ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED – EXPLORERS GET READY FOR A MASSIVE NEW ADVENTURE WITH RELEASE OF FREE “RAGNAROK” MAP
First Official Release from the ARK Sponsored Mods Program Available Now as Free DLC on Steam; Next Coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Seattle, WA – June 12, 2017 –   Developer Studio Wildcard announce today the first mod to be integrated into ARK: Survival Evolved as part of its ARK Sponsored Mods Program! Developed by the former creators of popular ARK mods Valhalla and Umassoura, David Miller, Matt Janz and Jackson Lawrence came together to work on their latest project, “Ragnarok” which is being released today for Steam players as a free new map for the multi-million selling dinosaur survival-adventure title, ARK: Survival Evolved.

Being an “Official Mod” means not only will it be available for PC players, but it will also be released as free DLC to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ARK players in early July.

“ARK is a more interesting and vibrant game because of the creative efforts of our modding community, and being able to transition the top-quality mods into the official game on PC and consoles is invaluable,” said Jeremy Stieglitz, Lead Designer, Co-Founder and Co-Creative Director of Studio Wildcard. “The sheer size of the enormous Ragnarok map, along with the variety of content coming from this talent group of guys is remarkable. We’re proud to support their development efforts with both funds & feedback, and the result is fantastic new gameplay that ARK players will get to enjoy on all platforms.”

At the Game Developers Conference 2017 Studio Wildcard launched the ARK Sponsored Mods program, to provide both financial support and development advice to select modders of ARK: Survival Evolved. The program’s goal is to give a boost to the ARK modding community by selecting 15 projects each month to receive $4,000 toward the modders’ ongoing development costs.

• View the new Ragnarok Spotlight Trailer HERE: youtu.be/NfaOogXlG3g
• Download the new Ragnarok Spotlight Trailer HERE: spaces.hightail.com/receive/NDSCWxH0dD

Steam players download “Ragnarok” now here! The new mod contains:

• A 144 sq kilometer map designed to be explored by land, sea or air
• Tons of harvest-able or gatherable resources
• Caves of all shapes and sizes, each designed to be built in
• Distinct variations on former ARK creatures, as well a special brand-new creature unique to Ragnarok
• Build tree platforms on unique trees/rocks
• Expansive biomes that were built to reward hardy explorers
• Some of the most challenging dungeons in ARK will await players
• An active volcano that while erupting yields a high amount of resources in the form of lava crystal
• Beautiful vistas and base locations as far as the eye can see
• Hot springs that while dormant yield a relaxing buff, but when active, become dangerous
• Ruins to not only explore but that can also be incorporated into base builds
• A vast ocean with its own ecosystem
• Upcoming future desert biome to find and tame creatures
• Upcoming Explorer Notes that hold the key to Ragnarok’s secrets and history

As announced today, ARK: Survival Evolved is now available to pre-order! In North America there are three ways to get your dino-fix with ARK: Survival Evolved, all of which are now available to pre-order for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms. For more information on the Explorer’s Edition and Limited Collector’s Edition please visit  www.playark.com

Powered by Unreal Engine 4, ARK: Survival Evolved takes on the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake stranded and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans. On ARK, they must then hunt, harvest, craft, research technology, and build shelters to protect against scorching days, freezing nights, volatile weather systems, dangerous wildlife, and potential enemies. Tame, train, ride and breed one of 100 amazing dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, including gargantuan creatures on a scale never before seen in video games! Fly a Pteranodon squadron over the snow-capped mountains, race through the deep jungle with your pack of trained Raptors, tromp through a fortified enemy base along a convoy of gigantic Brontosaurus, or chase down prey on the back of a raging T-Rex.

ARK: Survival Evolved will launch worldwide in retail stores and on digital platforms on August 8, 2017, for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Steam PC. ARK: Survival Evolved is rated “T” for Teen (Violence, Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol) by the ESRB.

For the latest updates follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.

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ABOUT STUDIO WILDCARD
Studio Wildcard was co-founded in 2014 by industry veteran Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, former Technical Art Director at Microsoft Game Studios, with the mission of bringing AAA quality to ambitious indie productions that are designed for core gamers. With combined 25 years of industry experience across multiple independent and studio-backed titles, Jeremy and Jesse have teamed up with other veteran developers for Seattle, WA-based and Gainesville, FL-based development studios that also include distributed team members across multiple continents. Wherever talented, driven developers may reside, Studio Wildcard intends to seek out and work with them!

MEDIA CONTACTS

ASTRO GAMING UNVEILS NEW LINE WITH LAUNCH OF ASTRO A10 HEADSET

New ASTRO A10 Represents Unprecedented Value Delivering High Durability, Incredible Comfort and Class-Leading Audio Alongside ASTRO’s Commitment to Immersive Experiences  

SAN FRANCISCO – June 12, 2017 – At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles (Booth 513), ASTRO Gaming, the leader in premium video gaming equipment, today unveiled a new line of gaming headsets with the launch of the studio’s new ASTRO A10 Gaming Headset.  Designed to allow a wide range of gamers to experience ASTRO Gaming’s renowned build quality, enhanced comfort and audio fidelity, the ASTRO A10 Gaming Headset delivers on all fronts at a highly competitive price point. The A10 is compatible with the Xbox One family of devices (Xbox One, Xbox One S, Project Scorpio), Windows PC, Mac, PlayStation®4, handheld and mobile devices, and fits comfortably over all current VR headsets.

“ASTRO’s mission is to improve the sport of gaming – our innovative products and cutting-edge technologies enhance the experience and make it more immersive, exciting and memorable.” said Aron Drayer, VP of Marketing for ASTRO Gaming. “With the A10 we wanted to challenge ourselves to see if we could deliver that same ASTRO experience at a price point that is more attainable for the average consumer.  Whether you’re gaming at home or an aspiring pro, at ASTRO, we’re just as serious about the comfort and quality of your gaming experience as you are. We’re confident that you’ll be impressed with what we’ve been able to accomplish with the A10.”

Featuring a stylish, durable and highly adjustable headband, memory foam ear-cushions for extended comfort, “Tuned for Gaming” with ASTRO Audio™, precise voice communications with the included omnidirectional mic and more, the ASTRO A10 Gaming Headset proves that gaming is better with a great headset. The ASTRO A10 Gaming Headset is available now from major participating retailers and directly from ASTRO Gaming (www.astrogaming.com) for $60 USD, or bundled with the MixAmp M60 for Xbox One for $100.

The ASTRO A10 Gaming Headset feature set includes:

• ASTRO Audio – “Tuned for Gaming” by ASTRO’s team of gaming audio experts, ASTRO Audio delivers accurate and precise audio performance from every source.
• ASTRO Comfort & Quality –  Engineered for extended gaming sessions featuring memory foam ear and head cushions, the ASTRO A10 is comfortable, lightweight, and easily adjustable.  In addition, the ultra-durable headband is damage resistant, ensuring the headset will withstand wins, losses and everything in between.
• Precision Boom Mic – The ASTRO A10 includes a precise, omnidirectional mic that’s optimized for Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Mac, and more.  The A10 features Flip-Up Mute functionality, which mutes voice output and conveniently stows the microphone when not in use.
• Platform Compatibility – The ASTRO A10 is fully compatible with Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Mac, VR, handheld and mobile devices.  The wired connection can be easily and conveniently swapped between gaming, movie, or music sources at any time.

About ASTRO Gaming
ASTRO Gaming creates premium video gaming equipment and lifestyle products for professional gamers, leagues, and gaming prosumers.  ASTRO Gaming was spun-off from design powerhouse ASTRO Studios, known in the gaming world for designing the Xbox 360®, along with Alienware™ and HP® Gaming PCs. ASTRO Gaming produces a line of gamer-centric “tech-life” products that support this rapidly growing community.  All ASTRO Gaming products are available at www.astrogaming.com, www.astrogaming.co.uk, www.astrogaming.de, www.astrogaming.ca and www.astrogaming.fr

THQ Nordic Announces Cooperation with Bugbear Entertainment on Wreckfest

Vienna, Austria/Helsinki, Finland, June 12th 2017: There are many ways to win a race. The best is to have a strong team, a talented driver and a wonderful car. By joining forces for Wreckfest, developer Bugbear Entertainment, well known for the critically acclaimed FlatOut series and publisher THQ Nordic bring together these three parts. Together they will make sure the game passes the finish line in 2017 on PC with the console versions in close pursuit in 2018.

Wreckfest, currently in Steam’s Early Access program, is going to receive a number of updates in the following months, including these features:

• The career mode: By achieving victories, players can get access to more and better cars and upgrade them with various parts
• Car customization: A complex system, allowing the players to fully customize their cars for their individual needs, like more armor to withstand the competitors or more powerful engines
• More cars, more tracks: THQ Nordic and Bugbear Entertainment will make sure a constant flow of additional content will be added on a regular basis for the remaining months of the Early Access program
• New multiplayer server: To guarantee an outstanding racing and wrecking experience, an Official Wreckfest Server will be opened

THQ Nordic’s Managing Director, Klemens Kreuzer, points out: “Wreckfest is not just motorsport – it is motorsport with an attitude. An attitude we love. Therefore we are very happy to cooperate with Bugbear Entertainment, to make Wreckfest better, bigger and simply the best destruction derby-racing game out there.“

Janne Alanenpää, Managing Director of Bugbear Entertainment: “THQ Nordic shares our vision for Wreckfest, and together we can create the most thrilling demolition racing experience on both PC and consoles.“
About Wreckfest                                                                                                     Wreckfest is a new demolition derby themed racing game with soft-body damage modeling, sophisticated driving dynamics and in-depth vehicle upgrading, featuring both demolition derbies and more traditional track races. It’s all about fun, breakneck racing and over-the-top crashes.
Expect epic crashes and tight, neck-to-neck fights over the finish line on run-down racing tracks. Expect proper demolition derbies. Expect brand new ways for metal to bend and the signature once-in-the-lifetime moments that can be achieved only with true-to-life physics simulation.It’s a motorsport, but not just any motorsport. It’s a motorsport with attitude.

Wreckfest Official Homepage

About Bugbear Entertainment                                                                                   Bugbear Entertainment is a game studio specializing in action driving. We’ve been making car games for sixteen years, starting with Rally Trophy (2001, PC). With over a decade of development under its belt, Bugbear Entertainment has successfully redefined the genre of action racing. We are best known for the critically acclaimed demolition racing series FlatOut (2004-2007, PC, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360) and street racing title Ridge Racer Unbounded (2013, PC, PS3, Xbox 360).

Bugbear Entertainment Homepage

About THQ Nordic
Founded in 2008, THQ Nordic is a global video game publisher and developer. Based in Vienna, Austria and Karlstad, Sweden with subsidiaries in Germany and the USA,THQ Nordic brands include Darksiders, MX vs. ATV, Red Faction and Titan Quest. THQ Nordic is meant to represent a core approach of doing much more than “owning” a highly competitive portfolio of IPs. It revolves around cherishing them, and aligning them with the very best development resources to expand upon them with the level of experience that communities and established fan bases expect and deserve.

The company’s internal development studios are Grimlore Games based in Munich, Germany and Rainbow Studios based in Phoenix, Arizona.

THQ Nordic Website