Kingdom Come: Deliverance Receives Free Hardcore Mode DLC on Consoles and PC

New Trailer Teases Upcoming From The Ashes DLC

Larkspur, Calif. – June 26, 2018 – Warhorse Studios today release a Hardcore Mode as a free DLC for all players of Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The DLC will be available on PlayStation®4, Xbox One as well as PC.

The Hardcore Mode turns Kingdom Come: Deliverance into a true survival RPG. No visible health or stamina bar, no more autosaving, plus even more realistic combat and world navigation. Following the sun and studying the detailed world maps will be crucial to navigate through the vast countryside of Bohemia. Are you ready for a truly medieval experience?

Hardcore Mode introduces unusual perks, like Brittle Bones, Nightmares or Claustrophobia to test the player’s skill. The player will have to choose at least two and they will stay with him for the whole game. Finishing the game with all perks will unlock new achievements.

Alongside today’s release Deep Silver and Warhorse Studios also reveal a first glimpse of the upcoming story DLC, From The Ashes, which will release soon.

About Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a story-driven open-world RPG that immerses you in an epic adventure in the Holy Roman Empire. Avenge your parents’ death as you battle invading forces, go on game-changing quests, and make influential choices. Explore majestic castles, deep forests, thriving villages and countless other realistic settings in medieval Bohemia.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance features:

Massive realistic open world: Majestic castles, vast fields, all rendered in stunning high-end graphics.
Non-linear story: Solve quests in multiple ways, then face the consequences of your decisions.
Challenging combat: Distance, stealth, or melee. Choose your weapons and execute dozens of unique combos in battles that are as thrilling as they are merciless.
Character development: Choose your equipment, improve your skills, and earn new perks.
Dynamic world: Your actions influence the reactions of the people around you. Fight, steal, seduce, threaten, persuade, or bribe. It’s all up to you.
Historical accuracy: Meet real historical characters and experience the genuine look and feel of medieval Bohemia.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Key Facts 

About Warhorse Studios
Warhorse Studios is a young independent game developer studio from the Czech Republic, Prague. It was founded by Daniel Vávra, creator of Mafia and Mafia 2, and Martin Klíma, formerly of ALTAR (Original War, UFO:* trilogy). The studio contains a mix of experienced game industry veterans, with dozens games published and millions of copies sold, and young guns from all around the world.

In January 2014, Warhorse launched a Kickstarter campaign for a realistic medieval RPG game called Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It ended up being the third most successful project, according to the number of backers, in 2014. With an initial goal of £300,000, we finally gathered over £1.1M. Warhorse Studios was also named among the World‘s TOP10 Most Innovative Companies on Kickstarter of 2015 by Fast Company.

About Deep Silver
Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires.

Deep Silver has published more than 200 games since 2003, including its own brands like the open world extravaganza Saints Row, the zombie action franchise Dead Island, and the grim post-apocalyptic future of the Metro series. Deep Silver also owns the development studios Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK; Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com

GUNNER CLASS NOW AVAILABLE FOR TERA ON PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE

Big Ass Monsters, Meet Big Ass Guns in this Major Update for TERA

Seattle, WA – June 26, 2018 – En Masse Entertainment announced today that the gunner, a new playable class is now available for TERA on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 as a free update. The gunner is a high damage class who wields a massive arcannon to mow down mobs of enemies.

The team at En Masse is celebrating the launch of the gunner with some special events and challenges:

• Starting today and going through July 8, players will receive one free additional Character Slot upon their first-time log in to TERA which they can use to create a gunner (or any of TERA’s eleven character classes).
• Through July 22, gunners unlock special rewards as they level-up. If players manage to get all the way to level 65, they’ll unlock an exclusive costume and weapon skin for their gunner!
• The first gunner to reach level 65 on each server will also earn a special achievement and “Cutting Edge” title.

The gunner has one EXPLOSIVE personality.

The gunner is the first new class to come to TERA on consoles and is available to the female castanic and high-elf races at character creation. At first glance, the massive guns make this class seem limited to long-range combat; however, the gunner is surprisingly versatile, making her an excellent choice for utility players who want to be effective in a variety of situations. Tough, deadly, and crafty, the gunner comes fully loaded with abilities that help her stand apart on the battlefield.

• Battlefield-Clearing Attacks: Powerful area-of-effect attacks, including the visually-stunning Balder’s Vengeance, let the gunner mow down hordes of enemies without breaking a sweat.
• Big-Ass Guns: This class is defined by the arcannon—a huge weapon with huge damage potential. Why settle on small when you can go big?
• Summoned Constructs: With her ability to place turrets and constructs around the battlefield, the gunner never has to fight alone. It’s like having a party with you wherever you go!
• Heavy Armor: With huge guns and heavy armor, the gunner is a tank. Fight with ranged attacks or hit hard from up close. The ability to mix up attacks keeps enemies guessing until they’re blown away.

The gunner is now available for TERA console players and is 100% free. For more details on the new class please visit tera.enmasse.com, and follow the game on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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ABOUT EN MASSE ENTERTAINMENT
Based in Seattle, Washington, En Masse Entertainment embodies the evolution of modern game publishing. The company’s mission is to publish great games and provide great service. Beginning with its inaugural title, TERA, and continuing with Kritika Online and Closers, En Masse Entertainment has built a track record of excellence and innovation. The team at En Masse includes experts in online technology, live service, branding, community, and player support, allowing them to thrive as a publisher in the digital era. For more information, visit enmasse.com.

Aksys Games Bestows Video Gaming Goodness on A/X 2018

Legendary game creator Yasuhiro Wada to be featured at panel and autograph sessions

LOS ANGELES – June 26, 2018 – Are you ready to solve mysteries, find love, kick some butt and raise a dragon? (Not all at once, of course… unless you’re great at multitasking.) You can do all of that and more at the Aksys Games booth at this year’s Anime Expo, taking place from July 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Aksys will be showcasing their latest titles, including the highly anticipated Little Dragons Café, at South Hall Booth #3011.

Fans will have the opportunity to get hands-on with Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly, 7’scarlet, Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, BlazBlue: Central Fiction, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st], Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk, and, of course, Little Dragons Café.

Yasuhiro Wada Comes to A/X
Interested in what the panels have to offer at A/X? This year, Yasuhiro Wada—creator of the popular Bokujō Monogatari series (published under the names Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons outside of Japan)—will be answering all of your burning questions at his panel, “Yasuhiro Wada: Little Dragons Café and Beyond.” The panel will be held Saturday, July 7 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in Live Programming Room 4 (LACC 411). If you’re looking to get a little more face time with Mr. Wada, he will be holding autograph sessions at Table 5 on July 6 and July 7 at 12:30pm. For more information about Mr. Wada’s appearances at AX 2018, visit www.anime-expo.org/guest/yasuhiro-wada/

 
About Little Dragons Café
Named Best of E3 by PS Nation, Yasuhiro Wada’s latest adorable adventure, Little Dragons Café, will soon be roaring onto the Nintendo Switch™ and the PlayStation®4—but first it’s stopping by Anime Expo! The story opens with a twin brother and sister learning to cook and manage a small café under their mother’s tutelage. All was peaceful and routine until one morning when the twins discover that their mother has fallen into a deep sleep and won’t wake up. Suddenly, a strange old man appears to inform them that they must raise a dragon in order to save her. Working together with three quirky café employees, the two siblings must figure out how to a wrangle a dragon and manage the family business while finding a way to save their mother. For more information about Little Dragons Café, please visit littledragonscafe.com

About Aksys Games
Founded in 2006 in Torrance, California, Aksys Games Localization, Inc. is a visionary video game publisher committed to publishing unique and high-quality interactive content for all current-generation platforms. Its lineup of games includes the critically acclaimed Zero Escape series (Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Virtue’s Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma) as well as the wildly successful BlazBlue and Guilty Gear franchises. More information about Aksys Games and its unique products can be found on the company’s website, www.aksysgames.com.

SOEDESCO reveals Truck Driver, coming to PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC

Truck Driver aims to deliver a fresh, career-driven trucking experience

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – June 26, 2018 – Today SOEDESCO and Triangle Studios announced that gamers can soon hit the road in trucking experience Truck Driver! Unlike any other trucking experience, Truck Driver is completely focused on the career mode. By valuing the ‘game’ aspects over the ‘simulation’ aspects, SOEDESCO aspires to bring the fun-factor back into the trucking genre. The game will be available both digitally and physically, for the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 as well as PS4 Pro, and Steam®.

The story behind Truck Driver

SOEDESCO released a video today in which they give a look behind the scenes at developer Triangle Studios and show some of the first Truck Driver gameplay footage. In the video they explain that Truck Driver focuses on the player’s experience as a truck driver and their interaction with the local community. Players get to meet all sorts of unique characters and build relationships with them by successfully completing transport jobs, to fully experience the eventful career life of a trucker.

Additionally, CEO of developer Triangle Studios Remco de Rooij shares that they gained a lot of experience from their previous collaboration with SOEDESCO, which inspires them to approach the process a bit differently this time. For example, they promise to involve the community more closely in the development process and point out that they will invite field experts to help them create a great truck driving experience.

Truck Driver features:

• Enjoy a trucking experience focused on your career as a truck driver
• Build stronger relationships with the local community with each job
• Customize your truck with tons of parts and tune it to your liking
• Explore a vast open world and watch it progress with you
• Navigate through beautiful landscapes and fully explorable cities

More information can be found on the Truck Diver website: https://truckdriver.soedesco.com/

About SOEDESCO
SOEDESCO® is a worldwide publisher of both digital and boxed games on multiple platforms. Our portfolio includes third party titles like Wuppo, Owlboy, Tricky Towers, Among the Sleep and N.E.R.O. SOEDESCO also publishes their own IPs including Adam’s Venture® and Real Farm.

More information about SOEDESCO® and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.soedesco.com or by following @SOEDESCO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

DISCOVER A NEW WAY TO PLAY MARIO KART 8 DELUXE WITH NINTENDO LABO

The search for Australia and New Zealand’s greatest Nintendo Labo creations begins on 19^th July with the Nintendo Labo Creators Contest – with a special Nintendo Switch system prize

26^th June, 2018 – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch is now compatible with Nintendo Labo, Nintendo’s new line of interactive make, play, and discover experiences. Grab the handlebars and race your way to victory using the Toy-Con Motorbike from the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit*. After installing a free software update** for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, available today, you’ll be able to select the Motorbike as a compatible controller from the main menu. You can watch the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – now compatible with Nintendo Labo! trailer on the official Nintendo Australia YouTube channel.

Players can now play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in TV mode using the Toy-Con Motorbike, or insert the Nintendo Switch console directly into the Motorbike’s dashboard to play it on-the-go. Whether using Toy-Con Motorbike or any of the other supported controllers, additional driving options such as Smart Steering and auto-accelerate are available to help newcomers get back on track. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the first game outside of Nintendo Labo software to receive Toy-Con support, and more titles will be compatible with Nintendo Labo in the future.

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, familiar characters from the Super Mario series compete in races set around the world of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Start your engines, put the pedal to the metal, and get ready for the kind of thrilling racing action that only Mario Kart can provide. Find out more at the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe website.

Meanwhile, the search for Australia and New Zealand’s greatest Nintendo Labo creations and customisations has begun with the launch of the Nintendo Labo Creators Contest for Australia and New Zealand. Whether you’re a master inventor or a creative spirit, anyone can take part and have a chance to win some amazing prizes, including a special Nintendo Switch system. For this contest, entrants can submit their creations in two different age categories:

• Kids: In this category, children aged 11 and under can submit an original Toy-Con creation or customisation. You can even get some help from a parent or guardian.
• Teens / Adults: For kids at heart, aspiring Toy-Con creators and decorators aged 12 and above can submit their creations in this category.

Creators in either category are tasked with either submitting a new, original Toy-Con project using Toy-Con Garage, a mod of an existing Toy-Con, or your own uniquely decorated Toy-Con. All submissions will be reviewed based on spirit, creativity and construction quality. Got an idea for your own original Toy-Con creation? Grab some cardboard sheets, dive into Toy-Con Garage and see where your creativity takes you. Or break out the pens, paints, stickers, stencils and anything you can find, and show us your one-of-a-kind customised Toy-Con designs.

Submissions will start on the Nintendo Labo website on 19^th July and close on 7^th September, but entrants can start preparing right now. The overall winner in each category will receive a very special prize: a special Nintendo Switch system designed to look like cardboard. Finalists will receive a Joy-Con Pair customised with the same design. More details can be found on the Nintendo Labo website.

Nintendo Labo is a new line of interactive make, play and discover experiences designed to inspire creative minds and playful hearts alike. Together with the Nintendo Switch system, the Nintendo Labo kits provide the tools and technology to make fun DIY creations, play games with your creations, and discover how Nintendo Switch technology shapes ideas into reality.*** Find out more at the Nintendo Labo website.

After installing a free software update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch, available today, players can select the Motorbike as a compatible controller from the main menu and use the Toy-Con Motorbike from the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit. The search for Australia and New Zealand’s greatest Nintendo Labo creations and customisations has begun with the launch of the Nintendo Labo Creators Contest. The overall winners in each of two age categories will receive a very special prize.

Additional Links:
Nintendo Switch website: http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo-switch/
Nintendo Labo website: http://www.nintendo.com.au/labo
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

FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS LAUNCHES JUST CAUSE 3 COLLABORATION EVENT

Hit Mobile RPG Commemorates Second Year Milestone with Limited-Time Events and In-Game Rewards

SYDNEY, 25^th June 2018 –Square Enix Ltd., today announced that FINAL FANTASY® BRAVE EXVIUS®, the hit mobile RPG that has been downloaded more than 30 million times worldwide, celebrates its second successful year with a new Just Cause® 3 collaboration. This limited-time event introduces numerous characters and a Just Cause 3-themed event to FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS.  

Starting today, Just Cause 3’s protagonist, Rico Rodriguez, and two additional characters, Mario Frigo and Annika Svennson, will be available through a featured summon, while a fourth character, Teo, will be available through a raid summon. Players can face off against Golden URGA Mstitel to obtain raid points to unlock various rewards.

Additionally, during June and July, a variety of in-game bonuses and rewards will be made available to players in celebration of the second anniversary:

• Login Bonuses – From 29^th June – 11^th July and 12^th July to 31^st July, players will be treated to generous second-anniversary rewards in addition to standard daily bonuses, including special 10+1 Summon Tickets that will guarantee at least one 5-star unit and 5-star Guaranteed EX ticket.
• Free Daily Summon – From 29^th June – 26^th July, players may summon one character for free per day.
• Players’ Vote Campaign – From 29^th June – 11^th July, all players may vote in-game to select one of four generous promotions, such as a daily free summon. The promotion that receives the most votes will be implemented in-game during the month of August.
• Weapon Enhancements – Starting in mid-July, players may upgrade previously obtained weapons through a new limited-time stage, which will be a recurring event moving forward.
• Half off stamina for story missions and trial battles, increased chances for bonus EXP when enhancing units, increased rank limits and much more.

Fans can also celebrate the game’s second anniversary from 8^th – 9^th December 2018 with fellow players at the FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS Fan Festa 2018 at the Long Beach Convention Center in California, USA. Event updates and information on how to purchase tickets will be available here: https://ffbefanfesta.com

FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS is available now through the App Store®, and Google Play™. The game is available in six languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese (traditional) and Korean.

Related Links:
Official Website: http://finalfantasyexvius.com/
Official FFBE Fan Festa Website: https://ffbefanfesta.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFBE_EN
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ffbeen

BUILD YOUR OWN GUNPLA AND JOIN THE FIGHT: NEW GUNDAM BREAKER AVAILABLE TODAY

JUNE 22^nd, 2018 – Today, NEW GUNDAM BREAKER, the latest game of the iconic mecha franchise officially launches on PlayStation Network for PlayStation®4. To celebrate this milestone, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe released its launch trailer.

Each player of NEW GUNDAM BREAKER will be gifted a certain amount of in-game currency with a day one patch on June 22^nd. Players are free to spend 100,000 GP to their heart’s content and acquire new parts for their Gunpla. Moreover, the day one patch provides improved stability for the online mode which is going to ensure smooth interaction with other players.

Customization is one of the main features of NEW GUNDAM BREAKER as players have the chance to create their own model based on their favorite Mechs. Build your dream Gunpla, personalize it and jump into battle!

NEW GUNDAM BREAKER is available on PlayStation 4 now and will be released on STEAM for PC and other distributors in summer 2018. For more information about the game and other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.com, 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™. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.eu or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoEU

RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE AND UBISOFT KICK THEIR PARTNERSHIP INTO HIGH GEAR WITH THE CREW 2

Perform Crazy Stunts in The Crew 2^® Open Beta and Get a Chance to Face Your Ride with Red Bull Pilot Bryce Menzies

SYDNEY, Australia — June 21, 2018 — Ubisoft and Red Bull Media House have announced a new event called “Face Your Ride” that gives players the chance to experience in real life the crazy rides they perform in The Crew 2, the newest iteration in the revolutionary open-world driving franchise. To celebrate the game’s upcoming Open Beta taking place from June 21-25 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC, players will be able to submit their best stunts on faceyourride.com for a chance to live it for real with Bryce Menzies, Red Bull’s Trophy Truck driver.* Players can pre-load the beta now at http://thecrewgame.com/beta.

Ubisoft and Red Bull first collaborated in 2016 at the occasion of the launch of Steep^TM, an open world action sports game featuring ski, snowboard, and a wide range of extreme mountain sports. With its longstanding and deep involvement within motorsports, Red Bull was the most credible partner for The Crew 2, the second installment of a franchise that embodies the passion for motorsports, for thrilling experiences, and the desire to share those experiences with the world.

“On The Crew 2, we have been collaborating with more than 50 prestigious brands, making our world more realistic than ever before,” said Stéphane Jankowski, Producer at Ubisoft Ivory Tower. “With Red Bull Media House, we were able to take the collaboration even further and go beyond video game play to real-life experiences. Face Your Ride is a perfect way for us to further connect our game with the reality of today’s motorsports scene.”

In addition, all The Crew 2 Open Beta players will have the opportunity to compete in one of the game’s 4 Red Bull Drift Shifters events and drive several official Red Bull vehicles in the game’s massive open world, including the Formula 1 RB13, a Red Bull buggy, Bryce Menzies pre-runner truck and more. Players will see more Red Bull content in the game in the months ahead.

The Crew 2 will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on June 29 and is available for pre order now on all digital stores. Players pre ordering the game Gold Edition now will get three days of early access starting June 26.**

Developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower,*** a studio based in Lyon, France, The Crew 2 will let 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, solo or with friends, in nonstop competition and exploration. From coast to coast, drivers will 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 will 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 other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.

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

*Please visit faceyourride.com/rules to check the Official Rules of the Face Your Ride contest, including details regarding the eligibility criteria.

**Pre-order The Crew 2 Gold Edition at participating retailers before 26/06/2018 to obtain your copy up to three days earlier than the standard release date – 29/06/2018. Check with your retailer for early access distribution details and pick-up time. This early access offer expires upon release of The Crew 2. Subject to availability. While supply lasts. This is a promotional offer which may not be substituted, exchanged, sold or redeemed for cash. Void where prohibited. May be subject to additional restrictions from retailers; check retailer restrictions prior to purchase.

***Associate Ubisoft studios are Bucharest, Paris, Shanghai and Massive.

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.

Flagship Microsoft Store Sydney partners with Code Like a Girl to offer free coding workshops these July school holidays

The Flagship Microsoft Store Sydney has today announced it is partnering with Code Like a Girl to bring a series of free coding workshops to girls aged 6-15 years old from Monday 9^th July to Sunday 15^th July 2018. The workshops aim to address the need for skilled female information communications technology (ICT) specialists, working to empower and inspire young girls to get involved in coding and encourage this skill for potential future careers in IT industries.

According to recent industry research, in the last 2 years over 40,000 ICT jobs have been created in Australia – but only 13% of girls study STEM in grades eleven and twelve, and just 1 in 10 enrolments to IT based degrees are girls. Combined, women account for less than 24% of the current IT workforce.

The Code Like a Girl workshops are the latest addition to the line-up of free educational workshops available at Microsoft Store. These range from Academy to Creative illustration and design to Xbox game design and Minecraft coding. The Code Like a Girl workshops address the growing need for skilled ICT workers in Australia and Microsoft’s commitment to improving diversity in the tech industry.

Code Like a Girl is an Australian organisation with the goal to reimagine the future for girls and women in the technology industry. The workshops at flagship Microsoft Store Sydney will be conducted by instructors with practical experience in the field, giving girls the opportunity to get hands on with technology, learning an array of skills from how to build websites, to how to create digital art and games, all using coding techniques and programs.

Jessica Erhart, Community Development Specialist at the flagship Microsoft Store Sydney commented on the partnership saying, “By providing young girls an opportunity to develop an active interest in coding, we can help deliver real impact to the future of the Australian technology industry. We see from our customers every day that there is a strong desire from girls to learn how to code and Microsoft Store is committed to creating an innovative learning environment where every young girl from any background, feels included, inspired, supported and empowered.”

Key details for the Code Like a Girl workshops below:

When: Monday July 9^th to Sunday July 15^th at various times throughout each day
Where: Flagship Microsoft Store Sydney (Pitt St Mall, 188 Pitt St, Sydney)
Duration: the workshops run for two and a half hours
Recommended age: varies per workshop type, approx. 6-15 years old
Skill level: beginners no prior learning needed

Workshop types:

1. Design and Build a Website: this workshop will cover how to create and edit your own website from start to finish including HTML coding and styling using CSS3
2. Girls and Games: in this beginner coding tutorial participants will learn how to create their own personalised game from scratch
3. Coding Up a Storm: in this workshop participants will mix playing with learning and use Lego Mindstorms to learn core computational logic and concept
4. Creative Coding: this workshop will allow participants to draw and decorate their own digital art using data structures, selections and loops

Code Like a Girl CEO and Co-Founder, Ally Watson commented on the workshops stating, “It’s great to see a retailer like Microsoft Store supporting young girls as these type of opportunities aren’t regularly offered for free. It’s important that brands like Microsoft actively support the education of young girls in STEM, as it gives the next generation a chance to experience the amazing world of coding and tech.”

Whether you are a whizz kid with technology, a complete novice, or you’re just interested in learning more about coding, Code Like a Girl workshops are a great way to meet likeminded girls, learn from some leading industry talent and have fun.

Register to come along to the Code Like a Girl workshops at www.microsoft.com.au/codelikeagirl. For more information and to check out the latest events at the flagship Microsoft Store in Sydney, please see the events page on the Microsoft Store website.