BECOME THE HERO OF YOUR OWN LEGEND IN SOULCALIBUR VI’s SECOND STORY MODE, LIBRA OF SOUL

Returning character, Tira, also announced as a Season Pass bonus fighter

Cologne, GERMANY – August 21st, 2018 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe has revealed further information about upcoming title SOULCALIBUR VI, including the announcement of the second story mode, Libra of Soul, in-depth character creation, online gameplay and first DLC character, Tira.

Libra Of Soul is the second story mode in SOULCALIBUR VI, joining the already-revealed Chronicle of Souls mode. In this game mode, players will be able to create their own custom fighter from scratch before roaming the world in a quest to stop a new evil mastermind at work to gather Soul Edge shards. Along the way, players will come up against both characters from across the main storyline, and warriors created by the community, fighting in a variety of rule-specific showdowns which shape their own path.

Players will be able to customise their unique characters through thousands of different combinations, choosing from 16 races, including human, lizard or even living skeleton, before customising the size, facial features, hairstyle, clothes, armour and, of course. weapons and fighting style!

Also revealed today at Gamescom is online play, allowing players to fight using their own custom characters or favourite SOULCALIBUR VI fighters against other players from across the world in both casual or ranked matches.

Additionally, Tira, the Bird of Death, is also announced as a bonus character for those that purchase the Season Pass. Tira will also be sold as a stand-alone DLC.

Tira, an expert wielder of her Ring Blade named Eiserne Drossel, fights using her own Dance of Death style. Trained by the mysterious Birds of Passage group of assassins, Tira abandoned the group after its leader went mad. Alone and angry, Tira, travels across the world, slaughtering any that get in her way – taking great pleasure in the trail of blood in her wake.

SOULCALIBUR VI will launch on 19^th October 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Digital. For more information about the game and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU, or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S., 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™, ACE COMBAT™ and DARK SOULS™. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe is the premier publisher for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE™. For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu . All the BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment products are available on the official store https://store.bandainamcoent.eu

JUMP FORCE ONLINE EXPERIENCE REVEALED ALONGSIDE ICONIC MANGA FIGHTERS

Cologne, GERMANY – August 21st, 2018 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe today revealed six new playable characters for upcoming title JUMP FORCE, as well as announcing details of the online experience.

Joining the roster of JUMP FORCE – which sees the greatest heroes and villains from the 50-year history of Shueisha’s influential Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine do battle – are six iconic names from Hunter X Hunter, One Piece and Dragon Ball Z.

Online Experience

In JUMP FORCE’s online setting, players will be able to create their own customised avatar and interact with players from around the world.

Based in a huge lobby composed of four distinct places – the worlds of One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and the real world – players will be able to tailor their own avatar to create an ultimate fighter, before fighting against others online.

Further information about the avatar customisation will be revealed soon.

New Characters

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe have also announced six new characters joining the roster, Gon and Hisoka from Hunter X Hunter, Sanji, Sabo and Blackbeard from One Piece, and the infamous Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z.

Gon is a young boy with a pure heart. He’ll put his friends first above all and will face up to any opponent if for the greater good. Hisoka is his opposite. Underneath his jovial exterior lies a sociopathic fighter that finds pleasure only in killing.

Sanji is the cook of One Piece’s Straw Hat Crew, but don’t let this deceive you. For Sanji is one of the strongest fighters, willing to face anyone to protect his comrades. Sabo is like a brother to Luffy, fighting alongside him in battle. He has total control over fire and can use this immense skill in battle. Blackbeard is one of the fiercest and most despicable characters of One Piece. He is the only known user of two different Devil Fruits, allowing him to create earthquakes and manipulate the darkness itself.

And no game featuring Dragon Ball Z characters would be complete without Vegeta. Once a mortal enemy of Goku, he now fights alongside him to protect earth.

New Stage

Also revealed today is the Namek stage. From the Dragon Ball Z universe, Namek is the planet where the infamous battle against Frieza took place. Namek has three suns, so is in a state of permanent daylight. In JUMP FORCE, the planet Namek also features the mysterious appearance of a certain green statue…

JUMP FORCE features the world’s most popular and classic manga/anime franchises including DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE, NARUTO, and many others. Players will be able to create their three-character manga/anime dream tag team and take them into battle in hyper-stylish arena brawls set against backdrops of famous landmarks around the world including New York City’s Times Square and the Matterhorn in the Alps. Utilizing Unreal Engine 4, JUMP FORCE brings these titans of Japanese pop culture to life for the first time ever in stunning realistic detail.

JUMP FORCE will be available in 2019 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 system and PC via STEAM. For more information about products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu, https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU, and join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU.

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile.  The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™, DARK SOULS™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu

©JUMP 50th Anniversary

©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

NEW STORY TRAILER AND NEW CHARACTERS ANNOUNCED FOR ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER 

Cologne, GERMANY – August 21st, 2018 – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe today revealed a new story-mode trailer for ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER, as well as revealing further details of three new characters: Issho Fujitora, Borsalino Kizaru and Rob Lucci.

The trailer opens with our hero Luffy, in handcuffs, being brought in front of a mysterious throned character – high above the clouds of Prison Island on a floating fortress far. But what does this character have in-store for Luffy, and more importantly, why does Luffy look so happy to be supposedly captured…?

Also revealed in the trailer are three new characters Luffy will come up against.

The first, Borsalino (Kizaru), is an admiral in the marines, as such, he is one of the strongest enemies for the Straw Hat Crew. He is the possessor of the Glint-Glint Fruit (Pika Pika No Mi), which allows him to control and manipulate the light at will. He can even transform into light, giving him the power of teleportation. He is a faithful servant of the Marin headquarters and will happily fight Luffy whenever the opportunity arises.

Another admiral was called to jail island:  Issho (Fujitora). Despite being blind, he is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Although mysterious of his exact power, he seems to have the power to control gravity, being able to subdue prisoners or even redirecting a meteoroid. Fujitora is different from the other admirals, for him what matter first is the security of Prison Island people.

Rob Lucci is a member of the CP-0, the intelligence organisation directly controlled by the world rulers. He ate the Cat-Cat Fruit which allows him to take on a beast form, half-human / half-leopard. As more characters arrive in Jail Island, the mtystery of it grows – with rumours that Lucci himself is in fact overseeing the ruler of Prison Island itself.

ONE PIECE WORLD SEEKER will be available in 2018 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC as part of the ONE-PIECE Big Projects.

For more information regarding products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu,  https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU, and join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoEU

Continue the adventure on:

• ONE PIECE Games Official Website: www.OnePiece-Game.com

• Official Facebook Page: /BandaiNamcoGames.Europe
• Official Twitter Account: @BandaiNamcoEU

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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles, PC and mobile.  The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, TEKKEN™, SOULCALIBUR™, DARK SOULS™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. For more information please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu

©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation

Game ©2018 BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

NINTENDO KICKS OFF GAMESCOM WITH NEW TRAILERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INCLUDING DLC, RELEASE DATES AND MORE

Check out full gameplay matches of King K. Rool, Dark Samus and Chrom in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo of Europe’s YouTube channels

21^st August, 2018 – As gamescom kicks off in Cologne, Germany, Nintendo reveals new details on what fans can expect throughout the week, including new gameplay from already-announced Nintendo Switch titles including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Party, and DAEMON X MACHINA from Marvelous, while visitors to the show can play a range of upcoming titles, including the world’s first hands-on with Super Mario Party and the recently-announced Diablo III Eternal Collection from Blizzard Entertainment.

Following on from the recent Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct that took an in-depth look at the upcoming fight-fest, coming to Nintendo Switch on 7^th December, fans can watch brand new footage of the newly-announced characters King K. Rool, Dark Samus, and Chrom in battle, with two full matches straight from the development team in Japan. Watch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – King K. Rool gameplay and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Dark Samus and Chrom gameplay (2 on 2, Stage Morph) on Nintendo UK’s official YouTube channel*.

Meanwhile, anyone craving fast-paced mech action should have DAEMON X MACHINA from Marvelous firmly on their radar. Coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019, this new title from producer Kenichiro Tsukuda sees players take fully customisable powered suits called Arsenals into a variety of missions. Fans can see more later in the week when Mr Tsukuda will show off brand new gameplay in a video filmed in Nintendo’s RedCube studio at gamescom. Before then, be sure to check out the DAEMON X MACHINA – gamescom 2018 teaser*.

Also coming later this week, get primed for a look at brand new gameplay from the upcoming standalone story expansion Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country, in a RedCube video to be published at the end of the week.

Mario Tennis Aces is welcoming a fresh face soon, as Diddy Kong will soon join the fun. This speedy competitor, with his vine-swinging special shot, will be immediately available to players who play during the next tournament, running between 1^st and 30^th September. Once the tournament ends, he’ll then be unlocked for everyone, regardless of whether they participated in the tournament or not. Get a first look at him in action in the Mario Tennis Aces – Diddy Kong trailer on YouTube*.

In more Mario news, Nintendo Switch owners can now pre-order Super Mario Party in Nintendo eShop and will receive double My Nintendo Gold Points when the game is released on 5^th October.

Mario’s brother Luigi is set for an especially busy month in October, as on top of his appearance in Super Mario Party, Luigi’s Mansion for Nintendo 3DS family systems is hitting shelves and Nintendo eShop in Australia and New Zealand on 20^th October.

Fans of comics and graphic novels will be excited to hear that InkyPen, an application for reading digital comic books, will be launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch in November. The InkyPen app will be available to download via Nintendo eShop, and users will pay a flat monthly subscription fee to read as many comics as they like, including popular series such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Judge Dredd, and Transformers, with more to be added in the future. Comic fans can see it in action with the new InkyPen comes to Nintendo Switch trailer on YouTube* and find out more at the official InkyPen website.

To stay up-to-date with all the Nintendo activities at gamescom this week, head over to the Nintendo of Europe gamescom 2018 hub*, where new videos from Nintendo’s RedCube studio on the showfloor will be published throughout the week, and stay tuned to Twitter and YouTube for updates.

Nintendo starts gamescom with new footage from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and announcements of new bundles and release dates, with new gameplay videos from select titles to be published throughout the week.

Release dates for a selection of upcoming titles:

 This content is presented by Nintendo of Europe. Please check www.nintendo.com.au for information specific to Australia and New Zealand

Additional Links:
Nintendo Australia website: http://www.nintendo.com.au/
Nintendo Australia Twitter: https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo Australia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo AU on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nintendoau

ASSASSIN’S CREED^® ODYSSEY UNVEILS A WORLD OF DANGER AND LEGENDS

Mercenaries, The Cult of Kosmos, Legendary Animals and Mythological Creatures Will Challenge Players Over the Course of Their Odyssey        

Sydney, Australia — August 21, 2018 — Today, at Gamescom, Ubisoft showcased a world of danger and legends in Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey.  Ancient Greece, 431BCE, a land rich with myths and legends, in the midst of the Peloponnesian War, fought between Sparta and Athens. This world is ruled by the gods, and shaped by myths and legendary creatures. The creative team behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey recaptured this pivotal moment in history when mythology merged with religion and tradition, shaping Ancient Greek life.

As Alexios or Kassandra, players will encounter these myths firsthand, in the form of Legendary Animals and Mythical Creatures, while battling Mercenaries and defying the Cult of Kosmos. Mercenaries, skilled warriors, will hunt Alexios or Kassandra if they’re caught breaking the law. These tenacious enemies boast advanced combat techniques and abilities, wield valuable weapons and can be accompanied by predatory pets. They will relentlessly track the hero on land and sea as soon as a bounty is placed over their head.

Over the course of their Odyssey, players will encounter Legendary Animals, inspired by the Herculean myths including the Nemean Lion with impenetrable golden fur, the Lykaon Wolf, an evil beast cursed by the Gods themselves and Kallisto the bear, the angry mother of the Arcadians, to name a few. They will also have the chance to engage in battle with terrifying Mythical Creatures inspired by Greek legends, including Medusa.

Assassin’s Creed^® Odyssey will release worldwide on October 5, 2018, on the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Players who pre-order the Gold Edition, Digital Ultimate Edition, Medusa Edition, Spartan Edition or Pantheon Edition of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey before October 2, 2018 will have the opportunity to play the game up to three days earlier.

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

*Associate studios are Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Bucharest Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Kiev, Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Pune, with additional help from external partners Sperasoft and Technicolor.

ABOUT UBISOFT
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

© 2018 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH DATE FOR GATOR RUSH, FIRST FREE MAJOR UPDATE FOR THE CREW^® 

The Update Plans All-New Hovercraft Discipline, New Events and More

Köln, Germany — August 21, 2018 — Today, during gamescom, Ubisoft^® announced that Gator Rush, the first free update brought to Ubisoft’s open world motorsports game, The Crew 2, will be available on September 26 on PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC.

Introduced in the heart of the southern swamps, the all-new hovercraft discipline in the off-road family will have players doing things no other vehicles can do in The Crew 2. With three hovercraft vehicles completely new to the line-up, racers can slide on all kinds of terrain, bump their opponents on a tight corner and land on their competitors after jumping a ramp. In addition to the Bayou, other iconic places across the US map have been redesigned with enhancements such as steep slopes and banked curves. Players can enjoy these enhancements in all-new events, a Live Xtrem Series race and free drive, with new skills available in the open world bringing new locations to explore.

For players who thrive under pressure, The Crew 2 Gator Rush will also include Ace mode, a new difficulty level. Players successful in Ace mode will earn Legendary loot, parts that award better performances, exclusive affix bonuses and new combinations to customize each ride’s performance according to their handling preference.

On September 26, season pass owners will also get seven days early access to two new additional vehicles as part of the game’s monthly vehicle drop.

The release of Gator Rush is the first step in the The Crew 2 post-launch development schedule, and the team is committed to continue introducing ample new content through regular updates in the months ahead, including PvP coming in December, new disciplines, events, vehicles and more. For more information on The Crew 2 post-launch plans, please visit: https://news.ubisoft.com/article/the-crew-2-season-pass-and-free-post-launch-content-revealed

Developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower,* a studio based in Lyon, France, The Crew 2 lets players experience the thrill of the American motorsports spirit inside a fully redesigned USA. The game’s playground pushes physical boundaries to let driving and open world fans test their skills in nonstop competition and exploration. From coast to coast, drivers can explore America and compete to become the greatest motorsports champion by collecting a wide variety of exotic cars, bikes, boats and planes, and dominating the motorsports scene on the land, on the water and in the air. They can find challenges and inspiration among four different motorsports families: street racing, off-road, pro-racing and freestyle, and will be given a broad set of options among a wide selection of vehicle types.

For the latest news on The Crew and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit news.ubisoft.com

For more information about The Crew 2, please visit thecrewgame.com/ and please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/thecrewgame.usa and on Twitter at twitter.com/TheCrewGame or hashtag #TheCrew2.

*Associate studios include Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Shanghai and Massive, a Ubisoft studio.

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

© 2018 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Crew logo, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SHENMUE I & II RE-RELEASE IS OUT NOW FOR PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE

The saga begins again with the definitive versions of these legendary classics!

Sydney, Australia – 21^st August 2018 – Get ready to experience the most oft-requested re-release in SEGA®’s history as Shenmue™ I & II is out now for PlayStation® 4 and Xbox® One.

Prepare yourself to embark on a timeless tale of revenge and mystery once more by checking out the release trailer

The re-release of Shenmue I & II is the definitive version of these all-time classics with all the original features intact such as enthralling Jiu Jitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, real-time open worlds, RPG elements and memorable mini-games. The re-release also adds modernised features such as updated user interface, choice of modern or classic control schemes and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers.

“SEGA Europe has wanted to re-release the Shenmue series for such a long time and thanks to tireless work behind the scenes, it is our pleasure to bring these games back, laden with accolades as one of the greatest gaming series of all time, for gamers of all generations,” said John Clark, Executive Vice President of Publishing at SEGA Europe. “We can’t wait for gamers to jump into this piece of gaming history and experience the magic of Shenmue I & II for themselves.”

Shenmue I & II is available to purchase from Australian retailers on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for an RRP of $49.95 and is rated “M”

For all the latest information on Shenmue I & II, head over to https://shenmue.sega.com/

Blizzard Entertainment brings a festival of games and community attractions to gamescom 2018

Sydney, Australia—21 August, 2018—Blizzard Entertainment will be showcasing its games and celebrating its community at gamescom 2018 in Cologne, Germany, from Tuesday, 21 August, to Saturday, 25 August CEST. Attendees will have the chance to enjoy the latest playable content and plenty of activities for Overwatch^®, World of Warcraft^®: Battle for Azeroth^™, Heroes of the Storm^®, StarCraft^® II, Diablo^® III, and Hearthstone^® at the Blizzard booth in Hall 7 of the Koelnmesse.

A calendar of main stage activities can be viewed on the new “Blizzard at gamescom” website (http://gamescom.blizzard.com) and mobile application, available on the App Store and the Google Play Store. The site and app also feature a catalog of merchandise that can be purchased at the Blizzard store in Hall 5, including some brand-new and convention-exclusive items, and visitors can create a personal wishlist in advance to facilitate their shopping experience.

In addition, the Blizzard at gamescom app allows attendees at the event to take an Augmented Reality tour of the Blizzard booth for the chance to win prizes.

Those who can’t make it to gamescom 2018 in person can watch the daily Blizzard at gamescom show via the website starting at 1:00 a.m. AEST/3:00 a.m. NZST Thursday, 23 August, through Saturday, 25 August, and 12:00 a.m. AEST/2:00 a.m. NZST on Sunday, 26 August. Hosted by actor and presenter Naomi Kyle and well-known YouTuber Mark “Turps” Turpin, the show will include live-streamed and pre-recorded content, with spectators having the ability to change camera angles.

Visitors to the Blizzard booth at gamescom will be able to experience the following playable content and activities:

Overwatch

• Blizzard is kicking off the first public day of gamescom 2018 with the Overwatch: New Content Reveal on the main stage starting at 11:15 a.m. CEST on Wednesday, 22 August. Followed by the premiere of a new Overwatch animated short, which will also be available to view on YouTube.
• German Overwatch World Cup 2018 team members will battle participants from the audience in Lúcioball showmatches live on stage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday CEST for the Overwatch: Lúcioball Challenge.

• Overwatch heroes D.Va, Lúcio, and Brigitte will come to life as their voice actors perform on stage in the Overwatch: German Voice Actors Panel at 11:00 a.m. CEST on Friday, 24 August, followed by a signing session.
• Attendees at gamescom will be able to enjoy some fun in the sun at the Blizzard booth with Summer Games-themed activities, including custom surfboards, face painting, community Lúcioball tournaments, a working Pachimari claw machine, and more.

World of Warcraft

• World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth will be playable on 80 gaming stations at the Blizzard booth, where visitors can enjoy a solo experience with the Siege of Lordaeron in-game event and group up with friends at gamescom for the Island Expeditions feature.
• World of Warcraft cosplayers will show off creations inspired by the latest expansion on stage and via live stream during the Battle for Azeroth: Cosplay Showcase at 2:15 a.m. AEST/4:15 a.m NZST on Saturday, 25 August, followed by the reveal of the third and final episode in the Warbringers series of animated shorts—the tale of Azshara, Queen of the Naga.
• Top German guilds Aversion and Set Sail For Fail will face off in Island Expeditions live on stage during three rounds of the Battle for Azeroth: Island Expeditions Showcase on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday CEST.
• Visitors to the booth will be able to attend a live Darkmoon Faire, with activities like an airbrush makeup station, a fortune teller, and photo opportunities with the Recruit-a-Friend X-53 Touring Rocket mount, as well as renowned European community content creators streaming live.

Heroes of the Storm

• A new Prime Evil wreaks havoc on the Nexus—Mephisto, Diablo II’s Lord of Hatred and the latest Ranged Assassin in Heroes of the Storm, will be playable for the first time at gamescom. His spotlight video can be viewed here.
• The Overwatch-themed Hanamura map is new and improved with an emphasis on action-packed team fights, and it’s back in the game—now dubbed Hanamura Temple, it will be playable by the public for the first time at the Blizzard booth during the show.
• In Heroes of the Storm: Live Drawing with Carbot, Jonathan Burton from Carbot Animations will create his wacky rendition of Mephisto live on stage at 12:00 p.m. CEST on Thursday, 23 August.

StarCraft II

• It’s about time—Tychus Findlay, the latest Co-op Commander for StarCraft II, will be playable for the first time at the Blizzard booth. His spotlight video can be viewed here. On Wednesday, 22 August, and Thursday, 23 August CEST, StarCraft II lead co-op designer Kevin Dong will demonstrate the new commander live on stage with YouTubers Lowko and Winter in StarCraft: Commander Co-op.

• In StarCraft: One vs Many, YouTubers Lowko and Winter will take on any audience members who think they have what it takes to defeat these pros in a live one-versus-three battle on Saturday, 25 August, at 3:00 p.m. CEST.

Diablo III

• Visitors to the Blizzard booth can try their hand at slaying demons anytime, anywhere, with anyone—Diablo III will be playable on the Nintendo Switch^™ console for the first time at gamescom.
• On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, a Blizzard artist will be creating some diabolical artwork live on stage in Diablo: Live Drawing with Chris Amaral.

Hearthstone

• In Hearthstone: Puzzle Time!, teams of gamescom audience members will race to complete challenges in Hearthstone’s new Puzzle Labs live on stage on Friday and Saturday at 12:15 p.m. CEST. These Solo Adventures for the game’s latest expansion, The Boomsday Project^™, will be released to the public 22 August AEST/NZST.
• Hearthstone players can enjoy a brand-new Fireside Brawl, available for the first time at gamescom.
• Visitors can also snap a photo with a giant game board replica from the Hearth and Home animated short, which premiered at gamescom 2017.

In addition to these games and activities, gamescom attendees can head to Blizzard’s main stage for two concerts from the Video Games Live orchestra on Thursday, 23 August, and Friday, 24 August, at 2:00 a.m. AEST/4:00 a.m. NZST; and the popular Blizzard Cosplay Contest closing out the week at 1:00 a.m. AEST/3:00 a.m. NZST on Sunday, 26 August. Those watching from home will be able to see the Video Games Live concert, as well as the cosplay contest, via live stream at http://gamescom.blizzard.com.

For more information about Blizzard at gamescom 2018, visit the website and follow our social media channels for updates live from the event.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and IO Interactive announced WORLD OF ASSASSINATION, an ever-expanding game world that will bring remastered locations from the previous game to HITMAN™ 2.

Known as the HITMAN™ Legacy Pack, all six locations – Paris, Sapienza, Marrakesh, Bangkok, Colorado, Hokkaido – will be accessible as downloadable content (DLC) and will incorporate various new features from HITMAN 2, including a brand new progression system, addition of hiding in foliage and crowds displayed at improved fidelity, picture-in-picture mode, strategic use of mirrors, improved combat A.I., new gameplay items like the briefcase, dart gun, flash grenades, etc., new difficulty levels and much more!

As new elements and game modes are continually added to HITMAN 2, as well as the previous game’s locations, WORLD OF ASSASSINATION will offer a continuous experience that will never stop growing and never stop challenging players, defining the past, present and future of Hitman.

The HITMAN Legacy Pack will be available to owners of the previous game for free. Owners of Season 1 can download the remastered and enhanced content once HITMAN 2 launches without any additional costs. “We have been through an amazing journey with our fans and community and are extremely proud of the continued love and support,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO, IO Interactive. “This is our way to say a big thank you and give something back. We have finally revealed our long-term vision to deliver the World of Assassination, an ever-expanding continuous universe starting from Paris in Season 1, going all the way through to the end of HITMAN 2 and beyond with our future endeavors. To create a universe like this is not only an ambitious task creatively, but also technically. I am in awe and admiration with our incredibly talented team and what they have achieved.”

The Official WORLD OF ASSASSINATION Trailer can be viewed below:

HITMAN™ 2 is the follow-up to the internationally acclaimed video game, HITMAN™. Featuring entirely new hyper-detailed sandbox locations full of living, breathing environments to explore, HITMAN™ 2 offers players the freedom to plan the ultimate assassination utilising an assortment of tools, weapons, disguises and a variety of stealth techniques to creatively trigger their own unique chain of events.

HITMAN™ 2 also introduces new ways to play with the Sniper Assassin mode, a standalone feature that brings a co-op experience to the Hitman™ series for the first time, allowing two players to work together online to take down their targets. Sniper Assassin is available to play now as an early access bonus for consumers who pre-order the HITMAN™ 2. Players can also enter the HITMAN™: Sniper Assassin Competition and put their marksman skills to the ultimate test for a chance to win the grand prize of getting their name and likeness included in future HITMAN™ 2 content. For more information, visit: https://hitman.com/competition.

HITMAN™ 2 will be available for PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and PC beginning November 13, 2018.

To learn more about the HITMAN™ 2, please visit www.hitman.com or join the HITMAN™ conversation on Twitter (@Hitman), Facebook (@Hitman.US), Instagram (@Hitman_Official), YouTube (Hitman) and Twitch (Hitman).

SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE LAUNCHING MARCH 22, 2019!

First Public Hands-On with FromSoftware’s Highly Anticipated Game at Gamescom 2018 

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector’s Edition and Digital Pre-Orders Begin Today

August 21, 2018 – Activision, a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) officially announces the launch date for the highly-anticipated new game from FromSoftware. Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice, a third-person, action-adventure game with RPG elements, is planned to release globally on March 22, 2019. To celebrate, fans attending Gamescom 2018 in Cologne, Germany will be among the first in the world to play the game. Additionally, the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector’s Edition, which is packed with collectible items, will be available for pre-order starting today in select markets. Digital pre-orders for the game will also kick-off starting today in select markets.

New gameplay details about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reveal that the prosthetic tools belonging to the “one-armed wolf” protagonist can be reconstructed to unlock new actions such as powerful charge attacks. These attacks allow the player to broaden their approach to defeat their foes.

At Gamescom 2018, fans will finally be able to experience the unique and varied features of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and sample the game’s rich sense of tension for the first time including:

• Sword Combat: The core combat in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is measured by an intense clash of steel. Players will take command of special Sword Arts to supplement their regular attacks, and tear down enemy defences before sealing the final blow.
• Shinobi Prosthetic: Players can equip and switch between a variety of unique Prosthetic Tools to find the weakness of a formidable enemy. Additionally, tools such as the Grappling Hook can be utilised to bring an extra dimension to exploration and traversal throughout the world of the game.
• Resurrection: Used as an opportunity for a tactical retreat or to deceive an enemy and go on the counter-offensive, this new combat strategy allows players to resurrect on the spot, even after a hasty death.

“We can’t wait for fans to finally get their hands on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,” said Steve Young, Chief Revenue Officer at Activision. “Fans will get a taste of the multiple tools available for the prosthetic shinobi arm this week at Gamescom and will be able to fully dive into the brutal, dark world of 1500s Sengoku Japan when the game launches on March 22, 2019.”

The Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector’s Edition, available now for pre-order at select retailers, delivers fans the following collectible items:

• Full Game
• 7” Shinobi Statue
• SteelBook®
• Collectible Artbook
• Map
• Digital Soundtrack
• Replica Game Coins

Developed by FromSoftware, fans will find familiarity in the gritty Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice gameplay where combat reigns supreme. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a single-player game that puts players in the protagonist role of a hard-hearted warrior whose mission is to rescue his master, a young lord, and exact revenge on his arch nemesis. Players will enjoy combining features, such as vertical traversal, with visceral head-to-head battle to fulfill their destiny in a vast world filled with beautiful vistas, enormous castles, bizarre weaponry, and fearsome enemies.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will launch on PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro; PC via Steam and the family of Xbox One devices from Microsoft, including the Xbox One X. View the official Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice trailer here. For more information, please visit www.SekiroTheGame.com and follow @SekiroTheGame on Twitter and Instagram, as well as SekiroTheGame on Facebook.

About FromSoftware

Game developer based in Tokyo, Japan. Known for the Armored Core series, Dark Souls series and Bloodborne amongst other titles. More information can be found on the official homepage: http://www.fromsoftware.jp/

About Activision

Headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., 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.