MARVEL BATTLEGROUNDS PLAY SET FEATURING ALL-NEW FOUR-PLAYER, BRAWLER STYLE GAMEPLAY LAUNCHES FOR DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 ON MARCH 24 (AUS/NZ)

 New Playable Characters from Marvel, Disney and Star Wars Also Available

MELBOURNE, Aust. – (March 16, 2016) – Disney Interactive and Marvel today announced new details on the Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set for Disney Infinity 3.0, the No. 1 video game of 2014 and 2015 in the “toys-to-life” category, according to the US NPD Group. Developed by United Front Games, in partnership with Avalanche Software, Marvel Battlegrounds is the first Disney Infinity Play Set to introduce a new four-player, local co-op, brawler style gameplay. The Play Set features an original Marvel storyline and full compatibility for all Disney Infinity Marvel figures, including new characters, Captain America – The First Avenger, Ant-Man, and Black Panther, whose costumes are inspired by the upcoming film Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.”

“We’re providing our fans a brand new way to play Disney Infinity with Marvel Battlegrounds,” said John Blackburn, SVP & General Manager, Disney Infinity. “The Play Set’s four-player brawler style combat gameplay and wide selection of Marvel characters makes it the ultimate family game and a great way to experience some of the characters that appear in the upcoming summer blockbuster film, Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.”

In addition to Captain America – The First Avenger, who is included in the Play Set pack, Hulkbuster, Ultron and Black Suit Spider-Man are also now available, along with other Marvel characters including: Ant-Man, who shrinks to the size of an ant but increases his strength to pack a whopping punch; Black Panther, the leader of Wakanda who defends his homeland utilizing acrobatic skills, increased agility, and legendary claws made from Vibranium, and Vision, a brave and noble synthetic warrior who will fight to bring peace to the world.

“Marvel Battlegrounds continues Marvel’s history as a leader in the family gaming category,” said Peter Phillips, EVP and General Manager, Interactive & Digital Distribution at Marvel Entertainment. “This innovative new Play Set gives families a new way to play together via a battle brewing across the Marvel Universe, starring an epic roster of our most popular Super Heroes and Super Villains.”

In addition, a new Marvel Battlegrounds Power Disc Pack will be sold separately and includes:

• Cosmic Cube Blast – Unleash a powerful energy blast on nearby foes
• Darkhawk’s Blast – Blast obstacles with a powerful energy beam from your chest
• Nova Corps Strike – Call upon the Nova Corps to unleash a tactical strike from above
• Ghost Rider’s Motorcycle – Take a ride on the wild side with Ghost Rider’s flaming motorcycle

A full Australia and New Zealand asset set for this announcement–including new screens, poster art and figure art–is available to download from here. (Link valid for 7 days.)

All Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes characters and round Power Discs are fully compatible with the Play Set. Marvel Battlegrounds is available for a suggested retail price of $34.95 AUD/$44.99 NZD.  Each Marvel character figure (RRP: $17.95 AUD/$24.99 NZD each) and the Marvel Battlegrounds themed Power Disc Pack (RRP: $11.95 AUD/$15.99 NZD) are sold separately. The Play Set requires the latest Disney Infinity software update in order to play. Software updates require Internet connection.

In the original storyline of Marvel Battlegrounds, Ultron teams up with Loki in an effort to steal Wakanda’s most valuable resource, Vibranium. Captain America, along with the universe’s greatest Super Heroes, leap into action but before they can uncover Loki’s plans for the precious metal, their nemesis creates robotic replicas of the famed Marvel Super Heroes and turn them against each other. The Marvel Super Heroes battle each other in iconic environments such as a wrecked Brooklyn train yard, Wakanda mines and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Lunar Base, culminating in a universe-shaking battle against Ultron. Players engage in the ultimate rumble and choose from more than 25 Disney Infinity Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains, and battle through 12 levels across eight dynamic arenas.

Additional characters coming soon for Disney Infinity:

• Baloo – The beloved bear from Disney’s The Jungle Book will also be available from March 24 at a suggested retail price of $17.95 AUD/$24.99 NZD. Playable in the Toy Box, Baloo loves to dance around the jungle and protects his friends by tossing fruit.

• Kylo Ren Light FX – The Kylo Ren Light FX figure is also available for pre-order soon at a suggested retail price of $22.95 AUD/$34.99 NZD.

About Disney Infinity

Disney Infinity is an interactive gaming platform where players have unprecedented freedom and endless opportunity to create stories and play experiences starring the beloved characters from across The Walt Disney Company. Building on the success of Disney Infinity 1.0 and 2.0, Disney Interactive launched its latest installment to the best-selling “hybrid toy/video game” this year — Disney Infinity 3.0. In its third iteration, players will utilise real-world interactive figures to activate original storylines (Play Sets) in the virtual game worlds of popular Star Wars franchises and create new adventures with a variety of characters from Marvel, The Walt Disney Co. and Disney•Pixar properties in the Toy Box mode. Disney Infinity 3.0 is rated PG for online interactivity and mild violence. For more information, visit Disney.com/Infinity.

For additional information, please visit www.disney.com/infinity and www.youtube.com/disneyinfinity, join the Disney Infinity Facebook community (Facebook.com/disneyinfinity) and Google+ community (https://plus.google.com/+DisneyInfinity),  and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/disneyinfinity) and Instagram (instagram.com/disneyinfinity).

About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company’s stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years.  Marvel utilises its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  For more information visit marvel.com.  © 2016 MARVEL

©Disney. ©2016 MARVEL. STAR WARS © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

VISUAL DESIGN TEAM TAKES FINAL FANTASY XIV TO NEW HEIGHTS IN NEW DEVELOPER DIARY

SYDNEY 16^th March 2016 – In the final entry of the FINAL FANTASY® XIV developer diary series, the visual design team details their approach in the creation and implementation of new landscapes and environments, as well as the introduction of flying mounts for the acclaimed expansion pack.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Dev Diary Chapter Three: Visual Design can be viewed on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gT-LcSlZewk

Key members of the visual design team include lead designer Takeo Suzuki, lead background artist Junichi Murata, character artist Yuji Mitsuishi, and lead animator Shinya Ichida. In this video, they explain their goals in creating an amazing player experience, the creative process from conception to implementation, and the challenges they faced in order to expand the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: HEAVENSWARD is available now on the PlayStation®3 system, PlayStation®4 system and on Windows PC. For newcomers, an all-in-one bundle including both the award-winning FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward is also available now. A free 30-day trial is included for new accounts, with monthly subscriptions starting at $19.95. Those who have not yet had the chance to try FINAL FANTASY XIV Online can do so by downloading the 14 day free trial for PC here; http://www.ffxiv-freetrial.com/en/ or, for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 directly from the PlayStation Network.

HEAVENSWARD Official Website: http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/heavensward/

The Lodestone: http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/

Official Website: www.finalfantasyxiv.com

Official Promo Site: eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasyXIV

Official YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FINALFANTASYXIV

Official Twitter: @FF_XIV_EN

#ENDS#

YouTube Stream: https://youtu.be/gT-LcSlZewk

UBISOFT’S TOM CLANCY’S THE DIVISION™ RECORDS THE BIGGEST FIRST WEEK EVER FOR A NEW VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE

Sydney, Australia – March 16, 2016 – Today, Ubisoft announced ongoing record sell-through sales for Tom Clancy’s The Division, which has grossed more than $330 million  worldwide in its first five days*. Having already broken Ubisoft sales records in the first 24 hours following its release, The Division is now the company’s best-selling game and the industry’s best-selling new game franchise in an opening week.

“The Division taking the top spot in the industry for first week sales of a new franchise is a tremendous achievement. We are very proud of our teams, and humbled by and thankful for the millions of players who are giving us their feedback and support,” said Yves Guillemot, CEO and Co-Founder, Ubisoft. “The Division is the latest example yet of our unique ability to deliver immersive gaming playgrounds that keeps players engaged and that they eagerly share with their friends and community.”

The Division is also breaking player engagement records for Ubisoft. The game surpassed 1.2 million peak concurrent users over the weekend. Players spent more than 100 million hours playing online on Ubisoft’s servers in the first week.

“On top of record breaking sales, player engagement is the highest ever for any Ubisoft title, demonstrating, among other things, that our investments in our online infrastructure and services are paying off,” said Stephanie Perotti, Vice President of Online Services, Ubisoft. “We are delivering an online experience that’s on par with the best in the industry, and that matches the quality and connectivity demanded by The Division and its players.”

At launch, The Division was the number one viewed game on Twitch and has since consistently been ranked in the top five. The Division also accrued over 57 million views on YouTube in week one.

Tom Clancy’s The Division takes place weeks after a devastating pandemic sweeps through New York City on Black Friday. One by one, basic services fail and in only days, without food or water, society collapses into chaos. The Division, an autonomous unit of tactical agents leading seemingly ordinary lives among us, is activated to save society. In this immersive online open world action RPG, discover a hostile and dynamic environment where exploration and player progression are essential. Team up with other players to investigate the sources of the virus and reclaim the city from the overwhelming turmoil.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is now available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC. For more information, please visit http://www.thedivisiongame.com​

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© 2016 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, The Division logo, the Soldier icon, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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, Watch_Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. 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 2014-15 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of €1.464 billion. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

Eestimated world-wide revenue from physical and digital full game sales (including gold edition) only, according to GFK Chart-Track, first parties, retail customer sell-through and internal estimates through end March 12th at current exchange rates

GTA Online Lowriders: Custom Classics Now Available

Expand your Lowrider collection today with new stock from Benny’s Original Motor Works, as part of GTA Online Lowriders: Custom Classics for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Check out two more upgradeable muscle cars: the Vapid Slamvan and the brand new Dundreary Virgo Classic. And if that’s not enough, Benny is revisiting one of his favorite rides, the Willard Faction, to offer a new upgrade style that will have you towering over others in your very own Custom Donk.

Tower over the residents of Los Santos in your very own Custom Donk.

Whether rapid fire or stopping power is your preference, you’ll find new weapons to suit your needs down at Ammu-Nation; the Compact Rifle provides a new option for running-and-gunning, and with the Double Barrel Shotgun, twice the barrels means twice the carnage.

The Compact Rifle, one of two new weapons available at Ammu-Nation.

Update your wardrobe with a host of new clothing options that will have you looking fresh at your next car meet. From lowrider street apparel to workwear, there are plenty of new looks to try out. 16 new tattoo designs are also available at parlors across Los Santos, or try one of three fresh new hairstyles for each gender, to keep up with the latest trends.

The Slamvan Custom bounces at the Del Perro Pier.

Smash, bash, and dodge the competition in the new Sumo Adversary Mode that has you working (either alone or in teams) to force the opposition out of the designated arena. Whether it’s size, speed, or control, choose a vehicle that suits your style, and be the last team remaining in the arena before the clock runs out to win.

YouTube

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoWlSwp_8PY

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today the release of the new LEGO® Dimensions™ Midway Arcade™ Level Pack and highly collectable DC Comics™ Superman and DC Comics Aquaman and Ghostbusters™ Stay Puft Fun Packs. Players can customise their building and gaming adventures in LEGO Dimensions with the purchase of these Wave 4 expansion packs which provide additional gameplay, buildable characters, and rebuildable 3-in-1 vehicles and gadgets with special in-game abilities. All expansion packs provide gamers the opportunity to use everything interchangeably, anywhere throughout the game, for a crazy mash-up multiverse.

The Midway Arcade Level Pack comes with a buildable Gamer Kid minifigure and G-6155 Spy Hunter vehicle and Arcade Machine – all playable in the game, and unlocks more than 20 classic arcade games from Midway Arcade as an exclusive level.  These classic games include Seven Twenty, Badlands, Blasteroids, Championship Sprint, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Gauntlet II, KLAX, Joust, Joust 2, Marble Madness, Paperboy, Rampage, Road Blasters, Robron, Spyhunter, SuperSprint, Timber, Toobin, Cyberball, Vindicators and Xybots.

To get started, players attach Gamer Kid to his LEGO Toy Tag and place him on the LEGO Toy Pad to bring him to life in the game, where he can help them put rogue Midway Arcade characters back where they belong. Players can activate Gamer Kid’s Stealth, Laser, Speed, Invulnerability, and Super Strength abilities to solve puzzles and battle enemies. When things get dangerous, players can boost their gameplay with the G-6155 Spy Hunter which can be rebuilt into The Interdiver and Aerial Spyhunter, or the Arcade Machine which rebuilds into the 8-Bit Shooter and The Pixilator Pod for upgraded in-game abilities. Gamer Kid also unlocks the Midway Arcade Adventure World to provide players with additional open-world gameplay.

The DC Comics Superman Fun Pack includes a buildable Superman minifigure and Hover Pod. Players can bring the Man of Steel to life in the game and activate his Flying, Dive, Invulnerability, Laser Deflector, Freeze Breath, X-Ray Vision, and Super Strength abilities to solve puzzles and overpower enemies. The Hover Pod will boost gameplay, and can be rebuilt into a Krypton Striker and Super Stealth Pod for upgraded in-game abilities. 

The DC Comics Aquaman Fun Pack features a buildable Aquaman minifigure and Aqua Watercraft.  Players can dive into gameplay as the King of the Seven Seas and activate his special Dive, Growth, Atlantis and Hazard Cleaner abilities to solve puzzles and take down rivals.  The Aqua Watercraft comes in handy for swift getaways, and can be rebuild it rebuilt into a Seven Seas Speeder and Trident of Fire for upgraded powers in the game.

The Ghostbusters Stay Puft Fun Pack comes with the first-ever buildable Stay Puft minifigure and Terror Dog.  Players can become everyone’s favourite marshmallow man and activate his Hazard Protection, Big Transform and Super Strength abilities to solve puzzles and battle enemies.  The Terror Dog can be called in as back-up and rebuilt as the Terror Dog Destroyer and Soaring Terror Dog for upgraded powers in the game.  The pack also allows access to the Ghostbusters Adventure World where gamers can play as any one of the four Ghostbusters characters.

LEGO Dimensions is available for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo´s Wii U™ system.

Follow LEGO Dimensions at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LEGODimensions

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LEGODimensions (@LEGODimensions)

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/LEGODimensions (@LEGODimensions)

Tumblr: http://LEGODimensions.tumblr.com

Follow the weekly LEGO Dimensions YouTube series at: http://www.youtube.com/LEGODimensions

PLAYSTATION®VR TO LAUNCH IN AUSTRALIA FOR $549.95 AUD IN OCTOBER 2016

More than 230 Developers and Publishers on Board And Over 160 Diverse Titles in Development for PS VR

Sydney Australia, March 16, 2016 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that PlayStation®VR (PS VR), a virtual reality system that takes the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) to the next level of immersion, will launch in, Japan, North America, Europe  Asia, Australia and New Zealand in October 2016 with an Australian recommended retail price of $549.95 AUD^*1.

“Ever since we unveiled PS VR during the 2014 Game Developers Conference, we’ve received a tremendous response from gamers and developers alike,” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  “To make sure that we are able to prepare and deliver enough units of PS VR and a wide variety of software titles to consumers worldwide, we have decided to launch PS VR in October 2016.  For those who are looking forward to its launch, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support.  We are beyond excited to deliver to consumers the amazing experience that PS VR offers.”

Michael Ephraim, Managing Director Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand says: “Innovation is in our DNA at PlayStation and PS VR is the single biggest step change in technology I’ve seen in over 20 years at PlayStation. There’s a huge amount of excitement around VR in Australia and I am really pleased that we are in a position to share this news with our fans.”

Currently more than 230 developers and publishers^*2  are working on PS VR software titles, from smaller independent teams to larger studios at the industry’s top publishers such as 2K Games and Ubisoft®.  Software titles in development for PS VR from these developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) are now totaling to more than 160 titles^*3, and over 50 of those titles including Eagle Flight (Ubisoft), EVE: Valkyrie (CCP Games), Headmaster (Frame Interactive), Rez Infinite (Enhance Games), Wayward Sky (Uber Entertainment), RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and PlayStation®VR WORLDS (SCE WWS) are expected to launch by the end of this year.   Additionally, DICE and Lucasfilm are working on an all-new Star Wars™ Battlefront™ (Electronic Arts Inc.) gaming experience only for PS VR. Furthermore, THE PLAYROOM VR^*4 by SCE WWS will be available as a free download from PlayStation®Store to all PS VR owners, simultaneously with the launch of the system.

To further drive the expansion of the PS VR software line-up, SCE is partnering with Tools & Middleware companies^*5 to provide innovative technology solutions and enhance the title development environment for PS VR.

The system also has a Cinematic mode, which lets users enjoy a variety of content in a large virtual screen^*6 while wearing the headset.  Supported content for the Cinematic mode includes standard PS4 games and videos as well as variety of PS4 features including Share Play and Live from PlayStation.  Users will also be able to enjoy 360 degrees photos and videos that are captured by devices such as omnidirectional cameras on PS VR via PS4 Media Player, which will let them feel as if they are physically inside the captured scene.

SCE will continue to vigorously promote PS VR towards its release in October 2016 by showcasing PS VR titles at events around the globe, while also broadening its title portfolio.

### 

<Specifications of PlayStation®VR>

*Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

*1. Price in Australia and New Zealand includes tax.

*2 Number as of March 16th, 2016

*3 Number as of March 16th, 2016

*4 THE PLAYROOM VR will include 6 games which will allow all users, including those new to PS VR, to intuitively enjoy VR experiences with other users.

*5 Refer to the attached list for details.

*6 Users can enjoy content on a virtual screen up to 225 inches (5 meters in width) at a distance of 2.5 meters. The size of the screen will feel different depending on individual users.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) broadened the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is a portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PlayStation™Network, that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation users. PlayStation™Now, a streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology, enables users to instantly enjoy a wide range of PS3 games on numerous Internet-connected devices they use every day. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.

Gears of War 4 Multiplayer Beta Kicks off on April 18

Gears fans, the wait is almost over. We know you’ve been eager to see what’s in store for the future of Gears multiplayer, and next month, we’re excited to give you the first taste and an opportunity to help shape the multiplayer experience in Gears of War 4 with the launch of our global Versus multiplayer beta, exclusively on Xbox One.

Beginning on April 18, fans who’ve played Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One or Windows 10 will begin to receive tokens in waves for early access to the beta. Following the conclusion of early access on April 24, all qualifying Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox One will be invited to join the beta until it ends on May 1.

In addition, we’re extending the timeframe for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition players to qualify for early access to the Gears of War 4 beta from March 1 to April 11. To qualify, just log on to Xbox Live and play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One or Windows 10 by 4 p.m. AEDT, April 12.*

Season 2 Finals and Fan Activities at PAX East

We are also excited to announce that we will be joining you at PAX East in Boston and will be hosting a variety of fan activities, including:

• The Gears eSports ESL Pro League Season 2 finals will be LIVE from Boston at PAX East on Saturday, April 23.  Fans can tune into the Gears of War Twitch channel to watch the best Gears of War ESL Pro teams square off for the championship title. We are also excited to announce we will be increasing the prize pool for Season 2 to $60,000 thanks to fan support of our Season 2 bundles! During the stream, we will also debut the worldwide exclusive reveal of a new competitive game mode for Gears of War 4. Those watching from home can tune into the stream for instructions on how to get the special Season 2 Finals weapon skin and a chance to win a limited edition custom Gears of War 4
• The Out of the Shadows: Inside Gears of War Multiplayer with The Coalition panel on Sunday, Apr. 24 at 10:30am PDT in the Albatross Theater featuring a deeper dive in Gears of War 4 multiplayer and some special surprises.  We’ll also be offering up some great prizes to any of our fans who turn up in Gears of War Cosplay! Gears fans who can’t make the show can take part in the fun from home LIVE on the Gears of War Twitch channel!
• Lastly, fans at PAX East will be treated to Gears of War 4 Versus multiplayer located in the Xbox Booth.

Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing you online when the beta kicks off next month!

*To qualify for early access to the Gears of War 4 Multiplayer Beta on Xbox One, log in to Xbox Live and play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One or Windows 10 by 4:00PM AEDT, April 12. Tokens for the beta will be distributed in waves through the Xbox Live messaging system and begin arriving Monday April 18. For both Early Access and Xbox Live Gold periods, must be 17+. Xbox One, broadband internet (ISP fees apply) and Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately) required. Beta dates, content, and features subject to change. Not available in all markets. See https://GearsofWar.com for the latest information.

ARK: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST BREAKS FROM THE DINO PACK AS FREE MULTIPLAYER ONLINE SURVIVAL ARENA (M.O.S.A.) ESPORT

Popular ARK: Survival Evolved Mod Launches as Free Standalone Steam Title Now Featuring ELO Ranking, Match-Making, Leaderboards, Pro-Tier Monthly Cash Prizes and More

SEATTLE, WA – Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – Studio Wildcard, the dev team that created the smash hit ARK: Survival Evolved (PC, Xbox One, PS4), is taking dinosaur survival mayhem into the new era of eSports. Available now on Steam Early Access and in-development for consoles, ARK: Survival of the Fittest is a free, standalone, multiplayer online survival arena (M.O.S.A.) game that pits as many as 72 combatants against one another in spontaneous Hunger Games-style competitions within a closed battlefield.

Watch the video on YouTube HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=56SvsV6Pb6E

“Following the success of the tournaments we hosted last fall, we saw valuable community feedback about other competitive features they wanted to see implemented,” said Jesse Rapczak, co-founder, co-creative director, Studio Wildcard. “Now with shorter matches, four new game modes, rapid dino taming and more, we felt it was time to let people come in to test it for themselves. Not only can you play for free, but we’re offering cash prizes for the top players in each Survivor League, so ARK survivors can potentially start playing their favorite game professionally!”

Built for the burgeoning wild west of eSports competition, ARK: SotF challenges gamers to fight each other and the Jurassic environment that players loved in ARK: Survival Evolved. However, rather than a huge open world to survive in, this newly refactored game is an epic dinosaur survival arena with a continually shrinking “ring of death.” In the end, survivors are eventually pushed into an epic final showdown where only one “Tribe” will make it out alive.

Survivors can form one- to six-person Tribes with the options to choose Unofficial and Official (Ranked) servers, and a variety of game-lengths and sizes in which to play. Players will start in the base forest environment introduced in the original ARK: Survival Evolved, with new environments and creatures introduced regularly as the game evolves. Dedicated eSport ranking, matchmaking, reward, and tournament features make ARK: SotF readily accessible to all players.

As part of the ongoing Survival of the Fittest eSport competitive initiative, each month the Top-10 Ranked players in each game mode’s “Survivor League” will be awarded cash prize winnings corresponding to their Ranked placement. The ongoing Rankings for these elite titles will be visible in real-time on SurviveTheArk.com at launch.

KEY FEATURES

• Free, action-packed core survival gameplay
• 30+ creatures to tame and ride at Early Access start, many more planned at full launch
• Multiple game modes (1v1, 2v2, 4v4, and 6v6)
• One-to-six player tribes
• Variable game configurations ranging from 30-minute “instant action” to three-hour long “epic wars”
• Top-ranked players are listed dynamically on com, as well as provided monthly prize packages!
• Game-changing tameable super creatures (Dragon, Giant Ape, Brood Mother)
• Random “Evolution Events”
• Arsenal of weapons, traps, armor, structures and other items from primitive to modern tech tiers
• Robust ranking, tournament and spectator features
• Exclusive SotF cosmetic items that can also be used in ARK: Survival Evolved
• Custom-painted “War Banners” enable tribes to show off their team spirit on flags across their army of dinosaurs, and are also broadcast on the gigantic billboards during game events. Just don’t draw anything offensive!
• A custom soundtrack written by award-winning composer Gareth Coker of Ori and the Blind Forest!

Balanced for intense competition, Survival of the Fittest contestants begin in a neutral staging area where they can communicate pre-game, strategize, or talk trash. After a count-down, they dramatically descend from the sky onto the ARK in a circular formation via beams of light. There is a cache of valuable items in the center – do survivors dash for the goods and fight it out, do they run into the forest and hide, search for dinosaurs to rapidly build their army, or do they freeze up from the sheer terror of death? The continually shrinking arena boundaries force contestants ever closer together over time. The hunt is on!

To join in the battle, journey over to the Steam page for detailed feature list and weekly reveals of new dinosaur dossiers, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the website at www.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 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 12 years of industry experience across multiple independent and studio-backed titles, Jesse has teamed up with other veteran developers for a Seattle, WA-based development studio that also includes distributed team members across multiple continents. Wherever talented, driven developers may reside, Studio Wildcard intends to seek out and work with them!

ABOUT INSTINCT GAMES
Instinct Games is Egypt’s leading game development studio. Started in 2011 by former Timeline Interactive co-founders, the Instinct Games team develops and produces video games on all major platforms utilizing its competent technical team. Its mission is to collaborate with world class partners to foster Egypt’s video game development ecosystem and set a precedent of high quality, low cost, entertaining indie games with worldwide appeal.