Wage War in the Name of Your Chosen House: Long-awaited Faction Play Now Live as MechWarrior Online Launches on Steam; Livestreamed Event at Piranha Games Headquarters Tomorrow, December 11th

– Huge fan event from Piranha Games in Vancouver livestreamed December 11th, will include further development announcements, shoutcasted matchplay and big news for fans of the game –

VANCOUVER – December 10, 20015 – The road to victory in war is a long one: MechWarrior Online developer Piranha Games has been busy unleashing a series of mega updates for MechWarrior Online, adding the long-awaited Community Warfare (“Faction Play”) feature that allows players from around the world to collectively take part in the great Clan Invasion of the Inner Sphere. Today the Faction Play phase of development is now ready for full player participation with additional large updates planned for the near future as the game also goes live on Steam http://store.steampowered.com/app/342200/.

On December 11th, Piranha Games is holding an event at their development headquarters in Vancouver to be livestreamed on Twitch.TV at http://twitch.tv/piranhagamesfrom 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. Pacific, and will feature future development announcements fans will want to tune in for, livestreamed matches and fans from around the globe as 100 of the hardest core MechWarrior fans descend on Vancouver to attend the livestreamed event with the developers of the game.

With more than 10 million+ matches already played to date, new MechWarrior pilots can now dive into this massive online world of the distant future, where battles are won by piloting a futuristicworld’s most advanced BattleMech’s and laying waste to opposing Mechs – all for free.

“Launching the game on Steam gives us the ability to introduce the unique and deep gameplay experience of MechWarrior to entirely new audiences,” said Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games. “We’re entering a new phase of our development of MechWarrior with this latest update, and we’re excited to begin engaging our loyal fan base in new ways as we head into the next year. It’s been a long road to today’s update with a lot of challenges that we’ve overcome with the support of the MechWarrior community, and we’re looking forward to meeting the new pilots on the battlefield as we continue to expand MechWarrior Online.”

Today, the game is played on regional servers in North America, Europe and the Oceanic region. Players play on 19 maps and over 350 Mechs available to choose from. New pilots are also offered a complete tutorial experience in the MechWarrior Academy to familiarize themselves with the competitive aspects of MechWarrior Online. With an incredibly active community engaged in providing feedback to the developers, MechWarrior Online has become the most complete MechWarrior multiplayer experience available.

Get your pilot name at www.mwomercs.com.

XSEED GAMES GIVES THANKS TO FANS BY OFFERING TWO FREE DLC CHARACTERS FOR NEW 2D FIGHTER NITROPLUS BLASTERZ: HEROINES INFINITE DUEL

Deadly Dames Homura from the SENRAN KAGURA Series and Aino Heart from the Arcana Heart Series to Join Roster on PS4™ and PS3™ Early 2016 

Torrance, Calif. – December 10, 2015 – XSEED Games, the independent-minded console publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., today announced that Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel will launch with two free DLC characters for a limited time, as XSEED Games’ way of saying thanks to fans purchasing the new 2D fighting game. Guest characters Homura (SENRAN KAGURA series) and Aino Heart (Arcana Heart series) complete the roster of fierce female fighters fronting this game that’s set to launch in early 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in North America. The free DLC offer will run for four weeks after launch, after which the additional characters will be available for $5.99 each (or $9.99 for a bundle containing both) for both PS4™ and PS3™ systems on the PlayStation®Store.

Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel is a port of the popular 2D arcade fighting game by EXAMU, populated by numerous heroines from Nitroplus’ rich collection of visual novel IPs, including playable characters Ein, Mora, Ruili, Al Azif, Saya, Ignis, Anna, Muramasa the 3rd, Kibanohara Ethica, Saber, Ouka, and Super Sonico, who will be playable for the very first time in this console release.

Between easy-to-execute combos, cinematic cut-ins on “Lethal Blaze” attacks that run the gamut from awe-inspiring to adorable, and assist mechanics that allow for up to six onscreen characters at a time, the development team at EXAMU – best known for their work on the popular Arcana Heart series – ensures that combat stays fast and flashy. Players can also check out how their skills stack up online against other network players, with full cross-play on offer between PlayStation®4 system and PlayStation®3 system users.

Developed by EXAMU and slated for publication by XSEED Games, Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel is scheduled to launch in early 2016 in North America exclusively for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 systems.  The game carries a suggested retail price of $39.99 on the PS4™ system for both the physical and digital release, while the PS3™ system version will be released digitally at $29.99. This title has been rated T for Teen 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.

KOEI TECMO REVEALS INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE WEAPONS AND SUPPORTING CHARACTERS IN NIGHTS OF AZURE 

BURLINGAME, Calif. – December 10, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America released today new images and information on the weapons and supporting cast of Nights of Azure, the brand new RPG from GUST studios. Nights of Azure is currently in development for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and is planned for release on March 29, 2016 across North America.

In Nights of Azure, the player controls Arnice, a member of a knightly order called ‘Curia’ tasked with protecting humanity from the azure-blooded demons that surface during the night. Unlike previous GUST titles, the protagonist has a very active role in the game’s real-time battle system. Arnice takes on her enemies armed with a variety of impressive weapons ranging from a simple sword to a long-range gun with special healing abilities. She gradually becomes proficient with five types of weapons, including a battle hammer that deals area-of-effect damage, a dagger that causes a bleeding effect, and a longsword that drains her enemies’ blood to increase attack bonuses.

Additionally, a cast of colorful characters surround Arnice while she strives to complete her quest! Three of the key human non-playable characters frequent the hotel that Arnice uses as a base: Simon, the hotel manager who has a strange connection to the Curia, Professor Alucard, a shady doctor who always tries to provoke Arnice, and Lloyd, a scavenger and merchant who trades at the hotel cafe. Arnice also regularly visits the art museum to see Corinne, an elder knight of the Curia who often offers Arnice valuable advice.

However, the kingdom of Ruswal is also home to curious beings such as Christophorus, a pure-blooded, mask-wearing demon who lives at the Opera House and shows up to give our protagonist advice at seemingly random moments. Mistral is another pure-blooded demon who poses no threat to humans. Fashionable and fascinating, she lives at the Palace and seems to have given up her quest of finding the soul of Nightlord, the demon overlord.

Strange and intriguing, this unlikely band of comrades will all play their part in sealing Arnice’s fate as she untwines the threads of her dark destiny.

For more news and information on Nights of Azure, Like KOEI TECMO America on Facebook at www.facebook.com/koeitecmous, and become part of the #KTfamily by following KOEI TECMO America on Twitter at @KoeiTecmoUS.

About Nights of Azure

Under the direction of Keisuke Kikuchi (Fatal Frame, Deception IV), Nights of Azure marks a new, darker direction for GUST while maintaining many of the gameplay elements adored by dedicated fans of the studio. Nights of Azure is a tragic tale of two friends faced with impossible decisions that will test their loyalty to their quest and to each other.

In the kingdom of Ruswal, very few people leave their homes after nightfall, let alone have the strength and skill to take on the powerful monsters that plague the island. One of the best among these brave few is the protagonist, Arnice, a knight of great skill and power, who is assisted by her friend and priestess Lilysse in a quest to rid the land of demons. However, they soon find out that the solution to the island’s problems might not be as simple as defeating enemies in battle.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.

KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

©2015 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII arrives on PC today

LONDON (10^th December 2015) –   Square Enix Ltd., today announced that LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII, the epic conclusion of the FINAL FANTASY XIII trilogy, is now available for PC. A 10% discount period will also run from today, until 17^thDecember for those who purchase via STEAM.

In LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII for PC, players will embark on their final adventure in the FINAL FANTASY XIII series, which gives them the ability to have direct control over the iconic heroine, Lightning. In a constantly moving, expansive environment, players must journey on a quest to save a doomed world from complete destruction – and in thirteen days, nothing will remain. Blessed with incredible strength and an arsenal of weapons, Lightning has everything she needs for the coming battle – everything except time. The PC release will also include all the amazing DLC content from the original console version*.

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is now available on PC priced at £12.99 / €15.99. A 10% weeklong discount period will run from today, for one week, for those purchasing via Steam. To purchase and for more information visit:http://store.steampowered.com/app/345350/

For those not up-to-date with the FINAL FANTASY XIII trilogy on PC – FINAL FANTASY XIIIand FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 are both available on STEAM now. For more information visit:http://www.ff13pctrilogy.com/en/

*All DLC included except for “FFVII Aerith Costume”

Related Links
Official Homepage:    www.LightningReturns.com
Official FINAL FANTASY Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/finalfantasy
Official FINAL FANTASY Twitter: @FINALFANTASY

About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 110 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 66 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 45 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/ .

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII © 2013, 2015 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.  All Rights Reserved.
CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA

FINAL FANTASY, LIGHTNING RETURNS, the LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII logo, DRAGON QUEST, EIDOS, SPACE INVADERS, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, TAITO and TOMB RAIDER are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

TURBO UNVEILS SUPER SENSO, A TURN-BASED ACTION STRATEGY GAME COMING TO MOBILE IN EARLY 2016

PvP Multiplayer Action for the Growing Mobile Esports Scene

Public Beta Signups Now Open

NEW YORK – Dec. 10, 2015 – TURBO was founded in Brooklyn in 2013 by a crack team of veteran talent from Nintendo, Sony, Riot, Square Enix, Blizzard and CCP Games. The studio has revealed its first original title, Super Senso, a turn-based action strategy game built to transform real-time, player-vs-player combat on mobile devices. Designed for synchronous, competitive play, Super Senso combines hardcore gameplay with tongue-in-cheek humor to create one seriously engaging, battle-anywhere experience.

“TURBO began with a common dream to make the kinds of killer core games that we’re personally stoked to play,” said TURBO’s Chief Executive Officer, Yohei Ishii. “With Super Senso, we’re crafting a sophisticated style of tactical gameplay that’s accessible to all gamers, but built for the hardcore community that’s looking for a higher level of competition than what’s currently available for mobile.”

Inspired by the Nintendo classic Advance Wars, Super Senso pits player versus player in fast-paced matches on vivid 3D battlefields to compete for rare rewards, exclusive content and global supremacy. Players collect and unleash massive, customized mechs on their enemies while amassing unstoppable, smash-up armies of zombie soldiers, tanks, ninjas, weaponized dinosaurs, UFOs and much more. Outsmart, outplay and obliterate opponents in PvP battles of epic proportions!

Super Senso is targeted squarely at the rapidly evolving, hardcore mobile games community, and TURBO has already enlisted players from prominent esports teams to collaborate on game development and post-launch tournament activities. Flying in the face of prevailing trends, Super Senso sticks to a simple, pro-player philosophy: free-to-play does NOT need to mean pay-to-win. Microtransactions will afford players with multiple choices for unlocking new content, as well as cosmetic personalization options, but TURBO’s vision is to create a balanced, play-to-win experience for its users.

Super Senso will arrive as a free-to-play game for iOS and Android devices in early 2016. For those that can’t wait, TURBO is currently accepting public beta signups at www.supersenso.com. For the latest news, please follow the game on Twitter (@SuperSensoGame), Facebook (www.facebook.com/SuperSenso) and Instagram (@SuperSenso).

About TURBO Studios

Founded in 2013, TURBO is an independent game development studio formed by a dream team of industry veterans who believe in building a business around killer games. When we’re not making games, we’re playing them, and therein lies the difference. For the latest from TURBO, follow along on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TURBOStudios), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TURBOStudios), Instagram (www.instagram.com/TURBOstudios) and www.turbo.nyc.

MEET THE HEADS OF THE CLASS: MARVEL AND TINYCO REVEAL NEW YOUNGER VERSIONS OF KEY CHARACTERS IN MARVEL AVENGERS ACADEMY

Marvel Entertainment and TinyCo have unveiled a first-look at the newly re-imagined Avengers as they will appear in MARVEL Avengers Academy, the upcoming adventure / simulation title for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch® and Android™ devices. MARVEL Avengers Academy will feature a rich cast with hundreds of characters from the Marvel Avengers universe, re-imagined as students navigating the social ups and downs of Academy life, while protecting the world, and developing their trademark super powers. 

Released via Marvel’s YouTube channel, a new character video reveals to the world for the first time what Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor will all look like in TinyCo’s upcoming game about Super Heroes in training to one day save the world:

• Captain America – The living legend and natural born leader just might be the only mature person at the Academy, so he’s a perfect fit to lead away missions and serve as Class President. But that doesn’t mean he relates to his classmates. The guys respect him, the girls adore him, and Hydra hates him, but he’s still trying to find his place in this crazy world, and even crazier campus.

• The Hulk – He’s the ultimate Big Man on Campus, a gentle giant who just happens to be “the strongest there is.” He does his best to learn and fit in, but this Academy wasn’t made for invulnerable behemoths, so his anxiety and frustrations inevitably turn to anger and that’s not good for anyone.

• Iron Man – Tony Stark is a billionaire. A genius. An inventor. And he’ll be more than happy to tell you about all of his other talents. He’s a charming, self-centered, ladies-man-in-training who wants to save the world, and make sure everyone knows he’s the handsome, ingenious hero who did it.  He brings Stark Tower with him to Avengers Academy so that he can work in his high-tech lab, relax in his high-rise hot tub, and remind everyone that he owns a skyscraper with his name on it.

• Thor – He’s the literal golden god of Avengers Academy. An impossibly handsome, ridiculously strong, and unbelievably athletic exchange student who thrives on competition and seeks out confrontation. He’s effortlessly popular even though he never seems to really understand his new Midgardian classmates, and ends up causing trouble just as often as he saves the day.

• Black Widow – She’s on a single-minded mission to uncover the Academy’s secrets, while avoiding her annoying classmates. Unfortunately, she has to trust people and make friends because she’ll need help from her fellow heroes to find what Nick Fury is hiding, and defeat dangerous enemies everywhere from Asgard to right under her feet.  

These characters and many more will be available to play and interact with through many unique adventures in MARVEL Avengers Academy, each offering their own unique backstory to be unveiled through the gameplay. You’ll encounter a deep roster of fan favorites like the fun and bubbly Wasp, the blue-collar slacker Hawkeye, mischievous Loki, former janitorial robot Ultron, and of course overseeing all of it is Nick Fury, Dean of Students. Prepare to enter a vision of the Avengers universe that you’ve never seen before. 

This character video can be viewed on Marvel’s official YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WYiIP0Mp50Q

For more information on TinyCo, please visit: http://www.tinyco.com. Visit MARVEL Avengers Academy at AvengersAcademy.com, Facebook.com/AvengersAcademy or follow them @AvengersAcademy on Twitter.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED TO LAUNCH ON XBOX GAME PREVIEW DECEMBER 16

Prepare to Tame, Train, Ride, and Breed Dinosaurs in the First Ever Online Survival Console Game

Seattle, WA – December 10, 2015 – Independent developer Studio Wildcard secretly has been working away on a holiday surprise! Starting Wednesday, December 16, the world of ARK: Survival Evolved will open to Xbox One players who have been clamoring for the game ever since its record-breaking launch on Steam for PC. Xbox One gamers immediately can jump into the open-world action-adventure survival game and start hunting, taming, and training their dinosaur army.

More than 2.5 million gamers have battled the harsh elements in ARK: Survival Evolved since the game’s debut on June 2, 2015 on Steam’s Early Access program. ARK for Xbox One, available via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program, will launch with all game content currently in the PC build — nearly 3X the amount of gameplay available at its original launch on Steam PC. ARK: Survival Evolved will be $34.99 with Xbox Game Preview on Xbox One and will include an exclusive bionic “Tek” T-Rex, Safari Hat, and Survivor’s Trophy, free access to Xbox-specific ARK official servers, and a steady delivery of exclusive Xbox One content prior to full game launch expected in June 2016.

Watch the new trailer on YouTube HERE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYfsfyne69mFfNTcZeZ6gw

“ARK is running beautifully on Xbox One, we’re really proud to deliver the first open-world online survival experience on console, a genre that is typically found only in PC games,” said Jesse Rapczak, co-creative director and co-founder, Studio Wildcard.  “Steam’s Early Access has given us a strong method to quickly iterate on player feedback, creating a strong relationship with our fans that constantly makes the game more fun. With Microsoft implementing a similar program, we’re able to form a direct connection between console players and our team, the likes of which has never before been possible.”

Players can join the ARK discussion now by visiting the newly launched Xbox One forums on survivetheark.com/.

Built on Unreal Engine 4, ARK: Survival Evolved is the first to deliver the popular-on-PC online survival genre to consoles, with a unique footprint of adventure, multiplayer online cooperation and competition, focused on the basic survival skills of crafting, harvesting, building, and exploration.

Stranded naked, freezing, and starving on a mysterious island, you must hunt, harvest, craft items, grow crops, and build shelters to survive. Tame one of 100 amazing dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, including gargantuan creatures on a scale never before seen in video games! Fly a Pterodactyl squadron over the snow-capped mountains, race through the deep jungle with your pack of trained Raptors, tromp through a fortified enemy base with a convoy of gigantic Brontosaurus, or chase down prey on the back of a raging T-Rex.

Key Features include:

XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVES:

• All game content currently in the PC build — nearly 3X the amount of gameplay available at its original Steam launch
• Exclusive bionic “Tek” T-Rex, Safari Hat, and Survivor’s Trophy
• Free access to Xbox-specific ARK official servers
• Steady delivery of exclusive Xbox One content prior to full game launch in June 2016
• Tailored for Xbox One gamepad controls

• TAME, TRAIN, RIDE and BREED DINOSAURS: Command the most amazing creatures from throughout Earth’s biological history, launching into Xbox Game Preview with more than 50 creatures and 100+ planned at full launch. Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame and ride the many dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground.
• CRAFT AND BUILD: Using any means necessary to survive, players will craft weapons, clothes, and items, and build shelters. Plant, harvest, build, level-up, and customize everything visually and functionally, including procedurally-generated RPG statistics for creatures, characters, resources, clothing, gear, and weapons both primitive and modern.
• DISCOVER: Explore a massive living ecosystem and find the means to survive, thrive, and maybe escape ARK island.
• TEAM UP TO SURVIVE: Start a tribe with hundreds of other players in a large-scale multiplayer online first person environment to survive and dominate competing tribes…and to ultimately discover ARK’s true purpose.
• JOIN A TRIBE: The ‘Tribe’ system encourages cooperation, by supporting dynamic parties to share resources, XP, and re-spawn points. Other players are organizing rebel tribes to accumulate resources, experience, re-spawn points, and to construct sprawling villages and cities, with technology spanning the primitive stone-age to the modern electric-powered era and beyond. And they will fight to destroy anything they see as a threat.

ARK: Survival Evolved is expected to officially launch in June 2016 on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program, Steam PC and on PlayStation®4 with Project Morpheus support.

For the latest updates 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 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.