STEEP™ UPDATE 1.04: STEEP™ WORLD TOUR TOURNAMENT, NEW TYPE OF CHALLENGES AND ALASKA UPDATE RELEASE DATE

Sydney, Australia — January 30, 2017 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Steep, an adrenaline-fueled action sports game featuring skiing, snowboarding, wingsuiting and paragliding set in the stunning open world of the Alps, is releasing Steep Update 1.04. This new update brings a new level of online competitiveness into the game by introducing Steep World Tour Tournament, two new types of Challenges, and reveals that the new free Alaska map will be released on February 10^th, 2017.

Players around the globe who are looking to outdo themselves and other riders, could now sign up for Steep World Tour Tournament, a brand new monthly tournament series available for the whole community. The first competition, “Backcountry”, will start today with the qualification phase featuring a challenge in the cursed mountain for skiers and snowboarders who will have to reach 5000 points to make it to the 2^nd phase, the Tournament. The 32 best players on each platform during the tournament phase will make it to the finals and will confront each other to win Steep credits.

The wildest and the most creative challenges made by the community will be available to all players through the Community Challenges feature. Steep players could compete in order to achieve the highest score, to gain reputation points and to be on the top leaderboard of each community challenge. The development team will also be creating challenges from time to time, so the players can go up against the Steep team themselves and try to beat their scores.

The eagerly awaited free huge Alaska open world will be globally released on February 10^th 2017 and will include the first Branded Challenges. These unique Steep’s partner brands challenges will reward the fiercest players with Steep credits and reputation points. They will also be available in the Alps in a second phase.

To learn more information about:

• Steep World Tour Tournament, please view infographic here
• Community Challenges, please read the article Steep Community Challenges
• Steep game, please visit: http://www.steepgame.com and follow us at http://www.facebook.com/SteepGame and http://www.twitter.com/Steep_Game
• Ubisoft games, please visit http://blog.ubi.com

About Steep

With development led by Ubisoft Annecy, players to drop in to the Alps and ski, snowboard, wingsuit and paraglide through the game’s massive open world playground, filled with exhilarating challenges and breathtaking views. Developed by Ubisoft Annecy, Steep is designed for a culture that’s all about sharing experiences with the world. Steep features seamless multiplayer, populating the world with players as they naturally explore the Alps. Players and friends across the globe can take on challenges together or compete with each other to snag the top spot on the leaderboards.

Learn more at www.steepgame.com

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 2015–16 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,394 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

©2016-2017 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Steep logo, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

GUNGHO ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA TEAMS WITH UNIVERSAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT TO BRING VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER TO PUZZLE & DRAGONS IN EXCLUSIVE NORTH AMERICAN COLLABORATION

Based on DreamWorks Animation Television’s Voltron Legendary Defender

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Jan. 27, 2017 – GungHo Online Entertainment America announced today it has teamed up with Universal Brand Development to bring the popular DreamWorks Animation Television series, VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER, a contemporary reimagining of the classic Voltron franchise, to Puzzle & Dragons in a collaboration later this year.

This is the first collaboration designed exclusively for the North American region in Puzzle & Dragons, continuing the impressive lineup of brand partnerships. More details on the collaboration, including featured characters, will be announced soon.

The Netflix original series, VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER, follows the adventures of five teenage pilots, who after discovering five mystical robot lions, are thrust into an intergalactic war against the ruthless Galra Empire set on conquering the universe. Only through the power of teamwork can they unite their lions and talents to form Defender of the Universe Voltron, a 100-meter tall robot warrior, which serves as the universe’s last and best hope for defeating the evil Galra Empire and saving the universe. VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER Season 2 premiered yesterday, exclusively on Netflix. For more information, visit the official Facebook.

Puzzle & Dragons is a mobile gaming phenomenon that continues to see tremendous growth. The game features an addictive combination of puzzle, dungeon-crawling, and monster-collecting gameplay. In the game, players capture, collect, and evolve hundreds of elemental monsters while using quick thinking to chain combos and maximize the abilities and skills of their monsters. Puzzle & Dragons has surpassed 60 million downloads worldwide and can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon App store.

For information on GungHo Online Entertainment America, visit www.gunghoonline.com. Fans can also follow the latest Puzzle & Dragons news on Facebook and Twitter.

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ABOUT GUNGHO ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA

GungHo Online Entertainment America is a multiplatform publisher dedicated to delivering the best titles, content and support for the online gaming community. Established in 2012 and led by former Square Enix U.S.A. and XSEED Games executive Jun Iwasaki, GungHo Online Entertainment America is the US division of GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE), an established Japanese publisher. GungHo Online Entertainment America’s content partners include leading developers Grasshopper Manufacture, Game Arts, Acquire, and Gravity, all of which are subsidiaries of GOE. GungHo Online Entertainment America publishes and distributes network-oriented games for console, handheld, mobile, tablet, and MMO-style games for PC. GungHo Online Entertainment America is located in El Segundo, CA. For more information, visit www.gunghoonline.com.

ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION TELEVISION

DreamWorks Animation Television is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-quality, animated family programming, reaching consumers on linear and on-demand platforms in more than 130 countries and garnering 31 Emmy Awards to date.  It is a division of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG).

ABOUT UNIVERSAL BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences.  Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA).

JAGEX APPOINTS PHIL MANSELL AS COO

FRIDAY, 27^th JANUARY – 10am – Cambridge, UK – Jagex Games Studio, the developer and publisher of the iconic Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) RuneScape, today named Phil Mansell as its Chief Operating Officer and acting Chief Executive Officer. Previously Vice President, Studios at Jagex, Phil takes the role following the departure of outgoing CEO Rod Cousens.

An 18-year veteran of the games industry, Phil has served over five years with Jagex. As VP Studios, Phil helmed Jagex’s RuneScape portfolio and oversaw a resurgence in player growth for both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape in recent years, delivering record financial performances for the company.

Phil Mansell, COO, Jagex, said:

“Driven by a passion for creativity, our teams are focussed on what really matters for the core business – supporting our live titles and their huge communities and leading the creation of new games for multiple devices. Off the back of record financial performance, Jagex is in an incredibly fortunate and positive position. We have become stronger with every year that passes and now that we are united with our parent company, ZhongJi Holding, it is both an honour and a privilege to be take Jagex to its next stage.”

Phil’s appointment comes as Jagex prepares to expand the RuneScape universe, both within the MMORPGs themselves and by taking the IP to additional titles. The arrival of RuneScape Expansions this year will mark one of the biggest changes to the way RuneScape will evolve. RuneScape Expansions will reveal new and substantial parts of the world map with a gameplay emphasis on discovery and exploration. The first RuneScape Expansion – The Golden City of Menaphos – is set to launch this summer.

Old School RuneScape, the authentically retro PvP edition of the MMO, is also experiencing accelerated user growth through its player-driven content development and impact in the eSports sector. With a unique long-form approach to competitive gaming events, Old School’s Deadman Tournament consistently delivers a high-profile audience, making it the most eSport-centric MMORPG. As Jagex continues to build RuneScape’s share of the PC market, new games for additional platforms will strengthen the IP further.

Confidants Are Key In Persona 5 

These four confidants can give the Phantom Thieves an extra edge!

A Gaming Prodigy, Hardened Journalist, Cheery Fortune Teller, and Social Media Savvy Fanboy Can Tip the Scales in Persona 5.

Learn How These Confidants Can Contribute to the Team in the New Trailers!

We’ve already rolled out quite a few confidants that will assist the Phantom Thieves in their shenanigans, but we’ve got four more that will be invaluable to the team:

Shinya Oda

If you had to practice marksmanship in a country that has a strict firearms ban, where would you go? If you answered with “the arcade,” ding ding ding you’re absolutely correct! Oh, and it just so happens that a certain arcade in Akihabara is home base to one of Japan’s most accomplished shooting game players, Shinya Oda. This pint-sized gaming prodigy is a grandmaster at “Gun About,” so he definitely knows a thing or two about shooting. Spending time with him can help the Phantom Thieves learn some nifty gun skills that can be used in battle, such as the ability to enter a gun-based All-out Attack after a successful ambush with Bullet Hail, scare enemies during negotiation with Warning Shot, and much more!

Ichiko Ohya

When she’s not busy chasing a lead, journalist Ichiko Ohya can be found enjoying a drink (or two or three or four or five) at the Crossroads Bar in Shinjuku. So why would the Phantom Thieves want to work with a pesky reporter? Simply put, they have a special “deal.” The protagonist supplies her with interesting tid-bits about the Thieves, and she’ll write articles about them. The public is going crazy for more news about the mysterious masked group, so why not just let Ichiko give it to them? Besides, having more fame/infamy is great for the team’s street cred. Oh, and she’ll also provide useful abilities like making it harder for the security level to fill during Palace heists.

Chihaya Mifune

It’s ALWAYS smart to see a fortune-teller from time to time, and luckily the Phantom Thieves know a very good one named Chihaya Mifune. Operating out of her modest office (a table) in Shinjuku, the spacey Chihaya will cheerfully use tarot cards to predict the protagonist’s fortune. So how does this help the team? Well by spending time her, she’ll be able to perform special fortune readings that can add useful buffs like increasing the growth rate of a social stat or deepening a bond with a specific confidant.

Yuuki Mishima

What do you do when a high-school classmate figures out that you and your friends are actually the infamous “criminals” known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts? Why you make him part of the crew, of course! Yuuki Mishima is a social media savant who discovers the alter ego of the protagonist, so he naturally decides to work for the group and create the Phantom Thieves Aficionado Website (also known as the, wait for it, Phan-Site). Besides building up the phan base (see what I did there?), he’ll also be able to support the thieves with buffs that increase EXP earned from battle, allow backup members to earn EXP, and more! Wow, isn’t that just phan-tastic? Ok, I’ll stop now.

Persona 5 is a game about the internal and external conflicts of a group of troubled youth who live dual lives. They have the typically ordinary day-to-day of a Tokyo high-schooler – attending class, after school activities and part-time jobs. But they also undertake fantastical adventures by using otherworldly powers to enter the hearts of people. Their power comes from the Persona, the Jungian concept of the “self;” the game’s heroes realize that society forces people to wear masks to protect their inner vulnerabilities, and by literally ripping off their protective mask and confronting their inner selves do the heroes awaken their inner power, and use it to strive to help those in need. Ultimately, the group of Phantom Thieves seeks to change their day-to-day world to match their perception and see through the masks modern-day society wears.

Persona 5 will release on April 4^th in Australia, for PlayStation 4. Pre-orders are now available at participating retailers.

For more information, please visit http://www.deepsilver.com/en/games/persona-5/

FEATURES RECAP

• Persona 5 is the first numbered title of the award-winning franchise on home consoles since the PS2 generation.
• Fast-paced Japanese role-playing game mechanics, exciting action sequences, deep and engaging story.
• Vibrantly stylized characters, enemies, and environments, elegant anime-style cut-scenes.
• Soundtrack featuring the fresh sounds of acid jazz composed by the legendary composer Shoji Meguro.
• A standalone story experience that welcomes newcomers and veteran Persona players alike.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Title: Persona 5
Release Date: April 4^th 2017
Platform: PlayStation® 4
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Deep Silver (PAL)
Genre: Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG)
Players: One
Rating: CTC
Price: Standard & SteelBook Launch Edition: $99.95
Languages: English & Japanese Voice, English Text

PREMIUM AND STEELBOOK EDITION DETAILS

PS4 SteelBook Launch Edition – PlayStation 4 ($99.95)

Available to PS4 pre-orders and a limited number of day-one purchases while supplies last

• SteelBook Edition: The PS4 version will come specially packaged in a metal game case, emblazoned with Persona 5 designs

COMPETE TO BE THE BEST IN MARIO SPORTS SUPERSTARS, COMING TO NINTENDO 3DS FAMILY SYSTEMS ON 11^TH MARCH

Five fully-fledged sports games to enjoy, local and online multiplayer, and a brand new series of 90 amiibo cards to collect and trade

27^th January, 2017 – Join Mario and friends as they demonstrate their athletic prowess across soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and horse racing in Mario Sports Superstars, coming to Nintendo 3DS family systems in Australia and New Zealand on 11^th March. Players can compete solo in a range of single-player tournaments across each sport, and can play against friends using local and online multiplayer modes. Releasing on the same date is a series of 90 Mario Sports Superstars amiibo cards, which will be available in packs of five and can be used in-game to power up characters’ skills. Fans who purchase a first print-run version* of the game at retail will receive a randomly-selected amiibo card bundled with the software.

With five fully-fledged sports games included, Mario Sports Superstars offers something for everyone. Soccer fans will compete in full-on 11-a-side matches, and will need to master both team tactics and individual skills in order to be victorious. Fans of the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis series will be familiar with the classic gameplay on offer in the golf and tennis games here, developed by Camelot Software Planning. Baseball fans will need to work on their batting and pitching techniques, as heavy-hitters such as Bowser are lining up to knock it out of the park in the first Mario-themed baseball title to be released in Australia and New Zealand in over 10 years. In Horse Racing, aspiring jockeys must saddle up, jump over obstacles and gallop to the finish line first to be crowned as champion. Collecting carrots along the way will replenish your stamina, while collecting stars will enable to you to use the special Star Dash technique, greatly improving your chances of victory. Players can also show their caring side by visiting their favourite horses in Stable Mode. By petting, feeding and grooming a horse, players can build a special bond with it which will work to their advantage on the racing track.

Each of the five sports on offer in Mario Sports Superstars can be enjoyed in single-player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer modes. In single-player mode, players can take part in tutorials and challenges to hone their skills before entering a number of tournaments suited to all skill levels. Multiplayer mode allows sports fans to compete with their family and friends, either locally or online. There’s also the option to challenge players of similar skill levels from around the world.

Whether you prefer power or precision, there are 18 characters to choose from in Mario Sports Superstars – 16 are available from the outset, while two more can be unlocked by completing specific tournaments and challenges. The Mario Sports Superstars series of 90 amiibo cards (five for each character) builds upon this extensive roster by allowing players to unlock more powerful versions of each character in each sport. By tapping a Mario Sports Superstars series amiibo card**, players can unlock the Star version of the corresponding character in the corresponding sport. A Star character has stronger stats than its regular counterpart, giving that character an edge in that particular sport. And by tapping up to three amiibo cards, players can participate in the Road to Superstar mode. Completing this mode will bestow Superstar status on their characters, giving an even greater boost to their stats. For those keen to get ahead on the journey to sporting superstardom, the first print-run version* of the game is the ideal place to begin, as it includes Mario Sports Superstars and one randomly chosen amiibo card, so players can get their collections off to a flying start.

With five fully-fledged sports to enjoy, a huge cast of 18 characters to play as and 90 amiibo cards to power up the experience, Mario Sports Superstars will offer endless sporting fun for everyone when it arrives on Nintendo 3DS family systems on 11^th March.

*Copies of the game from the first print-run are marked with “Contains one randomly selected amiibo^TM card!” on the packaging.

**Those with a New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 3DS XL can tap the amiibo card directly to their system, whereas those with a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS can use the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory (sold separately).

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

Dive into the enchanting world of NI NO KUNI II: REVENANT KINGDOM™ this year on Playstation®4 and PC!

Follow Evan in his quest, fight powerful monsters, face perilous dungeons and help him to become a King!

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe revealed today more information on Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM. Led by the famous Japanese studio Level-5 and with the participation of the former Studio Ghibli animator Yoshiyuki Momose and music by Joe Hisaishi, Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM is ready to enchant more people than ever, this year on PlayStation®4 and PC!

In the world of Ni no Kuni, there is a kingdom called Ding Dong Dell, where cats, mice and humans used to live in harmony. After a coup, the cat’s folk and their King Evan were banished. Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM recount the story of this deposed king in his journey to build his own kingdom and unite the whole world. With him are his faithful friends Roland, Tani and the beings known as Higgledies who come from the power of the heart, a power which is found within people, animals and elements such as fire and water. Only those with pure hearts can see them. The Higgledies will lend Evan their support throughout his journey, helping him in battles and letting him reach places he wouldn’t otherwise be able to get to. Follow Evan in his quest, fight powerful monsters, face perilous dungeons and help him to become a King!

Rest at ease, Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM will be released for PlayStation®4 and PC in 2017.