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2K Announces $500,000 Donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®

Sydney Australia – November 27, 2019 – 2K has today announced that the Company will donate $500,000 (USD) to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) as the culmination of a partnership and fan activation surrounding the launch of WWE® 2K20 earlier this fall. The donation will support breakthrough blood cancer research to advance lifesaving treatments and critical support for patients and their families.

2K announced a partnership with LLS in September, aligning with the Company’s selection of WWE 2K20 cover Superstar and leukemia survivor Roman Reigns™. The combined efforts of 2K, WWE and Reigns will support LLS’s mission, including its new Children’s Initiative, a comprehensive effort to take on pediatric cancer through more research grants and expanded free education and support services. 2Kissued a call to action via the WWE Games Twitter account, urging consumers to retweet and spread the LLS message, as well as the donation link, with 2K committing to make a donation for every retweet – up to a maximum donation commitment of $500,000 (USD). 2K is happy to now confirm that the maximum amount of $500,000 (USD) will be donated. 

“We are proud of the support our fans have shown to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” said Chris Snyder, Vice President of Marketing for 2K. “With their retweets and personal contributions, our partnership with this great patient advocacy organization enables us to give back in a meaningful way and help save lives.”

In addition to its financial commitment, 2K will provide copies of Company-published video games to blood cancer patients, as well as coordinate visits with 2K personnel and WWE Superstars to LLS hospital partners. 2K previously hosted LLS leaders, patients and their families at a WWE 2K20 promotional event in Las Vegas in October, giving them an opportunity to play WWE 2K20 prior to its release. The attendees also met several WWE Superstars, including WWE 2K20 cover Superstars Roman Reigns and Becky Lynch ®. “I was honored to be among the first to preview this exciting new WWE 2K offering, and to personally thank 2K’s executives for their support for LLS,” stated Louis J. DeGennaro, PhD, LLS President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful to our partners at WWE and Roman Reigns for introducing us to 2K and their legions of fans, as we aim to create widespread awareness for our mission, and our significant investment in cutting-edge research to advance new treatments and cures for cancer patients, including children with cancer and their parents.”

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K studio, WWE 2K20 is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. WWE 2K20 is now available worldwide for the PS4™ system, Xbox One and Windows PC. For more information on WWE 2K20 and 2K, visit wwe.2k.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WWE2K20 or subscribe on YouTube.

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

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

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG, family-friendly programming can be seen in more than 800 million homes worldwide in 28 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to: entering, maintaining and renewing major distribution and event agreements; WWE Network (including the risk that we are unable to attract, retain and renew subscribers); our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; the possibility of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and greater financial resources or marketplace presence of many of our competitors; uncertainties associated with international markets including possible disruptions and reputational risks; our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events including,

without limitation, claims alleging traumatic brain injury; large public events as well as travel to and from such events; our feature film business; our expansion into new or complementary businesses and/or strategic investments; our computer systems and online operations; privacy norms and regulations; a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; our accounts receivable; our indebtedness including our convertible notes; litigation; our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance, which could adversely affect our stock; Vincent K. McMahon exercises control over our affairs, and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by the McMahons and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of those shares could lower our stock price; and the volatility of our Class A common stock. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements.  For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. 

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products through our labels Rockstar Games, 2K, and Private Division, as well as Social Point, a leading developer of mobile games.  Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO.  For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games and 2K Silicon Valley. 2K’s portfolio currently includes the renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia and XCOM® franchises; NBA® 2K, the global phenomenon and highest rated* annual sports title for the current console generation; the critically acclaimed Sid Meier’s Civilization® series; the popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as emerging properties NBA® 2K Playgrounds 2, Carnival Games and more. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2k.com.

*According to 2008 – 2019 Metacritic.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, and risks associated with international operations. Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at http://www.take2games.com/. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH STAR WARS JEDI: FALLEN ORDERTM

In the First Two Weeks, EA Achieves Fastest-Selling Digital Launch for a Star Wars Game Ever, Becomes EA’s Top-Selling Star Wars Title on PC in its Initial Launch Window.

Australia – November 27, 2019 – Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm announced that the critically acclaimed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ is the fastest-selling digital launch for a Star Wars game in its first two weeks. The game is also now EA’s top-selling Star Wars title on PC in its initial launch window.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a critical success as well as being the highest rated Star Wars game of this console generation. Business Insider exclaims that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is “the best Star Wars game ever made,” while GameSpot calls it “one of the most compelling game additions to the Star Wars franchise in years.” GQ notes that the game “lives up to the hype,” while IGN says it is, “an all-around amazing game” in their 9.0 out of 10 review.

“On behalf of Respawn and EA, we thank everyone for their support of the studio and the team throughout the development and launch of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Telling a story in the Star Wars galaxy is a dream come true and the reception from the fans has been incredible,” said Vince Zampella, Head of Respawn. “With the launch of the game, the debut of The Mandalorian and the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan!”

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order demonstrates the amazing potential for original storytelling in Star Wars games,” said Sean Shoptaw, SVP, Games and Interactive Experiences, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “The close collaboration between Respawn and Lucasfilm is a perfect example of how we can deliver an experience for fans that is authentic to the stories and worlds they love, while also being an incredibly fun and innovative game. With the fantastic reception and launch so far, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has proven to be the must-play game this Holiday.”

In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, players take on the role of Cal Kestis, a former Padawan hiding in plain sight after the Jedi were all but wiped out after Order 66 was executed by The Emperor. When he’s forced on the run, Cal is quickly met by his companions Cere Junda, a former Jedi Knight played by Debra Wilson and Greez, the larger-than-life Latero pilot voiced by Daniel Roebuck, who flies the crew’s ship known as the Stinger Mantis. BD-1, Cal’s faithful droid that’s as charming as he is useful, will help players navigate and explore diverse planets including the Wookiee homeworld, Kashyyyk, and the never-before-seen planet Zeffo. Cal and his companions are trying to stay one step ahead of the Empire and his new enemy, the Inquisition’s Second Sister, while they unravel a mystery tied to an ancient alien civilisation that could help rebuild the Jedi Order.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is now available both digitally and in stores on the Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and PC via Origin™, Steam and the Epic Games Store. Origin Access Premier subscribers will get full access to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition on PC for as long as they are subscribed. For more information on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, please visit: https://www.ea.com/games/starwars/jedi-fallen-order.


About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.

In fiscal year 2019, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.95 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognised for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Origin, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, 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. All rights reserved.

Winter Fury: Longest Road Storms Over Early Access, Launches Fully December 18

Winter Fury: Longest Road Storms Over Early Access, Launches Fully December 18

DALLAS — 27 Nov. 2019 — Winter Fury: Longest Road, the VR tank action and first-person shooter from former Activision and THQ developers at SpiderMonk Entertainment and publisher 10th Reality, advances onto the battlefront with a full launch December 18, playable on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality.

Saddle up in a World War II-era experimental M-4 Sherman tank and take the fight to the Axis. The brand-new first-person Tank Commander mode allows players to experience tank combat from the inside of the M-4 cockpit. Fend off both enemy armor and infantry while peeking out of the hatch to monitor threats coming from all sides. Clash with the Third Reich with devastating cannon shells and .50 caliber machinegun fire. 

For a more personal touch, exit the tank entirely for ground battles. Get hands-on with historical armaments including Tommy guns, BARs, American Bazookas, and ever-reliable grenades. Line up precise pot-shots with the sniper rifle for long-distance engagements. Whittle the opposition down one-by-one as they desperately try to hold back the Allies’ advance to each new flagged checkpoint.

Sow freedom throughout the countryside in The Longest Road mode. Assume the gunner position and take aim at enemies coming from all directions as the tank automatically moves from checkpoint to checkpoint. Available at launch, a new periscope option allows players to step back into the tank to shell out destruction while the tank escorts players between objectives.

Formidable foes with rehauled AI are capable of flanking and taking cover across the countryside and through war-torn cityscapes. Witness the wake of devastation left by the M-4’s arsenal with satisfyingly destructible environments. Encounter colossal bosses including Tiger Tanks, attack planes and even coastal destroyer ships and triumph over each mounting threat the German forces deploy.

Winter Fury: Longest Road’s Tank Commander Mode changes the game entirely,” said Scott March, founder of SpiderMonk Entertainment. “Immersing yourself in the boots of tank operators and seeing through their eyes is both humbling and intense.”

Winter Fury: Longest Road is available now in English on Steam Early Access for $19.99 and launches on VR headsets December 18.

About SpiderMonk Entertainment

Home to industry veterans from Activision, 3D Realms, THQ and multiple game awards, SpiderMonk Entertainment was founded to create games where every team member has creative input and is free from the crunch that the industry is used to. They aim to deliver games with creativity where players have fun.

For more information, please visit their website and follow them on Twitter.

Pokemon Sword Review

Pokemon Sword

Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $79.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

For over twenty years the Pokemon franchise has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with Game Freak holding the reins through every main title release on Nintendo’s most popular handhelds. Through the years we’ve seen various spin-offs in different forms, a few of which have landed on Nintendo consoles, but through the years Pokemon has been a handheld franchise with an ever growing roster to capture and train. Now with Pokemon Sword and its counterpart Pokemon Shield being the first brand new games in the series to arrive on an actual console, as portable as it might be, how has the company handled the transition to the Nintendo Switch?

Story

Players take on the role of a trainer that they create right out of the gate and find themselves beginning their journey in the Galar region. Here the gym challenges are treated like a festival event with every Gym Leader being a popular celebrity that battles against challengers in a massive stadium in front of a packed audience. With matches broadcast across the region the current “Unbeatable Champion” Leon has grown incredibly popular and garnered a massive amount of sponsors that he wears on his cape. Even with his popularity Leon isn’t one to forget where he came from and it is here that the player’s journey begins as Leon’s younger brother, Hop, happens to be your close friend and neighbor. With Leon returning home, the champion chooses to sponsor both the player and Hop and allow them to take on the Gym Challenge and even gives the player their first pokemon, choosing between the fire type Scorbunny, grass type Grookey, and water type Sobble.

After obtaining their starter and returning home to say goodbye to their mother, a local Wooloo smashes down a gate leading towards a mysterious area where dangerous pokemon are said to roam. Despite the warning, the player and Hop venture into danger and after encountering a mysterious untouchable pokemon in the wild, the pair pass out and are rescued by Leon. Despite this odd encounter the Gym Challenge begins as players travel through the Galar region where they encounter a variety of other gym challengers besides Hop and learn of a myth that happened in the past called The Darkest Day where pokemon suddenly turned giant and rampaged around the land only for a hero wielding a sword and shield to put a stop to it all but there may be some truth to this legend.

Pokemon Sword doesn’t really try to break new ground when it comes to telling its story here though it does make a few scratches that are unfortunately only left at surface level. The core story focuses entirely around the player taking on eight different gyms and obtaining their badges before progressing to face off against the champion but these scratches come in the form of character development and some world building that never really develops deeper than simply being mentioned outside of the aforementioned “Darkest Day.” Numerous Galarian pokemon variants have references to the environmental destruction happening in the world but outside of a few Pokedex entries it takes quite some time for this topic to even be mentioned and even then is left unresolved in any form.

With no real “rival” group to face off against players only deal with other gym challengers, one of which happens to have some obnoxious fans that follow her that even she scolds when getting in the way but we see many of these gym challengers, especially Hop, grow a bit over the course of the story as they deal with a few of their problems but rarely do these sections actually shine as they generally end on a weak note. One thing that is nice to see is that the gym leaders in the game also do appear in various parts of the core story as well, sometimes taking direct action, allowing them to appear more as actual characters rather than one and done boss battles.

Gameplay

In many ways Pokemon Sword plays similar to any standard Pokemone experience as players are initially set on a route path where various other trainers can be battled and wild pokemon hide in the tall grass, though this time around pokemon do appear in the overworld on their own and can even chase after the player in standard routes. In a rather unique fashion, some pokemon in various routes only appear through random encounters in the grass compared to the overworld appearances so those looking to catch certain types will need to explore a bit further. Speaking of exploration, Pokemon Sword only follows the standard pathing formula for a bit before players are introduced to one of this entries’ biggest new features, the Wild Area.

Before players even reach the first major town they are treated to the Wild Area and given nearly full reign over what they want to see. Players will find wild pokemon roaming around grass, popping up in the middle of a pathway, swimming around the various ponds and waterways, and even a few occasionally appearing in the sky. The Wild Area feels like what fans have wanted for quite some time and while it does manage to deliver in many regards, it also falls short in quite a few others. 

When connected online in the Wild Area players will see other trainers traveling around the area, popping in and out of the game while riding bikes on land and water, inside camp tents where they can be visited by the player, and waiting for raids but being online with others also leads to a severe performance drop. While traveling alone the game runs fairly well in the Wild Area with only a few random hiccups happening here and there, or a Pokemon spawning on top of the player, but online the game will suffer from extreme slowdown at one point turning the game into a slideshow for a few moments before catching up. 

That being said, Pokemon Sword opens up an entire area to the player nearly right out of the gate and gives them a chance to potentially build a team with more variation than ever before in the early game. Yes, Game Freak has removed over half of the Pokedex from the game but this doesn’t really become much of an issue, at least at first, since so many pokemon types, both brand new and old, are introduced so quickly. Even the aforementioned Galarian forms of returning pokemon have a breath of fresh air to them compared to some of the more standard Alolan forms we have seen in the past, especially since more than Gen 1 has been given time to shine in that regard. In fact there are even a variety of new ways that some Pokemon need to be evolved this time around that players wouldn’t expect so the excitement of venturing into a new route or area in the Wild Area is still quite prominent even with there being less to actually find this time around thanks to how varied the type introductions are and how many pokemon are initially available for capture.

For the most part, battling in Pokemon Sword remains the same as ever before, though there is the nice addition of having moves labeled whether they are effective or not if the player is fighting a known pokemon. The biggest change comes in the form of the new mechanic that combines a few others that have come before, Dynamaxing. In Galar pokemon are able to Dynamax to a massive size but can only do so in gym battles, in Max Raid battles, and fights against other players either online or locally. Dynamax, or Gigantamax for a select few pokemon, lasts for three turns and comes with a massive stat boost and transforms every move the pokemon knows into a powerful move of that elemental type. Unfortunately if a fire type pokemon only knows fire moves, this does mean that every attack will do the exact same thing, though the aforementioned Gigantamax pokemon do gain access to special G-Max moves which is a nice touch.

Another nice touch is this game’s take on bonding with your Pokemon. While previously players could interact with one at a time and feed various treats, Pokemon Sword has a camping system where their entire party is allowed to roam free while the player’s camera is in first person. Here they can play various types of fetch, dangle a feather toy, and simply talk with their party members as well as make curry. As for why curry was chosen as a dish in a game that is so heavily steeped in the United Kingdom is beyond me but players can cook various types of curry using different ingredients and completing a couple of short mini-games and depending on how well they’ve done, the better the curry will be in not only increasing your pokemon’s bonds but also healing them at the same time.

Of course there are a number of downsides in regards to the choices that Game Freak has made this time around. While previously only traded pokemon would not listen to the player if they didn’t have enough badges, the actual pokemon players can even catch this time around is also hard locked to how many badges they have. While there is some sense in this, as they wouldn’t want players catching a level 50 Snorlax by luck before fighting the first gym, it is frustrating that even if the player’s own pokemon are strong enough to beat a higher level opponent, they are impossible to actually catch. Along those same lines, there is an unfortunate side effect to the Wild Area being so open and the Pokedex being limited and that is there is basically no real exploration outside of the extremely linear story pathway.

While it is fun to travel around the Wild Area, there are no optional dungeons or caves to explore, puzzles to solve, or even random encounters and once the player beats the game, there is almost no end game worth talking about outside of the Battle Tower where players can test their mettle against an ever stronger group of trainers. There are “Max Raids” that players can take part in in the Wild Area that they’ve already had access to before but these come with their own problems that can be attributed to the poor online service. This means that Pokemon Sword, alongside Pokemon Shield, have probably the weakest amount of actual content found in a mainline entry in many years.

The online service itself has more than its fair share of issues as well and they are at their worst during the aforementioned Max Raids. Now a Max Raid is triggered by approaching one of many glowing rock formations scattered throughout the Wild Area and players will form a team of four to take down a massive Dynamaxed pokemon with there being a time and faint limit on the player’s party. Unfortunately thanks to the game’s atrocious online mechanics players will almost always need to rely on randomly selected NPCs (who can occasionally bring Magikarp) to fill out the roster. Only one time throughout my lengthy time in Pokemon Sword did I ever manage to have other people join a raid despite trying countless times and waiting the full three minutes and don’t even bother trying to join someone else’s Max Raid as an error message will always appear.

The “Y-comm” that is used for the game’s online system is quite annoying more than helpful as any time the player is connected to the internet they will see various notification badges appearing in the corner. These represent other players performing various actions such as performing “Surprise Trades” that trade a pokemon from your party and randomly trade it with another stranger, a standard Link Trade, or even whether they’ve camped, cooked curry, or caught a Pokemon. They also feature the aforementioned Max Raid notifications but just like before, trying to join one through one of these pop ups is a fruitless endeavor and even if you try to filter results, it doesn’t work anyways. This leaves players with an online connection that often feels like it takes away from the game, both in performance and immersion, than anything else.

Visuals & Audio

Many have wondered just how Game Freak would manage on a stronger platform and now that Pokemon Sword has been released, the results are something of a mixed bag. The design of the world itself during all of the linear paths and routes is gorgeous, with towns being a real highlight here, and some of the brand new pokemon designs are really great to see, with some nice variety mixed into the bunch and there is no slowdown in actual fights anymore, even when players are fighting in the middle of a gym with two Dynamaxed pokemon.

On the other hand, traveling through the Wild Area and witnessing many Pokemon actually fighting can be a rough looking affair. Despite there being different biomes and weather types in the Wild Area much of the environmental designs in these areas are incredibly rough and simplistic at best. Pokemon animations are also a bit on the rougher side when it comes to some of the moves they unleash. Most moves look fine and a few even have some special animations but more than a handful of very common attacks have the most barebones animations possible that look almost worse than their original 3DS appearance.

Thankfully the game does feature an amazing sounding soundtrack with plenty of familiar tunes that have been remixed and upgraded for release on a home console. Pokemon cries are familiar and clear sounding though that is the only semblance of talking in the game as there is still no voice work of any kind.

Overall

Many wondered just how Game Freak would handle a full blown console release and Pokemon Sword shows that they need a little more experience when it comes to a console RPG. The same experience and joy of training up a fresh team of pokemon including plenty of brand new faces and interesting variations of familiar forms and taking on gym battles that have some unique challenges to them is still there and at times feels better than ever, even if it is the easiest it has ever been. Unfortunately some of the worst online implementation the series has seen so far, an anemic amount of content outside of the storyline, and plenty of graphical issues drag down the experience as a whole. Leaving us with a game that still hits many of the favorite notes that Pokemon fans have loved throughout the years but also a fair share of problems that hamper it from being the great console debut that they had hoped for.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Major Game Ban Wave Hits Steam

/u/thomasthe1st of reddit has spotted a massive ban wave hitting the Steam store today. Based on the collective sleuthing powers of reddit, it appears the bans are targeting specific developers such as Siberian Digital. Many of the affected publishers are based in Russia. While several legitimate PC titles have been affected, most of the games these publishers have released are asset flips and card farming titles.

Valve has not issues a statement regarding the bans at this time. With hope, some sort of appeals process for the legitimate developers will be made available.

The Steam store pages for the affected games have been removed. Those who own the affected games will not lose access to their games, but they will no longer be able to sell cards or any other digital item related to the banned games on the Steam Marketplace.

Steam Autumn Sale 2019 Kicks off

The previously leaked 2019 Steam sale dates continue to be accurate with today’s kickoff of the Steam Autumn Sale and the 2019 Steam Award nominations. This year, the Steam Autumn Sale is running from November 26th to December 3rd at 10 AM PST.

While the Steam Autumn Sale has traditionally been a smaller affair from the mammoth summer and winter sales, a ton of great PC games are still marked down up to 90% off.

This year’s Steam Award categories are more serious in tone. Steam users can nominate games from the nominations page or the individual game’s store page. This year’s categories are as follows:

The Game of the Year Award – Maybe it was its immersive gameplay, or its gripping story… its well-crafted characters, immaculate design, or addictive multiplayer. Whatever the reason, the winner of 2019’s Game of the Year Award is an instant classic.

The VR Game of the Year Award – When it comes to breaking new ground in games, there is no greater pace of advancement than in VR. If we had our way, all VR devs would get an award for building the future of immersive games and experiences unparalleled by any other medium. But since there’s only one trophy, it’s up to you, Steam Awards Selection Committee member, to crown just one as the best of 2019.

The Labor of Love Award – This game has been out for a while. The team is well past the first unveiling of their creative baby, but being the good parents they are, these devs continue to nurture and support their creation. This game, to this day, is still getting new content after all these years

The Better With Friends Award – There are some games out there that just aren’t the same when you play by yourself. Maybe you need to have a friend to watch your back. Maybe you need to have a friend that you can stab in their back. Either way, mirth is awaiting those who gather friends to play these games.

The Most Innovative Gameplay Award – This game is at the front lines of experimentation, pushing the boundaries of the medium with exciting, novel interactions and brain-breaking surprises. This game thinks outside the box, and pulls you out with it!

The Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award – Some days, only a narrative-heavy game will hit the spot, and this one packs a wallop. It’s as gripping as any soap opera, and as well-tuned as a prestige-TV screenplay. Bravissimo — for making us feel things!

The Best Game You Suck At Award – Games have a way of pushing us past any limits we thought we had. Like a montage sequence, we put in work, training our fingers to be quick and nimble, mastering timing and placement over weeks and weeks. At the end of the gauntlet, we’re rewarded with profound beauty and a deep sense of personal growth. Unless you hurled your monitor through a plate-glass window on the first day.

The Outstanding Visual Style Award – These devs are the Willy Wonka of eye candy. Visual style doesn’t aspire to real-world graphical fidelity (though a noble goal in itself)… it describes a distinctive look and feel that suffuses an entire game. This game displays visual cohesion and expression that not only fit the game’s world, but make our world look paltry by comparison.

Breakthrough Mode added to World War 3

The Farm 51 released a brand new mode for their combined arms FPS World War 3 today. Breakthrough is a 10 vs 10 mode that challenges attackers to destroy four radio stations in an area to push back the front line to the next area of the map. To win, attackers must destroy all radio stations on the map. The defenders must prevent attackers from destroying all the radios until the timer runs out.

The highly requested Breakthrough mode is only part of the new 0.8 update. Napalm strikes have been added to the game. The infantry HUD has been revamped. The kill feed now offers more detailed information and the icon resolution has been bumped up.

World War 3 is also participating in the Autumn Steam Sale, knocking off 33% from the game’s normal price. The game costs $18.76 USD/$26.80 AUD on Steam until 3 December.

Pop Capsule: Reboots and Remakes Worth Watching

Reboots and remakes have gone from a quiet trend to the crutch that Hollywood cannot seem to stop using. Sure, we get some originality, but for the most part – our nostalgia and willingness to buy into a familiar story keep these recreations flowing.  Keep in mind that a reboot is very different from a remake, as a reboot is structured to take a property and move it into different direction creatively, while a remake keeps the same original concepts, simply updating minor details without introducing drastic change.

For every blockbuster like 2018’s A Star is Born, there are ten bombs like that terrible Footloose remake that came out in 2011. For every modern Hawaii 5-0, there are graveyards filled with the remains of duds like The Fugitive (2000) and Knight Rider (2008). Reboots and remakes of any kind being good are a rarity, but when a gem is found – it just might introduce a new generation their new favorite piece of entertainment.

For this Pop Capsule, we are going to go over some of the finest reboots and remakes in existence. Sure, I could do two articles and separate these categories, but my own brain lumps them together – so why not have both “R” words celebrated in one piece. Before we begin, I will state a few things. First, no Disney live action remakes are allowed here. I do not care how much they made or how good this or that actor played your favorite Disney character. Those remakes are starting to get a bit stale and considering how most are forgotten within two years of releasing – I don’t think they have a lot of longevity after the original buzz wears off. Second, there is a good chance that you will disagree with my own picks, and that is fine. This is my little selection based off what I enjoy, and if you do not like them, you can opt to watch one of the thousands of unfunny reboots starring The Rock instead.

So, let’s begin with a boy and his dog.

When Nickelodeon launched “Nicktoons” with Doug back in 1991, it was surprising to see the quirky little show turn out to be a hit for the network. Doug was about a kid who had a plain life with plain problems, yet still sensationalized every issue in order to cope with normalcy. Got a pimple? Well, let’s imagine it growing a mouth so it can gross out your number one crush. Bought a stolen comic? Well, you might have just ended the world as we know it. Nickelodeon’s version of Doug worked because it was basically an introduction of normal issues to kids that they would face and featured some fun and interesting characters to contrast Doug’s averageness. When the show ended after a modest three-year run, most were content as Doug’s trek seemed to be complete. Remember, this was before Nick dabbled in movies, and while Doug certainly had fans, it was not on the same level as Rugrats in terms of value.

Doug was gone, but not forgotten.

Two years later, Disney came out of nowhere and acquired the property, using it to anchor a new Saturday morning cartoon block called “One Saturday Morning” on ABC. Disney didn’t just bring the show over, they completely took it into a different creative direction, making large changes to just about everything. Doug was now 12 and in middle school, dealing with a whole new topic which would be the theme of nearly this entire adaptation – change. Doug’s school was now shaped like Beebe Bluff’s head. Patti home-schooled for half the day and didn’t get to be around as much during school. Connie lost weight. Roger struck it rich. Skeeter changed clothes. Yep, it was hard to be Doug Funnie in this new world. Billy West, who famously voiced Doug during the Nickelodeon run also left the show, leaving Doug sounding slightly different with a new actor portraying the role.

Instead of two segments per episode, each episode of Disney’s Doug featured just one full segment dedicated to the same story, which helped a lot when it came to the development of the characters within. Doug also toned it down a lot when it came to his imagination, as it became a rarity for Doug to dream up crazy sequences like he did so commonly in Nick’s version. Disney’s Doug gets a lot of criticism because people either didn’t see much of this show or simply were not able to get over the changes that it brought. I personally think Disney’s Doug had stronger writing, and made these characters feel more interesting and real. This version wasn’t afraid to push boundaries in order to tell a good story, and if you ever wanted to know more about a kid who may have been a random background character in the past, there is a good chance that he or she got her own dedicated story before the end of this run.

We got to see Patti deal with the actual grief of her mom’s death when her dad starts dating again. We also see Roger become a closer ally to Doug, instead of just a bully or pest that he was in the original. Doug eventually gets a new sister, and the show gets a grand finale that wraps up nearly every storyline covered in the past. Sure, there was Doug’s First Movie, and I will touch on it for a moment as it was a canon piece of this show, but I must separate that from Disney’s Doug as it was a bit meh. The movie featured a talking monster (the infamous monster from Lucky Duck lake) that didn’t fit with anything and came off as lame. Patti was an absolute bitch as well for nearly the entire duration and became super unlikable. The chemistry simply wasn’t there for this movie. It isn’t awful mind you, but it wasn’t really good either. The show on the other hand was good.

I hate that the legacy of Doug comes down to just what Nick produced as Disney’s Doug in my opinion is the better adaptation. It was smarter, edgier, and more fleshed out overall. Now that people can watch it (as there has never been a DVD release) on Disney Plus, maybe I can finally get a bit of validation that it wasn’t a bad show from the masses. Doug’s reboot of sorts did what few do, which is not harm the original and evolve the brand in a whole new way. History may not remember what the mouse did to the kid on Jumbo street, but I will always be fond of this version for how it treated one of my favorite cartoons of all time.

Next up, its time for a road trip into Hell!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre may be one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. There is good reason for that, as for its time, it was able to introduce the concept of murder in a whole new way to cinemas. Chainsaw introduced Leatherface, a killer who was mentally incapable of a moral compass, who lived with a family that raised him that way. He was a killer because that was what he was taught. Add in the eerie atmosphere and one of the loudest murder weapons possible and you have the stuff of nightmares. The original movie has every right to be beloved, as it is so well shot that it stands the test of time. With most groundbreaking films in history, a remake or reboot is usually thought of as blasphemy. For the 2003 re-imagining of the same name, it isn’t that simple to just write off the idea of a reboot as for this one, timing was everything.

In 2003, we were coming to a point where the slasher boom was starting to settle. Movies like Scream were becoming borderline Scooby-Doo in terms of narrative (which wasn’t really a bad thing looking back), leaving hardcore fans of the genre looking for more meat to get a thrill. Box office receipts were also suffering. Hollywood was ready to shake things up yet again, enlisting director Marcus Nispel and a whole new generation of actors and actresses to revitalize not just the franchise, but the entire horror genre. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre brought in Jessica Biel, who was fresh off TV’s 7th Heaven, Eric Baldour, who played minor roles throughout the 90’s, and several other faces to bring the Hewitt family back to the forefront.

When it debuted, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, even as a “reboot”, was unlike anything that had came out in decades. Within minutes of the film’s opening, we see a delightful road trip montage featuring the cast of stoners and misfits simply enjoying youth. There isn’t a lot of backstory given for everyone, but the ensemble work, and the actors come across as likable – giving a nice nostalgic nod to the same atmosphere of the original. Within minutes, the gang pick up a distraught hitchhiker, who quickly blows her head off, starting an instant dive into horror that doesn’t really let up until the credits roll at the end. The quick and brutal change of pace can be found several times throughout the movie, as once the viewer feels comfortable, something quickly goes awry to create more tension and suspense. Leatherface is a lot more present than the Hewitt family as well, and he comes off as more of an unstoppable monster in this adaptation – rather than some special person who was just raised to be evil. Sure, the family is there and are effective, but Leatherface is centered here and that truly kept the focus where it needed to be.

Biel also was fantastic in this film, as her reactions, screams, and general essence in this movie give it legs. Even though there are small plot issues and questions that go unanswered, I personally think that this version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre outdoes the original in many ways and feels like its own film due to the updates, changes, and broader budget. I remember coming out of the theater speechless, going back the next week to get another dose. Horror movies stopped giving that thrill ride feeling years prior, and luckily – this paid off as the film grossed over 100 million dollars in the box office overall. It doesn’t stop there, as this reboot got a prequel (which was a step down, in most ways), and truly triggered a ton of horror reboots that would follow. It is crazy to think that this director was working on the video to “Spice up your Life” a few years prior and went on to create something so incredible with a tired property, but alas, we got an unforgettable film that set a bar of what should be done. It Is damn disappointing to see that the bar I am referencing really hasn’t been touched since in terms of cinematic reboots, but for what it is, Texas Chainsaw Massacre proved it was worth giving another shot under the right visionary.

Out of that darkness, it is time to speak about some sunshine!

Sitcoms dominated entertainment in the sixties and seventies, and by far, one of the most iconic is absolutely The Brady Bunch. The playful family show become a massive success, and despite its short run, never left syndication since airing. There is something about innocence that viewers are attracted to and seeing the over-the-top handling of such simple problems attracted my own eyes as I watched on Nick at Nite and other platforms as a kid. I loved The Brady Bunch as it wasn’t just a silly television show, it was a fascinating story behind the scenes, as in the 90’s, the original cast were at that age where they began heavily plugging biographies – detailing the chaos that went on during what was perceived as such a hammy little hit.

I was like eight when The Brady Bunch Movie came to theaters, and I will be honest, I hated it. I didn’t get it. I saw the cast, knew that they were not my Brady Bunch that I liked, so I widely ignored it for at least five or six years. There is some validation to that reaction though. Who likes to see a cast change? I was so confused at that time why The Brady Bunch would even get a theatrical adaptation, so I basically tuned it out and went on about my childhood, not giving the movie or its sequel much thought. Fast forward a few years and add in the first movie playing on television, and I gave it a chance. Within minutes, this film became one of my favorite satires of all time.

The Brady Bunch Movie takes everything about The Brady Bunch (the cast, the set, and even props) and spins them in a flick where this innocent family are living their lives in 1995. A rough, dirty, 1995 – where people are real, and the Brady family basically are oblivious as they’re the Bradys. The plot revolves around a dastardly real estate mogul trying to take Mike and Carol Brady’s home, leaving this family with the task of coming up with enough money to save it before they lose everything. The world is not friendly to this family, as the kids go to a pretty rough school and the other adults are crabby and weathered, constantly bitching about their upbeat and odd presence throughout the film. From their attire, to random trips to Sears in full song and dance, The Brady Bunch manage to remain extremely endearing as they bring their tropes, flower child clothing, and naïve natures into the next generation, which is filled with innuendo and contemporary themes.

Despite all the obstacles, we get treated to what turns into comedy gold – as every character brings an overload of their original self and puts it to use in a “fish out of water” setting. Mike (played by Gary Cole), despite being successful, is constantly at the forefront, giving terrible advice and speeches at inappropriate times to both his family and everyone he crosses, whether they want to hear it or not. Carol (Shelly Long) is all about her husband and kids, agreeing with everything Mike says (despite her obvious faces of disillusion) in order to keep her family together. The kids are even more entertaining, led by the most oblivious child, Greg – who is wrapped up in himself despite coming off as a dork, and Marcia, who is equally conceited, only focusing on her hair and her own image throughout. Jan deals with heavy jealousy of her sister in her own, Jan type of way, and Peter, well – Peter deals with basically going through change and trying to pick up a girl who is his polar opposite, even though she is dating the school Bully. Cindy and Bobby balance out the ensemble nicely with their own quirks, and Alice, also stuck in this generation freeze keeps the squad fed and house kept as she simply follows along.

There are so many hysterical moments in this film that portray society and how it is handled by such a naïve bunch, but that isn’t what makes the film. The Brady Bunch Movie is wonderful as it celebrates what it is satirizing, playing homage instead of making fun of its topic, so everyone can be in on the joke. When the film released, it reintroduced the world to the original and every single time I watch it, or the equally awesome A Very Brady Sequel, I feel oddly compelled to go back and dive into the original, as there is something truly special about what this reboot was able to do when it released over twenty years ago – which was nearly thirty years after the original product aired. There were two straight to video/TV movies that followed this wave, but due to the kids changing due to age (as in cast change), the charm fades on those just a bit, even though they are not technically bad films.

There are so many television to movie adaptations that flop because they simply cannot capture what made viewers love the original product. Maybe the cast just act too far different, or maybe the script makes the original property seem stupid. If you are making a television remake or reboot in any way whatsoever and you make the viewer, who probably are tuning in due to their own history with that product feel shame for enjoying it to start with, you probably shouldn’t be working on it to start with. Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, and several other films suffer from this, as no one wants to see those original qualities they once enjoyed update for the sake of being modern. This reboot was able to find a way to do it right, and has become beloved by fans of the original, where it is included as part of the lineage of the franchise in DVD sets and retrospectives everywhere.

There are a lot of other reboots and remakes alike I enjoy, but honestly, this piece is more of a reflection on the best from my own experiences, as it is far too easy these days to name off all of the terrible junk we have seen hit theaters and other platforms and create a look at something negative, but much more rewarding to take a look at the positive, and why we still get fed these types of films over and over each year. You want to watch The Rock play your childhood hero to make one note jokes or see Seth Rogen turn a famous cartoon character into a stoner hog? Go ahead. There really is nothing wrong with that. In my opinion however, it is a lot more fun to see something that introduces new viewers to an older property where one cast member playing the role isn’t the focus of the film. Reboots and remakes will never go away, but maybe these films will have a little more life if creators would pursue their own person passion of why they loved the original, instead of simply trying to find a cheap way to fulfill an actor’s contract with a major studio for a quick buck at the box office in return.

Life Simulator Circadian City Dreams of Steam Early Access in Q1 2020

Life Simulator Circadian City Dreams of Steam Early Access in Q1 2020

Nintendo Switch Joins Crafting Circle in Q4 2020

ISTANBUL – 25 Nov. 2019 – Circadian City, the life simulation game where players control their character’s life 24/7 from building relationships in the day to surreal dreams at night, will awaken on Steam Early Access for Windows PC in Q1 2020. Publisher Way Down Deep and developer Nowhere Studios’ Nintendo Switch version will reach for the stars in Q4 2020, simultaneously alongside PC’s 1.0 release.  

Start life from scratch with a real job in Circadian City where fun, friends, and flirtations await. Customize your look with a myriad of possible outfits. Start each day by cooking breakfast before heading out into the open world to work, meet up with pals, shop for the newest book or movie releases, indulge in a creative pursuit such as art, or dip into a dating pool awash with both hetero and LGBTQ romantic options.

Don’t expect to make friends overnight, or for acquaintances to remain friendly if the bond is neglected, as relationships require care and attention. Cultivate shared interests, such as gardening, music or movies, by visiting related locations and hanging out to discuss the newest trends. Undertake quests to reap the rewards of becoming closer friends. Making memories with loved ones can offset built-up stress, but don’t forget the value of getting a good night’s rest.

Explore a procedurally generated dream world full of fantastic creatures and wild adventures reflecting the day’s activities. Build a farm and craft items with the power to shape the subconscious. Explore the wilderness and challenge creatures to mini-games and collect the crystals crucial to opening up new missions, solidifying one of 16 personality types, and uncovering a life goal to pursue.

Strike the perfect balance of love and friendship with exploration of the subconscious to live your best life. Dare to dream big, then achieve goals during the day among the colorful and retro stylings of Circadian City’s urban utopia.

Circadian City expands on the life sim genre by giving players control of the whole day including sleep, avoiding the gifts-equal-love trope in favor of maintaining more realistic relationships in an unusual setting filled with well fleshed-out NPCs, and more,” said Burak Tezateser, Founder & Designer, Nowhere Studios. “Time spent sleeping is just as important as that spent awake, and players will find many ways to entertain themselves in both modes, especially with all the features we plan to add in Early Access.”

Circadian City Steam Early Access starts in Q1 2020 for $14.99 USD, and will support English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), and Chinese (Simplified). It’s available for wishlist on Steam now

To learn more, visit the Circadian City website, follow @CircadianCity on Twitter and its official Facebook page.

About Way Down Deep

This boutique Texas publisher aims to bring to life non-violent games set in the real world based on love and life experiences.

About Nowhere Studios

Based out of Istanbul, Nowhere Studios is a diverse team of developers looking to change the world’s perception of games by creating stories conveying positive messages that can bring people together around a peaceful and inclusive culture.

World of Tanks: Mercenaries bringing back beloved traditions

World of Tanks: Mercenaries bringing back beloved traditions

Update 4.12, T(h)anksgiving, Toy Tank mode, RTS mode – returning old and new friends

November 26, 2019 — The days are getting warmer and the battles are heating up in World of Tanks: Mercenaries this November and December. The dev team from Wargaming West have been working hard to deliver more content than ever to passionate tankers across the globe until the end of the year. The release of Update 4.12 on November 26, is followed by some amazing new limited edition tanks and Black Friday sales, while November is closing with the tradition of T(h)anksgiving once again celebrated in-game with Turkey Treats.

Update 4.12 features the usual bugs fixes and tank & matchmaker enhancements, fixes the high calibre medal, and includes a game mode selector if a limited time game mode is available.

Black Friday is here, and if you’re not too busy jousting shoppers for a new TV, check out the explosive bargains in our in-game Store, as well as the PlayStation and Microsoft Store! Get up to a massive 30% off Tier X tanks, save up to 50% on yearly Premium time, or get 25% off on silver to gold exchanges. Looking for something specific? Check out the Premium Tech Tree, which has nearly every tank ever available for a limited time with a 30% discount. There are even more discounts coming on Cyber Monday, so don’t miss out!

Players logging in during T(h)anksgiving weekend will receive five times XP in their first match, while on Cyber Monday they’ll receive 25% more Silver and XP all day long.

Elsewhere in World of Tanks: Mercenaries, we welcomed a bombastic new trio of Limited edition tanks to the game. Available individually from November 29 – December 2, get to know this ragtag bunch of misfits:

  • Ragnarok T-34-100 – the console exclusive Tier XIII Medium tank from Czechoslovakia rolls out with a fully stabilized 100 mm autoloader, boosting the firepower of a traditional T-34 significantly.
  • Hydra IS-6 – this console exclusive USSR Tier XIII Heavy tank built for damage with the very powerful BL-13 gun, dealing 440 damage a shot with excellent penetration values.
  • Minotaur KV-5 – this console exclusive USSR Tier XIII Heavy tank is equipped with the Zis-24 gun, making it capable of punching through thick armour.

December won’t be less diversified, as the famous real-time strategy Tank Commander mode will return from 10–16 December and the beloved (European) Winter Toy tank mode will return for free to PlayStation and Xbox players to end the year in style.

Fans of real-time strategy games will love one of the players most favourited modes to return in World of Tanks: Mercenaries. The Tank Commander Mode, which is an RTS mode still exclusive to consoles. Players can take command of nine tanks with a strategic, birds-eye view of the battlefield as the Commander. Give single tanks direct orders to flank and outwit your enemies or send groups into the fray en masse for a heavy-handed cavalry attack! You can also assume the role of the Tanker and, alongside a team of five other players, work together to bring down the powerful Commander.

Finally, the beloved and awesome Toy Tank Mode returns in time for the summer holidays and days off with the family. Enjoy the ride with your very own toy tank to guide through various obstacles to fight other tank commanders in this festive mode.

Besides in game activities, the development team from Wargaming West in Chicago/Baltimore recently supported the Extra Life charity marathon – a 24-hour streaming event to raise funds towards the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. We are proud and honoured to participate in this event during November with 46 members of the dev-team fighting and tanking 24 hours for a good cause to collect the final amount of USD$16,649. Donations are still possible at https://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=47488

To download World of Tanks Mercenaries for free, visit https://console.worldoftanks.com/en/

Black Friday details can be found here:

https://console.worldoftanks.com/black-friday-sales/

Details on the Limited Edition Tanks can be found here:

https://console.worldoftanks.com/the-elite-enter-the-fight/

About World of Tanks: Mercenaries

World of Tanks: Mercenaries is a team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armoured combat, created by Wargaming West in Chicago, USA. Players immerse themselves in fierce 15-v-15 tank combat with opponents from around the world, fight it out on more than 90 different maps, and take command of their preferred vehicle out of over 740 tanks from 11 different nations.

World of Tanks: Mercenaries is played by more than 18 million players worldwide and is available on all generations of PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. World of Tanks: Mercenaries can be downloaded for free by all PlayStation Network and Xbox Live account holders, with stunning 4K resolution and HDR support on PlayStation®4 Pro and Xbox One X. The epic, story-driven campaign mode War Stories can also be played for free, with regular episodic stories giving players the chance to rewrite history in immersive single-player and co-operative battles.

Official website: http://console.worldoftanks.com

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Operating since 1998, Wargaming has grown to become one of the leaders in the gaming industry with 4,500+ employees and offices spread all over the world. Over 200 million players enjoy Wargaming’s titles across all major gaming platforms. Their flagship products include the massively popular free-to-play hit World of Tanks and the strategic naval action game World of Warships.

Official website: www.wargaming.com