NINTENDO SWITCH USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF CONSOLE GAMING ON THE GO

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 1-2-Switch, and Snipperclips kick off 2017’s Nintendo Switch gaming line-up

3^rd March, 2017 – Today’s launch of the Nintendo Switch video game console means that home console-quality gaming is no longer tethered exclusively to the living room TV. Nintendo Switch lets players enjoy their favourite games anytime, anywhere and with anyone. It comes in two colour options: a version with a set of grey Joy-Con controllers, and a version with one neon blue and one neon red Joy-Con controller.

Nintendo Switch connects to a TV at home and can instantly transform into an on-the-go handheld using its 6.2-inch high-definition screen. The screen includes capacitive multi-touch capabilities for compatible games. The left Joy-Con has a Capture Button that players can press to take instant screenshots of gameplay to share with friends on their social media pages. The right Joy-Con includes an NFC touchpoint for interaction with amiibo figures, as well as an IR Motion Camera that can approximate the distance, shape and motion of nearby objects in specially designed games. Both Joy-Con include motion controls and an advanced HD rumble feature. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, sold separately, includes all the same features (minus the IR Motion Camera) and comes in a more traditional form factor.

Today also marks the launch of the first epic Nintendo Switch game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which breaks new boundaries while honouring the origins of the acclaimed series. The game is available for both Nintendo Switch and Wii U. New compatible amiibo launching today for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild include Link (Rider), Link (Archer), Zelda, and a Bokoblin amiibo. A massive new Guardian amiibo is also available today.

Also launching today is the head-to-head party game 1-2-Switch. From Wild West gunslinging to safecracking to competitive cow-milking, the 28 games in 1-2-Switch make creative use of a broad variety of Joy-Con features, such as motion controls, HD rumble and the IR Motion Camera. In a video game twist, the game asks players to look at each other instead of at the TV, creating a fun atmosphere that will liven up any party.

But today is just the start. A steady supply of games will arrive for Nintendo Switch throughout the rest of the year. Other first-party Nintendo Switch games on the horizon include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (28^th April), ARMS (autumn), Splatoon 2 (winter), Fire Emblem Warriors (spring), Super Mario Odyssey (the 2017 holiday season) and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017).

Nintendo eShop, Nintendo’s online storefront for downloadable games, will also be available from launch day. Both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch are available for purchase and download today*.

Also available on Nintendo eShop today is Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!, exclusive to Nintendo eShop. Two players cut their paper characters into new shapes to solve dynamic puzzles in a wonderfully creative and imaginative world. Nintendo eShop also provides access to a constantly updated library of great games from independent developers and publishers. Some of the games available for purchase today include FAST RMX from Shin’en Multimedia, and both Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove from Yacht Club Games.

Nintendo Switch is supported by world-class third-party publishers, including Activision Publishing Inc., Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and major Japanese publishers. Some publishers, such as Bethesda Softworks, are joining Nintendo for the first time. Third-party launch titles include Skylanders Imaginators, Just Dance 2017 and Super Bomberman R, plus players can look forward to major franchises on Nintendo Switch such as EA SPORTS FIFA, The Elder Scrolls, NBA 2K, Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter, with Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers releasing on May 26^th. Nintendo Switch software is not region locked.

Nintendo Switch comes packaged with the main console, Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers, a Joy-Con grip (to which two Joy-Con are attached and used as one controller), a set of Joy-Con straps, a Nintendo Switch dock (which holds the main console and connects it to a TV), a HDMI cable and an AC adapter.

SHANTAE: HALF-GENIE HERO TO RECEIVE FIRST UPDATE SQUASHING BUGS, ADDING NEW DIFFICULTY FOR PLATFORMING VETERANS

Torrance, Calif. — March 2, 2017 — XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that the critically acclaimed, crowdfunded action platformer developed by WayForward, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, will be receiving its first post-launch update in North America on March 6. Lovingly dubbed “Update 1.01”, the first update is primarily focused on addressing bug fixes and adding in PlayStation TV support for the PlayStation®Vita version of the title.

But wait, there’s more! WayFoward will also be adding in a “Hard Core” difficulty setting for the main “Shantae” mode in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. This mode is designed to provide an old-school, tough-as-nails challenge to players willing to test their mettle. There is no mercy to be found here – it’s hardcore, after all!

“Thank you for your ongoing support, and for waiting patiently while we continue production of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. And also thanks to everyone on Twitch, YouTube, and other social media for helping us make the game even better with this update,” said Matt Bozon, Creative Director at WayForward and creator of the Shantae series. “We hope you’ll enjoy Hard Core Mode while you wait for the bigger DLC packs to arrive. Remember, no throwing controllers, and please keep your hair-whipping in the game where it belongs!”

What to expect in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero HARD CORE MODE:

• Pain and suffering!
• Harder-hitting enemies!
• Faster enemy patterns!
• Faster scroll speeds!
• Remixed enemy locations, and more of ‘em!
• New boss patterns, attacks, and stats!
• Healing items capped at six!
• Re-balanced magic items!
• Poor Shantae!

Following three highly successful releases with Shantae, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge, and Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero reacquaints players with the cast of Shantae in full HD. The magical world of Sequin Land is more vibrant than ever with high-definition graphics that retain the charm of the original 2D hand-drawn sprites the series is known for. Shantae, the spirited young half-genie, must once again defend Scuttle Town as the pirate captain and self-proclaimed Queen of the Seven Seas, Risky Boots, plots to steal a newly discovered limitless source of power.

Shantae has previously protected her hometown from all forms of evil including steam-powered pirates, undead evildoers, and militaristic madmen, and is ready to take on Risky Boots with her trademark Hair Whip attack and Belly Dance moves which give her the power to transform into eight different creatures. Non-stop action with immersive 2.5D environments and a new relic system give novice and expert players a uniquely tailored platforming experience. All of Sequin Land becomes a fully explorable world — after conquering massive bosses, the arcade-style action stages can be revisited to discover new items and secrets based on experience gained.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is developed by WayForward for PS4™, “PS Vita” and Wii U. XSEED Games has published the “Risky Beats” physical editions, which are packaged with a musical selections CD, for $29.99, as well as the digital “PS Vita” release for $19.99. More information on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero can be found at www.shantaehgh.com. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB with the descriptors of Cartoon Violence and Suggestive Themes.

For more information on XSEED Games products, please visit www.xseedgames.com. Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook at www.facebook.com/XSEEDGames and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/XSEEDGames.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Sabotage DLC Available Now on PS4, Xbox One and PC 

Sabotage, the First DLC Map Pack for the Game, Features Four New Multiplayer Maps, Including Re-imagined Fan-Favourite Modern Warfare®2 Map, Afghan 

March 3, 2017 – Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare Sabotage, the first DLC pack for the game, is available now on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One and PC. Sabotage delivers four new, epic multiplayer maps, including the return of one of Call of Duty’s most famed maps from Modern Warfare®2, Afghan, re-imagined for a new generation. The new DLC pack also features “Rave in the Redwoods,” the next thrilling chapter of the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare zombies experience that continues the macabre narrative and takes players into a new decade: the 1990s.

Rave in the Redwoods takes fans through a new storyline taking place in an abandoned lakeside summer camp. The four playable characters return, and are voiced by the same actors from the original story, but now take on fresh, over-the-top roles from the ‘90s era including “the Hip Hop Wannabe,” “the Kandi Raver,” “the Grunge Rocker,” and “the Westside Gangsta.” Willard Wyler, the enigmatic movie director villain, has once again trapped them inside a twisted horror movie where the protagonists must fight the undead against zombie ravers who have turned the campgrounds into a techno-fuelled nightmare.

In addition to the Rave in the Redwoods zombies content, Sabotage also includes four new multiplayer maps:

• Renaissance – Set in Northern Italy, Renaissance pits players against each other on the narrow streets of Venice surrounded by classic architecture and buildings. The map promotes continuous action through the canals and neighbourhoods of this iconic city.
• Noir – A dark, grimy city map inspired by futuristic Brooklyn at night, Noir is a classic three-lane map set against a backdrop of a dystopian future. Noir is filled with cafes and parks surrounding a brutal downtown warzone.
• Neon – A virtual training centre designed for urban warfare, Neon is a unique, digitised battle arena where cars and other structures spawn out of thin air and enemies dissolve into hundreds of pixels when defeated. Middle-lane sightlines cater to long-range players, while the perimeter of the map allows for quick counter-attacks in close-quarter action.
• Dominion – A re-imagining of the classic Afghan map from Modern Warfare®2, now set on Mars, Dominion retains all the memorable landmarks and gameplay of the original. Anchored by the crashed ship in the centre, Dominion offers enhancements designed to fully engage the new movement system of Infinite Warfare.

The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Sabotage DLC Map Pack is available now for a great value via the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Season Pass, which can be purchased on its own or obtained as part of the Legacy Pro or Digital Deluxe editions of the game. For console players, Season Pass gives discounted access to four Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare DLC Map Packs released during 2017 (discount based on a Season Pass suggested retail price of AUD$64.95 / NZD$69.95, and four individual DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of AUD$19.95 / NZD$22.95 each). Season Pass owners receive 10 Rare Supply Drops upon purchase plus 1,000 bonus Salvage Credits to craft new prototype weapons, as well as immediate access to the R-VN Energy Rifle base weapon for use in the game’s multiplayer and zombies modes.

*DLC map packs are not sold individually on the PC.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com. Fans can also follow @CallofDuty 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.

Gambitious Digital Entertainment to Publish Wild Factor’s Evil Mansion Management and Strategy Game, MachiaVillain, on PC

Build a monstrous manor and exterminate your victims with devilish traps and creatures

AMSTERDAM and PARIS – March 2, 2017 – Gambitious Digital Entertainment has announced it will publish MachiaVillain, the evil mansion management and strategy game from independent developer Wild Factor. Inspired by classic gaming experiences like Dungeon Keeper and the tropes of horror cinema, this insidious title is expected to arrive this fall on Windows PC, Mac and Linux.

MachiaVillain challenges players to build their own mansions up from harmless houses to nightmarish palaces of terrors. Lure locals inside, set deadly traps or let your minions feast on their flesh. But beware – even horror movie monsters have a code to honor. To become the scariest neighborhood menace, you’ll have to slay by the rules… target victims when they’re alone, keep the virgin alive until the end, and never, ever hurt the dog.

Assemble and manage a menagerie of monstrous minions, balancing their unique traits, needs and fighting styles, then customize the mansion to make them feel at home. Players can use resources from the environment and leftover body parts from dismembering to craft new items to help keep the manor safe from supernatural creatures and monster hunters who would threaten to topple their gruesome ascent to glory.

For more information on the game, please visit http://store.steampowered.com/app/555510 or www.wildfactor.net. You can also follow us on Twitter @WildFactorGames or @GambitiousInc.

About Wild Factor

Founded in 2012 in Paris, Wild Factor is an indie studio making games with an offbeat sense of humor. Their third title, MachiaVillain, started when Alexandre -the coder- convinced Rachel, his girlfriend artist, to enter an innocent LudumDare. His evil plan worked, as they have been working in couple on MachiaVillain for over two years. www.wildfactor.net

About Gambitious Digital Entertainment

Launched in 2012, Gambitious, Inc. is the first global crowd-financing platform exclusively for games. With a mission to create and foster a sustainable ecosystem for independent game creation and publishing, Gambitious utilizes its evolving set of creative crowd financing tools and techniques to get more great game titles funded, produced, and successfully released. The company’s publishing label, Gambitious Digital Entertainment, was created in 2014 to offer professional, developer-friendly production, marketing, and distribution services in order to ensure a timely return to investors and developers on the projects. Gambitious has successfully established partnerships and released its titles on Steam, XB1, PS4, Sony Vita, GOG.com, Humble, and the Mac Store as well as a number of emerging global digital distributors. For more information, visit Gambitious and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GambitiousInc.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE DETAILS EXCITING ONLINE FEATURES OF TOUKIDEN 2 

Create Parties with Fellow Slayers and Take on New Oni Based on Western Lore in Latest Demon-Hunting Action RPG, Headed to PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and Steam®

Hertfordshire, 2nd March 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe detailed today exciting online features, an expansive character creation system and new foes for the upcoming sequel to the popular demon-hunting RPG, Toukiden. Toukiden 2 is slated to release on the 24^th March 2017 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®.

Toukiden 2 offers a rich online environment in which Slayers can team up to take on the ferocious demons known as Oni. Slayers will find mysterious Portal Stones scattered throughout the Otherworld, which, when touched, will transport them to the multiplayer lobby. Accepting missions at the Command Hub will allow up to four players to take on Oni throughout the Ages, granting them the upper-hand in battle with well-coordinated teamwork. Multiplayer features can be enjoyed on both PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®Vita system versions, with local ad-hoc network multiplayer available for PlayStation Vita users. Each Slayer can make themselves unique by utilising the game’s vast character creation system, which boasts a wide variety of different visual styles never previously available in the Toukiden series.

Online multiplayer mode aside, the campaign experience has also been heavily enhanced for Toukiden 2. Apart from the main storyline missions delivered from the Holy Mount, players can explore an immense open world and encounter other Slayers for cooperative Joint Operations. By aiding those in need a variety of rewards become available in the form of weaponry, armour and new Mitama, as well the opportunity to form a party! Those playing offline can carry out Joint Operations by meeting Doppelgangers, the Ghost Data of their friends, which offer the same functionality as human companions.

While carrying out these operations in the Otherworld, Slayers may find it useful to exchange equipment to even the odds against tough opponents. Accessing the Reliquaries – containers for sacred relics – across the world will allow them to place items inside for retrieval by other Slayers. Donating items into a Reliquary not only aids fellow players, but returns an item of equal value! This new feature to the hunting-action genre allows Slayers to unite and aid each other in a way which was never previously possible.

The new additions in Toukiden 2 don’t stop there! The game’s boundless battlefield hosts a plethora of new Oni inspired by western lore. The Drakwing, a beast resembling a legendary dragon, the Canidaemon, a wolf-like creature which harnesses the power of wind and lighting in its tail, the Wingspawn, an Oni which breaths deadly poison which turns humans into demons and the Bruteclaw, a heavily armoured six-legged demon are only a few of the new enemies that plague the Ages.

Finally, pre-order bonuses are available from select retailers before launch, including the Tenko Costume armour, which allows Slayers to dress up as their fluffy partners, and the Sanada Masayuki, Sanada Nobuyuki, Sarutobi Sasuke and Chiku Rin In Mitama help bolster player’s skills and abilities, aiding them on their Oni-slaying adventures!

A brand-new trailer released today showcases the game’s extensive online features, and fresh screenshots reintroduce returning Holy Mount members Hatsuho, Soma and Kuyo, as well as new additions Shiki and Raizo alongside a myriad of the brand-new, soul-devouring Oni.

To stay in touch with the latest ‘Toukiden 2’ news, please visit the official site at www.koeitecmoeurope.com/toukiden2, like www.facebook.com/koeitecmogames, and follow us on twitter @koeitecmoeurope

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive® and Ninja Gaiden® series. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. On April 1, 2009, KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD was established as a result of the TECMO, LTD. and KOEI Co., Ltd. merger. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

Toukiden 2 ©2014-2017 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved. Toukiden 2 is a trademark of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.

Nexon Releases 3D Puzzle Adventure Game, After the End: Forsaken Destiny™

A Mysterious Journey to Find a Path through an Extraordinary World Revealed in Launch Trailer. Available Across the World on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android Devices for £3.99

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – March 2, 2017 – Nexon and developer Neople have launched After the End: Forsaken Destiny™, a 3D puzzle adventure game, to mobile devices worldwide. In After the End: Forsaken Destiny, players discover a breathtaking, ancient world rendered with shades of natural light, while embarking on the parallel journey of father and son, separated by time. With an extensive and varied set of 3D puzzles, After The End: Forsaken Destiny will immerse and challenge players to find solutions by creatively using the game’s 360-degree camera and freedom of character movement.  After the End: Forsaken Destiny can be downloaded for £3.99 on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and £3.89 on Google Play for Android devices.

“After The End’s variety in puzzle mechanics will challenge players to look beyond what they see on the surface, in order to find the correct path to move forward through this imaginative world we’ve created,” said Jaeeun Park, Producer at Neople. “We’ve created a simple yet stylized world for players to interact with as they explore the story between a father and son set across two time periods and told across 12 Episodes.”

In After the End: Forsaken Destiny, players will adventure across an expansive storyline spanning 12 Episodes. Throughout each Episode, players will encounter diverse puzzles which will become more difficult as new gameplay mechanics are introduced. Equipped with 360-degree camera and independent character movement controls, players will guide their hero(es) through evolving landscapes while utilizing varied touch control mechanics to overcome elaborate centerpiece puzzles.

“The talented team behind Dungeon Fighter Online at Neople has developed a visually stunning and bold puzzle adventure in After the End: Forsaken Destiny that is highly accessible but will still challenge the most skilled gamers,” said Lawrence Koh, General Manager at Nexon M. “At Nexon, it’s our goal to create truly unique and fun games and all of our global studios are pushing their creativity to new levels through experimentation on new concepts, gameplay and genres.”

Set across an array of detailed 3D environments, the vast ancient lands of After the End: Forsaken Destiny are bathed in natural light evocative of archaic architecture. Players will uncover the secrets of the world through an episodic story which spans two distinct timelines as a son embarks on a quest to find his father. Additional Episodes will be available later this year to continue the journey in After the End: Forsaken Destiny.

After the End: Forsaken Destiny can be downloaded on the AppStore for iPhone and iPad and on Google Play for Android devices. Players using iPhones or iPads can download an accompanying sticker pack featuring characters from the game for use in iMessage.

About NEXON M

NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a global leader in online games for PC and mobile. Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services nearly 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

To learn more about Nexon M, please visit www.nexonm.com

About Neople Games
Neople (www.neople.co.kr ), an online game development company, was founded in 2001 and became a subsidiary of Nexon Korea in 2008. As their slogan “We Make Wonders” accurately states, Neople’s goal is to create unique and fun games. With the flagship title, Dungeon and Fighter, which has more than 400 million players worldwide, and other games such as online action third-person shooter, Cyphers, upcoming online first-person shooter, Ghost In the Shell Online, and mobile top down shooter, Evil Factory, Neople is one of the most advanced game development companies in the world.

Nexon Group Announces Strategic Partnership with PlayFusion, A Connected Play Platform Company

Proprietary PlayFusion Technology Connects Virtual Game Worlds to the Real World, Enabling New and Engaging User Experiences

TOKYO – March 2, 2017 – NEXON Co., Ltd. (3659.TO) (“Nexon”), a global leader in online games for PC and mobile, today announced its consolidated subsidiary, NEXON Korea Corporation, has entered into a strategic partnership with PlayFusion Limited (“PlayFusion”). The partnership is expected to generate opportunities for players to engage more deeply with virtual characters and worlds, including via character packs and accessories.

PlayFusion, founded in 2015 by the former management team of U.K.-based PC online game company Jagex Games Studio, is an innovative game company operating in the Toys-to-Life genre, which uses Augmented Reality and Internet of Things technologies to connect toys with games. The Toys-to-Life market was about 3 billion USD in 2015, and is expected to grow to about 9 billion USD by 2018^(*).

PlayFusion develops connected play experiences to facilitate deeper player engagement through unprecedented interactions between real and virtual worlds. The partnership between Nexon and PlayFusion will allow the companies to deliver these types of unique experiences to gamers, including using the technology to scan real-world action figures and character cards that then appear onscreen and become part of in-game experiences.

“This is an exciting partnership that will make games even more dynamic and fun,” said Nexon President and Chief Executive Officer Owen Mahoney. “Combining PlayFusion’s expertise in connecting games to action figures and accessories with Nexon’s ability to create and sustain games that grow over many years will allow us to deliver a deeper, more engaging experience for players.”

“PlayFusion is truly honored to be working with Nexon, a globally-respected online game powerhouse that recognizes the value and potential of our transmedia entertainment platform,” said Mark Gerhard, CEO and Co-Founder of PlayFusion. “We continue to work together with our partners to drive deeper consumer engagement by seamlessly connecting many traditionally disparate industries such as film and television, publishing, toys and games, and consumer products. Together, we’ll create the future of connected interactive entertainment.”

Nexon and PlayFusion’s specific project details will be announced in due course.

^(*) https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/15/the-serious-business-of-play/

About NEXON Co., Ltd. http://company.nexon.co.jp/
NEXON Co., Ltd. (“Nexon”) (3659.TO) is a global leader in online games for PC and mobile.  Founded in Korea in 1994, Nexon developed one of the world’s first graphics-based massively multiplayer online games. Nexon also pioneered the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play business model, setting a new standard in which play is free, and users have the option to purchase in-game items to enhance their experience. Nexon currently services over 100 titles in more than 190 countries. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and its shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About PlayFusion Limited http://PlayFusion.com/#PlayFusion
PlayFusion is an independent, employee-owned, game and technology developer with studios in the U.K. and USA that is pioneering the future of mixed media connected play. PlayFusion’s proprietary technology platform uniquely fuses video games, robotics, toys, and transmedia entertainment for game developers, toy manufacturers, and other content and brand owners. PlayFusion recently unveiled their new original IP based game Lightseekers coming in 2017 along with toys and trading cards from master toy licensee TOMY. PlayFusion’s technology, incorporated in the upcoming Lightseekers game, was awarded the Best in Show award at the New York Toy Fair 2017 by Techlicious.