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PS4 Firmware 3.50 Brings PC Remote Play, Friend Notifications and More

Nathan Farrugia
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playstation-4-console

The PS4 has seen a healthy amount of firmware updates over the last 2 and a bit years with some great features being added including my favorite feature suspend play, which allows you to get right back to your last play session in an instant. Now PlayStation 4 firmware update 3.50 is being prepared and the beta for it kicks off tomorrow.

This update is bringing some much requested features like friend notifications and even a really awesome feature we didn’t expect, PC/MAC remote play! You can check out the full 3.50 update notes below. Currently there is no release date set but keep an eye out for it along with some additional features in the near future barring any substantial problems.

New Social Features

  • Friend Online Notification – Want to know the moment your friends come online? With this update, you can, as we’ve added an option to be notified when members of your friends list sign on the network.
  • Appear Offline – Sometimes you want to play a game or watch a movie without being bothered by friends. Now it’s easier to go incognito as we’ve added the option to appear offline. You can designate if you would like to appear offline when you log-in or at any time from your Profile or the Quick Menu.
  • User Scheduled Event – Time for a play date! We’ve added the ability to schedule a future gameplay session with your friends on the system. When your event starts, users who registered for the event will automatically be added to a party so you can start playing right away.
  • Play Together – This features allows all members of a Party to see what each person is playing so that you can easily join a friend’s game, or start a new game together.

Other New System Features

  • Remote Play (PC/Mac) – We’re bringing PS4 Remote Play to Windows PC and Mac. This feature won’t be available to test in the beta, but you can look forward to it soon.
  • Dailymotion – With this update, you’ll be able to live stream directly to Dailymotion on PS4. We’ll also support archiving live broadcasts, like we do for other streaming services.

DEEP SILVER ANNOUNCE THE HOMEFRONT®: THE REVOLUTION GOLIATH EDITION COMPLETE WITH RADIO-CONTROLLED COMBAT DRONE

Philip Federico
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DEEP SILVER ANNOUNCE THE HOMEFRONT®: THE REVOLUTION GOLIATH EDITION COMPLETE WITH RADIO-CONTROLLED COMBAT DRONE

Dambuster Studios commits to extensive post-launch support with all Resistance Mode content to be released for free; major single player expansions planned

Larkspur, Calif., – March 1, 2016 – Deep Silver today unveiled the Homefront®: The Revolution Goliath Edition, a strictly limited collector edition available soon for pre-order and packed with exclusive content for fans in North America. Homefront: The Revolution, developed by UK-based Dambuster Studios, throws players into an alternate near-future dystopia where a humanitarian crisis has brought the U.S. to its knees under the brutal military control of a globally dominant Korean corporation. Surveillance drones, armored patrols and police violence have become every-day life in Philadelphia, the once proud birthplace of American independence. However, in the ruined outskirts of the city, resistance is getting stronger.

Alongside a boxed copy of the game, the Goliath Edition includes:

  • A radio-controlled scale replica ‘Goliath’ Drone, with working lights and six-wheel suspension. The Apex-manufactured Goliath is one of the most fearsome weapons in the KPA’s Counter-Insurgency arsenal.
  • Exclusive collector’s ‘Steel Book’.
  • A 32 page art book featuring Resistance-themed concept art and cutting-edge Apex technology.
  • The ‘Revolutionary Spirit’ pack, including The Red Skull motorbike skin, a Golden skin for your pistol, and instant unlocks of the Marksman Rifle, Sniper Scope and Remote Explosives for your Co-Op character in Resistance Mode.
  • The Homefront: The Revolution Expansion Pass, entitling access to major single player expansions – further information to be revealed at a later date.

All post-release content for Homefront’s co-operative Resistance Mode including new Missions, challenges, features and additional items and equipment will be delivered to fans for free as part of Dambuster Studios’ commitment to supporting this mode for 12 months.

“We’re planning for a dedicated team to work on additional single player content for at least a year after release” said Hasit Zala, game director at Dambuster Studios.  “We have some exciting ideas that we hope to develop further post launch, but the overall goal is to add some surprising  new experiences to the world of Homefront that complement our 30 hour single player campaign. All additional single player content will be covered by the Expansion Pass.”

In addition to announcing the Goliath Addition, Deep Silver confirmed a number of additional pre-order bonuses:

Pre-Order Homefront: The Revolution from any retailer to secure the Revolutionary Spirit pack, which includes:

  • The Red Skull motorbike skin for campaign
  • The Golden skin for your pistol for campaign
  • Instant unlocks of the Marksman Rifle, Sniper Scope and Remote Explosives for your Resistance Mode character

All Digital pre-orders come with the Liberty Pack, featuring two pieces of rare combat gear unlocked and ready to personalize your Co-Op character with the Liberty Body Armour and KPA Shock Trooper Helmet.

Further pre-order bonuses are available with these North American selected retailers:

  • Kickstart your Co-Op Freedom Fighter’s career with the Guerilla Care Package at GameStop: Five ‘Resistance Crates’ full of random weapon blueprints, attachments, equipment and more.
  • Enhance your guerrilla skills with the Combat Stimulant Pack also at GameStop to give your Freedom Fighter a critical boost in the heat of battle.
  • Wage guerrilla warfare in style with the Wing Skull Pack at Amazon.com, including the Wing Skull motorbike skin and the Silver Pistol skin in the campaign.
  • Pre-order to receive the limited edition Steelbook only available at Best Buy.

Homefront: The Revolution is scheduled for release on May 17th in North America, and May 20th in all other territories on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.

Native Mac and Linux versions are also in development.

For more information and to get the latest updates on both Homefront: The Revolution and the upcoming Xbox One Closed Beta, follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @HomefrontGame or on Facebook at Facebook.com/HomefrontGame.

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About Deep Silver
Deep Silver develops and publishes interactive games for all platforms, seeking to deliver top-quality products that provide immersive game experiences driven by the desires of the gaming community. The company has published more than 200 games worldwide since 2003, including the best-selling zombie action Dead Island(TM) franchise, the critically-acclaimed Metro(TM): Last Light and the smash hit action adventure Saints Row IV(TM). Deep Silver is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Media, GmbH, and also owns the development studios Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com.

Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition Pre-Orders Open, Shipping March 30

Jamie Laike Tsui
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Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition Pre-Orders Open, Shipping March 30

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You will no longer have to be an astronaut to get your hands on Microsoft’s latest hardware development. Microsoft opened up pre-orders for HoloLens development kits yesterday. Priced at $3,000, the development kit will ship to qualified developers who are part of the Windows Insider program in the US and Canada on March 30th. Development kits will ship out in waves occurring every two to three months. People can get a head start on development as they wait for kits to be shipped at the official developer’s portal.

For consumers, this represents a big step in towards a full release. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more video footage floating around as developers begin to create their HoloLens creations over the next few months.

DEPLOY RAVENOUS ZOMBIES TO EAT ENEMIES MARCH 10 AS MOVING HAZARD’S WEAPONIZED-ZED MAYHEM HITS STEAM EARLY ACCESS

Philip Federico
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DEPLOY RAVENOUS ZOMBIES TO EAT ENEMIES MARCH 10 AS MOVING HAZARD’S WEAPONIZED-ZED MAYHEM HITS STEAM EARLY ACCESS
Fight, Evade, or Weaponize the Undead in Psyop Games’ and IllFonic’s Competitive Military Shooter
LOS ANGELES—MARCH 01, 2016—Psyop Games and IllFonic will release their team-based, competitive first person shooter, Moving Hazard, on personal computer through Steam’s Early Access program on March 10 for $19.99 USD. The game pits rival military factions in a desperate battle for resources in a world lost to the zombie infection, where players must fight the instinct to kill zombies in order to spare the shamblers and deploy them as weapons against the enemy.

“We had such an incredible reaction from fans during our debut at PAX South, with players asking us to release the game immediately, so we’re incredibly excited to deliver Moving Hazard on Early Access,” said Christian Cantamessa, Lead Writer and Design Consultant for Psyop Games. “Once PAX-goers learned to stop killing the undead and started using them as scent-guided bloodhounds or shambling flesh-eating allies, the competition got fierce and the freshness of the gameplay really stood out. We can’t wait to give the community access and get their feedback to make it even better in the coming months.”

Moving Hazard will release on Early Access with a robust feature set, including cutting-edge Unreal Engine 4 graphics, loadout customizations, two player Factions with three classes, four maps, four game modes, and eight unique weapons. In addition, the game will offer more than 30 Player Perks, more than 50 Weapon Mods, matchmaking and lobby services, and a Player Hideout, where players can level up, upgrade and select personalized skills.

Psyop Games and IllFonic will continue development of Moving Hazard throughout the Early Access process, responding to community feedback to add and tweak major feature additions and other upgrades. The game will enter a full release on Steam later this year.

About Moving Hazard
Moving Hazard brings a new twist to both competitive military shooters and zombie games by mashing together the popular genres in a fresh way. Set 50 years after civilization’s fall to a fast-moving zombie plague, Moving Hazard boldly challenges gamers to play counter to everything they’ve learned from previous zombie games – namely, to avoid killing the living dead and rather, to spare the mindless biters and deploy them as weapons against the enemy.

Featuring realistic weapons and a full arsenal of tactical equipment, including military-grade assault weapons, classic fragmentation and smoke grenades, and claymores, Moving Hazard is a full-fledged military shooter and features multiple maps, modes and tactics.

Most importantly however, players must take advantage of the zombie control technology that can attract, repel, sedate, and anger the voracious horde, including:

  • The Pheromone Attractor Molotov (The PAM): when applied to any infected, they become frenzied and immediately hunt down and attack enemies;
  • The Chaos Grenade: stuns enemies while frenzying nearby zombies, creating a doubly vicious attack;
  • The Templar: broadcasts a signal that repels zombies, forcing the horde to turn in their tracks to head away as fast as possible.

Moving Hazard will release for personal computer on Steam on March 10 for $19.99 USD.

For more information, please visit the official site at www.MovingHazard.com or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/movinghazard/ and the Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/movinghazard. The game’s official forums can be found online at http://forums.movinghazard.com/.

ABOUT PSYOP GAMES
Psyop Games is a new independent game development studio launched by media and arts pioneers Psyop. Based in Los Angeles, Psyop Games is led by Rocco Scandizzo, Matt Wilkinson and Christian Cantamessa; all industry veterans hell bent on making incredible gaming experiences for core audiences.

ABOUT ILLFONIC
IllFonic is an American based digital publisher and developer for console, PC, and mobile gaming platforms. IllFonic embraces the creative process and is known for alternative approaches to video game development and publishing. Founded by musician Raphael Saadiq, engineer Chuck Brungardt, and game designer Kedhrin Gonzalez, IllFonic is committed to delivering AAA games digitally to consoles and PC at an affordable price. IllFonic utilizes many avenues in pop culture to cross brand its products in film, television, sports, music, and clothing. IllFonic has built a team of artists, developers, producers, and musicians that believe providing fun game-play means conveying the highest level of visual awe, an immersive environment and a sick soundtrack.
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NEW TRAILER, CHARACTERS AND POWER DISCS UNVEILED FOR MARVEL BATTLEGROUNDS, MULTI-PLAYER ARCADE BRAWLER GAME FOR DISNEY INFINITY 3.0

Philip Federico
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NEW TRAILER, CHARACTERS AND POWER DISCS UNVEILED FOR MARVEL BATTLEGROUNDS, MULTI-PLAYER ARCADE BRAWLER GAME FOR DISNEY INFINITY 3.0 

ANT-MAN, BLACK PANTHER, AND VISION JOIN ROSTER OF MORE THAN 25 PLAYABLE MARVEL CHARACTERS; NEW LINE-UP INCLUDES COSTUMES INSPIRED BY CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

MELBOURNE, Aust. – (March 2, 2016) – Disney Interactive today unveiled new trailer, characters and Power Discs for the Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set launching for Disney Infinity 3.0 in Australia and New Zealand on March 24.

Joining the roster of more than 25 playable Marvel characters, including Captain America – The First Avenger, Hulkbuster, Ultron and all of the characters from Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes are:

  • 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 with acrobatic skills and his legendary claws
  • Vision, a brave and noble synthetic warrior who will fight to bring peace to the world

The new line-up of characters includes costumes inspired by the upcoming film “Captain America: Civil War,” releasing in local cinemas on April 28, 2016.

To view the Marvel Battlegrounds gameplay trailer, please visit: http://di.sn/6005BdnId.

Additionally, a new Marvel Battlegrounds-themed Power Disc Pack will be sold separately and contains:

  • Cosmic Cube Blast – Unleash a powerful energy blast on nearby foes
  • Darkhawk’s Blast – Blast obstacles with a powerful energy beam
  • 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

Developed by United Front Games, in partnership with Avalanche Software, Marvel Battlegrounds is the first Play Set to introduce four-player arcade brawler gameplay to Disney Infinity.  Players engage in the ultimate rumble as Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains struggle to gain control of Wakanda’s most valuable resource, Vibranium. The ever-growing clash creates factions as the war stretches to the cosmic battlegrounds of space. Players can choose from more than 25 Marvel characters found inside Disney Infinity, and battle through 12 levels across eight dynamic arenas.

The Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set requires the latest Disney Infinity software update in order to play. Software updates require Internet connection.

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” last 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 mild violence and online interactivity. 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.  © 2015 MARVEL

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

SPRING BEGINS ANEW WITH RETURN TO POPOLOCROIS: A STORY OF SEASONS FAIRYTALE, NOW AVAILABLE ON NINTENDO 3DS

Philip Federico
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SPRING BEGINS ANEW WITH RETURN TO POPOLOCROIS: A STORY OF SEASONS FAIRYTALE, NOW AVAILABLE ON NINTENDO 3DS

Return to the Golden Age of RPGs with a Farm-Fresh Adventure from the Creative Masterminds Behind PopoloCrois and STORY OF SEASONS, Featuring a Heartwarming, Standalone Narrative

Torrance, Calif.—March 1, 2016—XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that its farming-flavored turn-based RPG, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale, is now available in North America exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems. Produced by creative masterminds Yohsuke Tamori (creator of PopoloCrois Story) and Yoshifumi Hashimoto (longtime producer of the Bokujo Monogatari/STORY OF SEASONS and Rune Factory franchises), this comprehensive crossover features classically-styled RPG gameplay and game-spanning life simulation elements that both veterans and newcomers to either series will equally enjoy. Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale also marks the return of the PopoloCrois series to the West after a 10 year hiatus.

“In teaming up with Hashimoto-san and STORY OF SEASONS we’ve created a world teeming with life, and I feel that the world of PopoloCrois is now even more captivating as a result,” said Yohsuke Tamori, creator of the PopoloCrois franchise. “I want people to know that heartwarming traditional RPGs are still being created, and I hope that Return to PopoloCrois finds its way into the hearts of overseas audiences who will pass down the PopoloCrois series to a new generation.”

“Tamori-san’s charming world of PopoloCrois couldn’t have been a more natural fit for STORY OF SEASONS,” said Yoshifumi Hashimoto, longtime producer of the Bokujo Monogatari (now known as STORY OF SEASONS in the West) and Rune Factory series of games. “Both franchises aim to produce colorful, heartfelt experiences about life and the power of friendship, and with Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale I believe we’ve cultivated a delightful balance that adds to each’s legacy.”

Based on the Japanese PopoloCrois Story comic book series, and featuring elements from the wildly successful Bokujo Monogatari farming and life simulation series now known as STORY OF SEASONS in the West, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale hearkens back to the golden age of RPGs with its tactical, turn-based combat and towns full of interesting NPCs who contribute to a heartwarming narrative about friendship, forgiveness, and the bounty of the earth. Fans can get a taste of the original PopoloCrois Story comic book series in English for the very first time at the game’s official website, located at http://www.returntopopolocrois.com/.

Ample farming and life simulation elements are also on offer à la STORY OF SEASONS, including real-time crop-raising, bug-catching, rock-quarrying, item synthesis, and relationship forging. Players can collect over 600 items and undertake nearly 100 quests throughout the game, supplementing its 25+ hour main story with nearly unlimited potential for replayability. StreetPass™ features are also present, allowing players to connect with one another and earn bonus items through treasure-hunting.

Published by XSEED Games in North America, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale is now available exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS™ family of systems, both physically at retailers and digitally via the Nintendo eShop, at a suggested retail price of $39.99. The game has been rated “E10+ for Everyone 10 and up” by the ESRB.

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.

 

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER TAKES PLAYERS ON ‘A MYSTIC TRIP’ WITH NEW GAME TRAILER

Philip Federico
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SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER TAKES PLAYERS ON ‘A MYSTIC TRIP’ WITH NEW GAME TRAILER

Lesquin, France – March 1, 2016 – Bigben Interactive, videogame publisher and distributor, and the development studio Frogwares are today pleased to unveil the mystical CGI trailer for Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, the adventure game that will be released May 27 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC.

“What led young Katelyn to 221B Baker Street? Could she have discovered the dark truth about her family? Who is the charming clairvoyant that has moved in to 221C? Is there room for séances and occult rituals in the bastion of logic and rationalism?” For the first time in his prestigious career, the most illustrious of detectives must fight not to reveal a secret, but to keep one…

This cinematic trailer named ‘A Mystic Trip’ was created by UNIT Image production house, who has received numerous awards for the excellence of their CGI films and trailers.

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, eighth in the videogame series created by Frogwares, is a unique adventure game that blends exploration, investigation and action for a breath-taking and fantastic playing experience. You play as the master detective himself, plunged against his will into a fantastic adventure brimming with intense action sequences for an interactive experience that is more immersive than ever. The mysteries follow one after the other, the clues pile up, trails intersect, the hypotheses contradict… Will you be able to guide Sherlock Holmes to the incredible final revelation?

View the new trailer HERE: youtu.be/NF_d44z2k5w

For the latest information about the Sherlock Holmes games: www.sherlockholmes-games.com

For more information about Bigben Interactive and their video games, visit www.bigben.eu, ‘Like’ them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, and visit their YouTube page.

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ABOUT BIGBEN INTERACTIVE

Bigben Interactive is a European designer and distributor of accessories for video games consoles, smartphones and tablets, a creator of audio products and a well-known video game publisher. With the boom in the market for mobile phone equipment and the changes in the video game market, the group, recognized for its creativity and innovation, has set itself the objective of becoming a European leader in multimedia accessories.

Bigben Interactive has published the WRC video game series since 2013 and in 2014, after signing a major partnership with the French Ligue Nationale de Rugby, published the first official rugby simulation TOP 14/PRO D2.

ABOUT FROGWARES

Frogwares is an independent videogame development studio based in Dublin and Kiev. Since 2000, the studio has become renowned for its vast catalogue of games, ranging from RTS to action-adventure games. Frogwares’ games are available on major game platforms, including the latest generation consoles, and are often compared in quality to many AAA titles. The developer’s cutting-edge Sherlock Holmes games are also a registered trademark of the studio.

For more information, please visit www.frogwares.com

RECLAIM THE LAST MAHARAJA’S THRONE IN NEW ADD-ON CONTENT FOR ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE

Philip Federico
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RECLAIM THE LAST MAHARAJA’S THRONE IN NEW ADD-ON CONTENT FOR ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE

JOIN JACOB AND EVIE FRYE IN A NEW 10 MISSION STORY ARC 

THE LAST MAHARAJA TRAILER: YOUTUBE

 London, UK — March 1, 2016 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that The Last Maharaja add-on content for Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate is now available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye join Duleep Singh as he fights to reclaim his birthright as the last Maharaja in this entirely new story for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. In his quest to reclaim his heritage, Duleep, with the help of the Frye twins, will take on the Templars while testing his friendship with the queen.

The Last Maharaja is available as part of the Season Pass, which includes: Jack the Ripper, A Long Night Season Pass exclusive mission, the Streets of London gameplay pack, two top-tier sets of gear and weapons, and an exclusive XP boost. The Last Maharaja is also included in the Gold Edition of the game and is available for purchase separately.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and The Last Maharaja downloadable content, please visit assassinscreed.com.

For the latest on all Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.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 2014–15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2015 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

A TIMELESS CELEBI APPEARS FOR THE POKÉMON 20TH CELEBRATION

Philip Federico
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A TIMELESS CELEBI APPEARS FOR THE POKÉMON 20TH CELEBRATION

London, 1 March 2016— Pokémon is celebrating 20 years, and a second Mythical Pokémon is joining the party—Celebi! First distributed to Pokémon Gold andPokémon Silver for the Game Boy Color, the Mythical Pokémon Celebi is once again available for a limited time via Nintendo Network.

Available until March 24, players of the Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon X, or Pokémon Y video games can receive Celebi and add this Psychic- and Grass-type Mythical Pokémon to their party. This powerful Lv. 100 Celebi knows the moves Confusion, Recover, Heal Bell, and Safeguard—moves Celebi originally knew when it made its debut—and it also comes with the Ability Natural Cure.

Pokémon TCG fans can also celebrate with the brand-new Pokémon TCG: Mythical Pokémon Collection—Celebi which will be available from 14 March. The collection includes a special Celebi promo card and a pin of the Mythical Pokémon. It also contains two Pokémon TCG: Generations booster packs and a Pokémon TCG Online code card.

The celebration continues with a special digitally remastered version of the fourth Pokémon movie, Pokémon 4Ever. Strange forces surround the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, and Ash must discover their secrets in this full-length feature film available on Pokémon TV from 7 March.

More details, including how to receive Celebi in your game, can be found athttp://www.pokemon20.com/en-gb/mythical.html#mar . Fans visiting the site throughout the year will find information about monthly Mythical Pokémon character distributions, retail events, special products, messages from some of Pokémon’s biggest fans, and the free Pokémon Photo Booth app, available now on the App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pokemon-photo-booth/id1084024173 and coming soon to Google Play.

Pokémon. Twenty Years. Train OnTM.
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About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

About Nintendo

The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 692 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Wii and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including New Nintendo 3DS™, New Nintendo 3DS XL™, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL™, Nintendo 2DS™, as well as Nintendo DS™, Nintendo DSi™, Nintendo DSi XL™, Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known household names, such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™.  A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in Europe.

Dark Souls III Preview

Andrew Day
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Dark Souls III Preview

Dark-souls-iii-screenshot-03

Ever since Demon’s Souls hit the PlayStation 3 in 2009, developers From Software have redefined what it means to be an RPG. With its dark, desolate atmosphere, engaging and varied combat, and downright brutal difficulty Demon’s Souls was a whole new look at the genre. Two years later, it’s spiritual successor Dark Souls managed to refine the Souls formula and create a game that was lauded by critics and players everywhere. In an era of games that hold player’s hands, Dark Souls became the benchmark for games that were difficult while still being fair. Dark Souls II toned back the difficulty ever so slightly and was met its a bit more of a mixed reception but either way was still an excellent addition to the Souls franchise.

Now we come to 2016 and Dark Souls III is a scant six weeks away from release and I got to take a trip down to Namco headquarters to try out the first two hours of the upcoming game. Sure I have gotten to play some demo sections of the game at events like the EB Expo and last year’s Network Beta Test, but now I got to sit down, pick up a controller and play through the game from the beginning. And boy was I ready.

From the moment I stepped into the game and picked my character class (a pyromancer, as a throwback to my very first Dark Souls play through). Everything felt so natural that it was like I had played it all before. From Software have definitely found a gameplay style that works for them and while there are some nuances and new additions to the formula, it is all like second nature for fans at this point.

My favourite new addition to the gameplay is the Blue Estus Flasks. Their name escapes me at the moment but they are effectively Estus Flasks for your magic gauge. Instead of limiting the number of times a player can cast each spell that they have equipped there is instead a blue magic bar (akin to the one in Demon’s Souls). These blue Estus flasks restore magic in much the same way that the orange ones have always done for your health. A cool little twist to this is that you can assign your Estus flasks as you like, so for example if you have 5 flasks you can have 3 health and 2 magic, or if you are not a magic user you can set all five to only restore health. This is such a small change but one that really lets the player get in and build their character to suit their play style.

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As for the game itself, there isn’t much to say other than “this is definitely Dark Souls” like its predecessors, Dark Souls III is all about learning patterns and pathways and moving through them in the best way possible. One wrong step and you find yourself set ablaze by a giant black dragon, but time it just right and you can use the dragon’s fire to a horde of enemies and take a shortcut through a particularly difficult area.

I also got to face down three bosses during my brief time with the game. I will admit that the humanoid, “giant soldier” bosses of Dark a Souls II were a bit dull and repetitive, but in the first two hours of DSIII you will face a giant undead soldier (ok that one isn’t exciting), a frosty hulking beast clad in iron armour, and a giant tree who’s weak spot are pustules protruding from between its legs. The variety in design as well as the fights themselves and how different they all were really grabbed my attention and was definitely a stand out for me.

I just want to talk for a minute about the aesthetics of Dark Souls III. Now anybody who had played the previous games in the Souls series will be able to tell you that while they look absolutely gorgeous at a glance, when you really focus on the details they are not the prettiest games out there. Well the same is true for the latest instalment, with some textures looking muddy and muted. However while it may not be winning any awards for lifelike visuals, Dark Souls III absolutely oozes atmosphere and character out of every crack, crevice, broken door and decaying staircase. At this point in the series’ lifespan they have managed to absolutely nail the dark medieval fantasy horror setting. Undead enemies with their stretched skin and sunken eyes will no doubt haunt my nightmares for months to come, while hounds from hell look like they are going to leap out of the screen and rip me limb from limb. I really felt engrossed in the game in ways that very few other titles can achieve.

Not only does the game ooze atmosphere but playing on a PlayStation 4, it ran at such a smooth rate that I barely noticed any slowdown or graphical hiccups. This is exactly what you want from a game that relies so heavily on precision and perfect timing, and while later areas might suffer from frame rate drops, if the section I played was an indication of the full game then we have very little to worry about.

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Fans who have spent the last 12 months playing Bloodborne will find some familiar territory in the Undead Settlement area where ghoulish farmers and villagers lash out at you with farm equipment and basic tools. The designs in this area look like they would fit right at home on the outskirts of Yharnam as they prepare to slay any wayward hunter that wanders through. The aesthetic similarities almost feels like an Easter egg and one that definitely works in the game’s favour.
Although I only got a short two hours with Dark Souls III, I am already hooked. This game definitely feels like a huge step forward for the franchise and manages to keep the core gameplay while splicing elements of the other two titles and weaving in a few of its own for good measure.

I for one cannot wait for the full game’s release on April 16th. So if you can’t wait to die over and over again then make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

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