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Firewatch Devs Campo Santo Joins Valve

Indie devs Campo Santo announced they are joining Valve. The terms of the deal is not entirely clear by the announcement; however, Campo Santo confirmed that they will be moving from California to Valve’s headquarters in Washington to continue work on the upcoming game In the Valley of Gods. While Campo Santo now has greater access to resources thanks to Valve’s much deeper pockets, Campo Santo has assured gamers that it will be business as usual outside of the new work address.

The move is part of Valve’s push to refocus their efforts in releasing video games after several years of focusing on first party hardware ventures like Steam Controller and hardware partnerships like the Steam Machine. Campo Santo cites a similar work culture as the driving force behind their decision.

Darwin Project Goes Free to Play on Steam

Battle royale game Darwin Project is going free to play on Steam. Until now, the game has been a paid Steam Early Access title. Players have been complaining about long queue times for matches, so indie developers Scavengers Studio has opted to make the game free to play in a bid to increase the player base. Scavengers Studios assured gamers that items purchasable with real cash will not provide any competitive advantage.

Those who have purchased the game will not be left out in the cold. On April 24th, buyers will receive a founders pack containing 2 Legendary sets, 3 Legendary Axes, 3 Legendary Bows, a full jumpsuit collection, and 5 Fan Gifts as thanks for their early monetary support.

No word as of yet if or when the Xbox One version of the game will go free to play.

Darwin Project throws ten players into the Canadian Rockies in a battle to the death game show controlled by a human Show Director. Players will have to survive the Show Director’s evil tricks while tracking down the other competitors using environmental cues. The entire show is streamed live on the internet, with viewers able to bet on the results or cast their vote to support or smite a player.

Hearthstone Game Director Ben Brode Leaving to Start New Company

Hearthstone Game Director Ben Brode announced on the Blizzard forums that he is leaving Blizzard and Hearthstone. Brode has spent 15 years at Blizzard, starting as a night crew game tester. Brode will be leaving to start a new game development company.

Starting as a small experimental project, Brode is one of the original Team 5 members brought together 10 years ago to develop Hearthstone. Since then, the free to play trading card game has exploded into one of Activision Blizzard’s biggest money makers. Brode has long been the public face for the Hearthstone team, serving a similar role as Jeff Kaplan’s and Overwatch. No word who will be stepping up to fill Brode’s shoes as of yet.

Subaeria, the Roguelike Puzzle Oriented Adventure Game, from Independent Studio illogika Delayed to May 9 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One

Subaeria, the Roguelike Puzzle Oriented Adventure Game, from Independent Studio illogika Delayed to May 9 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One

SUBAERIA RELEASAE DATE TRAILER

Montreal – April 20, 2018 – Montreal based independent developer iLLOGIKA , known for their work on Cuphead, Lara Craft Go and Hitman Go announced today that their upcoming puzzle adventure game Subaeria will be launching on May 9, 2018 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

The studio explained that they needed to add a final polish touch to make sure the game is as good as possible, so they decided to push back the launch date for all platforms by a few weeks. The initial release date was set for April 24th.

About Subaeria
Combining platform and clever puzzle gameplay mechanics with roguelike elements, Subaeria’s single player campaign challenges their skills to control the movements of their adversary robots with the help of their drone and abilities. Each level is procedurally generated and gradually increases the puzzle solving difficulty, enabling power-ups and demanding strategic thinking in order to manipulate the surroundings and character’s skills.

Subaeria features include:

  • Pit your enemies against one another and the environment to defeat them.
  • Use skills equipped to your drone to influence your robot enemies and Styx.
  • Every room is a puzzle to be solved with the skills you have on hand.
  • Unlock different skills, buffs and skins at each play through.
  • Explore a new labyrinth at every play session.

Subaeria will be available on Steam, Playstation 4 and Xbox One for $14.99 USD on May 9th, 2018.

For more information visit: http://www.illogika.com/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illogika/
Follow us on Twitter: @iLLOGIKA

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About iLLOGIKA
Creating new interactive worlds fascinates us, playing with new technologies motivates us, comradeship guides us: this is iLLOGIKA. We are a Montreal indie studio which has shipped more than fifty projects , collaborated on   award-winning games (such as Cuphead, Lara Croft Go and Hitman Go)  and covered a large field of expertise (Unity, Unreal, VR, AR). With our team of 40 talented people, we are ready to push the envelope.

Horror Game Agony’s Journey through Hell Set for May 29th on PC and Consoles

Hell Awaits: Agony Release Date Announced

Walnut Creek, Calif. — April 20, 2018 – The highly anticipated horror-survival game Agony will launch on May 29th as developer Madmind Studios and publisher Maximum Games announced the release date for PlayStation® 4, Xbox One the all in one entertainment system from Microsoft and PC today. A new teaser trailer revealed with today’s launch date showcases the terrifying scenery and cursed creatures awaiting players brave enough to explore Agony’s twisted realms.

Agony throws players in the midst of hell where they strive to stay alive and solve the riddle behind the mysterious Red Goddess; architect of this place of sorrow and pain, and the sole entity with knowledge of how escape… but there is more to the story than it seems. Haunted by nightmare creatures, players gain the ability to possess demons and other souls to find their way out of hell.

Since its announcement, Agony has been featured on numerous “Most anticipated Horror Games 2018” lists and the Kickstarter-financed title is poised to challenge players with its brutal and malevolent environments as one of the premiere horror titles of the year.

Agony features a full-fledged story mode as well as an open challenge system that randomly generates levels for players to explore and survive to gain new high scores.

For more information please visit AgonyGame.com.

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About Madmind Studio

Madmind Studio is a game development studio created in 2016 by Tomasz Dutkiewicz. We are the team of game developers who are working for more than ten years in the video gaming industry.Our studio comprises veteran game developers, who have worked on numerous AAA titles, such as Witcher 3, The Division, Sniper: GW2, Alien Rage, Enemy front and more. The invaluable experience we have gained with these titles allows us to use this knowledge not only to translate it into high-quality titles but also to help and train new, passionate people who are just beginning their adventure with the gaming industry.At first, our studio only had nine people. The dynamic development of the company allowed us to double the number of employees employed.Currently, we are 18 developers determined to create best possible, visually stunning games with a unique atmosphere.

About Koch Media

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. The Koch Media group has more than 20 years of experience in the digital media business, and has risen to become the number one distributor in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Bethesda, Capcom, Kaspersky Labs, NC SOFT, Sega, Square Enix and Tecmo-Koei, etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux and the United States.

About Maximum Games

Maximum Games ranks as a top 15 global video game publisher of interactive digital entertainment spanning all genres and supporting multi-platforms. The company’s mission is to provide a proven and strong hands-on approach to publishing, marketing and distribution. Established in 2009, the company is led by female entrepreneur Christina Seelye, a seasoned executive of digital consumer products and channel marketing. Under Seelye’s leadership, the company has been recognized with numerous awards such as “Fastest Growing Tech Company” by American Business Awards, and has made the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies for the past three years. Maximum Games has offices in both the US and UK, and continues to expand its scope of global publishing and distribution via direct reach and strategic partnerships. For more information on Maximum Games, visit the company’s website at www.maximumgames.com.

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.

New State of Mind Gameplay Trailer as Daedalic kicks off preorder

New State of Mind Gameplay Trailer as Daedalic kicks off preorder

When mind and machine become one – what will remain of humanity?

Friday, April 20, 2018 — The release of Daedalic’s futuristic 3D thriller State of Mind is now in sight . The game will be available in summer 2018 for PC (incl. Mac/Linux) as well as PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. State of Mind is now available for preorder on Steam and GOG. The MSRP for the PC version is 29,99 Euro/USD and 39,99 Euro/USD on consoles.

Berlin, 2048 – The world is on the brink. Lack of resources, illnesses caused by polluted air and water, crime on the rise, war. Governments and companies promise remedies through technological progress. Drones and humanoid robots replace humans in the public sector, everything is interconnected, surveillance has become omnipresent.

State of Mind lets players dive deep into a futuristic scenario that in many details comes very close to our own possible future. Today’s buzzwords like AI, big data and a fully digitized daily life determine our thoughts, feelings and relationships in 2048.

In the game, main character Richard Nolan is one of the few journalists openly criticizing this development. When he wakes up in hospital after an explosion and finds that his wife and son have mysteriously vanished, Richard realizes: he and his family have become more than just bystanders in a storm of rivaling ideas pertaining humankind’s salvation between dystopian reality and digital utopia. Instead, they find themselves right at the center of it.

This domestic drama evolves into a thriller about a worldwide conspiracy, which at its core aims to determine the fate of humanity: Could a perfect digital utopia be the answer? A virtual paradise not affected by material needs and quarrels? Could a super-AI be our savior – or would it simply declare us as dispensable since it could not be taught the value of philanthropy?

What will the world look like after this storm, what will remain of humanity?

State of Mind offers a thrilling plot around these essential questions. Developed in Unreal, the game provides a unique low-poly visual style, a deep story by author Martin Ganteföhr, several playable characters and about 15 hours of engaging gameplay.

You can preorder State of Mind now:

– Steam
– GOG

ABOUT DAEDALIC ENTERTAINMENT
Daedalic Entertainment publishes and develops computer and video games for all platforms. The studio focuses on interactive literature and character and narrative-driven games like adventures and RPGs. Daedalic Entertainment has a staff of more than 80 employees. Since May 2014, Daedalic is part of the Bastei Lübbe group of companies.

Daedalic won the German Developer Award 29 times („Studio of the Year“ 2009 and 2013, among others). In 2013, the studio won the prestigious German Games Award for “Best German Game” with “Chaos on Deponia”. Daedalic Entertainment is also the eleven-time winner of the German Video Game Award and the European Games Award.

Last Encounter Heads to PC Stratosphere on 8 May

Last Encounter Heads to PC Stratosphere on 8 May

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Coming Q3 2018

ZAGREB, Croatia – 20 April, 2018 – Last Encounter, the intergalactic roguelike twin-stick shooter with extensive weapon customization from Exordium Games, will release on Windows via Steam on 8 May, 2018. Console-based pilots can join the fight for humanity on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One when it comes to consoles in Q3 2018.

After humans discover groundbreaking advancements in cloning technology, a savage and technologically superior race invades Earth, leaving mankind nearly extinct. Humanity’s remaining pilots must take a final stand and traverse through vibrant procedurally generated galaxies to eradicate the alien forces and bring peace back to Earth. 

Each pilot brings their own distinct skills to the battle. Select from a variety of ships, each with its own abilities and attributes. Collect and combine weapon components to create rocket-firing SMGs, laser beam snipers and more, then use those deadly devices to thwart the extraterrestrial onslaught.

Up to four pilots can team up in engaging, fast-paced couch co-op to fight off waves of enemies and bosses while exploring the cosmos. Together, pilots can share and experiment with components to assemble the ultimate weapon and save humanity.

“With dozens of components in the game, there is a vast variety of weapons that players can design and use,” said Andrej Kovacevic, Game Director, Exordium Games. “Whether you team up with friends or go into the fight alone, Last Encounter provides a challenge with a great deal of replayability.”

For more information, please visit the official website or follow Last Encounter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Exordium Games

Exordium Games is a Croatia-based independent studio that united more than a dozen developers under a shared belief that games have a vital role in modern society’s evolution and future. Exordium strives to create magnificent adventures that can be enjoyed by people all over the world.

LEO’S FORTUNE DEVELOPER SENRI AND MOBGE LAUNCH ODDMAR, AN ACTION-ADVENTURE PLATFORMER WITH VIKINGS FOR iOS

LEO’S FORTUNE DEVELOPER SENRI AND MOBGE LAUNCH ODDMAR, AN ACTION-ADVENTURE PLATFORMER WITH VIKINGS FOR iOS

LOS ANGELES April 19, 2018 – Senri, the team behind the 2014 WWDC Apple Design Award-winning Leo’s Fortune, and independent developer MobGe have released Oddmar, an original action-adventure platformer inspired by Vikings and Norse mythology. The game is available today on iOS devices via the App Store for $4.99 with no in-app purchases.

Oddmar features 24 expertly crafted levels of physics-based puzzles and platforming challenges. As a Viking given special powers by a magical mushroom, you’ll journey through mystical fairy forests, snowy mountains, treacherous mines and more on a quest to become worthy of Valhalla’s great hall of heroes. Meet new friends and arm yourself with magically imbued weapons and shields to battle monstrous foes and bosses on this epic adventure.

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oddmar/id1247397901?ls=1&mt=8 

Oddmar’s story, beautifully illustrated as a motion comic, is narrated by Julian Casey (We Happy Few, Assassin’s Creed series) and written by Frank Gibson (The Amazing World of Gumball comic book series). The game’s music, composed by Pär Svensson, incorporates Nordic folk instruments to complement its hand-animated visuals and Viking theme.

For more from Oddmar, visit www.oddmargame.com, and follow the game on FacebookTwitter and YouTube.

About Senri

Senri is an independent video game company founded by Johan Knutzen and Shahrouz Zolfaghari. We have a deep passion for games and we have been developing premium mobile games since 2009. Our previous titles are: Leo’s Fortune, Devil’s Attorney and Dark Nebula – Episode Two.

About MobGe

MobGe is an independent game-making studio based in Eskişehir, Turkey, founded in 2014 by Ferhat Aydogan and Ozgur Taskin. We create fun experiences with fluid game mechanics where passion and innovation bring characters alive.

Murderous Pursuits Open Beta Starting April 20th

Blazing Griffin announced they will be running an open beta weekend for Murderous Pursuits. The beta kicks off on Steam at 7 PM Eastern Time on Friday, April 20th and will run until 12 AM on Sunday, April 22nd. It does not appear Blazing Griffin will be letting gamers pre-load the beta. Accompanying the announcement is a brand new dev diary.

Murderous Pursuits is the spiritual successor to the classic stealth game The Ship. Players have been invited to an exclusive party on the airship of Mr. X to participate in a deadly game. Players will need to blend into the AI crowds as they stalk their prey and attempt to kill them. But beware, the hunter is also the hunted.

Murderous Pursuits is set to launch on Steam on April 26th for $19.99 USD. A digital deluxe edition with a digital art book, exclusive skins, and more will also be available for $29.99 USD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bmQjoYkPD4

CALL OF DUTY® ALEXA SKILL LAUNCHES TODAY FOR CALL OF DUTY: WWII

CALL OF DUTY® ALEXA SKILL LAUNCHES TODAY FOR CALL OF DUTY: WWII

The Alexa Skill Features a Personal Call of Duty Coach Including Real-Time Recommendations Powered by AI and Machine Learning, Robust Community Features, Match Summaries and Updates for In-Game Achievements.

April 19, 2018 – Starting today Call of Duty®: WWII players will have an additional ally on their side with the Call of Duty Alexa Skill. Created by Activision and available today in Beta, the Call of Duty Alexa Skill features an array of support options, including personalised player recommendations, updates on in-game achievements and the ability to stay connected with and compare your play with friends.  Did you just play a match of Call of Duty: WWII and want to know how you did, as well as how to improve your chances next time?  Ask Alexa how to improve your skills, and you’ll get a personalised recommendation ready for your next match. Want to know if your friends are online and playing Call of Duty: WWII?  Just ask Alexa.  The skill supports all platforms of Call of Duty: WWII and is available free of charge, on any Alexa-enabled device via the Alexa companion app.

The Call of Duty Alexa Skill employs AI and machine learning to create personalised recommendations, including specific loadouts, play styles, maps, modes, perks and divisions for each player. Using cluster analysis, the machine learning model analyses more than 20 factors, including accuracy, movement, engagement distance, K/D, shots, score per minute, time played and relationships to other players to make personalised recommendations for each player. The Skill then employs natural language generation to create personalised responses to 2,500 questions about the game and an individual’s performance. Using a soldier-like voice, the Skill can deliver 250,000 distinct responses that incorporate real-time statistics, status and recommendations from the game.

“The Call of Duty Alexa Skill gives every player a personal Call of Duty coach for the first time, using AI and machine learning to analyse how you play and providing tips on how to improve your gameplay based on your individual strengths, weaknesses and play style,” said Tim Ellis, Chief Marketing Officer of Activision. “We know that people play more Call of Duty as their skills improve and the more often they play with their friends. The Call of Duty Alexa Skill is designed to help players improve their Call of Duty skills, connect more easily with their friends and get to the fun faster in Call of Duty: WWII.”

The Call of Duty Alexa Skill can be used during a match, in between matches or away from the game. It serves to not only answer questions about Call of Duty: WWII matches, but also to provide insights with personalised responses, automated insights and real-time play analysis regarding Call of Duty’s blockbuster most recent release. The Skill also provides players with a complete onboarding experience for Call of Duty: WWII, providing key background details and mission objectives, as well analysis on how to improve their skills. Gamers can also use the Skill to find out who from their friend group is also playing Call of Duty: WWII, or simply hear how they stack up against their friends.

There are 15 categories of features available in the Call of Duty Alexa Skill for Call of Duty: WWII, including:

  • Personalised recommendations to improve your skills
  • Match summaries, and highlights of your recent gameplay
  • Social features, including whether friends are currently playing, and comparing your stats and achievements to theirs
  • Contract and order status, both during and after a match, so that you see how close you are to completing the contract and earning a reward
  • Latest in-game news, including events and game updates
  • Game and features descriptions

The Call of Duty Alexa Skill was developed by Activision for the Call of Duty franchise, starting with Call of Duty: WWII. It is being launched in English for the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand to French and German in the coming months. For more information on the Call of Duty Alexa Skill Beta, please visit www.callofduty.com/alexa. 

Call of Duty: WWII is developed by Sledgehammer Games with additional development support from Raven Software.  The game is rated R18+ for high impact violence and online interactivity. The title is published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI). For the latest intel on Call of Duty; WWII visit: www.callofduty.com, www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty and @SHGames on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about Call of Duty: WWII and the Call of Duty Alexa Skill, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

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© 2018 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, and CALL OF DUTY WWII are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark and “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.