Q1 of
2020.
More details can be
found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Pixel Reefwebsite. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive the
latest news about Paper Beast.
About Pixel Reef
Founded by renowned game
designer Eric Chahi (Another World, Heart of Darkness, From Dust),
Pixel Reef is an independent video game studio based in Montpellier in
the south of France. Pixel Reef aims to push creative and technological
research to develop immersive games with a poetic touch. Bringing years of
experience, Eric and his team are currently working on Paper Beast, a
dreamlike VR odyssey in a simulated, surreal world set to be released on
PlayStation VR in Q1 2020. More details can be found on the Pixel Reef website.
New Borderlands 3 Seasonal Event and Level Cap
Increase Detailed in Community Love Letter
Broken Hearts Day, Guardian Rank toggling, Mayhem 2.0,
and other ‘Community Love Letter’ updates discussed during today’s episode of
The Borderlands Show.
We
hope you’re feeling the love, Vault Hunter, because we sure are! Gearbox and 2K
shared a Community
Love Letter earlier
today, thanking fans for their continued support and revealing an update
roadmap that includes a new seasonal event, a level cap increase, and a
significant number of quality-of-life enhancements coming soon to Borderlands
3. This letter was also discussed on
today’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which featured insider insights
from Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins.
The
new seasonal event – which is free for all players – is the perfect antidote
for any Valentine’s woes: Broken
Hearts Day!
Particularly lovesick enemies across the Borderlands will soon have special
hearts floating around them. These hearts take a variety of forms, and shooting
them produces any of a number of unique effects, from buffing your party’s
damage output to temporarily converting an enemy to an ally to simply exploding
into a pile of loot. The more hearts you break, the more rewards you unlock,
with five total rewards up for grabs – including special skins and Legendary
weapons unique to this event.
Broken Hearts Day can be toggled off and on in the game’s main menu, allowing players to opt out of (or back into) the event at any time. The event will go live on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and PC once the February patch deploys later this month. You’ll then have exactly one week to break some hearts before this seasonal event ends. For more details, check out this helpful Broken Hearts Day blog.
In
addition to this new event, Gearbox also announced Borderlands 3’s
first level cap increase! Timed with the debut of Broken Hearts Day, the
maximum Vault Hunter level will increase from 50 to 53. This will give you
three additional skill points to add to your skill trees, allowing you to
enhance your existing builds or even experiment with additional abilities.
We’ll have more information about future level cap increases later, and intend to make any level cap increases free
additions to the game.
And
that’s not all Gearbox and 2K announced today. The Community Love Letter also
included new details on each of these upcoming enhancements:
True
Vault Hunter Mode;
Skippable Cutscenes;
Guardian Rank Toggling;
Event Toggling;
Fight for Your Life Improvements;
Mayhem 2.0;
Twitch
ECHOcast Extension Additions.
It’s
a massive, comprehensive look at the free updates planned for Borderlands
3 in the next few months, so for all the details, be sure to read the
letter in its entirety right
here. And for a look
at the second paid campaign expansion, catch the Gearbox Panel at PAX East on Thursday,
February 27 at 11:30 am PT / 2:30pm ET(Friday, February 28 at 6:30 am
AEDT). You’ll get your first look at the next add-on, as well as a future
content roadmap for Borderlands 3. The panel will be streaming
live on the Borderlands
Twitch channel.
Today’s
Community Love Letter also served as the foundation for today’s episode of The
Borderlands Show, which featured analysis from our regular hosts Greg Miller
and Fran Mirabella, as well as expert commentary from Stream Team member and
host of The Bordercast, Mitsu. Our hosts were joined by longtime Gearbox
developer and Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins, who
provided additional context around today’s update roadmap. To catch the full
episode, just click right here.
For more information about Borderlands 3’s features and content, please visit borderlands.com.
2K
is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(NASDAQ: TTWO).
New
Outriders Gameplay Trailer Showcases First Look At Upcoming RPG Shooter
SYDNEY, February 12th, 2020 – SQUARE ENIX®, creators
of the iconic FINAL FANTASY® and TOMB RAIDER® franchises, today announced the OUTRIDERS™Reveal Stream and unveiledits debut gameplay
trailer.
From People Can Fly, the developers of Gears of War: Judgment and BULLETSTORM, andSquare Enix External Studios, the minds behind SLEEPING DOGS® and JUST CAUSE®,OUTRIDERS is a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation.
OUTRIDERS is an RPG shooter set in an
original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe. As mankind bleeds out in the
trenches of Enoch, you’ll create your own Outrider and embark on a journey
across a hostile planet. With rich storytelling spanning a diverse world,
you’ll leave behind the slums and shanty towns of the First City and traverse
forests, mountains and deserts in pursuit of a mysterious signal. Combining
intense gunplay with violent powers, along with an arsenal of increasingly
twisted weaponry and gear-sets, OUTRIDERS offers countless hours of
gameplay from one of the finest shooter studios in the industry.
The OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream will feature Game Director,
Bartek Kmita; Lead Writer, Joshua Rubin; and host, Malik Forte and is set to
debut Thursday, February 13th at 8:00pm GMT | Friday February 14th 7:00am
AEDT. Watch the OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream at www.twitch.tv/squareenix.
“It’s incredibly exciting to finally reveal what we have been
working on for the last four years,” said Bartek Kmita, Game Director at People
Can Fly. “Outriders is our first game since leaving Epic Games, and has grown
from an idea of the game we always wanted to make, to the most ambitious
project People Can Fly has ever undertaken”.
OUTRIDERS will release on PlayStation 5®,
Xbox Series X and PC in Holiday 2020. OUTRIDERS will also release on
PlayStation 4® and the Xbox One family of devices.
ABOUT PEOPLE CAN FLY Established in 2002, People Can Fly, is one of the
best AAA game development studios in Poland and one of the leading UNREAL
ENGINE studios in Europe. People Can Fly operates in Warsaw, Rzeszów, Newcastle
and New York. PCF made its mark on the shooter genre and is known for titles
such as Bulletstorm: Full Clip (launched on April 7, 2017) , Gears of War:
Judgment (published in 2013), Bulletstorm (an original, Unreal Engine 3-powered
onslaught of ‘kill with skill’ gameplay and blockbuster moments published in
2011.) and Painkiller (launched in 2004). People Can Fly is currently working
on its new very ambitious, RPG shooter – OUTRIDERS.
About Square
Enix External Studios
Square Enix External Studios is a London
based development and publishing group that works with top development studios
across the world, establishing new intellectual properties and developing new
franchises within the umbrella of the Square Enix group of companies. Square
Enix External Studios have been responsible for multiple games including the Just
Cause®
and Life is Strange®
series, as well as titles such as Batman: Arkham Asylum™ and Sleeping Dogs®.
About Square
Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd.
develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO®
branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of
the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network
of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal®.
The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual
property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 149 million units
worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 80 million units worldwide; TOMB
RAIDER®, which has sold over 75 million units worldwide; and the legendary
SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of
Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Elin Valkyries Join the Fray in TERA’s
‘Crescent Sea’ Update, Live on PC Today
En Masse Entertainment Releases Latest Update
Taking Players to the High Seas with Action Packed Trailer
SEATTLE, February 11, 2020 — En Masse Entertainment, a player-driven publisher focused on
delivering great games and great service, have today released the ‘Crescent
Sea’ update for their True Action Combat MMORPG on PC, TERA. Headlining
the first free content update of the year for the MMO is the introduction of
the new elin valkyrie class, joining her castanic counterparts, armed with a
massive runeglaive that lets enemies know that these tiny terrors are deadly
serious. Players creating new elin valkyries can take advantage of a month-long
leveling event that will provide players with useful in-game goodies as they
level and, ultimately, the Crimson Dragon mount for those valkyries who reach
level 70 before the event ends on March 3.
Included in the update is the brand-new Sea of Honor five-player
dungeon, intended for level 70 players looking to stretch their sea-legs.
Before boarding the Goldenscale treasure ship and voyaging into the open
waters, players must acquire a Sea of Honor Voyage Map earned by clearing
dungeons and defeating field bosses. Once a single player in the group has the
map, the group can depart on their journey – but beware monsters from the deeps
and other vessels are out to commandeer the Goldenscale, one wrong move can
send players plummeting to a watery grave.
Stay up to date on all the latest information forTERA
by following the game on Twitter, Facebook and Discord, or check out the TERA web page.
About En Masse Entertainment
Based in Seattle, Washington, En Masse Entertainment embodies the
evolution of modern game publishing. The company’s mission is to publish great
games and provide great service. Beginning in 2012 with their inaugural MMORPG
title, TERA, continuing with the anime-action fighter, Closers,
and now with the turn-based strategy game, The Dark Crystal: Age of
Resistance Tactics, En Masse Entertainment has built a track record of
excellence and innovation. The team at En Masse includes experts in online
technology, live service, branding, community, and player support, allowing
them to thrive as a publisher in the digital era. For more information, visit enmasse.com.
CALL OF DUTY:
MODERN WARFARE SEASON TWO NOW LIVE WITH MORE FREE NEW CONTENT
New Multiplayer
Maps, Modes and New Battle Pass System Content Available Free for All Players
Across All Platforms
Season Two Battle
Pass Features 100 Tiers of New Modern Warfare Content, Including the Return of
Iconic Special Operator Ghost, New Weapons, COD Points and More
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Feb. 11, 2020
– Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® expands with new Season Two content
today, jam-packed with free multiplayer maps, modes and weapons available for
all players. Throughout Season Two, players across all platforms can continue
the fight alongside their favorite Operators in all-new and returning
fan-favorite maps, fresh in-game challenges and rewards, limited-time game modes,
and playlists among the community celebrations.
In addition, the Battle Pass system
gets all brand-new content, with Season Two starting today, as all players can
unlock for free up to two new functional weapons, 300 COD points, calling cards
and more just by playing. Those who want to bring their game to a whole new
level with over 170 earnable items can also purchase the Season Two Battle Pass
for 1,000 Call of Duty Points for access to unlock up to 100 tiers of
new content.
“The community response to Modern
Warfare since launch has been incredible and we’re thrilled to bring back some
legendary fan-favorite maps and an iconic beloved Modern Warfare character,
Ghost,” said Patrick Kelly, Co-Studio Head and Creative Director, Infinity
Ward. “We’re committed to continuously fueling the fun with more and more
content for everyone and can’t wait for players to experience what’s to come
with Season Two.”
Picking up from where the story left
off previously, in Season Two Coalition and Allegiance forces must put their
differences aside to work together in averting a catastrophic nuclear disaster
and find out where Al-Qatala has taken a Soviet nuclear warhead. Season Two
features a steady stream of fresh new Modern Warfare content for all
players, with additional content and new playlists to be released weekly.
New Multiplayer Maps: In Rust, a beloved multiplayer map
returns from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, as players drop into
intense, fast-paced combat amid an oil yard in the middle of the desert. In the
all new Atlas Superstore, players set foot into a large-scale supercenter
warehouse taken over by Al-Qatala forces with unique lines of sight. Later in
the season, Khandor Hideout will join the rotation with an isolated desert
turned battleground, suitable for versatile tactics and diverse playstyles.
New Ground War Map: In Zhokov Boneyard, an expansive
airplane junkyard in Verdansk, bulldoze through buildings with a tank, find the
ideal sniping position, or go rogue with a run-and-gun mentality.
New Gunfight Maps: The Modern Warfare Classic,
Rust will also make its appearance as a Gunfight map, delivering a new setting
for intense, close-quarters 2v2 matches. In Bazaar, coming later in the season,
experience a tension-filled Gunfight amongst a tightly contained cross-section
of the streets of Urzikstan.
New Multiplayer Modes: In the Call of Duty League Ruleset
Playlist available now, all fans can play like the pros. Later in Season Two,
Gunfight Tournaments will make a return as players enter the single elimination
2v2 firefight and battle to win rewards. Throughout the season, additional
modes will be available including fan-favorite mode Demolition, pitting two
teams against each other with the objective of attacking or destroying bomb
sites.
New Trials: Four new trials will be included in
Season Two for players to put their skills to the test and earn up to a
three-star ranking and XP. In Quad Race, hop onto an ATV and master the course
for the fastest time. In Fire in the Hole, practice throwing skills by tossing
lethal equipment on a target. In Price’s Alley, sharpen decision-making and
eliminate the enemy as you face waves of hostiles mixed with civilians. In
Behind Enemy Lines, find and eliminate all hostiles in the area of operations
as quickly as possible.
Players that own the Season Two
Battle Pass will be instantly rewarded with an unlock for iconic and
fan-favorite Special Forces Operator Simon “Ghost” Riley, playable across all
Multiplayer and Special Ops modes, along with access to even more Weapon
Blueprints, XP tokens, Operator Skins, challenges and watches. Plus, players
who reach tier 100 will have unlocked a total of 1,300 COD points that can be
used to pick up even more cool content in the Store.
The Battle Pass Bundle, which
includes 20 Tier skips to immediately unlock new equipment and accelerate
progress, is also available for those who want access to the same earnable
content.
In addition to the Battle Pass,
throughout Season Two players can also acquire even more content from the Modern
Warfare Store, including two new Operators, all new Call of Duty League
customization items, Blueprints, Operator skins, and more through various Store
bundles. For the most up to date information on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,
check out the Activision Games Blog at https://blog.activision.com/call-of-duty.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available
on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The title features a fully-optimized PC version,
developed in partnership with Beenox, which is available exclusively on
Blizzard Battle.net®, Blizzard
Entertainment’s online gaming platform. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is
published by Activision, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:
ATVI) with development led by award-winning developer Infinity Ward, and
additional development support from Activision Shanghai, Beenox, High-Moon
Studios, Raven Software and Sledgehammer Games.
About Activision
Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of
interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world
and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI),
an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its
products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by
following @Activision.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that
involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or
strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected
availability, features, functionality and content for Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare Season Two, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could
cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ
materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in
this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified
in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent
annual report on Form 10K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information
available to Activision Publishing and Activision
Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision
Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to
update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed
to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are
not guarantees of the future performance of Activision
Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may
cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
BANDAI
NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC. ANNOUNCES ROSS BORDEN AS NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF
MARKETING
Industry
Veteran Joins Publisher to Drive Growth in the Company’s Games-as-a-Service,
Digital Marketing, and CRM Business Initiatives in the Americas
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (February 11, 2020) – Leading
interactive entertainment publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
today announced a new leader for its marketing organization. Video games
industry veteran, Ross Borden, is joining the company to lead its marketing
team as Vice President of Marketing; with focus on driving its evolution in the
Games-as-a-Service sector as well as expanding its digital marketing &
communications capabilities and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
programs. Borden’s posting is effective immediately.
With a passion for building businesses and delighting customers,
Borden brings with him over two decades of marketing experience from the video
game and tech industries. Having held marketing and publishing leadership roles
throughout his career at companies such as Namco, NCSOFT, and Robot
Entertainment; his expertise in the digital publishing space and video game
marketing will play a pivotal role in driving further success throughout the
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment organization.
“Today, video games offer more entertainment options, through more
platforms, for a wider range of players, than ever before in its history and
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment is poised to offer some of the most unique and
compelling content to players around the globe,” said Ross Borden, Vice
President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “BANDAI NAMCO
Entertainment’s exciting product line-up, which encompasses a wide range of
popular genres and IPs, offers countless opportunities to delight our
customers. I look forward to opening new avenues of growth for BANDAI NAMCO
Entertainment’s business in the Americas.”
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.comor www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
SAM’S STORY, THE SECOND MAJOR DLC EXPANSION FORMETRO EXODUS IS AVAILABLE NOW
LARKSPUR,
Calif. (Feb 11, 2020) – Deep
Silver and 4A Games are thrilled to announce that Sam’s Story, the
second major story DLC for Metro Exodus is out now while also confirming
that Metro Exodus will return to Steam on February 15.
Sam’s Story follows former U.S. Marine Sam – a Spartan
Ranger who has worked under Colonel Miller since the nuclear war devastated
Moscow and followed Artyom in search of a world outside of the Metro. Sam
had long dreamed of returning to his homeland and perhaps even finding his
father alive. The prospect seemed impossible in the darkened tunnels of the
Metro but when the Spartans discovered that Moscow was not the only city left
alive after the war, holding out hope didn’t feel so foolish
anymore.
Sam, determined to
find a way back to the USA, departed from the Aurora to make his way through
Vladivostok’s tsunami ravaged harbours, ruined industrial buildings, and
crumbling residential districts. However, to complete his journey, Sam will
discover that he needs every tactic he has learned so far to survive, as his
surroundings prove to be far trickier than expected.
In this expansive ‘sandbox survival’ level, players will experience another gripping story line featuring new characters, weapons and mutant variants, in a huge, non-linear environment that offers roughly five hours of all-new single player gameplay.
Sam’s Story is available to purchase on Xbox One,
PlayStation®4, PC and Stadia for $16.99 – links are available at https://www.metrothegame.com/buynow.
It is included in the Metro Exodus Expansion Pass, which also entitles
holders to the acclaimed DLC, The Two Colonels, which was released in
August 2019.
Be the first to learn
more about Metro Exodus by registering for updates at MetroTheGame.com.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @MetroVideoGame or on Facebook at
Facebook.com/MetroVideoGame.
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 by creating products of 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 gritty, post-apocalyptic Metro series. Upcoming highlights from Deep
Silver include the next entries into the Saints Row, TimeSplitters and Dead
Island franchises. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver
Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany,
and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. 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 and the USA. The Koch Media group has
more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business, and has risen
to become the number one distributor in Europe. It has also formed strategic
alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom,
Kaspersky Labs, NC SOFT, Sega, Square Enix and Tecmo-Koei, etc. in various European
countries. With Headquarters in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns
branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the
Nordic regions, Benelux 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 4A GAMES
4A Games is a
multicultural, multinational video game development studio with offices in both
Malta and Ukraine – known for its atmospheric first-person shooters Metro 2033,
Metro: Last Light, and Metro Redux.
Established in Kiev,
Ukraine in 2005, the studio was founded by a passionate team of game industry
veterans with the goal of creating AAA-quality games for current gaming PCs and
then “next-gen” game consoles. In 2014, the studio moved its headquarters –
along with more than 50 team members and their families — from Ukraine to the
island of Malta.
Currently at the heart
of the company are over 100 talented designers, programmers, artists, effects
specialists, and writers from all over the world with a diverse and unique set
of backgrounds – bringing countless years of experience in software development
and computer games in particular. To learn more, please visit www.4A-Games.com
ABOUT DMITRY
GLUKHOVSKY
Dmitry Glukhovsky is
the author of the internationally best-selling series of Metro novels and
creator of the expanded Metro universe which includes the video games by 4A
Games.
Born in Moscow,
Glukhovsky has also lived in Israel, Germany and France and is fluent in
English, German, Spanish, French, Hebrew and Russian. He released his debut
novel Metro 2033 online as a free-to-read in 2002, and since then the series
has grown to become a multi-author franchise in which professional authors and
fans alike from across the world have been writing their own stories set in the
post-apocalyptic world of Metro. Metro Exodus continues the storyline as told in
the games Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light, and interweaves with the wider
Metro saga contained in Dmitry’s novels, Metro 2033, Metro 2034 and Metro 2035.
The storyline of Metro Exodus was co-developed in close collaboration with
Dmitry to bring Metro fans the next chapter in Artyom’s adventures.
Tripwire
Interactive renews retail partnership with Koch Media for global distribution
Sydney, Australia, February 11, 2020
– Publisher and
developer Tripwire Interactive is delighted to announce the renewed
cooperation with Koch Media / Deep Silver, Inc. for their upcoming
shARkPG Maneater, as well as Chivalry 2 – announced
for PC back at E3 2019 as a 2020 release. More information will follow later.
Koch Media / Deep Silver will handle all retail related publishing activities
for the 2020 lineup across worldwide markets.
“We are happy to renew the
partnership with Tripwire Interactive for the upcoming release of Maneateras well as other additional projects”, says Koch Media CEO
Dr. Klemens Kundratitz. “Our teams which already successfully launched Killing
Floor 2 worldwide are striving to support the team at Tripwire Interactive
with all of our distribution and marketing experience for their upcoming
lineup.”
John Gibson, CEO of Tripwire
Interactive adds: “We are excited to be expanding our relationship
with Deep Silver to bring the innovative title Maneater and additional
titles to retail this year. Deep Silver’s depth of experience and broad reach
at bringing great games to stores make them a great partner for our upcoming
games.”
Maneater sends players on a journey of
discovery through unknown seas. The innovative title was already in the
spotlight of various game events in 2019. The Day One version of Maneater
which features the special evolution bonus,can already
be preordered in selected stores.
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. 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.
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. 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, Warhorse Studios based in Prague, Czech Republic and Milestone s.r.l.
in Milan, Italy. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com
About
Koch Media
Koch
Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products
(games, films and software). 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
Headquarter in Höfen, Austria Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England,
France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux,
Australia, Czech Republic, Poland and the United States.
ICONIC
GUNPLA FIGHTER “ZAKU AMAZING” AND TWO NEW MECHA COMING TO MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM
EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON
Emerging
from the world of Gunpla models and onto videogame screens, the legendary ZAKU
AMAZING fighter from Gundam Build Fighters will be launching into the
battlefields of MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON, coming
to the Americas on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system this year.
To heighten the stakes of competitive mecha combat, the game will feature
online battle modes as well as a two-player Split Screen mode and a LAN (local
area network) Connection Battle mode, allowing for multiple means of battling
friends and foes online and offline.
Originally
crafted by the “Crimson Comet” himself, Seiho Academy student council president
Tatsuya Yuuki, ZAKU AMAZING comes with powerful armaments including rocket
launchers, a pair of handguns, shoulder shields, two Heat Nata blades and a
long rifle—oh, AND a giant bazooka! Skilled Mobile Suit Gundam pilots
can utilize ZAKU AMAZING in battle or foolishly face off against the mecha in
2-on-2 PVP combat. The fighter is a new addition to the fighting game, which
was originally released exclusively for Japanese arcades in as MOBILE SUIT
GUNDAM: EXTREME VS. In addition, two new Mobile Suit Gundam mecha will be
joining the fight in MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON,
which will include a total of 183 playable units from 36 different GUNDAM iterations,
these two new entries will be revealed at a later date.
To celebrate this news, producers Akihito Chiba and Jin Okubo are sharing a new video offering details on their work bringing MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON to the Americas.
Please
note: The trailer video was originally slated to run as part of Taipei Game
Show 2020, prior to its postponement.
Set
in the globally iconic GUNDAM universe, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME
VS. MAXIBOOST ON allows players to take 2-on-2 PVP combat to the next
level with Mobile Suits spanning the entire breadth of the franchise’s history.
In total, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM EXTREME VS. MAXIBOOST ON features
183 playable units from 36 different GUNDAM iterations, each with unique
abilities designed to match any fan’s personal playstyle. Players can choose
between three different EX Burst Systems—Fighting Burst, Extend Burst and
Shooting Burst—to coordinate with allies and lay waste to all that stand—or
fly—in their way!
Bringing books to other forms of entertainment is a concept that will never grow old. Remember when that kid in Last Action Hero had a dream about Schwarzenegger playing Hamlet and mowing down everyone with submachine guns? Ok, they might have taken a whole lot of creative freedom with that, but it was a kick-ass scene. Or a unique reimagining of Peter Pan’s story in Steven Spielberg’s Hook? We also had some great video games taken from the past of most acclaimed books (and some bad and mediocre ones, but oh well). But what happens if the idea of famous books and their characters is taken literally and send you on a literal adventure?
Story
Well, that’s what Bookbound Brigade is trying to achieve. What if the protagonists of all books lost their memory? And not only that, but their worlds are now scrambled, all over the place and they are left with no way of knowing how to return home. Or so it seems. It becomes pretty evident that some evildoer is behind all this, so it’s up to you to untangle this mystery, fix the story for all the book heroes and perhaps get back home in one piece. There’s also more story to be found in little sidequests you do for the various book characters you save throughout the world, which only expands on the story in Bookbound Brigade.
Gameplay
Now, with a choice of colorful book characters such as King Arthur, Dracula, Robin Hood, Queen Victoria, Nikola Tesla and so on, one question remains – what would be the best characters to play as? Oh, it’s easy. All of them! You control the meaty construction of a couple of characters stacked on top of each other and that’s pretty much how you roll. While it sounds like something I just made up on the spot, I do have a couple of screenshots in the review to back me up on this. At the core of it, Bookbound Brigade is a simple Metroidvania game with lots of hidden areas to discover, collectibles to find, characters to upgrade and bosses to slay. What makes it unique are these sprinkles on top with meticulously crafted details in terms of level design, background design, and atmosphere that makes Bookbound Brigade stand out in the sea of other Metroidvanias. Evidence #1: level design. As you roll through the gigantic level(s), you might find a specific switch o a door that needs to be unlocked in order to proceed further. However, straying away from a direct path might reward you with a shortcut or a hidden upgrade chest for your characters. Speaking of characters, since you play as all of them, there is a shared HP bar for all but you’re rarely in danger of having it destroyed. That’s because even after some hours of play, I found the game surprisingly easy. Most enemies (with bosses being an exception) have one attack and your only task is to mash the attack button furiously and call it a day. Wooden crates (that you can stumble on every few seconds) are full of hearts and book pages anyway, so you can replenish that little health you might have lost in an instant.
Visuals
In our way to solving the mystery of book thieving, we will venture through the five thematic worlds, each with their unique level design. The library world acts as a hub, while the ancient, medieval, sea and victorian world is where you’ll spend most of your time. One notable mention goes to the impressive design for boss arenas and bosses. They’re often humongous, meticulously detailed and it often feels like a game in itself trying to figure out their attack pattern and weak spots. And this is something that I don’t usually notice but in the case of Bookbound Brigade, I absolutely must. The pause menu and the map menu are thematically designed so it feels like you’re listing the pages of a book. There are some tutorial guides, character bios and various lore about the world stuck in there. Cute.
Audio
One thing that took me by surprise in the game is audio design. Upon starting Bookbound Brigade, I was greeted with a fully voiced narration from some posh British dude that sounded like he was having too much fun playing that role. Not gonna lie, the first thing that reminded me of was that other narrator from Battleblock Theather. Unfortunately, he doesn’t appear to talk often, but it’s always a blast when he’s around. As for anything else in this section, it is as decent as it gets. The only time music gets more engaging is during boss fights and for the rest of the time, you won’t even notice it’s there.
Overall
As with any Metroidvania game, Bookbound Brigade comes with some dark and bright spots as well. Expect a lot of backtracking and dead ends. I feel like the more enemy variety would help the game immensely but luckily other areas of the game such as level design and visuals certainly elevate it above the rest. Bookbound Brigade is a game that you can’t play in short bursts. It sucks you in from start to finish and all the other games cease to exist until you’re finished with it. Just like a good book.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
